| Description | Even after the city achieved independence by the 1612 charter, the bishop retained a court leet with view of frankpledge (a manorial court) and a court of pleas (a court of record) for the city. There was probably also a court baron, attended by every freeman, but little trace of this survives in these records.
The court leet was half-yearly, and all the inhabitants of the city had to come to it; the records consist of presentments by the jury, jury lists and lists of freeholders. The offences presented are mainly nuisances. The third file does not include so many presentments as the other two. There is a fourth file consisting of lists of aldermen and freeholders, with jury lists and writs to summon the jury, but very few presentments.
There are various records of the court of pleas - processes of attachment, affidavits, bonds and declarations of ejectment. The procedure was by jury according to common law, and jurisdiction covered all actions, whatever the debt or damages. |