DIRECTION FOR SEARCH OF RECORDS Remaining in the CHANCERIE TOWER EXCHEQVER with the Limnes thereof viz. The Kings Remembrancer Lord Treasurers Remembrancer Clarke of the Extreats Pipe Auditors First Fruits Augmentation of the Reuenue Kings Bench. Common Pleas. Records of Courts Christian. For the clearing of all such Titles and Questions as the same may concerne With the accustomed Fees of Search And diuerse necessarie Obseruations Cui Author THOMAS POWELL Londino-Cambrensis Cum â—onat ocyâ—s Ilex Sulphure discutitur sacro quam tuque 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed by B. A. for Paul Man and 〈◊〉 to be sold at his Shop in Chancerie Lane at the Signe of the Bowle or in Distaffe Lane at the Signe of the Dolphin 1622. TO THE GREAT DEPVTIE OF THE GREATEST DEITIE IN HEAVEN THE CHVRCHES CHIEFE CONSERVER ON EARTH IAMES KING OF GREAT BRITAINE FRANCE AND IRELAND SVppose you see the Widdow with her Mite Debating whether better to proceed And lay it downe in all the Peoples sight Or else to put it vp againe with speed Now shee resolues to doo 't And then shee feares Th' acceptance of it and the Peoples gieres At last shee did conclude and cast it in Then slinkt away and hop'd shee was not seene Thus with a very conscious cautious Eye Our Author weighs the Work which he presents Then viewes the Multitude that 's standing by Knowing too well their old accustom'd bent And now no sooner does behold your Selfe But layes it at your foot and then by stealth Auoids and hopes the Giuer is vnknowne Yet this small Gift speakes great affection Your Maiesties most faithfull Subiect Th. Powell TO THE BEST BLEST POVRTRAICT OF PATERNALL PERFECTIONS CHARLES The High and Mightie Prince of WALES IT 's onely thy Acceptance may repute What here I offer Be but pleas'd to doo 't I wish more happinesse may ne're succeed it But that I may report your selfe did read it Tibi prior morituras fatis Quam tui sim miraturas satis Tho. Powell A CONGRATVLATORIE TO THE SAFE RETVRNE of that sincere Seruant of the State IAMES Lord Viscount Doncaster THe King receiues thee with an open Arme The Commons doe accuse the fatall Storme That did detaine thee to behold a Scene Which might strike blood-shot euery eie of Heau'n Wouldst know why we reioice thy comming home We loue Religions Friends and thou art one Your Lordships to the most of his Nerue Th. Powell TO THE HONORABLE SIR IAMES LEY KNIGHT Lord chiefe Iustice of England THat thou art such a Iudge so qualifi'de As Authors heretofore haue all prescrib'de A well elected Iusticer should be Each man perceiues the reasons pregnancy Custome of doing well in lower place Can with no spurre of Honor change his pace Besides an other cause I thinke vpon Thou wilt not blame the Kings election But why in stead of Iustice to these labours Hast thou afforded them so many fauours I know no reason may induce thee too 't But that it is thy goodnesse makes thee doo 't Your Lordships In all thankfull acknowledgement T. P. TO THAT LAW-ENOBLING GENTLEMAN SIR Thomas Couentry Knight As Generous in all Affayring As Generall in Office of Attorney to his Maiestie TO haue a thankfull minde and not to shew it Is to know much and not let others know it I will not flatter for a benefit Yet better to acknowledge then forget A farther libertie I doe not aske That were to me alas too great a taske For if th' account bee cast of what is due I owe the most of any man to you The more in your imployment and disposing The more happy Tho. Powell TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL IN FVLL RIGHT OF HIS OWNE Worth Sir Edward Powell Knight and Barronet Master of his Maiesties Requests VVOrthie Sir to tell you true Faine I would but know not yet Whether your place were made for you Or whether you were made for it If Feare to take the double Fee If giuing Suitors expedition And to respect Conueniencie Aboue Reward in each Petition May make a Master of Request Though thou be last th' art not the least The seruant of your Name and Familie Tho. P. TO THAT GREAT LIGHT OF LAW LEARNING THE Right Worshipfull William Noy Esquire of Lincolnes Inne present Reader TO You how much this work of mine doth owe My selfe must needs confesse you do know To say I thanke you is but poore amends For so the Fydler and the Begger ends Their Thanks liues only while the Almes is giuing But mine shall neuer die while we are liuing Signa virtutum tuarum longé latéque ferens Tho. Powell TO THE READER BOokes Medicines and Lawes should neuer be publisht or prescribed but as Obiters to meete with Euils imminent euer applyed and euer complying with the present necessitie The necessitie of this Subiect complaines it selfe in the Multiplicitie of Suites their expences and dependencies which for want of their proper Records are brought into the Court in so many Fractions that the Iudge how painfull or learned soeuer can hardly reduce them into whole numbers This therefore haue I out of my Collections of Twentie yeares Search of Record in the path of my practize composed and digested by way of a Kallender into a summarie Index of Direction for that purpose which intended only to such as shell make the good vse thereof and not arme and inable their purposes of prying into mens estates I haue now at the last resolued to publish Desiring your patience till a farther supplyance may giue it a more perfection wherein you are accustomed to be so fauourable to others in matters of lesse perplexitie That I know you cannot varie in me who euer rest As Iealous of your Loue As you are curious of your liking Th. Powell TO THE READERS MASTERS OF THIS MYSTERIE YOu that are Masters of this Science I aske your aid and free supplyance Caetera turba tuas Muscas venare Ministro Fulminis haec valido propria praeda vale T. P. DIRECTION FOR SEARCH OF RECORDS THE CHANCERIE THE Office of Records of Chancerie commonly called the Rolls hath diuerse Records of diuerse and sundry Natures beginning with some part of King Richard the third and so from thence drawne downeward to the present The Records of Chancerie are diuided into these kindes viz. 1. Patents 2. Close Rolls 3. Bundles PATENTS In the Patent Rolls are contayned all Grants made from the King to the subiect which passe vnder the great Scale of England that is to say All Perpetuities fee Formes fee Simples c. Leases for Life Yeares or at Will. Grants of Liberties Licences and Pardons of Alienation Presentations Annuities Speciall Liueries Speciall and Generall Pardons Pardons of Vtlarie Licences of all sorts which passe the Great Seale And on the backside of the said Rolls called Patent Rolls are inrolled and indorsed these things following that is to say Commissions for the Peace Commissions for Gaole Deliuerie Commissions for Oyer and Terminer Commissions to enquire post Mortem And
all the speciall Commissions which passe the Great Seale CLOSE ROLLS The next sort of Records of Chancerie are called Close Rolls In which are contayned these things following that is to say 1. All Indentures which are acknowledged in Chancerie betwixt partie and partie Subiects 2. All Recognizances which are acknowledged in Chancerie betwixt partie and partie Subiects 3. All Deeds whatsoeuer acknowledged in Chancerie betwixt parties Subiects The said Indentures Recognizances and Deeds being on the back of the Roll indorsed And diuerse special Writs on the inside thereof Besides these seuerall kinds of Close Rolls there be diuerse other Rolls which because they can challenge no other or rather more proper station I thought good to place here viz. The Foreigne Roll called the French Roll contayning Treaties betwixt this Kingdome and Foreigne Estates and Treaties of Entercourse c. The Roll called the Lord Treasurers Roll or most commonly the Fine Roll wherein are contayned the Patents of all Escheators Customers Controllers Searchers Vlnagers and briefely all such Patents as passe the Great Seale and are in the gift of the Lord Treasurer for the time being The Roll contayning the confirmation of Liberties and Grants made from the King The Parliament Roll wherein should bee written all Acts of Parliament The Roll called Watsons Roll contayning diuerse Grants and other things confusedly and promiscuously layd together which one Watson sometimes Clarke of the Great Seale that is to say betwixt the thirtieth and fortieth yeares of the late good Queene Elizabeth did for six or seuen yeares together keepe in his Chest and vpon his death they were found and brought into the Chaple of the Rolls There is likewise or should be a perfect Roll of the Creation of the Nobilitie in which all Creations might bee inrolled which I hold to be the rather necessarie for that many Grants haue beene past to one man some whereof vnder one Title others vnder another of Office or Nobilitie as the partie hath beene aduanced which incertaintie of the Patentees Title causeth more expence and search then otherwise would be if this Roll were duely kept The Roll contayning all Iudgements Decrees and dismissions of Causes in the Chancerie with some other few Rolls which I omit as being of little vse to this present purpose BVNDLES The third sort of Records of Chancerie are called Bundles In which are contayned these things following viz. 1. The Files of Bills and Answeres in Chancerie 2. The Files of Corpus cum causa with the Bayles vpon the same 3. All Writs of Certiorare with the Certificates vpon the same 4. All Attachments Proclamations and Commissions of Rebellion and Transcripts of Iniunctions 5. The Bundle called the Scire facias Bundle wherein are filed all Writs of Scire facias Audita querela Ex graui querela and their Transcripts 6. Staple Bundle wherein are filed all Certificates of Statutes of the Staple all Extents returned vpon the said Statutes and Liberatees vpon the same 7. Stoole Bundle in which are contayned all Transcripts of Supersedeas for Peace and Good behauiour 8. Gallowes Bundle wherein are filed all Certificates made from Bishops for the Writ called Excommunicato capiendo and the Supersedeas vpon the same 9. The Horne Bundle in which are contayned all Bayles vpon speciall Pardons 10. The Pot Bundle wherein are contayned all Bills from the Exchequer of the Names of the Sherifes who haue there put in Sureties And all Warrants of Attorney for all Sherifes of Counties and Cities who haue Sherifes 11. The File of Certiorare Bills wherein are filed all Bills that are exhibited in Chancerie for Certiorare 12. The Arrow Bundle wherein are filed all Letters Patents surrendred All Indentures of Deeds cancelled All Acts of Parliament certified by Certiorare All Writs of Dedimus potestatem to take knowledge of any Deed or Recognizance to be enrolled or cancelled All Writs of Dedimus potestatem for the acknowledging of any Warrant of Attorney vpon Writs of Entry as also for the taking of the Sherifes Oath All Writs de Coronatore viridiario elegendo All Writs of Dower and such like as are for the Prince 13. The Escheators Bundle wherein are contayned all Inquisitions taken eyther by vertue of Writ or by vertue of Office 14. The Priuy-Seale Bundle wherein are contayned all Priuy-Seales directed to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seale for the passing vnder the Great Seale of any Grant from the King that hath passed the Signet and Priuy-Seale 15. The Bundle of Bills signed wherein are contayned all Bills signed by the King which passe the Great Seale by the said immediat Warrant without passing the Priuy-Seale at all And there are likewise in the same Bundle all Warrants frō the Court of Wards as speciall Liueries generall Liueries c. 16. The Treasurers Bundle called the Purse Bundle wherein are filed all Warrants of Escheators Customers Controllers Searchers Vlnagers and the like 17. The Cardinals Bundle in which are contayned all Inquisitions taken vpon the Suruey of so many Religious Houses as are returned into that Office which are these following that is to say Inquisitions of Abbeyes supprest and returned into the Chancerie with the Shires in which their Lands lye viz. 1 Essex 1 Blackmore Priory 2 London 3 Hereford 1 Norff. 2 Broomhill Priory 2 Suff. 1 Sussex 3 Bradwell Priory 2 Kanc. 1 Warw. 4 Canwell Priory 2 Staff 3 Leicest 1 Buck. 5 Begham Priory 2 Northamp 1 Sussex 6 Calceto Priory 1 Northamp 7 Dauentree Priory 1 Suffolke 8 Dodnes Priory 1 Oxon 9 S. Friswid in Oxford Priory 2 Bark 3 Buck. 1 Suffolke 10 Felixstow Priory 1 Essex 11 Horkesley Priory 1 Oxon 12 Litlemore Priory 2 Bark 1 Kanc. 13 Lisnes Abbey 2 Suffolke 3 Essex 4 Surrey 5 London 1 Hartford 14 Pray Priory 2 Buck. 1 Suffolke 15 S. Peters in Ipswich 1 Bark 16 Poghley Priory 1 Suffolke 17 Rumburgh Priory 2 Norfolke 1 Buck. 18 Raueston Priory 1 Buck. 19 Sandwell Priory 2 Stafford 1 Essex 20 Stansgate Priory 1 Suffolke 21 Snape Priory 1 Essex 22 Titre Priory 1 Kanc. 23 Tunbridge Priory 2 Cant. 3 Suffolke 4 Norfolke 5 Surrey 1 Essex 24 Thoby Priory 1 Bark 25 Tuckford Priory 2 Warw. 1 Bark 26 Wallingford Priory 2 Oxon 3 Buck. 1 Essex 27 Wikes Priory OBSERVATIONS TO BE HAD in search of Chancery Records FIrst you shall vnderstand that there be some few Grants which were neuer inrolled at all but remaine amongst the Bills signed As that of 31. of Henry the eight to Thomas Lord Audley Lord Chancellor of England concerning Sampkins Lands in Essex with some others which for the most part are notwithstanding inrolled in the Exchequer Next note you shall loose your labour if you search in the Chaple of the Rolls for any Grant from the King which passed the Great Seale but within foure or fiue yeares last past for they are not or at least vse not to be brought ouer thither so speedily But in the
profits thereof 6. All names of all Collectors of Subsidies Fifteenes Dismes Taxes generally To call them to accompt 7. There is likewise in the said Originall or at least should be all Pardons of course granted of Grace for Manslaughter by which though the Life be pardoned yet the Goods of the party so pardoned be forfeited So thereby Processe may goe forth to enquire what Goods or Chattels hee had at the time of the doing of the Offence 8. Also vnder the Title of Diem claufit extremum are all the names of such persons as after whose deaths the Escheator hath found any Office or Title for the King by Knights Seruice c. And in how many Shires the said Office was found and before what Escheator That in case one Office make no mention of any Tenure for the King whereby he should haue a Right yet then they may examine all the other Shires whether there bee any Tenure for the King in them Also there are or should be all Recognizances forfeited to the King in Chancerie and Charters of Denization And these bee the Contents of the Originall for the most part which though it were dis-vsed in the Lord Chancellor Cromwels dayes yet it was restored to his former vse afterwards Now I returne to shew what other Records besides the Originall are with this Remembrancer viz. All manner of Accompts of With all processe vpon these Accompts Sherifes Escheators Commissioners Searchers Stewards Baylifes of Franchises Fermors All Gaugers London only excepted Accompts for Workes Buildings and Reparations for the King Prest Moneyes And what is not in the other Remembrancer Also here are all Extreats out of The Kings Bench. The Common Pleas. The Clarkes of the Market Iustices of Peace and Assise Iustices of Gaole Deliuerie Iustices of Sewars To be by him deliuered to the Clarke of the Extreats All other Extreats or Penalties from any other the Kings Iustices or Ministers other then what are formerly assigned to the other Remembrancer All Writs of Priuiledge of such as haue cause of Priuiledge here on this side All Recognizances of the Exchequer as well as on the other side All Euidences Deeds and Writings sealed concerning the King which are to bee inrolled in the Exchequer as well here as on the other side All Letters Patents as well here as on the other side at the pleasure of the Patentee All Processe against Commissioners ad certificandum ad seisandum c. other then what concerne Customes Merchandizes All Processe vpon Patents of Fermors made and recorded here All Records of Vtlaries certified to the Barons the Processe whereupon hee makes and deliuers to the Escheators All Inquisitions Offices and Transcripts other then what were formerly assigned to the other Remembrancer passe through his hands to the Parcell-maker All Taxes of payment of the Accompts of Sherifes Escheators and Baylifes entred here All Amerciaments afferred in Court All Summons of Accomptants All Neglects of their Apparances All Amerciaments for mis-returne of Writs All Awards of Writs according to their returne thereby to note the Defaults A Booke made at euery Termes end of all Iudgements of any Debts discharged to be by him deliuered to the Clarke of the Pipe for the parties discharge The Booke which is commonly called Nomina villarum made about the ninth of King Edward the second Wherein is contayned the Names of all the Hundreds and Villages of England with the Names of all the then Owners of them excepting some few Shires vncertified or lost The Booke of all Knights Fees The Booke of the Aide of the Prince The Surueyes of diuerse the Kings Lands taken of late yeares There are with this Remembrancer as with the other diuers Records viz. Rentalls Leidgers Surueyes Accompts of Religious Houses brought thither vpon speciall seruice of the King And lastly here are the Accompts of Assessements and other proceedings touching Romish Recusants But this Limne is taken away from this Remembrancer and made lately a seuerall Office of it selfe OBSERVATION FOR search in the two Remembrancers FIrst in regard their Records lye in seuerall and differing places there is thereby great difference in the manner and charge of search of the same Next you shall vnderstand that within the said seuerall Remembrancers there are seuerall Clarks who haue peculiarly and properly the keeping of seuerall Records And that the Records of these Offices are not as those in Chancery common to all the Clarks alike especially for the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer who hath vnder him diuerse Secondaries and Clarkes appointed to their seuerall Records distinctly But it shall suffice that I bring you to the Office wherein you may promise your selfe to finde these Records paying Fees for search as followeth FEES OF SEARCH WITH the two Remembrancers At tho Exchequer at Westminster For search of the Red Booke on the Kings Remembrance side as followeth For opening the Chest ij s For the Attorney who sheweth it if hee goe of purpose to Westminster to shew it iij s iiij d Otherwise it may be the Attorney will take lesse viz. j s For search on the Lord Treasurers side For search of any thing in the Tenure-house their Liguli Inquisitionum and Gills Bookes vj s viij d For search of all other things generally in the Office in London as in Chancerie For search at Westminster generally according to their paines in search no certaine Fee For search in Vacation time at Westminster your Attorneyes Fee at least iij s iiij d Besides the Vshers for opening the doores And for more certaintie I referre you to their owne Tables of diuerse Fees which are or should be in their Offices to be seene publiquely I hauing onely set downe the Fees of mine owne practise herein And this shall suffice for the two Remembrancers THE CLARKE OF THE EXTREATS WITH the Clarke of the Extreats are All Extreats of the Greene Waxe vpon Fines Amerciaments Forfeited Recognizances c. Whatsoeuer is extreated and directed to all the Sherifes of this Realme of all such summes of Money as be lost and forfeited within their seuerall Bayliwikes to the intent that they should leuie the same for the King And thus much shall suffice for the same Records which are here and by transference to be found elsewhere vt supra THE PIPE THE Records here are some as ancient as in the time of King Henry the second The Clarke of the Pipe who by Office hath the execution by Summons of the Pipe of all Debts determined vpon all the Kings Debtors of what kind soeuer hath accordingly the Making Entring and Recording of All Processe of Summons Processe of Extent against all the Kings Debtors Also The Booke called the Booke of Iudgements which is said to be likewise with the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer All Leases of any the Kings Lands being but Quillets vnder the Rent of fiue pounds yearely and past vnder the Exchequer Seale and Custodie For if they be aboue fiue pounds per annum Rent Or
THE COVRT OF COMMON PLEAS THE Records of the Common Pleas are Pleadings vpon all Actions whatsoeuer Reall and Personall Which may bee pleaded at the Common Law The Records kept in the Treasurie of this Court are as ancient as from the beginning of King Henry the fourth till this present Tenne of the last yeares Records lye abroad The former yeares are shut vp Before the foure and twentieth yeare of our late Queene Elizabeth the Reall Actions and the Personall went promiscuously together But since that time The Kings Siluer and Fines Assizes Formedons All Reall Actions Deeds inrolled Protections All these were seperated from the Personall Actions The Fees of Search in the Common Pleas. For search of euery Terme lying abroad iiij d For search of euery Terme lockt vp iiij s For opening the Treasury Doore iij s To conclude take direction from the Prothonotories Docquets and Remembrancers to direct you in the Treasurie for latter times RECORDS OF COVRTS CHRISTIAN I Meane not to discourse euery particular Court or Office in this kinde but onely to pursue my Scope proposed in the Frontispice hereof for clearing of Titles Within which limitation these Records doe especially offer themselues viz. Testaments and Administration of Goods c. Presentations and Confirmations Immunities Priuiledges and other Rights of Prescription TESTAMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIONS ALL Wills and Testaments of the Defunct are proued recorded either with the Register of the 1. Prerogatiue 2. The Proper Diocesse 3. The Peculiar or 4. The Visitant for the present THE PREROGATIVE IN all cases where the Defunct hath or had Goods Chattels Credits or other Personall Estate to the value of fiue pounds or vpwards at the time of his Decease out of the Diocesse where hee liued and was resident or died the Will of the Defunct is proued and recorded in the Prerogatiue for the whole Estate The Records of the Prerogatiue are as ancient as vntill Septimo Richardi secundi Anno Domini 1383. And it hath none more ancient as appeares by their Kalenders which are exceeding well made vp and disposed For all such Wills as are of more antiquitie you shall search for them with the generall Register of the Arch-bishop in whose Office both these Businesses were carryed till the diuision of the same made at the time aforesaid ADMINISTRATIONS THE same Rules and Obseruations are to bee held in matter of Administration of Goods c. THE PROPER DIOCESSE IN case where the whole Personall estate of the Defunct doth or did at the time of his Decease remaine or bee within the Diocesse where hee liued and was resident or died so that the value of fiue pounds or vpwards thereof is not or was not at such time in any other Diocesse the Will of such Defunct is proued and recorded in the proper Diocesse with the Register of the Arch-Deacon or his Officiall of course or the Commissarie And in the Bishops Visitation with his Chancellor or Commissarie with reseruation onely to the peculiars together with the benefit of generall Visitation Note that by reason of the familiaritie betweene the Bishops Commissarie and the Arch-Deacon commonly you may finde Wills not being of Prerogatiue nature so soone sometimes with the one as the other The like Rule is of Administrations in the Diocesse Onely note That sometimes you shall finde Wills proued and Administration granted in seuerall Diocesse quoad vnto seuerall parts or parcels of the estate of the Defunct lying and being at the time of his death so separate and diuided And sometime those which of right are proued or granted and recorded in the Prerogatiue to be likewise called to be proued or recorded in the proper Diocesse For such Wills as fall in time of Visitation either of the Arch-Bishop or the Bishop of the Diocesse you must search for them according to the Rule of their times and yeares of Visitation wherein they are very certaine And as I take it heretofore when the Pope had power of Visitation in England hee tooke likewise Probate of Wills c. Which may be very well now missing inter alia OBSERVATION You shall note that there be some Wills of the deceased which cannot be found with the Register of any Court Christian and yet are extant in the Chaple of the Rolls of Chancerie or the Tower in their Offices post mortem And lastly some Wills which cannot bee found either with Register of Court Christian or in Chancerie may in case inter alia where the deceased hath deuised any thing to any Societie or Bodie Politique bee found inrolled in the House Colledge Hospitall Hall Abbey c. to whom such things were deuised or amongst the Records of such Societies dissolued or amongst the Euidences of such as vnto whom the same things so giuen haue sithence come if you pursue the same And this shall suffice for Wills and Testaments wherein I onely write mine owne Practice PRESENTATIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS NEXT there are with the Register of the Courts Christian Presentations Confirmations To Spirituall Promotions being eyther Proper to the proper Patron or Accidentarie by Lapse 1. For the proper Presentation search with the Register of the Bishop or of the Deane and Chapter in cases where they haue the Propertie originally and the Record thereof is to be found with them respectiuely 2. And with the Bishops Register onely in case the Presentation falls vnto him by Lapse 3. But in case where any other priuate Patron doth present in his owne right in his due time the best light for discouerie thereof is by the Induction and sometimes by the confirmation of such Grants 4. Or in cases where the King presents by Lapse or Omission in the Bishop search in the Chancerie and generally in most cases search in the First Fruits CONFIRMATIONS COnfirmations are for the most part with the Bishop of the Diocesse And you shall find before the Dissolution of the Abbeyes that Spirituall Liuings or Promotions were seldome giuen to any Religious House but that the Patron of the same House confirmed it and kept Record thereof IMMVNITIES THERE are next with the Registers of Courts Christian Records of Immunities Priuiledges Rights of Prescription granted to Bodies Politique or Priuate As For exemption from paying of Tithe at all For paying of a Rate Tithe For paying or doing somewhat in stead of Tithe For exemption from comming to the Parish Church For exemption from diuers other Duties as Watch Ward and others of diuers other sorts For Peculiarities For Priuiledges of diuerse kinds For Faculties of diuerse natures And these by custome and continuance haue attained to such reputation that notwithstanding the Records should bee lost yet the Remembrance or Prescription of them holdeth his wonted force and validitie And which is most strange to me that notwithstanding there bee many times in many cases Records to cleare the Prescription in question yet in pleading they doe often vse no other argument but the memorie of Man which may erre And therefore I could wish that the seuerall Registers of all Diocesse would collect all such Records that thereof there might bee a perfect Volume digested for Succession But alas if most of these Immunities Priuiledges and Rights were graunted at the first and generally afterwards confirmed by the Popes Visitant in England as I partly know and am otherwise induced to beleeue the same Where may I then say these Records are to be found so perfect as at Rome Where I haue heard credibly that they bee very carefully preserued at this houre and would if they might be had cleare many tedious and expensiue Suits for matter of Prescription And if they whom it chiefely concernes would be at the charge thereof I durst vndertake with Gods assistance to bring them all exemplified faithfully into England within three yeares Thus omitting to speake of any Record concerning Matters of Matrimonie which is Twynne with matter of Contract hauing no other naturall Mother then Court Christian because it is euery mans Learning I passe it ouer with all other their Records which tend not to the enucleating of Title and Estate And if any one answer that the Confirmation or Nullitie of Marriage toucheth many an ones Free-hold and personall Estate very neerely and therefore would not bee so slightly pretermitted I reply touching Marriages questionable vpon Propinquitie of Blood Pre-contract want of Age in eyther partie indirect accomplishment Disparitie want of Consummation or Disabilitie of the Minister marrying the parties with the like proceedings tending to Separation or Nullitie you shall search in the Proper Diocesse generally and sometimes with the Register of the High Commission But the Misdemeanors themselues in surreptitious Marriages are of later times for the most part to be found in the Star-chamber And for the Solemnization of the Marriage it selfe search the Parochiall Register Which because it is sometimes vncertaine in regard that the Marriage performed by Facultie of Licence may alter the place it were not amisse that all Church-Wardens might be enioyned to present quarterly euery particular Marriage celebrated in their Parishes respectiuely THus hauing brought the execution and intention of these Labours into a Circle presuming that you will not in Title of Coppy-hold require mee to open that of which for the most part your Steward of the Mannor and certaine of the Coppy-holders keepe the Keyes Neyther to informe you in the Customes Liberties or Priuiledges of Cities and Townes Corporate which your Librarie-Keeper or other Officer who keepes the Treasurie of all the same Records in their common Guild-Hall can onely shew you especially for the Customes of the Citie of London whereupon old Dunthorne and their Liber Albus doe most excellently treat I rest Sub rostro Cyconiâ— FINIS