Catalogue description Duchy of Lancaster: Bonds of Obligation

This series consists of bonds of obligation created as part of the administration of the estate of the Duchy of Lancaster and the operation of the Court of Duchy Chamber.

The bond is in two parts. In the first part an individual agrees to bind himself to another individual for a certain sum of money. This sum is only to be paid, however, if the condition in the second part of the document is not fulfilled.

The most common use of the bond of obligation was as a security bond on the appointment of an accounting officer of the Duchy, who promised to account correctly to the Auditor General and Receiver General of the Duchy. He would provide sureties to this effect, who were similarly bound.

Folded into the bonds will be found other documents, such as writs of dedimus potestatem, warrants for the preparation of this writ, and warrants for the preparation of the bonds themselves.

Bonds of obligation were used for other purposes too. Individuals were bound to the Chancellor of the Duchy to pay arrears of accounts, debts due from sales of wood, to keep clauses of covenant in leases of Duchy lands, and to repair enclosures they had pulled down.

Individuals were also bound to appear before the chancellor and council in the guise of the Court of Duchy Chamber. The bonds in which individuals agree to abide by the orders and decrees of this court in the settlement of disputes evinces the development of the court's equity jurisdiction. Warrants for the production of these bonds will also be found.

The bonds of obligation in this series will be mentioned in the Court of Duchy Chamber's entry books (see DL 5), and in the books of revenue orders of the separate sessions of the Court 'sitting upon the revenue' (see DL 42/143-146, 172-185:

DL 5

DL 42

Duchy of Lancaster, 1399-

From 2021 Duchy of Lancaster

Indexed lists of Duchy Officers for the period up to 1603 will be found in pp 343-654 of R Somerville, History of the Duchy of Lancaster, (London, 1953). For the period after 1603, see R Somerville, Office-Holders in the Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster from 1603 (Chichester, 1972).