Catalogue description Commissioners for Charitable Uses: Inquisitions and Decrees

Inquisitions by commissioners appointed under acts of 1597 and 1601 to investigate abuses of charitable bequests or donations. The decrees of the commissioners correcting the abuses are normally found with the inquisitions.

Included are inquisitions returned to the Palatinate of Lancaster as well as those returned to Chancery. From the late seventeenth century the use of such commissions began to decline and abuses of charities were rectified by proceedings by information in Chancery itself.

Confirmations and Exonerations of Decrees are in C 90

Depositions are in C 91

Fiats of the lord chancellor appointing commissioners for charitable uses are in C 192/1