Catalogue description Palace Court: Bail Books

Books recording bails for defendants in cases before the Palace Court, kept apparently for the prothonotary of the court. There are entries for both common bails, where the pledges are the fictitious John Doe and Richard Roe, and special bails, where the pledges are real people whose names, addresses and occupations or status are given. The latter are annotated 'taken conditionally' or 'taken absolute'. The entries begin with the names of the parties to the case, and some are annotated with the outcome, or a cross-reference to the appropriate rotulus of the plea roll.

Until 1752 most volumes are in respect of one year only, commencing on 25 March. Thereafter the year commences on 1 January, though each volume covers more than one year, and the later volumes cease to begin at the beginning of a year. There are a few gaps between 1692 and 1773, not all of which are clear from the list.