Catalogue description Palatinate of Lancaster: Chancery Court: Pleadings, Miscellanea

This series consists of miscellaneous records of the Chancery Court of Lancaster, comprising those court records which have not been allocated a series of their own.

The earliest records substantially pre-date the records in the related series. They consist of writs, fiats, warrants, petitions, certificates and other instruments; and some odd plea rolls and judgments. The later records do not start until the mid 17th century (among them a pauper's admission book), and most are of the 18th and 19th century: appearance books, minutes, consents, deeds, decrees, Registrars' papers, affidavits, retainers, bills of costs, copies of pleadings, court fees, orders, reports, orders of reference, petitions, warrants, accounts, a few parliamentary by-election writs, fiats for commissioners of oaths and for the swearing of lay justices.

The indexes for the years 1473 to 1735, formerly PL 14/4-12, are now IND 1/8851-8859. The series formerly included a set of indexes compiled at the Preston Registry. These were PL 14/13-15, which are now IND 1/8860-8862.

The only index still in the series (PL 14/164) is a rudimentary one. It covers the years 1725-1740, providing cases whose profits are being tabulated with folio references. For enclosure awards in this series, see the 'List of some enclosure awards in the Public Record Office' with the CP 43 paper list.