Catalogue description Duchy of Lancaster: Drafts of Warrants and Commissions

The records in this series are the drafts of documents created by the Duchy of Lancaster office in the day to day administration of the Duchy's possessions throughout England and Wales.

The commissions consist of a letter sent to a Duchy officer or other local man to survey, or enquire about some aspect concerning, the possessions of the Duchy, including manors, castles and honors.

There are, therefore, commissions to enquire into concealed lands, encroachments and enclosures, the settlement of boundaries, spoils of woods and sales of timber, treasure trove and the goods of felons, outlaws and serfs, and the condition and repair of castles, parks, manors, bridges, mills, weirs and sea banks.

In addition, there are commissions to enquire into the misdemeanours of Duchy officers and to attest to officers' oaths, as well as to attest execution of counterpart leases, bonds and surrenders. Also included are drafts of commissions of sewers under the seal of the Duchy produced according to the Statute of Sewers of 1531.

As well as the commissions are administrative warrants to Duchy officers to carry out a specific action, usually to pay or receive money. These warrants for action should not be confused with the chancellor's paper warrants of authorization to the clerk of the Duchy to prepare the commissions and warrants, which are usually found attached to the drafts in this series.

The chancellor's warrant may also be found on returned commissions, and on petitions and letters sent by Duchy officers with information relating to Duchy possessions.

Duchy of Lancaster, 1399-

From 2021 Duchy of Lancaster