| Description | At front, preface (in English) written by A Bradshawe, gentleman, "To all his loving ffrendes neighbours his Majesties Copyholders" in Duffield Frith and to others, on his taking great care and at extraordinary cost to collect and make a book of register from the surrenders, inquisition and court rolls recorded at Tutbury. while Deputy Steward there, by patent of Gilbert, Earl of Shrewsbury, High Steward of the Honour of Tutbury. He requests that any charges made in consulting the register be used for the benefit of his little almshouse in Duffield and that a box or chest for the register was to be kept there.
Main text
Entries of copyhold transactions held in the Small Courts and Views of Frankledge with Great Courts Baron for all the manors in the fee, but not in exact chronological order, which is often confused. partly caused by incorrect binding during repair in the mid-20th century
Courts held at Windley, Cowhouse Lane, Belper, Duffield, Biggin, Chevin House or Chevinside
Double page entries, with contemporary numbers in top right corner (several pages unnumbered). Later pencil numbers also in bottom (with gap between 48 and 65)
Pages 1-44 - courts dated 19 June 37 Elizabeth [1595] to 14 January 41 Elizabeth [1599]
Pages 61-124 - courts dated 9 April 42 Elizabeth [1600] to 25 April 2 James [1604]; from pages 119 (copied from different book) 12 July 2 James [1604], 3 August 38 Elizabeth [1596] to 24 May 41 Elizabeth [1599]
Pages 45-60 - court, 24 May 41 Elizabeth [1599] to 13 March 42 Elizabeth [1600]
Pages 125-146 - courts for Belper only, 22 Sep 39 Elizabeth [1597] to 11 July 3 James [1605]
Pages 147-200 - courts for Duffield Fee, 11 July 2 James [1604] to 25 Feb 5 James [1608]
Pages 201-207 - courts for Belper only, 1 August 3 James [1605] to 5 Jan 5 James [1608]
Pages 208- court for Duffield Fee, 28 May 3 James [1605]
Pages 209-210 Index of personal names [created 18th century]
Unnumbered pages - "Observations" on the date of the volume, the Crown being lord of the manor, names of manors in the Fee, the purchsee by Paul Jodrell, late Clerk of the House of Commons, of all the manors except Heage and Holbrook, the book of customs devised by Bradshaw, the court books only containing surrenders and no court leet business, fines being arbitrary and compound fines only began after the time the book ended; the nature of various tenures (e.g freehold, land held at will, bondage, land by custom), heriots, reeves, infant guardians, etc
At end, note bound in on particular surrenders (1598-1601) and two vertical strips from illuminated manuscript.
The volume has been repaired in the mid-20th century, with pages 61-124 having been sewn back in the wrong place. |