Subfonds COL/RG - RECOGNIZANCES

Identity area

Reference code

COL/RG

Title

RECOGNIZANCES

Date(s)

  • 1285-1685 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

Extent and medium

1.5 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

A recognizance was a bond or obligation, entered into and recorded before a court or magistrate, by which a person engaged himself to perform some act or observe some condition (for example, to appear when called on, to pay a debt, or to keep the peace). It can also refer to a sum of money pledged as a surety for such performance and rendered forfeit by neglect of it.

These recognizances were created under the terms of the statute of Acton Burnel and the Statute of Merchants (1283-1285), which regulated and improved the legal processes of debt collection. The recognizances were duly authenticated and enrolled before the local "Keeper of the Merchant's Seal" (in the case of London, the Mayor and a clerk specially designated by the King), and thus were documents of legal record, accepted by the judicial authorities as the final and incontrovertible proof of the authenticity of a debt. They were therefore of great benefit to creditors and provided the warrant for immediate and drastic action against defaulters, including imprisonment and seizure of property.

Some of the entries include recognizances by non-Londoners, lists of witnesses to the recognizance and the cause of the entry (e.g. the purchase of wool). Later rolls include dating by day of the month rather than feast day and include more English phrases. Their character is mainly mercantile.

Archival history

COL/RG 1285-1685 subfonds 1.5 linear metres Corporation of London

A recognizance was a bond or obligation, entered into and recorded before a court or magistrate, by which a person engaged himself to perform some act or observe some condition (for example, to appear when called on, to pay a debt, or to keep the peace). It can also refer to a sum of money pledged as a surety for such performance and rendered forfeit by neglect of it.

These recognizances were created under the terms of the statute of Acton Burnel and the Statute of Merchants (1283-1285), which regulated and improved the legal processes of debt collection. The recognizances were duly authenticated and enrolled before the local "Keeper of the Merchant's Seal" (in the case of London, the Mayor and a clerk specially designated by the King), and thus were documents of legal record, accepted by the judicial authorities as the final and incontrovertible proof of the authenticity of a debt. They were therefore of great benefit to creditors and provided the warrant for immediate and drastic action against defaulters, including imprisonment and seizure of property.

Some of the entries include recognizances by non-Londoners, lists of witnesses to the recognizance and the cause of the entry (e.g. the purchase of wool). Later rolls include dating by day of the month rather than feast day and include more English phrases. Their character is mainly mercantile.

Corporation of London Records Office.

Recognizances of debts, 1285, 1291-1296, 1298-1299, 1309-1311, 1313-1317, 1345-1346, 1363-1364, 1377-1393.

Recognizances of freemen and sureties, [1436-1497]

Miscellaneous recognizances on bonds, [1612-1685].

In sections according to catalogue.

Available for general access.

Copyright City of London.
Latin, Old English

Generally fit, some may be fragile.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. February 2009 City of London Europe Corporation of London Bonds Information sources Documents Primary documents Recognizances London England UK Western Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Corporation of London Records Office.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Recognizances of debts, 1285, 1291-1296, 1298-1299, 1309-1311, 1313-1317, 1345-1346, 1363-1364, 1377-1393.

Recognizances of freemen and sureties, [1436-1497]

Miscellaneous recognizances on bonds, [1612-1685].

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

In sections according to catalogue.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Latin, Old English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

The original papers are among the Church Missionary Society Archive at Birmingham University Information Services, Special Collections Department.

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area