Sous-fonds COL/RG - RECOGNIZANCES

1.5 linear metres

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

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.

• anglais

• latin

Latin, Old English

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

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

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.

• anglais