Eyres in United Kingdom

(Source: the University of South Caroline Gould School of Law) The justices in eyre heard all crown pleas and many common pleas, especially actions concerning land. It was customary for the eyres to visit the shires at seven year intervals, although in practice the intervals were much more varied.

Eyres and Medieval Law

Eyres and Legal History

Legal Materials

(Compiled by the University of South Caroline Gould School of Law) 1221 Gloucestershire

Maitland, Frederic W., ed. Pleas of the Crown for the County of Gloucester Before the Abbot of Reading and His Fellows Justices Itinerant: in the Fifth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Third and the Year of Grace 1221. London: Macmillan, 1884.

Abstract: Crown pleas and crown pleas amercements heard before the Justices Itinerant, it transcribes much of the rolls of Gloucestershire eyre of 1221. Text in Latin with English notes.

Stenton, Doris M. P., ed. Rolls of the Justices in Eyre for Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Shropshire, 1221, 1222. The Selden Society (SS), 59 for 1940. London: Quaritch, 1940.

Abstract: Latin text and English translation. Continues the work done in Vol. 53 (Lincolnshire and Worcestershire) and Vol. 56 (Yorkshire) and completes the first General Eyre of Henry III. “Text consists of civil pleas and assizes from Gloucestershire and civil and crown pleas from Warwickshire and Shropshire, transcribed and translated from the original Eyre Rolls preserved in the Assize Rolls series at the PRO”

Watson, Edward J., ed. Pleas of the Crown for the Hundred of Swineshead and the Township of Bristol Taken at Bristol … in the Fifth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Third A.D. 1221 . Bristol: Hemmons, 1902.

Abstract: Pleas before the Justices Itinerant.

1221 Shropshire

Stenton, Doris M. P., ed. Rolls of the Justices in Eyre for Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Shropshire, 1221, 1222. The Selden Society (SS), 59 for 1940. London: Quaritch, 1940.

Abstract: Latin text and English translation. Continues the work done in Vol. 53 (Lincolnshire and Worcestershire) and Vol. 56 (Yorkshire) and completes the first General Eyre of Henry III. “Text consists of civil pleas and assizes from Gloucestershire and civil and crown pleas from Warwickshire and Shropshire, transcribed and translated from the original Eyre Rolls preserved in the Assize Rolls series at the PRO”

1221 Warwickshire

Stenton, Doris M. P., ed. Rolls of the Justices in Eyre for Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Shropshire, 1221, 1222. The Selden Society (SS), 59 for 1940. London: Quaritch, 1940.

Abstract: Latin text and English translation. Continues the work done in Vol. 53 (Lincolnshire and Worcestershire) and Vol. 56 (Yorkshire) and completes the first General Eyre of Henry III. “Text consists of civil pleas and assizes from Gloucestershire and civil and crown pleas from Warwickshire and Shropshire, transcribed and translated from the original Eyre Rolls preserved in the Assize Rolls series at the PRO”

1221 Worcestershire

Stenton, Doris M. P., ed. Rolls of the Justices in Eyre for Lincolnshire and Worcestershire. The Selden Society (SS), 53 for 1934. London: Quaritch, 1934.

Abstract: Transcribes and translates the records of the eyres held in Lincolshire in 1218-1219 and Worcestershire in 1221 from the series of Assize Rolls preserved at the PRO. Contents: civil pleas from the Lincolshire eyre, 1-440; civil and crown pleas, amercements, lists of deodands from the Worcestershire eyre, 441-655.

1225 Somerset

Chadwyck-Healey, Sir Charles E. H., and Lionel Landon, eds. Somersetshire Pleas (Civil and Criminal), From the Rolls of the Itinerant Justices. 4 Vols. Somerset Record Society Publications, 11, 36, 41, & 44. London: The Society, 1897-1929.

Abstract: English translation. Includes two great rolls of lesser assize taken before Bracton.

Vol. 1, The close of 12th century – 41 Henry III. Contains essoins, assizes, indictments and gaol delivery, amercements of the 1225 general sessions for assizes and gaol delivery, Somerset (nos. 102-398); civil and crown pleas, Somerset eyre, 1243 (nos. 421 – 1264); list of Somerset eyres, 1219-1243.

1227 Bedfordshire

Fowler, George H., ed. Roll of the Justices in Eyre at Bedford, 1227. Bedfordshire Historical Record Society Publications, 3. London: Aspley Guise, 1916.

Abstract: Facsimile and English translation. Essoins, civil and crown pleas, with note of eyre issues from the first pipe roll account only.

1227 Staffordshire

Wrottesley, George, and William Salt Archaeological Society, ed. Collections for a History of Staffordshire. William Salt Archaeological Society, 3, 4, 5 pt.1, 6 pt.1, 7, 9 – 17; n.s., 3, 4, 6. London: Harrison and Sons, 1882-1996.

Abstract: Vol. 4, Plea rolls of Henry III; Includes selected civil and crown pleas from the 1227 Staffordshire eyre, 47-74; a small number of selected civil and crown pleas for the 1272 Staffordshire eyre, 191-215

1235 Surrey

Meekings, Cecil A. F., and David Crook, eds. The 1235 Surrey Eyre. 2 Vols. Guildford: Surrey Record Society, 1979.

Abstract: Vol. 1, introduction and biographia; Vol. 2, the Latin text as transcribed by C.A.F. Meekings in 1955-56, re-edited in this edition by David Crook and a translation added.

Bibliographies of English Law History

• Maxwell, William H. A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Volume 1: English Law to 1800. London: Sweet and Maxwell, 1955-
• Beale, Joseph H. A Bibliography of Early English Law Books. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1926.
• Winfield, Percy H. The Chief Sources of English Legal History. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1925.

Resources

See Also

• Canon Law (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Guilds (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Medieval Justice (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Torture (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Ecclesiastical Law (in this legal Encyclopedia)