Record

Hierarchy Browser Number8001/1/4
TitleLiber Recorda
DescriptionThe earliest Liber Recorda were once thought to have been very early Chamber Order Books (i.e. council minutes, which start from a later date). There is some overlap as to the subjects included in each. Apart from the recording of deeds, there appears to have been an element of personal discretion as to what was included in the Liber Recorda. They relate to the administration of Worcester and the duties of the Corporation officers, including copies of important documents. In them are enrolments of apprentices and Freemen, entries from the Assize of Bread, pleas in various legal cases with occasional jury panels, recognizances (acknowledgements) of a debt or obligation under Statue Merchant (ability of the creditor to seize goods or property if the debtor defaulted), and enrolment of deeds (as prescribed by the charter of Philip and Mary, 1554). Some of the very early volumes contain fees paid by the 24 and 48, and sales and prices of horses. The volumes are written in Latin until the mid seventeenth century, and until 1653 were bound in parchment. Volumes have been missing since at least 1874 when the Town Clerk listed the contents of the Corporation Library. Many of the later volumes contain a significant number of blank pages, as the information was recorded elsewhere.

Where there are gaps, please see Court Books in 496.5 BA9360/A9, as many of these appear to be mislabelled Liber Recordum.
Date1522-1739
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