Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 9, Edward III. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1916.
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J. E. E. S. Sharp. E. G. Atkinson. J. J. O'Reilly. G. J. Morris, 'Preface', in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 9, Edward III, (London, 1916) pp. vii-viii. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol9/vii-viii [accessed 20 May 2024].
J. E. E. S. Sharp. E. G. Atkinson. J. J. O'Reilly. G. J. Morris. "Preface", in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 9, Edward III, (London, 1916) vii-viii. British History Online, accessed May 20, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol9/vii-viii.
Sharp, J. E. E. S.. Atkinson, E. G.. O'Reilly, J. J.. Morris, G. J.. "Preface", Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Volume 9, Edward III, (London, 1916). vii-viii. British History Online. Web. 20 May 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol9/vii-viii.
PREFACE.
The present volume is a further instalment of a Calendar of certain documents selected from the class formerly known as Escheats, or Inquisitions post mortem. It deals with the period from the 21st to the 25th year of Edward III. The shortness of the period covered is accounted for by the great mortality due to the visitation of the Black Death in the 23rd year (1349). This not only caused a great increase in the number of deaths of tenants in chief during its actual prevalence, but by killing mesne lords, whose heirs were minors, put their tenants temporarily into the position of tenants in chief, so that the number of escheats falling to the crown was swelled for years after by an unusual number of deaths of tenants of minors in the king’s wardship.
Moreover, the confusion in the administration caused by the pestilence resulted in a large number of deaths passing unnoticed for years. In such a case a writ without the clauses Quia …… diem clausit extremum and omnes terras …… capiatis in manum nostram, &c. was issued, simply directing the escheator to enquire as to the date of death, estate, and heir of the deceased. Sometimes the time that elapsed between the death and the issue of the writ amounted to ten years, or more, and to suit such cases a clause was added requiring information as to who had had possession of the estate of the deceased since his death and received the issues. In this volume and in future volumes of the Calendar, every writ not otherwise described is to be understood to be a writ of Diem clausit extremum in the usual form.
The text of this volume has been prepared by Mr. E. G. Atkinson, an Assistant Record Keeper, with some assistance from Mr. G. J. Morris, M.A., until lately an Assistant Record Keeper, and Mr. A. E. Stamp, M.A., of this Office. The index has been prepared by Mr. J. J. O’Reilly, M.A., of this Office.
H. C. MAXWELL LYTE.
Public Record Office,
9 May, 1916.