VOLUME 5, PART 1; VOLUME 6, PART 1

Of Volume 5:

‘The assessment of knight service in Bedfordshire, no. 2,’ by John E. Morris [For the barony of Beauchamp of Bedford.]

‘St. John of SouthilI,’ by F. A. Page-Turner [The family and descendants of Francis St. John, b.1559, with pedigree.]

‘Some Saxon charters,’ by G. Herbert Fowler [An introduction and abstracts in English (with notes) of charters and wills for Luton (AD 793, 931); Flitton (798); Chalgrave and Tebworth (926); Langford and Clifton (will of 944-6); Aspley Guise (969); Hatley and Potton (c960, c969); Potton (nd); Oakley (nd, 1049-1054); Barton (1037); Sundon, Caddington, Streatley, Hatley and Putnoe (c.1053); Studham (1053-1066); Shillington, Barton, Oakley, Cranfield, Kempston and Clapham (1060) and Millo and Arlesey (1062).]

‘A late example of a deodand,’ by William Austin [Transcription with notes of an entry in the Luton court rolls for 1758. A deodand was an animal or object that contributed to a person’s death. It, or its value, was forfeit to the Crown. The procedure was abolished in 1846.]

Of Volume 6:

‘A calendar of the feet of fines for Bedfordshire, preserved in the Public Record Office, of the reigns of Richard I, John, and Henry Ill,’ edited by G. Herbert Fowler.

Feet of fines were the judgements about the ownership of land and property. They were often the result of collusive actions brought to establish title in the absence of documents. The judgement, or fine (derived from the Latin finis, meaning end), removed doubt or dispute and registered ownership. It was written three times on the same sheet of parchment, one for each of the two parties and the third lodged with the Court of Common Pleas and now in The National Archives.

Very good, only slight wear to printed-card (softback) covers.