| Description | Inquisitions are the records of inquiries by jury, conducted by the sheriffs, on the authority of royal writs. There are three main categories of inquisition: inquiries into people's lands, goods and chattels, the people concerned being occasionally referred to as debtors of the Crown or outlaws; similar inquiries on the authority of writs issued by the court of wards and liveries; and inquiries into the whereabouts of certain persons. The documents were originally filed. All except one (SFI/17), were repaired in the 1930s and left in loose bundles. Writs as well as inquisitions are found on SF1/17. |