| Description | A pentice court is known to have been in existence in Chester in the 1280s, although the earliest surviving roll dates from 1298. It took its name from the Pentice, a building attached to St. Peter's Church. Until c.1340, proceedings were held before the mayor and sheriffs. After that date, it became exclusively the sheriffs' court and was recognised as such in Henry VII's 'Great Charter' of 1506 (CH/32). The pentice court met on most days of the week, although Monday was the most popular. It dealt with cases of covenant, debt, detinue and trespass. By c.1379, proceedings were often unfinished unless there was an agreement between the parties, either because the plaintiff failed to prosecute or the defendant to appear. When an action proceeded to a conclusion, judgement was given by the jury which awarded damages. Cases could be removed from the pentice to other courts (see SFW and mayors' petitions (MPE)). After c.1560, the formal proceedings of the pentice and portmote courts are filed together, making a series known as general court rolls (MSR). For further information about the origin and early proceedings of the pentice court see A. Hopkins, Selected Rolls of the Chester City Courts, Chetham Society, 3rd series, volume. 2, 1950. |