Raw medieval court records illuminate Yorkshire’s religious houses
This edition, Notes on the Religious and Secular Houses of Yorkshire, Vol. 1, extracts entries from public rolls to illustrate how works like Malton Priory and Leonard’s Hospital are shown in legal proceedings. The material covers centuries of small and large disputes, including tithe, advowson, rents, and seisin, offering a window into the day‑to‑day workings of York’s religious and secular endowments.
The pages present actual cases—often in the form of writs and judgments—showing how masters, priors, canons, and lay claimants navigated authority, property, and duty. While it concentrates on medieval England, the text is arranged to help modern readers follow the people and places named in these records, and to understand how law interfaced with religion and charity.
- Explore the kinds of disputes that shaped religious houses, from rightful seisin to annual rents.
- See how church and crown interacted in the enforcement of writs and prohibitions.
- Learn how to read period legal citations and the structure of medieval courts.
- Get a focused view of Malton Priory and Leonard’s Hospital in York through primary record excerpts.
Ideal for readers interested in medieval law, church history, and the practical workings of Yorkshire’s historic houses.