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A Calendar of the fines for the County of 
Derby from thetv conmmencement tw the reign 
of Richard L. 
By W. H. Hart, F.S.A. 
INTRODUCTION. 
M|MONG the various classes of Public Records which 
a] have been preserved during the last seven hundred 
Z years, and handed down to us at the present 
time, there is none more valuable for topographical and genea- 
logical purposes than the Fines (Final Concords) of lands; a 
Calendar of which, for the county of Derby, is here commenced. 
As these documents may not be familiar to the general reader, 
a short description of their nature and origin may not be con- 
sidered out of place. 
Cruise,* in his learned ie on the subject, speaks thus of their 
history: ‘‘ When landed property first became the subject of 
alienation, it was found necessary to adopt some authentic mode 
of transfer, which might secure the possession, and evince the 
title of the purchaser. 
“ By the ancient common law, a charter of feoffment was, in 
general, the only written instrument whereby lands were trans- 
ferred or conveyed; but although this assurance derived great 
authenticity from the number of witnesses by whom it was 
usually attested, and the solemn and public manner in which 
livery of seisin was usually given; yet still it may be supposed 
that inconveniences would frequently arise, either from the loss 
* An essay on ‘*The Nature and Operation of Fines and Recoveries,” by 
William Cruise, Esq., of Lincoln’s Inn, Barrister-at-law, 1794. 
