It was no part of the original design of the present work to present specimens of the great class of private ‘Diplomata.’ The adequate treatment of this subject would require a separate volume, whilst the classification and diplomatic description of these instruments have been dealt with in several important treatises and official editions. But although a large mass of Ancient Deeds, as well as Manor Rolls, Accounts and Correspondence is now preserved amongst the Public Records, it must be insisted that these are merely fortuitous acquisitions. At the same time, however, we find many species of private diplomata entered in the Rolls of the Courts or in Books of Remembrance as a matter of precaution or favour. Moreover, the very forms of these private deeds were adapted to serve various royal or ministerial requirements and a very considerable number of such instruments are preserved both as originals and enrolments amongst the Exchequer and Chancery Records.

The semi-official instruments referred to above might be classified under the several denominations applicable to their legal or official character. Thus under the head of Conveyances we should find besides Deed Polls plentiful instances of Releases or Quit-claims (Nos. 141—144) amongst the Rolls and Registers of the Chancery, Exchequer and Bench. It may be observed, however, that’ Fines’ or Final Concords, will be noticed in another volume dealing with the Records of Judicial Proceedings. Under the head of Contracts we should meet with a still larger number of Bonds and Recognizances (Nos. 145, 151), Oaths (Nos. 149, 150), Indentures (No. 146) and Assignments.