The history of the Inquisition of Queenborough and its importance in English maritime law are discussed in chapter 1. The fourteenth-century Anglo-Norman text was transcribed and translated by Twiss in his edition of the Black Book of Admiralty. Most of the articles in the Twiss translation are considered to be accurate and are reproduced either in full or in summary, depending on their relevance to the present work. Where the translation or interpretation of an article is in question, a retranslation and, if necessary, a retranscription, are given here.

Between 1375 and 1403, the Inquisition sat in three ‘sessions’, partially separated here as Sections 1, 2 and 3. Within each section, for continuity, the jurors' decisions have been grouped by subject.

Section 1: Terms of employment, wage rates and pilots

Article 1 (summary): If a fully victualled and paid crew bound for Bordeaux or elsewhere find anything of value at sea, the ship is to have two thirds and the crew one third.

Comment: None required.

Article 2: Item, dient des ditz jurez qune nef en alant devers Bordeaux ou ailleurs pour prendre sa charge, les mariners estantz a mengier et boire et prenants louyers et portage y prengne aucune avantage de freight en alant devers leur charge prendre sans geteson de leur last les mariners navront que stowage et levage, et se une nef prent sa plaine charge, soit il au port devant leur departir ou en leur voye, et facent geteson de leur last a cause de mesme la charge prendre chacun mariner de ce prendra demy louyer.