Being cited in a US Supreme Court amicus brief was definitely not on my 2026 bingo card, yet here we are. (Solely because I wrote about Star Chamber process in an edited collection, but I'll take the win!)

Fantastic presentation by @thegozfather.bsky.social this morning in the @sogorg.bsky.social's series of talks about Court Records. A great tip about using Exchequer records to learn more about pubs (as they were used to host Country depositions). #Genelaogy #FamilyHistory #LocalHistory #PubHistory

Item descriptions for REQ 2/299-308 (Court of Requests proceedings for James I and Charles I) now searchable on Discovery. This 1624 case in particular caught my eye, about the East India Company getting too big for just one clerk. REQ 2/302/2 discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2...

Item descriptions for REQ 2/299-308 (Court of Requests proceedings for James I and Charles I) now searchable on Discovery. This 1624 case in particular caught my eye, about the East India Company getting too big for just one clerk. REQ 2/302/2 discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2...

Being cited in a US Supreme Court amicus brief was definitely not on my 2026 bingo card, yet here we are. (Solely because I wrote about Star Chamber process in an edited collection, but I'll take the win!)

In 2019, I gave a talk for The National Archives on the fall of Thomas Wolsey. I'm still inordinately pleased with this visual gag.

Using our collection for your research? Join one of our open days for a deep dive into the collection areas most relevant to your research and the opportunity to pick the brains of our experts. Find out what areas we’re exploring this spring and book your place. link.bl.uk/DoctoralOpenDays

A very unexpected surprise. Browsing the 17th Century Agarde indexes (as one does) and found these lovely illuminated pages. TNA IND 1/17089

An honest to goodness Hey Nonny Nonny in a 1680s King's Bench case. Lovely stuff [TNA KB 33/5/5]

On 16 February, I'll be chatting to @tudorstuartseminar.bsky.social about how the new online catalogue descriptions for Elizabethan litigation in Star Chamber, Requests, and more have opened up the research potential of these vast collections. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

On 16 February, I'll be chatting to @tudorstuartseminar.bsky.social about how the new online catalogue descriptions for Elizabethan litigation in Star Chamber, Requests, and more have opened up the research potential of these vast collections. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

My team are looking for a new team leader and Modern Britain (post-1782) specialist. Closes 22nd February and do get in touch if you have any questions www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQJ050/t...

Next week Wednesday 11 February we are delighted to have @pbhellawell.bsky.social & @libertypaterson.bsky.social present their paper titled 'The Ship Bedford: Atlantic and Archival Crossings in the Long Eighteenth-Century Slave Trade'. Join us either in person at the IHR or online from 17:30

I found a cool thing today. A 1660 list of diocesan jurisdiction, listing the number of parishes each diocese covered. Lincoln, as expected, absolutely dominating with 1255 parishes. TNA IND 1/17125

I found a cool thing today. A 1660 list of diocesan jurisdiction, listing the number of parishes each diocese covered. Lincoln, as expected, absolutely dominating with 1255 parishes. TNA IND 1/17125

Booking is now open for my @tudorstuartseminar.bsky.social talk on 16 February, examining Elizabethan Law and Litigation in light of the new catalogue descriptions available on The National Archives online catalogue. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Law courts on tour! In times of plague, the central law courts could move from Westminster Hall. This lovely 16th Cent plan of Hertford Castle shows where the Courts of Requests, Wards, Common Pleas, King's Bench, and Exchequer were based when there. TNA MPF 1/161

A very unexpected surprise. Browsing the 17th Century Agarde indexes (as one does) and found these lovely illuminated pages. TNA IND 1/17089

📚 The Early History of the English Bar In this lecture, Professor Sir John Baker explores the origins of the Bar, the rise of Serjeants-at-Law, and the growing influence of the Inns of Court. 🗓 Monday 30 March, 6pm 👥 Open to the public 🎟️ Bookings: nrtm.pl/4kcP7c2

Quick search tip for genealogists using the REQ 2 (Court of Requests) catalogue. You can search for "pedigree" to find items that include pedigrees brought into court as evidence. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_a...

Let me put something positive in the world! In about seven weeks, I do one of my FAVORITE things. While we have the GSU History of the Common Law class in London, I give them a personalized tour of Westminster Abbey. We hit all the highlights, with special care given to late the 1500s-1800.

The first REQ 2 (Court of Requests proceedings) bundles for James I (which also include some Charles I proceedings) are now searchable on The National Archives online catalogue. As ever, loads of interesting stuff in there. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C...

Spent some time with this beauty today. 1650s King's Bench Plea Roll. TNA KB 27/1777

Not just interrogatories either. I found this great set of 18th Century plans of The Angel Inn on Wych Street, Westminster.

In case anyone needs a timeline cleanse, I spent a good hour sorting these Chancery interrogatories this afternoon. Very therapeutic. TNA C 127/4

Guess who's writing about praemunire again.

Law courts on tour! In times of plague, the central law courts could move from Westminster Hall. This lovely 16th Cent plan of Hertford Castle shows where the Courts of Requests, Wards, Common Pleas, King's Bench, and Exchequer were based when there. TNA MPF 1/161

The Court of King's Bench could hear the most serious of criminal cases. They also had to hear misdemeanours such as this one against John Carver, for "insulting the French Ambassador by knocking violently on his door" [Rex v Carver, East Geo II] TNA KB 33/11/6

Always remember to belt and buckle your plea roll, otherwise who knows what evil might be unleashed. TNA CP 40/2641 [Common Pleas Easter 1654] discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3...

Always remember to belt and buckle your plea roll, otherwise who knows what evil might be unleashed. TNA CP 40/2641 [Common Pleas Easter 1654] discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3...

Obligatory performative pint and a book before my Oxford talk this evening.

Spent some time with this beauty today. 1650s King's Bench Plea Roll. TNA KB 27/1777

33 month postdoc (0.8 FTE) on a really interesting project at Essex on #EarlyModern German and English witchcraft... www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQC497/s...

The Court of King's Bench could hear the most serious of criminal cases. They also had to hear misdemeanours such as this one against John Carver, for "insulting the French Ambassador by knocking violently on his door" [Rex v Carver, East Geo II] TNA KB 33/11/6

I'm in this issue, harping on about Elizabethan litigation again. Thanks to @deegonz92.bsky.social for having me.

Booking is now open for my @tudorstuartseminar.bsky.social talk on 16 February, examining Elizabethan Law and Litigation in light of the new catalogue descriptions available on The National Archives online catalogue. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

In the last two years, over 60,000 item descriptions for Elizabethan Star Chamber (STAC 5) and Requests (REQ 2) have been added to The National Archives' online catalogue. Come hear me shout (more) about it @tudorstuartseminar.bsky.social on 16 February.

In the last two years, over 60,000 item descriptions for Elizabethan Star Chamber (STAC 5) and Requests (REQ 2) have been added to The National Archives' online catalogue. Come hear me shout (more) about it @tudorstuartseminar.bsky.social on 16 February.

Happy New Year from the IHR Tudor & Stuart seminar! We will be back at the IHR a week today: Monday 19 January, 5:30pm, in-person at the IHR, and on zoom: Holly Brewer (Maryland) @earlymodjustice.bsky.social & Elizabeth Hines (Johns Hopkins): ‘How to Steal the Spanish Silver Fleet’. All welcome!

That's the thing about buses...

More serious research this afternoon as I spent 20 minutes confirming that the French "queue" could translate to "prick" (it can).

Very much looking forward to @kategibson.bsky.social speaking about 'Fostering in 18th Century Britain' to @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social on Wednesday. All welcome either online or in person, but please register www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Happy 250th birthday to Thomas Paine's (T-Paine, if you will) Common Sense. I briefly wrote about it in the America chapter of A History of Treason. *cough* shameless self promotion *end cough* shop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/products/a-h...

Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended. They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision. Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...

More serious research this afternoon as I spent 20 minutes confirming that the French "queue" could translate to "prick" (it can).

New post from Cassie Watson! Murder, Medicine, Money: A Met Police—Home Office Dispute, 1889-90 legalhistorymiscellany.com/2025/12/26/m...

In February 2026, I'm giving a trio of talks for the Society of Genealogists, part of their series on the English Law Courts before 1800. portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...

My 2026 talks start in the 18th Century, looking (once again) at the Chevalier d'Eon in the English Law Courts. I found some new cases just before Xmas, so this 20 Jan talk will be the first time I get to chat about those (I will write them up soon, I promise). www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/even...

Places still available for for our FREE Quick Guide on Settlement Papers. this Friday 9 Jan 2026 Book your place here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1829442233... #FamlyHistory #Ancestry

In February 2026, I'm giving a trio of talks for the Society of Genealogists, part of their series on the English Law Courts before 1800. portal.sog.org.uk/Event/view/1...