The bill in Hobson’s hand tallies the cost of transporting numerous parcels and bundles of books, and also a saddle. Only part settlement had been made. The bill was submitted for payment by Reignold Bridges’s executor, Thomas Bridges, as part of the process of settling his debts after his death in 1591¹. 

The Chancellor had successfully claimed probate of the wills of members of the University and others providing service to the University, known as privileged persons, from at least the early fourteenth century. Although technically the Chancellor's Court, by the sixteenth century the Vice-Chancellor presided.

Reignold or Reginald or Renell Bridges of Great St Mary’s parish was a bookseller and privileged person. He was also sued in the Vice-Chancellor's Court for non-payment of debts in 1589 by Hercules Francois, bookseller of London². His will survives among the probate records of the Court, together with a will transcript, administration bond and inventory³.

For an outline of the jurisdiction and procedure of the University courts, and the methodology employed in presenting records online, see the introduction to this CUDL collection.

 ¹ The judicial acta relating to his will are among the exhibita of the Vice-Chancellor's Court (classmark: UA VCCt.III.2/90).

 ² See the Act Book entry classmark: UA VCCt.I.2 f.6r.

 ³ Catalogued as classmark: UA VCCt Wills 3b, Register II f.127, Invs 6, Admons 2.