The listing is of decrees made by the High Court of Chancery in London as reported on the official �London Gazette�, available online at 'http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/ .

They occur when in litigation it was necessary to, mainly, call for creditors or legatees to make claims. The Gazette�s wording is usually �pursuant to a decree�, occasionally �whereas by a decree�, of the High Court of Chancery. The parties named in the �cause� or case are often given to help finding them in the National Archives� �equity suits�, as explained in their leaflet �Chancery Equity suits after 1558� http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/chancery-equity-from-1558.htm, which is essential reading when researching such litigation.

When trying to find them in the National Archives catalogue http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp (which will not always be successful) limit the search to the C class.