My investigation of the presence of Shareshull and Shardelow in the upper courts has been based on the 1678-80 edition of the year books (usually referred to in this section as ‘old ed.’), for 1-19 Edward II, 1-10, 17-39, 40-50 Edward III (sometimes checked by early black-letter editions); the Rolls Series edition for 11-20 Edward III; the I514(?) edition of Liber Assisarum, 1-50 Edward III; and also on the MS. reports of Scrope's eyres, 3-4 Edward III.

For the reign of Edward II, I have enumerated the total number of speeches by Shareshull and Shardelow from the time that Shareshull began to plead. For the reign of Edward III, I have not tried to count the total number of speeches but merely to list, for a given action, the variety of abbreviations used and their probable extensions, and to make clear whether either Shareshull or Shardelow or both were arguing or were mentioned; and if both, to show whether they can be differentiated. For the eyres I have compiled no figures, but have noted the general trend of usage.

Brief summaries of the arithmetical results of this investigation have been given in chapter VII, with an emphatic warning as to their exceedingly tentative character. Many uncertainties can be settled only by new editions of the year books for which there is an imperative need. It is peculiarly unfortunate for my purpose that the Selden Society volumes for Edward II have not yet reached the date at which Shareshull began to plead, and that the Rolls Series volumes, admirably edited though they are, contain startling errors as to the identity of these baffling judges.

It has not been easy to decide how much of the raw material for my summaries was worth printing in full. With considerable hesitation I have come to the conclusion, for the reasons given below, that detailed lists based on the following sources should not be printed, even when compiled:

(1) The MS. reports of Scrope's eyres. Neither Shareshull nor Shardelow appeared in the eyres in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire. In Northamptonshire, Sch. preponderantly, Schar. frequently, Schs. once, all refer to Shareshull; Sad is usual for Sadington, Scard., occasionally Schard., for Scardeburgh. In Bedfordshire, Schars.