For most purposes, use the Basic search form. Below it are special search engines for searching the APC fields and the TNA fields. Special search engines for the Persons and Places Index may be found on a separate page.

Basic search form. This search form searches most of the text fields in the database. Entering a single word operates as as might be expected. If more than one word is entered, do not use the Boolean AND, OR, or NOT. The results will approximate those of a string search (though quotation marks should not be used). You may, however use * to truncate any word in the search.

The returns are given on this page and are organized by tables in the database in the order in which they appear in the reports. Many of the fields that appear in the reports are in the table ‘base’, so a search of report for items in ‘base’ will probably be necessary to find what you are looking for, but the inclusion of the other tables may help in limiting (or expanding) the number of reports to be looked up. If your search returns any names in the Participants list, the return will contain a link both to the report in which the name appears (linked to the report number) and to the entry in the Persons and Places Index (linked to the surname). If you are searching for a personal name the elements of which are likely to be spread across two fields in the Index, e.g. ‘Elizabeth Manning’, please limit yourself to two words.

APC search form. This search form searches the text fields in the database that give references to the Acts of the Privy Council, the Calendar of State Papers – Colonial and to the original registers of the Privy Council. These fields are not included in the basic search. This search form will accept Boolean AND, OR, and NOT. String searches should be enclosed in double quotation marks: “”. The form is useful for searching for specific dates in the APC, CSP and names of monarchs. (To differentiate among the Georges, do a string search “George <Roman numeral> v.”) The form will find the TNA reference numbers also by string search: e.g., “PC 2/77”.

TNA documents search form. This search form searches the text fields that describe and present images of handwritten documents at the TNA in the category PC 1 that relate to our appeals. These fields are not included in the basic search form. This search form works like the APC search form. It will find the TNA reference numbers by string search: e.g., “PC 1/47”.