This chart gives within each block the number of bills filed for each reign from Elizabeth I to Victoria; this information was extracted from the bill books. Since the bill books were not begun until the pleadings were arranged in 1587, it is likely that some bills before this date had been lost and as a result were not recorded. The division between the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I is not always clear, so there may be a small error in the figures of these two reigns, but beginning with Charles I a new series of numbering was begun with each new reign. Strictly speaking the lawsuit was begun when the defendant made an appearance, which has no necessary relation to the filing of the bill of complaint; however, it would not get very far until the bill was filed. Therefore this information reflects reliably the quantity of the serious litigation in the equity side of the court. It must be remembered always that it is the annual averages which are the significant figures for comparative purposes.