A true bill is an old legal term for a formal indictment.

In early modern England, criminal cases were first considered by a grand jury. They reviewed the accusations and evidence and then decided whether there was enough to put the accused on trial.

  • If they agreed there was enough evidence, they returned a true bill, meaning the charges were accepted and the case would go forward to trial.

  • If they decided there was not enough evidence, they returned a no bill, meaning the case was dismissed at that stage.

So, for example, “76 True bill against all four,” means the grand jury formally indicted Bridget Bigsby, Susan Marchant, Susanna Stegold and Joan Potter, and all four were sent on for trial.