A Learned Commendation of the Politique Lawes of England: Wherein...
Early Edition of Fortescue's De Laudibus Fortescue, Sir John [1394?-1476?]. Mulcaster, Robert [16th. c.], Translator. A Learned Commendation of the Politique Lawes of England: Wherein by Most Pitthy Reasons and Evident Demonstrations They are Plainelye Proved Farre to Excell as Well the Civile Lawes of the Empiere, As Also All Other Lawes of the Worlde, Wyth a Large Discourse of the Difference Betwene the ii Governementes of Kingdomes: Whereof the One is Onely Regall, And the Other Consisteth of Regall and Politique Administration Conjoyned. Written in Latine Above an Hundred Yeares Past, By the Learned and Right Honorable Maister Fortescue Knyght, Lorde Chauncellour of England in ye Time of Kinge Henry VI. And Newly Translated into Englishe by Robert Mulcaster. [London: Imprinted...In Fleetestrete, Within Temple Barre, At the Signe of the Hande and Starre, by Richarde Tottell, 1573]. [i], 132, [3] ff. English and Latin in parallel columns. Octavo (5-1/2" x 3-3/4"). Contemporary paneled calf, rebacked retaining existing spine, fragments of thong ties to fore-edges of boards, faint early hand-lettered title to fore-edge of text block. A few minor scuffs to boards, some rubbing to spine and extremities, corners bumped, some loss to edges of pastedowns, hinges partially cracked. Moderate toning, non-obtrusive faint dampstaining to a few sections of text. An attractive copy. $3,500. * Second edition in English. De Laudibus Legum Angliae (c.1470), a history of English law, was written for the instruction of Edward, the young Prince of Wales. Cast in dialogue form, it compares the common and Roman systems and argues that the common law is the oldest and most reasonable legal system in Europe. The first work to examine trial by jury and the Inns of Court at length, it also extols the superiority of a constitutionally limited monarch to an absolute monarch. De Laudibus was written around 1470 and first printed in 1567. As Marvin notes, "Fortescue was a favorite among the old lawyers, and will be read with profit in modern times by those who are interested in the origin and progress of the Common Law." Marvin, Legal Bibliography 321. English Short-Title Catalogue S102542. Beale, A Bibliography of Early English Law Books T358.
Price: $3,500.00
Book number 74150