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Institutiones Iuris [Juris] Anglicani Ad Methodum Et Serium....

Cowell, John

"The Most Learned Civilian of His Time" Cowell, John [1554-1611]. Institutiones Iuris Anglicani, Ad Methodum Et Serium Institutionum Imperialium Compositae & Digestae. Opus non Solum Iuris Anglicani Romanique in hoc Regno Studiosis, Sed Omnibus qui Politeian & Consuetudines Inclyti Nostri Imperii Penitius Scire Cupiunt, Utile & Accommodatum. Cum Duplici Indice, Quorum Alter Titulos Ordine Alphabetico, Alter Obscuras Iuris Angl. Dictiones Earumque Explicationem Continet. [S.l. (Frankfurt?)]: Cura & Impensis Guilielmi Fitzeri, 1630. 347, [21] pp. Last nine leaves (second index) interleaved. Octavo (6-1/2" x 3-1/2"). Contemporary vellum with yapp edges, remnants of thong ties to board edges. Light soiling, somewhat heavier to extremities, a few small scratches and some small wormholes to front board, joints starting at ends, chips to head of front joint and top-edge of rear board, spine ends bumped, pastedowns loose, front endleaves lightly edgeworn, early annotations to front pastedown (which has a small hole with loss to annotation) and front free endpaper. Moderate toning to interior, occasional light foxing, light soiling in a few places, ownership signature (of Thomas Harrison) to title page, underlining and ink annotations to pp. 22-23. $1,250. * Second edition. As Walker notes, Cowell was "the most learned civilian of his time." Regius Professor of Civil Law at Cambridge from 1594 to 1611, he is remembered today as the author of an important (and controversial) dictionary, The Interpreter (1607), which went through several subsequent editions. As indicated by its title, the Institutiones is an elementary textbook on English law organized in the manner of Justinian's Institutes. As Holdsworth notes, "The objects of [this book] were to promote the union of England and Scotland by pointing out the resemblances between the common law and the civil law; to give the student of the common law some knowledge of the general principles of law; and to show the students of the civil law that if they would study the common law, they would improve their knowledge of both laws, and cease to be regarded as mere children in legal knowledge. That these ideas were sound is fairly obvious [today]... but they were in advance of their time." A translation of this book was ordered by Parliament.

Price: $1,250.00

Book number 75232