Forum Rare Books | Rare Books

< Back

One of the most important sources of British law

[LAW - GREAT BRITAIN].
Fleta, seu commentarius juris Anglicani sic nuncupatus, sub Edwardo Rege primo, seu circa annos abhinc CCCXL ab anonymo conscriptus, arque è codice veteri, autore ipso ipso aliquantulum recentiori, nunc primum typis editus. Accedit tractatulus vetus de agendi excipiendique formulis Gallicanus, Fet assavoir dictus. Subjungitur etiam Joan. Seldeni ad Fletam dissertatio historica. Editio secunda, multis erroribus purgata.

Title within a frame of double lines, a half-page engraved plate (127 x 103 mm) after a historiated initial from an medieval manuscript op p. 462.

London, 'Typis S.R.' for H. Twyford, T. Bassest, J. Place, & S. Keble, 1685. two parts in one vol. 4to. Eighteenth-century calf, blind fillets on sides and ribbed spine with title lettered in gold, gilt binding edges, red sprinkled edges. Title within a frame of double lines, a half-page engraved plate (127 x 103 mm) after a historiated initial from an medieval manuscript op p. 462. (8), 452, (2 blank), 453-553 pp.

Second edition of one of the most important sources of British law by an anonymous author describing the practice of the courts, the forms of writs and an explanation of law terms as they existed during the reign of Edward I. The anonymous author of the book is sometimes referred to as 'Fleta', although this is not in fact a person's name. The book acquired the title Fleta because its preface contains a remark that it could be called 'Fleta' as it was written in Fleta, the old Fleet Prison.
The book is almost entirely based upon the work of Henry de Bracton, De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae and it appears, from internal evidence, to have been written in the reign of Edward I, about the year 1290. O. Hood Phillips described it as an 'epitome of' Bractor's book, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography describes it as "updating and abridging" that book.. It is one of those works listed by Blackstone as being authoritative statements of the law at the time at which they were written. Edward Coke cites Fleta as authority in his Institutes in a number of places.

It was John Selden (1585-1654) who brought this ancient treatise to the public's attention (first edition: London 1647) and who was instrumental in its publication. While Bracton earns the highest praise as the father of legal learning, Fleta earns a share of it for the illustrations it offered to some of the obscurities found in Bracton. Selden's appended dissertation (pp.453-553) contains many interesting observations about Bracton, Britton, Fleta, and Thornton "and shows what use was made of the Imperial law in England whilst the Romans governed here, at what time it was introduced into this nation, what use was formerly made of it, how long it continued, and when the use of it totally ceased in the King's Courts at Westminster".

Very good copy, from the John Evelyn collection with bookplate.

Wing F-1291; DNB 51, p. 218; Bridgman, A Short View of Legal Bibliography 87; Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth 1:53 (20); modern ed. with litt. and commentary by David Ogg (1925).

Related Subjects: England History Law Middle Ages

Add to Shopping cart

€ 1.250,00

Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.

< Back

Terms of sale

All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.

Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.

Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale

E-mail this to a friend

Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands

Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com