De laudibus legum Angliæ writen by Sir Iohn Fortescue L. Ch. Iustice, and after L. Chancellor to K. Henry VI. Hereto are ioind the two Summes of Sir Ralph de Hengham L. Ch. Iustice to K. Edward I. commonly calld Hengham magna, and Hengham parua. Neuer before publisht. Notes both on Fortescue and Hengham are added

Title

De laudibus legum Angliæ writen by Sir Iohn Fortescue L. Ch. Iustice, and after L. Chancellor to K. Henry VI. Hereto are ioind the two Summes of Sir Ralph de Hengham L. Ch. Iustice to K. Edward I. commonly calld Hengham magna, and Hengham parua. Neuer before publisht. Notes both on Fortescue and Hengham are added

Author

Fortescue, John, Sir, 1394?-1476?

Publication

London :: [Printed by Adam Islip?] for the Companie of Stationers,

M.DC.XVI [1616]

Rights/Permissions

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Subject terms

Law -- England -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A01083.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"De laudibus legum Angliæ writen by Sir Iohn Fortescue L. Ch. Iustice, and after L. Chancellor to K. Henry VI. Hereto are ioind the two Summes of Sir Ralph de Hengham L. Ch. Iustice to K. Edward I. commonly calld Hengham magna, and Hengham parua. Neuer before publisht. Notes both on Fortescue and Hengham are added." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A01083.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 20, 2025. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• To the Reader.
• errata
  • In the preface before Hengham.
  • In the Notes.
• note
• Pio Lectori.
• To the right Worship∣full Iohn Walshe, Esquire, one of the Queene her learned Iusticers of her Highnesse Court of common Plees, Robert Mulcaster, wi∣sheth life and health.
• The introduction into the matter.
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• First he moueth the prince to the knowledge of the lawe. Chap. 1.
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• ¶ The Princes replie to the Chancellours motion. Chap. 2.
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• Here the Chauncelour fortifieth his assertion. Chap. 3.
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• ¶ Here the Chancellour proueth that a Prince by the laws may be made happie and blessed. Ca. 4.
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• ¶ Ignorance of the Law causeth the contempt thereof. Cap. 3.
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• ¶ Heere the Chauncellour briefely repeateth the effect of all his perswasion. Cap. 6.
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• ¶ Now the Prince yeeldeth himselfe to the stu∣die of the Lawes, though he bee yet disquieted with certaine doubts. Cha. 7.
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• So much knowledge of the Law as is ne∣cessarie for a Prince, is soone had. Chap. 8.
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• A King, whose gouernement is politike, cannot change the Lawes of his Realme. Chap. 9·
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• Heere the Prince demandeth a question. Cha. 10.
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• The answer to this question is here omitted, for that in an another worke it is handled at large. Chap. 11.
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• How kingdomes ruled by royall gouernment only first began. Chap. 12.
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• ¶ How Kingdomes of politique gouernance were first begun. Chap. 13.
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• Here the Prince compendiously abridgeth all that the Chauncellor afore hath dis∣coursed at large. Cha. 14.
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• That all Lawes are the law of nature, customes, or statutes. Chap. 15.
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• The Law of nature in all countries, is all one. Chap. 16.
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• ¶The Customes of England are of most ancient antiquitie, practised and receiued of v. seuerall Nations, from one to another, by succession. Chap. 17.
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• ¶ Here he sheweth with what grauitie Statutes are made in England. Chap. 18.
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• ¶ Here hee deuiseth a meane how to know the diuersitie, betweene the Ciuill Lawes, and the Lawes of England. Chap. 19.
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• ¶ The first case wherein the Ciuill Lawes, and the Lawes of England doe differ Chap. 20.
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• ¶ Here are set forth the inconueniences proceeding of that Law, which no otherwise then by wit∣nesses admitteth trials. Cha. 21.
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• ¶ Of the crueltie of Rackings. Chap. 22.
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• Here he sheweth that the Ciuill Law oft faileth in doing of Iustice. Chap. 23.
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• Here he declareth, how Counties are deuided, and Shirifes chosen. Chap. 24.
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• ¶ How Iurours must be chosen and sworne. Ch. 25.
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• ¶ How Iurers ought to be informed by euiden∣ces and witnesses. Chap. 26.
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• ¶ Here he sheweth, how causes criminall, are determined in England. Chap. 27.
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• ¶ The Prince granteth the Lawes of England to be more commodious for the subiects, then the Ciuill Lawes in the case now disputed. Chap. 28.
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• ¶ Why inquestes are not made by Iurers of xij. men in other Realmes, as well as in England. Chap. 29.
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• ¶ Heere the Prince commendeth, the Lawes of England, of their pro∣ceeding by Iuries. Chap. 30.
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• ¶ The Prince doubteth, whether this pro∣ceeding by a Iurie, be repugnant to Gods law, or not. Chap. 31.
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• Here is shewed, that the proceeding by a Iurie, is not repugnant to the Law of God. Chap. 32.
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• ¶ Wherefore, certaine Kings of England, haue had no delight in their owne Lawes. Chap. 33.
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• ¶ Here the Chancellour openeth the cause, which the Prince demandeth Chap. 34.
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• ¶ The inconueniences, that happen in the Realme of France, through regall gouerne∣ment alone. Chap. 35.
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• ¶ The commodities, that proceede of the ioint go∣uernement, politique and regall, in the Realme of England. Cap. 36.
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• ¶ A comparison of the worthinesse of both the regiments▪ Chap. 37.
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• ¶ The Prince breaketh the Chancel∣lour of his tale. Chap. 38.
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• ¶ The second case, wherein the Ciuill Lawes, and the Lawes of England, disagree in their iudgements. Chap. 39.
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• ¶ Speciall causes, why base borne children, are not legittimate in England by matrimonie ensuing. Chap. 40.
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• The Prince alloweth the Lawe, which doth not le∣gittimate children borne before matrimo∣nie, Chap. 41.
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• The third case wherein the Lawes aforesaid disagree. Chap. 42.
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• ¶ The Prince approueth the Law, whereby the issue followeth not the wombe. Cha. 43.
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• ¶ The fourth case, wherein the said Lawes varie. Chap. 44.
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• ¶ Here, the Prince commendeth the educati∣on of Noble mens children being Or∣phanes. Chap. 45.
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• ¶ Yet he rehearseth other cases, wherein the fore∣said Lawes differ. Chap. 46.
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• ¶ The Prince regardeth not the cases now rehearsed Chap. 47.
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• ¶ Heere the Chancellour sheweth, why, the Lawes of England are not taught in Vniuersities. Chap. 48.
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• ¶ Here he declareth the disposition of the generall studie of the Lawes of England, and that the same in number of students passeth certaine vniuer∣sities. Cap. 49.
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• ¶ Of the estate and degree of a Serieant at Law, and how he is created. Chap. 50.
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• After what manner, a Iustice is created, and of his habite and conuersation. Chap. 51.
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• ¶ The prince findeth fault with delaies, that are made in the Kings Courts. Chap. 52.
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• ¶ Delayes, that happen in the Kings Courts are necessarie and reasonable. Chap. 53.
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• ¶ The Lawes of England are right good, the know∣ledge whereof is expedient for kings. Yet it shall suffice them to haue but a su∣perficiall knowledge of the same. Chap. 45.
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• The Table.
• Notes vpon Sir IOHN FORTES∣CVE Knight, L. Chiefe Iustice of Eng∣land, De laudibus legum Angliae.
  • Ad CAP. III.
  • Ad CAP. VIII.
  • Ad CAP. XIII.
  • Ad CAP XVII.
  • Ad CAP. XXI.
  • Ad CAP. XXIV.
  • Ad CAP. XXV.
  • Ad CAP. XXVI.
  • Ad CAP. XXXII.
  • Ad CAP. XXXIII.
  • Ad CAP. XXXIV.
  • Ad CAP. XXXIX
  • Ad CAP. XL.
  • Ad CAP. XLII.
  • Ad CAP. XLIV.
  • Ad CAP. XLVI.
  • Ad CAP. XLVII.
  • Ad CAP. XLVIII.
  • Ad CAP. LI.
• title page
• Ad Lectorem.
• Radulphi de HENGHAM Summa Magna.
  • CAP. I. Breue de Recto cum suis Branchijs.
  • CAP. II. Quae placita pertinent ad Maiorem Cu∣riam Domini Regis, & quae ad Vice∣comites provinciarum pertinent pla∣citanda.
  • CAP. III. De iurisdictione Curiae Baronis & quali∣tur procedendum est in eadem.
  • CAP. IIII. Qualiter procedendum est in Comitatu post Curiam Baronis alicuius falsaam. Breue de Pace. Recordum Comitatus. Falsum iudicium in Comitatu. Secta∣tores.
  • CAP. V. De officio summonitorum. Lex vadiata. Essonia,
  • CAP. VI. Modus essoniandi & reddendi essonia & dies communes in breui de Recto. Es∣soniatores. Atturnati.
  • CAP. VII. De Attornatis faciendis.
  • CAP. VIII. Secundus dies placiti. Defaltae. Magnum Cape. Paruum cape. Non Pleuine. Legis vadiatio.
  • CAP. IX. Placiti Tertius dies. Essonij calumniatio. Fourcher. Pleuine. Recouery sur default. Breue de Scias. Paruum & magnum cape. Essoniorum formulae. De malo lecti. Languor. quatuor milites missi ad infirmum. Defalt puis essoin de mal de lit, & auters defaults. Vi∣sores. Uiew de terre.
  • CAP. X. De Exceptionibus. Visu petendo.
  • CAP. XI. Quartus dies placiti. Eonium de ser∣uicio domini Regis.
  • CAP. XII. Quintus dies placiti. Capere languorem semel tantum licet.
  • CAP. XIII. Sextus dies placiti. Uoucher. Recoue∣rie & counterpleas sur ceo. Uoucher d'enfant. Warrantia ex Dedi. ex ho∣magio & seruicijs receptis. Age.
• SVMMA PARVA Radulphi de Hengham.
  • CAP. I. De Essonijs.
  • CAP. II. Breuia de Dote.
  • CAP. III. Exceptiones contra Breuia de Dote.
  • CAP. IV. De visu concedendo.
  • CAP. V. De breuibus Assisarum. & primo de bre∣ui nouae Disseisinae.
  • CAP. VI. De titulis. Hereditaria successione, feoffa∣mento, & Eschaeta. quomodo acquiri∣tur liberum tenementum.
  • CAP. VII. Quibus modis fit disseisina:
  • CAP. VIII. Quibus Personis competit assisa. Excep∣tiones item dilatoriae & peremptoriae. De vocando in auxilium. per eundem descensum.
• Errata sic corrigenda. Lege
• Notes vpon Sir Ralph de Hengham.