Fortescue, Sir John; Amos, Andrew

De Laudibus Legum Angliae. Written Originally in Latin by Sir John

      Fortescue, Sir John [1394? - -1476?]. Amos, Andrew [1791-1860], Editor. De Laudibus Legum Angliae. The Translation into English Published A.D. MDCCLXXV and the Original Latin Text. With Notes. Cambridge: Printed by J. Smith for Joseph Butterworth, 1825. xvi, 280 pp. Octavo (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"). Later buckram, gilt title to spine. Some shelfwear and soiling, front and rear endleaves lacking. Toning to portions of text, internally clean. Ex-library. Location label to spine, bookplate to front pastedown, stamps to edges and endleaves. A solid copy. * De Laudibus Legum Angliae was written for the instruction of Edward, the young Prince of Wales. Cast in dialogue form, it demonstrates that the common law is the oldest and most reasonable legal system in Europe. It also compares the common and Roman systems and extols the superiority of a constitutionally limited monarch to a absolute monarch. De Laudibus was written around 1470 and first printed in 1567. "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 (1847) 321. Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth 1:22-23 (16). [Attributes: Hard Cover]