Smith, Sir Thomas. Laet, Joannes de

De Republica Anglorum Libri Tres: Quibus Accesserunt Chorographica

      Smith, Sir Thomas [1513- - 1577]. Budden, John [1566-1620], Translator. De Republica et Administratione Anglorum Libri Tres. London [i.e. Marburg]: [Paul Egenolff] Pro Officina Nortoniana, [1610]. 165, [3] pp. Octavo (5-3/4" x 3-3/4"). Contemporary limp vellum, early hand-lettered title to spine. Some soiling to covers, darkening to spine, pastedowns loose. "F. Pollock/ Linc: Inn" to verso of front cover. Woodcut head and tail-pieces. Light toning, internally clean. * First edition (of this translation). De Republica Anglorum; the Manner of Government or Policie of the Realme of England was written between 1562 and 1565 and first published in 1583. "It is the most important description of the constitution and government of England written in the Tudor age" (DNB). It went through eleven editions in English between 1584 to 1691. Four Latin editions appeared between 1610 and 1641. Abridged editions in Dutch and German were published in 1673 and 1688. Smith, an English scholar and diplomat, was Regius Professor of Civil Law at Cambridge University. Sir Frederick Pollock [1845-1937] was one of the greatest British judges and legal scholars of his day. His treatises on contracts, jurisprudence the common law and other subjects did much to clarify and systematize English law. Several of these were standard texts that went through several editions. He is also remembered for his collaboration with F.W. Maitland on The History of English Law Before the Time of Edward I and his correspondence with Oliver Wendell Holmes, which was published posthumously as The Holmes-Pollock Letters. Dictionary of National Biography XVIII:535. Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth 1:107 (103, 104). [Attributes: First Edition]