Early Edition of Sranford's "Exposicion of the Kinges Prerogative"
Exposition of the Kinges Praerogative. collected out of the great Abridgement of Iustice Fitzherbert, and other old writers of the lawes of Englad [sic], by the right worshipfull Sir William Staunford Knight, lately one of the iustices of the Queenes Maiesties court of common pleas. Whereunto is annexed the proces to the same prærogatiue appertayning. Cum priuilegio.
London: Richard Totthil, 1590.
Full Description:
STANFORD, Sir William. An Exposition of the Kinges Praerogative. collected out of the great Abridgement of Iustice Fitzherbert, and other old writers of the lawes of Englad [sic], by the right worshipfull Sir William Staunford Knight, lately one of the iustices of the Queenes Maiesties court of common pleas. Whereunto is annexed the proces to the same prærogatiue appertayning. Cum priuilegio. London: Richard Totthil, 1590.
Early edition (probably 5th). Small quarto (7 5/8 x 5 1/2 inches; 194 x 140 mm). [2], 6-84 [i.e. 85] leaves. Final leaf 85 misnumbered 84. Printed in black letter. Woodcut initial on first page of text.
Full modern calf. Boards paneled in blind. Newer endpapers. Edges dyed brown. Nice wide margins. Previous owner's early neat marginalia. Overall a very good copy.
In this book, Stanford systematically examines and explains the "Statute de Prerogativa" with sections on women, marriage, "idiots" and "madmen". The Statute de Prerogativa Regis (“the king’s prerogative”) was passed in 1324. This statute allowed the king to seize the lands of “idiots” and “lunatics” and others not seen fit to own land.
"The second great work by William Staunford, Exposicion of the Kinges Prerogative, was first published in 1567. The work appears to have been loosely based on Prerogativa regis, a thirteenth-century law recording the customary privileges of the crown. Staunford’s work primarily addresses the discretionary property rights enjoyed by a monarch rather than constitutional principles. Staunford again drew heavily on Fitzherbert. This time the section “Prerogative” was the inspiration for his detailed analysis, and again Glanville, Bracton and the Year-Books were cited as authorities." (Tarlton Law Library).
"Stanford, Sir William (1509–1558), judge and legal writer... Stanford is remembered in the legal profession for two important books, one of which is still sometimes cited in the courts... The greatest of his own books was Les plees del coron (1557), a textbook on criminal law... Stanford's other principal book was his Exposicion of the Kinges Prerogative, written in 1548 and dedicated to Sir Nicholas Bacon as attorney of the wards. It was not printed until 1567, though there is an incomplete manuscript version of similar date in the British Library. This treatise seems to have had its roots in the readings on Prerogativa regis, even if not a reading by Stanford himself, and is concerned with the property rights of the crown rather than with constitutional principles. Unlike the former work, it was written in English. It also drew a great deal on Fitzherbert, and the author expressed the hope that others would take different titles in the abridgement and subject them to the same analytical treatment, though he had no immediate followers apart from Simon Theloall on writs." (DNB)
ESTC S117820.
HBS 69641.
$1,850.
Price: $1,850.00
Item #69641