Difference between revisions of "Officium Vicecomitum"

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===by Michael Dalton===
 
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<blockquote> Shortly after the publication of ''The Countrey Justice'' Dalton's legal career flourished. On 1 August 1622 John Williams, bishop of Lincoln and lord keeper, named him one of the masters in chancery. Although the list of Sir Dufus Hardy does not confirm this appointment, the title-page of the 1655 edition of The Countrey Justice describes him as holding that office, and a document in the library of St John's College, Cambridge, gives the exact date of his appointment. Also in 1622 Dalton was associated to the bench of his inn. In 1623 he published an additional legal treatise entitled ''Vicecomitum, or, The Office and Authoritie of Sheriffs'', which appeared in an abridged version in 1628 and was reprinted as late as 1700. <ref> D. A. Orr, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7067 "Dalton, Michael (1564–1644)"], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 7 June 2013. (Subscription required for access.)</ref></blockquote>
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dalton_%28legal_writer%29 Michael Dalton] (1564-1644), an English barrister and legal writer was born in Linton, Cambridgeshire in 1564.<ref>D. A. Orr, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7067 "Dalton, Michael (1564–1644)"] in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed October 25, 2013.</ref> He was accepted to Lincoln’s Inn in 1671 and called to the bar in 1589. In 1604, he became deputy steward of the University of Cambridge and in 1618, published ''The Countrey Justice'', a treatise for local magistrates which became quite popular.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Dalton remains "historically significant" for this contribution. He followed that publication with another legal treatise in 1623, ''Vicecomitum, or, The Office and Authoritie of Sheriffs'' which also proved successful, appearing in an abridged version in 1628 and multiple reprintings as late as 1700.<ref>Ibid.</ref> In fact, "in spite of a growing number of rivals, it continued to be a standard authority till the beginning of the eighteenth century."<ref>W. S. Holdsworth, ''A History of English Law'' (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1924), 4:119.</ref>
  
 
==Bibliographic Information==
 
==Bibliographic Information==

Revision as of 15:53, 25 October 2013

by Michael Dalton

Michael Dalton (1564-1644), an English barrister and legal writer was born in Linton, Cambridgeshire in 1564.[1] He was accepted to Lincoln’s Inn in 1671 and called to the bar in 1589. In 1604, he became deputy steward of the University of Cambridge and in 1618, published The Countrey Justice, a treatise for local magistrates which became quite popular.[2] Dalton remains "historically significant" for this contribution. He followed that publication with another legal treatise in 1623, Vicecomitum, or, The Office and Authoritie of Sheriffs which also proved successful, appearing in an abridged version in 1628 and multiple reprintings as late as 1700.[3] In fact, "in spite of a growing number of rivals, it continued to be a standard authority till the beginning of the eighteenth century."[4]

Bibliographic Information

Author: Michael Dalton.

Title: Officium Vicecomitum: The Office and Avthoritie of Sherifs. Written for the Better Incouragement of the Gentrie (Upon Whom the Burthen of This Office Lyeth) to Keepe Their Continuall Care of the businesse, and Eye Ouer Their Officers, They May the Better Discharge Their Dutie to God, Their Prince, and Countrey, in the Execution of This Their Office.

Published: London: Printed for the Companie of Stationers, 1623.

Edition: First edition; 3 pages, 194 leaves, [10] pages.

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Dalton's office of Sheriff. fol and given by Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Carr. We do not know which edition Wythe owned. The Brown Bibliography[5] includes the 1700 edition based on the existence of this edition in Thomas Jefferson's library. George Wythe's Library[6] on LibraryThing indicates "Precise edition unknown. Folio editions were published at London in 1670, 1682, and 1700." The 1623 edition owned by The Wolf Law Library is also a folio edition.[7]

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

References

  1. ↑ D. A. Orr, "Dalton, Michael (1564–1644)" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed October 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ Ibid.
  3. ↑ Ibid.
  4. ↑ W. S. Holdsworth, A History of English Law (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1924), 4:119.
  5. ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
  6. ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on September 16, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
  7. ↑ English Short Title Catalog, http://estc.bl.uk, record for 1623 edition includes the same size designation "2⁰" as the other editions.
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