Difference between revisions of "Graunde Abridgement"
From Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia
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| − | <blockquote>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Broke Broke] is remembered in the legal profession chiefly for La | + | <blockquote>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Broke Broke] is remembered in the legal profession chiefly for ''La Graunde Abridgement'', which was published posthumously in 1573 by Richard Tottell, and reprinted in smaller format in 1576 and 1586. (Supposed earlier editions of 1568 and 1570 are ghosts.) This was more ambitious even than Fitzherbert's ''Graunde Abridgement'', containing over 20,000 entries digested under a wider range of titles, and had useful marginal notes guiding the reader more readily to the contents. Contemporaries found it easier to use than Fitzherbert, and it is still a valuable reference tool. Although the abridgement was primarily derived from the medieval year-books, Broke added a number of cases from his own observation, some statutes and other sources, and even a few extracts from readings in the inns of court. The contemporary cases, though only briefly noted, may be considered as original law reports. They were extracted by Richard Bellewe and published separately, in a chronological rearrangement, as ''Ascuns Novell Cases'' (1578), an enterprise which placed Broke among the canonical-law reporters; the volume was reprinted several times, most recently in 1873. A different version of the cases, in alphabetical order, was published in English translation (as ''Some New Cases'') by John March in 1651; this was reprinted in ''The English Reports'' in 1907. Broke gave to his colleague Sir Anthony Browne ‘a greate written booke of presidentes’, which Browne bequeathed to Robert Mordaunt; these precedents were probably entries of pleading, reflecting Broke's clerical training, rather than reports or abridged cases. |
| − | <ref>J. H. Baker, | + | <ref>J. H. Baker, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3497 "Broke, Sir Robert (d. 1558)"], ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008, accessed 29 May 2013. </ref></blockquote> |
==Bibliographic Information== | ==Bibliographic Information== | ||
'''Author:''' Sir Robert Brooke (d. 1558) | '''Author:''' Sir Robert Brooke (d. 1558) | ||
| − | '''Title:''' La Graunde Abridgement. | + | '''Title:''' ''La Graunde Abridgement''. |
'''Publication Info:''' London: R. Tottyl, 1576. | '''Publication Info:''' London: R. Tottyl, 1576. | ||
| − | '''Edition:''' | + | '''Edition:''' Second edition. |
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ||
| + | Both Dean's Memo<ref>Memorandum from Barbara C. Dean, Colonial Williamsburg Found., to Mrs. Stiverson, Colonial Williamsburg Found. (June 16, 1975), 9 (on file at Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary).</ref> and the [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> 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</ref> suggest Wythe owned this title based on notes in John Marshall's commonplace book.<ref>''The Papers of John Marshall,'' eds. Herbert A. Johnson, Charles T. Cullen, and Nancy G. Harris (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, in association with the Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1974), 1:41.</ref> | ||
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy== | ==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy== | ||
Revision as of 13:41, 13 August 2013
by Sir Robert Brooke
Broke is remembered in the legal profession chiefly for La Graunde Abridgement, which was published posthumously in 1573 by Richard Tottell, and reprinted in smaller format in 1576 and 1586. (Supposed earlier editions of 1568 and 1570 are ghosts.) This was more ambitious even than Fitzherbert's Graunde Abridgement, containing over 20,000 entries digested under a wider range of titles, and had useful marginal notes guiding the reader more readily to the contents. Contemporaries found it easier to use than Fitzherbert, and it is still a valuable reference tool. Although the abridgement was primarily derived from the medieval year-books, Broke added a number of cases from his own observation, some statutes and other sources, and even a few extracts from readings in the inns of court. The contemporary cases, though only briefly noted, may be considered as original law reports. They were extracted by Richard Bellewe and published separately, in a chronological rearrangement, as Ascuns Novell Cases (1578), an enterprise which placed Broke among the canonical-law reporters; the volume was reprinted several times, most recently in 1873. A different version of the cases, in alphabetical order, was published in English translation (as Some New Cases) by John March in 1651; this was reprinted in The English Reports in 1907. Broke gave to his colleague Sir Anthony Browne ‘a greate written booke of presidentes’, which Browne bequeathed to Robert Mordaunt; these precedents were probably entries of pleading, reflecting Broke's clerical training, rather than reports or abridged cases. [1]
Bibliographic Information
Author: Sir Robert Brooke (d. 1558)
Title: La Graunde Abridgement.
Publication Info: London: R. Tottyl, 1576.
Edition: Second edition.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Both Dean's Memo[2] and the Brown Bibliography[3] suggest Wythe owned this title based on notes in John Marshall's commonplace book.[4]
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in later calf with blind rules to boards and renewed endpapers. Recently rebacked with raised bands and lettering piece and mended hinges. Title page printed within woodcut architectural borders with woodcut initials. Purchased from The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ J. H. Baker, "Broke, Sir Robert (d. 1558)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008, accessed 29 May 2013.
- ↑ Memorandum from Barbara C. Dean, Colonial Williamsburg Found., to Mrs. Stiverson, Colonial Williamsburg Found. (June 16, 1975), 9 (on file at Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary).
- ↑ 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
- ↑ The Papers of John Marshall, eds. Herbert A. Johnson, Charles T. Cullen, and Nancy G. Harris (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, in association with the Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1974), 1:41.
