Difference between revisions of "Commentaries, or Reports of Edmund Plowden"

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}}[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Plowden Edmund Plowden] (1518 - 1585) was born in Shropshire as the eldest son to a local landowner.<ref>Christopher W. Brooks, "[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22389 Plowden, Edmund (c.1518–1585)],” ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed February 4, 2014.</ref> A member of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Temple Middle Temple], Plowden began recording cases around 1550.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Plowden's devotion to Catholicism, while politically and socially unpopular at varying points in his life, did little to derail his successful career.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He held a variety of posts and positions including an appointment to the council in the marches of Wales, membership on a commission of the peace, and member of Parliament.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Additionally, he was raised to the bench at Middle Temple in 1557.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br />
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Despite his professional obligations, Plowden authored several books including his seminal work ''Les Commentaries, ou, Les Reportes … de Divers Cases … en les Temps des Raignes le Roy Ed. le size, le Roigne Mary, le Roy & Roigne Philip & Mary, & le Roigne Elizabeth'' in 1571. He subsequently revised it on a number of occasions.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Plowden died on February 6, 1585 and is buried in the Middle Temple Church.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br />
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The 1761 English translation of the unabridged version of ''Les Commentaries, ou, Les Reportes''&mdash;''The Commentaries, or Reports of Edmund Plowden''&mdash;was believed to have been both edited and translated by a Mr. Broomly.<ref>J.G. Marvin, ''Legal Bibliography, or A Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books''. Philadelphia: T & J.W. Johnson, 1847, 574.</ref> The book was a collection of case reports and differed in two significant ways from the traditional [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Books Year Books].<ref>Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund;" Allen D. Boyer, ''Sir Edward Coke and the Elizabethan Age'' (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2003), 32-33. </ref> First, Plowden was the first eminent lawyer to publish a case book in his lifetime; secondly, the case notes focused on points of law and the judges rulings instead of the pleading points that were so heavily prominent in the Year Books.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
  
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The 1761 English translation version differed in several ways from Plowden's second edition of ''Les Commentaries''.<ref>Ibid.</ref> In addition to William Fleetwood's contribution of an analytical index, the 1761 addition contained Plowden's ''Queries'', additional tables and notes, as well as references to newer legal sources not available at the time of the 1578 edition.<ref>Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund;" Edmund Plowden, ''Commentaries;'' Christopher W. Brooks, "Fleetwood, William (c.1525-1594)," in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press.</ref> According to legal bibliographer J. G. Marvin, "Plowden is regarded as the most accurate of all reporters" and his ''Reports'' "most deservedly [bear] as high a character as any book of Reports ever published."<ref>Marvin, ''Legal Bibliography, or a Thesaurus of American, English, Irish and Scotch Law Books'' (T. & J. W. Johnson, Lawbook Sellers, 1847), 574-575.</ref>
  
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Edmund Plowden (1518 - 1585) was born in Shropshire as the eldest son to a local landowner.<ref> Christopher W. Brooks, “Plowden, Edmund (c.1518–1585),” in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press accessed February 4, 2014. </ref> He was a member of Middle Temple and began recording cases that he heard in court around 1550.<ref> Ibid. </ref>  Plowden's devotion to Catholicism, while politically and socially unpopular at varying points in his life, did little to derail his successful career.<ref> Ibid. </ref>  He held a variety of posts and positions including an appointment to the council in the marches of Wales, made a member of the commision of the peace and served as a member of parliament.<ref> Ibid. </ref> Additionally, he was raised to the bench at Middle Temple in 1557.<ref> Ibid. </ref>
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==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
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There is no doubt that George Wythe owned ''The Commentaries or Reports of Edmund Plowden''&mdash;a copy of the first English edition (1761) at the Library of Congress includes manuscript notes by Wythe.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'', 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 2:326, [no. 2027].</ref> [[Thomas Jefferson]] also listed "[Plowden’s reports.] English. fol" in his [[Jefferson Inventory|inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]], noting that he kept the volume himself. He later sold it to the Library of Congress. Not surprisingly, all four of the [[George Wythe Collection|Wythe Collection]] sources (Goodwin's pamphlet<ref>Mary R. M. Goodwin, [http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/View/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports\RR0216.xml ''The George Wythe House: Its Furniture and Furnishings''] (Williamsburg, Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, 1958), XLV.</ref>, [[Dean Bibliography|Dean's Memo]]<ref>[[Dean Bibliography|Memorandum from Barbara C. Dean]], Colonial Williamsburg Found., to Mrs. Stiverson, Colonial Williamsburg Found. (June 16, 1975), 5 (on file at Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary).</ref>, Brown's Bibliography<ref>Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012, rev. May, 2014) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433.</ref> and [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s.v. "[http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe Member: George Wythe]," accessed on May 12, 2015.</ref> on LibraryThing) list the first English edition of ''Plowden's Commentaries''.
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Despite his professional obligations, Plowden authored several books including his seminal work, Les commentaries, ou, Les reportes … de divers cases … en les temps des raignes le Roy Ed. le size, le Roigne Mary, le Roy & Roigne Philip & Mary, & le Roigne Elizabeth, in 1571 and subsequently revised it on a number of occasions.<ref> Ibid. </ref> Edmund Plowden died on February 6, 1585 and is buried in the Middle Temple Church.<ref> Ibid. </ref>
 
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''Commentaries, or Reports of Edmund Plowden''<ref> Plowden, Edmund. ''The commentaries, or reports of Edmund Plowden, Of the Middle-Temple, Esq; An Apprentice of the Common Law, containing divers cases upon matters of law, argued and adjudged in the several Reigns of King Edward VI. Queen Mary, King and Queen Philip and Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. Originally written in French, And now faithfully translated into English, and considerably improved by many marginal Notes and References to all the Books of the Common Law, both ancient and modern. To which are added, the Quæries of Mr. Plowden, Now first rendered into English at large, with References, and many useful Observations. In two parts. With two new tables, more compleat than any yet published, the one, of the names of the cases, the other of the principal matters''. London: 1761, in ''Eighteenth Century Collections Online'', Gale, College of William & Mary, accessed February 14, 2014. </ref>  
 
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This version of Plowden's orginal work was believed to be both edited and translated by Mr. Broomly for the 1760 English tranlation of the unabridged version.<ref> J.G. Marvin, ''Legal Bibliography, or A Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books''. Philadelphia: T & J.W. Johnson, 1847, 574. </ref>
 
  
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This book was a collection of the case reports he had written and differed in significant ways from the traditional year-books.<ref> Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund." </ref> Plowden's work deviated from the standard reporters of the Year Books in two ways.<ref> Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund;" Allen D. Boyer, ''Sir Edward Coke and the Elizabethan Age''. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2003, 32-33. </ref> First, he was the first eminent lawyer to publish a case book in his lifetime and secondly, his case notes focused on the points of law and the judges rulings instead of the pleading points that were so heavily prominent in the Year Books.<ref> Ibid. </ref>  The fundamental principals behind his work are best summed up by a phrase in the Preface:
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The Wolf Law Library has yet to acquire a copy of ''The Commentaries, or Reports of Edmund Plowden''.  
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"..I resolved upon two things, which I then purposed earnestly to pursue.  The first was, to be present at, and to give diligent attention to, the debates and questions in law, and particularly to the arguments of those who were men of the greatest note and reputation for learning.  The second was, to commit to writing, what I had heard, and the judgment thereupon, which seemed to me to be much better than to rely upon treacherous memory which often deceives it's master."<ref> Edmund Plowden, ''Commentaries''. </ref>
 
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The 1761 English translated version differed in several ways from Plowden's second edition of Les commentaries, ou, Les reportes … de divers cases … en les temps des raignes le Roy Ed. le size, le Roigne Mary, le Roy & Roigne Philip & Mary, & le Roigne Elizabeth published 1578.<ref> Ibid. </ref>  In addition to William Fleetwood's contribution of an analytical index, the 1761 addition contained Plowden's Queries, additional tables and notes, as well as references to to newer legal sources not availible at the time of the 1578 edition.<ref> Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund;" Edmund Plowden, ''Commentaries;'' Christopher W. Brooks, "Fleetwood, William (c.1525-1594)," in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press. </ref>
 
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==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
 
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Wythe's copy owned by the Library of Congress.  
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Case Reports]]
 
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[[Category:Known Surviving Wythe Volumes]]
 
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]
 
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]

Revision as of 10:50, 12 May 2015

by Edmund Plowden

Plowden's Reports
George Wythe bookplate.jpg
Title not held by The Wolf Law Library
at the College of William & Mary.
  
Author Edmund Plowden
Editor {{{editor}}}
Translator {{{trans}}}
Published London, In the Savoy: Printed by Catharine Lintot, and Samuel Richardson, for the translator
Date 1761
Edition First in English
Language English
Volumes 3 parts in 1 volume set
Pages
Desc. Folio

Edmund Plowden (1518 - 1585) was born in Shropshire as the eldest son to a local landowner.[1] A member of the Middle Temple, Plowden began recording cases around 1550.[2] Plowden's devotion to Catholicism, while politically and socially unpopular at varying points in his life, did little to derail his successful career.[3] He held a variety of posts and positions including an appointment to the council in the marches of Wales, membership on a commission of the peace, and member of Parliament.[4] Additionally, he was raised to the bench at Middle Temple in 1557.[5]

Despite his professional obligations, Plowden authored several books including his seminal work Les Commentaries, ou, Les Reportes … de Divers Cases … en les Temps des Raignes le Roy Ed. le size, le Roigne Mary, le Roy & Roigne Philip & Mary, & le Roigne Elizabeth in 1571. He subsequently revised it on a number of occasions.[6] Plowden died on February 6, 1585 and is buried in the Middle Temple Church.[7]

The 1761 English translation of the unabridged version of Les Commentaries, ou, Les Reportes—The Commentaries, or Reports of Edmund Plowden—was believed to have been both edited and translated by a Mr. Broomly.[8] The book was a collection of case reports and differed in two significant ways from the traditional Year Books.[9] First, Plowden was the first eminent lawyer to publish a case book in his lifetime; secondly, the case notes focused on points of law and the judges rulings instead of the pleading points that were so heavily prominent in the Year Books.[10]

The 1761 English translation version differed in several ways from Plowden's second edition of Les Commentaries.[11] In addition to William Fleetwood's contribution of an analytical index, the 1761 addition contained Plowden's Queries, additional tables and notes, as well as references to newer legal sources not available at the time of the 1578 edition.[12] According to legal bibliographer J. G. Marvin, "Plowden is regarded as the most accurate of all reporters" and his Reports "most deservedly [bear] as high a character as any book of Reports ever published."[13]

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

There is no doubt that George Wythe owned The Commentaries or Reports of Edmund Plowden—a copy of the first English edition (1761) at the Library of Congress includes manuscript notes by Wythe.[14] Thomas Jefferson also listed "[Plowden’s reports.] English. fol" in his inventory of Wythe's Library, noting that he kept the volume himself. He later sold it to the Library of Congress. Not surprisingly, all four of the Wythe Collection sources (Goodwin's pamphlet[15], Dean's Memo[16], Brown's Bibliography[17] and George Wythe's Library[18] on LibraryThing) list the first English edition of Plowden's Commentaries.

The Wolf Law Library has yet to acquire a copy of The Commentaries, or Reports of Edmund Plowden.

References

  1. ↑ Christopher W. Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund (c.1518–1585),” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed February 4, 2014.
  2. ↑ Ibid.
  3. ↑ Ibid.
  4. ↑ Ibid.
  5. ↑ Ibid.
  6. ↑ Ibid.
  7. ↑ Ibid.
  8. ↑ J.G. Marvin, Legal Bibliography, or A Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books. Philadelphia: T & J.W. Johnson, 1847, 574.
  9. ↑ Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund;" Allen D. Boyer, Sir Edward Coke and the Elizabethan Age (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2003), 32-33.
  10. ↑ Ibid.
  11. ↑ Ibid.
  12. ↑ Brooks, "Plowden, Edmund;" Edmund Plowden, Commentaries; Christopher W. Brooks, "Fleetwood, William (c.1525-1594)," in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press.
  13. ↑ Marvin, Legal Bibliography, or a Thesaurus of American, English, Irish and Scotch Law Books (T. & J. W. Johnson, Lawbook Sellers, 1847), 574-575.
  14. ↑ E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 2:326, [no. 2027].
  15. ↑ Mary R. M. Goodwin, The George Wythe House: Its Furniture and Furnishings (Williamsburg, Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, 1958), XLV.
  16. ↑ Memorandum from Barbara C. Dean, Colonial Williamsburg Found., to Mrs. Stiverson, Colonial Williamsburg Found. (June 16, 1975), 5 (on file at Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary).
  17. ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012, rev. May, 2014) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433.
  18. ↑ LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on May 12, 2015.
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