Reliquiae Spelmannianae: The Posthumous Works of Sir Henry Spelman..

1698. Compilation of Sir Henry Spelman's Writings Spelman, Sir Henry [?1564-1641]. [Gibson, Edmund, Editor]. Reliquiae Spelmannianae: The Posthumous Works of Sir Henry Spelman Relating to the Laws and Antiquities of England Published from the Original Manuscripts. With the Life of the Author. Oxford: Printed at the Theater for Awnsham and John Churchill, 1698. [xxxii], 214, [12] pp. Copperplate vignette of Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre to title page. Two folding tables. Copperplate portrait frontispiece lacking. Folio (12-1/2" x 8"). Contemporary paneled calf, rebacked in period style, raised bands and lettering piece to spine, lower corners repaired, front endleaves renewed, rear hinge mended. Some rubbing and minor nicks and scuffs to boards, faint stain to front board, moderate rubbing to extremities, corners bumped, upper corners lightly worn, title page re-hinged, crack in text block between title page and following leaf. Moderate toning to text, occasional faint dampstaining and dampspotting, light edgewear to a few leaves, a few clean tears to fold lines of tables, minor worming to rear pastedown. $250. * Only edition. Contents mostly in English, a few essays in Latin. Spelman was an eminent antiquarian, legal historian and member of Parliament. This volume consists largely of an essay on feuds and a reprint of his 1641 treatise The Original Growth, Propagation and Condition of Tenures by Knight Service (1641). Another important item is the "Apologie for Arch-Bishop Abbot," which addresses Abbot's manslaughter conviction by chance medley in a test case for a clergyman's rights under such circumstances. Other essays discuss wills, land tenures, the rank of knights, early English law, military law and historical subjects. English Short-Title Catalogue R22617.