Category: Magna Carta

  • Primer Seisin

    History of Primer Seisin Primer Seisin, which is usually regarded as a separate incident, and figures as such in Blackstone’s list, is perhaps better understood, not as an incident at all, but as a special procedure—effective and summary—whereby the Crown could enforce the four incidents […]

  • Escheat

    History of Escheat Escheat, it has been said, “signifies the return of an estate to a lord, either on failure of issue from the tenant or upon account of such tenant’s felony.” (R. Thomson, Magna Charta, p. 236). This lucid description conveys a good general conception of escheat; but it […]

  • Escheat

    History of Escheat Escheat, it has been said, “signifies the return of an estate to a lord, either on failure of issue from the tenant or upon account of such tenant’s felony.” (R. Thomson, Magna Charta, p. 236). This lucid description conveys a good general conception of escheat; but it […]

  • Wardship

    History of Wardship Wardships are described in the Dialogus de Scaccario as “escheats along with the heir” (escaeta cum herede).(Hughes’ edition, p. 133). This expression does not occur elsewhere, but it would be impossible to find any description of wardship which throws more light on […]

  • Scutage

    Scutage before the Carta Magna Introduction The Crown did not always insist on personal service, but was frequently willing to accept a commutation in the form of a money payment. The subject of scutage is one of the most vexed of questions, all received opinions of yesterday having to–day […]

  • Court of Common Pleas

    Definition of Court of Common Pleas In accordance with the work A Dictionary of Law, this is a description of Court of Common Pleas : One of the three courts of *common law into which the curia regis was divided (the others being the *Court of Queen's Bench and the *Court of Exchequer) […]

  • Magna Carta

    The Magna Carta was granted by King John, and afterwards re-enacted and confirmed by Parliament more than 30 times. The charter now in force is the statute 9 Hen 3. with which our statute book commences. It contains provisions to protect the subjects from abuse of the Royal Prerogative in […]

  • Constitution

    Definition of Constitution In accordance with the work A Dictionary of Law, this is a description of Constitution : The rules and practices that determine the composition and functions of the organs of central and local government in a state and regulate the relationship between the individual […]

  • Absolutism

    Absolutism of the Tudors, 1485-1603 Absolutism had reached its high-water mark in England long before the power and prestige of the French monarchy had culminated in the person of Louis XIV. In the sixteenth century—the very century in which the French sovereigns faced constant foreign […]

  • History of Magna Carta

    The imminent danger of finding himself at war with his own rebellious barons persuaded -in accordance to Bamber Gascoigne´ Encyclopedia of Britain about “Magna Carta”- King John to fix his royal seal (on 15 June 1215 ‘in the meadow called Runnymede between Windsor and Staines’) to this […]

  • History of Magna Carta

    The imminent danger of finding himself at war with his own rebellious barons persuaded -in accordance to Bamber Gascoigne´ Encyclopedia of Britain about “Magna Carta”- King John to fix his royal seal (on 15 June 1215 ‘in the meadow called Runnymede between Windsor and Staines’) to this […]

  • Law and Administration under Henry II

    In our last lecture we discussed Henry II in his role as a French prince trying to build and maintain a great empire out of the various territories that his parents and his wife had given him. This is probably how contemporaries, and likely Henry himself, viewed his efforts and career. […]

  • Tudors

    British Political and Social Thought: Division of Power Under the Tudors Introduction to Tudors In the 16th century the ruling Tudor monarchy increased the level of cooperation among royalty, local aristocrats, and wealthy merchants. Although the Tudors maintained their belief in the divine […]

  • Parliament History

    Introduction to Parliament History Parliament is one of the oldest and most honored parts of the British government. Its name, from the French word parler (to talk), was given to meetings of the English king's council in the mid-13th century. Its immediate predecessor was the king's […]

  • Absolute Rights of Englishmen

    British Political and Social Thought: Common Law and the Absolute Rights of Englishmen Introduction to Absolute Rights of Englishmen In the 17th and 18th centuries some thinkers looked to England's legal history to justify a greater role for Parliament and rule by law rather than by royal […]