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Paul Halsall, ORB sources editor The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is now part of  ORB, the Online Reference Book  for Medieval Studies. Since January 20, 1996, this page has been accessed  times note - this counter is approximate since it only records graphical hits Last Modified: March 4, 2001  Guide to Contents This section of the Sourcebook collects the various online texts related to the history of law. Main Page will take you back to Sourcebook main page. Full Texts  will take you to the index of full text medieval sources. Saint's Lives will take you to the page on hagiography. New Accessions Page will take you back to a file of Sourcebook contents organized by date of addition (so you can see what is new). Search the Sourcebook will enable searches of the full texts of all the source texts at Fordham, at ORB, or selected ancient, late antique, and medieval text databases. Medieval Legal History Ancient Legal Sources A link to the page of the Ancient History Sourcebook which provides texts of ancient Near Eastern, Greek, and Early Roman legal sources. General Legal History Roman Law Decrees of Roman Emperors Law Codes Marriage Law Legal Commentators Byzantine Law Slavic Law Canon Law General Ecumenical and General Church Councils Other Canon Law Texts Full Texts Specific Canons Papal Decrees The Rebirth of Canon Law Studies: 11th Century On Later Medieval Canon Law Inquisitorial Methods Monastic Rules Theory of Law Germanic Law Early Law Codes Carolingian Law "Feudal" Law European Laws and Law Codes: Post 950 Laws of Western "Holy Roman" Emperors Laws of Italian States Laws of Iberian States Laws of France Engish Law General Anglo-Saxon Law Early Norman Law Origins of Common Law: 12th Century Common Law: 13th Century English Law: After Edward I Various Select Pleas Various Cases Jewish Law Islamic Law Modern Western Law Commentaries International Law Constitutional Law

GENERAL LEGAL HISTORY

• WEB Legal History Links [At Pitt]
• WEB The Timetable of World Legal History [At WWIA]
• WEB Netserf: Medieval Law [At CUA]

ROMAN LAW

Decrees of Roman Emperors

• Diocletian: Edicts of Persecution
• Edit of Galerius and the "Edict of Milan", 311/313
• Constantine I: Laws for Christians
• Constantine I: On the Keeping of Easter
• Valentian III: Edict on Power of Roman See, 445
• Jews and the Later Roman Law 315-531
  Laws by Constantine the Great, Constantius (337-361), Theodosius II (408-410), and Justinian (527-565).
• Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800 CE
  Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws

Law Codes

• The Codex Theodosianus [The Theodosian Code], 438

  The Theodosian Code compiled all the imperial edicts from the time of Constantine I. It was promulgated in East and West to reinforce the stability of Imperial Law by making clear what the law was.

  • Theodosian Code XVI.i.2: Banning of Other Religions, 379-395
  • Codex Theodosianus: On Religion

• The Corpus Iuris Civilis [Code of Civil Law], 529-533 CE

  Under the direction of Tribonian, the Corpus Iurus Civilis was issued in three parts, in Latin, at the order of the Emperor Justinian. The Codex Justinianus (529) compiled all of the extant (in Justinian's time) imperial constitutiones from the time of Hadrian. It used both the Codex Theodosianus and private collections such as the Codex Gregorianus and Codex Hermogenianus. The Digest, or Pandects, was issued in 533: it compiled the writings of the great Roman jurists such as Ulpian along with current edicts. It constituted both the current law of the time, and a turning point in Roman Law: from then on the sometimes contradictory case law of the past was subsumed into an ordered legal system. The Institutes was intended as sort of legal textbook for law schools and included extracts from the two major works. Later, Justinian issued a number of other laws, mostly in Greek, which were called Novels.

  • Selections
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis:  Selections from the Digest and Institutes
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis:  The Digest and Codex on Marriage
    • Roman Law Texts [In Latin], [At Roman Law Page],
      A selection of medium length excerpts from, among others, the Corpus Iuris Civilis
  • Digest
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Digest: D. 1.1.1 Ulp 1 inst [At Roman Law Page] [In Latin]
  • Institutes
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, 535, very extensive selections, in English
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, Books I-IV, [in Latin] [At Latin Libary]
  • Codex
    • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
    • Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c. 530 [Xl.51.i]
    • Codex Justinianus: Violation of the Thracian Land Law, c. 530 [XI.52.i.]
  • Novels
    • Justinian I: Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 CE] [At PWH]
      Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
    • Justinian I: Novel 137: Regulating Church Ritual
    • Justinian I: Novel 146: On Jews

Roman Law and Marriage

• For Corpus Juris Civilis - see texts above
• See also Catholic Encyclopedia: History of Marriage
• The Contract of Marriage, in the Ecloga of Leo III, (726)
• A Husband's Endowment Of His Future Wife On Their Betrothal - Southern Burgundy, 994
• Council Legislation on Marriage
• The Law of Brusthem, 1175, on a mixed marriage between a slave and a freewoman.
• Tables of Kindred and Degrees - both Roman and German methods of calculation
• Gratian: On Marriage
• Manorial Marriage and Sexual Offense Cases 
• Sale of Daughter as a Concubine
• Wife Sues to Get Husband Back
• Church Courts Pursue Adulterers, 1289

Legal Commentators

• Oldradus de Ponte: No. 35 (Questio), early 14th century
  The issue here is the validity of a marriage contract made under duress. A woman was kidnapped, held captive and raped over a period of twelve days. During that time, the villain compelled the woman to pronounce the words of a marriage ceremony, after which he endeavored to consummate the marriage.
• Oldradus de Ponte: No. 92 (Questio), early 14th century
  The issue here was the responsibility of a knight who had been entrusted with a castle while a war was going on. That knight gave custody of the castle to someone else who then lost it to the enemy. Was the original knight liable for the castle's loss? What is the responsibility of someone who undertakes to keep something safe for someone else?

Byzantine Law

• Ecloga of Leo III, 726: On Sexual Crimes
• Ecloga of Leo III, 726: The Contract of Marriage
• The Farmer's Law, 7-8th Century.

Slavic Law

• Russian Primary Chronicle: Ruskaia Pravda, [At Univ.Durham]
  An early Law code
• The Code of Law of 1649 (Ulozhenie), excerpts, [At Univ.Durham]

Canon Law

General

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Canon Law
• Code of Canon Law 1983 [At Prarienet]
  Full texts in Latin, English, Spanish and French.

Ecumenical and General Church Councils

NOTE: The texts here are public domain English translations from the Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers series, for the first seven ecumenical councils, and from H.J. Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils, (St. Louis: B. Herder, 1937) [US Copyright expired - confirmed by TAN books, current owner of B. Herder's list]. These are not necessarily the best available sources for the various council texts, although they are quite serviceable, and the notes in the NPNF series are very useful. More recent editions and translations should be consulted for serious academic publication purposes. I have prepared a Guide to Documentary Sources for Catholic Teaching which lists, in some detail, what I take to be the current standard editions. 

See also Ecumenical Councils - a useful, if denominationally partisan, article from the Catholic Encyclopedia. 

• First Ecumenical: Nicea I, 325, canons and commentary on the First Council of Nicea from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Homoousion.
• Canons of the Council of Nicea, 325 [At New Advent]
  Another text
• Second Ecumenical: Constantinople I, 381 canons and commentary on the First Council of Constantinople from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: First Council of Constantinople
• Third Ecumenical: Ephesus, 431, canons and commentary on the Council of Ephesus from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Council of Ephesus.
• Fourth Ecumenical: Chalcedon, 451, canons and commentary on the Council of Chalcedon from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers.
• Fifth Ecumenical: Constantinople II, 553, canons and commentary on the Second Council of Constantinople from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers or text of canons alone.  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Second Council of Constantinople.
• Sixth Ecumenical: Constantinople III, 680-681, canons and commentary on the Second Council of Constantinople from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Third Council of Constantinople.
• The Quinisext Council (or Council in Trullo), 692, canons and commentary on the Council in Trullo from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Council in Trullo.
• Seventh Ecumenical: Nicea II, 787, canons and commentary on the Second Council of Nicea from Volume XIV of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Nicaea, Second Council of Nicea
• Second Council of Nicea: Decree on Icons, 787
• Eighth Ecumenical: Constantinople IV, 869-870, canons from Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Fourth Council of Constantinople.
• Ninth Ecumenical: Council: Lateran I, 1123, canons from Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Lateran Council, First.
• Tenth Ecumenical: Council: Lateran II, 1139, canons from Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Lateran Council, Second.
• Eleventh Ecumenical: Council: Lateran III, 1179, canons from Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Lateran Counicl, Third.
• Twelfth Ecumenical: Lateran IV, 1215, canons from Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Lateran Council, Fourth
• Council of Trent,: 1545-63. [at Hanover College - public domain]
• Volume XIV -- The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church; Canons and Decrees; Canons of Local Synods with Ecumenical Acceptance text, text.zip, WinHelp.zip  [At CCEL]

There are also online etexts of council decrees from Norman Tanner, ed., Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, (London: Sheed and Ward; Washington. D.C: Georgetown University Press. 1990).

I have made these off-site links (at http://www.ewtn.com)   available, but note that there is no indication that copy permission has been obtained. EWTN is a very conservative Catholic web site, but it does have a lot of files [over 9000].

1. Council of Nicaea I : 325 A.D., with Catholic Encyclopedia article 
2. Council of Constantinople I : 381 A.D.  
3. Council of Ephesus : 431 A.D.  
4. Council of Chalcedon : 451 A.D.  
5. Council of Constantinople II : 553 AD  
6. Council of Constantinople III : 680-681 A.D.  
7. Council of Nicaea II : 787 A.D. ,  - with Catholic Encylopedia article 
   Cf. Nicea II 753 (Iconcolast Synod)
8. Council of Constantinople IV : 869-870 A.D. 
9. Lateran Council I : 1123 A.D. 
10. Lateran Council II : 1139 A.D. 
11. Lateran Council III : 1179 A.D. 
12. Lateran Council IV : 1215 A.D. 
13. Council of Lyons 1 : 1245 A.D. 
14. Council of Lyons 2 : 1274 A.D. 
15. Council of Vienne : 1311-12 A.D. 
16. Council of Constance 1414-18 A.D.  
17. Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence : 1431-1435 A.D.  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Council of Basel
18. Lateran Council V : 1512-17 A.D.  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Fifth Lateran Council
19. Council of Trent : 1545-63 A.D. [at Hanover College - this is public domain]. Also a Zipped version [At EWTN]
20. Vatican Council I : 1869 AD  
21. Vatican Council 2: Index [Text version - at RCNET]
22. Vatican Council 2: Index [HTML versions - at EWTN]

Other Canon Law Texts

• Full texts
  • The Didache, or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (at american.edu)
  • Council of Orange, 529.
  • Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754
• Individual Canons
  • Council of Sardica: Canon V on Roman See, 343
  • Council of Agde: Concerning Slaves of the Church, 506
  • Fifth Council of Orleans: Concerning Freedmen, 549
  • Fourth Council of Toledo: On the Keeping of Slaves, 633
  • Fourth Council of Toledo: Division of the Tithe in Spain, 633
  • Pope Gregory III: Prohibition on Selling Christians to Pagans for Sacrificial Rites, 731
  • The Irish Canons: Collection of the Tithe, c. 750 [early Ireland]
  • Second Council of Verneuil: On Misappropriation of Church Funds, 844
  • Council of Worms: On the Murder of Slaves, 876
  • Council of Altheim: Bequests of the Clergy, 916
• Papal Decrees
  • Gelasius: On the Two Powers See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Gelasius I
  • Pope Nicholas I: Responses to the Questions of the Bulgars A.D. 866 (Letter 99), trans. W. North, full text.

The Rebirth of Canon Law Studies: 11th Century On

• WEB Domus Gratiani: Homepage for Gratian Studies [A. Winroth at Yale]
• The Life of Burchard Bishop of Worms, trans. William North, 1025
• Papal Election Decree, 1059, Papal and Imperial Versions,  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Popes, Election of the.
• Council of Rome, 1074.
• Gregory VII: Dictatus Papae, 1075, also available en castellano; See Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Gregory VII
• Gregory VII: Lay Investitures Forbidden, 1074, 1080,

Later Medieval Canon Law

• The Fourth Lateran Council: Selected Canons. The full text of the Lateran canons is also available.
• Boniface VIII (r.1294-1303): Clericis Laicos,1296. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Boniface VIII
• Boniface VIII (r.1294-1303): Unam Sanctam, 1302.
• The Great Schism: The Council of Pisa Declares itself Competent to Judge Popes, 1409.
• Council of Constance: Decree Sacrosancta, 1415.
• Council of Constance: Deposition of John XXIII, 1415
• Council of Constance: Decree Frequens, 1415
• Council of Constance: List of Abuses, 1417
• Pius II (r.1458-1464): Bull Execrabilis 1459. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Martin V

Inquisitorial Methods

• Bernard Gui: Technique of Interrogations, 1307-1323, also available en castellano.
• Jacques Fournier, Bishop of Pamiers 1318-1325: The Inquisition Record. [At SJSU]
  English translation by Nancy P. Stork of selected confessions by Cathar heretics and Jews to Bishop Jacques Fournier and the Inquisition at Pamiers.
• Introduction to Inquistion Documents by David Burr
• Bernard Gui: Inquisitor's Manual, 1307-1323.
• The Case of Na Prous, a beguine, 1325.
• The Trial of Joan of Arc, 1431.

Monastic Rules

Eastern

• Rule of St Pachomius, in Spanish [At BEC]
• Rule of St. Basil, available soon 
  See also John Burke: St. Basil the Great - his person and his preaching [At op.org] : Catholic Encyclopedia: Basil the Great, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Eastern Monasticism.
• Theodore of Studium (d. 826): Reform Rules
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Studion.
• Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents [At DO]
  A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments. The online collection includes texts from 61 monastic foundations.

Western

• Rule of St. Columba 6th Cent
• The Rule of the Celi De as given by Saint Maelruain of Tallaght, 6th century, [At Geocities]
• John Cassian: Institutes [At  Benedictine page].
  This is an HTML file in parts. The whole text in one enormous file is available at Wheaton College/CCEL See also Catholic Encyclopedia: John Cassian
• John Cassian: Conferences [At OSB]
• Rule of St. Augustine, full text. [At U Penn]
• The Rule of St. Augustine [At OSA] and in Latin [At Augustiner]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Rule of St. Augustine
• Rule of St. Benedict and Latin Version. [At OSB.org]
• Rule of St. Benedict, excerpts, See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Rule of St. Benedict
• Charter of Abbey of Cluny See also Catholic Encyclopedia: ST. ODO
  See the Cluny Project at the University of Muenster.
• Cistercian Order: Charta Caritatis, [At St. John's Minnesota]
  See the Cistercian Order page at St. John's College.
• St. Bernard: In Praise of the New Knighthood, early 12th Century, on the Templars.
  See the ORB Military Orders Page. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Bernard of Clairvaux, Encyclopedia Brittanica: Bernard of Clairvaux (9th Ed), Catholic Encyclopedia: The Military Orders, Catholic Encyclopedia: The Knights Templars, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta)
• William of Tyre: The Foundation of the Order of Knights Templar.
• Primitive Rule of the Templars, 1129. [At ORB]
• Rule of the Lady Hospitallers of the Royal Monastery of Sigena, 1188, in Latin, [At Kansas]
  The Royal Monastery of Sigena was an institution of Lady Hospitallers and enjoyed a great deal of independence and influence. It would appear that its Rule was the work of Sancha, Queen of Aragon.
• The Rule and Statutes of the Teutonic Knights, 1264 [At ORB]
  See the ORB Military Orders Page
• St. Francis (1182-1226) : Testament
• Rule of Franciscan order
• Honorius III: Bull Solet annuere, on the Rule of the Friars Minor, November 29, 1226. [At The Franciscan Archive]; or see copy [At EWTN]
• Nicholas III: Exiit qui seminat, Soriano, Italy: August 14, 1279, (With attached Latin Text). [At EWTN]
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Nicholas III
  On the confirmation of the rule of the Friars Minor.
• Nicholas III: Exiit qui seminat, Soriano, Italy: August 14, 1279, (alternate translation by John Kilcullen and John Scott ). [At MacQuarrie U]
• Clement V: Exivi de paradiso, May 6, 1312 with the Ecumenical Council of Vienne in session Latin Text available. [At Franciscan Archive]:or see copy [At EWTN]
  Declaration of the supreme Pontiff on the Rule of the Friars Minor.
• Innocent IV: Bull Quae honorem conditoris omnium ["Whatever Is for the Honor of the Creator of All"], October 1, 1247. [At EWTN]. See also the version at CarmelNet.
  On the prior and hermits of Mt. Carmel. The Bull includes the Carmelites' mitigated rule. 

Theory of Law

• Thomas Aquinas: On the Nature of Law
• Thomas Aquinas: On The Principles of Nature, trans Stephen Loughlin at UToronto
• John of Paris:  On Royal and Papal Power [Local copy]
• Marsiglio of Padua (d.1343): Defensor Pacis: Selections from Text, 1324.
• Marsiglio of Padua (d.1343): Defensor Pacis: Conclusions, 1324. Same Text with Introduction also available.[complete, and in a different version from Tierney. Geary has copyrighted selections from body of the text, chaps. 3 and 13]
  
  
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GERMANIC LAW

Early Law Codes

• The Ripuarian Law: Inheritance of Allodial Land, c. 450
• Law of the Salian Franks
• Law of The Visigoths: Succession to Inheritance, c. 475
• The Lombard Law of Rothari: Succession of Legitimate and Natural Sons, c. 643
• Cain Adamnain: An Old-Irish Treatise on the Law of Adamnan
• The Jews of Spain and the Visigothic Code, 654-681 CE
• The Visigothic Code (Forum iudicum) ed. and trans. by S.P. Scott (Print edition: Boston Book Company, 1910)[At Libro]
• King Harald Harfager of Norway (r. 860-930): Laws for Land Property
• Formulas Concerning Ordeals
• Ordeal of Boiling Water, 12th or 13th Century.

Carolingian Law

• Capitulary of Lestinnes: Appropriation of Church Property for Military Purposes, 743
• Capitulary for Saxony, c.775-790
• Capitulary of Herstal, 779
• Capitulary of Mantua, 781
• Capitulary of Paderbon, 785
• Synod of Frankfort, 794
• Capitulary of Frankfort: The Price of Staples, 794
• General Capitulary of the Missi, 802
• Charlemagne: Letter to Baugulf of Fulda
• Capitulary of 802
• Capitulary De Villis, 9th century
• Charlemagne: Limits on Passage of Merchants, c. 805-809
• Charlemagne: Prohibitions on Transactions, 803-806
• Charlemagne: Capitulary for the Jews, 814
• Capitulary of Aachen: Payments on Tributary and Taxable Land, 817
• Carolingian Capitularies on Serfs & Coloni, 803-821
• Louis the Pious: Duties of the Coloni, 817
• Monetary Regulations of the Carolingians, 750-817
• Charles the Bald: Edict of Pistes, 864
  One of the most complete Carolingian documents on the regulation of coinage and mints.

"Feudal" Law

• Burchard of Worms: Lex Familie Wormatiensis. c.1025, trans Steve Lane [slane@tezcat.com] An internal law for the dependents of the bishop of Worms, written mostly to settle disputes and feuds.
• Agreement between Count William V of Aquitaine and Hugh IV of Lusignan
• John of Ibelin: Account of a Plea, 1198, The earliest documented instance of an appeal to the Assise sur la ligece.
• Modus Faciendi Homagium & Fidelitatem (The Manner of Doing Homage & Fealty), c. 1275
  English common law document.
• Charters relating to Judicial Duels, 11^th - 12^th Century,  trans. Richard Barton
  • Duel between Engelardus and the monks of Saint-Serge of Angers, c.1100
  • Abbots Daibert and Otbrannus prevent a battle between their monks, 27 and 28 April, 1064
  • Trouble between St Martin of Tours and Holy Cross of Talmont leads to a judicial battle, 1098
  • Abbot Robert of Mont-Saint-Michel seeks the right to determine where duels are held.
• René of Anjou: Tournament Book, 1406. [At Voice Net],
  Old French and English text of instructions on how to hold a tournement by King Rene of Anjou.
• French National Assembly: Decree Abolishing Feudalism, 11 August 1789. [At Hanover]
  Although not a medieval text, this decree of the French Revolutionary assembly is significant in determining what the modern term feodalisme meant.
  
  
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EUROPEAN LAWS AND LAW CODES: POST 950

Unlike England, which developed its insular common law tradition rather early, the legislative activity of the high medieval states of continental western Europe was heavily influenced by the revival in the study of Roman law. Nevertheless, customary legal traditions continued to play an important role. 

• Laws of Western "Holy Roman" Emperors
  • Frederick II (r.1214-1250): Statute in Favor of Princes, 1231.
  • Licet Juris, 1338.
  • Henry, King of the Romans: Concerning Serfs Who Flee to the Cities of Alsace, 1224
  • Charles IV: The Golden Bull, 1356. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Bulla Aurea (Golden Bull).
• Laws of Italian States
  • The Commune of Bugelle (Biella): Documents and Statutes Part I, and Part II, 13-15th Century, full texts in Latin and English [At Kansas]
• Laws of Iberian States
  • Jews and Christians in Teruel: The Fuero of Teruel, 1176 CE
    Excerpts from the Fuero, or urban ordinance.
  • The Siete Partidas: Concerning Jews, 1265
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Navigation Act, 1227
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Maritime Code, 1258
• Laws of France
  • Philip II Augustus: Suppression of Etampes Commune, 1199-1200, trans. Richard Barton
  • Transcript of Trial of Joan of Arc
• International Law
  • Port of Arles: The Navigation Code, 1150
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Navigation Act, 1227
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Maritime Code, 1258
    
    
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ENGLISH LAW

General

• WEB English Legal History Materials [Robert Palmer, At Univ. Houston]

Anglo-Saxon Law

• Laws of Alfred and Ine [In Anglo Saxon] [At Labryinth]
• Edward the Elder: Coinage Regulations, c. 902-925
• Edgar the Peaceable: Regulation of Coinage, Measures, and Price of Wool, c. 959-975
• Æthelred Unrædy: The Laws of London, 978
  On money.
• Anglo Saxon Dooms, 560-975, In English. These include:
  • The Laws of Æthelberht, King of Kent 560-616 AD
  • The Laws of Kings Hlothhære and Eadric 673-686 AD
  • The Laws of King Wihtræd 690-725 AD
  • The Laws of King Alfred 871-901 AD
  • The Laws of King Edward the Elder, 901-924 AD
  • The Laws of Alfred, Guthrum, and Edward the Elder
  • The North People's Law
  • Mercian Law
  • The Laws of King Athelstan 924-939 AD
  • The Laws of King Edmund I 939-946 AD
  • The Laws of King Edgar 959-975 AD
• Æthelwulf, King of Wessex: Grant of a Tenth of Public Land, 854
• Canute the Great: Granting of Fiefs, 1028
• Canute, King of the English: Inheritance in Case of Intestacy, c. 1016-1035

Early Norman Law

• Laws of William the Conqueror and in text form. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: William the Conqueror
• William the Conqueror: Sale of Slaves in England, c. 1080
• The Domesday Book: Instructions and Example, (1086) See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Domesday Book. A Picture of the Exon Domesday Book is also online.
• The "Laws of Henry I": The Murder Fine
• Henry I: Charter of Liberties, 1100
• Henry I of England: Monetary Regulations, 1108
• Leges Edwardis Confessoris: The Liberties of London, c. 1120
• Leges Edwardis Confessoris: Tithable Products of the Land, (Written post 1115)
• Leges Henrici Primi: Law of Partnerships, c. 1109-1118
• Laws of Henry I, copyrighted
  but see Robert Palmer: Law and Courts Before Common Law [At Univ. Houston] for texts, plus discussion, with case examples.

Origins of Common Law: 12th Century

• WEB Robert Palmer: English Legal History Materials Page [At Univ. Houston]
  Basically an online textbook on Medieval English law. The Discussion chapters contain the full texts or extended excerpst of the main documents.
• Robert Palmer: Origins of Common Law [At Houston]
  This informative discussion contains, embedded, the following documents:
• The Treaty of Winchester: Between Stephen and Henry [II], (1153)
• The Writ of Right (from Glanvill, 12.3)
• The Assize of Northampton, cc. 4-5 (1176)
• The Assize of Novel Disseisin [the earliest example of the writ of NOVEL DISSEISIN we have; it comes from Glanvill, 13.33 (circa 1188)]
• Matthew Hale: The History of the Common Law of England, 1713. [At McMaster]
• The History of England in the Encyclopeadia Britannica, 11th Edition [At UM-Baltimore]
• F.W. Maitland: Domesday Book and Beyond: Three Essays in the Early History of England [At McMaster] [Complete]
  One of the fundamental books of medieval English history.
• F. W. Maitland: The Forms of Action at Common Law, 1909, full text
• Henry II: The Constitutions of Clarendon, 1164
• Henry II: The Assize of Clarendon, 1166
• Henry II: Inquest of Sheriffs, 1170
• Henry II, King of England: The Saladin Tithe, 1188
• Robert Palmer: The Law in 1188: Glanvill [At Houston]
  Contains substantial excerpts from the law book known as Glanvill
• Select English Writs
  Texts in Latin and English of the most important early writs.
• Robert Palmer: Rules of Law [At Houston]
  Page down this page for text of rules of law such as Utrum and Darein presentment.
• Robert Palmer: Application of Writs [At Univ. Houston]
  Cases derived from the plea rolls, the records of the king's court, showing application of writs
• Dialogue of the Exchequer, 1180s. [Full text of Book First, titles of Book Second]
• The Pipe Roll of the Bishopric of Winchester, 1208-1209
  Administration in action!
• English Jewry is Organised: The Ordinances of the Jews, 1194
• King John of England and the Jews: Charters, c.1201
• Appointment of an Archpriest of the Jews in England, July 1199

Common Law: 13th Century

• John I: Concession Of England To The Pope. 1213
• [Tierney 71, Geary 49.2] Magna Carta, 1215. A Magna Carta in plain text is also available, as is a British Library modern translation.
• [Geary 49.1] Articles of the Barons, Jun 15, 1215
• Roger of Wendover: Runneymede, 1215, from Flowers of Hisory
• Innocent III: Declaration that Magna Carta is Null and Void, Aug 24, 1216
• Magna Carta, 1216, (a revised version)
• Bracton: De Legibus Et Consuetudinibus Angliæ (On the Laws and Customs of England), in English and Latin, attributed to Henry of Bratton, c. 1210-1268), Full Text, [At Cornell]
• Henry III: Documents of the Church of Salisbury in the Early 13^th Century,   trans. Richard Barton
• The Register of Roger Martival, Bishop of Salisbury, 1315-1330,  trans. Richard Barton
  Texts from the Register of Roger Martivall, Bishop of Salisbury. The last one, in particular, is of interest, as it is concerned with criminous clerks and clerical status.
• Modus Faciendi Homagium & Fidelitatem (The Manner of Doing Homage & Fealty), c. 1275
  English common law document.
• Statuta Armorum (The Statutes of Arms), c. 1260
• The Assizes of Bread, Beer, & Lucrum Pistoris
• Judicium Pillorie (The Judgment of the Pillory)
• Statuta de Mercatoribus (Statutes of Merchants), 11 Edw. I (1283) & 13 Edw. I (1285)
• Statuta de Forstallariis (Statute of Forestallers), c. 1300

English Law: After Edward I

• Edward I: Statute of Mortmain, 1279
• Edward I: Statute of Quia Emptores, 1290
• Summons of a Bishop, a Baron, and the Commons to Parliament, 1295
• Edward I: Confirmation of the Charters, 1297
• Edward I: Confirmatio Cartarum November 5, 1297, (Confirmation of Henry III's version of the Magna Carta)
• Robert Palmer: Statutes of Edward I [At Univ. Houston]
  Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
• Robert Palmer: The Equity Courts [At Univ. Houston]
  Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
• Edward II: Coronation Oath, 1308
• Orders for the English Fleet, 1326 [At Hillsdale]
• Ordinance of Laborers, 1349
• Statute of Laborers, 1351
• Thomas Walsingham: The Good Parliament of 1376, from Chronicon Angliae
• The Manner and Form of the Coronation of the Kings and Queens of England, 1385 - 1460
• Anthology of Chancery English 
• Titulus Regius, 1484   [At R3]
  The Act of Parliament settling the crown on Richard III.

Various Select Pleas

These documents illustrate the development of the English legal system.

• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Cornish Eyre
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward III - Manor of Brightwaltham
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Lincolnshire Eyre
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Northamptonshire Eyre
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Bedfordshire Eyre
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Staffordshire Eyre
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Shropshire Eyre
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I--Manors of the Abbey of Bec, 1247
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I--Manors of the Abbey of Bec, 1248
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I--Manors of the Abbey of Bec, 1249
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I--Manors of the Abbey of Bec, 1275
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I--Manors of the Abbey of Bec, 1280

Various Cases

• Concord made between Laurence the Clerk, Son of William & Sir Simon, son of Richard of Stanstead and their kinsmen, c. 1150 x 1178
• Robert Palmer: Women and the Law [At Houston]
  Glanvill on Law as it applies to women in England, 1188
• The Strange Story of Thomas of Elderfield, 13th Century
• The Questioning of John Rykener, A Male Cross-Dressing Prostitute, 1395,
  This is the one a a minute number of texts from legal processes on same-sex activities in late medieval England. The document contains a facsimile of the Roll membrane, a Latin transcription, and a translation.
  
  
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JEWISH LAW

• A Rabbinic Responsum: The Shabbat Goy
• Rashi (1040-1105): Communal Affairs in Troyes, c.1100
• Jewish Ethical Wills, (12th and 14th Centuries)
• Maimonides: The 613 Mitzvot.
• Maimonides: The Laws and Basic Principles of the Torah.
• Maimonides: The Laws Concerning Mashiach, Chapters 11 & 12 of Hilchos Melachim from the Mishneh Torah of the Rambam.
• Maimonides: Oath of Maimonides.
• Ordinance of the Jews of the Crown of Aragon, 1354 CE
  This ordinance or takkanah was the product of  an increased sense of Jewish vulnerability in the years after the Black Death (1348).
• Synod of Castilian Jews, 1432
  Ordinances from  assembly of the Jews of the kingdom of Castile at Valladolid in 1432.
• WEB The Hypertext Halacha. [At Project Genesis/torah.org]
  A translation of the Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Berurah. An excellent source for the details of Jewish religious law.
  
  
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ISLAMIC LAW

• The Pact of Umar, 7th Century
• Pact of Umar (another version), 7th-9th century CE?
• Sahih Bukhari: Hadith, [At USC]
• Islamic political philosophy: Al-Farabi, Avicenna, Averroes [Local copy]
• WEB Islamic and Middle Eastern Law Materials [At SOAS]
• WEB Islamic Thought   [At MSA Buffalo]
  With links to material on Jurisprudence
• WEB Bibliography for Medieval Islam [At IGS]
  
  
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MODERN WESTERN LAW

Commentaries

• Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu: The Spirit of the Laws, Translated by Thomas Nugent, revised by J. V. Prichard, 1914 ed., full text [At Constitution.org]
• Blackstone's Commentaries, with notes by St. George Tucker, 1803, full text [At Constitution.org]
• James Kent: Commentaries on American Law, 1826, full text [At Constitution.org]

International Law

• Hugo Grotius (or Huig de Groot) (1583-1645): The Free Sea, 1609
• Hugo Grotius (or Huig de Groot) (1583-1645): On the Law of War and Peace (De Jure Belliac Pacis), 1625
• David J. Bederman: Reception of the Classical Tradition in International Law: Grotius' De Jure Belli ac Pacis, 1996 [At Emory]
• Henry Sumner Maine: International Law, A Series of Lectures, 1887 [At Bristol]

Constitutional Law

• John Stuart Mill:  Representative Government, 1861, full text [At Constitution.org]
  
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