The Royal Prerogative and the Learning of the Inns of Court (Cambridge Studies in English Legal History)

Between the mid-fifteenth and mid-sixteenth century Prerogativa Regis, a central text of fiscal feudalism, was introduced into the curriculum of the Inns of Court, developed, and then abandoned. This 2003 book argues that while lawyers often turned their attention to the text when political and financial issues brought it to the fore, they sought to maintain an intellectual consistency and coherence in the law. Discussions of both substance and procedure demonstrate how readers reflected the concerns of their time in the topics they chose to consider and how they drew on the learning of both their predecessors and their peers at the Inns. The first study based primarily on readings, this book threw light on legal education, early Tudor financial and administrative procedure, and the relationship between the ways that law was made, taught and used. Between The Mid-fifteenth And Mid-sixteenth Century Prerogativa Regis, A Central Text Of Fiscal Feudalism, Was Introduced Into The Curriculum Of The Inns Of Court, Developed, And Then Abandoned. This Book Argues That While Lawyers Often Turned Their Attention To The Text When Political And Financial Issues Brought It To The Fore, They Sought To Maintain An Intellectual Consistency And Coherence In The Law. Discussions Of Both Substance And Procedure Demonstrate How Readers Reflected The Concerns Of Their Time In The Topics They Chose To Consider And How They Drew On The Learning Of Both Their Predecessors And Their Peers At The Inns. The First Study Based Primarily On Readings, This Book Throws New Light On Legal Education, Early Tudor Financial And Administrative Procedure, And The Relationship Between The Ways That Law Was Made, Taught, And Used.--book Jacket. 1. The Early Readings -- 2. Expansion And Debate -- 3. Frowyk And Constable On Primer Seisin -- 4. Spelman, Yorke, And The Campaign Against Uses -- 5. The Edwardian Readers And Beyond -- App. 1. Thomas Frowyk's Reading On Prerogativa Regis -- App. 2. John Spelman's Reading On Prerogativa Regis. Margaret Mcglynn. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 307-331) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 7 PREFACE......Page 9 FIGURES......Page 11 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 12 INTRODUCTION......Page 15 1 THE EARLY READINGS......Page 41 2 EXPANSION AND DEBATE......Page 87 3 FROWYK AND CONSTABLE ON PRIMER SEISIN......Page 126 4 SPELMAN, YORKE, AND THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST USES......Page 174 5 THE EDWARDIAN READERS AND BEYOND......Page 219 CONCLUSION......Page 260 NOTES ON THE APPENDIXES......Page 274 Appendix 1 THOMAS FROWYK’S READING ON PREROGATIVA REGIS, cc.1–3, INNER TEMPLE, LENT 1495......Page 275 Appendix 2 JOHN SPELMAN’S READING ON PREROGATIVA REGIS, cc.1–3, GRAY’S INN, LENT 1521......Page 309 Manuscript readings......Page 321 Printed......Page 322 Secondary sources......Page 326 INDEX......Page 346

Focusing on one text, Prerogativa Regis, this book examines legal education at the Inns of Court in the late fifteenth/early sixteenth century through surviving lecture notes. It demonstrates the ways in which the law developed from generation to generation; the points of contention within and between generations, and the ways in which the general knowledge of the legal profession was utilized and refined. It also considers whether the lawyers' treatment of this charged topic was affected by political pressures from outside the Inns.

McGlynn examines legal education at the Inns of Court in the late fifteenth/early sixteenth century. By focusing on Prerogativa Regis, she shows how the law was developed, the points of contention within and between generations, and how the general knowledge of the legal profession was utilized and refined.