English Statutes
Two leaves from a Book of Statutes, in Latin, manuscript on vellum [England, 14th century].
On the debts of servants, the punishment of those who make false accusations, and on mortmain and rape.

Each c.159 × 101mm. 33 lines in cursive script, the text comprising parts of the Second Statute of Westminster, 13 Edward I (1285), beginning in chapter 10 and ending in chapter 12 (‘recessum justitiariorum recipiantur. […] et si legitimo’; printed, with facing English translation, in The Statutes at Large, I (London, 1769), pp. 90–91, available online), and from the beginning of chapter 32 to the middle of chapter 35 (‘Cum religiosi et alie persone ecclesiastice […] de comitatu illo ad talem locum’; ibid., pp.100–02) (recovered from use as flyleaves in a binding of tanned leather, with consequent damage, one margin folded and sewn-through, some creases and wear)

Provenance:
(1) Used as binder’s waste in the 16th century, to judge by scribbles which include the name of a bailiff: ‘By Fysher Cabert..e(?) baylve / Cabeles..e(?)’.
(2) Sir Thomas Phillipps, according to Kraus:
(3) Colker MS 345; acquired in 1985 from H.P. Kraus.

The three Statutes of Westminster (1275, 1285, and 1290), were issued in ‘parliaments’ held by Edward I at Westminster. Each was designed to amend or clarify extremely diverse aspects of the law, civil and criminal. The chapters on the first leaf here include the debts of servants, and the punishment of people who make false accusations; and on the second leaf, mortmain and rape.

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