Legal Treatises

The texts reproduced in facsimile in the three volumes of 'Legal Treatises' reconstruct the legal status of the early modern Englishwoman. To facilitate a reading of the treatises by broadly defining many of the laws discussed in great detail in the treatises, a general introduction to the laws of the period provides concise overviews of the structure of the English legal system; the legal education of practitioners of the law; the kinds of legal literature produced in the period; and the legal position of early modern Englishwomen. A bibliography of important secondary scholarship devoted to the early modern Englishwoman's legal position assists the reader in obtaining more specialized knowledge. In addition to the general introduction, a separate introduction to each of the reproduced works is provided, including information about each work's publication and authorship, intended audience, content and reception. The third volume reproduces Baron and Feme: A Treatise of Law and Equity, Concerning Husbands and Wives, 3rd ed. (1738). It was published anonymously in 1700, and no attribution has yet been found for it. It is the first known legal treatise that focuses exclusively on the laws concerning husbands and wives. Written for an audience of legal professionals, the treatise's value lies in its clear enunciation of rules of law and legal principles, particularly to do with obligations, annuity, dower and jointure rights. The version reproduced here is the third edition, which was the first to be published in English rather than Latin.