A Concise History of the Common Law

Title Page, Copyright

A Concise History of the Common Law l i b e r t y f u n d Indianapolis a Concise History of the Common Law by Theodore F. T. Plucknett This book is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a foundation established to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. The cuneiform inscription that serves as our logo and as the design motif for our endpapers is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 b.c. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash. This 2010 Liberty Fund edition is reproduced from the fifth edition originally published by Little, Brown and Co., 1956 A Concise History of the Common Law, © 1929, renewed 1956, by Theodore F. T. Plucknett. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America c 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 p 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Plucknett, Theodore Frank Thomas, 1897–1965. Concise history of the common law / by Theodore F.  T. Plucknett.—5th ed. p. cm. Originally published: 5th ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1956. 2nd ed. 1936. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-86597-806-5 (hardcover: alk. paper)—isbn 978-0-86597-807-2 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Common law—Great Britain—History. 2. Law—Great Britain—History. I. Title. II. Title: Common law. kd671.p58 2010 340.5'70942—dc22 2010030981 liberty fund, inc. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 ...