The links on the dates on the left allow to you to flip between the assignments and the calendar. The links on the Materials bring you to a pdf version of the assignment, which, depending on your broswer, will either show on the screen or download. The introduction to this syllabus describes the course and explains the requirements. It also explains what is, and what is not, important in the readings.

What follows is arranged by topics and assignment numbers as well as by date. Each assignment will take roughly one class period. The calendar that follows the syllabus gives my current estimate of when we will deal with each assignment. Baker5 = J. H. Baker, An Introduction to English Legal History, 5th ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019); Baker4 = J. H. Baker, An Introduction to English Legal History, 4th ed. (London: Butterworth, 2002); Brown = A. L. Brown, The Governance of Late Medieval England (Stanford: Stanford U. Press, 1989); Jolliffe = J. E. A. Jolliffe, The Constitutional History of Medieval England, 4th ed. (New York: W.W. Norton, 1961); Loyn = H. R. Loyn, Governance of Anglo-Saxon England (Stanford: Stanford U. Press, 1984; Lyon = Bryce Lyon, A Constitutional and Legal History of Medieval England, 2d ed. (New York: W.W. Norton, 1980); Materials = C. Donahue, ed., Materials on English Constitutional and Legal History (available on Canvas); S&M = Carl Stephenson & F.G. Marcham, eds., Sources of English Constitutional History, vol. 1, rev. ed. (New York: Harper & Row, 1971) (all the cited S&M documents are in the Materials; there’s a table at the beginning that shows you where to find them); Warren = W. L. Warren, The Governance of Norman and Angevin England (Stanford: Stanford U. Press, 1987).

General Readings: Baker5, pp. 3–14, or Baker4, pp. 1–10, 27–34, 212–19. Jolliffe pp. 1–138; or  Lyon pp. 3–103; or Warren pp. 1–22; or Loyn (the whole book) (this last only recommended for those who are already familiar with Anglo-Saxon England).

Assignment

Wed., 6 Sep.

1.   Introduction; the legacy of the ancient world (Roman law); the “reception” question —  Materials §§ 1A, 1C–1D (CD bk. rev., outlines, Justinian extracts). The legacy of the ancient world (Christianity) — Materials § 1B.

Mon., 11 Sep.

2.   Constitutional history of England from the invasions to Edgar — Materials §§ 2A–2C (Anglo-Saxon documents [§ 2A] and narrative [§ 2B, § 2C, p. II–9 to II–19]). Kings, lords, and families in Anglo-Saxon England; Aethelberht’s Code — Materials §§ 2D–2F (Aethelberht’s code, [§ 2D], Simpson article [§ 2E], notes [§ 2F]).

Wed., 13 Sep.

3.  Constitutional history of England from Edgar to the conquest; Aethelberht’s ‘Code’ — Materials §§ 2C–2F (narrative § 2C, p. II–19 to II–22, Aethelberht’s ‘Code’, Simpson article, notes on A-S dooms).

Topic II.
The Age of Property

General Readings: Baker5, pp. 15–43, 44–46, 60–67, 71–77, 78–81, 135–136, 185–187, 241–266, 279–298, 451–452, 499–504, 540–561, 562–578, 580–598 (sample documents; translations follow the Latin; pay particular attention to A.i, B.i, B.ii, C.i, and C.ii), or Baker4, pp. 12–34, 37–39, 53–76, 175–78, 223–47, 259–74, 479–97, 538–61 (sample documents) (pay particular attention to Baker4, pp. 538–41 (A.i, B.i and B.ii) and pp. 542–5 (C.i and C.ii.)). Warren, pp. 24–229 and Brown, pp. 100–237; or Jolliffe, pp. 139–362; or Lyon, pp. 109–115, 127–99, 217–27, 244–99, 310–36, 351–407, 408–68, 496–561, 586–612.

Assignment

Mon., 18 Sep.

4.  The conquest of England and the feudalism debate —  Materials §§ 3A–3B, 3D–3E (narrative [§ 3B], White bk. rev. [§ 3D], Domesday Book extracts [§ 3E, p. III–38 to III–43]).  (Try to get a sense for what the debate is all about and how one might use a document like Domesday Book to come to some conclusions about the debate.) Norman and Angevin institutions: the Exchequer and the courts —  Materials § 3C, 3E (narrative [§ 3C], Pipe Roll of 31 Henry I [§ 3E, p. III-43 to III-48]).

Wed., 20 Sep.

5.  Regnum and sacerdotium: learned law and politics, 1066–1215 — Materials §§ 3C, 3F–3G (outlines and documents [§ 3F], narrative [§ 3G]). The assizes of Henry II as seen at his death: Glanvill —Materials § 4A–4B. (I am asking you to read Glanvill [§ 4B] before you listen to me sound off about it. The question is what do you make of it?)

Mon., 25 Sep.

6.   The assizes of Henry II as seen at his death: Glanvill — Review Materials § 4A–4B (Assizes of Northampton and Clarendon, Glanvill extracts). The Polstead saga —Materials § 4C.

Wed., 27 Sep.

7.   The Polstead saga (cont‘d). The assizes of Henry II as seen by the barons: Magna Carta —  Materials § 5A (Magna Carta and the Treaty of Winchester).

Mon., 2 Oct.

8.  The assizes of Henry II revisited — Materials § 4D (Palmer book review). Property and the family — Materials § 5B (statutes De donis and Quia emptores).

Wed., 4 Oct.

9.   The king and the barons —Materials § 5C (documents, p. V–15 to V–26), § 5D (narrative). Parliament — Materials § 5E (narrative); Materials § 5C (p. V–26 to V–40, esp., S&M No. 49F [p. V–34 to V–36]; A Record of Parliament [p. V–39 to V–40]).

Tue., 10 Oct.

10.   The criminal law, an overview— Materials § 9F (Hay-Langbein debate); Baker5, pp. 540–561, 562–578, or Baker4, pp. 570–608. (The HLS calendar this year gives us an artificial Monday that is not observed as such in the FAS calendar. We’ll use the class to do an overview of a topic that we will not cover elsewhere in any depth. It introduces the entire chronological range of the course, and offers some thoughts about how do deal with debates in historical writing.)

Wed., 11 Oct.

11.   Court structure and social structure c.1300 —Materials § 5H, § 7D (don’t ignore the ecclesiastical courts even though they are represented by only one late document at the end of § 7D). The theory of kingship and the English and French constitutions c.1300 — Materials § 5F, § 5G (Bracton on kingship [§ 5F, probably the hardest document in the Materials]; French outline [§ 5G, Beaumanoir and Pierre de Mornay]).

Topic III.
The Age of Trespass

General Readings: Baker5, pp. 67–71, 77, 81–89, 165–171, 187–192, 206–209, 216–226, 338–349 350–368, 403–426, 427–430, 432–436, 452–464, or Baker4, pp. 76–81, 155–62, 165–7, 178–82, 186–8, 204–12, 317–50, 365–77, 379–90, 394–97, 401–9. Brown, pp. 1–99, review pp. 100–55; or Jolliffe, pp. 362–95; or Lyon, pp. 475–82, review pp. 496–561, 586–612.

Assignment

Mon., 16 Oct.

12.   Introduction to the 14th century; household, council, parliament —  Materials §§ 6A–6B (Articles against Gaveston; S&M Nos. 57–8, 60–2, 63A–63E, 64; narrative). Late medieval constitution — Materials §§ 6C–6E (chronology, documents [S&M nos. 66B–F, 67–70, 73–76, 79A–B] and narrative).

Wed., 18 Oct.

13.   King making and unmaking — Materials § 6G (documents concerning the depositions of Edward II, Richard II, and Edward V); review  Materials § 6A (Articles against Gaveston). Order, social structure and the law, 1348–1500 — Materials § 6F (Statute of Labourers; wage rates; S&M Nos. 62D, 64C, Statute 1 Henry IV; Statute, 8 Edward IV; Sumptuary Statute; S&M Nos. 73F, 74I, 81C).

Wed., 25 Oct.

14.   Order, social structure and the law (cont’d). The problem of proof and the ”old“ personal actions: Debt, detinue, covenant and account — Materials § 7B (statutes, writs, and cases); Baker5, pp. 338–348, 386–390, 404–411, or Baker4, pp. 360–71, 409–13, 440–45. Personal actions in courts other than Common Bench — Materials § 7D (cases); Baker5, pp. 348–349, or Baker4, pp. 371–373.

Mon., 23 Oct.

15.   Pleading and the legal profession — Materials § 7A (a Y.B. case). (I hope to be able to arrange at meeting in the Casperson Room of the Harvard Law School Library where we can see what medieval lawyers used to do there work. If that‘s not possible, we have quite a bit of it online.)

Mon., 30 Oct.

16.   Origin and development of trespass (Edward I to Edward III) — Materials § 7C (trespass writ, Brainton v. Pinn, Ferrers v. Dodford, Rattlesdene v. Grunston, The Humber Ferry Case, The Miller’s Case, The Innkeeper’s Case, Waldon, The Farrier’s Case, The Surgeon’s Case, Anon).

Wed., 1 Nov.

17.   Assumpsit — Materials §§ 7C, 7E (Watton v. Brinth, Anon., Watkin’s Case, Somerton’s Case, Anon., Doige’s Case, Dictum, Orwell, Pykering, Slade [We will return to the last three at the end of the course.]). Personal actions revisited — Review Materials §§ 6A–6B, §§ 7C, 7E.

Topic IV.
The Age of Equity

General Readings: Baker5, pp. 46–59, 89–104, 105–125, 126–134, 137–144, 145–164, 171–184, 192–205, 209–216, 227–237, 267–278, 299–316, 317–337, 369–385, 386–402, 430–432, 436–450, 465–478, 479–498, 504–516, 517–539, or Baker4, pp. 97–124, 126–32, 162–65, 167–72, 248–57, 269–76, 280–96, 347–61, 409–21. One of the following: Brown, pp. 238–43, review pp. 1–99; or Jolliffe, 409–95; or Lyon, 567–74, review pp. 586–612, read pp. 613–49.

Assignment

Mon., 6 Nov.

18.   The Idea of Law c. 1500: Littleton, Fortescue, St. German — Materials §§ 8A, 9A (S&M no. 73, 74A, S&M 74B–N; Littleton, Fortescue, St. German extracts).

Wed., 8 Nov.

19.   Survey of constitutional history from the Reformation through the Restoration — Materials §§ 8A-8C (chronology, documents, narrative). The English Reformation — Review Materials § 8A (S&M nos. 74B–E, G, L–M; 81A–B, E–G).

Mon., 13 Nov.

20.   Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, 1250–1600 —  Materials § 9B (Donahue article; Circumspecte Agatis; Articuli Cleri; S&M Nos. 62E, G, 64F, 69B, 74B–C; Dolling c. Smith). The origins and development of equity; the search for a forum —  Materials § 9C (S&M no. 71; petitions; cases; St. German).

Wed., 15 Nov.

21.   Uses and the Statute — Materials § 9C, 9E (S&M no. 71C; S&M nos. 64E, 74H). Judges, lions and thrones; the reform movement — Baker5, pp. 46–59, 89–103, 145–164, 191–203, 212–216, 221–226, or Baker4, pp. 47–61, 97–110, 155–75, 208–14, 216–21, 223–33; Materials §§8D, 9D (Harding extracts); Baker5, pp. 226–235, or Baker4, pp. 243–52.

Mon., 20 Nov.

22.   The Duke of Norfolk’s Case — Materials § 9E (the case); Baker5, pp. 299–315, or Baker4, pp. 318–335.

Mon., 27 Nov.

23.   Slade’s Case — Review  Materials § 7E (Orwell, Pickering, Holygrave, Slade’s Case).

Wed., 6 Sep.

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Assignment  1

Introduction. The legacy of the ancient world (Roman law and Christianity).

Mon., 11 Sep.

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Assignment  2

Anglo-Saxon constitution.

Wed., 13 Sep.

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Assignment  3

Aethelberht’s ‘Code’ and Anglo-Saxon law.

Mon., 18 Sep.

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Assignment  4

The conquest and feudalism. Norman and Angevin institutions.

Wed., 20 Sep.

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Assignment  5

Regnum and sacerdotium, 1066–1215. Glanvill.

Mon., 25 Sep.

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Assignment  6

Glanvill (cont’d). The Polstead saga.

Wed., 27 Sep.

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Assignment 7

The Polstead saga (cont’d). Magna carta.

Mon., 2 Oct.

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Assignment 8

The assizes of Henry II revisited. Property and the family: the statutes De donis and Quia emptores.

Wed., 4 Oct.

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Assignment 9

The king and the barons. Parliament.

Mon., 9 Oct.

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Columbus Day

No class

Tue., 10 Oct.

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Assignment 10

The criminal law (overview). (An artificial Monday in the HLS calendar; FAS students should attend if they can.)

Wed., 11 Oct.

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Assignment 11

Court structure and social structure c1300. The theory of kingship and the English and French constitutions c1300.

Mon., 16 Oct.

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Assignment 12

The 14th century: household, council, parliament. Late medieval constitution.

Wed., 18 Oct.

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Assignment 13

King making and unmaking. Order, social structure, and the law, 1350–1600.

Wed., 25 Oct.

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Assignment 14

Order, social structure and the law (cont’d). The problem of proof and the “old” personal actions. Personal actions in courts other than Common Bench.

Mon., 23 Oct.

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Assignment 15

Pleading and the legal profession. (Class will probably meet in the Casperson Room of the HLS Library.) (Final date for selecting topic for short paper. Final date for negotiating a term paper with me.)

Mon., 30 Oct.

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Assignment 16

Trespass

Wed., 1 Nov.

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Assignment 17

Assumpsit. Personal actions revisited.

Mon., 6 Nov.

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Assignment 18

Littleton, Fortescue, St. German: the idea of law c1500.

Wed., 8 Nov.

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Assignment 19

Constitutional history Reformation through Restoration. The English Reformation.

Mon., 13 Nov.

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Assignment 20

Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, 1250–1600. Equity.

Wed., 15 Nov.

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Assignment 21

Uses and the Statute. Judges, lions, and thrones: the reform movement.

Mon., 20 Nov.

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Assignment 22

The Duke of Norfolk’s Case. (Last date for turning in short paper drafts.)

Wed., 22 Nov.

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Thanksgiving

No class

Mon., 27 Nov.

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Assignment 23

Slade’s Case.

Wed., 29 Nov.

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Final Lecture

Take-home exam distributed.

Fri., 15 Dec.

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Due date

Final draft of short paper and take-home exam due by email (rspang@law.harvard.edu).