Tracts of John Seldon

John Seldon

London : Printed, for Thomas Basset and Richard Chiswell, 1683.

Folio. Contemporary leather, rebacked in early 20th century leather, red leather spine label. Lacks portrait. Rubbing to edges and joints. Marginal soiling and browning. Contents: "The first entitled, Jani anglorum facies altera, rendered into English with large notes thereupon, by Redman Westcot. The second, England's epinomis. The third, of the original of Ecclesiastical jurisdictions of testaments. The fourth, of the disposition or administration of intestate goods. The three last never before extant."

Selden is regarded as England’s first legal historian. Influenced by the humanist movement spilling over from the Continent, Selden investigated the past to inform his understanding of the present. He consulted contemporary primary sources and read them closely, exemplifying the shift from medieval antiquarianism to a more modern approach to history.

Jani Anglorum Facie Altera (The Back-face of the English Janus) and England's Epinomis, an allusion to a dialogue in the style of Plato. In addition to being among the first works of Selden's career, they are also notable for being among his first efforts as a historian. While both discuss early English governance and laws, Jani Anglorum offers Selden's vision of the English constitution as a mixed monarchy. For Selden, this meant a state with shared sovereignty between monarch, nobles, clergy, and freemen - a provocative position to the absolutist Stuart kings.

This is an oversized or heavy book, that requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.