Statuta Pacis, Or a Perfect Table of All the Statutes (Now in Force).

1644. A Useful Reference for Commonwealth-Era Justices of the Peace [W]ingate, E[dmund] [1596-1656]. Statuta Pacis: Or a Perfect Table of All the Statutes (Now in Force) Which any Way Concerne the Office of a Justice of Peace. Cleerly also Setting down the Severall Duties of Sheriffes, Head-Officers of Corporations, Stewards in Leets, Constables, And Other Officers, So Far Forth as the Said statutes do in Any Sort Concern Them. Faithfully Collected, And Alphabetically Digested Under Apt Titles. London: Printed by M. Flesher and J. Young, 1644. [xx], 286 pp. First and final leaves blank. Tables. 12mo. (5-1/2" x 3-1/4"). Contemporary sheep, rebacked in calf retaining existing spine, endpapers renewed, blind rules to boards. A few shallow scuffs to boards, moderate rubbing to board edges with wear to corners, front hinge cracked. Moderate toning to interior, light foxing in places, later owner signature (William Fenwicke) to head of title page. $1,250. * Only edition. Justice of the peace manuals are important resources for understanding the growth and development of Anglo-American law. They are also rich sources of social history, providing insights into how everyday people interacted with the legal system. Originating as early as the twelfth century, a justice of the peace had significant judicial and administrative jurisdiction over the communities they served: "By the beginning of the seventeenth century, the justices of the peace had become the de facto rulers of the counties" (Boyer). The prominent locals chosen to fill the office rarely had legal training, making a justice of the peace manual an essential tool. Also a notable mathematician, Wingate wrote several important legal books, including Maximes of Reason (1658) and An Exact Abridgment of the Statues in Force (1642). Intended as a handy reference, and thus pocket-sized and alphabetically arranged, Statuta Pacis is a digest of statutes relevant to the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace. It explicitly supports Coke's view of the importance of England's unique system of subordinate government. OCLC locates 6 copies in North American law libraries (Duke, Harvard, Library of Congress, LA County, Southern Illinois University, University of Minnesota). Bo.