Spring 2021

MEDIEVAL STUDIES 117:
CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL
HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL
ENGLAND

Syllabus Proper

Professor Donahue

 

Mr. Jacobs




Syllabus

  Week 5

  Week 10

  Week 1

  Week 6

  Week 11

  Week 2

  Week 7

  Week 12

  Week 3

  Week 8

  Week 13

  Week 4

  Week 9

Calendar

SYLLABUS

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 explains what the readings are and suggests what is, and is not, important.

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. Baker = 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).

Topic I.
The Age of Tort

General Readings:  Baker, 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., 8 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., 13 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., 15 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).

Fri., 17 Sep.

4.   Kings, lords and families in Anglo-Saxon England; Aethelberht’s Code — Materials §§ 2D–2F (Aethelberht’s code, Simpson article, notes) (Section).

 

 

Topic II.
The Age of Property

General Readings: Baker, pp. 12–34, 37–39, 53–76, 175–78, 223–47, 259–74, 479–97, 538–61 (sample documents) (pay particular attention to Baker, 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., 20 Sep.

5.   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., 22 Sep.

6.   Regnum and sacerdotium: learned law and politics, 1066–1215 — Materials §§ 3F–3G (outlines and documents [§ 3F], narrative [§ 3G]). The assizes of Henry II as seen at his death: GlanvillMaterials § 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?)

Fri., 24 Sep.

7.   Norman and Angevin institutions: the Exchequer and the courts —  Materials § 3E (Domesday Book, Pipe Roll of 31 Henry I) (Section).

Mon., 27 Sep.

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

Wed., 29 Sep.

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

Fri., 1 Oct.

10.   The Polstead saga and Magna Carta — Review Materials § 4C (the Polstead saga). Review Materials § 5A (Magna Carta) (Section).

Mon., 4 Oct.

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

Wed., 6 Oct.

12.   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]).

Fri., 8 Oct.

13.   Property and the family —  Materials § 5B (Statutes De Donis and Quia Emptores) (Section).

Tue., 12 Oct.

14.   The criminal law, an overview — Materials § 9F (Hay-Langbein debate); Baker 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 beyond, and offers some thoughts about how do deal with debates in historical writing.)

Wed., 13 Oct.

15.   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]).

Fri., 15 Oct.

16.   Review (Section). Hour exam (taken after the Section.)

Return_to_index

 

Topic III.
The Age of Trespass

General Readings: Baker, 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., 18 Oct.

17.   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., 20 Oct.

18.   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).

Fri., 22 Oct.

19.   14th century governance (overview) — Review Materials § 6. (This is a hard one. There are a lot of different topics in § 6 and trying to come up with some kind of generalization that does justice to all of them is not easy.) (Section.)

Mon., 25 Oct.

20.   Order, social structure and the law (cont’d). Pleading and the legal profession — Materials § 7A (a Y.B. case). (I hope to be able to arrange at meeting in the Root 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.)

Wed., 27 Oct.

21.   The problem of proof and the ”old“ personal actions: Debt, detinue, covenant and account — Materials § 7B (statutes, writs, and cases); Baker 360–71, 409–13, 440–45. Personal actions in courts other than Common Bench — Materials § 7D (cases); Baker 371–373.

Fri., 29 Oct.

22.   What did lawyers do in the 14th century? — Consider the elite lawyers and judges in Materials §§ 7A and 7B, but also the Fair Court of St. Ives, § 7D, where the only visible lawyer is the steward of the abbot who is playing the role of judge (Section).

Mon., 1 Nov.

23.   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., 3 Nov.

24.   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..

Fri., 5 Nov.

25.   Personal actions revisited — Review Materials §§ 6A–6B, §§ 7C, 7E (Section).

Return_to_index

 

Topic IV.
The Age of Equity

General Readings: Baker, 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., 8 Nov.

26.   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., 10 Nov.

27.   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).

Fri., 12 Nov.

28.   Littleton, Fortescue, St. German — Review Materials §§ 8A, 9A (S&M no. 73, 74A, S&M 74B–N; Littleton, Fortescue, St. German extracts) (Section).

Mon., 15 Nov.

29.   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., 17 Nov.

30.   Uses and the Statute — Materials § 9A (St. German on uses), 9C, 9E (S&M no. 71C; S&M nos. 64E, 74H). Judges, lions and thrones; the reform movement — Baker 47–61, 97–110, 155–75, 208–14, 216–21, 223–33; Materials §§8D, 9D (Harding extracts); Baker 243–52 (again).

Fri., 19 Nov.

31.   Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, 1250–1600 — Review  Materials § 9B (Dolling c. Smith). Uses and the Statute — Review Materials § 9A (St. German on uses). (Section.)

Mon., 22 Nov.

32.   The Duke of Norfolk’s Case Materials § 9E (the case); Baker 318–335..

Mon., 29 Nov.

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

Fri., 3 Dec.

34.   General review (Section).

 

 

CALENDAR

The section has yet to be arranged, but the section meetings are listed here as if they were on Fridays.

Wed., 8 Sep.

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Assignment  1

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

Mon., 13 Sep.

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Assignment  2

Anglo-Saxon constitution

Wed., 15 Sep.

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Assignment  3

Aethelberht’s ‘Code’ and Anglo-Saxon law

Fri., 17 Sep.

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Assignment  4

Aethelberht (Section)

Mon., 20 Sep.

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Assignment  5

The conquest and feudalism. Norman and Angevin institutions.

Wed., 22 Sep.

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Assignment  6

Regnum and sacerdotium, 1066–1215. Glanvill.

Fri., 24 Sep.

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Assignment 7

Norman and Angevin institutions (Section)

Mon., 27 Sep.

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Assignment  8

Glanvill (cont’d). The Polstead saga.

Wed., 29 Sep.

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Assignment 9

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

Fri., 1 Oct.

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Assignment 10

The Polstead saga and Magna Carta (Section)

Mon., 4 Oct.

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Assignment 11

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

Wed., 6 Oct.

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Assignment 12

The king and the barons. Parliament.

Fri., 8 Oct.

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Assignment 13

Property and the family: The statutes De donis and Quia emptores (Section)

Mon., 11 Oct.

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Columbus Day

No class

Tue., 12 Oct.

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Assignment 14

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

Wed., 13 Oct.

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Assignment 15

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

Fri., 15 Oct.

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Review

Review (Section). Hour exam (taken after the Section.) Times for both TBD.

Mon., 18 Oct.

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Assignment 16

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

Wed., 20 Oct.

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Assignment 17

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

Fri., 22 Oct.

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Assignment 18

14th century governance (overview) (Section)

Mon., 25 Oct.

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Assignment 19

Order, social structure and the law (cont’d). Pleading and the legal profession.

Wed., 27 Oct.

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Assignment 20

The problem of proof and the “old” personal actions. Personal actions in courts other than Common Bench.

Fri., 29 Oct.

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Assignment 21

What did lawyers do in the 14th century? (Section)

Mon., 1 Nov.

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Assignment 22

Trespass

Wed., 3 Nov.

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Assignment 23

Assumpsit. Personal actions revisited.

Fri., 5 Nov.

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Assignment 24

Personal actions revisited. (Section)

Mon., 8 Nov.

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Assignment 25

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

Wed., 10 Nov.

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Assignment 26

Constitutional history Reformation through Restoration. The English Reformation. (Veterans’ Day, but class will meet.)

Fri., 12 Nov.

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Assignment 27

Medieval legal theory (overview) (Section)

Mon., 15 Nov.

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Assignment 28

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, 1250–1600. Equity.

Wed., 17 Nov.

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Assignment 29

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

Fri., 19 Nov.

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Assignment 30

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Uses (Section; last date to select short paper topic; statement of term papers due, if you choose that option)

Mon., 22 Nov.

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Assignment 31

The Duke of Norfolk’s Case

Wed., 24 Nov.

Thanksgiving—no class

Mon., 29 Nov.

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Assignment 32

Slade’s Case

Wed., 1 Dec.

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Final Lecture

 Take-home exam available any time after this date..

Fri., 3 Dec.

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Review

(Section; last date for turning in short paper drafts)

Fri., 17 Dec.

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Due date

Final draft of short paper and take-home exam due.


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