PART Ⅰ. THE BACKGROUND OF THE COMMON LAW 1
Chapter Ⅰ. What Legal History is About 1
PREFACE 3
What is Meant by Legal History 3
The Pre-Norman Scene 6
Changes Effected by the Normans 9
Anglo-Saxon and Early Norman Law 11
The Common Law and the Civil Law 13
Preliminary Definitions 13
Statutes in Common-Law Jurisdictions 15
Constitutionality 16
TABLE OF CASES 17
Civil Law Distinguished From Criminal Law 17
Common Law and Equity 18
Definition of a Court 20
Trial and Appellate Courts 20
Chapter Ⅱ. The Courts 22
Hundred and Shire Courts 23
Ancient Courts 23
Seignorial Courts 25
Borough Courts 27
Beginnings of the Royal Courts 28
Reforms of Henry Ⅱand Origins of Central Courts 30
The Court of Common Pleas 33
The Court of King s Bench 34
Exchequer of Pleas 35
The Court of Chancery--Equity 37
Star Chamber 40
Church Courts 42
The High Court of Parliament 42
Conclusion 43
Modern English Courts 44
American Colonial Courts 44
Chapter Ⅲ. The Jury, and Other Means of Finding Facts 48
Wager of Law 49
Trial by Battle 51
The Jury 52
Origins of the Jury 54
Norman Use of the Inquest 55
The Possessory Assizes 56
The Petit Jury and the Ordeals 58
Attaint of Jurors and Contempt 64
Role of Magna Carta 65
Extension of the Jury System to Civil Cases 66
The Jury in Nineteenth Century United States 68
Present Status of the Jury in the United States 71
Conclusion 72
Chapter Ⅳ. The Bench and Bar 74
Functions of Lawyers 75
Lawyers Fees 76
Origins of the Bar 78
The Inns of Court 80
American Lawyers 85
The Bench 88
Earliest Judges 89
Independence of the Judiciary 91
Chapter Ⅴ. Custom and Cases 95
Custom and Law 95
PART Ⅱ. SOURCES OF LAW 95
Cases as a Source of Law 98
The Year Books 99
Private Reporters 100
The Doctrines of Precedent and Stare Decisis 102
Chapter Ⅵ. Legislation and Codification 108
Origins of Legislation 109
The Addition of the House of Commons 110
Early Codes 112
Codification 112
Uniform Acts 114
Interpretation of Statutes 116
Chapter Ⅶ. Doctrinal Writings 120
From Glanvill to Littleton 121
From Littleton to Kent and Story 123
From Kent and Story to the Present Day 125
PART Ⅲ. THE COMMON LAW IN ACTION 129
Chapte Ⅷ. Real Property 129
The Anglo-Saxon Background 129
The Norman Background 132
Inheritance of Land 140
Who Has Seisin-Service and Demesne 142
Alienation of land 143
The Uses of a Fee 149
The Life Estate 150
Reversions and Remainders 151
The Estate in Fee Tail 154
Conclusion 160
Dower and Curtesy 160
The Leasehold Estate 163
The Writ of Ejectment 167
Wills of Land 168
Roman Law 169
Anglo-Saxon Succession and Wills 170
Norman Wills 171
Uses and Wills 173
The Statute of Uses and the Statute of Enrollments 175
Modern Trusts and Wills 177
Modern Wills 178
Chapter Ⅸ. Torts 180
The Ancient Law 182
The Writ of Trespass 183
The Ancient Law-Cont d 184
The Nominate Trespass Actions 184
The Innominate Trespass Actions 185
Theories of Liability Under The Writs of Trespass 186
Negligence 192
Modern Negligence Theory 196
Conclusion 198
Automobile Accidents and Fault Liability 205
A Note on No-fault Insurance 206
Chapter Ⅹ. Contracts 210
Early Forms in the Nature of Contract 211
Church Courts and Promises 211
Pledges 212
Common Law Actions in the Nature of Contract 213
Fate of These Actions 222
Trespass on the Case on an Assumpsit 223
Sales of Goods 227
Warranties 228
Trespass on the Case on a Deceit 230
Mutual Executory Promises 236
Slade s Case 238
Consequences of Slade s Case 240
Contracts Implied in Fact and Quasi Contracts 242
The Doctrine of Consideration 243
Economic Forces 251
PART Ⅳ. THE COMMON LAW CODIFIED 255
Chapter Ⅺ. The Law and Commerce--Action and Reaction 255
Early Mercantile Law 256
The Development of Trade 259
Chapter Ⅻ. Negotiable Instruments 261
Types of Negotiable Instruments 261
The Bill of Exchange, or Draft 263
Early Enforcement 263
In Common-Law Courts 266
Introduction of Law Merchant to the Common Law 267
Assignments At Common Law 268
Promissory Notes 269
Importance of the Goldsmiths Activities 270
Subsequent Common Law Developments 272
The Statute of Anne 272
The Codification Movement 273
Chapte ⅩⅢ. Business Organizations 278
Early Entity Concepts 279
The Roman Concept 279
Churches and Universities 280
Boroughs and Towns 281
Guilds 282
Joint Stock companies 284
Commenda and Societas 284
Limited Liability 286
American Corporations 289
Corporate Status as a Privilege 293
Partnerships 295
Entity and Aggredate Theories 296
The Uniform Partnership Act 297
Limited Partnerships 300
INDEX 303