Reports of Divers Resolutions in Law, Arising upon Cases in the..

1659. The Only Published Volume of Reports of the Court of Wards and Liveries Ley, Sir James [1550-1629]. Reports of Divers Resolutions in Law, Arising Upon Cases in the Court of Wards, And Other Courts at Westminster, In the Reign of the Late Kings, King James and King Charles. Collected by the Right Honorable, Sir James Ley, Knight and Baronet, Earl of Marlborough, &c. Whilst He was Attorney of the Courts of Wards and Liveries and Now Published for the Common Good, According to His Lordships Manuscript. With Two Exact Tables, the One of the Cases, And the Other of the Principal Matters Therein Contained. London: Printed by Tho. Roycroft for H. Twyford [et al.], 1659. [iv], 83, [9]; 27, [1] pp. Two parts in one volume. Folio (10-3/4" x 7"). Recent quarter morocco over cloth, endpapers renewed. Light toning to text, somewhat heavier in places, light browning, foxing and later library stamp to title page, another stamp to lower margin of final leaf. A handsome copy. $650. * First edition of the only published volume of reports of the Court of Wards and Liveries, which dealt with difficult issues relating to the property of minors and the insane. The Court of Wards and Liveries, in which the majority of cases are here reported, was abolished before the book appeared. "The other courts at Westminster" mentioned in the title are The Court of Star Chamber and King's Bench. Ley's 27-page Instructions for Our Master of Our Wards and Liveries, for the Better Authorizing and Directing of Him in the Execution of His Office, And Performance of Our Service is appended to the main text. English Short-Title Catalogue R13805. (Inventory #: 68767)