lege, without
whom it would never have been written. Much appreciation goes to
Professor James Curtin of Loyola Law School for his review and comments
on this book's medieval period: Chapters 4-10, and especially his
comment that "I learned quite a bit about life in those days from your
work." Thanks go to Loyola University Law School Professor George
Anastaplo for introducing me to Professor Curtin. Much appreciation goes
to Professor Lacey Baldwin Smith of Northwestern University's History
Department for his review and comments on this book's Tudor and Stuart
periods: Chapters 11-17, especially his comment that he learned a
lot. Thanks go to Northwestern University Law School Professor Steven
Presser for introducing me to Professor Smith. Finally, many thanks go
to fellow Mensan William Wedgeworth for proof-reading the entire book.

Table of Contents

Chapters:

1. Tort law as the first written law: to 600
2. Oaths and perjury: 600-900
3. Marriage law: 900-1066
4. Martial "law": 1066-1100
5. Criminal law and prosecution: 1100-1154
6. Common Law for all freemen: 1154-1215
7. Magna Carta: the first statute: 1215-1272
8. Land law: 1272-1348
9. Legislating the economy: 1348-1399
10. Equity from Chancery Court: 1399-1485
11. Use-trust of land: 1485-1509
12. Wills and testaments of lands and goods: 1509-1558
13. Consideration and contract Law: 1558-1601
14. Welfare for the poor: 1601-1625
15. Independence of the courts: 1625-1642
16. Freedom of religion: 1642-1660
17. Habeas Corpus: 1660-1702
18. Service of Process instead of arrest: 1702-1776
19. Epilogue: 1776-2000

Appendix: Sovereigns of England

Bibliography

- - - Chapter 1 - - -

- The Times: before 600 A.D. -

The settlement of England goes back thousands of years. At first,
people hunted and gathered their food. They wore animal skins over
their bodies for warmth and around their feet for protection when
walking. These skins were sewn together with bone needles and
threads made from animal sinews. They carried small items by
hooking them onto their belts. They used bone and stone tools,
e.g. for preparing skins. Their uncombed hair was held by
thistlethorns, animal spines, or straight bone hair pins. They
wore conical hats of bound rush and lived in rush shelters.

Early clans, headed by ki