The Title is “The History of the Common Law of England.” The Frontispiece, I cannot
comprehend. It is this.
Ἰσχυρον ὁ ΝÓΜΟΣ έσ
[τ]ὶν ἄρχοντὰ
1 His great Distribution of the Laws of England is into Leges scriptae and Leges non
scriptae. The first are Acts of Parliament which are originally reduced to writing
before they are enacted, or receive any binding Power, every such Law being in the
first Instance, formally drawn up in Writing, and made as it were a Tripartite Indenture,
between the King, the Lords and Commons.
The Leges non scriptae, altho there may be some Monument or Memorial of them in Writing
(as there is of all of them) yet all of them have not their original in Writing, but
have obtained their Force by immemorial Usage or Custom.