Author: Hale, Matthew Sir, Knight, Late Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench
Title: Contemplations Moral and Divine: In Two Parts
Description: London, 1682. Leather Bound. pp. 360, 308. Contents collated, and four instances of mis-numbering of pages noted, but text is continuous. 8vo. Finely re-bound in full leather, with five raised bands to spine and red title label. Part I contains a full page frontispiece of Hale, engraved on copper, an unsigned Preface and a brief page outlining the contents. Part II contains a separate title page, Preface and table of contents. The contents show some foxing, and uneven trimming of pages, else in quite good, and perfectly legible, condition. Two small blemishes to margins. Hale (1609 - 1676) was a famous English barrister, judge, legal scholar and philosopher. He was counsel for Sir John Bramston (1641) and Archbishop Laud (1643); he was said to have offered to plead for Charles I during his impeachment; he took a prominent part in the legal affairs of Cromwell's parliaments during the interregnum, and was appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1654. In 1660, he was made Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer and knighted in 1662, the same year during which he presided at the trial and conviction of two women charged with witchcraft. In 1671 he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench. During his lifetime, he published two scientific works. His posthumous works include this title (first published in 1676) and 'Pleas of the Crown' (1678). Our offering is in two parts; the first 'Printed for W. Shrowsberey [sic] and J. Leigh, and are to be Sold by J. Phillips at the 'Seven Stars' in St. Paul's Church-yard, and H. Rodes next door to the Bear Tavern near Bride-lane in Fleet-street.' And the second part 'Printed for William Shrowsbury at the 'Bible' in Duke-lane, and John Leigh at Stationers-Hall'. Ill.: frontispiece of Hale.

Keywords: Law; Jurisprudence; Judiciary; Judges; Common Pleas; English history; Philosophy; frontispiece of Hale


See more books from our catalog: Religion