PREFACE TO THIS EDITION. THE last Edition of Sir Edward Coke's Reports was that by Serjeant Wilson. It was printed in the year 1777, and, with the exception of a few immaterial notes and references was merely a reprint of the Edition of 1738 which immediately preceded it*. A new Edition of the Reports, with abstracts of the principal points, and with notes and references to the numerous cases decided since that Edition, was undertaken by MR. THOMAS. After the three first parts and the fourth to fol. 38 a. had been printed, the illness of that gentleman prevented his continuing the work, and the completion of it was then entrusted to me. The plan adopted by MR. THOMAS of giving abstracts of the principal points has been followed, but in other respects I have varied from his system, and have abstained from introducing long notes upon general subjects not immediately connected with the text. To that part of the work which has fallen to my share I have added the observations of LORD CHANCELLOR ELLESMERE†, and also those manuscript notes in the copy of the late Mr. SERJEANT HILL, which appeared to have been written either by himself or at his dictation; I have also availed myself of the numerous manuscript references in the same book, for the use of which during the progress of the work, I am indebted to the kindness of MR. SENIOR. It is a mistake to suppose that the translation of the Pleadings first appeared in the edition of 1777. In the editions of 1658 and 1738, the Pleadings are in English. The edition of 1777 was reprinted in Dublin in 1793. ↑ Vid. the judgment of Lord Hardwicke, Lomax ». Holmden, 1 Ves, 294. b VOL. I. The notes in former editions which have been retained are marked accordingly. The notes by MR. THOMAS have the letters ED. at the end of them. For the remainder I am solely responsible. In the abstracts which precede those Cases, in the Reports which were published by Lord Coke himself, and which I have edited, such positions as are not the resolutions of the Court in the principal case, but are either obiter dicta, or conclusions from cases cited, or LORD COKE'S Own opinions, are marked *. From the imperfect state of the Posthumous Reports (parts 12 and 13*), with respect to them, the same system has not been attempted. 2, Inner Temple Lane, April 18th, 1826. J. F. FRASER. • Vid. note to the allowance of the Twelfth Reports. An entirely new index to the text and notes, adapted to the paging of this edition of the Reports, is in a state of considerable forwardness and will shortly be published. |