The first edition of "La graunde abridgement"--English Short Title Catalogue.
The title "La graunde abridgement" taken from the English Short Title Catalogue.
Probably printed by John Rastell (v. 1) and Wynken De Worde (v. 2-3), beginning about 1514. Cf. Law library journal, v. 51, 1958, p. [100]-116 and ESTC. The colophon of v. 3 is dated 1516.
"Finis tocius istius op[er]is finit[us] xxi die Dicembr[is] A[nn]o d[omi]ni Millecimo qui[n]ge[n]tesimo sextodecimo"--Colophon.
Title page of vol. 1 delineates a king upon the throne with "Prima pars huius libri" printed above; vol. 2 has title page with the royal coat of arms and "Sequitur secunda pars" printed above; vol. 3 has title page with the royal coat of arms and "Ultima pars huius libri" printed above.
LC copy vol. 3 t.p. has "The price of the whole boke (.xl. s.) Whych boke conteynyth iii grete volumes," is printed below "Ultima pars huius libri."
LCHS copy lacking title page of volume 2.
Jasper Yeates's Colonial Law Library.
Yeates's signature at top of title pagebelow another signature.
Book number 792 as assigned by Yeates.
"Contains a digest of all the cases in the Year-books, down to the 21 Hen. VII ... as well as cases from the reigns of Rich. II, Edw. I and II, Hen. III, and a number of readings and original authorities no where else to be found"-J.G. Marvin. Legal bibliography, 1847.
"Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture at Williamsburg, Virginia."
Includes index.
Summary
"The definitive edition of an American classic of great literary and historical value. Chastellux, one of three major generals who accompanied Rochambeau and the French Expeditionary Forces to America, was a man of letters and a member of the French Academy. His absorbing journal is a deeply and clearly etched portrait of a country and its people. This is the second of two volumes." [Worldcat.org]
"Francois Jean De Beauvoir, Marquis De Chastellux was born in Paris, France in 1734. He joined the French Army as a Second Lieutenant at the age of 13 and rose through the ranks during the Seven Years' War. Chastellux came to be as famous for his literary work, with his publication of a book on philosophy in 1772, as he was for his military exploits. When the French expeditionary forces assigned to the Revolutionary Continental Army set sail for America in 1779, he was one of the three major generals sent with General Rochambeau. They arrived in America and took part in the victorious Yorktown campaign. Invaluable to the Continental Army commanders for his command of the English language, Chastellux remained in America until returning to France in early 1783. Travels in North America is an account of Chastellux's travels between campaigns." [from the Preface]