Many palpable Errors and Omissions have been allowed to remain without Notice in all the Translations. Corrections, comparatively very few in Number, were silently made in the Progress of the Editions called Pulton’s and Keble’s. Those made from Time to Time in Rastall’s English Collection, were numerous and important, but they have not been fully adopted in any Editions of the Statutes at large. The Suggestions of Corrections by Notes in the Margin of Cay’s Edition are very rare, comparatively with the numerous Errors actually existing; but the Number of these Suggestions was somewhat increased in the Edition by Ruffhead, though not to any considerable Extent. The like Observations apply to Pickering’s Edition; respecting which, however, it is material to notice, that of many of the obsolete, expired, or repealed Statutes or Parts of Statutes, a Translation only is given by Pickering, from the Edition by Pulton and that called Rastall’s 1618, with some Amendments; while the Latin or French Text, or an Abridgement in English, is given in the Editions by Hawkins, Cay, and Rufhead.
Upon the whole it is ascertained, That no complete Collection has ever been printed containing all the Matters, which at different Times, and by different Editors, have been published as Statutes. The earliest Editions of entire Statutes were printed at the latter End of the Fifteenth Century, and began with the Statutes of Edward III. in their Original Language: The Statutes of Henry III. Edw. I. and Edw. II. were not printed entire until the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, and then in small Collections by themselves in their Original Language: and none of these Printed Copies quote any Record or Manuscript as an Authority for the Text which they exhibit. Later Editions of the Statutes, which combine the Period previous to Edward III. with that of Edward III. and subsequent Kings, omit the Original Text of the Statutes previous to Henry VII.; giving Translations only of those Statutes, and the subsequent Statutes in English: And the most modern Editions which, in some Instances, insert the Original Text of the Statutes previous to Richard III. from the Statute Roll and ancient Manuscripts, omit the Translation of many Parts of them; and in other Instances give a Translation without the Text, and also omit many Acts in the Period subsequent to Hen. VII. Further it is to be observed, that the several Printed Editions differ materially from each other in the Text of the Statutes previous to Hen. VIII. The Copy of the Statute of Gloucester, 6 Edw. I. in the Editions printed by Tottell in 1556 and 1587, and by Lord Coke in his Second Institute, varies most materially not only from that in the earlier Printed Editions by Pynson in 1508 and 1514, and by Berthelet in 1531, but also from that in the Edition by Marshe in 1556, the same Year in which the First Edition by Tottell was printed. The Copy of this Statute printed by Hawkins from the Statute Roll in the Tower, varies as well from those printed by Tottell and Lord Coke, as from those by Pynson, Berıhelet, and Marshe. This Instance is mentioned, as the Statute of Gloucester is the earliest now existing on any Statute Roll.[1] Many other Instances occur, even in Cases where the Necessity of Correctness was most peculiarly requisite: Such are the Ancient Statutes relating to the Assize of Bread, the Composition of Weights and Measures, and the Measuring of Land: In all these the Calculations in the several Printed Copies vary from each other, and are all incorrect, some in one Particular, some in another. It may be noted, moreover, that many verbal Variations occur between the several Editions which appear essentially to agree with each other. Thus the Copies in Tottell 1556, 1587, and the Second Institute, though generally accordant, are not precisely so: and the same Observation applies to the Editions by Pynson, Berthelet, and Marshe. These verbal Variations may be said to be innumerable, and though for the most Part minute, they are occasionally important. After the Commencement of the Reign of Edward III. a greater Degree of Correctness and Uniformity prevail; but so late as the Reign of Henry VII. some Instances of material Variation continue to be met with. The Acts of Richard III. were printed in French, first by Caxton, and afterwards in Pynson’s Edition of the Statutes from the Commencement of the Reign of Edw. III: In the Editions by Berthelet, Barker, and others, these Acts of Ric. III. were printed in English, agreeing in Substance with the French Text: But in the Editions by Pulton, and subsequent Editors, there are essential Variances in the Translation, not only from the Sense of the French Text, but also from the former English Editions: And even of the Statutes of Henry VII., though always printed in English, the Copies in the Editions by Pulton, and subsequent Editors, differ in several Instances from those in the earlier Printed Collections.
It is moreover ascertained, That no one complete printed Translation of all the Statutes previous to Hen. VII. exists: Some which are omitted from Berthelet 1543, and the other early Editions, including that called Rastall’s 1618, are inserted in Pulton 1618, and in Editions since published: On the contrary, several Parts of the Statutes from 1 Edw. III. to 1 Hen. VII., Translations of which are inserted in Berthelet, Rastall, and other Editions, are omitted, and merely Abridgements thereof given, in Pulton and subsequent Editions. All the Statutes therefore which have been hitherto translated can be found only by uniting Pulton 1618 and Rastall 1618, together with Rastall’s English Collection, and the English Editions by Berthelet, Middleton, and Barker. Many Errors and Inconsistencies occur in all the Translations, resulting either from Misinterpretation, or from improper Omissions or Insertions; and there are many antient Statutes of which no Translation has ever yet been printed.
- ↑ There is reason to believe, from the Appearance of the Great Roll of Statutes in the Tower, that the Membranes which contained the Statutes preceding the Statute of Gloucester have been detached from those which now exist.
