Romans/Danish/Saxon/Norman to Henry III—BRADY / English Law

The title page to this lovely, well-preserved folio volume reads, “A Complete History of England, from the First Entrance of the Romans under the Conduct of Julius Caesar, unto the End of the Reign of King Henry III. Comprehending the Roman, Saxon, Danish and Norman Affairs and Transactions in this Nation during that Time. Wherein is shewed the Original of Our English Laws, the Differences and Disagreements between the Secular and Ecclesiastic Powers, the True Rise and Grounds of the Contentions and Wars between the Barons and our Antient Kings. And Likewise an Account of our Foreign Wars with France, the Conquest of Ireland, and the Actions between the English, Scots and Welsh, during the same Time. All Delivered in plain Matter of Fact, without any Reflections or Remarques. By Robert Brady, Doctor in Physic. In the Savoy, Printed by Tho. Newcomb for Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand. MDCLXXV.”

The author of this work, Robert Brady (c.1627-1700), was indeed a “doctor in physic” but is remembered more for his historical writings. Brady had studied medicine at Cambridge and eventually became master at Gonville and Caius College, teaching and practicing medicine. An ardent supporter of the king’s cause and a firm believer in the divine right of kings (in other words, a Royalist), Brady had to flee the country when the Puritans took over the government after the Civil War. Returning during the last years of the Commonwealth, he was imprisoned but later released and, under Charles II, made physician-in-ordinary to the king (a post he retained under James II). He remained active at Cambridge until his death in 1700.

Brady wrote his history of England at a time when other historians (notably Sir Edward Coke) insisted on looking at English history as a way to champion the rights of the people versus the king, the power of an elected Parliament, and a common law that was above the right of kings to alter or suppress. Though Brady wrote his history from an opposing perspective, he seems to have aimed higher: at a presentation of history as fact, without commentary. He is indeed known for developing a new critical historical awareness and method. As the title page states, this was to be a history “all delivered in plain Matter of Fact, without any Reflections or Remarques.”

Historians such as Coke had gone so far in their repudiation of the divine right of kings as to suggest that the Norman Conquest had not taken place, and that there had been from time immemorial a kind of ancient constitution in England that remained unchanged throughout history and England’s succession of kings. Brady brought the “plain Matter of Fact” back into the spotlight, recognizing the importance of feudalism in English history, particularly under the Normans, and seeing feudalism as a source of English law. In doing this, Brady made an enormous contribution to the writing of England’s history.

As he states in his preface to the reader,

If any one thinks this is a needless Work. let him Consider I have Prejudice to deal with, and Men Seasoned with other Opinions, which they have Learnt, and been Instructed in from their Childhoods, by Men and Authors, they pay a great Deference unto, who never made it their Business to search into the Originals of Things, but rested satisfied with some slight Popular Notions and Superficial Knowledge of them.

His 68-page preface is noted for its insistence on fact and the importance of solid written records, preferably eyewitness accounts, and a careful sifting of documents. The preface contains many references to original documents regarding land rights and English feudalism, both in the original Latin and with their English translation—a fascinating read for any student of English feudal times.

About ten years before Brady’s history was published, he wrote to the secretary of state to request assistance in writing a full history of England that would “beget in farre the greater and most considerable part of the people a Cheerfull submission and Obedience, as also a firm adherence to the present Government both in support and defence of it.” Brady received permission to go ahead, and he made much use of the records kept in the Tower of London. He writes in his dedication that this work was “not my own Invention, but Matter of Fact laid down, and warranted, by such as lived in the very Times when the Things were done, or nearest to them, or by sufficient Record.” He includes an 8-page “Catalogue of the Authors used in this History.”

This work was intended to be the first of a two-volume work, but Brady never completed the work on his second volume, which was to continue the history after Henry III up to James II. A rough form of it was published in 1895, containing only a chronological order of events, without any explanatory or descriptive material added.

Nevertheless, this first volume stands on its own, a detailed and fascinating look at England’s history from the very earliest of written records under the Romans, up through the early Norman kings.

A representative sample of Brady’s work (the account of one of my favorite Saxon kings, Edward the Peaceable, who reigned the latter part of the tenth century AD) follows:

In all the Reign of Edgar there was no Wars, the Saxons cheerfully obeying him in all his Dominions, and being very kind and favourable to the Danes, they gave him no disturbance; he recalled Dunstan from Banishment, and in a severe Oration to the Clergy, he perstringes the Lives of the Seculars, tells them of their impudent Whoreing, Diceing, Singing and Roaring, Drinking, Excess in Apparel, Luxury in Diet, Dogs and Hawks, Sports, Pastimes, and idle Living; and in fine commits the care of their Reformation, to Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury, Athelwold Bishop of Windchester, and Oswold Bishop of Worcester, with order that by his Regular Authority, and their Episcopal Censures, the filthy Livers (by which he meant the Seculars) might be ejected, and regular men (by which he meant the Monks) restored to their Monasteries; his Government was attended with Peace, Honour, and Prosperity, from whence he acquired the Title of Peaceable, as he might also have done that of Just, for in his Circuits and Progresses through the Country, he did take a special account of the Demeanor of his Ministers and Judges, so that the greatest Persons could not elude the Law, or the poorest want the benefit of it. To repress Drunkenness which the Danes had brought in, he caused Silver or Gold Pins to be fixed to the sides of their Pots or Cups, beyond which they should not drink themselves, nor force others to drink.

With the Vices of the times, he also extirpated the wild Beasts, imposing upon Lundwal King of Wales, a yearly Tribute of three hundred Wolves, which so totally destroyed them in three years, that the fourth there was none to be found.

He was very careful in guarding the Coasts with several stupendious and great navies, if we may credit Matt. of Westminster, who says they were 4800 Ships divided into four Squadrons, whereof 1200 appointed to each Quarter of the Island, meeting each other as they sailed to and fro; in Summer time he himself was in the Fleet. By this means he preserved his Country from the danger of forreign Invasion.

At Chester from his Palace to St. John’s Church, and from thence to his Palace, he was rowed by eight Petty Kings, while himself sat at the Helm; they all swearing Fealty to him, and that they would assist him by Sea and Land: notwithstanding these great, just, and honourable Performances, he wanted not his Vices, yielding too much to his inordinate Lust, giving that Tyrant Passion too great a Dominion over his Reason, his Prudence and Discretion being overborn by that torrent, which together with the due wariness and circumspection which ought to attend the Actions of Princes, were all absorpt in that lascivious Gulph; for the great and indiscreet Liberty he gave himself this way, but especially for forcing of a Nun, as Malmsbury reports. Archbishop Dunstan severely reproved him, and injoyned him seven years Pennance, with strict Fastings and Abstinence; also that he should reform the Lives of the Clergy, build Monasteries, make good Laws, and see them executed, and do many Alms-deeds, which when he had finished, with his seven years Pennance, Dunstan in a full Assembly of all the Nobility and Bishops, set the Crown upon his head, which he had commanded him not to wear the time of his Pennance; all this was done with the applause of this great Assembly, to the praise of God and St. Dunstan….

Brady’s work also contains many references to early English law, particularly under the Normans, found within his Preface to Norman History, which contains a detailed discourse of almost fifty pages, describing ancient English laws in their specifics.

The lengthy appendix (254 pages) almost ranks as a separate work, filled with official documents in Latin, some translated also into English: charters, letters, proclamations, and so on, which support the facts that Brady asserted in his Complete History--a fascinating collection in itself. Following the Appendix is a 68-page Index that names each character mentioned in the historical record, main events of their lives recorded, and the pages on which these events are found.

A well-written, scarce, and well-preserved folio work on English history.

Binding is full leather, with original covers and a very early reworking of the spine, with five raised bands and red leather title piece and gilt lettering. Covers and hinges are very sturdy, with only minor bumping of corners and slight scratches on back cover. Frontispiece is an engraved portrait of James II, whose government was overthrown shortly thereafter by Prince William of Orange. A few hand-written notes on title page, which has red and black ink. A full blank page just prior to the “Preface to the Norman History” contains the original owner’s hand-written notes, in browned ink (see scan below). Paper is high-quality cotton rag that shows little yellowing or age-spotting (foxing). Pages are crisp and clean; all pages are present and tightly bound. A good, sturdy, and well-preserved volume.

Book measures about 8.5” x 12” x 3” and has 675 pages plus extensive appendix and index, as noted above. NO RESERVE; winner pays postage for Priority Mail in US (more for international); see my end-of auction e-mail for specific rates and optional insurance. Satisfaction guaranteed. For other rare, unusual antiquarian books that begin at $9.99, see my auction listings.