Non Compos Mentis, Or, The Law Relating to Natural Fools, Mad-Folks.

London, 1700. Only edition. "Natural Fools, Mad-Folks, And Lunatick Persons" Brydall, John [b. 1635?]. Non Compos Mentis: Or, The Law Relating to Natural Fools, Mad-Folks, And Lunatick Persons, Inquisited, And Explained, For Common Benefit. London: Printed by the Assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins, for Isaac Cleave, 1700. [xvi], 127, [1] pp. Final page is a publisher advertisement. Octavo (7" x 4"; 17.8 x 10 cm). Recent calf, blind frames to boards, blind fillets and gilt title and date to spine, endleaves renewed. Browning and foxing to interior, somewhat lighter or heavier in places, partial crack in text block between pp. [xiv] and [xv], all leaves secure, light soiling and/or spark burns to a few leaves, no loss to legibility, adhesive residue to fore-edge of title page and small early ownership signature (of William Harwood) to its head. $1,500. * Only edition. Brydall was a fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, and a bencher of Lincoln's Inn. A remarkably prolific writer, he published 36 legal treatises, and left 30 others in manuscript at the time of his death. All of these are brief, synthetic works. Holdsworth says they are good summaries that are "clearly arranged and based on the leading authorities." Fascinating for its insights into English ideas about mental illness during the 17th century, this treatise also considers the legal nature of "idiots", "persons furious, or distracted" and "drunkards." A former owner of this book may have been William Harwood [d.1860], a British physician and medical writer. Holdsworth, A History of English Law VI:600, 605. English Short-Title Catalogue R19885.…