The Principles of the Administrative Law Governing the Relations of Public Officers

Reprint of the first critical edition by Hawkins. With extensive notes (the first 122 pages) in English, a life of Ruggle [1575-1622], commentary explaining the jokes and an extensive glossary of legal terms. Main text in Latin. It had gone through at least nine editions prior to this one, all of them, according to Hawkins were "failures." Ruggles' classic acerbic satire of the English bench and bar was written in Latin and first performed in 1615. Designed to ridicule the language of the common law and the dullness of lawyers, the play is based on events relating to a legal dispute between the vice- chancellor of Cambridge University and the mayor of Cambridge, Francis Brakin. The lawyers who were the subject of the play's satire did not enjoy the work; Sir Edward Coke, the Lord Chief Justice, believed that he was a target of some of the barbs. The play provoked a quarrel between academics and lawyers. The lawyers responded with satirical poems and ballads, which inspired responses by the academics, to create a passionate controversy. Ruggle's play even had an influence in the reform of legal language in England. 64 Critical Review 333.