William Sheppard, Cromwell's Law Reformer

This study presents a full account of Sheppard's employment under Cromwell's Protectorate.

Nancy L. Matthews (Author)

9780521890915, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 July 2004

328 pages
21.6 x 13.9 x 1.9 cm, 0.43 kg

This study presents a full account of Sheppard's employment under Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate as well as an examination of his family background and education, his religious commitment to John Owen's party of Independents and his legal philosophy. An appraisal of all Sheppard's legal works, including those written during the Civil War and the Restoration period, illustrates the overlapping concerns with law reform, religion and politics in his generation. Sheppard had impressively consistent goals for the reform of English law and his prescient proposals anticipate the reforms ultimately adopted in the nineteenth century, culminating in the Judicature Acts of 1875–8. Dr Matthews examines the relative importance of Sheppard's books to his generation and to legal literature in general. The study provides a full bibliography of Sheppard's legal and religious works and an appendix of the sources Sheppard used in the composition of his books on the law.

Preface
Notes on style and on bibliography
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Biography
2. Early legal works, 1641–1654
3. The Protectorate period, 1654–1959
4. England's balme
5. Later contributions to legal literature, 1660–1674
6. Conclusion
Bibliographical comment
Chronological bibliography of Sheppard's books
Sheppard's sources
Index.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]