List of scholarly editions of English plea rolls

From Waalt

This page is a guide to the key modern scholarly editions that contain high-quality, accurate transcriptions of select cases in the original Latin plea rolls from the English Court of Common Pleas (document class CP 40) and the Court of King's Bench (document class KB 27).

Understanding These Resources

For centuries, the official records of England's central courts were kept in a highly abbreviated form of Latin, written in a difficult script known as "court hand." Accessing and understanding these records requires specialized skills in palaeography and medieval Latin. The volumes listed below represent the "gold standard" of legal-historical scholarship, as they contain the work of expert editors who have transcribed and often translated portions of these challenging original manuscripts.

These editions are invaluable for two main reasons:

  1. They provide a clean, reliable text of the official court record, saving researchers the difficult and time-consuming work of transcription.
  2. They often link the formal Latin plea roll entry to the informal law report (typically written in Law French), providing a more complete picture of the case.

The leading publisher in this field is the Selden Society, founded in 1887 for this specific purpose. Many of the most important modern editions have been edited by Professor Sir J. H. Baker.

Summary of Coverage by Year

This table summarizes the chronological coverage of CP 40 and KB 27 cases in the scholarly editions listed on this page for the period 1273–1650. "Coverage" indicates that at least one edition provides transcriptions for that period. The nature of this coverage varies; some are direct transcriptions of the rolls, while others are found in the footnotes of Year Book editions.

Summary of Transcription Coverage and Sources (1273–1650)
Year Range CP 40 (Common Pleas) KB 27 (King's Bench) Key Source(s)
1273–1306 Coverage Coverage The Earliest English Law Reports (Brand)
The Making of the Common Law (Brand)
Rolls Series Year Books of Edward I
Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench
1307–1399 Coverage Coverage Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench
Year Books of Edward II
Select Cases of Trespass
Year Books of Edward III
Year Books of Richard II
1400–1421 Gap Coverage Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench
1422 Coverage Coverage Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench
Year Books of 1 Henry VI
1423–1469 Gap Gap (No coverage in listed editions)
1470 Coverage Gap Year Books of 10 Edward IV
1471–1484 Gap Gap (No coverage in listed editions)
1485–1540 Coverage Coverage The Reports of John Caryll
The Reports of Sir John Spelman
The Notebook of Sir John Port
1541–1551 Gap Gap (No coverage in listed editions)
1552–1571 Coverage Gap Reports from the Lost Notebooks of Sir James Dyer
1572–1588 Coverage Coverage Reports from the Lost Notebooks of Sir James Dyer
The Reports of Sir Edward Coke
1589–1590 Gap Gap (No coverage in listed editions)
1591–1600 Coverage Coverage The Reports of Sir Edward Coke
1601–1650 Gap Gap (No coverage in listed editions)

Chronological List of Key Editions

The list is organized chronologically by the start date of the period covered by each series.

Earliest Law Reports and Other Sources for Edward I (c. 1268–1307)

Description: While systematic editions of the CP 40 rolls for this reign are lacking, the following publications provide numerous, high-quality transcriptions from both CP 40 and KB 27 rolls, making them essential for research in this period.
The Earliest English Law Reports (c. 1268–1293)
  • Editor: Paul Brand
  • Publisher: Selden Society (SS Vols. 111, 112, 122, 124)
  • Note: These volumes link the earliest Law French reports to the official Latin plea rolls, with extensive transcriptions in the footnotes and appendices. (No free online editions found.)
The Making of the Common Law (monograph)
  • Author: Paul Brand
  • Publisher: The Hambledon Press (1992)
  • Note: A collection of foundational essays, many of which include appendices with full transcriptions and translations of plea roll cases from the reign of Edward I. (No free online editions found.)
Year Books of Edward I (Rolls Series, 1292–1307)
  • Editor: Alfred J. Horwood
  • Publisher: The Rolls Series
  • Note: An older but still valuable edition of the Year Books for regnal years 20-21 [Internet Archive] and 32-33 [Internet Archive]. The editor frequently provides abstracts or full transcriptions of the corresponding CP 40 record in the footnotes.

Select Cases in the Court of King's Bench (1272–1422)

Description: A foundational 7-volume series presenting the Latin text and English translation directly from the KB 27 rolls.
Editor: G. O. Sayles
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Vol. I (SS Vol. 55): Edward I (No free online editions found.)
  2. Vol. II (SS Vol. 57): Edward I (No free online editions found.)
  3. Vol. III (SS Vol. 58): Edward I (No free online editions found.)
  4. Vol. IV (SS Vol. 74): Edward II [Internet Archive]
  5. Vol. V (SS Vol. 76): Edward III & Richard II [Internet Archive]
  6. Vol. VI (SS Vol. 82): Richard II, Henry IV & Henry V (No free online editions found.)
  7. Vol. VII (SS Vol. 88): Richard II, Henry IV & Henry V [Internet Archive]

Year Books of Edward II (1307–1327)

Description: The definitive scholarly edition of the Edward II Year Books. While primarily editions of the Law French reports, the footnotes and introductions are packed with Latin transcriptions from the plea rolls (CP 40), and each volume includes a "Table of Concordance" linking reports to the official record.
Principal Editors: F.W. Maitland, G.J. Turner, W.C. Bolland, T.F.T. Plucknett, et al.
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Year Books of 1 & 2 Edward II, 1307–1309 (SS Vol. 17) [Internet Archive]
  2. Year Books of 2 & 3 Edward II, 1308–1310 (SS Vol. 19) [Google Books]
  3. Year Books of 3 Edward II, 1309–1310 (SS Vol. 20) [Internet Archive]
  4. Year Books of 3 & 4 Edward II, 1310 (SS Vol. 22) [Internet Archive]
  5. The Eyre of Kent, 6 & 7 Edward II, 1313–1314, Vol. I (SS Vol. 24) [Internet Archive]
  6. Year Books of 4 Edward II, 1310–1311 (SS Vol. 26) [Internet Archive]
  7. The Eyre of Kent, 6 & 7 Edward II, 1313–1314, Vol. II (SS Vol. 27) [Internet Archive]
  8. The Eyre of Kent, 6 & 7 Edward II, 1313–1314, Vol. III (SS Vol. 29) [Internet Archive]
  9. Year Books of 5 Edward II, 1311–1312 (SS Vol. 31) [Internet Archive]
  10. Year Books of 5 Edward II, 1312 (SS Vol. 33) [Internet Archive]
  11. Year Books of 6 Edward II, 1312–1313 (SS Vol. 34) [Internet Archive]
  12. Year Books of 6 & 7 Edward II, 1313 (SS Vol. 36) [Internet Archive]
  13. Year Books of 6 Edward II, 1312–1313 (SS Vol. 38) [Internet Archive]
  14. Year Books of 7 Edward II, 1313–1314 (SS Vol. 39) [Internet Archive]
  15. Year Books of 8 Edward II, 1314–15 (SS Vol. 41) [Internet Archive]
  16. Year Books of 6 Edward II, 1313 (SS Vol. 43) [Internet Archive]
  17. Year Books of 9 Edward II, 1315–1316 (SS Vol. 45) [Internet Archive]
  18. Year Books of 10 Edward II, 1316–1317 (SS Vol. 52) [Internet Archive]
  19. Year Books of 10 Edward II, 1316–1317 (SS Vol. 54) [Internet Archive]
  20. Year Books of 11 Edward II, 1317–1318 (SS Vol. 61) [Internet Archive]
  21. Year Books of 5 Edward II, 1311 (SS Vol. 63) [Internet Archive]
  22. Year Books of 12 Edward II, 1318 (SS Vol. 65) [Internet Archive]
  23. Year Books of 12 Edward II, 1319 (SS Vol. 70) [Internet Archive]
  24. Year Books of 12 Edward II, 1319 (SS Vol. 81) (No free online editions found.)
  25. The Eyre of London, 14 Edward II, 1321, Vol. I (SS Vol. 85) (No free online editions found.)
  26. The Eyre of London, 14 Edward II, 1321, Vol. II (SS Vol. 86) (No free online editions found.)
  27. Year Books of 14 Edward II, 1320 (SS Vol. 104) (No free online editions found.)

Select Cases of Trespass from the King's Courts (1307–1399)

Description: A direct, facing-page edition of the plea rolls themselves (Latin text and English translation) from CP 40 and KB 27.
Editor: Morris S. Arnold
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Vol. I (SS Vol. 100) (No free online editions found.)
  2. Vol. II (SS Vol. 103) [Internet Archive]

Year Books of Edward III (c. 1337–1377)

Description: A multi-volume foundational edition for this reign, published as part of the Rerum Britannicarum medii aevi scriptores (Rolls Series). The editor, Luke Owen Pike, frequently refers to and transcribes from the CP 40 plea rolls to clarify the reports. Pike's work covers the regnal years 11 through 20.
Editor: Luke Owen Pike
Publisher: The Rolls Series
  • Years 11 & 12 Edward III (1883) (No free online editions found.)
  • Years 12 & 13 Edward III (1885) (No free online editions found.)
  • Years 13 & 14 Edward III (1886) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 14 Edward III (1888) (No free online editions found.)
  • Years 14 & 15 Edward III (1889) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 15 Edward III (1891) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 16 Edward III, Part 1 (1896) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 16 Edward III, Part 2 (1900) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 17 Edward III (1901) [Internet Archive]
  • Year 18 Edward III (1904) (No free online editions found.)
  • Years 18 & 19 Edward III (1905) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 19 Edward III (1906) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 20 Edward III, Part 1 (1908) (No free online editions found.)
  • Year 20 Edward III, Part 2 (1911) (No free online editions found.)

Year Books of Richard II (1377-1399)

Description: Coverage for this reign is provided by a series of individual volumes from both the Selden Society and the Ames Foundation. All follow the modern scholarly method of using footnotes to provide Latin plea roll entries from CP 40.
  • Year Books of 2 Richard II (1378-1379) (Ames Foundation) – Ed. Morris S. Arnold (No free online editions found.)
  • Year Books of 7 Richard II (1383-1384) (Ames Foundation) – Ed. Morris S. Arnold (No free online editions found.)
  • Year Books of 8 Richard II (1384-1385) (Ames Foundation) – Ed. Morris S. Arnold (No free online editions found.)
  • Year Books of 11 Richard II (1387-1388) (Ames Foundation) – Eds. Isobel D. Thornley & T.F.T. Plucknett [Google Books]
  • Year Books of 12 Richard II (1388-1389) (Ames Foundation) – Eds. Morris S. Arnold & J. H. Baker [Google Books]
  • Year Books of 13 Richard II (1389-1390) (Ames Foundation) – Ed. Theodore F. T. Plucknett [Google Books]

Year Books of Henry VI (1422)

Description: Continues the Selden Society tradition of linking the reports to the official Latin records in the footnotes.
Editor: C. H. Williams
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Year Books of 1 Henry VI (1422) (SS Vol. 50) [Internet Archive]

Year Books of Edward IV (1470)

Description: An essential source for the 15th century, linking reports to the official Latin records.
Editor: N. Neilson
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Year Books of 10 Edward IV and 49 Henry VI (1470) (SS Vol. 47) (No free online editions found.)

The Reports of John Caryll (1485–1522)

Description: A benchmark edition that systematically transcribes Latin plea roll entries from CP 40 and KB 27 in the footnotes to accompany the Law French reports.
Editor: J. H. Baker
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Part I (SS Vol. 115): 1485–1509. [Internet Archive]
    Example: Wylkes v Unton (1490), CP40/906, m. 524 – [Transcription] | [AALT Image]
  2. Part II (SS Vol. 116): 1509–1522. (No free online editions found.)

The Reports of Sir John Spelman (c. 1502–1540)

Description: A direct companion to Caryll, with extensive Latin transcriptions from both CP 40 and KB 27 in the footnotes.
Editor: J. H. Baker
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Vol. I (SS Vol. 93) [Internet Archive]
  2. Vol. II (SS Vol. 94) [Internet Archive]

The Notebook of Sir John Port (1509–1521)

Description: The editor provides the corresponding Latin plea roll entries from CP 40 and KB 27 in the apparatus.
Editor: J. H. Baker
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. The Notebook of Sir John Port (SS Vol. 102) [Internet Archive]

Reports from the Lost Notebooks of Sir James Dyer (c. 1552–1580)

Description: A reconstruction of reports from a great Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, linking them to the official records with transcriptions from CP 40.
Editor: J. H. Baker
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Vol. I (SS Vol. 109) (No free online editions found.)
  2. Vol. II (SS Vol. 110) (No free online editions found.)

The Reports of Sir Edward Coke (1572–1616)

Description: An ongoing multi-volume project to re-examine Coke's famous reports by publishing his earliest autograph notebooks. These volumes contain material omitted from the printed Reports and are collated with the original plea rolls, providing critical analysis and transcriptions from CP 40 and KB 27.
Editor: Sir John Baker
Publisher: Selden Society
  1. Reports from the Notebooks of Edward Coke, Vol. I (SS Vol. 136): 1572–1579 (No free online editions found.)
  2. Reports from the Notebooks of Edward Coke, Vol. II (SS Vol. 137): 1579–1588 (No free online editions found.)
  3. Reports from the Notebooks of Edward Coke, Vol. III (SS Vol. 138): 1591–1595 (No free online editions found.)
  4. Reports from the Notebooks of Edward Coke, Vol. IV (SS Vol. 139): 1596–1598 (No free online editions found.)
  5. Reports from the Notebooks of Edward Coke, Vol. V (SS Vol. 140): 1598–1600 (No free online editions found.)
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