Evening star., 1936-05-17
RARE DOCUMENTS
ON DISPLAY HERE
Legal Papers, Manuscripts
and Books on Exhibition
at FoIger Library.
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCETT.


Beginning tomorrow. the public will
be admitted to the FolgeI Shakespeare
Library, East Capitol street, to view
a special exhibition of legal documents.
manuscripts and books originally pre-
pared for the recent meeting OF the
American Law Institute.
Or. Joseph Quicy Adams, director.
yesterday announced that the display
may be inspected daily, except Sum
day. from am. to 4:30 pm, until
further notice.
Included in the material being
shown are precious accessions dating
from 1850 to 1850, including a copy
Of the Magma Charta, of about 1900;
numerous royal documents bearing the
Great Seal of England. some of the
seals measuring inches in DIAM
eter and weighing a pound or more;
and legal instruments, all on vellum
and with original wax seals attached
wills, patents, court rolls, warrants,
Jury lists, deeds, indentures, etc.
One receipt bears the autograph OF
Sir Philip Sidney, soldier and poet;
passport that of Queen Elizabeth and
a warrant that of her father, King
Henry VIII.
The name Of Shakespeares father
appears in one of the jury lists.
Royal Proclamations.
ROYAL proclamations are amply illus
trated, with the original manuscript,
signed by Elizabeth. of her proclama-
ton against seditious books, 1878; a
similar proclamation, signed by King
James I, 1894, against witches (Which
ultimately led to Shakespeare's writ
ing of Macbeth; and an entire VOL
ume of Marian and Elizabethan proc
misunderstanding one against Lady
Jane Grey.
There is an especially interesting
exhibit of Littleton's famous book on
"Tenures," showing how 1t was printed
with wide blank margins and inter-
leaves pages to accommodate copious
annotations by owners. Also. copies
thus fully annotated
Statutes of various sovereigns are
included-one volume of Henry VIII
being opened to show "an act against
the killing of calves and IAN act
limiting the price of hats and caps"
An entire section of the exhibition
Is devoted to Francis Bacon. the self
styled "justest chancellor" that Eng
land ever had in five changes. "
Relics of his career displayed are the
official copy of his confession before
Parliament, indorsed by the Earl of
Huntingdon, and the original copy Of
the sentence passed upon him for his
admitted corruption in office. Like
wise. Bacon's own copy of Statutes at
Large" with his crest; a boar stamped
in gold on the binding. together with
various other books, documents and
letters bearing his signature, among
which is a manuscript prayer in
to bed"
Salary Of Chief Justice.
Throwing light on the social con-
ditions of the period the library eX-
hibits a document fixing the salary
of the Lord Chief Justice of England
at f208, 6s. Sd. plus two tunnes of
wine" Another document sets the
fees to be charged by lawyers, as
''falso inditis," Is. 3D. "mittimus," Is.
I'd, and "rnandamus," rs. I'd.
A manuscript volume of Gases in
Star Chamber 1598-1615. is opened
at page dealing with Scandal in
Justices and Judges"
Dr. Adams pointed out a manu-
script menu of a single dinner sup
Piled in 1891 to 19 members of the
Star Chamber. The list of edibles
includes: Bread, beer, ale. oysters.
1874 pounds of beef. bacon, meets
tongues. IL joints of mutton. joints
Of veal to roast, 2 joints of veal for
pies. lamb, 10 capons, 4 turkeys. IL
pullets. 10 partridges, mallards, teals.
IL woodcock. plovers, snipes, dozen
larks, rabbits. eggs, butter, cream,
apples for tarts, oranges, lemons,
fruit. barberries and rosewater.
The cost of such a feast, in mod
ern money, would be approximately
5000.
DR.. Adams said that law students
In the universities will be especially
welcome to visit the library while the
exhibition continues.