Fleta

The title of an ancient law book, supposed to have been written by a judge while confined in the Fleet prison. It is written in Latin, and is divided into six books. The author lived in the reigns of Edward II. and Edward III.

See liber 2, c.

66, § Item quod nullus; liber 1, c.

20, § Qui coeperunt; 10 Coke, pref.

Edward II. was crowned A. D. 1306. Edward III. was crowned 1326, and reigned till A. D. 1377. During this period the English law was greatly improved, and the lawyers and judges were very learned.

Hale, Hist. Com. Law, 173.

Blackstone (4 Comm. 427) says of this work "that it was for the most part law until the alteration of tenures took place." The same remark he applies to Britten and Hingham,