The History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England, In Two Periods: To wit, From the Norman Conquest, to the End of the Reign of K.John; and From the End of the Reign of K.John to the End of the Reign of K Edward II: Taken from Records....

Bishops-Head in St Pauls Church-yard. London: Printed by John Matthews; and Sold by Robert Knaplock, 1711 A very good copy of the first edition in contemporary full-leather panelled calf binding. Thomas Madox, 1666-1727, was a historian and legal antiquary. He held the position of Historiographer Royal from 1708 until his death and was known for his discussion and publication of medieval legal documents. This work is in English but with 2 sections in Latin with separate title pages at the rear: 'Antiquus Dialogus de Scaccario' 1711, and 'Disceptatio Epistolaris de Magno Rotulo Scaccarij..'1711. These sections are credited to Richard FitzNeal (or Fitz-Nigell), 1130-1198. He was Henry II's Treasurer, and wrote the 'Dialogus' at Henry's request - setting out what was involved in Treasury work - an early manual. The binding has raised bands to spine and a handwritten title label in red and black. There is some splitting of the leather at the spine joints - at the top of the front joint and towards the bottom of the rear joint, but the binding is complete and the book is currently sound. The boards are clean with wear and leather loss at the corners. Internally there is the remains of an old ownership stamp to the fpd and a signature across the title page. Contents: initial blank; title page; dedications pp i-xviii; subscriber's list 2pp; text 752 pp - with engraving at p383; title page Antiquus Dialogus...; text 59 pp; title page Disceptio... (with further engraving in text)18 pp; table of contents 5 pp; explanations of abbreviations; blank. The contents are in very good clean condition, with the very occasional light stain or mark. The whole with decorative head and tailpieces and initial capitals. An important work.