“De laudibus legum Angliae” is a Latin phrase which means “In Praise of the Laws of England” in English. It is the title of a legal treatise that was written by Sir John Fortescue, an English jurist and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench during the reign of King Henry VI. The work was completed around 1470.
In “De laudibus legum Angliae,” Fortescue praises and defends the English legal system and its laws. He compares the English legal system with the civil law systems of continental Europe, particularly that of France. Fortescue argues that the English legal system, based on common law, is superior to the civil law tradition and highlights the unique aspects of English law and governance.
The treatise is considered an important work in the history of English law and jurisprudence and provides insights into the legal thinking of the time. It has been studied and referenced by legal scholars for centuries and continues to be of historical and academic interest.
