Folio (in 4's) (314x197mm) contemporary panelled calf sprinkled (covers detached/spine leather mostly gone/tips worn) (34p)+214pp+(12p=index) Coat of Arms bookplate of Edw(ar)d Sach(ever)ll Sitwell Esq. Slight pale foxing to beginning & end but paper clean & supple. *Spelman was a noted antiquary this collection of his writings includes the important one on origins of feudal tenure by military service & how it changed after the Norman conquest. He also wrote on ancient government and parliaments, on various legal matters, described Norfolk & the Iceni who inhabited the area, wrote a family history of the Sharnburns, on Church matters specifically on Sacriledge etc. Many of these papers are here published from manuscripts, others were published in his lifetime. He also collected a good anitquarian library and established a lectureship at Cambridge University (WING 4930)