William Fulbecke
Encyclopedia
William Fullbecke was an English
playwright
, historian
, lawyer
and legal scholar, who did pioneering work in international law
. He described himself as "maister of Artes, and student of the lawes of England."
and Gloucester Hall, Oxford, proceeding B.A. 1581, and M.A. 1584. In 1584 he moved to London and entered Gray's Inn
, where he became a bencher.
This book has been very popular and has been reprinted over and over and is still in print. It demonstrates that Fulbecke was more comfortable with written civil law
rather than the ambiguities that characterized common law
at the time. Fulbeck displays his knowledge of medieval lawyers such as Bartolus of Sassoferrato, and 16th century French legal scholars Guillaume Budé
and François Hotman
.
Fulbecke's "Pandectes" (1602) was one of the first books on international law.
Fulbecke collaborated with lawyer Thomas Hughes
on the play The Misfortunes of Arthur for Queen Elizabeth I at Gray's Inn
on February 28, 1588. The Misfortunes of Arthur was an imitation of a Senecan
tragedy.
Fulbecke also wrote books on Roman history, including his popular 1601 version. Fulbecke describes it as:
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and legal scholar, who did pioneering work in international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. He described himself as "maister of Artes, and student of the lawes of England."
Life
He was a younger son of Thomas Fulbeck, who was mayor of Lincoln, was born there. He studied at St Alban Hall, Christ ChurchChrist Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and Gloucester Hall, Oxford, proceeding B.A. 1581, and M.A. 1584. In 1584 he moved to London and entered Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, where he became a bencher.
Writings
Fulbecke's "Direction..." (1600), discussed study methods for law students, techniques for arguing a case, and suggestions for further reading. It is also full of advice , such as admonishing law students not to study at night, because:- "for when the stomach is full and stuffed with meat, the abundance of humours is carried to the head, where it sticketh for a time and layeth as it were a lump of lead upon the brain."
This book has been very popular and has been reprinted over and over and is still in print. It demonstrates that Fulbecke was more comfortable with written civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
rather than the ambiguities that characterized common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
at the time. Fulbeck displays his knowledge of medieval lawyers such as Bartolus of Sassoferrato, and 16th century French legal scholars Guillaume Budé
Guillaume Budé
Guillaume Budé was a French scholar.-Life:Budé was born in Paris. He went to the University of Orléans to study law, but for several years, being possessed of ample means, he led an idle and dissipated life...
and François Hotman
François Hotman
François Hotman was a French Protestant lawyer and writer, associated with the legal humanists and with the monarchomaques, who struggled against absolute monarchy. His first name is often written 'Francis' in English. His surname is Latinized by himself as Hotomanus, by others as Hotomannus and...
.
Fulbecke's "Pandectes" (1602) was one of the first books on international law.
Fulbecke collaborated with lawyer Thomas Hughes
Thomas Hughes (dramatist)
Thomas Hughes was an English dramatist, a native of Cheshire, entered Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1571. He graduated and became a fellow of his college in 1576, and was afterwards a member of Gray's Inn. He wrote The Misfortunes of Arthur, Uther Pendragon's son reduced into tragical notes, which...
on the play The Misfortunes of Arthur for Queen Elizabeth I at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
on February 28, 1588. The Misfortunes of Arthur was an imitation of a Senecan
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
tragedy.
Fulbecke also wrote books on Roman history, including his popular 1601 version. Fulbecke describes it as:
- The use of this historie is threefold: first the revealing of the mischeifes of discord and civill discention… Secondly the opening of the cause hereof, which is nothing else but ambition, for out of this seed groweth a whole harvest of evils. Thirdly the declaring of the remedie, which is by humble estimation of our selves, by living well, not lurking well: by conversing in the light of the common weale with equals, not by complotting in darke conventicles against superiors.
Works by Fullbecke
- A direction, or preparatiue to the study of the lawe: wherein is shewed what things ought to be observed and used of them that are addicted to the study of the law and what on the contrary part ought to be eschued and avoyded., William Fulbecke, London: Printed by Thomas WightThomas WightThomas Wight was a bookseller, publisher and draper in London. Wight published many important books, including many of the earliest law books in English.-Career:...
, 1600. - An Historicall Collection of the Continuall Factions, Tumults and Massacres of the Romans and Italians during the space of one hundred and twentie yeares next before the peaceable empire of Augustus Caesar, William Fulbecke, (1601)
- A Parallele or Conference of the Civill Law, the Canon Law, and the Common Law of this Realme of England. Wherein the agreement and disagreement of these three Lawes . . . are opened and discussed [etc.]., William Fulbecke, Printed by Thomas WightThomas WightThomas Wight was a bookseller, publisher and draper in London. Wight published many important books, including many of the earliest law books in English.-Career:...
, London, 1601. - The Pandectes of the Law of Nations: Contayning Severall Discourses of the Questions, Points, and Matters of Law, Wherein the Nations of the World Doe Consent and Accord. Giving Great Light to the Understanding and Opening of the Principall Objects, Questions, Rules, and Cases of the Civill Law, and Common Law of This Realme of England., William Fulbecke, London: Thomas WightThomas WightThomas Wight was a bookseller, publisher and draper in London. Wight published many important books, including many of the earliest law books in English.-Career:...
, 1602 - A booke of Christian ethicks or moral philosophie containing, the true difference and opposition, of the two incompatible qualities, vertue, and voluptuousnesse. Made by William Fulbecke, maister of Artes, and student of the lawes of England., William Fulbeck, At London : Imprinted by Richard Iones, dwelling at the signe of the Rose and Crowne neere Holborne bridge, 1587.
- An abridgement, or rather, a bridge of Roman histories to passe the neerest way from Titus Liuius to Cornelius Tacitus. Under which (in three bookes) as it were through three arches, for the space of sixe score yeeres, the fame and fortune of the Romans ebbs and flowes. By William Fulbecke, London : Printed by T. E[ast] for Richard More, 1608.