[MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE] -- HALE, Matthew (1609-1676). Historia placitorum coronae. The history of the pleas of the Crown. Edited by Sollom Emlyn (1697-1754). [London] In The Savoy: E. & R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, for F. Gyles, T. Woodward, and C. Davis, 1736. 2 volumes. 2o (310 x 199 mm [Vol. 1]; 309 x 196 mm [Vol. 2]). Frontispiece engraving of Matthew Hale, dated 1735, by George Vertue, after Michael Wright [Vol. 1] (top of engraving shaved, light browning to some of text [Vol. 1]). Contemporary calf, leather spine labels (joints splitting [Vol. 1]). Provenance: Cornwell House (stamp on front free endpapers of both volumes); "Dec 1 1752" and price of 1.1.0 inscribed on front free endpaper; occasional early marginalia. FIRST AUTHORIZED EDITION. Hale was a prominent lawyer under the Protectorate and in Restoration England, rising to be serjeant at law, and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Incomplete and unofficial copies of Pleas of the Crown circulated from his death in 1676, but the 1736 edition was the first accurate and authorized edition. Hale's opinions on insanity appear in Volume 1, and follow Jean Bodin's distinction between medically and legally defined insanity. He allowed for "partial" or "temporary" insanity, which did not fully absolve a criminal from responsibility; only total insanity, defined as "total deprivation of memory and understanding", could do that. Norman 968. -- Matthew HALE. Historia placitorum coronae. The history of the pleas of the Crown. Edited by Sollom Emlyn (1697-1754). [London] In The Savoy: E. & R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, for F. Gyles, T. Woodward, and C. Davis, 1736. 2 volumes. 2o (387 x 242 mm). Frontispiece portrait engraving of Matthew Hale, dated 1735, by George Vertue after Michael Wright (slightly foxed, offsetting from engraving to title page, some light foxing and browning to text, very minor worming to some pages, not affecting text [Vol. 1]; slight occasional foxing [Vol. 2]). Contemporary calf (rebacked, corners repaired, covers worn). Provenance: A. Peacock (inscription) [Vols. 1 & 2]. Norman 969. -- Michael DALTON (d. 1648?). The countrey justice, containing the practice of the justices of the peace out of their sessions: gathered for the better helpe of such justices of peace as have not been much conversant in the studie of the lawes of this realme. London: John More, 1630. 2o (280 x 185 mm). (Staining to gutter throughout; some occasional minor marginal worming, not affecting text. Contemporary calf, red leather spine label. Provenance: R.W. Wyme (inscription); Kirkleatham Library (18th-century bookplate); inscription on front free endpaper "Vivitur legibus non exemplis", occasional marginalia and paper shelfmark label "E 11.9" on spine. Fifth edition. STC 6209; Norman 576. -- Antoine LOUIS (1723-1791). Mmoire sur une question anatomique relative la jurisprudence; dans lequel on tablit les principes pour distinguer, l'inspection d'un corps trouv pendu, les signes du suicide d'avec ceux de l'assassinat. Paris: P.G. Cavelier, 1763. 8o (195 x 125 mm). (Occasional light foxing). Original blue paper wrappers. FIRST EDITION. Louis was a pioneer of French medical jurisprudence. This paper describes the physical differences to be seen between cases of hanging as suicide and as murder. Garrison-Morton 1730; Wellcome III, p. 550; Norman 1394. -- LOUIS. Mmoire contre la lgitimit des naissances prtendues tardives ... Paris: P.G. Cavelier, 1794. 8o (198 x 124 mm). Modern boards. FIRST EDITION. Louis described the natural term of a human pregnancy, and so excluded the possibilities of 13 or 14 month pregnancies which were sometimes being accomodated for in courts ruling on matters of legitimacy. Garrison-Morton 1731; Wellcome III, p. 550; Norman 1395.