Year Books of Edward II.

The Year Books of Edward II constitute a seminal series of legal records documenting the proceedings of the common law courts during the reign of King Edward II, roughly spanning the early 14th century. These manuscripts were compiled primarily by anonymous professional lawyers or law students who attended court to observe arguments, likely intended as practical references or aides-memoire for legal practice. They represent a pivotal moment in the development of the English common law, capturing the transition from oral pleading to a more structured, written legal tradition.

The modern publication of these texts is largely attributed to the work of the Selden Society, which began systematically editing and translating these Year Books in the early 20th century. Scholars such as Frederic William Maitland, who served as a founding figure for the society, sought to interpret these cryptic, often shorthand-heavy medieval French records to illuminate the intellectual history of the medieval courtroom. Their reception has been foundational for legal historians, who regard the series as an indispensable primary source for understanding the evolution of property law, contract theory, and civil procedure in the Middle Ages.