The work here presented to the reader has been three times previously printed; twice, in 1714 and 1719 by Mr., afterwards Sir John, Fortescue-Aland, who ultimately became Lord Fortescue of Credan, and once by Lord Clermont in his edition of the collected works of Fortescue. Of these editions the two first have become very scarce, while the third is only printed for private circulation. Of all three the value is very much impaired by the fact that the text is based on a comparatively late manuscript; while no attempt has ever been made to bring out the historical significance and relations of the treatise. It is hoped therefore that the appearance of the present edition, which aims at supplying these deficiencies, will not be considered to be without justification.
Had the treatise 'On the Governance of England' no other claims on our attention, it would deserve consideration as the earliest treatise on the English Constitution written in the English language. But as a matter of fact, its historical interest is very high indeed; far higher, I venture to think, than that of the author's better-known Latin treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliœ.
