Essay on the Early History of the Law Merchant

The winner of the prestigious Yorke Prize, this essay is still cited in the literature of commercial and international law The Law Merchant is the body of legal codes developed by medieval merchants to control their international trade activities. Mr. Mitchell has satisfactorily risen to the occasion, and has given us an interesting study of the early history of that system of universal practical law which the traders of the Middle Ages recognised as binding upon them in their international dealings. Customary in its origin and principles, summary in its jurisdiction and equitable in its spirit, the Law Merchant has been a potent factor in the development of the modern commercial law of all the countries of Europe, and Mr. Mitchell's account of its beginnings is full of suggestion. Juridical Review 16 (1904) 446 Back cover contents: William Mitchell [?-1912] was Assistant Master at the Perse School, Cambridge. CONTENTS I. General Characteristics II. The Rise of the Law Merchant III. The Courts of the Law Merchant IV. Persons V. Sales and Contracts Conclusion Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III Appendix IV Appendix V Authorities Index