University of Virginia Library

Sir George Croke was a Judge under Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I.

Clearly an error for 1656.

Possibly a mistake for Edward Bulstrode, uncle of Bulstrode Whitlock, who is stated in Fuller's Worthies, 1662, (Bucks. p.133) to have been "his Highness Justice in North Wales" and to have "written a book of divers Resolutions and Judgements, with the reasons and causes thereof, given in the Court of Kings-Bench in the reigns of King James and King Charles, and is lately deceased." Bulstrode Whitlock was Sir George Crook's nephew and executor and was born in his house. In his Memorials (25 June 1657) is the single entry "Sir Harbottle Grimston published the Reports of Judge Crook".

It is reprinted, but without illuminating comment, as Appendix XXIX to Sir A. Croke's Genealogical History of the Croke Family . . . . Oxford, 1823.

Rigg could scarcely have meant the equally clearly dated Abridgement (BM E. 1730) printed for Warren and Streeter in 1658. This little volume, rightly described by the printers as "Multum in Parvo", contains, apart from the abridged Reports themselves and the indexes, nothing except a foreword which, after telling the reader "I here present you with a Scheme of a large volume, a Map of a World of Law" goes on to eulogise Crook, concluding, enigmatically, "For his book, besides the testimony [not reprinted] of all our Judges, the authority of its matter, and his name, which Providence hath so protected, as on which none of these abortive works were ever patronised, may highly induce you to the reading, which much imports the improvements of your knowledge in the Laws. For my little Breviary, your opinion of my reverence to the whole, and its bulk, it may assure you, I have not added and I protest, to my best knowledge and understanding, not materially diminished. Farewel." It is unsigned.

Patent Rolls, 12 January 1559.

R. Atkyns (?Streator, J.) The Originall and Growth of Printing (London 1664), sig. D1.

Plomer, Dictionary of Printers & Booksellers, 1641-1667 (1907).

Aubrey's description of Gorhambury in his Life of Bacon is vivid and detailed. It was, he says, "the most ingeniously contrived little pile" he had seen; he adds that Grimston sold it for a ridiculous figure to two carpenters "of which they made eight hundred poundes", and provides also the information that "This October, 1681, it rang all over St. Albans that Sir Harebotle Grimston, Master of the Rolles, had removed the coffin of this most renowned Lord Chancellor (Francis Bacon) to make roome for his owne to lye-in in the vault there at St. Michael's Church".

Dugdale was left with the credit (which he assumed only reluctantly) of the immense production, but also with the total cost of its printing, which was a harassing burden. It may be significant that, on 3 September, 1655, Hodgkinson was granted by the Stationers a loan of £100 for three years.

It is stated by Plomer (Dictionary of Booksellers and Printers, 1641-1660) that T. Warren "was succeeded by his widow Alice in 1661". There is an entry to her in the Stationers' Register under 21 May 1661. But he is almost certainly the "Mr. Warren" whom Smyth (Obituaries) mentions as having died on 14 April 1659, for Wing's first entry to Alice Warren is dated 1660 (Index to Wing, 1956). She was the widow of John Norton, whose yeomanry part Warren was elected to receive soon after marrying her (24 August 1642).

It will be remembered that Grimston was a Commissioner in 1648.

He was presumably a connection by second marriage of Grimston.

It is difficult to see how the Judges can have failed to consider this point before giving their decision.

Such Orders (usually following from a petition) were, however, recognized procedure; and the Commons in this instance were endorsing the Judges' previous ruling.

The Parliamentary records of petitions for this year have been destroyed.

The Second Part of the Reports of Sir George Croke . . . . London, 1669.

It may have been this sentence which prompted Rigg's reference to an "inaccurate edition of early but uncertain date".

J. S.'s errors, it will be remembered, were listed between the Tables.

Cf. Stat. Reg. 5 April 1658 where it is entered to Godby "by vertue of a writing under the hand and seale of Sr HARBOTTLE GRIMSTON . . . and by order of a full Court of Assistants holden this present 5th day of April": and 24 April, 1658, where it is entered under Thomason's hand to Newcomb and Godby: and 20 September, 1658, where it is assigned by Godby to Newcomb and Field.

My attention has also been kindly drawn by Mr. E. A. P. Hart, Librarian, Inner Temple, to H. M. C. 11th Report, Appendix Pt. VI, p. 103, Le Strange Papers, which enters under 1 February c. 1650 a letter from J. Whiting to James Calthorpe about the Pepper Rent for the Manor of Northwold in Sculthorpe (hundred of Grymston).

Sir C. Levinz, Reports; containing Cases heard and determined in the Court of King's Bench (1660-97)

Joseph Keble, Reports in the Court of King's Bench (1685).

Thos. Siderfin, Les Reports des divers Special Cases . . . en le Court del Bank le Roy (1682).

Entry under Grimston, Sir Harbottle.