Legal Definitions - Old Natura Brevium

The acronym O.N.B. stands for Old Natura Brevium.

The Old Natura Brevium is a significant historical legal text from England. It served as a comprehensive guide or catalog detailing the various types of formal legal commands, known as "writs," that were in use during the reign of King Edward III (1327-1377). Essentially, it was a manual for lawyers and court officials, explaining what each writ was for, how it should be drafted, and in what circumstances it could be used to initiate a legal action or compel a specific act.

• Example 1: Researching Medieval Property Disputes

  Imagine a legal historian researching how land ownership disputes were resolved in 14th-century England. To understand the specific legal tools available, they would consult the Old Natura Brevium. This text would list and describe writs such as "writ of right" or "writ of novel disseisin," which were used to claim or recover land. By examining these entries, the historian gains insight into the procedural mechanisms and legal remedies available for property conflicts during Edward III's era.

• Example 2: Studying the Evolution of Common Law Procedure

  A modern law student is writing a paper on the historical development of civil procedure in English common law. They might refer to the Old Natura Brevium to trace the origins of certain legal actions. For instance, if they are studying the writ of trespass, the O.N.B. would provide a snapshot of how this fundamental writ was understood and applied in the 14th century, illustrating its role in initiating what we now recognize as tort claims.

• Example 3: Cataloging Rare Legal Manuscripts

  A curator at a university's special collections library is cataloging a rare manuscript copy of the Old Natura Brevium. In their description, they would emphasize its importance as a primary source for understanding the administrative and procedural framework of the medieval English legal system. They would explain that the treatise provides invaluable detail on the specific legal instruments (writs) that shaped litigation and governance during a pivotal period in English legal history, making it a key artifact for scholars of legal history.