Dr Paul Brand is Senior Research Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford.

• Introduction; Part I. Politics and the Legislative Reform of the Common Law: 1. The making of the Provisions of Westminster: the process of drafting and their political context; 2. The making of the Provisions of Westminster: the social and legal context and the evolution of the individual clauses (i); 3. The making of the Provisions of Westminster: the social and legal context and the evolution of the individual clauses (ii); 4. Enforcement of the Provisions of Westminster during the initial stages of their existence, 1259–63; 5. The revision and reissuing of the Provisions, 1263–4; 6. The revised Provisions in action, 1263–7; 7. The final revision and reissue of the Provisions of Westminster: the Statute of Marlborough of 1267; Part II. Beyond Politics: The Enforcement and Interpretation of the Statute of Marlborough in the Courts, 1267–1307: 8. Contra formam feoffamenti: the statutory action for tenants contesting liability to suit of court after 1267; 9. Other mechanisms for the enforcement of chapter nine; other reforms affecting the lord-tenant relationship; 10. Reforms in the criminal justice system; 11. Reforms in the procedures of the Royal Courts; 12. The extension of existing remedies; 13. Enforcing the accountability of socage guardians; 14. Controlling the use of distraint; 15. Remedying abuses in the operation of local courts; 16. Conclusions; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

'Paul Brand is rightly considered to be among the foremost scholars of medieval English legal history working today, and this book demonstrates why … Brand provides a meticulous and perceptive analysis of the workings of royal justice, drawing on an impressive array of published and unpublished materials … This book is not for the general reader, but anyone who seeks a better understanding of how law, legislation and juridical administration work in practice will find this a well-written, perceptive, intelligent and frequently stimulating piece of research, with important new insights, and with a focus that seeks to encompass a wide range of social, political and legal issues.' Björn Weiler, University of Wales, Aberystwyth