Use of Latin in Law
From Britarch mailing list Kevin Woolridge reported that Latin was banned in English legal documents during the Commonwealth not the Reformation.
It was then repealed on the accession of Charles II and Latin continued in use until 1730 when statute 4 Geo. II. c. 26. came into force requiring legal proceedings (documents and hearings) to be undertaken in English. The statute would only appear to have applied to the generality of the proceedings and hence a large number of Latin phrases remaining in use i.e sub judice, habeas corpus etc etc.
It was then repealed on the accession of Charles II and Latin continued in use until 1730 when statute 4 Geo. II. c. 26. came into force requiring legal proceedings (documents and hearings) to be undertaken in English. The statute would only appear to have applied to the generality of the proceedings and hence a large number of Latin phrases remaining in use i.e sub judice, habeas corpus etc etc.
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