Mosaycarum et Romanarum legum collatio

TO THE MOST DISTINGUISHED AND EMINENT MAN, CHRISTOPHER DE THOU original: "Christophoro Thuanus", Knight, President of the Court of the Kingdom, and Senator of the Sacred Consistory, Pierre Pithou sends greetings.

Decorative drop cap 'C' featuring floral and foliate scrollwork.

There is more than one reason, most eminent President, why I should voluntarily bring to you these remnants of ancient legal authors. The chief reason is that, although some might perhaps consider them published against the prohibition of the Prince Justinian, it was fitting that they be defended under some more sacred name against the calumnies or ineptitudes of ungrateful men who either feign ignorance or are truly unaware that he Justinian only prohibited comparison and recitation in courts of law among his own people. We, however, preserve the majesty of Roman laws so courteously that we allow them no power over us, except that which we grant to their reason and equity, not to their authority and sanction. Whose name could be chosen more augustly for this defense than yours? Under your presidency, this purer jurisprudence has been received into the practice of the courts. In this highest tribunal of France, you hold the rudder and govern in such a way that you might, not undeservedly, be called what a very great man was called of old: the body of the Senate and, in a certain way, the empsychos nomos living law. Moreover, there is also the fact that by some right of your own, you can claim a man’s share in all our works, of which you are the highest patron, or rather, father...