Glanvill, RANULF DE

Glanvill, RANULF DE, chief-justiciary of England in the reign of Henry II., and author of the earliest treatise on the laws of England, the Tractatus de Legibus et Consuetudinibus Anglie, which was composed about the year 1181. It treats of the forms of procedure in use in the Aula Regis or King's Court, over which he presided, and consists of fourteen books. It was first printed in the year 1554; and the best edition, with a translation, of it is that by Sir Travers Twiss (Record Publication, 1892). The treatise closely resembles the Scottish Regiam Majestatem, which, however, it is now generally agreed, is of later date than the Tractatus. Glanvill was born at Stratford in Suffolk, but in what year is not known; in 1175 he raised a body of knights to fight against William the Lion of Scotland, and in 1180 became justiciary of all England. Being removed from this office by Richard I. on his accession, Glanvill took the cross, and died at the siege of Acre (1190).