The Law's Lumber Room

"The Law's Lumber Room" by Francis Watt is a set of writings about the strange and old parts of English law. The book looks at odd legal words, old ways of doing things, and how laws changed over time, showing how the legal system developed. It talks about old laws and practices like they are forgotten treasures, full of interesting stories often missed. The early part of the book uses the idea of a storage room full of old laws and practices, hinting that law has many hidden stories. Watt writes about "Benefit of Clergy," a special right that let some people avoid tough punishments, explaining how it came from when the church was a big part of law. He points out the strange and unfair parts of this practice, showing how justice could be both silly and harsh in the past. Basically, the start of the book promises a thoughtful trip through old legal customs, trying to grab readers with strange but interesting tales of law.