A medieval English legal text that provided commentary on the laws of England; specifically a law book attributed to a clerk named Fleta, written in the 13th century.
From Latin 'fleta,' the title of a medieval legal manuscript. The origin of the name itself is obscure, possibly referencing Fleet Prison in London where some scholars believe it was written. The text became an authoritative source on English common law.
Legal encyclopedias existed before Google—medieval lawyers had to memorize or reference hand-copied manuscripts like the Fleta to argue cases. This single document shaped English law for centuries and influenced the legal systems of countries from America to India.
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