Gwen Seabourne
@gwenseabourne.bsky.social
#LegalHistory prof, U of Bristol Law. Account nobody else's fault. On research leave 25-26, working on books: mayhem; 'legal medievalism'.
Clever advertising image, in an evil, cancerous, sort of way ... #WillsTobacco
November 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Clever advertising image, in an evil, cancerous, sort of way ... #WillsTobacco
Scary #LegalHistory: Nothing particularly Halloween-y in my own research, but feel moved to point out, in honour of the occasion, the is an excellent bit of magic- and witch- related content in the latest Selden Society volume (Sir John Baker's 6th part of Coke's Notebooks), p. 1807.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Scary #LegalHistory: Nothing particularly Halloween-y in my own research, but feel moved to point out, in honour of the occasion, the is an excellent bit of magic- and witch- related content in the latest Selden Society volume (Sir John Baker's 6th part of Coke's Notebooks), p. 1807.
I see that this collection from the Belfast British Legal History Conference 2022 is on its way in a few weeks - includes something from me on 'petty treason' #LegalHistory and several papers I enjoyed hearing.
September 8, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I see that this collection from the Belfast British Legal History Conference 2022 is on its way in a few weeks - includes something from me on 'petty treason' #LegalHistory and several papers I enjoyed hearing.
Made to feel rather decrepit on morning constitutional, seeing this, my regular bus when I moved to #Bristol for my first job in a display of *vintage buses* at the harbourside ...
August 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Made to feel rather decrepit on morning constitutional, seeing this, my regular bus when I moved to #Bristol for my first job in a display of *vintage buses* at the harbourside ...
Charitable ... up to a point. 18th C commemoration of a will providing for poor children ... but only 'lawfully begotten' ones. Church of St Ellyw, Llanelieu. #Charity #Succession #LegalHistory
July 7, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Charitable ... up to a point. 18th C commemoration of a will providing for poor children ... but only 'lawfully begotten' ones. Church of St Ellyw, Llanelieu. #Charity #Succession #LegalHistory
#MedievalHistory meets #ChoirMusic meets #Heraldry meets #Birds - Venn diagram of my nerdy interests converging in the badge of the Lord Mayor's Chapel, #Bristol.
July 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
#MedievalHistory meets #ChoirMusic meets #Heraldry meets #Birds - Venn diagram of my nerdy interests converging in the badge of the Lord Mayor's Chapel, #Bristol.
Intro to proceedings of 5th British Legal History Conference (1981). Take that, pre-1980s legal historians ... older #LegalHistory 'the Cinderella of the world of historical scholarship' and a 'quasi-intellectual exercise' which might o might not be preferred to gardening ...
June 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Intro to proceedings of 5th British Legal History Conference (1981). Take that, pre-1980s legal historians ... older #LegalHistory 'the Cinderella of the world of historical scholarship' and a 'quasi-intellectual exercise' which might o might not be preferred to gardening ...
Occasional moments of nerdy #LegalHistory delight ... just reminded, when reading a chapter by David Seipp, of the magnificent Year Book moment in 1430 (1430.007) when a serjeant decided barking like a dog was the best response to his opponent's argument ...
www.bu.edu/phpbin/lawye...
www.bu.edu/phpbin/lawye...
June 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Occasional moments of nerdy #LegalHistory delight ... just reminded, when reading a chapter by David Seipp, of the magnificent Year Book moment in 1430 (1430.007) when a serjeant decided barking like a dog was the best response to his opponent's argument ...
www.bu.edu/phpbin/lawye...
www.bu.edu/phpbin/lawye...
#LegalHistory projects:
May's papers were all about mayhem, but in June, I'm working on something a bit different: trying out a little #Medievalism
Always feels good to get the first slide done!
May's papers were all about mayhem, but in June, I'm working on something a bit different: trying out a little #Medievalism
Always feels good to get the first slide done!
June 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
#LegalHistory projects:
May's papers were all about mayhem, but in June, I'm working on something a bit different: trying out a little #Medievalism
Always feels good to get the first slide done!
May's papers were all about mayhem, but in June, I'm working on something a bit different: trying out a little #Medievalism
Always feels good to get the first slide done!
Signing up for the book after the book after next ... all being well, due to hit bookshops (if they still exist) in 2027 ... #LegalHistory
April 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Signing up for the book after the book after next ... all being well, due to hit bookshops (if they still exist) in 2027 ... #LegalHistory
Old #Brownie badges - I am sure I was strct but fair sixer of the elves. #MisspentYouth
April 12, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Old #Brownie badges - I am sure I was strct but fair sixer of the elves. #MisspentYouth
Cheery clause in contract I am about to sign ... editing a collection of essays may be riskier than I thought ... #LegalHistory #Peril
April 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Cheery clause in contract I am about to sign ... editing a collection of essays may be riskier than I thought ... #LegalHistory #Peril
More #LegalHistory tourism, Michaelhouse Escley, Herefs - 17th C testator Meredith Maddy wanted to make sure his money for the poor was not going to various 'dogs and swine'. #HappyChristmasUnlessYouAreANotoriousDrunkard
#Charity
#Charity
April 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
More #LegalHistory tourism, Michaelhouse Escley, Herefs - 17th C testator Meredith Maddy wanted to make sure his money for the poor was not going to various 'dogs and swine'. #HappyChristmasUnlessYouAreANotoriousDrunkard
#Charity
#Charity
Having spoken about 'petty treason' multiple times over the last few years, it's nice finally to be correcting the proofs for an actual publication of (part of) the research. #LegalHistory
April 2, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Having spoken about 'petty treason' multiple times over the last few years, it's nice finally to be correcting the proofs for an actual publication of (part of) the research. #LegalHistory
#LegalHistory tourism ... Interestingly specific 'boards of shame' for punishment of perjury and abduuction of a girl under 16 (I think), c1800, Prison Museum, The Hague. Not pictured, the even more exact 'theft of cattle from a pasture after climbing into the pasture'.
April 1, 2025 at 8:52 AM
#LegalHistory tourism ... Interestingly specific 'boards of shame' for punishment of perjury and abduuction of a girl under 16 (I think), c1800, Prison Museum, The Hague. Not pictured, the even more exact 'theft of cattle from a pasture after climbing into the pasture'.
Currently composing a paper on this very topic...
March 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Currently composing a paper on this very topic...
I suspect that the fact that 'Mayhem' is trending has more to do with the works of Lady Gaga than my current book project on the medieval development of the criminal offence of that name, but you never know ... #Mayhem #LegalHistory
March 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I suspect that the fact that 'Mayhem' is trending has more to do with the works of Lady Gaga than my current book project on the medieval development of the criminal offence of that name, but you never know ... #Mayhem #LegalHistory
I rather miss erratum slips. #AcademicMusing
March 5, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I rather miss erratum slips. #AcademicMusing
#LegalHistory distraction of the day ... fab volume of Coke's Reports in verse. What a wonderful idea that is. Came to see what it had to say about something I'm working on, staying for the brilliantly dreadful poetry! Would love to hear these recited/rapped some day!
February 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM
#LegalHistory distraction of the day ... fab volume of Coke's Reports in verse. What a wonderful idea that is. Came to see what it had to say about something I'm working on, staying for the brilliantly dreadful poetry! Would love to hear these recited/rapped some day!
Sponsored by the joint might of the Centre for Law and History Research and the Centre for Private and Commercial Law at the University of Bristol Law School. And thank you to Dr Chathuni Jayathilaka for the pictures!
February 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Sponsored by the joint might of the Centre for Law and History Research and the Centre for Private and Commercial Law at the University of Bristol Law School. And thank you to Dr Chathuni Jayathilaka for the pictures!
There are still some joys in academia, and this was one of them ... It was a great pleasure to take part in last night's launch event for the 'magnificent'* volume edited by Drs Andrew Bell and Joanna McCunn.
*Official - Prof. Catharine MacMillan says so!
#LegalHistory #ComparativeLaw #Uncertainty
*Official - Prof. Catharine MacMillan says so!
#LegalHistory #ComparativeLaw #Uncertainty
February 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
There are still some joys in academia, and this was one of them ... It was a great pleasure to take part in last night's launch event for the 'magnificent'* volume edited by Drs Andrew Bell and Joanna McCunn.
*Official - Prof. Catharine MacMillan says so!
#LegalHistory #ComparativeLaw #Uncertainty
*Official - Prof. Catharine MacMillan says so!
#LegalHistory #ComparativeLaw #Uncertainty
Having a go at early modern script at the British Library today and catching up with everyone's favourite judicial ruff-wearer, E. Coke. #LegalHistory
January 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Having a go at early modern script at the British Library today and catching up with everyone's favourite judicial ruff-wearer, E. Coke. #LegalHistory