英国法发展的延续性特征——从盎格鲁撒克逊法对普通法的影响谈起

The Consistency Character of the Development of English Law——From the Impact on Common Law of Ancient Anglo-Saxon Law

英国法律发展的历史连续性和渐进性已为世所公认,其重要体现之一即是诺曼征服者在原有的盎格鲁撒克逊习惯法基础上建立的普通法制度。1066年诺曼征服之后,征服者尊重并保留了绝大部分的盎格鲁撒克逊制度;而亨利二世时期进行的司法改革虽然给英格兰带来了全新的统一的法律和司法体系,但这种变革却是以渐进、温和、保守的方式进行的;它更多地是对盎格鲁撒克逊制度的发现和恢复,而不是自我创新。古老的盎格鲁撒克逊习惯法从根本上支配了和主导了普通法形成的过程,从而使英国法律文明的发展呈现出某种一以贯之的延续性和内在精神。

The historical consistency of English law is widely acknowledged.Anglo-Saxon law was initially Germanic customary law brought by the invaders,which is a set of concrete rules.It holds that it was out of the respect for the ancient Anglo-Saxon customary law;the existing structure of courts had been utilized.The judicial reform during Henry U period brought to England a new,unified legal system,but these reformations were gradual and moderate,rather than inventing new system by himself.It is clear that the ancient Anglo-Saxon customary law governed the formation of the English Com- mon Law,shaped the course of English Common Law and produced the embodied continuity underlying the English legal history.