Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials, 1163-1858

Scope

This collection contains the state trials and proceedings for high treason and other crimes and misdemeanors from the ninth year of the reign of King Henry II (1163) to George VI (1820).  These materials were collected by William Cobbett and edited by Thomas Bayly Howell. The collection includes articles of accusation, impeachments, warrants for execution, and proceedings.  This collection includes trials of many famous people, such as Sir Thomas More, Queen Ann Boleyn, Mary Queen of Scots, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas Wolsey.   It also includes other kinds of proceedings such as the dissolution of King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. (Bowling Green State University Research Collections in Microform)

Begun in 1809 with Cobbett’s name on the title page Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials covering the years 1163-1684 in nine volumes was continued for the period 1684-1784 under the title A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors from the Earliest Period to the Present Time in volumes 10-21 under the editorship of Thomas B. Howell.  Volumes 22-33, a new continuation covering the period 1784-1820, were edited by Howell’s son, Thomas Jones Howell.  Volume 34 is a general index to the series of 33 volumes.  Reports of State Trials, a new series covering the period 1820-1858, was published in eight volumes by the British State Trials Committee under the editorship, first, of John Macdonell and then John E. P. Wallis.  (LexisNexis)