Lectures on the History of the Papal Chancery Down to the Time of Innocent III, Poole Reginald Lane

It contains a vast amount of information very clearly arranged, and in a small compass: and an examination of the references shows that Dr. Poole has an enviable command of the widely scattered literature of his subject. There is no other work in English which deals with the machinery of the early Papal Chancery, and the diplomatic and pal ographical characteristics of its productions. Even those who have ready access to the manuals of Giry and Bresslau will find much new material here, especially in the chapter dealing with the cursus and in the valuable appendices. English lawyers will take special pleasure in the chapter which relates to the criticism of documents at the Papal court, where, as in England, so much depends on the verification of seals. --32 Law Quarterly Review 226 (1916)