Description: "To pirates and wild beasts no territory offers safety. Pirates are the enemies of all men and... in the case of the pirates, we may say that they could not have escaped, since they are always subject to capture everywhere." -Alberico Gentili, Hispanicae Advocationis Libri Duo (1921) Hispanicae Advocationis Libri Duo, Volume II (1921) by Alberico Gentili was originally published in Latin in 1613 posthumously upon his request. This replica of the 1921 edition contains Volume II with the English translation by Frank Frost Abbott, Two Books of Advocacy in the Service of Spain. (The original Latin edition is also available from Cosimo Classics.) Legal writing of the time consisted of theory and generalities, however, Gentili outlines actual cases of the time period and applies the principles of international law to them. Considered a reference for international law, this book is a must-read for those interested in its history.
Brief description: ALBERICO GENTILI (1552-1608) was born and educated in Italy, immigrating during the Inquisition to England where his Protestant views were more accepted. He received his Doctor of Civil Law degree from Oxford University and became a professor there. His extensive knowledge and writing led to his esteem as a father of international law.