Law is as I've told you before, Law is as you know I suppose, Law is but let me explain it once more, Law is The Law.2 As historians we would probably be inclined to forget the whole matter. ,Yet I think that would be a mistake. To talk about law as a historical phenomenon without defining it can lead, and has led, only to confusion and occasionally remarkable anachronisms. I therefore want to suggest a couple of definitions that will be useful in exploring Mr. Cheyette is associate professor of history at Amherst College.