 The book itself states that the High Court of Admiralty was established during the reign of Edward I (1272–1307), although more recent scholarship places the establishment at c. 1360 during the reign of Edward III.Apart from the Rolls of Oléron, the earliest statute referred to is the "Liber memorandorum" (1338), of which a separate manuscript copy is available in the archives of the City of London.The book is written in Old French and its authors change handwriting and tone various times.