The New International Encyclopædia/Littleton, Thomas

LITTLETON, Sir Thomas (1402-81). Judge of the Common Pleas and author of The Tenures. He was born at Frankley Manor House, in the northern part of Worcestershire, in the year 1402. He was educated at the Inner Temple. His earliest public services were as escheator of Worcestershire, under-sheriff of Worcestershire, and recorder of Coventry. As reader to the Inner Temple he lectured on the Statute of Westminster II., De Donis Conditionalibus. In 1453 he became a sergeant-at-law. In 1455, a few days before the opening battle of the Wars of the Roses, he was appointed one of the King's sergeants; and he was reappointed in 1401, when Henry VI. was deposed and Edward IV. assumed the crown. While King's sergeant he had much experience of a judicial nature, being frequently in commissions of the peace, of oyer and terminer, and of assize. In 1466 he was made a judge of the Common Pleas. In 1470, when Henry VI. was restored, Littleton, like the other judges, was reappointed, and he was also reappointed in 1471, when Edward IV. displaced Henry VI. permanently. While judge of the Common Pleas he was in many commissions of oyer and terminer and of the peace, particularly for Worcestershire and counties to the west and north. In 1475 he was made by Edward IV. a Knight of the Bath. He died in 1481, and was buried in Worcester Cathedral. His tomb, prepared by himself, is still in existence; but part of the decoration, including a brass plate that contained Littleton's portrait, has disappeared. The famous treatise by which Littleton is best known, The Tenures, was written toward the close of the author's life, and gives a picture of the law of land under the feudal system. It is noted for accuracy and clearness. The first edition appeared in 1481 or 1482, being one of the earliest books printed in London, and the earliest treatise on English law printed anywhere. The printers of this edition were Lettou and Machlinia. The second edition was printed about 1483, in London, by Machlinia. The third edition was printed about 1490, at Rouen, by William le Tailleur. These editions and many others were in the original Law French. There have also been many editions in English. In 1628 appeared the celebrated commentary of Coke. There have been about twenty-five editions of Coke upon Littleton, and about ninety editions of The Tenures without the commentary. With or without commentary, The Tenures formed an important part of legal education for almost three centuries and a half. For biographical and bibliographical details, consult the introduction to the 1903 edition of The Tenures (Washington).