A Sketch of English Legal History

Erstwhile professor of law Frederic Maitland investigates the origins and history of England’s legal system, and its evolution through the centuries.

The first laws native to England were enacted by Saxon kings, with King Aethelbert being the first monarch to do so in around A.D. 600. These early laws set out necessary compensations and punishments in the event of wrongdoing such as theft or physical harm. The law advanced steadily in Medieval times, with kings such as Edward I and Henry III particularly keen to advance its codification, motivated by the organization of the realm’s lands, revenues and taxes. For much of the Middle Ages, French was the language spoken by lawyers and legal scholars – it was not until the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509) that English became the speech used in law.

Prior to Maitland’s writing, no history of English law had been published. In his lifetime, Maitland produced several books tackling legal history from historic and constitutional perspectives. This book, published nine years after Maitland’s death in 1906, unites and organizes his finest studies into a compelling, chronological narrative. The author’s keen and lively style, moved by genuine and abundant passion in the subject, will satisfy the curious reader whether they seek to supplement formal study of law, or are researching the topic out of casual interest.