Willis: Anglo-American Law 
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ton, Herle, Stonore, Parning, Cavendish, Tresilian, Waltham, 
and Wykeham. Edward I had a great reputation as a law- 
giver, and has been called the English Justinian. The reason 
for his reputation is the fact that he had the good judgment 
to keep at hand and to follow the best legal advice. He had 
constantly at his side the great Italian lawyer, Francis of 
Accursii. His closest friend was his chancellor, Robert Burnel 
(-1292), who drew the Statute of Wales, which projected the 
English law over Wales. Hengham (-1309) was called the 
father of common law judges and was an authority on writs. 
He wrote two works on procedure called Hengham Magna and 
Hengham Larva. He was also the author of the Statute 
de Donis. He was chief justice of the King’s Bench under 
Edward I until impeached on trivial charges and removed by 
Parliament in 1289. He was restored to the bench and made 
chief justice of the Common Pleas ten years later, and was 
reappointed by Edward II. Bereford (-1326) succeeded 
Hengham as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He served 
as judge thirty-four years, and was one of the greatest char- 
acters on the bench in the time of Edward I. He was sharp 
with attorneys and other judges, swore on the bench, and 
despised the Anglo-Saxon wager of law. The barons changed 
the monarchy to a narrow oligarchy in the reign of the 
frivolous and foolish Edward II. Edward Ill’s reign was 
vigorous and brilliant, and largely occupied with French wars. 
Robert Parning (-1348) was chancellor under Edward III and 
was the first regular common law lawyer appointed to that 
office. Cavendish (-1381), tho a judge of rectitude and in- 
tegrity, had his house plundered and burned and himself be- 
headed in Wat Tyler’s rebellion of 1381, because tho the re- 
bellion was against villein services and rentals there was great 
feeling against the lawyers. Tresilian (-1388) was made 
chief justice of the King’s Bench after the murder of Caven- 
dish and tried and punished the insurgents. He was the most 
cruel judge in England until Jeffreys. He countenanced what- 
ever was agreeable to the king, Richard II. He was finally 
accused of high treason, captured in disguise, and beheaded. 
Wykeham (1324-1404) held the office of chancellor for short 
times under both Edward III and Richard II. He is chiefly 
known for his correction of the abuses of religious houses 
and the building of colleges and cathedrals. The common law 
