Rastell, John, d. 1536.

Rastell's Terms : (English Law, 1523)

Exposicio[n]es T[er]mu[n]o[rum] Legu[m] Anglo[rum], 1523

Les Termese de la Ley, 1629

Les Termes de la Ley, 1629

John Rastell was much more than a lawyer: in fact, architect, musician, playwright, publisher, and coroner are all titles that fit him at certain points in his life. A member of the Middle Temple who married Sir Thomas More's sister Elizabeth, he wrote four legal books and published many more (in addition to lighter works with titles like A Hundred Merry Tales) at his press in London. He was the first English printer to publish plays, and wrote several of his own. He also managed the transport of artillery during the French war of 1512-1514, left England on an aborted voyage to the "new found lands" in order to trade and explore, and became a member of parliament, all in a few short decades. He eventually converted to the Reformed faith, and became an active supporter of Thomas Cromwell and the Reformation. He was imprisoned in 1535 for criticizing the practice of providing a living for clergy out of tithes. He died in jail in 1536, a pauper.

Rastell's Exposiciones Terminorum Legum Anglorum, later known as the Termes de la Ley, is the first English law dictionary in the format with which we are familiar: definitions of words in alphabetical order. Indeed, it even preceded the earliest general English dictionary, although there were dictionaries using this format on the continent well before the sixteenth century.

It was a popular, long-lived book, serving as a reader for law students and lawyers alike, and went through at least twenty-nine editions up to 1819. Meant to be a practical work, it defined ordinary legal terms in plain language. In later editions, editors slowly added to Rastell's original text, adding bits of antiquarian lore as well as corrections and expansions. An important edition was published by Thomas Blount in 1667 and later reprinted several times. A greatly enlarged edition was published in 1721. In all editions except that of 1527, the Anglo-Norman text is accompanied by a parallel English translation.

The 1523 Rastell dictionary was chosen as Tarlton Law Library's symbolic Millionth Volume, to celebrate the strong research collection Tarlton has developed for the Law School and the University of Texas. An extremely rare and significant work, its acquisition was made possible through the generous gift of distinguished alumnus Joseph D. Jamail. More information about, and images of, view the 1523 Rastell dictionary .

Biographical information about Rastell can be found in Albert J. Geritz's John Rastell (Boston: Twayne, 1983), and in Roger Coleman's introduction to the 1971 edition of his play, The Four Elements (Cambridge [England]: University Printing House).

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