John Carpenter (town Clerk) - Liber Albus

John Carpenter was the author of first book of English Common Law, called Liber Albus ("White Book"), completed in 1419. It provided a basis of legal, social and history of the law relating to the City of London. The statue of John Carpenter, now residing within the City of London School for Boys, shows him holding this book.

The following lines were hand written (probably in the 16th century) on the fly-leaf of "Liber Albus" translated from Latin:

The book that once was white is white no more;

Made black with grease, and thumb'd its page o'er.

Then, while it still exists, transcribe each page;

Once gone, 'tis lost to every future age.

And if so lost---some fault of ours, 'tis true--

Ah me! thou gem of greatest price, Adieu!