Pleading in English Act 1362 - Historical Context

Historical Context

For more details on this topic, see Legal English#Historical development.

Prior to the Norman conquest of England in 1066, traditional common law in England tradition had been discussed in the vernacular since time immemorial (see Celtic law), and written in the Germanic vernacular (Old English) since circa 600 (following the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain), beginning with the law code of Æthelberht of Kent; see Anglo-Saxon law. Following the Norman conquest, the language of the latest conquerors was used – Anglo-Norman (which developed into Law French) was used for pleadings, and Latin was used in writing. The fourteenth century saw a decline in Law French, hence the Pleading in English Act, which marks the beginning of modern Legal English. The statute was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863 and the Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872.

Somewhat later – about 50 years, in fact – English became standard for official government purposes in the form of Chancery Standard, during the reign of King Henry V (1413 to 1422).