Anthony Fitzherbert

Anthony Fitzherbert
brass monument in chancel floor of Norbury church to Anthony Fitzherbert and his wife
Born	1470 Norbury
Died	27 May 1538
Resting place	Norbury
Nationality	English
Occupation	Judge
Spouse(s)	Dorothy Willoughby Matilda Cotton
Parent(s)	Ralph Fitzherbert and Elizabeth Marshall

Sir Anthony Fitzherbert (1470 – 27 May 1538) was an English judge, scholar and legal author, particularly known for his treatise on English law, New Natura Brevium (1534).

Fitzherbert was the sixth son of Ralph Fitzherbert of Norbury, Derbyshire, and Elizabeth Marshall. His brothers died young so he succeeded his father as Lord of the manor of Norbury, an estate granted to the family in 1125. Wood states that he was educated at Oxford, but no evidence of this exists; nor is it known at which of the inns of court he received his legal training, though he is included in a list of Gray's Inn readers

Fitzherbert was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, 18 November 1510, and six years later he was appointed king's serjeant. In 1514 he published La Graunde Abridgement. In 1522 he was made a judge of common pleas and was knighted; but his new honours did not check his literary activity and in the following year (1523) he published three works: one on law, Diversité de courtz et leur jurisdictions (tr. by Hughes in 1646); one on agriculture, The Boke of Husbandire; and one of law and agriculture combined, The Boke of Surveyinge and Improvements. All three were frequently reprinted and though Sir Anthony's authorship of the Boke of Husbandrie was formerly questioned it is now regarded as established. Meanwhile, his integrity and ability caused much business to be entrusted to him.

In 1524 Fitzherbert was sent on a royal commission to Ireland; Archbishop Warham appointed him by will sole arbitrator in the administration of his estate; and in 1529 when Wolsey fell, he was made a commissioner to hear chancery causes in place of the chancellor, and he subsequently signed the articles of impeachment against him. As one of the judges he unwillingly took part in the trials of the martyrs Fisher, More, and Haile, but he strongly disapproved of the king's ecclesiastical policy, particularly the suppression of the monasteries and he bound his children under oath never to accept or purchase any abbey lands.

In 1534 he published La Novelle Natura Brevium, and his last works L'Office et Auctoryté des justices de peas (1538), the first complete treatise on the subject, and L'Office de Viconts Bailiffes, Escheators, Constables, Coroners.