Thomas Wight
Thomas Wight | |
|---|---|
| Died | c. 1608 |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, publisher, draper |
| Known for | Publishing early English legal texts and navigational manuals |
Thomas Wight (died circa 1608) was a notable London-based bookseller, publisher, and draper recognized for issuing numerous early English legal publications.
Career
Together with his father, the draper John Wight, he produced seven editions of William Bourne's A Regiment for the Sea, which stands as the first navigational manual written entirely in English.
Primarily functioning as a publisher by that time, Wight became part of a 1599 exclusive printing rights group focused on legal texts. He released several groundbreaking English law books, such as Fulbeck's 1600 work on legal education and case argument techniques; Pulton's 1600 volume, the inaugural overview of English criminal law; Fulbecke's 1602 treatise on early international law; and Saint German's 1604 dialogue discussing the essence of English law, its ethical dimensions, and parliamentary authority. Manwood's 1598 publication outlined forest laws significant to the English aristocracy, while Kitchin’s 1598 book dealt with manorial, property, and agricultural law.
Wight also issued the "Yearbooks", which represent the earliest surviving English legal case reports dating back to the 11th century.
He played a key role in early debates surrounding copyright legislation. Among his apprentices was Edmund Weaver, a prominent London publisher who later inherited Wight’s enterprise after his passing.
Other books published by Wight
- William Fulbecke, London: Printed by Thomas Wight, 1600.
- Sir Edward Coke, London: In aedibus Thomae Wight, 1602.
- Littletons tenures in English. Lately perused and amended., Sir Thomas Littleton, Imprinted at London: By Thomas Wight, 1600.
- Thomas Phayer, Imprinted at London: By [Adam Islip? for] Thomas Wight, 1604.
- William Fulbecke, Printed by Thomas Wight, London, 1601.
- ... , John Kitchin, Thomas Wight & Bonham Norton London 1598
- A Treatise and discourse of the Lawes of the Forest..., John Manwood, London: Printed by Thomas Wight and Bonham Norton, 1598.
- The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines..., Plutarch, London: Richard Field for Thomas Wight, 1603.
- William Fulbecke London: Thomas Wight, 1602
- Geoffrey Chaucer London: Printed by Adam Islip, at the charges of Thomas Wight, Anno 1598.
- A Book of the Arte and Manner How to Plant and Graffe All Sorts of Trees..., Leonard Mascall London: Thomas Wight, 1592.
- Tractatus de legibus et consuetudinibus regni Angliae, Ranulphus de Glanvilla; bound with Christopher St. Germain's Dialogus de fundamentis Legun Angliae et de conscientia. London: Thomas Wight, 1604
- , Edmund Plowden, London: Thomas Wight, 1599.
- , Christopher St. Germain, At London: Printed by [Adam Islip for] Thomas Wight and Bonham Norton, 1598
- John Fortescue London: Printed by Thomas Wight and Bonham Norton, 1599
- , Konrad Heresbach, London: Printed by T. Este for Thomas Wight, 1596
- , William West, At London: Printed by Thomas Wight, 1601
- , Fardinando Pulton, Printed by Thomas Wight London 1600
Yearbooks
- Les Reports de Les Cases Conteinus in les Ans Vint Primer, et Apres in Temps del Roy Henry Le Siz: Communement Appelle, The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, Nouelment Reuiew & Correge in Diuers Lieux. London: In Aedibus Thomae Wight, 1601.
- Syntomotaxia: Del Second Part Del Roy Henrie le Sixt, Per Quel Facilment Cy Troueront Soubs Apt Titles, Touts Choses Conteinus en le Dit Liuer. London: Printed by Thomas Wight, 1601.