Littleton's Tenures, an introduction to the common law of real property, was the first attempt in the history of the common law to systematically discuss a single branch of the law. It was the first significant text on English law not written in Latin and not influenced by Roman law. According to Sir Edward Cook, "This booke is the ornament of the Common Law, and the most perfect and absolute work that ever was written in any human science." (First Part of the Institutes, 1628, pref.)

Littleton's Tenures proved to be a bestseller among lawyers. The Rare Books Collection holds over thirty editions printed during the sixteenth century.