however, the system became overly systematised—overly rigid and inflexible. as a result, as time went on, increasing numbers of citizens petitioned the king to override the common law, and on the king's behalf the lord chancellor gave judgment to do what was equitable in a case. from the time of sir thomas more, the first lawyer to be appointed as lord chancellor, a systematic body of equity grew up alongside the rigid common law, and developed its own court of chancery. at first, equity was often criticised as erratic, that it varied according to the length of the chancellor's foot. over time, courts of equity developed solid principles, especially under lord eldon. in the 19th century in england, and in 1937 in the u.s., the two systems were merged.