Edward Coke (1552 – 1634)
Early English colonial entrepreneur and jurist whose writings on the English common law were definitive legal texts for some 300 years.
Law is the safest helmet.
He is not cheated who knows he is being cheated.
Those who consent to the act and those who do it shall be equally punished.
Thought the bribe be small, yet the fault is great.
The Common lawes of the Realme should by no means be delayed for the law is the surest sanctuary, that a man should take, and the strongest fortresse to protect the weakest of all, lex et tutissima cassis.
Magna Charta is such a fellow that he will have no sovereign.
The gladsome light of jurisprudence.
Jeo concede que est le opinion Seigniour Coke, mes salva reverentia al ey grand sage et pere del ley. (I grant that it is the opinion of Lord Coke, but salva reverentia to so great a sage and father of the law).
Every libel, which is called famosus libellus, is made either against a private man, or against a public person. If it be against a private man, it deserves a severe punishment.
That great lawyer was much heated in the controversy between the Courts at Westminster and the Ecclesiastical Courts. In every part of his conduct his passions influenced his judgment. Vir acer et vehemens. His law was continually warped by the different situations in which he found himself.
The greatest lawyer, Sir Edward Coke.
Only this incident inseparable every custom must have, viz., that it be consonant to reason; for how long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.
The King himself should be under no man, but under God and the Law.
The intention ought to be subservient to the laws, not the laws to the intention.
A word must become a friend or you will not understand it. Perhaps you do well to be cool and detached when you are seeking information, but I remind you of the wife who complained, 'When I ask John if he loves me, he thinks I am asking for information'.
A witch is a person who hath conference with the Devil to consult with him or to do some act.
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason... The law, which is perfection of reason.
A man's house is his castle — et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium.
The learning and industry of that great man Sir Edward Coke, whose name ought never to be mentioned in a Court of law without the highest respect.
The house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose.