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The period in which Coke lived His general character
-His birth in 1550-His parents - His family
Childhood
Enters Trinity College Cambridge
Archbishop Whitgift-Coke's studies-His power of
intense application-Nature of his readings-Biogra-
phy of Whitgift-Coke becomes a Templar-Is called
to the Bar-The course of legal study followed in his
days-Mootings-Anecdotes of the law students-
Coke pleads his first cause Gets into practice-Accu-
mulates considerable property-Rapidly acquires estates
-Notices of his landed property in Norfolk, Essex,
Bucks and Dorsetshire.
Page
1
CHAPTER II.
1578-1582
Coke's early career at the bar-Account of his first cause
-Style of pleading-His emoluments-His legal con-
temporaries-Plowden-Bacon-Lord Ellesmere-Sir
George Croke-Sir Harbottle Grimstone-Sir Henry
Yelverton-Sir Lawrence Tanfield-Dodderidge-Da-
vid Jenkins.
CHAPTER III.
1582-1593.
Coke's first marriage-The Paston fainily-Coke's father-
in-law--This the happiest period of his life-Trial of
Mary Queen of Scots-Coke made Recorder of Nor-
wich, Coventry and London-A bencher and reader
of Inner Temple-Elected into parliament for Nor-
wich-Made solicitor-general--Sketch of his parliamen-
tary demeanour-His description of the properties which
a member of parliament ought to possess-The mem-
bers of that age-Their character-Their pay-Coke
elected speaker-Sir John Puckering's speech on the
occasion-Coke's first speech in parliament in address-
ing Queen Elizabeth-The lord keeper's reply-The
Commons displease the Qucen-Certain members com-
mitted to the Tower-Speech of Coke on the bill
for reforming the ecclesiastical courts-His address
27
as speaker to the Queen at the close of the session
-The Queen's speech in reply-Appointed attorney
general-Sketch of the parliamentary proceedings dur-
ing the last years of Elizabeth and the first of James
I.
65
CHAPTER IV.
1593-1603.
Coke's residence at Huntingfield Hall-The mansion and
its remains-Coke's children-His wife-Her death-
Her epitaph-Coke again thinks of marriage-The trea-
ty with Lady Hatton successful-His illegal marriage
-Whitgift puts him into the Spiritual Court-Death
of Burleigh-Notice of Sir William Hatton - Rivalry
of Bacon-Letters of Lord Essex-Character of Lady
Hatton Trial of Essex and Southampton-Speech of
Coke-Notice of Essex and of his son-Criminal
trials of that age-The public quarrel of Coke and Ba-
con-Queen Elizabeth-Her conduct to Coke-Her
gift to him-Her death-Coke continued attorney-
general by her successor.
119
CHAPTER V.
1602-1606.
Coke knighted-Trial of Raleigh-His speech-Raleigh's
defence-lis condemnation-Sir Henry Montague's
specch to him on judgment being passed-Notice of
Raleigh-The gunpowder plot-Trial of the cons-
pirators-Coke's speech to the judges-Notice of this
plot and of the conspirators-Many of its particulars
doubted Coke made Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas-Coke's emoluments when at the bar-His fees
of office.
CHAPTER VI.
1606-1614.
155
Coke's upright character as a judge-Ceremony of his
investiture-Is previously made a king's sergeant-
His introduction into the Court of Common Pleas-
Bacon's letter to him-The case of Marmaduke Lang.
dale-Opposes the court-Refuses to give his opinions
-Opposes the Court of High Commission-History
of this court-Coke nominated a commissioner-
Refuses to sit-Conference in consequence-Archbi-
shop Bancroft's speech to him-The Court of Com-
mon Pleas, and the High Commission Court come
into contact in the case of chancery-Coke sum-
moned before the Privy Council-Coke succeeds in
his opposition-Is made Chief Justice of the Court
of King's Bench-The real cause of his promotion-
The case of Edward Peacham - the King desirous of
ascertaining Coke's opinion-Bacon demands it-Coke
finally baffles him-King James writes his opinion-
Coke made High Steward of Cambridge.
213
CHAPTER VII.
1614-1616、
Benevolences-Coke contributes to them Presides
at the trial of the murderers of Overbury-Weston
-Ann Turner - Sir John Elvis - Sir Robert Monson
- The Earl and Countess of Somerset-Roger Coke's
account of the detection of the plot-King James'
fears-The plots which attended him-Coke's address
-The declining health of the Lord Chancellor
Bacon intrigues to be his successor-Contest between
the Courts of King's Bench and Chancery -Coke
consulted by the King.
256
CHAPTER VIII.
1616-1617.
The Case of Commendams-Bacon's letter to Sir Edward
Coke-The letter of the Judges to the King-The
Judges summoned before the King in council-The
King's speech to them-Coke's reply-The King's
rejoinder - Bacon's opinion Coke's reply - The
Chancellor puts a question to the Judges, which
Coke alone refuses to answer - Again summoned
before the council-The reports of the council to the
King - Coke again summoned before them - The
sentence of the Privy Council upon him-Desired to
revise his reports-Suspended from his office-Again