WITH GREAT PLEASURE

THE AUTHOR DEDICATES THIS WORK

(BY PERMISSION)

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF LEICESTER,

AS IT AFFORDS HIM AN OPPORTUNITY

TO RECORD HIS SENSE

OF THEIR KINDNESS AND

HOSPITALITY.

CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

The period in which Coke lived His general character -His birth in 1550-His parents His familyChildhood Enters Trinity College Cambridge Archbishop Whitgift-Coke's studies-His power of intense application-Nature of his readings-Biography 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-Accumulates 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 contemporaries-Plowden-Bacon-Lord Ellesmere-Sir George Croke-Sir Harbottle Grimstone-Sir Henry Yelverton-Sir Lawrence Tanfield-Dodderidge-David Jenkins.

Page

27

CHAPTER III.

1582-1593.

Coke's first marriage-The Paston family-Coke's fatherin-law--This the happiest period of his life-Trial of Mary Queen of Scots-Coke made Recorder of Norwich, Coventry and London-A bencher and reader of Inner Temple-Elected into parliament for Norwich-Made solicitor-general-Sketch of his parliamentary demeanour-His description of the properties which a member of parliament ought to possess-The members 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 addressing Queen Elizabeth-The lord keeper's reply-The Commons displease the Queen-Certain members committed to the Tower-Speech of Coke on the bill for reforming the ecclesiastical courts-His address