The Life of the Right Honourable Francis North, Baron of Guilford, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal Under King Charles II and King James II: Wherein are Inserted the Characters of Sir Matthew Hale, Sir George Jeffries, Sir Leoline Jenkins, Sidney Godolphin, and Others ...

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W. Clark, 1808 - Judges

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Page 261 - The manner of the carriage is by laying rails of timber, from the colliery, down to the river, exactly straight and parallel ; and bulky carts are made with four rowlets fitting these rails ; whereby the carriage is so easy that one horse will draw down four or five chaldron of coals, and is an immense benefit to the coal merchants.
Page 110 - Hales was chief baron of the Exchequer, by means of his great learning even against his inclination, he did the crown more justice in that court than any others in his place had done with all their good will and less knowledge. But his lordship knew also his foible which was leaning towards the popular...
Page 46 - Wherefore it is said, that he who is not a good lawyer before he comes to the bar, will never be a good one after it.
Page 246 - It is seldom that a poor old wretch is brought to trial upon that account, but there is at the heels of her a popular rage that does little less than demand her to be put to death ; and if a judge is so clear and open as to declare against that impious vulgar opinion that the devil himself has power to torment and kill innocent children, or that he is pleased to divert himself with the good people's cheese, butter, pigs and geese, and...
Page 292 - I know, might prefer him. His debaucheries were egregious, and his life loose ; which made the Lord Chief Justice Hales detest him. He kept himself very poor, and, when he was arrested by King's Bench process...
Page 113 - ... as he was, in the rebellious times, when the government at best was but rout and riot, either of rabble committees or soldiers, may be allowed to have an idea of their tyranny, and consequently stand in fear of such brutish violence and injustice as they committed-.
Page 265 - ... running into the next territory, was safe, so here they stole on either side, and the other under a different jurisdiction was an asylum. This was so great a mischief that all the considerable farmhouses (the houses of gentlemen were castles of course) were built of stone in the manner of a square tower with an overhanging battlement, and underneath the cattle were lodged every night. In the upper room the family lodged, and when the alarm came they went up to the top, and with hot water and...
Page 112 - It is said he was once caught. A courtier who had a cause to be tried before him, got one to go to him as from the king, to speak for favour to his adversary, and so carried his point ; for the chief justice could not think any person to be in the right that came so unduly recommended.
Page 257 - I have heard some say that they would sometimes lie in the midst of a shaft, and the bottom be clear. The flame of a candle will not kindle them so soon as the snuff; but they have been kindled by the striking fire with a tool.
Page 116 - And besides he was the most flatterable creature that ever was known ; for there was a method of resignation to him, and treating him with little meals, and private with his pipe at ease, which certainly captivated him. So Sir G-eorge Jeffries gained as great an ascendant in practice over him as ever counsel had over a judge. In short, to give every one his due, there was in him the most of learning and wisdom joined with ignorance and folly that ever was known to coincide in the character of any...

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