The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-11-16 00:00:00

CIIARACTItIC of SIR EDWARD COKE.

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The following ',oracle from " The Life" of the above
great Lawyer are retracted from lie North Aftericen
Reeky, a periodical work of high character

Sir Edward Coke was burrs in the year 154-0, at
Mileham, in the county of Norfolk. Hit fattier
Robert. • gentleman of good family, and an emi-
nent barrister. shed whilst this his only son rim
yriutig, leaving him the heir of • large forinne.
Edward was first sent to the free-achuel at Nor-
wich, thence removed to Cambridge, and after re-
siding at she, University about four years, entered
as student of the Inner Temple. The quick roe.
'ration and 'mind judgment which he there din-
plaxed. occasioned his being called to the bar at nu
early period. riarnely; after a noviciate of six years,
which Will their accounted a very extraordinary
mat kof approbstion The first cease in which be
appeared in the Court of Queried Bench, as we
learn from his own report of it, was in 16711, in the
twenty-eighth year of his age*. About the tame
time lie was appointed reader or 1..40n's Inn, and so
continued for three year during which space hi.
lectures were very much resorted to, in consequence
or which his reputation and practice ineressed PO
rapidly, that before he had been long at theism, he
paid liis addresses to a lady „rant selthe litot
lies and brat "willies in his native comely. This
lady, Bridvt. daughter and co-helms* or Jobs
Pastor), he shortly alter married, receiving with her
iluric ihousiind pounds. sod lierniniog allied to
some of the beat house. in the kingdoms
I root this time he continued to rise with-onex-
ampler' rapidity ; the cities of Coventry and Nor-
w lel, chose him their. Recorder. he was engaged in
all the great canoes of Wrettninstm Hall, acquires',
use lassos, of tlhe I..ed Treasurer Burleigh, and wee
frequently cosisulted on the Queen's affairs. His
huge ramie and great credit in the enmity of Nor.
folk. recommended him to the freeholders of that
comity, mod procured his election its Knight of the
Shire, in which capacity he distinguished himself so
much, as to be mode Speaker ill the Parliament
held in the Stith year of Elisabeth t. He was then
Queen'aSolicitor. from which pm! hr was soon ad-
vanced to 'hat of Astoresey-General.
Mr. Coke becoming a widower by the death of
hi. wire shortly after he received the appointment of
Attorney-General, paid his widens., to • another
lady of rank and fortune, the Lady Hatton. relict
of Sir William Hatton, cud sister of Thomas Lord
Buslrigh, the oldest COO of the Lord Treasurer
Borleigh. This second marriage, whichtook place
im id9o. proved very unhappy, and even the cele-
bration of it caused the parties no little vexation.
So much nonce was taken of irregular rummages
this year. that Archbishop Whitgift had signified
to the Bishops of his province, that he expected
they would he diligent in bringing to prosecution
all pennons who should be guilty of any irregularity
in the celebration of moulage. ‘Vbether it was
that the Attorney-General did not advert to this
circumstance, or that he looked upon the qtality
of Lady Hatton and of himself. nod the consent of
her family. as setting them above such restrictions,
they were monied iii a 'Hiving home, without either
bannasse license. 11. rr• WM a proarcetion was coal.
rntaced in the Aleolitshop's Court against them,
Lord Boeleigh. the lector who officiated sit the MOP.
nage, mad arsenal nth., !moons, for contempt rrf
she authority or the church; but on their sobmis.
pion by proxies they were absolved from the Irenal-.
ties which they had incurred, because, says the re-
cord, they had ofieurted. not fiwn contumacy, but
from iguisranre of the law in this particitlee. The
prosecution dues not serest to have proceeded from
any personal attiniu.ity of the Archbialtup's; on the
contrary, this relate 12 known to hoop had. germs
esteems for Coke; and when the latter was Oppilitited
Queen's Attorwy, Whitgift vent hien a copy .( the.
New Testament, lulls a ns'esosge to this effect, that
he hid now stashed common law emit ,sins
should thereafter study the law of God. An I. et