CONTENTS. CONCERNING the distribution of the laws of England into PAGE Concerning the progress of the Laws of England after SIR MATTHEW HALE was born at Alderley, in Gloucestershire, on the first of November 1609. In the seventeenth year of his age, he was entered of Magdalenhall, Oxford; and on the 8th of November 1629 was admitted of Lincoln's-Inn; where, if the authority of Burnet may be relied on, he studied for many years sixteen hours a day (a). Be that as it may, the diligence with which he pursued his studies, is evident from his acquirements. The jurisprudence of his own country, though the first, was by no means the sole object of his attention. He applied himself with great avidity, to the study of the Roman law; and though he preferred the mode of trial by jury, to that of the civilians, (who intrust too much to the judge,) yet he often affirmed, that (a) The human mind is incapable of such exertion for any great length of time. A milder mode meets with the approbation even, of the laborious Sir Edward Coke.-Co. Lit. 64. b. And so as to Sir Matthew Hale himself, who thought six hours a day, with attention and constancy, sufficient. See Bosw. Life of John. 4v. oct. 334, and post. viii. с |