CHIEF JUSTICE COKE. 299 



man of action and employment you seldom converse 

 with, and then but with your underlings ; not freely, 

 but as a schoolmaster with his scholars, ever to 

 teach, never to learn, : but if sometimes you would 

 in your familiar discourse hear others, and make 

 election of such as know what they speak, you 

 should know many of these tales you tell to be but 

 ordinary ; and many other things, which you delight 

 to repeat and serve in for novelties, to be but stale. 

 As in your pleadings you were wont to insult over 

 misery, and to inveigh bitterly at the persons, which 

 bred you many enemies,, whose poison yet swelleth, 

 and the effects now appear, so are you still wont to 

 be a little careless in this point, to praise or disgrace 

 upon slight grounds, and that sometimes untruly ; 

 so that your reproofs or commendations are for the 

 most part neglected and contemned ; when the cen 

 sure of a judge, coming slow but sure, should be a 

 brand to the guilty, and a crown to the virtuous. 

 You will jest at any man in public, without respect 

 of the person s dignity or your own : this disgraceth 

 your gravity, more than it can advance the opinion 

 of your wit ; and so do all actions which we see you 

 do directly with a touch of vain-glory, having no 

 respect to the true end- You make the law to lean 

 too much to your opinion, whereby you shew your 

 self to be a legal tyrant, striking with that weapon 

 where you please, since you are able to turn the 

 edge any way : for thus the wise master of the law 

 gives warning to young students, that they should 

 be wary, lest, while they hope to be instructed by 



