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Guilford said, that "in making law, he had outdone king, lords, and commons."* The Lord Chief-justice Saunders, who succeeded Sir Francis Pemberton, was too extraordinary a person to be passed over in silence. He was originally a strolling beggar about the streets, without known parents or relations. He came often to beg scraps at Clement's Inn, where he was taken notice of for his uncommon sprightliness; and as he expressed a strong inclination to learn to write, one of the attorney's clerks taught him, and soon qualified him for a hackney writer. He took all opportunities of improving himself by reading such books as he borrowed of his friends; and, in the course of a few years, became an able attorney and a very eminent counsel. His practice in the court of King's Bench was exceeded by none': his art and cunning were equal to his knowledge; and he carried many a cause by laying snares. he was detected, he was never out of countenance, but evaded the matter with a jest, which he had always at hand. He was much employed by the king, against the city of London, in the business of the quo warranto. His person was as heavy and ungain, as his wit was alert and sprightly. He is said to have been "a mere lump of morbid flesh :" the smell of him was so offensive, that people usually held their noses when he came into the court. One of his jests on

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this occasion was, that “ none could say he wanted issue, for he had no less than nine in his back." See more of him in North's "Life of the Lord-keeper Guilford," p. 224, 225.†

SIR GEORGE JEFFERIES. R. Grave sc. 8vo.

Sir George Jefferies succeeded Sir Edmund Saunders as lord chief-justice of the King's Bench, September 29, 1683.‡

* "Life of the Lord-keeper Guilford," p. 222.

One of the daughters of Sir Francis Pemberton married Dr. William Stanley, dean of St. Asaph, some time master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and author of an anonymous tract of particular merit, entitled "The Faith and Practice of a Church of England Man." The editors of the "Bodleian Catalogue" have attributed "The Romish Horse-leech" to the same author; but of this Mr. Masters speaks very doubtfully. It has also, with extreme probability, been attributed to Thomas Staveley, esq. author of "The History of the Churches in England," which was become very scarce, and has lately been reprinted by T. Davies, with advantage. "Lives of the Chancellors," p. 182.

§ P. 176.

For whom Stanley was most probably mistaken.

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The R. Hon S: George Jeffreys Kn & Baronet

LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND;

And one of his Majesty's most Hone Privy Council Año Dni 1684.

Published as the Act directs August 11794 by W Richardson Castle Street Leicester Squar

L'Estrange and the pope, together with Jefferies and the devil, were burnt in effigy by the populace in this reign. See the next.

JOHANNES VAUGHAN, miles, capitalis justiciarius de Communi Banco, Anno 1674. R. White sc. Before his "

Reports."

1668.

Sir John Vaughan, a man of excellent parts, was not only well Promoted versed in all the knowledge requisite to make a figure in his profession, but was also a very considerable master of the politer kinds of learning. He maintained a strict intimacy with the famous Mr. Selden, who was one of the few that had a thorough esteem for him. His behaviour among the generality of his acquaintances was haughty, supercilious, and overbearing: hence he was much more admired than beloved. He was, in his heart, an enemy to monarchy; but was never engaged in open hostility against Charles I. The Earl of Clarendon, who had contracted some friendship with him in the early part of his life, renewed his acquaintance after the restoration, and made him overtures of preferment: but these he waved, on a pretence of having long laid aside his gown, and his being too far advanced in life. He afterward struck in with the enemies of his friend the chancellor, and was made lord chief-justice of the Common Pleas; an office which, though not above his abilities, was perhaps superior to his merit. He died in 1674, and was buried in the Temple-church, as near as possible to the remains of Mr. Selden. His "Reports" were published by his son Edward.

SIR THOMAS TWISDEN, one of the judges of the King's Bench. Ob. 1682; h. sh. mezz.

Sir Thomas Twisden was sent to the Tower by Cromwell, for pleading in defence of the rights of the city of London, for which he was retained as counsel. He was made a judge of the King's Bench soon after the restoration, and continued in that office about twenty years; after which he had his quietus. He was created a baronet in 1666.

SIR THOMAS JONES, one of the judges of the King's Bench. Claret p. Tompson exc. h. sh. mezz.

Sir Thomas Jones was a lawyer of some eminence, but his name very rarely occurs in the histories of this reign.* We oftener meet with that of Sir William Jones, who was a warm advocate for the Exclusion Bill.+ Sir Thomas Jones was member of parliament for Shrewsbury. On the 29th of September, 1683, he was made lord chief-justice of the Common Pleas. He was author of "Reports of Special Cases in the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas, from the 22d to the 36th Year of the Reign of King Charles II. 1729;" fol.

GALFRIDUS PALMER, miles et baronettus, attornatus generalis Car. II. regi. P. Lely p. R. White sc. Mr. Cambridge has the original picture.

Geoffry Palmer, a lawyer of distinction in the reigns of Charles the First and Second, was son of Thomas Palmer, esq. of Carleton, in Northamptonshire, by Catharine Watson, sister to the first Lord Rockingham. He was representative for the borough of Stamford, in Lincolnshire, in the Long Parliament, in which he was a chief manager of the evidence against the Earl of Strafford. He afterward, from principle, adhered to the royal party, with which he was a fellow-sufferer, having been imprisoned in the Tower by Cromwell, who dreaded his abilities, under a pretence of his plotting with the cavaliers. Upon the restoration of Charles II. he was made attorney-general and chief-justice of Chester. It should be remembered to his honour, that he was, in the early part of his life, one of the select friends of Mr. Edward Hyde, afterward earl of Clarendon. He died May 5, 1670, aged seventy-two years.

Sir JOHN HOSKINS was an excellent master in Chancery, and a man of an irreproachable character. He was more inclined to the

The curious reader may see a passage to his credit in Sir J. Reresby's "Memoirs," 8vo. p. 233. Sir John Dalrymple, where he speaks of King James's vain attempt to assert the dispensing power, mentions the following passage. It is reported, that the king said to Jones, "He should have twelve judges of his own opinion;" and that Jones answered, "Twelve judges you may possibly find, sir; but hardly twelve lawyers."

See Burnet, vol. i.

"Memoirs," i. p. 153.

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