Sir Matthew Hale, 1609–1676, though celebrated mainly as a jurist, has also an honorable record as a man of letters. Sir Matthew studied at Oxford, and in Lincoln’s Inn. He was made Sergeant-at-Law in 1652, Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1660, and Lord Chief Justice of England in 1671; and was one of the most renowned and upright judges that ever graced the English bench; equally honored for his general knowledge, legal attainments, and purity of character. A complete collection of his Moral and Religious Works was published in 2 vols., 8vo, 1805, London. The best known of his legal writings are “The History of the Pleas of the Crown;” “The History of the Common Law of England;” and the tract on “The Trial of Witches.”

Personal

  He was a man of no quick utterance, but often hesitant; but spoke with great reason. He was most precisely just; insomuch as I believe he would have lost all that he had in the world rather than do an unjust act: patient in hearing the tediousest speech which any man had to make for himself. The pillar of justice, the refuge of the subject who feared oppression, and one of the greatest honours of his majesty’s government.

  This excellent person, whose learning in the law was scarce equalled, and never exceeded; was, in many respects, one of the most perfect characters of his age. Nor was his knowledge limited to his own profession: he was far from inconsiderable as a philosopher and a divine. He was as good and amiable in his private, as he was great and venerable in his public, capacity. His decisions upon the bench were frequently a learned lecture upon the point of law; and such was his reputation for integrity, that the interested parties were generally satisfied with them, though they happened to be against themselves. No man more abhorred the chicane of lawyers, or more discountenanced the evil arts of pleading. He was so very conscientious, that the jealousy of being misled by his affections made him perhaps rather partial to that side to which he was least inclined. Though he was a man of true humility, he was not insensible of that honest praise which was bestowed on him by the general voice of mankind, and which must have been attended with that self-applause which is the natural result of good and worthy actions.

  Gentlemen, in the place where we now sit to administer the justice of this great country, above a century ago the never-to-be-forgotten Sir Matthew Hale presided; whose faith in Christianity is an exalted commentary upon its truth and reason, and whose life was a glorious example of its fruits in man, administering human justice with a wisdom and purity drawn from the pure fountain of the Christian dispensation, which has been, and will be in all ages, a subject of the highest reverence and admiration.

  His authority coming at last to be regarded as all but infallible, it would by no means be surprising if he became, as North alleges, exceedingly vain and intolerant of opposition; but of this, beyond North’s word, we have no evidence. Hale remained throughout life attached to his early puritanism. He was a regular attendant at church, morning and evening, on Sunday, and also gave up a portion of the day to prayer and meditation, besides expounding the sermon to his children. He was an extreme anti-ritualist, having apparently no ear for music, and objecting even to singing, and in particular to the practice of intoning. Though strictly orthodox in essentials, he was impatient of the subtleties of theology…. He carried puritan plainness of dress to such a point as to move even Baxter to remonstrate with him.

General

  The following Treatise, [“Pleas of the Crown”] being the genuine off-spring of that truly learned and worthy Judge, Sir Matthew Hale, stands in need of no other recommendation than what that great and good name will always carry along with it. Whoever is in the least acquainted with the extensive learning, the solid judgment, the indefatiagble labours, and, above all, the unshaken integrity, of the author, cannot but highly esteem whatever comes from so valuable a hand.

  His writings have raised him a character equal to his greatest predecessors, and will always be esteemed as containing the best rationale of the grounds of the law of England. Nor was he an inconsiderable master of polite, philosophical, and especially theological, learning.

  So authoritative an “History of the Common Law of England,” written by so learned an author, requires neither preface nor commendation. It has ever been justly held in the highest estimation, and, like the virtues of its author, been universally admired and venerated. Here the student will find a valuable guide, the barrister a learned assistant, the court an indisputable authority.

  Amidst the immorality of Charles II.’s reign, Sir Matthew Hale stands out with peculiar lustre as an impartial, incorruptible, and determined administrator of justice.