The tearing of Bolingbroke’s household coat was actionable, according to the old maxim quoted by Coke, ‘Actio datur si quis arma, in aliquo loco posita, delevit seu abrasit’ (3 Institute, 202). In _Pericles_, ii. 2, Thaisa describes the devices on the shields of the six knights. _Hor._ How was this seal’d? _Ham._ Why, even in that was heaven ordinant. I had my father’s signet in my purse, Which was the model of that Danish seal; Folded the writ up in form of the other, Subscribed it, gave’t the impression, placed it safely, The changeling never known. _Hamlet_, Act v. Scene 2. Sigillum est cera impressa, quia cera sine impressione non est sigillum (Co. 3 Institute, 169). The wax without an impression would not be a seal. Hamlet subscribed the writ and also impressed the wax with his father’s signet. Crimen falsi dicitur, cum quis illicitus, cui non fuerit ad hæc data auctoritas, de sigillo regis rapto vel invento, brevia, cartasve consignaverit (Fleta). _Lear._ No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself. _Lear_, Act iv. Scene 6. Monetandi jus comprehenditur in regalibus quæ nunquam a regio sceptro abdicantur (Dav. 18). Shakespeare may here refer to this maxim, that the right of coining is comprehended in those regal rights which are never removed from the regal sceptre. _Scici._ What is the city but the people? _Cit._ True, the people are the city. _Coriolanus_, Act iii. Scene 1. In this passage Shakespeare probably refers to the maxim, Civitas et urbs in hoc differunt quod incolæ dicuntur civitas, urbs vero complectitur ædificia (Mirror, cap. 2, sect. 18, Brit. fol. 87, Co. Litt. 109b). A city and a town differ in this, that the inhabitants are called the city, but the town comprises the buildings. _Duke._ We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let slip; Even like an o’ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers, Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch, Only to stick it in their children’s sight For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock’d than fear’d; so our decrees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; And liberty plucks justice by the nose; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Goes of decorum. _Measure for Measure_, Act i. Scene 3. The wisdom of the law abhors that great offences should go unpunished, which was grounded without question upon these ancient maxims of law and state: Maleficia non debent remanere impunita, et impunitas continuum affectum tribuit delinquendi, et minatur innocentes qui parcit nocentibus (Co. Rep. iv. 45).