Institutes of the Laws of England

Institutes of the Lawes of England

Title page of the first volume of the first edition
Author	Edward Coke
Country	England
Language	English
Subject	English law
Genre	Non-fiction
Published	1628–1644
Pages	Part I: 395; Part II: 745; Part III: 243; Part IV: 364
LC Class	Part I: KD833.C6; Part II: KD660.C6; Parts III and IV: KD7869.C64

The Institutes of the Lawes of England are a series of legal treatises written by Sir Edward Coke. They were first published, in stages, between 1628 and 1644. Widely recognized as a foundational document of the common law, they have been cited in over 70 cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, including several landmark cases. For example, in Roe v. Wade (1973), Coke's Institutes are cited as evidence that under old English common law, an abortion performed before quickening was not an indictable offence. In the much earlier case of United States v. E. C. Knight Co. (1895), Coke's Institutes are quoted at some length for their definition of monopolies. The Institutes's various reprinted editions well into the 19th century is a clear indication of the long lasting value placed on this work throughout especially the 18th century in Britain and Europe. It has also been associated through the years with high literary connections. For example, David Hume in 1764 requested it from the bookseller Andrew Millar in a cheap format for a French friend.

The Institutes of the Lawes of England are divided into four parts, the first editions of which are as follows: