Nicholas Fuller (lawyer) facts for kids

Sir Nicholas Fuller (born 1543 – died 23 February 1620) was an important English lawyer and a Member of Parliament (MP). He studied at Christ's College, Cambridge and then became a lawyer at Gray's Inn.

Fuller's early law career was successful. He even worked for the King's advisors to question witnesses. However, his career faced challenges because he often defended the Puritans. These were a religious group who wanted to make the official Church of England simpler.

Fuller often disagreed with the special church courts, like the Star Chamber and the Court of High Commission. He was even removed from court once for how strongly he defended a client. In 1593, he became an MP for St Mawes. There, he worked against laws that punished people who didn't follow the official church.

Outside of Parliament, Fuller won a big case about patents. This case showed that the King's power to give out special business rights (patents) was limited. His ideas helped shape a law made twenty years later called the Statute of Monopolies.

When he returned to Parliament in 1604 for the City of London, Fuller became known as a "leader of the opposition." He often disagreed with the government's policies. He fought against taxes on certain goods and special rights given for products like blue starch. He also opposed the idea of England and Scotland becoming one country.

In 1607, in a famous case called Fuller's Case, he again challenged the Court of High Commission. He eventually convinced the Court of Common Pleas, led by Sir Edward Coke, that regular courts could free church prisoners. These arguments with the church courts were tough. But by 1610, he was seen as a wise, experienced politician. He suggested new laws to change church rules and manage customs duties. He remained an MP until he died on 23 February 1620.

Early Life and Law Career

Nicholas Fuller was born in 1543. His father, also Nicholas Fuller, was a merchant from London. In 1560, he started studying at Christ's College, Cambridge. He finished his studies in 1563 and joined Gray's Inn, a place where lawyers are trained.

Fuller became very successful at Gray's Inn. He held important positions there, like Reader and Treasurer. He was a Puritan and was very involved in their activities. For example, he helped arrange a speaker for a church in London in 1577.

From 1588, the King's advisors often hired him to question witnesses. But Fuller soon faced problems because of his own religion and the religion of the people he chose to defend. He was a favorite lawyer for Puritans who were put on trial for their faith.

He defended John Udall, who was accused of writing a troublesome book. Fuller protested so loudly in court that he was forced to leave. In 1591, he defended Thomas Cartwright and other Puritan ministers in the Star Chamber court. Fuller's strong legal defense helped these ministers avoid being found guilty. He was held in prison for a short time for offering to represent them.

Fuller in Parliament

Fighting for Rights and Against Monopolies

Sir Edward Coke, a famous judge who worked with and against Fuller.

In 1593, Fuller became an MP for St Mawes. He immediately started working against government plans to make laws stricter for Protestants who had left the official church. He argued that these laws were "dangerous to good subjects." He said they treated disagreements about religion the same as serious crimes like treason.

While he was an MP, Fuller also got involved in cases about patents. Patents were special rights given by the King to control a certain business or product. They were meant to encourage new industries in England. But over time, the King started giving out patents for common goods like salt and starch. These "hated monopolies" meant that only one person or company could sell these items, often at very high prices.

This led to big arguments between the King and Parliament. In 1601, it was agreed that regular courts would handle patent cases. The Queen also took back some of the most unfair monopolies. One such monopoly was for playing cards, given to Edward Darcy. In 1602, Darcy sued someone for making cards without his permission.

Sir Edward Coke, the King's lawyer, argued that the King had the right to control "games of common good." But Fuller argued that a patent should only be given for a truly new invention that helps the country. He said it should only last for a short time until others could learn the new skill. Fuller's ideas were very forward-thinking. They accurately predicted how the Statute of Monopolies would work twenty years later.

A Leader Against the Government

Fuller did not run for Parliament in 1597. But he returned in 1604 as an MP for the City of London under King James I. He became very active in opposing the government. People even called him the "leader of the opposition," even though it wasn't an official title.

In his first year, Fuller spoke out against taxes on currants and the special patent for blue starch. He also supported bringing back ministers who had been removed from their church roles. He continued to challenge the powers of the Court of High Commission.

In 1606, the government planned to formally unite England and Scotland. Many in Parliament were suspicious of this idea. Fuller led the opposition. He argued that Scottish merchants would harm English businesses and that the markets couldn't handle so many new traders.

He also had legal concerns. The King wanted to make all Scottish citizens into English citizens using his special royal power. Fuller argued that only Parliament should have this power. He worried that if the King could expand his power like this, it would threaten the freedoms of English citizens in the future.

Fuller's Case and Challenging the King

In 1607, Fuller again challenged the Court of High Commission. This was a church court set up by the King with almost unlimited power. Many lawyers and MPs disliked it because they felt it challenged the power of regular laws. When Richard Bancroft became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1604, the problem grew worse. Bancroft was very strict, which made the disagreements even bigger.

The judges, especially Sir Edward Coke, started to work with Parliament to challenge the High Commission. The High Commission often tried people for heresy, which meant their private thoughts and beliefs. Fuller called their methods "popish" and against Christ. Because of this, Fuller was arrested for disrespecting the court.

In what became known as Fuller's Case, the regular courts argued that this was a matter for them, not the church court. In the end, Fuller was found guilty by the High Commission and sent to prison.

On 6 November 1608, the King called the judges and members of the High Commission to discuss the issue. They couldn't even agree on how to argue. A week later, Sir Edward Coke, speaking for the judges, said that church courts only had power if no regular legal matters were involved. If they were, it became a job for the regular courts.

At this point, the King's own power to decide legal matters came up. This became known as the Case of Prohibitions. King James said that if there wasn't a clear law, he, as King, could decide cases himself. He said judges were just his representatives.

Coke disagreed strongly. He said the King himself could not judge any case, whether it was about crime or disputes between people. He said all cases must be decided in a court of justice, following English law and custom. Coke also said, "The common law protects the King." King James replied, "The King protects the law, and not the law the King!" He argued that he made judges and bishops.

Coke rejected this. He said that while the King was not under any single person, he was under the law. He explained that understanding the law needed "long study and experience." After this, Coke continued to issue orders that stopped the High Commission from hearing certain cases.

Later Career and Death

By 1610, Fuller was seen as an "elder statesman" in Parliament. He introduced two new laws to change or remove church committees and courts. These laws passed in the House of Commons of England but were later rejected by the House of Lords.

He also began to push for customs duties (taxes on goods) to be managed by law, not just by the King's decision. He argued that the Court of High Commission, which was not elected, could not be trusted with this. He believed Parliament should have control.

In a speech on 23 June 1610, he said that "the laws of England are the most high inheritance of the land." He believed that taxes on goods "were always done by several acts of parliament."

Sir Nicholas Fuller died on 23 February 1620 at his home in Chamberhouse, near Thatcham, Berkshire. He was buried at the village church on 2 March. Most of his property went to his wife, Sarah, and his oldest son, Nicholas.