C'est le crime qui fait la honte, et non pas l'echafaud. It is the crime which causes the hsame, and not the scaffold.

Charta de non ente non valet. A charter or deed of a thing not in being, is not valid¹. Co. Litt. 36.

Chirographum apud debitorem repertum praesumitur solutum. A deed or bond found with the debtor² is presumed to be paid.

Circuitus est evitandus. Circuity is to be avoided. 5 Co. 31.

Clausula inconsuetae semper indicunt suspicionem. Unusual clauses always induce a suspicion. 3 Co. 81.

Clausula quae abrogationem excludit ab initio non valet. A clause in a law which precludes⁴ its abrogation³, is invalid⁵ from the beginning. Bacon's Max. Reg. 19, p. 89.

Clausula vel dispositio inutilis per praesumptionem remotam vel causam, ex post facto non fulcitur. A useless clause or disposition⁶ is not supported by a remote presumption⁷, or by a cause arising afterwards. Bacon's Max. Reg. 21.

Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur. No one is punished for merely thinking of a crime.

Commodum ex injuriÉ suÉ non habere debet. No man ought to derive⁸ any benefit of his own wrong. Jenk. Cent. 161.

Communis error facit jus. A common error makes law. What was af first ellegal, being repeated many times, is presumed to have acquired the force of usage, and then it would be wrong to depart from it. The converse⁹ of this maxim¹⁰ is communis error no facit just. A common error does not make law.

Confessio facta in judicio omni probatione major est. A confession¹¹ made in court is of greater effect than any proof. Jenk. Cent. 102; 11 Co. 30.

Confirmare nemo potest priusquam just ei acciderit. No one can confirm beforethe right accrues¹² to him. 10 Co. 48.

Confirmatio est nulla, ubi donum praecedens est invalidum. A confirmation¹³ is null where the preceding gift is invalid. Co. Litt. 295.

Conjunctio mariti et faeminae est de jure naturae. The union of a man and a woman is of the law of nature.