Argumentum

Lat. Argument or reasoning; inference or deduction. Argumentum ab authoritate est fortissimum in lege. An argument from authority is the strongest in the law. Co. Litt. 254 a. "The book cases are the best proof of what the law is." Id. ibid. Argumentum ab impossibili valet in lege. An argument drawn from an impossibility is forcible in law.

Co. Litt. 92 a.

Argumentum ab inconvenienti plurimum valet [est validum] in lege. An argument drawn from inconvenience is of the greatest weight [is forcible] in law.

Co. Litt. 66 a, 97 a, 152 b, 258 b. Broom's Max. 84.

Argumentum a divisione est fortissimum in jure. An argument from division is of the greatest force in law.

Co. Litt. 213 b. 6 Co. 60. Wingate's Max. 260, max. 71.

Thus, to show that a certain annual payment of money is not properly a rent, Littleton argues from a division of the subject, thus: "For if it should be a rent, it must be rent service, rent charge, or a rent secke, and it is not any of these." Litt. sect.

345.

Lord Coke applies the same kind of argument to commons.

6 Co. 60.

Argumentum a simili valet in lege. An argument from a like case, (from analogy) is good in law.

Co. Litt. 191.