Dr John, a learned jurist, was born at Ermsborough, Devonshire, in 1554. He was educated at King's College, Cambridge, and ultimately became professor of civil law in that university and master of Trinity Hall. In 1607 he compiled a law dictionary; and for the opinions expressed in this work in regard to the king's prerogative he was prosecuted before the House of Commons by Sir Edward Coke, and saved from imprisonment only by the intervention of James I. Cowell also wrote a work entitled *Institutiones Juris Anglicani*. He died under the operation for the stone in 1611.