‘The law’ may be used to describe a scientific fact (e.g. the law of gravity), a particular system (e.g. the law of England) or a recognized legal area (e.g. the law of contract). Nevertheless, more generally, it connotes a series of rules (each called ‘a law’) that governs people’s behaviour. These rules may sometimes be supplemented by certain established principles, and common examples in English Law are the maxims ignorantia juris neminem excusat (‘ignorance of the law excuses no man’), likewise ex turpi causa non oritur actio (‘a legal action does not arise from a base cause’ - e.g. a contract to commit a crime is unenforceable).