discreete and determinate perfectnes deepe vnder staÌdinge of the same beeynge lefte to his iudges So also oughte all princes to bee wel seene in the holye scriptures of god as sayethe vincentius Beluacensis in his booke of the morall institution of princes Forasmuche as the scripture aboue mentioned sayethe that vayne are all theye in whom is not the knowledge of god and for that in the sixteen the chapter of the prouerbes it is thus written Let prophecye or the woorde of god be in the lyppes of the kynge and then hys mouthe shall not go wroÌge in iudgement And yet is not a kinge bounde to haue profounde knowledge and determinate vnderstaÌding in y e holy scriptures as it becommethe a professoure of dyuinitye For it shal be ynoughe for hiÌ suêficially to tast y e senteÌces therof as also of his lawes Thus did Charles the great Lewes his sonne and Robert sometime kinge of Fraunce whoe wrote thys sequence Sancti spiritus adsit nobis gratia and diuers other princes as the foresayde VinceÌcius in the fiftenethe chapter of his booke aforesayd plainly shewethe Wherfore y e doctors of y e lawes do say y t an eÌperour beareth al his lawes in y e box of his brest not for y t he knoweth all y e lawes reallye in deede but for that he vnderstandeth the principles of theÌ lykewise theire fourme theire nature in whiche respect he is iudged to bee skilfull in all hys lawes Whiche also he maye alter chaunge and repeale So that in him are potentiallye all his lawes as Eue was in Adam before she was made Butte now good Chauncellour seeynge I perceaue mye selfe sufficientlye perswaded to the studie of the lawes of England whiche thing in y e beginninge of this worke you promised to perfourme I wil no loÌger trouble you in this behalfe But thus I instaÌtly desire you y t ye wil iÌstruct me in y e priÌciples of y e law as you once began to doe And that you will teache me to knowe and vnderstande the fourm and nature thereof For thys lawe shall bee euermore peculiar to me amonge al other lawes of the worlde amonge the whiche I see it shiene as lucifer amoÌge the starrs And forsomuch as I doubt not but youre intent whereby you were moued to this conference is fully satisfiyd bothe tyme and reason requirethe that we make an ende of our talke yeeldynge therfore laudes and thankes to him whiche beganne furthered and hathe fynished the same Whom we call Alpha et O who also be praysed of euerye lyuinge creature Amen Finis PRiÌceps Leges illas neduÌ bonas sed et optimas esse caÌcellarie ex êsecutioÌe tua in hoc dialogo certissime depÌheÌdi Et si qÌ ex eis meliorari deposcant id citissime fieri posse parliamentoruÌ ibi dem formulae nos erudiunt Quo realiter poteÌtialiterue regnum illud semper prestantissimis legibus gubernatur nec tuas in hac concionatione doctrinas futuris Angliae regibus inutiles fore conijtio duÌ noÌ dilectet regere legibus quae non delectant Fastidet namque artificem ineptio instrumenti et militem ignauum reddit debilitas laÌciae et mucronis Sed sicut ad pugnaÌ animatur miles cuÌ neduÌ sibi ênasiÌt arma sed et magis cuÌ in actibê° bellicis ipÌe sit exêtus dicente Vegetio de re militari qd â sciencia rei bellicae dimicandi audaciam nutrit Quia nemo facere metuit quod se bene di dicisse confidit Sic et rex omnis ad iustitiam animatur dum leges quibus ipsa fiet nedum iustissimas esse agnoscit sed et earum ille expertus sit formam et naturam quas tantum in vniuersali inclusiuè et incoÌfuso principi scire sufficiet remanen te suis iudicibus earum discreta determinataque peritia et scientia altiori Sic equideÌ et scripturarum diuinaruÌ peritiam vt dicit Vincentius Beluacensis in libro de morali institutioÌe priÌcipum Omnis princeps habere deberet cum dicat scriptura superius memorata qd â vanae sunt oeÌs in quibus noÌ est scientia dei et êuerbi .xvi. scribatur Diuinatio id est diuina seÌtentia vel sermo diuinus sit in labiis regis et tunc in iuditio non errabit os eius Non tamen profundè determinatèue intelligere tenetur PriÌceps scripturas sacras vt decet sacrae theologiae êfessor sufficit naÌque ei earuÌ in coÌfusô degusta re sententias qualiter et peritiaÌ legis suae Sic et feceâuÌt Carolus Magâus Lodouicê° filius eiê° et Robertê° quoÌdaÌ rex FraÌciae qui hanc scripsit seqÌntiaÌ SaÌcti spiritê° ad sit nobis gratia et quaÌ plures alij vt iÌ .xv. ca. lib. pÌdicti Vincentius pÌdictê° luculenter docet Vnde et doctores leguÌ dicuÌt qd â imperator gerit oiÌa iura sua in scrinio pectoris sui noÌ qÌa oÌiÌa iura ipÌe noscit realiter et in actu sed duÌ priÌcipia eoruÌ ipÌe êcepit formaÌ similiter et naturaÌ oiÌa iura sua ipse iÌtelliger â ceÌsetur qÌ etiaÌ traÌsformare ille potest mutare et cassare quo iÌ eo poteÌtialiter suÌt oÌnia iura sua vt in AdaÌ erat Eua antequaÌ plasmaretur Sed quia CaÌcellarie ad leguÌ Angliae disciplinatuÌ mihi iaÌ conspicio suffici enter esse suasum quod et in huiê° operis exordio facere êmisisti NoÌ te aÌplius huius pÌtextu solicitare conabor sed obnixê de posco vt in legis huius principijs vt quoÌdam incepisti me erudias doceÌs quodamodo eius agnoscere formaÌ et naturam quia lex ista mihi semê peculiaris erit iÌter ceteras legê orbis inter quas ipsaÌ lucere coÌspicio vt lucifer inter stellas Et duÌ intentioni tuae qua ad collationeÌ hanc concitatus es iaÌ satisfactuÌ esse noÌ aÌbigo tempus postulat et ratio vt nostris colloquiis terminuÌ coÌferamus reddeÌtes ex eis laudes ei et gratias qui ea incepit prosecutê° est et finiuit Alpha et O queÌ dicimê° queÌ et laudet oÌnis spiritus Amen ¶ The table AN Introduction to the matter Fo. 3. The Chanceller moueth the Prince to the knowlege of the lawe Fo. 4. The Princes replie to y e motion 7 The ChauÌcellour fortifieth his assertion 8 The Chauncellour proueth that a Prince by the lawe may bee made happye and blessed 10 Ignorance of the lawe causeth contempte therof 14 The Chauncellour briefly repeteth the effect of his perswasion 17 The Prince yeldoth hym self to the studye of the lawes though he bee yet disquieted w t certein doubtes 19 So muche knowledge as is necessarie for a prince is soone had 20 A kinge whose gouernement is politique cannot chaunge hys lawes 25 The Prince demaundeth a question 27 The aunswere is omitted for that in an other woorke it is handled at large 28 How kingdomes ruled by royaâââouernement onely first beganne 28 Howe kingedoÌes of politique gouernance were first begonne 30 The Prince compendâââsly abridgeth all that the Chauncellour before hath discoursed at large 33 All lawes are the lawe of Nature custoÌs or statutes 36 The lawe of Nature in all Countryes is one 37 The customes of Englande are of moste auncient antiquitie practised and receaued of v. seuerall Nations from one to another by successe 38 With what grauitie statutes are made in Englande 39 A meane to know the diuersitie betweene the Ciuile lawes and the lawes of Englande 41 The first case wherein the Ciuile lawes the lawes of England differ 42 InconuenieÌces that commeth of that law which no otherwise theÌ by witnesses admitteth trials 43 Of the crueltie of Rackinges 46 The Ciuile lawe ofte failethe in doinge of iustice 50 Howe counties are deuided and Sherifes chosen 51 How Iurers ãâ¦ã chosen sworne 54 How Iurers ãâ¦ã to be enformed by euydences and witnesses 57 Howe causes criminall are determined in England 61 The Prince granteth the lawes of England to be more commodious for the subiects then y e Ciuile lawes in the case disputed 63 Why Inquestes are not made by Iuries of .xii. men in other realmes aswel as in Englande 65 The Prince coÌmendeth the lawes of England of theire proceeding by Iuries 69 The Prince doubteth whether this proceding by Iuries be repugnant to Gods lawe or not 70 That the proceeding by a Iurie ãâã not repugnant to the law of God 72 Why certeine kinges of Englande haue had no delyghte in their own lawes 76 The Chaunceller openeth the cause which the Prince demaundeth 77 The commodities that proceede of y e ioynt gouernement politique regall in the realm of England 83 A comparison of y e worthines of both the regiments 86 The prince breaketh thââââuncellour of his tale 89 The second case wherein the Ciuile lawes and the lawes of England disagree in theirs iudgements 89 Speciall causes whye base borne children are not legittimate in England by matrimonye ensuynge 93 The prince alloweth the lawe whych doth not legittimate children borne before matrymonye 98 The thirde case wherein the lawes aforesayde disagree 98 The prince approuethe the lawe whereby y e issue foloweth the wombe 102 The fowerthe case wherein y e said lawes varye 104 The prince commendethe the education of noble mens children beinge orphanes 106 Other cases wherin the foresayde lawes differ 108 The prince regardethe not a case rehearsed 109 The Chaunceller sheweth why the lawes of Englande are not taughte in the vniuersities 110 The disposition ãâã general study of the lawes of Englande ãâã that the same in nuÌber passeth certein vniuersities 113 Of the state and degree of a serieaÌt at lawe and howe he is created 116 After what maner a Iustice is created and of his habite and conuersacion 121 The prince fyndethe faute wythe delayes that are made in the kyngs courte 125 That delaies whiche happen in the kyngs courts are necessarie and reasonable 126 That the lawes of Englande are ryghte good the knoweledge thereof expediente for kyngs and that it shal suffice them to haue but a superficial knowledge of the same 129 Imprinted at London in Fletestrete within Temple Barre at the signe of the hand and starre by Rychard Tottill 1567.
make earneste intercession for it and also y t you beecome a studious sercher of goddes lawe of the holye scripture For scripture saieth that all men are vaine in whoÌ is not y e knowlege of god in the xiii chapiter of the booke of wisedome Wherefore moste noble prince while you are yet yong while your soule is as it were a smoothe blanke table write in it these thinges lest heereafter you happen to take pleasure in writiÌg lessoÌs of lesse profit therin For as a certeine wyse man sayeth Whereof the vessel newe did first receue the taste Therein when it is olde the sent will euer last What handycrastes maÌ dothe so negligentlye regard y e profite of his child whoÌe while hee is yong he wil not see brought vp in such an occupacion as thereby hee maye afterwarde obtaine to leade a mery life So the carpenter teacheth his sonne to cutt with an axe y e smyth his to stryke w t an hammer and whome he entendethe to make a spirituall minister him he procureth to be trained vp in learning So likewise is it conuenient y t a kinges sonne which shal gouern the people after his father bee in his youthe instructed in the lawes Whiche order if the ruelers of the worlde would obserue then the worlde should be gouerned with muche more Iustice then now it is Vnto whom if you wyll followe myne exhortacion you shall minister no smale example NOnne tunc Princeps se renissime hec te satis concitant ad legis rudimenta cuÌ per ea iustitiaÌ induere valeas quo et appellaberis iustus ignorantiae quoque legis euitare poteris ignominiam ac per legem felicitate fruens beatus esse poteris in hac vita et demum filiali timore indutus qui dei sapientia est charitatem quae amor in deuÌ est imperturbatus consequeris qua deo adherens per Apostoli sententiam fies vnus spiritus cum eo Sed quia ista sine gratia lex operari nequit tibi illam super omnia implorare necesse est legis quoque diuinae et sanctarum scripturarum indagare scientiam Cum dicat scriptura sacra quod vani sunt omnes in quibus non subest scientia dei Sapienciae cap. xiij His igitur princeps dum adolescens es et anima tua velut tabula rasa depinge eam ne in futurum ipsa figuris minoris frugi delectabilius depingatur Quia etiam vt sapiens quidam ait quod noua testa capit inueterata sapit Quis artifex tam negligeÌs profectus suae prolis est vt noÌ eaÌ dum pubescit artibus instruat quibus postea vitae solatia nanciscatur Sic lignarius faber secare dolabro ferrarius ferire malleo filiuÌ instruit et queÌ in spiritualibus ministrar â cupit literis imbui facit Sic et principi filium suum qui post eum populuÌ regulabit legibus instrui duÌ minor est conuenit qualiter si feceriÌt rectores orbis mundus iste ampliori quam iam est iustitia regeretur quibus si tu vt iam hortor facias exemplum non minimum ministrabis ¶ Now the Prince yeldeth himselfe to the studye of the lawes though he be yet disquieted with certeine doubtes Ca. 7. THus when the ChauÌcellour had sayde hee helde hys peace to whom the Prince beganne on this wise to speake You haue ouercome me welbe loued Chauncellour w t your moste plesant talke wherw t you haue iÌflamed my mynde with a ferueÌt desire towarde the knowledge of the lawe Howbee it ii thynges there bee that doe tosse my mynde to and fro and so disquiet it that lyke a shyppe in the raging waues it knoweth not whiche waye to inclyne for ease The one is while it consydereth howe manye yeares the studentes of the lawez bestowe therein before they canne attain to sufficient knowledge of the same Whiche causeth my mynde also to dreade leaste that I shoulde likewyse spende the yeares of my youthe The other is whether I shall applye my selfe to the studye of the lawes of England or of the Ciuile laws which through out the whole worlde are chieflye esteemed For people maye not be gouerned but by righte good lawes and as the Philosophier saithe nature coueteth that which is best Wherfore I would gladlye heare your councell in this behalfe To whome the Chauncellour made thys aunswere These matters O Kynges sonne are not hydde vnder so deepe and darke misteries that they require any greate delyberacyon or aduysement And therefore what I thinke best hearein I wil not hyde SIlente extunc Cancellario Princeps ipse sic exorsus est Vicisti me vir egregie suauissima oratione tua qua et animum meum ardore non minimo legis fecisti sitire documenta Sed tameÌ duobus me huc illucque agitantibus animus ipse affligitur vt tanquam in turbido mari cimba nesciat quorsum dirigere proras VnuÌ est dum recolit quot annoruÌ curriculis leges ad discentes earum studio se conferunt antequam sufficientem earundem peritiam nanciscaÌtur quô timet animus ipse ne consimiliter ego preteream animos iuuentutis meae Alterum est an Angliae Legum vel Ciuilium quae per orbem percelebres sunt studio operam dabo Nam non nisi optimis legibus populum regere licet etiam vt dicit Philosophus natura deprecatur optima quare libenter super his quid tu consulis ascultaremus Cui Cancellarius Non sunt hec fili Regis tantis celata misteriis vt deliberatione ege ant ingenti quare quid in his mihi visum est prodere non differemus ¶ So muche knowledge of the lawe as is necessary for a Prince is soone had Cha. 8. ARistotle in the firste booke of his naturall Philosophy saith y e then we suppose our selues to haue the knowlege of euerye thinge when wee know the causes and beginninges therof euen to the principles vppon the which text the comentatour saieth that the philosopher by beginninges or principles did vnderstaÌde the causes efficient by y e terme Causes he vnderstoode causes finall by Elementes matter and fourme But in the lawe there are no matter and fourme as in thinges natural and compounde How beit ther be in them certeine Elementes out of the which they procede as out of mater fourm These are custoÌs statuts the lawe of nature of y e which all the âawes of the roialme haue their beginning euen as all natural thinges haue of matter fourme and as all things that are written and read do coÌsist of letters which also are called elementes But Principles or beeginninges whiche are as the commentarye saieth causes efficient they are certein vniuersal propositions which they that bee learned in the lawes of England and likewyse y e Mathematicals do terme Maximes the Rethoricians do call the same Paradoxes and the CiuiliaÌs terme theÌ rueles of the law These in dede caÌnot
¶ A learned commendation of the politique lawes of Englande vvherin by moste pitthy reasons euident demonstrations they are plainelye proued farre to excell aswell the Ciuile lawes of the Empiere as also all other lawes of the world with a large discourse of the difference betwene the .ii. gouernements of kingdomes whereof the one is onely regall and the other consisteth of regall and polityque administration conioyned Written in latine aboue an hundred yeares past by the learned and right honorable maister Fortescue knight lorde Chauncellour of EnglaÌd in y e time of Kinge Henrye the .vi. And newly translated into Englishe by Robert Mulcaster Pio lectori IStius non minus pij quá eruditi opusculi exemplar nactus quuÌ antiquitatem venerandam vna cum eruditione ac pietate coniunxcrim Non potui optime lector aut patrie tam ingratus aut antiquitatis tam in officiosus cultor esse vt te illius lectione diutius fraudarem Continet enim in se vt cetera taceam politicarum et ciuilium nostre Anglie legum quibus preclara et florentissima hec respublica sub illustrissimo et nuÌquam satis laudato principe nostro Rege Henrico octauo eiusque progenitoribus regibus Anglie hactenus felicissime fuerit erecta instituta gubernata doctissimum encomion Vnde easdem nostras leges non solum romanorum Cesarum sed et omnium aliarum nationum constitutiones multis parasangis prudentia iustitia equitate precellere facile prespiciâs Eme ergo lege et fruere ac labores nostros boni consule Vale. To the right woorshipfull Ihon VValshe Esquier one of the Queene her learned Iusticers of her highnes Court of Commen plees Robert Mulcaster wisheth long lyfe and health IT happened mee of late right woorshipfull syr to light vpon this little Treatise whiche I incontinent desired to renne ouer because yt semed to discourse vpon some poyntes of the lawes of our Countrye wherof I my selfe then was nowe am a Student When I had ouer ronne it my desire to read it became nothing counteruailable with the gladnes that I hadde reade it for my desire to reade it came vpon hope to fynd some profitable lessons for my study but my gladnes after reading sprang of y e excellency of thargumeÌt wheron I did not dreame neither to fynd so riche a Treasure in so simple an habite And because I wished all menne to haue parte of my delight me thought it good to translate it into Englishe forth of Lattine in whiche toung it was fyrste written The aucthour of the book was one maister Fortescue knight Seriaunt at the law and for his Skill and vertues preferred by kinge Henry the .vi. to be Chauncellour of this realme The entrie of the booke it selfe sheweth where and vppon what occasion it was written It was written in Berry in Fraunce where Prince Edwarde sonne to Henry the vi afterward slaine at Tewkesbury by Edward the .iiii. dyd then remayne with his mother Queene Margaret in the house of Renate her father duke of Angeow and king of Cicile during the tyme that Edward the fourth reigned in this Realme and Henry the .vi. was fledd into Scotland The occasyon was this The Chauncellour beiÌg fledde into Fraunce with the yong Prince perceiuing his delight to be all bent to Chyualrye as a thing of greatest neede consydering he ment by force the restitucioÌ of his father and thereby his own to the kingdome of England tooke occasion for that his hope was to see the Prince reigne heare to moue him to a diuision of his affaires as he armed him selfe against y e enemy so to adourne him selfe againste his being kinge with skill of lawes whiche doe preserue eche state so in peace that it maye if neede be warre and so garde it in warre that it may haue peace in eie Th argument is this that the skill of the Countrie lawes is neadefull for the Prince althoughe not so deepe as the purposed professours yet so full as to their honour may ought to fall in Princes And for that the Prince should think y e thing to be a Princely knowledge he taketh occasioÌ by comparing the gouernement of this Realme w t others and the lawes of this lande with the Ciuill with whome it is of all men lightly compared and the betternesse of poyntes wherein they bothe trauayle and prouisions by the one wiselyer foreseene then by the other to proue the singularitie of this state whiche it behoued the Prince to learne seyng hee was lyke to succeade hys father and to vnderstaÌd the lawes whiche maketh the state to bee so singuler The particularies I referre to the booke wherof thus much I doe and no lesse coulde well saye Why I dyd choose your woorship to be protectour of my laboures I shall not neede tedyously to touche it shal be suffycient to saye that in choise of manye I pycked you alone not doubting your lyking in allowynge seeing myne eleccion in dedycatynge and so commyttinge to thalmightye the good preseruacion of your worship I humblye take my leaue this xii of October Robert Mulcaster The introduction into the matter DVring y e cruell rage of y e late mortall warrez w tin the royalme of EnglaÌde wheÌ the most vertuous and godly king Henry the sixt w t Queene Margaret his wife y e kiÌgz daughter of Iherusalem and Scicile their onely sonne Edwarde prince of Wales were forced to fly the land the kiÌg himself afterward in the same ciuil tumult falling into the blody hands of his deadly enemies his own subiectz was of them coÌmitted to prisoÌ wher he a loÌg tyme remained in straite captiuitie the queene y e priÌce her sonne thus banished out of their countrey making their abode in y e duchy of Berry a dominion of y e foresaid kiÌg of Ierus The Prince shortlye after growing to mannes state applied him selfe wholy to the feates of armes muche delytinge to ryde vpon wilde and vnbroken horses not sparing w t spurres to break their fiercenes He practysed also sometymes w t the pyke sometimes w t y e sworde other warlyke weapons after the maner guyse of warriors accordinge to the vse of martial discipline to assaile strike his companioÌs I mean y e yong meÌ y e attended vpoÌ hys êson Which thing wheÌ a certein auÌcieÌt knight being chauÌcellour to y e forsaide kiÌg of EnglaÌd saw who also in y e miserable tyme did there remain in exile hee spake thus to y e priÌce SEuieÌte duduÌ in regno Anglie nephandissima rabie illa qua piissimus ibidem rex H. sextus cum Margareta Regina consorte sua filia regis Iherusalem et Scicilie ac eorum vnigenito Edwardo principe Wallie inde propulsi suÌt sub qua et demum rex ipse H. a subditis suis depreheÌsus carceris diutinuÌ passus est horrorem duÌ regina ipsa cum sobole patria sic extorrens in ducatu BerrenÌ
predicti Regis Iherusalem dnÌio morabaÌtur Princeps ille mox vt factus est adultus militari totum se contulit disciplinae et sepe ferocibus et quasi indomitis insedens caballis eos calcaribus ⪠vrgens quandoque lancea quandoque mucrone aliis quoque instrumentis bellicis sodales suos iuuenes sibi seruientes bellantiuÌ more inuadere ferireque iuxta martis gimnasij rudimenta delectabatur Quod cernens miles quidam grandaeuus predicti regis Angliae Cancellarius qui etiam ibidem sub hac clade exulabat PrincipeÌ sic affatur ¶ First he moueth the Prince to the knowledge of the lawe Chap. 1 YOur singuler towardenes most gracious priÌce maketh me right gladde when I beholde how ernestlye you dooe embrace martiall feates For it is conuenieÌt for youre grace to be thus delyted not onlye for that you are a souldyour but muche rather for that you shal be a kiÌg For yt is the offyce and duytie of a Kyng to fight the batailes of his people and also rightlye to iudge them as in the viii chapiter of the firste booke of Kinges you are plainelye taught Wherfore I would wish your grace to be w t as ernest zeal geueÌ to y e studie of y e lawz as you ar to y e knowledge of arms because that like as warres by force of chiualrye are ended euen so iudgementes by the lawes are determined which thing Iustinian the Emperour well and wisely and aduisedly pondering in the beginninge of the preface of his book saith thus It behoueth the emperiall maiesty not onli to be garded with armez but also to be armed with lawes to the end y t he mai be able rightly to execute y e gouernemÌt of bothe times aswell of warre as of peace Howbe it for youre more earnest endeuoir to the study of the law the exhortatioÌ of the chiefest lawmaker Moyses sometyme capytaine of the Synagoge ought to be of much more force with you then the woordes of Iustinian wheras in the xvii chapiter of the book of Deuteronomie hee doothe by the auctority of god straitlye charge the kinges of Israell to be readers of y e lawe al the daies of theire lyfe sayeng thus When the kyng shall sitte vppon the princelye seate of hys kingdome hee shall write him out thys lawe in a booke takynge the copye thereof of the priestes the Leuites and he shal haue it with him and hee shall read it al the dayes of hys life that he may learne to feare the lorde his god to keepe his commaundementes and ordinaunces written in this lawe And Helynandus expouÌdyng the same saith thus A Prince therefore must not be ignorant of y e law neither is it tollerable y t hee vnder the pretence of warrefare shoulde be vnskilfull in the lawe And a littel after he is coÌmauÌded sayeth hee to receyue the coppye of the lawe of the priestes the Leuites that is to saye of catholik and learned men Thus muche he For the booke of Deuteronomie is the booke of the lawes wherwith the Kynges of Israell were bounde to rule and gouerne they re Subiectes Thys booke doth Moyses commaunde kinges too reade that they may learne to feare God and keepe his commaundementes which are writen in the lawe Beholde the effecte of the lawe is to feare God Whereunto man cannot attayne onelesse he firste knowe the will of God whiche is written in the lawe For the principall poynte of all seruyce is to knowe the wyll and pleasure of the lord or maister to whome seruyce ys due Howbeit the lawmaker Moyses first iÌ this charge mencioneth the effecte of the lawe that is the feare of God and nexte he allureth vs to the keepinge of the cause thereof that is to saye of Goddes commaundementes For in the mynde and intent of the exhorter the effect goethe before the cause But what feare is thys whyche the lawes do propouÌ to y e obseruerz therof Surely it is not that fear wherof it is written that perfect charitie or loue expellethe feare Yet thys same feare thoughe it bee bond seruile oftentimes prouoketh kinges to the reading of the lawes but it procedeth not out of the law But that feare wherof Moyses here speaketh whiche also procedeth out of the lawes is the selfe same feare that the prophet speaketh of saynge The feare of the lorde is holy endureth for euer euer This is such a louiÌg feare as natural children beare to their deare pareÌtz commenly termed the reuerence of y e child toward his parents Whereunto there is no punishement due as a thinge wrought by loue For this feare proceedeth out of the lawes which teach to do the wil of god so that it deserueth no punishement But the glorye of the Lorde is vppon them that feare hym and he doth glorify them Yea thys feare is eeuen that same feare whereof Iob after that he had dyuerslye searched for wisedome sayeth thus Beeholde the feare of the lord is perfecte wisedome and to forsake euill is vnderstandinge That the forsakinge of euill is the vnderstandinge of the feare of god this do the lawes teache whereby it foloweth that the same fear procedeth out of them Gaudeo vero se renissime Princeps super nobilissima indole tua videns quanta auiditate militares tu amplecteris actus conuenit naÌque tibi taliter delectari nedum quia miles es sed amplius quia rex futurus es Regis neÌpe officiuÌ pugnare est bella populi sui et eos rectissime iudicare vt primo regum cap. viii clarissime tu doceris Quare vt armorum vtinam et legum studiis simili zelo te dedituÌ coÌteÌplarer Cum vt armis bella ita legibus iudicia peragantur que Iustinianus Augustus equissima librans mente in initio prohemii libri sui institutionum ait ImperatoriaÌ magestatem non solum armis decoratam sed et legibus oportet esse armatam vt vtrumque tempus bellorum et pacis recte possit gubernari TuÌ vt ad legum studia seruide tu aÌheles Maximus legis lator ille Moyses olim Synagoge dux multo forcius Cesare te iÌuitat dum regibus Israel diuina autoritate ipse precipiat eorum leges legere omnibus diebus vite sue sic dicens Postquam sederit rex in solio regni sui describet sibi Deuteronomij Leges in volumine accipiens exeÌplar a sacerdotibus Leuitice tribus habebit secuÌ legetque illud omnibus diebus vite sue vt discat timere dnÌm deuÌ suuÌ custodire verba ceremonias eius que in lege scripta suÌt Deutero ca. xvij quod exponens HelynaÌdus dicit Princeps ergo noÌ debet iuris ignarus esse nec pretextu militiae legeÌ permittitur ignorare Et post pauca a sacerdotibus Leuitice tribus assumere iubetur exemplar legis id est a viris catholicis et litteratis Hec ille Liber quippe Deute est
bee proued by force of argumentes or by demoÌstracions logicall but as it is saide in the seconde booke of PosteriorÌ they are knowen by induction by the waye of sense and memorye Wherefore in the firste booke of hys naturall Philosophye Aristotle sayth that principles are not made of others nor one of them of an other but all other bee made of them And accordinge thereunto in the firste booke of his Topikes hee writeth that euery principle is a sufficient proofe of it selfe And therefore the Philosopher saieth that suche as denye them ought not to bee disputed or reasoned withall because that as hee writeth in the sixthe booke of his morall Philosophie there is no reasoÌ to be geuen for principlez Wherefore whosoeuer they be that couet to profite in y e knowlege of any faculties they must nedez first be furnished w t principles For by them are opened the causes finall vnto the which by the direction of reason through the knowledge of y e principles we doe attaine wherfore these iii. vz priÌciples causes and elemÌtz beinge vnknowen the science whereof they are is altogether vnknowen And the same .iii. beeinge knowen the science also whereof they are is thought to be knoweÌ not determinatly or pÌcisely but suêficially after a coÌfuse vniuersall sorte Thus wee thinke our selues to haue the knowledge of godds lawes when wee vnderstande our selues to knowe faith charitie and hope and also the Sacramentes of the churche and the commaundementes of God leauynge to the prelates of the Churche the other misteries of theologye Wherefore the lord saith vntoo his disciples To you it is geeuen to know the misterie of the kyngdome of God but to other in Parables that seeynge they maye not see And the Apostle sayeth Not to bee wyser then it beehoueth And in another place Not beeinge highe in wisedome In like maner O moste worthy Prince it shall not bee needefull for you with longe study to searche out the secrete misteries of the lawe of Englande It shall suffice for you as you haue profited in grammer so also to profite in lawe Vntoo the perfection of grammer springinge out of Etimologie Orthographie Prosodie Construction as out of .iiii. fountaines you haue not exactlye attayned and yet you are so sufficiently grounded in grammer that you may well be called a Gramarrien Likewise shal you be wel worthy to be called a lawier if you serch out y e priÌciplz causes of y e lawes euen to y e elementz after y e maner of a scholar or a learner For it shal not be needefull or expedieÌt for you by the trauel of your owne wytte to studie out the hydde mysteries of y e lawe But let y e geare be lefte to your iudges meÌ of lawe whiche in the royalme of Englande are called Seriauntz at lawe and to other professours of the lawe commeÌly called apprentices For you shall better execute iudgementes by other then by your self Neither hathe it bene seeÌe that any kynge of Englonde hathe pronounced iudgement with his owne mouthe And yet neuerthelesse all the iudgements of the royalme are his thoughe by other they be vttered and pronouÌced Lyke as also kynge Iosaphat affirmed the sentences of all the iudges to bee the iudgemeÌts of god Wherfore most gracious priÌce you shall in shorte tyme with little labour be sufficiently learned in the lawes of EnglaÌd so that you do applie your mynd to the obteynynge therof For Seneca in an epistle to Lucillus sayethe There is nothiÌge which earnest traueill and diligent care atchieueth not And so wel do I knowe the prompte towardnes of your nature y â I dare be bolde to saye that in those lawes thoughe the exacte knowelege of theÌ suche as is required iÌ iudges can skante be gotten in the space of xx yeares you shall sufficiently in one yeare attayne to somuche vnderstandynge as is coÌuenieÌt for a priÌce Neither in the meaÌe time shall you neglect and omitt the studie of martiall discipline wherevnto you are so feruently geuen but durynge all the same yeare in steade of recreatioÌ you shall vse the practise thereof of at your pleasure Philosophus in primo Phisicorum dicit quod tunc vnumquodque scire arbitramur cum causas et principia eius cognoscamus vsque ad elementa Super quem textum coÌmentator dicit qd â Aristotê° ê principia intellexit causas efficientes ê causas intellexit causas finales et per elemeÌta materiam et formam In legibus vero non sunt materia et forma vt in Phisicis et compositis Sed tamen sunt in eis elemeÌta quaedam vnde ipsae êfluuÌt vt ex materia et forma quae sunt consuetudines statuta et ius naturae ex quibus sunt omnia iura regni vt ex materia et forma sunt quaeque naturalia et vt ex litteris quae etiam elementa appellantur sunt omnia quae leguntur Principia autem quae commentator dicit esse causas efficientes suÌt quaedam vniuersalia quae in legibus Angliae docti similiter et Mathematici maximas vocant Rethorici paradoxas Ciuilistae regulas iuris denominaÌt ipsa reuera non argumeÌtorum vi aut demonstrationibus logicis dinoscuntur Sed vt secundo posteriorum docetur inductione via sensus et memoriae adipiscuntur quare et primo phisicorum philosophus dicit qd â principia non fiunt ex aliis neque ex alterutris sed ex illis alia fiunt quô primo topicorum scribitur quod vnuÌquodque principiorum est sibi ipsi fides Vnde cum negantibus ea dicit philosophus non est disputandum quia vt scribitur vi Ethicorum ad Principia non est ratio Igitur principiis imbuendi sunt quiqui gliscunt aliquas intelligere facultates Ex eis etenim reuelantur causae finales ad quas rationis ductu per principiorum agnitionem peruenitur vnde his tribus videlicet principijs causis et elementis ignoratis scientia de qua ipsa sunt penitus ignoratur Et his cognitis etiam scientiam illam cognitam esse non determinatè sed inconfusô et vniuersaliter arbiÌtratur Sic Legem diuinam nos nosse in dicamus dum fidem charitatem et spem sacrameÌta quoque ecclesiae ac dei mandata nos intelligere seÌtiamus cetera theologiae misteria ecclesiae presidentibus relinquentes Quare dominus discipulis suis ait Vobis datum est nosse misterium regni dei ceteris autem in parabolis vt videntes non videant c. Et Apostolus dixit non plus sapere quam oportet sapere alibi non alta sapieÌtes Sic et tibi priÌceps necesse non erit ãâã misteria legis angliae longo disciplinatu rimare sufficieÌt tibi vt iÌ gramatica tu profecisti etiaÌ in legibus proficias Gramaticae vero perfectionem que ex Ethimologia Ortographia Prosodia et Syntaxi quasi ex quatuor fontibus profluit
non specie tenus induisti et tamen gramatica sufficienter eruditus es ita vt merito gramaticus denominoris Consimiliter quoque denomiÌari legista mereberis si legum priÌcipia et causas vsqÌ ad âlimenta discipuli more indagaueris NoÌ eniÌ expediet tibi êpria sensus indagine legis sacramenta rimarâ sed relinquaÌtur illa iudicibus tuis et aduocatis qui in regno Angliae seruientes ad legem appellaÌtur similiter et aliis iuris êitis quos apprentiÌcios vulgus denominat Melius eniÌ per alios quaÌ per te ipsum iuditia reddes quó proprio ore nullus regum Angliae iudicium proferre visus eÌ et tameÌ sua sunt oÌnia iudicia regni licet per alios ipsa reddaÌtur sicut et Iudicum oiÌm sententias Iosaphat asseruit esse iuditia dei Quare tu priÌceps serenissime paruo tempore parua industria sufficienter eris in legibus regni Angliae eruditus dummodo ad eius apprehentionem tu conferas animum tuuÌ Dicit namque Seneca in epistola ad Lucillum Nil est quod pertinax opera et diligens cura non expugnat Nosco namque ingenii tui êspicacitateÌ quo audact â ênuncio qd in legibus illis licet earuÌ peritia qualis iudicibus necessaria est vix viginti annorum lugubris adquiratur tu doctrinam principi congruaÌ in anno vno sufficienter nancisceris nec iÌterim militarem disciplinaÌ ad quam tam ardeÌt â anhelas negliges sed ea recreationis loco etiam anno illo tu ad libitum perfrueris A Kynge whose gouernement is politique eaÌ not chaunge the lawes of hÃs royalme THe secoÌd poynte most worthy priÌce whereof you staÌde in feare shall iÌ lyke maner and as easeli as the other be confuted For you stande in doubt whether it be bettÌ for you to geue your mynde to y e studie of the lawes of Englande or of the Ciuile lawes because they throughe out y e whole worlde are auaÌced in glorie and renowne aboue all other maÌs lawes Let not this scruple of mynde trouble you O most noble priÌce For y e kynge of EnglaÌde can not alter nor change the lawes of his royalme at his pleasure For why he gouerneth his people by power not onely roial but also politique Yf his power ouer theÌ were royall onely then he myght chaÌge y e lawes of his royalme charg his subiectz w t tallag other burdenz without their coÌseÌt And suche is the dominioÌ that the ciuile lawes purport when they saye The priÌceis pleasure hath y e force of a lawe But from this muche differeth y e power of a kynge whose gouernment ouer his people is politique For he can neither chauÌge lawes with out the consent of his subiectz nor yett charge theÌ with straunge imposicions agaynst their wylles Wherefore his people do frankely freely enioye and occupye their owne goodz beynge rueled by such lawes as y ey theÌ selfz desyer Neither are they pylled either of y eir owne kynge or of any other Lyk pleasur also fredoÌ haue y e subiectes of a KiÌg ruliÌg oÌely by power roial so longe as he falleth not in to tyrannie Of such a kynge speaketh Aristotle in the thirde booke of his Ciuile philosophie saieynge that it is better for a Citie to be gouerned by a good kynge then by a good lawe But forsomuche as a kiÌge is not euer suche a maÌ therefor SaiÌt Thomas iÌ y e booke whiche he wrote to y e kiÌg of Cyprus of the gouernaunce of princeis wisheth y e state of a roialme to be such y t it may not be in the kyngs power too oppresse his people w t tyrannye Whiche thynge is êfourmed onely whyle the power royall is restrayned by power politique Reioyce therefore O souereigne prince and be gladde that the lawe of your royalme whereiÌ you shaâl succede is suche For it shall exhibite and minister to you and your people no small securitie and comforte with suche lawes as saieth the same Saint Thomas should all mankynde haue bene gouerned if in paradise they had not transgressed gods coÌmauÌdemeÌt with such lawes also was the Synnagoge rueled whil it serued vnder god onely as kiÌge who adopted the saÌe to him for a peculiar kyngdoÌe But at the last wheÌ at their request they had a maÌ kynge sett ouer them they were then vnder royall lawes onely brought verie lowe And yett vnder the saÌe lawes while good kyngs were y eir rulers they liued welthely wheÌ wilfull and tyranoê° kynges had the gouernemeÌt of them theÌ they coÌtinued in great discomfort and miserie as the booke of kynges doth more playnely declare But forsomuch as I suppose I haue sufficiently debated this mater in my worke whiche at your request I coÌpiled of y e naturÌ of y e law of NaturÌ therfor at this tiÌe I surceasse to speake therof any more SEcundum vero PriÌceps qd ⪠tu formidas conconsimili nec maiori opera elidetur Dubitas neÌpe an Anglorum legum vel ciuilium studio te conferas duÌ Ciuiles supra humaÌas cuÌctas leges alias faÌa per orbeÌ extollat gloriosa Non te coÌturbet fili regis hec mentis euagatio Nam non potest rex Angliae ad libituÌ suum leges mutare regni sui Principatu naÌ que nedum regali sed et politico ipse suo populo dominatur Si regali tantuÌ ipse pÌesset eis Leges regni sui mutar â ille posset tallagia quoque et cetera onera eis imponere ipsis incoÌsultis quale dominiuÌ denotaÌt leges ciuiles cuÌ dicant quod principi placuit legis habet vigoreÌ Sed loÌge aliter potest rex politicè imperans gèti suae quia nec leges ipse sine subditoruÌ asseÌsu mutare poterit nec subiectum populuÌ reniteÌteÌ onerare impositionibus peregrinis quare populun eius liberê fruitur bonê suis legibus quas cupit regulatus nec per regem suum aut quemuis aliuÌ depilatur coÌsimiliter tamen plaudit populus sub rege regaliter tantuÌ principaÌte duÌmodo ipse in tyrannidem noÌ labatur de quali rege dicit philosophus iii politicoruÌ qd melius eÌ CiuitateÌ regi viro optimo quaÌ lege optima Sed quia noÌ seÌper coÌtiÌgit pÌsideÌteÌ populo huiusmodi esse virum sctuÌs Thomas in libro qeum Regi Cipri scripsit de regimine priÌcipuÌ optar â ceÌsetur regnuÌ sic iÌstitui vt rex non libere valeat populuÌ tiraÌnide gubernare qd soluÌ fit duÌ potest â Regia lege politica cohibetur Gaude igitur priÌceps optime taleÌ esse legeÌ regni in queÌâu successurus es quia et tibi et populo ipsa securitatem prestabit noÌ minimam et solamen Tali lege vt dicit idem saÌctus regulatum fuisset totuÌ genus humanum si in paradiso dei mandatum non preterisset tali etiam lege rege bat
amonge y e saÌe one shal be the rueler and the other shal be rueled wherfore a people that wyll rayse theÌselfs into a kingdome or into any other bodie politique must euer appointe one to be chiefe rueler of the whole bodie which in kiÌgdoÌes is called a kiÌge After this kiÌde of order as out of the embryoÌ rieseth a bodie natural ruled by oÌe head euen so of a multitude of people arieseth a kyngedoÌe whiche is a bodie mistical gouÌned by oÌe maÌ as by an head And like as in a natural body as saieth the Philosopher the hart is y e first y e liueth hauig w tin it bloud which it distributeth among all y e other members whereby they are quickened doe lyue seÌblably in a bodye politik y e inteÌt of y e people is the first liuely thiÌg hauing w tin it bloud y t is to say politike prouision for the vtilitie welth of the same people which it dealeth furth imparteth aswel to the head as to al y e meÌbers of the same body wherby y e body is nourished mainteined Furthermore the lawe vnder the which a multitude of men is made a people representeth the seÌblance of synews iÌ y e body natural Because that lyke as by synewes the ioynyng of the bodie is made sounde so by the lawe which taketh the name a ligando y t is to witte of byndynge suche a misticall bodie is knytt and preserued together And the members bones of the same bodye whereby is represented y e soundenes of the wealth wherby that bodie is susteyned do by the lawes as the naturall bodie by synewes reteyne eueryone their proper fuÌctions And as the head of a bodi natural caÌ not chauÌge his sinewes nor caÌ not denie or witholde from his inferiour meÌbers their peculiar powers seueral nourishmÌtz of bloud no more caÌ a kiÌge which is y e head of a bodie politik chauÌge the lawes of y e bodie nor withdrawe from the same people their proper substaÌce against their wills and consentes in that behalfe Nowe you vnderstande most noble prince the fourme of institucion of a kiÌgdome politique wherebye you maye measure the power whiche the king therof maye exercise ouer the lawe and subiectes of the same For such a kinge ys made and ordeyned for y e defence of the lawe of his subiectes and of theire bodies and goodes whereunto he receaueth power of his people so y t hee can not gouern his people by any other power Wherfore to satisfy your request in y t you desire to be certified how it coÌmeth to pas that in y e powers of kings ther is so great diuersitie suerly in mine opinion the diuersitie of the institutioÌz or first ordinances of those dignities whiche I haue nowe declared is the onelye cause of this foresayde difference as of the premisses by the discourse of reason you maye easelye gather For thus y e kingdome of Englande oute of Brutes retinue of the Troians whiche he brought out of the coastes of Italie and Greece firste grewe to a politique regall dominion Thus also Scotland which somtime was subiect to Englande as a Dukedome thereof was aduauÌced to a politik and roiall kingdome Many other kiÌgdoÌs also had thus their first begiÌninge not onely of regal but also of politique gouernement Wherefore Diodorus Siculus in his seconde boke of olde histories thus writeth of the EgiptiaÌs The Egiptien kings liued first not after y e licentious maner of other rulers whose will pleasure is in steede of law but they kept theÌselfes as priuate persones in subiection of the lawes And this did they willingly beeing perswaded that by obeyinge the laws thei should bee blessed For of suche rulers as folowed theire owne lusts they supposed many thinges to be done whereby they were brought in daunger of diuers harmes and perylles And in his fowerth boke thus he writethe The Ethiopian kinge as sone as hee is created he ordereth his life accordiÌg to y e laws and doth al things after y e maner and custom of hys countrey assigninge neyther rewarde nor punishment to anye man otherthen the law made by his predecessours appointethe He reportethe likewise of the kinge of Saba in Arabia the happie and of certein other kinges whiche in olde time honorablye reigned SAnctus Augustinê° in libro xix de ciuitate dei capitulo xxiii dicit Quod populus eÌcetus hominuÌ iuris consensu et vtilitatis coÌmunione sociatus Nec tameÌ populus huiusmodi dum Acephelê° id est sine capite est corpus vocare meretur Quia vt in naturalibus capite detruncato residuuÌ noÌ corpê° sed truÌcuÌ appellamê° sicet in politicis sine capite coÌmunitas nullatenus corporatur Quo pÌmo politicÌ dicit philosophus quôd quaÌdocuÌque ex pluribê° coÌstituitur vnuÌ inter illa vnuÌ erit regeÌs et alia eruÌt recta Quare populuÌ se in regnum aliudue corpê° politicÌ erigere voleÌteÌ seÌê oport â vnuÌ pÌficere totius corporis illiê° regitiuuÌ queÌ regeÌ noÌinÌ solit â eÌ Hoc ordinÌ sicut ex embrione corpê° surgit phisi cuÌ vno capite regulatum sic ex populo erumpit regnum qd corpus extat misticuÌ vno hoiÌe vt capite gubernatuÌ Et sicut in naturali corêe vt dicit philosophus cor est primum viueÌs habeÌs in se saÌguineÌ queÌ emittit in oiÌa eius meÌbra vnde illa vegetaÌt â et viuuÌt sic iÌ corêe politico inteÌtio populi primuÌ viuiduÌ est habeÌs in se sanguineÌ vz êuisioneÌ politicaÌ vtilit â populi illiê° quaÌ in caput et in oiÌa meÌbra eiusdeÌ corêis ipsa traÌsmittit quo corpus illud alitur vegetatur Lex vero sub qua cetê° hominuÌ populus efficitur neruoruÌ corporis phisici tenet rationÌ qÌa sicut ê neruos coÌpago corporis solidatur sic per legem quae a ligando dicitur corpus huiusmodi misticum ligatur et seruatur in vnuÌ et eius dem corporis meÌbra ac ossa quae veritatis qua coÌmunitas illa sustentatur soliditateÌ denotaÌt per legem vt corpus naturale per neruos propria retinent iura Et vt non potest caput corporis phisici neruos suos coÌmutare neque meÌbris suis êpÌas vires et êpÌa saÌguinis alimÌta denegare nec rex qui caput corpor â politici eÌ mutar â potest leges corpor â illiê° nec eiusdeÌ populi substaÌtias êprias subtrahere reclamantibê° eis aut inuitis HeÌs ex hoc iaÌ priÌceps institutioÌis politici Regni formaÌ ex qua metiri poteris potesta teÌ quaÌ rex eiê° in leges ipsiê° aut subditos valeat exercer â Ad tutelaÌ naÌque legis subditoruÌ ac eoruÌ corpuÌ et bonoruÌ rex hmÌodi erectê° est et ad haÌc potestateÌ a populo effluxaÌ ipse heÌt quô ei noÌ licet potestate alia suo populo dnÌari Quare vt
he is bounde by his lawes to paye therefore eyther presentlye in hande or elles at a daye to bee limitted and sette by the higher officers of his house For by his lawes he maye take awaye none of his subiectes goodes witheoute due satisfaction for the same Neyther dothe the kinge there eyther by him selfe or by his seruauntes and officers leuie vppon his subiectes tallages subsidies or anye other burdeins or alter theire lawes or make newe laws without the expresse consente and agreemente of his whole royalme in his parliamente Wherefore euerye inhabiter of that royalme vseth enioyeth at his pleasure all the fruites that his land or cattall bearethe withe all the profites commodytyes whiche by his owne trauayle or by the labour of others he gaineth by land or by water not hindered by the iniurie or wronge deteinement of anye man but that hee shal bee allowed a reasonable recompence And hereby it commethe to passe that the men of that lande are ryche hauynge abundaunce of golde and siluer and other thinges necessarie for the mayntenaunce of mans lyfe Theye drynke no water oneles it bee so that soome for deuotion and vppon a zeale of penaunce do absteyne from other drinkes They eate plentyfullye of all kyndes of fleshe and fyshe They weare fine wollen cloth in al their apparell Theye haue allso abundaunce of bed coueryngs in their houses and of all other wollen stuffe They haue greate store of all hustlements and implements of houshold They are plentifullye furnished withe all instrumentes of husbandry al other thinges that are requisite to the accomplishement of a quiet and wealthie lyfe accordyng to their estates degrees Neither are they sued in y e law but onelye beefore ordinarye iudges wherebye the lawes of the lande theye are iustlye intreated Neyther are theye arrested or impleaded for theire moueables or possessioÌs or arreigned of ani offeÌce criminal be it neuÌ so great outragious but after the lawes of the lande and before the iudges aforesaide And thys are the fruites whiche gouernement politique and regall conioyned doothe beare and brynge fourthe Whereof nowe appeare euidentlye vnto yowe the experiences of the effectes of the lawe whiche some of your progenitoures trauayled to abolishe Before allso yowe sawe plainlye the effects of the other lawe whyche theye with suche earneste endeuoure laboured to aduaunce and place in steade of this lawe So that by the fruites of them bothe you maye knowe what theye are And did not ambition ryotte and wanton luste whiche youre said progenitoures esteemed aboue the wealthe of the realme moue them to this alteracion Consider therefore moste worthie prince and that earnestlye this that foloweth IN regno Angliae nullus perhendinat in alterius domo inuito domino si non in hospiciis publicis vbi tunc pro omnibus quae ibidem expeÌdit ipÌe plenariê soluet ante eiê° abinde recessum nec impunê quisque bona alterius capit sine voluntate proprietarij eoruÌdeÌ neque in regno illo prepeditur aliquis sibi de sale aut quibuscunque mercimoniis aliis ad propriuÌ arbitrium et de quocunque venditore prouidere Rex tnÌ necessaria domus suae per rationabile preciuÌ iuxta coÌstabulariorum villarum discretiones assidendum inuitis possessoribus ê officiarios suos capere potest sed nihillominus ipse precium illud in manibus vel ad dieÌ ê maiores officiarios domus suae limitaÌduÌ soluere ê leges suas obnoxius est quia nullius subditoruÌ suorum bona iuxta leges illas ipÌe deripere potest sine satisfactione debita ê eisdeÌ Neque rex ibideÌ ê se aut ministros suos tallagia subsidia aut qÌuis onera alia iÌponit legijs suis aut leges eoruÌ mutat vel nouas condit sine coÌcessione vel asseÌsu tociê° regni sui in parliameÌto suo expÌsso Quare incola oÌnis regni illius fructubus quos sibi parit terra sua et quos gignit pecus eius emolumeÌtis quoque oÌiÌbus qÌ industria êria vel aliena ipÌe terra marique lucratur ad libituÌ êpriuÌ vtitur nulliê° pÌpeditus iÌiuria vel rapina quin ad minê° iÌde debitas coÌseqÌtur emeÌdas vnde inhabitaÌtes terraÌ illaÌ locupletes sunt abuÌdaÌtes auro et argeÌto etcuÌctis necessarijs vitae AquaÌ ipÌi noÌ bibuÌt nisi qÌ ob deuotioÌis et peniteÌciae zeluÌ aliquaÌ do ab alijs potubê° se abstineÌt Omni genere carniuÌ et pisciuÌ ipÌi in copia vescuÌtur qÌbus patria illa noÌ modicè est referta pannis de lanis bonis ipsi induuÌtur in oiÌbus operimentis suis etiam abundaÌt in lectisterniis et quo libet suppellectili cui lana congruit in oiÌbus domibus suis nec non opulenti ipsi sunt in oÌnibus hustilimentis domus necessariis culturae et oÌnibus qÌ ad quietam et felicem vitaÌ exiguntur secunduÌ status suos Nec in placitum ipsi ducuntur nisi coram iudicibus ordinariis vbi illi per leges terrae iuste tractantur Nec allocuti siue implacitati sunt de mobilibus aut possessionibus suis vel arrettati de crimine aliquo qualiter cuÌque magno et enormi nisi secundum leges terrae illius et coram iudicibus antedictis Et hij sunt fructus quos parit regimeÌ politicum et regale ex quibus tibi iam apparent experienciae effectus legis quam quidam progenitorum tuorum abicere conati sunt Superius quoque tibi apparent effectus legis alterius quam tanto zelo loco legis istius ipsi nisi sunt inducere vt ex fructubus earum tu agnoscas eas et nonne ambicio luxus et libido quos predicti êgenitores tui regni bono preferebant eos ad hoc commercium concitabant Considera igitur princeps optime et iam alia que sequentur A comparison of the worthines of bothe the regiments Cap. 37. SAiÌt Thomas in his boke whiche he wrote to y e kiÌg of Cyprê° of y e regimeÌt of princes saieth y t y e king is geeueÌ for y e kingdome not the kingedome for the king Whereupon it foloweth that al kingelye power muste bee applyed to the wealthe of his kyngdome Whiche thynge in effecte consistethe in the defeÌce therof froÌ forreyne inuasions and in the maiÌtenaunce of his subiectes and their goodes from the iniuries and extortions of the inhabitauntes of the same Wherfore that kiÌg whiche is not hable to perfourme these things must of necessitie be iudged impotent and weake But if he bee so ouercome of hys owne affections and lustz or so oppressed wythe pouertie that hee canne not wytheholde hys handes from the pyllynge of hys subiectes whereby hymselfe impouerisheth them and sufferethe them not to lyue and to bee susteyned vppon theire owne substaunces howe muche more weake or feble is he iÌ this respect to be iudged then if hee weare not hable to defend them agaiÌst the
quam facit lex predicta ciuilis quae cito et quasi iÌultuÌ luxuriae crimeÌ remittit ¶ Speciall causes why base borne children are not legittimate in England by matrimony ensuing Chap. 40. MOre ouer the Ciuile lawes say y t your natural or bastard sonne is y e soÌne of y e people Wherof a certein metriciaÌ writeth in this wise To whom the people father is to hiÌ is father none all To whom the people father is wel fatherles we may him call And while suche a chylde had no father at y e tyme of his birthe surelye nature knoweth not howe he could afterward come by a father For if one woman shoulde beare two children of twoe fornicatours and the one of them shoulde afterward marrye her Whether of these twooe children shoulde by this marriage bee legittimat OppinioÌ may somewhat êswade but reason cannot fynde seeing the time was once when bothe those chyldren beeinge iudged the children of the people did not knowe theire fathers It were therefore vnreasonable that a child afterwarde borne in the same wedlocke whose generation cannot be vnknoweÌ shoulde be disherited and that a childe whiche knoweth no father should be heire to the father mother of the other specially in y e roialme of England where the eldest sonne only enioieth the fathers inheritance And an indifferent iudge would think it no lesse vnreasonable that a base borne childe shoulde bee equally matched with a lawful begotten childe in y e inheritaÌce whiche by the Ciuile lawes can bee deuyded but onelye among male children For saint Augustine in the xvi booke de Ciuitate dei wrytethe thus Abraham gaue all his substance to his sonne Isaac and to the sonnes of his concubines he gaue gyftes Whereuppon semeth to bee ment that to bastarde children there is noe inheritaunce due but onelye a necessary lyuinge Thus saieth hee And vnder the name of a bastard child saint AusteÌ vnderstaÌdeth all vnlawful yssues so doth holye scripture also iÌ diuers places callinge none by the name of a bastard Lo Saint Austen thinkethe no small difference to be so thinketh AbrahaÌ to betwene the succession of a bastarde and of a sonne lawfullye begotten Yea holye scripture reprehendeth all vnlawful childreÌ vnder this metaphore sayeng Bastarde slippes shall take no deepe roote nor lay any fast foundation in the iiii chapiter of the booke of wisedome The churche also reproueth the same in that it admitteth them not to holye orders And if it so bee that the churche doe dyspense withe suche a one yet it permitteth not him to haue anye dignitye or preeminence in y e church Wherefore it is conuenyent that mannes lawe in the benefite of successioÌ shoulde cutte theÌ shorte whome the Churche iudgeth vnworthy to bee receaued into holye orders and reiecteth from all prelacie yea whome holye scripture iudgeth as touchinge their birthe much inferiour to them that be lawfullye begotten We reade that Gedeon the puissaunt begate lxx sonnes in wedlocke and but one onelye out of wedlocke Yet thys misbegotten chylde wyckedlye slewe all those lawfullye beegotten children one onelye excepted Iudges .ix. Whereby it ys perceaued that there was more wyckednesse in one bastarde chylde then in .lxix. lawfull sonnes For it is a commen sayenge If a bastard bee good y t coÌmeth to him by chauÌce that is to wytte by speciall grace but if he be euil that commeth to him by nature For it is thought that the base child draweth a certeyn corruption and stayne from y e synne of his parentes without his owne fault as all we haue receaued of y e synne of oure first pareÌts much infection thoughe not somuche Howebeit the blemishe which bastardes by their generation do receaue muche differeth froÌ that werein lawfull children are borne For their conception is wrought by the mutuall synnefull lust of both pareÌts which in the laufull chast copulations of marryed couples taketh no place The synne of suche fornicatours is committed by y e mutuall consent of them bothe Wherefore it is likened to the first synne cleaueth more cruelly to the chylde then the synne of suche as do otherwise offende alone so that the chylde so begotten deserueth to be called the child of synne rather then the chylde of synners wherefore the boke of wysedoÌ makynge a difference betweene these ii genÌatioÌs of y e laufull genÌatioÌ it sayethe thus O howe faire is a chaste generacioÌ w t vertue The memoriall thereof is immortall for it is knowen with god with men But the other is not knowen with men so that the children there of borne are called y e children of the people Of whiche base generation the same booke thus speaketh All the chyldreÌ that are borne of wycked pareÌtz are witnesses of wyckednes agaiÌst their pareÌtz when they be asked For beiÌge demauÌded of their parentz they open theyr synne euen as the wycked sonne of Noe vncouered his fathers priuities It is therefore beleued touchiÌge the bliÌde borne of whom the pharasiez in the ix chapter of Saint Iohns ghospell said Thou art altogether borne in siÌne y t he was a bastarde who wholly is borne of synne And where it folowethe doest not thou teache vs. It seemeth that thereby maye be vnderstanded y t a bastard hathe no lyke naturall disposition to knowlege and learnyng as a lawfull chylde hath Wherefore that lawe maketh no good diuision whiche in the fathers inheritance makethe equal bastard children and laufull childreÌ whoÌ y e church in gods inheritaunce maketh vnequall Betwene whom also scripture putteth a differeÌce in fourme aboue mentioned whoÌ nature in her gyftes seuereth markynge the naturall or bastard chyldren as it were with a certein priue mark iÌ their soules Whether therefore of y e ii lawes Englishe or ciuile do you now imbrace most noble prince iudge to haue the preeminence in this case PReterea Leges ciuiles dicuÌt filium naturaleÌ tuuÌ esse filiuÌ populi de quo metricus quidaÌ sic ait Cui pater est populê° pater est sibi nullê° et oiÌs Cui pat â est populê° noÌ habet ipse patreÌ Et duÌ êles talis patreÌ noÌ habuit teÌêe natiuitat â suae quo modo ex post facto ipse patreÌ nancisci poterit natura nouit quo si ex fornicatoribê° duobus mulier vna filios peperit duos quaÌ postea vnê° ex concubinariis illis ducat in vxorem quis ex filiis hiis duobus ê matrimonium illud legittimatur oppinio suader â potest sed ratio reperire nequit duÌ ambo filij illi populi fetus iudicati semel pareÌtes ignorabaÌt IncoÌsonuÌ propterea videret â qd â in matrimonio illo extuÌc ab eadeÌ muliere natus cuius generatio ignorari noÌ poterit exês esset hereditatis et filius nescius genitoris sui succederet patri et matriÌ eius maxime iÌfra regnuÌ Angliae vbi filiê° senior solê° succedit in hereditate paterna et non minus
bookes for the instruction of them that shall come after are euer more reported in the Frenche tongue Manye statutes also of that royalme are writen in Frenche Whereof it happeneth that the commeÌ speeche nowe vsed in FrauÌce agreethe not nor is not lyke the Frenche vsed amonge the lawyers of Englande butte is by a certeine rudenes of the coÌmon people corrupte Which corruptioÌ of spech chaunceth not in y e FreÌch that is vsed in England for so much as that spech is there oftener written then spoken Now in the thirde of the saide iii. tongues whiche is the latine tongue are written all writtes originall and iudiciall and likewise all the recordes of plees in the kinges courtes withe certeine statutes also Wherefore while y e lawes of England are lerned in these three tonges they cannot conueniently be taught or studyed in y e vniuersities where onlye y e latine tongue is exercised Notw tstandinge the same lawes are taught learned in a certein place of publique or comen study more coÌuenient apte for attaining to y e knowledge of them then anye other vniuersitie For this place of study is situate nighe to y e kingez courtes where the same lawes are pleaded and argued iudgementes by the same geeuen by iudges menne of grauytie auncient in yeares perfecte and graduate in the same lawes Wherefore euery daye in courte the studentes in those lawes resorte by greate numbers vnto those courtes wherein the same lawes are redde taught as it were in coÌmon scholes This place of study is set betwene y e place of y e said courtz y e Citie of LoÌdoÌ which of al thiÌgs necessarie is y e pleÌtifullest of all y e cities towns of y e realm So y t y e said place of study is not situate w tin y e citie where the confluence of people might disturbe the quietnes of the studentes but somewhat seueral in the suburbes of the same Citie and nigher to the saide courtes that the studentes maye daylye at theire pleasure haue accesse and recourse thether without wearines CAncellariê° In vniuersitatibus Angliae non docentur scientiae nisi in latina lingua et leges terrae illius in triplici lingua addiscuntur videlicet Anglica Gallica et Latina Anglica quia inter Anglos lex illa maxime inoleuit Gallica quia postquam galli duce VVilhelmo Angliae conquestore terraÌ illaÌ optinueruÌt noÌ êmiserunt ipsi eoruÌ aduocatos placitare causas suas nisi in lingua quaÌ ipsi nouerunt qualiter et faciuÌt oÌeÌs aduocati in FraÌcia etiaÌ in curia parliameÌti ibideÌ CoÌsimiliter gallici post eoruÌ adueÌtuÌ in AngliaÌ ratiocinia de eoruÌ prouentibus non receperunt nisi in proprio idiomate ne ipsi inde decipereÌt â Venari etiaÌ et iÌocos alios excercere vt taloruÌ et pilaruÌ ludos noÌ niÌ si in êpria lingua delectabaÌt â Quo et Anglici ex frequeÌti eoruÌ iÌ talibê° comitiua habituÌ taleÌ â contraxeruÌt qd â hucusque ipsi iÌ ludis hmÌodi et coÌpotis linquaÌ loquuntur gallicanaÌ et placitare in eadeÌ liÌgua soliti fueruÌt quousque mos ille vigore cuiusdaÌ statutiÌ quaÌ plurimum restrictê° eÌ tâÌ in toto hucusque abolerânoÌ potuit tuÌ êpter termiÌos quosdaÌ quos plê° êprie placitantes in gallico quaÌ in Anglico exprimuÌt tuÌc qÌa declaratioÌes suê breuiae originalia taÌ coÌuenieÌt â ad naturaÌ breuiuÌ illoruÌ ênuÌciari neqÌuÌt vt iÌ gallicÌ sub quali sermone declarationuÌ huiusmodi formulae addiscuntur ReportaÌtur etiaÌ ea qÌ in curijs regijs placitantur disputantur et iudicantur ac in libros ad futuroruÌâruditioneÌ rediguÌtur in sermone semper gallico QuaÌ plurima etiaÌ statuta regni illius in gallico coÌscribuÌtur Vnde accidit qd â lingua iaÌ in Francia vulgaris non concordat aut consimilis est gallico inter legis peritos Angliae vsitato sed vulgari quadam ruditate corrupta Quod fieri non accidit in sermone gallico infra AngliaÌ vsitato cuÌ sit sermo ille ibideÌ sepius scriptê° quaÌ locutus Sub tertia vero linguaruÌ predictaruÌ vz sub latina oiÌa breuia originalia iudicialia similiter et oiÌa recorda placitoruÌ in curiis reguÌ etiaÌ et qÌdaÌ statuta scribuÌt â Quare duÌ leges Angliae in his tribus addifcuÌt â linguis ipsae in vniuersitatibê° vbi soluÌ latina excercet â lingua coÌuenâeÌter erudiri noÌ poteruÌt aut studeri Leges tnÌ illae iÌ quodaÌ studio publico ê illaruÌ appreheÌsione oiÌ vniuÌsitate coÌuenieÌtiore et êniore doceÌt â et ad discuÌt â StudiuÌ naÌque istud situm est prope curiam regis vbi leges illae placitaÌt â disputaÌtur et iudicia ê easdeÌ redduÌtur ê Iudices viros graues senes iÌ legibê° illis peritos et graduatos quô iÌ cur â illis ad quas oiÌ die placitabili coÌfluuÌt studeÌtes in legibus illis qua si iÌ scolis publicis leges illae leguntur et docent â Situat â etiaÌ studium illud inter locuÌ CuriaruÌ illaruÌ et ciuitateÌ LoÌdonÌ qÌ de oiÌbus necessariis opuleÌtissimÌ est oiÌuÌ ciuitatuÌ et opidoruÌ regni illiê° Nec in ciuitate illa vbi coÌfluentiuÌ turba studentium quieteÌ perturbare possit situm est studium istud sed seorsum parumper in ciuitatis illius suburbio et proprius Curiis predictis vt ad eas sine fagiagionis iÌ coÌmodo studentes indies ad libitum accedere valeant ¶ Here he declareth the disposition of the general study of the lawes of Englande and that the same in nomber of studentes passeth certein vniuersities Cha. 49. BVt to y e intent most excelleÌt prince ye maye conceaue a fourme an ymage of this study as I am able I will discribe it vntoo you For there bee in it tenne lesser housez or ynnes somtimes moe whyche are called ynnes of the Chauncery And to euerie one of them belongeth a C. studients at the least to some of them a muche greater nomber though they bee not euer all together in the same These studentes for the most part of theÌ are yongmen lerning or studying y e originals as it were y e elements of y e law who profiting therein as they growe to rypenes so are they admitted into y e greater ynnes of the same study called ynnes of court Of the whiche greater ynnes there are .iiii. in number And to the lest of them beelongeth in fourme aboue mentioned twooe hundrethe Studentes or theareaboutes For in these greter ynnez there can no studient bee mainteined for lesse expeÌses by the yeare then xx markes And if he haue a seruaunt to waite vppon him as moste of theÌ haue then so muche the greater will his charges be Now be reason of this charges the children onelye of noble menne doo studye the lawes in those ynnes For the