discreete and determinate perfectnes deepe vnder staÌ„dinge 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 wroÌ„ge in iudgement And yet is not a kinge bounde to haue profounde knowledge and determinate vnderstaÌ„ding in y e holy scriptures as it becommethe a professoure of dyuinitye For it shal be ynoughe for hiÌ„ suê‘ficially to tast y e senteÌ„ces 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 VinceÌ„cius in the fiftenethe chapter of his booke aforesayd plainly shewethe Wherfore y e doctors of y e lawes do say y t an eÌ„perour 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 loÌ„ger trouble you in this behalfe But thus I instaÌ„tly desire you y t ye wil iÌ„struct me in y e priÌ„ciples 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 amoÌ„ge 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 PRiÌ„ceps Leges illas neduÌ„ bonas sed et optimas esse caÌ„cellarie ex ê“secutioÌ„e tua in hoc dialogo certissime depÌ„heÌ„di Et si qÌ„ ex eis meliorari deposcant id citissime fieri posse parliamentoruÌ„ ibi dem formulae nos erudiunt Quo realiter poteÌ„tialiterue 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 laÌ„ciae et mucronis Sed sicut ad pugnaÌ„ animatur miles cuÌ„ neduÌ„ sibi ê“nasiÌ„t arma sed et magis cuÌ„ in actibê° bellicis ipÌ„e sit exê‘tus dicente Vegetio de re militari qd ’ 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 incoÌ„fuso 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 institutioÌ„e priÌ„cipum Omnis princeps habere deberet cum dicat scriptura superius memorata qd ’ vanae sunt oeÌ„s in quibus noÌ„ est scientia dei et ê“uerbi .xvi. scribatur Diuinatio id est diuina seÌ„tentia vel sermo diuinus sit in labiis regis et tunc in iuditio non errabit os eius Non tamen profundè determinatèue intelligere tenetur PriÌ„ceps scripturas sacras vt decet sacrae theologiae ê“fessor sufficit naÌ„que ei earuÌ„ in coÌ„fusô degusta re sententias qualiter et peritiaÌ„ legis suae Sic et feceâ—uÌ„t Carolus Magâ—us Lodouicê° filius eiê° et Robertê° quoÌ„daÌ„ rex FraÌ„ciae qui hanc scripsit seqÌ„ntiaÌ„ SaÌ„cti spiritê° ad sit nobis gratia et quaÌ„ plures alij vt iÌ„ .xv. ca. lib. pÌ„dicti Vincentius pÌ„dictê° luculenter docet Vnde et doctores leguÌ„ dicuÌ„t qd ’ imperator gerit oiÌ„a iura sua in scrinio pectoris sui noÌ„ qÌ„a oÌ„iÌ„a iura ipÌ„e noscit realiter et in actu sed duÌ„ priÌ„cipia eoruÌ„ ipÌ„e ê‘cepit formaÌ„ similiter et naturaÌ„ oiÌ„a iura sua ipse iÌ„telliger ’ ceÌ„setur qÌ„ etiaÌ„ traÌ„sformare ille potest mutare et cassare quo iÌ„ eo poteÌ„tialiter suÌ„t oÌ„nia iura sua vt in AdaÌ„ erat Eua antequaÌ„ plasmaretur Sed quia CaÌ„cellarie ad leguÌ„ Angliae disciplinatuÌ„ mihi iaÌ„ conspicio suffici enter esse suasum quod et in huiê° operis exordio facere ê“misisti NoÌ„ te aÌ„plius huius pÌ„textu solicitare conabor sed obnixê de posco vt in legis huius principijs vt quoÌ„dam incepisti me erudias doceÌ„s quodamodo eius agnoscere formaÌ„ et naturam quia lex ista mihi semê‘ peculiaris erit iÌ„ter ceteras legê orbis inter quas ipsaÌ„ lucere coÌ„spicio vt lucifer inter stellas Et duÌ„ intentioni tuae qua ad collationeÌ„ hanc concitatus es iaÌ„ satisfactuÌ„ esse noÌ„ aÌ„bigo tempus postulat et ratio vt nostris colloquiis terminuÌ„ coÌ„feramus reddeÌ„tes ex eis laudes ei et gratias qui ea incepit prosecutê° est et finiuit Alpha et O queÌ„ dicimê° queÌ„ et laudet oÌ„nis 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 ChauÌ„cellour 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 royaâ—â—â—ouernement onely first beganne 28 Howe kingedoÌ„es of politique gouernance were first begonne 30 The Prince compendâ—â—â—sly abridgeth all that the Chauncellour before hath discoursed at large 33 All lawes are the lawe of Nature custoÌ„s 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 InconuenieÌ„ces 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 〈…〉 chosen sworne 54 How Iurers 〈…〉 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 coÌ„mendeth 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 〈◊〉 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 thâ—â—â—â—uncellour 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 〈◊〉 general study of the lawes of Englande 〈◊〉 that the same in nuÌ„ber passeth certein vniuersities 113 Of the state and degree of a serieaÌ„t 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.
shall vnderstande that though these degrees are not geeuen in the lawes of England yet there is geeuen in them not a degree only but also a state no lesse worshipfull and solempne then the degree of doctours which is called the degree of a Seriant at lawe And it is geuen vnder the manner fourme foâ—owyng The lorde chiefe Iustice of the commen benche by y e couÌ„sell and assent of all the Iustices vsethe as ofte as he thinketh good to chose vii or .viii. of the discreetest persones that in the foresaide generall studye haue most profited in the lawes and whiche to the same Iusticez are thought to bee of best disposition and their names hee presenteth to the lord Chancellour of Englande in writtynge Who incontinent by vertue of the kinges write shal charge euery of the ê‘sons elect to be beefore the kinge at a daye by hym assigned too take vppon him the state and degree of a serieaunt at lawe vnder a greate penaltie in euerye of the said writtes limitted On the whiche daye euery one of them appearing shal be sworne vpoÌ„ the holye gospell of God to be ready at the daye place then to bee appointed to receaue the state and degree aforesaide and that he the same daye shall geeue golde accordynge to the custome in that behalfe vsed Howe bee it howe and after what sorte euerye of the saide chosen persones shall that daye demeane himselfe and also the fourme and maner howe that state degree shal bee geuen receued forsomuche as the same can not so briefelye bee written as to the shortnes of this woorke is requisite therefore at thys tyme I will leaue these pointes vntouched And yet I haue declared the same to you ere nowe by waye of talke But thys you must vnderstande that when the day appoiÌ„ted is come those electe persons among other solemnities must keepe a greate dinner like to the feast of a kinges coronation which shal continue last by y e space of seuen daies And none of those elect ê‘sones shall defraye y e charges growinge to him about y e costes of this solempnitie with lesse expenses then the summe of foure huÌ„dreth markes So that y e expeÌ„ses whiche viii menne so electe shall then beestowe will surmount the summe of thre thousande and two hundreth maâ—ks Of y e which expenses one parcel shall bee this Euery of them shal geue ringes of golde to y e value of xl poundes sterling at the least And your Chauncellour well remeÌ„brethe that at what tyme hee receaued this state and degree y e ringez which he then gaue stode him in fifty poundes For euery suche serieant at the tyme of hys creacion vseth to geeue vntoo euery Prince Duke and archebishop being preseÌ„t at that solempnitie and to the lord Chauncellour and Lorde Treaseroure of Englande a ringe of the valu of .xxvi. shillings viii d And to euery earle and bishop beeinge likewise present and also to the Lorde priuie seale to both y e lordes chief Iustices to the Lorde chiefe baron of the kinges exchequer a ringe of the value of xx s And to euery lord baron of the parliament to euery abbott notable prelate worshipfull knight being then preseÌ„t also to y e maister of the roles to euery Iustice a ring of y e value of a mark And likewise to euery baron of y e exchequer to the chaumberlaines and to all the officers and notable menne seruynge in the kinges courtes ringes of a smaller pryce but agreable to theire estates to whome they are geuen Insomuch y t there shall not bee a clerke speciallye in the court of the commen benche but hee shal receaue a ring coÌ„uenient for his degree And besydes these they geeue dyuers rynges too other of theire fryndes They geue also liueries of cloth of one sute or colour in greate abundaunce not onelye to theire houshold meanye but also to their other fryndes and acquaintaunce whiche durynge the tyme of the foresayde solempnytye shall attende and wayte vppon them Wherefore though in the Vniuersities they that are promoted too the degree of Doctors do sustaiÌ„ no small charges at the tyme of their coÌ„meÌ„cemeÌ„t as in geuiÌ„ge of bonnetes and other ryche gyftes yet y ey geue no gold nor do bestowe any other giftes or costes lyke vnto these expenses Neither iÌ„ any couÌ„trey of the world is there any special degre geuen in the lawes of the saÌ„e laÌ„de but onely in y e royalme of Englande Neither is there any man oâ— lawe throughe out the vniuersall world whiche by reasoÌ„ of his office or ê“fession gaynethe somuch as one of these seriaunts No man also be he neuer so connynge skylfull in the lawes of the royalme shal be exalted to y e office and dignitie of a Iustice in the courte of pleas before the kiÌ„ge or iÌ„ y e courte of the coÌ„meÌ„ bench which are the chiefe ordinarie courtes of the same royalme oneles he be first ê“moted to the state and degree of a seriaunt at law Neither shall any man but onely such a seriaunt pleade in the courte of y t commen benche wheare all reall actions are pleaded Wherefore to this state and degree hath no man bene hetherto admitted except he haue first coÌ„tinued by the space of xvi yeares in the said general studie of y e lawe And in token or signe that all Iustices ar thus graduat euerye of them alwayes whyle he sytteth iÌ„ y e kiÌ„ges courtes weareth a white quoyfe of silke whiche is the principal and chief in signemet of habite where with seriauntes at lawe in their creation are decked And neither the Iustice nor yet the seriaunt shal euer put of y e quoyfe no not in the kynges presence thoughe he be in talke withe his maiesties highnes wherefore most noble prince you can not hereafter doubt but that these lawes which so singularli aboue the Ciuile lawes yea and aboue the lawes of all other royalmes are honoured and with so solempne a state of such as are learned therein and do professe y e saÌ„e are worshipped must needes be precioê° noble and hieghe and of greate excellencie and of speciall knowlege and vertue SEd cuÌ„ tu princeps scire desideres cur iÌ„ legibê° Angliae noÌ„ dantur baculariatê° et doctoratus gradus sicut in vtroque iure in vniuersitatibus est dare consuetuÌ„ Scire te volo qd ’ licet gradus hmÌ„oi in legibus Angliae minime coÌ„feraÌ„tur datur tamen in illis nedum gradus sed et status quidam gradu doctoratê° noÌ„ minê° celebris aut soleÌ„nis qui gradus seruientis ad legeÌ„ appellatur Et coÌ„fertur sub hac qÌ„ subsequitur forma Capitalis Iusticiarius de coÌ„i banco de coÌ„silio et asseÌ„su oiÌ„m iusticiarioruÌ„ eligere solet quotieÌ„s sibi videtur oportâ—muÌ„ septeÌ„ vel octo de maturioribus ê‘sonis qui in pÌ„dicto genÌ„ali studio maius in legibus proficeruÌ„t qui eisdeÌ„ iusticiar ’ optimae
agninis semper al bis implicatur qualeÌ„ habituÌ„ te plê° ornare optareÌ„ cuÌ„ potestas tibi fuerit ad decoreÌ„ status legis et honorem regni tui Scire te etiam cupio qd ’ iusticiarii angliae noÌ„ sedeÌ„tiÌ„ curiis regis nisi pertres horas in die s. ab hora viii ante meridieÌ„ vsque horaÌ„ xi coÌ„pletam quia post meridieÌ„ curiae illae non tenentur Sed placitaÌ„tes tuÌ„c se diuertunt ad ê‘uisuÌ„ et alibi coÌ„suleÌ„tes cuÌ„ seruientibus ad legeÌ„ et aliis coÌ„siliar ’ suis Quare iusticiarij postquaÌ„ se refecerint totuÌ„ diei residuuÌ„ ê‘traÌ„seuÌ„t studeÌ„do in legibus sacram legeÌ„do scripturaÌ„ et aliter ad eoruÌ„ libituÌ„ coÌ„teÌ„plaÌ„do vt vita ipsoruÌ„ plê° coÌ„templatiua videatur quaÌ„ actiua Sicque quietaÌ„ illi vitaÌ„ aguÌ„t ab oiÌ„ solicitudine et mundi turbinibê° semotam nec vnquaÌ„ coÌ„ê‘tuÌ„ eÌ„ eoruÌ„ aliqueÌ„ donis aut muneribê° fuisse corupt ’ Vnde et hoc genus gratiae vidimê° subsecutuÌ„ qd vix eoruÌ„ aliq is sine exitu decedat qd iustis magnÌ„ et quasi apê“priatae benedictionis dei est mihi quoque noÌ„ minimi muneris diuini censetur esse peÌ„saÌ„d qd ex iudicuÌ„ sobole plures de proceribus et magnatibê° regni hucusque ê“dieruÌ„t quaÌ„ dealiquo alio statu hoiÌ„m regni q i se prudeÌ„tia et industria ê“pria opuleÌ„tos inclitos nobilesque fecerunt QuaÌ„quaÌ„ mercatoruÌ„ statê° quoruÌ„ aliqui suÌ„t q i oiÌ„bê° iusticiariis regni pÌ„staÌ„t iÌ„ diuitiis iudicuÌ„ numeruÌ„ in milibê° hoiÌ„m excedat NaÌ„ fortunae qÌ„ nihil est istud ascribi noÌ„ poterit sed diuinae soluÌ„ benedictioni fore arbitror tribueÌ„d CuÌ„ ipse ê‘ ê“phetaÌ„ dicat qd generatio rectoruÌ„ benedicetur Et alibi de iustis loqueÌ„s ê“pheta ait qd filii eorum in benedictione eruÌ„t Dilige igitur fili regis iusticiaÌ„ quae sic ditat colit et ê‘petuat fâ—tê° colentium eaÌ„ Et zelator esto legis que iustitiam parit vt a te dicatur qd a iustis scribitur et semen eorum ineternuÌ„ manebit The prince findeth fault with delayes that are made in the kinges courtes Cap. 52. THere remayneth now but one thynge good Chauncellour quod the priÌ„ce to be declared wherwith my mynde soÌ„ewhat yet wauereth and is disquieted wheriÌ„ if you stay and satisfie me I wyll trowble you with no mo questions The lawes of England as the reporte goeth suffer great delaes in their processes more then the lawes of other nations which vnto suters is not onely a hinderaunce of their right but also many tymes an importable burden of charges chiefly in those actions wheriÌ„ damages are not alowed Princeps Vnum iaÌ„ solum super est CaÌ„cellarie declaraÌ„dum quo parumê‘ adhuc fluctuat inqÌ„etat ’ quoque mens mea In quo si eaÌ„ solidaueris noÌ„ aÌ„pliê° te qÌ„stionibê° fatigabo Dilationes ingentes vt asseritur patiuntur leges Angliae in ê“cessibus suis plusquaÌ„ leges aliaruÌ„ nationum qd peteÌ„tibê° neduÌ„ iuris sui ê“gatio eÌ„ sed et sumptuum quaÌ„doquidem importabile onê° et maxime in actionibê° illis in quibê° damna peteÌ„tibê° noÌ„ redduntur Delaies that happen in the kynges courtes are neacessarie and reasonable Ca. 53. IN actions personall quod the ChauÌ„cellour out of Cities townes of merchandise where the maner of proceedynge is acordynge to the customz and liberties of the same there the procedinges are ordinarie And thoughe they suffer great delaies yet they be not excessiue But in the same Cities and townes chiefeli wheÌ„ any vrgent cause so requireth there is quicke dispatche made lyke as in other partes of the world and yet not w t suche hote hast as in some other places that the ê‘tye be there by endammaged AgaiÌ„e in accions reall the procedynges are verie slowe almost in all partes of the worlde For within the royalme of Fraunce in y e hieghest court ther which is called the court of parliameÌ„t there be certeiÌ„ processes y t haue haÌ„ged there aboue xxx yeares And I knowe that a cause of appeale which in that court betweene Richard HeroÌ„ an Englishe merchaunt other merchaunt meÌ„ for a trasgression made hath ben debated withiÌ„ the iurisdiction of that courte hathe alredy haÌ„ged by y e space of x. yeares And it is not yet lyke that it can be decided within other x. yearesâ— â–ª whyle I was lately abydynge iÌ„ Paris myne hoste shewed me his processe in writynge which in the court of parliament there he had theÌ„ folowed full viii yeares for iiii.s. reÌ„te which iÌ„ our monei maketh not aboue viii d and yet he was iÌ„ no hope to obteyne iudgmeÌ„t in .viii. yeares more And I knowe other cases ther lyke vnto these So that the lawes of EnglaÌ„d as seemeth to me cause not so greâ—t delayes as do y e lawes of that countrey But to speake vpprightly it is necessarie that delayes be had in the processes of all actions so that the same be not to muche excessiue For by reasoÌ„ thereof the parties and chiefely the partie defeÌ„dant do often tymes ê“uide themselfes of good defenses and also of couÌ„sels which els y ey should lacke And in iudgemeÌ„ts there is neuer so greate daunger toward as wheÌ„ processe goeth foreward with ouer muche haste For I sawe ones in the Citie of Salisburi before a certein iudge at a gaole delyuerie there with the clerk of the assyfes a womaÌ„ attaiÌ„ted burned for the death of her husband within a yeare aâ—ter he was slaine In the which case it was in the iudges power to haue reprieued or respected that womaÌ„s arraygnement til the end of that yeare And about a yeare after that I saw one of y e seruants of the slaine man coÌ„uict before y e same Iustice of the death of the same his maister Whoe then openlye confessed y t he himselfe alone slew his master and that his maistres hys wyfe whiche before was burned was altogether innocent of hys deathe And he for y e same was drawen and hanged And still euen at y e pointe of death he lamented the womaÌ„ burned as one cleare from that offence O what perplexitie remorse of câ—nscience it is to bee thought that this so hasty a Iustice hadde of thys deede which might iustly haue stayed the processe He himselfe alas often confessed vnto me that hee should neuer durynge his lyfe be hable to cleare hys conscience of this fact For manye times in deliberatioÌ„s iudgemeÌ„ts growe to riepenes but in ouer hasty processe neuer Wherfore the laws of England admit essoyne and so do noe other laws of al y e worlde Are not vouchinges to warrant right profitable Are not the aydes of them profitable to whom the reuersion of tenementes brought in plea belongethe and whiche haue the euidences of the same Are not also the aydes of coperteners ê“fitable whiche shall paye accordinge to the rate of a tenemente allotted to their coê‘tener by force of the
Scire igitur te volo quod noÌ„ soluÌ„ Deutro leges sed et oÌ„nes leges humaÌ„e sacre suÌ„t quô lex sub his verbis diffinitur Lex est saÌ„ctio sancta iubeÌ„s honesta et prohibeÌ„s contraria sanctum etenim esse oportet qd ’ esse sanctuÌ„ diffinitum est Ius etiam discribi perhibetur quod illud est ars boni et equi cuius merito quis nos sacerdotes appellat Sacerd ’ eniÌ„ quasi sacra daÌ„s vel sacra doceÌ„s per ethimologiaÌ„ dicitur quia vt dicunt iura leges sacrae suÌ„t quô eas ministrantes et docentes sacerdotes appellantur A deo etiam sunt omnes leges editae quae ab homine ê“mulgaÌ„tur NaÌ„ cuÌ„ dicat Apostolê° quod omnis potestas a domino deo est leges ab homine conditae qui ad hoc a domino recipit potestatem etiam a deo constituuntur dicente auctore causaruÌ„ quic quid facit causa secunda facit et causa prima altiori et nobiliori modo Quare Iosaphat rex Iuda ait Iudicibus suis iudicia qÌ„ vos profertis iudicia dei sunt secundo Paralipo xix cap. Ex quibus erudiris quod leges licet humanas ad discere eÌ„ addiscere leges sacras et editioÌ„es dei quo earuÌ„ studiuÌ„ noÌ„ vacat a dulcedine coÌ„solationis scÌ„ae Nec tameÌ„ vt tu coniicis dulcedo hmÌ„odi causa fuit cur Moyses reges Israel Deutero legere pÌ„ceê‘at Nam causa hec noÌ„ plus reges quaÌ„ plebeos ad eius lecturaÌ„ ê“uocat nec plê° Deuter. libruÌ„ quaÌ„ alios PeÌ„tateucoÌ„ libros legere pulsat causa ista cuÌ„ non minus libri illi quaÌ„ Deutero sacris abuÌ„dent carismatibus in quibus meditari ê‘sanctuÌ„ est quare noÌ„ aliaÌ„ fuisse causaÌ„ maÌ„dati huius quaÌ„ quia iÌ„ DeutronomÌ„ plus quaÌ„ iÌ„ aliis libris veteris testameÌ„ti legê iÌ„seruntur quibus rex Israel ppl’m populum regere obnoxius est eiusdeÌ„ mandati circuÌ„stantiae manifeste nos informant Quo et te priÌ„ceps eadeÌ„ causa noÌ„ minus quaÌ„ reges Israel exhortatur vt legum quibus populum in futurum reges tu sis solers indagator NaÌ„ quod Regi Israel dictuÌ„ est omni Regi populi videntis deum ticipè dictum fuisse intelligendum est an tunc non conuenienter vtiliterque proposui tibi mandatum Regibus Israel latuÌ„ de eoruÌ„ lege addiscenda Dum nedum eius exempluÌ„ sed et eius auctoritas figuralis te erudiuit et obligauit ad consimiliter faciendum de legibus regni quod annueÌ„te domino hereditaturus es ¶ Here the Chauncelour proueth that a prince by the lawes may be made happy and blessed Cap. 4. NOt onely to the iÌ„tent you should feare god so beecome wise do y e lawes w t y e prophet call you saiyng Come childreÌ„ heare me I will teache you y e feare of the lorde but also that you may aspire vnto felicitie and blessednes as farre fourthe as in this life theye maye bee atteyned do the lawes wyll you moste gracious prince to bee studious of them For all the philosophers which haue so diuersly resoned of felicitie haue all agreed together in this oÌ„e point that felicitie or blessednes is y e ende of al maÌ„s desire and therefore theye cal it chief goodnes Howbeit y e peripatetiks placed it in vertue the Stoikes iÌ„ honestie the Epicures in pleasure But seeing y e Stoikes defined honestie to be that whiche is wel laudably done withe vertue and the Epicures helde nothing to be pleasant witheoute vertue therefore all those sectes as saiethe Leonarde Arretine in his Introduction to morall Philosophie agreed in this that it is onely vertue that causethe felicitie Wherefore Aristotle also in y e seueÌ„th booke of his politiques defining felicitie saieth that it is the perfect vse of vertues Thê° much being now presupposed I wold haue you to coÌ„sider these things also y e folow MaÌ„s lawes are nothing els but certein rules whereby Iustice is perfectlye taught But that Iustyce which the lawes do shew is not the same that is called Commutatiue or Distributiue or any other particular vertue but it is a perfecte vertue expressed by the name of Iustice legall Whyche the foresaid Leonerd dothe therefore affyrme to bee perfecte beecause it excludeth all vice and teachethe all vertue For whiche cause also it is woorthelye called by the name of al vertue Whereof Homere saiethe and likewise Aristotle in the fifthe booke of Morall philosophie that it is y e chiefest of al vertues and that neither Lucyfer nor Hesperê° are so bright beaming as it is Moreouer this Iustice is y e thiÌ„g whereuppon al princelye care depeÌ„deth and resteth witheoute the whiche the kinge can neither rightly iudge nor yet duely fight But thys beeing once obteyned and perfectly kept then all the hole deuty required in a kyng is iustly perfourmed Nowe then seeynge that the perfecte vse of vertues is felicytie and that Iustice vsed amongest menne whyche can not bee obteyned vnto nor learned but by the lawe is not onelye the effecte of vertues but is all vertue it selfe hereof it folowethe that the practiser of Iustice is by the lawe happie and so thereby hee is made blessed forsomuche as blessednes or happynes and felicitie are bothe one in this short and transitorie lyfe of the whiche lyfe throughe Iustice hee enioyeth the chiefe principall goodnes And yet the lawe is not hable to perfourme these thinges withoute the assistence of grace witheoute the whiche also you can not learn nor couet eyther lawe or vertue For as saieth Pariss in his booke intituled Cur deus homo the inward vertue of man wherin his desieringe is placed is so throughe originall sinne defaced and corrupte that it esteemeth vicious workes for pleasaunt vertuous woorkes for vnpleasaunt Wherefore in that some men applye and endeuour themselues to the loue and folowing of vertues it proceedethe of the bountiful goodnes of god and not of the power of man Is ther not then special cause why the lawes whiche beinge preuented and accompanied wythe grace do performe all the premisses should with all diligent trauaile be learned Seinge that whoso hathe perfectlye atteyned thereunto the same shall enioye felicitie the ende performaÌ„ce as y e Philosophers say of maÌ„s desire by meaÌ„s wherof hee shall in this life be blessed in y e he nowe possesseth y e chief goodnes therof Doubtles if these thinges moue you not whiche shal haue the rule and gouernement of a kingdom yet the woordes of the prophet shal moue you yea force you to the studie of the law whiche words be these Be ye learned you y t are iudges of the earth Here y e ê“phet exhorteth not to y e learniÌ„g of a base arte or a handy-craft for he saieth not Be ye learned you y t are the iÌ„habiters of the earth neyther doth he counsel to the learninge of
knoweledge speculatiue thoughe it bee not vnnecessarie for the inhabiters vpon the earthe For he sayethe not generally Bee ye learned you that dwell vppon the earthe but by these wordes doth the prophet call kinges onely to the learninge of the law wherby iudgements are executed forsomuch as he specially saith Bee ye learned you y t are iudges of y e earthe And it folowethe least the lord waxe angrye and so you perishe from the waye of righteousenes Neyther doth holy scripture o kinges sonne commauÌ„d you onelye to be skilfullye instruct in the lawes wherby you shal purchase and obtein y e possessioÌ„ of iustice but also iÌ„ an other place it biddeth you vnfainedly to loue Iustice wher it sayethe O set your loue affection vppon Iustice you that are iudges of the earthe in the firste chapter of the booke of wysedome NOn soluÌ„ vt de uÌ„ timeas quo et sapieÌ„s eris princeps colendissime vocaÌ„t te leges cuÌ„ ê“pheta diceÌ„te Venite filii audite me timoreÌ„ dnÌ„idocebo vos Sed etiaÌ„ vt felicitateÌ„ beatitudineÌ„que ê“ vt in hac vita naÌ„cisci poter ’ adipiscaris ipsae leges ad earum disciplinatuÌ„ te inuitaÌ„t Philosophi naÌ„que oÌ„nes qui de felicita te taÌ„ variè disputabaÌ„t in hoc vno coÌ„ueneruÌ„t vz qd felicitas siue beatitudo finis eÌ„ oÌ„nis huÌ„mani appetitê° quare et ipÌ„aÌ„ suÌ„muÌ„ bonÌ„ appellaÌ„t Peripatetici tnÌ„ coÌ„stituebaÌ„t eaÌ„ in virtute Stoici in honesto Et Epicurei in voluptate Sed quia Stoici honestuÌ„ diffiniebant esse qd ’ bene sit et laudabiliter ex virtute et Epicur ’ asserebaÌ„t nihil esse voluptuosuÌ„ sine virtut ’ Omnes sectae illae vt dicit Leonardê° Arretinê° Ysagogico moralis disciplinae in hoc concordarunt qd ’ sola virtus est que felicitateÌ„ operatur Quo et Philosophê° in vii polit ’ felicitateÌ„ difinieÌ„s dicit quod ipsa est ê‘fectê° vsê° virtutuÌ„ His iaÌ„ pÌ„suppositis coÌ„siderare te volo etiaÌ„ ea qÌ„ sequeÌ„tur Leges humaÌ„e noÌ„ aliud suÌ„t quaÌ„ regul ’ quibê° ê‘fectè iusticÌ„ edocetur Iusticia vero quaÌ„ leges reuelaÌ„t noÌ„ est illa qÌ„ coÌ„mutatiua vel distributatiua vocat feu alia qÌ„uis ê‘ticularis virtus sed est virtê° ê‘fecta qÌ„ iusticÌ„ legal ’ noÌ„ine de signatur QuaÌ„ Leonardê° pÌ„dcÌ„ê° ideo dicit esse ê‘fectaÌ„ qÌ„aoÌ„ne viciuÌ„ ipsa eliminat et oeÌ„m virtuteÌ„ pÌ„a docet quo et oiÌ„s virtê° ipÌ„a merito nuncupatur De qua Homerus dicit siÌ„l’er similiter et Philosophê° v. ethicoruÌ„ Quod ipsa est pre clarissima virtutuÌ„ et nec Lucifer nec Hesperê° vt illa est admirabilis Iusticia vero hec subiectuÌ„ est omnis regalis curae quô sine illa Rex iuste non iudicat nec recte pugnare potest Illa vero adepta ê‘fectêque seruata equissime peragitur oÌ„ne officium Regis Vnde cum ê‘fectus vsus virtutum sit felicitas et Iusticia humana que non nisi per legeÌ„ ê‘fecte naÌ„ciscitur aut docetur nedum sit virtutum effectê° sed et omnis virtus Sequitur quod iustitia fruens felix per legem est quó et per eam ipÌ„e fit beatus cum idem sit beatitudo felicitas in hac fugaci vita cuius et ê‘ iusticiam ipse summum habet bonuÌ„ tamen noÌ„ nisi per gratiaÌ„ lex poterit ista operari neque legem aut virtutem sine gratia tu addiscere poteris vel appetere Cum vt dicit Parisi in libro suo de Cur deus hoÌ„o virtus hominÌ„ appetitiua iÌ„terior per peccatum originale ita viciata eÌ„ vt sibi vicioruÌ„ sua uia et virtutuÌ„ aspera opera sapiant Quare qd ’ aliqui ad amorem sectacionemque virtut ’ se conferunt diuiniÌ„ bonitatis benefici um est et noÌ„ humanae virtutis Num tunc leges qÌ„ pÌ„ueniente comitante gratia omnia pÌ„ missa operaÌ„tur toto conamine addiscendae sunt dum felicitatem quae secundum Philosophos est hic finis et complementum humani desiderij earum apprehensor obtinebit quó et beatus ille erit in hac vita eius possideÌ„s summum bonum Vere etsi non hec te moueant qui regnum recturus es mouebuÌ„t te etarctabunt ad disciplinatum legis prophetaeverba diceÌ„tê Erudimini qui iudicatis terram noÌ„ enim ad eruditionem artis factiuae aut mechanicae hic mouet propheta Cum non dicat Erudimini qui colitis terram nec ad eruditionem scientiae tantuÌ„ theoricae quamuis oportuna fuerit incolis terrae quia generaliter non dicit erudimini qui inhabitatis terram sed solum ad disciplinam legis qua Iudicia redduntur reges inuitat propheta in his verbis Cum specialiter ipse dicat Erudimini qui iudicatis terram Et sequitur Ne quando irascatur dominus pereatis de via iusta Nec solum legibus quibus iustitiam consequeris fili regis imbui te iubet sacra scriptura sed et ipsam iusticiam diligere tibi alibi precipit cum dicat Diligite iusticiam qui iudicatis terram SapienÌ„ Capitulo primo ¶ Ignorance of the lawe causith the contempt there of Cap. 5. But howe can you loue Iustice onles you first haue a sufficient knoweledge in the lawes whereby the knoweledge of it is wonne and had For the Philosopher saiethe that nothinge can bee loued except it bee knowen And therefore Quintiliane the Oratoure sayethe that happie shoulde artes bee if artificers onelye weare iudges of them As for that whiche is vnknowen it is wonte not onely not to be loued but also to bee despised And therefore a certaine poet thus saieth The plowmaÌ„ doth desspise and skof the thing he is not skilfull of And this is the saiynge not of plowemen alone but allso of learned and right skilfull men For yf vnto a naturall Philosopher y t neuer studied y e mathematicall sciences a supernaturall Philosopher shoulde saye that thys science considerethe thynges seuered from all mater and mouinge accordynge to theire substantiall beeynge and reason or the Mathematical man shoulde say that this scyence considerethe thinges ioyned to mater and mouing after theire substaÌ„ce but seuered accordynge to reason both these though Philosophers wil y e natural philosopher which neuer vnderstood thiÌ„gs seuered froÌ„ matÌ„ motioÌ„ either in beinge or in reason vtterlye despise and they re sciences thoughe in deede more excelent thenne his wil hee laughe to scorne moued so to do by none other cause but that hee is altogether ignoraunte in theire sciences Lykewyse you most worthye prynce would wonder at one skilfull in the lawes of Englande if he should say that the brother shal not succede his half brother in their fathers inheritaunce but rather his enheritaunce shall descende to the sister of the whole bloude or elz it shal bee intituled to the chiefe lord of the fee as his escheat Herat
you would muche marueill beecause you knowe not the cause of this lawe Howebeeit the difficultie of this case nothing troubleth him y t is learned in the lawes of England Wherfore it is a commen sayinge that an art hath no foe but the ignoraunt person But god forbid O noble prince that you should be an enemye to the lawes of that royalme whyche you shall by succession inherite or that you should despise them seeing y t y e a fore cited text of scripture instructeth you to the loue of Iustyce Wherefore moste soueraigne Prince I doe with moste earnest affection require you to learne the lawes of youre fathers kingdome whom you shall succeede not onelye to the intent you maye the rather auoyde these inconuenyences but also because mannes mynde which naturally desireth the thing that is good and can desire nothing but in respects that it is good as soone as by learninge it hathe taken holde of that whiche is good it becommeth ioyefull and loueth the same the more that it is afterwarde occupied in the remembrance of the same so much it is more delited therin Whereby you are taughte y t if you once by learning attaine to y e vnderstanding of y e foresaid lawes wherein you are nowe ignoraunt seeinge they bee perfectlye good you must needes loue theÌ„ And y e more y t you record theÌ„ in your miÌ„de so much y e more delyte pleasure shal you haue in them For what soeuer it is y e is loued the same draweth the louer of it into y e nature therof So that as the Phisopher sayeth vse or exercise becommeth an other nature So a slippe of a Peare tree beeynge graffed into the stocke of an appletree after that it hath taken it so draweth the appletree into the nature of the Peartree y e they bothe for euer after are rightly called a peare-tree and doe bring furth the fruite of a pearetree In lyke sorte continuall vse and practyse of vertu causeth a full perfection therof in so muche that the practyser of the same is afterward named therby as a man indued with modestye of the vse therof is named modest Hee that vseth continencye is called continent and one garnished with wisedom is called wise Wherfore you also moste myghtye prince when you are plesantly delyted in Iustice and therewith indued in respect of the perfeccion of the law you shal wortheli be called Iust For which cause it shal be saide vnto you Thou hast loued Iustice hated iniquitie and therfore the lord thy God hath anointed the with y e oyle of gladnes aboue the kings of the earth thy coÌ„panions SEd quomoÌ„ iusticiam diligere poteris sinon primo legum scientiaÌ„ quibus ipsa cognoscatur vtcuÌ„que appreheÌ„deris Dicit namque Philosophus quod nihil amatuÌ„ nisi cognitum Quare Fabius Orator ait qd ’ felices essent artes si de illis soli artifices iudicarent Ignotum vero noÌ„ solum noÌ„ amari sed sperni solet quô poeta quidaÌ„ sic ait omnia que nescit dicit sperneÌ„ da colonus Et noÌ„ coloni solum vox hec est sed et doctorum peritissimorum quoque viroruÌ„ NaÌ„ si ad Philosophum natural ’ qui in mathe nunquaÌ„ studuit methaphisicus dicat qd ’ scientia sua considerat resseperatas ab oÌ„ni materia et motu scd’m secundum esse et secuÌ„duÌ„ rationeÌ„ Vel mathemathecus dicat quod sua scientia considerat res coniunctas materiÌ„ae et motui secundum esse sed seê‘atas secundum rationem Ambos hos licet phoÌ„s philosophus ille naturalis qui nuÌ„quaÌ„ nouit res aliquas seê‘atas a materia motu essentia vel ratione spernet eorumquè sciencias licet sua scientia nobili ores ipse deridebit non alia ductê° causa nisi quia eorum scientias ipse penitus ignorat Sic et tu princeps legis Anglie ê‘ituÌ„ miraberis si dicat quod frater fratri sibi nequaquaÌ„ vterino non succedet in hereditate paterna sed potiê° hereditas illa soro ri integri sanguinis sui descendet Aut capitali domino feodi accidet vt escaeta sua CuÌ„ causam legis huÃus tu ignores in lege tamen Angliae doctuÌ„ huius casus difficultas nullatenus perturbat Quare et vulgariterdicitur quod ars non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem Sed absit a te fili Regis vt inimiceris legibus regni quo tu successurus es vel vt eas spernes cum iusticiam diligere predicta sapientiae lectio te erudiat Iterum igitur atque iterum princeps inclitissime te adiuro vt leges regni patris tui cui successurus es addiscas Ne dum vt inconuenieÌ„tias has tu euites Sed quia mens humana quae naturaliter bonum appetit et nihil potest appetere nisi sub ratione boni mox vt per doctrinam bonum appreheÌ„derit guadet et illud amat ac quanto deinceps illud plus recordatur tanto amplius delectatur iÌ„ eodem quo doceris quód si leges predictas quas iam ignoras intellexeris ê‘ doctrinam cum optimae illae sint amabis eas Et quaÌ„to plus easdem mente pertractaueris tanto eisdem delectabilius tu frueris Nam omne quod amatur vsu trahit amatorem suum in naturani eius Vnde vt dicit Philosophus vsus altera fit natura sic ramunculus piri stipiti pomi insertus postquam coaluerit ita pomum trahit in naturam piri vt ambae deinceps merito pirus appellentur fructusque producant piri Sic et vsitata virtus habitum generat vt vtens ea deinde a virtute illa denominetur quo modestiae preditus vsu modestus nominatur contineÌ„tiae continens et sapientiae sapiens Quare et tu princeps postquam iustitia delectabiliter functus fueris habitumque legis indutus fueris merito denominaberis iustus cuius gratia tibi dicetur dilexisti iusticiam quo et odisti iniquitatem propterea vnxit te dominus deus tuus oleo letitiae pre consortibus tuis regibus terrae ¶ Here the Chauncellour briefly repeteth the effect of all his perswacion Cap. 6. NOw moste gracious prince is not all thys enoughe to moue youre highnes to the studye of y e lawe Seing that thereby you shal indue your selfe with Iustice whiche shall yelde vnto you the name of a iuste man And shall also eschue the infamy of ignoraunce in the lawe And further by the lawe you enioying felicity shal be blessed in this life And finallye beinge furnished w t a louyng feare whiche is the wisedome of God you shall obtain possesse Charitie whiche is a stedfast loue to godward and by the meane thereof cleanynge to God you shall by the apostles sayenge bee made one Spirite wyth hym But forsomuche as the lawe without grace cannot accoÌ„plish these thiÌ„gs it is necessarie and requisite that aboue all things you
facinus liberis gaudemus habenis Solum igitur mihi iam superest a te sciscitandum si lex Angliae ad cuius disciplinatum me prouocas bona et efficax est ad regimen regni illius vt lex ciuilis qua sacrum regulatur imperium sufficiens arbitrat ’ ad orbis regimeÌ„ vniuersi Si me iÌ„ hoc demoÌ„strationibus congruis indubiuÌ„ reddideris ad studiuÌ„ legis illius illico me conferam nec te postulationibus meis super his apliê° fatigabo ¶ That all lawes are the lawe of nature customes or statutes Cap. 15. THe Chauncelour aunswered saiyng You haue well committed to memorie most worthie prince al that I haue hitherto declared vnto you Wherfore you are well worthy to haue this doubt openyd wherupon now you haue mooued youre question You shal therfore vnderstaÌ„d y t al humayne lawes are either the law of nature or customes or elles statuts which are also called coÌ„stitutions But customes y e senteÌ„ces of the lawe of nature after that they were once put iÌ„ writing by y e sufficieÌ„t autoritie of y e prince published and commaunded to be kept were chauÌ„ged iÌ„to y e nature of coÌ„stitutions or statuts and did after that more penally then before binde the subiectes of the prince to the keepinge of theÌ„ by the seueritye of his commaundemeÌ„t Of this sorte are the most parte of the Ciuile lawes whiche of the Romain priÌ„ces are digested in great volumes by their auctoritie commauÌ„ded to bee obserued And not theye onelye are called by y e name of y e Ciuile law but also al the other statutes of eÌ„perours Now then if that among these .iij. welsprings of all lawe I proue the preeminence of the lawe of England to excell aboue y e rest I shal therwith proue the same lawe to be good and effectuall for the gouernemeÌ„t of y e kingedome And further if I do shewe it to bee as commodious for the wealthe of that Royalme as the Ciuile lawes are for the wealthe of the empire then shall I make euident and plain not onely that this law is of much excellencye but allso that it is an electe and chosen lawe aswell as the Ciuile lawes are whyche is y e thinge y t you require Wherefore to the proofe and declaracion of these .ij. poiÌ„ts thus I ê“cede CAncellarius memoriae tuae princeps optime commendasti quae tibi hucusque suggessi quare et quae iam interrogas meritus es vt paÌ„dam Scire te igitur volo qd oiÌ„a iura humana aut suÌ„t lex naturae coÌ„suetudinÌ„ vel statuta qÌ„ et coÌ„stitutioÌ„es appellaÌ„tur Sed coÌ„suetudines et legis naturae seÌ„teÌ„tiae postquaÌ„ in scripturaÌ„ redactae et sufficieÌ„ti auctoritate priÌ„cipis promulgatae fueriÌ„t ac custodiri iubeaÌ„tur in coÌ„stitutionuÌ„ siue statutoruÌ„ naturaÌ„ mutaÌ„tur et deinde penalius quaÌ„ aÌ„tea subditos priÌ„cipis ad earuÌ„ custodiaÌ„ coÌ„strin guÌ„t seueritate maÌ„dati illius qualis est leguÌ„ ciuiliuÌ„ pars noÌ„ modica qÌ„ a RomanoruÌ„ priÌ„cipibê° iÌ„ magnis voluminibê° redigitur et eor ’ auctoritate obseruari maÌ„datur Vnde legis Ciuilis vt cetera ImperatoruÌ„ statuta iaÌ„ pars illa nomeÌ„ sortita eÌ„ Si igitur in his tribus quasi oÌ„nis iuris fontibus legis Angliae prestaÌ„tiam probauerim prefulgere legem illam bonam esse et efficaceÌ„ ad regni illius regimeÌ„ etiam comê“baui Deinde si eam ad eiusdem regni vtilitatem vt leges ciuiles ad imperij bonum accomodam esse lucidè osteÌ„derim neduÌ„ tuÌ„c legeÌ„ illaÌ„ prestanteÌ„ sed et vt leges ciuiles electam vt tu optas etiaÌ„ patefeci Igitur hec duo tibi ostendere satagens sic progredior ¶ The lawe of nature in all countreis is al one Cap. 16 The lawes of England in those thiÌ„gs whiche they by force of the law of naturÌ„ do ratify establish are neither better nor worse in their iudgements theÌ„ y e lawes of al other natioÌ„s are in y e like cases For as Aristotle in y e fifth boke of his morall philosophie saieth The law of nature is y t which among al people hath like streÌ„gth power Wherefore hereof to reason any loÌ„ger it shall not auayle But nowe hencefurth we wil searche oute what maner of custoÌ„es statutz these of EnglaÌ„d ar And firste the qualytie of those customes wee wyll consider LEges Angliae iÌ„ his qÌ„ ipÌ„ae saÌ„ctiuÌ„t legis naturae ratioÌ„e non meliores peioresue sunt in iudiciis suis quaÌ„ in coÌ„similibê° suÌ„t oÌ„nes leges ceteraruÌ„ nationuÌ„ Quia vt dicit PhuÌ„s v. EthicoruÌ„ Iê° naturale est quod apud omnes homines eaÌ„deÌ„ heÌ„t potentiam quare de ea aÌ„plius disceptare noÌ„ expeditur Sed quales suÌ„t Angliae coÌ„suetudines sl’er similiter et statuta est amodo ê‘scrutaÌ„duÌ„ et primo coÌ„suetudinuÌ„ illaruÌ„ visitabâ—mê° qualitates ¶ The customes of Englande are of most auncient aÌ„tiquitie practised and receaued of v. seuerall nations from one to an other by succession Cap. 17 THe roialme of England was first inhabited of y e BritoÌ„s Next after theÌ„ y e Romains had y e rule of y e lande And theÌ„ again y e BritoÌ„s possessed it After whoÌ„ the Saxons inuaded it who chauÌ„ging y e name therof did for Britain call it England After theÌ„ for a certain tyme the Danes had the dominioÌ„ of the Roialme theÌ„ SaxoÌ„s again But last of al the Normans subdued it whose discent continuethe in y e gouernmeÌ„t of y e kingdom at this present And in al y e times of these seueral nations of theire kinges this roialme was still ruled withe the selfe same customes that it is nowe gouerned witheall Whiche if theye had not beene right good some of those kynges moued eyther with Iustice or with reason or affection would haue chauÌ„ged them or els altogether abolished theÌ„ and specially the RomaiÌ„s who did iudge all the rest of the world by their own lawes Likewise woulde other of the foresaide kinges haue done whiche bye the sworde onelye possessing the royalme of Englande myghte by the lyke power and auctoritye haue extinguisshed the lawes thereof And touchynge the antyquitie of the same neither are the Romaine Ciuile lawes by so longe contynuaunce of auÌ„cient times confirmed nor yet the lawes of the venetians whiche aboue al other are reported to be of most antiquity forsomuch as their Ilande in the beginninge of the Britones was not then inhabited as Roome then also vnbuilded neyther the lawes of any patnime nation of the world are of so olde and auncyent yeares Wherefore the contrarye is not to be sayde nor thoughte but that the Englyshe customes are verye good yea of all other the verye best REgnuÌ„ Angliae primo per Britones iÌ„habitatum est deinde per Romanos regulatum iteruÌ„que per Britones ac deiÌ„de ê‘ Saxones possessuÌ„ qui nomen eius ex BritaÌ„nia in Angliam mutaueruÌ„t ex
of Iustice Cap. 23. MOreouer if by reasoÌ„ of bargayniÌ„ge or by sufferinge of iniuries or by title of iÌ„heritaÌ„ce right do accrewe to aman to pleade in iudgement if there be no witnesseis or if such as were witnesseis be deade the plaiÌ„tif must needs lett his actioÌ„ fall except he be hable to proue his ryght by ineuitable coniectures whiche is seldome seene Wherfore concernynge lordeshippes and other possessions rueled by the ciuile lawe and in all accions fallynge vnder the same lawe the actions of the plaintifes for wante of witnesses many tymes are choked so that skant the halfe parte of them atteyneth to the desiered ende What maner of lawe then is this whiche to them y e susteyne wroÌ„g thus faileth in yeeldinge Iustice I doubt whether it deserue too bee called a iuste lawe because in the same lawe it is wryten that Iustice rendreth too euerye maÌ„ that which is his owne But this cannot such a lawe doo PReterea si ex contractibus illatisue iniuriis vel hereditatis titulo iê° accreuerit homini ageÌ„di in iudicio si testes non fuerint vel si qui fuerint moriaÌ„tur succumbet ipse agens in causa sua nisi ius suuÌ„ ê“bare valeat ineuitabilibê° coniecturis quod facere crebro non contiÌ„git Quare de dominiis et aliis possessionibus iure ciuili regulatis similiter et in omnibê° actionibê° cadeÌ„tibê° sub eodeÌ„ iure actiones ageÌ„tiuÌ„ ê“ defectu testium quaÌ„ pluries suffocaÌ„tur ita qd earuÌ„ vix ê‘s media optatuÌ„ fineÌ„ sortiatur ’ qualis tuÌ„c est lex huiusmodi qÌ„ iniuriatis taliter deficit in iusticia reddeÌ„da dubito an iusta vocari mereatur quia in eadem lege scribitur quod Iusticia vnicuique tribuit quod suum eÌ„ qd noÌ„ faciat lex talis Here hee declareth how counties are deuided and shieriâ—ffs chosen Now that we haue opened after what maner the Ciuile lawes do enfourme a iudge of the truthe of a matter brought into iudgement it is consequent to declare by what meanes the lawes of Englande doo boult out the trueth of suche a matter For the orders of bothe the lawez beynge layde together the qualities of theÌ„ bothe wyll more playnely appere forsomuche as the philosopher sayeth that contraries placed one by an other wyll shewe theÌ„ selfes more euidently But herein after the maner of oratours in steade of a proheme it shall not bee amysse that we open certen thinges before the knowlege whereof shall geue light too thinges whiche heareafter shall come in talke wherefore thus we doo proceede The royalme of Englande is deuided into counties as the royalme of Fraunce is into Baylywyks so that in Englande ther is no place that is not with in the bodie of some countie CouÌ„ties also are deuided into huÌ„dreds which soÌ„e wher are called wapentages And hundredes are deuided into villages vnder which appellation are coÌ„teyned borowes and Cities For the boundes of villages are not conteyned within the circuit of walles buyldynges or streetes but within the compasse of fildes greate territories certein hamlettes and many other as of waters woodes waste grouÌ„des whiche it is not needefull nowe to set furthe by their names because that in England there is skante any place which is not conteined within the coÌ„passe of villageis though certeyn priuileged places within villageis are supposed to be no parcell of y e same villages More ouer in euerie couÌ„tie ther is one certeyn officer called the kynges shierief which amonge other duties belongynge to his office putteth in execucion all the commaundementes and iudgements of the kynges courte that are to be executed within his countie His office endureth but for one yeare so that after the expiratioÌ„ of that yeare he may not minister in that office Neither shall he within ii yeares next ensueynge be admited to y e office agayne This officer is thus chosen Euery yeare the morrowe after All soullen daye all the kynges counsellers meet together in the kynges exchequer aswel y e lordes spirituall and temporall as all other Iustices all the barones of the exchequer the maister of the rolles and certeyn other officers where all these with one commen assent doo name of euerie countie iii. knightes or esquyers whome amonge other of the same countie they take to bee of good dispositioÌ„ and fame and best disposed to the office of the shiereif of that couÌ„tie Of the whiche iii. the kynge chooseth one whome by his letters patents he appointeth sherief of the countie that he is chosen of for the yeare then folowinge But he before hee receaue his patent shall swere vpoÌ„ y e holye ghospell amonge other articles that he shall well and faithfully and indifferently exercise and doo his office all that yeare and that he shall receaue or take nothyng of any other man then the Kynge by colour or meane of his office These thynges beynge thus nowe presupposed lett vs proceede too the searche of those thinges that we seke for Exposita iaÌ„ forma qua leges Ciuiles de veritate facti in iudicio deducti iudicem erudiunt superest vt moduÌ„ quô leges Angliae huiusmodi facti eliciunt veritatem etiam do ceamus Nam ambarum legum formulis contigué positis qualitates earundem lucidius eminebunt cum dicat Philosophus quod opposita iuxta se posita magis apparent Sed in hoc oratorum more prohemii loco quedam pÌ„narrare congruet quorum agnitione deinde tractando clarius patere queant quare sic procedimê° Regnum Angliae per comitatus vt regnum Fraunciae per balliuatus distinguitur ita vt non sit locus in Anglia quae noÌ„ sit iÌ„fr ’ corpê° alicuiê° coÌ„itatê° CoÌ„itatê° quoque diuiduntur in HuÌ„dreda que alicubi Wapen tagia nuncupantur Hundreda vero diuiduÌ„tur per villas subquarum appellatione continentur et Burgi atque Ciuitates Villarum etenim metae non muris edificiis aut stratis terminan tur sed agroruÌ„ ambitubus territoriis magnis hamiletis quibusdaÌ„ et multis aliis sicut aquaruÌ„ boscoruÌ„ et vastoruÌ„ terminis quae iam non expedit nominibus designare qÌ„a vix in anglia est locus aliquis qui non infra villarum ambitus coÌ„tineatur licet priuilegiati loci quidam infravillas de eisdem villis pars esse noÌ„ censentur Preterea in quolibet comitatu est officiarius quidam vnus regis vicecomes appellatus qui inter cetera sui officii ministeria omnia mandata et iudicia curiarum regis iÌ„ comitatu suo exequenda exequitur Cuius officiuÌ„ annale est quo ei post annuÌ„ in eodem ministrare noÌ„ licet nec duobê° tuÌ„c sequeÌ„tibê° aÌ„nis ad ideÌ„ of ficiuÌ„ reassumetur Officiarius iste sic eligitur Quolibet anno in crastino animarum coÌ„ueniunt in scaccario regis omnes consiliarii eius taÌ„ dnÌ„ispuÌ„ales etteÌ„porales quaÌ„ alii oÌ„nes iusticiarii omnes barones de scaccario clericus rotulorum quidam alii officiarii vbi
indiffereÌ„s ipÌ„e noÌ„ eÌ„ osteÌ„dere inter eos veritateÌ„ qualiuÌ„ exceptionuÌ„ tot sunt genera et species quod noÌ„ licet eas breui explicare sermone QuaruÌ„ si aliqua reê‘ta fuerit vera noÌ„ tuÌ„c iurabitur ille coÌ„tra queÌ„ exceptio illa ê“ponitur sed caÌ„cellabitur nomeÌ„ eiê° in panello Sic quoque fiet de oÌ„iÌ„bê° nominibê° impanellatoruÌ„ quousque duodeciÌ„ eoruÌ„ iureÌ„t ’ ita iÌ„differeÌ„tes qd ’ versê° eos neutra partium heÌ„at aliquaÌ„ materiaÌ„ caluÌ„pniae HoruÌ„ auteÌ„ xij ad minus quatuor erunt de huÌ„dredo vbi villa iÌ„ qua factuÌ„ de quo coÌ„teÌ„ditur fieri supponitur sita eÌ„ et qÌ„libet iurat ’ hmÌ„odi habebit terras vel redditê° ê“ termiÌ„o vitae suae ad minê° ad valoreÌ„ annuuÌ„ xl s. Et hic ordo obseruat ’ iÌ„ oiÌ„bê° accioÌ„ibê° et causis criminalibê° realibê° et ê‘sonâ—libê° pÌ„terqÌ„ vbi daÌ„na vel debituÌ„ iÌ„ ê‘sonalibê° noÌ„ exceduÌ„t xl marcas monâ—te anglicanae qÌ„a tuÌ„c noÌ„ reqÌ„rit ’ qd ’ iuâ—â—â—ores iÌ„ actionibê° hmÌ„odi taÌ„tuÌ„ expâ—dâ—râ— possint â— labebuÌ„t tnÌ„ terraÌ„ vel reddit ’ ad valoreÌ„ coÌ„peteÌ„teÌ„ iuxta discretioÌ„eÌ„ iusticiarioruÌ„ alioquin ipÌ„iminiÌ„e iurabuÌ„t ’ ne ê‘ inediaÌ„ et pauê‘tateÌ„ iuratorê hmÌ„odi de facili valeaÌ„t corruÌ„pi aut subornari Et si ê‘ tales exceptioÌ„es tot iuratoruÌ„â—oâ—a iÌ„ pannello caÌ„celeÌ„t ’ qd ’ noÌ„ remaneat numerê° sufficieÌ„s ad facieÌ„duÌ„ iÌ„de iurataÌ„ tuÌ„c maÌ„dabitur vicÌ„ ê‘ breue regis qd ’ ipÌ„e apponÌ„ plures iurator qd ’ et sepiê° fieri potest ita qd ’ inqÌ„sitio veritat suê‘ exitu placiti noÌ„ remanebit ob defectuÌ„ iuratoruÌ„ Et hec eÌ„ forma qualiter iuratores et veritat ’ hmÌ„odi iÌ„qÌ„sitor ’ eligi debeÌ„t in curia regis similiter et iurari quare quo modo ipsi de veritate illa diceÌ„da onerari debent et informari iaÌ„ restat vt queramus ¶ Howe Iurers oughte to be enfourmed by euidences and witnesses Cap. 26. Twelue good lawefull meÌ„ beiÌ„g at y e last sworne in fourme aforsaid hauing besides their moueables sufficieÌ„t possessioÌ„s as afore is declared wherby they may be hable to maiÌ„taiÌ„ their own states being to neither partye suspected or hated but neighbours to theÌ„ both theÌ„ shal be red before theÌ„ in English by y e court al y e recorde processe of the plea dependynge beetwene the parties with a plaine declaracion of the yssue of y e plea touchinge the trueth whereof those sworne meÌ„ shall certifie the courte Whyche thynges beinge done eyther party by himselfe or his couÌ„sellours in the presence of the courte shal vtter and open to the saide sworne men all and singuler maters and euidences whereby he thynkethe he may best informe them of the truethe of the yssue so impleaded And then maye eyther partie bring before the same Iustices and sworne menne al and singuler suche witnesses on his beehalfe as hee will produce Who by the Iustices beeinge charged vpon the holye gospell of godde shal testifie al thinges proouynge the truthe of the fact whereupon the parties coÌ„tend And if neede so require those witnesses shal be seuered and deuided til they haue deposed all that they wyll so that the sayinge of one shall not mooue or prouoke an other to testyfye the lyke The premisses beeynge done then after that those Iurers haue had talke at theire pleasure vppon the truethe of that yssue wythe asmuche deliberation as themselfs shall require in the keepynge of the ministers of the courte wythin a place to them for the same purpose assigned to the intente that noe manne in the meane tyme may corrupte them theye shall retourne into the courte and certyfie the Iustices vppon the decitie of the yssue so ioyned in the presence of bothe the partyes if theye will be there and specially of the plainetyfe The reporte of whiche Iurers by the lawes of Englande is called a verdycte by the whyche woorde is mente a true reporte or a reporte of the truethe And thenne accordyng to the qualitie of that veredicte the Iustices shall frame and fourme their iudgemente Notwithestandynge yf the other partye agaynste whom the verdycte is geeuen complayne that hee is thereby vniustly greeued then the same partye maye sue a writte of attyncte agaynst those Iuries and against the partie y t hathe preuayled By force of whiche write if it shal bee found by the othe of .xxiiij. men in fourme aforesaide retourned elect and sworne whiche shal bee men of muche greater lyuynges then the first Iurers were that the same first Iurers haue made a false othe then the bodies of y e same fyrste Iurers shal bee committed to the kynges prisone theire goodes shall bee confiscate and al their possessions shal bee seased into the kinges handes theire howses also buildynges shal bee rased and throwne downe there woodes felled and theire medowe grouÌ„des plowed And also y e same fâ—rst Iurers shal for euer after be noted for infamed persoÌ„s and shal in no place be receaued to testifie the truth And the partie whiche in the former plea had the ouerthrowe shal be restored to all thynges whyche by occasion thereof he hathe lost Who theÌ„ though he regarde not his soules healthe yet for feare of so greate punishmente and for shame of so greate infamye woulde not vppon his othe declare the trueth And if one man parauenture haue so litle respecte to hys honoure or estimation yet some of so manye Iurers wyll not neglecte they re owne good fame nor wyl not thoroughe they re owne defaulte suffre themselfes thus to be spoyled of their goodes and possessions Is not this order now for the boultynge oute of the truethe better and more effectuall then the processe which the Ciuile lawes do procure Here no cause nor no mans ryghte quailethe throughe death or for wante of witnesses Here are not brought fâ—rthe vnknowen witnesses hiered persons pore men vagaboundes vnconstant people or suche whose conditions and naughtynes is vnknowen These witnesses are neygheboures hable to lyue of they re owne of good name and fame of honeste reporte not brought into the court by the partye but by a worshipfull and indifferent officer chosen and so compelled to come before the iudge These knowe all that the witnesses are hable to depose â—id theye knowe allso the constancye and vnconstauncye of the witnesses and what reporte goethe vppon theÌ„ And what wyll ye haue more Doubtles there is nothynge that maye dysclose the truethe of anye doubt fallynge in contention whiche can in anye wyse be hydde from suche Iurers so that it be possible for the same to come to mans knowledge IVratis demum in forma pÌ„dicta duodeciÌ„ ê“bis et legalibê° hominibus habentibus vltra mobilia sua possessiones vt pÌ„dicitur sufficieÌ„tes vnde eoruÌ„ statuÌ„ ipsi coÌ„tinere poteruÌ„t et nulli partiuÌ„ suspectis nec iÌ„uisis sed eisdeÌ„ vicinis legetur in anglico coraÌ„ eis ê‘
dispositionis esse videÌ„tur et nomina eoruÌ„ ille deliberare solet CaÌ„cellario angliae in scriptis qui illico maÌ„dabit ê‘ breuia regis cuilêª cuilibet electoruÌ„ illoruÌ„ qd sit coraÌ„ rege ad dieÌ„ ê‘ ipsum assignatum ad suscipieÌ„duÌ„ statum et graduÌ„ seruieÌ„tis ad legeÌ„ sub ingeÌ„ti pena iÌ„ quolibet breuiuÌ„ predictorum limitata ad queÌ„ dieÌ„ quilibêª quilibet eorum coÌ„pareÌ„s iurabitur suê‘ saÌ„cta dei euaÌ„gelia fore paratum ad dieÌ„ et locuÌ„ tunc sibi statueÌ„dos ad recipieÌ„dum statuÌ„ gradum predictos et qd ’ ipse in die illo dabit aurum secuÌ„dum coÌ„suetudineÌ„ regni in hoc casu vsitataÌ„ TnÌ„ qualiter ad dieÌ„ illum quilibet elector ’ predictor ’ se habeb nec noÌ„ formaÌ„ et mod ’ qualiter statê° gradus hmÌ„oi coÌ„fereÌ„t ’ et recipiuntur hic inserere omitto cum scripturam maiorem illa exigant quam congruit operi tam succincto Tibi tamen ore tenus ea alias explicaui Scire tamen te cupio qd ’ adueniente die sic statuto electi illi inter alias solempnitates festum celebrant et conuiuium ad instar coronationis regis quod et continuabitur ê‘ dies septem necquisquam electorum illorum suÌ„ptus sibi contingentes circa soleÌ„pnitatem creationis suae minoribus expensis perficiet quam mille et sex centoruÌ„scutorum quo expensae quas octo sic electi tuÌ„c refuÌ„deÌ„t excedent suÌ„maÌ„ 3200. marc quaruÌ„ expeÌ„saruÌ„ ê‘s qÌ„daÌ„ inter cetera hec erit Quilibet eoruÌ„ dabit anulos de auro ad valeÌ„tiaÌ„ in toto quadragiÌ„ta librar ’ ad minê° monetae AnglicanÌ„ et bene recolit CaÌ„cellarius ipse qd ’ duÌ„ ille statum graduÌ„ hmÌ„oi receperat ipse soluit ê“ anulis quos tuÌ„c distribuit quinquaginta libras qÌ„ suÌ„t 300. scuta Solet naÌ„que vnusquisque seruientuÌ„ hmÌ„oi teÌ„pore creacoÌ„is suae dare cuilêª cuilibet priÌ„cipi duci et archiepÌ„o iÌ„ soleÌ„nitate illa preseÌ„ti ac CaÌ„cellar ’ et Thesa ang anuluÌ„ ad valoreÌ„ 26. s. 8. denar ’ et cuilibet comiti et epÌ„o coÌ„similiter preseÌ„tibus nec noÌ„ custodi priuati figilli vtrique capitali iusticiario et capitali baroni de scaccario regis aÌ„nuluÌ„ ad valoreÌ„ 20. s. et oiÌ„ dnÌ„o baroni ê‘liameÌ„ti et oiÌ„ abbati et notabili prelato ac magno militi tuÌ„c pÌ„seÌ„ti custodi etiaÌ„ rotul ’ caÌ„cellariae regis cuilibet iusticiario anuluÌ„ ad valencÌ„ 1. marcÌ„ Similiter et oiÌ„ bar ’ de scaccÌ„ regis camerariis etiaÌ„ oiÌ„bus officÌ„ et notabilibê° viris in cur ’ regis miÌ„straÌ„tibê° anulos minor ’ pÌ„cij coÌ„uenieÌ„tes tnÌ„ statibus eoruÌ„ q ib quibus donaÌ„tur Ita quod non erit clericus maximè iÌ„ curia coÌ„munis baÌ„ci licet iÌ„fimus quin anuluÌ„ ipse recipiet coÌ„uenieÌ„teÌ„ gradui suo Et vltra hos ipsi dant anulos nonnullos aliis amicis suis Similiter et liberataÌ„ magnaÌ„ paÌ„ni vniê° sectae quaÌ„ ipsi tunc distribuent in magna abuÌ„daÌ„tia nedum familiaribê° suis sed et amicis aliis et notis qui eis atteÌ„deÌ„t et ministrabuÌ„t teÌ„pore soleÌ„nitatis predictae Quare licet in vniuersitatibus in gradum doctorat ’ erecti expensas non modicas faciant teÌ„ê‘e creacionis suae ac birreta alia quoque donaria quaÌ„ bona errogeÌ„t noÌ„ tameÌ„ auruÌ„ ipsi coÌ„ferunt aut alia donaria suÌ„ptusue faciuÌ„t his expeÌ„sis similia Neque in regno aliquo orbis terraruÌ„ datur gradus specialis in legibê° regni illiê° pÌ„terquaÌ„ soluÌ„ iÌ„ regno Angliae Nec est aduocatê° in vniuÌ„so muÌ„do qÌ„ ratione officii sui taÌ„tuÌ„ lucratur vt seruiens huiusmodi Nullê° eciaÌ„ licet in legibê° regni illius scientissimê° fuerit assumetur ad officium et dignitateÌ„ iusticiarii iÌ„ curiis placitoruÌ„ coraÌ„ ipso rege et comunis banci quae suÌ„t supremae curiae eiusdeÌ„ regni ordinariae nisi ipse primitus statu et gradu seruieÌ„tis ad legeÌ„ fuerit insignitus Nec quisquaÌ„ preterquaÌ„ seruieÌ„s talis iÌ„ curia comunis banci vbi omnia realia placita placitantur placitabit Quare ad statum et graduÌ„ taleÌ„ nullê° hucusque assuÌ„ptus est qui non in pÌ„dicto generali legis studio sexdecim annos ad minus antea coÌ„pleuit et in signum qd oÌ„nes iusticiarii illi taliter extaÌ„t graduati q i libet eoruÌ„ seÌ„p vtitur dum in curiis regis sedet birreto albo de serico qd pÌ„muÌ„ et pÌ„cipuuÌ„ eÌ„ de iÌ„signÌ„ habit ’ quo seruieÌ„t ’ ad legeÌ„ in eoruÌ„ creacionÌ„ decoraÌ„t ’ Nec birret ’ illud iusticiariê° sicut nec seruieÌ„s ad legeÌ„ vnquaÌ„ deponet quo caput suuÌ„ iÌ„ toto discoope riet etiaÌ„ iÌ„ pÌ„seÌ„t ’ reg licÌ„ cuÌ„ celsitudinÌ„su a ipÌ„e loquat ’ Quare priÌ„ceps pÌ„clarissimÌ„ tu amodo hesi tar ’ noÌ„ pot’is quin leges istae qÌ„ taÌ„ sigularit ’ supr ’ ciuiles leges leges etiaÌ„ oÌ„niuÌ„ alioruÌ„ regnoruÌ„ honeraÌ„t ’ et tam soleÌ„pni statu eruditoruÌ„ et ministraÌ„tiuÌ„ iÌ„ eis veneraÌ„t ’ pÌ„ciosae sit nobiles et sublimes ac magnÌ„ pÌ„staÌ„ciae maximaeque-scieÌ„tiae et virtutis After what maner a Iustice is created and of his habite and conuersation Cap. 51 BVt to the intent the state of Iustices aswell as of seriauntes at lawe maye be knowen to your grace as I caÌ„ I wil describe vnto you their fourme and office In the commen beÌ„che there are custumable v. Iustices or vi at the most And in the kynges benche .iiii. or v. And as ofte as the place of any of them by deathe or otherwyse is voyde y e kynge vseth to choose one of the seriauntes at lawe and him by his letters patents to ordeine a Iustice in the place of the iudge so ceassynge And theÌ„ the lorde Chauncellor of England shall enter into y e courte where the Iustice is so lackynge bryngyng with him those letters patents and sittynge in y e myddes of the Iustices causeth the seriauÌ„t so elect to be brought in to whoÌ„ in the open courte he notifieth the kynges pleasure touchynge the office of the iustice then voyd and causeth the foresaid letters to be openly read Whiche doÌ„e the maister of the rolles shall reade before the same elect person the othe that he shall take Which wheÌ„ he hath sworne vpon the holy gospell of god the lord ChauÌ„cellour shall deliuer vnto him the kynges letters aforesaid And the lorde chiefe Iustice of y t courte shall assine vnto him a place in the same where he shall then place him that place shall he afterward kepe Yet you must knowe most noble priÌ„ce that this Iustice shall theÌ„ amonge other thinges sweare that he shal indifferently minister iustice to all men aswell foes as frendes that shall haue any sute or plea before hiÌ„ And this shal he not forbeare to do
thoughe the kinge by his letters or by expresse worde of mouth woulde commaunde the contrarie He shall also sweare that from that tyme forwarde he shall not receaue or take any fee or pension or lyuerye of any maÌ„ but of y e kiÌ„g onely nor any gyfte reward or brybe of any maÌ„ hauiÌ„g sute or plea before him sauynge meate and driÌ„ke which shal be of no great value You shall also knowe that a Iustice thus made shal not be at the charges of any diner or solempnitie or anye other costes at the tiÌ„e wheÌ„ he taketh vpoÌ„ him his office dignitie forsomuch as this is no degree in y e facultie of the lawe but an office onely a rowm of autoritie to coÌ„tinue duringe the kynges pleasur Howebeit the habit of his raimeÌ„t he shall from tyme to tyme forward in some poyntes chaunge but not in all the ensignements thereof For beiÌ„ge a seriauÌ„t at lawe he was clothed in a longe robe priestlyke with a furred cape about his shouldâ—rs therupon a hoode with ii labels such as doctours of the lawes vse to weare in certen vniuersities w t the aboue discribed quoife But beinge ones made a Iustice iÌ„ stede of his hood he shal weare a cloke closed vpon his right shoulder all y e other ornameÌ„ts of a seriaunt still remaining sauiÌ„ge that a Iustice shal weare no partie coloured vesture as a seriaunt maye And his cape is furred with none other then meneuer whereas the seriauntes cape is euer furred w t white laÌ„be And this habite I would wishe your grace to briÌ„g into hieghe estimation when it shal be iÌ„ your power for the worshippe of the state of the lawe y e honour of your royalme Furthermore I woulde ye shoulde know that the Iustices of England sitt not in the kinges courtes aboue iii. houres in a day that is to saye from viii of the clock in y e forenone till xi complete For in y e afternones those courtes are not holden or kepte But the Suters then resort to y e ê‘using of theire writinges and elswhere consulting with the Seriauntes at lawe and other theire counsailoures Wherfore the Iustyces after they haue taken theire refection doo passe and bestowe all the residue of the daye in the studye of the lawes in readynge of holye scripture and vsynge other kynde of contemplacion at their pleasure So that theire lyfe may seeme more contemplatiue then actiue And thus do they leade a quiete lyfe discharged of al wordly cares and troubles And it hath neuer bene knowen that ani of them hathe bene corrupt with gyftes or brybes whereupoÌ„ we haue sene this kynde of grace folowynge that skante anye of them dyethe without yssue which vnto iust meÌ„ is a token of the great peculiar blessynge of god And in myne opinioÌ„ it is to be iudged for no small poynte of the bountefull goodnes of god that out of the generation of Iudges there haue hetherto spronge vp mo states peares of the royalme theÌ„ out of any other state of meÌ„ which by their owne wytte policie haue aspired vnto great wealthe nobilitie honour Yea thoughe the state of merchauntes surmount the nuÌ„ber of Iudgeis by many thousans beinge men of suche singular wealth that amonge them commeÌ„ly ther be such as one of theÌ„ in riches passeth all the Iusticeis of y e royalm For this cannot be ascribed vnto fortune which is nothynge But it is to be attributed as I take it onely to the blessynge of god For somuche as by his prophet hee saieth y t the generatioÌ„ of righteous men shal be blessed And the prophet in an other place speakiÌ„g of iust men sayeth y t theire children shal be in blessynge wherefore o most magnificeÌ„t prince be you in loue w t iustice which thus eÌ„richeth exalteth to honour and auaunceth to perpetuite the children of them that haue her in veneration And be you a zelous louer of the lawe the verie welspriÌ„ge of Iustice y t by you it may be sayed y t is writeÌ„ of y e righteous And their seede shall remayne for euer SEd vt Iusticiari â—oruÌ„ sicut et seruieÌ„tuÌ„ ad legeÌ„ statê° tibi innotescat eoruÌ„ formaÌ„ officiuÌ„que vt potero iaÌ„ discribaÌ„ SoleÌ„t naÌ„que in comuni baÌ„coÌ„ quinque iusticiarii esse vel sex ad maius Et in baÌ„co regis quatuor vel quinque ac quocieÌ„s eorum aliquis per morteÌ„ vel aliter cessauerit rex de aduisamento consilii sui eligere solet vnuÌ„ de seruieÌ„tibus ad legem et euÌ„ ê‘ litteras suas pateÌ„tes constituere in iusticiariuÌ„ loco iudicis sic cessaÌ„tis et tunc cancellarius Angliae adibit curiaÌ„ vbi iustitiariê° sic deest differeÌ„s secuÌ„ litteras illas ac sedens in medio iusticiarioruÌ„ introduci sacit seruienteÌ„ sic electuÌ„ cui in plena curia ipse notificabit voluÌ„tateÌ„ regis de officio iudiciario sic vacante et legi faciet iÌ„ publico literas pÌ„dictas Quo facto custos rotulorum caÌ„celariae regis leget coraÌ„ eodeÌ„ electo iusiuraÌ„duÌ„ qd ipse facturê° est qd et cuÌ„ super sctaÌ„ dei EuaÌ„gelia ipse iurauerit caÌ„cellariê° sibi tradet litteras regis predictas et capitalis iusticiarius curiae illiê° assignabit sibi locuÌ„ iÌ„ eadeÌ„ vbi deiÌ„ceps ille sedebit et mox euÌ„ sedere faciet iÌ„ eodeÌ„ ScieÌ„dum tameÌ„ tibi eÌ„ PriÌ„ceps qd Iusticiariê° iste inter cetera tuÌ„c iurabit se iustitiaÌ„ ministraturuÌ„ iÌ„differeÌ„ter oÌ„nibê° hominibê° coraÌ„ eo placitaÌ„tibê° iÌ„imicis et amicis nec sic facere differet etiam si rex per litteras suas aut ore tenê° coÌ„trariuÌ„ iusserit Iurabit etiam quod extunc non recipiet ipsae ab aliquo preterquaÌ„ a rege feoduÌ„ aut pencionem aliquam seu liberatam neque donum capiet abhabente placitum coram eo preterquam esculenta et poculeÌ„ta qÌ„ noÌ„ magni eruÌ„t precii ScienduÌ„ etiaÌ„ tibi est qd Iusticiarius sic creatus coÌ„uiuiÌ„um soleÌ„pnitateÌ„ue aut suÌ„ptê° aliquos non faciet teÌ„pore susceptionis officii et dignitatis suae cuÌ„ noÌ„ sint illâ— gradê° aliqui in facultate legis sed officiuÌ„ soluÌ„ illa siÌ„t magistratê° ad regis nutuÌ„ duâ—atura habituÌ„ tnÌ„ indumeÌ„ti sui iÌ„ qÌ„busd ’ ipÌ„e ex tunc mutabit sed non in oiÌ„bê° insigniis eiê° NaÌ„ seruiens ad legeÌ„ ipse existeÌ„s roba loÌ„ga ad instar sacerdotis cuÌ„ capicio penulato circa humeros eius et desuê‘ collobio cuÌ„ duobê° labelulê qualiter vti soleÌ„t doctores leguÌ„ in vniuÌ„sitatibê° quibusdaÌ„ cum supra discripto birreto vestiebatur Sed Iusticiariê° factus loco collobii clamide induetur firmata super humeruÌ„ eiê° dexteruÌ„ ceteris ornamentis seruientis adhuc permaneÌ„tibê° excepto qd stragulata veste aut coloris depertiti vt potest seruieÌ„s iusticiariê° noÌ„ vtetur et capiciuÌ„ eiê° non alio quaÌ„ meneuero penulatur CapiÌ„cium tnÌ„ seruieÌ„tis pellibê°
law euicted from him And yet al these are delayes as you most noble prince by my talke at other times do wel knowe And the like delayes to these do no other lawes admit Neither do the lawes of Englande admyt tryeflinge and vnfruteful delayes And if any suche fonde delayes shoulde be vsed they maye at euerye parliament be cut awaye Yea and other laws vsed in the same royalme wheÌ„ in any pointe theye beegynnne to haste theye maye at euery parliameÌ„t be refourmed Wherfore it maye well bee concluded that all the lawes of that royalme are ryghte good either in deede or in possibilitie So that if they bee not presentlye good theye maye easlye be reduced to the present perfection of goodnes To the perfourmaunce wherof as ofte as equytye so requyrethe euerye kynge there is bounde by an othe solempnelye taken at the tyme of hys coronation Cancellariê° In actionibê° personalibê° extra vrbes villas mercatores vbi ê“ceditur secunduÌ„ coÌ„suetudines et libertates earundeÌ„ processê° sunt ordinarii Et quaÌ„tas libet dilationes paciuntur non tamen excessiuas In vrbibê° vero et villis illis potissimÌ„ cuÌ„ vrgeÌ„s causa de poscat celeris vt in aliis muÌ„di ê‘tibê° fit ê“cessê° nec tameÌ„ vt alibi ipsi nimiuÌ„ aliquando festinaÌ„t ’ quo subsequitur ê‘tis lesio Rursê° in realibê° actionibê° in oÌ„nibê° fere muÌ„di ê‘tibê° morosi sunt ê“cessê° Sed iÌ„ Anglia quodamodo celeriores SuÌ„t quippe iÌ„ regno FraÌ„ciae in curia ibid ’ supÌ„ma qÌ„ cur ’ ê‘liameÌ„ti vocitatur ê“cessê° quidaÌ„ qÌ„ in ea plus quaÌ„ triginta aÌ„nis pepeÌ„deruÌ„t Et noui ego appellationis causaÌ„ vnaÌ„ qÌ„ in curia illa agitata fuit iam ê‘ deceÌ„ aÌ„nos suspeÌ„saÌ„ fuisse et adhuc veri simile noÌ„ eÌ„ eaÌ„ ifra aÌ„nos decem alios poste discidi osteÌ„dit et mihi duduÌ„ duÌ„ Parisiis morabar hospes meê° ê“cessuÌ„ suuÌ„ in scriptis queÌ„ iÌ„ curia pliamÌ„ti ibideÌ„ ipÌ„e tuÌ„c octo aÌ„nis ê“ quatuor solidatis redditê° qÌ„ de pecunia nostr ’ viii d noÌ„ ex ceduÌ„t ê“secutê° est nec sperauit se in octo annis aliis iuditium inde opteÌ„turuÌ„ Alios quoque noÌ„nullos nouicasê° ibideÌ„ his similes sic qd leg Angliae noÌ„ tantas vt mihi visuÌ„ eÌ„ dilationes sortiuÌ„t ’ vt faciuÌ„t leges regionis illiê° Sed reuÌ„a ê“ne cessariuÌ„ eÌ„ dilationÌ„s fieri iÌ„ ê“cessibê° oiÌ„m actionuÌ„ duÌ„modo nimiuÌ„ ipsae non fueriÌ„t excessiuae NaÌ„ sub illis ê‘tes et maximÌ„ ê‘s rea quaÌ„ sepe sibi ê“uident de defeÌ„sionibê° vtilibê° similiter et consiliis quibê° alias ipsi carereÌ„t Nec vnquaÌ„ iÌ„ iudiciis taÌ„tuÌ„ iÌ„minet periculuÌ„ quaÌ„ tum parit ê“cessê° festinatê° Vidi neÌ„pe quoÌ„daÌ„ apud ciuitatem SaruÌ„ coraÌ„ iudice quodam ad gaolaÌ„ ibideÌ„ de liberaÌ„daÌ„ cum clerico suo assignato mulierem de morte mariti sui infra aÌ„num ab iÌ„terfectione eiê° attinctaÌ„ similiter et coÌ„bustaÌ„ in quo casu licuit iudici illi vsque post aÌ„num illum arrettamentuÌ„ siue disrationÌ„ mulier ’ illiê° respectuasse et post annuÌ„ illuÌ„ vidi vnuÌ„ de seruieÌ„tibus i Ì„t erfecti illiê° coraÌ„ eodeÌ„ iusticiario de morte eiusdeÌ„ magistri sui coÌ„uictuÌ„ qÌ„ tuÌ„c publice fatebatur ipÌ„mmet solum magistruÌ„ suuÌ„ occidisse et magistram suaÌ„ vxoreÌ„ eiê° tunc coÌ„bustaÌ„ iÌ„noceÌ„teÌ„ oÌ„niÌ„o fuisse de morte eius quare ipse tractê° et suspeÌ„sê° fuit Sed tnÌ„ oÌ„niÌ„o etiaÌ„ iÌ„ ipÌ„o mortis articulo muliereÌ„ coÌ„bustaÌ„ iÌ„muneÌ„ a crimiÌ„e illo fuisse ipÌ„e lugebat O quale putaÌ„duÌ„ eÌ„ ex hoc facto coÌ„scieÌ„tiae discrimeÌ„ et remorsuÌ„ euenis se iusticÌ„ illi taÌ„ pÌ„cipiti qÌ„ potuit ê“cessum illuÌ„ iuste retardasse Sepiê° ê“h dolor ipÌ„e michi fassus est qd ’ nuÌ„quaÌ„ in vita sua animuÌ„ eius de hoc facto ipse purgaret crebro eteniÌ„ iÌ„ deliberationibê° iudicÌ„ maturescuÌ„t Sed in accelerato processu nuÌ„quaÌ„ Quare leges Angliae essoniuÌ„ admittunt qualia noÌ„ faciuÌ„t leges aliae muÌ„di vniuersi NoÌ„ne quaÌ„ vtil ’ suÌ„t vocatioÌ„es ad warrantuÌ„ Auxilia de his ad quos spectat reuÌ„tio tenemeÌ„toruÌ„ qÌ„ iÌ„ placituÌ„ deducuÌ„t ’ et q i heÌ„nt euideÌ„tias eoruÌ„deÌ„ Auxilia etiaÌ„ de coê‘ticipibê° qÌ„ reddeÌ„t ê“ rata si tenemeÌ„t ’ coÌ„ê‘ticipi allottatuÌ„ euiÌ„catur et tamen hec dilationes suÌ„t sicut tu priÌ„ceps alias nosti ex doctrina mâ—a Et dilationes his similes leges aliae noÌ„ admittuÌ„t neque leges Angliae friuolas et infructuosas ê‘mittunt inducias Et si qÌ„ in regno illo dilationes in placitis minê° accomodae fuerint vsitatae in oÌ„ni parliameÌ„to aÌ„putari illae possuÌ„t etiaÌ„ et oeÌ„s leges aliae in regno illo vsitatae cuÌ„ in aliquo claudicauerint in oÌ„ni parliameÌ„to poterunt reformari Quôrectê coÌ„cludi potest qd ’ omnes leges regni illius optimae sunt in actu vel potentia quo faciliter in actum duci poteruÌ„t et in essentiam realem Ad quod faciendum quotieÌ„s equitas id poposcerit singuli reges ibidem sacramento astringuntur so lempniter prestito tempore receptionis diadematis sui ¶ The lawes of England are right good the knowledge whereof is expedient for kynges Yet it shall suffice theÌ„ to haue but a superficiall knowledge of the same Cap. 54. I Haue wel euideÌ„tly ê‘ceaued quod y e prince by y e ê“cesse of your talke good ChauÌ„cellour y t those lawz are not onely good but also of most perfecte excelleÌ„t goodnes And if any of theÌ„ haue neede to be ameÌ„ded that may quicklye bee done as the fourmes and orders of y e parliamentes there do plainlye prooue Wherfore y e roialme is euer really or potentiallye gouerned by most excelleÌ„t and most worthie lawes And I doubt not but that your instructions in thys our talke shal bee profitable for the kings of Englande whiche hereafter shall bee so that they haue noe pleasure in gouernynge by vnpleasaunt lawes For the vnhandsomnes of the toole or instrumente werieth the workmanne and a blunte pike or a dulle sweorde makethe a cowardelye souldiour But like as a souldiour is encouraged to fight not onelye when hee hathe handsome and fitte weapons in a readynes but also much more when he is expert and skilfull in warlike actes accordinge to the saying of Vegetius in his boke of chiualrie y e knowledge connyng in martiall feats ministreth boldenes in fightinge for no man feareth to do that whiche he trusteth hee hathe well learned in lyke maner euery kinge hath a ferueÌ„t zeale earnest desire to y e maintenaunce of Iustice not only knowiÌ„g y e lawes whereby y e must be don to be most iust but also beinge skilful in the forme nature of y e same Whereof it shal suffice y e prince to haue onely an vniuersall a superficial a confuse knoweledge the