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
¶ 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 EnglaÌ„d 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 nuÌ„quam 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 prespiciâ—s 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 thargumeÌ„t 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 beiÌ„g 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 vnderstaÌ„d 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 EnglaÌ„de wheÌ„ the most vertuous and godly king Henry the sixt w t Queene Margaret his wife y e kiÌ„gz daughter of Iherusalem and Scicile their onely sonne Edwarde prince of Wales were forced to fly the land the kiÌ„g himself afterward in the same ciuil tumult falling into the blody hands of his deadly enemies his own subiectz was of them coÌ„mitted to prisoÌ„ wher he a loÌ„g tyme remained in straite captiuitie the queene y e priÌ„ce her sonne thus banished out of their countrey making their abode in y e duchy of Berry a dominion of y e foresaid kiÌ„g 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 companioÌ„s I mean y e yong meÌ„ y e attended vpoÌ„ hys ê‘son Which thing wheÌ„ a certein auÌ„cieÌ„t knight being chauÌ„cellour to y e forsaide kiÌ„g of EnglaÌ„d saw who also in y e miserable tyme did there remain in exile hee spake thus to y e priÌ„ce SEuieÌ„te 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 suÌ„t sub qua et demum rex ipse H. a subditis suis depreheÌ„sus carceris diutinuÌ„ passus est horrorem duÌ„ regina ipsa cum sobole patria sic extorrens in ducatu BerrenÌ„
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
attingunt et quoruÌ„ quilibet ceÌ„tuÌ„ solidatê° heÌ„at terrae et redditê° ad certificaÌ„duÌ„ Iudices illos suê‘ criminÌ„ illiê° veritate Quibê° coÌ„pareÌ„tibê° rettatê° ille eos caluÌ„pniare potest eadeÌ„ forma qua iÌ„ actionibê° realibus fieri debere suê‘iê° discribit ’ Et iÌ„sup reê° ipÌ„e iÌ„ fauoreÌ„ vitae suae caluÌ„pniare potest triginta quiÌ„que hoiÌ„es quos ipÌ„e maxime formidat qÌ„ ad eiê° caluÌ„pniaÌ„ caÌ„cellabuÌ„t ’ iÌ„ panello aut signÌ„ talibê° notabuÌ„t ’ qd ’ vt verbê legê vtar illi suê‘ euÌ„ noÌ„ traÌ„sibuÌ„t licet ipÌ„e nullaÌ„ causaÌ„ assignare sciat exceptionis seu caluÌ„pniae suae Quis tuÌ„c mori posset in iquè in Anglia pro crimine cuÌ„ tot iuuamina habere ille poterit ob fauoreÌ„ vitae suae et noÌ„ nisi vicini eius ê“bi et fideles homines versus quos ipse nullaÌ„ heÌ„t materiam exceptionis euÌ„ condeÌ„nare poteruÌ„t mallem reuera vigiÌ„ti facino rosos mortem pietate euadere quaÌ„ iustuÌ„ vnuÌ„ iniuste condempari Nec tameÌ„ reuÌ„ quempiaÌ„ sub hac forma reatus sui penam euadere posse suspicaÌ„dum est dum eius vita et mores timori deâ—ceps eruÌ„t eis qui euÌ„ sic purgarunt a crimine In hoc equideÌ„ processu nihil est crudele nihil inhumanuÌ„ nec ledi poterit innocens iÌ„ corpore aut membris suis quare nec formidabit ille caluÌ„pniam inimicorum eius quia non torquebit ’ iste ad arbitrium ipsorum Sub hac igitur lege viuere quietum et securum est Iudica ergo princeps optime qÌ„ legum harum tibi electissima foret si tu priuatam spirares vitam ¶ The prince graunteth the lawes of Englande to be more commodious for the subiectes then the Ciuile lawes in the case nowe disputed Cap. 28. WHereunto the prince aunswered and sayde I see no harde or straunge mater good ChauÌ„celour that shoulde make mee doubtefull or daungerous in the election and choyse of the thynge that yee aske For whoe woulde not rather choose to lyue vnder that lawe where-vnder hee myghte lyue in securitye then vnder that lawe whych woulde sette hym naked and succourlesse agaynste the crueltye of hys enemyes Verelye no manne can bee saufe in body or gooddes whom his aduersarye maye conuince in euerye cause withe twoo vnknowen wytnesses of his owne choosynge bryngynge fourthe And thoughe a manne be not compelled by theire sayenges to dye yet is he lyttell relieued that hath escaped deathe beeynge shronke in all his synnews and lymmes cast intoo a perpetuall impotencye of his bodye And truelye into suche daunger maye the crafte of a spytefull person bringe anye manne that lyuethe vnder the lawe whyche herewhile you spake of But suche mischiefe and inconuenience cannot be wroughte by witnesses that make theire depositions in the presence of twelue credyble menne neyghbours to the deede that is presentlye in question and to the circumstaunces of the same which also know the maners and condicions of y e same witnesses specially if they bee nigh dwellers and knowe also whether they bee menne worthye to bee credited or no. And further all those xii caÌ„not bee ignoraunt in those thinges that were doone by among theire neighbours For I know more certeinelye the thinges that are doone heare in Barro where I am now remayninge then those thinges that are done in England Neither doe I thynke that thinges can be kepte from the knowledge of a good honest man being done nighe to his house and almost vnder his nose bee they neuer so secretlye doone But yet I maruail much why the foresaide lawe of Englande whiche is so good and commodious is not commen to all the whole worlde CVi princeps ArduuÌ„ aÌ„bigu uÌ„ue CaÌ„cellarie noÌ„ conspicio qd ’ morosum me tutubaÌ„teÌ„ue redderet in electione rei quaÌ„ interrogas NaÌ„ quis noÌ„ sub lege quasecuram ducere posset vitaÌ„ viuere potius eligeret quaÌ„ sub lege tali sub qua inermem indefensumque se seÌ„ê‘ redderet seuiciae omniuÌ„ inimicoruÌ„ eius Vere tutus quisquaÌ„ esse noÌ„ poterit in corê‘e aut in bonis queÌ„ inimicus eius in omni causa conuincere poterit testibê° duobus etiam ignotis per ipsummet electis et ê“ductis Et licet quis mortem per dicta eorum subire noÌ„ cogatur parum tamen releuatur ipse qui mortem euasit coÌ„tractione neruorum meÌ„brorum suorum atque corporis eius languore ê‘petuo Tali reuera discrimini impellere potest inimici astutia oeÌ„m homineÌ„ qui sub lege degit quaÌ„ tu iam duduÌ„ explicasti Sed tale maluÌ„ operari nequeruÌ„t testes qui depositiones suas faciunt in presentia duo decim fide dignoruÌ„ vicinor ’ facto de quo agit ’ circuÌ„stantiis eius qui et noscunt eorundem testium mores maxime si vicini ipsi fuerint noscunt etiam et si ipsi sint credulirate digni Omnes etiam duo decim â—ales latere omnino non poterit quicquid actum est per aut inter vicinos eorum Nosco namque ego certius quae iam aguntur hic in Barro vbi sum modo conuersatus quam quae iÌ„ Anglia fiuÌ„t Nec effugere posse puâ—o noticiam probi viri ea quae aguÌ„tur licet quo daÌ„mÌ„o occultè prope domicilium eius Sed tuÌ„ cur predicta lex Angliae quae tam frugi et optabilis est noÌ„ est toti mundo communis vehementer admiror ¶ VVhy inquestes are not made by iuries of .xii. men in other roialmes aswel as in Englande Cap. 29 YOur highnes came very yonge out of EnglaÌ„d quod the chauncellour so that the disposicion and qualitie of that lande is vnknowen vnto you Whiche if ye know and shoulde compare therewith the commodities and qualities of other countreis you would nothinge maruaile at these thinges whyche nowe do trouble youre mynde In deede Englande is so fertile and fruitfull that comparinge quantitie to quantitie it surmounteth all other landes in fruitfulnes Yea it bringeth furthe fruit of it self skant prouoked by mans industrie and laboure For there the landes the fieldes the groues and the woodes doe so abundauntlye springe that the same vntilled do commonlye yelde to theire owners more profit then tylled thoughe elles they be most fruitfull of corne and graine There also are fildes of pasture inclosed with hedges and dâ—tches with trees planted and growynge vppon the same whiche are a defence to theire heards of sheepe and cattell aswell agaynst stormes as also againste the heate of the sonne And the pastures are commonly watered so that cattell shutte and closed therein haue no neede of keping neither by daye nor by nighte For there bee noe wolfes nor beares nor Lyons Wherefore theire sheepe lye night by night in the fieldes vnkepte within their foldes wherwith theire lande is manured By y e meane wherof the menne of that countrey are skante troubled with anye painefull labour
cum in pueritiadum orphani fuerint ipsi in domo regia nutriuntur Quare non iÌ„nmo domus regiae opulentiaÌ„ magnitudineÌ„que collaudo duÌ„ in ea ginpnasiuÌ„ supremuÌ„ sit nobilitatê regnÌ„ Scholaquo que strenuitatis ê“bitatis et moruÌ„ quibus regnum honoratur et florebit ac contra irruentes securatur etiaÌ„ formido ipsa erit inimicis et amicis regni Hoc reuera bonuÌ„ accidisse noÌ„ potuisset regno illi si nobilium filij orphani et pupilli per pauperes amicos parentum suorum nutrirentur Nec regni bono officere potest licet burgeÌ„tium filij et alioruÌ„ libere tenentium qÌ„ in socagio teneÌ„t tenemeÌ„ta sua quo ipÌ„i ad militiaÌ„ non astringuÌ„tur in domo consimiliuÌ„ amicoruÌ„ suoruÌ„ educantur vt ê‘spicuè consideraÌ„ti lucidè apparere potest ¶ Yet he rehearseth other caseâ— wherein the forsaid lawes differ Cap. 46 THere bee yette diuers other cases quod the Chaunceloure wherin the lawes aforesayde do varye As in that the Ciuile lawes do iudge open thefte to bee satisfied by the recompence of fower folde priuye thefte by the recompence of double Butte the lawes of Englande suffer neither of those offences to be more fauorablye punished then wyth the offendours deathe so that the value of the thynge stolen bee aboue the value of twelue peÌ„ce Also a libertine that is to saye a free man that sometyme was bonde yf hee beecome vnkynde or churlishe the Ciuile lawes reduce hym into hys former state of seruitude againe But by the lawes of Englande he that is once made free be hee grate or ingrate is aiudged to enioye his freedome styll There be other like cases allso not a fewe whyche at thys tyme for breuities sake I ouerpasse Neither in these twoo cases doe I dispute the excellencye of the foresayde lawes seeynge the qualities of theÌ„ requier no great searche And I doubte not but the quicknes of your witte is suche y t it can sufficieÌ„tly discusse the same TVnc CaÌ„cellariê° SuÌ„t et alij casus noÌ„nulli iÌ„ quibus differuÌ„t leges antedictae Vt q ia legê Ciuiles iudicaÌ„t furtuÌ„ manifestuÌ„ ê‘ reddicioÌ„eÌ„ quadrupli et furtuÌ„ noÌ„ manifestuÌ„ ê‘ dupli recoÌ„pensationeÌ„ expiari Sed leges Angliae neutrum facinorum illoruÌ„ mitius quam committentis morte puniri permittunt dummodo ablati valor duodecim denarioruÌ„ valoreÌ„ excedat IteÌ„ libertinum ingratum leges ciuiles in pristinaÌ„ rediguÌ„t seruitutem sed leges Angliae semel manumissuÌ„ semper liberum iudicant gratum et ingratum Alij quoque sunt casus huiusce modi non pauci quos iam studio breuitatis pretereo Et neque in hijs duobus casibus predictarum legum prestancias ego iaÌ„ describo cum noÌ„ maguÌ„ sit iÌ„daginis eorum qualitates nec diffido ingenij tui solerciam eas sufficieÌ„ter posse rimari ¶ The prince regardethe not the cases nowe rehearsed Cap. 47. NO nor it booteth not good Chauncelloure herein muche to tarye quod the prince For though in Englande aswell open as pryuy theeues are commenlye putte to deathe yette ceasse they not there from stealynge as thoughe theye hadde no feare of so greate a punishemente Howe much lesse then would they w tholde their haÌ„ds froÌ„ thefte if thei foresaw once y t y e punishmeÌ„t were mitigated And godde forbid that hee whyche once hathe escaped miserable seruitude should euer after tremble and quake at the threatnynges of bondage speciallye vnder the coloure of ingratitude or vnkindnes seeynge the kyndes of ingratitude are so manye that they can skante well be numbred and mans nature in the cause of liberty or freedome more then in other causes requireth fauour Wherefore at thys tyme good Chauncellour I beseeche you hartelye medle no more withe the examination of any suche cases But now explane opeÌ„ vnto me why y e laws of England being so good so fruitefull and so commodious are not taughte in the vniuersities as the Ciuile and Cannon lawes are and whye in the same none are commenced bachelers and doctors as in other faculties and sciences it is accustomed PRinceps Nec expedit Cancellarie in hijs multum suadere quia licet in Anglia fures clandestini et manifesti passim morti plectantur non cessant ipsi ibidem omnino pÌ„dari ac si penam tantam illiminime formidarent QuaÌ„to tunc minus se abstinereÌ„t a crimiÌ„e si penam preuiderent mitiorem Et absit a seruitute semel euasum semper deinde sub minis tremere seruitutis maxime ingratitudinis colore cum ingratitudinum species vix poterint pre multitudine numerari et humana natura in libertatis causa fauorem semper magis quam in causis alijs deprecetur Sed iam Cancellarie obnixè te imploro vt amodo amissó plurium casuum huiusmodi examine michi edicas quare leges Angliae tam bonae frugi et optabiles in vniuersitatibus noÌ„ doceÌ„tur vt Ciuiles similiter et canonuÌ„ leges et quare in eisdeÌ„ noÌ„ dantur baccalariatus et doctoratus gradus vt in alijs facultatibê° et scieÌ„tijs est dari coÌ„suetum ¶ Here the Chauncelour sheweth why the lawes of Englande are not taughte in the vniuersities Cap. 48. In the vniuersities of Englande quod the Chauncellour scieÌ„ces are not taughte butte in the latine tonge And the lawes of that land are to be learned in three seuerall tonges to wytte in the English tongue y e french toÌ„gue y e latine tongue In the Englishe tongue because that law is moste vsed and longest continued amongest the English men In the Frenche tongue beecause that after the French menne vnder William the conquerer of Englande hadde obteyned the lande they suffred not theire men of lawe to pleade their causes but in the tongue whiâ—he theye knewe and so doe all the men of lawe in Fraunce yea in the course of parliament there Lykewise the Frenchemen after theire coÌ„myng into EnglaÌ„d receaued not the accoÌ„ptes of their reuenues but iÌ„ their own language least theye should be deceaued therin Neither had they delyte to hunte to excercise other sportes pastimes as diceplaye and the hand balle but in their owne proper tonge Wherfore y e Englishe meÌ„ by much vsing of their coÌ„panie grewe in suche a ê‘fectnes of the same language y e at this day in suche playes accomptes they vse the Frenche tongue And theye weare wonte to pleade in Frenche tyll by force of a certeine statute that manner was muche restreyned But it could neuer hether to be whollye abolished aswel by reason of certein termes whiche pleaders do more properly expresse in Frenche then in Englishe as allso for that declarations â—ppon originall wryttes can not bee pronounced so agreably to the nature of those writtes as in Frenche And vnder the same speeche the fourmes of suche declaracions are learned Moreouer all pleas argueynges and iudgementes passed in the kings courts and entred into
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
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.