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
hii omnes coÌ„muni assensu nominant de quolibet comitatu tres milites vel armigeros quos inter ceteros eiusdem comitatê° ipsi opinaÌ„tur melioris esse dispositionis et famae et ad officium vice comitis comitatê° illiê° melius dispositos ex quibus rex vnum taÌ„tum eliget queÌ„ per litteras suas pateÌ„tes constituet vicecomitem comitatê° de quo eligit ’ ê“ aÌ„no tunc sequeÌ„te sed ipse aÌ„tequaÌ„ lr ’ illas reciÌ„piat iurabit suê“ saÌ„ta dei euaÌ„gelia inter articulos alioâ— qd bene fideliter et indifferenter exercebit et faciet officiuÌ„ suuÌ„ toto aÌ„no illo neque aliqÌ„d recipiet colore aut causa officii sui ab aliquo alio quaÌ„ a rege His iaÌ„ sic pÌ„suppositis ad eoruÌ„ qÌ„ querimê° indagineÌ„ ê“cedamus Howe Iurers must be chosen and sworne AS ofte as suters in the courtes of the kynge of Englande are come to y e issue of their plea vpon y e mater of the facte furthwith the Iustices by vertue of the kynges wrytte directed vnto the shirief of the countie wherein y e deede is supposed to be done wyll him to cause to come before the same Iusticeis at a certein day by them limitted xii good and lawfull men neighbours to the place where the facte is supposed to be done the same to be such as be of no kynne to either of the pleaders to the ende that by ther oths it maye certeynly be knoweÌ„ whether y e deede wer done as the one partie affirmeth or ells as the other partye denyeth Vppon the daye aforesayde the shieref shall retourne the said wrytte before the same Iustices together with the pannell of their names which he hereunto hath sommoned WheÌ„ they are come either partie may refuse them allegyng that the shierief hathe made that pannell fauorably for the other partye of persones not in different Whiche exception if it be founde treue by the othe of ii men of the same pannell chosen thereunto by the Iustyceis that pannell shall immediatly be quassed And then y e Iustices shall wryte to the coroners of the same couÌ„tie that they shall make a newe painell Whiche when thei haue doÌ„e if it be likewise fouÌ„de fautie it shall also be quassed And then the Iustices shall elect and choose ii of the clerkes of the same courte or other of the same couÌ„tie which in the preseÌ„ce of the court vpon their othes shall make an indifferent panell whiche by neither of the parties shal be challenged Howbeit when the men so impanelled are come into the courte either of the parties may make exceptions against the persoÌ„e of anye of theÌ„ as he may also do in all cases at all times wheÌ„ any maÌ„ by any meanez impanelled shall appeare to be sworne in the courte vpon the truthe of such an issue saiyng that the person impannelled is cosein or allyed to y e other party or by anye kind of amity so knytte vnto him that he is not indifferent to declare the truethe betwene them And of these exceptions there are so manye kyndes and sortes that theye can not bee in fewe woords rehearsed Wherof if anye one bee founde true thenne shall not hee bee sworne agaynst whoÌ„ the exception is purposed but his name shall be cancelled in the pannell So allso shal bee done of all the names of the persons impannelled vntill .xii. of theÌ„ so indiffereÌ„t be sworn that neither party can haue against them any mater of exception or challenge Also of these xii.iiii at the least shal be of the huÌ„dred where the village staÌ„deth wherin the fact wher uppon the sutte riesethe is supposed to bee done And euerie suche Iurer shall haue landes or reuenues for terme of lyfe at y e least to the yearly value of xl sÌ„ And this order is obserued kept in al accions causes criminall reall and personall sauynge where the dammages or debt in accioÌ„s ê‘sonal excedeth not the suÌ„me of .xl. markes of Englishe moneye For thenne it is not requisite that Iurers in such accyons shall bee hable to dyspende somuche Yet they shall haue lande or rentes to a competente value after the discretion of the Iustices Otherwyse theye shall not bee sworne leaste for neede and pouertie such Iurers myghte easelye bee corrupte and suborned And if by suche exceptions so manye Iurers names bee cancelled in the pannel that there remayneth not a sufficient number to make thereof a Iurie theÌ„ y e sherifes by y e kinges write shal be coÌ„mauÌ„ded to adioin mo Iurâ—rs Which thing may ofte be don so y t for lack of Iurers y e inquisitioÌ„ of y e truth vpoÌ„ such a plea shal not â—emaiÌ„ And this is y e fourm how Iurers and suche inquisitours of truth ought to be choseÌ„ in the kings courte and lykewise to bee sworne Wherefore how they muste bee charged and infourmed of y e vtteryng of y e same trueth this nowe resteth to be discussed QVociescunque contendeÌ„tes in curiis regis Angliae ad exituÌ„ placiti super materia facti deuenerint concito Iusticiarii ê‘ breue regis scribunt vic comÌ„ in quo factum illud fieri supponitur quod ipse venire faciat coram eisdem Iusticiariis ad certuÌ„ diem ê‘ eos limitatum duodeciÌ„ probos et legales homines de vicineto vbi illud factum supponitur qÌ„ neutri partiuÌ„ sic placitaÌ„tiuÌ„ vlla affinitate attingunt Ad recognoscenduÌ„ suê‘ eoruÌ„ sacramenta si factuÌ„ illud factum fuerit sicut vna earundeÌ„ partium dicit vel noÌ„ sicut altera pars negat Quo adueniente die vicecomes returnabit breue pÌ„dictuÌ„ coraÌ„ eisdeÌ„ iustitiariis vna cum pan ello nominuÌ„ eorum quos ipse ad hoc suÌ„moniuit quos si venerit vtraque pars recusare poterit diceÌ„do qd vicecoÌ„es panellum illud fauorabiliter fecit ê“ ê‘te altera videlicet de personis minê° iÌ„differentibê° Que exceptio si coÌ„perta fuerit vera per sacrameÌ„tum duorum hominuÌ„ de eodeÌ„ panello ad hoc ê‘ Iusticiarios electoruÌ„ mox paÌ„nelluÌ„ illud quassabit ’ et iusticiar ’ tuÌ„c scribeÌ„t Coronatoribê° eiusdeÌ„ comitatê° qd ipsi nouuÌ„ faciaÌ„t panellum Quod cum feceriÌ„t si illud coÌ„similiter reê‘tum fuerit viciatuÌ„ etiaÌ„ et illud quassabitur et tuÌ„c iusticiarii eligeÌ„t duos de clericis curiae illiê° vel alios de eodeÌ„ comitatu qui iÌ„ pÌ„sentia curiae ê‘ eorum sacrameÌ„ta facieÌ„t iÌ„ differeÌ„s panellum qd deinde ê‘ nullaÌ„ partiuÌ„ illaruÌ„ caluÌ„pniabitur sed cuÌ„ veneriÌ„t sic iÌ„panellati iÌ„ CuriaÌ„ qÌ„libet partiuÌ„ exciper ’ potest coÌ„tr ’ ê‘sonaÌ„ cuiuscuÌ„que eoruÌ„ sicut et pot ’ iÌ„ oÌ„ni casu et oÌ„ni teÌ„por ’ quo aliqÌ„s qualitercuÌ„que cuÌ„que iÌ„panellatê° coÌ„paruerit incuria super veritate exitus hmÌ„odi iuraturus diceÌ„do qd ’ iÌ„panellatus ille est coÌ„sanguineus vel affinis parti alteri vel amicitia quacuÌ„que tali sibi coniuÌ„ctê° qd ’
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°
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.