of_o the_o chief_a of_o the_o nobility_n be_v partner_n therein_o which_o be_v never_o full_o appease_v until_o the_o parliament_n be_v hold_v at_o marlebridge_n about_o the_o 52_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n when_o and_o where_o that_o charter_n be_v enact_v in_o that_o parliament_n and_o thereby_o the_o ancient_a law_n and_o liberty_n revive_v and_o restore_v which_o charter_n so_o enact_v since_o have_v be_v by_o all_o king_n &_o queen_n solemn_o swear_v at_o their_o coronation_n to_o be_v keep_v and_o so_o have_v be_v sacred_o observe_v to_o this_o day_n unless_o some_o forgetfulness_n in_o some_o king_n and_o ignorance_n in_o some_o officer_n have_v infringe_v the_o same_o but_o now_o by_o god_n blessing_n plentiful_o pour_v upon_o we_o it_o be_v in_o full_a use_n to_o the_o great_a comfort_n of_o all_o good_a subject_n and_o immortal_a fame_n of_o her_o most_o excellent_a majesty_n and_o in_o the_o 28_o chapter_n of_o that_o charter_n and_o act_n of_o parliament_n i_o find_v it_o set_v down_o in_o latin_a in_o excellent_a and_o significant_a brief_a word_n to_o this_o effect_n that_o no_o freeman_n shall_v be_v deal_v with_o either_o in_o life_n liberty_n land_n liberty_n body_n or_o good_n nor_o that_o the_o king_n will_v send_v for_o any_o nor_o proceed_v against_o any_o nisi_fw-la per_fw-la legale_fw-la judicium_fw-la parium_fw-la suorum_fw-la aut_fw-la per_fw-la legem_fw-la terrae_fw-la and_o that_o the_o king_n will_v not_o defer_v deny_v nor_o sell_v justice_n or_o right_o to_o any_o which_o be_v as_o it_o be_v the_o sum_n of_o all_o the_o charter_n &_o act_n and_o the_o whole_a mark_n that_o be_v shoot_v at_o to_o revive_v the_o ancient_a law_n and_o restore_v the_o ancient_a liberty_n and_o liberty_n to_o the_o subject_n wherein_o i_o note_v that_o both_o how_o far_o the_o prerogative_n shall_v go_v and_o what_o be_v right_o and_o justice_n common_a to_o all_o be_v refer_v to_o be_v decide_v per_fw-la legem_fw-la terrae_fw-la what_o therefore_o that_o lex_fw-la terrae_fw-la be_v which_o be_v so_o careful_o seek_v &_o dear_o buy_v with_o so_o much_o noble_a blood_n which_o be_v then_o thereby_o revive_v i_o think_v if_o i_o can_v find_v i_o have_v that_o i_o seek_v for_o and_o therefore_o i_o think_v it_o best_a to_o begin_v with_o such_o reporter_n or_o writer_n of_o our_o law_n as_o write_v near_a the_o time_n of_o that_o charter_n and_o look_v into_o mr._n bracton_n that_o write_v about_o 9_o h._n 3._o the_o very_a time_n of_o the_o first_o grant_v of_o the_o charter_n who_o be_v one_o of_o the_o chief_a that_o be_v appoint_v as_o it_o be_v deliver_v by_o tradition_n to_o find_v out_o again_o the_o ancient_a law_n of_o the_o land_n when_o the_o king_n be_v please_v to_o put_v they_o again_o into_o the_o force_n that_o they_o have_v lose_v by_o the_o conquest_n and_o in_o his_o book_n in_o print_n i_o find_v it_o thus_o write_v cum_fw-la autem_fw-la ferè_fw-la in_o omnibus_fw-la regionibus_fw-la utatur_fw-la legibus_fw-la &_o jure_fw-la scripto_fw-la sola_fw-la anglia_fw-it usa_fw-la est_fw-la in_o suis_fw-la fmibus_fw-la jure_fw-la non_fw-la scripto_fw-la &_o consuetudine_fw-la in_fw-la ea_fw-la quidem_fw-la ex_fw-la non_fw-la scripto_fw-la jus_o venit_fw-la quod_fw-la usus_fw-la comprobavit_fw-la and_o after_o that_o he_o say_v in_o the_o next_o chapter_n these_o word_n leges_fw-la anglicanae_n fuerunt_fw-la approbatae_fw-la consensu_fw-la utentium_fw-la &_o sacramento_n regum_fw-la confirmatae_fw-la and_o cap._n 3._o consuetudo_fw-la more_fw-it utentium_fw-la approbata_fw-la vicem_fw-la legis_fw-la obtinet_fw-la &_o consuetudinis_fw-la non_fw-la vilis_fw-la est_fw-la authoritas_fw-la and_o he_o say_v further_a lib._n 1._o cap._n 8._o treat_v of_o that_o law_n which_o he_o call_v the_o custom_n of_o the_o land_n lex_fw-la autem_fw-la facit_fw-la regem_fw-la attribuat_fw-la igitur_fw-la rex_fw-la legi_fw-la quod_fw-la lex_fw-la attribuit_fw-la ei_fw-la id_fw-la est_fw-la dominationem_fw-la &_o potestatem_fw-la nam_fw-la ubi_fw-la dominatur_fw-la voluntas_fw-la &_o non_fw-la lex_fw-la ibi_fw-la non_fw-la est_fw-la rex_fw-la whereof_o may_v be_v apt_o collect_v that_o before_o this_o law_n be_v there_o be_v no_o king_n here_o in_o this_o land_n for_o if_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n make_v the_o king_n there_o be_v none_o before_o it_o but_o king_n we_o find_v by_o all_o story_n to_o be_v of_o a_o great_a antiquity_n here_o in_o this_o land_n and_o so_o by_o consequence_n the_o law_n must_v and_o then_o look_v for_o that_o matter_n in_o the_o report_n of_o the_o law_n i_o find_v a_o book_n case_n in_o 2_o h._n 4._o fol._n 18._o that_o it_o be_v agree_v by_o the_o judge_n that_o the_o common_a custom_n of_o the_o realm_n be_v the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o in_o that_o point_n look_v further_o i_o find_v all_o book_n of_o law_n agree_v which_o judgement_n of_o the_o judge_n from_o time_n after_o the_o enact_v of_o that_o charter_n and_o the_o judgement_n of_o mr._n bracton_n before_o at_o the_o time_n of_o the_o pen_n of_o the_o charter_n concur_v in_o one_o satisfy_v i_o that_o lex_fw-la terrae_fw-la which_o be_v there_o set_v down_o and_o thereby_o revive_v and_o now_o hold_v by_o the_o great_a charter_n whereto_o every_o king_n and_o queen_n be_v swear_v at_o the_o coronation_n be_v the_o ancient_a custom_n of_o the_o land_n that_o all_o people_n of_o several_a nation_n that_o at_o several_a time_n inhabit_v here_o like_v best_a of_o as_o fit_a for_o this_o place_n whereby_o the_o king_n live_v in_o great_a honour_n and_o ease_n and_o the_o people_n in_o great_a quietness_n and_o freedom_n wherefore_o thereto_o the_o king_n be_v content_a to_o bind_v themselves_o and_o the_o subject_n can_v abide_v no_o other_o and_o so_o i_o draw_v that_o travel_n to_o this_o conclusion_n that_o our_o law_n be_v the_o ancient_a custom_n of_o the_o country_n or_o land_n and_o of_o that_o antiquity_n that_o there_o be_v no_o record_n nor_o matter_n that_o can_v show_v the_o commencement_n thereof_o nor_o any_o man_n can_v tell_v it_o but_o it_o be_v before_o all_o memory_n of_o man_n that_o remain_v in_o the_o world_n consist_v of_o maxim_n general_a ground_n &_o rule_n receive_v approve_a &_o allow_v as_o just_a good_a &_o necessary_a for_o the_o government_n of_o this_o land_n begin_v when_o this_o land_n first_o become_v a_o commonwealth_n under_o a_o king_n and_o ever_o since_o use_v approve_a and_o allow_v from_o time_n to_o time_n time_n out_o of_o mind_n of_o man_n and_o by_o experience_n find_v in_o all_o age_n to_o be_v fit_a for_o the_o place_n and_o to_o be_v necessary_a honest_a and_o profitable_a both_o for_o the_o prince_n and_o people_n and_o be_v so_o find_v fit_a and_o continue_v it_o become_v a_o custom_n to_o be_v observe_v of_o all_o that_o shall_v inhabit_v or_o remain_v here_o and_o when_o it_o be_v lose_v by_o the_o conquest_n it_o be_v again_o restore_v by_o common_a consent_n of_o parliament_n as_o be_v necessary_a it_o shall_v be_v for_o that_o the_o force_n it_o have_v by_o custom_n and_o usage_n be_v interrupt_v by_o the_o conquest_n so_o as_o the_o custom_n of_o the_o realm_n revive_v by_o parliament_n be_v the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n which_o be_v the_o genus_fw-la to_o all_o and_o the_o parliament_n and_o the_o act_n thereof_o and_o the_o prerogative_n of_o the_o prince_n and_o the_o particular_a custom_n of_o several_a county_n city_n borough_n &_o manor_n be_v all_o but_o species_n of_o it_o for_o that_o general_a custom_n of_o the_o realm_n which_o be_v the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n authorize_v the_o parliament_n limit_v the_o prerogative_n allow_v and_o disallow_v of_o private_a custom_n and_o whatsoever_o in_o england_n be_v to_o be_v allow_v and_o not_o to_o be_v allow_v as_o they_o be_v consonant_a or_o dissonant_n to_o the_o reason_n thereof_o but_o when_o i_o have_v find_v out_o this_o by_o read_v then_o look_v into_o the_o course_n of_o practice_n i_o find_v the_o lord_n chancellor_n fit_v high_a in_o westminster-hall_n and_o have_v most_o to_o do_v &_o bear_v the_o great_a rule_n and_o yet_o give_v his_o judgement_n as_o it_o seem_v to_o i_o as_o it_o please_v himself_o whatsoever_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n require_v in_o the_o case_n and_o see_v man_n of_o great_a honour_n learning_n &_o integrity_n sit_v in_o that_o place_n and_o so_o judge_v i_o be_v in_o a_o maze_n not_o find_v at_o the_o first_o how_o it_o can_v stand_v with_o the_o great_a charter_n that_o refer_v all_o judgement_n ad_fw-la legem_fw-la terrae_fw-la and_o how_o any_o thing_n different_a from_o that_o law_n can_v be_v allowable_a in_o the_o land_n since_o the_o king_n be_v all_o swear_v to_o maintain_v the_o charter_n that_o restore_v the_o law_n and_o his_o lordship_n and_o all_o the_o judge_n be_v place_v by_o the_o king_n but_o when_o i_o look_v further_o and_o peruse_v it_o well_o i_o find_v that_o the_o custom_n of_o the_o
but_o therein_o there_o be_v no_o certain_a rule_n but_o his_o lordship_n own_o wisdom_n and_o opinion_n to_o discern_v whether_o the_o law_n can_v relieve_v it_o or_o not_o or_o that_o there_o be_v any_o defect_n or_o not_o so_o as_o if_o his_o lordship_n think_v there_o be_v cause_n to_o retain_v it_o he_o may_v or_o dismiss_v it_o if_o it_o please_v he_o according_a to_o his_o own_o conscience_n which_o be_v in_o that_o behalf_n to_o direct_v he_o as_o god_n shall_v direct_v it_o 8._o and_o some_o case_n there_o be_v that_o seem_v unconscionable_a and_o yet_o the_o law_n allow_v they_o for_o good_a and_o necessary_a and_o never_o lord_n chancellor_n think_v good_a to_o deal_v in_o they_o as_o for_o example_n that_o the_o warranty_n of_o a_o collateral_a ancestor_n that_o never_o have_v any_o thing_n in_o the_o land_n descend_v upon_o one_o that_o have_v right_a shall_v bar_v the_o right_a owner_n from_o his_o inheritance_n for_o that_o he_o be_v heir_n to_o he_o that_o make_v the_o warranty_n though_o he_o have_v nothing_o for_o it_o or_o that_o a_o suppose_a recovery_n in_o value_n in_o a_o common_a recovery_n against_o a_o crier_n of_o the_o court_n of_o common_a plea_n that_o be_v not_o worth_a a_o groat_n nor_o like_o ever_o to_o be_v able_a to_o make_v recompense_n in_o value_n shall_v stand_v for_o a_o recompense_n and_o be_v a_o bar_n of_o a_o man_n lawful_a inheritance_n and_o to_o bar_v he_o that_o he_o can_v never_o demand_v it_o seem_v in_o every_o man_n particular_a conscience_n to_o be_v unconscionable_a and_o yet_o the_o law_n have_v allow_v of_o they_o upon_o this_o general_a rule_n of_o law_n better_a to_o suffer_v a_o mischif_n than_o a_o inconvenience_n and_o upon_o the_o regard_n that_o the_o law_n have_v to_o settle_v possession_n of_o inheritace_n in_o certainty_n by_o such_o instrument_n and_o policy_n as_o the_o law_n have_v allow_v to_o assure_v they_o by_o of_o which_o kind_n these_o be_v wherefore_o the_o law_n have_v not_o suffer_v they_o either_o by_o law_n or_o in_o conscience_n at_o any_o time_n to_o be_v violate_v or_o infringe_v for_o any_o respect_n or_o in_o any_o case_n 9_o and_o it_o be_v say_v that_o wheresoever_o a_o act_n of_o parliament_n have_v make_v any_o provision_n for_o any_o unconscionable_a thing_n that_o be_v not_o to_o be_v relieve_v by_o the_o common_a law_n if_o the_o lord_n chancellor_n think_v in_o his_o conscience_n that_o the_o parliament_n have_v not_o sufficient_o relieve_v the_o party_n yet_o his_o lordship_n be_v not_o to_o relieve_v he_o further_o than_o the_o parliament_n have_v do_v as_o before_o the_o act_n he_o may_v have_v do_v for_o that_o so_o much_o be_v provide_v for_o as_o the_o whole_a three_o estate_n think_v meet_v to_o who_o judgement_n his_o lordship_n be_v to_o yield_v but_o if_o any_o go_v about_o to_o defraud_v any_o act_n of_o parliament_n or_o not_o able_a to_o seek_v relief_n as_o the_o statute_n appoint_v then_o as_o aforesaid_a according_a to_o conscience_n his_o lordship_n be_v to_o deal_v therein_o when_o and_o where_o as_o god_n and_o his_o conscience_n be_v to_o direct_v and_o no_o other_o nor_o other_o rule_n there_o can_v be_v for_o his_o direction_n in_o that_o behalf_n hereupon_o be_v it_o also_o conclude_v that_o his_o lordship_n authority_n judicial_a both_o by_o ordinary_a power_n and_o by_o absolute_a power_n be_v limit_v by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n for_o in_o the_o ordinary_a he_o be_v tie_v to_o the_o strict_a course_n of_o the_o law_n as_o other_o judge_n be_v and_o in_o the_o absolute_a power_n though_o not_o tie_v to_o the_o course_n of_o the_o law_n yet_o he_o be_v to_o deal_v per_fw-la regulatam_fw-la conscientiam_fw-la and_o according_a to_o the_o course_n of_o the_o court_n and_o in_o such_o case_n as_o in_o case_n of_o conscience_n and_o equity_n likewise_o have_v be_v relieve_v beforetime_n but_o not_o in_o any_o case_n that_o law_n have_v allow_v of_o for_o good_a and_o necessary_a nor_o in_o any_o that_o any_o parliament_n have_v make_v provision_n for_o unless_o for_o some_o circumstance_n the_o party_n can_v not_o have_v that_o which_o the_o true_a intent_n of_o the_o law_n or_o the_o parliament_n allow_v he_o but_o by_o mean_n of_o that_o court_n and_o many_o thing_n that_o a_o good_a conscience_n will_v will_v a_o man_n to_o do_v in_o charity_n to_o his_o neighbour_n his_o lordship_n by_o his_o conscience_n can_v compel_v he_o to_o do_v by_o the_o course_n of_o that_o court._n 10._o but_o in_o all_o that_o discourse_v none_o can_v find_v how_o far_o his_o lordship_n absolute_a power_n go_v nor_o within_o what_o limit_n certain_a it_o can_v be_v contain_v nor_o by_o what_o mean_v he_o may_v find_v out_o the_o truth_n but_o that_o be_v without_o limitation_n refer_v to_o his_o own_o gift_n and_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n that_o give_v wisdom_n to_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n and_o conscience_n to_o judge_v according_o sometime_o to_o find_v it_o out_o by_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n as_o solomon_n do_v when_o no_o testimony_n can_v be_v find_v in_o the_o world_n yet_o he_o find_v by_o her_o bowel_n of_o compassion_n the_o true_a mother_n of_o the_o child_n and_o sometime_o it_o be_v find_v out_o by_o one_o mean_a and_o sometime_o by_o another_o but_o god_n never_o fail_v to_o give_v wisdom_n and_o mean_n to_o perform_v those_o office_n and_o calling_n that_o his_o majesty_n place_v man_n in_o so_o as_o they_o serve_v he_o in_o fear_n and_o walk_v before_o he_o with_o a_o good_a conscience_n and_o seek_v it_o in_o humility_n and_o with_o prayer_n at_o his_o hand_n who_o will_n which_o be_v infinite_a be_v the_o rule_n of_o the_o lord_n chancellor_n conscience_n and_o therefore_o his_o authority_n in_o that_o respect_n be_v infinite_a and_o not_o limit_v in_o certainty_n 11._o upon_o all_o these_o note_n the_o reader_n conclude_v with_o this_o note_n that_o it_o be_v certain_a that_o his_o lordship_n office_n and_o authority_n be_v by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o not_o derogatory_n thereto_o but_o be_v constitute_v by_o the_o lawmaker_n to_o supply_v those_o thing_n that_o the_o judge_n that_o be_v bind_v to_o the_o general_a rule_n can_v not_o relieve_v but_o in_o nothing_o to_o proceed_v to_o the_o prejudice_n of_o the_o law_n and_o to_o that_o end_n his_o lordship_n be_v make_v a_o judge_n of_o the_o law_n in_o some_o case_n and_o also_o a_o judge_n by_o conscience_n beside_o the_o general_a rule_n of_o law_n in_o some_o other_o case_n for_o that_o be_v a_o judge_n of_o the_o law_n as_o well_o as_o other_o his_o lordship_n be_v with_o other_o to_o uphold_v the_o credit_n of_o the_o law_n and_o that_o most_o of_o all_o other_o for_o that_o she_o give_v he_o great_a authority_n than_o any_o other_o and_o trust_v he_o above_o all_o the_o rest_n in_o that_o she_o tie_v all_o the_o rest_n to_o follow_v strict_a rule_n and_o leave_v he_o to_o rule_v by_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n and_o his_o own_o conscience_n and_o to_o observe_v only_o the_o equity_n and_o not_o the_o strict_a rule_n thereof_o wherefore_o no_o man_n ought_v once_o to_o control_v his_o lordship_n judgement_n in_o any_o cause_n that_o he_o proceed_v in_o by_o his_o absolute_a power_n but_o be_v with_o reverence_n to_o yield_v unto_o it_o for_o as_o much_o as_o every_o one_o by_o the_o rule_n of_o charity_n and_o of_o the_o estimation_n that_o we_o ought_v to_o have_v of_o they_o that_o god_n have_v substitute_v over_o we_o be_v to_o judge_v the_o best_a that_o be_v that_o his_o lordship_n have_v proceed_v in_o singleness_n of_o heart_n according_a to_o his_o conscience_n and_o the_o director_n of_o a_o good_a man_n conscience_n be_v the_o will_n of_o god_n which_o be_v the_o perfect_a rule_n of_o righteousness_n howsoever_o it_o seem_v to_o man_n in_o his_o wit_n or_o judgement_n wherefore_o when_o his_o lordship_n have_v set_v down_o his_o judgement_n as_o god_n have_v guide_v his_o conscience_n in_o any_o case_n where_o he_o be_v judge_n by_o 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their_o english_a law_n and_o thereupon_o the_o 10_o day_n of_o febr._n in_o the_o 9_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n grant_v under_o his_o great_a seal_n the_o great_a charter_n thereby_o to_o restore_v the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n the_o liberty_n of_o the_o subject_n and_o to_o limit_v his_o prerogative_n so_o as_o they_o shall_v be_v prejudicial_a to_o neither_o but_o after_o kindle_v as_o it_o seem_v by_o the_o heat_n of_o his_o youth_n he_o continue_v not_o in_o that_o good_a mind_n but_o infringe_v the_o same_o charter_n and_o choose_v his_o will_n for_o his_o direction_n as_o other_o his_o late_a predecessor_n have_v do_v and_o leave_v that_o law_n of_o the_o land_n which_o he_o have_v grant_v to_o be_v restore_v and_o revive_v whereupon_o 40_o year_n war_n after_o that_o follow_v between_o he_o and_o his_o baron_n as_o they_o be_v general_o term_v though_o the_o great_a earl_n &_o other_o