Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	case_n	common_a	court_n	6,531	5	6.7270	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28308	Some remarks upon government, and particularly upon the establishment of the English monarchy relating to this present juncture in two letters / written by and to a member of the great convention, holden at Westminster the 22nd of January, 1689.	A. B.; N. T.	1689 (1689)	Wing B31; ESTC R2761	23,032	29

of_o the_o nation_n why_o then_o their_o supreme_a and_o legislative_a power_n be_v not_o worth_a a_o rush_n for_o the_o king_n though_o he_o have_v no_o absolute_a power_n himself_o yet_o have_v a_o power_n above_o this_o to_o destroy_v it_o by_o a_o dissolution_n or_o prorogation_n when_o he_o please_v and_o so_o like_o the_o cat_n in_o the_o manger_n can_v neither_o eat_v hay_n himself_o nor_o suffer_v the_o horse_n to_o eat_v to_o who_o it_o belong_v this_o seem_v contrary_a to_o all_o the_o rule_n of_o art_n and_o nature_n and_o more_o unintelligible_a than_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n or_o transubstantiation_n for_o here_o the_o supreme_a power_n be_v subject_a to_o a_o inferior_a and_o the_o king_n who_o be_v minor_n universis_fw-la yet_o be_v also_o major_a and_o superior_a to_o they_o that_o power_n which_o be_v give_v for_o the_o protection_n of_o the_o people_n be_v their_o destroyer_n and_o the_o great_a and_o weighty_a affair_n of_o the_o nation_n become_v subject_a to_o the_o passion_n and_o humour_n of_o a_o single_a person_n this_o i_o think_v i_o may_v safe_o affirm_v that_o all_o government_n be_v build_v upon_o wrong_a bottom_n where_o there_o be_v not_o a_o supreme_a and_o absolute_a power_n which_o may_v without_o controll_n and_o upon_o any_o sudden_a occasion_n or_o emergency_n alter_v create_v or_o repeal_v such_o law_n as_o shall_v be_v think_v by_o they_o necessary_a for_o the_o people_n good._n another_o thing_n that_o have_v be_v very_o incongruous_a and_o disagreeable_a in_o our_o establishment_n be_v that_o the_o election_n of_o the_o judge_n and_o consequent_o the_o pronounce_v of_o the_o law_n shall_v be_v in_o the_o king_n power_n if_o indeed_o he_o be_v a_o three_o person_n unconcern_v in_o point_n of_o interest_n this_o method_n will_v be_v more_o tolerable_a but_o be_v one_o that_o so_o often_o set_v up_o a_o interest_n different_a from_o that_o of_o his_o people_n and_o be_v subject_a to_o be_v seduce_v by_o the_o evil_a counsel_n of_o a_o confessor_n miss_n or_o favourite_n and_o the_o people_n right_n hang_v whole_o upon_o the_o lip_n of_o these_o twelve_o man_n in_o scarlet_a it_o be_v most_o fit_a they_o shall_v be_v choose_v by_o they_o who_o be_v chief_o concern_v and_o for_o who_o benefit_n and_o protection_n both_o the_o king_n and_o law_n be_v first_o make_v and_o intend_v otherwise_o that_o very_a prerogative_n which_o be_v give_v to_o the_o king_n only_o for_o the_o better_a enable_v he_o to_o act_v for_o the_o benefit_n of_o the_o people_n may_v be_v and_o often_o be_v set_v up_o against_o they_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o all_o rule_n that_o in_o any_o controversy_n a_o man_n shall_v be_v judge_n in_o his_o own_o case_n but_o he_o in_o effect_n be_v so_o who_o have_v power_n to_o make_v or_o unmake_v the_o judge_n at_o pleasure_n nor_o can_v this_o defect_n be_v well_o remedy_v by_o grant_v their_o commission_n quam_fw-la diu_fw-la se_fw-la bene_fw-la gesserint_fw-la this_o will_v only_o oblige_v a_o great_a care_n in_o the_o first_o choice_n that_o they_o may_v be_v such_o as_o in_o their_o principle_n will_v stand_v firm_a to_o the_o king_n interest_n the_o honour_n and_o income_n of_o a_o judge_n to_o one_o that_o know_v not_o how_o otherways_o to_o live_v be_v a_o violent_a provocative_a it_o be_v a_o sort_n of_o lawful_a bribery_n upon_o he_o to_o pursue_v his_o maker_n and_o destroyer_n command_n though_o against_o all_o the_o rule_n of_o justice_n and_o equity_n self_n preservation_n be_v his_o warrant_n bind_v he_o to_o a_o compliance_n and_o make_v he_o think_v it_o more_o allowable_a to_o break_v his_o oath_n then_o to_o destroy_v his_o honour_n and_o the_o interest_n of_o a_o young_a favourite_n who_o make_v hay_n with_o great_a diligence_n whilst_o his_o sun_n shine_v i_o have_v often_o wonder_v at_o the_o unjust_a censure_n of_o some_o in_o say_v that_o our_o late_a king_n so_o often_o and_o so_o notorious_o break_v his_o word_n and_o promise_n to_o his_o people_n in_o not_o govern_v they_o according_a to_o law._n for_o instance_n they_o urge_v his_o dispense_v with_o statute_n and_o his_o hard_a usage_n of_o the_o gentleman_n in_o maudlin_n college_n in_o both_o which_o i_o conceive_v he_o commit_v no_o breach_n of_o his_o word_n or_o promise_n if_o they_o be_v take_v strict_o and_o in_o a_o literal_a sense_n this_o i_o think_v may_v easy_o be_v grant_v if_o it_o be_v consider_v that_o the_o present_a law_n and_o constitution_n of_o england_n be_v such_o as_o do_v undoubted_o give_v the_o king_n a_o power_n to_o make_v the_o judge_n and_o to_o the_o judge_n a_o power_n to_o pronounce_v the_o law._n what_o he_o do_v judicial_o affirm_v be_v law_n and_o become_v from_o thenceforth_o the_o strong_a precedent_n the_o last_o judgement_n be_v always_o esteem_v the_o sure_a and_o best_a rule_n to_o go_v by_o now_o the_o king_n in_o both_o these_o transaction_n neither_o make_v or_o turn_v out_o any_o judge_n but_o in_o such_o method_n that_o former_a judge_n have_v pronounce_v lawful_a nor_o do_v he_o do_v afterward_o any_o thing_n either_o in_o the_o case_n of_o maudlin_n college_n or_o the_o dispense_v power_n but_o with_o the_o opinion_n and_o concurrence_n of_o his_o judge_n be_v the_o method_n that_o our_o establishment_n and_o law_n in_o such_o case_n do_v direct_v there_o be_v also_o a_o great_a cry_n against_o the_o late_a judge_n for_o give_v their_o opinion_n and_o pronounce_v judgement_n contrary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o no_o other_o fate_n must_v be_v their_o reward_n but_o that_o of_o tresilian_n and_o belknap_n it_o do_v i_o must_v confess_v seem_v very_o reasonable_a that_o man_n who_o by_o their_o honour_n oath_n and_o reward_n be_v bind_v indistinguishable_o to_o administer_v justice_n shall_v smart_v for_o those_o delinquency_n by_o which_o so_o many_o hundred_o have_v be_v ruin_v and_o undo_v but_o in_o the_o first_o place_n let_v i_o know_v how_o a_o judge_n can_v give_v his_o opinion_n contrary_a to_o law_n who_o very_a opinion_n judicial_o give_v by_o the_o constitution_n of_o our_o government_n be_v law_n itself_o and_o shall_v be_v deem_v a_o strong_a precedent_n in_o the_o point_n than_o any_o other_o former_o give_v and_o second_o if_o judge_n must_v suffer_v for_o give_v sentence_n contrary_n to_o former_a judgement_n there_o be_v scarce_o a_o term_n pass_v even_o in_o the_o best_a of_o time_n but_o there_o be_v offence_n commit_v by_o they_o of_o this_o kind_n how_o ordinary_a be_v it_o for_o a_o judge_n to_o give_v his_o opinion_n in_o common_a case_n contrary_a to_o his_o brethren_n on_o the_o same_o bench_n and_o for_o one_o court_n to_o reverse_v the_o judgement_n of_o another_o and_o how_o full_a be_v the_o law_n book_n of_o judgement_n and_o opinion_n direct_o contrary_a to_o each_o other_o the_o law_n be_v not_o mathematical_o demonstrable_a it_o be_v a_o science_n which_o depend_v upon_o the_o judgement_n and_o opinion_n only_o of_o those_o that_o be_v learned_a therein_o which_o we_o often_o find_v various_a and_o uncertain_a be_v not_o a_o judge_n swear_v to_o act_n and_o determine_v according_a to_o his_o opinion_n only_o and_o who_o can_v pretend_v a_o power_n to_o direct_v and_o rectify_v it_o or_o to_o judge_v whether_o the_o sentence_n give_v be_v not_o according_a to_o his_o real_a judgement_n since_o none_o can_v know_v his_o heart_n and_o thought_n but_o god_n and_o suppose_v it_o can_v be_v prove_v by_o demonstration_n that_o his_o sentence_n or_o opinion_n be_v not_o law_n this_o may_v proceed_v as_o well_o from_o his_o want_n of_o knowledge_n as_o honesty_n and_o what_o law_n be_v there_o to_o punish_v a_o judge_n ignorance_n or_o mistake_n it_o be_v hard_a that_o man_n shall_v be_v deem_v guilty_a of_o a_o transgression_n where_o there_o be_v no_o law_n or_o condemn_v to_o punishment_n where_o there_o be_v no_o transgression_n no_o no_o tho'_o our_o king_n be_v misguide_v and_o our_o judge_n be_v corrupt_a yet_o it_o be_v not_o at_o their_o door_n we_o must_v lay_v our_o misfortune_n but_o to_o the_o weakness_n of_o our_o government_n which_o give_v a_o loose_a to_o these_o inconvenience_n and_o which_o pin_v the_o justice_n of_o the_o nation_n upon_o the_o frailty_n of_o a_o single_a man_n in_o so_o arbitrary_a a_o manner_n opportunity_n make_v a_o thief_n and_o these_o mesh_n in_o the_o government_n tempt_v the_o minister_n thereof_o to_o slip_v through_o sometime_o when_o a_o bait_n lie_v on_o the_o other_o side_n to_o invite_v they_o to_o it_o it_o be_v from_o this_o root_n that_o all_o our_o late_a miscarriage_n spring_v we_o suffer_v much_o and_o yet_o it_o be_v all_o but_o little_a if_o compare_v to_o that_o which_o be_v likely_a to_o befall_v we_o have_v not_o providence_n snatch_v we_o by_o a_o miracle_n from_o the_o jaw_n of_o

misery_n and_o as_o it_o have_v deliver_v we_o from_o the_o evil_a administration_n of_o law_n so_o in_o some_o thing_n i_o wish_v it_o will_v rescue_v we_o from_o the_o law_n itself_o and_o so_o far_o change_v it_o that_o for_o the_o future_a it_o may_v be_v no_o more_o subject_a to_o such_o sham_n and_o delusion_n nor_o in_o a_o capacity_n thus_o to_o become_v a_o accessary_a to_o its_o own_o death_n it_o seem_v far_a very_o incongruous_a that_o where_o government_n be_v make_v up_o of_o two_o different_a interest_n as_o here_o it_o be_v the_o absolute_a power_n of_o peace_n and_o war_n shall_v be_v only_o in_o the_o king_n whilst_o the_o power_n of_o maintain_v it_o continues_z in_o the_o people_n for_o if_o the_o king_n shall_v be_v lead_v aside_o by_o a_o private_a interest_n and_o shall_v refuse_v to_o make_v war_n in_o a_o time_n when_o perhaps_o the_o safety_n and_o honour_n of_o the_o nation_n do_v whole_o depend_v upon_o it_o what_o a_o condition_n must_v the_o people_n then_o be_v in_o put_v the_o case_n that_o before_o this_o our_o late_a but_o seasonable_a deliverance_n the_o king_n in_o who_o this_o power_n do_v reside_v shall_v have_v open_v the_o gate_n of_o the_o kingdom_n our_o harbour_n and_o strength_n which_o be_v to_o protect_v we_o from_o foreign_a invader_n to_o a_o french_a or_o irish_a army_n who_o dare_v lift_v a_o hand_n to_o stop_v this_o inundation_n of_o tyranny_n without_o incur_v the_o penalty_n of_o a_o traitor_n nay_o they_o must_v far_o be_v call_v friend_n and_o ally_n even_o whilst_o they_o pillage_v our_o house_n and_o hold_v their_o knife_n to_o our_o throat_n this_o branch_n of_o our_o law_n serve_v to_o cover_v the_o land_n of_o a_o foreign_a power_n and_o so_o long_o to_o cherish_v and_o keep_v it_o warm_v till_o like_o the_o serpent_n in_o the_o fable_n it_o at_o last_o sting_v the_o improvident_a benefactor_n to_o death_n another_o thing_n which_o high_o require_v your_o regulation_n be_v the_o election_n for_o parliament_n it_o be_v a_o great_a blemish_n to_o our_o government_n that_o such_o who_o place_n give_v they_o the_o title_n of_o founder_n of_o our_o law_n and_o preserver_n of_o our_o liberty_n and_o who_o reputation_n for_o principle_n of_o honour_n honesty_n &_o prudence_n shall_v be_v beyond_o assault_n or_o censure_n must_v yet_o be_v expose_v to_o a_o necessity_n of_o do_v such_o thing_n as_o be_v real_o mean_a and_o scandalous_a as_o well_o as_o expensive_a before_o they_o can_v get_v into_o a_o capacity_n of_o do_v their_o country_n service_n for_o if_o such_o thing_n be_v not_o do_v some_o pensioner_n from_o court_n bid_v high_a jostle_v he_o our_o and_z get_v thereby_o into_o a_o power_n to_o put_v to_o sale_n both_o the_o law_n and_o liberty_n of_o his_o country_n which_o he_o be_v willing_a to_o barter_n for_o the_o hope_n of_o some_o court_n preferment_n and_o the_o euge_fw-la of_o his_o great_a master_n in_o old_a time_n no_o person_n have_v a_o elect_v vote_n in_o the_o shire_n who_o have_v not_o a_o freehold_a of_o 40_o s._n per_fw-la ann._n but_o i_o can_v easy_o demonstrate_v 40_o s._n then_o to_o be_v equivolent_a in_o value_n to_o 40_o l._n now_o for_o by_o the_o discovery_n of_o the_o western_a world_n gold_n and_o silver_n be_v to_o that_o degree_n increase_v now_o if_o the_o number_n of_o elector_n be_v reduce_v to_o those_o only_o have_v freehold_n of_o 40_o l._n per_fw-la an._n these_o lavish_a expense_n will_v certain_o cease_v and_o the_o elector_n though_o few_o in_o number_n will_v be_v less_o apt_a to_o be_v lead_v aside_o by_o such_o low_a and_o indirect_a mean_n there_o be_v also_o great_a irregularity_n in_o the_o corporation_n and_o burrough_n elect_v as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o elector_n i_o can_v see_v no_o reason_n why_o cornwall_n a_o poor_a and_o barren_a county_n shall_v return_v 43_o member_n for_o parliament_n and_o yet_o cheshire_n together_o with_o the_o city_n of_o chester_n shall_v return_v in_o all_o but_o 3_o and_o why_o old_a sarum_n which_o have_v but_o 2_o house_n and_o those_o under_o the_o command_v of_o one_o landlord_n shall_v send_v 2_o representative_n to_o parliament_n whilst_o many_o other_o town_n which_o may_v deserve_v the_o title_n and_o privilege_n of_o city_n send_v no_o representative_n at_o all_o i_o can_v scarce_o think_v a_o parliament_n thus_o constitute_v can_v true_o and_o fair_o represent_v the_o people_n the_o majority_n and_o rich_a of_o they_o be_v by_o such_o inequallity_n exclude_v from_o a_o elect_v vote_n the_o same_o inconvenience_n spring_v from_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o borough_n which_o elect_v not_o by_o virtue_n of_o their_o wealth_n dignity_n or_o number_n of_o inhabitant_n but_o by_o the_o burrow_n house_n in_o which_o they_o live_v these_o only_a which_o perhaps_o be_v the_o most_o inconsiderable_a part_n of_o the_o burrow_n have_v in_o they_o the_o elect_v power_n exclusive_a of_o the_o rest_n this_o qualification_n make_v such_o house_n sell_v better_a to_o a_o purchaser_n then_o any_o other_o in_o the_o town_n and_o it_o be_v customary_a for_o gentleman_n who_o be_v desirous_a of_o a_o seat_n in_o parliament_n to_o lay_v out_o their_o money_n in_o such_o bargain_n and_o though_o it_o cost_v they_o dear_a yet_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a they_o will_v be_v landlord_n of_o a_o sufficient_a number_n of_o these_o borough_n house_n in_o the_o purchase_n whereof_o some_o friend_n name_n be_v most_o make_v use_n of_o in_o trust_n that_o thereby_o they_o may_v command_v a_o election_n either_o for_o themselves_o or_o their_o assign_v at_o pleasure_n what_o be_v this_o less_o than_o buy_v of_o vote_n with_o money_n a_o crime_n which_o have_v be_v always_o look_v upon_o with_o a_o severe_a brow_n and_o yet_o license_v by_o this_o old_a usage_n nor_o can_v i_o discern_v why_o this_o elect_v power_n shall_v be_v thus_o fix_v to_o the_o freehold_a in_o be_v restrain_v to_o a_o small_a and_o inconsiderable_a number_n of_o house_n as_o if_o wood_n and_o stone_n have_v a_o rational_a faculty_n and_o must_v be_v make_v use_n of_o to_o build_v and_o repair_v the_o government_n the_o method_n of_o elect_v in_o these_o borough_n be_v various_a title_n to_o elect_n be_v also_o different_a and_o very_o often_o dubious_a and_o uncertain_a this_o necessitate_v double_a election_n and_o countenance_n false_a return_v which_o be_v often_o make_v ill_a use_n of_o for_o the_o king_n have_v a_o power_n to_o nominate_v the_o sheriff_n and_o he_o to_o make_v a_o return_n it_o may_v happen_v that_o the_o true_a and_o rightful_a member_n shall_v continue_v petitioner_n only_o whilst_o such_o as_o come_v in_o by_o unjust_a return_v pass_v a_o act_n to_o give_v the_o king_n money_n for_o the_o maintenance_n of_o a_o strand_a army_n this_o artifice_n be_v of_o much_o use_n in_o the_o last_o parliament_n at_o westminster_n and_o become_v so_o notorious_a from_o the_o great_a number_n of_o petitioner_n that_o a_o gentleman_n be_v ask_v whether_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o sit_v that_o day_n in_o the_o parliament_n no_o reply_v he_o it_o stand_v in_o the_o lobby_n it_o be_v customary_a in_o the_o borough_n of_o limmington_n in_o hampshire_n to_o elect_a by_o the_o ballot_n the_o manner_n be_v to_o give_v to_o every_o elect_v burgess_n their_o number_n be_v limit_v and_o know_v a_o different_a colour_a ball_n for_o every_o competitor_n each_o colour_n be_v respective_o appropriate_v to_o the_o several_a competitor_n as_o suppose_v there_o shall_v be_v three_o candidate_n each_o elector_n have_v three_o several_a ball_n give_v he_o which_o he_o so_o manage_n as_o to_o keep_v only_o that_o in_o his_o hand_n which_o by_o its_o colour_n belong_v to_o the_o person_n he_o intend_v to_o choose_v this_o be_v enclose_v in_o his_o hand_n he_o put_v it_o into_o a_o close_a box_n make_v for_o that_o purpose_n leave_v no_o possibility_n to_o any_o one_o to_o detect_v what_o colour_a ball_n he_o put_v into_o it_o thus_o each_o have_v put_v in_o his_o ball_n according_a to_o his_o vote_n the_o ball_n of_o one_o colour_n be_v separate_v from_o those_o of_o another_o colour_n and_o so_o according_a to_o the_o majority_n of_o ball_n of_o one_o colour_n the_o return_n be_v make_v this_o method_n i_o know_v to_o be_v of_o great_a advantage_n where_o it_o be_v make_v use_n of_o it_o prevent_v animosity_n and_o distaste_v and_o very_o much_o assist_v that_o freedom_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v in_o election_n no_o man_n in_o this_o way_n need_v fear_v the_o disoblige_v of_o his_o landlord_n customer_n or_o benefactor_n for_o it_o can_v by_o no_o mean_n be_v discover_v how_o he_o give_v his_o vote_n if_o he_o will_v but_o keep_v his_o own_o counsel_n if_o this_o or_o some_o such_o device_n be_v appoint_v to_o be_v make_v use_n of_o in_o every_o borough_n