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„
liber legum quibus Reges Israell subditum sibi populum regere tenebantur Hunc librum legere iubet Moyses Reges vt discant timere deuÌ„ custodire mandata eius quae in lege scripta sunt Ecce timere deuÌ„ effectus est legis quem non consequi valet homo nisi prius sciat voluntatem dei quae in lege scripta est Nam principium omnis famulatus est scire voluntatem dnÌ„i cui seruitur Legis tnÌ„ lator Moyses primô in hoc edicto effectum legis videlicet timorem Dei coÌ„memorat Deinde ad custodiaÌ„ causae eius videlicet mandatorum dei ipse inuitat NaÌ„ effectus prior est quaÌ„ causa in animo exhortaÌ„tis Sed quis est timor iste quem promittunt leges obseruatoribus suis vere non eÌ„ timor ille de quo scribitur Quod perfecta caritas foras mittit timorem Timor tamen ille licet seruilis sepe ad legendum leges reges concitat sed non est ipse proles legis Timor vero de quo hic loquitur Moises quem et pariunt leges est ille de quo dicit propheta Timor domini sanctus permanet in seculum seculi Hic filialis est et non nouit penam vt ille qui per charitatem expellitur Nam iste a legibus proficiscitur que doceÌ„t facere voluÌ„tateÌ„ dei quo ipse penaÌ„ noÌ„ meretur Sed gloria dnÌ„i est super metuentes euÌ„ quos et ipse glorificat Timor auteÌ„ iste timor ille est de quo Iob postquaÌ„ multifarie sapieÌ„tiaÌ„ inuestigat sic ait Ecce timor domini ipsa est sapientia recedere a malo intelligentia Iob ca. xxviij Recedere a malo quôd intelligeÌ„tia timoris dei est leges docent quo timoreÌ„ hunc ipse parturiunt ¶ The Princes replie to the Chauncellours motion Chap. 2. THe Prince hearynge this and stedfastly be holding y e old man spake thus to him I know good Chauncelloure that the booke of Deutronomie whereof you speake is a booke of holye scripture The lawes also and ordinances therein contained are holy of the lords makinge and published by Moyses Wherefore the readinge of them is a plesant act of holye contemplacion But that law to the knowledge whereof you counsell me is humayne made by menne and intreating of worldlye matters Wherefore though Moyses bynde the Kinges of Israell to the readynge of goddes law yet that thereby hee forcethe all other Kynges to do the like in their own lawes that standethe by no good reason seeynge that of both the readinges the cause is not like HEc vt audiuit priÌ„ceps erecto in senem vultu sic locutus est Scio Cancellarie quod liber Deut. quem tu commemoras sacrae scripturae volumeÌ„ est leges quoque cerimoniae in eo coÌ„scriptae etiam sacrae suÌ„t a dnÌ„o editae per Moisen promulgatae quare eas legere saÌ„ctae coÌ„teÌ„placionis dulcedo est Sed lex ad cuius scienciaÌ„ me inuitas humana est ab hoiÌ„bus aedita tractans terrena quo licet Moyses ad Deut. lecturam reges Israel astrinxerit euÌ„ per hoc reges alios ad coÌ„ssiÌ„l’er facieÌ„duÌ„ in suis legibus coÌ„citasse oÌ„neÌ„ effugit rationeÌ„ cuÌ„ vtriusque lectur ’ noÌ„ sit eadem causa ¶ Here the Chauncelour Fortifieth his assertion Cap. 3. I perceaue ê™ the ChauÌ„cellour by youre aunswere most worthy prince howe earnestly you haue considered weighed the qualitie of my exhortacioÌ„ So that heareby you doe much encourage me both more plainly more largely also more deepelye to discourse y e same Wherefore you shal vnderstande that not only gods lawes but also mans are holye forsomuche as the lawe is diffined by these woordes The lawe is a holy sanction or decree coÌ„mauÌ„ding things that be honest and forbiddinge y e contraries Now y e thing must needs be holy which by diffinicioÌ„ is determined to be holye Right also by description is called the arte of y t whiche is good streight so y t in this cespect a man may wel cal vs Sacerdotes that is to saye geeuers or teachers of holy things for so by interpretacion doothe Sacerdos signifie Forsomuche then as the lawes are holye it foloweth that the ministers and setters furth of theÌ„ may right wel be called Sacerdotes that iz geuers teachers of holy things Further more all lawes published by men haue also theire auctoritie frome godde For as the Apostell sayethe Al power is from the lord god Wherefore the lawes that are made by maÌ„ which thereunto hath receaued power from the lorde are also ordeined of god as also appeareth by this saiyng of the auctour of al causes Whatsoeuer the seconde cause doth the saÌ„e dothe y e first cause by a higher and more excellent meane Wherefore Iosaphat the king of Iuda saiethe to his iudges The iudgements whiche ye execute are the iudgements of god in y e ninetinth chapter of the seconde booke of Chronicles Wherby you are taughte that to learne laws though they be maÌ„s lawes is toe learne holy lawes and the ordynaÌ„ces of goode so that the studie of them is not with out a pleasant sweetenes of holy coÌ„solacioÌ„ And yet such sweete pleasure was not the cause as you suppose werefore Moyses coÌ„maunded the kings of Israel to reade the lawes of Deuteronomie For thys cause moueth not kynges no more to the reading of y e boke of Deuteronomie thenne of anye of the other bookes of Moyses in which aswel as iÌ„ y e booke of Deuteronomie is plentiful store of godly lessons holy instruccioÌ„s Wherin to be deuoutly occupied is a holy thing Wherfore that there was non other cause of this commaundement theÌ„ for that y e lawes whereby the king of Israel is bound to rule his people are more precisely coÌ„teined in y e booke of Deutronomie theÌ„ in y e other bokes of y e old testameÌ„t y e circuÌ„stances of the same coÌ„mauÌ„dement do manifestly infourme vs. For whiche cause you ought moste worthy prince no lesse theÌ„ the kings of Israell to bee mooued and prouoked to be a diligent trauailer in the studie of those lawes wherebye hereafter yowe shal rule your people For that which was spoken to the kinge of Israell muste be vnderstande to be figuratiuely spoken to euerye kinge hauinge dominion ouer godly people And haue I not then wel and holsomelye propounded vnto you the commaundemeÌ„t geeuen to the kynges of Israell concernynge the learnynge of theire lawe Forasmuche as not onely his example but also hys like autoritie hath taught yowe and bounde you to the like dooinge in the lawes of the kyngedome whiche god willinge you shall inherit AT CaÌ„cellariê° Scio inquit ê‘ hec qÌ„ iaÌ„ dicis princeps clarissimÌ„ quaÌ„ta aduÌ„teÌ„tia exhortatioÌ„is mee tu poÌ„deras qualitat ’ quo me noÌ„ infime coÌ„ciÌ„tas suê‘ inceptis neduÌ„ clariê° sed et ê“fuÌ„diê° quodamodo tecuÌ„disceptare
knoweledge speculatiue thoughe it bee not vnnecessarie for the inhabiters vpon the earthe For he sayethe not generally Bee ye learned you that dwell vppon the earthe but by these wordes doth the prophet call kinges onely to the learninge of the law wherby iudgements are executed forsomuch as he specially saith Bee ye learned you y t are iudges of y e earthe And it folowethe least the lord waxe angrye and so you perishe from the waye of righteousenes Neyther doth holy scripture o kinges sonne commauÌ„d you onelye to be skilfullye instruct in the lawes wherby you shal purchase and obtein y e possessioÌ„ of iustice but also iÌ„ an other place it biddeth you vnfainedly to loue Iustice wher it sayethe O set your loue affection vppon Iustice you that are iudges of the earthe in the firste chapter of the booke of wysedome NOn soluÌ„ vt de uÌ„ timeas quo et sapieÌ„s eris princeps colendissime vocaÌ„t te leges cuÌ„ ê“pheta diceÌ„te Venite filii audite me timoreÌ„ dnÌ„idocebo vos Sed etiaÌ„ vt felicitateÌ„ beatitudineÌ„que ê“ vt in hac vita naÌ„cisci poter ’ adipiscaris ipsae leges ad earum disciplinatuÌ„ te inuitaÌ„t Philosophi naÌ„que oÌ„nes qui de felicita te taÌ„ variè disputabaÌ„t in hoc vno coÌ„ueneruÌ„t vz qd felicitas siue beatitudo finis eÌ„ oÌ„nis huÌ„mani appetitê° quare et ipÌ„aÌ„ suÌ„muÌ„ bonÌ„ appellaÌ„t Peripatetici tnÌ„ coÌ„stituebaÌ„t eaÌ„ in virtute Stoici in honesto Et Epicurei in voluptate Sed quia Stoici honestuÌ„ diffiniebant esse qd ’ bene sit et laudabiliter ex virtute et Epicur ’ asserebaÌ„t nihil esse voluptuosuÌ„ sine virtut ’ Omnes sectae illae vt dicit Leonardê° Arretinê° Ysagogico moralis disciplinae in hoc concordarunt qd ’ sola virtus est que felicitateÌ„ operatur Quo et Philosophê° in vii polit ’ felicitateÌ„ difinieÌ„s dicit quod ipsa est ê‘fectê° vsê° virtutuÌ„ His iaÌ„ pÌ„suppositis coÌ„siderare te volo etiaÌ„ ea qÌ„ sequeÌ„tur Leges humaÌ„e noÌ„ aliud suÌ„t quaÌ„ regul ’ quibê° ê‘fectè iusticÌ„ edocetur Iusticia vero quaÌ„ leges reuelaÌ„t noÌ„ est illa qÌ„ coÌ„mutatiua vel distributatiua vocat feu alia qÌ„uis ê‘ticularis virtus sed est virtê° ê‘fecta qÌ„ iusticÌ„ legal ’ noÌ„ine de signatur QuaÌ„ Leonardê° pÌ„dcÌ„ê° ideo dicit esse ê‘fectaÌ„ qÌ„aoÌ„ne viciuÌ„ ipsa eliminat et oeÌ„m virtuteÌ„ pÌ„a docet quo et oiÌ„s virtê° ipÌ„a merito nuncupatur De qua Homerus dicit siÌ„l’er similiter et Philosophê° v. ethicoruÌ„ Quod ipsa est pre clarissima virtutuÌ„ et nec Lucifer nec Hesperê° vt illa est admirabilis Iusticia vero hec subiectuÌ„ est omnis regalis curae quô sine illa Rex iuste non iudicat nec recte pugnare potest Illa vero adepta ê‘fectêque seruata equissime peragitur oÌ„ne officium Regis Vnde cum ê‘fectus vsus virtutum sit felicitas et Iusticia humana que non nisi per legeÌ„ ê‘fecte naÌ„ciscitur aut docetur nedum sit virtutum effectê° sed et omnis virtus Sequitur quod iustitia fruens felix per legem est quó et per eam ipÌ„e fit beatus cum idem sit beatitudo felicitas in hac fugaci vita cuius et ê‘ iusticiam ipse summum habet bonuÌ„ tamen noÌ„ nisi per gratiaÌ„ lex poterit ista operari neque legem aut virtutem sine gratia tu addiscere poteris vel appetere Cum vt dicit Parisi in libro suo de Cur deus hoÌ„o virtus hominÌ„ appetitiua iÌ„terior per peccatum originale ita viciata eÌ„ vt sibi vicioruÌ„ sua uia et virtutuÌ„ aspera opera sapiant Quare qd ’ aliqui ad amorem sectacionemque virtut ’ se conferunt diuiniÌ„ bonitatis benefici um est et noÌ„ humanae virtutis Num tunc leges qÌ„ pÌ„ueniente comitante gratia omnia pÌ„ missa operaÌ„tur toto conamine addiscendae sunt dum felicitatem quae secundum Philosophos est hic finis et complementum humani desiderij earum apprehensor obtinebit quó et beatus ille erit in hac vita eius possideÌ„s summum bonum Vere etsi non hec te moueant qui regnum recturus es mouebuÌ„t te etarctabunt ad disciplinatum legis prophetaeverba diceÌ„tê Erudimini qui iudicatis terram noÌ„ enim ad eruditionem artis factiuae aut mechanicae hic mouet propheta Cum non dicat Erudimini qui colitis terram nec ad eruditionem scientiae tantuÌ„ theoricae quamuis oportuna fuerit incolis terrae quia generaliter non dicit erudimini qui inhabitatis terram sed solum ad disciplinam legis qua Iudicia redduntur reges inuitat propheta in his verbis Cum specialiter ipse dicat Erudimini qui iudicatis terram Et sequitur Ne quando irascatur dominus pereatis de via iusta Nec solum legibus quibus iustitiam consequeris fili regis imbui te iubet sacra scriptura sed et ipsam iusticiam diligere tibi alibi precipit cum dicat Diligite iusticiam qui iudicatis terram SapienÌ„ Capitulo primo ¶ Ignorance of the lawe causith the contempt there of Cap. 5. But howe can you loue Iustice onles you first haue a sufficient knoweledge in the lawes whereby the knoweledge of it is wonne and had For the Philosopher saiethe that nothinge can bee loued except it bee knowen And therefore Quintiliane the Oratoure sayethe that happie shoulde artes bee if artificers onelye weare iudges of them As for that whiche is vnknowen it is wonte not onely not to be loued but also to bee despised And therefore a certaine poet thus saieth The plowmaÌ„ doth desspise and skof the thing he is not skilfull of And this is the saiynge not of plowemen alone but allso of learned and right skilfull men For yf vnto a naturall Philosopher y t neuer studied y e mathematicall sciences a supernaturall Philosopher shoulde saye that thys science considerethe thynges seuered from all mater and mouinge accordynge to theire substantiall beeynge and reason or the Mathematical man shoulde say that this scyence considerethe thinges ioyned to mater and mouing after theire substaÌ„ce but seuered accordynge to reason both these though Philosophers wil y e natural philosopher which neuer vnderstood thiÌ„gs seuered froÌ„ matÌ„ motioÌ„ either in beinge or in reason vtterlye despise and they re sciences thoughe in deede more excelent thenne his wil hee laughe to scorne moued so to do by none other cause but that hee is altogether ignoraunte in theire sciences Lykewyse you most worthye prynce would wonder at one skilfull in the lawes of Englande if he should say that the brother shal not succede his half brother in their fathers inheritaunce but rather his enheritaunce shall descende to the sister of the whole bloude or elz it shal bee intituled to the chiefe lord of the fee as his escheat Herat
you would muche marueill beecause you knowe not the cause of this lawe Howebeeit the difficultie of this case nothing troubleth him y t is learned in the lawes of England Wherfore it is a commen sayinge that an art hath no foe but the ignoraunt person But god forbid O noble prince that you should be an enemye to the lawes of that royalme whyche you shall by succession inherite or that you should despise them seeing y t y e a fore cited text of scripture instructeth you to the loue of Iustyce Wherefore moste soueraigne Prince I doe with moste earnest affection require you to learne the lawes of youre fathers kingdome whom you shall succeede not onelye to the intent you maye the rather auoyde these inconuenyences but also because mannes mynde which naturally desireth the thing that is good and can desire nothing but in respects that it is good as soone as by learninge it hathe taken holde of that whiche is good it becommeth ioyefull and loueth the same the more that it is afterwarde occupied in the remembrance of the same so much it is more delited therin Whereby you are taughte y t if you once by learning attaine to y e vnderstanding of y e foresaid lawes wherein you are nowe ignoraunt seeinge they bee perfectlye good you must needes loue theÌ„ And y e more y t you record theÌ„ in your miÌ„de so much y e more delyte pleasure shal you haue in them For what soeuer it is y e is loued the same draweth the louer of it into y e nature therof So that as the Phisopher sayeth vse or exercise becommeth an other nature So a slippe of a Peare tree beeynge graffed into the stocke of an appletree after that it hath taken it so draweth the appletree into the nature of the Peartree y e they bothe for euer after are rightly called a peare-tree and doe bring furth the fruite of a pearetree In lyke sorte continuall vse and practyse of vertu causeth a full perfection therof in so muche that the practyser of the same is afterward named therby as a man indued with modestye of the vse therof is named modest Hee that vseth continencye is called continent and one garnished with wisedom is called wise Wherfore you also moste myghtye prince when you are plesantly delyted in Iustice and therewith indued in respect of the perfeccion of the law you shal wortheli be called Iust For which cause it shal be saide vnto you Thou hast loued Iustice hated iniquitie and therfore the lord thy God hath anointed the with y e oyle of gladnes aboue the kings of the earth thy coÌ„panions SEd quomoÌ„ iusticiam diligere poteris sinon primo legum scientiaÌ„ quibus ipsa cognoscatur vtcuÌ„que appreheÌ„deris Dicit namque Philosophus quod nihil amatuÌ„ nisi cognitum Quare Fabius Orator ait qd ’ felices essent artes si de illis soli artifices iudicarent Ignotum vero noÌ„ solum noÌ„ amari sed sperni solet quô poeta quidaÌ„ sic ait omnia que nescit dicit sperneÌ„ da colonus Et noÌ„ coloni solum vox hec est sed et doctorum peritissimorum quoque viroruÌ„ NaÌ„ si ad Philosophum natural ’ qui in mathe nunquaÌ„ studuit methaphisicus dicat qd ’ scientia sua considerat resseperatas ab oÌ„ni materia et motu scd’m secundum esse et secuÌ„duÌ„ rationeÌ„ Vel mathemathecus dicat quod sua scientia considerat res coniunctas materiÌ„ae et motui secundum esse sed seê‘atas secundum rationem Ambos hos licet phoÌ„s philosophus ille naturalis qui nuÌ„quaÌ„ nouit res aliquas seê‘atas a materia motu essentia vel ratione spernet eorumquè sciencias licet sua scientia nobili ores ipse deridebit non alia ductê° causa nisi quia eorum scientias ipse penitus ignorat Sic et tu princeps legis Anglie ê‘ituÌ„ miraberis si dicat quod frater fratri sibi nequaquaÌ„ vterino non succedet in hereditate paterna sed potiê° hereditas illa soro ri integri sanguinis sui descendet Aut capitali domino feodi accidet vt escaeta sua CuÌ„ causam legis huÃus tu ignores in lege tamen Angliae doctuÌ„ huius casus difficultas nullatenus perturbat Quare et vulgariterdicitur quod ars non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem Sed absit a te fili Regis vt inimiceris legibus regni quo tu successurus es vel vt eas spernes cum iusticiam diligere predicta sapientiae lectio te erudiat Iterum igitur atque iterum princeps inclitissime te adiuro vt leges regni patris tui cui successurus es addiscas Ne dum vt inconuenieÌ„tias has tu euites Sed quia mens humana quae naturaliter bonum appetit et nihil potest appetere nisi sub ratione boni mox vt per doctrinam bonum appreheÌ„derit guadet et illud amat ac quanto deinceps illud plus recordatur tanto amplius delectatur iÌ„ eodem quo doceris quód si leges predictas quas iam ignoras intellexeris ê‘ doctrinam cum optimae illae sint amabis eas Et quaÌ„to plus easdem mente pertractaueris tanto eisdem delectabilius tu frueris Nam omne quod amatur vsu trahit amatorem suum in naturani eius Vnde vt dicit Philosophus vsus altera fit natura sic ramunculus piri stipiti pomi insertus postquam coaluerit ita pomum trahit in naturam piri vt ambae deinceps merito pirus appellentur fructusque producant piri Sic et vsitata virtus habitum generat vt vtens ea deinde a virtute illa denominetur quo modestiae preditus vsu modestus nominatur contineÌ„tiae continens et sapientiae sapiens Quare et tu princeps postquam iustitia delectabiliter functus fueris habitumque legis indutus fueris merito denominaberis iustus cuius gratia tibi dicetur dilexisti iusticiam quo et odisti iniquitatem propterea vnxit te dominus deus tuus oleo letitiae pre consortibus tuis regibus terrae ¶ Here the Chauncellour briefly repeteth the effect of all his perswacion Cap. 6. NOw moste gracious prince is not all thys enoughe to moue youre highnes to the studye of y e lawe Seing that thereby you shal indue your selfe with Iustice whiche shall yelde vnto you the name of a iuste man And shall also eschue the infamy of ignoraunce in the lawe And further by the lawe you enioying felicity shal be blessed in this life And finallye beinge furnished w t a louyng feare whiche is the wisedome of God you shall obtain possesse Charitie whiche is a stedfast loue to godward and by the meane thereof cleanynge to God you shall by the apostles sayenge bee made one Spirite wyth hym But forsomuche as the lawe without grace cannot accoÌ„plish these thiÌ„gs it is necessarie and requisite that aboue all things you
’ sinagoga duÌ„ sub solo deo rege qui eam in regnuÌ„ peculiare adoptabat illa militabat sed demum eius petitione Rege homine sibi coÌ„stituto sub lege taÌ„tum regali ipsa de inceps humiliata est Sub qua tamen dum optimi reges sibi prefuerunt ipsa plausit et cum discoli ei preessebant ipsa iÌ„ consolabiliter lugebat vt reguÌ„ liber hec destinctiê° manifestauit TameÌ„ qÌ„a de materia ista in opusculo qd tui contemplacione de natura legis naturae exaraui sufficienter puto me diceptasse plê° inde loqui iam de sisto Here the prince demauÌ„deth a question Cap. 10. Immediatly the priÌ„ce thê° said Howe coÌ„meth this to passe good Chauncellour that oÌ„e kynge maye gouerne his people by power royal onely and y e an other kynge caÌ„ haue no such power seiÌ„g bothe this kynges are iÌ„ dignitie equall I cannot chose but muche muse and marueil why iÌ„ power they should thus differ TVnc princeps illico sic ait Vnde hoc caÌ„cellarie qd Rex vnus plebem suaÌ„ regaliter taÌ„tuÌ„ regere valeat et regi alteri potestas huiusmodi denegatur equalis fastigii cuÌ„ sint reges ambo Cur in potestate sint ipsi dispares nequeo noÌ„ admirari The aunswere to this question is here omitted for that in another worke it is handeled at large Cap. 11. I haue sufficieÌ„tly qd the chauÌ„cellour declared in my foresaid worke y t the Kynge whose gouernemeÌ„t is politique is of no lesse power then he that royally ruelethe his people after his owne pleasure howbeit they differ iÌ„ autoritie ouer their subiets as in the saÌ„e worke I haue shewed saye I styll Of whiche differeÌ„ce I wyll opeÌ„ vnto you the cause as I can CAncellarius Non minoris esse potestatis regem politicê imperaÌ„tem quaÌ„ qui vt vult regaliter regit populum suum in supradicto opusculo sufficieÌ„ter est ostensum Diuersae tameÌ„ autoritatis eos iÌ„ subditos suos ibidem vt iam nulla tenê° denegaui cuius diuÌ„sitatis causaÌ„ vt potero tibi paÌ„daÌ„ Howe Kingedomes rueled by royall gouernement onely first beganne Cap. 12. Men iÌ„ tymes passed excellynge in power gredie of dignitie glorie did many tymes by plaiÌ„e force subdue vnto them their neighbours the nations adioynyng and coÌ„pelled them to do theÌ„ seruice and to obeye their coÌ„maundements which coÌ„maundemeÌ„tz afterward they decreed too be vnto those people verie lawes And by longe sufferauÌ„ce of the saÌ„e y e people so subdued beyng by their subduers defended from the iniuries of other agreed consented to lyue vnder the dominion of the same their subduers thiÌ„kiÌ„ge it better for theÌ„ to be vnder y e eÌ„piere of oÌ„e maÌ„ whiche might be hable to defeÌ„de theÌ„ agaiÌ„st other theÌ„ to be iÌ„ dauÌ„ger to be oppÌ„ssed of all such as would violeÌ„tli offer them any wronge And thus certein kingedoÌ„es were begonne And those subduers thê° ruliÌ„g y e people vnto theÌ„ subdued tooke vpoÌ„ theÌ„ of rueliÌ„ge to be called Rulers which our language termethe kynges And their ruele or dominioÌ„ was named onely royall or kingly So Nemroth was the first y t gott vnto hiÌ„self a kingedoÌ„e And yett iÌ„ the holie scripturs he is not called a kiÌ„ge but a stout or mightie huÌ„ter before y e lorde For lyke as a huÌ„ter subdueth wyld beasts lyuiÌ„ge at their libertie so did he briÌ„ge meÌ„ vnder his obedieÌ„t So did Belê° subdue y e Assyrians Ninê° the most ê‘te of Asia So also did the Romaines vsurpe the empier of the whole worlde And thus almost were the kiÌ„gdoÌ„es of all nations begonne Wherefore the lorde beinge displeased withe the children of Israell requieriÌ„ge to haue a Kynge as then all other natioÌ„s had commauÌ„ded the lawe regall to be declared vnto theÌ„ by y e prophett Which lawe regal was no other thinge but the pleasure of the kynge their gouernour as in the first book of the kynges more fully it is coÌ„teyned Nowe you vnderstande as I suppose most noble priÌ„ce the fourme and fassion of the begynnyng of those Kyngedomes that be regally possessed and rueled Wherefore nowe I wyll assaye to make plaiÌ„e vnto you how by what meaÌ„es y e gouernemeÌ„t of the KyngdoÌ„ politique toke his first entraunce begynynge to the ende and intent y e when you knowe the begynnynges of them both it may be right easye for you thereby too discerne the cause of the diuersitie which in your questioÌ„ is conteyned HOmines quoÌ„ dam potentia praepolleÌ„tes auidi dignitatis et gloriae vicinas sepe gentes sibi viribê° subiugaruÌ„t ac ipsis seruire obtem perare quoque iussionibê° suis coÌ„pulerunt quas iussiones extunc leges hominibus illis esse ipsi sanctierunt QuaruÌ„ ê‘petione diutina subiectus sic populê° dum ê‘ subitieÌ„tes a ceteroruÌ„ iniuriis defeÌ„debatur in subicientiuÌ„ dominiuÌ„ coÌ„sentieruÌ„t Oportuniê° esse arbitraÌ„tes se vnius subdi Iê‘io quo erga alios defeÌ„der ’ quaÌ„ oÌ„niuÌ„ eos iÌ„festar ’ voleÌ„tiuÌ„ oppÌ„ssionibê° expoÌ„i Sicque regna quaedá inchoata suÌ„t et subicientes illi duÌ„ subiectum populuÌ„ sic rexeruÌ„t a regendo sibi nomeÌ„ regis vsurpa ruÌ„t eoruÌ„ quoque dominatê° taÌ„tuÌ„ regalis dictê° est Sic NeÌ„brogh primus sibi regnuÌ„ coÌ„parauit tameÌ„ non rex ipse sed Robustê° venator coraÌ„ domino sacris litteris appellatus est Quia vt venator feras libertat ’ frueÌ„tes ipse homines sibi coÌ„pescuit obedire Sic Belus assirios et Ninus quaÌ„ magnaÌ„ Asiae ê‘teÌ„ ditioni suae subegerunt Sic et RoÌ„ani orbis iperiuÌ„ vsurpar ’ qualit ’ ferè in omnibus gentibus regna iÌ„choata sunt Quare dum filii Israel regem postuâ—abaÌ„t sicut tunc habuerunt omnes geÌ„tes dominus inde offensus legem regalem eis per prophetam explanari mandauit Quae noÌ„ aliud fuit quaÌ„ placitum regis eis preessentis vt in primo Regum libro plenius edocetur Habes nunc ni fallor princeps clarissimÌ„ formam exordii regnorum regaliter possessoruÌ„ Quare quomodo regnuÌ„ politicè regulatuÌ„ pÌ„mitê° erupit etiam iaÌ„ propalare conabor vt cognitis amborum regnorum initiis causam diuersitatis quam tu queris inde elicerâ— tibi facillimum sit Howe Kyngedomes of politique gouernauÌ„ce were first begonne Cap. 13. SAint AusteÌ„ iÌ„ y e xxiii chapter of his xix booke De ciuitate dei saith y e a People is a multitude of men associated by the consent of lawe and communion of wealthe And yett such a people beynge headless that is to saye without a heade is not worthye to be called a bodie For as in thynges naturall when the heade is cutt of the residue is not called a bodie but a truncheon so likewyse in thinges politique a cominalte w tout a head is in no wise corporate Wherefore Aristotle iÌ„ the first booke of his ciuile philosophie saieth y e wheÌ„soeuer oÌ„e is made of many
in casibus vbi ipsae dissentiunt prestantioris legis preconia digna pensatione refulgent Quare casus huiusmodi aliquos iam in medium proferemus vt quae legum illarum eos iustius meliusque diffiniat equa lance valeas ponderare et primo ex casibê° maximi poÌ„deris exeÌ„pla preponamus ¶ The first case wherin the Ciuile lawes and the lawes of England do differ Ca. 20 IF they that haue a matter of coÌ„trouersie depending before a Iuge coÌ„e to y e coÌ„testation of the suite vpon the matter of y e deed which y e lawyers of England call y e issu of y e plea the truth of such an issue by the ciuile lawes must be tryed by the deposition of witnesses wherein .ii. allowable witnesses are sufficieÌ„t But by y e lawes of England the truthe of the matter cannot appier euident to the Iuge w tout y e othes of xii men neighbours to the place where such a dede is supposed to be done Nowe therefore the questioÌ„ is whether of these two so dyuers procedinges ought to be esteemed more reasonable effectual for the opening of the trueth which thus is sought for For the law y t can more certeinly better shewe the truthe is in this behalfe of more excellency than y e other y t is of lesse efficacy force wherfore in the searche of this matter thus we proceede SIcoram Iudice coÌ„tendeÌ„tes ad litis ê‘ueniant contestationeÌ„ suê‘ materia facti quaÌ„ legis Angliae periti exituÌ„ pl’iti appell ’ Exitus hmÌ„oi veritas ê‘ leges Ciuiles testiuÌ„ depositioneÌ„ ê“bari debet iÌ„ qua duo testes idonei sufficiunt Sed per leges Angliae veritas illa noÌ„ nisi .xij. hominuÌ„ de vicineto vbi factuÌ„ huiusmodi suponitur sacrameÌ„to Iudici constari poterit Queritur igitur quis horuÌ„ duoruÌ„ ê“cessuuÌ„ taÌ„ diuersoruÌ„ rationabilior censeri debeat efficatior ad veritateÌ„ quae sic queriturreuelaÌ„daÌ„ Quia lex qÌ„ eaÌ„ certiê° meliusque osteÌ„dere potest prestantior in hoc est lege altera quae noÌ„ taÌ„tae efficatiae est et virtutis quare in huius rei indagine sic ê“cedimus ¶ Here are set â—urth the inconueniences proceding of the law which no otherwise then by witnesses admitteth trials Cap. 21. BY the Ciuile lawes y e party which in y e issue holdethe the affirmatiue must briÌ„g furth witnessez which he himselfe at hys own pleasure shall name But the negatiue cannot be proued directli though indirectly it may For the hability of him is thought to be very smal weake and his witte much lesse which among al the men that he knoweth is not able to fynde ii so voide of conscience trueth which for dreade loue or profit will not bee readye to gainesaye all truthe Suche then maye he produce for witnesses on hys syde And if the other partye would obiect any thinge against them or their saienges it chanceth not euer y t they their condicions doinges are knoweÌ„ to y e contrarie partye so y t by reason of theire foule lifes vicious behauiour such witnesses might bee reprooued And while their saienges coÌ„teine the affirmatiue it shal be very harde to reproue them by circuÌ„stances or any other indirect meanz who then shal be hable to liue in suertie of his goodes or of himselfe vnder suche a law y e ministreth such aid to euery busy body y t lusteth to trouble another And what ii wicked men are so vnwarie vncircuÌ„spect which touching the deede wherof they shal be examined in iudgement will not beefore they are called furth for witnesses secreatly imagine and deuise a fourme fassioÌ„ therof frame thereunto all circumstances euen suche as must needes haue ben so if y e thing had ben true in dede For y e children of this world saith y e lorde are wiser then y e children of light So y e most wicked Iesabel brought furth ii witnesses of y e children of Beliall in iudgement agaiÌ„st Nabot wherby he lost his life king Achab her husbande obtayned the possession of y e vyneyarde So the most chaste matrone SusaÌ„na should haue dyed for aduoutrye by the wytnes of twoe olde dotardes being iudges if the lorde hadde not meruelouslye deliuered her by a wonderfull feate of prudence which of nature the yong child hadde not being yet vnder age And though y e same child by theire altering doubling in their depositions did coÌ„uict them to be false wretches yet whoe saue only the lord could haue knowen that in their saienges they woulde thus haue disagreed Seeinge there was no lawe y e did moue theÌ„ to haue in remeÌ„brance what kind of tree it was wherunder y e fact was supposed to be done For the witnesses of euerye wicked deede are not thought to consider al circuÌ„staunces apperteining to y e same beiÌ„g such as do nothiÌ„g help to y e aggrauatioÌ„ detectioÌ„ of y e faulte But while those wycked iudges willinglye swearing did alter touching y e kindes of the trees theire owne wordes proued theÌ„ to be false verlets Wherfore thei worthely suffred the same punishemeÌ„t theÌ„selues You also most gratious priÌ„ce do know how y t lately maister I. Fring after y t he had continued three yeares in the order of pristehoode was compelled by the deposition of twoe wicked persones whiche witnessed that he had before he was made prieste betrouthed hymselfe to a certeine yonge woman to forsake the holye order of priestehoode and to marrye the same womanne Wythe whome when hee hadde lyued fourtene yeares and hadde beegotten .vii â–ª children of her at y e laste beeinge conuicted of treason conspired againste your highnes hee confessed before all the people euen at the very point of deathe that those witnesses were hiered and that theire depositions were false And thus manye tymes are iudgemeÌ„tz peruerted by the meane of false witnesses yea that vnder the verye best Iudges as vnto you it is not vnhearde nor to the worlde vnknowen while this wickednes the more is the pitie is often committed PEr leges ciuiles pars quae in litis contestatione affirmatiuaÌ„ dicit testes ê“ducere debet quos ipsemet ad libituÌ„ suuÌ„ nominabit Negatiua auteÌ„ ê“bari noÌ„ potest vz directè licet possit ê‘ obliquuÌ„ Exilis quippe credit ’ esse poteÌ„tiae minoris quoque industriae qui de omnibus quos noscit hoiÌ„bê° duos repire nequit ita coÌ„scieÌ„tia veritate vacuos vt timore amore vel comod ’ oiÌ„ velint coÌ„traire verit ’ Hos potest tuÌ„c ipse iÌ„ testimÌ„ ê“ ducere iÌ„ causa sua et 〈◊〉 contra eos pars altera dicere velit vel coÌ„tra eorum dicta noÌ„ seÌ„ê‘ coÌ„tinget eos eoruÌ„ quoque mores aut facta apud coÌ„tradicere volenteÌ„ agnosci vt ex eoruÌ„ feditate et viciis testes illi possiÌ„t reê“bari Et duÌ„ eoruÌ„ dicta affirmatiuaÌ„ coÌ„tineaÌ„t noÌ„ facile poteruÌ„t
present while the offendour is tourmented For the execution of iudgements vpoÌ„ offeÌ„dours ought to be doÌ„e by meÌ„ of base degre y e doers wherof doo purchase to themselfes present infamie by the deede doynge in somuch that euer after they are dishabled from the pÌ„ferment of a iudge Neither dothe the lorde god execute his iudgementes pronounced ageynst the dampned by angells but by deuylls Yea and in Purgatorie the soules there remayniÌ„ge though they be predestinate too glorie yett are they not tourmented of good angells but of euyll Those also are euyll and wycked men by whome the lorde in this worlde doth minister to wretched sinners deserued punishemÌ„t For when god said iÌ„ the xxii chapter of the third booke of Kynges Who shall deceaue Achab. it was an euill spirite that aunswered I will be a lying spirite in y e mouth of all his prophetes For it becomed not a good spirite to take vpon him the executioÌ„ of suche thinges thoughe this iudgement proceeded from the lorde that Achab shoulde be deceued by a lye But the iudge peraduenture wyll saye I withe myne own handes did nothinge in these tourmentes But what differth it whether one be a doer w t his ownÌ„ handes or ells be present at the doynge and the thinge that is done to exasperate hit by his commaundement It is onely the maister of the shippe that bringeth it to y e haueÌ„ though by his coÌ„mauÌ„dement an other bee the stiresman I beleue that the wouÌ„de wherewith y e mynde of the iudge thus tourmentinge any man is plaged wyll neuer be healed ageyne specially while he remembreth the extremitie of y e paines susteyned by the poore wretche iÌ„ those miserable tourments NOn igitur coÌ„tenta est lex Francie in criminalibus vbi morâ— imminet reuÌ„ testibus coÌ„uincere ne falsidicorum testimonio sanguis in nocens condeÌ„notur Sed mauult lex illa reos tales torturis cruciari quousque ipsi eoruÌ„ reatum confiteantur quaÌ„ testiuÌ„ depositione qui sepe passionibus iÌ„iquis quandoque subornatione maloruÌ„ ad ê‘iuria stimulaÌ„t ’ Quali cautione astutia criminosi etiaÌ„ de criminibê° suspectitot torturaruÌ„ iÌ„ regno illo generibê° affliguntur quod fastidet calamê° ea literis designare Quidam vero in equuleis extenduntur quô eorum rumpuntur nerui et venae in sanguinis fluenta prorumpuÌ„t Quorundam vero diuersorum ponderum pendulis dissoluuntur compagines et iuncturae et quorundam gaggantur ora vsque dum ê‘ illa tot aquarum infundantur fluenta vt ipsorum venter montis tumescat more quo tunc venter ille fossorio vel simili percussus instrumento per os aquam illaÌ„ euomet ad instar Balenae que cum halecibê° et aliis pisciculis mare absorbuit aquam despumat ad altitudinem arboris pini Piget proh pudor iam penna exquesitorum ad hec cruciatuuÌ„ enarrare immania Nam eoruÌ„ variatus numerus vix notari poterit magna in meÌ„brana Leges etiam ipsae Ciuiles deficiente testium copia in criminalibus veritatem coÌ„similibê° extorqueÌ„t tormentis qualiter et faciunt etiam quam plurima regna Sed quis taÌ„duri animi est qui semel ab atroci taÌ„to torculari laxatê° non potius innocens ille omnia fateretur scelerum genera quam acerbitatem sic experti iterum subire tormenti et non semel mori mallet dum mors sit vltimum terribilium quam tociens occidi et tot idem gehennales furias morte amariores sustinere Et nonne princeps tu nouisti criminosum queÌ„dam qui inter tormenta huiusmodi militem nobilem probum et fidelem de proditione quadam super qua vt asseruit ipsi duo insimul coniurarunt accusant quod et constanter postmodum ipse fecit a torturis illis relaxatus ne iteruÌ„ eadem tormenta ipsa ipse subiret Sed demuÌ„ cuÌ„ expenis illis lesus vsque ad mortis articulum infirmaretur vltimuÌ„ quo que viaticuÌ„ christi videlicet corpê° suÌ„psisset Iurauit tunc super corpê° illud et per mortem quam tunc protinus credidit se passuruÌ„ militeÌ„ illuÌ„ iÌ„noceÌ„teÌ„ fuisse et iÌ„muneÌ„ de oÌ„nibê° in qÌ„bê° euÌ„ accusauit tameÌ„ ait penas iÌ„ qÌ„bê° ipse teÌ„pore delationÌ„ suae fuerat ita atroceâ— extitisse qd priusquaÌ„ eas iteruÌ„ experiretur etiaÌ„ euÌ„deÌ„ militeÌ„ ille iteruÌ„ accusaret similiter et patreÌ„ ê“priuÌ„ licet tuÌ„c iÌ„ mortis limine quaÌ„ noÌ„ credidit se posse euadere fuerit coÌ„stitutê° Nec vero ipse morteÌ„ quam tuÌ„c metuit euasit Sed demuÌ„ suspeÌ„sê° teÌ„pore mortis suae ipsuÌ„ militem purgauit ab oÌ„ni crimiÌ„e de quo duduÌ„ defaaÌ„uit Taliter proh dolor et quaÌ„ plures alii miseri faciuÌ„t noÌ„ ver itatis causa sed soluÌ„ vrgeÌ„tibê° torturis artati qÌ„d tunc certitudinis resultat ex confessionibus taliter coÌ„pressoruÌ„ CereruÌ„ si innoceÌ„s aliquis noÌ„ immemor salutis eternâ— in huiusmodi babilonis fornace cuÌ„ tribê° pueris benedicat dnÌ„m nec meÌ„tiri velit in ê‘nicieÌ„ aiÌ„ae suae quo Iudex euÌ„ ê“nuÌ„ciat innoceÌ„teÌ„ noÌ„ne eodeÌ„ iudicio iudex ille seipÌ„m reum iudicat oÌ„nis seuicioe et penaruÌ„ quibê° iÌ„noceÌ„teÌ„ afflixit O quaÌ„ crudelis est lex talis qÌ„ duÌ„ iÌ„noceÌ„teÌ„ daÌ„pnare nequit iudiceÌ„ ipÌ„a coÌ„deÌ„pnat Vere noÌ„ lex ritus talis esse phibetur sed potius semita ipÌ„e eÌ„ ad ieheÌ„naÌ„ O iudex q ibê° iÌ„ scholis didicisti te pÌ„seÌ„teÌ„ exhibere duÌ„ penas luit reus executiones quippe iudiciorum in criminosos per ignobiles fieri coÌ„uenit NaÌ„ earuÌ„ actores infames solent esse ipso facto quo et ipsi deinde ad iudicialem apiceÌ„ redduntur indigni non enim per angelos sed per demones exequi facit dnÌ„s iudicia sua reddita indaÌ„pnatos Nec reuer ’ in purgatorio cruciant animas quaÌ„uis predestinatas ad gloriam angeli boni sed mali Maligni etiam hoÌ„ies sunt ê‘ quos dominus in hoc mundo miseris tribuit malum penae NaÌ„ dum dixerat deus iii. Regum xxii Quis decipiet michi Achab malus erat spiritus ille qui respondit Ego ero spiritus mendax in ore omniuÌ„ prophetarum eius Non enim decuit spiritum bonum exequi talia licet a domino prodiit iudicium quod Achab meÌ„dacio deciperet ’ Sed dicit iudex forsan Ego nihil egi manibus meis in cruciatibus istis Sed quid refert propriis facere manibus an presentem esse et quod factum est mandato suo iterum atque iteruÌ„ aggrauare soluÌ„ magister nauis eÌ„ qÌ„ eam ducit ad portuÌ„ licet eius mandato alii agitent proraÌ„ Credo qd vulnê° quo sautiatur animê° iudicis penas huiusmodi infligentis nunquam in cicatriceÌ„ veniet maxime dum recolit acerbitatem penaruÌ„ miseri sic afflicti Here he sheweth that the Ciuile lawe oft fayleth Ãn doinge
reason of his tenure he is bouÌ„d to yeelde to y e lord of his fee then y e lord hiÌ„selfe to whom suche seruice is by him due Whyche is also to bee iudged of more power and honoure thenne the friendes and kynesfolkes of his tenant For hee to the intente hee maye in tyme to come bee the better serued of hys tenaunte wyll vse the more diligence towarde hym And it is to bee presumed that he is more experte and skylfull to trade him in this thynges then his other friends rude peraduenture and vnpractised in martiall feats speciallye yf his patrimonie bee but small And what can be more profitable for the chylde whiche by reason of hys tenure shall in the seruice of hys lorde endaunger his life and all that hee hathe in the actes of chiualrye theÌ„ in his nonage to be broughte vppe in the discipline and practise of the same seeynge that in his rype age hee shall not bee hable to auoyde the aduenture thereof And to saye the truethe it shall bee no small commoditie for the royalme y t the inhabiters of the same be well expert in the knowledge of armes For as saieth the philosopher euerye man dothe the thynge boldelye wherin he assureth hiÌ„selfe to be skylfull And do you not theÌ„ most noble prince allowe this lawe and coÌ„mende it aboue the other now described LEges Ciuiles impuberum tuÌ„ telas proximis de eoruÌ„ sanguine coÌ„mittunt agnati fuerint seu cognati vnicuique videlicet secundum gradum et ordinem quo in hereditate pupilli successurus est Et racio legis huius est quia nullus teneriûs fauorabilibûsue infantem alere sataget quam proximus de sanguine eius Tamen longe aliter de impuberuÌ„ custodia statuunt leges Angliae NaÌ„ ibidem si hereditas quae tenetur in Socagio descendat impuberi ab aliquo agnatoruÌ„ suorum non-erit impubes ille sub custodia alicuius agnatorum eius Sed per ipsius cognatos videlicet consanguineos ex parte matris ipÌ„e regetur Et si ex parte cognatoruÌ„ hereditas sibi descenderit pupillus ille cuÌ„ hereditate sua ê‘ proximum agnatuÌ„ et noÌ„ cognatum eius custodiet ’ Quousque ipÌ„e fuerit adultus NaÌ„ leges illae dicuÌ„t qd ’ coÌ„mittere tutelaÌ„ iÌ„faÌ„tis illi qÌ„ est eiÌ„ proximè successurê° est quasi agnuÌ„ coÌ„mittere lupo ad deuoraÌ„duÌ„ Sed si hereditas illa non in socagio sed teneatur ê‘ seruiciuÌ„ milita ’ tuÌ„c ê‘ leges terrae illiê° iÌ„faÌ„s ipse et hereditas eiê° noÌ„ ê‘ agnatos neque cognatos sed per dnÌ„m feodi illiê° custodieÌ„tur quousque ipÌ„e fuerit etatis vigiÌ„ti et vnius aÌ„noruÌ„ Quis putas infanteÌ„ taleÌ„ in actibus bellicis quos facere ratioÌ„e tenurae suae ipse astringitur dnÌ„o feodi sui meliê° instruere poterit aut velit quam dnÌ„s ille eui ab eo seruicium tale debetur et qui maioris potentiae et honoris estimatur qÌ„ sunt alij amici et ê“pinqÌ„ tenentis sui Ipse naÌ„que vt sibi ab eodeÌ„ tenente melius seruiatur diligentem curam adhibebit et melius in his euÌ„ erudire expertus esse censetur quam reliqui amici iuuenis rudes forsaÌ„ et armoruÌ„ inexperti maxime si noÌ„ magnuÌ„ fuerit patrimoniuÌ„ eius Et quid vtilius est infanti qui vitam et omnia sua periculis bellicis exponet in seruicio domini sui ratioÌ„e tenurae suae quam in militia actubusque bellicis imbui dumminor est cum actus huiusmodi ipse in etate matura declinare non poterit Et reuera non minime erit regno accomodum vt incolae eius in armis sint experti Nam vt dicit Philo. audacter quilibet facit qd ’ se scire ipse non defidit Nunquid tunc legem hanc tu approbas fili regis et collaudas super legem alteram iam descriptam ¶ Here the prince commeÌ„deth the education of noble mens children beinge orphanes Cap. 45. YEs good Chauncelour quod y e priÌ„ce this lawe I do allowe much more theÌ„ the other For in the firste parte of it whiche you noted it prouideth much more waryly for the securitie and saufegarde of the pupill then the Ciuile lawe dothe Howbeit in the seconde parte of the same I do take more delyte For thereof it comethe to passe that in Englande noble mens chyldren canne not easelye degenerate butte rather passe and surmouÌ„t theire auncestours in vertue in courage and in honest condicions forsomuche as theye are broughte vp instructed in an higher an honorabler court thenne in the houses of theire parentes thoughe theire parents weare paraduenture broughte vppe in the lyke places For theire parents house was neuer yet lyke the lordes house whome aswell the parentes as allso the children serued The princes allso of the royalme beeynge ruled bye thys lawe and lykewyse other lordes holdynge they re lande immedyatlye of the kynge canne not lightlye fall to wantonnes and vnseemelynes seeynge that in theire childehoode whyle theye bee orphanes they are broughte vppe in the kynges house Wherefore I muste needes highelye prayse coÌ„meÌ„â—â— y e ryches and high porte of the kinges court in that it is the chiefest schole within the royalme for the nobilitye of the lande It is also the scholehouse of manhoode of vertue and of good maners wherby the royalm is honored and flourisheth and is preserued againste inuasions so y t it is dreaded bothe of friendes and foes And to bee plain this greate commoditie coulde not haue happened to the royalme yf noble mens children beeinge orphans and pupilles hadde beene nourished and brought vp by the poore friendes of their parentes Neyther canne this bee preiudicial or hurtefull to the wealthe of the royalme that the children of burgeses and of other freeholders whiche holde theire tenementes in socage and are not thereby bound to warfare are brought vp in the houses of their like friendes as to him y t shall thoroughly weigh the mater it may euidently appeare PRinceps Immo Cancellarie legem hanc plusquaÌ„ alteram ego laudo Nam in eius parte prima quam tu notasti cautè magis quam ciuilis ipsa prouidet securitati pupilli Sed tamen in eius parte secunda multo magis ego delector Nam ab ea est quod in Anglia nobilium progenies de facili degenerari nonpotest sed probitate potius strenuitate et morum honestate antecessores suos ipsa transcendet dum in altiori nobiliorique curia quaÌ„ in domo parentum illa sit imbuta licet indomo consimili forsan parentes eius educati erant Quia consimilis adhuc non erat domus parentum illorum domui dominorum quibus ipÌ„i parentes et ipsi infaÌ„teâ— seruierunt Principes quoque regni sub hac lege regulati similiter et domini alii a rege iÌ„mediate teneÌ„tes non possuÌ„t deleui in lasciuiam ruditat enâ—ie lâ—bi
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