tion, like diamonds cut with fascets; and therefore, let a man contend to excel any competitors of his in honour, in out-shooting them if he can in their own bow. Discreet followers and servants help much to reputation; "Omnis fama a domesticis emanat." Envy, which is the canker of honour, is best distinguished by declaring a man's self in his ends, rather to seek merit than fame: and by attributing a man's successes rather to divine Providence and felicity, than to his own virtue or policy. The true marshalling of the degrees of sovereign honours are these: in the first place are "conditores, imperiorum," founders of states and commonwealths; such as were Romulus, Cyrus, Cæsar, Ottoman, Ismael; in the second place are "legislatores," lawgivers; which are also called second foundders, or "perpetui principes," because they govern by their ordinances after they are gone; such were Lycurgus, Solon, Justinian, Edgar, Alphonsus of Castile, the wise, that made the "Siete patridas:" in the third place are "li"beratores," or "salvatores;" such as compound the long miseries of civil wars, or deliver their countries from servitude of strangers

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or tyrants; as Augustus Cæsar, Vespasianus, Aurelianus, Theodoricus, king Henry the Seventh of England, king Henry the Fourth of France in the fourth place are propaga"tores," or "propugnatores imperii," such as in honourable wars enlarge their territories, or make noble defence against invaders; and in the last place, are "patres patriæ," which reign justly, and make the times good wherein they live; both which last kinds need no examples, they are in such number. Degrees of honour in subjects are, first, "participes "curarum," those upon whom princes do discharge the greatest weight of their affairs; their right hands, as we may call them: the next are, "duces belli," great leaders; such as are princes lieutenants, and do them notable services in the wars; the third are, gratiosi," favourites; such as exceed not this scantling, to be solace to the sovereign, and harmless to the people; and the fourth, "negotiis pares;" such as have great places under princes, and execute their places with sufficiency. There is an honour, likewise, which may be ranked amongst the greatest, which happeneth rarely; that is, of such as sacrifice themselves to death

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or danger for the good of their country; as was M. Regulus, and the two Decii.

OF JUDICATURE.

JUDGES ought to remember that their office is

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jus dicere," and not " 'jus dare;" to interpret law, and not to make law, or give law; else will it be like the authority claimed by the church of Rome; which, under pretext of exposition of scripture, doth not stick to add and alter; and to pronounce that which they do not find, and by shew of antiquity to introduce novelty. Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverend than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue. "Cursed, (saith the law,) is he that "removeth the landmark." The mislayer of a mere stone is to blame; but it is the unjust judge that is the capital remover of landmarks, when he defineth amiss of lands and property. One foul sentence doth more hurt than many foul examples; for these do but corrupt the stream, the other corrupteth the fountain: so

saith Solomon, "Fons turbatus, et vena cor

rupta est justus cadens in causa sua coram "adversario." The office of judges may have reference unto the parties that sue, unto the advocates that plead, unto the clerks and ministers of justice underneath them, and to the sovereign or state above them.

First, for the causes or parties that sue. There be, (saith the scripture,) "that turn "judgment into wormwood;" and surely there be also that turn it into vinegar; for injustice maketh it bitter, and delays make it sour. The principal duty of a judge is, to suppress force and fraud; whereof force is the more pernicious when it is open, and fraud when it is close and disguised. Add thereto contentious suits, which ought to be spewed out, as the surfeit of courts. A judge ought to pre- pare his way to a just sentence, as God useth to prepare his way, by raising valleys and taking down hills; so when there appeareth on either side an high hand, violent prosecution, cunning advantages taken, combination, power, great counsel, then is the virtue of a judge seen to make inequality equal; that he may plant his judgment as upon an even ground.

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Qui for

"titer emungit, elicit sanguinem ;" and where the wine-press is hard wrought, it yields a harsh wine that tastes of the grape-stone. Judges must beware of hard constructions, and strained inferences; for there is no worse torture than the torture of laws; especially in case of laws penal, they ought to have care, that that, which was meant for terror, be not turned into rigour; and that they bring not upon the people that shower whereof the scripture speaketh, "Pluet super eos laqueos;" for penal laws pressed are a shower of snares upon the people; therefore let penal laws, if they have been sleepers of long, or if they be grown unfit for the present time, be by wise judges confined in the execution : "Judicis officium "est, ut res, ita tempora rerum," &c. In causes of life and death judges ought (as far as the law permitteth,) in justice to remember mercy, and to cast a severe eye upon the example, but a merciful eye upon the person. Secondly, for the advocates and counsel that plead. Patience and gravity of hearing is an essential part of justice; and an overspeaking judge is no well tuned cymbal. It is no grace to a judge first to find that which