 | Satires and miscellaneous poetry and prose |  |
255
LAW
For in all Parlaments, The Commoner[s]
Are but a kinde of Nursery of Peres,
Where all the Disafected to the Court
Are turnd to Peres and Sons of Honor for't.
Are but a kinde of Nursery of Peres,
Where all the Disafected to the Court
Are turnd to Peres and Sons of Honor for't.
A little wit wil serve, and lesser Law
A Jury and the witnesses to aw.
A Jury and the witnesses to aw.
One Chanc'ler may suffice to Judge a Cause
In æquity, but four t' unriddle Laws.
In æquity, but four t' unriddle Laws.
The Antient Fleying-off a Judges Skin
The best Specifique of the Law has been;
Or those that made Frisillian take a swing
At Tyborn in a Legislative String.
The best Specifique of the Law has been;
Or those that made Frisillian take a swing
At Tyborn in a Legislative String.
Although Impartial Justice hold the Scales,
The Ballance that receives prevayles.
The Ballance that receives prevayles.
For Law can take a Purse in open Court
Whilst it Condemne's a less delinquent for't.
Whilst it Condemne's a less delinquent for't.
For Law that make's more knaves then ere it hung,
Little Considers right or wrong;
But (like Authority) 's soon satisfyd,
When 'tis to judg on its own side.
Little Considers right or wrong;
But (like Authority) 's soon satisfyd,
When 'tis to judg on its own side.
Law is like the Laberinth
With the two form'd Monster in't,
That usd t' eate mans flesh, and devour
Al that it got within its Powr.
With the two form'd Monster in't,
That usd t' eate mans flesh, and devour
Al that it got within its Powr.
Those that in Licencd Knavrys deal
And freely rob the Commonweal
And after make the Laws o' th' Land
A Refuge against Justice stand,
Like thieves that in a Hemplot Ly
Securd against the Huon Cry,
And make that which they most deser[v]e—
A Halter, for Protection serve.
And freely rob the Commonweal
And after make the Laws o' th' Land
A Refuge against Justice stand,
Like thieves that in a Hemplot Ly
Securd against the Huon Cry,
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A Halter, for Protection serve.
Paupers are Plaintifs stil, for no man Sues
One that has nothing if hee's cast to loose.
One that has nothing if hee's cast to loose.
In Law all men are understood
To b' Infants til their Actions are allowd.
To b' Infants til their Actions are allowd.
There is a mean in things and certaine Lists
Beyond or short of which no Right consists.
Beyond or short of which no Right consists.
Jury-men are never good and true
Until there is a dozen of the Crew.
Until there is a dozen of the Crew.
The same man built the Royal Pallace
In Paris and Moun[t] Faucon gallows,
And afterwards was hangd upon't
For bringing in a wrong account:
He liv'd and might have don so long
But that the fates had spun his thread too strong.
In Paris and Moun[t] Faucon gallows,
And afterwards was hangd upon't
For bringing in a wrong account:
He liv'd and might have don so long
But that the fates had spun his thread too strong.
When Rookes on lofty Tuf[ts] of Trees
Do build their Airy Colonies,
If both the owners of a Nest
Leave it ungarded, all the rest
Prepare t' invade with one Consent,
And rob the Naked tenement;
Fal on, and plunder it so fast
Until their worke is Spoyld with hast.
But if the watch, they set to Spy
Th' Approaches of the Enemy,
Discover the Right owner come,
Though ere so far of[f], towards home,
They al make hast to get away,
And leave behinde the ------ Prey.
Do build their Airy Colonies,
If both the owners of a Nest
Leave it ungarded, all the rest
Prepare t' invade with one Consent,
And rob the Naked tenement;
Fal on, and plunder it so fast
Until their worke is Spoyld with hast.
But if the watch, they set to Spy
Th' Approaches of the Enemy,
Discover the Right owner come,
Though ere so far of[f], towards home,
They al make hast to get away,
And leave behinde the ------ Prey.
[Law] does not put the Least Restraint
Upon our Freedom, but Maintain't.
Or, if it did, 'tis for our Good,
To give us Freer Latitude:
For wholesom Laws Preserve us free,
By stinting of our Liberty.
Upon our Freedom, but Maintain't.
Or, if it did, 'tis for our Good,
To give us Freer Latitude:
For wholesom Laws Preserve us free,
By stinting of our Liberty.
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As when a greedy Raven sees
A Sheep, intangl'd by the Fleece,
With hasty Cruelty he flys
T' attack him, and pick out his Eyes:
So do those Vultures use, that keep
Poor Pris'ners fast, like silly Sheep,
As greedily to prey on all,
That in their rav'nous Clutches fall.
For Thorns and Brambles, that came in
To wait upon the Curse for Sin,
And were no part o' th' first Creation,
But for Revenge a new Plantation,
Are yet the fit'st materials
T' enclose the Earth with living Walls:
So Jaylers, that are most accurst,
Are found most fit, in being worst.
A Sheep, intangl'd by the Fleece,
With hasty Cruelty he flys
T' attack him, and pick out his Eyes:
So do those Vultures use, that keep
Poor Pris'ners fast, like silly Sheep,
As greedily to prey on all,
That in their rav'nous Clutches fall.
For Thorns and Brambles, that came in
To wait upon the Curse for Sin,
And were no part o' th' first Creation,
But for Revenge a new Plantation,
Are yet the fit'st materials
T' enclose the Earth with living Walls:
So Jaylers, that are most accurst,
Are found most fit, in being worst.
Lawyers that Deal
In Right, and wrong do never Buy but Sell,
And are sufficiently Supplyd with Both
From Publique Stocks, and those of their own Growth.
In Right, and wrong do never Buy but Sell,
And are sufficiently Supplyd with Both
From Publique Stocks, and those of their own Growth.
The sword of Justice, Legally Compels
All other Arms, to serve for Daggers else,
All sorts of Drubs, and Bastinades and Bruises
To Pass for Real Stabs in Law Reduces:
From whence no Murther is accounted good,
Before the Price, and valews understood,
Of th' wooden Sword and Dagger, or the Gun Stone,
With which the Mortal Feat of Arms was Don.
And if the weapon is not worth a Straw
The Homicide has don no Hurt in Law.
All other Arms, to serve for Daggers else,
All sorts of Drubs, and Bastinades and Bruises
To Pass for Real Stabs in Law Reduces:
From whence no Murther is accounted good,
Before the Price, and valews understood,
Of th' wooden Sword and Dagger, or the Gun Stone,
With which the Mortal Feat of Arms was Don.
And if the weapon is not worth a Straw
The Homicide has don no Hurt in Law.
When those that sate for Judges on the Bench
Were False, and Senseles as their Pedlers French,
Had vaulted ore the Bar with so much slight
It was their Luck upon the Bench to light,
More Nice and subtle then those wier drawers
Of Equity, and Justice, Common Lawyers,
And more Impartial then the Judge that Steard
His Jurys by the Compas of his Beard
And, as to th' Right, or left he turnd the end,
Gave Notice for the Plaintif or Defendent.
Were False, and Senseles as their Pedlers French,
Had vaulted ore the Bar with so much slight
It was their Luck upon the Bench to light,
More Nice and subtle then those wier drawers
Of Equity, and Justice, Common Lawyers,
And more Impartial then the Judge that Steard
His Jurys by the Compas of his Beard
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Gave Notice for the Plaintif or Defendent.
The Ins of Court, from their own Claws
Protect the Prisners of the Laws.
Protect the Prisners of the Laws.
For what Court ere allowd of Common-bayle,
In Coats that had been Primd with Grease, or Ale?
Or would Admit the thread-bare, or the Torne,
The Freedom to be Publiquely forsworn?
Or ever minded Affidavit Oaths,
In out-of-fashiond, and Illegall Cloaths?
In Coats that had been Primd with Grease, or Ale?
Or would Admit the thread-bare, or the Torne,
The Freedom to be Publiquely forsworn?
Or ever minded Affidavit Oaths,
In out-of-fashiond, and Illegall Cloaths?
Like him that let out mony to be Payd
Upon a Day, swore if it were Delayd
And not Dischargd, but half a Day Beyond,
He was Resolvd to Teare, or burn the Bond;
Or he that su'd a man who told his clock,
When falsly, and Erroneously it strook,
And would have brought his Action for a Tryal,
With one, that did but looke upon the Dial,
Or He that Disinherited his Son
For Riding on a Caus-way Pavd with Stone:
To weare his Horses shoos out, when Beside,
There was Plaine Ground, and soft enough to Ride.
Upon a Day, swore if it were Delayd
And not Dischargd, but half a Day Beyond,
He was Resolvd to Teare, or burn the Bond;
Or he that su'd a man who told his clock,
When falsly, and Erroneously it strook,
And would have brought his Action for a Tryal,
With one, that did but looke upon the Dial,
Or He that Disinherited his Son
For Riding on a Caus-way Pavd with Stone:
To weare his Horses shoos out, when Beside,
There was Plaine Ground, and soft enough to Ride.
For Lawyers keep no Equity at all
To serve their own occasions, but for Sale,
The Real Gryffins of the Common Laws
With Griping Talons on their Claws.
To serve their own occasions, but for Sale,
The Real Gryffins of the Common Laws
With Griping Talons on their Claws.
The Statute-Law's their Scripture, and Reports
The Antient Rev'rent Fathers, of their Courts,
Records their Generall Councels, and Decisions
Of Judges on the Bench, Their sole Traditions:
For which, like Catholiques, th' have the greater Awe,
As th' Arbitrary, and un-written Law.
And strive Perpetually, to make the Standard
Of Right, between the Tenent, and the Landlord;
And when two Cases, at a Triall, meet
And, like Indenturs, Jump exact, and fit:
And all the Poynts, like Chequer-Tallys, Suite,
The Courte Decides the obstinatst Dispute.
There's no Decorum usd, of Time, nor Place,
Nor Quality, nor Person, in the Case:
But both Picquere in Endles Controversy,
Until the one side's forct to yeld to mercy.
The Antient Rev'rent Fathers, of their Courts,
Records their Generall Councels, and Decisions
Of Judges on the Bench, Their sole Traditions:
For which, like Catholiques, th' have the greater Awe,
As th' Arbitrary, and un-written Law.
And strive Perpetually, to make the Standard
Of Right, between the Tenent, and the Landlord;
And when two Cases, at a Triall, meet
And, like Indenturs, Jump exact, and fit:
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The Courte Decides the obstinatst Dispute.
There's no Decorum usd, of Time, nor Place,
Nor Quality, nor Person, in the Case:
But both Picquere in Endles Controversy,
Until the one side's forct to yeld to mercy.
How much have our Tribunals been Improvd
Since Clergymen from Courts have been Removd;
And if they had but understood the Law,
Had kept the State and Government in awe.
Since Clergymen from Courts have been Removd;
And if they had but understood the Law,
Had kept the State and Government in awe.
No Court Allow's Those Partiall Interlopers
Of Law, and Æquity, two Single Paupers,
T' Incounter Hand to Hand at Bars, and Trounce
Each other Gratis, in a Suit, at once;
For one, at one time, and upon Free-cost is
Enough to Play the Knave, and Foole with Justice;
And when the one Side brings Custome in,
And th' other, Lay's out Half the Reconing,
The Dev'l himself wil rather Choose to Play
At Paltry Smal-Game, then sit out (they say);
But when at all, There's nothing to be Got,
The old wife, Law, and Justice, wil not trot.
Of Law, and Æquity, two Single Paupers,
T' Incounter Hand to Hand at Bars, and Trounce
Each other Gratis, in a Suit, at once;
For one, at one time, and upon Free-cost is
Enough to Play the Knave, and Foole with Justice;
And when the one Side brings Custome in,
And th' other, Lay's out Half the Reconing,
The Dev'l himself wil rather Choose to Play
At Paltry Smal-Game, then sit out (they say);
But when at all, There's nothing to be Got,
The old wife, Law, and Justice, wil not trot.
For he that trust's the Purblind Hostice
Of th' Ins of Court and Chancery, Justice,
Must pay his money down before,
And be misreacond on the Score.
For Justice put's her sword into the Scales,
With which she's sayd to weigh out Tru, and False,
With No Designe, but, like [the] Antique Gaul,
To Get more Money from the Capitoll.
Of th' Ins of Court and Chancery, Justice,
Must pay his money down before,
And be misreacond on the Score.
For Justice put's her sword into the Scales,
With which she's sayd to weigh out Tru, and False,
With No Designe, but, like [the] Antique Gaul,
To Get more Money from the Capitoll.
For that which Law, and Equity Miscals
By th' Empty Idle Names of Tru, or False,
Are Nothing else but Maggots blown between
False witnesses, and Falser Jury-men.
By th' Empty Idle Names of Tru, or False,
Are Nothing else but Maggots blown between
False witnesses, and Falser Jury-men.
Old Laws have not been sufferd to be Pointed,
To Leave th' Interpretation more Disjoynted,
And yeld a greater Latitude to wrest
On all Emergent Cavil, and Contest.
For all the Sense, the Latin tongue Affords
Consists in the Last Syllables of words,
And, when by Dashes those become in vaine,
How should the Sense the same it was Remaine?
For what supports the Law, or makes it Good
But that it is not to be understood?
And therefore Has been (in its own Defence)
Writ in a Language, that wil Beare No Sense,
And Study'd only in a French Jargone
As Rude and as Insignificant as None.
To Leave th' Interpretation more Disjoynted,
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On all Emergent Cavil, and Contest.
For all the Sense, the Latin tongue Affords
Consists in the Last Syllables of words,
And, when by Dashes those become in vaine,
How should the Sense the same it was Remaine?
For what supports the Law, or makes it Good
But that it is not to be understood?
And therefore Has been (in its own Defence)
Writ in a Language, that wil Beare No Sense,
And Study'd only in a French Jargone
As Rude and as Insignificant as None.
[Lawyers]
Who never End, but only Prune a Suite,
To make it beare the Greater Store of Fruite!
For Ten times more is Easier to be Gotten
By Interrupting Justice then Promoting.
For Law, by Law, can only be Destroyd
As Statutes by themselvs are Renderd voyd,
Can never be Defeated of its Force
But by some Legal, and Judicial Course
In which the Forms of Law Destroy the Powr,
As Gospell often has been servd before,
Until it has Repeald it self and Run
With Magna Charta Publique Freedom down:
Hence 'tis, of Late, The Fundamental Laws
Were forcd the Ruine of themselvs to Cause,
For while Puntilios only were Asserted
The Government stood Fair to be subverted.
Who never End, but only Prune a Suite,
To make it beare the Greater Store of Fruite!
For Ten times more is Easier to be Gotten
By Interrupting Justice then Promoting.
For Law, by Law, can only be Destroyd
As Statutes by themselvs are Renderd voyd,
Can never be Defeated of its Force
But by some Legal, and Judicial Course
In which the Forms of Law Destroy the Powr,
As Gospell often has been servd before,
Until it has Repeald it self and Run
With Magna Charta Publique Freedom down:
Hence 'tis, of Late, The Fundamental Laws
Were forcd the Ruine of themselvs to Cause,
For while Puntilios only were Asserted
The Government stood Fair to be subverted.
For Breaking of the Laws o' th' Land, at least
Is more then Half, the Publique Interest,
That might as wel have nere been made
As Punctually, by evry man, obeyd;
For then they would but signify al one,
With wisest Governments as if they had been None.
For what, but only Breach of Law, Supports
The Costly Charge, and Dignity of Courts?
That but for Murthers, Frauds, and Stelths,
Would be no Parts of Stats and Common-wealths:
For how could Justice beare the vast Expence,
If none should dare to give the Law offence?
Is more then Half, the Publique Interest,
That might as wel have nere been made
As Punctually, by evry man, obeyd;
For then they would but signify al one,
With wisest Governments as if they had been None.
For what, but only Breach of Law, Supports
The Costly Charge, and Dignity of Courts?
That but for Murthers, Frauds, and Stelths,
Would be no Parts of Stats and Common-wealths:
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If none should dare to give the Law offence?
For Laws are only valid then Reputed
When they can force themselvs to b' executed;
But whe[n] th' are freely broke, and do no Hurt,
They are but Scornd and Antiquated for't.
When they can force themselvs to b' executed;
But whe[n] th' are freely broke, and do no Hurt,
They are but Scornd and Antiquated for't.
For 'tis the Constant Fashion of Law Cases
To Put on (under one Disguise) two Faces,
And Put the Client to the Charg, and Trouble
To fine and Pay for understanding double.
To Put on (under one Disguise) two Faces,
And Put the Client to the Charg, and Trouble
To fine and Pay for understanding double.
Those Judges, who before the Cause is Tryd
Determine which shalbe the Justest side
And Doom like Lightning that Destroys
Before the Hearing of the Noyse.
Determine which shalbe the Justest side
And Doom like Lightning that Destroys
Before the Hearing of the Noyse.
For those, that do but Rob and steal enough,
Are Punishments and Courts of Justice Proof;
And neede not Feare, nor be concernd a Straw
In all the Idle Bugbears of the Law,
But confidently Rob the Gallows too
As wel as other Suffrers of their Due.
Are Punishments and Courts of Justice Proof;
And neede not Feare, nor be concernd a Straw
In all the Idle Bugbears of the Law,
But confidently Rob the Gallows too
As wel as other Suffrers of their Due.
A Reprobate, or Pious Man, bequeths
Their Souls of Course to Heavn at their Deaths,
Because there is no Trique in Law, to Pleade
A faulse conveiance, to molest the Dead,
That wanted Assets, fully to supply,
And Pay the Charges, of the Legacy.
Their Souls of Course to Heavn at their Deaths,
Because there is no Trique in Law, to Pleade
A faulse conveiance, to molest the Dead,
That wanted Assets, fully to supply,
And Pay the Charges, of the Legacy.
Who can deserve for breaking of the Laws
A greater Penance then an honest Cause?
A greater Penance then an honest Cause?
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