LORD KEEPER. CXCV11 



communionem habere. (a) But our law is a plant that grew 

 alone, and is not entwined into the hedge of other profes 

 sions; yet the small insight that some have into deep 

 matters, cause them to think that it is no insuperable task 

 for an unexpert man, to be the chief arbiter in a court of 

 equity. Bring reason and conscience with you, the good 

 stock of nature, and the thing is done. Mquitas optimo 

 cuique notissima est, is a trivial saying, a very good man 

 cannot be ignorant of equity ; and who knows not that 

 extreme right is extreme injury ? But they that look no 

 further than so, are short-sighted : for there is no strain of 

 wisdom more sublime, than upon all complaints to measure 

 the just distance between law and equity; because in this 

 high place, it is not equity at lust and pleasure that is 

 moved for, but equity according to decrees and precedents 

 foregoing, as the dew-beaters have trod the way for those 

 that come after them.&quot; (6) 



Of Bacon s fitness for this office, some estimate may be 

 formed by a consideration of the four principal qualifica 

 tions of a Chancellor, as 



A Lawyer. 



A Judge. 



A Statesman. 



And the Patron of Preferment. 



As a Lawyer he had for a series of years been engaged 

 in professional life. He had been Solicitor and Attorney 

 General ; had published upon different parts of the law ; 

 had deeply meditated upon the principles of equity, and 

 had availed himself of every opportunity to assist in 



(a) &quot; Let all partition of knowledge be accepted rather for lines and 

 veines, than for sections and separations.&quot; Adv. of Learning, vol. ii. 

 p. 153, where there are similar and valuable observations. 



(6) Hackett s Life of Williams. 



