CASE OF THE POST-NATI OF SCOTLAND. 109 



is several, hath been, and must be the depth of this 

 question. And therefore your lordships do see the 

 state of this question doth evidently lead me by way 

 of inducement to speak of three things : The king, 

 the law, and the privilege of naturalization. For if 

 you well understand the nature of the two prin 

 cipals, and again the nature of the accessory ; then 

 shall you discern, to whether principal the acces 

 sory doth properly refer, as a shadow to a body, 

 or iron to an adamant. 



And therefore your lordships will give me leave 

 in a case of this quality, first to visit and open the 

 foundations and fountains of reason, and not begin 

 with the positions and eruditions of a municipal law ; 

 for so was that done in the great case of mines ; and 

 so ought that to be done in all cases of like nature. 

 And this doth not at all detract from the sufficiency 

 of our laws, as incompotent to decide their own 

 cases, but rather addeth a dignity unto them, when 

 their reason appearing as well as their authority 

 doth shew them to be as fine monies, which are cur 

 rent not only by the stamp, because they are so 

 received, but by the natural metal, that is, the 

 reason and wisdom of them. 



And master Littleton himself in his whole book 

 doth commend but two things to the professors of the 

 law by the name of his sons ; the one, the inquiring 

 and searching out the reasons of the law ; and the 

 other, the observing of the forms of pleadings. And 

 never was there any case that came in judgment that 

 required more, that Littleton s advice should be fol- 



