WARDS AND TENURES. 29 



man emperors, in the full height of their monarchy, 

 never knew them; so that they are not imperial. 

 We have grave professors of the common law, who 

 will define unto us that those are parts of sove 

 reignty, and of the regal prerogative, which cannot 

 be communicated with subjects : but for tenures in 

 substance, there is none of your lordships but have 

 them, and few of us but have them. The king, in 

 deed, hath a priority or first service of his tenures ; 

 and some more amplitude of profit in that we call 

 tenure in chief: but the subject is capable of tenures ; 

 which shews that they are not regal, nor any point 

 of sovereignty. We have gentlemen of honourable 

 service in the wars both by sea and land, who can 

 inform us, that when it is in question, who shall set 

 his foot foremost towards the enemy ; it is never 

 asked, Whether he holds in knight s service or in 

 socage ? So have we many deputy lieutenants to 

 your lordships, and many commissioners that have 

 been for musters and levies, that can tell us, that the 

 service and defence of the realm hath in these days 

 little dependence upon tenures. So then we perceive 

 that it is no bond or ligament of government ; no 

 spur of honour, no bridle of obedience. Time was, 

 when it had other uses, and the name of knight s 

 service imports it : but &quot; vocabula manent, res fu- 

 giunt.&quot; But all this which we have spoken we con 

 fess to be but in a vulgar capacity ; which neverthe 

 less may serve for our excuse, though we submit the 

 thing itself wholly to his majesty s judgment. 



For matter of conscience, far be it from us to 



