OF SUBORDINATE MAGISTRATES. 105 



the judge cannot be properly or possibly the discretion 

 or the conscience of the king ; and if not his discre 

 tion, neither the judgment that is ruled by another 

 man s only. 



Therefore it may seem they rather desire to be 

 kings, than to rule the people under the king, which 

 will not administer justice by law, but by their own 

 will. 



3. This administration in a subject is deroga. 

 tive to the king s prerogative ; for he administereth 

 justice out of a private direction, being not capable 

 of a general direction how to use the king s subjects 

 at pleasure, in causes of particular respect ; which 

 if no other than the king himself can do, how can it 

 be so that any man should desire that which is unfit 

 and impossible, but that it must proceed out of some 

 exorbitant affection ? the rather, seeing such places 

 be full of trouble and altogether unnecessary, no 

 man will seek to thrust himself into them but for 

 hopes of gain. Then is not any prerogative op 

 pugned, but maintained, though it be desired, that 

 every subordinate magistrate may not be made su_ 

 preme, whereby he may seize upon the hearts of the 

 people, take from the king the respect due unto him 

 only, or judge the people otherwise than the king 

 doth himself. 



4. And although the prince be not bound to 

 render any account to the law, which in person he 

 administereth himself, yet every subordinate judge 

 must render an account to the king, by his laws, 

 how he hath administered justice in his place where 



