ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 417 



as the other judges are ; and they sometimes are, and 

 fitly may be, transplanted into the higher courts. 



1 8. There are many courts, as you see, some su 

 perior, some provincial, and some of a lower orb : it 

 were to be wished, and is fit to be so ordered, that 

 every of them keep themselves within their proper 

 spheres. The harmony of justice is then the sweetest, 

 when there is no jarring about the jurisdiction of the 

 courts ; which methinks wisdom cannot much differ 

 upon, their true bounds being for the most part so 

 clearly known. 



19. Having said thus much of the judges, some 

 what will be fit to put you in mind concerning the 

 principal ministers of justice : and in the first, of the 

 high sheriffs of the counties, which have been very 

 ancient in this kingdom ; I am sure before the con 

 quest ; the choice of them 1 commend to your care, 

 and that at fit times you put the king in mind there 

 of ; that as near as may be they be such as are fit for 

 those places : for they are of great trust and power ; 

 the &quot; posse comitatus,&quot; the power of the whole county 

 being legally committed unto him. 



20. Therefore it is agreeable with the intention 

 of the law, that the choice of them should be by the 

 commendation of the great officers of the kingdom, 

 and by the advice of the judges, who are presumed 

 to be well read in the condition of the gentry of the 

 whole kingdom : and although the king may do it of 

 himself, yet the old way is the good way. 



21. But I utterly condemn the practice of the 

 later times, which hath lately crept into the court, at 



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