ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 419 



to his judges, which seemeth to be the severer part ; 

 but the milder part, which is mercy, is wholly left in 

 the king s immediate hand : and justice and mercy 

 are the true supporters of his royal throne. 



26. If the king shall be wholly intent upon jus 

 tice, it may appear with an over-rigid aspect ; but 

 if he shall be over-remiss and easy, it draweth upon 

 him contempt. Examples of justice must be made 

 sometimes for terror to some ; examples of mercy 

 sometimes, for comfort to others ; the one procures 

 fear, and the other love. A king^must be both feared 

 and loved, else he is lost. 



27. The ordinary courts of justice I have spoken 

 of, and of their judges and judicature : I shall put 

 you in mind of some things touching the high court 

 of parliament in England, which is superlative ; and 

 therefore it will behove me to speak the more warily 

 thereof. 



28. For the institution of it, it is very ancient in 

 this kingdom : it consisteth of the two houses, of 

 peers and commons, as the members ; and of the 

 king s majesty, as the head of that great body : by 

 the king s authority alone, and by his writs, they are 

 assembled, and by him alone are they prorogued and 

 dissolved ; but each house may adjourn itself. 



29. They being thus assembled, are more pro 

 perly a council to the king, the great council of the 

 kingdom, to advise his majesty in those things of 

 weight and difficulty, which concern both the king 

 and people, than a court. 



30. No new laws can be made, nor old laws 



