OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. 75 



palatine, they would have their chancellors and 

 judges. 



But that example of kings and potentates giveth 

 no good defence. For the reasons why kings admi 

 nister hy their judges, although themselves are su 

 preme judges, are two : the one, because the offices 

 of kings are for the most part of inheritance ; and it 

 is a rule in all laws, that offices of inheritance are 

 rather matters that ground in interest than in confi 

 dence : for as much as they may fall upon women, 

 upon infants, upon lunatics and idiots, persons inca 

 pable to execute judicature in person ; and therefore 

 such offices by all laws might ever be exercised and 

 administered by delegation. The second reason is, 

 because of the amplitude of their jurisdictions ; which 

 is as great as either their birth-right from their an 

 cestors, or their sword-right from God rnaketh it. 

 And therefore if Moses, that was governor over no 

 great people, and those collected together in a camp, 

 and not scattered in provinces and cities, himself of 

 an extraordinary spirit, was nevertheless not able to 

 suffice and hold out in person to judge the people, 

 but did, by the advice of Jethro approved from God, 

 substitute elders and judges ; how much more other 

 kings and princes? 



There is a third reason, likewise, though not 

 much to the present purpose ; and that is, that kings, 

 either in respect of the commonwealth, or of the 

 greatness of their own patrimonies, are usually parties 

 in suits : and then their judges stand indifferent be 

 tween them and the subject : but in the case of 



