CHIEF JUSTICE COKE. 377 



injury either public or private can be done, but it 

 shall be reformed and punished by law. 



Being commanded to explain myself concerning 

 these words, and principally concerning this word, 

 &quot; misgovernment ;&quot; 



I answer, that the subject-matter of that case 

 concerned the misgovernment of the mayors and 

 other the magistrates of Plymouth. 



And I intended for the persons the misgovern 

 ment of such inferior magistrates for the matters in 

 committing wrong or injury, either public or private, 

 punishable by law, and therefore the last clause was 

 added, &quot; and so no wrong or injury, either public 

 or private, can be done, but it shall be reformed and 

 punished by law ;&quot; and the rule is &quot; verba intelli- 

 genda sunt secundum subjectam materiam.&quot; 



And that they and other corporations might 

 know, that factions and other misgovernments 

 amongst them, either by oppression, bribery, unjust 

 disfranchisements, or other wrong or injury, public 

 or private, are to be redressed and punished by law, 

 it was so reported. 



But if any scruple remains to clear it, these 

 words may be added &quot; by inferior magistrates ;&quot; and 

 so the sense shall be by faction or misgovernment 

 of inferior magistrates, so as no wrong or in 

 jury, etc. 



All which I most humbly submit to your 

 majesty s princely judgment, 



EDW. COKE. 



