CHAP. LXX. Present Retribution to the Just.
THE Ʋnjust, Oppressors, Extortioners, Felons, Thieves, and fraudulent Persons, think with their crooked Policy, their crafty Dealings, their Dissimulation and Tricks, to impose upon the World, to delude the Senses of Men, and enrich themselves, and be secure: but upon a fair Examination it will be certainly found, that Righteousness stands upon much the surer Ground, and bids fair both for the Love of Man, and the Blessing of God. Righteousness exalts a Nation, when Sin in general, and Injustice in particular, is the Reproach and Ruine of any People.
1. Sir John Fitz-James, of whom we have mentioned before in remarkable Justice, was by King Henry the Eighth advanced to be Chief Justice of the King's-Bench.
2. Sir Matthew Hale, of whom we have mentioned as another Great Example of Justice, was pre∣sently so taken Notice of by the Eye of the World, that he was imployed in his Practice by all the King's Party: he was assigned Council to the Earl of Strafford, Arch-bishop Laud, King Charles the First, the Duke of Hamilton, the Earl of Holland, and the Lord Capel. Afterwards being Councel for the Lord Craven, he pleaded with that force of Argument, that the then Attorney-General threarned him for appearing against the Government: To whom he answered,
He was Pleading in Defence of those Laws, which they declared they would maintain and preserve; and he was doing his Duty to his Client;so that he was not to be daunted with Threatnings. Upon all these occasions he had dis∣charged himself with so much Learning, Fidelity, and Courage, that he came to be generally imployed for all that Party: and afterwards Cromwel resolving to take him off from that Party, endeavoured to promote him to a Judge's place in the Common-Pleas; and he was much urged to accept of it by some eminent Men of his own Profession, who was of the King's Party, as Sir Orlando Bridgeman, and Sir Geoffery Palmer. He accepted of the place, and was afterwards chosen a Parliament-Man. Thus he continued administring Justice 'till the Protector died; but then he both refused the Mournings that were sent to him and his Servants for the Funeral, and likewise to accept of the New Commission that was offered him by Richard; and when the rest of the Judges urged it upon him, and employed others to press him to accept of it, be rejected all their Importunities, and said, He could act no longer under such Authority.
He lived a private Man, 'till the Parliament met that called home the King, to which he was re∣turned Knight of the Shire from the County of Gloucester.
Soon after this, when the Courts in Westminster-Hall came to be settled, he was made Lord Chief Baron; and when the Earl of Clarendon (then Lord Chancellor) delivered him his Commission, in the Speech he made, according to the Custom on such occasions, he expressed his Esteem of him in a very singular manner telling him, among other things,
That if the King could have found out an hone∣ster and fitter Man for that Employment, he would not have advanced him to it; and that he had therefore preferred him,because he knew none that deserved it so well. As last, 1671, he was pro∣ved to the Lord Chief Justice of England. See his Life, by Dr. Burnet.