Corrupt Judge

Passes Judgement as a Gamester does false Dice. The first Thing he takes is his Oath and his Comission, and afterwards the strongest side and Bribes. He gives Judgment, as the Council at the Bar are said to give Advice, when they are paid for it. He wraps himself warm in Furs, that the cold Air may not strike his Conscience inward. He is never an upright Judge, but when he is weary of sitting, and stands for his Ease. Al the Use he make of his Oath is to oppose it against his Prince, for whose service he first took it, and to bind him with that, which he first pretended to bind himself with; as if the King by imparting a little of his Power to him gave hi to Title to all the rest, like those who holding a little Land in Capite render all the rest liable to the same Tenure. As for that which concerns the People, he takes his Liberty to do what he pleases ; this he maintains with Canting, of which himself being the only Judge, he can give it what arbitrary Interpretation he pleases ; yet is a great Enemy to arbitrary Power, because he would have no Body use it but himself. If he have Hope of Preferment he makes all the Law run on the King’s side ; if not, it always takes part against him ; for as he was bred to make any Thing right or wrong between Man and Man, so he can do between the King and his subjects. He calls himself Capitalis, &c. which Word he never uses but to Crimes of the higest Nature. He usurps unsufferable Tyranny over Words ; for when he has enslaved and debased them from their original sense, he makes them serves against themselves to support him, and their own Abuse. He is as stiff to Delinquents, and makes as harsh a Noise as a new Cart-wheel, until he is greased, and then he turns about as easily. He called all neccessary and unavoidable Proceedings of state, without the punctual Formality of Law, arbitrary and illegal, but never considers, that his own Interpretation of Law are more arbitrary, and, when he pleases, illegal. He cannot be denied to be a very impartial Judge ; for right or wrong are all one to him. He takes Bribes, as pious Men give Alms, with so much Caution, that his right Hand never knows what his left receives.