The Arraignment of Covetousness and Ambition, Chapter 11
CHAP. 11.
NOw besides these, there are many others; that without controle rob the Common wealth, gull the people, and are no whit ashamed of it. I mean Corrupt Lawyers; who are also Merchants in this Trade of Covetousnesse, and selling of men. As come to this Covetous Wretch if he be a Lawyer; He fits in his study like a Fox in his Burrough; glad to spye a Goose that hath feathers on his back: declare unto him your cause, ask him what he thinks of it: he will perswade you it will bear a strong action, be it never so weak. As he is like to have good counsel, that fees the Devil. A simple swayne ▪ went to a Lawyer, and told him Sir: And it shall please your Gentlemanship, I would have proces for one, that hath called me a Mechanick fellow: So you shall quoth the Lawyer, for that will bear a very good action. The Lawyer that careth not to deal unfaithfully: is like some Christall Glasse, which flatteringly sheweth every man a fair face, how ilfavoured soever it be. These are Abettors that set men on; their Cockpit is Westminster Hall, and while their Clyents peck out each others eyes, they pull their feathers. Absaloms tongue is in their heads; and as he stole away the peoples hearts, so these steal their estates. And no cause so bad, but they will undertake it either for gain, or glory: as he gets most fame, and the greatest practice; that can make a bad cause good, and a good bad. Whence it is they bend their tongues, like Bowes for lyes. As Ieremy hath it, Chap. 9.3. that they may overthrow the right of the poor in his suit. As Moses hath it, Exod. 23.6. see more Esay 32.7. For they will devise some wicked counsel or other: (if they be paid thereafter) to undo the adverse party, with lying words. And commonly, they are like Caelius: that could plead better against a man, then for him, as Plutarch speaks. Yea some of them fall not far short of Carneades; of whom wise Cato confest; that while he disputed; scarse any man could discern which was the truth. So they turn judgment into wormwood, Amos 5.7. and forge wrong for a Law, as the Psalmist speaks, Psal. 94.20. Have you not heard of a Lawyer? that pleaded a case very strongly on the one side; yet before the Tryal of it, being advanced to the Bench; he adjudged it on the other. But had he been like Ioseph the Counseller; whom the Holy Ghost stiles a good man, and a just, Luke 23.50. he would neither refuse to plead a just cause, (as they will do, when great ones are concerned in it) nor prefer one that is unjust: Because he that justifies the guilty, or refuseth to vindicate the Innocent in this case; transfers the guilt to himself.
Or if this wretch, finds it more for his profit; he will see an end of the Clyents money, before the Client shall see an end of his cause. He will delay the Hearing; untill he hath inriched himself, and beggered his Clyent: perswading him his Title is good, till his patrimony be consumed; And he hath spent more in seeking, then the thing is worth, Or the other shall get by the recovery. One asking, how he should have a Suit last him seven years? was answered, You may have a Suit in Chancery, that will last you twenty years: Another delivered in a Petition to King Iames: I was four years compassing the World with Sir Francis Drake, and there was an end of that: I was three years with my Lord of Essex in Ireland Wars, and there was an end of that: I have had a Suit in Chancery this seventeen years, but I fear I shall never have an end of that. Which conceit procured him a quick dispatch, but no thanks to the Lawyers.
He that goes to Law, hath a Wolf by the eares: if he prosecute his Cause, he is consumed; if he surcease his Suit, he loseth all: what difference? There are not a few procrastinating, or rather proterminating Attorneyes, and Advocates; that like him Prov. 3.28. will say unto a Clyent every day, come again to morrow: and yet procure his strife from Term to Term; when this Term he might procure his peace. Because he hath an action to his Clyents purse, as his adversary hath to his Land: That can spin one Suit, throughout three generations; and lengthen the threed of a mans cause; till he shall want weft. Or if he weave the Web to day, he can by craft like Penelope unweave it as much to morrow. Dealing with his Clyent, as some Chirurgions do with their patients: who will keep the wound raw, and open; that they may draw out of it the more money. So that often the recovery of a mans right by Law, is as dear; as if he had bought it by purchase.