It is little wonder, with this harsh rule obtaining, that by the time of Edward I. history records that his justices had become extremely cautious men, unwilling to decide nice points of law but referring every close question to the Council for instruction.[48] The penalty of a mistake or “false judgment” to them meant not only a fine, but disgrace and the recall, if the King saw fit to so punish them, so this was not only calculated to make a man cautions, but to prevent those of skill and dignity from risking the expression of their judgment, when the penalty for a mistake was such that it might forever ruin the future life and hopes of the judge pronouncing judgment. The strange thing is that with such a system, any self respecting man could be found to undertake the performance of functions such as those required of a judge, when his behavior was the means of ruining his future life, regardless of his pure intentions in the performance of his official duty. The tenure of office of the English judge continued for centuries, to be at the pleasure of the Crown, and under the Plantagenets and the Tudors, a Chief-Justice even, might be removed, like any other officer of the King, at the pleasure of the sovereign,[49] and during this whole period we find that the standards of the judiciary were in keeping with this servile and undignified conception of the duties of such an office, for the judges, with but few exceptions, during this period of servile attachment to the Crown, were men of but mediocre ability, willing to prostitute their high offices, to hold the esteem and favor of their patron. It was thus found, by experience, in England, that the proper discharge of the impartial duties of the courts was consistent only with the maintenance, at all times, of their dignity and independence, hence, it was enacted, by statute, (13 William III., c. 2) that the commissions of judges were to be held, not as formerly, during the mere pleasure of the king, but so long as they should conduct themselves uprightly. They can only be removed from office, upon the address of both houses of Parliament and since the reign of George III., the commissions of judges are not terminated with the death of the king, but they continue to hold their office, notwithstanding the demise of the king, during their good behavior, or until removed by the joint action of both houses of Parliament.[50] And not only did the English law raise the incumbent of the judgment seat to a plane where he could view, with disdain the frowns of the tyrant in the performance of his official functions, but that he might also be free from the clamors of the populace, he was exempt from indictment for any judicial act honestly done, or omitted, while sitting as a judge. In other words, while acting in a judicial capacity, judges were not liable for an honest mistake, but only for fraud or corruption.[51]