That every jugge was refused 2820 Which was noght frend to comun riht; Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht For trouthe only to do justice Preferred were in thilke office To deme and jugge commun lawe: Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe. To sette a lawe and kepe it noght Ther is no comun profit soght; Bot above alle natheles The lawe, which is mad for pes, 2830 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 181=] Is good to kepe for the beste, For that set alle men in reste. [Sidenote: [THE EMPEROR CONRAD.]] The rihtful Emperour Conrade [Sidenote: Hic narrat de iusticia nuper Conradi Imperatoris, cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone, aliqua seu precum interuencione quacunque vel auri redempcione, legum Statuta commutari seu redimi nullatenus potuerunt.] To kepe pes such lawe made, That non withinne the cite In destorbance of unite Dorste ones moeven a matiere. For in his time, as thou myht hiere, What point that was for lawe set It scholde for no gold be let,[1176] 2840 To what persone that it were. And this broghte in the comun fere, Why every man the lawe dradde, For ther was non which favour hadde. [Sidenote: [THE CONSUL CARMIDOTIRUS.]] So as these olde bokes sein, I finde write hou a Romein, [Sidenote: Nota exemplum de constancia iudicis; vbi narrat de Carmidotiro Rome nuper Consule, qui cum sui statuti legem nescius offendisset, Romanique super hoc penam sibi remittere voluissent, ipse propria manu, vbi nullus alius in ipsum vindex fuit, sui criminis vindictam executus est.] Which Consul was of the Pretoire, Whos name was Carmidotoire, He sette a lawe for the pes, That non, bot he be wepneles,[1177] 2850 Schal come into the conseil hous, And elles as malicious He schal ben of the lawe ded. To that statut and to that red Acorden alle it schal be so, For certein cause which was tho: Nou lest what fell therafter sone.[1178] This Consul hadde forto done,[1179] And was into the feldes ride; And thei him hadden longe abide, 2860 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 182=] That lordes of the conseil were, And for him sende, and he cam there With swerd begert, and hath foryete,[1180] Til he was in the conseil sete. Was non of hem that made speche, Til he himself it wolde seche, And fond out the defalte himselve; And thanne he seide unto the tuelve, Whiche of the Senat weren wise, ‘I have deserved the juise, 2870 In haste that it were do.’ And thei him seiden alle no; For wel thei wiste it was no vice, Whan he ne thoghte no malice, Bot onliche of a litel slouthe: