THe Laws themselves grew Lawlesse, and the Tribes O'th' Gown entayl'd their consciences for bribes, Like cobwebs; Laws the lesser flies entrap, But great ones might breake thorow, and escape: They were no more defence, but grew to be A legall violence, licenc'd injurie. Courts were call'd Courts of Justice, but it is Because there's none there by Antiphrasis. The ambidextrous Judges brib'd, rebrib'd, And lesser gifts to greater still subscrib'd: Queen-money made and un-made all decrees, And Justice grew adulterate for fees: It had a balance, but so falsifi'd, That it inclin'd still to the weightiest side. If bribes did plead, they must needs grant the Sute, For gifts have pow'r to move, although they 're mute; They had got pearles within their eyes, that so They scarce the truth from injury did know. Instead of Judges, Pride, Oppression, Fraud, Injustice, violence, the Bench invade; Justice, the junior Judge, sate like a block, Or puisne Baron, but to tell the clock. What ere the cause be, whether bad or good, It must be felt, ere heard or understood.