The Importance of Positive Law in Politics

It was taken for granted by nearly all authors in this period that the king would be subject to these laws, including those made by humans. That political philosophers of the time were broadly happy with this arrangement is shown by the fact that John Fortescue wrote a work entitled In Praise of the Laws of England. A merely royal ruler governs without constraint or restriction. Ultimately, the only law is his will. By contrast, a royal and political ruler, like the English king, cannot arbitrarily change the laws. He needs the consent of the people to do so. So in such a regime, the people are ruled by laws that they themselves desire. They freely enjoy their goods and are disbo