The barons of England, sustained by the common people, having their king in their power, compelled him, as the price of his throne, to pledge himself that he would punish no freeman for a violation of any of his laws, unless with the consent of the peers that is, the equals of the accused.
Spooner describes the historical context in which the barons forced the king to respect the rights of freemen, emphasizing the importance of peer consent in law enforcement.
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All other laws, it is optional with each man to obey, or not, as he may choose.
It is also sheer impudence, on their part, to assume that their commands are at all necessary to teach other men what is, and what is not, justice.
It was simply, that they would neither convict the innocent, nor acquit the guilty.
Yet the codes of the most celebrated kings are very small, and were little more than compilations of immemorial customs.