The benefit of clergy, (q. v.) Privilegium est beneficium personale, et extinguitnr cum persona. 3 Bulst. 8. A privilege is a personal benefit, and dies with the person. Privileginm est quasi privata lex. 2 Bulst. 189. Privilege is, as it were, a private law. Privilegium non valet contra rempub- licam. Privilege is of no force against the commonwealth. Even necessity does not excuse, where the act to be done is against the commonwealth. Bac. Max. p. 32, in reg. 5.