The benefit of clergy, (g. v.) Privilegium est beneficium personale, et extinguitur cum persona. 3 Bulst. 8. A privilege is a personal benefit, and dies with the person. Privilegium 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.