LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 131 



come to the business itself we shall enlarge it according to 

 the use of the later times. This I represented to him ( being 

 a thing he is well acquainted with) that he might perceive 

 the platform of that was intended, without any mistaking or 

 obscurity. But then I fell to the matter itself, to lock him 

 in as much as I could, viz. 



That there be four means or manners, whereby the 

 death of the king is compassed and imagined. 

 The first, by some particular fact or plot. 

 The second, by disabling his title; as by affirming that 

 he is not lawful king; or that another ought to be king; or 

 that he is an usurper, or a bastard, or the like. 



The third, by subjecting his title to the pope; and 

 thereby making him of an absolute king a conditional king. 

 The fourth, by disabling his regiment, and making him 

 appear to be incapable, or indign to reign. 



These things I relate to your majesty, in sum, as is fit ; 

 which when I opened to my lord I did insist a little more 

 upon, with more efficacy and edge, and authority of law and 

 record than I can now express. 



Then I placed Peacham s treason within the last division, 

 agreeable to divers precedents, whereof I had the records 

 ready ; and concluded, that your majesty s safety, and life, 

 and authority, was thus by law ensconsed and quartered ; 

 and that it was in vain to fortify on three of the sides and 

 so leave you open on the fourth. 



It is true he heard me in a grave fashion, more than 

 accustomed, and took a pen and took notes of my divisions; 

 and when he read the precedents and records, would say, 

 this you mean falleth within your first or your second divi 

 sion. In the end, I expressly demanded his opinion, as 

 that whereto both he and I was enjoined. But he desired 

 me to leave the precedents with him, that he might advise 

 upon them. I told him, the rest of my fellows would dis 

 patch their part and I should be behind with mine ; which 

 I persuaded myself, your majesty would impute rather to his 



