LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 263 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I think it my duty to let his majesty know what I find 

 in this cause of the ore tenus : for as his majesty hath good 

 experience, that when his business comes upon the stage, 

 I carry it with strength and resolution, so in the proceed 

 ings I love to be wary and considerate. 



I wrote to your lordship by my last, that I hoped by the 

 care I had taken the business would go well, but without 

 that care I was sure it would not go well : this I meant 

 because I had had conference with the two chief justices, 

 Sir Edward Cooke being present, and handled the matter 

 so, that not without much ado, I left both the chief justices 

 firm to the cause and satisfied. 



But calling to mind that in the main business, notwith 

 standing I and the chief justices went one way, yet the day 

 was not good (and I should be loath to see more of such 

 days), I am not without some apprehension ; for though we 

 have Sir Edward Cooke earnest and forward, insomuch as 

 he advised the ore tenus, before I knew it at Wansted, and 

 now bound the Dutchmen over to the Star Chamber before 

 I was made privy; unto both which proceedings I did 

 nevertheless give approbation: yet if there should be 

 either the major part of the votes the other way, or any 

 main distraction, though we bear it through, I should think 

 it a matter full of inconvenience : but that which gives me 

 most to think is the carriage of Mr. Attorney, which sorteth 

 neither with the business nor with himself; for as I hear 

 from divers, and partly perceive, he is fallen from earnest to 

 be cool and faint ; which weakness, if it should make the 

 like alteration at the bar, it might overthrow the cause; 

 all the remedy which is in my power is by the advice of the 

 udges to draw some other of the learned counsel to his 

 elp, which he I know is unwilling with, but that is all 

 one. 



This I thought it necessary to write, lest the king should 

 think me asleep, and because I know that his majesty s 

 judgment is far better than mine. But I for my part mean 

 to go on roundly ; and so I ever rest 



Your Lordship s most obliged Friend 



and faithful Servant, 



October 9th, 1619. F R . VERULAM, Cane. 



If the king in his great wisdom should any ways incline 

 to have the ore tenus put off, then the way were to com 

 mand that the matter of the ore tenus should be given in 



i; 



