LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 285 



touching the conversion of your revenue of land into a 

 multiplied present revenue of rent : wherein, I say, I have 

 considered of the means and course to be taken of the 

 assurance, of the rates, of the exceptions, and of the argu 

 ments for and against it. For though the project itself 

 be as old as I can remember, and falleth under every man s 

 capacity, yet the dispute and manage of it asketh a great 

 deal of consideration and judgment; projects being, like 

 ^Esop s tongues, the best meat and the worst, as they are 

 chosen and handled. But surely, ubi deficient remedia 

 ordinaria, recurrendum est ad extraordmaria. Of this also 

 I am ready to give your majesty an account. 



Generally, upon this subject of the repair of your ma 

 jesty s means, I beseech your majesty to give me leave to 

 make this judgment, that your majesty s recovery must be 

 by the medicines of the Galenists and Arabians, and not of 

 the chemists or Paracelsians. For it will not be wrought 

 by any one fine extract, or strong water, but by a skilful 

 company of a number of ingredients, and those by just 

 weight and proportion, and that of some simples, which 

 perhaps of themselves, or in over-great quantity, were little 

 better than poisons, but mixed and broken, and in just quan 

 tity, are full of virtue. And secondly, that as your majes 

 ty s growing behind hand hath been work of time, so must 

 likewise be your majesty s coming forth and making even. 

 Not but I wish it were by all good and fit means accele 

 rated, but that I foresee, that if your majesty shall pro 

 pound to yourself to do it per saltum, it can hardly be with 

 out accidents of prejudice to your honour, safety, or profit. 



Indorsed My letter to the King touching his estate in 

 general) September 18, 1612. 



To the King. 

 May it please your Majesty, 



According to your highness s pleasure, signified by my 

 Lord Chamberlain,* I have considered of the petition of 

 certain baronets !- made unto your majesty for confirmation 

 and extent, or explanation of certain points mentioned in 

 their charter, and am of opinion, that first, whereas it is 

 desired, that the baronets be declared a middle degree 

 between baron and knight, I hold this to be reasonable as 

 to their placing. 



* Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk. 



t The order of baronets was created by patent of King James I., dated the 

 22d of May, 1611. The year following a decree was made relating to their 



