322 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



fractory, his majesty hath declared himself, that he will 

 proceed against him by the warrant of the law, and by the 

 strength of his royal power. 



His majesty s speech this day had a necessary connexion 

 with his former discourse. He was pleased to declare 

 what was done and determined in the progress of this par 

 liament ; his reasons for it ; and that nothing was gotten 

 by shouldering or wrestling, but by debate, judgment, and 

 reason, without any interposition of his royal power in any 

 thing. He commanded the lords in state of judicature to 

 give life, by a careful execution unto the law, which other 

 wise was but mortuum cadaver et bona peritura. 



Thus much touching the legal part of my advertisement 

 unto you. I will give your lordship an account in two 

 lines of the complement of the country, time, and place. 



The country affords more profit and better contentment 

 than I could ever promise myself by my reading of it. 



The king was never more cheerful in body and mind, 

 never so well pleased : and so are the English of all con 

 ditions. 



The entertainment very honourable, very general, and 

 very full : every day feasts and invitations. I know not 

 who paid for it. They strive, by direction, to give us all 

 fair contentment, that we may know that the country is 

 not so contemptible, but that it is worth the cherishing. 



The Lord Provost of this town, who in English is the 

 mayor, did feast the king and all the lords this week; and 

 another day all the gentlemen. And, I confess, it was 

 performed with state, with abundance, and with a general 

 content. 



There is a general and a bold expectation, that Mr John 

 Murray shall be created a baron of this country ; and some 

 do chat, that my Lord of Buckingham s Mr. Wray shall 

 be a groom of the bed-chamber in his place. 



There hath been yet no creation of lords since his 

 majesty did touch Scotland : but of knights many, yet not 

 so many as we heard in England ; but it is thought all the 

 pensioners will be knights to-morrow. Neither are there 

 any more English lords sworn of the privy-council here, 

 save my Lord of Buckingham. 



The Earl of Southampton, Montgomery, and Hay, are 

 already gone for England. 



I have made good profit of my journey hither; for I 

 have gotten a transcript of the speech which your lordship 

 did deliver at your first and happy sitting in Chancery, 

 which I could not gain in England. It hath been shewed 



