326 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



For my opposition to this business, which it seemeth, 

 hath been informed your majesty, I think it was meant (if 

 it be not a thing merely feigned, and without truth or 

 ground) of one of these two things ; for I will dissemble 

 nothing with your majesty. It is true, that in those mat 

 ters, which, by your majesty s commandment and refer 

 ence, came before the table concerning Sir Edward Coke, 

 I was sometimes sharp (it may be too much ;) but it was 

 with end to have your majesty s will performed ; or else, 

 when me thought he was more peremptory than became 

 him, in respect of the honour of the table. It is true also, 

 that I disliked the riot or violence, whereof we of your 

 council gave your majesty advertisement by our joint letter : 

 and I disliked it the more because he j ustified it to be law ; 

 which was his old song. But in that act of council which 

 was made thereupon, I did not see but all my lords were 

 as forward as myself, as a thing most necessary for preser 

 vation of your peace, which had been so carefully and 

 firmly kept in your absence. And all this had a fair end, 

 in a reconcilement made by Mr. Attorney,* whereby both 

 husband and wife and child should have kept together. 

 Which, if it had continued, I am persuaded the match had 

 been in better and fairer forwardness than now it is. 



Now for the times of things, I beseech your majesty to 

 understand that which my Lord of Buckingham will wit 

 ness with me, that I never had any word of letter from his 

 lordship of the business, till I wrote my letter of advice ; 

 nor again after my letter of advice till five weeks after, 

 which was now wjhin this sennight. So that although I 

 did in truth presume, that the earl would do nothing with 

 out your majesty s privity ; yet I was in some doubt, by 

 this his silence, of his own mind, that he was not earnest in 

 it, but only was content to embrace the officious offers and 

 endeavours of others. 



But to conclude this point, after I had received, by a for 

 mer letter of his lordship, knowledge of his mind, I think 

 Sir Edward Coke himself, the last time he was before the 

 lords, might particularly perceive an alteration in my car 

 riage. And now that your majesty hath been pleased to 

 open yourself to me, I shall be willing to further the match 

 by any thing that shall be desired of me, or that is in my 

 power. 



And whereas your majesty conceiveth some dregs of 



* Sir Henry Yelverton. 



