LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 379 



cause, that it could not be performed this term; yet she 

 seemed willing rather it should be delayed, than dispensed 

 with. 



This day also Traske, * in open court, made a retracta 

 tion of his wicked opinions in writing. The form was as 

 good as may be. I declared to him, that this court was the 

 judgment-seat; the mercy-seat was his majesty: but the 

 court would commend him to his majesty : and I humbly 

 pray his majesty to signify his pleasure speedily, because of 

 the misery of the man ; and it is a rare thing for a sectary, 

 that hath once suffered smart and shame, to turn so un- 

 feignedly, as he seemed to do. 



God ever bless and keep you. 



Your most obliged Friend and faithful Servant, 



December, 1, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



On Friday I left London, to hide myself at Kew ; for two 

 months and a half together to be strong-bent is too much 

 for my bow. And yet, that the king may perceive, that in 

 my times of leisure I am not idle, I took down with me Sir 

 Giles Mompesson,f and with him I have quietly conferred 

 of that proposition, which was given me in charge by his 

 majesty, and after seconded by your lordship. Wherein I 

 find some things I like very well, and some other, that I 



* John Traske, a minister, who was prosecuted in the Star-chamber for main 

 taining, as we find mentioned in the Reports of the Lord Chief Justice Hobart, 

 p. 236, that the Jewish Sabbath ought to be observed and not ours ; and that 

 we ought to abstain from all manner of swine s flesh, and those meats which the 

 Jews were forbidden in Leviticus, according to Bishop Andrews, in his speech 

 in the Star-chamber on that occasion, printed among his lordship s works. Mr. 

 Traske being examined in that court, confessed; that he had divulged those 

 opinions, and had laboured to bring as many to them as he could ; and had also 

 written a letter to the king, wherein he seemed to tax his majesty with hypocrisy, 

 and expressly inveighed against the bishops high commissioners, as bloody and 

 cruel in their proceedings against him, and a papal clergy. He was sentenced 

 to fine and imprisonment, not for holding those opinions (for those were examin- 

 able in the Ecclesiastical Court, and not there,) but for making of conventicles 

 and commotions, and for scandalizing the king, the bishops, and clergy. Dr. 

 Fuller, in his Church History of Britain, book x. p. 77. 64. mentions his having 

 heard Mr. Traske preach, and remarks, that his voice had more strength than ai/ 

 thing else he delivered ; and that after his recantation he relapsed, not into the 

 same, but other opinions, rather humorous than hurtful, and died obscurely at 

 Lambeth, in the reign of King Charles I. 



t Who in the parliament, which began January 30, 1620-1, was sentenced to 

 be degraded, and rendered incapable of bearing any office, for practising several 

 abuses, in setting up new inns and alehouses, and exacting great sums of money 

 of the people, by pretence of letters patents granted him for that purpose. But 

 he fled into foreign parts, finding himself abandoned by the Marquis of Buck 

 ingham, on whom he had depended for protection. 



