384 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



alter their style when he would. But when another of us 

 said, we could not but in our own discharge send the king 

 the letter, scilicet negandum non fuit ; though indeed my 

 way is otherwise. 



I have at last recovered from these companions, Harrison 

 and Dale, a copy of my Lord of Bangor s* book, the great 

 one, and will presently set in hand the examinations. God 

 keep you. Your assured Friend, 



Februarys, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



To the King. 

 May it please your Majesty. 



Sir Edward Coke is now a-foot, and according to your 

 command, signified by Mr. Secretary Calvert, we proceed 

 in Peacock s examinations. For although there have been 

 very good diligence used, yet certainly we are not at the 

 bottom ; and he that would not use the utmost of his line 

 to sound such a business as this, should not have due re 

 gard neither to your majesty s honour nor safety. 



A man would think he were in Luke Hutton s case again ; 

 for as my Lady Roos personated Luke Hutton, so it seemeth, 

 Peacock personateth Atkins. But I make no judgment yet, 

 but will go on with all diligence ; and, if it may not be 

 done otherwise, it is fit Peacock be put to torture. He 

 deserveth it as well as Peacham did. 



I beseech your majesty not to think I am more bitter, 

 because my name is in it ; for, besides that I always make 

 my particular a cypher, when there is question of your ma 

 jesty s honour and service, I think myself honoured for 

 being brought into so good company. And as without 

 flattery, I think your majesty the best of kings, and my 

 noble Lord of Buckingham the best of persons favoured ; 

 so I hope, without presumption, for my honest and true 

 intentions to state and justice, and my love to my master, 

 I am not the worst of Chancellors. 



God ever preserve your majesty. 



Your Majesty s most obliged 



and most obedient Servant, 



10th of February, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



* Dr. Lewis Bayly, born at Caermarthen in Wales, and educated in Exeter 

 College, Oxford. He had been minister of Evesham in Worcestershire, and 

 chaplain to Prince Henry, and rector of St. Matthew s, Friday Street, in London. 

 He was promoted to the bishoprick of Bangor in 1616. On the 15th of July, 

 1621, he was committed to the Fleet, but on what account is not related by 

 Camden, Annales Ttegis Jacobi I. p. 72, who mentions the circumstance of the 

 bishop s imprisonment ; but that he was soon after set at liberty. He was the 

 author of the well known book, The Practice of Piety, 



