400 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



As soon as I had written this letter I received your 

 lordship s letter, touching my Lord Chief Justice, which 

 redoubled my comfort, to see how his majesty s thoughts 

 and mine, his poor servant s, and your lordship s, meet. 



I send inclosed names for the Speaker ; and if his majesty, 

 or your lordship, demand our opinion, which of them, my 

 Lord Chief Justice will tell you. It were well it were 

 dispatched ; for else I will not dine with the Speaker ; for 

 his drink will not be laid in time enough. 



I beseech your lordship, care may be taken that our 

 general letter may be kept secret, whereof my Lord Chief 

 Justice will tell you the reason. 



To the King. 



It may please your most excellent Majesty, 

 According to your commandment, we have heard once 

 more the proctors of the prerogative court, what they 

 could say, and find no reason to alter, in any part, our 

 former certificate. Thus much withal we think fit to note 

 to your majesty, that our former certificate, which we now 

 ratify, is principally grounded upon a point in law, upon 

 the statute of 21 Henry VIII. wherein we, the Chancellor 

 and Treasurer, for our own opinions, do conceive the law 

 is clear, and your solicitor-general * concurs. 



Now, whether your majesty will be pleased to rest in 

 our opinions, and so to pass the patents, or give us leave 

 to assist ourselves with the opinion of some principal judges 

 now in town, whereby the law may be the better resolved, 

 to avoid farther question hereafter ; we leave it to your 

 majesty s royal pleasure. This we represent the rather, 

 because we discern such a confidence in the proctors, and 

 those upon whom they depend, as it is not unlike, they will 

 bring it to a legal question. 



And so we humbly kiss your majesty s hands, praying 

 for your preservation. 



Your Majesty s most humble 



and obedient Servants, 



FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



York House, December 12, 1620. HENRY MONTAGU, 



ROBERT NAUNTON. 



* Sir Thomas Coventry, who was made attorney-general, Jan. 14, 1620-1. 



