ATTORNEY GENERAL. clxXXvii 



a trust to which he was certain of the Chancellor s recom 

 mendation, (c) 



Having thus discharged the duties of Solicitor and 

 Attorney General, with much credit to himself and advan 

 tage to the community, he early in the year 1615-16, ex 

 pressed to Villiers his wish to be admitted a member of 

 the privy council, from the hope that he might be of 

 service &quot; in times which did never more require a king s 

 attorney to be well armed, and to wear a gauntlet and not 

 a glove.&quot; (d) In consequence of this communication, the 



hand, that will sweep away all this. For it is my Lord Chancellor s 

 fashion, especially towards the summer, to carry a posy of wormwood. I 

 write this letter in haste, to return the messenger with it. God keep you, 

 and long and happily may you serve his majesty. Your true and affec 

 tionate servant. Feb. 10, 1615. 



Postscript. Sir, I humbly thank you for your inward letter: I have 

 burned it as you commanded, but the flame it hath kindled in me will 

 never be extinguished. 



(c) See letter to Villiers, 21st Feb. 1615-16, vol. i. p. 1, containing the 

 following statement: &quot; My Lord Chancellor told me yesterday, in plain 

 terms, that if the King would ask his opinion touching the person that he 

 would commend to succeed him, upon death or disability, he would name 

 me for the fittest man. You may advise whether use may not be made of 

 this offer.&quot; 



(d) Another letter to Sir George Villiers, touching a motion to swear 



him Councillor, Feb. 27, 1615. 



Sir, I humbly pray you not to think me over hasty or much in appetite, 

 if I put you in remembrance of my motion of strengthening me with the 

 oath and trust of a privy councillor ; not for mine own strength (for as to 

 that I thank God I am armed within) but for the strength of my service. 

 The times I submit to you who knoweth them best. But sure I am, there 

 were never times which did more require a king s attorney to be well armed, 

 and (as I said once to you) to wear a gauntlet, and not a glove. The 

 arraignments when they proceed; the contention between the Chancery 

 and King s Bench ; the great cause of the Rege inconsulto, which is so 

 precious to the King s prerogative ; divers other services that concern the 

 King s revenue, and the repair of his estate. Besides, it pleaseth his majesty 

 to accept well of my relations touching his business; which may seem a 



