HIS PLACE IN CHANCERY. 245 



would use their jurisdiction. And this I shall do, 

 my lords, &quot; in verbis masculis ;&quot; no flourishing or 

 painted words, but such as are fit to go before deeds. 



The king s charge, which is my lanthorn, rested 

 upon four heads. 



The first was, that I should contain the jurisdic 

 tion of the court within its true and due limits, with 

 out swelling or excess. 



The second, that I should think the putting of 

 the great seal to letters patents was not a matter of 

 course to follow after precedent warrants; but that 

 I should take it to be the maturity and fulness of the 

 king s intentions : and therefore of the greatest parts 

 of my trust, if I saw therein any scruple or cause of 

 stay, that I should acquaint him, concluding with a 

 &quot; Quod dubites ne feceris.&quot; 



The third was, that I should retrench all unne 

 cessary delays, that the subject might find that he 

 did enjoy the same remedy against the fainting of 

 the soul and the consumption of the estate; which 

 was speedy justice. te Bis dat, qui cito dat.&quot; 



The fourth was, that justice might pass with as 

 easy charge as might be ; and that those same bram 

 bles, that grow about justice, of needless charge and 

 expense, and all manner of exactions, might be rooted 

 out so far as might be. 



These commandments, my lords, are righteous, 

 and, as I may term them, sacred ; and therefore to 

 use a sacred form, I pray God bless the king for his 

 great care over the justice of the land, and give me,his 

 poor servant, grace and power to observe his precepts. 



