HIS PLACE IN CHANCERY. 249 



The fourth point is concerning the communicat 

 ing of the authority of the chancellor too far ; and 

 making, upon the matter, too many chancellors, by 

 relying too much upon the reports of the masters of 

 the chancery as concludent. I know, my lords, the 

 masters of the chancery are reverend men ; and the 

 great mass of the business of the court cannot be 

 sped without them ; and it is a thing the chancellor 

 may soon fall into for his own ease, to rely too much 

 upon them. But the course that I will take gene 

 rally shall be this ; I will make no binding order 

 upon any report of one of the masters, without giving 

 a seven-night s day at the least, to shew cause against 

 the report, which nevertheless I will have done mo 

 destly, and with due reverence towards them : and 

 again, I must utterly discontinue the making of an 

 hypothetical or conditional order ; that if a master 

 of the chancery do certify thus and thus, that then it 

 is so ordered without farther motion ; for that it is a 

 surprise, and giveth no time for contradiction. 



The last point of excess is, if a chancellor shall 

 be so much of himself, as he shall neglect assistance 

 of reverend judges in cases of difficulty, especially if 

 they touch upon law, or calling them, shall do it but 

 &quot; pro forma tantum,&quot; and give no due respect to their 

 opinions : wherein, my lords, preserving the dignity 

 and majesty of the court, which I account rather in 

 creased than diminished by grave and due assistance, 

 I shall never be found so sovereign or abundant in 

 mine own sense, but I shall both desire and make 

 true us of assistance. Nay, I assure your lordships, 



