COMMEND AMS. 325 



points in the said letter contained : which letter also 

 by his majesty s appointment and commandment was 

 publicly read &quot; in base verba.&quot; 



&quot; James REX, 



TRUSTY and well-beloved counsellors, and trusty 

 and well-beloved, we greet you well. We perceive 

 by your letter, that you conceive the commandment 

 given you by our attorney-general in our name to 

 have proceeded upon wrong information : but if you 

 list to remember what princely care we have ever 

 had, since our coming to this crown, to see justice 

 duly administered to our subjects, with all possible 

 expedition ; and how far we have ever been from 

 urging the delay thereof in any sort, you may safely 

 persuade yourselves that it was no small reason that 

 moved us to send you that direction. You might 

 very well have spared your labour in informing us of 

 the nature of your oath ; for although we never 

 studied the common law of England, yet are we not 

 ignorant of any points which belong to a king to 

 know : we are therefore to inform you hereby, that 

 we are far from crossing or delaying any thing which 

 may belong to the interest of any private party in 

 this case ; but we cannot be contented to suffer the 

 prerogative royal of our crown to be wounded 

 through the sides of a private person : we have no 

 care at all which of the parties shall win this process 

 in this case, so that right prevail, and that justice be 

 truly administered. But on the other side, we have 

 reason to foresee that nothing be done in this case 



