326 TRACTS RELATING TO 



which may wound our prerogative in general ; and 

 therefore so that we may be sure that nothing shall 

 be debated amongst you which may concern our 

 general power of giving Commendams, we desire 

 not the parties to have one hour s delay of justice : 

 but that our prerogative should not be wounded in 

 that regard for all times hereafter, upon pretext of 

 private persons interest, we sent you that direction ; 

 which we account as well to be wounded if it be 

 publicly disputed upon, as if any sentence were given 

 against it : we are therefore to admonish you, that 

 since the prerogative of our crown hath been more 

 boldly dealt withal in Westminster-Hall, during the 

 time of our reign, than ever it was before in the 

 reigns of divers princes immediately preceding us, 

 that we will no longer endure that popular and 

 unlawful liberty ; and therefore we were justly 

 moved to send you that direction to forbear to med 

 dle in a cause of so tender a nature, till we had far 

 ther thought upon it. We have cause indeed to 

 rejoice of your zeal for your speedy execution of 

 justice ; but we would be glad that all our subjects 

 might so find the fruits thereof, as that no pleas 

 before you were of older date than this is. But as to 

 your argument, which you found upon your oath, 

 you give our predecessors, who first founded the 

 oath, a very charitable meaning, in perverting their 

 intention and zeal to justice, to make a weapon of it 

 to use against their successors ; for although your 

 oath be, that you shall not delay justice between 

 any private persons or parties, yet was it not meant 



