CHIEF JUSTICE COKE. 337 



themselves, his majesty commanded them to keep the 

 bounds and limits of their several courts, not to suffer 

 his prerogative to be wounded by rash and unadvised 

 pleading before them, or by new invention of law ; for 

 as he well knew the true and ancient common law 

 is the most favourable for kings of any law in the 

 world ; so he advised them to apply their studies to 

 that ancient and best law, and not to extend the power 

 of any other of their courts beyond their due limits ; 

 following the precedents of their best ancient judges 

 in the times of the ^oest government ; and that then 

 they might assure themselves that he, for his part, in 

 his protection of them, and expediting of justice, 

 would walk in the steps of ancient and best kings. 

 Whereupon he gave them leave to proceed in their 

 argument. 



When the judges were removed, his majesty that 

 had forborn to ask the voices and opinions of his 

 council before the judges, because he would not 

 prejudicate the freedom of the judges opinion, con 

 cerning whether the stay of proceedings, that had 

 been by his majesty required, could by any construc 

 tion be thought to be within the compass of the 

 judges oath, which they had heard read unto them, 

 did then put the question to his council ; who all 

 with one consent did give opinion, that it was far 

 from any colour or shadow of such interpretation, 

 and that it was against common sense to think the 

 contrary, especially since there is no mention made 

 in their oath of delay of justice, but only that they 

 should not deny justice, nor be moved by any of the 



VOL. vn. z 



