CHIEF JUSTICE COKE. 373 



your majesty will note me to play the divine, with 

 out learning, and out of season. So with my conti 

 nual prayers to God to preserve your majesty with 

 long, healthful, and happy life, and all earthly and 

 heavenly felicity, I rest 



Your Majesty s humble 



and faithful subject and servant, 



T. ELLESMERE, Cane. 



At York-house, 

 22 Oct. 1616. 



THE HUMBLE AND DIRECT ANSWER TO THE FOURTH QUES 

 TION ARISING OUT OF DR. BONHAM s CASE. 



IN this case I am required to deliver what I mean 

 by this passage therein, That in many cases the com 

 mon law shall control acts of parliament ; and some 

 times shall adjudge them to be merely void ; for 

 where an act of parliament is against common right 

 and reason, the common law shall control it, and 

 adjudge it to be void. 



The words of my report do not import any new 

 opinion, but only a relation of such authorities of law, 

 as had been adjudged and resolved in ancient and 

 former times, and were cited in the argument of 

 Bonham s case ; and therefore the words of my book 

 are these, &quot; It appeareth in our books, that in many 

 cases the common law shall control acts of parlia 

 ment, and sometimes shall adjudge them to be utterly 

 void ; for when an act of parliament is against com- 



