426 LETTERS RELATING TO 



joint letter : and I disliked it the more, because he 

 justified it to be law ; which was his old song. But 

 in that act of council, which was made thereupon, I 

 did not see but all my lords were as forward as 

 myself, as a thing most necessary for preservation of 

 your peace, which had been so carefully and firmly 

 kept in your absence. And all this had a fair end, 

 in a reconcilement made by Mr. Attorney*, whereby 

 both husband and wife and child should have kept 

 together. Which, if it had continued, I am per 

 suaded the match had been in better and fairer for 

 wardness, than now it is. 



Now for the times of things, 1 beseech your ma 

 jesty to understand that which my lord of Bucking 

 ham will witness with me, that I never had any word 

 of letter from his lordship of the business, till I wrote 

 my letter of advice ; nor again, after my letter of 

 advice, till five weeks after, which was now within 

 this sennight. So that although I did in truth pre 

 sume, that the earl would do nothing without your 

 majesty s privity ; yet I was in some doubt, by this 

 his silence of his own mind, that he was not earnest 

 in it, but only was content to embrace the officious 

 offers and endeavours of others. 



But, to conclude this point, after I had received, 

 by a former letter of his lordship, knowledge of his 

 mind, I think Sir Edward Coke himself, the last 

 time he was before the lords, might particularly 

 perceive an alteration in my carriage. And now that 

 your majesty hath been pleased to open yourself 



* Sir Henry Yelverton. 



