1616.] THE PRINCE OF WALES' HOUNDS. 193 



was heartless and unmanly, and after the trials of the con- 

 spirators in the Gunpowder Plot, he was elevated to the 

 bench as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, June 30, 1606. 

 On ascending the judicial seat Coke discarded all appear- 

 ance of subserviency, and boldly asserted the independence 

 of the judge. He did not hesitate to oppose the king in 

 his attempts to extend the royal prerogative ; consequently 

 several conflicts between them upon this and cogent questions 

 arose,* with which James was greatly offended, culminating 

 in the removal of the Chief Justice from his office, Novem- 

 ber 15, 1616, and the subsequent incidents between them 

 at Newmarket, above mentioned. Coke was restored to his 

 seat in the Privy Council in September, 161 7, and appointed, 

 July 21, 161 8, one of the commissioners for executing the 

 office of Lord High Treasurer. During these years he was 

 employed in various commissions, and his assistance was 

 required in the Star Chamber in all cases of difficulty ; but 

 he received no substantial proof of the renewal of the royal 

 confidence. In Parliament he represented, during his career, 

 several constituencies, but as a legislator he did not shine, 

 whilst his " Commentary on Littleton " and his other law 

 books have mainly tended to preserve his name from oblivion. 

 He died on September 3, 1633, being then nearly eighty-two 

 years of age, and was buried in the church of Tittleshall, 

 county Norfolk, in which a marble monument, bearing his 

 effigy at full length, is erected to his memory. 



HUNTESMEN FOR THE PRINCES BUCKHOUNDES, VIZ. : 

 Alsoe allowed for money paid to Tymothie Tirrell, Esq,, M"^ 

 of the Princes Buckhounds at xx^^ p. ann., payable q'"terly, 

 due to him for one whole yeare ended at Michas' Anno Regis 



* In October, 16 16, Justice Warburton was in some disfavour for 

 hanging a Scotch falconer of the king's at Oxford, contrary, as alleged, 

 to the express commands that he should be reprieved. It was generally 

 said that he should be displaced, and have a writ of ease, as it was 

 called ; but it appears the royal wrath was appeased, as that judge con- 

 tinued on the bench of the Court of Common Picas (Birch MS., 4173). 

 See the Fieid^ December 27, 1854, p. 8S0. 



VOL. I. O 



