"The last he confessed, and humbly craved "his Majefty's pardon. The other two he pal"liated with fome colourable excufes, which "were not fo well fet off but they left fuch a " tincture behind them, that he was commanded "to retire to private life. And to expiate the "King's anger, he was enjoined in that leifurely "retirement to review his Books of Reports, "which the King was informed had many ex"travagant opinions publifhed for practice and good law, which must be corrected, and brought to his Majefty to be perufed. And "at his departure from the Council-table, the "Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Salisbury, gave "him a wipe, for fuffering his coachman to ride "bare-headed before him in the streets; which "fault he ftrove to cover, by telling his Lordfhip that his coachman did it for his own "ease."

To the kindness of a learned and ingenious Gentleman, who has had the fingular merit of allying Philology to Philofophy, and of giving the certitude of science to Etymology itself, Mr. HORNE TOOKE, the Compiler is obliged for

*The learned and elegant Mr. Webb fays of The Diverfions of Purley, "It is a moft valuable book, and the more fo, as it promifes what is much wanted, a new theory of language. I, bone, quò ingenium tuum te vocat."

VOL. I.

"Differtation on the Chinefe Language."

the following curious Letter of Sir Edward Coke to the University of Cambridge, when that learned Body was empowered by James the First to fend Representatives to Parliament. The Letter is copied from the Archives of the University.

cr

Having found by experience in former Parliaments (and efpecially when I was Speaker) "how neceffary it was for our University to have

66

Burgeffes of Parliament: first, for that the "Colledges and Houfes of Learning being "founded partly by the King's progenitors, and

partly by the Nobles and other godly and de"vout men, have local ftatutes and ordynances "prefcribed to them by their founders, as well "for the difpofing and preferving of their pof

દ

feffions, as for the good government and vir"tuous education of Students and Schollers "within the fame: fecondly, for that to the "dewe obfervation of thofe ftatutes and ordy"nances they are bounden by oath and lastly, "for that yt is not poffible for any one generall "lawe to fitt every particular Colledge, especially

when their private ftatutes and ordynances be "not knowne: And finding, especially nowe of "late time, that many Bills are preferred in "Parliament, and fome have paffed, which con"cern our Univerfity; I thought good, out of "the great duety and fervice I owe to our Univerfity, (being one of the famous eyes of the

"Commonwealth,) to conferr with M Dr. Ne"vill, Deane of Canterbury, and Sir Edward Stanhope, (two worthie Members thereof,) that "a fute were made at this time, when his Matte, exceeding all his progenitors in learning and "knowledge, fo favoureth and refpecteth the "Universities; when our moft worthie and af"fectionate Chancellor, my L. Cecill, his Matic

principall Secretary, is fo propenfe to further "anything that may honour or profit our Uni"verfity; for the obteyning of two Burgeffes of "Parliament, that may informe (as occafion fhall "be offered) that High Court of the true ftate "of the University, and of every particular Col

ledge which, with all alacrity, the good "Deane and Sir Edward Stanhope apprehended. "O Chancellor was moved, who inftantly and "effectually moved his Mate, who most princely "and gracioufly granted and figned yt, the "booke being ready drawne and provided. I "know yo' wisdomes have little need of myne "advise; yet out of my affectionate love unto you, I have thought good to remember you "fome things that are comely and neceffary to be "donne.

of

1. As foone as you can, that you acknow"ledge humble thanks to his Male

$ 2

for that he

"hath

"hath conferred fo great an hon' and benefitt to "o' University.

"2. To acknowledge y thankfullness to o' "noble Chancellor, and alfo to the L. Chancel"lor of England, who have most honourably "given furtherance to yt.

EC 3. That you thanke the good Deane and S' "Edward Stanhope, for their inward and hafty 66 follicitaçon.

66 4. That now at this firft eleccon, you make "choife of fome that are not of the Convocaçon "House, for I have knowne the like to have "bredd a queftion. And yt is good that the "begynning and first season be cleere and with"out fcruple. In refpect whereof, if you elect "for this time fome Profeffor of the Civill Lawe, or any other that is not of the Convocaçon 66 House, yt is the fureft way.

5. The Vicechancellor, for that he is Go"vernor of the Univerfity where the choife is to be made, is not eligible.

"6. There is alfo a new wrytt provided for "this present eleccon. When you have made

your eleccon of your two Burgeffes, you must "certifie the fame to the Sheriffe, and he shall """retorne them: or if you fend your eleccon to "me under your feale, I will fee them retorned.

"And thus ever resting to doe you any fer. "vice, with all willing readynefs I comytt you "to the bleffed proteccon of the Almighty. "From the Inner Temple, this 12th of March “ 1603.

"Yo' very loving frind,

"ED. COKE."

You fhall also receive the

"lettres patents under the

greate feale to you and yo' fucceffors "for ever, and likewife a

"writt for this pfent eleccon."

"To the right worshipfull "and his much esteemed ffrend the "Vicechancellor of the Universitie of Cambridge give these."

The Inftitutes" of Sir Edward Coke have ever been regarded as the most excellent Commentaries on our Laws and Conftitution. Yet the learned Bishop Gibfon fays, in one of his MS. Letters in the Bodleian Library,

"Many of our Laws (as they are derived "from those of the Saxons) foe they contribute