obfervations and difcourfes the more, because the island of Great Britain, divided from the reft of the world, was never before united in itself under one King, notwithstanding the people be of one language, and not feparated by mountains or great waters, and notwithftanding alfo that the uniting of them has been in former times induftriously attempted both by war and treaty. Therefore it seemed a manifeft work of Providence and case of reservation for these times, infomuch as the vulgar conceived that there was now an end given and a confummation to fuperftitious prophecies (the belief of fools, but the talk fometimes of wife men), and to an ancient tacit expectation which had by tradition been infused and inveterated into men's minds. But as the best divinations and predictions are the politic and probable forefight and conjectures of wife men, fo in this matter the providence of King Henry VII. was in all men's mouths, who, being one of the deepest and most prudent princes of the world, upon the deliberation concerning the marriage of his eldest daughter into Scotland, had by fome

fpeech uttered by him fhowed himself fenfible and almoft prefcient of this event. (Hiftory of Great Britain.)

KNOTS UNTIED.-STATUTE OF USES.

I have chosen to read upon the statute of uses, made 27 Henry VIII., a law whereupon the inheritances of this realm are toffed at this day, like a fhip upon the fea, in fuch fort, that it is hard to say which bark will fink and which will get to haven; that is to say, what affurances will stand good and what will not. Neither is there any lack or default in the pilots, the grave and learned judges; but the tides and currents of received errors, and unwarranted and abufive experience, have been so strong, as they were not able to keep a right courfe according to the law, fo as this ftatute is in great part as a law made in the Parliament held 35 Reginæ; for in 37 Reginæ, by the notable judgment upon folemn arguments of all the judges affembled in the exchequer

chamber, in the famous cause between Dillon and Freme, concerning an affurance made by Chudleigh, this law began to be reduced to a true and found expofition, and the falfe and perverted expofition, which had continued for fo many years, though never countenanced by any rule or authority of weight, but only entertained in a popular conceit, and put in practice at adventure, grew to be controlled; fince which time, as it cometh to pass always upon the first reforming of inveterate errors, many doubts and perplexed queftions have rifen, which are not yet refolved, nor the law thereupon fettled: the confideration whereof moved me to take the occafion of performing this particular duty to the Houfe, to fee if I could, by my travail, bring the expofition thereof to a more general good of the Commonwealth.

Herein, though I could not be ignorant of the difficulty of the matter, which he that taketh in hand fhall foon find, or much lefs of my own inability, which I had continual fenfe and feeling of; yet, because I had more means of abfolution than the younger fort, and

more leisure than the greater fort, I did think it not impoffible to work fome profitable effect; the rather because where an inferior wit is bent and converfant upon one fubject, he shall many times, with patience and meditation, diffolve and undo many of the knots which a greater wit, diftracted with many matters, would rather cut in two than unknit: and, at least, if my invention or judgment be too barren or too weak, yet by the benefit of other arts, I did hope to difpofe or digeft the authorities or opinions which are in cafes of uses, in such order and method as they should take light one from another, though they took no light from me. (Reading upon the Statute of Ufes.)

LAW.

It were infinite for the Law to judge the causes of caufes, and their impulfions one of another; therefore it contenteth itself with the immediate cause, and judgeth of acts by that, without looking to any further depth. (Maxims.)

Words dealt with by Law.

This rule, that a man's deeds and his words fhall be taken throughout against himself, though it be one of the most common grounds of the Law, it is, not withstanding, a rule derived out of the depth of reason. For first, it is a schoolmaster of wisdom and diligence, in making men watchful in their own bufinefs; next, it is author of much quiet and certainty, and that in two forts; first, because it favoureth acts and conveyances executed, taking these still beneficially for the grantees and poffeffors; and fecondly, because it makes an end of many questions and doubts about conftruction of words; for if the labour were only to pick out the intention of the parties, every judge would have a general fenfe; whereas this rule doth give them a fway to take the law more certainly in one way. (Ibid.)

Capital and Civil Causes.

In capital causes, in favorem vitæ, the law will not punish in fo high a