The Speech of the Lord Chancellor of England, in the Eschequer Chamber, touching the Post=nati

London: Printed [by Adam Islip] for the Societie of Stationers, 1609. First edition, 4to (185 x 135mm), [12], 118, [2]pp., the first leaf is blank except for marginal rules and signature-mark "A", the last leaf is blank except for marginal rules, woodcut devices on title, new endpapers, recent full calf, gilt lettered red morocco label to spine. "On the accession of James I, Egerton was reappointed lord keeper and advanced to the peerage on 21 July 1603 as Baron Ellesmere, of Ellesmere in Shropshire (where he was given a large estate), but at the king's behest relinquished the rolls in favour of the Scottish lawyer Edward Bruce. On 24 July Egerton was appointed lord chancellor, relinquishing his position as lord keeper. He presided over the chancery and Star Chamber for another fourteen years, and also conducted a number of state trials, notably those of Sir Walter Ralegh (1603), and the gunpowder plotters (1605)."—(ODNB.) This speech took four hours to deliver and concerns the rights of Scots born after the accession of James I, the case concerns 'Robert Calvine, sonne and heire apparant of James L. Calvine of Colcrosse in the realme of Scotland.' - (pp.4-5). Provenance: Early signature of Davenport Talbot on A1. STC, 7540.