A Letter from Rhoan in France, Written by Doctor Roane One of the Doctors of the Late Sicke Commons, to His Fellow Doctor of the Civil Law, Dated 28 June [1641]. With an Ellegy Written by His Owne Hand Upon the Deathand Buriall of the Said Doctors Commons

Résumé du livre

This letter professes to give an account of the education of the writer and the person to whom it is addressed at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, as Fellow Commoners, their entry to the "Commons" and conduct in that position; how the writer bribed Laud's chief servants with silk stockings, suits of satin, plush cloaks, beavers, and the like, their chaplains with "Canonicall Cassocks and Leviticall girdles, not passing the gate without a memorandum to the porter"; that he was "Martin's minion, Lambs best-beloved, and Ducks delight", that in their courts he always carried his causes successfully. He was in league with the Registrars of these Courts. There is a reference to "The late Will and Testament of the Doctors Commons" June 26, 1641, as having been published at this time. Also to "Child, the Scrivener". Appended is "A Funerall Elegie made by Dr. Roan now a fugitive in France, upon the fall and death of Doctors Commons" with references to the imprisonment of Laud, the state of the Ecclesiastical Courts, imprisonment of the bishops, Sir W. Davenant as imprisoned, the flight of Sir John Suckling, "Bonny Rag" the Pursuivant and Mace-bearer of the Courts, the Delegates of the Court of Arches, the Courts of Audience, Prerogative, "Baudy Court", or Court of Defamations, Drs. Duck and Lamb, the Customs Farmers.