Heat oven to 425 degrees. Remove the wishbone from the chicken. Without the wishbone the breast meat is easy to carve into thin slices. Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Put the herbs inside the chicken.
Turn the bird over so it is backside up. Pull the neck skin over the neck cavity and tuck the wing tips over it. Turn the chicken breast side up again. It is now ready to cook.
At this point I like to put the chicken into an oven roasting bag. Cut butter into slices and arrange them on the chicken breast. I also like to add whatever vegetable I will be serving with this dish to the bag. Roast 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Present the chicken whole or carve it.