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CCLXIV. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. Stephens's

My very good Lord,

I HUMBLY thank your lordship for the grace and favour you did both to the message and messenger, in bringing Mr. Meautys to kiss his majesty's hands, and to receive his pleasure from himself. My riches in my adversity have been, that I have had a good master, a good friend, and a good servant.

I perceive by Mr. Meautys his majesty's inclination, that I should go first to Gorhambury; and his majesty's inclinations have ever been with me instead of directions. Wherefore I purpose, God willing, to go thither forthwith, humbly thanking his majesty, nevertheless, that he meant to have put my desire, in my petition contained, into a way, if I had insisted upon it; but I will accommodate my present occasions as I may, and leave the times, and seasons, and ways to his majesty's grace and choice.

Only I desire his majesty to bear with me if I have pressed unseasonably. My letters out of the Tower were de profundis; and the world is a prison, if I may not approach his majesty, finding in my heart as I do. God preserve and prosper his majesty and your lordship.

Your lordship's faithful and bounden servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

22 June, 1621.

second collection,

p. 151.

CCLXV. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. Ibid.p.152. My very good Lord,

I THANK God I am come very well to Gorhambury, whereof I thought your lordship would be glad to hear sometimes; my lord, I wish myself by you in this stirring world, not for any love to place or business, for that is almost gone with me, but for my love to yourself, which can never cease in

Your lordship's most obliged friend

and true servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

Stephens's second collection, p. 152.

Being now out of use and out of sight, I recommend myself to your lordship's love and favour, to maintain me in his majesty's grace and good intention.

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It may please your most excellent Majesty, I PERCEIVE by my noble and constant friend the marquis, that your majesty hath a gracious inclination towards me, and taketh care of me, for fifteen years the subject of your favour, now of your compassion; for which I most humbly thank your majesty. This same nova creatura is the work of God's pardon and the king's; and since I have the inward seal of the one, I hope well of the other.

Útar, saith Seneca to his master, magnis exemplis ; nec meæ fortunæ sed tuæ. Demosthenes was banished for bribery of the highest nature, yet was recalled with honour; Marcus Livius was condemned for exactions, yet afterwards made consul and censor. Seneca banished for divers corruptions, yet was afterwards restored, and an instrument of that memorable Quinquennium Neronis. Many more. This, if it please your majesty, I do not say for appetite of employment, but for hope that if I do by myself as is fit, your majesty will never suffer me to die in want or dishonour. I do now feed myself upon remembrance, how when your majesty used to go a progress, what loving and confident charges you were wont to give me touching your business. For as Aristotle saith, young men may be happy by hope, so why should not old men, and sequestered men, by remembrance? God ever prosper and preserve your majesty.

Your majesty's most bounden

and devoted servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

16 July, 1621.

CCLXVII. To the Lord ST. ALBAN.

My honourable Lord,

I HAVE delivered your lordship's letter of thanks to his majesty, who accepted it very graciously, and will be glad to see your book, which you promised to send very shortly, as soon as it cometh. I send your lordship his majesty's warrant for your pardon, as you desired it; but am sorry, that in the current of my service to your lordship there should be the least stop of any thing; yet having moved his majesty, upon your servant's intimation,. for your stay in London till Christ'mas, I found his majesty, who hath in all other occasions, and even in that particular already, to the dislike of many of your own friends, shewed with great forwardness his gracious favour towards you, very unwilling to grant you any longer liberty to abide there: which being but a small advantage to you, would be a great and general distaste, as you cannot but easily conceive, to the whole state. And I am the more sorry for this refusal of his majesty's falling in a time when I was a suitor to your lordship in a particular concerning myself, wherein though your servant insisted farther than, I am sure, would ever enter into your thoughts, I cannot but take it as a part of a faithful servant in him. But if your lordship, or your lady, find it inconvenient for you to part with the house, I would rather provide myself otherwise, than any way incommodate you, but will never slack any thing of my affection to do you service; whereof if I have not given you good proof, I will desire nothing more, than the fittest occasion to shew how much I am

Octob. 1621.

Your lordship's faithful servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Stephens's

second col

lection, p. 153.

CCLXVIII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. Ibid. 154. My very good Lord,

AN unexpected accident maketh me hasten this letter to your lordship, before I could dispatch Mr. Meautys;

Stephens's second collection, P. 155.

Ibid.p.156.

it is that my lord keeper hath stayed my pardon at the
seal. But it is with good respect; for he saith it shall
be private, and then he would forthwith write to your
lordship, and would pass it if he received your pleasure;
and doth also shew his reason of stay, which is, that
he doubteth the exception of the sentence of parliament
is not well drawn, nor strong enough; which if it be
doubtful, my lord hath great reason. But sure I am,
both myself, and the king, and your lordship, and
Mr. Attorney, meant clearly, and I think Mr. At-
torney's pen hath gone well. My humble request to
your lordship is, that for my lord's satisfaction Mr.
Solicitor may be joined with Mr. Attorney, and if it
be safe enough, it may go on; if not, it may be
amended. I ever rest

Your lordship's most obliged friend
and faithful servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

18 October, 1621.

CCLXIX. To the Lord ST. ALBAN.

My honourable Lord,

I HAVE brought your servant along to this place, in expectation of the letter from the lord keeper, which your lordship mentioneth in yours; but having not yet received it, I cannot make answer to the business you write of; and therefore thought fit not to detain your man here any longer, having nothing else to write, but that I always rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Hinchenbrook, 20 Oct. 1621.

CCLXX. To the Lord ST. ALBAN.
My noble Lord,

Now that I am provided of a house, I have thought it congruous to give your lordship notice thereof, that you may no longer hang upon the treaty, which hath

been between your lordship and me, touching Yorkhouse; in which, I assure your lordship, I never desired to put you to the least inconvenience. So I rest Your lordship's servant,

G. BUCKINGHAM.

CCLXXI. To the Lord ST. ALBAN.
My Lord,

I AM glad your lordship understands me so rightly in my last letter. I continue still in the same mind, for, I thank God, I am settled to my contentment; and so I hope you shall enjoy yours, with the more, because I am so well pleased in mine. And, my lord, I shall be very far from taking it ill, if you part with it to any else, judging it alike unreasonableness, to desire that which is another man's, and to bind him. by promise or otherwise not to let it to another.

My lord, I will move his majesty to take commiseration of your long 'imprisonment, which, in some respects, both you and I have reason to think harder, than the Tower; you for the help of physic, your parley with your creditors, your conference for your writings, and studies, dealing with friends about your business and I for this advantage to be sometimes happy in visiting and conversing with your lordship, whose company I am much desirous to enjoy, as being tied by ancient acquaintance to rest

Your lordship's faithful friend and servant,
G. BUCKINGHAM.

Stephens's second col

lection, p. 156.

CCLXXII. To the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM. From the My very good Lord,

THOUGH I returned answer to your lordship's last honourable and kind letter, by the same way by which I received it; yet I humbly pray your lordship to give me leave to add these few lines. My lord, as God above is my witness, that I ever have loved and

9 Restraint from coming within the verge of the court.
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VOL. V.

original draught.

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