282 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



Your majesty may truly perceive, that though I cannot 

 challenge to myself either invention, or judgment, or elocu 

 tion, or method, or any of those powers, yet my offering 

 is care and observance : and as my good old mistress was 

 wont to call me her watch candle, because it pleased her to 

 say I did continually burn (and yet she suffered me to waste 

 almost to nothing), so I must much more Owe the like duty 

 to your majesty, by whom my fortunes have been settled 

 and raised. And so craving pardon, I rest 



Your Majesty s most humble Servant devote, 



31 May, 1612. F. B. 



To the King. 



It may please your excellent Majesty, 

 My principal end being to do your majesty service, I 

 crave leave to make at this time to your majesty this most 

 humble oblation of myself ; I may truly say with the psalm, 

 Multum incolafmt anima mea ; for my life hath been con 

 versant in things, wherein I take little pleasure. Your 

 majesty may have heard somewhat that my father was an 

 honest man ; and somewhat yet I may have been of myself, 

 though not to make any true judgment by, because I have 

 hitherto had only potestatem verborum, nor that neither. I 

 was three of my young years bred with an ambassador in 

 France, and since I have been an old truant in the school- 

 house of your council-chamber, though on the second form, 

 yet longer than any that now sitteth hath been in the head 

 form. If your majesty find any aptness in me, or if you 

 find any scarcity in others, whereby you may think it fit 

 for your service to remove me to business of state, although 

 I have a fair way before me for profit, and, by your ma 

 jesty s grace and favour, for honour and advancement, and 

 in a course less exposed to the blast of fortune, yet now 

 that he is gone quo vivente virtutibus certissimum exitium, 

 I will be ready as a chessman to be wherever you majesty s 

 royal hand shall set me. Your majesty will bear me wit 

 ness, I have not suddenly opened myself thus far. I have 

 looked on upon others. I see the exceptions; I see the 

 distractions; and I fear Tacitus will be a prophet, magis 

 alii homines, quam alii mores. I know mine own heart; 

 and I know not whether God, that hath touched my heart 

 with the affection, may not touch your royal heart to dis 

 cern it. Howsoever, I shall go on honestly in mine ordinary 

 course, and supply the rest in prayers for you, remain 

 ing, &c. 



