LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 295 



thoughts of looking upon the works of nature. It may 

 please you to pardon the so much trouble which I give 

 you in this kind ; though yet, I confess, I do not deserve a 

 pardon, because I find not in myself a purpose of forbear 

 ing to do the like hereafter. I most humbly kiss your 

 hand. 



Your most faithful and affectionate Servant, 



Brussels, this 21st of April, 1616. ToBIE MATTHEW. 



To Sir George Villiers. 

 Sir, 



Your man made good haste, for he was with me yester 

 day about ten of the clock the forenoon. Since I held 

 him. 



The reason why I set so small a distance of time between 

 the use of the little charm, or, as his majesty better terms 

 it, the evangile,* and the day of his trial, f notwithstand 

 ing his majesty s being so far off, as advertisement of suc 

 cess and order thereupon could not go and come between, 

 was chiefly for that his majesty, from whom the overture 

 of that first moved, did write but of a few hours, that this 

 should be done, which I turned into days. Secondly, 

 because the hope I had of effect by that mean was rather 

 of attempting him at this arraignment than of confession 

 before his arraignment. But I submit it to his majesty s 

 better judgment. 



The person, by your first description, which was without 

 name, I thought had been meant of Packer : J but now I 

 perceive it is another, to me unknown, but, as it seemeth, 

 very fit. I doubt not but he came with sufficient warrant 

 to Mr. Lieutenant to have access. In this I have no more 

 to do, but to expect to hear from his majesty how this 

 worketh. 



The letter from his majesty to myself and the Serjeants 

 I have received, such as I wished ; and I will speak with 

 the commissioners, that he may, by the lieutenant, under 

 stand his majesty s care of him, and the tokens herein of 

 his majesty s compassion towards him. 



I ever had a purport to make use of that circumstance, 

 that Overbury, the person murdered, was his majesty s pri- 



* Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, Lib. XIII. Ep. 40. uses this word, 

 which signifies both good news, and the reward given to him who brings good 

 news. See Lib. II. Epist. 3. 



t The Earl of Somerset s. 



t John, of whom there are several letters in Winwood s Memorials, Vol. II. 



