302 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



not enjoy my country, yet withal, I was so happy, as that 

 my return thither was desired and negotiated by the affec 

 tion, which such a person as yourself vouchsafed to bear 

 me. When his majesty shall be moved, if he chance to 

 make difficulty about my return, and offer to impose any 

 condition, which it is known I cannot draw myself to di 

 gest, I desire it may be remembered, that my case is com 

 mon with many of his subjects, who breathe in the air of 

 their country, and that my case is not common with many, 

 since I have lived so long abroad with disgrace at home ; 

 and yet have ever been free, not only from suspicion of 

 practice, but from the least dependence upon foreign 

 princes. My king is wise, and I hope that he hath this 

 just mercy in store for me. God Almighty make and keep 

 your honour ever happy, and keep me so in his favour, as I 

 will be sure to continue 



Your Honour s ever most obliged 

 Antwerp, this first of and &amp;lt;kted Servant, 



Sept. stylo novo, 1616. TOBIE MATTHEW. 



P. S. May it please your Honour, 



I have written to Sir John Digby ; and I think he would 

 do me all favour, if he were handsomely put upon it. My 

 lady of Pembroke hath written, and that very earnestly to 

 my Lord Chamberlain in my behalf. 



This letter goes by Mr. Robert Garret, to whom I am 

 many ways beholden, for making me the best present that 

 ever I received, by delivering me your honour s last letter. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the King. 



May it please your excellent Majesty, 

 Because I have ever found, that in business the consi 

 deration of persons, who are instrumenta animata, is no 

 less weighty than of matters, I humbly pray your majesty 

 to peruse this inclosed paper, containing a diligence which 

 I have used in omnem eventum. If Towerson,* as a pas 

 sionate man, have overcome himself in his opinion, so it is. 

 But if his company make this good, then I am very glad 

 to see in the case wherein we now stand, there is this hope 

 left, and your majesty s honour preserved in the entier. 

 God have your majesty in his divine protection. 

 Your Majesty s most devoted 



and most bounden Servant, &c. 



* Whose brother, Captain Gabriel Towerson, was one of the English mer 

 chants executed by the .Dutch at Amboyna, in 1623. 



