318 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



To the Lord Keeper. * 

 My honourable Lord, 



I have, by reports, heard that which doth much grieve 

 and trouble me, that your lordship hath, through a pain in 

 one of your legs, been forced to keep your chamber. And 

 being desirous to understand the true estate of your health, 

 which reports do not always bring, I intreat your lordship 

 to favour me with a word or two from yourself, which, I 

 hope, will bring me the comfort I desire, who cannot but 

 be very sensible of whatsoever happeneth to your lordship, 

 as being 



Your Lordship s most affectionate to do you service, 



From Edinburgh, the 



3d of June, 1617. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



His majesty, God be thanked, is very well, and safely 

 returned from his hunting journey. 



To the Earl of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



This day I have made even with the business of the 

 kingdom for common justice; not one cause unheard; the 

 lawyers drawn dry of all the motions they were to make ; 

 not one petition unanswered. And this, I think, could not 

 be said in our age before. This I speak, not out of osten 

 tation, but out of gladness, when I have done my duty. I 

 know men think I cannot continue if I should thus oppress 

 myself with business : but that account is made. The duties 

 of life are more than life; and if I die now, I shall die 

 before the world be weary of me, which in our times is 

 somewhat rare. And all this while I have been a little 

 unperfect in my foot. But I have taken pains more like 

 the beast with four legs than like a man with scarce two 

 legs. But if it be a gout, which I do neither acknowledge, 

 nor much disclaim, it is a good-natured gout ; for I have 

 no rage of it, and it goeth away quickly. I have hope it is 

 but an accident of changing from a field air *f- to a Thames 

 air ; J or rather, I think, it is the distance of the king and 

 your lordship from me, that doth congeal my humours and 

 spirits. 



When I had written this letter I received your lord 

 ship s letter of the third of this present, wherein your 

 lordship sheweth your solicitous care of my health, which 

 did wonderfully comfort me. And it is true, that at this 



* Harl, MSS. Vol. 7006. t Gray s Inn. 



J Dorset House, originally belonging to the Bishops of Salisbury, afterwards 

 the house of Sir Richard Sackville, and then of his son, Sir Thomas, Earl of 

 Dorset, and Loicl Treasurer. 



