LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 319 



present I am very well, and my supposed gout quite 

 vanished. 



I humbly pray you to commend my service, infinite in 

 desire, howsoever limited in ability, to his majesty, to hear 

 of whose health and good disposition is to me the greatest 

 beatitude which I can receive in this world. And I hum 

 bly beseech his majesty to pardon me, that I do not now 

 send him my account of council business, and other his 

 royal commands, till within these four days ; because the 

 flood of business of justice did hitherto wholly possess 

 me ; which, I know, worketh this effect, as it contenteth 

 his subjects, and knitteth their hearts more and more to 

 his majesty, though, I must confess, my mind is upon 

 other matters, as his majesty shall know, by the grace of 

 God, at his return. God ever bless and prosper you. 

 Your Lordship s true and most 



Whitehall, this 8th devoted Friend and Servant, 



of June, 1617. rR. BACON. 



To the Lord Keeper. 

 My honourable Lord, 



Your lordship will understand, by Sir Thomas Lake s 

 letter, his majesty s directions touching the surveyor s 

 deputy of the Court of Wards. And though I assure 

 myself of your lordship s care of the business, which his 

 majesty ruaketh his own, yet my respect to Sir Robert 

 Naunton^ maketh me add my recommendation thereof to 

 your lordship, whom I desire to give all the furtherance 

 and assistance you can to the business, that no prejudice 

 or imputation may light upon Sir Robert Naunton, through 

 his zealous affection to attend his majesty in this journey. 



I will not omit to let you know, that his majesty is very 

 well, and receiveth much contentment in his journey. 

 And with this conclusion I rest 



Your Lordship s most affectionate to do you service, 



Edinburgh, the llth of June, 1617. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



To the Lord Viscount Fenton.f 

 My very good Lord, 



I thank your lordship for your courteous letter ; and, if 

 I were asked the question, I would always choose rather 

 to have a letter of no news than a letter of news ; for news 



* Surveyor of the Court of Wards. 



t Sir Thomas Erskine, who, for his service to the king, in the attempt of the 

 Earl of Gowry, was, upon his majesty s accession to the throne of England, 

 made Captain of his Guard in the room of Sir Walter Ralegh. He was after 

 wards created Earl of Kelly. 



