320 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



imports alteration; but letters of kindness and respect 

 bring that which, though it be no news amongst friends, 

 is more welcome. 



I am exceedingly glad to hear, that this journey of his 

 majesty, which I never esteemed more than a long pro 

 gress, save that it had reason of state joined with pleasure, 

 doth sort to be so joyful and so comfortable. 



For your parliament, God speed it well: and for ours, 

 you know the sea would be calm, if it were not for the 

 winds: and I hope the king, whensoever that shall be, 

 will find those winds reasonably well laid. Now that the 

 sun is got up a little higher, God ordains all things to the 

 happiness of his majesty and his monarchy. 



My health, I thank God, is good ; and I hope this sup 

 posed gout was but an incomer. I ever rest 



Your Lordship s affectionate 



Whitehall, June 18, and assured Friend, 



1617. FR. BACON. 



To the Lord Keeper, written from Scotland, 



June 28, 1618.* 



I will begin to speak of the business of this day ; opus 

 hujus diei in die suo, which is of the parliament. It began 

 on the 7th of this month, and ended this day, being the 

 28th of June. His majesty, as I perceived by relation, 

 rode thither in great state the first day. These eyes are 

 witnesses that he rode in an honourable fashion, as I have 

 seen him in England, this day. All the lords rode in Eng 

 lish robes ; not an English lord on horseback, though all 

 the parliament-house at his majesty s elbow, but my Lord 

 of Buckingham, who waited upon the king s stirrup in his 

 collar, but not in his robes. His majesty the first day, by 

 way of preparation to the subject of the parliament, made a 

 declaratory speech, wherein he expressed himself what he 

 would not do, but what he would do. The relation is too 

 prolix for a sheet of paper ; and I am promised a copy of 

 it, which I will bring myself unto your lordship with all 

 the speed I may. But I may not be so reserved as not to 

 tell your lordship, that in that speech his majesty was 

 pleased to do England and Englishmen much honour and 

 grace ; and that he studied nothing so much, sleeping and 

 waking, as to reduce the barbarity (I have warrant to use 

 the king s own word) of this country unto the sweet civility 

 of ours ; adding farther, that if the Scottish nation would 



* From a copy in the Paper-office. 



