LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 323 



to the king, and received due approbation. The God of 

 heaven, all-wise and all-sufficient, guard and assist your 

 lordship in all your actions : for I can read here whatsoever 

 your lordship doth act there ; and your courses be such as 

 you need not to fear to give copies of them. But the king s 

 ears be wide and long, and he seeth with many eyes. 

 All this works for your honour and comfort. I pray God 

 nothing be soiled, heated, or cooled in the carriage. Envy 

 sometimes attends virtues, and not for good; and these 

 bore certain proprieties and circumstances inherent to your 

 lordship s mind; which men may admire, I cannot ex 

 press. But I will wade no farther herein, lest I should 

 seem eloquent. I have been too saucy with your lordship, 

 and held you too long with my idleness. He that takes 

 time from your lordship robs the public. God give your 

 body health, and your soul heaven. 



My Lord of Pembroke, my Lord of Arundel, my Lord 

 Zouch, and Mr. Secretary Lake, were new sworn of the 

 council here. 



To the Earl of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I have sent inclosed a letter to his majesty concerning 

 the strangers ; in which business I had formerly written to 

 your lordship a joint letter with my Lord of Canterbury, 

 and my Lord Privy Seal,* and Mr. Secretary Winwood. 



I am, I thank God, much relieved with my being in the 

 country air, and the order I keep ; so that, of late years 

 I have not found my health better. 



Your lordship writeth seldomer than you were wont ; but 

 when you are once gotten into England you will be more at 

 leisure. God bless and prosper you. 



Your Lordship s true and devoted 



Friend and Servant, 



Gorhambury, July 29, 1617. -p R&amp;gt; g ACON&amp;lt; 



To the Lord Keeper.&quot;) 

 My honourable Lord, 



I have acquainted his majesty with your letter, who, in 

 this business of Sir John Bennet s,J hath altogether followed 

 your lordship s direction. 



* Edward Earl of Worcester. t Had. MSS. Vol. 7006. 



t Of Godstow, in Oxfordshire, who was sent to Brussels to the Archduke, 

 to expostulate with him concerning a libel on the king, imputed to Erycius 

 Puteanus, and intitled, Isaaci Casunboni ( orona Jlegia. 



Y 2 



