324 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



His majesty hath at length been pleased to dispatch 

 Mr. Lowder,* according to your lordship s desire, for the 

 place in Ireland. What the cause of the stay was, I shall 

 impart to your lordship when I see you, being now too long 

 to relate. 



His majesty hath not yet had leisure to read the little 

 book you sent me to present unto him ; but, as soon as I 

 see the fittest opportunity, I will offer it to him again. 



His majesty, God be thanked, is very well; and I am 

 exceeding glad to hear of your health, that you are of so 

 good term proof, which is the best of it, being you are in 

 those businesses put most to the trial, which I wish may 

 long continue in that strength, that you may still do his 

 majesty and your country that good service, whereof we 

 hear so general approbation that it much rejoiceth me, 

 who rest 



Falkland, the 5th Your Lordship s, ever at command, 

 of July, 1617. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



To the King.t 

 May it please your most excellent Majesty, 



I do very much thank your majesty for your letter, and 

 think myself much honoured by it. For though it contain 

 some matter of dislike, in which respect it hath grieved me 

 more than any event which hath fallen out in my life : yet 

 because I know reprehensions from the best masters to the 

 best servants are necessary ; and that no chastisement is 

 pleasant for the time, but yet worketh good effects ; and 

 for that I find intermixed some passages of trust and grace ; 

 and find also in myself inwardly sincerity of intention and 

 conformity of will, howsoever I may have erred ; I do not 

 a little comfort myself, resting upon your majesty s accus 

 tomed favour ; and most humbly desiring, that any one of 

 my particular notions may be expounded by the constant 

 and direct course, which your majesty knoweth, I have ever 

 held in your service. 



And because it hath pleased your majesty, of your sin 

 gular grace and favour, to write fully and freely unto me ; 



* He had been solicitor to the queen, but finding her dislike of him, he was 

 willing to part with his place for that of one of the barons of the exchequer in 

 Ireland ; for which he was recommended by the Lord Keeper to the Earl of 

 Buckingham, in a letter dated at Whitehall, May 25, 1617. 



t This letter appears from the indorsement of the king s answer to it, to have 

 been written at Gorhambury, July 25, 1617. That printed with this date in 

 his works, should be August 2, 1617, as I find by the original draught of it. 



