LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 335 



To the Lord Keeper.* 

 My honourable Lord, 



I have delivered the judges advice, touching the middle 

 shires, unto his majesty, who liketh it very well. As for 

 the point of law, his majesty will consider of it at more 

 leisure, and then send you his opinion thereof. And so I 

 rest 



Your Lordship s faithful Friend and Servant, 



Hinchingbroke, the 22d of G. B U C K I N G H A M. 



October, 1617. 



To the Lord Keeper. 

 My honourable Lord, 



His majesty hath spent some time with Sir Lionel Cran- 

 field about his own business, wherewith he acquainted his 

 majesty. He hath had some conference with your lordship, 

 upon whose report to his majesty of your zeal and care of 

 his service, which his majesty accepteth very well at your 

 hands, he hath commanded Sir L. Cranfield to attend your 

 lordship, to signify his farther pleasure for the furtherance 

 of his service ; unto whose relation I refer you. His 

 majesty s farther pleasure is, you acquaint no creature 

 living with it, he having resolved to rely upon your care 

 and trust only. 



Thus, wishing you all happiness, I rest 



Your Lordship s faithful Friend and Servant, 



October 26, 1617. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



Sir Francis Englefyldf to the Lord Keeper. 



Right Honourable, 



Give me leave, I beseech your lordship, for want of other 

 means, by this paper to let your lordship understand, that 

 notwithstanding I rest in no contempt, nor have to my 



* Harl.MSS. Vol.7006. 



t This gentleman was very unfortunate in his behaviour with regard to those 

 who had the great seal ; for in Hilary Term of the year 1623-4 he was fined 

 three thousand pounds by the Star-chamber, for casting an imputation of bribery 

 on the Lord Keeper Williams, Bishop of Lincoln. MS. letter of Mr. Cham 

 berlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, dated at London, 1623-4. Sir Francis had been 

 committed to the fleet for a contempt of a decree in Chancery ; upon which he 

 was charged, by Sir John Bennet, with having said before sufficient witness, 

 &quot; that he could prove this holy Bishop Judge had been bribed by some that 

 fared well in their causes.&quot; A few days after the sentence in the Star-chamber, 

 the Lord Keeper sent for Sir Francis, and told him, he would refute his foul 

 aspersions, and prove upon him that he scorned the pelf of the world, or to exact, 

 or make lucre of any man ; and that, for his own part, he forgave him every 

 penny of his fine, and would crave the same mercy towards him from the king. 

 Bishop Racket s Life of Archbishop Williams, Part I. p. 83, 84. 



