LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 365 



Sir Edward Coke keeps in still, and we have miss of him; 

 but I supply it as I may by my farther diligence. God ever 

 bless you and keep you. 



Your Lordship s most faithful and 



bounden Friend and Servant, 



December 11, 1618. FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



I forget not your doctor s * matter. I shall speak with 

 him to-day, having received your lordship s letter; and 

 what is possible shall be done. I pray pardon my scrib 

 bling in haste. 



To the Lord Chancellor.! 

 My honourable Lord, 



I have acquainted his majesty with your letters, who is 

 very well pleased with your care of his service, in making 

 stay of the grant of denizens upon the reason you allege, 

 whereof his majesty will speak farther with you at his 

 return. 



The letter, which you sent me about my Lord of Or 

 monde s son, is not according to his majesty s meaning ; 

 but I would have you frame another to my lord deputy to 

 this purpose : &quot; That his majesty having seen a letter of his 

 to Sir Francis Blundell, advertising, that the Earl of Or 

 monde s son, and some other of his kindred, did victual and 

 fortify their houses ; his majesty hath thereupon com 

 manded you to write unto him, that if the ground of his 

 information be true (which he may best know,) that then 

 he send for the said earl s son, and the principal of his 

 kindred to appear before him : and if they appear, and give 

 him satisfaction, it is well ; but if they refuse to appear, or 

 give him not satisfaction though they appear ; that then he 

 assemble what forces he can, be they never so few, and go 

 against them, that he may crush the rebellion in the egg.&quot; 



I have remembered his majesty, as I promised your lord 

 ship, about the naming you for a commissioner to treat with 

 the Hollanders : but besides that you have so many busi 

 nesses, both of the Star-chamber, and others in the term- 

 time, when this must be attended as well as in the vacation, 

 whereby this would be either too great a toil to you, or a 

 hindrance to his majesty s service ; he thinketh it could not 

 stand with the honour of your place to be balanced with 

 those that are sent from the state, so far unequal to his 



* Steward s. See above, p. 362, 3. * Hurl. MS5. Vol. 7006. 



