386 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



his former sloth ; or perhaps he now makes a great prepa 

 ration, upon the pretence of some enterprise, that he will 

 let fall, that so he may with the less noise assemble great 

 forces some other year for some other attempt not spoken 

 of now. 



My Lord Compton* is in this court, and goes shortly 

 towards Italy. His fashion is sweet, and his disposition 

 noble, and his conversation fair and honest. 



Diego, my Lord Roos s man, is come hither. I pray 

 God it be to do me any good towards the recovery of the 

 debt his Lord owes me. 



Most honoured Lord, I am here at good leisure to look 

 back upon your lordship s great and noble goodness towards 

 me, which may go for a great example in this age ; and so 

 it doth. That which I am sure of is, that my poor heart, 

 such as it is, doth not only beat, but even boil in the de 

 sires it hath to do your lordship all humble service. 



I crave leave, though it be against good manners, that I 

 may ever present my humblest service to my most honoured 

 lady, my Lady Verulam, and Lady Constable, with my best 

 respects to my dear friend, Sir John Constable; who, if 

 your lordship want the leisure, would perhaps cast an eye 

 upon the inclosed paper. 



I do, with more confidence, presume to address this other 

 letter to Mr. Meautys, because the contents thereof concern 

 your lordship s service. 



I beseech sweet Jesus to make and keep your lordship 

 intirely happy. So I humbly do you reverence, remaining 

 ever Your Lordship s most obliged Servant, 



TOBIE MATTHEW. 



P. S. I should be glad to receive some of your lordship s 

 philosophical labours, if your lordship could so think fit. 

 I do now receive a letter from the Conde de Gondomar, 

 who, thinking that it should find me in England, saith thus : 

 Beso las manes mil vezes a mi sennor, el sennor Gran 

 Chancilor, con my coracon ; como estoy en su buena gratia. 

 The empress is dead long since, and the emperor is so 

 sickly, or rather so sick, that they forbear to bury her 

 with solemnity, as conceiving, that he will save charge 

 by dying shortly. They say here, thaf the business of 

 Bohemia is growing towards an end by composition. 



Brussels, this 14th of February, 1619. 



* Spencer, Lord Compton, only son of William, Earl of North ampton. This 

 nobleman, who succeeded his father in his title and estate, in June, 1630, was 

 killed at Hampton Heath, near Stafford, on Sunday, March IP, 1642-3, fighting 

 for Kinof Charles T. 



