LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 387 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



For the services committed to Sir Lionel Cranfield, after 

 his majesty hath spoken with him, I shall attend and fol 

 low his majesty s pleasure and directions, and yield my 

 best care, advice, and endeavour for performance. 



In the pretermitted duty I have some profit, and more 

 was to have had, if Queen Anne had lived ; wherefore I 

 shall become an humble suitor to his majesty, that I may 

 become no loser, specially seeing the business had been 

 many a time and oft quite overthrown, if it had not been 

 upheld only, or chiefly by myself; so that whatsoever ser 

 vice hath been since done, is upon my foundation. 



Mr. Attorney* groweth pretty pert with me of late; 

 and I see well who they are that maintain him. But be 

 they flies, or be they wasps, I neither care for buzzes nor 

 stings, most especially in any thing that concerneth my 

 duty to his majesty, or my love to your lordship. 



I forgot not in my public charge, the last Star-chamber 

 day, to publish his majesty s honour for his late commission 

 for the relief of the poor, and suppressing vagabonds ; as 

 also his gracious intention touching informers, which I per 

 ceive was received with much applause. That of pro 

 jectors I spake not of, because it is not yet ripe, neither 

 doth it concern the execution of any law, for which my 

 speech was proper. God ever preserve and prosper you. 

 Your Lordship s most obliged Friend 



and faithful Servant, 



February 17, 1619. FR. VERULAM, Cane. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I send by post this sealed packet, containing my Lord of 

 Suffolk s answer in the Star-chamber ; I received it this 

 evening at six of the clock, by the hands of the Master of 

 the Rolls,f sealed as it is with my Lord of Suffolk s seal, 

 and the Master s of the Rolls ; but neither I, nor the 

 Master of the Rolls know what is in it; but it cometh 

 first to his majesty s sight. Only I did direct, that because 

 the authentic copy (unto which my lord is sworn, according 

 to the course of .the court) is not so fit for his majesty s 

 reading, my Lord of Suffolk should send withal a paper 

 copy, which his majesty might read with less trouble. 



* Sir Henry Yelverton. t Sir Julius Caesar, 



t c 2 



