LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 403 



established me, and brought me into ordinary ; soon after 

 you placed me solicitor, where I served seven years : then 

 your majesty made me your attorney, or procurator general ; 

 then privy counsellor, while I was attorney; a kind of 

 miracle of your favour, that had not been in many ages : 

 thence Keeper of your Seal ; and because that was a kind 

 of planet, and not fixed, Chancellor : and when your ma 

 jesty could raise me no higher, it was your grace to illus 

 trate me with beams of honour, first making me Baron 

 Verulam, and now Viscount St. Alban. So this is the 

 eighth rise or reach, a diapason in music, even a good num 

 ber, and accord for a close. And so I may without super 

 stition be buried in St. Alban s habit or vestment. 



Besides the number, the obligation is increased by three 

 notes or marks : first, that they proceed from such a king ; 

 for honours from some kings are but great chancels, or 

 counters, set high ; but from your majesty, they are indeed 

 dignities by the cooperation of your grace. Secondly, in 

 respect of the continuance of your majesty s favour, which 

 proceedeth as the divine favour, from grace to grace. And 

 thirdly, these splendours of honour are like your freest pa 

 tents, absque aliquid inde reddendo. Offices have burdens 

 of cares and labours; but honours have no burden but 

 thankfulness, which doth rather raise men s spirits than 

 accable them, or press them down. 



Then I must say, quid retribuam ? I have nothing of 

 mine own. That that God hath given me I shall present 

 unto your majesty; which is care and diligence, and assi 

 duous endeavour, and that which is the chief, cor unum et 

 viam unam ; hoping that your majesty will do, as your 

 superior doth ; that is, finding my heart upright, you will 

 bear with my other imperfections. And lastly, your ma 

 jesty shall have the best of my time, which I assure myself 

 I shall conclude in your favour, and survive in your remem 

 brance. And that is my prayer for myself; the rest shall 

 be in prayers for your majesty. 



To the Lord Chancellor.* 



My noble Lord, 



I have shewed your letter of thanks to his majesty, who 

 saith there are too many thanks in it for so small a favour; 

 which he holdeth too little to encourage so well a deserving 



Harl. MSS, Vol. 7000. 



I) D 2 



