LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 407 



the survey of the physicians. It is, as I conceive, a fair 

 business both for law and conveniency, and a work which 

 the king made his own, and did, and as I hear doth take 

 much to heart. It is in favor em vita, where the other part 

 is in favorem lucri. You may perhaps think me partial to 

 apothecaries, that have been ever puddering in physic all 

 my life. But there is a circumstance that touches upon 

 me but post diem, for it is comprehended in the charge and 

 sentence passed upon me. It is true, that after I had put 

 the seal to the patent, the apothecaries * presented me with 

 a hundred pounds. It was no judicial affair. But how 

 soever, as it may not be defended, so I would be glad it 

 were not raked up more than needs. I doubt only the 

 chair, because I hear he useth names sharply ; and besides, 

 it may be, he hath a tooth at me yet, which is not fallen 

 out with age. But the best is, as one saith, satis est lapsos 

 non erigere ; urgere vero jacentes, aut pr&cipitantes impel- 

 lere, certt est inhumanum. Mr. Chancellor, if you will be 

 nobly pleased to grace me upon this occasion, by shewing 

 tenderness of my name, and commiseration of my fortune, 

 there is no man in that assembly from whose mouth I had 

 rather it should come. I hope it will be no dishonour to 

 you. It will oblige me much, and be a worthy fruit of our 

 last reintegration of friendship. I rest 



Your faithful Friend to do you service. 



To the Count Gondomar, Ambassador from the 



Court of Spain. 

 Illustrissime Domine Legate, 



Amorem illustrissimse Dominationis tuse erga me, ej usque 

 et fervorem et candorem, tarn in prosperis rebus, quam in 

 adversis, sequabili tenore constantem perspexi. Quo nomine 

 tibi meritas et debitas gratias ago. Me vero jam vocat et 

 setas, et fortuna, atque etiam genius meus, cui adhuc satis 

 morose satisfeci, ut excedens e theatro rerum civilium literis 



* His lordship being charged by the house of commons, that he had received 

 one hundred pounds of the new company of apothecaries, that stood against the 

 grocers, as likewise a taster of gold worth between four and five hundred pounds, 

 with a present of ambergrise, from the apothecaries that stood with the grocers, 

 and two hundred pounds of the grocers ; he admits the several sums to have 

 been received of the three parties, but alleges, &quot; that he considered those pre 

 sents as no judicial business, but a concord of composition between the parties : 

 and as he thought they had all three received good, and they were all common 

 purses, he thought it the less matter to receive what they voluntarily presented ; 

 for if he had taken it in the nature of a bribe, he knew it could not be concealed, 

 because it must be put to the account of the three several companies.&quot; 



