408 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



me dedam, et ipsos adores instruam, et posteritati serviam. 

 Id mihi fortasse honor! erit, et degam tanquam in atriis 

 vitse melioris. 



Deus illustrissimam Dominationem tuam incolumem ser- 

 vet et prosperam. 



Servus tuus, 

 Juaii 6, 1621. FB. ST. ALBAN. 



To Count Gondomar.* 

 Illustrissime et excellentissime Domine, 

 Perspexi et agnosco providentiam divinam, quod in 

 tanta solitudine mihi tanquam coelitus suscitaverit talem 

 amicum, qui tantis implicatus negotiis, et in tantis tem- 

 poris angustiis, curam mei habuerit, idque pro me effecerit, 

 quod alii amici mei aut non ausi sint tentare, aut obtinere 

 non potuerint. Atque illustrissimse Dominationi tuse red- 

 dent fructum proprium et perpetuum mores tui tarn gene- 

 rosi, et erga omnia officia humanitatis et honoris propensi ; 

 neque erit fortasse inter opera tua hoc minimum, quod me, 

 qui et aliquis fui apud vivos, neque omnino intermoriar apud 

 posteros, ope et gratia tua erexeris, confirmaris. Ego quid 

 possum ? Ero tandem tuus, si minus usufructu, at saltern 

 affectu, voto. Sub cineribus fortunse vivi erunt semper 

 ignes amoris. Te igitur humillime saluto, tibi valedico, 

 omnia prospera exopto, gratitudinem testor, observantiam 

 polliceor. 



Illustrissimo et excellent issimo Do. Do. Didaco Sarmiento 

 de Acuna, Comiti de Gondomar, Legato Regis Hispa- 

 niarum extraordinario in Anglia. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham.! 

 My very good Lord, 



I humbly thank your lordship for the grace and favour 

 which you did both to the message and messenger, in 

 bringing Mr. Meautys to kiss his majesty s hands, and to 

 receive his pleasure. My riches in my adversity have been, 

 that I have had a good master, a good friend, and a good 

 servant. 



* In the letters, memoirs, &c. of the Lord Chancellor Bacon, published by 

 Mr. Stephens, in 1736, p. 517, is a Spanish letter to him from Count Gondo- 

 mar, dated at London, June 14, 1621. 



t This letter is reprinted here, because it differs in some respects from that 

 published in Letters, Memoirs, Parliamentary Affairs, State Papers, &c. by 

 Robert Stephens, Esq ; p. 151. Edit. London, 1736, 4to. 



