412 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



Dr. Williams, Bishop of Lincoln elect, and Lord 

 Keeper of the Great Seal, to the Viscount St. 

 Alban. 



My very good Lord, 



Having perused a privy seal, containing a pardon for 

 your lordship, and thought seriously thereupon, I find, that 

 the passing of the same (the assembly in parliament so near 

 approaching*) cannot but be much prejudicial to the service 

 of the king, to the honour of my Lord of Buckingham, to 

 that commiseration, which otherwise would be had of your 

 lordship s present estate, and especially to my judgment 

 and fidelity. I have ever affectionately loved your lord 

 ship s many and most excelling good parts and endowments; 

 nor had ever cause to disaffect your lordship s person : so 

 as no respect in the world, beside the former considerations, 

 could have drawn me to add the least affliction or discon 

 tentment unto your lordship s present fortune. May it 

 therefore please your lordship to suspend the passing of this 

 pardon, until the next assembly be over and dissolved ; and 

 I will be then as ready to seal it as your lordship to accept 

 of it : and, in the mean time, undertake that the king and 

 my Lord Admiral shall interpret this short delay as a service 

 and respect issuing wholly from your lordship ; and rest, 

 in all other offices whatsoever, 



Your Lordship s faithful Servant, 



Westminster College, J o . LINCOLN, elect. CustOS Sigilli. 

 October 18, 1621. 



To the Right Honourable, his very good Lord, 

 the Lord Viscount St. Alban. 



To the Lord Keeper. 

 My very good Lord, 



I know the reasons must appear to your lordship many 

 and weighty which should move you to stop the king s 

 grace, or to dissuade it ; and somewhat the more in respect 

 of my person, being, I hope, no unfit subject for noble 

 dealing. The message I received by Mr. Meautys did 

 import inconvenience, in the form of the pardon ; your lord 

 ship s last letter, in the time : for, as for the matter, it lay so 

 fair for his majesty s and my Lord of Buckingham s own 

 knowledge, as I conceive your lordship doth not aim at that. 

 My affliction hath made me understand myself better, and 

 not worse; yet loving advice, I know, helps well. There- 



It met November 24, 1621, and was dissolved February 8, 1621-2. 



