414 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



the carcass of dead and rotten greatness, as out of Samson s 

 lion, there may be honey gathered for the use of future 

 times. 



God bless your persons and counsels. 



Your Lordships Supplicant and Servant, 



FR. ST. ALBAN. 



Indorsed Copy of the Petition intended for the House of 

 Parliament. 



To John Lord Digby. * 

 My very good Lord, 



Receiving, by Mr. Johnson, your loving salutations, it 

 made me call to mind many of your lordship s tokens, yea 

 and pledges, of good and hearty affection in both my for 

 tunes ; for which I shall be ever yours. I pray, rny lord, 

 if occasion serve, give me your good word to the king, for 

 the release of my confinement, which is to me a very strait 

 kind of imprisonment. I am no Jesuit, nor no leper ; but 

 one that served his majesty these sixteen years, even from 

 the commission of the union till this last parliament, and 

 ever had many thanks of his majesty, and was never chid 

 den. This his majesty, I know, will remember at one time 

 or other ; for I am his man still. 



God keep your Lordship. 



Your Lordship s most affectionate to do your service, 



Gorhambury, this last of FR. ST. ALBAN. 



December, 1621. 



To the Lord Viscount St. Alban.f 

 My honourable Lord, 



I have received your lordship s letter, and have been long 

 thinking upon it, and the longer, the less able to make 

 answer unto it. Therefore, if your lordship will be pleased 

 to send any understanding man unto me, to whom I may 

 in discourse open myself, I will, by that means, so discover 

 my heart, with all freedom, which were too long to do by 

 letter, especially in this time of parliament business, that 

 your lordship shall receive satisfaction. In the mean time 

 I rest 



Your Lordship s faithful Servant, 



G. BUCKINGHAM. 



Royston, December 16, 1621. 



* Created so in November, 1618, and in September, 1622, Earl of Bristol. 

 t Harl. MSS. Vol. 7000. 



