LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 417 



but they speak it still aloud at court that the king is 

 resolved of it. 



Benbow tells me likewise, that he hath attended these 

 two days upon a committee of the lords, with the book of 

 the commission of peace ; and that their work is to empty 

 the commission in some counties by the score, and many 

 of them parliament men ; which course sure helps to ring 

 the passing bell to the parliament. 



Mr. Borough* tells me, he is at this present fain to 

 attend some service for the king, but about Saturday he 

 hopes to be at liberty to wait upon your lordship. I 

 humbly rest 



Your Lordship s for ever to honour and serve, 



Jaunary 3, 1621. T. MEAUTYS. 



To the Right Honourable my most honoured 

 Lord, the Lord Viscount St. Alban. 



To the Lord Viscount St. Alban. 

 May it please your Lordship, 



This afternoon my lady found access to my lord marquis, 

 procured for her by my Lord of Montgomery^ and Sir 

 Edward Sackville, who seemed to contend which of them 

 should shew most patience in waiting (which they did a 

 whole afternoon) the opportunity to bring my lord to his 

 chamber, where my lady attended him. But when he was 

 come, she found time enough to speak at large : and though 

 my lord spake so loud as that what passed was no secret 

 to me and some others that were within hearing, yet, 

 because my lady told me she purposeth to write to your 

 lordship the whole passage, it becomes not me to anticipate, 

 by these, any part of her ladyship s relation. 



I send your, lordship herewith the proclamation for dis 

 solving the parliament, wherein there is nothing forgotten 

 that we J have done amiss ; but for most of those things that 

 we have well done, we must be fain, I see, to commend 

 ourselves. 



I delivered your lordship s to my Lord of Montgomery 

 and Mr. Matthew, who was even then come to York House 

 to visit my lady, when I received the letter; and, as soon 



* John Borough, educated in common law at Gray s Inn, Keeper of the 

 Records in the Tower of London, Secretary to the Earl Marshal, in Io23 made 

 Norroy ; in July the year following knighted, and on the 23d of December, the 

 same year, made Garter King at Anns, in the place of Sir William Segar. He 

 died October 21, 1643. 



t Philip, afterwards Earl or Pembroke. 



t Mr. Meautys was member in this parliament for the town of Cambridge. % 

 VOL. XII. E E 



