LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 425 



and require haste ; and not finding Mr. Matthew in town, 

 nor any certainty of his return till Monday or Tuesday, I 

 thought it became me to let your lordship know it, that so 

 I might receive your lordship s pleasure (if need were) to 

 send it by as safe a hand as if it had three seals more. 



My lord, I saw Sir Arthur Ingram, who let fall somewhat, 

 as if he could have been contented to have received a letter 

 by me from your lordship, with something in it like an ac 

 knowledgment to my Lord Treasurer,* that by his means 

 you had received a kind letter from my lord marquis. But, 

 in the close, he came about, and fell rather to excuse what 

 was left out of the letter, than to please himself much with 

 what was within it. Only indeed he looked upon me, as 

 if he did a little distrust my good meaning in it. But that 

 is all one to me ; for I have been used to it of late from 

 others, as well as from him. But persons apt to be sus 

 picious may well be borne with ; for certainly they trouble 

 themselves most, and lose most by it. For of such it is a 

 hard question, whether those be fewest whom they trust, 

 or those who trust them. But for him, and some others, 

 I will end in a wish, that, as to your lordship s service, they 

 might prove but half so much honester, as they think them 

 selves wiser, than other men. 



It is doubtful whether the king will come to-morrow or 

 not ; for they say he is full of pain in his feet. 



My lord marquis came late to town last night, and goeth 

 back this evening; and Sir Edward Sackville watcheth an 

 opportunity to speak with him before he go. However, he 

 wisheth that your lordship would lose no time in returning 

 an answer, made all of sweetmeats, to my lord marquis s 

 letter, which, he is confident, will be both tasted and di 

 gested by him. And Sir Edward wisheth that the other 

 letter to my lord marquis, for presenting your discourse of 

 laws to his majesty, might follow the first. I humbly rest 

 Your Lordship s for ever truly 



to honour and serve you, 



Martii, 3, 1621. THO. MEAUTYS. 



To the Lord Viscount St. Alban. 

 May it please your Lordship, 



I had not failed to appear this night, upon your lordship s 

 summons, but that my stay till to-morrow, I knew, would 

 mend my welcome, by bringing Mr. Matthew, who means 



* Lionel Lord Cranfield, made Lord Treasurer in October, 1621. 



