428 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



To the Lord Treasurer. 

 My very good Lord, 



The honourable correspondence, which your lordship 

 hath been pleased to hold with my noble and constant 

 friend, my lord marquis, in furthering his majesty s grace 

 towards me, as well concerning my liberty as the considera 

 tion of my poor estate, hath very much obliged me to your 

 lordship, the more by how much the less likelihood there 

 is, that I shall be able to merit it at your lordship s hands. 

 Yet thus much I am glad of, that this course, your lordship 

 holds with me, doth carry this much upon itself, that the 

 world shall see in this, amongst other things, that you have 

 a great and noble heart. 



For the particular business of York House, Sir Arthur 

 Ingram can bear me witness, that I was ready to leave the 

 conditions to your lordship s own making : but since he 

 tells me plainly, that your lordship will by no means have 

 to be so, you will give me leave to refer it to Sir Arthur 

 Ingram, who is so much your*ordship s servant, and no less 

 faithful friend to me, and understands values well, to set a 

 price between us. 



For the reference his majesty hath been graciously 

 pleased, at my lord marquis s suit, to make unto your lord 

 ship, touching the relief of my poor estate,* which my Lord 

 of Falkland s letter hath signified, warranting me likewise 

 to address myself to your lordship touching the same ; I 

 humbly pray your lordship to give it dispatch, my age, 

 health, and fortunes, making time to me therein precious. 

 Wherefore, if your lordship (who knoweth best what the 

 king may best do) have thought of any particular, I would 

 desire to know from your good lordship : otherwise I have 

 fallen myself upon a particular, which I have related to Sir 

 Arthur, and, I hope, will seem modest, for my help to live 

 and subsist. As for somewhat towards the paying off my 

 debts, which are now my chief care, and without charge of 

 the king s coffers, I will not now trouble your lordship 

 but purposing to be at Chiswick, where I have taken a 

 house, within this sevennight, I hope to wait upon your 

 lordship, and to gather some violets in your garden, and 

 will then impart unto you, if I have thought of any thing 

 of that nature for my good. 



So I ever rest, &c. 



* The Lord Viscount St. Alban, in a letter to the king, from Gorhambury, 

 20th of March, 1621-2, thanks his majesty for referring the consideration of his 

 broken estate to his good lord, the Lord Treasurer. 



