436 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



Treasurer: that your lordship offered, and received, and 

 presented my petition to the king, and procured me a re 

 ference : that your lordship moved his majesty, and obtained 

 for me access to him, against his majesty comes next, which, 

 in mine own opinion is better than if it had been now, and 

 will be a great comfort to me, though I should die next day 

 after : that your lordship gave me so good English for my 

 Latin book. My humble request is, at this time, that be 

 cause my Lord Treasurer keepeth yet his answer in sus 

 pense (though by one he useth to me, he speaketh me fair,) 

 that your lordship would nick it with a word : for if he do 

 me good, I doubt it may not be altogether of his own. God 

 ever prosper you. 



Your Lordship s most bounden 



and faithful Servant, 



4th of November, 1622. FR. ST. ALB AN. 



To the Lord Viscount St. Alban. 

 My most honoured Lord, 



Since my last to your lordship, I find by Mr. Johnson, 

 that my Lord Treasurer is not twice in one mind, or Sir 

 Arthur Ingram not twice in one tale. For Sir Arthur, con 

 trary to his speech but yesterday with me, puts himself 

 now, as it seems, in new hopes to prevail with my Lord 

 Treasurer for your Lordship s good and advantage, by a 

 proposition sent by Mr. Johnson, for the altering of your 

 patent to a new mould, more safe than the other, which he 

 seemed to dissuade, as I wrote to your lordship. I like 

 my Lord Treasurer s heart to your lordship, so much every 

 day worse than other, especially for his coarse usage of 

 your lordship s name in his last speech, as that I cannot 

 imagine he means you any good. And therefore, good my 

 lord, what directions you shall give herein to Sir Arthur 

 Ingram, let them be as safe ones as you can think upon ; 

 and that your lordship surrender not your old patent, till 

 you have the new under seal, lest my Lord Keeper should 

 take toy, and stop it there. And 1 know your lordship 

 cannot forget they have such a savage word among them 

 as fleecing. God in heaven bless your lordship from such 

 hands and tongues ; and then things will mend of them 

 selves. 



Your Lordship s, in all humbleness, 



to honour and serve you, 

 This Sunday Morning. T. MEAUTYS. 



Indorsed 25th of November, 1622. 



