LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 443 



majesty (and I pray you, sir, thank his majesty most hum 

 bly for it) that, notwithstanding the former designment of 

 Sir William Becher,* his majesty (as you write) is not out 

 of hope, in due time, to accommodate me of this cell, and 

 to satisfy him otherwise. Many conditions, no doubt, may 

 be as contenting to that gentleman, and his years may 

 expect them. But there will hardly fall, especially in the 

 spent hourglass of my life, any thing so fit for me, being a 

 retreat to a place of study so near London, and where (if 

 I sell my house at Gorhambury, as I purpose to do, to put 

 myself in some convenient plenty) I may be accommodate 

 of a dwelling for summer time. And therefore, good Mr. 

 Secretary, further this his majesty s good intention, by all 

 means, if the place fall. 



For yourself, you have obliged me much. I will endea 

 vour to deserve it : at least your nobleness is never lost ; 

 and my noble friend, the marquis, I know, will thank you 

 for it. 



I was looking of some short papers of mine touching 

 usury,^ to grind the teeth of it, and yet make it grind to 

 his majesty s mill in good sort, without discontentment or 

 perturbation. If you think good, I will send it to his ma 

 jesty, as the fruit of my leisure. But yet I would not have 

 it come from me, not for any tenderness in the thing, but 

 because I know, in courts of princes, it is usual, non res y 

 sed displicet auctor. God keep your honour, &,c. 



Indorsed To Mr. Secretary Conway, touching the Pro- 

 vostship of Eton, March 31, 1623. 



To Count Gondomar. 

 Illustrissime Comes, 



Primo loco, ut debeo, gratulor dominationi tuae illustris- 

 simae novum honoris tui gradum per se sublimem, sed ex 

 causa, propter quam evectus es, haud parum nobilitatum. 



* Sir Willam had not, however, that post, but, in lieu of it, the promise of 

 two thousand five hundred pounds, upon the fall of the first of the six clerks 

 places, and was permitted to keep his clerkship of the council. MS. Letter of 

 Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, dated at London, July 24, 1624. The 

 provostship was given to Sir Henry Wotton, who was instituted into it the 26th 

 of that month, having purchased it by a surrender of a grant of the reversion of 

 the mastership of the Rolls, and of another office, which was fit to be turned into 

 present money, which he then, and afterwards, much wanted [Life of him by 

 Mr. Isaac Walton :] for when he went to the election at Eton, soon after his 

 being made provost, he was so ill provided, that the fellows of the college were 

 obliged to furnish his bare walls, and whatever else was wanting. MS. Letter 

 of Mr. Chamberlain, Aug. 7, 1624. 



tin his works is published, A Draught of an Act against an usurious Shift 

 of Gain, in delivering of Commodities instead of Monei/. 



