446 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



to them neither, if it should be any hazard to your health, 

 I rest, &c. 



Vouchsafe, of your nobleness, to present my most hum 

 ble duty to his highness. Summer is a thirsty time ; and 

 sure I am, I shall infinitely thirst to see his highness s and 

 your grace s return. 



Duke of Buckingham to the Lord Viscount 



St. Alban. 

 My good Lord, 



I have received your hearty congratulation for the great 

 honour, and gracious favour, which his majesty hath done 

 me : and I do well believe, that no man is more glad of it 

 than yourself. 



Tobie Matthew is here; but what with the journey, and 

 what with the affliction he endures, to find, as he says, that 

 reason prevails nothing with these people, he is grown ex 

 treme lean, and looks as sharp as an eyas.* Only he com 

 forts himself with a conceit, that he is now gotten on the 

 other side of the water, where the same reason, that is 

 valuable in other parts of the world, is of no validity here 

 but rather something else, which yet he hath not found out. 

 I have let his highness see the good expressions of your 

 lordship s care, and faithful affection to his person ; and 

 shall ever be ready to do you, in all things, the best service 

 that I can. 



So wishing your lordship much happiness, I rest 



Your Lordship s faithful Friend 

 Madrid&amp;gt; and humble Servant, 



this 29th of May, 1623, st.vet. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



To the Duke of Buckingham, in Spainf. 

 Excellent Lord, 



I humbly thank your grace for your letter of the 29th of 

 May; and that your grace doth believe, that no man is 

 gladder of the increase of your honour and fortune, than I 

 am ; as, on the other part, no man should be more sorry, if 

 it should in the least degree decline, nor more careful, if it 

 should so much as labour. But of the first, I speak as of 

 a thing that is : but for the two latter, it is but a case put, 



* A young hawk, just taken out of the nest. 



t The Duke of Buckingham went to Spain, February, 1623, and returned in 

 September. 



