448 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



business, I will not turn my hopes into wishes yet, since 

 you write as you do ; and I am very glad you are there, 

 and, as I guess, you went in good time to his lordship. 



For your action of the case, it will fall to the ground ; 

 for I have not heard from the duke, neither by letter, nor 

 message, at this time. 



Good keep you. I rest always 



Your most affectionate and faithful Servant, 



Grey s Inn, 17th of June, 1623. FR. ST. ALBAN. 



I do hear, from Sir Robert Ker and others, how much 

 beholden I am to you. 



To Mr. Tobie Matthew. 

 Good Mr. Matthew, 



I thank you for your letter of the 26th of June, and com 

 mend myself unto your friendship, knowing your word is 

 good assurance, and thinking I cannot wish myself a better 

 wish, than that your power may grow to your will. 



Since you say the prince hath not forgot his command 

 ment, touching my history of Henry VIII. I may not for 

 get my duty. But I find Sir Robert Cotton, who poured 

 forth what he had, in my other work, somewhat dainty of 

 his materials in this. 



It is true, my labours are now most set to have those 

 works, which I had formerly published, as that of Ad 

 vancement of Learning, that of Henry VIL that of the 

 Essays, being retractate, and made more perfect, well trans 

 lated into Latin by the help of some good pens, which for 

 sake me not. For these modern languages will, at one 

 time or other, play the bankrupts with books : and since I 

 have lost much time with this age, I would be glad, as God 

 shall give me leave, to recover it with posterity. 



For the essay of friendship, while I took your speech of 

 it for a cursory request, I took my promise for a compli 

 ment. But since you call for it, I shall perform it.* 



I am much beholden to Mr. Gage for many expressions 

 of his love to me; and his company, in itself very accept 

 able, is the more pleasing to me, because it retaineth the 

 memory of yourself. 



This letter of yours, of the 26th, lay not so long by you, 

 but it hath been as speedily answered by me, so as with 

 Sir Francis Cottington I have had no speech since the re- 



* Among his Essays, published in 4to, and dedicated to the Duke of Buck 

 ingham, is one upon Friendship. 



