456 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



To the Earl of Oxford.* 

 My very good Lord, 



Let me be an humble suitor to your lordship, for your 

 noble favour. I would be glad to receive my writ this par- 

 liament,f that I may not die in dishonour; but by no 

 means, except it should be with the love and consent of my 

 lords to re-admit me, if their lordships vouchsafe to think 

 me worthy of their company ; or if they think that which 

 I have suffered now these three years, in loss of place, in 

 loss of means, and in loss of liberty for a great time, to be 

 a sufficient expiation for my faults, whereby I may now 

 seem in their eyes to be a fit subject of their grace, as I 

 have been before of their justice. My good lord, the good, 

 which the commonwealth might reap of my suffering, is 

 already inned. Justice is done; an example is made for 

 reformation; the authority of the house for judicature is 

 established. There can be no farther use of my misery ; 

 perhaps some little may be of my service ; for, I hope, I 

 shall be found a man humbled as a Christian, though not 

 dejected as a worldling. I have great opinion of your lord 

 ship s power, and great hope, for many reasons, of your 

 favour; which, if I may obtain, I can say no more, but 

 nobleness is ever requited in itself; and God, whose special 

 favour in my afflictions I have manifestly found to my com 

 fort, will, I trust, be my pay-master of that which cannot 

 be requited by 



Your Lordship s affectionate humble Servant, &c. 



Indorsed February 2, 1623. 



To Sir Francis Barnham.J 

 Good Cousin, 



Upon a little searching, made touching the patents of 

 the survey of coals, I find matter not only to acquit myself, 

 but likewise to do myself much right. 



Any reference to me, or any certificate of mine, I find not. 

 Neither is it very likely I made any; for that, when it 

 came to the great seal, I stayed it. I did not only stay it, 

 but brought it before the council-table, as not willing to 

 pass it, except their lordships allowed it. The lords gave 



* Henry Vere, who died in 1625. He was Lord Great Chamberlain of 

 England. 



t That met February 19, 1623, and was prorogued May 29, 1624. 



\ He appears to be a relation of his lordship s lady, who was daughter of Be 

 nedict Barnham, Esq. alderman of the city of London. Sir Francis was ap 

 pointed, by his lordship, one of the executors of his last will. 



