LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 46S 



To Sir Humphrey May, Chancellor of the Duchy of 

 Lancaster. 



Good Mr. Chancellor, 



I did wonder what was become of you, and was very glad 

 to hear you were come to court ; which, methinks, as the 

 times go, should miss you as well as I. 



I send you another letter, which I wrote to you of an old 

 date, to avoid repetition ; and I continue my request then to 

 you, to sound the Duke of Buckingham s good affection 

 towards me, before you do move him in the particular peti 

 tion. Only the present occasion doth invite me to desire, 

 that his grace would procure me a pardon of the king of 

 the whole sentence. My writ for parliament I have now 

 had twice before the time, and that without any express 

 restraint not to use it. It is true, that I shall not be able, 

 in respect of my health, to attend in parliament ; but yet I 

 might make a proxy. Time hath turned envy to pity; 

 and I have a long cleansing week of five years expectation 

 and more. Sir John Bennet hath his pardon; and my 

 Lord of Somerset hath his pardon, and, they say, shall sit 

 in parliament. My Lord of Suffolk cometh to parliament, 

 though not to council. I hope I deserve not to be the only 

 outcast. 



God keep you. I ever rest 



Your most affectionate Friend, 



to do you service. 

 I wish you a good new year. 



Indorsed To the Chancellor of the Duchy. Gor. 1625. 



To the Marquis d Effiat, the French Ambassador. 

 Mons. 1 Ambassadeur, mon fils, 



Vous scavez que le commencement est la moitie du fait. 

 Voyla pourquoy je vous ay escrit ce petit mot de lettre, 

 vous priant de vous souvenir de vostre noble promesse de 

 me mettre en la bonne grace de nostre tres-excellente reyne, 

 et m en faire recevoir quelque gracieuse demonstration. 

 Vostre excellence prendra aussi, s il vous plaist, quelque 

 occasion de prescher un peu, a mon advantage en 1 oreille 

 du Due de Buckingham en general. Dieu vous ayt en sa 

 saincte garde. 



Vostre tres-affectionne et tres-humble serviteur, 



Jan. 18, 1625. FR. ST. ALBAN. 



