LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 465 



your heart to favour me, will write your service in my 

 heart. Two things I may promise; for, though they be 

 not mine own, yet they are surer than mine own, because 

 they are God s gifts ; that is integrity and industry. And, 

 therefore, whensoever I shall make my account to you, I 

 shall do it in these words, ecce tibi lucrifeci, and not ecce 

 mild lucrifeci. And for industry, I shall take to me, in 

 this procuration, not Martha s part, to be busied in many 

 things, but Mary s part, which is to intend your service ; 

 for the less my abilities are, the more they ought to be 

 contracted ad unum. For the present, I humbly pray your 

 majesty to accept my most humble thanks and vows as the 

 forerunners of your service, which I shall always perform 

 with a faithful heart. 



Your Majesty s most obedient Servant, 



FR. BACON. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I hear yesterday was a day of very great honour to his 

 majesty, which I do congratulate. I hope, also, his ma 

 jesty may reap honour out of my adversity, as he hath done 

 strength out of my posperity. His majesty knows best his 

 own ways ; and for me to despair of him, were a sin not to 

 be forgiven. I thank God, I have overcome the bitterness 

 of this cup by Christian resolution, so that worldly matters 

 are but mint and cu~min. 



God ever preserve you. 



Indorsed To my Lord Buckingham, after my troubles. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



I thought it my duty to take knowledge to his majesty, 

 from your lordship, by the inclosed, that, much to my com 

 fort, I understand his majesty doth not forget me nor for 

 sake me, but hath a gracious inclination to me, andtaketh 

 care of me ; and to thank his majesty for the same. I per 

 ceive, by some speech, that passed between your lordship 

 and Mr. Meautys, that some wretched detractor hath told 

 you, that it were strange I should be in debt; for that I 

 could not but have received an hundred thousand pounds 

 gifts since I had the seal; which is an abominable false 

 hood. Such tales as these made St. James say, that the 

 tongue is afire, and itself f red from hell, whither when 

 these tongues shall return, they will beg a drop of water to 



VOL. XII. H II 



