466 LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 



cool them. I praise God for it, I never took penny for any 

 benefice or ecclesiastical living; I never took penny for 

 releasing any thing I stopped at the seal; I never took 

 penny for any commission, or things of that nature ; I never 

 shared with any servant for any second or inferior profit. 

 My offences I have myself recorded, wherein I studied, as 

 a good confessant, guiltiness, and not excuse; and there 

 fore I hope it leaves me fair to the king s grace, and will 

 turn many men s hearts to me. 



As for my debts, I shewed them your lordship, when you 

 saw the little house and the farm, besides a little wood or 

 desert, which you saw not. 



If these things were not true, although the joys of the 

 penitent be sometimes more than the joys of the innocent, 

 I could not be as I am. 



God bless you, and reward you for your constant love to 

 me. I rest, Sec. 



Draught of a Letter to the Marquis of Buckingham, 



not sent.* 

 My Lord, 



I say to myself, that your lordship hath forsaken me; 

 and I think I am one of the last, that findeth it, and in 

 nothing more, than that twice at London your lordship 

 would not vouchsafe to see me, though the latter time I 

 begged it of you. If your lordship lack any justification 

 about York House, good my lord, think of it better ; for I 

 assure your lordship, that motion to me was to me as a 

 second sentence ; for I conceived it sentenced me to the loss 

 of that, which I thought was saved from the former sen 

 tence, which is your love and favour, But sure it could 

 not be that pelting matter, but the being out of sight, out 

 of use, and the ill offices done me, perhaps, by such as have 

 your ear. Thus I think, and thus I speak ; for I am far 

 enough from any baseness or detracting, but shall ever love 

 and honour you, howsoever I be 



Your forsaken Friend and freed Servant, 



FR. ST. ALBAN. 



* Among Lord Bacon s printed letters, is one without a date, in which he 

 complains, as in this, that he, being twice now in London, the marquis did not 

 vouchsafe to see him. 



