LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 471 



a j ury of life and death, or that may make us take it upon 

 our conscience, or to think it agreeable to your majesty s 

 honour (which, next our conscience to God, is the dearest 

 thing to us on earth) to bring it upon the stage; which 

 notwithstanding we, in all humbleness, submit to your ma 

 jesty s better judgment. For his liberty, and the manner 

 of his delivery (he having so many notes of a dangerous 

 man) we leave it to your princely wisdom. And so, com 

 mending your majesty to God s precious custody, we rest 

 Your Majesty s most humble and bounden Servants, 



FR. BACON. 

 00 lfilQ H. MONTAGU. 



January 22, 1613. TT _,. 



H. YELVERTON. 



LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



NEVER BEFORE PRINTED. 



To Lady Burghley, to speak for him to her Lord.* 



My singular good Lady, 



I was as ready to shew myself mindful of my duty, by 

 waiting on your ladyship, at your being in town, as now by 

 writing, had I not feared lest your ladyship s short stay, 

 and quick return might well spare me, that came of no 

 earnest errand. I am not yet greatly perfect in ceremonies 

 of court, whereof, I know, your ladyship knoweth both the 

 right use, and true value. My thankful and serviceable 

 mind shall be always like itself, howsoever it vary from the 

 common disguising. Your ladyship is wise, and of good 

 nature to discern from what mind every action proceed eth, 

 and to esteem of it accordingly. This is all the message 

 which my letter hath at this time to deliver, unless it please 

 your ladyship further to give me leave to make this request 

 unto you, that it would please your good ladyship, in your 

 letters, wherewith you visit my good lord, to vouchsafe the 

 mention and recommendation of my suit; wherein your 

 ladyship shall bind me more unto you than I can look ever 

 to be able sufficiently to acknowledge. Thus, in humble 



* Lansd. MS. xxxi. art. 14. 



