LETTER FROM THE LAMBETH LIBRARY 

 CONTINUED. 



Translation of the Latin Letter to Count Gondomar.* 



EXCELLENT COUNT, 



I DO first, as I ought, congratulate with you your new 

 honour, which, though great in itself, it is much greater 

 because it was given you upon so noble a ground. The 

 repair of Mr. Matthew, my true friend as your lordship 

 well knoweth, into these parts, makes me call to mind those 

 great and singular favours, w r hich upon your noble visits, 

 which both in field and town, by his means and appoint 

 ment, your Lordship vouchsafed me a little before your 

 departure, and the great endeavours which your lordship 

 used both with the King and the Marquis for my fortunes. 

 At that time if one had whispered me in the ear and said, stay 

 these things ; England is a cold country ; defer them till the 

 Prince of Wales, and the Marquis of Buckingham, and the 

 Count Gondomar meet in Spain, where fruits ripen faster, 

 I should have smiled at it. But since your lordship hath 

 had power to work these miracles in a public fortune, it is 

 a much less matter for you to work a miracle f in the for 

 tune of a private friend. And since your lordship hath 

 power, and I have faith, a miracle is soon wrought if your 

 lordship think it worth the stretching forth your noble 

 hand. Having written so lately to your lordship, I shorten 

 this letter, only desiring your lordship to give Mr. Matthew 

 the same freedom to propound or advise with your lordship 

 concerning my business, as heretofore you have vouchsafed ; 

 and resting 



* MS. Gibson, Lambeth Lib. 936. fol. 184. d. See the original, vol. xii. 443. 

 t The remainder is in Lord Bacon s hand. 



