28 LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 



form, that he findeth no cause to alter a word in it, and 

 would have your lordship acquaint the lords of the council 

 with it (though he assureth himself, no man can find any 

 thing in it tobe changed) and to take order for the speedy 

 setting it forth. And so I rest 



Yours, &c. 



Theobalds, Dec. 21, 1620. G. BUCKINGHAM. 



To the Lord Chancellor. 



I have acquainted his majesty with your letter and 

 the inclosed, the matter which his majesty hath been 

 thinking upon for his speech, concerneth both the points 

 of the institution of a parliament, and of the end for which 

 this is called; yet his majesty thinketh it fit that some ex 

 tract be made out of it which needeth to be but very short, 

 as he will show you at his return. 



Theobalds, Jan. 19, 1620. Yours, &C. 



G. BUCKINGHAM. 



To the Right Honourable his very good Lords, the 



Lords Spiritual and Temporal in the Upper House 



of Parliament assembled. 

 My very good Lords, 



I humbly pray your lordships all to make a favourable 

 and true construction of my absence. It is no feigning or 

 fainting, but sickness both of my heart and of my back, 

 though joined with that comfort of mind that persuadeth 

 me that I am not far from Heaven, whereof I feel the first 

 fruits. 



And because, whether I live or die I would be glad to 

 preserve my honour and fame, so far as I am worthy ; 

 hearing that some complaints of base bribery are coming 

 before your lordships, my requests unto your lordships 

 are: 



First, That you will maintain me in your good opinion, 

 without prejudice, until my cause be heard. 



Secondly, That in regard I have sequestered my mind 

 at this time in great part from worldly matters, thinking 

 of my account and answers in a higher court, your lord 

 ships will give me convenient time, according to the course 

 of other courts, to advise with my counsel, and to make my 

 answer; wherein, nevertheless, my counsel s part will be 

 the least : for I shall not, by the grace of God, trick up an 

 innocency with cavillations, but plainly and ingenuously (as 



