LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 35 



To the Lord St. Alban. 

 My Lord, 



I am glad your lordship understands me so rightly in 

 my last letter. I continue still in the same mind, for I, 

 thank God, I am settled to my contentment ; and so I hope 

 you shall enjoy yours with the more, because I am so well 

 pleased in mine. And, my Lord, I shall be very far from 

 taking it ill, if you part with it to any else, judging it 

 alike unreasonableness to desire that which is another 

 man s, and to bind him by promise or otherwise not to let 

 it to another. 



My Lord, I will move his majesty to take commisera 

 tion of your long imprisonment,* which, in some respects, 

 both you and I have reason to think harder than the 

 Tower ; you for the help of physic, your parley with your 

 creditors, your conference for your writings and studies, 

 dealing with friends about your business; and I for this 

 advantage, to be sometimes happy in visiting and con 

 versing with your lordship, whose company I am much 

 desirous to enjoy, as being tied by ancient acquaintance 

 to rest 



Your Lordship s faithful Friend and Servant, 



G. BUCKINGHAM. 



To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

 My very good Lord, 



These main and real favours which I have lately received 

 from your good lordship in procuring my liberty, and a 

 reference of the consideration of my release, are such as I 

 now find, that in building upon your lordship s noble nature 

 and friendship, I have built upon the rock where neither 

 winds or waves can cause overthrow. I humbly pray your 

 lordship to accept from me such thanks as ought to come 

 from him whom you have much comforted in fortune, 

 and much more comforted in showing your love and affec 

 tion to him, of which I have heard by my Lord of Faulk- 

 land, Sir Edward Sackville, Mr. Matthew, and otherwise. 



I have written, as my duty was, to his majesty, thanks, 

 touching the same, by the letter I here put into your noble 

 hands. 



I have made also, in that letter, an offer to his majesty, 

 of my service, for bringing into better order and frame the 

 Laws of England. The declaration whereof I have left 



* Restraint from coming within the verge of the Court. 



