36 LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 



with Sir Edward Sackville, because it were no good man 

 ners to clog his majesty, at this time of triumph and recre 

 ation, with a business of this nature, so as your lordship may 

 be pleased to call for it to Sir Edward Sackville, when you 

 think the time reasonable. 



I am bold likewise to present your lordship with a book 

 of my History of King Henry VII. and now that, in sum 

 mer was twelve months, I dedicated a book to his majesty, 

 and this last summer, this book to the Prince, your lord 

 ship s turn is next ; and this summer that cometh, if I live 

 to it, shall be yours. I have desired his majesty to ap 

 point me the task, otherwise I shall use my own choice, 

 for this is the best retribution I can make to your lordship. 

 God prosper you. I rest 



Your Lordship s most obliged Friend, 

 , . OAf , e and faithful Servant, 



Gorhambury, this 20th of T ^ o . 



March, 1621 ^ ST. ALB AN. 



Indorsed To the Right Honourable his very good Lord, 

 the Lord Marquis of Buckingham, High Ad 

 miral of England. 



To the King. 

 May it please your Majesty, 



I acknowledge myself in all humbleness infinitely bounden 

 to your majesty s grace and goodness, for that, at the in 

 tercession of my noble and constant friend, my Lord Mar 

 quis, your majesty hath been pleased to grant me that 

 which the civilians say, is res in&amp;lt;estimabilis, my liberty ; so 

 that now, whenever God calleth me, I shall not die a pri 

 soner; nay, further, your majesty hath vouchsafed to rest 

 a second and iterate aspect of your eye of compassion upon 

 me, in the referring the consideration of my broken estate 

 to my good lord, the Treasurer, which as it is a singular 

 bounty in your majesty, so I have yet so much left of a late 

 Commissioner of your Treasure, as I would be sorry to sue 

 for any thing that might seem immodest. These your 

 majesty s great benefits, in casting your bread upon the 

 waters, as the Scripture saith, because my thanks cannot any 

 ways be sufficient to attain, I have raised your progenitor 

 of famous memory, and now I hope of more famous memory 

 than before. King Henry VII. to give your majesty thanks 

 for me; which work, most humbly kissing your majesty s 

 hands, I do present. And because in the beginning of my 

 trouble, when in the midst of the tempest I had a kenning 

 of the harbour, which I hope now, by your majesty s favour, 



