LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 39 



and able gentleman, and one that will bend his knowledge 

 of the world (which is great) to serve his majesty, and the 

 Prince, and in especial your lordship. So I rest 



Your Lordship s most obliged and faithful Servant, 



Gray s-Inn, FR. ST. ALBAN. 



this 18th April, 1623. 



To the Duke of Buckingham. 

 Excellent Lord, 



How much I rejoice in your grace s safe return you will 

 easily believe, knowing how well I love you, and how 

 much I need you. There be many things in this journey 

 both in the felicity and in the carriage thereof, that I do 

 not a little admire, and wish your grace may reap more and 

 more fruits in continuance answerable to the beginnings : 

 myself have ridden at anchor all your grace s absence, 

 and my cables are now quite worn. I had from Sir Toby 

 Mathew, out of Spain, a very comfortable message, that 

 your grace had said, I should be the first that you would 

 remember in any great favour after your return ; and now 

 coming from court, he telleth me he had commission from 

 your lordship to confirm it : for which I humbly kiss your 

 hands. 



My lord, do some good work upon me, that I may end 

 my days in comfort, which nevertheless cannot be complete 

 except you put me in some way to do your noble self 

 service, for I must ever rest 



Your Grace s most obliged and faithful Servant, 



October 12, 1623. FR. ST. ALBAN. 



I have written to his highness, and had presented my 

 duty to his highness to kiss his hands at York House, but 

 that my health is scarce yet confirmed. 



To the Lord St. Alban. 

 My Lord, 



The assurance of your love makes me easily believe your 

 joy at my return; and if I may be so happy as by the 

 credit of my place, to supply the decay of your cables, I 

 shall account it one of the special fruits thereof. What 

 Sir Toby Matthew hath delivered on my behalf, I will be 

 ready to make good, and omit no opportunity that may 

 serve for the endeavours of 



Your Lordship s faithful Friend and Servant, 



G. BUCKINGHAM. 



Royston, Oct. 14th, 1623. 



