178 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7. 



&quot; MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, 



&quot; I think myself very happy in that the resolu 

 tion which appeared in my letter unto you proved so 

 acceptable, as by the noble expressions of your letter 

 and of my Lord Digby s I find it is, and do humbly 

 acknowledge infinite thanks for your Excellency s great 

 desire of seeing me ; and had the self-same letter in 

 formed me of any service I could have done you, I 

 should have been far from taking the resolution which 

 I now have put on, correspondent unto my expressions 

 in my last unto your Excellency, and unto the sense 

 for which the commendations given me by you (I con 

 ceive) do proceed : which was to keep myself free from 

 having any part in those most unfortunate and newly 

 occasioned distractions, from which the further I with 

 draw myself, and the sooner, suits best with my dispo 

 sition. Besides, my intentions wherewith I came into 

 this kingdom were first to serve his Majesty and it ; 

 and next to serve your Excellency above all his sub 

 jects, and my own friends, which being now frustrated, 

 that part only remains which can only die with myself, 

 which is Omnibus viis et modis, to endeavour to pro 

 mote his Majesty s service, finding myself more capable 

 and more probable for to do it elsewhere for this pre 

 sent, than in this kingdom. I hasten towards the sea 

 side, where I am informed some conveniency of ship 

 ping will afford ; . . . yet I could not omit to send 

 a person of trust and confidence, by whom your Excel 

 lency may send unto me before my departure such 

 notions as perhaps you may think not fit to put to 

 paper. And if, either by word of mouth or writing sent 

 by so trusty a person as Mr. Joyner (by whom I have 

 sent you the reasons, that debar me of the happiness 

 to kiss your Excellency s hands in transitu], I find my 

 self thought capable by you to serve his Majesty or 



