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and that now he had no reason to be much offended.

I have already talked of the revelation, and now am to speak in apocalypitical language, which I hope you will rightly comment; whereof, if you make difficulty, the bearer (a) can help you with the key of the cypher.

My lord Falkland, by this time, hath shewed you London from Highgate. If York-house were gone, the town were yours; and all your straitest shackles cleared off, besides more comfort than the city air only. The marquis would be exceedingly glad the treasurer had it. This I know; but this you must not know from me. Bargain with him presently, upon as good conditions as you can procure, so you have direct motion from the marquis to let him have it. Seem not to dive into the secret of it; though you are purblind if you see not through it. I have told Mr. Meautys how I would wish your lordship to make an end of it. From him I beseech you, take it, and from me only the advice to perform it. If you part not speedily with it, you may defer the good which is approaching near you, and disappointing other aims, which must either shortly receive content, or never, perhaps, anew yield matter of discontent, though you may be, indeed, as innocent as before. Make the treasurer believe, that since the marquis will by no means accept of it, and that you must part with it, you are more willing to pleasure him than any body else, because you are given to understand my lord marquis so inclines; which inclination, if the treasurer shortly send unto you about it, desire may be more clearly manifested than as yet it hath been; since, as I remember, none hitherto hath told you in terminis terminantibus, that the marquis desires you should gratify the treasurer. I know that way the hare runs ; and that my lord marquis longs until Cranfield hath it; and so I wish too, for your good, yet would not it were absolutely passed, until my lord marquis did

(a) Probably Mr. Meautys.

send, or write, unto you, to let him have it; for then his so disposing of it were but the next degree removed from the immediate acceptance of it, and your lordship freed from doing it otherwise than to please him, and to comply with his own will and way.

I have no more to say, but that I am, and ever will be

Your Lordship's most affectionate friend
and humble servant,

E. SACKVILLE.

Indorsed,

Received the 11th May, 1622.

TO THE LORD KEEPER, DR. WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF LINCOLN,

My very good Lord,

I UNDERSTAND, there is an extent prayed against me, and a surety of mine, by the executors of one Harris, a goldsmith. The statute is twelve years' old, and falleth to an executor, or an executor of an executor, I know not whether. And it was sure a statute, collected out of a shop-debt, and much of it paid. I humbly pray your lordship, according to justice and equity, to stay the extent, being likewise upon a double penalty, till I may better inform my. self touching a matter so long past, and if it be requisite, put in a bill, that the truth of the account appearing, such satisfaction may be made as shall be fit. So I rest

May 30, 1622.

Your Lordship's affectionate

to do you faithful service,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

My very good Lord,

I THOUGHT it appertained to my duty, both as a subject, and as he that took once the oath of a counsellor, to make known to your lordship an advertisement, which came to me this morning. A gentleman, a dear friend of mine, whom your lordship cannot but imagine, though I name him not, told me thus much, that some English priests, that negociated at Rome to facilitate the dispensation, did their own business, that was his phrase; for they negociated with the pope to erect some titulary bishops for England, that might ordain, and have other spiritual faculties; saying withal most honestly, that he thought himself bound to impart this to some counsellor, both as a loyal subject, and as a Catholic; for that he doubted it might be a cause to cross the graces and mercies, which the Catholics now enjoy, if it be not prevented; and he asked my advice, whether he should make it known to your lordship, or to my lord keeper, (a) when he came back to London. I commended his loyalty and discretion, and wished him to address himself to your lordship, who might communicate it with my lord keeper, if you saw cause, and that he repaired to your lordship presently, which he resolved to do. Nevertheless, I did not think mine own particular duty acquitted, except I certified it also myself, borrowing so much of private friendship in a cause of state, as not to tell him I would do so much.

Indorsed,

My letter to my lord marquis, touching the business of estate advertised by Mr. Matthew. (b)

(a) Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln.

(b) The date of this letter may be pretty nearly determined by one of the lord keeper to the marquis of Buckingham, dated August 23, 1622, and printed in the Cabala. The postscript to that letter is as follows: "The Spanish ambassador took the alarm very speedily of

TO THE LORD VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

My most honoured Lord,

I COME in these to your lordship with the voice of thanksgiving, for the continuance of your accustomed noble care of me and my good, which overtakes me, I find, whithersoever I go. But for the present itself, whereof your lordship writes, whether or no it be better than that I was wont to bring your lordship, the end only can prove. For I have yet no more to shew for it than good words, of which many times I brought your lordship good store. But because modicefideans were not made to thrive in court, I mean to lose no time from assailing my lord marquis, for which purpose I am now hovering about Newhall, (a) where his lordship is expected, but not the king, this day, or to-morrow; which place, as your lordship adviseth, may not be ill chosen for my business. For, if his lordship be not very thick of hearing, sure New-hall will be heard to speak for me.

And now, my good lord, if any thing make me diffident, or indeed almost indifferent, how it succeeds, it is this; that my sole ambition having ever been, and still is, to grow up only under your lordship, it is become preposterous, even to my nature and habit, to think of prospering or receiving any growth, either without or besides your lordship. And therefore let me claim of your lordship to do me this right, as to believe that, which my heart says, or rather swears to me, namely, that what addition soever, by God's good providence, comes at any time to my life or fortune, it is, in my account, but to enable me the more to serve

"the titulary Roman bishop; and before my departure from his "house at Islington, whither I went privately to him, did write both "to Rome and Spain to prevent it. But I am afraid that Tobie "will prove but an apocryphal, and no canonical, intelligencer, acquainting the state with this project for the Jesuits', rather than "for Jesus's sake."

66

(a) In Essex.

your lordship in both; at whose feet I shall ever humbly lay down all that I have, or am, never to rise thence other than

September 11, 1622.

Your Lordship's in all duty

and reverent affections,

T. MEAUTYS.

To the Countess of BUCKINGHAM, (a) Mother to the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM.

My very honourable good Lady,

YOUR ladyship's late favour and noble usage towards me were such, as I think your absence a great part of my misfortunes. And the more I find my most noble lord, your son, to increase in favour towards me, the more, out of my love to him, I wish he had often by him so loving and wise a mother. For, if my lord were never so wise, as wise as Solomon; yet, I find that Solomon himself, in the end of his Proverbs, sets down a whole chapter of advices, that his mother taught him.

Madam, I can but receive your remembrance with affection, and use your name with honour, and intend you my best service, if I be able, ever resting Your Ladyship's humble

Bedford-house, this 29th of October, 1622.

and affectionate servant,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

(a) Mary, daughter of Anthony Beaumont, a younger son of William Beaumont, of Cole-Orton, in Leicestershire. She was thrice married; 1. to Sir George Villiers, father of the duke of Buckingham: 2. to Sir William Rayner: and 3. to Sir Thomas Compton, knight of the Bath, a younger brother of William, earl of Northampton. She was created countess of Buckingham, July 1, 1618, and died April 19, 1632.

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