Puslapio vaizdai
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Profectio Dom. Tobiæ Matthæi, qui mihi est tanquam alter ego, ut dominatio tua illustrissima optimè novit, in illas partes, memoriam mihi renovat eximii tui erga me favoris, cum me pluries, paulo ante discessum tuum, in campis, in urbe visitares, et prolixè de voluntate tuâ erga fortunas meas pollicereris. Quinetiam tam apud regem meum quam apud marchionem de illis sedulo ageres, ut etiam promissum ab illis de postulatis meis obtinueris. Quod si illo tempore quis mihi genius aut vates in aurem insusurrasset et dixisset, Mitte ista in præsens. Britannia est regio paulo frigidior: differ rem donec Princeps Galliæ et Marchio Buckinghamiæ et Comes de Gondomar conveniunt in Hispaniâ, ubi hujusmodi fructus clementius maturescant: quin et viderit idem Dom. Tob. Matthæum, qui illic, quemadmodum nunc, instabit, et negotium promovebit: scilicet risissem, sed fidem prorsus non adhibuissem. Quare, illustrissime comes, cum talia miracula edideris in fortunâ publicâ, etiam in fortunâ amici et servi tui privatâ eniteat virtus tua. Miraculum enim potentiæ et fidei proles est. Tu potentiam habes; ego fide abundo, si modo digna sit res, ad quam dominatio tua illustrissima manum salutarem porrigat. Id tempus optimè demonstrabit.

Cum nuper ad dominationem tuam illustrissimam scripserim, eo brevior fio. Hoc tantum a te peto, ut etiam inter negotia, quæ feliciter administras, consuetam digneris Dom. Matthæo libertatem proponendi et consulendi apud te ea, quæ in rem meam fore videbimus.

Deus illustrissimam tuam dominationem servet incolumem, ut enixè optat, &c.

To the Earl of Bristol, Ambassador in Spain.

My very good Lord,

Though I have written to your lordship lately, yet I could not omit to put a letter into so good a hand as Mr. Matthew's, being one that hath often made known unto me how much I am beholden to your lordship; and knoweth likewise in what estimation I have ever had your lordship, not according to your fortunes, but according to your inward value. Therefore, not to hold your lordship in this time of so great business, and where I have so good a mean as Mr. Matthew, who, if there be any thing that concerns my fortune, can better express it than myself, I humbly commend myself, and my service to your lordship, resting,

&c.

To Sir Francis Cottington, Secretary to the Prince. Good Mr. Secretary,

Though I think I have cloyed you with letters, yet had I written a thousand before, I must add one more by the hands of Mr. Matthew, being as true a friend as any you or I have; and one, that made me so happy, as to have the assurance of our friendship; which, if there be any stirring for my good, I pray practise in so good a conjunction as his. I ever rest, &c.

To Mr. Tobie Matthew.

Good Mr. Matthew,

Because Mr. Clarke is the first that hath been sent since your departure, who gave me also the comfortable news, that he met you well, I could not but visit you with my letters, who have so often visited me with your kind conferences.

My health, I thank God, is better than when you left me; and, to my thinking, better than before my last sickness. This is all I need to write of myself to such a friend.

We hope well, and it is generally rather spoken than believed, that his highness will return very speedily. But they be not the best pieces in painting that are dashed out in haste. I hope, if any thing want in the speed of time, it will be compensed in the fruit of time, that all may sort to

the best.

I have written a few words, of duty and respect only, to my Lord Marquis, and Mr. Secretary. I pray you kiss the Count of Gondomar's hand.

God keep you.

May 2, 1623.

Your most affectionate and assured Friend,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

To the Duke of Buckingham.

Excellent Lord,

I write now only to congratulate with your grace your new honour;* which because I reckon to be no great matter to your fortune (though you are the first English duke that hath been created since I was born) my compliment shall be the shorter. So having turned almost my hopes of your grace's return, by July, into wishes, and not

*The title of Duke, conferred on him May 18, 1623.

to them neither, if it should be any hazard to your health, I rest, &c.

Vouchsafe, of your nobleness, to present my most humble duty to his highness. Summer is a thirsty time; and sure I am, I shall infinitely thirst to see his highness's and your grace's return.

Duke of Buckingham to the Lord Viscount

My good Lord,

St. Alban.

I have received your hearty congratulation for the great honour, and gracious favour, which his majesty hath done me and I do well believe, that no man is more glad of it than yourself.

Tobie Matthew is here; but what with the journey, and what with the affliction he endures, to find, as he says, that reason prevails nothing with these people, he is grown extreme lean, and looks as sharp as an eyas.* Only he comforts himself with a conceit, that he is now gotten on the other side of the water, where the same reason, that is valuable in other parts of the world, is of no validity here; but rather something else, which yet he hath not found out. I have let his highness see the good expressions of your lordship's care, and faithful affection to his person; and shall ever be ready to do you, in all things, the best service that I can.

So wishing your lordship much happiness, I rest
Your Lordship's faithful Friend

Madrid,

this 29th of May, 1623, st. vet.

and humble Servant,

G. BUCKINGHAM.

To the Duke of Buckingham, in Spaint.
Excellent Lord,

I humbly thank your grace for your letter of the 29th of May; and that your grace doth believe, that no man is gladder of the increase of your honour and fortune, than I am; as, on the other part, no man should be more sorry, if it should in the least degree decline, nor more careful, if it should so much as labour. But of the first, I speak as of a thing that is: but for the two latter, it is but a case put,

A young hawk, just taken out of the nest.

+ The Duke of Buckingham went to Spain, February, 1623, and returned in September.

which I hope I shall never see. And, to be plain with your grace, I am not a little comforted to observe, that, although in common sense and experience, a man would have doubted, that some things might have sorted to your prejudice; yet in particulars we find nothing of it. For a man might reasonably have feared, that absence and discontinuance might have lessened his majesty's favour: no such thing has followed. So likewise, that any, that might not wish you well, should have been bolder with you. But all is continued in good compass. Again, who might not have feared, that your grace being there to manage, in great part, the most important business of Europe, so far from the king, and not strengthened with advice there, except that of the prince himself, and thus to deal with so politic a state as Spain, you should be able to go through as you do? and yet nothing, as we hear, but for your honour, and that you do your part. Surely, my lord, though your virtues be great, yet these things could not be, but that the blessing of God, which is over the king and the prince, doth likewise descend upon you as a faithful servant; and you are the more to be thankful to God for it.

I humbly thank your grace, that you make me live in his highness's remembrance, whom I shall ever bear a heart to honour and serve. And I much joy to hear of the great and fair reputation which at all hands are given him.

For Mr. Matthew, I hope by this time he hath gathered up his crumbs; which importeth much, I assure your grace, if his cure must be, either by finding better reason on that side the line, or by discovering what is the motion, that moveth the wheels, that, if reason do not, we must all pray for his being in good point. But in truth, my Lord, I am glad he is there; for I know his virtues, and particularly his devotion to your lordship.

God return his highness, and your grace, unto us safe and sound, and according to your hearts' desires.

To Mr. Tobie Matthew.

Good Mr. Matthew,

I have received your letter of the 10th of June,* and am exceeding glad to hear you are in so good health. For that which may concern myself, I neither doubt of your judgment in choosing the fittest time, nor of your affection in taking the first time you shall find fit. For the public

* N. S.

business, I will not turn my hopes into wishes yet, since you write as you do; and I am very glad you are there, and, as I guess, you went in good time to his lordship.

For your action of the case, it will fall to the ground; for I have not heard from the duke, neither by letter, nor message, at this time.

Good keep you. I rest always

Your most affectionate and faithful Servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

Grey's Inn, 17th of June, 1623.

I do hear, from Sir Robert Ker and others, how much beholden I am to you.

To Mr. Tobie Matthew.

Good Mr. Matthew,

I thank you for your letter of the 26th of June, and commend myself unto your friendship, knowing your word is good assurance, and thinking I cannot wish myself a better wish, than that your power may grow to your will.

Since you say the prince hath not forgot his commandment, touching my history of Henry VIII. I may not forget my duty. But I find Sir Robert Cotton, who poured forth what he had, in my other work, somewhat dainty of his materials in this.

It is true, my labours are now most set to have those works, which I had formerly published, as that of Advancement of Learning, that of Henry VII. that of the Essays, being retractate, and made more perfect, well translated into Latin by the help of some good pens, which forsake me not. For these modern languages will, at one time or other, play the bankrupts with books: and since I have lost much time with this age, I would be glad, as God shall give me leave, to recover it with posterity.

For the essay of friendship, while I took your speech of it for a cursory request, I took my promise for a compliment. But since you call for it, I shall perform it.*

I am much beholden to Mr. Gage for many expressions of his love to me; and his company, in itself very acceptable, is the more pleasing to me, because it retaineth the memory of yourself.

This letter of yours, of the 26th, lay not so long by you, but it hath been as speedily answered by me, so as with Sir Francis Cottington I have had no speech since the re

Among his Essays, published in 4to, and dedicated to the Duke of Buckingham, is one upon Friendship.

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