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istum tibi, animo isti tempus quam longissimum
tribuat. It is the most affectionate prayer of
Your lordship's most humble servant,

Buckdon, the last of

JO. LINCOLN.

Stephens's
second col-
lection,
p. 188.

December, 1625.

CCXCVIII. To the 'Queen of BOHEMIA.

It may please your Majesty,

I HAVE received your majesty's gracious letter from Mr. Secretary Morton, who is now a saint in heaven. It was at a time when the great desolation of the plague was in the city, and when myself was ill of a dangerous and tedious sickness. The first time that I found any degree of health, nothing came sooner to my mind, than to acknowledge your majesty's great favour, by my most humble thanks: and because I see your majesty taketh delight in my writings, and to say the truth, they are the best fruits I now yield, I presume to send your majesty a little discourse of mine, touching a war with Spain, which I writ about two years since; which the king your brother liked well. It is written without bitterness or invective, as king's affairs ought to be carried; but if I be not deceived, it hath edge enough. I have yet some spirits left, and remnant of experience, which I consecrate to the king's service and your majesty's; for whom I pour out my daily prayers to God, that he would give your majesty a fortune

9 The princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of king James, was married to Frederick V. elector palatine, who by accepting the crown of Bohemia, was soon deprived both of that and his ancient principality. Under all her afflictions she had the happiness of being mother of many fine children, and at length of seeing her son restored to the Palatinate, and her nephew to his kingdoms. To her, who had been so much injured by Spain, my lord St. Alban presents his discourse touching a war with Spain, in acknowledgment of the favour of her majesty's letter, sent by her secretary Sir Albertus Morton; in which quality he had served his uncle Sir Henry Wotton, in some of his embassies and as he was tenderly beloved by him in his life, and much lamented in his death; so Sir Harry professed no less admiration of this queen, and the splendour of her virtues under the darkness of her fortunes. Stephens.

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worthy your rare virtues; which, some good spirit
tells me, will be in the end. I do in all reverence
kiss your majesty's hands, ever resting

Your majesty's most humble and devoted servant,
FR. ST. ALBAN.

Stephens's CCXCIX. A letter of the Lord BACON's, in French, to the Marquis FIAT, relating to his Essays.

lection, p. 187.

Monsieur l'Ambassadeur mon Fil,

VOYANT que vostre excellence faict & traite mariages, non seulement entre les princes d'Angleterre & de France, mais aussi entre les langues (puis que faictes traduire mon livre del Advancement des sciences en Francois) j'ai bienvoulu vous envoyer mon livre dernierement imprimé, que j'avois pourveu pour vous, mais j'estois en doubte de le vous envoyer, pour ce qu'il estoit escrit en Anglois. Mais à cest heure pour la raison susdicte je le vous envoye. C'est un recompilement de mes Essayes morales & civiles; mais tellement enlargies & enrichies, tant de nombre que de poids, que c'est de fait un œuvre nouveau. Je vous baise les mains, & reste

Vostre très affectioné ami,
& très humble serviteur.

Sir Tobie CCC. To the Earl of ARUNDEL and SURRY: collection, just before his death, being the last letter he

Matthew's

p. 57.

ever wrote.

My very good Lord,

I WAS likely to have had the fortune of Caius Plinius the elder, who lost his life by trying an experiment about the burning of the mount Vesuvius: for I was also desirous to try an experiment or two, touching the conservation and induration of bodies. As for the experiment itself, it succeeded excellently well; but in the journey, between London and Highgate, I was taken with such a fit of casting, as I knew not whether it were the stone, or some surfeit, or cold, or indeed a

of them all three. But when I came to your hip's house, I was not able to go back, and therewas forced to take up my lodging here, where house-keeper is very careful and diligent about which I assure myself your lordship will not only on towards him, but think the better of him for it. ndeed your lordship's house was happy to me; and s your noble hands for the welcome which I am you give me to it, etc.

know how unfit it is for me to write to your lordwith any other hand than my own; but by my my fingers are so disjointed with this fit of sickthat I cannot steadily hold a pen.

C. Baldwin, Printer,

New Bridge-street, London.

END OF VOL. V.

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