The Duke of Buckingham to James I. Dear dad and gossip, I have been so busy to entertain the French ambassador and the grave judge, that I have not had time to take such order about my park as will give you satisfaction; wherefore, not daring to look you in the face till I had made some use of my journey, I have taken the boldness to stay one day longer than I had leave to do; and truly, the ambassador was so late in taking his leave, that though I should have attempted the performance of my promise, hardly should I a been able to a compassed it, especially after a hearty taking my leave of my wife. This last excuse I hope will plead pardon and obtain it of Baby Charles, and the former of yourself, in confidence of which, I will be merry here tonight, and to-morrow, long before supper, receive that which now I beg your blessing. Your majesty's most humble slave and dog, STEENIE. Kate gives you many humble thanks for all your favours; mine I reserve till I have the happiness to see you. Kate begins to make use of Mal's tongue; for she had made Mall so importunate with me to stay, that if necessity had not commanded me, hardly could I a refused her. The Duke of Buckingham to James I. Dear dad and gossip, I did hope to have got out of town to-morrow, but by reason of new discoveries my brother hath made of witchcraft, I am forced to crave leave to stay till Monday or Tuesday; otherwise, by leaving him in the midst of troubles, I should give him too just excuse to think I cared no more for him than to serve my turns of him. I confess there is yet too much to do concerning my preparations for France, and God forbid I should by my neglect make that longer in doing which hath been already too long undone, the marriage of the prince. The want of moneys in your exchequer makes me now want the happiness to wait of you; for as yet I have not received one penny; but of this I'll trouble you no more, it being now ready, as I am, ever to receive your blessing, which now I crave as your majesty's most humble slave and dog, STEENIE. Both Kate, Mall, and I, humbly thank the good man and purveyor for his present of all kinds. The Duke of Buckingham to James I. Dear dad and gossip, Yesterday came a post from Monsieur Villeaux-Clercs to tell me that I might part when I would. I have returned this answer, that though I should be glad for my own particular, with the soonest to kiss his majesty's hands, who had so much obliged me, yet it would not suit with my master's occasions to have me long absent, but so soon as word would come that all treaties was at an end, and that things was prepared and ready for a speedy conclusion, then, I would make that haste thither, that they should see there should be no time lost on our side. I have sent you a proclamation for the putting off of the Parliament; my lord keeper and Mr. Attorney thought it fittest to have it drawn in general terms; I have sent you likewise a warrant to be signed for the delivery of the twenty thousand pounds for my journey into France. I fear I shall not be able to wait of you before the end of this week, but I would gladly know whether it would offend you or not, if I brought the countesses with me. I'll end in haste, because I will lose no time to prepare and despatch all these things which hinder me from being with you, so I crave your blessing. Your majesty's most humble slave and dog, STEENIE. Larkins says the dispensation is not yet comed, but certainly on the way. The Duke of Buckingham to James I. Dear dad and gossip, I have not yet been able to acquaint the ambassador with what you have found in your book, because I received your letter when I was comed from him, but before I shall be able to see you, I shall have done it; for what with the rainy weather, my late coming last night, and this day's long treating with him in the garden, I have such a swelling in my throat, and such a noise in my head, that I can neither swallow nor hear well; wherefore, I shall be forced for my health, if your service will permit me, to take a little physic. The phy sicians tell me this is the seasonablest time, but my desire to wait of you with the pleasure of the season tells me it is the most unfit of all others. But necessity hath no choice; yet I comfort myself with this, that what I take now will warrant me for a long time. I here send you a copy of the Capuchin's propositions with the King of France, far worse, in my opinion, than those he made here to yourself; you will likewise find an answer made by the cardinal and that council, moderate in their opinions, but, in my opinion, ill enough. If your majesty please to send Mr. Secretary hither, and Parker, for all my indisposition I shall be able to ease you there, and hasten the despatch, which hath been too long already in going; it rest that I acquaint you of my wife's your humble servant's health, which is reasonable good, and so end with craving your blessing. Your majesty's most humble slave and dog, I kiss sweet babe Charles's hands. STEENIE. The Duke of Buckingham to James I.1 Dear dad and gossip, I have sent Wat Montague this morning into France, with the copy of those things you resolved of with the French ambassador, that our ambassadors may no more complain for want of timely advertisements: the Spanish agent will be with me before I can have well ended this letter. Gondomar's man was with me this 1 All these letters of the Duke of Buckingham to James are endorsed, "to the best of masters." The morning. The discourse I had with him I am sure will not only be pleasing to you, but make you laugh. most part of the morning I spent with the French ambassador, and yet could not make an end; wherefore, he hath earnestly entreated me to stay this day in town, as likewise to see the despatch he will send into France. He makes no question of an answer from thence answerable to your heart's desire. I confess I believe it, and the rather because I know they dare do no otherwise; and I am sure you now begin to laugh in your sleeve to see yourself so courted of all sides, and that all these actions turn to your advantage. Dear dad, since I cannot come to-night, let this hasty letter give thanks for that true, favourable, and most affectionate interpretation of my staying here, and God never relieve me when I have most need of it, if it be not a separating of myself when I am from you, and in lieu of having comfort and my heart ease by you to serve you, I give myself nothing but trouble and vexation. To-morrow, without fail, I will wait of you, and if it be possible, bring the countesses with me; in the mean time, for much take a little, which is my humble thanks for not only clothing my outside, but filling my in, and with such precious bits as was only fit for you, but will prosper the better when add this, I humbly crave your blessing as you Your majesty's most humble slave and dog, STEENIE. |