Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/93

 WILLIAM, LORD BURGHLEY 73

him, like the olive branches. . . wherein he would many times rejoice as in one of God's great blessings." The last letter which he wrote with his own hand was addressed to Sir Robert (July loth, 1598), and shows the Queen's care for her old minister :

" Though I know you count it your duty in nature so continually to show you careful of my state of health, yet were I also unnatural, if I should not take comfort thereby, and to beseech Almighty God to bless you with supply of such blessings, as I cannot, in this infirmity, yield you. Only I pray you diligently and effectually let her Majesty understand, how her singular kindness doth overcome my power to acquit it ; who, though she will not be a mother, yet she sheweth herself, by feeding me with her own princely hand, as a careful nurse. And if I may be weaned to feed myself, I shall be more ready to serve her on the earth. If not, I hope to be in heaven a servitor for her and God's Church. And so I thank you for your partritches. Serve God by serving of the Queen ; for all other service is indeed bondage to the devil.

' Your languishing father, " W. BURGHLEY."

The end came on August 4th, 1598. The previous evening he was seized with convulsions, and exclaimed, " Now the Lord be praised, the time is come." He then called his children together, " and blessed them and took his leave, commanding them to love and fear God and love one another ; he also prayed for the Queen that she might live long and die in peace." He lin- gered on until the early morning, and at eight o'clock passed peacefully away. The funeral

�� �