I recommend myself very humbly to your gracious consideration, and pray God to grant you, gentlemen, a happy and long life.

From Montaigne, this 8th February 1585.

Your humble brother and servant, MONTAIGNE.
XI.
To the same.
GENTLEMEN,--I have here received news of you from M.le Marechal.

I will not spare either my life or anything else for your service, and will leave it to your judgment whether the assistance I might be able to render by my presence at the forthcoming election, would be worth the risk I should run by going into the town, seeing the bad state it is in, -- [This refers to the plague then raging, and which carried off 14,000 persons at Bordeaux.]--particularly for people coming away from so fine an air as this is where I am.

I will draw as near to you on Wednesday as I can, that is, to Feuillas, if the malady has not reached that place, where, as I write to M.de la Molte, I shall be very pleased to have the honour of seeing one of you to take your directions, and relieve myself of the credentials which M.le Marechal will give me for you all: commending myself hereupon humbly to your good grace, and praying God to grant you, gentlemen, long and happy life.