50 LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 



immediate against the sovereign, although all offences 

 against law are also against the king. Unto which comfort 

 there is added this circumstance, that as my faults were not 

 against your majesty otherwise than as all faults are, so my 

 fall is not your majesty s act, otherwise than as all acts of 

 justice are yours. This I write not to insinuate with your 

 majesty, but as a most humble appeal to your majesty s 

 gracious remembrance, how honest and direct you have 

 ever found me in your service, whereby I have an assured 

 belief, that there is in your majesty s princely thoughts, a 

 great deal of serenity and clearness to me, your majesty s 

 now prostrate, and cast down servant. 



Neither (my most gracious sovereign,) do I by this 

 mentioning of my services, lay claim to your princely grace 

 and bounty, though the privilege of calamity do bear that 

 form of petition. I know well, had they been much more, 

 they had been but my bounden duty ; nay, I must also 

 confess, that they were, from time to time, far above my 

 merit, super-rewarded by your majesty s benefits, which you 

 heaped upon me. Your majesty was, and is, that man to 

 me, that raised and advanced me nine times, thrice in 

 dignity, and six times inoffice. The places indeed were the 

 painfullest of all your service, but then they had both 

 honour and profit, and the then profits might have main 

 tained my now honour, if I had been wise- Neither was 

 your majesty s immediate liberality wanting towards me, 

 in some gifts, if I may hold them. All this I do most 

 thankfully acknowledge, and do herewith conclude, that for 

 any thing arising from myself, to move your eye of pity 

 towards me, there is much more in my present misery than 

 in my past services ; save that the same your majesty s 

 goodness, that may give relief to the one, may give value 

 to the other. 



And indeed if it may please your majesty, this theme of 

 my misery is so plentiful, as it need not be coupled with 



