LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 53 



been, being but the several tenses of one verb ; nay, I do 

 farther presume, that both houses of parliament will love 

 their justice the better if it end not in my ruin. For I 

 have been often told by many of my lords, (as it were, in 

 excusing the severity of the sentence,) that they knew they 

 left me in good hands. And your majesty knovveth 

 well. I have been all my life long acceptable to those 

 assemblies, not by flattery, but by moderation, and by 

 honest expressing of a desire to have all things go fairly 

 and well. 



But (if it may please your majesty) for saints, I shall 

 give them reverence, but no adoration. My address is to 

 your majesty, the fountain of goodness : your majesty shall, 

 by the grace of God, not feel that in gift, which I shall 

 extremely feel in help ; for my desires are moderate, and 

 my courses measured to a life orderly and reserved ; hoping 

 still to do your majesty honour in my way. Only I most 

 humbly beseech your majesty, to give me leave to conclude 

 with those words which necessity speaketh ; help me, dear 

 sovereign lord and master, and pity me so far, as I, that 

 have borne a bag be not now in my age, forced in effect, to 

 bear a wallet ; nor I, that desire to live to study, may not 

 be driven to study to live. I most humbly crave pardon of 

 a long letter, after a long silence, God of Heaven ever bless, 

 preserve, and prosper your majesty. 



Your Majesty s poor ancient servant and beadsman, 



FR. ST. ALBAN. 



Sir Francis Bacon, the King s Attorney, returned 

 with Postils, of the King s own hand. 



It may please your most excellent Majesty. 

 Your majesty hath put upon me a work of providence 

 in this great cause, which is to break and distinguish 

 future events into present cases, and so to present them to 



