72 LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 



held any thing so dear as your majesty s service, (nay) your 

 heart s ease, and your honour, I may be repulsed with a 

 denial. But if that hath been the principal with me, that 

 God, who knoweth my heart, would move your majesty s 

 royal heart to take compassion of me, and to grant my 

 desire. 



I prostrate myself at your majesty s feet; I, your ancient 

 servant, now sixty-four years old in age, and three years 

 and five months old in misery. I desire not from your 

 majesty means, nor place, nor employment; but only, after 

 so long a time of expiation, a complete and total remission 

 of the sentence of the upper house, to the end that blot of 

 ignominy may be removed from me, and from my memory 

 with posterity, that I die not a condemned manbutmaybe 

 to your majesty, as I &m to God, &quot; nova creatura. ^ Your 

 majesty hath pardoned the like to Sir John Bennet, between 

 whose case and mine (not being partial to myself, but speak 

 ing out of the general opinion) there was as much difference, 

 I will not say, as between black and white, but as between 

 black and grey, or ash-coloured ; look therefore down (dear 

 sovereign) upon me also in pity. I know your majesty s 

 heart is inscrutable for goodness ; and my lord of Bucking 

 ham was wont to tell me, you were the best natured man in 

 the world : and it is God s property, that those he hath 

 loved, he loveth to the end. Let your majesty s grace, in 

 this my desire, stream down upon me, and let it be out of 

 the fountain and spring-head, and &quot; ex mero motu,&quot; that 

 living or dying, the print of the goodness of King James 

 may be in my heart, and his praises in my mouth. This my 

 most humble request granted, may make me live a year or 

 two happily ; and denied, will kill me quickly. But yet the 

 last thing that will die in me will be the heart and affection of 

 Your Majesty s most humble and true devoted Servant, 



FR. ST. ALBAN. 

 July 30, 1624. 



