LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 77 



acts, mixed of mercy and justice. Yourselves are either 

 nobles, (and compassion ever beateth in the veins of noble 

 blood,) or reverend prelates, who are the servants of him 

 that would not break the bruised reed nor quench smoking 

 flax. 



You all sit upon a high stage, and therefore cannot but 

 be more sensible of the changes of human condition, and of 

 the fall of any from high places. Neither will your lord 

 ships forget that there are &quot; vitia tempcris,&quot; as well as 

 &quot; vitia hominis,&quot; and that the beginning of reformation hath 

 a contrary power to the pool of Bethseda, for that had 

 strength only to cure him that first cast in, and this hath 

 strength to hurt him only that is first cast in ; and for my 

 part, I wish it may stay there, and go no farther. 



Lastly, I assure myself, your lordships have a noble 

 feeling of me, as a member of your own body ; and one, 

 that in this very session had some taste of your loving affec 

 tions, which I hope was not a lightning before the death of 

 them, but rather a spark of that grace which now in the 

 conclusion will more appear. And therefore, my humble suit 

 to your lordships is, that my voluntary confession may be 

 my sentence, and the loss of the seal my punishment, and 

 that your lordships will spare any farther sentence, but re 

 commend me to his majesty s grace and pardon for all that 

 is past. And so, etc. 



Your Lordships, etc. 

 FRANCIS ST. ALBAN. CAN. 



The Lord Chancellor Bacon to the Duke. 



My very good Lord. 



My lord of Suffolk s cause is this day sentenced. My 

 lord, and his lady, fined at 30,0001. with imprisonment in the 

 Tower at their own charges. Bingley at 20001. and com 

 mitted to the Fleet, Sir Edward Coke did his part, I have 

 not heard him do better; and began with a fine of an 



