122 LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 



there would have been a proceeding against Mr. Barnard to 

 his overthrow. Wherein I must confess myself to be in a 

 sort accessary : because he relying upon me for counsel, I 

 advised that course which he followed. Wherein now I 

 begin to question myself, whether in preserving my respects 

 to your lordship and the rest, I have not failed in the duty of 

 my profession towards my client ; for certainly, if the words 

 kad been heinous and spoken in a malicious fashion, and in 

 some public place and well proved, and not a prattle in a 

 tavern, caught hold of by one, who fas I hearj is a detected 

 sycophant (Standish I mean) yet I know not what could 

 have been done more than to impose upon him a grievous 

 fine ; and to require the levying of the same ; and to take 

 away his means of life by his disfranchisement ; and to 

 commit him to a defamed prison during Christmas ; in 

 honour whereof the prisoners in other courts do commonly 

 of grace obtain some enlargement. This rigor of proceed 

 ing (to tell your lordship and the rest, as my good friends, 

 my opinion plainly) tendeth not to strengthen authority 

 which is best supported Iby love and fear intermixed ; but 

 rather to make people discontented and servile ; especially, 

 when such punishment is inflicted for words, not by rule of 

 law but by a jurisdiction of discretion, which would evermore 

 be moderately used. And I pray God, whereas Mr. Re 

 corder., when I was with you, did well and wisely put you 

 ill mind of the admonitions you often received from my 

 lords that you should bridle unruly tongues ; that those 

 kind of speeches and rumours whereunto those admonitions 

 do refer, which are concerning the state and honour thereof, 

 do not pass too licentiously in the city unpunished ; while 

 these words which concern your particular are so straightly 

 enquired into, and punished with such extremity. But 

 these things, your own wisdom first or last,) will best re 

 present unto you. My writing unto you at this time is, to 

 the end, that howsoever I do take it somewhat unkindly, 



