170 LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 



answering my mind as sorting with your greatness ; and 

 therewith wish that we may continue to reckon on, and ever 

 your majesty s happy years of reign : and they that reckon 

 upon any other hopes 1 would they might reckon short, and 

 to their cost. And so craving pardon most humbly, I 

 commend your majesty to the preservation of the divine 

 goodness. 



To the Queen. 



It may please your most excellent Majesty, 

 I most humbly entreat your majesty not to impute my 

 absence to any weakness of mind or unworthiness. But I 

 assure your majesty I do find envy beating so strongly upon 

 me, standing as I do, (if this be to stand) as it were not 

 strength of mind but stupidity, if I should not decline the 

 occasions, except I could do your majesty more service 

 than 1 can any ways discern that I am able to do. My 

 course towards your majesty (God is my witness) hath been 

 pure and unleavened ; and never poor gentleman (as I am 

 persuaded) had a deeper and truer desire and care of your 

 glory, your safety, your repose of mind, your service; 

 wherein if I have exceeded my outward vocation, I most 

 humbly crave your majesty s pardon for my presumption. 

 On the other side, if I have come short of my inward voca 

 tion, I most humbly crave God s pardon for quenching the 

 spirit. But in this mind I find such solitude, and want of 

 comfort, which I judge to be because I take duty too exactly, 

 and not according to the dregs of this age, wherein the old 

 anthem might never be more truly sung; te Totus mundus 

 in maligno positus est.&quot; My life hath been threatened, 

 and my name libelled, which I count an honour ; but these 

 are the practices of those whose despairs are dangerous, 

 but yet not so dangerous as their hopes ; or else the devices 

 of some that would put out all your majesty s lights, and 

 fall on reckoning how many years you have reigned, which 



