LETTERS FROM THE RESUSC1TATIO. 171 



I beseech our blessed Saviour may be doubled : and that I 

 may never live to see any eclipse of your glory, interruption 

 of safety, or indisposition of your person, which I commend 

 to the Divine Majesty, who keep you and fortify you. 



To my Lord Hen. Howard. 



My Lord, 



There be very few besides yourself to whom I would 

 perform this respect; for I contemn &quot; mendacia famae,&quot; as 

 it walks among inferiors ; though I neglect it not, as it may 

 have entrance into some ears For your lordship s love, 

 rooted upon good opinion, I esteem it highly, because I 

 have tasted the fruits of it ; and we both have tasted of the 

 best waters, in my account, to knit minds together. There 

 is shaped a tale in London s forge that beateth apace at this 

 time ; that I should deliver opinion to the queen in my lord 

 of Essex cause. First, that it was premunire, and now last, 

 that it was high treason ; and this opinion to be in opposition 

 and encounter of the Lord Chief Justice s opinion, and the 

 Attorney-General s. My lord (I thank God) my witserveth 

 me not to deliver any opinion to the queen which my sto 

 mach serveth me not to maintain: one and the same con 

 science of duty guiding me, and fortifying me. But the 

 untruth of this fable God and my sovereign can witness, 

 and there I leave it : knowing no more remedy against lies 

 than others do against libels. The root, no question of it 

 is, partly, some light-headed envy at my accesses to her 

 majesty, which being begun and continued since my child 

 hood, as long as her majesty shall think me worthy of them 

 I scorn those that shall think the contrary. And another 

 reason is, the aspersion of this tale, and the envy thereof, 

 upon some greater man, in regard of my nearness. And 

 therefore (my lord) I pray you answer for me to any person 

 that you think worthy your own reply, and my defence. 

 For my lord of Essex, I am not servile to him, having 



