LETTERS FROM THE BACONIANA. 197 



heart is as unscrutable for secret motions of goodness, as 

 for depth of wisdom. You are, creator-like, factive and 

 not destructive. You are the prince, in whom hath been 

 ever noted an aversation against any thing that savoured of 

 a hard heart; as, on the other side your princely eye was 

 wont to meet with any motion that was made on the reliev 

 ing part. Therefore as one that hath had the happiness to 

 know your majesty near hand, I have, most gracious 

 sovereign, faith enough for a miracle, much more for a 

 grace, that your majesty will not suffer your poor creature 

 to be utterly defaced, nor blot that name quite out of your 

 book, upon which your sacred hand hath been so oft for 

 new ornaments and additions. 



Unto this degree of compassion, 1 hope God above, of 

 whose mercy towards me both in my prosperity and adver 

 sity, I have had great testimonies and pledges, though mine 

 own manifold and wretched unthankfulnesses might have 

 averted them) will dispose your princely heart, already pre 

 pared to all piety. And why should I not think, but that 

 thrice noble prince who would have pulled me out of the 

 fire of a sentence, will help to pull me (if I may use that 

 homely phrase) out of the mire of an abject and sordid con 

 dition in my last days : And that excellent favourite of 

 yours, the goodness of whose nature contendeth with the 

 greatness of his fortune, and who counteth it a prize, a 

 second prize, to be a good friend, after that prize which he 

 carrieth to be a good servant, will kiss your hands with joy 

 for any work of piety you shall do for me. And as all 

 commiserable persons, especially such as find their hearts 

 void of all malice, are apt to think that all men pity them ; 

 I assure myself that the lords of your council, who out 

 of their wisdom and nobleness, cannot but be sensible of 

 human events, will in this way which I go for the relief of 

 my estate, further and advance your majesty s goodness 

 towards me : for there is, as I conceive, a kind of fraternity 

 between great men that are, and those that have been, 



