1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 169 



your Excellency s happy escape from the mischievous 

 intentions against you by the wicked enterprise for the 

 taking of the castle of Dublin. And as nobody joys 

 more in your deliverance than I do, so cannot any one 

 wish more heartily than I, that all the warnings which 

 your Excellency hath had might prevail to persuade 

 you, in whom you might totally best confide, and of 

 whom to beware ; and then with a stedfast resolution 

 to adhere to your truest and most real friends. Amongst 

 whom, if your Excellency afford me not a place, I dare 

 boldly say that it is not for want of having already 

 endeavoured to deserve the same by serving you, with 

 as great expressions, both public and private, as my 

 wish and will could possibly obtain unto. Neither 

 shall my future actions be inferior to what is past, but 

 shall (God willing) enact those things wherein my good 

 will only can yet be seen : for upon the ground work of 

 my professed reality and affection unto your Excellency, 

 and of your noble and friendly acceptance thereof, have 

 I ever thought to build a fabric of my future services 

 to his Majesty and most real friendship to yourself, 

 whose subsistence I tender as mine own. And if your 

 Excellency s first begotten and expressed confidence in 

 me had not been retarded by some unknown means 

 unto me, though I humbly and thankfully acknowledge 

 you never suffered it to be extinguished ; give me leave 

 to aver with truth, that your Excellency ere this should 

 have seen the remarkable effects thereof. But this is 

 so copious a theme, as that I fear already I have been 

 too prolix, I will therefore abridge myself, and not ex 

 tend unto the latitude, which the truth of this subject 

 prompts me unto. 



&quot; And to the second part of your Excellency s letter, 

 give me leave to thank you for your tenderness in not 

 accepting the 2500 from me ; but also your Excellency 

 may know, that it is upon a reliance thereon, that the 



