DEFENCE. CCCXXX111 



But not to trouble your majesty any longer, craving 

 pardon for this long mourning letter, that which I thirst 

 after, as the hart after the streams, is, that I may know, 

 by my matchless friend that presenteth to you this letter, 

 your majesty s heart (which is an abyssus of goodness, as 

 I am an abyssus of misery) towards me. I have been ever 

 your man, and counted myself but an usufructuary of my 

 self, the property being yours. And now making myself 

 an oblation, to do with me as may best conduce to the 

 honour of your justice, the honour of your mercy, and the 

 use of your service, resting as clay in your majesty s 

 gracious hands, FR. ST. ALB AN, Cane. 



March 25, 1620. 



To the preparation of his. defence he now proceeded a 

 preparation which could scarcely to any advocate have been 

 attended with difficulty, whether considering the general 

 nature of the complaints, or the weight due to each parti 

 cular charge. 



There are circumstances attending these accusations, by 

 which at this time the judgment may be warped, that did 

 not exist two centuries since. We may be misled by 

 transferring the opinions of the present to past times, and Transfer to 

 by supposing that the accusations were preferred by some past tiraes * 

 or all of the suitors whose names are mentioned, and on 

 whose behalf the presents were offered after the termi 

 nation of their causes ; but it was then well known, that 

 these suitors reluctantly attended in obedience to the 

 summons obtained in consequence of the petitions presented 

 by the two discontented persons against whom the Chan 

 cellor had decided, notwithstanding their supposition that 

 his judgment was to be purchased. 



It could not have escaped the notice of any advocate Presents 

 that the presents were made on behalf of the suitors, by eminence. 



