LETTER TO LORDS. 



cccliii 



by the ordinary course of courts or precedents, in points of 

 strictness and severity, much more in points of mercy and 

 mitigation. 



&quot; And yet, if any thing which I shall move might be 

 contrary to your honourable and worthy ends to introduce 

 a reformation, I should not seek it. But herein I beseech 

 your lordships to give me leave to tell you a story. Titus 

 Manlius took his son s life for giving battle against the 

 prohibition of his general ; not many years after, the like 

 severity was pursued by Papirius Cursor, the dictator, 

 against Quintus Maximus, who being upon the point to 

 be sentenced, by the intercession of some principal persons 

 of the senate, was spared; whereupon Livy maketh this 

 grave and gracious observation: Neque minus jir mala est 

 disciplina militaris periculo Quinti Maximi, quam miserabili 

 supplido Titi Manlii. The discipline of war was no less 

 established by the questioning of Quintus Maximus than 

 by the punishment of Titus Manlius : and the same reason 

 is of the reformation of justice; for the questioning of men 

 of eminent place hath the same terror, though not the 

 same rigour with the punishment. 



&quot; But my case standeth not there. For my humble 

 desire is, that his majesty would take the seal into his 

 hands, which is a great downfall ; and may serve, I hope, 

 in itself for an expiation of my faults. Therefore, if mercy 

 and mitigation be in your power, and do no ways cross 

 your ends, why should I not hope of your lordships favour 

 and commiseration ? 



&quot; Your lordships will be pleased to behold your chief 

 pattern, the King our sovereign, a king of incomparable 

 clemency, and whose heart is inscrutable for wisdom and 

 goodness. Your lordships will remember that there sat 

 not these hundred years before a prince in your house, and 

 never such a prince whose presence deserveth to be made 



VOL. xv. a a 



