302 EXPOSTULATION TO LORD 



be reprehended for many circumstances in the doing; 

 and doubtless God hath an eye in this cross to your 

 negligence, and the briers are left to be pricks in your 

 sides and thorns in your eyes. But that which we 

 commend you for, are those excellent parts in nature, 

 and knowledge in the law, which you are endowed 

 withal ; but these are only good in their good use. 

 Wherefore we thank you heartily for standing stoutly 

 in the commonwealth s behalf ; hoping it proceedeth 

 not from a disposition to oppose greatness, as your 

 enemies say, but to do justice, and deliver truth in 

 differently without respect of persons ; and in this 

 we pray for your prosperity, and are sorry that your 

 good actions should not always succeed happily. 

 But in the carriage of this you were faulty ; for you 

 took it in hand in an evil time, both in respect of 

 the present business which was interrupted, and in 

 regard of his present sickness whom it concerned, 

 whereby you disunited your strength, and made a 

 gap for the enemies to pass out at, and to return and 

 assault you. 



But now since the case so standeth, we desire you 

 to give way to power, and so to fight that you be not 

 utterly broken, but reserved intirely to serve the 

 commonwealth again, and to do what good you can, 

 since you cannot do all the good you would ; and 

 since you are fallen upon this rock, cast out the 

 goods to save the bottom ; stop the leaks and make 

 towards land ; learn of the steward to make friends 

 of the unrighteous mammon. Those Spaniards in 

 Mexico who were chased of the Indians, tell us what 



