396 LETTERS RELATING TO 



this miscreant wretch goeth back from all, and de- 

 nieth his hand and all. No doubt, being fully of 

 belief, that he should go presently down to his trial, 

 he meant now to repeat his part, which he purposed 

 to play in the country, which was to deny all. But 

 your majesty in your wisdom perceiveth, that this 

 denial of his hand, being not possible to be counter 

 feited, and to be sworn by Adams, and so oft by him 

 self formerly confessed and admitted, could not mend 

 his case before any jury in the world, but rather 

 aggi&vateth it by his notorious impudency and false 

 hood, and will make him more odious. He never 

 deceived me; for when others had hopes of discovery, 

 and thought time well spent that way, I told your 

 majesty &quot; pereuntibus mille figuras ;&quot; and that he now 

 did but turn himself into divers shapes, to save or 

 delay his punishment. And therefore submitting 

 myself to your majesty s high wisdom, I think myself 

 bound in conscience to put your majesty in remem 

 brance, whether Sir John Sydenham* shall be de- 



on the 7th of August, appears from Mr. Chamberlain s letter of 

 the 14th of that month, wherein, it is said, that &quot; seven knights 

 were taken from the bench, and appointed to be of the jury. 

 He defended himself very simply, but obstinately and doggedly 

 enough. But his offence was so foul and scandalous, that he 

 was condemned of high treason; yet not hitherto executed, nor 

 perhaps shall be, if he have the grace to submit himself, and shew 

 some remorse.&quot; He died, as appears from another letter of the 

 27th of March, 1616, in the jail at Taunton, where he was said 

 to have &quot; left behind a most wicked and desperate writing, 

 worse than that he was convicted for.&quot; 



* He had been confronted about the end of February, or be- 



