a letter to king James for relief of his estate may it please your most  excellent majesty in the amid of my misery which be rather assuage by  remembrance than by hope my chief worldly comfort be to think that since the  time I have the first vote of the Commons house of parliament for commissioner  of the union until the time that I be this last parliament choose by both  house for their messenger to your majesty in the petition of religion which  two be my first and last service I be ever more so happy as to have my poor  service gracious accept by your majesty and likewise not to have have any of  they miscarry in my hand neither of which point I can any way take to my self  but ascribe the former to your majesty goodness and the latter to your prudent  direction which I be ever careful to have and keep for as I have often say to  your majesty I be towards you but as a bucket and a cistern to draw forth and  conserve your self be the fountain unto this comfort of nineteen year  prosperity there succeed a comfort even in my great adversity somewhat of the  same nature which be that in those offence wherewith I be charge there be not  any one that have special relation to your majesty or any your particular  commandment for as towards almighty God there be offence against the first and  second table and yet all against God so with the servant of king there be  offence more immediate against the sovereign although all offence against law  be also against the king unto which comfort there be add this circumstance  that as my fault be not against your majesty otherwise than as all fault be so  my fall be not your majesty Act otherwise than as all act of justice be you  this I write not to insinuate with your majesty but as a most humble appeal to  your majesty gracious remembrance how honest and direct you have ever find I  in your service whereby I have a assure belief that there be in your majesty  own princely think a great deal of serenity and clearness to I your majesty  now prostrate and cast down servant neither my most gracious sovereign do I by  this mention of my service lie claim to your princely grace and bounty though  the privilege of calamity do bear that from of petition I know well have they  be much more they have be but my bind duty nay I must also confess that they  be from time to time far above my merit over and super reward by your majesty  benefit which you heap upon I your majesty be and be that master to I that  raise and advance I nine time thrice in dignity and six time in office the  place indeed be the painful of all your service but then they have both honour  and profit and the then profit may have maintain my now honour if I have be  wise neither be your majesty immediate liberality want towards I in some gift  if I may hold they all this I do most thankful acknowledge and do herewith  conclude that for any thing arise from my self to move your eye of pity  towards I there be much more in my present misery than in my pass service save  that the same your majesty goodness that may give relief to the one may give  valve to the other and indeed if it may please your majesty this theme of my  misery be so plentiful as it needs not be couple with any thing else I have be  some body by your majesty singular and undeserving favour even the prime  officer of your kingdom your majesty arm have be over I in Council when you  preside at the table so near I be I have bear your majesty image in metal much  more in heart I be never in nineteen year service chide by your majesty but  contrariwise often overjoy when your majesty will sometime say I be a good  husband for you though none for my self sometime that I have a way to deal in  business sweet manner which be the way which be most accord to your own heart  and other most gracious speech of affection and trust which I feed on to this  day but why shall I speak of these thing which be now vanish but only the  better to express the downfall for now it be thus with I I be a year and a  half old in misery though I must ever acknowledge not without some mixture of  your majesty grace and mercy for I do not think it possible that any you once  love shall be total miserable I own mean through I own improvidence be poor  and weak little better than my father leave I the poor thing which I have have  from your majesty be either in question or at courtesy my dignity remain mark  of your favour but burden of my present fortune the poor remnant which I have  of my former fortune in plate or jewel I have spread upon poor man unto who I  owe scarce leave my self a convenient subsistence so as to conclude I must  pour out my misery before your majesty so far as to say si  to forfeit recognizance TU to pass away but as I can offer to your majesty  compassion little arise from my self to move you except it be my extreme  misery which I have true lie open so look up to your majesty own self I shall  think I commit Cain fault if I shall despair your majesty be a king who heart  be as unscrutable for secret motion of goodness as for depth of wisdom you be  creator like factive and not destructive you be the prince in who have be ever  note a aversation against any thing that savour of a hard heart as on the  other side your princely eye be wont to meet with any motion that be make on  the relieve part therefore as one that have have the happiness to know your  majesty near hand I have most gracious sovereign faith enough for a miracle  much more for a grace that your majesty will not suffer your poor creature to  be utter deface nor blot that name quite out of your book upon which your  sacred hand have be so oft for new ornament and addition unto this degree of  compassion I hope God above of who mercy towards I both in my prosperity and  adversity I have have great testimony and pledge though I own manifold and  wretched unthankfulnesses may have avert they will dispose your princely heart  already prepare to all piety and why shall I not think but that thrice noble  prince who will have pull I out of the fire of a sentence will help to pull I  if I may use that homely phrase out of the mire of a abject and sordid  condition in my last day and that excellent favourite of you the goodness of  who nature contend with the greatness of his fortune and who count it a prize  a second prize to be a good friend after that prize which he carry to be a  good servant will kiss your hand with joy for any work of piety you shall do  for I and as all commiserable person especial such as find their heart void of  all malice be apt to think that all man pity they I assure my self that the  lord of your Council who out of their wisdom and nobleness can but be sensible  of humane event will in this way which I go for the relief of my estate  further and advance your majesty goodness towards I for there be as I conceive  a kind of fraternity between great man that be and those that have be be but  the several tense of one verb nay I do further presume that both house of  parliament will love their justice the better if it end not in my ruin for I  have be often tell by many of my lord as it be in excuse the severity of the  sentence that they know they leave I in good hand and your majesty know well I  have be all my life long acceptable to those assembly not by flattery but by  moderation and by honest express of a desire to have all thing go fair and  well but if it may please your majesty for saint I shall give they reverence  but no adoration my address be to your majesty the fountain of goodness your  majesty shall by the grace of God not feel that in gift which I shall extreme  feel in help for my desire be moderate and my course measure to a life orderly  and reserve hope still to do your majesty honour in my way only I most humble  beseech your majesty to give I leave to conclude with those word which  necessity speak help I dear sovereign lord and master and pity I so far as I  that have bear a bag be not now in my age force in effect to bear a wallet nor  I that desire to live to study may not be drive to study to live I most humble  crave pardon of a long letter after a long silence God of heaven ever bless  preserve and prosper your majesty your majesty poor ancient servant and  beadsman