Noble lord,

I have so confirmed opinion of your virtue, and am so fortified in mine own

innocence, as I dare (without blushing at anything save your trouble) put my

fame into your hands: which I prefer to my life. The cause of my commitment,

I understand, is His Majesty’s high displeasure conceived against me, for which 5

I am most inwardly sorry; but how I should deserve it, I have yet (I thank God)

so much integrity as to doubt. If I have been misreported to His Majesty, the

punishment I now suffer may, I hope, merit more of his princely favour when

he shall know me truly. Every accusation doth not condemn; and there must go

much more to the making of a guilty man than  rumour. I therefore crave of Your 10

Lordship this noble  benefit: rightly to inform His Majesty that I never, in thought,

word, or act, had purpose to offend or grieve him, but with all my powers have

studied to show myself most loyal and zealous to his whole designs that in private

and public, by speech and writing, I have ever professed it. And if there be one

man or devil to be produced that can affirm the contrary, let me suffer under all 15

extremity that justice, nay, tyranny, can inflict. I speak not this with any spirit

of contumacy, for I know there is no subject hath so safe an innocence but may

rejoice to stand justified in sight of His Sovereign’s mercy. To which we most

humbly submit ourselves, our lives, and fortunes.