Letter 8, to William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke
(See also Introduction: Letters from Prison by Jonson and Chapman)
Neither am I or my cause so much unknown to Your Lordship as it should drive
me to seek a second means, or despair of this to your favour. You have ever been
free and noble to me, and I doubt not the same proportion of your bounties, if 5
I can but answer it with preservation of my virtue and innocence; when I fail of
those, let me not only be abandoned of you, but of men.
The anger of the King is death, saith the wise man, and in truth it is little less
with me and my friend, for it hath buried us quick. And though we know it only
the property of men guilty and worthy of punishment to invoke mercy, yet now 10
it might relieve us, who have only our fortunes made our fault, and are indeed
vexed for other men’s licence. Most honoured Earl, be hasty to our succour; and
it shall be our care and study not to have you repent the timely benefit you do us:
which we will ever gratefully receive and multiply in our acknowledgement.
Ben Jonson 15