verie fitlie commended vnto you: for a weake houſe requireth a ſtrong ſtaie. In which reſpect I guie God thanks, that hath raiſed vp vnto me ſo mightie a freend for them as your Lordſhip is, who in our lawes haue ſuch knowledge, in gouernment ſuch diſcretion, in theſe cauſes ſuch experience, and in the commonwealth ſuch authoritie; and neuertheleſſe vouchſafe to deſcend to the conſideration of theſe baſe and inferior matters, which miniſter more care and trouble, than worldlie eſtimation.
And in ſomuch as your Lordſhip knoweth, or rather exerciſeth the office of a iudge, whoſe part it is to heare with courteſie, and to determine with equitie; it cannot but be apparent vnto you, that when puniſhment exceedeth the fault, it is rather to be thought vengeance than correction. In which reſpect I knowe you ſpend more time and trauell in the conuerſion and reformation, than in the ſubuerſion & confuſion of offenders, as being well pleaſed to augment your owne priuate paines, to the end you may diminiſh their publike ſmart. For in truth, that commonwealth remaineth in wofull ſtate, where fetters and halters beare more ſwaie than mercie and due compaſſion.
Howbeit, it is naturall to vnnaturall people, and peculiar vnto witchmongers, to purſue the poore, to accuſe the ſimple, and to kill the innocent; ſupplieng in rigor and malice towards others, that which they themſelues want in proofe and diſscretion, or the other in offenſe or occaſion. But as cruell hart and an honeſt mind doo ſeldome meete and feed togither in a diſh; ſo a diſcreet and mercifull magiſtrate, and a happie commonwealth cannot be ſeparated aſunder. How much then are we bound to God, who hath giuen vs a Queene, that of iuſtice is not only the very perfect image & paterne; but alſo of mercie & clemencie (vnder God) the meere fountaine & bodie it ſelfe? In ſomuch as they which hunt moſt after bloud in
