1601 Apr 22 Neville to Robert Cecil
Calendar
The season approaching wherein it is generally expected that there will be some end made of the troubles grown by these late wretched accidents, puts me in mind likewise to renew my suit that I may not seem too senseless or secure in so great a calamity. It has pleased you from the beginning of my trouble to show a tender care of my credit, for which I acknowledge myself as much bound as for your care of my life itself. I beseech you so to dispose of me that I may not by any public disgrace be made unable or unworthy to be commanded by her Majesty and you hereafter. For God is my witness, I desire to cancel by some faithful service the fault I have now committed. And I do not despair but God will offer the means and occasion in his good time. Therefore again and again I do beseech you, whatsoever else be inflicted upon me, to preserve me from any public infamy. And having heard a rumour that there is a declaration like to be published of these late practices, I humbly desire, if I be mentioned at all—which considering how little hand or consent I had in them, I would hope were not necessary—yet that it may be done as sparingly and with as little touch to me as the cause will bear. And particularly, that my declaration may not be put in print; for I made it in haste, my Lord Admiral's servant Mr. Browne being sent for it when I had but new begun it, and signifying that he was willed to be at the Tower with it by 11 of clock; by occasion whereof chiefly, and partly also because some of your Lordships told me the night before that you intended not to use it against myself, but to another end, I omitted both matter and circumstances which would much have justified me and cleared mine intention from consent or participation in these actions. So as if it should be published in that naked sort as it is set down, it would be to my infinite disadvantage, and lay me open to the censure of every common person, even for that whereof I am not guilty. Therefore chiefly I desire it may not be published; or if that must needs be—as I verily hope there is no such necessity, matters being otherwise clear enough, and my knowledge of the Earl's designs being but at the second or third hand, and that only in generalities—I humbly desire that I may be permitted to revise it and to add some circumstances which I have either by word or writing already declared unto your Honours, that so the world may know the best of me as well as the worst.—Chelsey, 22 April, 1601.
