1601 Jul 25 Neville to Robert Cecil
As a man plunged in misery, and destitute of all comfort and counsel, I am bold again to have recourse to your favour, whence all my hope arises, and most humbly to pray you to vouchsafe to let me know by this bearer whether it will stand with your good liking that I do present another supplication unto the Lords before the progress begin, or what course I shall hold to give their Lordships best satisfaction of my submission, and of my desire to conform myself to her Majesty's pleasure in all things. I have represented my estate to you particularly. I am ready to make good what I have therein delivered. I beseech you to take compassion upon my poor wife and children, and let not my folly be their utter overthrow. I wish the whole punishment might light upon myself, for I only have deserved it, and they are innocent. The fine, as it is now imposed, is double more than my estate in my whole land (which is only for life) is worth : and if the rigour of law had been prosecuted, I could have forfeited no greater an estate than I had in it. My offices are all taken away, my moveables are of very small value, and those I had, as my plate and other things, of best value, I have been forced to sell since my trouble, to pay my debts and to disengage my friends that stood bound for me, as became an honest man. I confess her Majesty has dealt very graciously and mercifully with me. But I am persuaded that if the meanness of my estate were made known to her, she would extend her mercy further, and hold the like measure and proportion of grace and clemency towards me that she has done towards all other offenders, whom she has been pleased to chastise, but not to ruin. And by that means she shall make some use of her favour; whereas otherwise she loses the benefit that is bestowed upon a man that is undone and made unable to do any duty or service that may deserve it. I dare not plead anything in regard of my late service and the charge I sustained in it; howbeit that is a peculiar consideration in my case; and I trust her Majesty, in her gracious and princely mind, will sometime think of it as a motive to her mercy.—From the Tower, 25 July 1601. Holograph. 1 p. (87. 20.)
