1601 May 8 Neville to Robert Cecil
As I was bold upon my first commitment to recommend my poor estate to you by a joint letter written unto you and other of the Lords, so having a more especial and indeed my chief and only confidence (after God) in your good favour and compassion towards me, I have presumed now again to renew my suit particularly unto you, humbly beseeching you not to look upon my offence only with the severe eye of a counsellor of state, but sometimes also with the affectionate eye of an honourable friend, and to think of my poor wife and children, whose good or ruin is now in your hands, that thereby you may be moved to hasten to some good effect your honourable intentions towards me. I need not repeat the nature of my offence, neither do I mean to justify myself. I acknowledge a great fault, only I would be glad it might be conceived that there was more misfortune than malice in it; misfortune I mean, both in being by abuse brought to hear that I never thought to hear, and in being prevented in the purpose I had to discharge my duty. Let my whole life and former carriage towards her Majesty be examined, and by that let there be some judgment made of my heart and intention towards her. But I disclaim, as I said, all justification, and appeal only to her princely mercy, humbly desiring that I may have cause to rejoice in it as well as many other, towards whom she has been pleased to begin a mild and merciful course, to her eternal glory.—From the Tower, 8 May, 1601. Holograph. 1 p. (86. 37.)
