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ALCIDIANA, by the favour of Heaven, queen of the happy Island, to Pisander her Lievtenant-Ge∣nerall, and her subject.
I Understand (to my griefe) that the second yeare of thy government is far differing from the first. Not long since I receiv'd the benedictions of great and small; and all the Townes, in emulation of one another, sent to render me their thankfulnesse, for giving them so just and so favourable a Protectour. But now their Deputies come all together to demand justice for thy oppressions. What e're the cause be of thy alterati∣on, know Pisander, I will have thee continue in that charge whereof I thought thee worthy; and on the next complaint is made of thee, I will abandon thee to such lawes as are made against those that are guiltie of high treason.
After the reading of this Letter, I saw that my plot would not take; yet I perswa∣ded my selfe, I might get by one way what I could not by the other: and to make tryall of it, I resolved to let the Queen know, that I no other way disobey'd her com∣mands, but in my not being able to execute them. Under this pretext, I took the bold∣nesse to answer her letter thus: