Cabala, mysteries of state,: in letters of the great ministers of K. James and K. Charles. Wherein much of the publique manage of affaires is related. / Faithfully collected by a noble hand.

Sir John Ogle to the Duke.

Right Excellent and most Gratious Lord,

ANd because you are so, why should not I put my soul in your hand? that I have not done it sooner was not through want of will in me, but it hath been the will of God, that mine acknowledg∣ment should be the fuller, your goodnesse the greater. Your Grace cannot be ignorant of the many motions I have had thereto, but my judgment hath been made irresolute by several distractions. I lay now my self, and the fortunes of me and mine at your Graces feet.

Take me up then (noblest Lord) as becometh the fame which you have, and the confidence which I have of you with a hand of good∣nesse. If I had wilfully sinned against you (when I was wickedly insnared and beguiled by that wretch at Ʋtrecht, to whom I gave some Extract out of your Letters, as also out of the Lord Embassa∣dours,) or did yet with obstinacie maintain such indiscreet pro∣ceeding, your Grace might in justice reject me as unworthy.

But since you have long discerned in me a propension to crave your pardon, though still unhappily diverted till this time; I trust your true Noblenesse, generousnesse and goodnesse to be such, as you will not only not turn this heartie submission to any disadvantage on my part; but looking upon mine ingenuitie, with a right eye of gracious inclination, both pardon my fault, and follie towards your self, and also (to bind my prayers to be offered in the greater zeal for you, for I shall not be able to do you better service then in prayer) be a strong mediator to his gracious Majestie, that my errours of weaknesse, and want of discretion, committed then towards his late Majestie of ever blessed memorie, and his Embassadour, with what other oversights may have been gathered up since, may be freely and fully forgiven and remitted, that so my soul being discharged of all fear of displea∣sure against me, I may with a cheerful heart and quiet conscience, go on in such a vocation as the Lord shall have appointed for me. My Lord, this wound hath long festered neer my heart, and though false skins have been drawn over it sometimes by unskilful hands, yet have I ever judged it the surest ••••re to rip it up by Confession, and heal it by Contrition. And sure I judge that it savours more of a right generous spirit to confesse a fault, then to conceal it, especially when the party offending is free from malice, and the party offended of a nature so noble and full of goodnesse, as nothing can be wished to be added unto it, and which is yet more; and this have you graciously done to me, (my Lord) signed himself with his own hand a true and faithful friend unto him, the more to invite him to trust him. And trust you I do my Lord, and in you (next my Gracious Soveraign) as much as may be in any arm of flesh. The God of Heaven (I hope) will speak peace to my soul, if the King, and your Grace will send peace to my heart. I trust you will, and will pray to God you may, that I may in all cheerfulnesse and thankfulnesse ever remain

Your Grace's most humble, and faithful, and obliged servant Jo. Ogle.

Exester 3. June, 1625.

Postscript.

I Beseech your Grace to send some other man to take this Charge which I too weakly for fear of offending by denial have thus far undergone, but upon hope of being withdrawn. Yet still submit my self to your Graces good pleasure.