MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 377
Your petitioners are the more emboldened to make this applica- tion, as they are fully fenfible and afnaaied of the cowardice and rnif- management of their prefent prede- ceflbrs, and are refolved to do all they can to efface the memory of their mifdeeci, by a fincere attach- ment to the fervice of their coun- try ; and therefore your petitioners mull be the more femible of the morcificaiion and difgrace to which they muft be reduced, by their be- ing obliged to mingle their dult, or their names, or both, with fuch company as are already in poffefnon of your walls and pavements ; tho' your petitioners acknowledge, that many of them are iuch as your pe- titioners propofe as models for their own conduct.
That your petitioners obferve, with great concern, many heathen deities have been introduced within your wails, to adorn the tombs of thole who were itrangers to all heathen virtues ; and as your peti- tioners are not alhamed of their re- folution to live and die Chriftians, they hope your reverences will have fome regard to the tendernefs of their confciences in this refpecl, ef- pecially as there is a lufficiency of Chriitian attributes to ferve, if in- genioufly and properly applied, all the purpofes of fculpture, in embel- lifhing theraonuments of the Chrif- tian dead.
Your petitioners beg leave far- ther to reprefent to your reverences, that the wifeft nations of antiquity looked upon the conferring monu- mental iionours as a public concern, and the uobleft incitement to vir- tuous deeds.; and that as foon as they ceaied to be frugal of thofe honours, when they proilituted them to flattery, or fold them for lucre, their public fpirit fled j and
tho' your petitioners have the high- ell opinion of the difintereilednefs and judgmen t of your reverences, yet they think they cannot be too watch- ful in a matter that ib highly con- cerns them, efpeciajly (according to what your petitioners have hinted abovej as this will pr^ babiy be the only return our country will be able to give them for their fervices. And your petitioners fhall ever, pray, &c.
A remar.knble d;ing fpeech cf Mr. Ciiffe, Secretary to the Earl cf Ej^!ex, nuho <was execittea in the reign of ^een Elirzab.th, fer the Jame offence ivhich brought his rnajter to the blcck.
Am here adjudged to i.\Q for ading an ad never plotted, for plotting a plot never acted. Juftice will have her courfe ; accufers mufl be heard; greatnefs will have the vidory ; Jcholars and martialifU (though learning and valour fhould have the pre-eminence) in England mufl die like dogs, and be hanged. To miflike this, were but folly ; to difpute it, but time loft: to al- ter it, impoliible ; but to endure it, is manly : and to fcorn it, magna- nimity. The Queen is difpleafed, the lawyers injurious, and deatk terrible; but 1 crave pardon of the Queen; forgive the lawyers, and the world ; defire to be forgiven : and welcome death.
The fcUo-jjlng mojl excellent letter nfjas ivrote, in the reign cf ^een Elizabeth, by the gallant and re~ no'-Lvned Earl of Ejjex, to his to- jomfritnd the Earl of Southamp- ton,
My
