Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A48026
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A letter from a person of quality, to a principal peer of the realm, now sitting in Parliament occasioned by the present debate upon the penal lawes.
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Person of quality.
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1661
(1661)
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Wing L1426; ESTC R9893
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11,272
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16
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the greatest Honour to Kings that their mercy like that of the Almighty is more eminent then their justice and that their Benches and Courts can witnesse more compassion then Severity For he that sets open the Prison Dores in so wise and gracious a manner meaneth not to conquer the hearts and consciences of his people by torments but to win them by mercy and sweetnesse If the ancient Aphorisme of State be to be respected it hath been ever in such cases the Wisdom of the greatest Princes Punire raro to punish but seldome it was ascribed as a Title of Honour to Augustus Caesar nunquam civilem sanguinem fudisse never to have shed his peoples blood Clemency is a Vertue sometimes of as great policy as piety because it begets Love and Love breeds Loyalty commands the very Soul and lays the body at the Feet of the obliger Mercy kindles Fire and Zeal in the hearts of Subjects Pity and Toleration as they make the Obligation of the offenders greater so it makes them repent to have offended him who hath so obliged them the reason is infallible in all noble Spirits Fidelem si putaveris facies believe and you make a faithful friend for the true Gallant Soul ever accounts it the greatest injury to be distrusted The poor Roman Catholicks upon these grounds hope that their ancient and tryed patience and fidelity shall so move His Majesty and those that he has set at the Stern to govern affairs that they shall be now refresht and eas'd as they may with a breath and that they may find at last the warmth and comfort of the Sun-shine again in England and that their humble supplications shall be granted subscrib'd with the services of so many honorable persons and sign'd with the blood of so many of their Martyrs That though we meet them not in Churches we may yet meet them cheerfully in our Markets for though they differ from us in Religion they will agree well with us in Obedience their bodies will be ever at His Majesties command if we do but leave their souls of God and all this happiness both to them and us I can no way despair of if your Lordship please to become their Intercessor in whose great Breast compassion ever kept the highest seat as it became it best and be confident my Lord that the obtaining of this lawful favour and Tolleration for these poor afflicted Souls will be a work equal in glory to any of your Lordships most illustrious Actions and will raise you up by your Charity so many degrees higher towards heaven as erect eternal Trophies to your Honour upon earth and those as great as ever were or can be written in the Records of Fame And so as His Majesty came unto the Helm and ascended the Throne of these Kingdoms with Triumph Glory and Applause He shall end the Catastrophe of his days with the general Plaudite of the whole world Nay all this will follow besides as the fruits and effects of His Majesties goodness towards the poor Roman Catholicks Peace within and Honour without Love at home Respect abroad and so shall be made a concord of discords an union of divisions and a religious contention on all sides for devotion and a good life for peaceable conversation obedience to Magistrates excellency of Learning who shall do most good in the State and deserve the prize and such an Eutopia can onely His Majesty make in England who will deserve the Olive branches for Mercy Peace and Goodness as well as the Laurel for Victory Wisdome Government and Constancy the Crown of all so I beseech your Lordship to accept and pardon this presumption and continue your favours to MY LORD Your Lordships most obedient Servant J. H. June 17. 1661. POSTSCRIPT MY LORD MY hast had almost made me overpass one very considerable scruple that I have heard frequently injected to the prejudice of that poor opprest Party which is that they did only serve His Majesty in the late War in their own defence and caeme to the King with a Cum nemini c. as they say On the contrary I can say on my own knowledge that they were extremely courted by that Presbyterian Parliament and proffer'd the perfect abolition of the Penal Laws so they would side with them and effectively prosecute their Rebellion It was not therefore Interest but Conscience that engaged them in His Majesties Cause And truly upon the matter it may be said that they serv'd His Majesty whether he would or no for they could obtain no Commission at all from him till a Commission granted to one of them by name Sir Arth. Ashton from the Rebell Party was produced And then His Majesty thought fit not to scruple the commissionating of any of them all this my Lord is known truth which your Lordship may please to accept likewise from MY LORD Your Lordships most Devoted Humble Servant J. H.