Most noble and honoured Sir,<180>

            I here send by my servant such matter as your Highness did covet to see, in regard to Bishop Gardiner of Winchester, which I shall sometime more largely treat of, and lay at your feet.<181> I may truly say, this prelate did persecute me before I was born; for my father was by his command imprisoned in the Tower for eleven months, for only carrying a letter to the Princess Elizabeth; and my mother was taken from her presence, and obliged to dwell with Mr. Topelift as an heretic. My poor father did send many petitions to the Bishop, but in vain, as he expended one thousand pounds to get his liberty. Nor had they any comfort but their consciences to beguile this affliction, and the sweet words and sweeter deeds of their mistress and fellow prisoner. But, not to rail only, I will inform your Highness what old Sir Matthew Arundel was wont to say, touching these times—"that Bonner was more to blame than Gardiner, who used to call him ass, and other scurvy names, for dealing so cruelly by honest men." I was moved to say so much against this judgment, that Sir Matthew said, my father ought to have lain in prison much longer, for sending such a saucy sonnet to Gardiner: in truth it was not over-civil, but after fair words ill taken, such deeds are not foul; and, considering those unrefined times, the poetry<182> is not badly conceived; as your Highness may judge in clue season, when I bring it before you, and here have sent no ill written letter to beg mercy of the Bishop; of which my father gave me copies, with many others in his own justification. In bumble consideration of your Highness favour and countenance,
            I remain, to all command,
            JOHN HARINGTON.

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