Maitland Club > Miscellany of the Maitland Club > Volume 3, Parts 1 and 2

354 COUNTESS OF DEVONSHIRE TO
to giue you any cautione yet I will not ftray fo farr from my
profefione to be negligent or fillent If I apprehende in a cir-
cumftance wherin I may ferae you I am att a diflance therfor
not fo weel able to judg of others opinione yet I would beeg
of you my Lo' to referue your felf from any declaratione. You
hade better be iufpc&ed of both fids then a party to either.
Your cuntry fortune and frinds ar ftri6t obligations fu£th as ar
not lightly to be venterd yet who cane tell of which fyde the
hazarde lyes or what heauene has decreede to be the means of
fecurity. So miracolos a blefing as latly has beene fhewde leaus
a hop of great mercy that is ftill referude for vs I cannot look
foe deep into the nefecity and confequence that may inforce
fu6th a refolutione as moft declare it felf as it is likly your Lo'
doth yet this I concieue if you be inuolude you ar to fhare of
all the mifery that may arriue to that vnfortunate natione. If
you exclude your felf in realbne and religione thers enoughe to
pleade for you euen to fatiffy the niceft opinions and certainly
my Lo' whateuer harde fate attend vpon this calamity it cane
neither deminifhe honnor nor reputatione nor fortune that I
forfee to haue it appear you wrefellde to the laft befor you
would forfake that lbueraigne fedility that links vs to obedience.
It is likly I haue fpoke fo littell to the purpofe that I haue
fayde to nru&h I hop it will beare this interpretatione that
it proceeds from a good affe&ione and in place of better feruice
is acompanyde with many earneft wifhes that in this extreame
defficulty your Lo' may be afifted with wifdome from aboue.
Vntill the laft night late I belieude your Lo' hade been att
Londone hiering you weer paft att Wetherby. This mefenger