Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	believe_v	know_v	word_n	4,525	5	4.2540	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81958	A letter from Sir Lewis Dyve: written out of France to a gentleman, a friend of his in London. Giving him an account of the manner of his escape out of the Kings Bench, and the reasons that moved him thereunto.	Dyre, Lewis, Sir, 1599-1669.	1648 (1648)	Wing D2978; Thomason E520_40; ESTC R206190	7,088	8

When the Lieutenant of the Tower had discharged himselfe of me by delivering me over into the hands of other Jaylors I was by them that Evening brought to Sir John Lentall who treated me with much civilitie and having as it should seeme understood by some who had long knowne me that if I would engage my Word unto him of being a true Prisoner it would hold me faster then all the Locks and Guards he could devise to put upon me he in a very generous and free manner proposed it unto me telling me withall that he had ever heard me esteemed for a man of honour so as if I would engage my Word he would esteeme it as the best Securitie that could be given him The franknesse of his proceeding prevailed with me I must confesse even against the Resolution I had raken not to bind my selfe up by my Word upon any Condition whatsoever which I yeelded neverthelesse to doe being overcome by his kindnesse adding this Protestation withall That were it to save my Life he might be confident I would not breake with him untill I should first give him faire warning by revoking it Provided alwayes that he should put no Guards nor Keeper upon me which I should understand as a dis-ingagement of my Word for that it would be an argument unto me that he did not relye upon it Which he approved as reasonable and so I parted from him for that time and went to provide me a Lodging within the Rules as might affoord me best accommodation After this there was seldome any day past that I came not by way of Gratitude to visit him or his Lady resolving in my heart not onely to pay him all Respects that was due to him from me as a Prisoner but to requite those Civilities I received from him whensoever I should by Gods blessing be in a capacitie to doe it Sometimes as my Occasions required I went abroad which I did openly and avowedly not conceiving it would have beene judged a Trespas in me more then in other men in the same Condition that I was But it soone grew an occasion of exception to some who never satisfied with their owne unlimited Priviledges held it too great a one for me to breathe the common Ayre with other men and through the feares and jealousies which the guilt of their owne soules suggested unto them did fancie my being seene abroad a matter of most dangerous consequence insomuch as M. Speaker of the House of Commons was immediately inform'd of it who thereupon sent to his Brother Sir John Lentall giving him a strict Charge as he told me himselfe to have a speciall care of me as of a most dangerous person He therefore in a friendly way desired me that for his sake I would for some dayes forbeare to be seene abroad untill the heat of this anger were over-past lest it might turne to his prejudice The answer I made him to my best remembrance was to this effect That I could not but thinke my selfe very unfortunate after so many miseries to be still made the object of their malice which since I saw I could not otherwayes avoid but either by forfeiting my Loyaltie to my Soveraigne or betraying my owne innocencie I had by Gods assistance armed my selfe with that Resolution that I little regarded what their Power could exercise upon my person and should esteeme my Sufferings a happinesse and glory unto me in so good a Cause so that if I restrained my selfe of that just Libertie I ought to take it was meerely for his sake wherein I would be so carefull for the future that when the necessitie of my occasions should draw me forth it should be with that Caution as should give no advantage against him And I was so precisely carefull herein as for divers dayes after I stirred not out of the Rules By this Retirement I well hoped to have taken away the occasion of troubling their thoughts with a subject so little considerable as my selfe which would have beene farre better imployed in perfecting the happie Reformation so worthily begun and in setling a well-grounded Peace in the Kingdome which in that Confusion they have now brought it will be a Worke of their best skill to performe But contrarie to my hopes the next newes I heard was that it was resolved the fittest place to secure me was in the Common-Goale and I had farther intelligence given me by two persons considerable with them and no strangers to their Counsells that there were desperate intentions against me and therefore wished me as I tendred my Life to make an Esc ●● now I had opportunitie to doe it for the meanes might otherwayes be suddenly taken from me This intelligence comming to me at so seasonable a time and my owne innocencie besides the authoritie and credit of the persons from whom I received it made me the apter to beleeve it to be true knowing that my enemies thirst most after innocent bloud and might have prompted me considering the danger I was in to have followed his Advice but my Word being given to Sir Iohn Lentall I was resolv'd to run the uttermost hazard of my Life rather then violate that in the least degree This made me bethinke my selfe how I might best come off from that ingagement with least suspition which the very next day was offered unto me upon this occasion The Warrant for my Close Commitment I knew precisely as I said before when it would be brought to Sir Iohn Lentall and that very night Friday the fourteenth of Ianuary I went as I was formerly accustomed to doe to visit Sir Iohn Lentall at his owne House where finding him sitting in conversation with his Lady and some others of his Family I fell into discourse with him and after a while I tooke occasion to tell him that out of my respects to him I had confined my selfe in the nature of a Close Prisoner for a good while but that having some speciall occasions to draw me into the Towne the next day I intended to goe in the Evening which should be done with that warinesse as no notice should be taken thereof This stroake gave fire immediately according to my expectation whereupon he said that it was in his thoughts to have spoken unto me the next morning by way of prevention for that divers of the House were so much incensed at my going abroad as he beleeved there would be an Order for my Close Imprisonment I seemed much moved with the newes and told him I hoped he would not be the instrument to execute so unreasonable and unjust an Order having given him my Word to be his true Prisoner Alas said he what would you have me doe in case I am commanded For as I am their servant if I disobey their Orders they will thrust me out of my place and ruine me By the same reason said I somewhat tartly unto him if they should bid you knock out my braines or starve me you must then