He entreats his influence in favour of the person already
recommended to the King.
_March 1553._
When I lately wrote to you my last letter[422]--which may not
perhaps be put into your hands until after you have received the
present one--nothing was farther from my mind than that I should
again trouble you so soon. An unexpected necessity has arisen,
however, which compels me, even before I have penned a single
friendly letter to you, to solicit you regarding a matter of great
importance. A certain man, of a noble family, has been lately
thrown into prison, whose kind heart and generous nature render
him still more worthy of commendation for his virtues, than for
the nobility of his descent. Thinking there was no danger, he had
written to a common friend, who came among us as a voluntary exile
when the royal prefect was at Noyon, the town in which I was born.
Owing to the perfidy of the messenger, the letter was seized. He
was arrested by a royal order. The Chancellor, and some others,
were appointed judges extraordinary. Seeing that this occurrence
has caused many good men to be seized with no ordinary alarm, and
that the enemies of the whole Church are ferociously insulting
Christ in the person of a man of sincere piety, it is our duty to
do all we can to restrain their fury, and bring relief to such a
distinguished servant of God. I was not at all afraid, therefore, of
any one accusing me of indiscretion in engaging in the pious duty
of commending the life of this person to your most serene king. And
the same necessity which drove me to this, leads me to exhort you to
use your interest, as far as may be lawful, for furthering the end
of my petition. And while I am confident that you will be glad to do
it of your own accord, I nevertheless ask and beseech of you, most
earnestly to do it for my sake all the more speedily. Adieu, most
distinguished sir, deserving in many ways of my hearty reverence.