se of God and of His Church in this
world, prisoner as I was; while, on the contrary, I hope that my death
will bear witness to my constancy in the faith and to my willingness to
suffer for the maintenance and the restoration of the Catholic Church in
this unfortunate island. And though never has executioner dipped his
hand in our blood, have no shame of it, my friend; for the judgment of
heretics who have no authority over me, a free queen, is profitable in
the sight of God to the children of His Church. If I adhered, moreover,
to what they propose to me, I should not suffer this stroke. All of our
house have been persecuted by this sect, witness your good father,
through whose intercession I hope to be received with mercy by the just
judge. I commend to you, then, my poor servants, the discharge of my
debts, and the founding of some annual mass for my soul, not at your
expense, but that you may make the arrangements, as you will be required
when you learn my wishes through my poor and faithful servants, who are
about to witness my last tragedy. God prosper you, your wife, children,
brothers and cousins, and above all our chief, my good brother and
cousin, and all his. The blessing of God and that which I shall give to
my children be on yours, whom I do not commend less to God than my own
son, unfortunate and ill-treated as he is. You will receive some rings
from me, which will remind you to pray God for the soul of your poor
cousin, deprived of all help and counsel except that of the Lord, who
gives me strength and courage to alone to resist so many wolves howling
after me. To God be the glory.

"Believe particularly what will be told you by a person who will give you
a ruby ring from me; for I take it on my conscience that the truth will
be told you of what I have charged him to tell, and especially in what
concerns my poor servants and the share of any. I commend this person to
you for his simple sincerity and honesty, that he may be placed in some
good place. I have chosen him as the least partial and as the one who
will most simply bring you my commands. Ignore, I beg you, that he told
you anything in particular; for envy might injure him. I have suffered a
great deal for two years and more, and have not been able to let you
know, for an important reason. God be praised for all, and give you
grace to persevere in the service of His Church as long as you live, and
never may this honour pass from our race