[1] But (saith another) when the king should come to giue his consent vnto the acts passed in the same par|lement, Whethamsted. and that the clerke of the parlement had read that statute of the attaindor of those lords; such was the kings modestie and great zeale vnto mercie, that he caused a prouiso to be put in,The kings inclination to mercie. and added vnto the same statute, that it might be lawfull vnto him at all times f [...]llie without authoritie of anie other par|lement, to pardon the same noble men, and restore them againe to their former estats, degrees, and dig|nities in all things, so they would come in vnto him, and in the spirit of humblenesse beséech him of grace and fauour. Abr. Fl. ¶Wherin the king gaue euident testimo|nie, that he was indued with those qualities of mind which the poet ascribed vnto Cesar (namelie slow to punish, & sad when he was constreined to be seuere: sith the one commended his lenitie, the other sauou|red of tyrannie) in this distichon of like termination:

Ouid. de Ponto. [...]b. 1. Est piger ad poenas princeps, ad praemia velox,

Cuí dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox.]