IN the Solitariness, to which (from the noise, and vanities of a false World, and falser Nati­on) J was in Contemplation retired, to the cavernes, and Idea's of Death; I could have passed over those severall contradictory Scandals thrown upon me, and taken my satisfaction from the blessing in store for those who wrongfully are calumniated, if by the private sollitations of my Friends, and the fre­quent al'armes of publique impertinent Pamphlets; I had not been awakened to the service of truth. And a Souldier is reduced to a sad exigencie, who is forced to retreat to his Pen, principally where Truth is as dange­rous to be Printed as spoken.

I have seene severall Pamphlets, which discribed, or framed a Plott, as false, as senceless; where I am na­med a chief contriver. Truly these Writers have the [Page 2] advantage and liberty of the Presse, to dispose of any mans fame, as freely as the High Court of Iustice doe of his body: And much at a rate: For if a business (such as hath been noised) were to be Executed; The King could not be so indigent of Friends, that an Ale-house-keeper (meaner of Condition then Profession) should be picked up, as a Person fit for the Honour Mr. Wharton would give himself of Proclaiming the King in London.

And for Parson Hudson, were hee deafe, and dumbe, he might be an indifferent Secretary, but being blind he is altogether an unfit correspondent for a King.

For some of the Mercenary Coll: Al­dridge, &c. hired Witnesses, that mentioned great summes of Money promised to them, I believe the men spoke according to their inclinations. But they know Pluto to be the God of Riches, and his chief Steward, and Cash-keeper in England, will surely pay them for their lyes: Or hee himselfe will reward them, when they audit their accompts. I should won­der why that subtile Sir that swayes the Scepter in this Region of false-hoods, could not dictate better to them. But truth will appeare in despight of her Enemies.

For the other witnesses, Mr. John Wiseman (my half Brother) and Mr. Charles Gerharde, Brother to the late murthered John Gerharde: I pitty their youths, and wish they had not been Phalleris li­cet imperet, & ad moto ducet perju­ria tauro. frighted from Truth, nor flattered from Honour.

And for the discourse mentioned, with the Right­full King of England, it is as false as the hearts of the Inventers of all these lyes; Not but that according to my duty, I shall ever faithfully serve him; and be proud if the losse of my blood may advance his interest: [Page 3] With teares of Ioy I saw him in health; yet certainly my Brother cannot sweare, I had the Honour to Kisse his hands, or made any addresse to his Majestie. Indeed those that understand how deservedly His Highness Prince RVPERT is esteemed at the Court of France, will not blame me (who have received some hard mea­sure there) if I made Suite to so worthy a Patron, by his meanes and favour to get remedy.

For the businesse attested by Mr. Charles Gerharde, I must confesse (from a long Experience of his worth, and my knowledge of his affection to his injured King and Country) together with Collonel Charles Finch, I had some discourse with his Brother of the possibility the enslaved Gentry of this Nation, had of Righting the best of Princes, and freeing themselves from so insup­portable a yoake: But that ever any such thing was a­greed on, much lesse concluded to be put in Execution, as (with so spacious a forme of Time and Place) is pre­tended, is as untrue, as if any man should affirme, that the Idoll of this Nation is not an enemy to God, whose houses he hath layd waste, a Traytor to his King, whose Lands he possesses, and an Imposter to his Poore young men. I believe they might be terrified with his threats, as dismayed by the Examples of his cruelty upon o­thers, whose knowne Innocencie was no safegard a­gainst the uttermost extremities of a most loathsome Dungeon.

O the barbarousness! O the impudence of an im­perious tyrant? With what arrogance? With what foule language did hee insult over Gentlemen, better then himselfe? But let this be the comfort of the af­flicted, that the Lord hath looked downe from Heaven, [Page 4] that he might heare the groanings of the fettered, and loose the Children of them that are slaine.

Now they that know the cunning of their Examiner, know also that hee uses artifice (with allurements, as­well as threats) enough to stagger the resolutions of Elder yeares: And they are not the first of many thousands that have believed him, and consequently been deceived by him. What shall bee added to a de­ceitfull Tongue? The sharpe arrowes of the Almigh­ty, with coales of desolation.

For my being lately at Paris, I am not obliged to give any man account, though some notorious Lyers, instruments (and some of the Mr. Clapole. brood) of Cromwell have reported, that I had Money from him for my journey: Others further suggest, that Mr.A dead man cannot con­tradict them Henry El­sing carried me to him to receive money for betraying Gentlemen in this pretended Plot, with other the like inventions; which had they been true, Cromwell nee­ded not have tempted so many, with so large summes to betray my life, as by many Gentlemen of Honour in London will be attested.

And truly men of worth should be more tender of reporting things upon trust to the prejudice of a Gen­tlemans repute, who cannot appeare to contradict them. In a Country, whom he hath cheated out of all her Liberties.

For the little printed Libell (as they call it) where­in is mentioned his crueltie, avarice, and ambition, as unsatisfied as the Sea, or grave, &c. if that were it is meant, I confess I writ it, but deny it to bee a Libell: And Cromwell is more civill then in his actions to give [Page 5] the lye, to one no more Complementall with him. And yet I subscribe my self altogether unable to speake his deserts.

And now I appeale to all impartiall people, if these amazed terrified witnesses (who frō their own mouthes stood convicted) were more sufficient then the Iudges, of whom so many are so notoriously perjured, that I blame not Mr. Vowell, for not admitting them to be his Peeres. And I believe when the great leveller Death shall have reduced them to what by their Sentence hee is already brought, they will not so confidently stand before him in Iudgement.

What hee dyed for, I understand not; Further then himself in his last intended Speech (now in Print) de­livered; where hee speakes as if the Sacrifices of hu­mane blood begun to Baall, and Beelzebub must be continued, And since the Noblest for birth, and most eminent for Vertue, hath (with such greedinesse) been already quaffed off; the still growing thirst, must bee allayed with such as is remaining.

Our Saviour observed of the great binders of Bur­thens, that for a pretence They made long Prayers, whilest they devoured Widowes houses: But our Pha­risie was at prayers (or seeking the Lord) whilest hee gave order for the Murthering his Sovereigne,Tantum re­ligio poterat suadere ma­lorum! and Wi­dowing three whole Nations; And having thus berea­ved them of their Crowne, and glorious Head; hee hath made them a false visard (like his owne hands and heart) forged out of rusty Iron. And what is yet more grievous, their Children are constrained to bow downe before this monster Idoll; as the Indians wor­ship the Divell for feare of harme.

[Page 6]Now notwithstanding his persecuting my Friends, his dealing with base People, and consulting with Wi­zards for the finding me out, and his offers of summes of money, larger then the Fee-simple of his owne rightfull Inheritance. (How highly hee thirsts for blood! And how dearly his draughts cost the Nation!) Alexander, ia: who lived in the Mewes, received 100.l. and hath a yearly Pension promised him for (inventing) then discovering this pretended Plott.

Yet by Divine providence my Soul is escaped, as a Bird from the snare of the fowler; But not from his unjust lippes, and deceitfull tongue; for when hee could not reach my Person to gratifie his most inveterate malice with my blood, hee struck at my reputation, and by his Practices he made Mr. Gerhard my friend (whose memory I shall ever Honour) dye in a beliefe, that I was in his custody, and perswaded him (as hee hath almost the whole world) to credit that I was the Author of all his owne invented lyes; To which, to give a better glosse, hee hath varnished them with (his usuall tincture) Blood: For which co­lour he was wilfully bent the innocent Gentleman should find such justice, as his mercy commonly distributes.

And hee hath so exquisite an art of Brewing, then spreading the black issue of his braine, with Circum­stances. and appearances of Truth; that many of my intimate Friends, have been induced to doubt my Loy­altie. Insomuch, that I should have appeared in de­fence of my honour, and justification of my selfe, if we might have had legall tryall: But it had been mad­ness to indulge the luxurious malice of my Enemies, with that blood, which I am obliged to preserve for the service of my King and Country.

[Page 7]When the measure of his Iniquities is full, ven­geance will overtake him, In the meane time as God set a marke on Caine the first, so hee hath set a guard on Cromwell the greatest Murtherer.

J cannot but pittie the common Souldiers, who share largely in his guilt, but yet continue poore, and in slaverie to him, as Witches, to the Divell.

At the great day of reckoning, when inquisition shall be made for Blood, it will not excuse them, to say, they were Commanded; for their hands support the Murtherers, and all their mischiefes: And though now they are ingenious to delude themselves, they will then know, that there is no drop of blood spilt, from which the Soules of those farre remote, aswell as of those present receives not a staine.

I pray God their eyes may at length bee opened, that they may not longer hazard their precious Soules in the service of Sinne, and Sathan; for the wages is death, and that death Eternall.

Feare not those that can Kill the body but not hurt the soule, but feare him that can bring both Bo­dy and Soule to destruction. And they that truly serve, and feare him, will not for the vaine hopes of the fraile world bee disloyall to the best King in it: For whom I shall ever pray, that God will guide, and Protect him, and give me one day a possibilitie, of testifying to the world; that I am as much as any man living, his true and faithfull Subject; of which, God Almighty raise him sufficient numbers.