I Have not forborne either out of forgetfulneſſe, or guiltineſſe, to ſend forth theſe Expreſsions thus publiquelie, though I confeſſe, they are of a nature, in the which I have ſo litle dexterity, as, I may rather give advantage, to ſuch as would be ready to ſeeke it; then ſatisfaction, to thoſe, that would be pleaſed to take it.

I was willing to take this Nationall Covenant, that bindes up theſe Kingdomes in ſuch an unity, and in ſo happy an agreement. And likewiſe to paſſe through any tryall, that ſo may Actions might be laid open, before this diſcourſe, That thereby it might find the more credit. And I do paſsionatly wiſh, that the thoughts and intentions I caryed to Oxford could likwiſe be ſoe; Which ſince they cannot, nor paſſe by any other Conveyance, to the knowledge of ſuch, as I deſire to ſatisfie, I ſhall here freely, and faithfully expreſſe them.

Though I have ever, both in my pious duties, and my naturall reaſon, wiſhed, and endeavoured, to ſee this Kingdome reſtored to the comforts, and reſt of Peace, yet, was I never ſuch a ſeeker of it, as to deſire to find it, without thoſe bleſsings, we have endeavoured to procure with it, of Truth, and true liberty, agreeable to the Condition of free, and undejected Subjects; Yet, ſuch were my hopes, I confeſſe, (made ſo, by many publique relations, and diſcourſes from Oxford, as they were even, formed into an opinion) That upon a free, and faithfull repreſentation to his Majeſty, of the ſad, and deplorable condition of his Kingdomes of England, and Ireland, he might have beene perſwaded, to have Offered, even thoſe things, from his owne reaſon, or Wiſdome, that we for our neceſsity, and Conſervation have often, and humbly petitioned him for. And when this was made, not onely poſsible, but probable, unto mee; I did conceive my ſelfe not to bee the unpropereſt perſon to repreſent theſe things unto His Maieſty, from a long and neere relation not onely to His Perſon, but His Councells: Where I may truely ſay, I have endeavored to oppoſe all adviſes, that, I beleeved, could raiſe any miſunderſtanding or diviſion betwixt His Parliament and people. And this, I am perſwaded, hath beene apparent in all my actions, and that, very clearely, (I will not ſay dangerouſly) when His Maieſty adviſed with his Counſell, concerning the breaking off the laſt Parliament, I having ever looked upon thoſe reſolutions, as unhappie, and dangeous wayes of Governement in this Kingdome.

But I ſhall ſay no more in this way, ſince, as it leades towards my ſelfe, even Truthes, thus looking homeward, may, abroad, be looked upon as vanities; Otherwiſe, there are many particulars, that would ſhow my Counſells to His Maieſtie, and my imployments from him, to have been ever expreſſed, and governed, with great Fidelity to this Kingdome.

Theſe faithfull, and free Councells, made me hope, His Maieſty, with ſome reaſon, and juſtice, might have reflected, and looked backe upon my uſuall adviſes unto him, and from thence have given mee encouragement, to have purſued both my Fidelity to Him, and to His Kingdomes, brought to this condition by contrary Counſells. Which finding His Maieſty not perſwaded to doe, And at that time, ſuch a Ceſſation concluded in Ireland, as made mee ſee the streames of Councell dyed in the bloud of many thouſand Protestants, maſſacred in their Martyrdome there: And not onely ſo, But a danger likewiſe by too many viſible circumſtances, threatned to our Religion, in this Kingdome. Theſe reaſons prevailed ſtraight, both upon my Conſcience, and my Iudgment, ſpeedily to returne unto the Parliament; Streames, though by accident, or by breaches, they may haſtily runne, even out of their owne Boſome, yet naturally are they inclined to revert, and to looke backe to their Channells, and long-kept courſe againe, ſo was it with me, to returne unto this Great Channell of the Kingdomes ſafety, the Parliament; the Life-streame, that doth encompaſſe, and hath depth onely, to beare the weight, and to buoye up the honour of this endangered, and diſtracted Kingdome: Where, I faithfully imbarque my ſelfe, to take thoſe Fortunes, that God ſhall ſend mee, either with them, or from them. And no Tempeſt ſhall have power to make me repent my Adventure, both of Life, and Fortune with them; Where, though I may bee juſtly eſteemed but as a graine in a ballance, yet the ſmalleſt dus;t, adds ſomething to the Scales; And ſince I have made an uneven ſtep, from the unclearenes of my information, more then from the unfaithfulneſſe of my affections, or intentions, I hope, it may be looked upon, and conſidered, as the Proverbe, that ſaith, Whoſoever stumbles, and falles not, gets rather then looſes, ground.

And, this ground I profeſſe faithfully to ſtand, or fall upon, That, I ſhall chooſe rather to periſh with the Parliament, in their intentions, to maintaine our Religion, Lawes, and Liberties, then to proſper in the abandoning of the leaſt of them. And this I bind up by the vowes of a Christian, and a Gentleman.

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