I Daily meeting with manifold scandalous Aspersions divulged and spread abroad against me by John Hodder and his Com­plices, touching the Charge prosecuted by me against the Trustees sitting at Drury house, and finding that by his subtle insi­nuations they have with some persons of honor received a credit, I conceive I am obliged to vindi­cate and free my self from them. The aspersions are many; but I shall only endevour to clear my self from those that are most material in my judgment, and seem of greatest weight; which are,

1. That I have neglected and declined the Prosecution of the said Charge.

2. That I have received several Papers from the said Hodder, which I refuse to deliver back to him.

3. That I have taken one or more Bribes from the said Trustees, to desist the said Prosecution.

[Page 2] In Answer to which I say: As to the first, I must confess there was not that prosecution made, as at my first under­taking taking it I did apprehend there should have been; But whether or no it proceeded from my self, or John Hodder, let all unbiassed men judge. For the truth of the Case is thus: John Hodder being a Clerk under the said Trustees for some time, and they, as I since have heard, having a just cause (which I shall for his sake forbear to name) to put him by his Imploiment; He, to be revenged of them, con­federating with some other discontented Officers which had likewise been discharged of their imploiments, did contrive a Charge against the said Trustees, and brought the same to me, and prest me very earnestly to prosecute it; with many protestations attesting, That that and much more Vilany and Roguery (to use their language) they could make good against them by sufficient proof. I must confess I was at this very much startled; first because I never had any ground till that time of any other opinion of the said Trustees, but that they were honest godly men, and faithful in their trust but on the other hand considering of the relations of the Informing persons to the said I rustees, with their privity to all or most of their transactions (as I then thought) with their multitude of asseverations of the truth of the matter, and that it was extracted by them out of the said Trustees own Books, which operating together with my real inclina­tion to the Publick good (of which I conceive I have in other things & trusts given an ample testimony) prevailed with me to resolve the owning of that Prosecution, not in the least then distrusting that the said John Hodder and his Complices had any other ends or aim in the business then my self, having not till that time been intimate with them. And indeed I can say little else then owned it; for I protest of my own knowledge I knew not, nor was able in the least to make out any thing that was criminal against the Trustees; and what was done, though in my name, was wholly done by John Hodder and his Complices, (except the expunging of some unbeseeming and meerly scandalous and frivolous language, proceeding from their malice, in­serted [Page 3] in the Charge;) He and they drew up the Charge, and all the Proceedings in order to it, in my name, as also instructed Council, appointed Witnesses, and were exami­ned themselves as Witnesses, and especially John Hodder managed the same as an Advocate at the Committee, but all indeed at my excessive charge, except a Pamphlet printed in Hodder's name, which I utterly disown. But had I known they would have fallen so short of their Proof as they did, I should have been wiser then to have put my finger in such a fire. But that when I never contradicted John Hodder in all his proceedings, but rather assisted him both with my friends, purse and person, unto the Ordering of the Business by the Committee before whom it was, to be Reported to the Parliament (which was as far as I could proceed in it) I leave it to all judicious and unbiassed persons to judge whether or no I can merit such usage at his hands. But had I at my first entertainment of it known as well as I now do, that John Hodder and all his Complices were persons better acquainted with the Proceedings of an Alchouse, or worse, then such serious things; I hope all men that know me will be so charitable to be of opinion that I should not have undertaken it, nor have in the least been seen to join with such persons.

As to his second Objection, I do acknowledge I have received several Papers from him in order to the said Charge and the making of it forth; which he hath demanded of me, and I have refused to deliver, and hope in any rational mans judgment may justly so do, in regard they are almost the whole matter I have to justifie my self as to my under­taking and proceeding in that Charge.

And as to his third and last Objection, I cannot otherwise give satisfaction to the world then deny it, and that I thank God I can do with a clear conscience; and do protest by all that is dear to me, that I never received directly or indirectly by Money, Promise, or other reward in present or in hopes, any manner of thing from the said Trustees or any of them, or any for them, to desist or any way in the least to decline the Prosecution of the said Charge; neither ever did any [Page 4] such thing enter into my thoughts. But this I must ingenu­ously acknowledge, That having (as I said before) of my own knowledge no cause to have any ill opinion of the said Trustees, but on the contrary, and finding the scandalous and loose condition and quality of the said John Hodden and his Complices, and that their malice against the said Trustees was their onely inducement to it, and that their Proofs of the Charge fell exceeding short of what they had so speciously pretended, I would have withdrawn my hand if I could have done it with any safety to my reputation.

I hope (Reader) by this thou art sufficiently satisfied of my real integrity and sincerity in that Charge, and that my meer aim and ends in it was the Publick good, and that I do not deserve John Hodder's clamorous and impertinent A­spersions. But as for John Hodder and his Complices, if they want satisfaction, they know I am able to say more then this, upon further occasion offered.