YOu cannot but take notice with what bitterness of spirit, and malice, alto­gether unbecoming the profession of Christianity, my life is prosecuted: no stone hath been left unturned, no stratagem unattempted, to render me odious, and fit for death, in the esteem of my friends, my Jury, and the Parliament. My weaknesses and infirmities (which God knows are many, whose wisdom I have often implored by his divine assistance to lessen) not only these, I say, are by Agents of the basest of men purposely sent abroad aggravated to the highest extremity, but they do also lay to my charge things that I know not, and that my soul abhors. This very morning of my Try­al, they have printed a Book full of the most abominable falsities that ever proceeded from the wicked heart of the falsest man. They know how I am on every hand beset with sub­til, crafty, and bloody-minded Prosecutors, [Page 2]whom at my Tryal I have to deal withal; how I have been wearied and spent in my spirits since my coming over, having had hardly any leasure to sleep or eat; how I am at this time straitned, my Tryal being upon me, and it being therefore almost impossible that I should give any answer to that malicious Pa­per. They have confidently dispersed it, supposing that its poison will insinuate it self into the understandings of men, without any possibility of an Antidote. I do therefore desire all good men, who love Truth above Fi­ction, and whose hearts are not tainted with the desire of Blood, to consider these Particu­lars, offered, to shew the falsity and malice of these informations, being yet not the hun­dredth part of what I could say, were I not so oppressed with multitude of cogitations.

First, be pleased to take notice, that before and about the time of my Tryal at Guild-hall, there were in the same manner many Rumours dispersed of my correspondencie with the King, and the mouths of many of my friends stopt, by telling them that they had matters of that nature so notorious against me, evi­dently shewing my tampering with the King, [Page 3]the which they would produce under my own hand at my Tryal, that when they should see them, they would be ashamed to own me: yet when my Tryal came, not the least sillable of that nature was produced; so that then it ap­peared all was feigning and falsitie, to byass the People and my Jury, and make me fit for slaughter.

Secondly, the particular of greatest weight in these informations, is, That I should offer the Duke of Buckingham, Sir Ralph Hopton, and other Cavaliers abroad, upon the procurement of ten thousand pounds to destroy the Lord General, the Parliament, and Councel of State, and that (as Captain Titus informs) in half an hour. To this I answer, That never any words of this nature passed from my mouth, or any such thoughts ever entred into my heart, the Lord, the Almightie God, is my witness: and those persons to whom these words are pre­tended to be spoken, will (I am well assured) attest as much: though besides, I do judge the folly of the speeches above-named, and the ri­diculous impossibilitie therein contained, will sufficiently manifest that they are the officious coynage of Spies and Intelligencers, some [Page 4]whereof are no better then Knights of the Post; who, to gain repute with their Masters, have basely forged those suggestions, knowing well how great a means it is likely to prove, to bring them into favour.

Thirdly, as to that acquaintance I have had with the Duke, I have spoken thereunto large­ly in my Declaration printed since my coming over; wherein I manifest, that it was onely in order to his coming into England upon such terms as should be acceptable to the General and Parliament.

Fourthly, and lastly, it is a stratagem of a new nature, and far unsutable to the way of true Christians, to print against the prisoner under Tryal, such particulars as are altogether forraign, and nothing relating to the way of his Indictment: I believe, it is a malice that can scarcely be parallel'd: I am sure I finde no such course taken by the blood-thirsty pro­secutors of our blessed Saviour and his Apo­stles. Doubtless, if there were any thing of truth material in these informations, which they could have proved, they would have brought them into my Indictment, and have given me liberty, fairly, and in open Court, to have made [Page 5]my defence: But it was sufficient to their end, that they should the morning of my Tryal (against which time they were particularly provided) work their effect in corrupting the understanding of those into whose hands my life is intrusted, little expecting that I should have this opportunitie to speak this little in my own defence, leaving the further clearing of these particulars to a time of better leasure, if it shall please God to afford it unto me; though I am not over-sollicitous for the matter, if at least my death may be of greater advan­tage to the undeceiving of the People, and re­covery of their Liberties, then my preservati­on. Into the hands of God I commit my self: Death or Life (as shall seem good to him) shall be alike welcome.