The PAPER he delivered to the SHERIFFS.
I Thank Almighty God, though I have had but a short time allowed me, I find my self prepar'd for Death, and my thoughts set on another World, and trust in God, well weaned from putting my heart on this; yet I cannot but give so much of my little time to set down in Writing my Answers to some Ca∣lumnies raised since my close Imprisonment, as well as what Mr. Attorney accus'd me of at the Bar: I was told a Very Great Person says, I was a Spy of Cromwel's. I have been sent from England by the best and considera∣blest Friends the King had then, with Bills of Exchange for His Majesties Use, and Letters of very great Im∣portance to His Majesty then at Bruxels; I appeal to His Majesty, if I deliver'd them not safe to Him, and His answers too when I return'd; Which I had not been above Six Days, but I was Clapt up Ten Weeks a close Prisoner in the Gate-house, and in no small ha∣zard of my Life for that Journey; Before this time, I had been a whole Year at least in Lambeth-house a Prison∣er, and after both these times a Prisoner in the Tower, when the Usurper Died, and near Starving in every One of them: Very ill Treatments for a Spy and Pensioner; My Lord of Oxford, and many others of Quality will, I think, testifie my Innocency in this point; I protest before God I was never a Spy to Cromwel, or any other Man.
O•• Saturday last I was brought to the Kings-Bench Bar on an Outlawry of High Treason, I was asked what I had to say for my self, that Judgment of Death should not pass; I was beyond Seas when the Outlawry came out, I thought a Writ of Errour to Reverse it the Law allowed, I prayed I might be allowed a Tryal for my Life according to the Laws of the Land, I urg'd the Statute of Edward the 6th. which was expresly for it, it being within the Twelve Months allowed by that Statute; It signified nothing, I was with an unor∣dinary Roughness Condemned, and made a President, tho' Mr. Holloway a little before had it offered him; I can∣not but think all the World will conclude my Case very different; else why refused me?
Mr. Attorney said, I was accused for being one of those that was to Kill the King as he came from Newmarket, after the Fire, I take God to Witness I ne∣ver had any Design, nor ever had such a Thought to take away the King's Life; neither ever had any man the Impudence to propose so Barbarous and Base a thing to me; neither was Fever in any Design to alter the Government of England: What I am Accused of more, I know no otherwise than by Reports and Prints, which I take to be uncertain; So that it cannot reasona∣bly be expected I should make particular Answers; If I had been Tryed I could have proved my Lord How∣ard's Base Reflections on me to be a Notorious Falshood▪ For I know there is at least Ten Gentlemen, besides all the Servants of the House, can testifie I Dined there that day.
I have Lived, and now Die of the Reformed Religion, A True and Sincere Protestant, and in the Com∣munion of the Church of England; and I heartily wish I had more strictly lived up to the Religion which I be∣lieved; and I have found the great comfort of the Love and Mercy of God, in and through my Blessed Re∣deemer, in whom I only trust, and I do verily hope, that I am going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in His Presence, the hopes whereof doth infinitly please me.
I thank God, I have no repining at my heart, for the condition my sins have most deservedly brought upon me; I have deserved much worse at the hands of God, so that I cheerfully submit to this Punishment, as being taken off but a small time sooner.
I do freely forgive all the World, even those concern∣ed in taking away my Life. As for the Sentence of Death past upon me, I cannot but think a very hard one, being, I think, denied the Laws of the Land.
To conclude, as I never had any Design against the King's Life, or the Life of any man, so I never was in a Design to alter the Monarchy.
I Die in charity with all the World, and therefore I heartily pray God to Bless the Church of Christ every where, these poor Nations, the Kings Majesty; and I heartily commend my Soul, to Gods Infinite Mercy, through my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ.