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THE LORD TREASURERS SPEECH
In the House of PEERS, upon an Impeachment of High-Treason, &c. brought up against his Lordship by the House of Commons. Decem. 23. 1678.
My Lords,
I Hope you will not enter upon any o∣ther business before you have given that liberty to me, which is the pri∣viledg of every Peer, to be heard upon any accusation that is brought against him, though of far less moment than what hath been newly read against my self.
I confess I should have heard this charge with hor∣rour, if the matter of it had been true; but I thank God, I know my innocency to be so great, that it pro∣tects me from all sort of fear, but that of lying under so black a Character; as may be believed by those that cannot hear my desence; though I have the confidence to think that it is not truly believed in the hearts of the greatest part of those that have been informed against me.