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To his Grace, His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament. Mr. Allexander Higgins of Craigforth,
THat where John Callender having given in to your Grace and Lordships a second Pe∣tition, either contradicting in a most calumnious manner, the matter of Fact re∣presented in my Petition, or telling a Story, that doth not at all meet with his Case; which is done industriously to amuse the World, and to alleviat the gross Crimes, and ab∣surd Practices, that are proven against him: Being the ordinar remedy that Malefactors use in the like Case, till the very Sentence be pronounced against them: But I being in Libello, founded upon a Probation already adduced, the half whereof is sufficient to pr••cure a War∣rand to prosecute a Criminal, for putting such unaccountable Tricks upon the Publick. It is hoped with all submission, that no such Impudent denial of the true Matter of Fact, can put a stop thereto; And if your Grace, and the Honourable Estates of Parliament, will be pleased to ordain the Sub-Committee upon that Affair, to compare the Depositions and o∣ther Instructions with what is represented by me in my said Petition, it will be found, that I have used very much Precaution, that I might not exceed the true Matter of Fact; and if it shall be found otherways, I am willing to subject my self immediatly to the most severe punishment that can be thought upon: So that it is humbly expected, that your Grace and Lordships will think it the Concern of the Publick, that your Petitioner acting in a Publick Capacity, by virtue of His Majesties Commission, this matter should be put to a speedy tryal, which will both vindicat me, and make his foresaid Petition a considerable aggravation of his Guilt, in stead of having the success that he most fraudulently designeth by it.
In the next place, the said John Callender (to compleat his Cavelling in his said Petiti∣on) maketh a Counter-charge of some pretended Crimes against your Petitioner, viz. the Suborning of Witnesses, and granting double Rights: But to demonstrate that these Sham Calumnies are most ridiculous, and used by him of purpose, to divert the course of Justice against himself. I not only heartily comply that he should insist against me, but also, that (in case I be found guilty in the least of what he hath the groundless impudence to assert) the punishment due by the Acts of Parliament to such Crimes, may be doubled against me. Neither shall I offer (in compensation of this false Accusation) to mention his manner of dealing with privat persons, both of the Nobility and Gentry, which is so much noised abroad through the Nation.
May it therefore please your Grace, and the Honourable Estates of Parliament, to ordain the said Sub-Committee to compare the foresaids Depositions, and o∣ther Instructions, with my foresaid Petition for my Vindication: And if their Lordships have not time to determine the matter themselves, during this Session of Parliament, To remit to the Lords of Justiciary the Criminal part of that Pro∣cess; And to the Lords of the Thesaury and Exchequer, to state and conclude the compt and Reckoning, according to the desire of my foresaid Petition,