SPeaking nor Writing was never my Talent; I shall therefore give a very Short but Faithful Account, first, of my Religion; and next, what I suffer most innocently for, to avoid the Calumnies I may reaso­nably expect my Enemies will cast upon me when dead, since they have most falsely and maliciously aspers'd me whilst under my Misfortunes.

As for my Religion, I was brought up in the Church of Engl [...]nd, as it is establish'd by Law, and have ever profess'd it; tho' I confess I have been an unworthy Member of it, in not living up to the strict and excellent Rules thereof, for which I take Shame to my self, and humbly ask Forgiveness of GOD. I come now to dye in that Communion, trust­ing, as an humble and hearty Penitent, to be receiv'd by the Mercy of God, through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Sa­v [...]o [...]r.

My Religion taught me my Loya [...]ty, which, I bless God, is unt [...]in [...]ed: And I have ever endeavour'd, in the station where­ [...] I have been placed, to the utmost of my power, to sup­ [...]t the Crown of England in the True and Lineal Course of Des [...]nt, without interruption.

As for what I am now to dye; I call God to witness, I went not to that Meeting in Leadenhall-street with any such [...], as to invite King James by Force to invade this [...] nor was I my self provided with either Horse or [...] [...]g'd for any number of Men, or gave particular [...] any such Invasion, as is most falsely Sworn against [...]

I do also declare, in the Prosence of God, That I knew no­thing of King James's coming to Calais, nor of any Invasion intended from thence, till it was publickly known: And the only Notion I had that something might be attempted, was from the Thoulon Fleet coming to Brest.

I also call God to witness, that I receiv'd the knowledge of what is contain'd in those Papers that I gave to a great Man that came to me in the T [...]wer, both from Letters and Messages that came from France; and he told me, when I read them to him, That the Prince of Orange had been acquainted with most of those things before.

I might have expected Mercy from that Prince, because I was instrumental in saving his Life: For when about April 1695, an Attempt form'd against him came to my knowledge, I did, partly by Disswasions and partly by Delays, prevent that De­sign; which, I suppose, was the reason that the last Vilianous Project was conceal'd from me.

If there be any Persons whom I have injur'd in Word or Deed, I heartily pray their Pardon, and beg of God to pardon those who have injurd me, particularly those who with great Zeal have sought my Life, and brought the Guilt of my in­nocent Blood upon this Nation, no Treason being prov'd upon me.

I return my most hearty Thanks to those noble and worthy Persons who gave me their Assistance, by opposing this Bill of Attainder, without which it had been impossible I could have fal'n under the Sentence of Death: God bless them and their Posterity, tho' I am fully satisfied they pleaded their own Cause while they defended mine.

I pray God to bless my true and lawful Soveraign King James, the Queen, and the Prince of Wales, and restore him and his Posterity to this Throne again, for the Peace and Prosperity of this Nation, which is impossible to prosper till the Covern­ment is setled upon a right Foot.

And now, O GOD, I do with all humble Devotion commend my Soul into thy Hands, the great Maker and Preserver of Men, and Lover of Souls, beseeching thee, that it may be always dear and pre­cious in thy sight, through the Merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.