IT is the part of him accused so farre as consci­ence shall give leave, and equity permit, to make answere for himselfe.

J am arraigned here as a Traytour, which title to a noble Spirit▪ J know cannot well be degested, neither is it so to my selfe, where is that man that striveth to live most uprightly in this world, that hath not many enemies, which J apply to my selfe, but patience is the commendablest of all the Cardinall vertues, which J freely embrace.

My Lords, J present my selfe, nay humble my selfe to you all, insomuch as humility becomes a Prisoner, but yet no further then J have beene criminous, your Clemency J have found by the Lycense which hath been freely given unto me, now here at this time to [Page] scatter some few words, which shall be as briefe, as spoken from a Loyall Subject.

Long live King Charles our true and Loyall Sove­raigne, Long live Queene Mary our gracious Queen, and his Majesties royall Spouse, Long live Prince Charles, the comfort of Wales, and hope of Scotland, and the like J wish to all the rest of his Majesties Roy­all off-spring, and to all which are true and Loyall Subjects to our King.

Hitherto my Lords in Speech I hope I have not been prolixious, nor erroneous, for it shall be my care, as J doe my endeavour to defend my selfe, so that J offend none of this honourable Assembly.

Now my Lords, J come to my owne purgation, that J as a chiefe Agent in the matter of the Marquisse Hamilton, and divers others, was committed, your commands I obeyed, and freely yeelded up my body, not making of the least disturbance, yet I cannot but admire, why I should be suspected to be a Traytor to those from whom J never received the least of wrong or injury, why should the Land-lord disturbe the Tenant, during the time which he hath his Rent duely pay'd him, why should two Kingdomes arise & take up Armes one against another, no occasion being gi­ven on either side? Why should the Lawyer sue him for Fees, which was never a Clyent unto him? Or why should J plot their deaths, which were never en­vious to my life, but as J said before, the best man breathing, lives not without his Adversaries, neither doe I, not knowing whom they be, or for what cause they should thus persecute me, But the Divell hath his wicked instruments, who are th' encendiaries and [Page] disturbers of Kingdomes and Common-wealths, like so many Judasses, that studyes nothing but how to betray their Masters, these are those wicked Hamans that to advance their owne power and greatnesse, will seeke to destroy and roote the poore Mordecaies out of the Land.

Jt is reported that Caesar being Shipwrackt, was forced to leape out of the Ship into the Sea, where hee did swimme for his life, and yet managed his Sword in one hand, and kept his Booke, wherein hee writ all his Victories in the other hand, even so my Lords, although my soule be as it were Shipwrackt within my body through too much griefe of heart, and vexation of mind, yet before either my honour shall be stained, or my conscience over-burthened, J will couragiously yeeld my selfe to Charons Boate, really to enjoy a happy Elizium.

It is a common saying, and as true, that ill-will never speakes well, I have beene one, which in many affayres, have beene very obstinate, not being willing to subscribe to that, which others have agreed unto, (for why) because it could not bee Profitable to the common wealth; And for this doe J deserve hatred, have J not beene vigilant and carefull to de­fend our friends, and offend our foes, and for this doe J deserve hatred; Then J, who was more willing to have a peace concluded betweene this Kingdome and England, and for this doe J deserve hatred; my Lords J petition that my accusers may be produced, and he which is not found to be more guilty of treachery then my selfe, let him cast the first stone at me, J am fully perswaded that if they thought themselves as [Page] sure to be examined as my self, there would scarce be one of them dare show ther heads, Magna vis est con­scientia, let them have a care least by their intents to destroy my body, they doe not ruine ther owne soules, as yet my Lords I hope, my words being rightly judg [...]d off, can give no distaste, for whatsoever J speake is ( [...]e defendendo) and for that I was brought at this present time before your Lordships.

As concerning my Lord Lowden, that I should seeke to destroy him, methinks cannot be conceived by any one to be truth, insomuch as he is one, which my very sovle hath always affected, for rather then a hayre of him showld be diminished by my meanes J would first prove my owne destroyer,

I see my adversaries are at hand, being ready as it were to justifie their black accusations, which unjust­ly they have imposed upon me, but I am prepared for patience, deferring all to your Lordships conside­rations, I doubt not, but that in this most honorable Senate, Justice shall brightly shine, and I at last shall be found immaculate, in despight of all those which seeke my destruction, at first I promised bre­vity and doe so intend, being ready as farr as God shall inable me to Answer vnto all those particulars which shall be obiected against me.