I Humbly beseech you to conceive, that I have absented to appeare before this honourable Assembly, rather from a befitting bashfulnesse, as being an ill object, then of outward sence of guilt, as being a delinquent. I did beleeve [...]f I were layed aside awhile, my Cause would be forgo [...]ten, because I knew nothing stronger but suspicions and meere opinions can be brought against me; unl [...]sse I may particularly suffer for the old infirmity of that Nation which hath bin ever bred with liberty of speaking: and the very Mechanicks of Spaine are glad they are Spaniards, because they have liberty; and thinke, when over-speaking becomes dangerous, that then they chiefely lose the liberty of Subjects.

Confession is the neerest way to forgivenesse, therefore I will make haste to accuse my selfe, and say it is possible I may be guilty of some mis-becoming words, yet not words made in dangerous principles and maximes, but loose Atguments, disputed at Table perhaps, with too much fancy and heat. And as in speaking, so in writing, I meane in Letters, I have perhaps committed errours, but never irreverently or maliciously against Parliamentary government.

I have beene admitted into the company of these noble Gentlemen that are absent, but never was taken into their councels: and sure for two of them, Master Iarmin and Sir Iohn Suckling, with whom I was more particularly acquainted, they were strangely altered, and in a very short time, if it were possible they could designe any thing against your happy and glorious proceedings, who both in their writings and speech have so often extold the naturall necessity of Parliaments here, with extreame scorne upon the incapacity of any that should perswade the KING he could be for­tunate without them.

And it is not long since I wrote to the Queenes Majesty in praise of her inclination to become this way the Peoples advocate, the which they presented to her; for the Arguments sake it is extant in good hands, and now menti [...] ned, in hope it may be accepted as a Record of my integri [...]y to the Common-wealth.

It becomes not me to meddle with businesses so farre above my reach, but that I perceive I am unfortunately mistaken to be ill-affected.

I doe not certainly know, I protest before God and you, that I have spoken or written any thing that may endanger me, bu [...] as I urged before, it is generally whispered, and upon the publication of your Warrant men did avoid me, even my old friends, like one stricken with an infectious kinde of death; so terrible already is every marke of your displeasure growne; therefore I humbly beseech your pardon. If a single courage flye from your anger, and begge you would not interpret as diso­bedience my not appearing, since it did rather proceed from a reverend awe your displeasure bred in me; which two wayes I conceive I might incurre.

First, by knowing of the departure of an ingenious Gentleman named in the Proclamation, who lay in my house. And secondly, by something which might either have escaped my tongue or pen.

Lastly, I most humbly implore, that as you daily leave to future times some examples of your Iu­stice, so this day you will leave me to posterity as a marke of your compassion, and let not my flight or other indiscretions be my ruine, though contrary to Davids opinion, I have fled from Divine power, which is yours by derivation, and chose to fall into the hands of men, which are your Of­ficers that apprehended me.