HAving lately received knowledge of the unparaleld wicked practices of M ^r Os­born, from the Right Honorable the Lord Wharton, by a Letter which his Lord­ship sent me, directed to him from the said Os­born, who hath bin the chief instrument, in con­triving and acting, as far as in him lay, the late Design of the Kings intended escape; wherein it appears, that failing in that his Treacherous purpose, and meeting now with new Councel­lors, he proceeds, though in a more abominable way, by shameful and unheard of Lyes, as much as in him lieth, to abuse and inflame the disturb­ed mindes of the people in these distracted times, and most unworthily to scandalize me, and the rest of the Gentlemen, now attending the King; and in those things wherein his own heart is a witness, that they are (of all other) most contrary to truth. And being since fur­ther [Page 4] confirmed, That in prosecution of this his audacious villany, he hath written publique Letters to both Houses of Parliament, asserting such horrid falsities, that are hardly fit to be na­med, but by such a wretch, whose principle be­ing falseness and treachery, knows no limits in wickedness. Sir, My sence of the ill that in such times as these may accrue to the Kingdom by such Abuses, causeth me to send up this bearer Major Rolph (though through weakness he be very unapt for Travel) whom he avouches for his Author, that if you please may be examined, who will sufficiently inform you of the great untruths raised by that unworthy person; whom I should let pass as not worthy the ta­king notice of, to Time, to Shame, as it hath those other unworthy Reporters, who have spread abroad the late false Report of my Inhu­mane abusing the Person of the King, were not the Publique more then my self concerned in it; but the wisdom of your Honorable House, doth, and I doubt not will more clearly discern, the Design driven at in such Reports, and will take care for a right understanding of those who have been, or may yet be deceived by such abu­ses. For my own particular, had I not been thus [Page 5] occasioned by my duty to you and the King­dom, I should have left the clearing of my inte­grity (as formerly so still) to the righteous God, who if with patience men can wait upon, and trust in him, will certainly confound and destroy that structure, whose foundation is laid in lyes, with shame and sorrow to it's wicked builders: Sir, I have not onely to support and bear me up against these calumnies, the testimo­ny of a good conscience; but to clear me a­mongst men, it pleaseth God so to order it, that upon all occasions given, and that before many witnesses, the King is so just, as to vindicate me from all those Aspersions, and so I doubt not will all others that have any sence of honor or truth, who have been witnesses to my actions and deportment, since His Majesties unexpect­ed coming to this place. Sir, I conclude with this profession to you, as in the presence of God the Searcher of hearts, That as all the good of this world could not have hired me to this Imployment, could I have avoided it, or would you have seen it fit otherwise better to have provided for it; so, seeing Providence hath cast me upon it, or rather it upon me, I have (and by the assistance of God shal so continue) to the ut­most [Page 6] of my power and knowledge, demeaned my self with all dutiful respect to His Majesties Person, with an equal eye to the duty I owe you and the Kingdom, in the great trust you have been pleased to place upon me: And this with that integrity and evenness, that I stand ready to give an account to God and all men of my actions herein. This satisfaction to you I finde upon all occasions, by constant testimony of your favour to me, I need not now give you; yet being sensible a little at the wickedness of this most ungrateful unworthy person, makes me thus trouble you, though I need not, Rea­son it self will plead sufficiently against him, that having attempted and failed in such a De­sign, being so principled as such a man must be, that for his own interest he should proceed thus to colour his villany, as by his late Addres­ses to both Houses. Sir, I shall not further trou­ble you, but in most earnest expectation look­ing for a deliverance from my intollerable bur­then (which God and a good conscience onely supports a poor weak man to undergo) either by a removal of His Majesties Person from hence, when to your wisdoms it shall seem safe and fit; or by better providing for it, by a per­son [Page 7] or persons more able to undergo it, either of which, that which may best sute with your affairs, is most heartily desired, and that with speed, if God see it good: Till when, in the strength of that God who hath carryed me on hitherto, and as he shall inable me (being suffi­ciently guarded against the worst that Malice can throw upon me) in all constant integrity, I shall indeavor to express my self, Sir,

Mr. Osborns Letter to my Lord Wharton, which his Lordship sent me, I have enclosed in a Letter to the Committee of Derby-house.

Since I ended this Letter, I have examined the three Soldiers, who were dealt with to have been assisting in the Kings escape; but they all affirm, and are ready to make good upon Oath, That neither Osborn, Dowcet, nor any other, told them that the Kings life was in dan­ger: So that it seems clear a Device of his own to in­flame the people.