government; as my latter will, which was written in 1655. and thereafter delivered to a friend (in whoſe hands it ſtill remaineth) can ſhow. As for theſe calumnies that have gone abroad of me, I bleſs God I know them to be no more; and as I go to make a reckoning to my God, I am free as to any of theſe, concerning the king’s perſon or government. I was real and cordial in my deſires to bring the king home, and in my endeavours for him when he was at home; and I had no correſpondence with the adverſaries army, nor any of them, in the time when his Majeſty was in Scotland. Nor had I any acceſſion to his late Majeſty’s horrid and execrable murder, by counſel or knowledge of it, or any other manner of way -- This is a truth, as I ſhall anſwer to my Judge. And all the time his Majeſty was in Scotland, I was ſtill endeavouring his advantage, my conſcience beareth me witneſs to it. So much to that particular. And (turning about he ſaid) I hope, gentlemen, you will remember theſe.
I confeſs, many look on my condition as a ſuffering condition; but I bleſs the Lord, that he who hath gone before me hath trod the wine preſ, of his Father’s wrath; by whoſe ſufferings I hope that my ſufferings ſhall not be eternal. I bleſs Him who hath taken away the ſting of my ſufferings I muſt ſay that my charter was ſealed to day; for the Lord hath ſaid to me, Son, be of good cheer, thy ſins are freely forgiven thee: And ſo I hope my ſufferings ſhall be very eaſy. And ye know the ſcripture faith, the Captain of our ſalvation was made perfect by ſuffering.
I ſhall not ſpeak much to theſe things for which I am condemned, leſt I ſeem to condemn others; it is well known it’s only for compliance, which was the epidemical fault of the nation: I wiſh the Lord to pardon them. I ſay no more.
