trial! yet, whatever apprehensions I had of Popery, and of my own severe and heavy share I was like to have under it, when it should prevail, I never had a thought of doing any thing against it basely or inhumanely, but what would consist with the Christian religion, and the laws and liberties of this kingdom. And, I thank God, I have examined all my actions in that matter with so great care, that I can appeal to God Almighty, who knows my heart, that I went on sincerely, without being moved either by passion, by-ends, or ill designs. I have always loved my country much more than my life, and never had any design of changing the government, which I value, and look upon as one of the best governments in the world, and would always have been ready to venture my life for the preserving it; and would suffer any extremity, rather than have consented to any design of taking away the King's life; neither had any man the impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to me; and I look upon it as a very unhappy and uneasy part of my present `condition, that there should be so much as mention made of so vile a fact, though nothing in the least was said to prove any such matter, but the contrary, by my Lord Howard; neither does any body, I am confident, believe the least of it; so that I need not, I think, say more.

For the King, I do sincerely pray for him, and wish well to him and the nation, that they may be happy in one another; that he may be indeed, the Defender of the Faith; that the Protestant religion, and the peace and safety of the kingdom may be preserved, and flourish un der his government; and that himself, in his person, may be happy both here and hereafter.

"As for the share I had in the prosecution of the Popish plot, I take God to witness, that I proceeded in it in the sincerity of my heart, being then really convinced (as I am still) that there was a conspiracy against the King, the nation, and the Protestant religion; and I likewise profess, that I never knew any thing, directly or indirectly, of any practices with the witnesses, which I look upon as so horrid a thing, that I never could have endured it; for, thank God, falsehood and cruelty were never in my nature, but always the farthest from it imaginable. I did believe, and do still, that Popery is breaking in upon this nation, and that those that advance it will stop at nothing to carry on their design. I am heartily sorry that so many Protestants give their helping hand to it; but I hope God will preserve the Protestant religion, and this nation, though I am afraid it will fall under very great trials, and very sharp sufferings; and, indeed, the impiety and profane

ness that abounds, and appears so scandalously bare-faced every where, gives too just occasion to fear the worst thing that can befal a people. I pray God prevent it, and give those who have showed a concern for the public good, and have appeared hearty for the true interest of the na tion, and the Protestant religion, grace to live so, that they may not cast a reproach on that which they endeavoured to advance, which (God knows) has often given me sad thoughts; and I hope such of my friends as may think they are touched by this, will not take what I say in ill part, but will endeavour to amend their ways, and live suitable to the rules of the true reformed religion, which is the only thing that can ad minister true comfort at the latter end, and relieve a man when he comes to die.

"As for my present condition, I bless God I have no repining in my heart at it. I know, for my sins, I have deserved much worse at the hands of God; so that I cheerfully submit to so small a punishment as the being taken off a few years sooner, and the being made a spectacle to the world. I do freely forgive all the world, particularly those concerned in taking away my life; and I desire and conjure all my friends to think of no revenge, but to submit to the holy will of God, into whose hands I resign myself entirely.

"But to look back a little: I cannot but give some touch about the Bill of Exclusion, and show the reason of my appearing in that business, which, in short, is this, that I thought the nation in such danger of Popery, and that the expectations of a Popish successor (as I have said in Parliament) put the King's life likewise in much danger, that I saw no way so effectual to secure both, as such a bill. As to the limitations that were proposed, if they were sincerely offered, and had passed into a law, the Duke then should have been excluded from the power of a King, and the government quite altered, and little more than the name of a King left; so I could not see either sin or fault in the one, when all the people were willing to admit of the other; but thought it better to have a King with his prerogative, and the nation easy and safe under him, than a King without it, which would breed perpetual jealousies and a continual struggle. All this I say only to justify myself, not to inflame others, though I cannot but think my earnestness in that matter has had no small influence in my present sufferings. But I have now done with this world, and am going to a kingdom which cannot be moved.

"And as to the conspiring to seize the guards which is the crime for which I am condemned, and which is made a constructive treason, for

taking away the King's life, to bring it within the statute of Edward. III., I shall give this true and clear account: I never was at Mr. Sheppard's with that company but once, and there was no undertaking then of securing or seizing the guards, nor any appointed to view or examine them. Some discourse there was of the feasibleness of it; and several times, by accident, in general discourse elsewhere, I have heard it mentioned as a thing might easily be done, but never consented to as a thing fit to be done. And I remember particularly, at my Lord Shaftesbury's, there being some general discourse of this kind, I immediately flew out and exclaimed against it; and asked, if the thing succeeded, what must be done next, but mastering the guards, and killing them in cold blood? which I looked upon as a detestable thing, and so like a popish practice, that I could not but abhor it. And at the same time the Duke of Monmouth took me by the hand, and told me very kindly,

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My lord, I see you and I are of a temper; did you ever hear so horrid a thing?" And I must needs do him justice to declare, that I ever observed in him an abhorrence of all base things.

"As to my going to Mr. Sheppard's, I went with an intention to taste sherry; for he had promised to reserve for me the next very good piece he met with when I went out of town;