THe Press was never fuller of Seditious Pamphlets then at this time, wherein Men make it their chief business and Study to create Feuds and Animosi­ties amongst his Majesties good Subjects, by crea­ting false Reports; for this Reason I thought I was bound in Conscience to vindicate my self from that scandalous and lying Aspersion that Thomson has thrown upon me in his Domestick Intelligence of the third instant, wherein he falsly intimates, as if I had formerly sworn, that Ezerel Tonge was the chief contriver of the Popish-Plot, discovered by a Man, &c. Therefore being deeply sensible of what evil consequence this notorious Lye may be, do solemnly declare, that what was printed by the said Thomson, was done without my knowledge or consent, having some time since, given a true and full Account of those persons (that would have tra­pan'd and indeavoured to make me swear, that my Father and Doctor Oates were the contrivers of the Popish-Plot) in my case which was printed by Mr. C— in the New Exchange in the Strand; but by some indirect means or other, was stifled, and never suffer'd to come abroad; in which Nar­rative, I have discovered nothing but the naked Truth, with the several Arguments and induce­ments they made use of, to make me accuse my deceased Parent, and yet notwithstanding all this, Thomson and the Observator have the impudence to affirm the contrary; we live in a very profli­gate Age, wherein some persons assume an unheard of impudence, who never value any mans Repu­tation, provided they may be gainers by what they print; I confess, and ingenuously acknow­ledge to the world, that indigency (through the instigation of men of ill principles) had imbarkt me on a very unnatural attempt, no less than the accusing of my own innocent Parent, whilst he was living▪ I was very sensible how close my undu­tifulness stuck to him; and therefore by all imagi­nable Demonstrations I endeavour'd to make my sorrow known for so great a fault. Great sinners we read of in Scripture that have upon their un­feigned Repentance been received unto Mercy: it has often been my serious and hearty Prayer to God through the merits of the blessed Jesus, that he would vouchsafe to pardon me; and I hope my Prayers have been accepted at the Throne of Grace and truly during my confinement, now upwards of a twelve-month, in great want and distress, this was the greatest content and satisfaction that buoy'd up my sinking spirits, that I had discharged a good Conscience, little expecting that any whi­fling Intelligencer, or Crackfarting Observator, would have been so impudent to have endeavoured to impose such scandalous and lying Rumours up­on the Nation in reference to my concern; I have more than once by writing satisfied Doctor Oats (since I printed my Case) that I was extreamly troubled that I should be so very imprudent to be perswaded to go about to stifle his Evidence, and since my first commitment from the Council, it was my desire to discover those persons that were my chief Abettors, which I have candidly laid down in my Narrative, and being nothing but the Truth, will vindicate it self without any Apology, and however I may be censur'd by some, I bless God for it, I have not so fear'd a Conscience as to ju­stify so false and Villanous a thing which is cast upon me, in so weighty a concern as the Popish-Plot, which has had so many evident and remark­able proofs to confirm the verity of it, and maugre the malice of all opposers, remains invincible and triumphant, when the rest of their shams dwindle and expire into nothing. The Observator who often turns the most serious expressions into ridicule, mentions how I was first trapan'd to suggest that story against my Father, &c. then he goes on with this impudent stuff, by way of distinction, all this may very well be Whig, but whether he meant the Father of his Country, or his Father by Gene­ration is the question, &c. To this I answer, that for my Vindication I do refer my self to my Case and that it was not my own voluntary Act, will sufficiently appear to those that have ever perus'd it; neither did I verisy or assert any thing by dreadful imprecations: for the first ground for that lying Rumour was, that Ely having heard that my Uncle, Captain Tonge, was with me, and that I had made a true Confession to him concerning what had past betwixt us, fearing least it might prejudice him; when he was at Windsor drew up a Paper, wherein he would have had me declared with many solemn imprecations, as in the presence of God Almighty, that I had declar'd nothing but the Truth concerning my Father; this Paper he wou'd have forced me to Sign, but I perceiving the Villanous Design of it, refused it, it being no other than Ely's Roguery to save his own Bacon; but his Impudence, as it is superlative, cannot rest here; for thus he goes on, I do really believe he told the King little more, then he had said many, [Page 2]and many a time to other people long before he had made any application to his Majesty;

To this I answer that Ely was the person who [...]ad me to the King who told me at the Garter Tavern in Windsor, that I must recollect my self, and say something which might give his Majesty some satisfaction: when I came before the King I gave his Majesty a short account, as I had heard it from my fathers own mouth, that Doctor Oates after he came from St Omers first imparted the Plot to him, and afterwards gave him his assistance to bring his papers into the Concell; then I de­clar'd that I was wholy ignorant as to any Trans­actions relating to the Plot, by reason I was newly come from the University, and then kept a school. at a place call'd Lu [...]on in Bedfordshire, when the first discourse of the Popish plot, was noised about the Countrye whereunto his Majesty was pleased to replie, that he had been misinform'd concerning me, but should be very glad to be inform'd of the Truth, and would be glad to speak, with my father, would be resolve him but some few Que­stions he would propound to him.

This was all the Discourse I had with the King, which I the rather mention now, because I gave but a very short hint of it in my Narrative; but the Observator abhors plain dealing, and to hear the Truth, and therefore strives to palliat it by cunning subterfuges and Evasions, the better to curry favour with his Party: Whilst Truth is as bold as a Lyon and abhorring such indi­rect meanes, soon unmasks this counterfet Pro­teus, notwithstanding all the subtle windings he makes to no other purpose, then as prepa­ratives and incentives to Faction and Rebellion: creating fears and jealousies in the hearts of the people, excellently well read in Pluto's politiks, whose faithfull Drudge he is notwithstanding those specious Pretences he would impose on the over credulous, that what hedoes is onely out of a cor­date zeale for the service of his King and Country.

And now having sufficiently vindicated my self, from the malicious and lying aspersions put upon me by Thomson, and the Observator I return to the Pa [...]quetier, who amongst them all is the onely person that has done me that Justice, candidly to represent my condition to the world, performing the part of an honest man, in declaring the great sorrow wherewith my spi­rits have been oppress'd for the unnaturall villany I was perswaded to perpetrate against my decea­sed Parent, and truely my Grief is so great for it; that many times I have had a serious resolu­tion in my self, (if it should ple [...]se God I ever got my Enlargement) to transport my self to some remote Region, the horror of the fact having made so deep an impression on my senti­ments, that I fancy'd I should never be able to walk the streets in quiet; but then again upon se­cond thoughts I have checkt my self, and some­thing alleviated my sorrows with that expression of holy Job, to him that is aflicted Pitty should be shewn him by his friend, considering with my sell that we are or at least should be all Brethren and Friends of the same profession of Christianity, and therefore should even with teares pitty the the miseries, and pass by the failings one of ano­ther flebile being as proper to man as visibile; I did not then all together dispair; that consi­dering my juvenile years, should I ever get a broad, some would commiserate me, becoming truly penitent for my unnatural act, whilst my Teares being instead of a Jordan, a pool of Siloam, to cure the sores, and cleanse the Leprosy of my sinns

Since my longe restraint, means has not been wanting by some to make me recant my case using those plausible Arguments to induce me to it, which they are never without, to wit, Mony, Cloathes, Linne, a [...]d what else of conveniency, I could propose to my self, being now in a very indigent condition on the common side of the Kings Bench; but honesty as it is the best Policy, so a good co [...]science is that which will bring a man peace at the last; and therfore contemning such offers, I will rather rest my self contented with my mean condition, feasting on the divine Providence, (extolling his unspeakable goodness and mercy towards mee, who by afflicting has snatcht me as a firebrand out of the fire) who knows what is best for mee, then by unjust means gain the riches of Cresus, and with it the hatred of the Divinity, and the the contempt and sc [...]rn of all good men; most persons adore the rising Sun, and when a man is once under a cloud, every one is too apt to trample upon, and expose him to the obloquy of a censorious World; therefore it behoves me to stand upon my Guard, and by the force of Truth repell those vicious calumnies, which are cast upon me; which I hope is here perform'd to the content and satisfaction of all true unblast protestants; and now having fully discharged a good conscience the main end of this vindication; least therefore I should be thought too prolix, I will conclude all with this hearty prayer: God Allmighty vouchsafe to be propitious and mercy-full to us, unite all our differences and distractions, and regulate out disorders, compose our Breaches, and heal our Land, bless and guide our gracious Soveraign and his whole Councell, that we may leade a peacable life in all godliness and honesty.

I doe farther declare that from the bottome of of my heart, I abhorre all Popish principles and practizes, and am a zealous admirer and professor of the Reformed Protestant Religion, as it is now establisht in the Church of England; and what I have sayd here was upon mature deliberation, and I doe solemnely protest in the presence of the great Jehovah, it is nothing but the Truth, witness my hand,