ABSTRACT

Sire, Not to trouble your majesty with a superfluous character of my spirit, I shall only beg leave to say, that though I count nothing I want worth the seeking, and can contentedly endure anything that destroys not sense, so that I thank God I could ungrudgingly brooke the utmost of afflictions, the imputation of being that most infamous and abominable of things, A traitor, chiefly such a one as I should be, if I were such indeed as the father of lies hath moved some sinner to represent me; yea, though I could silently endure yet more, the very sharpest sting of it, the impression it seemes your majesty hath taken this calumny may possibly bee true, which I take to be the very highest pitch to which this point of virtue can be screwed. Yet another no less sublime and vigorous sense I have of the indispensible duty I owe to God, the Gospell, your majesty, my country, my honour, my freinds and all mankind, carries mee, with as much fervour and passion as virtue can exerce2 or may own, to endeavour a change in your majesties opinion, and to seek to be cleared of this detestable and infernall calumny by all the faire means that are to bee found in life or death. And therefore without troubling your majesty with what I have represented at large of my innocency to your majesty’s lieutenant-general,3 I shall call him that lives and raignes for ever to record upon my soule, that I am not author of that letter on which this calumny is founded, and that I am as free of all imagination of harme or prejudice to your majestyies royal person as any child that is yet unborn, or rather more, for my soul is incapable of acting or employing its vital or rationall faculties and powers, or its sensible organs, in any unreasonable design or action, as of being annihilate, or in forming a heap of sand or stones. Next I most in all humbleness implore your majesty as you are just, as you are my true soveraigne, the dearest of humane relations, as you

tender the honour of your religion, your majesties most auncient kingdome and subjects, and your owne future tranquillity, to leave nothing undone that may discover the truth of what I am charged withall, and that as your majesty finds cause, I may speedily bee punisht or cleared. And then having found mee guiltless, your majesty may, as a master builder doth with his materialls (if it be not much fitter to leave me to my voluntary unregarded and useless informity),4 most soveraignely dispose and determine, Sire, your majesties most humble, most loyall, and most affectionate subject and servant, S. R. Moray.