uously declared the truth of the
matter.----Which ingenuity did much allay their rage against him; and
being asked by the chancellor, What persuasion he was of? He answered,
Of the protestant presbyterian persuasion. Again, How it came to pass he
differed then so much from other presbyterians, who had accepted of the
toleration, and owned the king's authority; and what he thought of them?
He answered, He was a presbyterian, and adhered to the old presbyterian
principles (which all were obliged by the covenant to maintain), and
were once generally professed and maintained by the nation from 1640, to
1660, from which they had apostatized for a little liberty (they knew
not how long), as you yourselves (said he) have done for a little
honour. The chancellor replied, and the rest applauded, That they
believed, that these were the presbyterian principles, and that all
presbyterians would own them as well as he, if they had but the courage,
_etc._ However on Feb. 3. he received his indictment upon the three
foresaid heads, _viz._ disowning the king's authority, the unlawfulness
of paying the cess, and the lawfulness of defensive arms. All which he
was to answer on the 8th of February. To the indictment was added a list
of forty-five, out of which the jury was to be chosen, and a list of the
witnesses to be brought against him; which are too tedious here to
insert.

After receiving his indictment, his mother got access to see him, to
whom he spoke many savoury words. And on Sabbath Feb. 5. he regretted
that now he must leave his poor flock; and declared, "That if it were
his choice, he could not think on it without terror, to enter again into
and venture upon that conflict with a body of sin and death; yet if he
were again to go and preach in the field, he durst not vary in the
least nor flinch one hair-breadth from the testimony, but would look on
himself as obliged to use the same freedom and faithfulness as he had
done before." And in a letter on Feb. 6. he desired that the persons,
whose names were decyphered, might be acquainted with it, and concludes,
"I desire none may be troubled on my behalf, but rather rejoice with
him, who, with hope and joy, is waiting for his coronation-hour."
Another time his mother asked him, How he was? He answered, He was well,
but that since his last examination he could scarcely pray. At which she
looked on him with an affrighted countenance, and he told her, He could
hardly pray, being so t