Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/406

 c< c ' 37 o A T K I N S; <' eially if it can appear, the witnefs has trepanned the " prifoner into the committing of the crime ; then the wit- " m Is will appear to be guilty of a far higher crime than the " dible witnefs againil the prifoner : for he is a credible vvit- " r.cfs that has the credit of being a good and honeft man, " malice againft the perfon trepanned, and intended to da " him a mifchief, and defigned to take away his life. Shall " fuch a one be a credible witnefs, and believed againft him ? " God forbid ! " Then again, it cannot but be believed, that fuch perfons " as have been guilty of the fame crime will out of a natural " felf-love be very forward and willing to fwear heartily, and " to the purpofe, in order to the convicting of others, that " they may, by this fervice, merit their pardon, and fave " their own lives: and for this reafon are not fo credible Read over the whole chapters of fir Edward Coke, Of high; treafon, and Of petty treafon ; for in this latter, Of petty " treafon, there is much matter that concerns high treafon. " I wifh with all my foul, and I humbly and heartily pray ' (land by them in the time of their diftrefs. I wi(h I mi^ht " in (hat wherein I might be any way capable of doing it. tc I befccch Almighty God to heal our divifion?, and eftablifh " us upon the fure foundation of peace and righteoufnefs. I fomc public affairs, which might poihaps have been un- <c keep no correfpondence. When there is any occafion, pray oblige me by a farther account, efpecially what con- cerns thefe gentlemen; and though I have written nothing here but what is innocent and juftifiable, yet that I may be the furer againft any difadvantage or mifconftrudlion, pray take the pains to tranfcribe what notes you think fit, out of this large paper, but fend me this paper back again, intloied in another, by the fame hand that brings it. There ' 1C
 * prifoner; and therefore ought not to be believed as a cre-
 * ' which a trepanner cannot have: and this trepanning;
 * ' proves withal that the trepanner did bear a fpight and
 * ' witneffes, fuch as the ftatute of 13 Car. II. does require.
 * ' to Almighty God, that thefe gentlemen, who have given
 * ' fo great proof of their love to the true religion, and of the
 * ' juft rights and liberties of their country, and of their zeal
 * ' ;:gainlt Popery, may upon their trial appear innocent, I
 * ' nm fo fitisfied of their great worth, that I cannot eafily
 * c believe them guilty of fo horrid a crime. I pray God
 * l have the liberty fairly to cjive them what affiftance 1 could
 * ' thank you for the favour you have done me by imparting;
 * ' known to me, or not known till after a long time, for I