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I beſeech you Gentlemen, to let me have the benefit of the law to ſpeak for myſelf, if it ſhall pleaſe you to hear me, I hope I ſhall clear myſelf.

You know Gentlemen every man is willing to make his caſe as good as he can, although he himſelf is in the fault, and as the old proverb goes. Some had better ſteal a horſe than others look over the hedge; and ſo it is by me in the preſent caſe; but as I am not accuſed by only one of the perſons, but by all of them, ſo I intend to make anſwer to them all at once.

Theſe men complain that Sir John Barleycorn hath undone them all, which is falſe, as I doubt not but to make appear.

I confeſs my name is Sir John Barleycorn, but you never knew Barleycorn do any harm, but always good, and has relieved as many poor people as any man,