Page:Last publick sermon, being a faithful and free one, preached by Mr. Hugh Mackaile ... upon the Sabbath immediately preceeding that 8th of September 1662, the day affixed for the removing of the ministers of Edinburgh from their kirks.pdf/39

( 39 ) naked Truth, doth declare, how the same was occaſional; and ſeeing that it was alſo in ſome sort purged and retracted, by my withdrawing and deſerting with the firſt Conveniency, whereby not only my Caſe appears to be different from that of others, but alſo as favourable as poſſibly can be, next to Innocency itſelf ; likeas the fame appeared no leſs to many of theſe Gentlemen who were upon my Aſſize : And ſeeing the Torture I ſuſtained, and the Ingenuity I then uſed, as in the Sight of God, to the utmoſt of my Knowledge, deſerove that Favour that was at that time inſinuated, and that it is expected that his Majeſty. (whoſe - Mercy I beg) according to his great Clemency, and the most uſual Practice in the like Caſes, will interpoſe his Mercy for the Reſcue of many, who are equally with me involved. May it therefore pleaſe your Lordſhips graciouſly to conſider the Premiſſes, and to par- don my great Raſhneſs and Precipitancy, and therefore to indulge ſuch a Reprival as your Lordſhips ſhall think conve - vient, untill his Majeſty's gracious Pleaſure anent the Premiſes ſhall be fully known, at leaſt till the Commiſſioner his Grace do return, and your Lordſhip's Anſwer. The Words mark- ed in this Petition by a different Character, were the A- mendments of his Friends Affection, which they were ad- viſed to put in by ſome Members of the Privy Council, to whom the Copy of it had been preſented immediately be- fore the Downſitting of the Council, and thereupon the Petition, being tranſcribed, was in ſo great Haſte preſented unto him to ſubſcribe it, that he got it not read: How- ever the Petition was both difreliſhed and refuſed by the Council. The Truth is, ſome of his Friends, exceeding zealous of his Safety, had moved to ſeveral Members of the Council, That the Declaration might be tendered to him, and ſome Time permitted him to adviſe there anent; which Motion, 'tis like, was attended with ſome inſinuations, that probably he might be induced to ſubſcribe it; but as the Motion was ineffectual, without a Warrant under his D2 own