APPENDIX. 241 and if such were given to your Lordship, I doubt not most clearly to dis- prove or refute them. I shall therefore (after most humble thanks for the notice your Lordship bath pleased thus to give me, wherein I hope I mistake not your favors towards me) beg leave to rectifye myself before your Lordship. As for my religion, I thank God I can truly say I have no opinion but what is consonant to the Catholic faith and the doctrines of the Church of England, but what I have learned out of the Scriptures and the writings of the ancient fathers ; accordingly, through God's help, I endeavour to lead my life, which, to clear me from all suspicion of schism, hath not only the present and sufficient evidences of a constant and reverend attendance upon divine service, but in times of danger had the testimony of many hazards, and expences in behalf of reverend persons of the church. I could say more, but I forbear, least I speak like a fool. My Lord, I wonder not that I am now reported to be a countenancer of factious persons, for I well re- member when I served his Majesty in Dunkirk, it was commonly said, that the chaplains I brought into garrison were factious persons. But the truth was, I discarded the factious, and introduced learned and pious persons, who are now, one of them a prelate, the others, reverend divines in the church. I can now also truly averr, that I have not countenancedany factious per- sons, nor have such persons resorted to me, nor bath there been in my family any factious or unlawful meeting. As for my affection to his Majesty's service, it is now twenty years since, upon that account I have constantly lost, done, and suffered : and in order to his Majesty's happy restoration I did, without the vanity of com- parison, employ all the poor ability of my estate and person. My Lord, what I did then, I did out of duty -I had not any other design. My Lord General knew how unwillingly I undertook the command of Dunkirk. In that employment, I thank God, I served his Majesty with all fidelity and affection, and with as much devotion as ever my life is always at his Ma- jesty's service. In the beginning of July, I was visited extreamly with the gout in both my legs, from which affliction I have not been wholly free for ten days space, that kept me from attending my duty in Parliament. But in this part of the country, where I reside, I can truly affirm the King's service, in all respects, bath been diligently and faithfully managed. CAMD. SOC. 2 I
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