The sum of his Lordship's speech tended to admire[334] and extol his Majesty's justice, great wisdom, and princely care of the good of the commonwealth, in that he had refused no pains (as this day's work and honourable assembly could justly witness) to provide to rectify and set straight, to the wonder and admiration of them all, a work of so great a consequence, and of such a kind of intricacy as his Majesty had never been accustomed to before, and yet so clearly to examine and try in so short a space, as if he had only [been] bred and accustomed to such elements, with many other honourable speeches tending to that purpose. His Lordship then laying his hand upon my head, standing next unto him upon his right hand, did there freely offer to pawn all his lands, his honour, and his life, in my behalf for the performance and finishing of this royal work; which being once perfected, if his Majesty (by the advice of the best experienced artist and seamen of the Kingdom) should dislike, he would willingly, with help of his, take off from his Majesty's hands at his and their proper charge with[out] any damage or loss to his Majesty; and this did his Lordship deliver with such bold, assured, confident earnestness as gave much content to his Majesty and satisfaction to the Prince, the Lords, and most part of the rest of the standers by.
To this speech his Majesty replied briefly with gracious acknowledgments of his princely acceptance of his Lordship's true, faithful service and zeal expressed in that his worthy speech, of which he had so great assurance as he confidently protested never king could be more happy than himself in the service of such an honourable subject; and therefore there was no need why he should any ways engage neither himself nor his honour in that which his Majesty had, by the course of upright justice, before the face of God and the world, so apparently cleared; this said, his Majesty rose.
In passing through the hall, the Lord Admiral going before and leading me in his hand, the Lord Thomas Howard, then Lord Chamberlain of the Household, made a motion to his Majesty to lay a charge upon me that I should not make any quarrel against any person or persons that had that day given information against me, alleging he knew my stomach to be such as, if I were not contained by his Majesty's commandment, I would call them to account for their doings, whereupon blood might ensue.
His Majesty, giving ear to what his Lordship advised, gave him thanks for his worthy counsel; and calling me unto him before the whole company, I sitting upon my knees, he gave me an especial charge upon my allegiance and life that I should not quarrel or challenge any person or persons whatsoever that had that day given information against me, alleging I had honour sufficient to have been cleared of all questions and objections unjustly laid to my charge by the equity of my cause and his justice.
This speech concluded, his Majesty hastened to take his caroche which attended at the gate: the noble Lord Admiral brought me in his hand to his Majesty, to kiss his royal hand and take my leave. His Majesty gave me his hand to kiss with such an expression of his princely favour and encouragements to proceed cheerfully in my business as did not only infuse new life into me, but also gave great comfort and content to all the standers by.
Then I presented myself upon my knee to the most noble Prince my then master, who, taking me from the ground, did so affectionately express his joy for my clearing and the satisfaction his father had received that day, that he protested he would not only countenance and comfort me hereafter but care to provide for me and my posterity while he lived. I received the like noble courtesy from all the lords, who declared their joy for the happy success[335] God gave me in this great deliverance.
The great Lord of Northampton, seeing the event of this business, and that all things sorted out clean contrary to his expectation, railing bitterly against his informing instruments, took the back way to his coach and would not so much as take any leave of his Majesty, but posted away with no little expression of great discontentment, as did also the rest of his partakers.
The Lord Admiral attended his Majesty, being never better contented in all his life, and returned to Whitehall with the company, it being almost eight of the clock before they went from Woolwich.
Sir Robert Mansell, Sir John Trevor, Captain Button,[336] and the rest of my good friends followed, amongst whom was the good old Lady Mansell and Mrs. Button, who had taken the pains to attend the hearing in an inner room all that day.
This day, as it was a very tedious day unto me by reason I was to answer all objections and kneel so long together, so was it a day of jubilee to me, a day never to be forgotten of me nor mine; wherein my good God shewed me wonderful favour and mercy to enable me to endure the frowns of the King, and to strengthen my weak abilities to withstand the malice of such and so many powerful adversaries by the space of one whole long summer's day, for his Majesty (albeit he was sufficiently persuaded of their malice and my integrity) yet till he had cleared all doubts by the course of strict examination, and found me in his justice guiltless, he would show me no countenance at all; but after their malice was discovered, and all those heads and points fully answered and clearly resolved, his Majesty then both in countenance, words, and all other princely expressions, declared his royal disposition towards me.