To the KING's Most Excellent Majesty.  
The Humble Petition of William Lord Howard of Escrick, now Prisoner in the Tower;  
SHOWETHS,  
THat as it cannot but be matter of great Mortification to him, that his Honour should be blemished with the Imputation of so horrid and detestable a Crime, as that is for which he stands committed to this Place; so it is no less matter of Rejoicing and Triumph to him, that it has pleased the Righteous God to rescue his Innocency from the Villainous Attempts and Practices of those lewd and infamous Persons, who, by the division of their Tongues, and the apparent contradiction of their Evidence, did render themselves much stronger Witnesses against themselves, than against him, upon whose Life and Honour they have made so impudent and audacious an Assault, as has founded a loud Alarm to all Mankind, and has justly filled the whole Kingdom with Horror and Amazement, to hear that Perjury and Subornation should show its Face upon the Public Theatre of Justice.  
In humble confidence therefore that the Report thereof has, by this time, begot in Your Majesty's Royal Breast softer and gentler Thoughts concerning Your Petitioner, whose Innocency God has made to shine through that black Cloud with which Malice has sought to darken it, he does in all humility pray, That Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to discharge him of this Imprisonment, either with or without Bail, as Your Majesty, in Your great Justice and Wisdom, shall think fit.   

LONDON, Printed for Richard Baldwin. 1681.