The King's Reasons (With some Reflections upon them) For withdrawing himself from Rochester, written with his own Hand, (Or rather Copied from his own Speech after the Bawdy Affidavit.) and ordered by him to be published, (By Henry Hills, but that he was out of the way.)  
THE World cannot wonder at my withdrawing myself now this second time, (or rather making my Exit from a Stage, where, after I had played my last Act, there was nothing more to be done.) I might have expected somewhat better usage, after what I had Writ to the Prince of Orange by my Lord Feversham, and the Instructions I gave him, (that is, to have been restored as I was, with all my Priests and Irish about me.) But instead of an Answer, such as I might have hoped for, (had I deserved it) What was I to expect after the Usage I received by the making the said Earl a Prisoner, against the Practice and Law of Nations; (though it was an oversight in me, indeed, to send an Obnoxious Person of my Errand, and he neither Ambassador, Herald, Drummer nor Trumpeter.) The sending his own Guards at Eleven a Clock at Night to take Possession of the Posts at Whitehall, without advertising me in the least manner of it. (Because there was no occasion for it.) The sending to me at one of the Clock, after Midnight, when I was in Bed, a kind of an Order by three Lords, to be gone out of my own Palace, before 12 that same Morning? (But perhaps they wanted my Room, not my Company, and then what says the Proverb, Cede Majoribus.) After all this, How could I hope to be safe, (And yet 'twas well I was no safer,) in the power of one who had not only done this to me, (Which was just nothing at all.) and Invaded my Kingdoms without any just occasion given for it, (but my going about to ruin the Established Government of the Nation and the Protestant Religion. Though now I better recollect myself, I cannot call it an Invasion neither, because he came in at the solemn Invitation of the Nobility and Gentry of my whole Realm.) but that did by his first Declaration lay the greatest Aspersion upon me that Malice could Invent, in that Clause of it which concerns my (Adopted) Son. I appeal to all that know me, nay, even to himself, that in their Consciences, neither he nor they can believe me in the least capable of so unnatural a Villainy, nor of so little common sense, to be Imposed on in a thing of such a nature as that. (Vid. My Speech to the Lords in my Book of Midwifery, Fol. 36, 37.) What had I then to expect from one, who by all Arts hath taken such pains to make me appear as Black as Hell to my own People, as well as to all the World besides? What Effect that hath had at home, all Mankind have seen, by so general a defection in my Army, (Because they would not fight with their Bodeiss against their Souls.) as well as in the Nation amongst all sorts of People. (All which I drew upon myself, as is well known by the Reasons of the Lords, for inviting in His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, by my Adhering to pernicious Popish Councils, and endeavouring to settle a Popish Succession, to advance the Kingdom of Antichrist: And I did ill to say One, when the cry against me was so universal.  
I was Born Free, and desire to continue so; and though I have ventured my Life very frankly on several occasions for the Good and Honour of my Country, (in needless Wars for the destruction of the Protestant Religion) and am free to do it again, and which I hope I shall yet do, as old as I am; to redeem it from the Slavery it is like to fall under (God forbid it, for 'tis ill falling into the hands of an Exasperated Prince.) Yet I think it not convenient to expose myself to be secured (which might easily have been done, had it been thought convenient,) as not to be at liberty to effect it, and for that reason to withdraw (though forewarned forearmed you'll say) but so as to be within call, when the Nations eyes shall be opened (by putting on a huge pair of Jesuitical Spectacles) to see how they have been Abused and Imposed upon by the specious pretences of Religion and Property, (which I was going about to destroy.) I hope it will please God to touch their Hearts, to make them sensible of the ill condition they are in, and bring them to such a Temper, that a Legal Parliament may be called (though this Prayer be needless, for I hear such a Parliament, a thing I ne'er intended in my Life, is at hand) and that among other things which may be done, they will agree for Liberty of Conscience, for all Protestant Dissenters (though I speak not this from my heart) and that those of my own Persuasion may be so far considered as to have a share in it, as they may live peaceably and quietly (till they shall be in a condition again, as soon as may be, to revenge my Cause) as Englishmen and Christians ought to do (with Plots and Massacres) and not be obliged to transplant themselves, which would be very grievous, especially to such as love their own Country (so long as it is in subjection to the Pope) and I appeal to all Men, who are considering Men, whither any thing can make this Nation so Great and Flourishing as Liberty of Conscience. (There's no body questions it, but) some of our Neighbours dread it (especially the French Clergy,  
I could add much more to confirm all I have said, but now is not the proper time: (Enough a conscience, and more than will be believed this Hundred Years.