A COPY OF A LETTER Written to A Private Friend, To give him satisfaction in some things TOUCHING the Lord SAY.  
LONDON, Printed by R.B. for I. O. and are to be sold by I. S. 1643.   

To the Reader.  
REader, I having received a Letter from a friend, whom I do give credit to, in answer to some things I proposed to him to be satisfied in, by which I am abundantly satisfied, touching that Noble person who is the subject of the said Letter; I thought myself bound for the information of others, to commend the same to public view, not doubting but some who are prejudiced by the Reports that have flown abroad, will be thereby set right in their judgements, which is all I desire in publishing it.   

A Copy of a Letter written to a private friend, to give him satisfaction in some things touching the LORD SAY.  
SIR,  
TO satisfy you concerning my Lord Say, because I perceive you to be so prudent, as not willingly to forfeit your discretion by running with the giddy multitude into those distempers of heats and colds, but would receive information from those that know more than yourself before you will judge. It becomes every wise man to be constant to the principles which he hath laid down to himself upon the most mature deliberation: and this, as to things, so to persons, otherwise I should without prejudice to him, call both his Reason and Religion into question. And therefore concerning that Lord give me leave to be confident (and I think you will believe me) that I know him much better than those that talk so much against him, having had 28 year's experience of him; in which time he hath passed through very many various conditions, the times at sometime courting him with their smiles, at other times falling foul upon him with their frowns; yet hath he been the same in all: for if hopes or promises of promotion on the one hand, or threatening and imprisonment on the other, would have altered him from a Patriot to a Courtier, he had been one long ago. To pass over his suffering imprisonment nine months together in the nineteenth or twentieth year of King james, for discountenancing a benevolence in the County of Oxford, when the Court began first to run extravagant courses to get money, that so they might rule in an arbitrary way without Parliaments. And that in the following Parliament in the one and twentieth year of King james, when the now King, than Prince, and the Duke of Buckingham were returned from Spain, he was as much courted with offers of preferment by him that had them at his dispose as he was before discountenanced with imprisonment and other pressures which I could more fully declare unto you, but that I would not be tedious; And how it cost him some hundreds of pounds in opposing the ship-money, and his refusing that dangerous oath at York; but I will not trouble you with too large a discourse, only this let me be bold to say in the general. That as he hath had a repute of being famous both for Religion, and Reason, I that have had the happiness to live near unto him for many years have always observed him in all the various changes he hath met withal, never to vary from his principles, but how ever things have gone abroad or at home, whether he hath had applause and encouragement from men on the one hand, or hard measure on the other (for he hath had experience of both) he hath been the same still, walked as closely with God, and done his duty as faithfully towards men, it being always a settled principle in him, That want of success from God, or finding unthankfulness from men must not hinder a pious man from doing his duty to both. And whereas you gave me a touch that many men, yea, honest and godly men, question whether he be right for Religion or no, believe me Sir, I speak it from my heart, and in the uprightness of my spirit, I do not know a man in this Kingdom right and sound for the power and truth of Religion if he be not. And I would have you believe me, that I know him well, as having had the advantage of a long time of experience.  
Again, they charge upon him, that he favours Papists and Malignants, because he protects two of their houses; will they not allow him a house or two instead of three houses of his, and 2000 l per annum land, which is kept from him for doing them service, and yet they do not that, for he is to pay such Rent for that house in the Country which is allowed him to refresh himself sometimes with fresh air, as the Committee for Sequestrations shall lay upon it.  
Another instance by which they would prove he favours Papists is a report from one of the Captains at Windsor, that he wrote a Letter to Colonel Venne on the behalf of two Popish women, who had Popish Trinkets and some money taken from them there, that it might be restored unto them; now to show you that this is most false, I will show you upon what foundation this slander was built: one of those women came to his LPs Secretary with a Petition expressing how their money and Trunks were taken from them by some of Colonel Vennes soldiers. as they were travelling into Wiltshire, whither they had a Pass, and desired him to procure my Lord Say to get their Petition read at the Committee for the safety of the Kingdom; but he knowing the multitudes of business his Lord had still upon him, told her he would write himself too Col. Venn, having intimate acquaintance with him, to desire him to examine the business, and do them right, which he did upon his own interest and acquaintenance only, in his own name, not thinking that either of them had been Papists till he received Colonel Vennes answer, which signified so much, and then he stirred no further for them.  
And for the great sum of money, hundreds of thousands pounds charged upon him, though it be ridiculous to think that any man could get such  sums, & convert to his own use without being discovered to many, yet I dare assure you, having heard it confidently affirmed by him that receiveth and issueth out all monies for him, that he never converted a hundred pounds, or a hundred pence to his own particular use, for it so passes through his hands, that he could not be ignorant of this business, he receiving and disbursing all that he hath had from the State, save only what hath been paid upon bills of Exchange to some Bristol men, which he had orders for, and can give full satisfaction for upon account; and for what money he received during the short time he was Colonel, the account lies upon his Secretary, and not upon my Lord, who meddled not with a penny of that money: Nay, I will add this further, that he hath lent, besides 1000 l. which he lent upon the propositions, sometimes 200. l. sometimes 300. l. sometimes more out of his own purse, and hath borrowed sometimes to lend for the service of the State. And for Sir William Wallers business, me thinks they should give a Peer of the Lords House liberty to use his reason, what he did in that he did only concur with others in both Houses, and by the same reason they charge it upon his Lordship, they charge it upon the Houses; and if so, they appeal to themselves, and place the Judgement not in the Parliament (which they pretend too) but in the People; This let me add, that in my weak opinion, that Commission (in which though power was derived to Sir William from his Excellency, yet his Instructions were to issue from the Parliament, and at this rate how could his Excellency command Sir William Waller, and how was his Commission consistent with this desired Expedition: Besides, two Generals in one Expedition speak too much consusion. Another thing is, that this Lord was the occasion of Mr. Eyes going into Scotland, and that he went purposely to hinder the Scots from coming in because they would hinder the setting up of an independent Government in Churches; the falsity of that appears (besides what he hath said to Gentlemen of trust, of the necessity of the Scots coming in) by the effects, for the Scots do come in, and both Mr Nye and that Lord have taken the Covenant, and are forward instruments in furthering that work all they can: And as for Accommodations of peace which he is charged to be forward in; he was never further for it then what Religion and Reason calls for at every man's hand, that is, if that could be obtained peaceably, which we labour for with so much effusion of blood and hazard of all, he rather desires it, and so I hope do you and every honest man: Others say he hath made his peace at Court, but give no reason of this their belief, and I am confident can procure none by all their Arts; the wiser of men know, that if the Court could have tempted him and violated his principles, he need not have been so much wanting to himself, as now to have his peace to be made up, he might have maintained it at an easier rate than now he could (if any such thought could enter into him) regain it.  
But who can imagine that a prudent man should run the hazard of his honour, estate, and every thing, and this in pure opposition to the Court, and yet with design to comply with it: why should the Court inveigh against him more than any man, charge him again and again with treason, and yet he a friend to them? When the Parliament affairs were at the lowest, why did not he run to Court as others have done? Why hath both his Excellency and this Lord suffered with so much patience the people's calumnies from passions, surmizes, jealousies, (or I know not what to call them) but only their integrity to this cause hath supported their endeavours (notwithstanding) for the public interest which they make their own; and as it hath pleased God to take away the mist from the people's eyes touching my Lord General by his last expedition, so I doubt not but God in his good time will disperse the clouds as to that good Lord also, at least to disabuse the honest party: This as to reason. But then in point of Religion, can any Christian be so uncharitable as (upon a very surmise) to question that foundation of piety which God hath laid in him, and de facto, maintain that doctrine, which in his understanding ●e ha●●s (falling from grace) and so by practice contradict his own principles; surely if most deliberately I have once judged a man in the condition of grace, I am not (but upon most weighty Reasons) to call that happy case into question; I would say to you and every honest heart, make this Lords case your own throughout the whole story of it: I will not abuse your patience longer, this let me beg of you and every good man that you would not so easily take upon trust such Reports, either of that Noble Lord, or any other Lord or Gentleman (entrusted by the State) as you meet with in every high way (and most likely given out at first by some jesuited Malignant out of design) lest you become guilty of wounding the innocent in their good names and Honour, which is as great a sin as wounding their bodies, but I hope better things of you: and I could wish, that as to this Lord when you meet with any thing that makes you doubt either his Religion or Reason for any act he doth in order to the Commonwealth (where the question now unhappily rests with some) address yourself to him, and if he doth not satisfy you or any reasonable man, I will forfeit my reason, and question whether there be an honest man to be found: Thus you may see my confidence (and I trust not unreasonable, considering my many years uninterrupted experience.) I say no more, only this I confess, it is a wise man's part to be suspicious in these evil times, but to be jealous without reasonable grounds, becomes no prudent man. I have unbottomed my heart to you, that I might give you satisfaction, and do profess unto you, that there is no one assertory passage herein, but my conscience bears me witness I have spoke the truth in it. I rest,  
Your assured loving Friend, Octob. 17. 1643.  
FINIS.