Colonel Hammond's LETTER SENT To William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of Commons, CONCERNING Mr. Osborn's late scandalising the said Colonel, and the rest of the Gentlemen now attending the KING: Which Letter was read in the House of Commons. Together with An ORDER of the Commons for the said Osborn to appear within Forty days to make good his Allegation.  
Published by Authority  
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the honourable House of Commons. June 26. 1648.   

To the honourable, William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of COMMONS.  
Mr. Speaker,  
HAving lately received knowledge of the unparalleled wicked practices of Mr Osborn, from the Right honourable the Lord Wharton, by a Letter which his Lordship sent me, directed to him from the said Osborn, who hath been the chief instrument, in contriving and acting, as far as in him lay, the late Design of the Kings intended escape; wherein it appears, that failing in that his Treacherous purpose, and meeting now with new councillors, he proceeds, though in a more abominable way, by shameful and unheard of lies, as much as in him lieth, to abuse and inflame the disturbed minds of the people in these distracted times, and most unworthily to scandalize me, and the rest of the Gentlemen, now attending the King; and in those things wherein his own heart is a witness, that they are (of all other) most contrary to truth. And being since further confirmed, That in prosecution of this his audacious villainy, he hath written public Letters to both Houses of Parliament, asserting such horrid falsities, that are hardly fit to be named, but by such a wretch, whose principle being falseness and treachery, knows no limits in wickedness. Sir, My sense of the ill that in such times as these may accrue to the Kingdom by such Abuses, causeth me to send up this bearer Major Rolph (though through weakness he be very unapt for Travel) whom he avouches for his Author, that if you please may be examined, who will sufficiently inform you of the great untruths raised by that unworthy person; whom I should let pass as not worthy the taking notice of, to Time, to Shame, as it hath those other unworthy Reporters, who have spread abroad the late false Report of my inhuman abusing the Person of the King, were not the public more than myself concerned in it; but the wisdom of your honourable House, doth, and I doubt not will more clearly discern, the Design driven at in such Reports, and will take care for a right understanding of those who have been, or may yet be deceived by such abuses. For my own particular, had I not been thus occasioned by my duty to you and the Kingdom, I should have left the clearing of my integrity (as formerly so still) to the righteous God, who if with patience men can wait upon, and trust in him, will certainly confound and destroy that structure, whose foundation is laid in lies, with shame and sorrow to its wicked builders: Sir, I have not only to support and bear me up against these calumnies, the testimony of a good conscience; but to clear me amongst men, it pleaseth God so to order it, that upon all occasions given, and that before many witnesses, the King is so just, as to vindicate me from all those Aspersions, and so I doubt not will all others that have any sense of honour or truth, who have been witnesses to my actions and deportment, since His majesty's unexpected coming to this place. Sir, I conclude with this profession to you, as in the presence of God the Searcher of hearts, That as all the good of this world could not have hired me to this employment, could I have avoided it, or would you have seen it fit otherwise better to have provided for it; so, seeing Providence hath cast me upon it, or rather it upon me, I have (and by the assistance of God shall so continue) to the utmost of my power and knowledge, demeaned myself with all dutiful respect to His majesty's Person, with an equal eye to the duty I owe you and the Kingdom, in the great trust you have been pleased to place upon me: And this with that integrity and evenness, that I stand ready to give an account to God and all men of my actions herein. This satisfaction to you I find upon all occasions, by constant testimony of your favour to me, I need not now give you; yet being sensible a little at the wickedness of this most ungrateful unworthy person, makes me thus trouble you, though I need not, Reason itself will plead sufficiently against him, that having attempted and failed in such a Design, being so principled as such a man must be, that for his own interest he should proceed thus to colour his villainy, as by his late Addresses to both Houses. Sir, I shall not further trouble you, but in most earnest expectation looking for a deliverance from my intolerable burden (which God and a good conscience only supports a poor weak man to undergo) either by a removal of His majesty's Person from hence, when to your wisdoms it shall seem safe and fit; or by better providing for it, by a person or persons more able to undergo it, either of which, that which may best suit with your affairs, is most heartily desired, and that with speed, if God see it good: Till when, in the strength of that God who hath carried me on hitherto, and as he shall enable me (being sufficiently guarded against the worst that Malice can throw upon me) in all constant integrity, I shall endeavour to express myself, Sir,  
Your most faithful and humble Servant, RO: HAMMOND. Carisbrook-Castle, June 21. 1648.  
POSTSCRIPT.  
Mr. Osborn's Letter to my Lord Wharton, which his Lordship sent me, I have enclosed in a Letter to the Committee of Derby-house.  
Since I ended this Letter, I have examined the three Soldiers, who were dealt with to have been assisting in the King's escape; but they all affirm, and are ready to make good upon Oath, That neither Osborn, Dowcet, nor any other, told them that the King's life was in danger: So that it seems clear a Device of his own to inflame the people.   

Die Martis, 20 Iunii, 1648.  
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Letter of Richard Osborn of 10th Junii, 1648. directed to the Speaker of the House of Commons; and the Letter enclosed from the said Richard Osborn of 1ᵒ Junii, directed to the Lord Wharton, be communicated to the Lords: And it is Ordered, That the said Richard Osborn may have Forty days after the date hereof, to come with safety to his person, to make good the Allegations mentioned in the said Letters, so long as he shall stay here, for the Examination and proof of the business; And likewise shall have free Liberty to depart without molestation, let or hindrance.  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
FINIS.