To
his
Grace
,
His
Majesties
high
Commissioner
,
and
the
Right
Honourable
the
Estates
of
Parliament
.
Mr.
Allexander
Higgins
of
Craigforth
,
Humbly
sheweth
,
THat
where
John
Callender
having
given
in
to
your
Grace
and
Lordships
a
second
Petition
,
either
contradicting
in
a
most
calumnious
manner
,
the
matter
of
Fact
represented
in
my
Petition
,
or
telling
a
Story
,
that
doth
not
at
all
meet
with
his
Case
;
which
is
done
industriously
to
amuse
the
World
,
and
to
alleviat
the
gross
Crimes
,
and
absurd
Practices
,
that
are
proven
against
him
:
Being
the
ordinar
remedy
that
Malefactors
use
in
the
like
Case
,
till
the
very
Sentence
be
pronounced
against
them
:
But
I
being
in
Libello
,
founded
upon
a
Probation
already
adduced
,
the
half
whereof
is
sufficient
to
pr●cure
a
Warrand
to
prosecute
a
Criminal
,
for
putting
such
unaccountable
Tricks
upon
the
Publick
.
It
is
hoped
with
all
submission
,
that
no
such
Impudent
denial
of
the
true
Matter
of
Fact
,
can
put
a
stop
thereto
;
And
if
your
Grace
,
and
the
Honourable
Estates
of
Parliament
,
will
be
pleased
to
ordain
the
Sub-Committee
upon
that
Affair
,
to
compare
the
Depositions
and
other
Instructions
with
what
is
represented
by
me
in
my
said
Petition
,
it
will
be
found
,
that
I
have
used
very
much
Precaution
,
that
I
might
not
exceed
the
true
Matter
of
Fact
;
and
if
it
shall
be
found
otherways
,
I
am
willing
to
subject
my self
immediatly
to
the
most
severe
punishment
that
can
be
thought
upon
:
So
that
it
is
humbly
expected
,
that
your
Grace
and
Lordships
will
think
it
the
Concern
of
the
Publick
,
that
your
Petitioner
acting
in
a
Publick
Capacity
,
by
virtue
of
His
Majesties
Commission
,
this
matter
should
be
put
to
a
speedy
tryal
,
which
will
both
vindicat
me
,
and
make
his
foresaid
Petition
a
considerable
aggravation
of
his
Guilt
,
in
stead
of
having
the
success
that
he
most
fraudulently
designeth
by
it
.
In
the
next
place
,
the
said
John
Callender
(
to
compleat
his
Cavelling
in
his
said
Petition
)
maketh
a
Counter-charge
of
some
pretended
Crimes
against
your
Petitioner
,
viz.
the
Suborning
of
Witnesses
,
and
granting
double
Rights
:
But
to
demonstrate
that
these
Sham
Calumnies
are
most
ridiculous
,
and
used
by
him
of
purpose
,
to
divert
the
course
of
Justice
against
himself
.
I
not
only
heartily
comply
that
he
should
insist
against
me
,
but
also
,
that
(
in
case
I
be
found
guilty
in
the
least
of
what
he
hath
the
groundless
impudence
to
assert
)
the
punishment
due
by
the
Acts
of
Parliament
to
such
Crimes
,
may
be
doubled
against
me
.
Neither
shall
I
offer
(
in
compensation
of
this
false
Accusation
)
to
mention
his
manner
of
dealing
with
privat
persons
,
both
of
the
Nobility
and
Gentry
,
which
is
so
much
noised
abroad
through
the
Nation
.
May
it
therefore
please
your
Grace
,
and
the
Honourable
Estates
of
Parliament
,
to
ordain
the
said
Sub-Committee
to
compare
the
foresaids
Depositions
,
and
other
Instructions
,
with
my
foresaid
Petition
for
my
Vindication
:
And
if
their
Lordships
have
not
time
to
determine
the
matter
themselves
,
during
this
Session
of
Parliament
,
To
remit
to
the
Lords
of
Justiciary
the
Criminal
part
of
that
Process
;
And
to
the
Lords
of
the
Thesaury
and
Exchequer
,
to
state
and
conclude
the
compt
and
Reckoning
,
according
to
the
desire
of
my
foresaid
Petition
,
And
your
Petitioner
shall
ever
pray
,
&c.