He denies that he has broken trust with the Protector; he denies that he is a Leveller; and, what pleases us best of all, he denies the authorship of the doggrel lines just quoted.

His exact words about these may be given.

"But, say some, you made a copy of scandalous verses upon the Lord Protector, whereby his Highness and divers others were offended and displeased ...

I must acknowledge I copied a paper of verses called _The Character of a Protector_; but I did neither compose them, nor (to the best of my remembrance) show them to any after I had writ them forth.

They were taken out of my letter-case at Leith, where they had been a long time by me, neglected and forgotten.