I I - American Memory

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' fince I inllfted in his Majefty's Service ; the Charafter
' of my Behaviour in that Time, I will leave to my
' Acquaintance to declare.
' My Charafter was fufficiently teftified at my Tryal
' by Gentlemen of Worth and Honour. I pray God
' blefs them for their Chriftian Charity; I praife God
' my Refolution to live uprightly was no Conftraint.
' As for the .Caufe I fuffer, and the horrid Imputa-
' tion I am charged with, which is render'd Murder.
' [from my Soul I abhor it] I now declare as I expeft
,' Salvation, I am unjuftly accufed, but I freely forgive
' my Profecutors, as I hope to be forgiven ; for what
' I did was accidental, and in my own Vindication,
' the real Truth of which is as follows.
' The two Soldiers that were Evidence for me defir'd
' me to drink with them, as we return'd Home thro'
' the Fark, paffing by two Women, and being warmed
' with Liquor, I prefum'd to give one of them a Kifs,
' the other was a married Woman, and refenting my
'' Freedom, called out to her Hufband Edixiard Perry
' the Deceafed, and to Toms that walked before, both
* entire Strangers to me ; they returned, Toms advanced
' towards me abruptly, and ftruck me over the Head
' and Shoulders with a Stick, which ftun'd me ; he
' likewife urg'd the Deceafed to quarrel with me.
' The Deceafed (Perry) fwore he'd fee me out, and
' ftruck me with his Sword in the Seaboard over the
' Head, then he drew his Sword and made feveral
* Pafies at me, I ftill retreated, till provok'd to draw
' my Sword to preferve myfelf. This Affair was in
' the Night, I receiv'd a Wound in my right Hand
' Thumb, and a Thruft thro' my Coat. This I de-
' clare to be the whole Truth, as I fhall anfwer to my
' great God ; tho' my Profecutors Toms, and the De-
' ceafed Man's Wife fwore the Reverfe, which took
' Place to my Ruin. I pray God forgive them their
' TrefpafTes, as I hope Forgivenefs for my own. I
' pray God blefs my good Colonel for his Care and En-
•' deavours for my Safety, I pray God blefs him with
' length