Which the great man thought would be a strong Inducement to persuade me joyfully to accept of the Kings Employments.

But this was the thing I always most dreaded, and endeavoured to shun, knowing that being taken into Court would be a means to cut of all hopes of Liberty from me, which was the thing I esteemed equal unto life it self.
[But resolves to refuse it.] Seeing my self brought unto this pass, wherein I had no earthly helper, I recommended my cause to God, desiring him in whose hands are the hearts of Kings and Princes to divert the business.

And my cause being just and right I was resolved to persist in a denial.

My case seemed to me to be like that of the four Lepers at the Gate of Samaria.

No avoiding of Death for me: If out of Ambition and Honour, I should have embraced the Kings Service, besides the depriving my self of all hopes of Liberty, in the end I must be put to death, as happens to all that serve him; and to deny his service could be but Death.