The present great interest both of king and people in a letter written to one of the Lords of the Privy-Council / by a lover of his king and country. F. K. 1679 Approx. 17 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A47603 Wing K8 ESTC R20181 12354089 ocm 12354089 60081 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A47603) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 60081) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 212:10) The present great interest both of king and people in a letter written to one of the Lords of the Privy-Council / by a lover of his king and country. F. K. 4 p. s.n., [London? : 1679] Caption title. Signed at end: Plymouth, Sept. 16, 1679. F.K. Place and date of publication from Wing. Reproduction of original in British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685. 2006-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-01 Celeste Ng Sampled and proofread 2007-01 Celeste Ng Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Present Great Interest Both of KING AND PEOPLE : IN A LETTER Written To one of the Lords of the Privy-Council . By a Lover of his King and Country . My LORD , I Have so often resolved to wait on your Lordship , and as often been disappointed of those Resolutions , by such publick concerns as did intervene , that I now resolve , what should then have been the subject of my discourse with your Lordship , had my occasions permitted me to come to London , shall be now comprised in this short Epistle ; and I hope your Lordship will not despise the well meant Offering of your Lordships old Acquaintance . My Lord , Among the rest of other matters , ( during twenty Years last past ) I have particularly taken notice of the most remarkable publick Occurrences that have been in this Nation ; and when I review them , to me they seem strange . I will only observe , with your Lordships leave , these things ; First , My Lord , You cannot but remember , with what an universal Joy did all Parties amongst us , even as one man , receive the King at his Return . England lookt like the most peaceable Paradise in the world : We began to entertain the old English Spirit again of Love and Loyalty . — But behold ! How soon was our growing Hopes blasted , all hands at work to hinder any Settlement either in Church or State ? First , The old Enemy of our Religion , the Papist , attempts the greatest Personages with their Nicknacks of Religion , and had an excellent Harvest , especially among a sort of Religious Women ; who when they had thrown off all sense of Modesty and Honesty , shelter'd themselves under the Priests shroud of Confession and Absolution , ( a rare way to finde out the Intrigues of Protestant Princes ! ) 2. The Sectarian he immediately stept in too , with Disputes about the Garments of Religion , and must needs have long Conferences at the Savoy , Whether it were more Apostolical , a short Cloak , or a Holland Surplice , &c. And yet these Zealots pretend , the Articles of Religion in the Church of England are sound . But King James , I remember , told us , He knew that sort of men very well , that they would be always demanding alterations in Religious Establishments ; but could never agree among themselves , what 't was they would have and be quiet . 3. A sort of wild fantastick men , called Fifth-Monarchy , arose to disturb our Peace , which would have neither Church nor Monarchy , as establish'd ; but overturn all , to bring down Our Saviour to reign personally amongst them : and no doubt he would have had admirable Subjects ! 4. With these , in comes a Torrent of Atheism and Debauchery , as if all sense of Good and Evil were quite obliterated out of their mindes . What Cursing , Swearing , Whoring , Blaspheming , even in the face of the Sun ! all manner of filthiness , even to a Prodigy : And he was no Gentleman , nor Person of any Honour , that had not in two hours sitting at Wine , invented some new modish Oath , or found out the late Intrigue between the L. B. and the L. P. laught at the fopperies of Priests , and made Lampoons and Droll on the sacred Scriptures themselves : This was and is the practice of our young Nobility and Gentry , to the great Scandal and Reproach of their Families . 5. The old Cunning Statesman observing this , steps forth , and appears vigorous too , on behalf of the Discontented ; sets up Green-Ribbond-Clubs , and le ts fall doubtful Intelligence at each Coffee-house , that it may look two ways , and neither true nor understood ; has his Emissaries every where to whisper Treason and Sedition , smite the King through the Dukes side , Libel and Lampoon him , make him the Author of the present miseries : Cry out daily of Property and Liberty , that it 's like to be invaded ; when quite contrary , their designs are absolutely bent to invade the Prerogative of their Prince , and render him onely the bare Complement of a King , and no more . Yea , they have of late made our Citizens Statesmen too — whose business lies quite another way ( one would think ) every little Ale-draper now can tell what the Privy-Councel intend to do a Month hence , and what the King ought to do , &c. Very fine by my troth — Well , but the Statesman goes farther yet , for in the Countrey he appears for all the Discontented at Elections for Parliament-men ; there he recommends Godliness in such a man , Courage in another , against Popish and Episcopal Plotters ; when a man might have heard of some of them thirty years ago , violent against King-Plotters , that is , those Loyal persons that endeavoured the Kings Restoration . Now , My Lord , we have brought our selves to a very fine pass : let me but a little Animadvert on what I have observed , and then propose some Remedies for the Cure of our present Misery . My Lord , methinks it should have been impossible that these things should come to pass in our days as we now see , when we had groaned twenty years under the several Tyrannies of Mechanick Princes , Reformation Workmen , Sanctified Covenanters , Preaching Coblers , and what not ? that our great ones should so far forget themselves , as to hearken to the secret whispers of those Anti-Christian Traders , to endeavour a return to that Slavery , under which most of the Princes of Europe have lain many years ; to countenance a Religion so full of wickedness of all sorts ; to Plot , contrive the death of Princes , in order to their design . Surely Protestant Religion was never well grounded in these persons , or if it had , they have sinn'd away all sence of it , that teaches other things in Christianity . Indeed , as for the Female sort that have departed from our Church to that of Rome , of late years , they were a dishonour to our Church , and no protection or allowance in it to those Adulteries and Fornications which are their daily practice : so that no wonder they are departed since into that Church , where they can sin and repent , &c. and yet be as innocent as the late Saints departed at Tyburn . And again , methinks the ill success our discontented Brethren had in their former Enterprizes for Reformation , the Miseries , Murders , Ruine both to Church and State ; loss of one of the best of Kings , by the hands of their Leaders , should deter them from attempting the like again . But , my Lord , I have observed among those sort of Men , a spirit full of trouble and discontent , let the times be good or bad , for they are and must be even as they fancy . Truly if Laws wisely contrived to keep us all quiet , be put in execution against them , oh then , the beloved Doctrine of Persecution is held forth powerfully , to untye the purse-strings of the good Women of the Congregation ; and to say truth , they have then the best harvest . Well , but if no Law be put in-execution against them ▪ and they are permitted to say and do what they please , truly then , one or other of the Bishops is suspected Popishly inclined , and sometimes they are all so but two . Then again , if a sound able Preacher of the Church of England , or two , appear against their foppish way of Preaching and Canting , ( as the worthy Sherlock and Falkner have done ) so that thereby their Congregations begin to grow thin ; oh then , a hue and cry goes out against them , Seize the Arminian , he is departed from the Church of Englands Articles , and its Homilies ; seize the Socinian , that denies the satisfaction of Christ . So that were not Mr. Sherlock a very tall stout man , Mr. Falkner at Lynn , and Dr. Jane under the Protestant Bishops protection , 't is ten to one but they had been delivered up to the Rabble , as a great man was about 1643. for being charged with the same Crimes . And then they are admirable too at recommending Publick Magistrates ; if they were but the Sons of some of the old Rebellion , and have never so little tincture of Fathers crime , but especially if they hunt Jesuits day and night , and appear at a Conventicle at least once a Lords day ; that 's the Man all the Rabble shall be possessed with ; he is a precious man to sit in Parliament , to defend us , and promote our cause against Popery and Prelacy . Now my Lord , for the other sort of Monsters that have principally given their helping hand to bring ruine and destruction on us , I mean the Debauchees and the Atheist , I know not what to say to them : I would only ask the Justices of Peace and other publick Magistrates these two Questions . 1. Whether if they had observed to put in execution the Laws establisht in this Nation against these Sons of Belial , ( who thus bid defiance to God and all things Sacred , or had not been frighted from their duty by great examples ) we had seen the present misery of this Age ? Is it not a shame in a Christian Kingdom , to permit such Monsters amongst us ? I cannot forget one of this sort , that is , One of Davids Fools , that said in his heart , &c. is mighty angry first with himself , for being punish'd severely for his ill life , then with all Mankind ; proving they are in a worse condition than Beasts , because he himself has suffer'd like one . A ROD for that FOOLS back . 2. Whether if the Magistates had put in Execution the Laws made against Popish Recusants and other Sectaries , we had heard of so many Plots and Contrivances against our King , Government , and Religion ? Then , I say , my Lord , let not the King be evil spoken of , that these things are come upon us , but charge it on the careless Magistrate , that has forgot God and his Duty ; and as long as we have such Magistracy , we shall wax worse and worse , till we are beyond recovery , and must of necessary Consequence be so . In all Ages , the Sanction of Laws duely executed , were the best defensatives for any Kingdome or Common-wealth . 'T was Debauchery , and not observing the Laws , brought to nothing the Roman Empire . Had our Laws been duely executed , should we have heard the cryes of the Fatherless and Widdow in our streets , so much as we do ? should not Cursing , Swearing , and Blasphemy , been out of fashion , and esteemed dishonourable in the highest , and abandoned by the meanest ? Would not Adulteries and Fornications , and the lewdness of the present times , have crept into the dark , and not appeared so out-daring the Laws of Modesty , as well as the Laws of our Land ? judge you that are the Magistrates of the Land. My Lord , surely it is high time for some of the most prudent among the Nobility and Gentry , to arise on behalf of God , Religion , and the Laws , that our King and we perish not together ; for if there be not a hook put into the Nostrils of these unruly and ungodly persons , 't is impossible but we shall come to confusion , and every evil work ; and also that we in the lower sphere should carry our selves humbly and loyally to our King , and endeavour to put to silence the turbulent hot-spurs of the Age , that gape after change in the Government ; but I hope the Lord will disappoint their expectations , and blast their designes . In order to which , I onely will , with your Lordships leave , propose these eight things to the consideration of both King , Lords and Commons ; and so shall bid your Lordship Good night . First , Would it not much conduce to the rooting out and destroying the present ill Manners of the Age , if His Sacred Majesty would be pleased to appoint fit persons of unquestionable Integrity , Sobriety , and Loyalty , to enquire into the Lives of all his Officers and Servants , from the highest to the lowest ; and find out the most expedient way by the Law , to reform the Swearer , the Blasphemer , the Whoremaster , the Flatterer , and the Lyer , the neglecter of God and his Worship , or to remove them from his Person and Service ? then would Vertue be in fashion at Court. 2. That great care be taken , to admit none to be Justices of Peace , but such as are of very unquestionable Loyalty , and firm to the Church of England , of sober Conversation and Piety , that would mind an Oath ; then should our Laws be put in execution against Offenders , and Justice not perverted , to the destruction of our peace and happiness . 3. That since of late , through the wickedness of the times , there hath been Indulgence given to Dissenters , That some persons be appointed very often to hear them , in order to put an awe upon them , lest they preach against the Establisht Government ; and that reward be given to such persons employed in that service . 4. That the Nurseries of Sedition and Rebellion ( Coffee-houses ) be forthwith put down , and some reasonable compensation given to the persons of that Profession , who shall suffer thereby . 5. That an exact Register of all the Popish Families in England be returned to the Exchequer , and with them their Children also ; that care be taken they may have no St. Omers Education , in the several Counties by the Justices thereof ; and to make return of such as dare send their Children beyond sea for Education in Religion . 6. That to take off the Scandal and Contempt from the Clergy of the Church of England , the Bishops in their several Diocesses would visit in person , and not by their Chancellours ; and would not superficially , but strictly and severely enquire into the Lives and Manners of their Clergy , and take all care to discard them from their Exercise of the Sacred Office , till they become as they ought to be . And further , that they would by no means admit so many into Holy Orders , before they be Thirty years of age , and well qualified with Learning and Parts to exercise their Office ; then should not our Universities spue out so many every year of Sizers or Servitors , with a little Learning and less Money , to take upon them the Curateship of some Doctors Pluralities , which with a present Marriage , and a small Stipend , ( let the Living be what it will ) he becomes the scandal of the Parish , Poverty being so esteemed every where in this degenerate Age. And farther , that 't would hugely conduce to the encouraging of Learning , if the great Preferments of the Church were given to the most Learned and deserving Men , such as are sound for the Church of England ; and that no Pluralities be admitted to any person whatsoever , unless to a poor Vicar , whose Vicarage cannot scarce maintain his Family in Bread. 7. That some of the most noble Personages of the Kingdom , Men of Integrity and Learning , and reputed Loyalty , together with some of our Worthy and Pious Bishops , would by way of Humble Address to his Royal Highness , represent the present jealousies and fears which are upon the minds of the people of this Nation , by his being inclined to the Romish Religion ; and to represent to his Highness the mischievous consequences of altering the Religion his Father dyed for , and he himself is obliged to by the obligation of Baptism , and the dying advice and command of his Royal Father and Martyr ; and earnestly to press him to make a publick satisfaction to the Nation in that respect ; otherwise , the mischiefs that will inevitably follow , may too late be prevented . 8. To conclude , That all honest and Loyal hearts would joyn unanimously together , to support the Interest of the King and the Church , against all those that have set their hands to work to pull them down ; their several Characters you have before in this Epistle , and 't is no hard matter to meet with them in all places of converse , where they assert and maintain their Democratical principles . I say , let us stand up in behalf of our King and Church , as stoutly as they are Enemies to them , and God will no doubt save us from the destruction and misery , devastation and ruine that threatens us at this time . Plymouth , Sept. 16. 1679. My Lord , I will ever subscribe , Your Lordships most devoted Servant , F. K.