A LETTER to a Person of Honour, concerning the Kings disavowing the having been Married to the D. of M's. Mother.  
My Lord,  
AS you cannot but have seen his Majesty's Declaration, wherein he Renounceth the having been Married to the D. of M's. Mother; so I believe you will not be displeased to have an account of the sense of the Thinking men about the Town concerning it. And this without either disguising, or concealing what is publicly discoursed, I shall, as becomes your Lordship's servant, address myself to give you.  
And in the first place; They say it is no surprise to them, that seeing the D. of Y. hath gotten the Ascendant of the King, he should hector him into, or at least extort from him the foresaid Declaration. For, can any imagine, that he who for some time renounced his own Wife, and had provided Persons to swear a familiarity with her which made her unworthy of being Duchess of York; should scruple to importune the King to do as much by Mrs. walter's, though it were never so demonstrable that he was married unto her. The course he practised himself, he may without any breach of Charity be thought ready to prescribe to others. And it may be, he thinks it will be some extenuation of what he did himself, if people can be brought to believe that it is a Disease natural to the Family, and which runs in a Blood. Now we all know, not only with what Asseverations the D. disclaimed his Marriage with Mrs. Hide, but with what reflections upon her Chastity he did it. And yet the Proofs of the said Marriage were so evident, that he was necessitate at last to acknowledge it; and to own her for his Wife, after he had by himself, and many others, Proclaimed her for no better than a Common Whore. And I'm sure it left this Impression upon most Persons, That his Faith to Men was not very far to be relied on, seeing he made so slight of that Faith which he had plighted i● an Ordinance of God to a harmless Lady.  
Secondly, Most men do observe this difference between the Kings Renouncing Mrs. Waters, and the Duke's Disclaiming Mrs. Hide; That what the Duke did, was an Act of Inclination and Choice, whereas it is apparent, that what the King hath done, is the result of Dread and Fear. For, to use his Majesties own expression not long ago, He was harassed out of his Life, by the importunity of his Brother; & as He added, He could rather choose to Die than Live so uneasily as he did, while he withstood their daily Solicitations in this matter. And as nothing made the Duke honest to Mrs. Hide, but the interposition of his Majesty's Authority, from a sense of the Justness of the Lady's Complaint; so they believe the King is only Injurious through the Influence of others, and that when rescued out of ill Hands, and left to himself, he will return to be Just. For though his Majesty be a Prince of that clearness of Understanding, that they cannot baffle him by false Reasonings, yet he hath so much of James' timidness, that they can huff and over-awe him to things most opposite to his Judgement, as well as cross to his Interest. And let me upon this occasion remind your Lordship of a Story, of a Scots Nobleman to my Lord Burleigh, upon that wise Statesman's desiring a Character of King James, long before he ascended the English Throne. If your Lordship, saith the blunt Scotsman know a Jackanapes, you cannot but understand, that if I have him in my hands, I can make him bite you, whereas if you get him into your hands, you may make him bite me.  
Thirdly, The whole Town is apprehensive, that the King through endeavouring by this Act to secure himself in the Grace at least forbearance of the Duke and Popish Party, will find in the Issue that instead thereof, he hath left himself naked and exposed to their wrath and malice. Nor is there any thing more probable than that what the King calls and intends only for a Declaration to serve his present Occasions, they will transform into his Last Will and Testament, to accommodate theirs. If Queen Elizabeth, when tempted to declare Her Successor, declind it with this saying, That such an Act would be the digging 〈◊〉 Grave before She were dead; have we not great Cause to apprehend that the King having by this Act digged his own Grave, his Brother, or the Jesuits, under whose Government he is, will find hands to bring and put him into't, lest through delay something should intervene that would fill it up again. 'Tis a pity, that none would call to his Majesty's Memory, that saying of Tacitus, Suspectus semper invisusque Dominanti qui proximus destinatur. Which▪ by varying a little from the Latin, I will English thus; That he ought to be always suspected, and carefully watched against by the Ruler, who most ardently hopes, and thinks himself in likelihood to succeed him. Statesmen in old Times reckoned it for a Maxim in Politics, that, Ne mentio fieret Haeredis vivo adhuc Principe; That while the Prince liveth, there ought not to be so much as a mentioning of any whose right it was to come after. For as subtle Tiberius upbraided Macro, that he forsook the setting Sun, to worship the rising; so King Charles, may have in time, if he have not already, cause to object the same to some about him. That crafty Emperor knew more of the Art of self-preservation, than Crowned Heads in our days seem to do. For though he had adopted Germanicus at the Command of Augustus▪ of whom he received the Empire, yet having a Son of his own, namely Drusus, He would never declare in favour of either so long as they lived, but Judged his own Safety to consist in leaving it doubtful whose Title to the Universal Monarchy was best. However (say most of his Majesty's Subjects) though we have not been able to prevent the King from this unwary Act, by which he hath staked his Life to the pleasure of his Enemies, yet we will be kinder to him than he hath been to himself, and contribute all we can to his Security, and that is by letting the World know, That we'll Revenge his Death, by sacrificing the whole Popish party upon his Grave in case he should come to an untimely End.  
Fourthly, This Declaration would be received with less hesitation in the minds of People, if Kings and Princes were not made of the same mould with other men, and liable to the like failures and moral Prevarications that the rest of the Sons of Adam are. And therefore observing how common it is for Persons upon a lower ground to renounce their Wives, and most sacredly disclaim their Marriages; they conceive it is not impossible but that these who move in higher spheres, may upon strong Temptations do the like. Yea, our own History furnisheth us with an Instance of a great King, and one who swayed the English Sceptre, who is transmitted to us with this blot in his Scutcheon▪ The Person I mean is Edw. the fourth, who being a sprightly and amorous Prince, was suddenly Contracted and Married to Elinor Talbot Daughter of the Earl of Shrewbury, and that not only without any witnesses save Dr. Thomas Stillington Bishop of Bath, into whose hands the Contract was made, and who officiated at and celebrated the Marriage, but besides the poor Doctor was strictly enjoined by the King to conceal it; and you may easily suppose the timorous Prelate would not fail in his duty to Majesty, at least so long as he knew the King in a condition to punish and avenge the Discovery. Now Ed. 4. finding thereupon admission into the embraces of the Lady, and having satiated himself a while by secret enjoyments, and withal reckoning that none could or at least durst detect by what holy ties he was bound unto her; he did some years after (notwithstanding the Person to whom he was Affianced still survived) both deny what was so solemnly transacted in the ptesence of Almighty God between them, and withal Married another Woman, namely my Lady Eliz. Grace. Your Lordship may see the story both in Buck's Life of Richard the Third, pag. 16, etc. and in Comines' History of ●ewis the 1● th'. And without making any application of it to the present Case, I shall crave liberty to make these Remarks upon it.  
I. That it is possible for Princes, especially such as have accompanied with many Women, to have weak Memories, and to forget upon what Terms they contracted their first Friendships with them. For finding how their Familiarity arose with others of that Sex, they may grow by degrees into a kind of persuasion that their Interest in all was established upon no better terms. Or if they should not be supposed so forgetful as this amounts, unto, yet the Love of change may make them stifle their knowledge, especially when the Objects of their fre●h Amours cannot be otherwise brought to entertain their flame, but with a provision for their own Honour.  
2. That the denials of Kings are not to be subscribed unto with an implicit Faith, but that we ought to use the same discretion in believing or not believing what they say, that we esteem ourselves privileged to use towards others in the credit which they require we should give unto them. For though Princes be not liable to be impleaded in our Courts, nor be subject to Penalties that transgressing Subjects are; yet seeing they may be guilty of the same facts, which would both leave a reproach upon common men, and make them obnoxious to punishments, it cannot rationally be expected that their bare words should restrain the freedom of our Thoughts, or give law to our Understandings in the Judgement that we are to make of Cases and Things.  
3. I would observe, That though the Judicial Courts could not, and the Parliaments during Edward's Reign, would not take cognisance of that Kings contemning and violating the Ordinance of God, by disclaiming his lawful Wife; yet the Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth in a little while after animadverted severely on the Offence. For not only his two Sons, whom he had by the Lady Grace, were murdered by their Uncle, but the Kingdom was translated from his Family, and not only bestowed upon the chiefest enemy of his House, but upon one who among all that for a long series before had been Rivals for the Crown, had the weakest Title.  
4. It is not unworthy also of our Notice, that notwithstanding King Edward's denying his first Marriage, and assuming another Lady unto his Conjugal Bed; yet all this could neither prevent the future enquiry into this matter, nor the Parliaments recognising the Marriage with Elinor Talbot, 1. of Rich. 3. And besides the imputation of a Bigamist which is thereby stamped upon him to all Ages, his Children by the second venture were Bastardised by Statute, and an occasion from thence taken so place the Sceptre in the hand of Richard.  
Fifthly, Nothing in this Declaration can preclude the Duke of Monmouth, or any other true Englishman, from enquiring (when time serveth) by legal and due ways into the truth or falsehood of the King's marriage with Mrs. walter's. For the D. cannot be denied the same right which appertains to every person in the Kingdom, namely the justifying his own legitimacy in due course and form. And should he choose to sit down with the imputation of a Bastard with all the other Losses which attend it; Yet there are those in the Nation who preferring their duty to God, their Country, Themselves, and an injured Gentleman, before a Reverence to one man, especially acting under the Influence of a Popish Brother, will bring that whole business into an impartial examination before such, where a single Negative will not be allowed as a sufficient proof to invalidate affirmative Testimonies, providing such can be had. And should that marriage hereafter be authentically proved, how ill will they be found to have deserved both of the King and Kingdom, that have either surprised, cajoled, or threatened his Majesty to bring such a slur upon his Honour and Reputation, as this Declaration will to all Ages Entail. And, my Lord, Is it not strange, if there was never any such Marriage, that Mrs. walter's should not only when in travel with the said D. but at many other times, particularly in her last hours, when in the Prospect of approaching Death and ensuing Judgement, affirm it with that positiveness which she did? And is it not more surprising, if there had been no such Marriage, That Dr Fuller, late Bishop of Lincoln, should so often, and in Verbo Sacerdotis, declare to divers worthy Persons, That he Married them. Nay, What should bias the Innkeeper at Liege to make it the great Mystery with which he entertained his English Guests, That the Marriage was cellebrated and consummated in his House, and that both he and his Wife were eye and ear Witnesses of it. Moreover, if it were such an Idle Story as the Declaration represents it, how came it to pass, that when some persons lately examined about the Black Box, declared that they had heard of such a thing as the Kings being Married to that Gentlewoman, they should be immediately commanded to withdraw, and told that this was not the business they were interrogated about. Besides, My Lord, as all who were abroad with his Majesty at that time, knew the Passion the king had for that person; so some of us can remember, how through immoderate love to her being reduced to a condition that his Life was dispaired of, and the late Queen his Mother recieving intelligence both of his Disease and the Cause of it, she consented to his espousing of her, rather than that he should consume and perish in his otherwise unquenchable flames. Moreover as there were few had better opportunities of being acquainted with this whole affair than my late Lord Chancellor, Hide; so I'm sure the advantages likely to accrue to his offspring by the seclusion of the Duke of Monmouth from all Title to the Crown, may be judged sufficient inducements to have prevailed with him, if not to have asserted the said Duke's Bastardy, yet to have been silent in the case, and not to have proclaimed the Legittimacy. And yet that very Lord being in danger of an Impeachment in Parliament for advising and persuading the King to a Marriage with Queen Katherine, excused himself from all sinistrous ends in that affair, by affirming, That his Majesty had a lawful Son of his own by a former Marriage (specifying by name the D. of M.) to succeed to his Crown and Dignity. Now though it may be supposed that a person may sometimes lie for his Interest, yet no man can be thought to do so in order to the prejudice as well of himself as his whole Posterity. And if we believe men speaking falsehoods in subserviency to their Honour and Profit; Shall we not give credit to them when they speak Truth to their own damage, and that of all those who are dear unto them? Certainly the positive Confession and Testimony of this one Person, being against the Interest of his whole Family, of more weight than the denials of any number whatsoever, when merely to promote their safety and advantage, or to serve the Exaltation of the Papal Cause. These are but few of the many particulars I could acquaint your Lordship with relating to the confirmation of a Marriage between the King and Mrs. walter's; But it is a piece of necessary wisdom at this juncture to know what not to say, as well as to understand what to say. And to tell you plainly, I'm more a Servant and a Friend to my Country, than by pretending to plead the Duke's Cause, and to be useful to the Nation, to discover the Witnesses which are in reserve, or betray the farther Evidences which are to be produced when this matter shall come before a competent Judicature.  
Sixthly, 'Tis matter of no small trouble to such as truly love his Majesty, that the King's Integrity and Honour should be brought to stake, in a matter wherein both the present Age and the succeeding, may take occasion to question and bring into examination his Truth and sincerity. For though it is not impossible but that Princes (considering the Temptations with which they are surrounded) may sometimes through inadvertency, and at other times upon State Motives endeavour to impose upon the credulity, if not abuse the Faith of their People; Yet, the veracity of a Supreme Governor is of that importance to himself, and so necessary to the Veneration, which his People ought to maintain for him, that he is not to bring his Credit to Pawn, unless it be in such Cases wherein his People may, if not apologise for, yet connive at the indiscretion and weakness of their Ruler, should he be found to delude them. Nor hath any thing obstructed the affairs of Princes more, and prevented their People's believing them when they spoke their most inward thoughts, than the forfeiture of their Credit in matters wherein their Subjects relied upon the Honour and Truth of their Word. For they who do not mean as they speak when People are prepared to hear them, must not expect that their words should be much relied upon, when their Tongues are the true Interpreters of their minds. And let me tell your Lordship that this last Declaration hath caused multitudes of his Majesty's best Subjects to reflect upon and take a view of many of his former Declarations, that from them they may be furnished with reasons for justifying themselves in the suspension of their assent to this. And I wish there had not been that cause administered by foregoing ones, which may with too many lessen the value of the Royal Word in that bearing date the second of June.  
The first of this kind he ever published after he came in view of being restored to the Sovereignty over these Kingdoms, was that dated at Breda, the 4 th'. of April, 1660. wherein he promised Liberty to all tender Consciences and engaged the sacred word of a King, That no man should be disquieted, or called in question, for differences in matter of Religion, provided they did not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom. Now though I will not dispute about the sense wherein this Declaration was meant, nor concerning the End for which it was calculated and framed; yet this I may be allowed to say, that there are a great many of his Majesty's Liege People who have tasted dealings directly repugnant unto it, and may justly complain of some faileur in the accomplishment of it.  
'Tis true his Majesty is not originally to be blamed that it had not the hoped for effects; but withal that Prince that can be over-ruld to recede from a Promise which contributed so much to his happy and peaceable Restoration, may be supposed capable of such Impressions from men of ill minds, as may make him venture his Royal Word in other cases beyond the measures of Justice. But seeing it were a business of too much Fatigue to call over all the Declarations since his Majesty actually occupied the British Throne, I shall therefore remind your Lordship only of two more. Whereof the first is that of January the second, 1671, wherein the King upon shutting up the Exchequer, Declares on the Word of a Prince, That the restraint put upon payments out of the Treasury, should continue no longer than till the last of Decemb. 1672. And yet the fulfilling of this is still Prorogued, though it be now above Nine Years since the Royal Word was pledged for making it good.  
The other that I shall refresh your memory with, is that of the the Twentieth of April 1679. Wherein his Majesty having shrived himself and craved absolution for all past matters, solemnly declareth that he would for time to come, Lay aside the use of any single Ministry, or private Advices, or Foreign Committees, for the general direction of his Affairs; and that he would afterwards Govern his Kingdoms by the Advice of that Counsel which he had then chosen, together with the frequent use of his great Council of Parliament, as being the true and ancient Constitution of this State and Government. Far be it from me to blame his Majesty for the disappointment of those hopes which the People had so universally conceived upon that Declaration which was so full of ingenuity and candour, and so adapted to the Honour, Safety, and Interest both of King and Kingdom; but this may be said without the least umbrage of irreverence, that the same pestilent men who were able to cause his Majesty to violate such a Declaration wherein he spoke the most like a wise and good Prince that ever he did, may be also able by the same ascendant influence to wrest an unadvised and bad one from him. The same Councils which prevailed upon him to go against both his Royal Word, and all the Maxims of Policy with which he is so richly endowed; may they not likewise be conceived to have over-rulled him in this to speak against his knowledge and those moral Principles of Truth and Justice, with which when left to himself he appears to be imbued. Nor do I doubt but that among other things they had in prospect to compass by this Declaration, they hoped to shut his Majesty out of the love of his best Protestant Subjects, so that when brought to fall by their Traitorous Conspiracies, his death may be at once unlamented and unrevenged. But let them not flatter themselves, for if there be any thing false or unjust in it, we ascribe it all to their rage against our Laws and our Religion, and do only complain of the King's facility in suffering himself to be so openly abused.  
Seventhly, But whereas there is one thing in the Declaration by which men of honest and easy minds, being unacquainted with the Practices of the world, are apt to be somewhat startled; namely, The Kings calling Almighty God to witness, and affirming upon the Faith of a Christian, that there was never any Marriage, or contract of Marriage, had or made between him and Mrs. walter's; I think myself obliged to lay before you the sense and apprehensions which wisest heads have of that Protestation and solemn Appeal.  
If, say they, neither the Eye nor Dread of God, nor the Faith of a Christian, are effectual to restrain a person from Adulteries and promiscuous Scatter, Can we have any security that they will prevent such a one from the guilt of other Crimes? He who neither trembleth, nor blusheth to Proclaim his Uncleannesses to all the World, will he forbear sins of any kind or hue out of Principle, though he may possibly omit them by accident, and in compliance with Interest?  
It was a Maxim of an ancient Ruler, that as Children are to be coussened with Nuts, so Men are to be deluded with Asseverations and Oaths. And upon this occasion they call to mind the Character fastened upon Charles the ninth of France, namely, that the surest Symptoms by which it was known when he spoke falsely, was the endeavouring to confirm what he said by the most dreadful Imprecations, and execrable Oaths. And what our own Historians leave upon the memory of his Royal Majesties own Grandfather in this point, I had rather you should learn from wilson's History of King James, than be told by me. Besides, say others, who knoweth but that the King through the like Impression of fear, under which he lifted up his Hand to the most high God at Scone when Crowned in Scotland, may have been influenced and overawed to make this late Appeal and Protestation.  
He who hath done one such thing, and especially with that solemnity and profession of sincerity wherewith he took the Covenant; can it be otherwise apprehended but that he may do the like again, if there be sufficient Cause for the same passion which biased him against Knowledge and Conscience then. Nay the utmost inducement that swayed and determined him contrary to his Judgement and Light, to Swear by the great God, in terms so August and awful in Scotland, was merely an apprehension of being otherwise Secluded from his Right over that kingdom; but it is more than probable, that no less than a dread of losing his Life, as well as three kingdoms, hath necessitated him to this which he hath now done. Now it is but considering the seasons when the several Declarations pronounced first in Council and at last published to the World, were made; and you will be soon convinced that they▪ were extorted from him partly by the necessity of his Affairs, and partly by the frightful ascendancy which his Brother hath obtained over him. For the first which we are here in the Print told of, was that made the sixth of January, 1678. when the condition and posture wherein things than stood, made it indispensably needful that the king should oblige his Brother to withdraw, and which the D. of Y. (though he knew that his stay here at that time, would have in all likelihood involved his Majesty under inextricable difficulties) refused to comply with, till he had wrested that Declaration from him.  
And for the second, which was made also in Council, March 3. 1678. it is obvious to every considering man, and demonstrable to all the World, that it was the effect of that necessity which his Majestis Affairs had reduced him unto. For the Parliament being to meet the sixth of that month, and it appearing by the several returns of the persons Elected to fit, that we were like to have a House of true English Gentlemen, who would not only inspect the late Popish Plot, but inquire into the miscarriages of public Ministers. Hereupon as the Duke threatened to return, unless the king would make some fre●h Declaration, whereby, being pronounced and represented as next Heir, he might be skriend from the angry but just recentments of the Nation. So divers persons at home who knew themselves unpardonably criminal, applied their thoughts to find out a method, by which a misunderstanding might in a short time arise between the king and his Parliament. And apprehending that the D. of Y. could not possibly escape the animadversion of the House, all the Treasons and Crimes whereof others were only guilty in their respective parts and proportions, meeting in him as so many Lines i● their Centre; they accordingly by threatening to m●ke their own compositions, and to lay open all those matters which they conceived his Majesty to be most solicitous to have concealed, brought the king to make that Declaration. Whereby having in effect signified the D. of Y. to be the next in right to succeed, they reckoned they had wrought him to such an espousal of his Brother, as must needs break all measures of fair correspondency with his Parliament. And as this was the principal thing they aimed at, so by denouncing still to provide for their own security, in detecting whatsoever they knew, they kept him to an adhesion to the Declaration which he had made, and thereby not only embarassed all his Affairs, but so embroiled him with the House of Commons, as that in a few weeks they compassed the Dissolution of the Parliament.  
Having thus briefly represented unto your Lordship under what influence of necessity and fear, these Declarations were at first made in Council, I need not tell you through what impressions by the uncessant Importunity, and daily Hectoring of his majesty by the Duke, now at Windsor, they come at last to be Printed and Proclaimed to the World. The king poor Gentleman, is willing to buy his Peace at any rates, and hath here staked his Honour, not to say his Conscience, for it? But as you know that neither Concessions, Declarations nor Alienations made by a Person in duress, or under threatenings, or swayed by apprehensions of the hazard of his Life, can oblige others, though they be such as are wrapped up in or concluded by him in all Cases wherein he is supposed free; so in plain English, the generality of the People and those of the best sense, hold themselves no wise affected or prescribed unto by these Declarations. For we who knew the tenor of them when they lay concealed in the Council Books, and yet thought ourselves at liberty to believe as our Judgements conducted us, are not likely to have our minds altered by the bare Printing of them. But how far the Conscience of the king is concerned or defiled, I leave to those of the Theologick Faculty to resolve, only I judge that the same Casuistical Divinity whereby they salved the Conscience and vindicated the honour of the king in case the of the Covenant, and with all discharged him from the Obligation which it was supposed to have put upon him, may whensoever he thinks meet▪ stand him in good stead, and afford him the same relief in the case of the late Declarations.  
Eightly, There is one thing further, that must not be omitted▪ because it gives us amazement, and yet affords us pleasant diversion; namely the motive they have brought his Majesty to allege for his making and publishing this Declaration. I confess I could not read it without surprise and wonderful emotion. And I dare say, when you think seriously of it, you will find pity stir in your heart to your abused Prince, and your blood swell in your Veins through indignation at some about him. For after the care they have suffered him to take for preserving our Religion, Lives and Liberties from the designs of the Papists, by dissolving two Parliaments, and so often Proroguing a third; they bring him now to publish this Declaration to relieve the minds of his loving Subjects from their fears, and to prevent the ill consequences which a belief of his having been Married to the D. of M's. Mother, may have in future times upon the Peace of these kingdoms. A most proper way to extinguish our fears, by doing all that he can, to subject us hereafter to one who is the professed Enemy of our established Religion and Legal Government. But that your Lordship may the better comprehend how highly we are obliged to his majesty for his love and tenderness to his People in all that they judge dear and valluable, by designing so hopeful a Successor over them; I shall recount some of those many particulars from which we esteem ourselves capable of judging what a gracious and desirable Prince this dear and beloved Brother is like to prove.  
1. He is a Gentleman that hath renounced the Religion wherein he was not only educated and which these Nations profess, but which he had consigned unto him sealed with the Blood of his father, and entailed upon him and the whole Line by no less than his Grandfather's Curse, in case any of old Jame's offspring should depart from it.  
2. He hath made it his business to seduce his Majesty's Subjects to the papal Faith, and to enslave them to a foreign Jurisdiction. And by his addresses, solicitations, and preferments wherewith he is able to reward such mercenary souls as are ready to make sale of their Religion, he hath made more converts to the Church of Rome than all the English Missionaries have been able to do.  
3. Through the power which he hath obtained over the King, he hath procured the chiefest places of strength in the Nation, and some of the greatest Trusts as well Civil and Religious as Military, to be conferred upon known Papists and sworn enemies to the Protestant Cause, and English Liberties.  
4. He hath been the principal promoter of Arbitrary Government, and of making the King's interest both distinct from and opposite to that of his People. And this he hath done in pursuance of Papal advice and in subserviency to the Romish interest. For where the Monarch is absolute, and the Lives and Fortunes of whole Nations are enslaved to the will and pleasure of one person; the mere wheedling of a lustful, weak, or inconsiderate Prince, will go a great length in the gaining vast multitudes to adore the Triple Crown. And for such as shall prov● stubborn and refractory, it is but meritoriously to kill them, and then convert their Lands to the use of the holy Sea.  
5. It was this darling and beloved One, that Authorised th● burning of London, and not only made his own palace a Sanctuary to the Villan's who were suspected as instruments of that dreadful conflagration, but rescued and discharged divers who were apprehended in the very Fact. And this he did partly in revenge, for as much as London had been both the Magazine of Strength and Treasure during the War with the late King; and partly to gratify his Popish friends by destroying the bulwark of the Protestant Religion, and the chief Receptacle of the Heretics.  
6. It was this presumptive Heir that all along obliged his Majesty to neglect the concerning himself in favour of the Protestants abroad, and did so order it through his power over the King, that never any foreign Alliance was made but what was abused to the betraying of them. And here let me call over a story and perhaps a more Tragical one and accompainied with base Treachery, than any History is able to acquaint you with. One Monseiur Rohux a French Gentleman coming into England to treat with the King concerning an Alliance between his Majesty and Foreign Protestants merely for the preservation of their Religion, and having acquainted the Duke of York with his errand, after he had in a private conference or two transacted with the King about i●. This Royal Prince out of his wont kindness to the Protestants and the reformed religion, caused Rouveny (Lieger Ambassador from France at this Court) to stand behind the hangings at St James while he made this innocent Gentleman discourse over the whole business. Upon which Mons. Rouveny being obliged to acquaint his master with it, Mons. Rohux (who upon some intimation that the Duke had betrayed him) had withdrawn ●ence to Switzerland, was there seized by a party of French Horse and brought to the Bastile, whence after some time's imprisonment he was carried to the place of Execution and broken ●pon the Wheel.  
7. It was through the Duke of Yorks means that both the first ●nd second Wars were commenced against the Dutch; and that ●n order not only to weaken the Protestants by their mutual destroying of each other, but in hope to have turned the victorious Arms of the King upon the Heretics at home and the patrons of English liberty.  
8. It was this zealous Prince for the honour and safety of Britain that advised the breaking the Tripple-League, which was the wisest conjunction and most for the glory of the King's Reign and the preservation of his Dominions, that ever he entered into. And this he did not only to gratify France whose Pensioner as well as whose confederate he hath been, but to leave the Protestants here naked to the attempts of the papists. For he knew that while that League continued firm, the king of Sweden and the States of Holland would have construed all designs upon the Protestants in England, as done against those of the same religion with themselves and in favour of whose profession they had entered into that Alliance.  
6. He hath not only mantained correspondence with Foreign Princes, to the betraying the King's counsels, but hath confederated with them for the extirpation of our religion, and overthrowing our Legal Government. And besides many other evidences of this which it is not convenient to mention at present. The depositions which arrived with the Committee of Seceresy during the Session of the late Parliament, together with Colemans' letters and that which he wrote in the Duke's name and indeed by his command, do uncontrollably demonstrate it.  
10. He was consenting to and hath cooperated in the whole Popish Plot, for both his Confessor and Secretary did with his knowledge and approbation Seal the Resolves for the King's death.  
11. It was the Duke, who, when the King had revealed the first discovery of the Hellish Romish Plot to him immediately communicated it to Father Beding-field, that so the conspirators might know to how secure their papers and abscond themselves.  
12. It was he who through his command over the Post Office prevented the intercepting the letters From St· Omers and others Foreign Seminaries, whereby that whole damnable conspiracy would have been more fully detected.  
13. He employed his own Duchess to transport several of the Traitors to Holland, that so they might scape the search that was made for them and the punishment which they had deserved.  
14. It was he who suborned, encouraged and rewarded the vilest Miscreants to frame and swear a Plot against the Protestants; and this he did to beget a disbelif of the Popish conspiracy and in order to destroy such of the Nobility and Gentry as were the chief assertors of the Reformed Religion and English liberty.  
15. It was he who advised the several prorogations and dissolutions of Parliaments, whensoever they were either considering the bleeding condition of the Protestant interest abroad or supplicating the King to an Alliance with Protestants Princes for its protection and preservation.  
16. It was he in whose favour the Dissolution of the last Parliament was procured, and who hath prevented the sitting of this after Eight several times appointed for their meeting▪ And all to hinder the Trial of the Traitorous Lords in the Tower, and to obstruct the further search into the many Hellish Plots wherein himself and the rest of the Papists are engaged, for the subversion of our Religion and Laws, and the destruction of the lives of his Majesty and People. And how much he hath lessened his Majesty's interest in the hearts of his Subjects, and weakened their confidence in his Royal word, by obliging him to treat this Parliament as he hath done, seeing in his speech to both Houses March 6. 1678. he had so solemnly declared his resolution to meet his people frequently in Parliaments; and into what straits and wants, they have thereby also reduced him, I shall rather leave your Lordship silently to consider, than take upon me at this time to unfold.  
17. It was he who after he had for so many years promoted the aiding and succoring of France with English Forces till that aspiring Prince was ascended to a power and greatness not to be in any probability withstood or controlled, did at last engage his Majesty in making the general peace which is a thing so highly prejudicial to all Europe, in the unavoidable consequences of it.  
18. It was he who countenanced and enlivened the late Traitorous Combination of Prentices and Ruffians, and who together with the Lords in the Tower Issued out the Money both for the expenses of their entertainments, and for the providing them with Arms to distrube the peace of the City and Kingdom, and assault the Houses and Lives of his Majesty's Liege People.  
19 It is he who hath enroled and secretly mustered men in all Counties of England, and who besides the English Papists whom at this time he hath called from all parts of the Nation, to London, is also provided of a great number of Irish who formerly washed their hands in the blood of Protestants or are the genuine offspring of those that did. Now being thus furnished and environed he is resolved (unless God in his providence miraculously interpose) to put all to a venture and play over the same game in England that was heretofore acted in Ireland.  
20. It is he who cherisheth in his bosom and exalteth to the highest Trusts such as Coll. Worden, who betrayed his Majesty's secrets to the usurping powers, particularly to Mr. Scot Nay himself may be charged with many ●hings in those times whereby we may apparently discover both his treachery to his Majesty, and his ambition to have usurped the Crown from him. For when a Loyal party of the English Fleet had espoused his Majesty's Right and Title against the enemies of his Crown and person, the Duke who being then aboard should have encouraged and ventured his Life in conjunction with them, did instead thereof by a most shameful and disloyal deserting of them both discourage them in their fidelity and so far as in him lay oblige them to compound for themselves with a ●eclusion of his Majesty's interest. Yea besides this, when the Scots were treating the King at Breda in order to the establishing him in the Throne of that Kingdom, the D. of Y. was at that very time transacting with such as remained faithful to the King's Title here, that they would renounce his elder Brother and choose him for their Sovereign. Nor do I believe that his Majesty can forget the occasion and design upon which the Duke forsook him at Bruges and withdrew to Holland, so that the King was necessitated not only to command him upon his allagience to return, but was forced to send the Duke of Ormond and some other persons of quality to threaten as well as persuade him, before he would go back.  
21. It is he who not thinking the declaration enough to facilitate his ascension to the Throne, or to secure him from resistance in the attempts he purposeth upon our Lives and Liberties, hath been and still is endeavouring to be admitted and let further into the Government, and accordingly hath accosted the King by my Lord Durass in that matter. This is the more surprising forasmuch as one would think that it is not possible he should be further let into the Government having Berwick, Hull, Langer point, Shereness, Portsmouth, and the Magazine of the Tower (Legg being now Master of the Ordnance) in the hands of his sworn vassals and creatures; and having also the superintendency of all civil affairs in him, unless by taking the Sceptre actually into his hand, he should confine the King to a Country House and and an Annual pension. And his partisans about the Town talk of no less than the having the Duke Crowned during the King's life, as Henry, the 2. (though upon far different reasons) was Crowned in conjunction with King Stephen. And I wish that what the Brother of the King of portugal hath of late years, effected against his Prince, did not awaken our jealousy to fear that the same may be attempted by a dispensation from the infallible chair elsewhere. However they have taken care should they accomplish this design that they may not be obliged to entetain our Katherine, as they in Portugal did the French Madam Married to Alphonso, for as much as the best part of the portion with our Princess, namely Tangeir, is through the courage and conduct of my Lord Incheqine one of the Duke's greatest confidents as good as disposed of▪ But should they proceed in this design against his Majesty, it becomes all his Majesty's good Subjects to endeavour as one man the rescuing him from under their power, seeing the very designment of such a thing is a Treason of so high a Nature against the King that we should be wanting in our Allegiance, should we not apply ourselves in the use of all possible ways and means to punish and aveng as well as prevent the execution of it. Now my Lord these are but few of the many particulars by which we are sufficently enlightened concerning the Duke of York, and we may abundantly learn from these how much we are indebted to his Majesty for his Grace, Favour, and care in appointing such a one after him to succeed over us? Do not all our fears hereupon immediately vanish and die; and Hope, Joy, and Gladness revive in our hearts on this prospect which the King hath given us of so good an Heir? But poor Prince, we at once compassionate and forgive him, knowing that this proceeds not from his inclination, but that he hath been hurried and forced to it. Nor do we need any further assurance of the inward propensions of his Majesty's heart, and the dislike his breast is filled with for what he hath done, but the endeavoures which he used (under daily and manifold importunities to the contrary) to have avoided it, and the sadness which appears in his countenance since overawed to publish this Declaration. And as for the Duke of Y. let him not deceive himself, for as he may perceive by this that we fully understand him and know the kindness he entertains for us, so, we are prepared for him and resolved to return unto him and his in the kind they intent to bring. For having both Divine and Humane Laws on our side, we are resolved neither to be Papists nor Slaves, and consequently not to be subjects to him who hath vowed either utterly to extirpate us, or to reduce and compel us to be both the one and the other.  
Last; For the Issuing of all this Controversy concerning whose Right it is to succeed next after his Majesty, men here about the town accustomed to discourse, think that there need but two proposals, and those very rational ones to be made. The first is that the Parliament being admitted to sit, they may examine this Affair, whereof they alone are competent Judges. Whatsoever Declarations may otherwise signify, yet it is a principle which can never be oblitterated out of the minds of English Men, That they are neither binding Laws nor can alienate or extinguish the Rights of any. Shall the Son of a common Person be allowed the Liberty to justify his Legittimacy, in case his Father prove so forgetful, or so unnatural as to disclaim him; And shall the Duke of Monmouth merely by being the Son of a King, forfeit this just and universe Privilege. If his Majesty was indeed Married to that discountenanced Gentleman's Mother, he is by our Laws the Son of the Kingdom, as well as the Son of King Charles. And therefore it is necessary as well as fit, that the People should in all due and Legal ways understand whether they have any Interest or not in him, before they be commanded to renounce him, or resign it. All therefore we desire is, that this matter may be impartially and fairly heard, and that before those who alone have right to be Judges of it, and as no other course but this can satisfy the minds of People; so it cannot be expected that upon the Authority of a Declaration, especially gotten as this was, they should sacrifice the share (which for any thing yet appears) they have in him as their apparent Prince and next Heir to the Throne. And unless this be obtained; the People will undoubtedly think their own Rights invaded, whatsoever the said Duke judgeth of his.  
The second thing we would humbly beg, as well as propose is, That the Parliament being called to sit, the Duck of York may be legally tried for his manifold Treasons and Conspiracies against the King and kingdom. For if he be innocent, and that the Right of Succession be his, all Men will quietly acquiesse under him but if he should prove guilty (as we no wise question but that he will) shall his Treasons when a Subject qualify him to be a King, and Pave the way for his rising to the Throne. According to all Equity as well as Law, he ought first to justify himself from all traitorous attempts and Acts against the King and People, before he be allowed to have his claim heard concerning any title that in time to come he may have to rule over these Nations. I shall subjoin no more at present, save that I am,  
London, June the 10th. 1610. My Lord, Your most obedient Servant▪