CLARIOR E TENEBRIS: OR A JUSTIFICATION OF Two Books, The One printed 1680; under the Title of The Grand Inquest. The Other in April 1682, under the Title OF The Royal Favourite Cleared: WITH Several other Reasons in Vindication OF HIS Royal Highness, Not so convenient in those Times to be published.  
By J. G. of the Inner-Temple, Esq  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Dring at the Harrow over against the Inner-Temple in Fleetstreet, 1683.   

TO THE READER.  
Courteous Reader,  
YOU may wonder to see me in Print, thrice upon one Subject, and question me, why not all at once, as well as to feed you with these farther Expectances? Reader, I must give you this for an Answer; diseased Minds are like sickly Bodies; if you give them not Preparatives, the Distemper and the Application together may ruin the Patient: But to satisfy you, Britannia gins to mend, and in a little time 'tis to be hoped will be in her right Wits again: especially, since she is so much abated of her too credulous Opinions, and finds by experience, that the dictates of her own Conscience runs counter to what she has been, as it were, forced to believe from the mouths of her Dissenting Brethren. There were many Symptoms of this crazed Distemper, appearing long before these sullen humours broke forth, which were discernible by the foulness of her Stomach, and her continual vomiting of Gall and Sedition against the Government: And even then the Distemper run so high, it seemed the Seedtime to Hellish Plots, and Mother to Rebellion: And then she brought forth, and put out to Nurse this malicious Opinion, That the Duke was a Papist (when he was praising God in the Bosom of our Church, and professing himself her Champion) which Bastard Brat she would have laid at another's door, because she knew it was unlawfully begot, and that she might be called to a severe account for so great a Scandal. But soon after, Britannia discovered herself, which has given me the farther occasion to Print this last Treatise, and I hope it will make our Paths more plain and easy; and receive that candour from, as is intended to the present Government, by him, who is a wellwisher to his King and Country.  
Vale.   

CLARIOR E TENEBRIS.  
I Have not as yet been convinced of the least mistake in writing those two Books, in the Title mentioned: tho' the Sectaries and Malcontents almost daily print their Sophisms and false Maxims, by which they would induce the credulous to a belief, that his Royal Highness is a Roman Catholic: But what they writ, has no other Warrant than what proceeds from themselves; an Argument too inconsiderable to prevail against Truth, and as easily baffled, as the rest of their nonsensical Opinions. Neither have I received any probable contradiction, but instead of Arguments, have had bitter Rail and Revile, and am myself esteemed to be a Papist (though of no other Communion than that of the Church of England) by those who are most malicious against the Duke, for endeavouring to clear him of that aspersion, and for admonishing those that are Papists, to return to the Government of the King, and to be humbled for those of their Persuasion, who have made such bold attempts upon the Government; a Test that may easily be taken, and save them from the danger that may ensue, by reason of such wicked devices, which are not only sinful in themselves, but teach others (who watch every opportunity to invade the Government) to rebel; an example of which we lately had in Scotland, which put that Kingdom into a great Consternation, and was the occasion of the King's sending an Army under the Command of the Duke of Monmouth, to quell that unnatural Rebellion. Neither do we want Examples at home, of the like nature, when Badges and Distinctions were given for the Parties to be known by; Traitorous Associations, framed Libels of the most scandalous nature dispersed, and the Government environed by those who hate and do all they can to destroy it: And we are at this time to bless God, for giving the King Wisdom and Courage to prevent an open Rebellion, that was so unluckily hatched, and so traitorously nourished, that it did, as it were, threaten and destroy at the same time, and made it manifest, that God was on our side, or it could not have been prevented.  
Now since the Roman Catholics have of late so much disordered our Government, by endeavouring to supplant it, and opened a door by which other Sectaries and Enemies to the King have been let in, to trample upon the Flowers of the Crown, and to profane our holy things, I did think myself obliged in Duty and Conscience, to print the Book called The Grand Inquest, etc. 1680. And the Book called The Royal Favourite Cleared, etc. 1682. Wherein I do assert, that there has not been any reasonable Arguments offered, by which it may be proved, That his Royal Highness is a Roman Catholic: and therefore it must rationally be conjectured, that all the Reproaches and Scandals that have been cast upon him, as such, were more to serve the wicked designs of his enemies upon the King and Government, than any real belief they had of his being a Papist: especially, since neither the Roman Catholic nor Fanatic, have to this day one word to justify themselves, in what they have so boldly and so vainly insinuated into the credulous Multitude.  
Therefore in pursuance of this Discourse, I shall observe to you.  
First, What they seem to aim at, who desire and wish, that his Royal Highness were a Papist.  
Secondly, What they design, who would stigmatize the Duke with the name of Papist.  
Thirdly, What they would be at, that only fear him to be so?  
Fourthly, What they aim at, who credit the Duke with their best belief, notwithstanding his many sufferings, by reason of the extreme malice of wicked men.  
First then, Those who wish the Duke a Papist, must at the same time express Zeal for God, wish the Conversion of Heretics, and the good of the Land: But, that all this is only pretended, is plainly to be demonstrated, since the ways they go about to effect their designs, have been by Plots, dark Intrigues, Lying, Perjuries, Murders, Treasons; and God, nor can, nor will, require these things at their hands: Therefore it must be their wicked Mammon that incites them to it, that so they may regain their long wished for and ill gotten Lands, with many other unlawful and tyrannical Advantages, with which they did formerly oppress these Nations, kerb our Kings, and miserably drain the Purses of the People, making St. Peter's Net a Drag to take Gold; not Souls; and his Key to unlock the Door of their Treasure, not that of their Hearts; in fine, they have signalised themselves to the World, by the odious marks of Pride, Covetousness, and Lechery, which will be ever handed down to succeeding Ages, by the still modern Examples of their lazy Monks, Friars, and the rest of that Idolatrous Crew: Therefore it must be a pretended, or at least, a misguided Zeal in them, who do believe▪ or endeavour to persuade the World, That his Royal Highness is a Papist; that so they may have a better colour to perform what they go about, and make his Innocence, Justice and Valour, a Cloak for their Wickedness, and as it were, sanctify their Crimes by counterfeiting his Name, as a Party to their Black and Hellish Contrivances. So fond are wicked men to have their Iniquity believed to be none, that if they can but pretend to have persuaded the just into their Opinion, even they themselves begin to think they have done no harm.  
Secondly, What they design, who would stigmatize the Duke with the name of Papist, is obvious in the Fanatic, who, conjoined with the Papist, endeavour to effect the same thing, tho' with different Ends. The Jesuit makes use of the Fanatic, as the Ape did of the Cat's Foot; only, with this difference, the Fanatic was willing to be made use of, though it were with the hazard of burning, hoping, at last, to deceive the cunning of him, who exposed him; and so the Jesuit, who had laid the Snare, was to be taken in his own Gin, together with what he most endeavoured to destroy (viz.) The present Government: And this Jack Presbyter zealously concluded would set Whiggery on Horseback, make Kings Elective, or bring forth their great Diana a Commonwealth, whose practice is to imbrue their Hands in the Blood of Kings, Priests and Nobles, that they may once more enjoy their Dignities and Estates and secure to themselves, those Possessions by a more durable Tyranny. For that reason, like eager Hounds, they pursue the Duke, and are ready with like Numbers to vote him a Papist, tho' a Protestant `as to exclude him from the Succession, tho' Brother to the King; by which associating Principle they seem to resemble the Guise Faction, who, by the hand of Clement the Monk, murdered Henry the Third of France, for being a Persecutor of the Roman Faith, tho' he lived and died a zealous Roman Catholic; as Davila does at large recite in his History of the Civil Wars of France. But what need we cross the Seas, when we have a Domestic and more recent Example, that is able to convince the worst of men, in the death of King Charles the First of ever blessed Memory, who died a Martyr for the Protestant Religion? And yet by our Covenanteers, (who may be said to be the Spawn of that Holy League) he was branded with the Name of Papist: Instances so pat and suitable to my purpose, that they cannot be passed over without a particular Remark. In vain therefore do those persons, who would stigmatize the Duke with the Name of Papist, plead Statutes and Laws to strengthen their Pretensions, when Laws and Statutes will not speak or act according to their crooked and obscure Opinions: neither will their conceited Numbers be able to justify them in the sight of God or Men.  
Thirdly, What they would be at, who fear the Duke to be a Papist: Truly, it is a very hard matter to guests at the meaning of their Fears, unless, it be supposed like Foxes, they take their Ears for Horns, and therefore will run with the Cornuted Company, thinking to find more safety from them, than under the Protection of the Noble Lion, who seemed to have banished those only that bore Arms against him.  
Will any believe the cunning Papist▪ the scandalous Fanatic, or the malicious discontented Statesman? then let them cry, as they do, the Duke is a Papist, the King is Popishly affected, and so are the Ministry and Gentry, and that Popery and Tyranny are coming in as a Torrent; but let these men consider, they ought to be esteemed the greatest Plague of a Nation, and to be most severely dealt with, who are such Weathercocks, that will turn with every Wind, and give credit to such discontented Parties, that never think they are doing their Duty, if they are not lampooning the Government, aspersing the King, the Royal Family, and their best Friends; nay more, associating and contriving how to give Law to their Superiors; tearing and rending from the Prerogative, what should support the Crown in its due Glory and Splendour, and keep them in their Allegiance.  
Again, Have any received just Fears and Suspicions of the Duke's being a Papist? if they have, yet, still they are but Fears and Suspicions, and are to be corrected, if they will hearken to the King, who speaks otherwise in his Speech to his Parliament, on the 6th. of March, in the 31st. year of his Reign; and to two Acts of Parliament, the one made 25. Car. 2. the other 30. Car 2. which likewise say otherways; so do the Scotch Clergy and Nation (who are as little addicted to Popery as England is) witness the Letter from thence, directed to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, from Edinburgh the 9th. of March, 1682. So do our Universities, and so do all those that seek Peace and Truth: and whatever the Fears of these men are, yet 'tis to be hoped, that this Truth will still prevail, in spite of all its Opposers; and then those wretched Creatures, that run screaming about, and know not what they would have, being filled with Fears and Jealousies, probably, may be some of them, that aim at a General Pardon; and so render the late Plots (as much as in them lies) ridiculous, by such a Solicitation, wherein their own Fears are as demonstrable, as the others Crimes, and in the Crowd, tho' guilty, they may pass away undiscerned, leaving the Taint upon those who remain squalling behind.  
Fourthly, What they aim at, who credit the Duke with their best belief, notwithstanding his many sufferings, by reason of the unparalled malice of wicked men, must, I hope, at this time of the day, be esteemed Generous, and extremely for the establishment of Religion and Loyalty; and if their numbers be small, yet, that with the blessing of God, must be looked upon to exceed the Numbers of their Enemies; for, if God be for them, who can be against them?  
And if the Duke do not appear publicly at our Churches, it must be thought to take off a Calumny, that otherwise would have been cast even upon the Church itself, by those, who have been so lately ripe for Rebellion, and would therefore have called our Clergy, Romish Priests; and our Service Book, the Mass, as they have called the Duke Roman Catholic; and this is plain, since they have already declared our Ministry and Gentry Popishly affected; and branded them with the ignominious Names of the Dead Weight, French Pensioners, and Betrayers of their King and Country.  
And (speaking after the manner of Men) could they then have herded the Duke among the Clergy, who, like the blown Deer, was pitied, but could not be assisted by his Companions, these cruel and Bloodthirsty men, would have worried the whole Flock of Christ, and made it ere this, a Prey to the most Barbarous People that were ever seen upon the face of the Earth.  
But (speaking after the manner of Angels) Christ has said, his Church is built upon a Rock, and that it shall never be destroyed: And therefore, we ought not to trim the Business, who profess faith in Christ, and goodwill towards men, lest it prove worse with us, who have enjoyed the Gospel above 1500 years, than with Peter, who cursed and swore, and even in the High Priest's Hall, denied his Master: or with those, who, to this day, usurp St. Peter's Chair, yet, still lay under the Reproach of excluding the Faith, and making Good Works the only way to Heaven.  
But, by the Wisdom of our Governors, the Measures of our implacable Enemies are broken: and (thanks be to God) there is now no danger of Spanish Pilgrims, French Invasions, Romish Priests, or Geneva Presbyters: Nor of any that are so malicious and base, as to detract from the Honour of the King, and his Ministers of State, which gives me a Remark of the Grandeur and Stability of our Government, when those who stand at the Helm, are able to withstand (through Generosity and Courage) the Calumnies and Slanders of their Enemies; and by true Rules of Virtue, render themselves, as it were, Tempest Proof.  
Yet, to prevent the Inconveniencies that may arise hereafter, by the Ignorance of simple People, who of late run too much after State Quacks, upon the least motion of the Government, fearing it should lean to Popery or Tyranny: I say, when any such popular Distemper shall happen, and the Nation stand in absolute need of a Physician, I question not, but these several Applications will be as well, if not better approved of; since the nature of the Disease, which tends only to Faction and Sedition, will be so well known, that scarce one in the whole College of our wise Physicians, but will easily apprehend it.  
Thus I have endeavoured to strengthen my former Impressions, with such farther Reasons, as I did not think fit to make use of in those Times, lest, by endeavouring to support, I might have contributed to the disadvantage of his Royal Highness, whose Wisdom seems to be like that of Noah, who, after the Flood began to abate, did not presently open the Gates of his Ark, but at a Window sent forth a Dove, that brought him back an Olive Branch, by which he had hopes the Deluge was retired into its proper place and boundary; and after that, he sent out a second, that never returned again; which gave him assurance the Insurrection of the surly Waves was appeased: And sometime after that, he uncovered the Ark, and then the Heavens were clear, and the Earth, as when created, seemed to rejoice; and God spoke to him to come forth, which he no sooner did, than immediately he was seen to be upon his Knees, praising God, and built an Altar, on which he sacrificed, and with which God was well pleased, and said in his heart, he would not curse the Ground any more for his sake.  
And now lastly, for myself, who have undertaken these Discourses, under the hardest circumstances imaginable (having none to encourage me but my own Observations, and those, when ever argued, opposed by the Multitude, with the greatest Heart-burnings and Malice, that misguided Zeal could invent) tho' Ignorance and Malice may sit upon, and censure this Treatise for a Time, yet I have sufficient hopes, God will put it forth (at one time or other) with the Comment of my honest meaning upon it, not tortured, and wiredrawn with false or Ignoramus Expositions: And in the mean time, I hope wise men will take me into their serious consideration, and conclude what I have wrote is my real Opinion, not biased with Flattery, as some say, or clogged with hopes of Preferment, as others pretend; and then, what the Roman Catholic or Roundheaded Whigs shall determine of me, whether as a Papist, for justifying of the Duke, or an ill manager of my Pen, I shall not matter either, or all of their Condemnations, since I see before me the whole frame of their Proceed, to be as it were, but one grand Mistake, and their Counsels to be despised and rejected, like that of Achitophel's; but as a man, I wish them not the same Fate, and as a Christian, I hope they may live to make amends, or at least, repent of their Contrivances, that so we may at last see our weather-beaten Government freed from those Storms and Tempest that were ready to overwhelm it, and unanimously magnify our God, who hath brought us into a safe Harbour, maugre all the power of outrageous and bloodthirsty men.  
And now, having no more to say upon this Subject, other, than that no man is infallible in his Opinion, I shall humbly beg, that I may be received by the kind Reader, with that candour, as every one would expect to be dealt with in the like nature. And (that every one laying his hand upon his Breast) would not obstinately disbelieve his Friend, when in his own Conscience he cannot find any thing to oppose him, even in his most secret thoughts.  
Withal, I am not a little anxious, to think that these Discourses may seem precarious by some, as well as prejudicial by others, to the interest of his Royal Highness; but it is impossible to please all, or to escape without censure in this detracting Age, tho' our Actions were regulated by the strictest Reason. Yet what I have said, carries the face of so much Justice and Honesty, that I would not change my Opinion, without greater Demonstrations than I have yet had to the contrary: however, were I obliged to believe that the Duke is a Papist (which no man yet has sufficient grounds to think) I hope, I am so well satisfied in the exercise of our Protestant Religion, that I would do every thing becoming an honest man and a good Christian; and then I am sure I should never do evil, that good might come of it; which Observation I recommend more particularly to those, who are so fond of the Bill of Exclusion.  
FINIS.