THE Royal Favourite CLEARED: WITH AN ADMONITION TO THE Roman Catholics. AND AN ADDRESS TO HIS Royal Highness, JAMES, Duke of York. etc.  
By a Barrister of the Inner-Temple.  
London, Printed for James Vade, at the Cock and Sugar-Loaf, near St. Dunstan's- Church, in Fleetstreet, 1682.   

An Epistle Dedicatory. TO THE Right Honourable Sir John Moor, Lord Mayor of London.  
May it please Your Lordship,  
I Hope it will not create Your Wonder, that an unknown Hand should Dedicate these few Sheets to Your Lordship's Patronage; whilst your Own Loyalty is eminently expressed in the daily Service of Your King and Country. And, as Your Lordship's Place is Great, so is Your Care and Prudence: A remarkable Instance of which we lately had, when the Picture of His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, was rudely defaced by the Assassination of a Wicked Person, wherein Your Lordship's Endeavours did so readily appear, and Your Zeal to have the Barbarous Act discovered; that there seemed nothing wanting in Your Lordship, to satisfy the King, and Kingdom of Your utter Abhorrence of so foul a Deed.  
Therefore, to Your Lordship I bring this little Treatise, that You may, with Your Acceptance, vindicate the Reputation, as well as Person, of This most Illustrious Prince, in whom all things centre, that are Good.  
And if I have wronged His Royal Highness, or Your Lordship, by rudely expressing my honest Meaning herein declared; I shall need no other satire, than a Self-reflection, or Punishment, than what I shall be ready to inflict upon myself. But whatever happens to me for my own Unworthiness, my greatest Happiness will be to have Truth appear, though through a Cloud; and Slander punished, though Justice Triumph in the Overthrow of my Imperfections. I am,  
My Lord, Your Lordship's most Humble Servant, J. G.   

TO THE READER.  
I Should Appologize for myself, for Writing against so many Men, and for encountering so many Loads of Paper with a few single Sheets, were I convinced they had any Authority for what they say, or write; who have Nicknamed His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, TRAITOR, or PAPIST: But since I have no other Cause to believe the Discourse, than the fickle, and unthinking Humour of those who have followed the Dictates of a discontented Party; and would, at the same time, have misnamed the Government, had it not been wary of their Proceedings and, on the sudden, arraigned their Actions; I know no reason, why I should not speak my Opinion, as well as such Whirlygig-State-Projectors; especially, since the sense of what I here Write, is signified to us by such Authorities, that we have no need to question the Truth of them.  
Therefore, Judicious Reader, I shall recommend this little Treatise to your serious Consideration, and I hope it may prove good Physic this Spring Time, to our Sir Politick-Would-be's, who ever rejoice when the Government is at a default, though the Blot be for their Advantage: And then if any Wicked Statesman will but Hound them on, O what a noise will they make! though not half so well well coupled, as an indifferent Pack of Beagles; and 'tis their eager pursuit, generally, that makes them lose their Credit. But this is not sufficient: I may be asked, What I have to do to concern myself with the Duke's Religion, or Loyalty? To the Candid Reader, I hope, this will be a full Answer: Ever since I was Eleven Years Old, I have lived under this Government, as it is now Established; and my Heart has hitherto Blessed the King, and I have wished Him Success in all His undertake; and I have had good Cause to do so, since His Majesty's Laws are a Delight, and need not be grievous to any of His Subjects: On this bottom I justify myself, in Writing upon this Subject concerning the Duke, who, by all Loyal Men, is looked upon to be a good Subject, a Dutiful Brother to the King, and One that seeks the Interest of the Nation: Whereas those who say the contrary, and give him the Name of PAPIST, and TRAITOR, do generally show themselves to be of Disloyal Principles, and such as the Nation have little reason to credit. And from hence I infer, That those who are obedient to His Majesty, will love the Duke of York; because the Duke's Principles are (as all good Subjects ought to be) to Serve God, and Honour the King: And therefore, his being slandered with the Name of PAPIST, TRAITOR, Enemy to the KING, and Kingdom, or any other Name, that the giddy heads of these idle People can imagine, can make no other impression in the Hearts of wise Men, than to raise a just indignation against their Malice, and a Heart endeavour to prevent the danger that may ensue from such ungodly Proceedings; which ought to be the endeavour of every good Christian, and every Loyal Subject.   

THE Royal Favourite CLEARED.  
THere was a Time (in the Year 1680.) when this Illustrious Prince, James Duke of York, seemed to the morose, and ruder sort of People, to lie under a Cloud; And the Factious, at that Time, seemed to Eclipse His Glory: And then to assert His Royal Highness to be a good Subject to His Majesty, and that there were no reasonable Arguments ever brought to prove him a Papist, was all one to them, as to have affirmed, That the Pope was Infallible, or that the Real Presence was in the Elements of Bread and Wine after Consecration, and as little it would have been believed.  
Yet some there were, even in that Time, (whereof one was my intimate Acquaintance) that had the Courage, and the Honesty, to justify the Duke's Loyalty, and to beat back all the Arguments then used to prove Him a Roman Catholic.  
I shall therefore take his method, and introduce my Discourse with those Reasonable Arguments that make most to my purpose, and cannot without impudence be denied.  
For, What can be more Demonstrably plain to prove the Duke a Protestant, than the Words of the Act of Parliament, 25 Car. 2. To throw Popish Recusants out of all Offices, and Places of Trust, and to Displace them from the Household, Service or Employment of His Majesty, or of His Royal Highness, the Duke of York.  
Is here not the King, and His Brother, wisely considered by this Act? does it not fence them about, and guard them from Jesuitical approaches, that might slyly insinuate themselves into Courts and Employments, without a Test? Now, since God and Nature has provided so well for Us, as to give Us so wise a King, and so Illustrious a Prince; Both springing from the Loins of that Most Glorious Martyr, Charles the First, our Late King, who died for the Protestant Religion: Can we exercise our jealousies over again, and dodge with the Government with pitiful scruples, and Wrest of such generous expressions, and Confidence the then Parliament had of the Duke, at the Time of making that Act? Against so plain an Exception of His Person, the direct words of which can never allow him to be in the penalty of that Law; though, at that Time, the Duke might see occasion to lay down several of His great Offices, which might make some sort of Men conjecture it was done for that end and purpose; As if it were not sufficient to belie one Prince to His Grave, but we must endeavour a Second time to do so in his Issue; And as if the malice of one Age were not enough to make a Nation miserable, but that it must be Entailed upon their Posterity, to render it utterly destroyed in the next.  
Were it not that the Eyes of the greatest part of the Nation are opened by these, and the like Observations, 'twere probable, we might once more suffer under the like Circumstances: But, thanks be to God, who has put it in the Heart of our King, to guide us in the ways of Peace, and to bear with the Infirmities of those who have been grievously infected with Antimonarchick, and Destructive Principles.  
And, What can the Parliament mean, when they made an Act in the Thirtieth Year of Car. 2d. To disable every Person from Sitting in the House of Parliament, that would not take the Test? To make a Proviso, That it should not extend to the Duke of York; were it not that they valeved him as a Person of that Honour, and Generosity that they could do no less than distinguish him from the rest of His Majesty's Subjects, especially since He is so nearly Related to the Crown, has so well deserved of the King, and has been so often thanked for His good Services by themselves: This is so plain, and the Character of a Papist fixed upon the Duke so malicious, that it needs no Vindication, were it not to undeceive a Generation of Men whose Fathers having sucked in the Poison of Rebellion in the Last Age, have made it their utmost endeavour, to introduce it in this.  
Can any thing give us more Assurance of His Royal Highness, than the Words of the best of Kings, who in a Speech to His Parliament on the 6th. of March, in the 31 Year of His Reign, told Them, He had Commanded His Brother to absent Himself from Him, because He would not leave the most malicious Men room to say, He had not removed all Causes, which could be pretended to influence Him towards Popish Counsels. Is here not a Reflection on the King himself by the most malicious, which the King is pleased to take▪ Notice of? And, when He Commands His Brother's Absence, is it not to stop the mouths of the malicious? And, their spiteful calling of the Duke, PAPIST, Or His inclining the King towards Popish Counsels, called by His Majesty, any thing else than a Pretence? what then shall be said to such malicious pretenders, if even Their own Request granted, though never so unreasonable, will not give them satisfaction? it behoves therefore His Majesty's good Subjects, to be more unanimous, and Hearty to one another, that so it may break the Hearts of all Malicious Pretenders, who, under the mask of Liberty, Property, and Religion, endeavour the Destruction, and Ruin of the King, and Kingdom: who can hence forward be so blind, and sottish, to credit a correspondence between the Pope, and the Duke of York, for the bringing in of the Roman Catholic Religion, as has been pretended? And, who can, for the time to come, imagine Letters and Intrigues of that nature, when the utmost of the Design that has hitherto appeared, supposing those Letters to be the Duke's, can reach no farther than a Civil Behaviour, which is due to the Turk, Mogul, or King of Morocco? We are obliged to Trade in those Countries; yet we cannot, with safety and security, without a Correspondence: And, who are so proper to transact such Affairs, as the prime Ministers of State?  
From what has been said, 'tis Monstrous to raise a Belief of the Duke's Recusancy, from the King's Speech, which clearly explains its self; or from the afore-recited Acts of Parliament, which many would interpret to the prejudice of His Royal Highness, though the Nemine Contradicente of the House of Commons, on Sunday April 1679. does even then credit its own Report, with no other Reasons than what may seem to the Judicious Reader, to be here fully Answered: And it must the rather be thought so, when the Triple Vote of the House of Commons was afterwards encountered with the Opinion of the House of Lords, who rejected the Bill against the Duke, because They were not so satisfied.  
Now having delivered to you the Glorious condition of a Happy Favourite, seated on the Right Hand of Majesty, as well by His own Merit, as His Prince's choice; who was Honoured and esteemed by good Men, and was a Terror only to the Bad:  
Let Us trace Him from White-Hall, driven by the Impetuosity of his Enemies, from the Presence of the King, and lustre of a Court, into a solitary Banishment: Let us observe Him leaving our shore, and rendering himself to the unconstant Ocean, which is not yet so unsettled, as the Land from which He parted: And, though many Waves lifted up their Voices against Him: yet, by the greater number, let us consider Him (though among Enemies) Wafted into a Safe Harbour: For, being a Noble Foe, He could Fear no danger in His Misfortunes, when in His Triumphs He could not insult over His Adversaries amongst Foreigners, His Cardinal Virtues (so much slighted by Us) made Him more Honoured, than He was Here, with the Addition of His Guards, and Dignities: There, amongst the most zealous Papist, He was looked upon as an injured Protestant Prince, bearing the Figure of His Father's goodness and constancy: There, He propagated Our Protestant Doctrine, whilst Here He was falsely surmised to endeavour its Destruction: Whilst He was There, with those who would have been glad of any Opportunity to affront our Nation, He manifested so much Duty and Loyalty, so much Love and Respect for His King and Country; That He made faithful Friends and Ally's, of Those that might otherwise have been our Mortal Enemies, and would have trampled upon our Religion, and made Their will Their Law: So that the malice of a Banishment intended by his Adversaries, could not prevent the Character of a Peacemaker, a worthy Patriot, a grand Politician, a Friend (as well as Brother) to the King, a Joseph, a Preserver of those that despitefully used Him, and Traitorously sought his Ruin.  
Thus are the false Achitophel's mistaken, and, against their Wills, are saved from the danger they would avoid by Him, whom They intended to destroy.  
But now, it is Time to consider of His Return: Our Vigilant King sitting at the Helm; and carefully watching every Motion of the Government, found it necessary so prudent a Statesman should not always lie under Hatches: He no sooner spoke, than all who Loved the King had Their Eyes upon the shore, and Their Daily Prayers for the Duke were, That the Seas and Winds might render His Voyage pleasant and delightful; and that each gentle Gale might direct Him into the Harbour of our Hearts and Arms, that we might deliver Him safe into the Embraces of his King and Brother.  
Behold Him come, His Sails filled with Honour and Renown; Though surly Nereus, dreading His own Overthrow, had laid an Ambush behind a Mountainous Wave, to encounter Him: But He was not to be overcome in those Seas, on which He had Victoriously rode High Admiral: To Him, Neptune must Bow, though armed with His Trident, and mounted on the Leviathan.  
And one would guests, 'twas in pursuance of this League Marine, that he so lately sent in his High and Mighty Floods to invade the Low Countries, lest himself should be again controlled by that dreadful Power he never could withstand.  
Therefore in vain do you strive, you handful of discontented Commonwealths-men, in vain do you set yourselves against this Hero, you shall be forced to contribute to his Greatness, whom all the World admires, even your Meritorious sufferings shall add to his Glory.  
And now (Kind Reader) take one view more, and then farewell: Behold the King like Solomon, in the midst of the Multitude of his Councillors, consulting the safety of himself, and of his Kingdoms, dispencing his gentle Influences every where, and like a Deity, warming the coldest corners of the Land: And then cast your Eyes on a Rebellious, and stiffnecked Nation, such as Israel was of Old, wanton with ease and plenty, froward and discontented; Who would never serve their God, but only as they pleased, nor obey their Prince in any of his just Commands. And after this prospect Review our Hero, whose Virtues are a Task for the whole World to imitate. And see him in Obedience to his King's Commands, making an easy Progress into the Hearts of these untameable People; though the way that leads to their Hearts, as well to as their Country, is naturally Subject to many difficulties: See him Settling, Confirming, and giving a Lustre to that Religion that here we would exclude him from, together with his Birthright, and make him wander for a God, as well as for a Country.  
Behold him encouraging the King's Loyal and good Subjects, and reducing the unsettled minds of a discontented Party into their due Obedience.  
Thus, our High Commissioner has God and the King, Religion, and Loyalty to justify his proceedings; whilst those who Damn him, with their pretended God with Us, are like to suffer Heaven's Vengeance for their Presumption, if God gives them not the Grace of Repentance.  
Now, from these and several other Reasons that may be given, I hope there is none that will be so foolish, or obstinately wicked, as to persist in the Opinion of the Duke's separating himself from the Interest of the King, and Kingdom, after so many instances to evince the contrary: But if any sort of Men can be so Crazy, or Mad, to continue in so palpable an error; the World must conclude them busy bodies, and Meddlers in what they have nothing to do; Commonwealths-men, Traitorous Associators, and such as would disturb the present Government, and for a livelihood would wish our Waters as much disturbed, or more than the Hollanders were, by their late Inundation: And whilst these Incendiaries remain, Faction cannot be thought strange, or Rebellion quite out of Fashion.  
Especially, when His Royal Highness, King's only Brother, shall be Assassinated in Effigy, for want of a fitter opportunity to exercise their Malice upon His Person: 'tis against the Duke they lay their Siege, against the Duke they engage a Party: But the Government is not so unwary, as not to provide against their dangerous approaches, knowing their Squint-Eyed Revenge carries with it a Malicious intent against the Person of His Sacred Majesty.  
But to conclude, were I to give my Opinion what remedy might best serve to Cure this Kings-Evil, it should be to be Touched, were it not so Universal that it would prove the greater evil of the two, in bringing a Consumption upon the King's Exchequer, which none can so well remedy, as a Loyal, Grateful Parliament, by making a bountiful return to their most Gracious King and Governor: I shall say no more, who am but a Wellwisher to the King, and Kingdom: Only, may Heaven preserve His Majesty, and this Government, as now Established; And may His Majesty have a long and happy Reign; And when He has finished His Days, may his Memory be renowned to future Ages, as His Clemency and Goodness has been manifested to Us, and the rest of the World, in This.   

AN ADMONITION TO THE Roman Catholics.  
I Am sensible, whatever you hold of the Infallibility of the Pope, that you, who are of that Persuasion are not Infallible; otherways, you would not have insinuated an Opinion of the Duke of Yorks being a Papist amongst the King's Liege People, and at last, suffer yourselves to be mistaken; Notwithstanding, at that time, you had drawn so great a Party of the King's Subjects into your confederacy. It was a Malevolent Conjunction, and had an ill Aspect on the Government; and rendered it unstable, and tottering, even in the Opinion of those who guided the great Affairs of State under His Majesty. It was therefore your very good Luck to lay hold on the Horns of the Altar, to seek the Mercy of the King, whom you have highly offended; such Mercy, and such Goodness, you could never expect in any other Age: The Justice of the Kingdom cried aloud for Vengeance against your Plots, and Designs against the Life of the King, His Royal Brother, and Friends: Yet, you see, those very Lives which were Traitorously intended to be taken away, are now interposing between you and Danger: and the Second Person in the Kingdom, is here Mediating with the King of England, to remember Mercy in Justice, and to spare those who have no reason to expect any Favour, since They have so highly offended: Therefore May it now happen to you, as when our Saviour gave that Kind Admonition to His Criminal: Go, Sin no more, lest a worse thing happen to you. For in vain you persuade the Ignorant and simple People, that our Princes are Papists, and our Ministry and Gentry Popishly Affected: When their Pious Resolutions, as well as Interest, are never to return again to the slavery of the Papal-See, upon any Opportunity whatsoever. Therefore let me advise you as a Friend, join not with those Dissenters, which yourselves have made; Assist not in their Meetings; fill not their Congregations, neither Reconcile them to Rome, nor draw them from their Allegiance; but suffer them rather, with yourselves, to be converted to the Communion of the Church of England, and to the Government of the King, Renouncing all Foreign Powers, and Jurisdictions, which may alienate your Affections and Obligations to our present Government, as by Law Established, either in Church, or State.  
This is the Way, walk in it; and those who bold out to the end, shall be Happy.   

AN ADDRESS TO HIS Royal Highness JAMES, Duke of York, etc.  
WElcome, Great Prince, thrice welcome to a Land,  
Where even your Foes stretch out your Command;  
And make You fitter to assist the Crown,  
Whilst, at their charge, You purchase in Renown:  
This they perceived, and spitefully seemed good,  
Tho' now their wicked Plots are understood:  
'Tis they, who sought to undermine the Throne,  
Who called you Traitor, and would prove you one  
In Hell they laid their Scene, and their Consult  
Was a Packed Juncto; Treason, their Result.  
But You run Counter to their deep Designs,  
And Ferret them about with Countermines.  
No Poisonous Vapours from the Shades below,  
Nor sullen Treasons from vile Men can s●●w:  
No State Disease, or Foreign evils sell,  
But You exhale, or wisely can expel.  
Your strict Example is a Virtuous spell,  
To better Good, and make the Bad do well.  
Thus, whilst to Duty You do show the way,  
In different Orbs we constantly obey:  
Making Great Charles sit safely in his Wain,  
And Rule the World with a soft gentle Reign  
O Happy King! O Happy we! that can  
Trust in a Prince, Rest in so just a Man!  
FINIS.   


Some Books lately Printed for, and are to be Sold by James Vade, at the Cock and Sugar Loaf, near St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet, 1682.  
THe Nation's Interest, in Relation to the pretensions of His Royal Highness James Duke of York, Discoursed at large in a Letter to a Friend.  
The Grand Inquest; or a full and perfect Answer to several Reasons, by which it is pretended His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, may be proved to be a Roman Catholic.  
The 〈◊〉 and Method of His Majesty's Happy Restauraration said open to Public view, by John Price, D. D. one of the Late Duke of Albemarl's Chaplains, and privy to all the Secret Passages, and Particularities of that Glorious Revolution.  
A 〈◊〉 Memento both to King and People, upon this Critical Juncture of Affairs.   

These Books following are Printing for James Vade, and will speedily be Published.  
THe History of the Western Empire's Decay, since Charles the Great, concerning the Regalia, now in Dispute between the King of France, and the Pope: Written in French by Father Lewis Maimbourgh, and Translated into English by an Eminent Gentleman.  
The Life of King Almansor; Or, The Complete Model of a Good Prince. Written by the Virtuous Capt. Ali Abencufian, Viceroy and Governor of the Provinces of Dacque in Arabia. First Written in Spanish, and Translated into French by Monsieur Dobeilh; and Turned into English by A. P. Gent.