CITT AND BUMPKIN. IN A DIALOGUE OVERDO A Pot of Ale, CONCERNING MATTERS OF RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT.  
LONDON, Printed for Henry Brome at the Gun in S. Paul's Churchyard, 1680.   

CITT and BUMKIN, In a DIALOGUE, etc.  Citt. 
SO that you would know, First, how we managed the Petition; and Secondly, how it came to miscarry.  Bum. 
Those are the two Points, Citt, but first take off your Pot, and then tell your Story; you shall have mine afterward.  Citt. 
There was no way, you must know, to carry the business 
Committees to promote the Petitions.  clear, without getting a Vote of Common-Council for the Petition; and so making it an Act of the City: And in order to this End, we planted our Committees every where up and down, from Algate to Temple-barr, at convenient distances; some few of them in Taverns but most at Coffeehouses; as less liable to suspicion. Now we did not call these Meetings, Committees, but Clubs; and there we had all Freedom both for Privacy and Debate: while the Borough of Southwark, Westminster, and the Suburbs, proceeded according to our Method.  Bum. 
And what were these Committees now to do?  Citt. 
Their Commission was to procure Subscriptions, to justify 
Their Powers and Instructions.  the Right of Petitioning, and to gain Intelligence: And then every Committee had one man at least in it that wrote shorthand.  Bum. 
Well, and what was he to do?  Citt. 
It was his part to go smoking up and down from One Company to another, to see who was for us, and who against us: and to take Notes of what people said of the Plot, or of the King's Witnesses, or against rhis way of Petitioning.  Bum. 
But how came those Committees (as ye call 'em) by their Commissions?  Citt. 
For that, let me tell you, we had two Grand Committees, 
Two Grand Committees.  that adjourned from place to place, as they saw occasion: But they met most commonly at Two Coffeehouses; the One near Guild-Hall, the Other in the Strand; for you must take notice that we went on, hand in hand with our Neighbours in the Main Design.  Bum. 
But you do not tell me yet who set up the Other Committees.  Citt. 
These two Grand Committees, I tell you, nominated and appointed the Sub-Committees, gave them their Orders, and 
The Office of the Grand Committees.  received their Reports: It was their Office moreover to digest Discoveries, and Informations; to instruct Articles, improve Accusations, manage Controversies, defray the charge of Intelligencers, and Gatherers of hands, to dispose of Collections; to influence the Anglicus' and Domestics, and fortify those that were weak in the Faith; to furnish matter sometimes for Narratives.—  Bum. 
What dost thou-mean by Narratives, Citt?  Citt. 
They are only Strange Stories; as that of the Dragon in Essex; Earthquakes, Sights in the Air, Prodigies, and the like.  Bum. 
One would think it should not be worth their while, to busy their heads about such Fooleries as these.  Citt. 
Now this is thy simplicity Bumpkin, for there is not 
Stories of Prodigies startle the Common People.  any thing that moves the hearts of the People so effectually toward the Work of the Lord, especially when the Narrative carries some Historical Remark in the Tail of it: As for the purpose, this or that happened in such a King's Reign, and soon after such and such troubles befell the Church and State: such a Civil War, such or such a Persecution, or Invasion followed upon it. When the People perceive once that the Lord hath declared himself against the Nation, in these tokens of his Displeasure, the Multitude seldom fail of helping the Judgement forward.  Bum. 
I don't know what ye call your Committees, but Our Gentry had their Meetings too; and there was a great Lord or two among 'em that shall be Nameless.  Citt. 
We could show you othergate Lords among Us, I'll assure you, than any you have; but let that pass.  Bum. 
You told me that your Committees were to procure Subscriptions; we were hard put to't, I'm sure, in the Country to get Hands.  Citt. 
And so were we in the City Bumpkin; and if it had not been to advance the Protestant Interest, I'd have been torn to 
The way of getting hands in and about London.  pieces by wild Horses, before I the have done what I did. But extraordinary Cases must have extraordinary allowances. There was hardly a Register about the Town that scaped us for Names: Bedlam, Bridewell, all the Parish-books, nay the very Goals, and Hospitals; we had our Agents at all Public Meetings, Court, Church, Change, all the Schools up and down; Masters underwit for their Children, and Servants, Women for their Husbands in the West-Indies, nay we prevailed upon some Parsons, to engage for their whole Congregations; we took in jack Straw. Wat Tyler, and the whole Legend of Poor Robin's Saints into our List of Petitioners; and the same Names served us in four or five several places. And where's the hurt of all this now? So long as the Cause itself is Righteous.  Bum. 
Nay, the thing was well enough Citt, if we could but have 
Several ways of getting Hands in the Country.  gone through with it: And you shall see now that we were put to our shifts in the Country, as well as you in the City. I was employed you must know, to get Names at four shillings a Hundred, and I had all my Real Subscriptions written at such a distance, one from another, that I could easily clap in a Name or two betwixt 'em; and then I got as many Schoolboys as I could, to underwrite after the same manner, and after this, I filled up all those spaces with Names that I either Remembered, or Invented myself, or could get out of two or three Christning-books. There are a World (ye know) of Smiths, brown's, Clarks, Walkers, Woods, so that I furnished my Catalogue with a matter of Fifty a piece of these Surnames, which I Christened myself. And besides, we had all the Nonconformist Ministers in the Country for us, and they brought in a power of hands.  Citt. 
What do you talk of your Non-conformists? They do but 
The Protestant Dissenters great Promoters of the Petition.  work journeywork to Ours. We have the Heads of all the Protestant Dissenters in the Nation here in this Town, why, we have more Religion, Bumpkin, in this City, than you have People in your whole Country.  Bum. 
Ay, and 'tis a great blessing too, that when Professors are at so mighty Variance among themselves, there should be so wonderful an Agreement in the Common Cause.  Citt. 
And that's notably observed, Bumkin; for so we found it here. The Presbyterian got hands of His Party; the Independent of His; the Baptist of His; the Fifth-Monarchy man of His; and so throughout all our Divisions: and we had still the most zealous man in His way, to gather the Subscriptions: And when they had completed their Roll, they discharged themselves as Naturally into the Grand Committee, as Rivers into the Sea. And then we were sure of all the Republlcans'.  Bum. 
But after all this Care and Industry, how was it possible for the business to Miscarry?  Citt. 
Why I know 'tis laid in our dish, that when we had set the whole Kingdom agogg upon Petitioning, our hearts would not serve us to go through stitch, and so we drew our own necks out of the Collar, and left the Countries in the Lurch.  Bum. 
Nay that's the Truth on't, Citt; We stood all gaping for London to lead the way.  Citt. 
The great work that we looked upon was the gaining of a well-affected common-council; which we secured upon the Election, with all the skill, and watchfulness imaginable.  Bum. 
And that was a huge point Citt; but how were ye able to compass it?  Citt. 
Why we had no more to do, then to mark those that we knew were not for our turns, either as Courtiers, or Loose-livers, 
Tricks to defeat Elections.  or half-Protestants, and their business was done.  Bum. 
We went the same way to work too in the Country, at all our Elections; for it is a Lawful Policy, you know, to lessen the Reputation of an Enemy.  Citt. 
Nay we went further still; and set a Report a foot upon the Exchange, and all the Coffeehouses and Public Houses thereabouts, which held from Change-time, till the very Rising of the common-council, when the Petition was laid aside; that past so currant, that no mortal doubted the Truth on't.  Bum. 
But you ha' not told me what that Report was yet.  Citt 
It was this, that the King had sent a Message to the City to let them understand that he took notice how much they stood affected to the Petition; that he expected they would proceed upon it; and that his Majesty was ready to give them a gracious Answer.  Bum. 
But was this fair dealing, Brother?  Citt. 
Did not Abraham say of Sarah, She's my Sister?  Bum. 
Well thou'rt a heavenly man, Citt! but come to the Miscarriage itself.  Citt. 
After as Hopeful a Choice as ever was made, we procured 
The Petition laid aside in the Common-Council.  a common-council: where the Petition was put to the Vote, and it was carried in the Commons by two Voices, for the presenting it, and by Fourteen, or Fifteen Votes in the Court of Aldermen, on the Negative.  Bum. 
So that your Damned Aldermen, and our Damned Justices, have ruined us both in City and Country.  Citt. 
Hang'um, they are most of them Church-Papists; but we should have dealt well enough with them, if it had not been for that confounded Act for Regulating Corporations.  Bum. 
Prithee let me understand that, for I know nothing on't.  Citt. 
Take notice then that this Devilish Statute has provided, 
The Act for Corporations broke the neck on't.  that no man shall serve as a Common-council man, but upon condition of taking three Oaths, and subscribing one Declaration, therein mentioned; and having taken the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, according to the Rites of the Church of England, within one year next before his Election. Now it so fell out, that what with this Act, and a Court-Letter for putting it in Execution, a matter of thirty of our Friends were put by, as not duly qualified; And upon this Pinch we lost it. Nay let me tell ye as a friend, there were at least twenty or thirty of the rest too, that would hardly have past Muster.  Bum. 
But is this certain?  Citt. 
Why I am now in my Element, Bumkin; for thou knowst my Education has been toward the Law.  Bum. 
This was a Plaguy job, Citt, but we must look better to our Hits next bout.  Citt. 
Nay my life for thine we'll have another touch for't yet But tell me in short; how came you off with your Petition in the Country?  Bum. 
It went on for a good while prettily well at the Quarter-Sessions; till at last one Cross-grained Cur there upon the Bench clawed us all away to the Devil, and get an Order of Court against it, while you would say what's this.  Citt. 
But what did he say?  Bum. 
Oh there was a great deal of stuff on't; the King, and the 
The Petition baffled in the Country.  Judges (he said) had declared it to be Seditious, and so they were to take it. That they sat there to keep the King's Peace, not to countenance the Breaking of it; and then (says he) these fellows don't know what they would have. One Petitions for Chalk, and Another for Chief; the Petition was at first for the meeting of the Parliament; and then they came to Twit the King with his Coronation-Oath, and then, Delinquents must be brought to Punishment; and then the Parliament was to Sat as long as they pleased; and at last, every man must be marked for a Common Enemy that would not Subscribe it. So that first they would have the Parliament Sat; and than they'd cut'um out their work; and in fine, it was little other than a Petition against those that would not Petition. He said there were Ill practices in the getting of hands; and so they threw out the Petition, and ordered an Enquiry into the Abuses.  Citt. 
Well, there's no remedy but Patience.  Bum. 
I had need of Patience I'm sure, for they're Examining the Hands already, as hard as they can drive; You'll see me in the Gazette next Thursday, as sure as a Gun.  Citt. 
Why then we must play the Domestic against him, next Friday,  Bum. 
Nay, I'm sure to be trounced for't to some tune, if I be taken.  Citt. 
Prithee what art afraid of? There's no Treason in getting hands to a Petition man.  Bum. 
No, that's true; but I have put in such a Lurry of Dog-Rogues; they cry they're defamed, with a Fox, they'll have their remedy; and they make such a Bawling.  Citt. 
Come, come, set thy heart at rest: and know that in this City thouart in the very Sanctuary of the Well-affected. But 'tis good however to prepare for the worst, and the best (as they say) will help its self. But art thou really afraid of being taken?  Bum. 
And so would you be too, if you were in my condition, without a penny, or a friend in the world to help ye.  Citt. 
Thou art two great Owls, Bumkin, in a very few words. First, thou hast great friends and dost not know noed, and Secondly 
The blessing of having neither friends nor Mony.  thou dost not understand the Blessing, of having neither Friends, nor Money. In one word, I'll see thee provided for; and in the mean time, give me thy answer to a few questions.  
I make no doubt but they that put thee into this Trust, and Employment of helping on the Petition, are men of Estate, and men well-inclined to the Public Cause.  Bum. 
O, their Landlords and Masters are men of huge Estates; but 'tis the Tenants, and the Stewards that I have to do withal. But 
Methods of Popularity.  then (do you mark me) those people are all in all with their Masters.  Citt. 
I suppose you may be known to the Landlords and Masters themselves too. Do they ever take any notice of you?  Bum. 
Yes, yes; I go often to their House's man, and they speak mighty kindly to me; and there's nothing but Honest Obadiah, and Good Obadiah at every turn; and then the Men take me into the Kitchen, or into the Cellar, or so. And let me tell you Citt, if it had not been for them once, I had been plaguyly paid off in the Spiritual Court upon a certain Occasion.  Citt. 
That's a very good sign of Affection to the Cause, as I told thee: and it would be never the worse if they were under a Cloud at Court; for an Honest Revenge, ye know goes a great way with a tender Conscience.  Bum. 
I have heard some Inkling that way, but we'll scatter no words.  Citt. 
They never speak any thing to you in private, do they? As of Grievances, (I mean) Religion, the Liberty of the Subject, and such like?  Bum. 
No, no, but they talk as other people do, of the Plot, and the Jesuits, and Popery, and the French King, and so.  Citt. 
And what is the reason now, do ye think, that you are not received into their Bedchambers, their Closets, into their Arms, and into their very Hearts, as well as some other people as we kaow?  Bum. 
Alas! what should they do with me? I'm not a man fit to keep them Company.  Citt. 
Why then Honest Bumpkin, here's a Golden Sentence for thee; Be Taken, Sifted, Imprisoned, Pillory'd, and stand true to 
A Golden Sentence.  thy Principles, and thouart company for the best Lord in Christendom. They I never dare to trust thee till th' art jayl and Pilloryproof; and the bringing of thee into a Jail would be a greater kindness, than the fetching of Another man Out.  Bum. 
Prithee Cit, tell me one thing by the way, hast thou ever made Trial of this Experiment thyself?  Citt. 
To tell thee as a friend, I have tried it, and I'm the best 
A Jail is the Highway to Preferment.  part of a thousand pound the better for't. 'Tis certainly the high way to preferment.  Bum. 
And yet for all this, Citt, I have no mind in the World to be taken.  Citt. 
And that's because th' art an arrant buzzard; the Lord deliver me from a fellow that has neither Money, nor Friends, and yet's afraid of being Taken. Why 'tis the very making of man a man's Fortune to be Taken. How many men are there that give money to be Taken, and make a Trade on't; Nay happy is the man that can but get any body to Take him. Why I tell ye, there are people that will quarrel for't, and make Friends to be Taken. 'Tis a common thing in Paris, for a man in One six Months, to start out of a Friendless, and Monyless condition, into an Equipage of Lacquays and Coaches; and all this by nicking the blessed Opportunities of being discreetly Taken.  Bum. 
I have heard indeed of a man that set fire to one Old House, and got as much Money by a Brief for't, as built him two New ones.  Citt. 
Have not I myself heard it cast in a fellows Teeth, I was the making of you, Sirrah, thoughy ' are so high now a body must not speak to you: You had never been Taken and clapped up, Sirrah, but for me.  Bum. 
Father! what Simpletons we Country-folks are to you Citizens!  Citt. 
Now put the case Bumpkin, that you were Taken, Examined and Committed, provided you stand to your Tackle, y'are a Made man already; but if you shrink in the wetting, y'are lost.  Bum. 
pray what do you mean by standing to my Tackle?  Citt. 
You must be sure to keep yourself upon a Guard, when y'are before the justice; and not to be either wheedled, or frightened into any Discovery; for they'll be trying a thousand Tricks with you.  Bum. 
But may I deny any thing that's charged upon me, point-blank, if I be guilty of it?  Citt. 
Yes, in the case of self-preservation, you may; but you 
A Salvo for a Lye.  must be sure then that no body can disprove you; for if it be known, 'tis a Scandal, and no longer Lawful: Your best way will be not to answer any Questions against yourself.  Bum. 
But now you have brought me into a Goal, you would do well to tell me how I shall get out again.  Citt. 
Why before you turn yourself thrice in your Kennel, 
The Benefits of a Prison.  (if Bailable) Y'are out again, upon a Habeas Corpus: But in the mean time, the Town rings of your Commitment, the Cause of it, and how bravely you carried it upon your Examination; all which shall be Reported to your Advantage; and by this time, y'are Celebrated for the People's Martyr. And now come in the Bottles, the Cold-Pies, and the Guynnies: But you must lay your finger upon your Mouth, and keep all as close as if the Fairies had brought it.  Bum. 
Pre thee, Citt, were thou ever bound Apprentice to a Statesman?  Citt. 
No, not altogether so neither; but I served a Conveninent time in two of his Majesty's Houses; and there I learned My Politics; that is to say, in Newgate, and the Gatehouse; Two schools (says one) that send more wise men into the World, than the four Inns of Court. Now let your suffering be what it will, the Merit of it will be rated according to the Difficulty and hazard of the Encounter: For there's a great difference betwixt the Venture of a Pillory, and of a Gibbet. But in what case soever; if you stand fast, and keep your Tongue in your head, you shall want neither Money, nor Law; nor Countenance, nor Friends in the Court, nor Friends in the Iury.  Bum. 
Hold, hold, Citt; what if all my great Friends should deceive me at last?  Citt. 
They'll never dare to do that, for fear you should deceive them. I have found the Experiment of it myself, and every Term yields us fresh Instances of people that make their Fortunes in a trice, by a generous contempt of Principalities, and Powers.  Bum. 
thou'rt a brave fellow Citt; but prithee what may thy Employment be at present, if a body may ask thee?  Citt. 
I am at this present, Bumpkin, under the Rose, a Secretary-Extraordinary 
The Secretary to a Grand Committee.  to one of the Grand Committees I told thee of; and my business is to draw up Impeachments, Informations, Articles; to lick over now and then a Narrative; and to deal with the Mercuries to publish nothing against the Interest of that Party: and in fine, there's hardly any thing stirs, but I have a finger in't. Mine is a business I can tell you, that brings in Money.  Bum. 
I make no doubt on't Citt: But could ye put me in a way to get a little money too?  Citt. 
We'll talk of that presently. You may think perhaps now the City-Petition's blown off, that our Committee will have nothing to do. But, I do assure you, business comes in so fast, upon us, that I shall never be able to go through it without an Assistant; and if I find you fit for't, you shall be the man.— Nay hold, let Me speak, First; do you continue the use of your Shorthand?  Bum. 
Yes, I do; and I have mended my Bastard-Secretary very much since you saw it.  Citt. 
Will you be Just, Diligent, and Secret?  Bum. 
I'll give you what security you'll ask, for my Truth and Diligence; and for my Secrecy, I could almost forget to speak.  Citt. 
That Figure pleases me; but I must shrift you further. How stands your appetite to Wine and Women?  Bum. 
Why truly at the rate of other flesh and blood.  Citt. 
'Tis not to barrye neither; but what Liberties ye take, let them be Private, and either to advance the Common-cause, or at spare hours.  Bum. 
You cannot ask or wish more than I'll do.  Citt. 
Only a word or two more, and then I'll let you into nay affairs. What course did you propound to yourself, in case your Petition had succeeded? I ask this, because you seem so much troubled at the Disappointment.  Bum. 
Why if this Petition had gone on, and the Parliament had met, I was promised fonr or five Petitions more; One against 
Other Petitions upon the Anvil.  Danby, and the Lords in the Tower, another for the Sitting of this Parliament, till they had gone through all they had to do; a Third, for taking away the Bishop's Votes, a Fourth for the Remove of Evil Counselors; and a Fifth for putting the Militia into Safe hands.  Citt. 
These points you must know, have been a long time upon the Anvil; and our Friends have Instructions all over the Kingdom, to proceed upon them to show the Miraculous Union of the Nation. But do you think because the First Petition has received a checque, and the Parliament is Prorogued, that therefore the other Petitions must fall to the ground?  Bum. 
I cannot well see how it should be otherwise.  Citt. 
Why then let me tell you, Bumpkin, We'll bring the whole business about again, and carry it on, in spite of Fate: for we have better heads at work perhaps then you are aware of.  Bum. 
Ay, but what Hands have we Citt? for it will come to that at last.  Citt. 
Those Heads will find Hands, never trouble yourself, if there should be occasion; but 'tis too early-days for that sport yet. 'Twas an unlucky thing however to be so surprised; For our Friends did no more dream of the Sacrament, then of their Dying day.  Bum. 
Well there's no recalling of what's past: But the Question is how we shall avoid it for the time to come.  Citt. 
Nay Bumpkin, there's a Trick worth two of avoiding it, we'll Take it next bout, and then we're safe; we'll carry it, I'll undertake by fifty Voices.  Bum. 
But cannot the Aldermen hinder you from putting it to the Vote?  Citt. 
'Tis the custom of the City I confess, for the Lord 
A Design upon the Common-Council.  Mayor to Summon and dissolve Common-Councils, and to put all points to the Question; but we'll find a cure for that too. 'Tis a thing we've been a good while about already; the bringing down the Authority of the City into the Major part of the Commons.  Bum. 
Now if the Mayor and Aldermen should be aware of this, they'll never endure it; but we must leave that to time. But hark ye Citt. I thought our Friends refusing of the Sacrament had been matter of Conscience.  Citt. 
Why so it is man, but take notice then, that you are 
Distinctions of Consciences.  to distinguish of Consciences: There is, First, a plain, simple Conscience, and that's a Conscience that will serve well enough to keep a man Right, if he meet with nothing else to put him out of the way. And then there's a Conscience of State, or Profit; and that Conscience yields, as a Less Weight does to a Greater; an Ounce turns the Scale, but a Pound carries the Ounce, and no body blames the Weaker for being overpowered by the stronger. There is a Conscience of Profession too; which is a Conscience that does not so much regard the Reason of the thing, as the being True to a Party, when a man has passed his Word: and this is the Conscience of a man of Honour, that fights for his Whore. There is likewise a Conscience of Religion, and that's a quiet peaceable Conscience, that rests in the Affections of the Heart, in submission to Lawful Institutions; and in serving God, and doing Good to our Nighbour, without Noise or Ostentation.  Bum. 
Well, but I see a great many very Conscientious men that 
Consciences of State or Interest.  love to Pray and Sing Psalms next the Street, that their Neighbours may hear 'em; and go up and down shaking of their Hands, and wring of their Hands, crying out of the Calves of Bethel, and the High places, Popery, Prelacy, and the Common-Prayer, in such a manner, that 'twould grieve a body's heart to see 'um.  Citt. 
These are Conscientious men Bumpkin, and this is the Conscience of State or Profit, that I told ye of.  Bum. 
Ay, but I have seen some men in Fits of the Spirit, Jump, and sting about a Pulpit so desperately, that they set the children a crying to have 'em let out. One while they'd raise themselves upon their Tiptoes, and Roar out upon a sudden, you'd have thought they had been pinched with Hot Irons; and then all in an Instant, they'd Dop down again, that ye could hardly see 'em; And so fall into a faint, lamenting Voice, like the Groan of a poor woman three quarters spent in Labour. Nay there was One of 'em that gaped, and held his mouth open so long, that People cried out, The man has a Bone in his Throat. These must needs be very Conscientious Men, Citt.  Citt. 
They are so Bumpkin, but 'tis the same Conscience still; for it works all manner of ways. We took up this Mode I suppose, from the Transports, and Grimaces of the Pagan Priests, in the Ceremony of their Sacrifices, which had a very effectual operation upon the People.  Bum. 
Nay Citt, these Men have a Holy way of Language too, as well as of Behaviour, for all their Talk is of Heaven, and Heavenly things, the Saints and the New Jerusalem; they deal mightily, in Expositions upon the Viols, and the Little Horn: and then they are bitterly severe against Wicked Magistrates, and those that Lord it over God's Heritage. They are in fine a very Conscientious sort of People.  Citt. 
Oh beyond question so they are: But this is still a Branch of the same Conscience. I have known indeed some people so Transported with this same Talkative Holiness, that it has been a kind of Spiritual Salivation to 'em; they continue spitting when they have not one drop of Moisture left 'em in their Bodies.  Bum. 
Prithee Citt, tell me in Honest English, where shall a body find the simple, and the Religious Consciences thou told'st me of?  Citt. 
Why every man living has the Former of 'em, but takes no notice on't: But for the Latter sort, 'tis very scarce; and 
Not many Religious Consciences.  you shall find more of it perhaps in one jail, or in one Hospital, then in all the Courts of Christendom. It is commonly the Blessing of men in years, in sickness, or in adversity.  Bum. 
Ah Citt, that I were but as capable of Learning as thou art of Teaching! Prithee explain thyself a little upon the Conscience of Profession too.  Citt. 
Observe me what I say then, Bumpkin; There is a Profession, 
A Conscience of Profession.  Particular, and General: Particular, as when One Cavalier serves another in a Duel, he's obliged to't by the Profession of a Swordman, without Formalizing upon the Cause. There's a Conscience of Profession even among the Banditi themselves. What is it but the Profession of Presbytery, that makes the whole Party oppose Episcopacy; as the Independents do Presbytery; the Republicans, Monarchy, and the like.  Bum. 
Now I thought that there might have been Conscience of State, as well as of Profession in These Cases.  Citt. 
Thou sayst very well, Bumpkin, and so there is, and of Profit too; and it was much the same Case too, throughout the Circle of our Late Revolutions, when we Swore and Vowed from the Oaths of Allegiance, and Canonical Obedience, to the Protestation, the Solemn League and Covenant, the Engagement, the Negative Oath, the Oath of Abjuration, and so till we swore round, into the Oath of Allegiance again.  Bum. 
What do you mean now by your General Profession?  Citt. 
I mean the Subordination of a Partial to a General, of a Private Profession to a Public; as thou seest in the Late Times, Bumpkin, how strictly the Divided Reformers kept themselves to This Rule, so long as the Common Enemy was upon his Legs.  Bum. 
But who do you mean by the Common Enemy?  Citt. 
I mean, the Court, and the Church-Party. So long (I say) all our Brethren of the Separation joined as one man, against that Inordinate Power; and herein we were conscientiously True to our General Profession; but so soon as ever we had subdued that Popish and Tyrannical Interest, through the Conscience of our General Profession, we then consulted our Particular; and every man did conscientiously labour for the Establishment of his own way. But now we come to the great Nicety of all; that is to say, the Conscience of making a Conscience of using any Conscience at all: There's a Riddle for ye, Bumpkin.  Bum. 
I must confess I do not understand one Bit on't.  Citt. 
That's for want of a Discerning Spirit Bumpkin. What does Conscience signify to the Saints, that are delivered from the 
A Conscience of using no Conscience at all.  Fetters of Moral Obligations, by so many Extraordinary and overruling Privileges, which are granted in a peculiar manner to the People of the Lord? What's he the better, or the worse, for keeping or for breaking the Ten Commandments, that lies under the Predestinarian Fate of an Unchangeable Necessity and Decree? What needs he care for any other Guide, that carries within himself an Infallible Light? Or He for any Rule at all that cannot sin? For the same thing may be a sin in another man, which in Him is None.  Bum. 
Really This is admirable: So that we that are the Elect are bound up by no Laws at all, either of God or of Man.  Citt. 
Why look you now for that; we Are, and we are Not. If it so happens that the Inward and Invisible Spirit move us to do the same thing, which the Outward, and Visible Law requires of us; in That Case we are Bound; but so, as to the Spirit, not to the Law: and therefore we are bid to stand fast in our Christian Liberty.  Bum. 
That's extremely well said, for if We Christians should be Shackled with Human Laws, which can only reach the Outward 
Of Christian Liberty.  Man, then are the Heritage of the Lord, in no better Condition than the Wicked, and the Heathen.  Citt. 
Oh! thouart infinitely in the Right: for if it were not for 
The Extent of it.  this Christian Liberty, we could never have Iustify'd ourselves in our Late Transactions: the Design of Overturning the Government had been Treason; taking up Arms against the King, Rebellion; Dividing from the Communion of the Church had been Schism; appropriating the Church Plate, and Revenues to Private Uses, had been Sacrilege; Entering upon Sequestered Livings had been Oppression: taking away men's Estates had been Robbery; Imprisoning of their Persons had been Tyranny; using the name of God to all This, would have been Hypocrisy, forcing of Contradictory Oaths had been Impiety, and Shedding the Blood both of the King, and his People, had been Murder: And all This would have appeared so to be, if the Cause had come to be Tried by the Known Laws either of God, or of Man.  Bum. 
Make us thankful now! What a blessed State are we in, that Walk up to our Calling, in Simplicity and Truth, whose Yea is Yea, and whose Nay is Nay. 'Tis a strange way thou hast, Citt, of making things out to a man. Thou wert saying but now, that the same thing may be a Sin in One Man, and not in Another. I'm thinking now of the Jesuits.  Citt. 
Oh That's a juggling, Equivocating, Hellish sort of People; 'tis a thousand pities that they're suffered to live upon the Earth; They value an Oath no more than they do a Rush. Those are the Heads of the Plot now upon the Life of the King, the Protestant Religion, and the Subversion of the Government.  Bum. 
Ay, Ay, Citt, they're a damned Generation of Hellhounds. But, as I was thinking just now; we have so many things among 
Jesuits and fanatics compared.  Us, like some things among Them, that I have been run down some times almost, as if We ourselves were Jesuits; though I know there's as much difference, as betwixt Light, and Darkness: and for my part, I defy them as I do the Devil.  
But Citt thou hast so wonderful a way of making matters plain, I'd give any thing in the world thou'dst but teach me what to say in some Cases, when I'm put to't. One told me another's day, You are rather 
A vast Difference betwixt them.  worse than the Jesuits; (says he) for when They break an Oath, they have some mental Reservation or other for a Come-off: But You Swallow your Perjuryes, just as Cormorants do Eels; an Oath's no sooner In at One End, than Out at tother.  Citt. 
Let your Answer be This, Bumpkin, That the Lawmaker is Master of his own Laws; and that the Spirits dictating of a New Law, is the Superseding of an Old one.  Bum. 
These are hard words, Citt; but he told me further, don't 
Their Practices compared.  You Justify King-Killing (says he) as well as the jesuits? Only They do't with Pistol, Dagger, and Poison; and You come with Your Horse, Foot, and Cannon: They proceed by Excomunicating, and Deposing; by dissolving the Character, first, and then destroying the Person; and just so did You. First, ye Deposed the King, and Then ye Beheaded Charles Stuart. And then you need never go to Rome for a Pardon, when every man among you is his own Pope.  Citt. 
Now your Answer must be This; That we had, First, 
The fanatics Cleared.  the Warrant, for what we did, of an Extraordinary Dispensation. (as appeared in the providence of our Successes) Secondly, we had the Laws of Necessity, and Self-preservation to Support us. And Thirdly, the Government being Coordinate, and the King only One of the Three Estates; any Two of the Three might deal with the Third as They thought Fit: Beside the Ultimate Sovereignty of the People, over and above. And now take notice, that the same Argument holds in the Subversion of the Government.  Bum. 
Now you have Armed me Thus far, pray help me on, one Step farther; for I was hard put to't not long Since, about the business of the Protestant Religion. What is That, I pray, that ye call the Protestant Religion?  Citt. 
You are to understand, that by the Protestant Religion is 
Of Dissenting Protestants.  meant the Religion of the Dissenters in England, from the Church of England; As the First Protestants in Germany 1529. (from whom we denominate ourselves) were Dissenters from the Church of Rome: And So Called from the famous Protestation they entered against the Decree of the Assembly at Spires, against Anabaptists.  Bum. 
So that I perceive We Set up the Protestant Religion; we did not Destroy it: But they pressed it Then, that the Church of England was a Protestant Church, and that the Jesuits had only Designed the Destruction of it, where as We did Actually Execute it.  Citt. 
Your Answer must be, that the Church of England, though it be a little Protestantish, it is not yet directly Protestant: As on the Other side, it is not altogether the Whore of Babylon, though a good deal Whorish; and therefore the Reply to That must be, that we did not Destroy, but only Reform it.  Bum. 
Why I have answered People out of my Own Mother-Wit, that we did but Reform it. And they told me again, the Cutting of it off Root and Branch, was a very Extraordinary way of Reforming.  Citt. 
The Answer to That is Obvious, that the Cutting Off 
The meaning of Root and Branch.  Root and Branch, is only a Thorough, or a Higher degree of Reforming. But upon the whole matter, it was with Us and the Jesuits, as it was with Aaron and the Magicians; we did Both of us, make Frogs, but We alone had the Power to quicken the Dust of the Land, and turn it into Lice.  
Thou art by this time, I presume, sufficiently instructed in the Methods, and Fundamentals of the Holy Cause. I shall now give you some necessary Hints, to fit, and qualify you for the Province that I intent you. But besure you mind your Lesson.  Bum. 
As I would do my Prayers, Citt, or I were Ungrateful, for you have made me for ever.  Citt. 
Come we'll take another's Sup, first, and then to work. Who waits there without? Two Potts more, and shut the door after Ye.  
A great part of Your business, Bumpkin, will lie among Parliament-Rolls, and Records; for it must be Our Post to furnish Materials to a Cabal only of Three Persons, that may be ready upon Occasion, to be made use of by the Grand Commits.  Bum. 
My Old Master would say that I had as good a guess at a Musty Record, as any man; And 'twas my whole Employment almost, 
Rolls and Records hunted for Precedents.  to hunt for Precedents. Nay the People would Trust me with Great Bags home to my Lodging; and leave me alone sometimes in the Offices for four and twenty hours together.  Citt. 
But what kind of Precedents were they that Ye looked for?  Bum. 
Concerning the King's Prerogative, Bishop's Votes, the Liberty and Property of the Subject; and the like: And such as They wanted, I writ out.  Citt. 
But did you Recite them Whole? or what did you Take, and what did you Leave?  Bum. 
We took what served our Turn, and left out the Rest; and sometimes we were taken Tripping, and sometimes we Scaped: But we never falsified any thing. There were some dogged Passages, indeed we durst not meddle with at all; but I can turn ye to any thing you have occasion for, with a wet-finger.  Citt. 
So that here●s One great point quickly over; in thy being 
Lessons of Behaviour for the Well-affected.  Trained to my hand: A man might lay thee down Instructions, now, for thy very Words, Looks, Motions, Gestures; nay thy very Garments; but we'll leave those matters to Time, and Study. It is a strange thing how Nature puts herself forth, in these external Circumstances. Ye shall Know a Sanctifi'd Sister, or a Gifted Brother more by the Meene, Countenance, and Tone, then by the Tenor of their Lives, and Manners. It is a Comely thing for Persons of the Same Persuasion, to agree in these Outward Circumstances, even to the drawing of the same Tone, and making of the same Face: Always provided, that there may be read in our Appearances, a Singularity of Zeal, a Contempt of the World, a fore-boding of Evils to come; a dissatisfaction at the Present Times; and a Despair of Better.  Bum. 
Why This is the very Part, that I was Made for; these Humours are to be put On, and Off; as a man would shift his Gloves; and you shall see me do't as Easily too; but the Language must be got, I Fancy, by Conversing with Modern Authors, and frequenting Religious Exercises.  Citt. 
Yes, yes, and for a help to your memory I would advise you to dispose of your Observations into these Three Heads, Words, Phrases, and Metaphors: Do you conceive me?  Bum. 
There's not a word you say, falls to the Ground. And I am 
The Force of Looks and Tones.  the more sensible of the force of Words, Looks, Tones, and Metaphors (as ye call 'em) from what I find in myself. Ours certainly may be well termed a Powerful Ministry, that makes a man cry like a Child at the very Noise of a Torrent of Words that he does not Understand One Syllable of. Nay, when I have been out of reach of hearing the Words, the very Tone and Look, has Melted me.  Citt. 
Thou canst not but have heard of That Moving Metaphor 
A Moving Metaphor.  of the late Reverend Mr. Fowler: Lord Souse us; (says he) Lord Dowse us, in the Powdering-Tubb of Affliction; that we may come forth Tripes worthy of thy Holy Table. Who can resist the Inundation of This Rhetoric? But let us now pass from the General Ornaments of our Profession, to the Particular business of our present Case.  
I need not tell you, Bumpkin, of the Plot, or that we are all running into Popery; and that the best Service an Englishman can do his Country, would be the ripping up of This Design to the Bottom.  Bum. 
I am so much of Your Opinion, that you have Spoken my very Thoughts.  Citt. 
Bethink yourself, Bumpkin; what Papists do you know?  Bum. 
Oh, hang 'em all, I never come near any of ' Um.  Citt. 
But yet you may have Herd, perhaps, of some people that are Popishly affected.  Bum. 
Yes, yes; There are abundance of Them.  Citt. 
Can you prove that ever they Said, or Did any thing, in favour of the Papists?  Bum. 
Nay there's enough of That I believe; but then there are such Huge Great men among 'um.  Citt. 
Pluck up a good heart Bumpkin; the Greater, the Better; We fear 'em not. Rub up your Memory, and call to mind what you can say upon Your own Knowledge, and what you have Herd; either about Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, The Plot; The Traitors that Suffered, or the King's Evidence.  Bum. 
I have seen people shrug sometimes, and lift up their Hands and Eyes, and shake their Heads, and then they would clutch their Fists, look sour, make Mouths, and bite their Nails, and so: And I dare swear I know what they thought.  Citt. 
Ah Bumpkin, if they had but so much as muttered, they'd been our own.  Bum. 
Well but hark ye Citt, I hear People swear, or in WORDS to this Effect; why may not a Man as well swear, in SIGNS to 
Signs in Evidence.  this Effect? and that they lifted up their Eyes, and hands, bend their Fists, knit their Brows, and made Mouths, to this or that Effect?  Citt. 
No, that will never do Bumpkin, but if thou couldst but fancy that thou heard'st them speak.  Bum. 
Why truly I never thought on't, but I saw a Parson once, the Tears stood in his Eyes, as one of 'em went by to Execution. But your Surcingle-men, (as our Doctor told us last Lords day) are all of 'em Papists in their Hearts.  Citt. 
Why what's the Common-Prayer Book Bumpkin, but a mess of Parboiled Popery?  Bum. 
I'm a dog, if our Minister does not pray for the Queen still.  Citt. 
Nay, we are even at a fine pass, when the Pulpit prays 
Sad Times.  For the Queen, and the Bench Drinks the Duke of Yorks Health. But to the point, bethink yourself well; a man may forget a thing to day, and recollect it to morrow. Take notice however, that it is another main point of your Instructions to procure Informations of this quality.  Bum. 
I'll fit you to a hair for that matter: But then I must be running up and down ye know, into Taverns, and Coffeehouses, and thrusting myself into Meetings, and Clubs. That licks money.  Citt. 
Never trouble yourself for that, you shall be well paid and your expenses born: Beside so much a head from the State, for every Priest that you discover.  Bum. 
Well! these Priests and Jesuits are damned fellows.  Citt. 
And yet let me tell you Bumpkin, a bare faced Papist is not half so bad as a Papist in Masquerade.  Bum. 
Why what are those I prithee?  Citt. 
They are your Will-worship-men, your Prelate's Brats: Take the whole Litter of'um, and you'll find never a barrel better Herring. Let me tell thee in Love Bumpkin, these Curs are forty times worse to Us then the jesuits themselves; for the One is 
Churchmen worse to Dissenters then Jesuits.  an Open Enemy, the Other lies gnawing like a Canker in our Bowels. And then being trained up to Latin and Greek, there's no opposing of the Power of Godliness to the Sophistry of Human Reason: Beside that, the Law is For us in the One Case, and Against us in the Other.  Bum. 
Which way shall we go to work then, to deal with this Generation of Men?  Citt. 
We must join the Wisdom of the Serpent, to the Innocence of the Dove; and endeavour to compass that by stratagem, which we cannot gain by Argument. But now am I going to open a Mystery to thee, that's worth—  Bum. 
Prithee the Worth on't Citt: For talk is but talk, the Worth is the Main point.  Citt. 
Why then let me tell thee Bumpkin, the Mystery that I am about to disclose to thee, was worth to our Predecessors not long since, no less than Three Kingdoms, and a better penny. But I'll seal your Lips up, before I stir one step further.  Bum. 
Why look ye Citt, may this Drink never go through me, if I ever blab one Syllable of any thing thou tell'st me as a Secret.  Citt. 
Hold, hold, Bumkin, and may it never come up again if thou dost; for we'll have no shifting.  Bum. 
And may it never come up again neither if I do.  Citt. 
Well, I'm satisfied, and now give attention; thou seest how unanimously fierce all the several Parties of the Protestant 
The strange agreement of Dissenters.  Dissenters are against the Papists. Whence comes this Conjunction, I prithee, of so many separate Congregations, that are many of them worse than Papists, One to Another? There must be in it, either Conscience, or Interest: If it were Conscience, we should fall foul One upon Another, and for matter of Interest; when the Papists are destroyed, we are but still where we were.  Bum. 
This is a crotchet, Citt, that did not fall under my Nightcap.  Citt. 
Be enlightened then. It is not the Destruction of those that are Really Papists, that will do our Work; for there's nothing 
The scope of that Agreement.  to be got by't. But it must be our business to make those people pass for Papists, that are not so, but only have Places to Lose: such as we ourselves, by the removal of them, may be the better for; and This, Bumpkin must be our Masterpiece.  Bum. 
I had this very fancy myself, Citt; but it stuck betwixt my Teeth, and would not out.  Citt. 
You hear now in General, what is to be done; You must be next instructed in the Acts of Raising, Cherishing, and Fomenting such Opinions; in what Cases to Improve them, and where to apply them.  Bum. 
I'm persuaded my Master's Brother had this very thing in his Head, though he never made any words on't to me, He had got a List 
Who are Popishly affected in the first place.  of all the considerable Offices and Employments in the Kingdom: And I remember he was used to say, that most of the respective Officers were either Corrupt, or Popishly affected. If they were Public Ministers; either the King's Counsels were betrayed, or they put him upon Governing in an Arbitrary way, and without Parliaments: As for the Judges there was either Bribery, Absolute Power, or Oppression laid to their Charge; and so all the rest were branded for Frauds, Imbezilments, and the like, according to the Quality of their business: All the Governors of Towns, Castles, and Forts, were Popishly Inclined; and not to be Trusted. And then all Ecclesiastical Officers, whatsoever, within four or five, were half way at Rome already.  Citt. 
This is well remembered, Bumpkin; Now 'tis worth a bodies while to make these Blades pass for Papists, and Traitors, that leave Good Offices behind 'um. Nay, we must not suffer so much as any man, either of Brains, or Fortune (that does not join with Us) to pass untainted.  Bum. 
Thou sayest Right, Citt; for whosoever is not With us, is Against us.  Citt. 
Thou hast spoken patt to This point, Bumpkin; but yet thou beginnest at the wrong End; For you must first get the skill of Raising, and Improving a Report, before ye come to the Fixing of it: For that's a Nicety not to be meddled with, till we come to the taking out of the very Pins, and the Unhinging of the Government; So that the First Clamour must be Levelled point-blank at some Known, and Eminent Papists.  Bum. 
Well, but what shall we Charge 'em with?  Citt. 
Why, if we were Once at the bottom of This Plot (which, upon my soul, Bumpkin, is a most hideous one) and wanted matter for Another, I would charge them with a design of betraying us to a Foreign Enemy.  Bum. 
As how a Foreign Enemy prithee?  Citt. 
As Thus: I would charge 'em with holding an Intelligence 
A Heavy Charge.  with the Emperor of Morocco, for the Landing of five and thirty thousand Light-horse men upon Salisbury Plain.  Bum. 
Prithee, Citt, don't Romance.  Citt. 
Prithee do not Balderno, ye should say; Speak Statutable English, ye Fool you. Thou think'st perhaps that the people will not believe it: Observe but what I say to thee; let it but be put into the Protestant Domestic, that his Imperial Majesty is to hold up his hand at the King's Bench-barr for't, and let me be Dogs-meat if they do not swallow That too. Why prithee, 
Nothing Incredible.  Bumkin, we must make 'em believe stranger Things than This, or we shall never do our business. They must be made to believe that the King intends to play the Tyrant; that all his Counsellors are Pensioners to the French King; that all his Enemies are turned his Friends, o'th' sudden, and all his Friends, his Enemies; That Prelacy is Antichristian; all our Clergymen, Papists, the Liturgy the Masse-Book, and that the Ten Commandments are to be read backward.  Bum. 
Bless me, Citt, what do I hear?  Citt. 
Come, come, Sirrah; y'are under an Oath; and This is the plain Truth on. What is it to Thee and Me, I prithee, whether the Great Ministers be True, or False; Or what Religion, 
Popish Ministers may have Orthodox Offices.  the Clergy are of, so long as their Livings ye Rogue, are Orthodox, and their Offices well-Affected.  Bum. 
This does Qualify, I must confess. But you were saying, that the First Clamour should be levelled at some Known and Eminent Papists: Now what comes after That, I beseech you?  Citt. 
You may safely Mark all Their Friends then for Popishly-Affected; and so consequently on all that Love them, and all that They Love. When this Opinion is once started, 'tis an Easy matter, by the help of Invention, and Story, to improve it; and by this means we shall come, in a short time to secure all the Councils of the Nation to our Party, that are chosen by Suffrage. If you were read in History you would finde, that still as the Papists set the House on fire, the Non-conformists took the Opportunity of roasting their own Eggs.  Bum. 
Yes, yes, I understandye. As for Example now, One goes to the Lords in the Tower, another (as you were saying) drinks 
Who are Popishly affected.  the Duke's Health, a Third prays for the Queen: a Fourth Fancies Two Plots; a Fifth refuses the Petition, a Sixth speaks well of my Lord Chief Justice, or calls the Protestant Domestic a Libel. All these now are Popishly-Affected.  Citt. 
Save your breath Bumpkin, and take all in one word: whosoever will not do as we would have him shall be made so.  
But now to the matter of Invention, and Story; I hate the overhearing of Discourses, in Blind Allies, and such ordinary sham's: I'm rather for coming downright to the Man, and to the Point; after the way of the Protestant Domestic.  Bum. 
Ay, ay: There's your free Speaker. Well Citt, the King wants such men about him. But prithee hear me; Is it certain his 
Matters of Moment.  Majesty has Lent the King of France Three Millions?  Citt. 
No, no; some Two and a half; or thereabouts.  Bum. 
Why, if the King would but make a League now with the Swiss to keep the Turk off, That way; and another with the Protestants in Hungary, to keep off the French, the whole world could never hurt us.  Citt. 
Nay that's true enough, but then the Pole lies so damnably betwixt Us and the Baltique.  Bum. 
I'd not value that a Halfpenny, so long as we have the Waldenses to Friend.  Citt. 
And then New-England lies so conveniently for Provisions. But what do you think of drawing Nova Scotia, and Geneva into the Alliance?  Bum. 
Ay, but there's no hope of that: so long as the King follows these Counsels.  Citt. 
Thou art a great Read man I perceive in the Interests of States.  Bum. 
I have always had a fancy to Stow's Survey of London, and those kind of Books.  Citt. 
But Good Bumpkin, what's thy Opinion of the Bishop's Votes, in Case of Life and Death?  Bum. 
Ay, or in Cases of Heaven and Hell either. Why as true as thou art a man Citt, we have but three Protestant Bishops in the Nation; and I am told they are warping too.  Citt. 
Prithee why should we look for any Protestant Bishops in the Kingdom, when there's no Protestant Episcopacy in the World? but for all this, we may yet live to see the Ruffling of their Lawn sleeves.  Bum. 
Oh, now I think on't; didst thou ever read the Story of Moses and the Ten Tables?  Citt. 
The Two Tables in the Mount thou meanest.  Bum. 
Gad I think 'tis the Two Tables. I read it in Print tother day, in a very good Book, that as sure as thou art alive now, the Bishops in Henry the 8th. made the Ten Commandments.  Citt. 
Why that was the reason, Bumpkin, when the Lords and Commons put down Bishops, they put down the Ten Commandments too; and made New ones of their Own. And dost not thou take notice that they put down the Lords Prayer too, because 'twas akinn to the Popish Paternoster? and then for the Creed, they cast it quite out of the Directory.  Bum. 
Now as thou layest it down to me, the Case is as clear as Crystal. And yet when I'm by myself sometime, I'm so afraid methinks of being Damned.  Citt. 
What for, ye Fop you?  Bum. 
Why for Swearing, Lying, Dissembling, Cheating, Betraying, Defaming, and the like.  Citt. 
Put it at worst, do not you know that every man must 
The Brethren are only for Profitable Sins.  have his Does of Iniquity? And that what you take out in One way you abate for in another, as in Profaning, Whoring, Drinking, and so forth. Suppose you should see POISON set in Capital Letters, upon seven Vials in a Laboratory; 'twere a madness I know, for any man to venture his Life upon 'em, without a Taster. But having before your Eyes so many Instances, of men that by drinking of these Poisonous Liquors, out of a Consumptive, half-starved, and Heartbroken Condition, grow Merry, Fat, and Lusty, would not you venture too? Imagine These Seven Waters to be the Seven Deadly Sins, and then make your Application.  Bum. 
Nay, the Case is plain enough, and I cannot see why that should be a Poison to me, that's a Preservative to Another: Only our Adversaries twit us with Objections of Law forsooth, and Religion.  Citt. 
Wherefore the Discipline of the Late Times saved a great deal of puzzle. Mr. Prynn sent His Clients to Mr. Case for Religion; and Mr. Case, in requital, sent His to Mr. Pryn for Law; which kept up a concord among the Well-affected. But your Lesson in both these Cases, falls into a very Narrow compass.  Bum. 
pray let it be Plain that I may understand it; and short that I may Remember it.  Citt. 
Keep close only to these Three Positions: First, that the King is One of the Three Estatoes; Secondly, that the Sovereign 
Three Positions.  Power is in the People; and Thirdly, that it is better to obey God, then Man. These Fundamentals will serve to guide ye in almost any dispute upon this Matter, that can occur to you.  Bum. 
But what becomes of me, if my Adversaries should turn the question another way?  Citt. 
I'll fortify you there too. And let me tell you that he'll have much ado to keep himself Clear of one of these Two Rocks: Either of Dashing upon the Plot, or upon the Liberty of the Subject. As for Example,  
There's L'Estrange; as wary a Dog perhaps, as ever pissed; and yet ye shall see how we have hampered Him. I writ the 
L'Estrange Confuted.  thing myself, ye must know, though it comes out in the Name of the Author of the Weekly Packet of Advice from Rome. 'Tis Dedicated to Both Houses of Parliament; and Designed just for the 26th. of january: So that if the Parliament had Set, there would have been means used to have had him Questioned for't.  Bum. 
Gad, I know where y'are now. 'Tis in the Preface to the History of the Damnable Popish Plot.  Citt. 
Ay, that's it. I'll give ye First, the Words in't that concern L'Estrange, and you shall Then see the Writings of His that I have reflected upon.  Bum. 
Oh, 'Tis a devilish witty Thing, Citt; I have seen it. Methinks the Rogue, should hang himself out of the way: I'll go to Man's Coffee-house and see how he Looks on't.  Citt. 
No, no, Pox on him; he's an Impudent Cur; nothing less than a Pillory will ever put Him out of Countenance. This Toad was in Newgate, I know not how long; and yet he'll take no warning.  Bum. 
You must consider, Citt, that he writes for Money; O my Soul, they say, the Bishops have given him five hundred Guynnyes. But prithee Citt; hast not thou seen the Answer to the Appeal, Expounded.  Citt. 
Yes, but I ha' not read it.  Bum. 
Why then take it from me, Citt, 'tis one of the shrewdest Pieces that ever came in Print. L'Estrange, you must know, wrote an Answer to the Appeal.  Citt. 
We've a sweet Government the while, that any man should dare to fall foul upon That Appeal.  Bum. 
Well, but so it is; and Another has written Notes upon Him: You can't imagine Citt, how he winds him about's Finger; And calls him Fiddler, Impudent, Clod-pate; and proves, him to be a Jesuit, and a Papist, as plain as the Nose of a man's Face: he shows ye how he accuses the King's Evidence; and that he is in Both Plots, in I know not how many places.  Citt. 
I have known the man a great while; and let me tell ye 
Citt drawing up Articles.  in Private, I am to draw up Articles against him. But I have been so busy about my Lord Chief justice's Articles, and Other Articles against a Great Woman, that lay upon my hand, that I could not get leisure; and yet I should have met with him long ere This too, for all That, but that the Committee Sits so cursedly Late: And then they have cut me out such a deal of work about the Succession. Well I heard a great Lord say, that That History of his deserved to be burnt by the hand of the Common Hangman.  Bum. 
Bravely said, Citt, I Faith: who knows but we two may come to be Pillars of the Nation? Thou shalt stand up for the City, and I for the Country.  Enter Trueman out of a Closet. Citt. 
Trepan'd, by the Lord, in our own way.  Trueman. 
Nay hold, my Masters; we'll have no flinching. 
Enter Trueman.  Sat down, ye had best, without putting me to the Trouble of a Constable.  Citt. 
Why we have said nothing, Sir, that we care who hears; but because you seem to be a Civil Gentleman, my Service to you, Sir.  Bum. 
Ay, Sir; and if you'll be pleased to sit down and Chirp over a Pot of Ale as we do, you're welcome.  True. 
Verygood; And You are the Representative (forsooth) of the City, and You, of the Country. Two of the Pillars of the Nation, with a Horsepox; A man would not let down his Breeches in a House of Office that had but Two such Supporters. Do not I know you, Citt, to be a little Grubstreet-Insect, that 
Citt's Faculty and Employment.  but another's day scribbled Handy-dandy for some Eighteen-pences a job, Pro and Con, and glad on't too? And now, as it pleases the stars, you are advanced from the Obort, the Miscarriage, I mean, of a Cause-splitter, to a Drawer-up of Articles: and for your skill in Counterfeiting hands, preferred to be a Solicitor for Fobbed Petitions: You'll do the Bishop's business, and You'll do the Duke's business; And who but You, to tell the King when he shall make War, or Peace; call Parliaments, and whom to Commit, and whom to let go? And then in your Fuddle, up comes all; what such a Lord told you, and what you told him; and all this Pother against your Conscience too, even by your own Confession.  Citt. 
Y'are very much Misinformed of Me, Sir.  True. 
Come, I know ye too well to be mistaken in you; and for your part, Bumpkin, I look upon you only as a simple Fellow drawn in.  Bum. 
Not so simple neither, it may be, as you take me for. I was a Justice's Clerk in the Country, till the business of the Petitions; 
Bumpkins account of himself.  and my Master was an Honest Gentleman too, though he's now put out of Commission: And to show ye that I am none of your simple Fellows (do ye mark) if ye have a mind to dispute upon Three Points, I'm for you. First, the King is One of the Three Estates; Secondly, the Sovereign Power is in the People. And Thirdly, 'Tis better to Obey God then Man.  Citt. 
Always provided, Bumpkin, that the Gentleman take no advantage of what's spoken in Discourse.  True. 
No, there's my hand I will not; and now let's fall to work. If the King of England be One of the Three Estates, than the Lords and Commons are two Thirds of the King of England.  Bum. 
Oh pox, you've a mind to put a shame upon the Plot, I 
Bumpkin's way of Argument.  perceive.  True. 
Nay, if y'are thereabouts:— Well; If the Sovereignty be in the People, why does not the Law run In the Name of our Sovereign Lords the People?  Bum. 
This is a mere Jesuitical Trick, to disparage the King's Witnesses; for They are part of the People. Now do you take up the Cudgels, Citt.  True. 
Do so, and we'll make it a short business, and let's have no shifting.  
Now to show ye that I gave good heed to your Discourse, I'll run over the Heads of it as you delivered them. First, for Committees, and Grand Committees, what are they compounded of, but Republicans, and Separatists, a Medley of People disaffected 
The Composition of the Committees.  both to Church and State? This you cannot deny; and that they would not suffer any man otherwise affected, to mingle with them. Now beside the scandal, and Ill Example of such Irregular Conventions, whoever considers their Principles, may reasonably conclude upon their Designs: For they are wiser, I hope, then to lay their Heads together to destroy themselves.  Citt. 
But it is hard, if Protestants may not meet as well as Other People.  True. 
Yes, Protestants may meet, but not in the quality of Conspirators, no more than Conspirators, may meet under the Cloak, and colour of Protestants. The intent of the Meeting is matter of State, and you turn it off, to a point of Religion.  Citt. 
But is it not matter of Religion to join in a Petition for the meeting of a Parliament, to bring Malefactors to a Trial, and to extirpate Popery?  True. 
Such a Petition as you Instance in, is in the appearance 
What Petitions warrantable and what not.  of it, not only Lawful, but Commendable; But than it must be promoted by Lawful means, and under Decent Circumstances. 'Tis a good thing to Preach, or Catechise, but it is not for a Layman presently to pluck the Parson out of the Desk, or Pulpit, that he himself may do the Office. It is a Good thing to execute justice, but yet a private man must not invade the judgment-seat, though it were to pass even the most Righteous Sentence.  Citt. 
The King may choose whether he'll Grant or no; So that without invading His Right we only claim the Liberty of Presenting the Request.  True. 
That may be well enough at First; but still, after 
No Petition to be pressed after Prohibition.  One Refusal, and That with a Public Interdict on the Neck on't, forbidding the pursuance of it; such a Petition is not by any means to be Repeated. First, out of Respect to Regal Authority: Secondly, as the King is the Sole judge of the matter: Thirdly, upon the Importunity, it is not so properly Desiring of a thing, as Tugging for it. Fourthly, It tends many ways to the Diminution of his Majesty's Honour, in case it be Obtained: For it implys, either Levity, or Fear; or (to make the best on't) the King confers the Obligation, and the Heads of the Petition receive the Thanks. Now add to all this, the suborning of Subscriptions, and the Inflaming of Parties,, what can be more Undutiful or Dangerous?  Citt. 
But do not you find many Honest and Considerable men concerned in these Petitions?  True. 
Yes, in several of them I do; and the main reason is 
The Nation poisoned with False Principles.  This. There's no man under Five and Fifty, at Least, that is able to give any Account, of the Design, and Effects of this way of Petitioning in Forty and Forty One, but by Hear-say: so that This Nation proceeds mostly upon the Maxims, and Politics, which That Republican Humour delivered over to us: But yet let the Thing, or the Manner of it be as it will, Those that 
The Injustice of our Common Wealthsmen.  disarmed, and turned back the Kentish Petitioners at London-bridg. Those that Wounded, and Murdered the Surry-Petitioneres in the Palace Yard, only for desiring a Peace, and in order to the Preservation of his late Majesty: Those People methinks, that were foe Outrageous Against Those Petitions (and Several others of the same kind) should not have the Face now to be foe Violent, for This. And whoever examines the present Roll, will find the Old Republicans to be the Ringleaders.  Bum. 
Really, Citt, the man speaks Reason.  Tru. 
Consider then the Mean ways ye have of advancing your Pretensions, by Falsehoods, and Scandals, to disappoint Honest 
The mean ways of promoting their Designs.  men of Elections; The use ye make of the most Servile Instruments, to promote your Ends; your fawning Methods of Popularity toward the Rabble; your ways of undermining the Government of the City, as well as of the Nation; your worse than jesuitical Evasions in matter of Conscience; your Nonsensical Salvoes, and Expositions of Christian Liberty; your putting out the Church of England's Colours, and calling yourselves Protestants, when you are effectually no better than Algerines, and Pyrating even upon Christianity itself; your Beating of the wood, in the History of our most Seditious Times, to start Precedents and Records in favour of your own Disloyal Purposes. The Pharisaical Distinguishing of yourselves from the Profane (as you are pleased to style all others, even in your Dress, Tone, Language, etc. Your Uucharitable Bitterness of Spirit; your lying in wait for Blood; and laying of Snares for the Unwary and the Innocent; and still vouching an Inspiration for all your Wickedness; your gathering of all Winds toward the raising of a Storm; Your Unity in Opposition, and in nothing Else: your Clamours, and Invectives against Priests, and jesuits, when it is the Church of England yet, that feels the Last effect of your Sacrilegious Rage. 'Tis not so much the Officers of the Church, and State, that are Popishly Affected, but the Offices Themselves; and Those in the first place (as you choose your Sins too) that are most Beneficial. To say nothing of your wild Impostures upon the Multitude.—  Citt. 
Now you talk of Impostures, what do you think of L'Estrange's History of the PLOT, and his Answer to the APPEAL? Whether are Those Pamphlets, Impostures upon the Multitude, or Not?  Tru. 
You were saying even now, That The History of the Damnable Popish Plot was of your Writing; Answer me That Question, First; Was it so, or not?  Citt. 
No, it was not of my Writing; It was done by a Protestant-Club.  Tru. 
Why then let me tell ye, if a man may believe the Preface to That Club-History, or the Notes upon the Answer to the Appeal (for I have read them all:) L'Estrange's Pamphlets are great abuses upon the People: But if you had the Books about ye, the matter were easily cleared, by comparing them▪  Citt. 
By good luck we have 'em all about us, that can any way concern this Question. And look ye here now.  
First, He calls his Abridgement of the Trials, The History of 
Reflections upon L'Estrange.  the Plot, without mentioning one word of the Original Contrivance, the Preparatives, manner of Discovery, and other Remarkables essential to a History.  
2. He omits Staly's and read's Trials, which yet sure had Relation to the Plot.  
3. In his Epistle, he seems to drown the Popish Plot with suggestions of an Imaginary One of the Protestants.  
4. The amusing People with such Stories, is notoriously a Part of the▪ Grand Popish Design.  
5. Whereas he tells us, that not one Material Point is omitted, most Readers cannot find the substantial part of Mr. Bedloes Evidence against Wakeman, (P. 46 of the Trial) So much as hinted at: Not to mention the gross shuffles, and Omissions in Pag. 77. and elsewhere.  
6. He charges the Printed Trials (in his FREEBORN SUBJECT P. 15.) with many Gross Incoherences, and very Material mistakes; yet Instances but One, and corrected too, as an Erratum.  
7. When Our Posterity shall urge these Trials for proof against Papists, how easily may the subtle Villains stop their Mouths, by alleging from this Author that no heed is to be given to the said Trials; (being so publicly owned by a Person of his Note, and late Qualification) to be guilty of so many, and such very Material Mistakes.  True. 
Observe here, First L'Estrange expounds his History in the Title Page, by restraining it to the Charge and Defence of the 
The Fore going Reflections Answered.  Persons there mentioned: Beside that he calls it an Historical Abstract, and a Summary, in his Epistle.  
2. Staleys Trial had no Relation at all to the Plot, and Reading was not Tried for's Life; and so not within the Compass of his intention expressed in the Preface.  
3. The Epistle acknowledges a Detestable Plot, and a Conspiracy: but advises Moderation, and that the Rabble may not dictate Laws to Authority; for that Licence was the Cause of the Late Rebellion.  
4. It was more than a Story, the Murder of the Late King, and the Subversion of the Government, and the suppressing of these Necessary Hints, and Cautions is notoriously a part of the Grand Fanatical Design.  
5. In L'estranges' History, here Pag. 79 and 80. there's every particular of Mr. Bedloes Evidence in Sir George Wakemans Trial, Pag. 46. with many other passages over and above: whereas your Damnable History here Pag. 295. falls short at least by One Half. And then for the shuffles, and Omissions reflected upon, Pag. 77. see L'Estranges Words, Pag. 88 The Lord Chief justice (says he) after some Remarkes upon the Romish Principles, summed up the Evidence, and gave Directions to the jury: which is the substance of the Page cited in the Preface. Touching your Elsewhere, it is in plain English, No where.  
6. Look ye, here's more Juggling. He says SEVERAL Gross Incoherences, and you have made them MANY: and then you have left out the Parenthesis, (especially in the Latter of them) which varies the Case too. And I remember again, that the Erratum was supplied after L'Estrange had corrected it: And sure it was a Gross one too, to expose a Protestant Gentleman for a Papist, Nine times in two Pages. I could show ye several other Material Mistakes, but One shall serve for all. Pag. 45. (as I take it) of Ireland's Trial; which you will find charged upon the Press, in L'estranges' History, Pag. 18.  
7. pray mark me now: L'Estrange finds Errors of the Press in the Other Trials and Rectifies them, in his Own: Now if Posterity shall find in the Right, that the Other are wrong, they are in no danger of being Misled by the One, in what is Corrected by the Other: And if they do not read the Right Copy at all, there's no harm done to the Other, but they must take it as they find it. So that this Remark is so far from Disparaging the Proceedings, that a greater Right can hardly be done to Public justice by a Pamphlet. But now let the Epistle speak for it self.   

To the READER.  
THere has not been any point, perhaps, in the whole 
The Epistle to L'Estra●ge's History of the Plot.  Tract of English Story, either so dangerous to be mistaken in, or so difficult, and yet so necessary to be understood, as the Mystery of this detestable Plot now in Agitation. (A Judgement for our Sins, augmented by our Follies,) But the world is so miserably divided betwixt some that will believe every thing, and others nothing, that not only Truth, but Christianity itself is almost lost between them; and no place left for Sobriety and Moderation. We are come to govern ourselves by Dreams and Imaginations; We make every Coffee-house Tale an Article of our Faith; and from Incredible Fables we raise Invincible Arguments. A man must be fierce and violent to get the Reputation of being Well-affected; as if the calling of one another Damned Heretic, and Popish Dog, were the whole Sum of the Controversy. And what's all this, but the effect of a Popular Licence and Appeal? When every Mercenary Scribbler shall take upon him to handle matters of Faith, and State; give Laws to Princes; and every Mechanic sit Judge upon the Government! Were not these the very Circumstances of the late Times? When the Religious Jugglers from all Quarters fell in with the Rabble; and managed them, as it were, by a certain sleight of hand: The Rods were turned into Serpents on both sides▪ and the Multitude not able to say, which was Aaron, and which the Enchanter. Let us have a Care of the same Incantation over again. Are we not under the protection of a Lawful Authority? Nor was there ever any thing more narrowly Sifted, or more vigorously discouraged, than this Conspiracy. Reformation is the proper business of Government and Council; but when it comes to work once at the wrong End, there is nothing to be expected from it, but Tumult and Convulsion. A Legal and Effectual provision against the Danger of Romish Practices and Errors, will never serve Their Turn, whose Quarrel is barely to the Name of Popery, without understanding the Thing itself. And if there were not a Roman Catholic lef● in the three Kingdoms, they would be never the better satisfied, for where they cannot find Popery, they will make it: nay and be troubled too that they could not find it. It is no new thing for a Popular Outcry, in the matter of Religion, to have a State-Faction in the belly of it. The first late Clamour was against Downright Popery; and then came on Popishly Affected; (That sweeps all.) The Order of Bishops, and the Discipline of the Church took their Turns next; and the next blow was at the Crown itself; when every Man was made a Papist that would not play the Knave and the Fool, for Company, with the Common People.  
These things duly weighed, and considering the Ground of our present Distempers; the Compiler of this Abridgement reckoned that he could not do his Countrymen a better Office, than (by laying before them the naked state of things) to give them at one view, a Prospect, both of the subject matter of their Apprehensions, and of the Vigilance, Zeal, and needful severity of the Government on their behalf. To which end, he hath here drawn up an Historical Abstract of the whole matter of Fact concerning those Persons who have hither to been Tried for their Lives, either upon the Plot itself, or in Relation to it: opposing Authentic Records to wand'ring Rumours; and delivering the Truth in all Simplicity. He hath not omitted any one material Point: There is not so much as one Partial Stroke in it; not a flourish, nor any thing but a bare and plain Collection, without any Tincture either of Credulity, or Passion. And it is brought into so narrow a Compass too, that it will ease the Readers head, as well as his purse; by clearing him of the puzzle of Forms, and Interlocutories, that serve only to amuse and misled a man, by breaking the Order, and confounding the Relative parts of the Proceeding.  
Having this in Contemplation; and being at the same time possessed of a most exact Summary of all passages here in Question; This Reporter was only to cast an Extract of these Notes into a Method: especially finding, that upon comparing the substance of his own papers, with the most warrantable Prints that have been published; his own Abstract proved to be not only every jot as Correct, but much more Intelligible, which being short and full; he thought might be useful, and find Credit in the world upon its own account, without need of a Voucher.  True. 
You have now the whole matter before you; the Epistle, 
L'estranges' Narrative justified.  ye see, justifies itself: And then for the Narrative, I dare undertake he shall yield up the Cause, if you can but produce any One Material Point, which he hath either Falsified, Palliated, or Omitted, in the whole Proceeding. But to be plain with you, Citt, One of the Authors of your Preface is a Common setter, a Forger of 
His Adversary detected  Hands, a little spy upon the Swan in Fish-street; a Hackney Solicitor against both Church and State: You know this to be true Citt; and that I do not speak upon Guests; so that Calumny, and False Witnessing is the best part of that Authors Trade. And then the pretended History is a direct Arraignment of the Government. He takes up the King and Council, Pag. 381. reflects upon the judges 
A Bold and senseless Libel.  in the very Contents, and elsewhere; he descants upon the Duke of York, in opposition to the express sense and declaration of the Bench, Pag. 145. and has the confidence yet to Dedicate this Gally-mawfry of audacious slanders to the Two Houses of Parliament. There is little more in the whole, than what has been eaten and spewed up again Thirty times over: and the entire work is only a Medley of Rags, and Solaecisms, picked up out of Rubbish, and most suitably put together.  Citt. 
You may take his part as ye please, But there's a Famous Lecturer charged him Publicly for Popery, in his Answer to the Appeal; and for falling upon Dr. Lloyd.  True. 
He did so; but at the same time that Lecturer found no fault with the Appeal itself; and the best on't is, his Tongue's no 
L'Estrange charged as a Papist, by a Certain Lecturer.  more a slander then his Pen: And whoever reads what he has written concerning the Late King, and the Episcopal Church, will think never the worse of L'Estrange for what he says. Now for the Reverend Dean of Bangor, I dare say he never spoke, or thought of him, but with Veneration. Let me see the book.  
Look ye here, 'tis pag. 18. in L'Estrange's Impression, and 'tis 
The Ground of his Accusation.  pag. 15. in this; and here's the Point [Their Loyalty and Good service paid to the King (says the Appealer speaking of the Papists) was merely in their own Defence] Now see L'Estrange's Reply upon it, If it lies (says he) as a Reproach upon them that they did not serve the King out of Loyalty; that which they did, was yet better than not serving him at all; and better in a Higher degree still, then Fight against him. And a little after. It is worth the Observation, that not a man drew his Sword in the opposite Cause, who was not a Known Separatist; and that on the Other side, not one Schismatic ever struck stroke in the King's Quarrel.  
And now for your Notes upon his Answer, they are so silly, that it were Ridiculous to Reply upon 'em [who knows (says he) but the Regicides were Papists in disguise, pag. 19] And a deal of such senseless stuff; enough to turn a body's Stomach. And if you'd inform yourself of his Malice; look ye here pag. 4. p. 9 and p. 33. how he Palliates, if not Justifies, the Late Rebellion, the Murder of the Archbishop of St. Andrews, and the drawing of the Sword against the King.  
Briefly, 'tis an Insipid Bawling piece of Foolery, from One end to the Other. And it is not but that I highly approve of your Zeal for the Discovery of the Plot, and Suppressing of Popery; but we are not yet to Trample upon Laws, and Public Orders, for the attaining even of those Glorious ends.  
But now I think on't; deal freely with me; did you really go to the Registers ye spoke of, to furnish Names for your Subscriptions?  Citt. 
No; That was but a Flourish: but all the Rest we Literally did.  True. 
Are not you Conscious to yourselves of your Iniquities? 
A gross Cheat upon the Nation.  who made You a Commissioner for the Town, or You for the Country? But we are like to have a fine business of it, when the dregs of the People set up for the Representatives of the Nation; to the Dishonour of the most Considerable, and Sober part of the Kingdom. Prithee Bumpkin, with thy Poles, and Baltics, how shouldst thou come to understand the Balance of Empires? who are Delinquents, and who not? the Right of Bishop's Votes? And You (forsooth) are to Teach the King when to call a Parliament, and when to let it alone. And are not you a fine Fool i'the mean time, to Drudge for the Faction that Sets ye on, to be afterwards made a slave for your pains?  
And then for You, Citt, with your Mouldy Records, your 
Lewd Practices of the Faction.  coordinate Estates, and your Sovereign Power of the People. Do not I know all your Fallacies, your Shifts, and Hiding-holes? There's not one step you set, but I can trace you in't: You have your Spies upon all Libraries, as well as Conversations; your Agents for the procuring of old Manuscripts, and Records, and for the Falsifying of New ones, to make them look like Old Ones. Nay, the Papers of State themselves had much ado to scape ye. Those that assert the Just Rights of the Crown, you either Bury or Conceal; only Publishing the Precedents of Seditious Times, in Vindication of such Principles.  Citt. 
I must confess I take the Government to be coordinate, and the King One of the Three Estates, with submission to be better informed.  True. 
If it be so, how comes it that the House of Commons 
Against Co-ordination.  even in their most Popular seasons, have still owned the Crown of England to be Imperial? How comes it that all our Laws are called the King's Laws: all our Courts of justice his Majesty's Courts, and all Public Causes tried in the King's Name, and by the Authority of his Majesty?  Citt. 
But have not the Two Houses their share in the Legislative Power?  True. 
You must distinguish betwixt the Consent, and the Sanction; the Preparatory Part is Theirs, the Stamp is the Kings: The 
It is the sanction makes the Law, not the Consent.  Two Houses Consent to a Bill; It is only a Bill, when it is presented, and it remains yet a Bill, even when the King has Consented to it; and in this Common Consent, in Order to a Law, the Two Houses may be said to share with his Majesty: But then the Fiat, that superinduces an Authority, and is Only, and Properly the Act of Legislation, is singly in the King. So that though they share in the Consent, they have no pretence at all to the Sanction: which is an Act of Authority; the other but of Agreement.  
And yet again, admitting your Coordination; First, every 
The Inconveniences of a Co-ordination supposed.  King runs the hazard of his Crown upon every Parliament he calls: For That Third Estate lies at the Mercy of the Other Two: And further, 'tis a kind of Ringing the Changes with the Government, the King and Lords shall be Uppermost One day, the King and Commons, Another, and the Lords and Commons, the Third: For in this Scale of Constitution whatsoever the One will not, the Other Two, may.  Citt. 
Well; but Ours is a MIXED Government, and we are a Free People.  Tru. 
If ours be a Mixed Government, so as to any Popular Participation 
Of a mixed Government and a Qualified.  of Power with the King; than it is not a Monarchy: (which is the Government Only of One) but if you'll call it a Qualified Government; so as to distinguish it from an Absolute and Unlimited Government, I●le agree with you. But let the Government be what it will, and where it will, let it do Right or Wrong, it is Equally Unaccountable, for there lies no Appeal, but to a Superior, and the Supreme has none but God Himself.  Citt. 
But if we be a Free People, have not We as much Right to Our Liberties, as the King has to his Crown?  True. 
Yes, we have, but the King has this Advantage of us, that We may Forfeit our Liberties but He cannot forfeit his Crown.  Citt. 
What if a King will Transgress all the Laws of God and Man? may not the People resume their Trust?  Tru. 
No, not unless you can produce an express stipulation to That very purpose. But let me show you, First, the Error of 
Power is from God, not from the People.  taking That to be a Trust from the People, which, in truth, is an Ordinance of Providence, For All Power is from God: And Secondly, the Absurdity of the very Supposition, even in the Case of a Trust conferred by the People. If the King breaks his Trust, the People Resume it: but who are These People? If a Representative, they are but trusties Themselves, and may incur a Forfeiture too, by the same Argument. Where are we next then? For if it devolves to the Loose Multitude of Individuals, (which you will have to be the Fountain of Power) you are Then in an Anarchy, without any Government at all; and There you must either Continue in a Dissociated State, or else agree upon Uniting into some Form of Regiment, or other: and whether it be Monarchy, Aristocracy, or Democracy; it comes all to a Point. If you make the Government Accountable upon every Humour of the People, it lapses again into a Confusion. To say nothing of 
Sovereignty of the People most ridiculous.  the ridiculous fancy of a Sovereignty in the People upon This Account; that they can never be so brought together either to Establish or to Dissolve a Government, as to authorise it to be the People's Act. For there must be, First, an Agreement to Meet and Consult. Secondly, an Agreement upon the Result of That Debate; and any One Dissenter spoils all, where every Individual has an Equal Right: So that unless the People be all of the same mind, This Supposition will be found wholly Impractible and Idle.  Citt. 
But is there no Fence then against Tyranny?  True. 
Only Patience, unless you run into Anarchy, and then into that which you call Tyranny again; and so tread Eternally that Circle of Rigour and Confusion. In fine, the Question is this, whether people had better run Certainly into Confusion to avoid a Possible Tyranny, or venture a Possible Tyranny, to avoid a Certain Confusion.  Citt. 
But where we find Positive Laws and Provisions to fail us, may we not in those Cases, betake ourselves to the Laws of Nature and Self-Preservation?  True. 
No, ye may not; for many Reasons. First, it makes 
Self-preservation is no Plea for the People.  you judges, not only whon those Laws take Place, but also what they are. Secondly, the Government is Dissolved, 〈◊〉 Subjects may go off or on at pleasure. Thirdly, Self-Preservation is the Plea only of Individuals; and there can be no Colour for the exposing of the Public in favour of Particulars. What would ye think of a Common Seaman that in a Storm should throw the Steersman Overboard, and set himself at the Helm? Or of a Soldier that should refuse a Dangerous Post for fear of being knocked on the Head, when the whole Army, depends upon the Maintaining of That Pass.  Citt. 
pray tell me what it is that you call Government, and how far it extends▪ for you were saying even now, that the Reason of all Governments is alike.  True. 
Government is the Will, and Power of a Multitude, United 
What Government is.  in some One Person, or More, for the Good, and safety of the whole. You must not take it that all Governments are alike; but the Ratio of all Governments is the same in some Cases. As in the Instance of Self-Preservation; which is only Pleadable by the Supreme Magistrate, in Bar to all General Exceptions; for he is First, presumed 
Certain Privileges essential to Government.  in Reason, to be vested with all Powers necessary for the Defence, and Protection of the Community: without which his Authority is Vain. He is Secondly, Obliged in Du●y to exert those Powers for the Comm●● Good: and he is Thirdly, entrusted with the Judgement of all Exigences of State, be they Greater or Less; wherein the Public Good may be concerned. Now put the Case that a Magistrate should make a wrong judgement of Matters, and misemploy those Powers; it were an Infelicity in the Administration; but the Sacredness of Authority is still the same: And he is a Mad man, that plucks down his House, because it reins in at the Window. And in case of the Magistrate, it is not so much He, as They; for the King is (as I said before) the United Power and Will of the People. And so Fare ye well.  
The End.   

Errata.  
Page ●. line 24. for his, read this. p. 3. l. 27. for Religion r. Religions. p. 1● l. 25. for Hands, r. Heads. p. 22. l. 9 for on all, r. on to all.