A LETTER from a Gentleman in the Country, TO A Person of Honour in LONDON IN VINDICATION OF THE Church of England. From certain Scandalous Aspersions cast upon them.  
Honoured Sir,  
I Received Yours, wherein you hint certain Fears and Jealousies, as if ●ome that pretend themselves▪ Members of the Church of England, (Tainted with the Popish Leaven, or Infatuated with the Temptations of Imaginary Profit and Honour, in this Critical Juncture, which requires the greatest Zeal and Courage) should be Bewitched into such a 〈…〉 or rather Inclinable to 〈…〉 judgement for our Sin, should 〈…〉 (which God ●●e●t) in their 〈…〉ions.  
And though I hope, nay promise myself, such Suggestions are utterly 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 yet to satisfy you, that if any such t 〈…〉 they have taken wrong Measures as well in Policy as 〈…〉 I offer you these few hasty Reason's that no 〈…〉 of England▪ Men can in such a Change, expect any Termporal Advantages to themselves.  
First Consider the vast Number of English, Scottish, and Irish 〈◊〉 Prests Friar's 〈…〉 for the Spoil and you will find, that the Income of Ten Thousand 〈…〉 Twenty Six Bishoprics▪ and all their Appurtenances six times more Valuable, than 〈…〉 Author of, Omnia Comesta ●… B●…lo) will never satisfy the Rapacious Jaws of such a Numberless Troop of Vultures and Cormorants.  
Seco●●●y, ●●●ough ou● 〈…〉 Gentlemen may have some Pretence to struggle for their Church Lands; as being Estated in them not only by Act of Parliament, but also the Pope's Rem●●● in Queen Mar●… Time, (which yet by the way, is nothing worth in that Case; the Act being, they will tell you, 〈…〉 and no Pope ●ested with Power to impoverish the Church)▪ Yet the Protestant Clergy can claim no such Grace from hi● H●●●ness▪ But must certainly turn out. Cedite Majoribus: Begun you Intruders; make room for the Ancient Proprietors.  
Thirdly, Suppose they Comply betimes; this will be no Security for 〈…〉 or getting New Preferments. For a New Conve●…t in any General Turn, (to which he must be supposed to be swayed more by Interest than Conscience) is always looked upon with an Evil Eye, by the Old preventing Party▪ who will never endure these New Truckers to Reap the Sweets, which they so long have been sweeting to obtain. These came in 〈…〉 Shall they be Equals with us, 〈◊〉 have 〈…〉 of the Day?  
Fourthly, 〈…〉 English Clergy are Married▪ conseq●●●●●● of any Ecclesiastical Office, if Popery prevail▪  
Fifthly, 〈…〉 Jesuits have already pretended to the 〈…〉 ●●●ected Harvest: And Quarrels for 〈…〉 ●●ween Them and the rest of the Order 〈…〉 〈…〉 se Gibblets; before She be plucked. What 〈…〉 〈…〉 full Hugenot Regenado's, ever hope for▪  
Sixthly▪ As 〈…〉 Bargain, if any Prince hereafter should be 〈…〉 Barter away the Protestant Religion (which, 〈…〉 Sovereignty) for a Fancied Arbitrary Powe● 〈…〉 to the Paramount Pleasure of the 〈…〉 bearded in his own Dominions, by every 〈…〉 So 'twill be no less Prejudicial 〈…〉 clergy themselves, when instead of being 〈…〉 gratis,, by the King, for their Merit, th●y pay a vast Fine for a Pall and Confirma 〈…〉 to the ●●and Signior at Rome: As Walter Grace 〈…〉 to deposit Ten Thousand Pounds sterling 〈…〉 bishopric of York; and William de Raley, Eight Hundred M 〈…〉, for that of Winchester, etc. See Matthew Paris, in 〈…〉 & alibi.  
Seventhly, When 〈…〉 can any of our English Clergy, though never so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of enjoying Preferments, when (besides 〈◊〉 ●easons before recited) we find, that heretofore under the ●way of Popery, Foreigners were usually placed in the best 〈◊〉▪ As in the Year 1253. on an inquisition 〈…〉 that the Revenues of the Italians an England (whereof many were Boys, most Dunces, all Aliens) 〈…〉 Threescore and Ten Thousand Marks▪ Per Annum▪ 〈…〉 a greater Revenue, than that of the Kin●● And ●●other 〈…〉 e, Matthew Paris tells us, Tha● the Pope made a Bargain with the People of Rome, that if they would effectually 〈…〉 d him against the Em●●rour Frederi●k, their Children should be put into all the Vacant Benefices in England▪ whereupon Order was sent to Edward Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Lincoln, and Salisbury; That Provision should be made for Three Hundred Roman Children to be served of the next Benefices that should fall.  
I need not mention the slavery they they must be under of Trudging to Rome on every impertinent Appeal; Their being liable to be Sp 〈…〉 g●ll, as oft as the Popish Court pleases; the Hatred they will Incur from Protestants, and deserv●●● Scorn from Old Papists, with an hundred other Inconveniencies: But shall only add, that as they must needs be Rebels to God. and their own Consciences, so at the same time they must be Traitors to their King, and Betrayers of the Liberties of their Country; whoever shall attempt or submit 〈…〉 o any Reconciliation with Rome; which I assure myself no English Man 〈◊〉 unbyased Liberal Education, much less any that have e●●r imbibed the true Loyal Generous Principles of the Church of England, will be Guilty of: Therefore advise you to silence unjust Suggestions of that nature, as that will Conserve the good Opinion, of▪  
Your Friend and Servant, &c▪  
FINIS.   

London, Printed for ●. D. 1680.