A Letter to a Member of the Committee of Grievances, containing some Seasonable Reflections on the present Administration of Affairs, since Managed by Dutch Councils.  
SIR,  
IF you have red or heard of the Changes between 1640. and 1660. you can't be surprised at the Accidents between 78. and 89. The Pretences, the successses, the Methods used and had in both, are so exactly agreeable, that the last would have been impossible, but that the same Men who did procure the first have occasioned the later: The designs we observe to be the same, and we begin to feel the Consequences much like the other, or rather worse. To insist on the Parallel, is as needless as to show their Malignity: It's enough now for us to bethink ourselves how we have been twice Gulled and Cheated by those Men already. 'Tis true, Grievances we have had, and still have, and must expect more, as long as those are at the Helm, who when they had forfeited their own Interest and share in public Administrations, complained of every thing which others did; until by Murmurs, lies, Libels, Lampoons and Ballads, they had made others as uneasy as themselves; that during a Convulsion of State they might mount the saddle, and Ride us all, and with Vengeance, as now they do. Their Pretences were specious, but false. In their Pamphlets, they complained of falsehood and Insincerity, yet never shewed us the Mother of the Prince of Wales brought over in the Dutch Fleet; the Original League under King James's own Hand with the French King, to cut Protestants Throats; or, the two Witnesses of Essex's Murder, as they promised us. They complained of shame stories put upon the People; yet they Published, and gained more by a Third shame Declaration, then by the former; a shame Paper of a Fight in Ireland between Papist and Protestant, of 6000 killed of one party, and 4000 of the other; and Industriously sent Men at Midnight to the several Corners of the Town to Alarum the City with Fears of a Massacree from the Irish, and the same throughout the Country; shame stories of the Dutch taking King James and carrying Him to Holland; shame Papers of His Death, and those licenced by Authority. They comp●●iued of breach of Promise, and a Variance between the Declaration at Councel-Board on the 6th. of February 1685. on the behalf of the Church of England, and the Declaration for Liberty of Conscience; but will not now remember the Harmony between the Promise to the London Clergy on the 20th. of February last for the support of the Churches Establishment, and that they might depend on it; and the Speech made in Parliament the 16th. of March for to Capacitate all Persons, not Excepting Atheists, Fifth Monarchy Men, &c. to enjoy all the Preferments and Offices in the Nation. They feared unqualified Men should come into Parliament, yet have admitted persons Out-lawed and Attainted to it. They feared Members would not take the oaths in King James's Parliament; but themselves never took the new ones in eight dayes after they had made them, when by their own Law none was to Sit, or Vote till that was done; and yet they Sate and Acted all that time, and passed the Money Bill, which now hath relation to a day, when by an Act of Parliament 30 Car. 2. cap. 1. it appears they were not qualified to make it. They complained of Court Officers being Members of Parliaments; yet have Solicited and procured the Choice of many such when for their turn. They did complain of Judge not taking the oaths; but have made several without Swearing Allegiance, as the Statute of King James the 1st. requires at the time of taking the Oath of Office. They complained of Judges Patents, that they were not during good Behaviour; but make all their own Grants durant been placito, even such as were usually for Life, as the Master of the Rolls and the like. They complained of Lewd and Scandalous Persons employed and encouraged with public Offices; yet Preferred an Out-Law, viz. R. F. to be House-keeper to the Excise-Office and many others. They complained of turning out English Officers to gratify the Irish with their Employments; but they are excusable to take the Bread out of the Mouths of hundreds of English Protestants, to feed Foreigners in their places. They complained of Causeless Removals of Persons from public Places; but, the bitter cries of many numerous Families, depending for a Livelihood upon the late Owners of those Employs, show what the practise now is. They complained of Closseting; but have removed several for Voting according to their Consciences, as the D. of Graston, &c. They complained of Billeting Souldiers upon public Houses against the Owners will; but still do the same thing. They complained of Hanging Souldiers for Desertion as Felons; but after long Threats, have now made a Law, That whosoever shall excite, Cause, or join in any thing they shall call Mutiny or Sedition, or shall Desert, shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as by a Court-Martial shall be inflicted. They complain of a Popish Army; but don't assign any difference between one Papist and another, while they maintain 4000 Foreigners of that persuasion at the Protestants Charge. They complained of not taking the Tests; but would not allow any Term or Sessions to take them in. They complained of Passive Obedience, as an Unreasonable, Foolish, and Impertinent Doctrine; but now it is Treasonable to deny it. They complained of the Buying of Places, yet they themselves Sell all, nay turn out all that will not pay a years value. They complained of the Treasonable Collecting of the Revenue after King Ch. the 2d's Death; yet receive it without an Act of Parliament, and after 'tis devolved to the People by the Abdication, as was agreed by all the Lawyers in the House the first day, though the Case was altered, and they changed their Opinions five weeks after. They complained of Oppressive Subsidies; but give to the Dutch above half a Million of Money, even without Examination of Accounts, when in Justice they ought to have paid us much more, being Gainers by the diversion of this years Storm from themselves, by making us the Seat of War to preserve their own peace. They complained of a Breach upon English-Mens Liberties by long Imprisonments, for want of excessive Bail demanded in evasion of the Habeas Corpus Act; but themselves have absolutely suspended it, tho' it's hoped, they may live to repent of the precedent, as an Argument hereafter for the like, or a longer suspension upon an alleged necessity. They complained of the encouragement given to a Gentleman for Writing an Observator: but themselves have maintained a Gazzettier and a Remarquer, which is two to one. They complained of Johnson's usage for Writing a Book, viz. Julian the Apostate; but Goal'd the Author of a Sheet of Paper, viz. The Desertion discussed. They complained of Sir Thomas Armstrong's Execution without the aid of a Jury, tho' in pursuance to a Statute, viz. 5 Edw. 6. Cap. 11. yet threaten others with Attainders, without calling them to Answer, tho' in Prison, and at forthcoming. They complained of unjust Accusations and Persecutions; yet Sir John Moor was Prosecuted before a small Committee, consisting chiefly of such Persons who were his Accusers, or unqualified for Acting according to the known Customs and Usages of the City. They complained of the decay of English Trade; and yet Dutch Foreigners are encouraged and employed to Import Goods, which by Law ought to be done by English Bottoms only. They complained of Breach of the Laws, but have forgot what the Law says, That there can be no Interregnum, and that a Father is Elder than a Child, that an Uncle is Preferable to a Nephew, a Brother before his Sister, in case of Inheritances: They are very pressing for a Bill of Comprehension and Indulgence; yet are about to impose their new Oaths of Allegiance with the utmost rigour; hoping to raise Money, or Imprison or ruin all those who make Conscience of their Oaths to King James. And instead of preserving our Properties, a fourth part of the Money of the Nation will scarce serve for a present supply to secure their Usurpations. Thus you see what are our Grievances, and how we are relieved.— multi  Juv. Sat. 13. 

Committunt eadem diverso Crimina fato;  
Ille Crucem pretium sceleris tulit, hic Diadema.  
With different Fates Men act the self same Crimes;  
Whilst on's Reward's a across, th' other's a Diadem.