A Pair of SPECTACLES FOR Mr. OBSERVER; OR, REMARKS ON THE Fanatical Observations ON MY Lord Petre's LETTER To the KING.  
THough the Reflecting upon the Errors of Popery be extremely commendable, yet the amusing of the World with Lies, is not only mean and base, (hardening even the Papists themselves;) but a thing also that has endangered both Church and State, as all Loyal men of the least Capacity now plainly see, and acknowledge. 'Tis not the jingle of a few words, nor is it the empty noise of Religion, that can make an Intelligent and Awakened People fancy, That a Republican Observer dreads the Deposing of Kings, or that a Regicide in temper fears the Stabbing of them. These are Chimeras, Phantomes, and Notions below the very reach of the Vulgar; nay the Mythology or true English of them is as manifest as the Sun itself in its Meridian. Yet when I remember, that the Stories of Papal Dispensations to the Dying Members of that Communion were never more earnestly and zealously insisted upon (by Tongue, Care, and the rest of them) than when the King and all his known Friends were designed for Slaughter, I cannot think it unbecoming a Faithful Subject to examine a little this Author's Comment on the aforesaid Letter, and see whether he may not be justly suspected of having the former Project in his Heart, since he has at first dash the same Cry in his Mouth with the old Care of Religion in pretence, which has ushered in, and cloaked also the most dismal and blackest Villainies ever the Nation yet saw or heard of.  
His wise Proem is a doubt, Whether the Letter be his Lordships; Because he thinks forsooth, That it ought to have had the Attestation of the Lieutenant, of the Reverend Doctor Hawkins, or some other good Protestant. 2dly. Because 'twas Printed by T. B. and not by His Majesty's Printers: And 3dly. Because 'tis Printed (as the Paper mentions) for one Mead, who is no known Bookseller he says.  
To these Reasons I Answer, that the Lieutenant did not only bring it to the King, but his Lordship has to hundreds and hundreds of very Worthy Protestants (who during his Confinement came often to him) most solemnly declared his Innocence, together with a detestation of all Plots, and all King-killing or Deposing Doctrines whatsoever. Now as for T. B. whether he were one of the Assigns of Bill and Barker, or whether Mead be Free of the Company, I know not; yet this I am sure of, that the Argument is very silly and weak; and if I mistake not, the rest will be found in the same Mood and Figure▪ But before I proceed, I cannot (I confess) but smile to see how Complimental and full of Ceremony the Spark is with the aforesaid Loyal and Sober Clergyman, who, instead of having due Respect or Reverence paid him (when Fitz-Harris's business was on the Anvil) was nothing but Sir Reverenced, and Vilified by the whole Cabal; and the like they would again do, not only to Him, but to the whole Hierarchy, were their Sails a Trip, or their Outrageous Hands and Tongues unfettered.  
Now for the Observations themselves, the first is; That a Papist for all his Grimaces (and consequently his Lordship, if he be one) never really prayed for the King, it being absolutely forbidden by a Synod at Dublin, as Father Walsh the Franciscan has it (he says) in Print.  
The point I confess would seem very strange, were not this an Age of Riddles; and certainly 'tis at least Mystery, and a kind of Riddle too, that Papists dare not Pray for the Welfare of their Sovereign, and yet dare Fight for it. They can Juggle it seems with His Majesty in their Words, and remain yet real in their Actions, even to the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes. Nay the English Papists (for against them this shot is I suppose Levelled) have often challenged (we find) all their Enemies in the Nation, To show any one man of them (whether Gentle or Simple) that was ever False or Unfaithful. But I wish for the sake of all True Protestants (who will not I am sure send the like defiance) that Pug's Deputy, I mean this new Couranteer, had kept the Witness concealed, his Name being I fear a little Scandalous; for the Papists here, have not only called him all along Macedo, Liar, etc. but the whole Town knows that he was in open War with his Order, and formally Excommunicated also for his goodness. Yet the matter upon second thoughts may pass; for a Witness is often the better, for a Blot in his Escutchion provided he be Advantageous to the Brethren and their Cause.  
In the next Paragraph this Munkyish Observer will have it ill Manners in the Writer of the said Letter, for saying his Lordship has long lain under a false and injurious Calumny, seeing his Lordship was Impeached (he says) by the highest Court of Judicature in the Kingdom; yet he will have it, that if the Letter be his Lordships own, 'tis only the word of a dying Romanist for the concern of his Church, and that perchance He did it to gain Absolution; or that there may be an Equivocation in the words.  
As for his Lordship's affronting the Parliament by protesting thus his Innocence, I shall speak a little to it by and by; desiring the Reader to tell me first, If this be a Crime, what do the Saints than deserve, who have Branded that very House of Commons which Impeached his Lordship, with the Title of Pensioners, and a thousand other Villainous Taunts and Nicknames? Now for the business of Dispensations here mentioned (for the altering of the Phrase is only to show his Elegance) 'twas too gross, too Childish to stand long on its Legs; for who could imagine (when the hurry was once over, and all the Elephants and Camels swallowed) that two or three Retailing Scribblers of this new Faction should Monopolise to themselves the whole Secret, when as no body else, no not the Converts from Popery ever heard of that Trick before. Besides, how strangely odd must it appear to any thinking man, that his Holiness should be so liberal, when 'twas Cockpit lay that he would lose by the Intrigue, and yet permit his Pupils from time to time to suffer in their Persons and Estates for not going to Church, even to Prayers of his own making, (if the word of a True Protestant were to be taken.) But the Imposture and design is now discovered; and we know the Credit of the King's Evidence was to be maintained, to destroy both the King and Monarchy together. No wonder then that a man of Probity in his Actions, a man without Welt or Guard in his Expressions, and a man also that died with great Resignation and Peace, (as all the Protestants about him can testify) should be taxed by these men of Equivocation, even when he uses the Words of Oates' own Charge which his Lordship had it seems formerly gotten; nay the very Words (if I be not much deceived) which the said Oats Swore at the Bar of the Lords House against him.  
His 4th. Observation (for the 3d. will follow next more methodically) is on his Lordship's affirmation, That the murdering of Kings, and the taking up of Arms against Them, is, to his knowledge, no authorised Principle of the Popish Religion. This makes the little Gentleman touchy, and say, That the Averment is either delusive, or false, since Papists have Rebelled even in England and Ireland, seeing their Councils have declared, and catagorically concluded it in express terms; and lastly, seeing their greatest Doctors have avowed it also.  
To this I first say, If owning Rebellion lawful by the determination of One or more spiritual True-Protestant-Assemblies, (for such a Meeting, I suppose, in our Casuist's sense is a Council) and if the asserting it by the Doctors and Preachers of the Communion; and again, if the practising it by the Flock in general, makes the Position an authorised Principle of a Religion; I can tell our said Casuist, with a vengeance, whose Religion this Doctrine is an authorised Principle of; with this aggravation too, that 'twas never explicitly nor implicitly disowned by the Party; nay, rather than recant, several of the Fraternity have lately died the Devil's Martyrs for it, we know. But 'tis not my Province to Accuse the Brethren, or Excuse Popery; but to Vindicate a Noble Peer, and a Loyal Subject, who died a Christian, and hoped for Salvation by the Merits of the Blessed Jesus only. To the business then, in God's Name.  
The whole English World knows, That my Lord Petre was accused of intending the King's Deposition and Death; nor is any body ignorant with what zeal 'twas proclaimed through the Kingdom, That the lawfulness of it was a Popish Principle, even a certain Tenet of that Religion. Now, seeing his Lordship thought it (as he says in his Letter) a duty he owed to Truth and his own Innocence, to clear himself of the Treason; was it not absolutely necessary (if he could truly and knowingly do it) to declare the Doctrine a Calumny, and to his knowledge to be no Principle of his Church? I say, was it not necessary for him to do thus? especially when 'twas evident that our very believing this a part of his Religion, infinitely strengthened the Evidence and Charge against him?  
This being his Case, and these his Motives, might he not then knowingly deny the Principle, when several learned men had told him 'twas an aspersion; when many zealous English Papists had, he knew, written against it; when he heard that Books that maintained it had been censured and burnt in Popish Countries; and especially, when he saw (even whilst he lay in Prison in a manner for the King) that the Pope's eldest Son, even the Popish King of France, with all that Clergy, tell his Holiness to his face, That they detested this Doctrine; for Princes held their Crowns from God alone; so that no Power under Heaven, could Depose them, much more Murder them; Nay, his Lordship also knew, that the good old Man, instead of damning his Child for the Fact, did (even since this Declaration) send him his Blessing; which no body (I think) believes he would have done, had His Majesty denied Transubstantiation, Purgatory, or any real Tenet of the Popish Religion.  
By this than we see, that the Council of Lateran (which imposed even Transubstantiation on all Papists,) is far from obliging them to the deposing Doctrine; and this Dr. Heylin (that great Champion against Popery) in his Certamen Epistolare, plainly shows; and truly I shall much sooner follow the Opinion of that eminent Divine, than Mr. Observer's. But still I say, that Popery is Popery; and tho' Papists may be Loyal, many things in their Religion may be yet Erroneous; nor will I be the sooner a Jew, because he is thus far in the right, as to believe Moses and the Prophets.  
So much then for this point; and now let's fall to the 3d Observation, which is extremely remarkable and pleasant; it being on that part of the Letter which puts Mr. Observer into an Ecstasy, and far above the Altitudes of Dol Common.  
His Lordship's words are these, That of the folly as well as falsehood of Oates' Information, the sober part of Mankind are (as he conceives) e'er this sufficiently convinced. To which the Gentleman says, That the Paragraph smells rank of the Priest's Contrivance; That it arraigns the Justice of the Nation; That it affronts His Sacred Majesty, the Pa●l●ament, the Judges, etc. calling them in effect Fools and Madmen; That sober men are so far from being convinced, as the Letter means, that on the contrary, Oates stands (in spite of all the little Romish Arts) unshaken, and as firm as the Pillars of the Earth; but the Popish Subornations and Tricks have been abundantly derected by Providence, to their confusion, as appears in the Case of Knox and Lane. Then to conclude, he says, That He who with deep asseverations avouches one Untruth, cannot expect to be believed in another Affirmation; by any but Bankrupts in Reason, and Prodigals in their Faith.  
What a Rhapsody, and heap of unsorted, and (which is more) contradictory things, has the Gentleman raked up here altogether, to his own confusion and shame, (if a Whig had the grace to have any!) For, what an encouragement does he give to Perjury, and any profligate wretch, if a Witness, must never be questioned after Judgement? Magistrates and Governors are not Gods, tho' they are called so; They must commit upon suspicion, and believe an Oath, when they have no reason to doubt it, and therefore 'tis Justice in Judges to condemn (even an Innocent,) if really, and in their conscience, they think him guilty. Our very Law-books show us many sad Precedents of this Nature, without dishonouring thereby the Government; and the Papists themselves, (tho' sufferers) have had th● ingenuity to own this Truth, as we see in the Lord Castlemain's Manifesto: yet, had they been silent or dogged, Mr. Settle in his Narrative, and the Observator also in his Loyal Treatises, have fully proved the point, and answered all the Fanatical Objections and Pretences. But who could have imagined (had we not had a long and repeated experience of it) that Claudius should rail at Debauchery, or that True-Protestants should be so tender of the Honour of the Government, who blasphemed against all that is Sacred, if their own Copy-holds come once to be touched?  
To pass by then the scandal they have cast upon Juries, by their Ignoramus's and other Notorious Verdicts; Have they not defamed all our Courts, by publicly decrying and disowning the Now PLOT; tho' Persons of Rank and Quality have been the Witnesses; tho' the Condemned themselves have confessed the Conspiracy; and tho' no one of them have had the impudence to deny it at their Execution, which even in conscience he ought to have done, had he been Innocent? Nor can any thing more unanswerably prove the Truth, Tenderness, and exact Probity of the said Witnesses, than that so many Noted True Protestant's (who have been lately Imprisoned) are now at Liberty for want of Evidence; a thing never heard of in the Salamanca Intrigue. Is not then Mr. Observer's complaint against Defamation from the bottom of his heart, when all his party have still aspersed the King, and all his best and truest Ministers?  
But who could have thought this Fellow so foolish (unless Impudence and Folly were synonimous) as to say, that no sober man questions Oates's Evidence, but that it stands as firm as the very Pillars of the Earth. Lord! what sport might a man make with this highflown and well-adapted Rhetoric, were not the Orator too contemptible to be laughed at!  
But pray Mr. Observer, since the Dr. is now so well and fully known, give me leave to ask ye,  
1st. Whether sober men do not question, but Coleman might have been known by Candle-light, (notwithstanding the Doctor's ill eyes) since his Reverence had such a world of intimacy with him, as he (the said Doctor) afterwards alleged at his Trial; and especially, since Coleman spoke first, as Sir Thomas Doleman attested?  
2ly. Whether sober men question not Ireland's being in London about the middle of August, and 2d. of September, when his Journal (made out by a Crowd of Eminent Witnesses, as well Protestants as Papists) shows, That he left the Town on the 3d. of August, and returned not till the 14th. of September?  
3ly. Whether sober men do not question, if poor creeping Pickering (who would have started at a Titmouse) were appointed to shoot the King with chewed silver Bullets; Or whether Groves ever showed the Doctor his Collectors Book of Peter-pences; a thing that would not have raised 500 l. had all the Papists in England paid their Quota?  
4ly Whether sober men do not question Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's going in his dejection, to the Doctor for Spiritual Comfort?  
5ly. Whether sober men do not question old Whitebread's beating and cuffing the Doctor, when he feared that he (the said Doctor) would betray the Plot?  
6ly. Whether sober men do not question the White-horse-Consult, since the Doctor could not tell Mr. Langhorn, whether he (the Dr.) came from Dover on horseback or by Coach; since the Mistress of the said House (a Protestant) disowned any such Assembly, since Mrs. Groves, and her Sister, and a Protestant Maid, declared, that the Doctor was no Longer of theirs in April 78. and since Sir Thomas Preston, Sir John Warner, and Mr. Hildesley, were proved not to accompany the Dr. (as he said,) in his Journey?  
7ly. Whether Sober men do not question Sir George Wakemen giving (in terminis) an Acquittance for 5000 l. (in part of 15000 l.) to Kill the King. And whether they question not the Doctors knowing of all that Treason which he Accused Sir George of at his Trial, when Sir Philip Lloyd witnessed, That the said Doctor solemnly protested to the King and Council, that he had no Treason to Charge him with.  
8ly. Whether Sober men question not the Doctor's Averment at my Lord Castlemain's Trial, That he remembered not to have said he saw his Lordship's Divorce, since four times before he openly declared (twice of which was upon Oath) That he had seen it in Mr. Strange's Hand. And again, whether they question not the Spanish Fathers sending the Doctor (in the time of his very Embassy and Negotiation) to show the Boys the way to School; as it appears (by his Lordship's Manifesto and Trial) he had Sworn.  
9ly. Whether Sober men question not if the Lords (without Turbervil's help) would in Lord Stafford's Trial have given Credit to the Doctor, having rejected his Testimony against the Queen; For accusing her after he had Sworn, that he had no more to say against any body in or out of the House.  
10ly. Whether Sober men do not question the Doctor's whole Evidence in Colledg's Trial, except it be, That he and Savage, (as he Swears,) disputed about the Existence of a God, and the Immortality of the Soul.  
11ly. Whether Sober men do not question whether the Doctor be a Doctor or no.  
To conclude with twelve Good men and True, or a full Jury of Questions; (for the Venire itself is Infinite;) I say 12ly. Whether any Sober or Drunken men, do think that my Lord Petre had ever a Commission or Patent to be Lieutenant General of an Army, and therefore Mr. Observer be pleased to remember your late Aphorism; to wit, That he that will avouch with the highest Asseveration one Notorious Untruth, cannot be expected to be believed in his other Affirmations, by any but a Bankrupt in his Reason, and a Prodigal in his Faith.  
Let me Sir then end with this Advertisement, that you may write against Romish Fopperies as long as you please, if that be the real drift of your Zeal; for no good Protestant will ever vindicate Popery, tho' he may an Innocent and Loyal Papist; especially when your Design, and that of your Party, is to Blacken the King, to Subvert the Government both in Church and State, and to destroy all His Majesty's True and Faithful Protestant Subjects.  
I must here tell the Reader, (tho' late) that having forgotten the business of Knox and Lane, he is to remember, that their Accuser as to any Popish practice, was Dangerfield, the most Infamous Recorded Villain upon Earth; And therefore let him judge now of the Evidence.   

Printed for Thomas Price, Anno Dom. MDCLXXXIV.