A POEM, In vindication of the late PUBLIC PROCEED.  
By way of DIALOGUE, Between a High TORY and a TRIMMER.  
To which is added, The High Tory's CATECHISM.  
As when the Sea breaks o'er its bounds,  
And overflows the level Grounds;  
Those Banks and Dams that like a Screen  
Did keep it out, now keep it in.  
So when Tyrannical Usurpation  
Invades the freedom of a Nation,  
The Laws o'th' Land that were intended  
To keep it out, are made Defend it.  HUDIBRAS. 
Printed in the Year, 1689.   

A POEM In Vindication of the Late Public Proceed: By way of Dialogue between a High TORY and a TRIMMER.  

WHen King and Queen the Seas had crossed,  
Because a good Design was lost;  
Scamp'ring away in hasty Pet,  
'Cause people would not have them get  
Their Heirs by proxy, and Throne fill  
With Issue, not of Loins but Will:  
Of discourse than I heard a story,  
Between a Trimmer and high Tory.  
With visage grave and politic,  
Quoth Tory, pray how can you stick  
To a rebellious wicked cause,  
Against so many Oaths and Laws;  
Which bind to absolute submission,  
Without reserve without condition?  
Why don't you then the King recall,  
And reinthrone him at Whitehall?  
For would his Subjects but submit,  
And foreign Forces England quit;  
He'd grant enough to blast all hope  
Of hated Romish Priests and Pope;  
And Right and Property restore,  
Never to be endangered more.   Trim. 

Suppose, quoth Trimmer, things might be  
As you affirm, great fools were we  
Should we believe't, for on what ground  
Can we a just assurance found?  
Promise no doubt he'll give, but what  
Security to make good That?  
No Vow, no Oath, nor Declaration  
Will serve again to gull the Nation,  
Which now's alike inclined to trust  
The Nants-Edicts of Great and Just.  
Would James have granted what you say  
He will, he ne'er had gone away;  
And sure abroad he is not gone  
With purpose to return alone.  
Shall we the word of Lewis take,  
That James no more his word shall break,  
And let French Faith attend him home  
Joined with the Charity of Rome?  
Who have o'th' one experience had,  
May try the other, if they're mad.   Tory. 

Why truly should the King return,  
To us who'd his Liege-subjects born  
The Act of Sixty one in force is,  
Even though he landed with French Forces:  
Or else pray tell me what's the sense  
Of bearing arms on no pretence,  
And in no case, against the King,  
Or those that his Commission bring?   Trimmer. 

In this Objection seems to lie  
Your greatest strength, but I reply;  
No Acts or Laws have obligation  
To the destruction of a Nation;  
Which to preserve is their intent,  
(And this not mentioned is still meant,)  
And when they answer not this end,  
But to the people's damage tend  
(Who thereby harmed are or annoyed,)  
Without Repeal grow null and void;  
Which much more sure they ought to do, in  
Case they advance the public ruin.   

No Law is bound for Pope to cut  
(No more than Essex) it's own throat;  
Whose very Essence is contrary  
To absolute and arbitrary,  
And if't enacts such Sovereignty  
Must guilty of Self-murder be.  
Nor can one Law hold to suspend  
Or to all others put an end;  
(But that Law makes all others cease,  
Which bids Kings do even what they please.)  
And he who does with Laws dispense  
Made for our safety and defence,  
And only such in force will have  
As serve the people to enslave,  
Says in effect his subjects must  
Be ruled by his ungoverned lust;  
And such usurping Tyrant should  
Like first Invader be withstood.   

That only Pacts to one convey  
The Right of many I'll not say;  
But yet Protection sure is to,  
Although not for, obedience due:  
And if a Prince withdraws protection  
While people pay all due subjection,  
Why Loyal men should passive be  
Till they are ruined, I can't see.   

He that to Law will not submit  
His Power, destroys the source of it;  
And legal Title gone, new Right  
Must be acquired by force and might:  
He thence of no claim is possessed,  
Till he achieves That of conquest;  
And That will any others be  
Who shows a longer sword than he.   Tory. 

This is wild arguing, but pray  
What Scripture Rule to disobey  
Your Governors can you produce,  
Which you may bent to private use;  
And, as you're wont, by wresting sense  
Of Text, make plausible defence?  
For here you will your dearest Paul  
In vain to your assistance call,  
And if you would this cause support,  
Must find some new Apostle for't.   Trim. 

This seems the weakest Ob of all  
From Tory lips that ere did fall;  
For how should Paul concerned be  
In the Birthright of you or me?  
In Holy Writ what do you find  
Of Copyhold, or Gavelkind,  
Tenure in capite, Feefarm;  
To Paul and Peter Cant and Charm;  
Who never tell how far extends  
The power of Kings, and where it ends;  
If Commonwealth and Anarchy  
Differ in kind, or in degree;  
What's easy Government and mild,  
And which 'tis galls till men run wild.  
Can you from them the difference show  
'Twixt Claim of Trajan and Nero;  
Or Sequel from some Scripture draw  
'Gainst that vile pagan Salic Law;  
And Argument raise from another,  
To make Grandson precede the Brother  
In wearing Crown, you'd do much more  
Than ever Tory did before.  
Since than no Text shows who has got  
A rightful Title, and who not;  
When Subjects liberty's betrayed, or  
Who's an Usurper or Invader,  
Herein we must directed be  
By Maxims of State-polity,  
And in such matters must proceed  
As Laws and Custom have decreed;  
And if i'th' case these silent be,  
Ought to consult necessity;  
Which, (since it for Self-preservation  
Of straggling Herds made Civil Nation)  
Still Power must have o'er Government,  
To make it answer first Intent.   

Now as to Christians using force  
'Gainst Law-subverting Governors;  
I think the point may thus be cleared.  
When Christ in human flesh appeared,  
The Jewish Hopes were fixed upon  
A Temporal Messiah's Throne.  
That Nation of a King did dream,  
Who should Mankind subdue to them;  
And was to Rule with earthly sway  
As far as e'er the Sun made day.  
From such a Prince each Jew expected  
A Province to himself subjected;  
O'er which he should dominion gain,  
And in full Power and Glory Reign.  
Therefore to humble and bring down  
Hearts swollen with such Ambition,  
And frame them to receive a King  
Born to triumph in suffering,  
(And not a Ruler long to have  
Who should the conquered world enslave,)  
The Passive doctrine of the Cross  
Both true and seasonable was.  
But then the Rule of Nonresistance  
Reaches to all men, as they're Christians,  
Nor does't exempt the Magistrate,  
Or him that sits at Helm of State;  
Who by this Doctrine seems as far  
Confined as meanest Subjects are:  
For Gospel Precepts we well know  
Bare Self-defence do not allow  
To Followers of Christ, as such:  
(Turn t'other cheek imports as much.)  
Not that Christ's Laws to be Slaves bind us,  
But only leave us as they find us  
In human Station, neither can  
The Christian dispossess the Man  
Of Civil Right or Natural,  
Which equally belong to all,  
So far as Nature and each State  
By their respective Laws create  
Property, and give Title to,  
Christian or Pagan, Turk or Jew.  
Now you grant us this Property,  
But to maintain it Power deny;  
And therefore are not half so kind  
As you would seem, for aught I find:  
For who allows me Right and Claim,  
But no Right to defend the same,  
Enclosure gives without a Fence;  
And this I take to be Nonsense.   

But pray this passive Doctrine why  
Are you not always governed by?  
When Mass or Ruin are your choice,  
Your Nonresistance makes no noise.  
With sworn Allegiance you dispense,  
When made for Slavery a Pretence;  
(Had you i'th' rigour but stuck to it,  
Peter  this had made you rue it,)  
You can distinguish then and limit;  
Can moderate Notions find, and trim it.  
No man, say you's supposed to swear,  
Himself to hamper and ensnare;  
Nor can men's Oaths bear such construction  
As plainly binds to self-destruction.  
Had Senate of Caligula  
Established such an Oath by Law,  
He'd had his wish, for thereupon.  
Millions of Necks had been as one;  
And though our Christian way more slow  
Must be confessed, yet by one blow  
The twisted lives of human kind  
More certain period could not find.   

These your late Notions were, though now  
You're pleased the same to disavow.  
For when the dreadful danger's o'er  
Treat strait, cry you, recall, restore;  
And now your Rights seem safe and Lives,  
Your old Allegiance Oath revives.  
But were all people of your mind,  
Where could you this dear safety find?  
Shall we in earnest entertain  
Boundless Prerogative again?  
Or shall we still resist, that you  
May safe be, and seem loyal too?  
There 'tis; to James for should we fly all,  
And of your Oaths make second trial,  
From Him and Them again you'd scamper,  
And gladly with some Orange tamper;  
Would beg for refuge and defence  
From some delivering Godlike Prince,  
If such a one were to be found  
Elsewhere, on European Ground.   

Then let your zeal no more be misspent  
On Notions wholly inconsistent;  
While Schemes unpracticable deceive you,  
And the world knows not where to have you.  
But since good Tory thou dost pass  
For Poet of the highest Class,  
In lofty strains th' Achievements sing  
Of restored England's glorious King;  
Whose conquering to oblige a State  
Stands single in the Book of Fate,  
And matchless Exploit will appear  
Throughout the whole Platonic year;  
For when before did  Kingdom  
Triumph for being overcome?  
Or shall hereafter Nation be  
Saved by success of Enemy?  
By foreign, kind Hostility,  
Freed from domestic Slavery?  
From homebred misery and woe  
Delivered by Invading Foe?  
This Action so amazing great  
No Pen can duly celebrate,  
Nor must thou venture to rehearse  
What transcends all the powers of Verse.  
Her utmost art thy Muse will need  
To reach this Hero's meanest Deed;  
Which would a large Poetic field  
TO a Virgil or a Claudian yield:  
While Trimmer only dares to chime  
With one for sense and one for rhyme,  
and humbly crowding in among  
The half-inspired Phoebean Throng,  
With those whose Principles ne'er vary,  
Cries long may William Reign and Mary.    

The HIGH TORY's Catechism.  
Question. WHat is Passive Obedience?  
Answer. Passive Obedience is an absolute unconditional refignation of our Lives, Laws, and Liberties to the Will and Pleasure of the Prince.  
Quest. Is this Passive Doctrine always binding?  
Ans. No; this Passive Doctrine obliges in the rigour, only when whigs and Trimmers are like to suffer by it; but when the malignant effects of it turn upon us, it loses its force and obligation.  
Quest. Pray, what may you then do?  
Ans. We may then suspend and withdraw our obedience, and not only invite a Foreigner to rescue and deliver us, but assist him with our prayers, purses, and persons.  
Quest. You say, you may suspend your Allegiance to your Natural Prince; pray therefore is it not utterly extinguished in such a case, or does it ever revive and recover its former obligation?  
Ans. Yes it does; for when the danger of ruin from an arbitrary Prince seems to be blown over, we ought to declare again for Him, our opposition made against him being grounded upon his Power no less than his to destroy us; now the former of these being once removed, and the latter thereby disarmed, he again becomes our lawful  Governor, with exclusion of all others, though the obligations they have put upon us be never so great.  
Quest. But if all men returned to their allegiance as well as you, (which I suppose they are equally obliged to do,) he would quickly recover that same power of destroying. Pray in that case what methods are you to take?  
Answ. You go upon a mistake; for we very well know that the Body of the people will never trust him again, but to the uttermost of their power oppose his Restauration, which they are well assured would bring greater calamities upon this Nation, than it ever groaned under since it was governed by a Crowned Head: therefore we hope to enjoy the benefit of a Public Deliverance, without losing the honour of our peculiar unpracticable Obedience.  
Quest. But (since divers of you are persons in no ordinary station and repute,) what if your example should work upon some, and the artifices of Papists, Atheists, and wicked designing Protestant's prevail with many more? What if our Protestant Allies, by discouragement from our divisions and distractions as well as by other means, should be induced to fall off from us, and the Popish Princes be brought to a confederacy against us; and these with many other unforeseen accidents concur in favour of the late King, so that he should recover his pernicious power by Force and Conquest: pray, how are your passive Principles to operate in such circumstances?  
A. Why truly in such circumstances both we and our dear principles would be past operating at all to any purpose, and we can then only have recourse to that insipid self-condemning exclamation, with which in the like distress, occasioned by the like conduct, we did not so really comfort as reproach ourselves; that is, Good Lord, who imagined it would ever have come to this!  
FINIS.