reflections Upon a late PAMPHLET, entitled, A NARRATIVE Written by E. SETTLE.  
WITH A VINDICATION OF THE Proceedings of the NATION from the Aspersions cast upon them by that Libel.  
Nam te Cur aliquis Sciat fuisse?  
Ignotus Pereas, Miser, Necesse est.  
Non deerunt tamen hac in Urbe forsan  
Unus, vel dvo, tresve, quatuorve;  
Pellem rodere qui velint caninam.  
Nos hac à Scabie tenemus Ungues.  
LONDON, Printed by J. H. for the Author. 1683.   

reflections Upon a late PAMPHLET, entitled, A NARRATIVE Written by E. SETTLE.  
I Thought myself bound, both by the Duty of an Englishman, of a loyal Subject, and a true Protestant, to vindicate the Justice of the Nation from the Aspersions cast upon it by a late Libel, called a Narrative written by E. Settle, which I have red over with some Attention, and have found it to be a Compendium and Collection of the several Popish Pamphlets which stolen abroad since the Discovery of the Plot, with intent to ridicule it, frame imaginary Incoherencies, and throw it upon the Protestants. Out of those Libels it is the Author has made a shift to patch up a Narrative, and proclaim himself a Villain: He long since was said to aspire to the honour of being the City Poet; but now his Ambition puts him upon Affairs of State, and undoubtedly this Essay of his is to show how well capacitated he is for an employment in a catholic Design. To speak plainly, I see he puts in to be Secretary to the Jesuits in Newgate; and truly every Action of his, as well as his own Confession, speak him to be traitor enough as to deserve the place: for my part, I'll assure him of my Vote; and now Nath. Thompson may cheer up, and promise himself some Gains after all his Losses, seeing he cannot want work since Elkanah will copy Treason as fast as e're the Jesuits Brains can spawn it. A Dedication to a Pope Joan or a Fairy Queen at a Bartholomew Fair, bring in but rare and uncertain Profit; but an employment of this nature is sure to be attended with a rich and constant Revenue. He is said to have threatened to declare to the World what Gifts and Encouragements he has received from the Whiggish Party for the promoting of Treason. But I perceive by his omitting of it in this occasion, that he thinks to stay, and see how far his new Patrons will exceed the Whiggs in their Bounties; and then having balanced the Account, I suppose we may expect to see the Particulars, tho I do not question but his new Masters will prove by much the most liberal and generous Benefactors in all things that tend towards a Conspiracy. But I shall, according to their Desires, proceed to the giving you a Catalogue of those Remarks and reflections which I have made upon this Pamphlet: And for that purpose, I shall begin with his Epistle, wherein he owns himself the greatest Villain that perhaps has been upon the Earth. He says, That the Duke, upon condescending to hear his Servants, in indeed a very humble Cause that was depending between his Royal Highness's Servants and him Elkanah, did nothing but the highest piece of Justice in giving it against him; yet that his defeated Vanity begot in him such a malignant gull and Resentment, that above seven Years would not remove; but that the licence of the Press, and the Eruption of the late accursed Plot, had furnished him with the Opportunity, under the Umbrage of a popular Champion, to wreak his own ●rivate spite and Revenge, with accumulated Wrongs, upon a Prince of such Honour and virtue. Now the Case depending, was, as I am credibly informed, as followeth: The Duke's House allowed Mr. Settle fifty Pounds a Year upon Condition they might have the Acting of all the Plays he made. But he expecting a greater third day, if acted by the King's Servants, notwithstanding his Pension, put his Play into their Hands: but his Royal Highness having done the Parties Justice, this misleed him into so much Spleen and venom as he now pretends to recant, repent, and be ashamed of. Now pray you observe the villainy of this Fellow, who for the Vanity of having his Play Acted by a Company then most in Repute, and for the lucre of perhaps a Guiney or two which he might have expected more from that House than the other, he not only broken his Covenants with his Royal Highness's Servants, but upon his Disappointment, prosecuted his Royal Highness himself with all the rancour that could swell the Heart of the most bitter and most hellish Traitor, and cared not tho he involved three Kingdoms in the ruin of that Prince, so he could but glut and satiate his Revenge. Now indeed I have heard of a Ravillac, of a Brutus, of a Faux; but either the Sufferings of their Country, or their own, Biggotry, with the devilish Infusions and Insinuations of their Priests, prevailed with, prompted, and blindly hurried them to their hellish Attempts and Undertakings: But aspiring Elkanah being resolved to have the first place in the rank of Infamy, scorned to copy others by making Religion and the Interest of his Country the motives of his Actions, but undertook to rival even the Devil himself, by pursuing, with all the spite and Hatred imaginable, only for his private Revenge, the ruin of a Prince whom he declares stands possessed of the highest Honour and Virtue. But pray you see in what Colours the Honour and Virtue of this Prince be drawn, in the Author of the first Part of the Character of a Popish Successor, page. 5.  
And all this his Glory shall do, his Glory, the Glory of a Papist; a pretty airy Notion, how shall we ever expect that Glory will steer the Actions of a Popish Successor, when there is not that thing so abject which he shall refuse to do, or that Shape or hypocrisy so scandalous he shall not assume when Rome or Rome's Interest shall command; nay, when his own petulant Stubbornness shall but sway him? As for example, for one fit he shall come to the Protestant Church and be a Member of their Communion, notwithstanding at the same time his Face belies his Heart, and in his Soul he is a Romanist; nay, he shall vary his Disguises as often as an Algerine his Colours, and change his Flag to conceal the pirate. As for instance, another fit, for whole Years together, he shall come neither to one Church nor th' other, and participate of neither Communion till ignobly he plays the unprincely, nay, the unmanly Hypocrite, so long that he shelters himself under the face of an Atheist to shrowd a Papist, a Visor more fit for a Banditto than a Prince. And this methinks is so wretched and so despicable a Disguise, that it looks like being ashamed of his God. But this you'll say was said when he was in his Spleen: but now that he thinks he has  told him his own, and satisfied his Resentment, he begs Pardon, acknowledges his Errors, and repents: but give me leave to ask from whence this Humiliation and Repentance proceeds; When those Words were written by Mr. Settle, who has owned himself the Author of 'em, did not that sad Juncture threaten the Nation with a direful Revolution; and what he now wonderfully masks under his private Resentments and Revenge, was it not making his Court to a Party whom he considered as the mony'd part of the Nation, and ready inclined to reward and succour all those who had Sufficiency and Probity: but now that the Tide is turned, that all the Efforts of zealous Patriots for the settling the Peace and procuring the Happiness of their Country have been diverted, that he has lost his powerful Champion, under whose Umbrage and Influence he meant to combat, and that an Inundation of Torisme seems to threaten the whole Land, is it not to be suspected that his Recantation and Repentance are only to save his Bacon, and that had the same Circumstances continued, Mr. Settle's Revenge and Resentment would have been still alive, and as eager upon the pursuit as ever?  
The Truth is, Mr. Settle's Resentment and Revenge was only his Interest and his Bread, as long as he had the least Prospect of receiving any benefit by being an Anti-Yorkist: he shew'd himself a zealous Partizan of the Whiggs, vainly hoping perhaps, that his new Patrons would be careful to promote so officious a Minister as he endeavoured to show himself to be; and that Ambition was the ruling Passion of his Heart, is plain from what he says in the Discovery he has made in his Epistle Dedicatory, where he retracts again what he had but just before said, and lays at the doors of some of the greatest Men in England the enormous crimes he accused himself of, saying they were to answer for his Sins. But then again to insinuate how he went Jig by jowl with those great Men, and to hint how that the World may one day expect to see him put in for an Evidences place; nay, to let you know how that he looked upon himself as a Patriot in those days, he tells you, That where the true Preservation of the Protestant Religion makes one Patriot( as they call themselves) Uneasiness, Disgust, or a Court-grudge, makes twenty, whilst Reformation is the least business of those who pretend most to it. How many Persons of the highest Quality in the Kingdom( if they would be half so ingenious as I am, mark that) could tell you, That tho Religion and Property are the pretended quarrels against the great Pilots above, their real Grievance is, that their own Hands are not at the Rudder, and the State-Helm is only steered awry because that some happier, some envied Court-Darling, sits at it before them. And presently after, But now tho this plain Confession, how disadvantageous soever to myself, might have been curtailed into a something more excusable Error by laying the whole Blame on that more pardonable Folly of being mistaken, or seduced. Yet I declare, I had rather triple my Blushes than fly to so mean a Refuge as a lie for any part of an Apology. Poor Elkanah, I am sorry for thee: I see thou art fitter to succeed Oliver's Porter than take up the Cudgels of an Irish Evidence, tho indeed they are almost as silly and as mad as thou; for just before he had charged his Sins to the account of some of the greatest Men in England, and yet now he says that it was his own more Ambition to be at the Helm, and not any Encouragement or Advice from them. But that he had finished his first Libel, the Character of a Popish Successor, before it ever saw Light. But then indeed, continues he, I coveted the Approbation of my Aldersgate-street Patron, and entrusted a Friend to show it him; who, truly, made but little Correction, only he expressed his dislike of one or two Passages in it, and for Amendment, bid the Author speak more favourably of Rebellion. Now as I ever suspected Mr. Settle's Sincerity, so I suppose every one will now, both that and his Discretion too; for how can he think to impose and make the World believe that ever the Patron he mentions should make such a blunder in politics, as to sand this worshipful Author such a Message, a thing so contrary to the Caution and Prudence of the whole Conduct of his Life; and his Enemies after they had painted him in the worst Colours their malice could afford, could never bespatter him with any rash Word or Action, much less so egregious an one as to sand a Message of this nature, especially to a Poet and a professed one too, People not much admired in this Age for gifts of Continency, Fidelity, or Probity. Besides, the greatest Traytors that have ever been upon the Earth, would never own their Treason, but still varnished o'er their Crimes with some specious Pretexts or other, and styled their Rebellions a just Defence and a self-security against Tyranny and Arbitrary Power. And that a Man of his Patron's Circumstances and Capacity should play such a Noddy's Prank, as to fall and promote making panegyrics upon Rebellion, at such a time a day too when he stood so much in need of being upon his Guard in a Country where such justly severe Provisions are made against Criminals of that Nature, and when so many Enemies were abroad scouting and watching to trepan him, in such a time, when he knew that upon the least false Step of that kind the Law would be let loose upon him, and he exposed to his utmost rigour, is, without doubt, what will never find Credit with any thinking and reasonable Man. But Narrative-Elkanah's Elkanah's Impudence in offering to impose this upon the World, is unquestionably to show with what Title he may lay claim, and how well capacitated he is to succeed Mr. Eustace Cummins; tho from a Parriot to an Irish Evidence I must tell you is a considerable Fall.  
After this incredible Instance of his Patron's Indiscretion, he falls to vilifying the Proceedings of the House of Commons, ridiculing the Plot, and bespattering all those who in any wise shew'd themselves zealous to put a Stop to, and prevent the Growth of Popery. In Answer to which, I shall only need to quote himself, how poor soever an Author, and for that purpose show him, belabouring and laying at the Tories in his Epistle before Absolom signior or Achitophel transposed, says he, I cannot forbear telling you Tories, that your grinning Satyrs against the Whiggs have this one unpardonable Fault, that the Lash is more against a David than an Achitophel, whilst the running down of the Plot at so extravagant a rate savours of very little less than ridiculing Majesty itself, and turning all those several Royal Speeches to the Parliament, on that subject, only into those double tongued Oracles that sounded one thing and meant another. Besides, after this unmannerly Boldness of not only branding the public Justice of the Nation, but affronting even the Throne itself, to push the Humour a little farther you run into ten times a greater 'vice( and in the same Strain too) than what you so severely inveigh against; and whilst a Popish Plot, through want of sufficient Circumstances, miscarries with you, a Protestant Plot, without either Witness or Circumstances at all, go currant: Nay, you are so far now from your former Niceties and Scruples, and disputing about raising of Armies, and not one Commission found, that you can swallow the raising of a whole Protestant Army, without either Commission or Commission-Officer; nay, the very when, where, and how, are no part of your Consideration. And presently after he adds, in the same Epistle, That the Tories who will believe no Popish Plot, may as justly come under the Denomination of Fools as they that David tells us, said in their Hearts there was no God. Now is it not an unparalelled piece of Impudence in a Fellow to run down the Popish Plot as he does all along in his Narrative, after having cried it up at this rate, and with what Confidence can he say how great a Truth soever; and therefore I wonder how it came from him, That in this Reign Law and Justice were never stretched unless to Mercy and Indulgence, and that a too easy Forgiveness, and receiving pardoned Enemies, the warm ungrateful Snakes, too near the Bosom of Majesty, and too high into Trust and Honours, has been the only fault in the Throne. Now, can there be a greater Outrage done the Nation than thus to be insulted for its Indulgence and Lenity, by one who has acknowledged himself so notorious a Criminal; nay one who gives no other marks of his Repentance than that he quitted a Party that could no longer entertain him, or at least that he no longer could get Advantage by. And then to come and dare the Throne itself with a public Declaration of his Enormities and Transgressions, when at the same time it is manifest he only turned got in Pan, because he could no longer be countenanced by his pretended Patrons; who beginning to smoke the Mercinariness, Sordidness, and Treachery of the Fellow, thought it not safe to entertain Commerce any longer with Persons of his Kidney; especially in so nice, so dangerous a Juncture, when every honest Man is not secure, be he never so well upon his Guard, from such Hell-hounds, who value not whose nor how many Lives they sacrifice with their own Bodies and Souls, to the Devil, so that they get but Bread, and reap but some small Temporary Advantages. As long as there were any hopes and prospect of Maintenance and Support by bawling against Plots, Popery, and Popish Conspiracies, I warrant you Elkanah was as loud as the best, and as zealous a Stickler against Jesuitism, as any one soever: but when Whiggism and Protestantism began to be even a barrener Soil than Parnassus, when all Evidence and Proceedings against Popery began to be discredited, and that the Papists began to appear again in such Shoals that the Crafty Trimmers of the Party thought it no longer Prudence to oppose the Torrent, then Sir politic Elkanah thought fit to wheel about; and least the reality of the Conversion of this new proselyte should be brought into Question, he drew his Pen against that very Cause which he had as stiffly, nay, more vigorously defended.  
And, to show that Interest is the main Spring of this Man's Affections, that he hates and loves only according to it's Dictates, that he squares Mens Virtues and Vices according to its Measures, and can be fond of and detest in a Moment the very same Persons suitably as they contribute to and jump with his Designs; This Man having a Book to present to one of his Patrons, he prevailed with his Bookseller to go with it, daubing this Patron to him at a high rate, extoling his Wisdom, Benignity of Temper, and Generosity, you may be sure, with I know not how many other fine heroic Qualities: whereupon, away trooped the Bookseller with the offering to the Lord; but coming back with disappointments in his Countenance, and telling Mr. Settle that he had delivered his Book, but that the Lord had returned no other Thanks than what consisted in Words, he began to curse and damn the Sordidness of his Patron, wished he had been in Hell when the Thought came into his Head of making him that Oblation: and thus continued he; vomiting out all the other Imprecations that can be urged against the most detestable of all Creatures, until the Bookseller, to divert this Torrent of Rage, shewed him some few guineas which his Patron had sent him as a Present: and then to see the wonderful Effect that that Metal has upon Mr. Settle's Intellectuals; he immediately saw that good Lord again through quiter different optics, and found in him a thousand more fine Qualities than he had ever done before; and in short, his Fancy dressed him up as fine and as perfect as a Cherubin.  
But, to make an end with his tedious and dull Epistle, after he has, as he thinks, sufficiently burlesqued the Plot, he falls to insinuating, that it is so far improbable that the French King should be a Promoter of it, that he seems to hint there is great likelihood of his turning Protestant, by reason of his fomenting the Protestants Rebellion in Hungary; or else perhaps a Turk, since he has brought the Grand signior into Christendom, and that perhaps not many hours Journey from the very Gates of Rome: And indeed, by his most Christian Majesty's Conduct, one would be apt to think that he was rather inclined to turn Musselman than a Protestant; for, otherwise he would treat the Hugunots after an other rate; for I do not hear if they be his Inclinations, that they are over fond of his manner of Courtship, and the Caresses they receive at present. After which, he says downright, That tho God knows there is not the least sign, appearance, or shadow of a Conspiracy, and the Infusers of all this Poison into the unreasoning Multitude, are conscious, 'tis all rank Forgery, no matter for that; they know whom they have to deal with, the head-long Mobile of England, a People of that Constitution, that they fear nothing that they do, but all things that they hear: and those very Men that in visible Dangers, shall face the Mouths of Canons, yet at the apprehensions of Castles in the Air, Popery and Arbitrary Power, from the imaginary Thunder-bolt from that Quarter, shall start like Hinds: 'tis but winding that Horn, and they fall as flat before the Sound as the Walls of Jericho; and nothing but breathing the Spirits of Rebellion into them can rouz 'em out of the Fright on't; and who at last are the great first Movers in all those national Enflamings. Truly those very Men that bawled loudest for the Preservation of his Majesty's Person, against Plots and Popish Swords, are the numerical Persons that scandalise his Majesty with Popishly affencted, to the withdrawing the Hearts of his Subjects, which are the greatest and strongest Guard against all Plotters Swords whatsoever. Thus in the first place he makes at one dash all the Commons assembled in Parliament to be guilty of Forgery, gives the lie to all their Votes and their Petitions, and many of the Addresses too that came flocking from all parts of England; and then bestows a very handsome compliment indeed upon all the whole Commonalty of England, whom he makes a Visconary sort of people, nay, worse than more Brutes, acting blindly and without Consideration; and their Bravery, as he characterizes it, rather Stupidity than Courage. I know not what Stuff Mr. Settle's Relations be made of, but take my Word, the many brave Performances of the English all over the World, have spoken as much Conduct as Gallantry: and I the more wonder he should bespatter so generous a People, in this manner, since he himself, by what I have ever heard, has none of that blind Boldness, unless it be in Writing; and then indeed, if he judges of all the rest of the Mobile by himself, he had some Reasons for bestowing upon them this Character. And then as for accusing those Men who bawled loudest for the Preservation of his Majesty's Person against Plots and Popish Swords of being the numerical Persons that scandalised his Majesty with Popishly affencted, to the withdrawing the Hearts of his Subjects, which are his greatest and strongest Guard against all Plots and Swords whatsoever. Have not all the Votes of both Houses tended to the Preservation of his Majesty against Plots and Popish Swords; nay, have not all the Addresses of England been attended with offers of Lives and Fortunes for the Defence of his Majesty against Plots, as well Popish as others? And since all those who have bawled loudest for the Preservation of his Majesty against Popish Swords are guilty of withdrawing the Hearts of his Subjects, do but red Mr. Settle's Character of a Popish Successor, and I fancy you will find him guilty of Treason.  
But, as he says, the Plot has been the Refuge and Sanctuary of all sorts of Villains and Criminals. It has so indeed on all sides; and if any thing can lessen those who are stigmatized with the Name of Whiggs, it is the having suffered such Villains as Elkanah to herd amongst 'em: But as the Jesuits have crept into very Churches and Conventicles, the Whiggs could not at first discover nor purge away such kind of vermin: but when they once found 'em out they failed not to clear the Party of them.  
And then Mr. Settle falls a telling us, that he dares now look Sense and Quality in the Face; intimating at the same time, that it is what the Whiggs dare not: whereas 'tis well known, there be those who are called Whiggs who dare nose both Sense and Quality, and defy the Courage as well as the Arts and Machinations of their Enemies; tho indeed, if there be any of Mr. Settle's Leaven who shelter themselves and think to get Repute by herding amongst that Party, their own Conscience will without doubt check them in such manner, as only to appear, as he says, in Owl Light. But if they once come to be known for what they are, amongst the Whiggs, they will certainly banish 'em out of the Pales of Whigland, seeing they with reality make profession of entertaining no Commerce but with those who entirely abjure all turbulence and Malignity whatsoever, and who make Loyalty, Integrity, and Honesty, the rule of all their Actions, and not such as put on those Colours only to subscribe' emselves a Patron's Humble Servant.  
Now as for his Narrative, I must own I do not understand the very first Line of it, In the Year 78. says he, It pleased those Powers that inspired them to raise. What, doth Mr. Settle mean that it pleased those Powers that inspired those Powere? There's Grammar indeed, but no Sense; but there's neither Grammar nor Sense in these Words, as Mr. Settle has set them down: but indeed, why should we be so unreasonable as to expect either from a Man who has no meaning in what he writes.  

Abselon and Achitophel. Second Part.  Let him rail on, let his invective Muse  
Have four and twenty Letters to abuse;  
Which if he jumbles to one Line of Sense,  
Indite him of a Capital Offence.  
After this Blunder at his first entrance, he as madly falls a ridiculing the Discovery of that horrid Popish Conspiracy even almost to Profanation, saying, P. 1. that Oats, Bedlow, &c. Who by an ample Discovery( whether given us by the right or left hand of Providence, it matters not, according to Mr. Settle's Loyalty, the saving the King's Life, the preventing a Massacre of his Subjects, and the burning of his Cities, and the establishing of Separation and Idolatry in his Kingdoms, may as well prove a Curse as a Blessing, since it might as well come from the Left hand of Providence as the Right, but to proceed, it matters not) the Discoverers who came enlightened by Repentance and animated by Zeal, or something as active, to betray their old colleagues and Patrons, the Jesuits and Papists. Now that as Active I fancy had a great Ascendant over Mr. Settle's Narrative, and I believe a little Jesuitical Gold enlightened him with Repentance, and animated his Zeal. Well, we will for once suppose, Set a Thief to catch a Thief. Now, on he goes in the same page.; and that this Plot is more remarkable than all that Rome and Pope, Conclaves or Devils ever managed before, It has so many across Windings, Turnings, and Mazes throughout, that whatever Wit, Prudence, or Conduct those great and politic Enemies of our Religion have ever been Masters of in former Intrigues, In this only Plot we have a Cabal of such extravagant Fools and mad Men, as History affords no Parallel of. This, and some following Paragraphs are to insinuate how improbable a matter it is that such Subtle Machia●elians as the Jesuits and their Adherents should take such indirect Measures and opposite means to obtain their great Ends. And therefore since such cunning undermining Foxes cannot be reasonably supposed to have fallen into such gross Over-fights and Infatuation, all the Popish Plot must by consequence be a shame, and falsely charged upon the Papists. But, with Mr. Settle's leave, Rome, in the several Attempts it has made for the Pervertion, Reduction, and apostasy of Great britain to the Popish Superstition and Power, having been still frustrated notwithstanding that its Designs were contrived with all the Art and Skill that human Wit or devilish Policy could suggest, and therefore having incurred the just Resentment and Indignation of all those who have in Detestation its abominable Practices; I say, the frequent Disappointments of their Projects may be reasonably supposed to have made 'em use the Precaution that in case they should again prove abortive, and their Machinations be detected, that they might nevertheless appear in such Lights as to seem improbable to the World; and that then let the Issue be what it will it must turn to their Advantage; since if the Plot had taken Effect they had gained their main Point. But tho discovered and disappointed, yet the puzzling Circumstances and the Improbability of the means as it might bring the Reality of it in question so it might also the Truth of its former Conspiracies how manifest soever: and they from thence have an occasion of retorting 'em as Contrivances of their Enemies; and by that means purge' emselves of the Scandal and Odium which they had justly brought upon their Church by such unchristian-like, nay, inhuman Undertakings. Thus the Instruments they made use of might many of them be as Mr. Settle says, mad Men: and who indeed but mad Men would be the Instruments and Ministers of such Designs. Were the Regicides of the two Kings of France otherwise than so? And how many Instances does not History afford us of those religious Enthusiasts, who have sacrificed their All for the promoting the Superstitions and Interests of their Mother Church. Besides, if Mr. Settle would but be pleased to look into the History of the Plot, I do not question but that he will find others besides extravagant Fools and mad Men, in the list of the Conspirators: and as for the Members the Popish Cabals were composed of, there needs no great reading in politics to be informed that in many the greatest Undertakings the principal Contrivers and Promoters do not appear, only detatch one out among them who has the Secret of the Business, and who manages and sets all the other Wheels and Springs a going. Thus in Embassies, made up of several colleagues, seldom more than one has the Secret of the Embassy; and many times, Changes of State and of Religion, are often wrought and brought about by persons who seem to have abjured all Commerce with the World, and have devoted themselves to Gardens and to monastic, or at least a retired sort of Life. So that tho none of the Machiavels and Heroes of the Party had been brought to Light, yet must we therefore believe when their Ministers were discovered, that all was a shame; tho these Ministers having their Consciences seared, and their Mouths sealed with all that Superstition can invent, were bound upon pain of all the Curses which their false Religion made 'em think' emselves liable to, not to reveal their Abettors: so that what Lunacy and Infatuation soever Mr. Settle may swell out in the management of the Conspiracy, yet I cannot find the Plan of it to be made of such Cobweb Lawn as he pretends.  
First then for their Killing the King.  
This dire Undertaking, says Mr. Settle, ironically upon so woeful a Subject, p. 1. of his Narrative, being the great Wheel that was to set the whole Machine a working. The Papists, by virtue of a Summons from Father Whitebread, had a general Consult at the White Horse Tavern in the Strand; at which were present Father Warren Rector of Liege, Sir Thomas Preston, Baronet; Father March, Rector of Ghent; Father Williams, Rector of Watten; Sir John warner, and Sir Robert Brett, Baronets; Father Pool, Edmond Nevil, &c. Who together with Dr. Oats, came over Sea upon the said Summons, and not the English Fathers at the said Tavern, in all to the number of fifty Jesuits, on April the 24th. 78. Where, after long and serious Debates, the great Resolve of this general Consult was, that Pickering and Groves should go on in their Attempt to assassinate the King's Person; for which, the first should have thirty thousand Masses said for the health of his Soul, and the other 1500. l. which Resolve they all consented and signed to, and Mr. oats carried it from Consult to Consult, and Chamber to Chamber, to get all their Hands subscribed to it.  
Now this Pickering and Grove were Gunners that had followed the King for several Years for the same murdering Design, but ineffectually; Pickering, as Bedlow affirms, having had several fair Opportunities, but miscarried: one time the Flint of his Pistol was loose, another time there was no Powder in the Pan, and another time he had charged all with Bullets and no Powder; for which misdemeanour, he received twenty Lashes of Discipline. But his Comrade Groves for ought we know, never charged his Gun at all; for we red neither of his having any Opportunities, or hitting or missing.  
Here is to be observed, pursues Mr. Settle, the great Depth and Wisdom of no less than fifty Politicians. These Popish Conspirators, that( as it appears) had been for several Years together at Pistoling the King, by the hands of these two Horoick Bloodthirsters, are at the Charge and Trouble of coming from several parts beyond Sea: and the great Result of that famous Assembly is, That these two aforesaid Wretches, a Brace of fumbling Fools, that had been so many Years aukwardly about it before, should still be continued and employed for the great Work of murdering the King, without so much as the least Proposition of one wiser Head or better Work-man to come in for a Snack with them. Now I appeal to all Mankind, if they can find any thing of a Jest in so sad and so serious a theme, as to be so merry upon, as we find our Author is: nay, on the contrary, would it not raise a Detestation in every true English-man and loyal Subject, for a Person, who can thus turn into ridicule an Attempt the most execrable that ever was hatched in Hell; and the very Thought whereof, tho suppose it but a Fiction, capable of creating a Terror and trembling in the most inhuman of Barbarians. Besides, where is the Improbability, Incoherence, or Contradiction, in this matter? Pickering attempted to kill him, but the Flint of his Pistol being loose he deferred it for another Opportunity. Might not this well enough happen by his Negligence, or rather, by God's Providence, who notwithstanding all our Sins, yet thought not fit to deprive the World of a Prince, so much the Blessing and Darling of Mankind, and whose good Nature and Conduct have still found the means to temper and heal those Heats and Animosities which have produced such miserable Effects amongst our neighbour Princes and States; and which had almost brought his own People upon the brink of ruin.  
But this News came over to St. Omers in January, whereas the Consult for killing the King was not till April. Still where's the Absurdity, Pickering attempted it, but was prevented through the Providence of God? Nevertheless, in the Consult in April following the King's Death was contrived, and they thought fit that their former Instruments should still continue to endeavour the committing that execrable Assassination until they had found fitter Tools for that purpose; perhaps lest if they were not encouraged but disobliged, they might, out of a just check of Conscience and Reluctance, come to reveal the Design. Ay but, says Sir Elkanah, Mr. oats has contradicted himself in the trial of Pickering; for, notwithstanding the invincible Demonstration of January packet, he more particularly ascertains at Pickering's trial, 
Try. pag. 24. Pag. 2.  the express time to be in March, being asked.  Sir Ch. L. 
Do you know any thing of Pickering's doing Penance, and for what?  Oats. 
Yes, my Lord, in the Month of March last,( for these Persons have followed the King several years) but he at that time had not looked to the Flint of the Pistol, but it was loose, and he durst not venture to give Fire; he had a fair Opportunity as Whitebread said: and because he missed it through his own Negligence, he underwent Penance, and had twenty strokes of Discipline.  
Well, says Mr. Settle upon this, Now can any thing in nature be more strange, than that Whitebread should sand the St. Omer Fathers in January, a perfect Relation of a Crime not committed until March following. Now cannot I for the Heart of me see an Elliotisme in this whole matter; for might not Pickering commit the Crime in January, or before, and not suffer the Penance till March following: for the Question is only as to his doing of Penance, and the Answer is in March.  
And to show you, continues our Buffoon, 
Pag. 3.  that this figurative way of speaking is an Elegance that the Doctor extremely prides himself in, you shall have it from one end of the Plot to the other. For another Instance, at this very Consult, in his Narrative, and at Pickering's trial, the Assembly consisted of fifty Jesuits; but at Langhorn's trial, because it was proved there never was a Room at the White Horse Tavern that could hold above a dozen People, then the aforesaid fifty, upon second Thoughts, were dwindled into eighteen or twenty, and those in several Rooms. Now says Mr. oats in his Narrative, p. 28. That about nine or ten from St. Omers, met in London, in Consult with Thomas Whitebread, Father Harcourt, signior, and Father Harcourt, junior, John Fenwicke, Basil Langworth, William Morgan, John Keines, Father Levill, Father Ireland, Father Blundall, Rich. Strange, Father Mico, Father Gray, and others, to the number of fifty Jesuits, met at the White Horse Tavern in the Strand, when they plotted their Designs for the Society, and ordered John carry, who was also there, to go Procurator for Rome: at which Consult thus held in the Month of May, the Deponent was present to attend the Consulters, and delivered their Concerns from Company to Company: and then a little after, they left the White Horse, and divided themselves into several Clubs and Companies; some met at Mrs. Saunders House in Wild-street, others at Mrs. Fenwick's at Ayre's House in Drury-lane, others at Mr. Ireland's in Russel-street near Covent-Garden, and in other places; all which, tho in several Companies, five or six in a Company, did contrive the Death of the King. Now he does not say that they were all in a Room; but on the contrary, in Langhorn's trial, pag. 46. he says, they were divided into several Companies; and Langhorn, who had urged this matter for the lessening his Evidence, pag. 47. finding Mr. oats 
Mr. Oats.  justified, begs that neither the Court nor the Jury would reflect upon him for pressing that point. And my Lord Chief Justice says in the same page., You see how unfortunately it happens, the matter had not been much if it had been proved; but it's very unluckey these Persons should be here in Court by whom the other is contradicted; it had been better it were never meddled with; that she, namely Langhorn's Witness, should be so peremptory in what standards by know to be false, makes this Contradiction in one thing to give a Suspicion, that all your Witnesses may be false in all the rest. To which Sir C. Levins added in the same page., Here is a Gentleman of good Quality that saith there have been fifty in a Room; neither does he say they were all at a time there: and as my Lord Chief Justice then observed, There might be twenty in the Morning, and some went away and others came in their Room, and so they might do in divers times of the day: and that this was so says Mr. Oats, they met there on the 26th. Day at Night. And therefore methinks this is all plain to be understood, without seeming either Riddle or Mystery, even to as vulgar Capacities as Mr. Settle's.  
But then says our doughty Narrative-Writer, The Reader is humbly desired not to be puzzled to imagine how Mr. Pickering should present a Gun between a Pistol and a Carbine twice at the King, which once for want of Prime, and another by being charged with all Bullets, would not go off, and yet not apprehended, or not so much as seen by any one of all the Kings Attendance, and that too in so public and open a place as St. James's Park; a place where there is not so much as a Bramble or briar, or any one Covert throughout it, enough to shrowd a Pigmey, much less two Men-slayers, excepting the Osiers within the Canal( but those are moated round, and therefore inaccessible: neither would I have the Reader surprised at Armies of Pilgrims and Legions of black Bills, and other miraculous Tools used in the Popish Service. Good Mr. Elkanah, unless thou hast the ill luck to have Readers as thick-scull'd as thyself, they will not be much puzzled to imagine a Traitor skulking behind one of the great Trees, between which, with his Hat or Cloak, or twenty other things, he might have used for the hindering a Discovery, without having occasion for a m●sty Cloak or needing to conjure up a Bush, that like Jonas Goad should have grown up in one day, and whither down the next. But poor Mr. Settle has this scurvy Quality to think every man as dull and short-sighted as himself; and because, forsooth, there be no Thorns nor no briars, therefore every body, like him, must not see Wood for three.  
But now for the business of the Massacre: The Popish Army being to be fixed for striking immediately upon the King's falling, was consequently to be all listed and armed in the King's Life-time, and all incognito in a Protestant Kingdom, and upon having none but such notorious known Papists for the Commanders, it was morally impossible to have drawn in any other malcontents into the Conspiracy. Besides, the very Proposal of listing any of the Protestants, had been the way to have discovered the Conspiracy, and ruined all; and therefore the whole Body of this Army must necessary have consisted of all Papists. Well, where's the Wonder of all this. Is it not possible to list Armies in a Protestant Country, without being discovered until they themselves think convenient, being tongue-tied, awed, and spirited by Superstition, Oaths, their own Biggotry, with the Insinuation and perpetual Spurrings on of their Priests? And pray, Why not this to be as well credited as to have a whole Protestant Army rendezvouz'd and encamped without so much as ever hearing of a Commission or Commission-Office?  
Mr. oats and his Jesuits, Narrative, p. 4. were for doing the Work with Popish Generals and Popish Armies: But Mr. Dugdale is of another Mind, and he and his Jesuits were for quiter another sort of Conduct. 'tis true, he concurs with Mr. Oats, That the King was to fall by as many private hands as the Doctor pleased; but then to subdue the rest of the Kingdom, a Massacre was to ensue. And because he and his Plotters were not altogether so strong as Mr. Oats's, and believed the Popish Party to be too small, and therefore too weak of themselves alone to go through Stitch with so great an Undertaking, they had found this Expedient; viz. They had designed( he tells you) to the Murder of the King upon the King-killing Presbyterians, and then to engage the Episcopal Party to rise with the Papists in revenge of the King's Blood, and cut the Fanaticks Throats: and when with their help they had destroyed the Fanatical Party, and weakened the Kingdom by so universal a Blow, then they had decreed to turn their Swords all of a sudden against their colleagues the Episcopals. Now I must take the liberty to tell Mr. Settle, that this seeming clas●ing to him in the Evidence of those two Persons, is both a proof of the reality of their Testimony, and that the Papists would leave no ston unturned for the bringing about their Project. It shows that they did not confer Notes to jump in the same matter for the gaining the more credit to what they delivered, but that they impartially and ingeniously declared the Designs of the Papists so far as they had been made privy to them. It shows that the Court of Rome had several Ministers abroad for the carrying on its hellish Projects and Conspiracy; and that it had so many Machines a going, that so if the one failed the other might succeed and come to pass. And in fine, it shows that this Plot was no Contrivance of any Protestant or Presbyterian Party, for any private Designs of their own, as some both wickedly and unreasonably would fain suggest, since if it had, care would have been taken that the Evidence of the Discoverers should have been all of a piece. As Mr. Settle says, p. 4.  
Now if Pickering had mended his hand, and killed the King, whom God defend, how must the Episcopal Party be possessed it was done by a Presbyterian hand, seeing it was impossible the Jesuits should ever expect that a single Assassinate in such a place as St. James's Park, in the Face of the Court, and approaching so near as within Pistol shot, upon the murder of the King, should ever escape seizing, either by the hands of the Nobility or his Majesty's Servants that always attended him. In Answer to which, Is it not reasonably to be supposed that Pickering having undertook that Assassinate out of a motive of Religion, as a thing highly meritorious, since it so extraordinarily promoted the Interests of Mother Church, would, out of the same motive of Religion, charge the Presbyterian Protestants to be his Abetters, which undoubtedly he was bound to do under the severest Penalties his Superstition and bigotry might make him think himself liable to. The supposing this will be no straining of the Point to any indifferent Reader, especially one should think to one of Mr. Settle's Constitution, who has so boldly laid open in his Character of a Popish Successor, with what entire Submission and Devotion the Members of the Church of Rome do deliver themselves up a Sacrifice for the promoting it's Causes and Interest. Besides, seeing the Papists were ever hovering about the King's Person, upon the blow being given, might not they, out of a pretended officious Zeal, fall upon the Assassinate, mingle-mangle him in such manner as to render him altogether unknown again for the Person he was, and then lay at whose Door they pleased, either by real or forged Words, that execrable murder. And upon this the Church of England men, out of a just Resentment and Indignation for the loss of their All, in so great, so divinely good a Prince, are reasonably to be supposed, would revenge it with all the heat and all the vigour imaginable: and might not then they themselves have been given up as a Prey to their Enemies, and those Throats which escaped the ensuing Popish Massacre, have been cut and dispatched by the Popish Army: and by Mr. Settle's leave, this is no unprecedented Instance of Popish Barbarity; and not only Europe, but other parts of the World, have seen the hideous Scenes, and been the sad theaters of their Inhumanity. In the West-Indies, with what unheard of Cruelty did they not butcher the Natives, hunting them like wild Beasts, and having them torn to pieces by their Dogs. In the Isles of St. Domingo, those that escaped their Dogs they put into the Mines, keeping the Women from the Men to hinder the Generation: and thus in seven Years time destroyed all the Natives of that populous iceland. And therefore no Wonder that after they had mowed down the Protestants of the Kingdom by so universal a Blow as a general Massacre, that they had an Army raised too for the destroying even the very Gleanings of the Field. Their former Massacres, how general and how destructive soever, had not that effect they proposed to themselves by their not going through Stitch with em; they saw their Errors, and were resolved to retrieve 'em with a Vengeance: and now being grown expert in the Trade, nothing but Root and Branch would serve their Turn.  
Now as for Mr. Settle's admiring what Need the Pope had in his long Bull, red by Dr. Oats in Blundel's hands, after the Disposal of bishoprics, archbishoprics, &c. for want of English-born Priests enough for all the Dignities of the Church of England, to decree such and such Spaniards, and other foreigners, should supply that Want, and order such for reading Philosophy and Divinity in all great Towns and colleges, and such and such to be employed in Catechizing and Preaching at the Altar: says Mr. Settle upon this, that it would have been all in vain, seeing three surviving Families had been more than all the Families in England could have produced. Does Mr. Settle imagine that such a Country as England would have been long unhabited, or does he not think that the Priests themselves out of their pious Inclination, for the increasing the Lord's Flock, would do their best for the propagating Generation? They would, without doubt, Mr. Settle. We see they do it daily out of their Charity to Mankind: besides, the decoying 'em with the hopes of the fat benefice of England, was the only means to make 'em bleed and contribute largely towards the carrying on the Design.  
But, pursues Mr. Settle, p. 6. What if by a new turn of State Brittannus should be alive at last, and maugre this fatal and universal Doom, several thousands of these sentenced heretics should live many a fair Summers day after it: for Mr. Bedlow, continues he, says, that after the landing an Army of ten thousand Men from Flanders at Bridlington Bay, to surprise Hull Garrison, and the Lord Petre and Powis having another Army to march to Pembrookshire to meet a third Army of twenty or thirty thousand Men, who were to land at Milford Haven, being an Army composed of all Religious Men and Pilgrims from St. Jago in Spain; and whatever should happen that their Strength as they said might be sufficient, they had forty thousand Men( a fourth Army ready in London) besides those that would in the Alarum be posted at every Ale-house Door, to have killed the Souldiers as they came out of their Quarters; besides a sixth Army, continues Elkanah, of Mr. Oats's from France, expressly to have been let in upon the King's Death. Now amongst all these formidable Armies the Edge of Mr. Dugdale's Massacre is a little abated; for here, as Bedlow tells the House of Lords, after Conyers had killed the King, Keins the Duke of Monmouth, Prichard the Duke of Buckingham, Mr. Right my Lord Shaltsbury, Mr. O Neal my Lord Ossory, and one, whose Name he had forgotten, the Duke of Ormond; after all those Persons were killed, the Papists did not question the power of the rest of their Counsels but that they should out-do them; for they would give such great Pay, that all sorts of malcontents and People that depended on their Fortune, would be ready to serve them. All this performed, as he tells you afterwards, they designed to establish their Government secure enough; for they intended utterly to extinguish all sorts of People that would not really be converted to the Church of Rome, and to prove it, persecute their nearest Relations that were obstinate. Now do not I see in all this matter any clashing between the Evidence of the Discoverers, nor between what they had before deposed; for as there be Garrison Towns, and those in the hands of Protestants, so there was need of Armies to reduce 'em in case they could not be surprised by other means: but in case they met with such Opposition at those places as might be a Remora to their Designs, their business was to invite all malcontents and People that depend upon their Fortune as Souldiers are, who were to defend these Towns to forfeit their Trusts and be ready to serve them.  
But after Mr. Settle has thus prodigiously shown the many and wonderful turnings and windings of French Armies, &c. p. 6. he falls to prove the Work was to have been done by no Armies at all; since, he says, it appears visibly, that the Design had been ripe for Execution many Years before the April Consult, seeing Pickering and Groves had been several Years dogging the King for the murdering purpose, 
Pag. 7.  by the Jesuits Order, and that the Commissions for the English Forces were not delivered till the Months of May, June, July, August, 78. Now may it not be reasonably supposed, that the Design of murdering the King being first midwived by the Jesuits, they thought that firing London and killing the King in the hurry, would so embroil the Nation, as to make way for some such Foreign or domestic Power as should absolutely depend on them, or at least second and maintain their practices. But the Project coming to be canvased by the Court of Rome, and espoused by those of France and Spain, they concluded more Precaution and Ceremony was to be used in this Undertaking; they considered that the embroylng of a Nation, and the Death of a King, had been very far before from doing their Business, and therefore agreed to assist and second the pious, tho blind, Intention of the Jesuits, and for that purpose to have in readiness both within and from without such Forces, 
Lords Journ. 12 day of Nov. 78.  that whatsoever should happen, their Strength, as they said, might be sufficient. Thus that rough, weak, and ill-shapen draft and Project of the Priests, was refined, strengthened, and polished by the practical and vigorous Matchiavellians of the Age, and such care taken that the Issue and Success must have been infallible, if God, out of his Mercy, had not been pleased to disappoint 'em by putting it into some of their Instruments Hearts to make a timely Discovery.  
Nevertheless, let Mr. Settle not think to render the matter improbable, by hinting the Majority of the Protestants throughout the Kingdom to surpass by much the Papists, seeing the latter meant to decoy the Church of England-men into the Fact; which though they should not have effected, yet so unexpected a Surprise upon People unprepared, and at dissension and Distrust among themselves by Persons martialized and used to Arms, as is well known the Papists had been, and who for a long while before had been making all things ready for the well managing of their Undertakings, they might well enough promise themselves Success, each not needing to be an Almanzor or a Mars, or have the Strength and Soul of a Hercules.  

Nar. pag. 7.  The Jesuits fired London, says E. Settle, with an Intention to kill the King in the Hurry, and massacre the Protestants upon't: and yet see the oddness of the Design; they laid London in Ashes, and yet were not at all provided to go through with the Work. And why, as the Doctor expressly tells us, they were not secure of the Duke, and for that the King was so industrious about the Fire, 
Nar. pag. 8.  that they could not find in their Hearts to do it;( a very odd Qualm of Pity in a Plotter, continues this Villain, and an extraordinary stop to a Conspiracy of almost a hundred Years growth. At this profane rate does this Fellow ridicule the Effects of the Goodness of God, and turns his Blessings into a Subject of Scorn and Laughter; whereas there is nothing of Absurdity or Incoherence to give occasion to all this Mirth; for considering the sadness of the time, a heavy War upon the Nation weakened by a dreadful Sickness: and now London, that may be called the very Soul of it, being consumed by Fire, if God too would have suffered them to have effected their Regicide, might not they have reasonably expected to batter down the Bulwark that had so long opposed the entrance of Popery.  
But Mr. Settle is pleased to wonder that no inquiry has been made after the Booty which the Jesuits pillaged during that dreadful Conflagration. 
Nar. pag. 8.  'tis well known, that many besides the Jesuits enriched themselves by pilfering at that time, and why should not they who had prepared themselves for it and had posted themselves accordingly.  
Besides, says Mr. Settle, they made use of Fire-balls, 
Nar. pag. 8.  and those made of Sheeps-fatt, no more an Ingredient( to my Knowledge) for the Composition of a Fire-ball than for a Sack-Posset; and might be as honourably sworn into the one as the other. Now as for the Effects and Performances of these Fire-works, Mr. Settle has yet made, take my Word they have invalidated his Authority upon the point, and shown that his Skill and Knowledge is as small and stinted in them as they are in his Narrative, Poems, and Plays.  

The Plot in IRELAND.  
But there let us take our leave while, says Mr. Settle, of the Rebellion, 
Nar. pag. 8.  &c. in England, and see how the posture of Affairs stands in Ireland; for the doing of which, we can have no greater Light than from the trial of Oliver Plunket, late Titular Archbishop of Ireland; where indeed we find the whole Irish Plot so to Admiration made out, that even Infidelity itself must tremble at such undeniable Proofs, and unanswerable Demonstrations, and to the Confusion of Rome, all this undoubted Truth delivered by Oracles, sworn home by no less than the very Oaths of Members even of the Popish Clergy itself.  
The whole Sum of which Conspiracy is as follows. Oliver Plunket was made Primate of Ireland by the Election of the King of France; and upon his Election, he made these Conditions with the King of France, to raise men to join with the French, to destroy the Protestant Religion, the said Plunket having engaged to get Dublin, London-derry, and all the Sea Ports into their own hands, to levy War and destroy the Protestant Religion, and that they should have the King of France to protect them, during Life; as Mac Keigh swears.  
In all the Irish Plot, continues Mr. Settle, p. 9. We have a Model of State-affairs extremely different from those in the English Plot: as for Example, We find the French King not half so generous in carrying on the catholic Cause in Ireland as in England: and good reason why, Mr. Settle; for I hope Ireland, how much improved soever, will not yet a while be put into balance with England, tho indeed another Popish Plot or two might do much in England; nicer and more vigorous measures were to be taken: the Irish have been in Subjection time out of mind, and therefore could the easier digest a new Master since he brought along with him the Exercise of their own Religion; but the English are not of a Temper to brook the name of a Conquest, or the being made a dependence to another Crown; all hands at work would be little enough to effect their Designs upon them: but in Ireland they already had an instance how far a Massacre would go, tho the standing Forces there, and the steadiness of the Government did require considerable Aid and Assistance. And at the same time supposing the French King the Abettor, and designing that Kingdom as a Morcel for his own use, it was not so gigantic in him as Mr. Settle pretends, to drain the Irish of what he could, seeing that was the means of having them depend the more absolutely on his Will and Pleasure. Neither was the Conduct of the Court of Spain, in this matter, such a Sollecisme at this time, if we consider, how prevalent the Counsels of the Jesuits have been of late Years, in the whole management of the Affairs of the House of Austria, even to their manifest Detriment and decay of that Family; so that this Undertaking and Conspiracy being a Brat of the Jesuits, and they having such an Influence over his catholic Majesty's Counsels, they may well enough be supposed to have obtained the mentioned Assistance and Succour, to be connived at and allowed of, since most of the Forces out of his catholic Majesty's Dominions seem so many religious Volunteers, happening to merit by such a pious Expedition; the rest might probably be raised and maintained out of the Priests Pockets, for the carrying on and promoting so holy a Cause, and only with the Connivance, as I said, of his catholic Majesty.  
Thus the Spanish Army to be landed at Carlingford Haven, that other of thirty thousand Jago Pilgrims to land at Milford Haven, and the ten thousand Flandrians likewise to be landed at Bradlington Bay, 
Nar. pag. 10.  are to be looked upon, as I should think, as Forces, maintained by the common Purses of that Part of the catholic Church in the King of Spain's Dominion; who out of it's Zeal for so religious an Undertaking, should ferrit their gabs. And what might the more invite them to do it, was, that this Money was only a kind of Venture which promised ten-fold Return, seeing they were to be settled in all the Parish-Churches and benefice of the Kingdom. And the Priests have been found liberal enough in cases that redoun'd to their profit, and to the augmenting the Pale of the Church, whereas they have ever been found to be most damnable stingy and tenationary in all things that tended to the relief of the State.  
But the high and mighty King of France, says Mr. Settle, comes under the same praemunire of playing the Fool or mad-man, by attempting to bring a Navy into that very Port of all Ireland so notoriously known to carry scarce Water enough for a Fisher-boat, much less a Man of War to ride in; besides passing through all the dangerous Irish Seas, 
Nar. pag. 10.  in the face of all the Irish Ports, and the Mouth of all the Kings Men of War, by so long and hazardous a Voyage, to give the three Kingdoms sufficient Alarum to prepare for their Opposition. Now tho the Popish Plot was discovered, were there not still Attempts made for the burning the Navy, was not the Massacre to be made and all the Ports secured, and might not the passing through those Seas be designed for the keeping the three Kingdoms in suspense of their Intention? and while they lack looks to themselves they might the better effect their Designs upon that, and after landing might not the Fleet change its Port?  

Nar. pag. 10.  Ay but, says Mr. Settle, this foolish French King is at the Charge and Trouble of manning out a Fleet to land an Army in Ireland: When, to the shane of all ill Memories, both he and all his States-men had quiter and clean forgotten they had landed one there already: for, does not the infallible Dr. oats give us to know, in his Examination before the Parliament, in these very Words, That the French King had already landed a great Army in Ireland, being those Forces that left Messina; and it is to make 'em up 25000 men, which are to join with the Irish Papists in a second Massacre, to fire the City of Dublin, and destroy the Duke of Ormond and his Adherents: and this part of the Conspiracy was managed by Coleman, &c. And why again not these 25000. as well as the Whiggs invisible Army? Why might not their Designs be disappointed upon the Discovery of the Plots, and they retire again, or forbear acting until better strengthened and prepared for the bringing their Designs about. And this is not the first time the French King has been out in his Measures, and as Mr. Settle says, Humanum est errare.  
But on goes blundering Elkanah p. 11. in this manner: Now it will not be amiss for our farther Light into this matter, to search the Mine from whence the Treasure comes to defray the Charges and to be expended to support so vast a Body of Cut-Throats. For example, What more unconscionable Disproportion could there be between the 15000 l. contracted for and no less than 1000 l. bid at first Word to Sir George Wakeman to poison the King, and but that inconsiderable Trifle of but eighty Pounds given to the four Irish Russians, when most of them were Gentlemen of great or greater Quality and Fortune than Sir George: and the whole Sum of eighty Pound, no more than either of them would have valued spending in a Week; nay, and when more and above, Sir George Wakeman's Undertaking had not the tenth part of the danger attending it, his Business being only the Legerdemain of slipping a Pill extraordinary into the King's Brother so, and theirs to assassinate him in the face of open day. Well, these generous Assassinates perhaps desired nothing more than the Glory of the Fact, with what could furnish a Revel and a Treat after the Performance of the Fact, or if they did, it might be the Employments and Estates of the massacred and assassinated Persons; and tho Sir George's Undertaking had not the tenth part of their Danger attending it, yet being like most of his Profession, of a mercenary avaricious Temper, was resolved to make the best Market he could; whereas Mr. Settle's Estate and Quality Ruffian bravely undertook the thing, rather out of Gallantry than Interest, and left it to Groves and Bedlow, and such sort of beggarly Fellows, to make a Trade of and their Fortune of Assassination.  
Well but, continues Mr. Settle, in his Narrative, p. 11. How close fisted soever the Jesuits were in the pitiful Reward of twenty pound a Man to Persons of their Rank and Character, for killing the King; yet not long after, their bounteous Liberality was somewhat more open-handed, when they offered William Bedlow, alias Bedloe, originally the Son of a cobbler, and at present a Runner of Errands, no less than the Sum of four thousand pound to hire him to kill Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and that too when himself was but to be one of the four or six that were to do it; witness his Oath before the House of Lords. William Bedlow saith in his Oath, that this Examinant being treated with by Mr. Lephaire, and Mr. Watch, Jesuits, about the beginning of October last they offered him a Reward of four thousand Pound if he would be one of the four or six that should kill a Man that was a great Obstacle to their Design ( viz. Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, as it proved afterwards; a very round Sum together if the other five were to be as well paid) But here the Reader is desired to take Notice of the most matchless Example in Mr. Bedlow that perhaps he has met with, instead of they have met with, if Mr. Settle will allow me to make it true Grammar for him, and the vast and wonderful difference of some Mens Consciences, to use very Gentlemen to whom 500 l. was less in their Pockets than five pound in Mr. Bedlow's, could notwithstanding bite at 20 l. a Man to murder no less than a King, when on the contrary Mr. Bedloe refused 4000 l. to murder but a poor Justice of the Peace: for, as we have it in the aforesaid Oath, before the House of Lords, thus following, He this Deponent promised( viz. to Lephaire and welsh) to be one to do it upon their giving him notice: afterwards( viz. the friday before Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was missing) Mr. Lephaire met him this Deponent about four a Clock in Grays-Inn Walks, and appointed to meet him again the next day at the same place, about the same hour, to do that Business, that upon his taking the Sacrament to do it, he this Deponent should have the Money paid down; but he not liking the Design, failed of meeting him, &c. Is not this as I said before, a wonderful piece of self-Denial; but as wonderful as 'tis, here's the Fellow on't to come. Now you may be pleased to observe, that this wonderful piece of Self-denial which Mr. Settle so turns into Droll, is, that Mr. Bedlow should refuse 2000 l. in a Porteridge in carrying the dead Body into the Fields; such an attractive Sum, says Mr. Settle, 'tis a Miracle; truly it would be so if all men were of Mr. Settle's Constitution, who perhaps is none of those squeamish'd and nice conscienced Men: but what if such a round Sum were offered him, 
Nar. pag. 12.  he would again undertake to writ more Characters of a Popish Successor, tho he had not the Spur and Motive of his Spleen and gull upon Justice being done against him. But Mr. Settle will be confoundedly mistaken if he judges of all men by himself; take my Word he'll hardly find his like: and therefore let him not think it so very stupendious, That a Man privy to all the Popish Designs, one of their Commission-Officers, and consequently to be engaged in all the Protestant Bloodshed intended,( the King's only excepted) and that this Man should all of a sudden stugger at one poor Heretick's Dispatch, tho for 4000 l. Reward, or if that would not down, 
Nar. pag. 12.  to refuse 2000 l. and all but for the sixth part of the Luggage of one poor Creature but to Primrose-Hill. Now many men, without it's being looked upon as a Prodigy, have been known keen and eager upon undertaking a Design, and yet have faultered and drawn back when it came to Execution. The circumstances of Mr. Bedlow's Fortune might make him engage in the Popish Plot, but at the same time be glad to have the Drudgery of it performed by others; and tho such considerable Offers might tempt some of our late Narrative-Writers to engage in as base a Murder, yet the Generosity of some mens Tempers, how meanly soever born, is not to be bribed and wrought upon into an ill thing; or rather, the Providence of God, who had otherwise ordained, might make use of the Proposal of that very Act, to create a Reluctance in him, and so work him to a Discovery of that and the rest. And as for the vast difference between the Reward to be given for the Murder of the King and that of the four Ruffians, and that to Mr. Bedlow, but to murder a poor Justice of the Peace; it's manifest that the Papists were then in a strange Consternation upon the Discovery of their Conspiracy, which they knew not how to retrieve, but by stifling it in the Blood of the unfortunate Gentleman; and therefore cared not how lavish they were in their Offers for that Purpose. And how improper soever that Assassination may seem to set their Affairs to right again, yet being at that time in such Trouble, seeing all their long and painful Projects upon the point of being quashed: I say, all this alone, without the help of Heaven, was sufficient to confounded their Intellectuals, and make 'em produce nothing but abortive Resolutions.  
But then, says Mr. Settle, Narrative, p. 12. & p. 13. that Bedlow and Prance disagree as to the Persons and other Circumstances of that horrid Murder. Now as for their disagreeing, Miles Prance owns to have been present and have had a hand in that Murder; Mr. Bedlow knows it only by a Relation; and by a Relation too of a thing which he had already refused to have a hand in, and at a time he was so much suspected by that Party, as that they made him take the Sacrament twice a day for fear he should reveal. Now he being a suspected Person, and knowing the Murder to be committed by Papists, seeing they would have had him concerned in it, and therefore in the Account they gave him thereof, might vary from the Truth, that so in case he should fail them, they might prove the thing could not happen according to his Testimony, and so balk the Evidence: and a Story was of necessity to be flourished up for a Person whom they looked upon as wavering, and in whom such a sign of Distrust as the not making him a Confident might create such a Distaste, as might prove of very ill Consequence. Now as for Mr. Settle's pretended Improbability, p. 13. that the Assassinates should have notice of his Coming. Did not Hill on the twelfth of October go to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's House in the morning, 
The History of the Popish Plot. p. 4.  and spoken to him, tho what was said not being known then? Taking his Leave, he went to Girald and Green, and with them stayed hard by, waiting Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's coming forth, which about ten or eleven a Clock he did, as be used to do, all alone; they dogged him up and down( as they said) all that day, till about six or seven a Clock in the Evening; and then Green came to Prance's House, and  told him that they had set him, but did not name where, any further than by St. Clements, and that Prance must make all hast down to Summerset House, to the Water-Gate or Passage westward in the Strand, that goes into Summerset House, down to the Water-side; and there he should find Kelly and Berry, which he did, and they three waited there till about nine a Clock at Night; then Hill came in hast and  told them he was coming, and that they must pretend a Quarrel, and he would fetch him in: Kelly and Berry did begin a seeming Quarrel; and just as Sir Edmundbury was passing by the Water Gate, Hill( who was acquainted with Sir Edmundbury, and Sir Edmundbury with him as having dealt with him formerly, steps out in a great deal of hast, and entreated him, for God's sake, to come in, for there were two Men a quarreling, and he was afraid there should be Bloodshed; whereas his Presence, being a Magistrate, would presently quiet them. He refused at first; but the other was so importunate, that at last he consented, and Hill entred the Gate first, after him Sir Edmundbury, and just behind him followed Girald and Green; as soon as they were in Prance went up to the Water-Gate to watch that no Body should come in that ways, and Berry was to secure the Stairs and Passage by the chapel; but first he and Kelly, the pretended Quarellers, stood about the Rail by the Queens Stables, and as Sir Edmundbury went down towards 'em, Green suddenly threw a twisted Handkerchief about his Neck, and forthwith all four pulled him down and throttled him, so as he could make no more noise: then they threw him behind the Rails, and gave him many violent Punches on the Breast with their Knees, and Green wrung his Neck almost round with all his force: Prance and Berry being come to them he was quiter dead, they all helped to carry the Body into Dr. Godwin's Lodgings, where the said Hill lived, who went before and opened the Door; when they were in they carried him up five or six Steps into a little Room on the right hand, and there left him that Night, and Sunday all day and night.  
On monday Night, Hill and some others of them removed him into a Room in the Upper Court, and Prance having a mind to see where they had laid him, they all went with a Dark-Lanthorn thither, and looked on the Body; at which time Mr. Bedloe saw Mr. Prance and knew him again long afterwards.  
On Tuesday Night they carried him to another Room in the said Long-Entry over against Dr. Godwin's Lodgings. And on Wednesday Night, being a removing it from thence, to the Room where it was at first, Prance happening to come upon them at that Instant they all ran away, and left the Body in the Entry, till he called to them, and then they came back, and laid it as at first in the little Room.  
Then that they might murder his Reputation as they had his Person, the two wicked Priests, Girald and Kelley; advised to carry him out into the Fields, and leave him there with his own Sword, in some obscure place, that he might be supposed to have murdered himself; and therefore, his Money, Rings, &c. were all to be left with him. This being agreed they resolved to carry him out at Night, and in Order thereunto, Hill procured a Sedan, into which about twelve of the Clock they put him, Prance and Girald carried him out at the great Gate, Berry the Porter opening the Door, who to avoid the Souldiers taking any notice, had invited them into his house, with Drink and Tobacco. Thus sometimes Girald and Prance, and sometimes Kelly and Green carried him up towards Soho-Fields, hard by the graecian Church, and there Hill attended with a Horse, and they set the Body up before him, and clapped the Sedan into a House as was building, there, but unfinish't, till they came back, and then Gerald the Priest said, I wish we had all such Rogues as secure as we have this, then Prance, because he was a House Keeper, returned home, and the other four went away with him, one leading the Horse, Hill riding and holding the Body, and the other two walking by.  
They carried him into an obscure place, about two Miles out of Town, towards Hamstead, near a place called Primrose-hill, and therein a Ditch they left his Body, Girald having run Sir Edmund's own Sword through him, and left it in him, but the Scabbard and his Gloves they laid on the Bank, at a small distance.  
And now with Mr. Settle's leave, where's the absurdity in all this, where the two-fold way of Trappanning him, the two-fold fatal place, the two-fold murder, and the double set of Night-Walkers, but blundering is natural to Elkanah.  
And he can puzzle a Cause with as much ease,  
As hogs eat Acorns, or tame pigeons Pease.  
But pray ye let us see Mr. Settle's most remarkable Observation, which is that none or few of all those numerous Letters and packets, seen, carried, red, and Intercepted by the several Discoverers should be couched in ciphers, seeing they carried no less then the whole Sum of all their Consults in England, or elsewhere; and all the several Proposals and Methods, for Regicides, Massacres, Assassinations, and all the rest of their villainies whatsoever. Now, might not 48 for the King, 66 for London, or Barly-broth for the Parliament, with such like stuff, suffice so to blind and perplex the sense, as to conceal the meaning of it from all others than those who had the Key of those ciphers, and might not those other Letters that had no cipher be conveyed by such hands and means as they might rely on for the safety of the Delivery, and be Couch't in such terms though not in cipher, as to seem to an unprepossessed Reader to contain nothing but indifferent Matters, though they, were stuffed up with rank Treason. But why should we wonder that Mr. Settle is not acquainted with the Niceties of that kind, seeing he seems to have monopolised Ignorance.  
The next Subject of Mr. Settle's Admiration, 
Nar. p. 14.  is the Preaching Treason even to the schoolboys, and tho' all these Children so grown up as to understand morals as well as Letters, and yet not one of them from that day to this so unluky as to tell Tales out of School.  
May they not have, and do they not still teach their Morals and their Principles under other Disguises and Appearances than those of jesuits? or those that are known for such may not they have such a superstitious awe upon their Scholars as to hinder them from babbling?  
Another thing our Narrative-Spark carp's at in the Conduct of the jesuits, 
Nar. p. 14.  in their design of Pensioning as one may say, The Members of the House of Commons, for the obtaining Liberty of Conscience, and of Collecting a round Sum of money for that purpose when upon murdering the King, and subjecting the Nation by the Sword not only the Parliament had been dissolved, nay, and a Members Brains possibly as easily knocked out as Plow-jobbers, but more than all this, upon the Papal Empire's entering by Conquest, they might have put an end to the very Constitution, 
Pag. 15.  and being of Parliaments.  
Well, might not that be done in the interim, in case any Obstacle should happen to the putting in Execution their main Plot, does it not appear throughout the whole Course of the Conspiracy that the jesuits would leave no ston unturned for the bringing about their ends, that they would play at small game rather then stand out, and their sometimes pushing on a Toleration, and labouring at others to Prorogue and Dissolve Parliaments, were influenced according to the several Postures of their Affairs which might be sometimes ready for Execution, and then perhaps they are for Prorogueing or Dissolving, or if something intervened there constrained 'em to wait for a fitter Opportunity, for the giving the Signal for the Main blow, might not they then labour for a Toleration which must needs have contributed very much towards the advancing their Projects.  
And as for mean Men being admitted into the palaces of Princes, if Mr. Settle was not altogether ignorant of History, he would call to mind a thousand Instances of the lowest Creatures having access to, nay, even made familiar with the greatest Personages, when found fit Instruments for the carrying on their Designs.  
And as to what he says of the Doctors Memory, those Instances he gives thereof are not so prodigious and unexampled unless in People to whom nature has been so stingy and niggardly of all its gifts, as it has been to Mr. Settle.  
But Mr. Settle wonders that the jesuits should meet and consult for a fortnight together after the first discovery, and yet not have the least him or notice of it. Mr. Settle must needs think that the Jesuits had a very prevalent interest at Court, if they could smoke a discovery that was made against themselves, it would be as if a Man being informed of design's to ruin him and his Family, should nevertheless sand word to the traitors, that they had better refer 'em till another opportunity, for that he had notice of their practices, this Example would be something extraordinary.  
And then for Mr. oats not seizing any of those Letters, packets, Memorials, Proposals, Commissions, that might have so coroborated his Discovery, as some he had only the sight of, so it would be madness to think he could take 'em away by force, as to those others he carried, he does not say but that he was accompanied by some of the Conspiracy; or if he was not, so manifest a proof of his Treachery, if one may call it so, to his Party, would cut of all means of his diving further into their Resolutions, and yet might be of little use, since perhaps, he could not have proved the hands: And as for that Courage of Mr. oats which our Narrative Hero, is pleased so to droll upon, it shows that Mr. Oates's whole care was even after the Discovery, not to give the jesuits the least cause to suspect his being fallen off that so by a fair appearance he might insinuate and grow so well acquainted with the results of all their debates, even concerning the Discovery, as to reveal and prevent any hasty and fatal Resolutions, they might have taken thereupon; and though he began to give 'em some Umbrage, yet his persevering to come to 'em might reinstate him in their good Opinion, since they could not think him guilty of so much folly, as to venture himself among 'em, after having played them so foul a Pranck, especially knowing their Principles, to require their Dispatching, and hindering Criminals of that nature from doing further Mischief.  
Well, But Elkanah has found out a new Projection to sport upon, namely, that the Fathers of St. Omers, viz. Richard Ashley Rector, Edward Hall, Edward nevil, and those of the English Seminary, did writ to Thomas Whitebread and other Fathers, in which was expressed that it was now apparent that the catholic Religion was to be brought in the same way that they had used for the destruction of the Father of this King, and as that could not be effected till much blood was spilled on both sides, so this must be effected by effusion of blood, &c. Now that way Mr. Settle quotes Mr. oats to affirm to be this.  
Who besides the Popish Party, were the first Authors and Contrivers of the late Unnatural War, by their known Diabolical Arts of Inflaming Parties and Passions against each other, and of your Royal Fathers Sufferings and Barbarous usage, it was those that brought him to his end, and flourished Swords and triumphed over his dead Body, whom they durst not approach when living.  
Now, though the Issue of this Design was not according to the Project, that does not argue, they did not set it on foot, their business was to have fomented a Division, and so by weakening both Partys have destroyed both, they did not expect the one would have succeeded to that degree it did, and so spoiled their Measures; and as for some of 'em venturing their Lives, Estates, and Freedoms, in the Royal Cause, I shall need only to urge that in the most barbarous Nations, there be some persons found, who are just, upright, honest and Loyal; besides, might not many of those who thus asserted the King's Cause do it with design as much as in them lay, to make the balance even, and might not those others of 'em who flourished their Swords and Triumphed over his dead Body, less politic and more Zealous do it out of a particular Spleen they had to the head of the Protestant Church; and that they were the Fomenters of those unhappy-Troubles, notwithstanding all the Indulgence and Toleration they were allowed, I think it evident from their being ushered in by that dreadful Irish Massacre, and so adieu to Mr. Settle and his Narrative.   

Reflections upon the POSTSCRIPT.  
AFter this Absurdity hunter had thus endeavoured to turn the Plot into Ridicule, he continues in his Postscript Vile-flying the Proceedings of the Nation, 
Series of all the Transactions of the House of Peers. pag. 9.  and bespattering its Prudence with the most shameful of all Conducts.  
But in return to his Droll upon the 30000 Spanish Pilgrims, I shall need only to ask if we had not Forces in France during the War between that Crown and Spain, had we not forces too in the Low-Countries for its Relief against his Most Christian Majesty, and yet neither the Confederates or the French hereby provocated to an open rapture.  
And how vain is what he would fain infer from the pretended great neglect in the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, seeing the Lord Chancellor acquainted the House on the 26 of Octob. 1678. That the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, being informed of the dangerous design there, against the Person of his Majesty; and his Government hath secured the Person of Peter Talbot in Ireland, and hath issued out a Proclamation against Priests and Jesuits, and hath taken examinations in the business, which his Lordship hath transmitted to his Majesty.  
And as for his Majestys Royal Person being exposed, did not both Houses address to have the Militia raised for two and forty days.  
And was there not a strict Inquisition made after Fire-works; nay, and were not several Chests of Cartrages found in Mr. Choquee's House in the Savoy; 
Series of the House of Peers. pag. 45.  and did not the late Lord Chancellor publicly aver, at the Sentence of the Lord Stafford, That there hath been a general and Desperate Conspiracy of the Papists; and that the Death of the King, hath been all along one chief part of the Conspirators design, is now apparent beyond all possibility of doubting, what was the meaning of all those Treaties which were published about two years since, against the Oath of Allegiance, in a time when no Man dreamed of such a Controversy, what was the meaning of Father Coniers's Sermon upon the same Subject, but only because there was a demonstration of Zeal, as they call it, intended against the Person of tht King, which the scruples arising from that Oath did somewhat hinder. To what purpose were all the Correspondencies with Foreign Nations! The Collections of Money amongst the Fathers abroad and at home? What was the meaning of their governing themselves here by such Advices as came frequently from Paris and St. Omers? And how shall we expound that Letter which came from Ireland to assure the Fathers that all things were there in a readiness too, as soon as the Blow should be given? Does any Man now begin to doubt how London came to be burnt? Or by what ways and means poor Justice Godfrey fell? And is it not apparent by these Instances, that such is the frantic Zeal of some bigoted Papists; that they resolve, no means to attempt the catholic Cause shall be be left unattempted though it be by Fire and Sword? Stafford's trial. fol. 213.  
Now, As for Mr. Oates's not being worth 12 d. and raised afterwards to 12 l. a Week, yet should be 700 worse for the Discovery of the Plot, where can this Contradiction-ferret find out the Absurdity of all this, might not Mr. oats if the Plot had continued and he remained faithful to it, expected Promotions and rewards much more considerable than 700 of the Papists.  
And as for the Massacre and Rising, 
Series of the House of Peers. pag. 139.  did not both Houses on the sixth of December 1678 make the following Address to his Majesty.  
We your Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in Parliament assembled, having sufficient Testimony of the present danger, threatening your Majesties Sacred Person and Government from the pernicious Plots and Contrivances of Popish Persons Universally spread over this your Majesties Kingdom, do most humbly beseech your Majesty for the safety of your own Person and security of the public Peace of your Kingdom, to Command and require your Majesties Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, Mayors, and other Magistrates within their several and respective Countreys, Citys, and Places in Engand, and Wales, to apprehended, Disarm, and secure all Popish Recusants, and all others, who shall or may be justly suspected Papists, and them to oblige in recognisance with sufficient Bale to keep the Peace, and be of good behaviour, and in default thereof, them to Imprison, and to return, the Names of such Persons with their recognisances, to the next general Sessions of the Peace, for their respective Limits to proceed thereupon according to Law.  
But the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled poor men, happen to clash in their Opinions with Mr. Settle, who charges 'em with the Apprehensions of imaginary Dangers, and for his part he defy's the Eloquence of Angels to Convince any Rational man of the possibility of any thing like a Massacre, to be made by the Roman catholics hands in England. Nay, the Wag would fain persuade us, that the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, be Dissenters, for he says one thing is strangely remarkable that none are so vehement against Popery and Plots as the Dissenters, for do not all their Votes ring with Conspiracies and Popish Plots; nay, one would think he had a mind to bring in Majesty itself into the number, for has not the King in several Gracious Speeches declared as much? Did he not say in that he made on the 21st of Octob. 1678, That he had been informed of a design against his Person by the Jesuits, that he would leave the matter to the Law, and in the mean time take as much care as he could to prevent all manner of practices by that sort of Men, and of others, who have been tampering in a high degree with foreigners, and contriving how to Introduce Popery amongst us.  
Now, notwithstanding all this and many more Instances and Authorities, for the believing a Popish Plot, Mr. Settle says, that all this is but setting up Shadows and chimeras like so many Ignes fatul, to misled deluded Ignorance into Distraction and Rebellion, whilst the great Knaves trale the Carrion, and the little Fools hunt after it: Now dare not I for the Heart of me, imagine who Mr. Settle means by those Great Knaves and Little Fools, but must needs say, that I think this sally of his is the boldest piece of Extravagance and of Madness I have yet met with in a Person of Mr. Settle's Constitution. But seeing Poets of Mr. Settle's Rank are like to starve since nothing now will pass the Test but what is reasonably good, since Belly Timber must be had, and that Hunger is one of the greatest Incentives to Courage, why shoald we think it so prodigious an Attempt in him as to Attack and Stab the Evidence that has been given in against Popery, though under the Umbrage of Kings, Lords, and Commons, Mr. Settle is perhaps of the humour of Lott's Wife, who upon a Pinch would even Curse God, if that would give any ease, nay, would Renegadoe it every day rather than stand the Batteries of a Dun and the Importunities of a sharp set Stomach; but allow him to be no such Protheus sort of Animal, and that his Spleen and venom still continues against the Papists and their Abbeters, may he not have written his Narrativr to shane them and their Cause by so scurrilous a Vindicator and Author. But to draw him more to the Life, our Narrative-jobber may be said to be like those Persons who having for a while been reclaimed from their lewd Course of Life, yet growing weary of that restraint and giving way to the Viciousness of their Temper burst out of the Arms of their Charactable Redeemers plunge then again head long into all manner of wickedness, and like the Dog return to his Vomit.    

ADVERTISEMENT.  
SOme Remarks being come out in answer to Mr. Settle's Narrative, whilst the last two Sheets of this were in the Press. The Reader is desired, not to be surprised, that something in these Reflections do jump with that Ingenious Author's Observations.  
FINIS.