Imprimatur,  
Edmund Bohun. Novemb. 22. 1692.   

SOME SHORT REMARKS Upon the Present State of Affairs; In a LETTER to a MEMBER Of the HONOURABLE House of Commons,  
LONDON, Printed for R. Bentley in Russel-street, Covent-Garden, 1692.   

Some short Remarks upon the present State of Affairs; In a Letter to a Member of the Honourable House of Commons.  
SIR,  
YOu desire me to repeat to you the Substance of our last Discourse, relating to the present State of the Nation; In which I should find some Difficulty to comply with you, if the Reasons, you give, were not too strong to be contended with. But you may be assured, that your Promise to conceal my Name, is not the weakest Argument you have used, to make me publish my Thoughts. For, as Truth has her Credentials writ in her Face, and needs not the Support either of Persons or Parties, where she meets with sound Understandings: So I would not willingly be obliged to answer every Fool in his Folly.  
Our Nation is to be considered as a Man that is brought by Distempers into an ill Habit of Body. And, to make a right Judgement of our Disease, we must inquire into the Rise and Progress of it. To which end we must look back as far as the Reign of King Charles the First.  
The unhappy Occurrences of those Times put the Nation in a Ferment, that has never since been throughly settled, and was the Seed from which our present Misfortunes are grown. All England was divided into Parties, and the Youth of the Nation, that was then springing up, took their first Tinctures from their respective Factions; which bred a certain Hatred and Animosity, that grew up with them, and became Natural. Insomuch that every Man was esteemed, not according to his real Value, but according to the Opinion that was held of his Party.  
When this Tragedy of the State was wrought up to a Crisis, and the Scenes were stained with Royal Blood; the young Princes were transplanted to a Soil wholly improper for 'em. For they fell into the Hands of Ministers, that wanted neither Wit nor Malice, to make use of such a Turn. Who imagined, being Masters of our Source, easily to pollute our Streams. And indeed they did it effectually. For when another Turn of Things happily brought in the King, Experience tells us what Foreign Principles and Maxims he unhappily brought in with him.  
But being a Prince that valued his Ease and Pleasure above all Considerations whatsoever, he never pushed his Designs farther, than to gratify his Senses, and keep fair with all the World. Which made his Ministers study Cunning more than Prudence; and all sorts of Juggling grew universally in Fashion. The Mask was taken off. Honour and Trust were publicly bought and sold; and those who had Employments, studied more to get Money by 'em, than how to execute 'em well. All this made such a Confusion of Persons and Things, that the Disease of the Body Politic dispersed itself though every Part; and the Noble Parts were not the least affected. For the Luxury and Supiness of the Court (as is usual in all such Cases) was attended with an Excess of Ill Management. And when the Public Treasures were drained pretty near the Bottom, the most valuable Interests, as well as Secrets, of the Nation were sold to France, to support a lazy and ignoble Gallantry. And at the same Time the Youth of our Nobility and Gentry were sent thither to be educated, and learn the Fashion in their Principles as well as Dress. For the Ministers of France were in the Bottom of all this, being as active and plotting, as we were idle and unthinking.  
And here I cannot but take Notice of one of the blackest Contrivances, that ever perhaps was formed. A Design was laid to bring in Popery among us; and in order to this, 'twas thought necessary first to remove the Religion we had, that we might afterwards be more capable of receiving a new one. To promote this there wanted neither Precept nor Example, Atheism, Irreligion, and Ill Nature (the Fundamental Principles of all Villainy) were set up by some of the keenest Wits of the Age (I do not say the soundest) as Principles of Philosophy; and not ill seconded by the Practices of the Court. Don't think I am canting (for you know me to be neither a Bigot, nor a Hypocrite) when I tell you, that no State in the World ever flourished, where Religion of some sort or other) was not seriously professed and publicly countenanced; nor indeed can Natural Causes, any more than Providence, admit it to be otherwise.  
But (to return to what I was saying) the Principles and Practices of the Court grew at last so notorious, and the Nation was so tired with being often tricked and deceived, that Men of Sense and Honesty began to have their Eyes open, and to take such Measures as the Occasion made necessary. This revived and fomented the Division between the Court and the Country; insomuch that a Man could not be a Friend to the one, without declaring himself an Enemy to the other.  
When this unhappy Prince concluded his Reign, the rash and unsteady Conduct of his Successor was so far from settling the tottered State, that he quickly drove Things to the last Extremities. And of what immediately ensued the Impressions are still fresh upon all our Minds.  
But now we have a new Scene of Things, and are arrived at another Crisis, that must for ever ruin or confirm the Religion, Honour, Laws, and Liberties of England; A Crisis, which if not prudently and nicely managed, is likely to prove our last. For a small Portion of Experience, and a moderate Knowledge of what has passed in the World (with but a competent Measure of Common Sense) will make it clearly and distinctly evident to any Man, that if this Settlement fails, or the French Power breaks in upon us, England (as a free Nation) is for ever lost. Which is clearly demonstrated by reducing the whole Matter to these three Points.  

First, Either we must submit to the Power of France. Or,  
Secondly, We must bring back the late King James, which will (in its Consequences) be much the same Thing. Or,  
Thirdly, We must resolve vigorously to support the present Government against all its Enemies, Domestic and Foreign.   
Now as to the First of these; No Wise or Honest Man can ever so much as entertain a Thought of submitting to a French Power. If we consider how inhumanly that Prince tyrannises over his own Native Subjects, and how barbarously he tramples upon his New Conquests. And in all his Cruelties, and Persecutions, has no regard either to Merit, Age, or Sex; We must be blind not to read our own Doom, if ever we should fall under the Weight of his Power. And  
Secondly, to think of bringing back the late King James, would be so few Degrees from Drivelling, (unless in such as are that way inclined from ill Principles and Designs) that we could not take it amiss, if the Favourites that came in with him, should beg us all for Fools, and so enjoy our Estates. If ever we sink into such a stupidity, we need not be Conjurers to tell our own Fortunes. Therefore  
Thirdly, We must resolve vigorously to support the present Government against all its Enemies Domestic and Foreign. We must indeed. And we shall certainly do it, if the Cunning of our False Brethren does not impose upon the Ignorance of our Weak ones. For, not to mention all the different Characters of Men, of which we are at this Time unhappily composed, there are two sorts, which, though they seem to sail with the same Wind, steer different Courses: And as much as they agree in their Language and Style, yet have opposite Meanings. At the same Time that the Enemies of our Government are studiously improving all Occasions, to interrupt our wisest Debates, and to dash and perplex our maturest Councils, by hollow Reasonings, pretended Difficulties, and frivolous Inquiries; Our mistaken Friends (I speak as an Englishman) are unadvisedly led into the same Errors, though with an honester Intention. Now as 'tis impossible to know Men in this general Masquerade, it highly imports a Wise and Honest Man to take his Measures rather from the Nature of Things, than the Countenances of Men; And laying aside all manner of Prejudice or Partiality, diligently to attend the Dictates of Right Reason in so important a Conjuncture.  
This would lead Men into clear and untroubled Notions of Things, and secure 'em from being foolishly made the Instruments of their own Destruction. For our Foreign (as well as our Domestic) Adversaries look upon our undiscreet Proceed, as the best Foundation of all their Hopes; and spare neither Cost, nor Pains, to promote our Heats and Differences. They divert themselves with our Folly, and are pleased with the Thoughts of our approaching Ruin. And nothing but a faithful Enquiry into the Nature of Things, with a diligent Attention to the Dictates of Right Reason (as I said before) nothing else can save us. That indeed like an alterative Medicine will correct our ill Humours, and restore us insensibly to a state of Health. 'Twill instruct us how to begin all our Reasonings at the right end; and by equally weighing the Consequences of Things, to give every Consideration it's true Weight and Force. As for Instance,  
To Reason profitably of the Affairs of England in so perplexed a Conjuncture as this is, a Man must know and consider well the true Constitution of our Government: He must purge off the corrupt Notions, he sucked in with his Mother's Milk, and forget what he learned in the Nursery, or at School; not be influenced in the least with a fondness of either Persons, or Parties. For a Man to oppose the Court, and make an Interest against it, in the Reign of a Just and Wise Prince (whose Interests are the same with ours) because his Father did it at a time when our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, were visible struck at; is just as if I must needs suffer a dangerous Operation, because my Father had a Stone in his Bladder. The Interest of the Court and the Interest of the Country are in Nature the same, and a difference between 'em is downright Nonsense, unless either when the One, or the Other, designs an Alteration in the Government; The first with a View of Oppression and Tyranny, the latter of a Republic. As for the first of these; his present Majesty has given us such constant and sensible Marks of his hearty Concern, and unwearyed Care for the Public Good, that 'twould be very disingenuous and ungrateful to suspect him; besides that there is a certain Air of Plainness, and Integrity in all his Words and Actions; which are always a sure Mark of a Generous and Honest Mind. Nor could his Interests lead him amiss, if his Inclinations did. And as for the other Design, I mean of a Republic, I believe the Experiment that was made in the Reign of King Charles the First (tho' attended with a Series of strange Successes) had such dismal and terrible Consequences, that all judicious and skilful Men must needs conclude such Designs to be as unpracticable as they are unjust.  
The Matter thus stated, why should a Division be kept on foot, by which both Parties will certainly suffer? I do not love to judge rashly in any Case; but I think we may safely conclude here, That whoever promotes or foments any such Design (directly or indirectly) must needs have something out of order, either in his Head, or in his Heart.  
But (as you told me, when I had the Honour to discourse with you last) great Complaints are made of the ill Management of the Government: Now (Sir) we must remember, That in all Arts the Instruments are to be considered as well as the Workmen. And I am afraid (with all the respect that is due to my Native Country) that we are grown a little rusty with the Luxury and Idleness into which the late Reigns have lulled us; and our Edges are blunted with an excess of Pleasure and Debauchery, The Youth of our Nobility and Gentry want the Advantages of Education (to make them useful to their King and Country) which those of our Enemy's have, who are early instructed as well in all useful Learning, as well as in the Art of War. And (as I remarked to you before) the pernicious Councils, that took place in the Two last Reigns, have introduced such a total Corruption of Persons and Things, as has thrown the Body Politic into an ill Habit; and 'tis not in Nature to be expected, that a perfect Cure can be wrought without a little Time and Patience. But a great many People suspect an ill Management, only for want of Success; not considering from whence Success comes, and that 'tis to be courted, not commanded. Whereas if they were truly informed of the great and numerous Difficulties that His Majesty meets with; and with what unwearyed Vigour he renews his Application; when (through the Failures of others) his Designs prove unsuccessful; they would be more inclined to Admiration than Censure. If any one says, That the making Use of good Instruments depends upon His Majesty; it may be answered, That no Man ought to blame His Choice, without being acquainted with all the Reasons he had for it. If Solomon himself could be supposed to come among us, in such a confused and distracted a Conjuncture as this is, he would be at a loss (for some time) what Measures to take. Upon the whole Matter, I am fully persuaded (and indeed not Thinking Man can be of any other Opinion) That whatever ill Management there has been, His Majesty has done all that was possible (on his part) to prevent it. He is in the same Bottom with us, as English-Men, Protestants, and Honest Men; and 'tis a Madness to think that he will not take all possible care of himself and the Nation. And one good Argument (among many others) to convince us of His good Intentions towards us, is, His Ask Advice of the Parliament (in His late Gracious Speech) with so much Heartiness and Sincerity.  
In Return to which, it would contribute very much to the Honour, and Credit of Parliaments; and be of infinite Advantage to the Public, if you would enter upon no unseasonable Debates, nor frivolous Inquiries; but observe in all your Proceed that Calmness and Solidity that becomes the Dignity of so great a Council. 'Tis good in all Occasions to distinguish between what is Solid, and what is Trivial; but in Affairs of Importance, 'tis of absolute Necessity: For want of distinguishing these Two Things, your Time may be misspent, your best Designs frustrated, and all your Labour lost.  
In a word, the Fate of England (and of all Europe) is before you: You are surrounded with active and subtle Enemies, that will omit no Stratagems, by which 'tis possible to misled you: You have an Opportunity to be the Instruments of England's Glory and Happiness; which, if lost, can never be recalled. But if you act Prudently and Sincerely (uninfluenced by all sorts of Prejudice) you will lay the Foundation of your own Honour, and your country's Prosperity.  
FINIS