A LETTER To the True Protestant Doctor, The Reverend Titus Oats, Dean of Salamanca, and Bishop of Weavers-Hall, at his Apartment in Southwark, from Timothy Trimmer his Friend.  
IN LONDON.  
Doctor,  
I Cannot but Compassionate the present Sufferings, under whose weight you are now Pressed; and the whole World is not Ignorant how great an Advocate I have been, and still am, in your Behalf; not only in my Daily and public Controversies with that malicious Discoverer of your Intrigues and Veracities, Old Nobs, but also in the private Intelligences and Secret Correspondencies, held and managed with the only True and Protestant Preservers of their Country, the Falsely styled Fanatical Party.  
But alas, my endeavours have been in Vain, I have been towing against Wind and Tide to bring our bottom to its designed Harbour; but the Storm is so great, our Tackle is Broke, we are got a Drift, and our Vessel is now Split. To lay the cause hereof at your Door, would but add Affliction to the Misereble: yet in Truth I must say you have not managed the Tallant your great Master gave you, to that advantage as you might have done: whence in a great measure it is that this Damage is come upon us: for had People really, as in Daus of yore, believed your Plot, and every Moment expected the Spanish Pilgrims at their Backsides, the black Bills and Mustard-balls at their Throats and Habitations, they would not have had the leisure to have looked about what was designing by the Faithful and true Lovers of their Country at Home. We might have Effected our Purposes on the two Brothers at White-Hall, and made the same a further Confirmation of the Popish Plot: we might have taken off the Tory Bishops, Tory Guards, Tory Mayor and Sheriffs, and all the Tory Friends of Monarchy, and set up a True Reformed Church and State amongst ourselves. But alas these Days are over, the Eyes of People are now Open, and scarce a Boy in the Street, but can give one Instance or another of your Confounded Veracities: insomuch that your old Friends very hardly part with their wont Contributions; and my Trouble is five times more at present in Collecting them than ever, and many of them are behind: insomuch that I believe could they be Possessed or secured by the other Party, that you should not Swear them into the Fanatical, as you Swore them out of the Popish Plot: you might even turn Papist again for them, and Damn your own Soul to get Chaps of Mutton at St. Omers; for between you and I, 'tis Interest binds the Party, and were not there something of this kind in the matter, you might reduce your Family, and live without the use of Men-Servants.  
Let me therefore advise you to signify your Will and Pleasure to them forthwith; that unless they pay down their Subscriptions, you will open your Swearing Mouth, take the Bible into your Swearing Hand, and let fly such a So help me God against them that shall bring the thoughts of Catch and Devil into the Soberest Noddle amongst them. This is your only way: For give me leave to whisper in your Ear, there is scarce a considerable Man amongst them, but is afraid every time he sees the Staff of Authority go by his Door, that some Evidencing Brother hath told Tales of him: and if they fear them, what would they do by you that are so great a Master in the Art, and know so much of their Intrigues, who can raise a Mountain from a Molehill: and make nothing seem so much in the true methods of Evidence. In short, their Fear preserves them your Subjects; and while you hold their Noses to your Girdle, they may smell a Knave, but know not how to be rid of him. It is an Age of Policy, and since Honesty thrives not, that Conscience is very Barren, that can plant no other Herb of Profit there. Yours and Mine are neither of them such, but thanks to our Stars, if we cannot travel the plain Road, the Hedges and Ditches in our way shall never retard us. Pray Commend me to your fellow Sufferers, to whom I hear you are made Chaplain in Ordinary. It is a great Blessing you are amongst them, and much for their general Profit, if they know how to improve it. I hope our Brother B—ll spends his time there for the advantage of his Country, in proving his great Systeem, that Monarchy is Destructive to Trade: wherein I doubt not but he is seconded by his Ingenious Companions, the rest of the Brethren. In your next, let me have account whether Sir T. P. is not pined a way for the want of Mother Creswells Provisions for the Carnal part of him. It is very Hot Wether, and the Rebellions of the Flesh are many and often, which though such as are at Large have a supply for; yet I know not how it fares with you: as to yourself indeed you have a double Advantage over your Neighbours, for Man and Woman both Administer to your Occasions. But of this no more, till I see you, lest it should come to a Discovery of the World's Eye; and who knows what advantage may be made thereof amongst the Wicked, who consider not the Spiritual Licence which is taken by the Brethren, in relation to these Matters; whilst the same is used for the inward Comfort and Refreshment of the Righteous, and in a True-Protestant Privacy, w●●ch must be always regarded, and wherein I doubt not of your Caution. I Conclude with my Wishes for your Enlargement, in order to the public Benefit, and the reception of your just Demerits, who am  
Your constant Abettor, Friend and Servant Timothy Trimmer. From Whigland, near our late great Patroons House, August the 1st. 1684.   

LONDON, Printed by George Croon, at the Blue-Ball, over against Baynard's Castle, in Thames-street, 1684.