A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CONVENTION. ●R, NE● christened Parliament.  
I Shall not entertain the World with showing how Unwarrantably it was called, and how Irregularly many of its Members were Chosen; but shall leave its Birth and Infancy, and begin my Reflections where that has begun to Act in its politic Capacity. This Convention or Knot of Men, tho' we with so great reason railed at Regulation, both in the Reigns of King James and King Charles II. must pick out a Speaker Elected upon a Regulation. I am not willing to add, that He was recommended to Windsor by the Duke of Norfolk; for then I must o●●●ct against the many others recommended by that Duke, my L. Lovelace, &c. 〈…〉 en inconsistent with the Essence of an English Free-chosen 〈…〉 intermeddle with the Elections but that which I here 〈…〉 ly it was, that we should be re-instated in our Liberties 〈…〉 who made so false a step at their very Entrance upon so great a Work: But let us go forward and see whether they have not Established our Religion, and Protected our Liberties by Acts suitable to this. Into our Religion they have introduced the Doctrine of Deposing Princes, breaking Faith with heretics, Absolving Subjects from their Allegiance, and into our politics, Elective Monarchy, a Civil Transubstantion by a Hoc est Parliamentum, A Suspension of oaths and Tests, and of the Habeas Corpus Act into the bargain; and in exchange for these, they will settle a marshal Law to Execute Soldiers: In good Faith when I reflect upon these things, how foolish, and how Popish, these councils are; I fear Father Peters, by a certain communication of Spirit, is got into our Senate House, and Actuates most that are there. To speak very seriously, I fear, that as in the Usurpers days, some secret Priests put the People upon those evil Practices, which all Parties were willing to disown; every Body repented 〈…〉 ch we kept an Anniversary Fast; so I say, I fear as Protestant a 〈…〉 Men 〈…〉 o be, they are blown into these Measures by some that wish not well to our Sio that they may affix thereto an indelible ●eproach; ● I cou●● wish, th● both for the Honour and Security of the Protestant Religion these Conventioners, and the Prince of Orange himself would consider how much they have defaced the Purity of it, and that they would both join together, out of a sense of their Sin, to recall our Rightful King, and that with Repentance and Humiliation, with Fasting, Supplication and Tears, we may be reconciled to our God; and so dissipate that Cloud, and avoid that impending storm of Blood and Violence that seems to Threaten almost the whole Christian World. King James restored by the Protestants, must pursue Protestant Measures, and strike in with the English Genius and Interest, and would thereby be enabled to give Laws to Europe, and adjust the Differences thereof, and so settle its Peace, and promote its Welfare; but alas, how weak will this Nation be, how miserable upon our new Foundations? When those pretend to Legislation that have no right to it, the Consciences of brave and honest Subjects will not yield Obedience; the Consciences of weaker Men will be Ensnared, and those who have no Conscience at all themselves prescribe to others. It is plain by the Contest, as well in the lower as the upper House, that Abdication and Vacancy was not the Sense of the Church of England; and though some Church of England Divines, nay though the Bishops themselves should writ that we were absolved from our Allegiance; we who believe no Infallibility, should think these Opinions proceeded from Fear, or Ambition rather then judgement 〈◇〉 should pitty the Infirmities and Weaknesses of Men, but protest against D●ctrines▪. To what Divisions have these Conventioners brought us? Wha● 〈…〉 ded Kingdom do? How long can it stand? God knows my intended satire to 〈…〉 one and too justly ends in Lamentation. I would have the Prince of Orange, as well as the Conventioners know, that our Eyes are more and more open, that the Nation suffers under a Convulsive Agony, by reason of the late Impious steps; and that we see these Men, who pretend to Settle our Religion, have in compliance with his Desires, broken through the incontestable points of it, and instead of Securing▪ our Liberties, Enslaved us to his Will and Pleasure; that even these people who would be thought a Free Parliament, were Over-awed and Governed by the Prince, and received Instructions from him and his Creatures after their Country had choose them, is evident to all that recollect how little the Country dreamed of making him King William a● the time of their choice; those that had the most abandoned their Loyalty, designed to break through their Duty and our Constitution no farther then Crowning his Princess; but a little before there sitting, out comes a Pamphlet, writ by tha● Conscientious Reformer of Church and State, that herald of hi● Highness hi● Mind, the Worthy Mr. Ferguson, whic● 〈◇〉 to persw 〈…〉 le how muc● more it was for their Interest to choo 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 ntio 〈…〉 changed their Notes, and those of 〈…〉 ld not 〈◇〉 Bullied b● the Prince, as Sir Ed. say. of the West, &c. or by my Lord De●. as Hall. and indee● both Houses by my Lord Lov. with his Posse Mobilitatis, with this sort of free Conference, this sort of Parliamentary Liberty of Speech, the King is laid aside, with out any of his charged Faults proved upon him, and the Government changed into Elective, that they might reward the Prince for driving away our King; this is th● Justice, this the Spirit, this the Religion of these Men, these are our Liberatores Popul Anglica●, these our Protectores Religion●s Protestantium. To conclude in a word, would have Them and the Prince too know, that there are in the Nation a people Numerous enough, and as far from Popery, as this Convention or Knot can be, wh● can neither be bribed by Places, no● Pensions; and who have no Malice against th● Person of his Father in Law, though they misliked some misrepresentations; tha● can and will make a Noble Attempt to rescue us from this Bondage, restore us to our ancient Constitution, and shake 〈…〉 one, having Truth, Justic● and God on ●heir side.