Plain Englifli:
Humbly offered to the
CONSIDERATION
OF HIS
\/f A TTTQTTV
1V1/\J JtLo 1 15
And his Great Council,
THE
HojDs and Commons;
In P a R l i a m e n t Aflembled.
Obfequittm amicos, Veritas odium
London, Printed in the Year, 1690.
^——
E%% A T A„
PAge 9. line 5. for fervd read feenPd.
P. 11. 1. 21. f. wanted r. wonted.
P. 13. 1. 15. f. infiltuted r. intituled.
P. 14. 1. 12. gutque ipfe &c, put in after good Behaviour,
1. 7.
P. id. 1. 10. f. from r. for.
I.31. r. £7 Law deter mine d-> before.
P. 17. 1. 1. f. r. a.
1. 6. 0/.
1. 10. f. thefe r. that.
P. 27. I.5. f. then r. when.
1.15. put the Comma after Mercy.
1. ult. r. did remain, and dele the reft:.
P. 28. 1.1. after muff add not.
1. 3. dele not.
1.9. after a add it.
1.12. f. for read from.
\:ntr\)nu
ri3# i' \tj :c "[ \ ^
J y t' v jfci. tine; u*
. :• B* v-" -
b*^3* r r ?[ -•'■ S'v •
. >i-y ]* \\\f i: V-. • i . ..;Sl . v •
]• ii\ bv:..z . .... .-j ;\;x
1/ * 2* ■
' : p ,] J- IO* i; v.* ^ .•
-. (- _. ' V
r;IA« r ■ - • -
; i' f V
4> x- V I- ■ •• :
•
: • - v iz- r'
r ■' ■ ' .
>
-
.. . - _ H
(»)
Obfequiam Amices, Veritas odium park.
T has rarely hapned, that pialtt Cttgltflj could
fteal abroad without being called
by them who could not anfwer it ; or Libel"
Ions, by them who were delervedly jealous
of the Prels, and therefore the moll fitting
Perlons to have the infpe£lion of it.
Hence the Betrayers of their Country, having
fatned themfelves with its Spoils, were likely to
have been tranfmitted toPofterity, as Men of vfe-
rit for their Loyalty. And thole , who fought
it out in the Breaches, and whole Blood has been the
fruitful Seed of thole Liberties we now enjoy, to
have been robb'd of their due Honours, which would
have been transferr'd to others, who, as Magpies,
or fuch other infignificant Things, cure Agues, were
thought to have relieved their Country, as they hap¬
ned to be the laflr, tho' the weakell AlTertors of its
Rights.
Pall and prelent Times, fhew by what good For¬
tune they were found in that Caule,for which the no¬
ble Lord Ruffe I fell worried and unlamented by them,
and without lb much as their charitable Opinion of
the State in which he died.
B Nothing
(2 )
Nothing but a Liberty of .Printing, given or ta¬
ken, can hinder his Caufe from being yet rendred
Vile, and his Afhcs from being trampled on, with¬
out Rebuke, by every florid Vindicator of Murders
in Form, but without colour of Law.
Thofe Times which thefe Interefted Writers
would juftify, are far from fuch as com¬
mends, Wherein a Man might think what he , and
utter what bethought.
But fure I am, no Age is worthy of fuch an Hi-
ftorianas Tacitus, wherein any Man may not pub-
lilh without Penalty whatever he will fet his Hand
to, and for which he ftands ready to anlwer the
Law: without Submitting to the partial or weak
Judgment of a mercenary Licenfer; who will take
care that thofe fcurrilous Reflections upon our happy
Settlement, and its Worthy Inftruments, which he
licenfes, may pafsuncorrecfed.
For want of fit Liberty, Princes have been abus'd,
and Foundations fap'd, without publick Notice:
and whoever has feen and ventured farther than o-
thers, has been thought juftly to fuffer for being
righteous over-much.
Be it as it will: As the Intereft of my Country
has ever had the Afcendent over my AffeCtions, be
That, and Truth, my Licence.
The Cowardife of King James the Firfb, as it
made him betray the Protectant Intereft Abroad,
naturally bred in him a Diftruft of his People, and
fervile Compliances with Foreign Princes,from whom
he apprehended any Danger. This made himear-
neftly follicite a Match for his Son Charles with
the Infanta of Spain. The Father's Fears, as it is
to be hop'd, rather than the Son's Inclinations, oc-
cafion'd that flatt'ring Letter to the Pope which
C 3 )
hangs heavy upon Charles his Memory.
And though the Match took not effe£t, the Pa-
pifts obtained thole Advantages, by a cunning ma¬
nagement of the Treaty, which were not eafy to be
retreiv'd ; and were confirmed and enlarged by
the Marriage with a Daughter of Vranee, the
mifchievous effeft of which is vifible, in that ama¬
zing Lift, which is to be feen in Rujhmrth, of Pa-
pifts employed in that Reign in all manner of Offices.
Dowmright Popery would not pafs with that
King, But a Laudean Prelacy, or Brittifb Patriar¬
chate, which was little better, had gotten pofleffion
of his Underftanding, and prevail'd upon that
Prince, who, I believe, was a very good Man, to
do thofe Actions,. which if he had not had the
Church-men on his Side, would have blacknedhim,
almoft as much as the old Monks do any of his
Predeceffors.
As the Violations in his Time, of the Conftitu-
tion of the Englifh Government, are by no means
to be juftified ; neither can any Man anfwer for his
Difcretion in lofing Scotland, meerly to gratify the
Bifhops here: who could not be latisfied with Uni¬
formity in their own Churches, without making
Scotland damn all that would not believe in Atha-
nafiu*.
The Queen's Party finding the King's blind-fide,
ftruck in, with feeming Zeal for the Church of
England. But that they might fecure a Retreat,if that
fhould not prevail, fent feme upon the Forlorn on
the other fide. And, as Bifhop Bramhal has rightly
obferv'd, till they came to acquaint one another
with the Myftery, many of them were furprized at
encountring their Brethren in the Field. Thismuft
be faid of them, That though their Animofities a-
B 2 mong
(4)
mong themfelves may often proceed to great
Heights, they never fail in joining againft Prote-
ftancy.
Nor is it now to be doubted, but the Papifts
animated the Epifcopal Party againft Scotland,
and againft the Moderate of their own Mem¬
bers here. And infinuating themfelves into the
Leaders on the contrary Side, perfwaded them
to break off all Treaty with a Prince, who
would gladly then have yielded very far, and was
not of a Religion which could difpenfe with the
breach of Oaths or Promifes.
I find no Reafbn to disbelieve Bifhop Bramhal and
Dr. Du-Moulin, who offer Proofs, That that King's
Death was but inpurfuance of Popifh Relolutions.
The Anarchy which followed is a large Blot in
our Annals. The wileft of Cromwefs Councilors
law, that this Government could not fubfift without
Kingly Power. And though his Reputation and
Policy, for a while, kept up the or
Regency, 'tis a Queftion whether the then King of
Scots would not have turn'd him out, if he had
lived a little longer. However, the determination
of his Power, or any lucky Accident to the King,
naturally made way for the other's reaffuming the
Regal Authority.
Yet while he was out of Poffellion, many of
thofe, who upon his Return made the greateft
faoafts of Loyalty, had either drawn their Swords a-
gainft him, or fervilely flattered the Ufurpers. Nor
were the Papifts the moft backward in fuch Sub-
miffions.
No Prince ever came to the Crown with greater
Opportunities of making this Nation Happy, and
the Proteftant Religion the prevailing Intereft over
Ciiriftendom, than K. C. 2. w But
( 5 )
But the ground of our Misfortunes, next to the
vow'd Revenge for the Death of the Father, was,
That he had renounced the Proteftant Religion a-
broad. The Proof of which is but too ftrong.
Sir AllenBrotheriek, who was with that King be¬
yond Sea at the time of his firft profeffing the Popifh
Religion, has been often heard to'lament the burn¬
ing of his Journal, wherein the very Day and Cir-
cumftances of it were entred. And I am allured that
one of his prefent Majefty's Chaplains, (Minilter of
the Place where Sir Allen died) can give an account of
his Deathbed-Declaration of what he knew in it;
with this additional Circumftance, that it was done
in the Abfence of the old L. who knowing
of it at his Return, fell into great Paffion, and told
the King, he muft never expeft to fee England, again,
if it ftiould be known there.
That Lord knew too much for a Proteftant; and
it was thought fatal to him to have had no more Jea-
loufy of a Yenifon-Pafty, than he had entertained of
his Matter.
The Lord Brijlol, who pretended, not to be of the
Court of 'JtWf, though he profeffed himfelf of that
Church, if he may be believed in what he protefted
to the Houfe of Commons, had given King Charles
the fame Advice which had been given to Henry the
Fourth, If he would be truly Great, to be more a Pro¬
teftant than he was. And perhaps this kept that Lord
from receiving thofe Advantages, which otherwife
his Religion and great Parts would have intitled
him to*
But I never heard that it fared the worfe with
Cardinal de Rhetz, for advifing that in point
of Prudence to keep to the Religion of his Country.
How*
CO
V : ' j
However Mazarenesfangujne Counfel prevailed,
and how fecret foever it was kept, many had got
the hint of it, which occafioned that A&, which
made it fo highly penal to fay, That the King was a
Papift.
At his firft coming, his famifh'd Courtiers were
very greedy: And they who had made their Fortunes
in the former Turns, or encreas'd them by a Neu¬
trality, 01 compliance againft their Principles, to be
approved of neither by God nor Man, were beft able
to purchafe Places of Truft and Profit. The old
Cavalier had nothing but his Merits and Sufferings
to plead j which how much foever they weighed
with the King, were very troublefome to a needy
Courtier ; therefore they had recourfe to two Pre¬
tences for turning them off: One was, That others
had been us'd to Bufinefs, and therefore were more
fit for it: The Other, That Realon of State obliged
the King to win his Enemies, and to truft to the Fi¬
delity of his Friends.
This was the Management, while the general
Mart of Offices laftedand while that King feemed
to have no Inclinations of his own, but to Pleafure,
and buffered himfelf to be carried, like a Child with
Leading-ftrings,by hisMiniftyrs, and them who by
driving away the indigent old ,engrofs'd the
Name of Royalijls.
The Services of others, who had ventur'd all for
their Prince, who they believ'd injured, were paft.
But as moft of them feeing the Tendency of the
Queen's Party in the time of Charles the Firft, as
much prefs'd an Accommodation between him and
his People, as fhe diffwaded it; fo they were, at the
Return, for promoting an happy Settlement of the
Nation. But the Renegadoes,or new Courtiers, out-
(7 )
vied them clearly in Super-Loyalty, and getting into
Parliament, merited their fitting together lo long,
that they became a Reproach to themfelves, and a
Burden to the People, whom they loaded with un-
neceffary Taxes to feed themfelves, and the new male
and female infamous Courtiers.
They were the Men, who were the Authors of
thofe Laws which prefs'd fo hard upon great part of
the Nation, who could not bow fo decently, and in
fiich Order as others.
Who garbled Corporations, and deprived Men of
their greateft Civil Rights, for a Ceremony either
infignificant, or of too great fignificancy: As parti¬
cularly the Sign of the Crofs, which their Canons
have declared to be a Ceremony, whereby the Child
is dedicated to Ghrift.
Thefe are they who contented to the Repeal of the
Triennial Act, which put it out of the power of the
Court long to difcontinue Parliaments, or to turn
them off, when met, in lels than fifty days.
Th'ete required the Oath,in their Intendment,con¬
trary to the fundamental Liberty of the Nation,
whereby they would make the King, and them who
are commiffioned by him, to be as irrefiftible, as their
Severity againft Diifenters would argue the Impoters
infallible.
One would wonder how thefe Men, after they had
fhewn the Court that they were ready to merit their
Penfions, fhould ever be turn'd off by him.
They faw the Tendency to Popery plainly enough,
but they Were to make honourable Steps towards it.
And therefore the King, not only finding their Sala¬
ries chargeable, but that they had forhe nice Puncti¬
lio's of Honour to be falv'd, propounded to them
the granting him fuch a Revenue for Life, as might
( 8 )
eafe their trouble of meeting for the future ; which
made them firft look about them to fecure the conti- -
nuance of their Salaries: And from that time, being
jealous that their Matter was not fo fincere towards
them,as their Truth to his feparate Intereft might re¬
quire, they began to think of their being
Men.
But to return to the former part of that Reign.
Was it not enough to raife any Man's Indignation,
to oblerve that King, often pointing at a threadbare
Cavalier, who had wafted his Fortune, and moft of
his Blood, in the Service of his Father and Himfelf,
to tell his Courtiers, There goes as brave a Man as
ever drew Sword in our Quarrel, and yet not to re¬
lieve him from ftarving.
The Papifts, who under-hand played the Puppets
which came upon the Stage, heightned the Relent-
ments of lome for former Sufferings, and the Jealou-
fies of others, left many fhould lhare with them. And
as the Kjng could have an eafy Abfolution for breach
of his Word at Breda, the prevailing Faction gave
him Colour for it, by taking the Matter upon them-
lelves.
And to countenance their not coming to that Tem¬
per, which the Nation expe&ed, the firft Sham-plot
was railed upon Proteftants: Great numbers of them
were imprifoned without pretence of Law, but
meefly for fighing for Liberty, or fhaking their heads
at the miftaken Change. The Commitments were
fb illegal, that they were forc'd to make an Aft to in¬
demnify them for this violent Oppreffion of innocent
Men; not being then lb harden'd and flelh'd with
Succeffes againft the Englijh Liberties, to be paft
fear, as they were upon the like Violences after¬
wards.
(9)
4 But though themfelves admitted their Proceed¬
ings to have been Lawlefs and Arbitrary, they had
their defir'd Effe£b, in making levere Laws pais with
ea'le againft a fort of Men, whom they rendred Trai-*
tors to that Power which flfcttft^till then to protefilv^'''
them with an Equal Hand.
Thele for a long time bore the Brunt, till their
Preachers being driven from them, their Trade
ftopt, civil Priviledges ravilh'd, and Families ruin'd,
they were forc'd within the Church Walls ; and no
doubt but Jails, Fines, and Excommunications, aid¬
ed with the Secular Power, are, next to French Dra¬
goons, the molt ready way to make involuntary
Converfions.
But whether thele were in earneft or no, this
Peace, though never lo uncertain, was contrary to
the Defigns and Intereft of the firft Movers at Court,
Who unlels they could play one Party of Proteftants
againft another, found they mult yield to common
Proteftancy.
The Court therefore with liich a ftretch of Pre¬
rogative, as was in the time of James the Firft, exer-
cifed, in different Inftances, by the Applaule of the
Church-Men, gave a general Toleration : Which
lome perhaps were fo foolifh as to own from the
grant of the Crown. Others were glad that what
they always thought allow'd by God, when it
might be done without Sacrifice, was become lafe
and fealbnable.
Upon this, the Pulpits took the Alarum ; they
who had advanc'd an unlimited Prerogative,
diftinguifh'd away their own Do£trine, which be¬
ing new, leemed to bear the greater Latitude of In¬
terpretation : The Ecclefiaftick Drums called their
Party fiO the Field •, And they either wheedled or
C out-
( IOD 7
out-voted the confiding Meil who wifh'd well to the
general eale of the Proteftant SubjeQt: and under-
ltood not their Art, who were forward for it, to get
,an opportunity to betray it.
The King finding' he could not help his beloved
Papilts that Way, again fell in with the Church;
and great were the Endearments- which part be¬
tween them. The Duke oi'York, w ho afted with a
pretended Compaflion for thofe ProtCfUhts which
were Oppreft, was foemingly difcountenanced. The
Minifters of State, even Clifford himlelf, (who pro-1
feft himlelf a Papift at his-Death)'' were zealous Sons
of theGhur Ch 6$ England. The Church and the
Crown vied with each other in Complements; The
CrOwn made every Ceremony (acred, and the
Church fetch eVery abufe and enlargement of Power
from Heaven. ■*
In the mean while the Court Were under-hand
carrying cfo adeep-Defign aga-inll: the Proteftant Re¬
ligion, and the true Conftitution of the® Govern¬
ments Btit Rome Aiorc lubtile," gave fb many feveral
Parts, and it'sEmiffaries were fo faithful to theif
hellifh Sacraments of Secrecy, that Plotters juftled
Plotters in the dark. And the King, who thought
himlelf worthy to be trufted with the whole Secret,
began to (Part from them, at the difodvery of their
Defign to take him off, as not having obfirinacy or
blindnefs enough to run overall the rubs which lay
in the way to the publick Profefiion of their Re¬
ligion : for Which the Jefuirs thought all things
Ripe.
The Kjng, like one rouz'd from a Lethargy,(eem-
ed to have a new Life, andtoinfufe Spirits into the
Nation ; the generality of which diftrufted as lit¬
tle as they were Guilty. But when day-light was
" let
( tt ))
let into their Defigns, almoft all profefling tlierrr
fel'ves Proteftants, join'd in prolecuting the Plot, til'
iome tracing it to Whttehd and St. "James's, dnrft
not move further.
Others fearing the Effefhs of that general Union
agJOflg ftfet^ftaiitsjndaagereui to Arbitrary Power,
and to Engroffers of Preferments ia Church and
State, which that was likely to occafion, uled all
their Art and Indultry to ftifle or baff.e the Dis¬
coveries, till at the laft they turn'd the Plot up-
pn them who vcntur'd furtheft in unmasking the
Plotters. .n .
'Tis well known who oppos-d -bringing them
to Jvifti ce ; Nor is it to be doubted who were at
that time molt Friends to the Liberties of the
Subjett. The Habeas Corpus and Tefl-Afts, which
King Charles his Fright obliged him to Pals, were
yielded to the importunity of the Whiggs, vvho were
known to have the far greateft Majority in Parlia¬
ment, vvhile the others, tho with unequal Num¬
bers, fought it out with their wanted obltinacy a-
gainft what was lb difpleafing to the Court, and
with great Solicitation,they got their beloved Duke,
(whom they knew to be a- Papift) excepted out of"
that noble Aft, which otherwile would have turned
him out of the Houle of Lords.
Being got rid of theie L berty and Property-Men,
they fell to Fining, Imprifeiing, Murdering, and
Affaffinating thole who durlt -be honefl at the ha¬
zard of their Faittae, their fortune and their Lives.
And had King Charles liv'd but one Year longer,
giving countenance to the barbarous Inlolencies of
thole who delervediy have been called ,
England had been as a great Slaughter-houle, and
the Quarters of its bell Patriots- had been hung
; d C 2 up
mm
( " )
up in all publick Places, to fhew Men how dange¬
rous it was to prefer ones Country before the humour
of a prevailing Fa&ion.
Then Court-Divinity and Law had almoft run
down Religion and Civil Right.
A Conformity to the fafhionable Mode of Wor-
fhip was preft, as neceffary to Salvation ; and who¬
ever denied that the Kjng could Laws of his
fble Authority ; Or, that the Power which
makes, repeals, and difpenfes with Laws, was inle-
parable from his Perfon, was thought no good
Chriftian, or good Subjed.
The Scripture was thought to teach the Law of
the Land, that to give Authority to Scripture, and
the Kjng to both. Nor is it to be wondred, that
Men of dudile Reafons fhould hold this, when it
was affirm'd by one of the Leaders, that If the
Kjng he GodHs Vicegerent, he is upon that account
as much above all, as God. is.
Thefe ftrains of Loyalty from the Pulpit, were
ecchoed back from the Benches at Weftminjler, and
in the Country, and followed with inhuman Wor-
ryings of all Oppofers, till the late King mounted
the Throne, with the univerlal Acclamation of
that Set of Men, who were in fuch a tranfport of
Joy, that one would be tempted to think that
they law the Day which their Wilhes, Prayers,
and Endeavours had mark'd out as the utmoft li¬
mit to their Defiles.
That Kjng, as he had reafon, fell a courting that
Party, which had not only lecur'd the Crown to
him, but put it in great meafure into his Power
to manage, according to the Abfolutenefs of his
Inclination; not only by the Advantages over the
Conftitution which they had put into his Hands,
but
o
( n )
but by the Salvo for Prerogative, which fome of
themhaddefignedly added to the Coronation-Oath,
without Precedent or tolerable Pretence.
And though they were much difpleafed that he
fhould fo foon unmask, and take away the Colours
which they vvere fond of, for impofing upon their
credulous Party the Belief of his being aProteftant,
whereby he deprived them of that Reputation with
which they pretended to ferve the Church of Eng¬
land of Arbitrary Power: yet ftill they vowed
Lives and Fortunes. And they who knew what
Referve had been in his Coronation-Oath for a Prero¬
gative above or befides the Law, thought themfelves
obliged to pay that Obedience which they fancied
he was thereby intituled to exaft, as if the per¬
verting the Oath by a Confederacy, could alter the
Condition of an Englifh King.
When the unhappy Duke of Monmouth, (who
with the Roman Marcellus, experienced the fbort and
unhappy Careffes of the People,) was drawn into the
Snare laid for him, they not only inculcated the Du¬
ty of Fighting to maintain the late King in his Sta¬
tion, (which many of them think themlelves not ob¬
liged to, in relation to this,) but without any Regard
to Proof or Juftice, join'd in, or encouraged the
clapping up all, who by their known Zeal for the
Religion and Laws of their Country, gave them
the leaft Apprefhenfion of an Inclination to join
with the Duke, or to refcue the Conftitution from
them who had long made a Prey of it.
And if any Men had the Hardinefs to move for
an Habeas Corpus, the exorbitant Bail which they re¬
quired at their Difcharges, and the recording them
as entred into it, for the good Behaviour ; when no
fuch thing was mentioned at the time, nor would
( ?4 )
have been contented to, made the Remedy worfe
than the Dileafe; nor would the binding over to
this in a Court above fuffice, but the fame thing
was required over again in the Country ; every Man
knows to what end this was, and how induffxiou-s
they were to make,or find Pretences of Breach of the
good Behgyioar.^*^ **L
Trie tmftappy Duke was led to the Block, and his
Principles in relation to Civil Power, triumph'd
over on the Scaffold, by Men who might have en¬
tertained him with Subjects more fuitable to their
Office — Qu#qiu ipfe m indi,
The"late King, heady in all his Enterprizes,
thought by the Conqueft ©f Monmouth, the general
Submiflion of the Clergy to the licckffafticail Conl-
miffion, that Iron Rod which hung over hem, the
Do&rine of the Pulpit, and Surrender oi Charters
retaken, with Power for him to difplace Officers at
Pleafure, till they might be cull'd tohisMind ; he
might do all things which the Caufe of Holy Church
required : and well he might, if he had but hit ti.e
right Key; Confidering that the moft extravagant
Notions forabfolute Power had been more than Spe¬
culations, and were reduced and preach'd into
Practice, even while there was an immediate Pro-
fpe£t of his fucceedingto the Crown, and afting all
for the introducing of Popery, which hair-brain'd
Priefts could infpire into a refolv'd Bigot.
To the Divine Right of Succeffion, whatever the
Supream Law, the Safety of the People may require,
a Right which they would allow no Law, Fault or
Forfeiture, to alteror diminifh, lie owed his Crown,
.and .to their other Illufions the Opportunity and
Temptation to do more! towards accomplishing his
ov:jii Ends
(. 15' ),
Ends, than the juft Prerogatives of the Crown
could countenance, or the Con cage of his Party o*
therwife attempt.
And while the nobleft Patriots were fingled out
for Deftru&ion, the People, like the hardned Jews,
headed by their Priefts, were taught to cry, Crucify.,
Crucify-
During which Ferment, the Fundamental Rights
of the Nation were, with Safety to the Managers,
fhatter'd and betrayed by unprefidented Judgments,
for the Diffolutionof Corporations, and dilpenfing
with Laws; treacherous Surrenders of Charters,
contrary to Oaths to maintain their Priviledges to
their Powers : which had certainly obliged Men to
load the Courts of pretended Juftice with the ex¬
torting them all, and not to commit that 111 them-
felves, which they might fear from others.
I know they will fay that many of them had not
Money to make Defences i which could be no Pre¬
tence for giving-greater Countenance to the Defigns
of the Court by a Surrender, than they could have
had by Judgment by Default.
The molt would extenuate their Guilt, as if it
would have been to no Purpofe to hold out, but dan¬
gerous to provoke a Court relblved upon having
them one way or other.
Thefe Men ought to confider that the Succels the
Court had in this Enterprize, was owing to the
Encouragement many of themfelves gave in Practice
as well as avowed Principle. And if all had given
what Delays they could, in all Probability it had
defeated the Defign : However they ought to have
expended God's Blefling in doing their Duty ; and
whoever omitted it out of Fear of provoking Men
in Power, may, with Mr. Bobs, make the outward
; A&s
( id )
A£ts even of God's Worfhip, to depend upon the
PJeafure of the Prince.
But herein lay that Kjng\ Misfortune, notwith-
ftanding the voluntary Sacrifices made to his black
Purpofes, that though he might have made fure
Work of it, by going on in the former Methods,
and ftill playing the prevailing Party upon theijt,
whom they were ready enough to crulh under their
Feet: Thefe Methods were likely to be flower than
could confift with that immediate Freedom item-*'
the Exercife of the Popifh Religion, and im-
ploying Popifh Officers, which his Engagements to
1 ranee, and to his own Priefts, urg'd him to.
This prompted him to impute his Deliverance
from the Duke to the Afliftanceof Papifts, more
than Truth, or the forward Merits of others would
bear, and to declare that he would not be deprived
of their Services by that Law which incapacited
them. To give the Papifts the Praife, and the reft
of the Loyal Men the Apprehenfion that their Ser¬
vices would but make way for others more acceptable,
might well make them look about them: And yet
they proffered Licence to as many Popifh Officers as
the King for their particular Merits fhould name,
in which cafe he would be fure not to have been
fparing, but he juftly expe&ed more from them who
were not ufed to deny any thing which he defired.
> If the fble Reafon for refilling the King's Propofal,
had been the Breach of Law implied in it, 'tis not
unlikely but they would as well have taken Notice
of the affuming a Revenue by Law, determined,be-
fore.it was refettled.
But they differing upon Terms, from thattime
the Pulpits and Prels began to change their Note ;
then the Doftrine of Palfive Obedience was to be
evaded
C '7 )
waded and diftinguifh'd into nothing, and not con¬
cerning the Conftitution of our Government; or a
confelling that Clergy-Men had gone beyond their
Sphere. And the aliening that no Laws can dero¬
gate from the Power of the Prince,was to dwindle in¬
to the Mean in g-«# no more,than that the Prince does
n«t forfeit his Power if he goes beyond them. And
though all the Rights of the Soveraign Power which
makes, repeals, and difpenfes with Laws, «\ivas main¬
tained to be lo infeparable from his Perlon his
mojl illegal Commands had the Authority of Soveraign
Power ; Yet the Difpenfing Power was denied to have
been ever allowed by them: And indeed they did
not expert to have had it fo foon turned againft them
that gave it.
Yet all this while the Principles were not re¬
nounced, but lay like Goliah's Sword, for the Uleof
the Sari&uary. And as without the Spirit of Pro¬
phecy, it was foreleen that it would be us'd again
upon occafion, the prefent Ufe of it as a Spiritual
Weapon of lome, who would appropriate the
Church of England to their Fatlicn, even againft
this Government, may fufficiently juftify the re¬
minding them of the Service it did them in the
Reign of King Charles the Second, and at the be¬
ginning of his Brother's.
And he who obferves how proud lome are of that
Off-Icouring which they feemed to caft away, will
not condemn thole Freedoms with fuch Men, which
the Caufe of our Country makes neceffary.
It muft be owned that fome Diffenters, and others
who had fignalized themfelves by their Sufferings
for their Country, finding a Relaxation of thole Se¬
verities under which they had laboured till they
were fpent, a&ed like Men newly come out of a
D dark
( 18 )
dark Houfe. Their By.es were dazled, and their
Heads turn'd round at the furprizing Change.
Thele fawn'd upon the late King, almoft as
grofly as their OpprelTors had done. And they ei¬
ther balely, or imprudently, promis'd to promote
the Repeal of thofe Laws which tl?e beif Fence
they then had againft Popery, without providyig
for any other Security.
Some, 'tis likely, thought to over-reach the
G&t by'fuch mental Relervations as are ever to be
condemned. Others being too far tranfported with
Refentment, were rather fqr putting themfelves in¬
to the Hands" of Papifts, whole Cruelties they had
only read in Story, or heard of at a diftance, tlian in¬
to theirs, who they were fure would fliew them no
Mercy.
Thefe Men I muft leave to inherit their own
Shame. But I believe they are as few, as Men who
deferve the Name of Regulators, who went from
Corporation to Corporation, to model them after
the Humour of the Court. Whole Parts admit of but
two Excules.
The Firft is, That what they did was according
to a Power given the King, by thole very Men who
complain of it.
The other is, That if the chief Rule was to take
in Men of the Intercft oppofite to them who had
been in Power, in all probability it was the Occafi-
cn of having the Corporations in much better
Hands' than they had been in. And that they
would be more regardful of their Oaths than the
Surrenderees had been.
The moft of them who have gone under the Cha¬
racter of Whigs, were fucb, whom no confideration
whatever could draw an Hair's breadth from what
t
JwLtB. I I Uwir4
(\9,y
they conceiy'd to be the Xntereft of the Proteftant
the! Court arid Pulpit, t6 returrf'fe^ori'tile leaft yeild-,
ing on either'fide'; to prevent that Ravage .which
muft have been the Confequence of new. A£ts of
Love between them, when each muft have given
proof of their Sincerity, by Sacrificing to the others
Humours and Pa(fi6h;sy they took Commiflibns arid*
Other Offices, from which the' former PoflVffors
were lawfully difplaced, either as their Gra-nts-had
been at the firft, only during Pleafure, or as their
own treacherous Surrenders had made thofb4 which
they had by Eleftion as precarious. Though" t'iiey
could not give up the Rights of others, they1 no
doubt diverted themfelves.
Many therefore very honeftly and legally fucceed-
ed into their Places, hoping thereby to be in Pofts
which'might give them fome Advantage of Autho¬
rity to ferve their Country Upon Emergencies.
Butftill they qualify'd themfelves as the Law re-'
quir'd, ^
They were affur'd that it was in the Power of the
Court to lure their old Friends when it pleas el.
And upon a Reconciliation, totally to enflave the
Nation, notwithftanding the continuance of Penal
Laws and Tefts, by renewing feme Commiffions
every three Months, taking in Papifts, who might
have Difpenfations for ail manner of Oaths, or o-
thers who would regard no ties of Religion: Or
elfe by afting to fuch height, as might remove all
Dangers of the Execution of the Law.
Upon which Confiderations, feveral who had ap¬
peared the forwardeft in the Caufe of God and their
Country, declared a readinefs to confent to the quit-
D 2 ting
vl il ool - I w r> 30U ' - ^ f •
M
y i
j:J)n J
mnwrAmm<vr
C 20 )
ting thofe diftinguifhing Laws, provided they might
have fuch in lieu of them as they fhould chufe.
This Dilemma was then familiarly us'd ; Either
fuch a Security as we propound to our felves, will
be granted, or it will not. If it will be granted, No
Man who confiders the Difpofition of them, who
before were in the Government, and the ancient
Conftitution which they had violated, can deny,
but if the Conftitution could be reftor'd, it would
be a greater Security to the Nation, and Proteftant-
Intereft, unlels we tamely yielded it up when we
were enabled to maintain it, than could be deriv'd
from the particular Laws with fuch Men to guard
as had before betray'd them; and the care a-
bout thofe Laws, which could fignify nothing, but
as they were fupported by the Fundamentals, was
but the adorning lome inward Rooms, while the.
Foundation was undermined,and the Edifice falling.
But if, upon the Treaty, fuch Terms could not be
obtain'd, after the proffer of whatever we cquld de-
fire, (and furely we might well defire the Reftituti-
on and Security of Fundamentals) fuch denial muft
apparently tend to the Confufion of the Propoun¬
ded, who then muft be left to ftand upon their
own Legs, when they demonftrated to all the World,
That Popery was not only their Defign in all, but
what they would carry on, at the utmoft hazard, by
themfelves and Foreign Force.
Indeed, to three forts of Men this Treaty feem'd
difhoneft.
1. To them who believ'd that the Power which
had been afcrib'd to Princes was from
their Perfbns; that whatever legal Limits were
fet to that Ocean, might of right be overfk>vv'd
when they thought fit. And that they who endea-
vour'd to give Bounds to it, not only unreafonably
diftrufted
V
( 21 )
diftrufted God's Providence, but a&ed contrary to
his Ordinance.
2. To them, who always confultcd their own
Fears, or other Paflions as weak j and knowing that
it was Criminal in themlelves to enter upon any
Treaty with their Prince, becaule of their com¬
mon inability to deny any thing which he lhould
infift upon, (which was evident enough in their
giving up Charters for Fear of provoking) would,
like Mr. Hobbs, make their own timid frail Na¬
ture a Rule to Mankind 5 as if they who had upon
all Occafions fhevvn, that neither the moft difmal, or
the moft flatt'ring Profpe&s could alter their Refolu-
tions, lhould, of a fuddain, receive a transfufion of
Sheeps Blood from the others, and their Veins had
fwallovv'd up all the Manhood.
3. To them who were for Ingroffing all Eccle-
fiaftical and Civil Preferments to themlelves, and
Men of their Super-conformity,and therefore vvgre
for keeping all things upon the lame narrow Bot¬
tom; left if there were a Relaxation of Terms or
Penalties, even to Proteftants, there lhould have
been too many Sharers in thofe Benefits which
made them cry lo loud for the Church of England
by Law eftablilh'd. By which many of them
meant, not lo much the Common Proteftant Reli¬
gion profefs'd in this Nation, as thole Diftinations,
which while they enrich'd one Party of Proteftants,
dilabled all others from aflifting againft the Com¬
mon Enemy, and loaded the Men of Noile with
Demetrius his Character.
If this Proteftant Nation had, during the kft.
Reign, had the guarding their Religion and Laws,
in fuch a manner, as not oply the Wifdom of Par¬
liaments might provide, but our Conftitution has •
ailow'd
( 22 )
allow'd at all times, when all confidence betw een
Priiice and People vva£ broken,' cbuld.it be irna-
gin'd |!iat, in this Age of. Light, Pcipcry could have
made Tucli advances as it did, with that . ftrairii'ng
of Prerogative, to which the Court had been en¬
couraged, even vvheri it was as evident that it
was intended, as when it "ralhly appear'd barc-
'Nof.can'they''.who.wefo .for' Expedients to feciire
the Succeluoh to a Papift in Reverfion, juftly con¬
demn fuch points of Liberty as have often been ob-
tain'dof PofTdfors, as Matters of meer Right: or
elfe, as fiich, left to the People undifputed.
The particulars I forbear to mention, not becaule
I cannot I hew and prove them ; but becaule fome of
them have long lain buried in the venerable Ruins of
Antiquity, and ought not to receive Prejudice in be¬
ing named, when one cannot ilay to clear the Ho¬
nour of their Delcent.
Much lefs can they, who were or are for Recei¬
ving the abdicated Kjng, with or without Terms,
upbraid thofe who were for Treating, before they
knew of his prefent Majejiies generous undertaking
our Relcue.
And when it was to be apprehended, that if the
Jate King could have the Advantage of taxing all
Parties with an obftinate Refufal, to liften to Terms
for their Security, the Numbers of Irilh which
were actually here Ihould have been follow'd by
French Dragoons: arid he might have gain'd the
lame advantage over thole who would liften to no
Equivoients or Expedients, which it is but too vili-
b(e that his Brother did. '
Nothing more expoles a Party, than to find thole
very things in which'they feenfd to place the effe'n-
• ' -
< ( n)
tial Difference from all others, , to be quitted fey
them, as (bon as Intereft changes. Who. therefore
could chufe fmile to obferve, that fome who had
urg'd, that Princes ought to be obev'd in all their
Commands, not contrary to God's Law, fhould re¬
fute to read the Declaration for Liberty to Diffen-
ters ?
That they who blam'd Men for undutifully fet-
tring Princes, fhould, when they were well-back'd,
make Overtures little fhort of the nineteen Propofi-
tions to C. i ?
Or that they, who muff admit that our Diffenting
Bifhopsdid not fcruple inviting the Prince of Orange
to take the Government upon him, before the late
King left tire Kingdom, fhould contend, that they
are the only true Sons of the Church, who left all
things to God's Providence,without interpofing them-
felves till he was actually gone ?
Or who could have expected that that Bifhop, who
but a little while before, had rebuk'd a very worthy
and prudent Divine for preaching againft Popery,
fhould have been one of the Seven ?
Or that he who mightily applauded the late King's
League with France, as a proper means to curb the
Fanaticks, fhould have been another ?
Or that he who maintained the Real Prefence, in
fuch a manner, as gave oflenceto the greateft Admi¬
rers of his Monkifh Sanftity and Gefliculatipns, and
gave countenance to the praying to Saints, by what
he publifh'd of their Interceffion for us, while we
celebrate their Memories, fhould have been a Third ?
Or that the Duke of York's Chaplain in ,
whofe Depth was fathom'd by Mr. Marvel in his
Par/on Smirk, fhould have been a Fourth ?
I would by no means derogate from the Action,
or
: JiLl
( 24 )
or rather Suffering, it was great for the Perfons,
lucky in the time, and crown'd with an Event,which
it appears that lome of them neither delired nor de-
lerved.
But methinks it is not to be indured, that Ages of
Sufferings in others,greater in Birth, and in all things
truly praile-worthy, fhould be nothing in compan¬
ion with what befel them. The fulfom Prailes which
are given them for the firft Aft of that kind, would
make one think, it was admir'd only for the Ra¬
rity, or extolled beyond meafure out of a pious De-
fign of encouraging Men too backward in the
Caufe of their Country, to go on in the right Path
to Fame.
But they muff not expeft that it will be as po¬
pular for them to ftand off from this Government,
as it was to have contributed towards it.
Some who have been great Lofers and Sufferers
from the Violence of former Times, take a liberty
of faying, That lome Men delerve a Reputation for
the opposition which they gave to a Popifh Kjng,
no otherwile than fuch as herd with, or connive at
Robbers, till they come to divide the Spoil, and then
fall from them and make Dilcoveries, becaufe they
are not allowed that fhare which they merited.
However I think they are much more to be
prais'd than they who either make lome exprels
Salvo at the taking of the Oath of Allegiance to
Their Majefties, or declare that 'tis implied ,• and
that notwithftanding their Oaths, they may rebel
without incurring Damnation. Nor are they ob¬
liged to aflift with their Perfons or their Arms, to
keep this King in his Station.
Which may defervedly give a Jealouly of many
Who promile Fidelity to the King, according to
their
( 25 )
their Oaths, in which fome are guilty of as no*
torious Equivocations as the Jefults :• 'and this is the
rather to be fufpe&ed, becaufe fome of them ab-
folutely refufe to thank His Majefty for the Delive¬
rance which he has vouchfafed us. If it be laid, that
the Church of England is not concerned in this. I
would gladly know how it could otherwife have
fubfifted, and how long it could ftand upon an In-
tereft divided from all ether Proteftants; I fay not
nieerly Proteftant Churches, becaufe fome will allow
of no Church where there is no Bifhop, as appears
plainly enough in the zealous Author
Some of thele, Contrary to what ofir Saviour (tells
us of his Kjngdom, would have it to be of this
World, and fear left if the ' Terirts of ChurcH-
Communion fhould be more comprehenfive of Pro¬
teftants, they whom they call the only true Sons of
the Church fhould be out-voted, or of lefs Efteem.
Certain it is that the lax Interpretation of the Oath
of Allegiance, which fome of them make and pub-
lifh, gives fuch an advantage to the Enemies of
the State to betray it, as no wife Government will
fuffer.
Two Queftions may arife upon this tranfient
view of Affairs paft and prefent.
•i. Which of the divided Parties, either Whig or
Tory, have all along been trueft to the Interelt of
England ?
2. Which is moft likely to be firm to this Go-
verment ? •31
It muft be admitted that each Party will rejed
fome of their own fide, as Reproaches to them.
The Whigs, thole who trufted wholly to the late
Court; or, whoever they are, if any ftich can be
found, who prefer a Common-wealth before a -
sth E
n arcisy, 'and are-for altering this Form of Govern- 1
uient, which the Wifciom of pail Ages has moulded }
as equally,, as perhaps ever any was; for fome
-UtopianState;or other v,a;in Chimeras of their own
Brains. ,
The Tories will now at laid reject the Guide
to the inferiour Clergy, and numbers of his Fol¬
lows tioqu bnsft Lie o )i j 1 w< rl bi
But when the Bifhops Imprilonment lhall vie
with the Deaths of the Lord Col. Sydney,
Mr. Cornijh, or even Mr. Colledg, (who wanted no¬
thing but Quality to make him great living and dy¬
ing).; Then dh^U the coming into Offiqes by vir¬
tue of the Surrender of others, or declar'd rea-
dinefs't® rquit forge' partjcijjar Uatys of known be¬
nefit, for the fake of fecuring the Foundations, be
a Crime equal to Surrenders of Charters, and the
moll outragious Violations of the Liberties of the
Subjefl.
Neither Party mull be: judged of by the 'Extra¬
vagancies of fome of them ; and both will cad off
them who have been.fometimes with the one, fome-
times with the other; and are to be found conjlant
in neither.
But for a true Judgme[0Cof them both in,,rek-
•jtion fo paft T ranfa&iQnSjbpforp his preform 'Majefty's '
Landing, it is to be enquire!,
i. Which was moll zealous in proleeuting the
Pppith Plot, npfwith^anding all the Terrprs which J1
encompafd it ? t
g, 'Whiyhj npade-the rCifefial Tfa5VS,?< And,
whether the Habeas Corpus, tsnATefi-Jet, or the Ads
for uftneceffary and bgrdenlbm Taxes, regulating
fir garbling Corporations, agai-nft the Religious Al- fo
- iemblies of numbers of good) PfGfeffonts, for fettling ft
A the
Ml
( H)
the Militia with Rich Powers as are thereby given,
and the Court*Oath, and that which repeals the
Triennial Law, ;Were moft for the good of the
People ?
3. Which Party ^hen in Power us'd it moft ac¬
cording to Law LOr',Which ftrain'd the Law, or
the 'Prerogative for fubverting the Fundamental
Conftitution of the English Government ?
4. 'Which fort of People, 'tis moft for the ho¬
nour of this Government to employ; They, who
if admitted in, would ralfo a JeaJoufy in the Peo¬
ple, that the old Inftruments of Opprefiion are
made ufe of, for the former ends ? Or they, who
always '.kept to the Laws, even While they were in
Power, and while they lay under the Feet of Men
without Mercy, fuffer'd, though not with the Ap-
plaufo which the Bifbops met with, yet with the
true courage of Con ft/Tors.
It may further deforve Confideration, Whether
Men of, thole. Arbitrary Principles which the others
profefs at this Day, will fuffer this Government to
be defended, as it was founded upon the true Prin¬
ciples of CiVil Right ?
If their Principles are right, the late King could
not aft 'more arbitrarily than he had Divine War¬
rant for, and confequently all the proceedings agairift
him were groundlels.
In relation to wliatbas occur'd fince his prefont
Majefty appear'd here, in vindication of the Caufo
and Rights'of the good People of England,
It may be confidered,
1. Who were for the Regency, or
2. Whether they who were for a e not
fo, upon the belief that the late King's Royal Power
did remain ?
3. Whe-
JY
£ *8 5 „ , , ]
Whether fuch muft not, if they are true ;o
ilieir:Principles, fuppofe the late King ftill to be
Kihgde Jure,and conlequehtly look upon this as an
Uiiirper { ft
4. For a trial therefore whicfr are for the Govern¬
ment ; Suppofe the late King fhould land with French
and Irijb Forces ; and his prefent Majefty, as he
certainly would, fhoul'd march to give him Battel.
Which is if to be prefum'd,'if left to their Liberty,
would venture all on his Side againft the other?
Would the Men for the Regency a & againft their in¬
violable Monarch,from whofe Perlon the Sovereignty
is inleparable ? No Purely, Touch not mine Anointed
would bind up their Hands as with a Sacred Spell.
Tis the known perfwafion of fuch Men, That
People are made for Kjngs, as the Conveniences of
Life for the ufe of Men: And therefore they have a
Rule, That while a King is kept out of his King¬
dom, his prefumable Intention is to Govern : And
as it is to be prefum'd, that he would have his Peo¬
ple prelerv'd till a good time for his Return, they
ought to fit ftill while a Force is over them: But are
to do nothing which may tend to his prejudice.
How far that Rule has been obferv'd, may be a pro¬
per Subject for a Second Paper.
T.Tii rti
r4» w