distinguish between the Merits of one Man or another and when by Gods Providence the Work was done he was too well pleased to be troubled with any Curiosity of that kind Indeed he owns the little Correspondence he had did afford great Characters of the Writings and Sufferings of the Church of England Men under Popery thô the Gazets were commonly fill'd with Addresses yet there was sometimes room left for such Accounts but for want of Correspondence with any of the other Communion he did not hear of the Books nor had accounts he has since met with of the Performances of their Great Men against the Common Enemy He did understand some of them were seduced into the Councils of the late Reign that were never design'd for their good or ours but he always had Charity to think They closed with that and such like opportunities and indur'd the Favors of that Government with intention to do good Service to the Protestant Religion as well as to themselves in particular But Mr. Walker is not willing to argue upon such Matters thò he must needs own whether from the Accounts he had from England or the great esteem he had for those Great Men there or the willingness most people have to favour their own Principles or from his Observations in Ireland he did not think he did wrong to any by that Expression but rather believ'd that he should find all People convinc'd of the Truth of it and that the strength and interest of the Protestant Religion lay in the Church of England c. the late Reign he thought had determin'd that Point but however when he is better inform'd he will be very willing to retract and if in the mean time he has done wrong to any will as heartily beg their pardon These things when Mr. Walker consider'd them might very well incline him to use at least so innocent an Expression on behalf of the Church of England But he thinks fit to deal a little more plainly in the Matter so that whatever he says of this Nature will he hopes be more easily excus'd He does confess that in the writing that Book he thought it necessary for him with as little Offence as possible to discover that he was a true Son of the Church of England not without the greatest Charity and Tenderness for his fellow Christians But because the Contrary was averr'd so positively and generally receiv'd all over the Kingdom and prevail'd so much that all the good Services at Derry were wholly appropriated to that Party with great wrong to the other he does acknowledge himself extreamly obliged to their People and he will never while he lives neglect any Opportunity of doing them Justice but he knows they themselves would not desire any Character that should exclude their Fellow Sufferers and however the Matter may be disputed here it was never Contended at Derry And as for his own share how much soever it may injure him in his Advantage or Reputation and though they may think themselves kind in their making him one of their Opinion and design him Honor by it for which he is very thankful to them knowing very well that his known kindness and zeal for the Scotch might give some colour to those Discourses yet it cannot give him any fair Character to suffer himself to be represented a Person that would act so contrary to his Profession That he could dissemble to such a degree with God and his Church therefore he hopes all People will be willing to pardon him if he shews some aversion to such an Imputation and is desirous to avoid the Reproach of so fickle and unconstant a Man. Besides this Mr. W. was not a little concern'd to see some of his Countrymen of another Communion so forward in establishing themselves the great Contrivers and Promoters of the King's Service and Interest in Ireland he would not say any thing that should reflect upon their Number or Quality or Performances there that may make them seem unfit for such an Undertaking he knows well what to attribute to them on those Accounts and it would be wrong to others to flatter them he would rather advise them to more Moderation and less Partiality and they will find very little Reason to continue those Pretensions How considerable they were in Derry Mr. W. may be allow'd to judge For the better Sort he knows them so Modest they will not contend for them they being all good Churchmen and as for others they may be deceiv'd in their Accounts of them for many thousands deserted the Garison and took Protections from the Irish and what sort of People they were they might inform themselves if they please and find reason enough to abate of their Severity against Mr. Walker for denying the Credit of that whole Affair to their Friends or Party But one thing Mr. Walker desires leave to recommend to them to consider their own Temper and Constitution and ask themselves the Question If they were in Derry and were the greater number and more considerable whether they would have chosen Church of England men their Governors and been contented with so moderate a share of the Church and in the Afternoons and have suffer'd others to have the property in it and to enjoy it all the rest of the week This one should think would convince them where it was the Power and Number lay unless the Air of England does dispose men to more Modesty than other Countries which Mr. Walker would be glad for their sakes it had that virtue These things consider'd Mr. W. does not see what reason they have to quarrel so much with him That he did not give their Ministers a higher Character After he had pass'd the Church of England men so slightly how could he in Justice to them say more for the others the wrong certainly if any was to the other side but that he could make more bold with his Friends and they had been used to dispense with him on the like Occasions he gave them the credit of an equal Care and though their Friends here out of Complement to themselves may expect a greater Character he does not doubt but they are well pleas'd with it if they are in the same Temper he left them and are not warm'd by the Resents on this side the Water and the Letters sent them In their Behaviour at Derry they were not only an Example and Credit but a Reproach to their Brethren now in England for the Good of the Publick they could lay aside their Animosities and Distinctions and not contend for any thing but were satisfied with the bare liberty of their own Service on Sundays in the Afternoon in the Church which being the safest place and most convenient for Assemblies would have been great Cruelty to deny them as well as Mischief to the rest to expose their Friends to the danger of other places Mr. W. thought fit to make some addition to their Character by some
Reflexion on two others of a different behaviour a liberty very common to illustrate and explain things by their contraries As for Mr. Os. Mr. W. is concern'd he had any occasion to name any to their disadvantage but he did it with that notion that he had of him in the Garison and those of his own Profession there and thought it would on that account give the less Offence but he could not easily forget the effects of his Letter which Mr. W. had shar'd in to his Sorrow and that Clause of the Letter wherein my Lord Tyrconnel threatens to Massacre all the English by sacrificing them to the Rabble made it very material to insert it Mr. W. will be very ready to give that Gentleman all opportunity of justifying himself and shall make him all imaginable satisfaction if he has done him wrong He has heard of the Gentlemans good Intentions in his proceedings Mr. W. is sorry they were no better understood that he might clear him from the imputation of those Mischiefs his management and advices brought upon that part of the Kingdom but it is hard to serve too such Masters the Brittish and the Irish if he was not more industrious and serious Mr. W. is too sure he was more successful in his Service to the latter by his impression not only on the meaner sort but on some of the best quality As for the other Gentleman Mr W. thinks they do themselves a great deal of right that they do not seem concern'd for him and since Mr. O. is so much their Care he is sorry he plac'd his Resentments no better but joyn'd them together that are of so different a Character among those they say they are better known to tho' he thinks it advisable they should not put him upon justifying himself any further in that particular Another thing that the same People think a great wrong to them is The not naming the Non Conforming Ministers Mr. W. allows they might very justly reproach him if he had designedly omitted it but he really professes he was not only unacquainted with their Names but tho' he took some pains to inquire into them could not be inform'd and tho he has since that desired a Friend to make a more narrow search for them among that have reflected on him on this account he finds them still more teady to reproach him then able to inform him better But that this Omission was not cut of any prejudice to the Gentlemen is very evident from the care he hastaken of them before and since that in his Recommendations of them to an equal Reward with those of his own Communion and tho' some idle persons have insinuated his wilful neglect of them he protests against it But if it were not more out of regard to them than those that concern themselves so much for them he should not think he were obliged to give them this satisfaction But they might have prevented this themselves if they had pleas'd Mr. W. having waited several days for some thing he understood they would have inserted and they are not strangers to this themselves and therefore have the less reason to complain of Mr Walker in that matter since they took so little care to inform him when they had such Opportunity to do it and may have the like again if they please Mr. Walker is sorry he has any Occasion given to insist upon such little things as these for his Vindication he little expected to meet such Usage and Reflexions any where except it had been in an Irish Camp And he does very much wonder how it proves to the Reputation or Interest of those People that would make themselves so considerable in the North of Ireland to shew themselves Enemies to him that contbuted all he could to the defence of it and their Interest in it some will be apt to think 't is a sign they had not much to thank him for But if he had committed some Mischiefs or Faults he had more reason to expect from such that they would have conceal'd or excus'd them than that they should be so industrious in exposing either him or them Mr. W. understands he is further accused for his neglect of naming those that died in the Service of Derry his Silence in that is injurious to their Widows and Children But in hopes those that complain of him in this matter have some charitable Intention towards them and want Mr. Walker's direction he does promise them he will publish a List of them as soon as he can make it perfect and will in the mean time dispose their Charity if they please to contribute to their Relief with the best Advantage he can Others he thinks that have no such Occasion and are not Relations may dispense with his neglect herein and he has no reason to satisfie them He did make an Apology in the Book for his not being more particular in the Character of the Dead as well as the Living which he thought would excuse him to all but those that will never be pleased and he did not make any Provision against the Cavils of persons of that disposition But all that were at Derry by the King's Favour have been largely consider'd at the instance of Mr. Walker and they shall be his constant Care as long as he lives and he will never be wanting in doing all the right and service he can which he thinks himself obliged to not so much to avoid any mans Reflexion or to humor those that find fault without any design of Friendship to him or to them but out of a just sense he always must retain of their Courage and Sufferings in that cause he engaged them in Mr. Walker does think he should be very impertinent to take notice of all their Exceptions but every little thing is advanced by their industry so much to his disadvantage that he is forced to triflle as all Men must do that speak for themselves and to take notice of another Quarrel they have against him about Colonel Philips he could not well contrive how to omit the naming of him upon such an occasion without doing him the greatest wrong and as to that Letter which they say is a downright Forgery after he had seen it in the Hands of Colonel Philips in two several Papers acknowledged under Mr. Norman's own hand one of which Papers has not only been seen but is subscribed to by his very Accuser he thinks he had Authority enough to mention it Mr. Walker does wonder with what Forehead any man can dare to impose upon the World such Impudent Falshoods and what Designs such men can have that they drive on with so little regard to Truth or Honesty He is sorry he cannot pass by such things without Resentments Others Mr. Walker understands reflect upon some Passages of his Book not writ with that Gravity that may be expected from him He must confess ingenuously That the difference was so great betwixt Acting and
have ruined us Mr. Walker will not say but there may be other as considerable things omitted but they may too nearly concern Mr. Walker himself and it would not become him to sound his own praises no more than to reproach others There are many other things objected against Mr. Walker but he does not think them worth the notice and especially since they come from Papists and disaffected persons whose interest it is to vilifie not only him but all the Kings Friends and make them despised and to put a slight upon every thing that God is doing for the King and our Religion against theirs Mr. Walker has done his part against them already at Derry and for any thing that they can do to him here he is as little concerned now as he was at that time because he cannot doubt but it will meet with the like success Quid enim quamvis infida levisque Caesare tam dextro possit fortuna timeri Mr. Walker understands that some people have a new quarrel to him about a Book writ in his Defence he thinks himself not at all accountable for any thing in that Pamphlet having never seen it before it was Printed he is obliged to the Gentleman for his care and concern for him but he knows he cannot pretend to the Character he gives him and would never have let such a thing pass if he had known it and he hopes the World will be so kind to believe him a Man of less vanity than to suffer himself to be commended at such a rate This he hopes will clear him of another imputation from the account the Gentleman is pleased to give of his losses as if he were privy to this and instructed the Author to lessen the Kings favour and bounty to him which he knows does not only exceed his losses but his merit too but if it had been below both as much as he owns it above them he hopes few will think him so ridiculous and ungrateful after he was so willing to lose all and himself too in his service but will be satisfied with what is said already in his Defence that he was altogether unacquainted with the Printing that Book yet knows very well the Author did intend to Justifie Mr. Walker and that being his Friend and provoked by the discourses he met reflecting on him he writ those Observations but is well assured without any design of exposing Mr. Walker to any constructions to his disadvantage but Mr. Walker thinks his refusing such generous offers as have been made him does demonstrate he has not served only for gain and interest and his leaving his four Sons in that Service shows he has still the same Zeal for it All this put together Mr. Walker cannot but admire what it is he has done that should disoblige people so much that he has been so tender of that they should be so industrious in bespattering him upon such little occasions if he knew his fault he would be glad to rectifie it and save them that labour and till he does know it he cannot think them so just or kind as he expected to find them to one that has done them all the service in his power and since they do him the honor to say God was pleased to make him an Instrument of some good to them they have one should think the less reason to be angry at it Mr. Walker has not taken this pains to satisfie them or to establish himself in their esteem as if it were so great a discouragement to want their good opinion he does not know whether it would be for his credit to have it for there is a woe against him of whom all men speak well and he is very well pleased to want that mark and he knows that no Man can be so innocent but he must endure reflection and abuses and that therefore the Slanderers Throat is called an open Sepulchre like Death that all Men must submit to and in such cases Mr. Walker is not so unreasonable to desire to be singular only as he could not propose to get any Reputation by Writing so he had some hopes he should not lose any And he has not writ this not that he thinks he has so great occasion to justifie himself as to satisfie others and that he thinks he ought in Justice to all those poor Gentlemen and People that were concerned with him in Derry to keep up the Reputation of their services that they may never receive any stain from the Dirt or Scandals any envious Persons can throw upon them to prejudice them in the Kings favour or sense he has been so often pleased to express of their Fidelity and Courage as well as their Sufferings in his Service and particularly in this following Letter To our Trusty and Well beloved George Walker and John Michelbowrne Esq Governors of Londonderry William R. TRusty and Well beloved we Greet you Well The eminent and extraordinary Service that you have performed unto us and our Kingdoms in general by your late resolute and unparalleled Defence of that our City of Londonderry as it does oblige us in the first place to an humble acknowledgement to Almighty God for his signal mercy in supporting the Hearts and Courages of our good Subjects amidst their great and various difficulties and distresses arising from a furious opposition without and a yet more pressing necessity within those Walls and sending them at last deliverance and bringing them by your Conduct to triumph over their Enemies which we cannot but attribute to an immediate Divine Assistance inspiring them with a Zeal for the True Religion and Love for their Country and an unshaken Fidelity towards us and must ever own as a continuation of that Miraculous Providence which hath hitherto Conducted us throughout in our endeavours to resettle these Nations in all their Civil and Religious Rights and Liberties So in the next place taking into a serious Consideration as well the importance of this Success as that Constancy and Bravery by which it hath been brought to pass we would not omit signifying unto you the just Sense we have of his whole Action in which having the greatest opportunity that can be put into the Hands of any Subjects of obliging their Prince you have in all Points acquitted your selves to our Satisfaction even beyond what could have been expected insomuch that it now lies on our parts to make such retribution as well to you the Commanders in Chief who have been the happy Instruments under God of that Deliverance as others who have signalized their Loyalty Courage and Patience in this time of Tryal that all our Subjects being encouraged by this example may be stirred up to the imitation of it in the like hazardous but honourable Enterprises We will therefore that you rely on our Royal Favour towards you and also that in our Name you assure the Officers Soldiers and Inhabitants of that our City that we will take fitting