the others and therefore that both were to be equally suppress'd Papists and Puritans I cannot find that either have since alter'd their Principles and consequently cannot but wonder why the Papists shou'd be persecuted and the other countenanc'd even against Law and former Statutes 'T is surely very imprudent to expect your House will be warm by shutting a Window and seâ—ting open the Doors And therefore because in this I can freely agree with Plato Redivivus that the fear of Popery is not the cause of our present disturbances I shall without regard to Religion consider the Papists and Presbyterians as two Factions in the State like the Armâ—nians and Lovâ—stein party in Holland and as such pronounce that both are to be suppress'd or neither because by emptying only one of the Sâ—ales the Ballance is broken and the Court or Monarchical party is first weaken'd and destroy'd and after the whole form of Government alter'd into that of a Commonwealth and I am fully convinc'd if that had not been that Authors Designs as to an ordinary Reader is past doubt he wou'd have set down this as one of the Remedies of our present Evils But the contrary was his purpose and in order to it he câ—nningly to preserve the Monarchy wou'd set up a plain Democracy and for an English King obâ—â—ude upon us a Doâ—g of Venice for he tells you at large that the antient Power of the King is fallen into the hands of the Commons and therefore to keep up the former illustrious splendor of the Crown he wou'd have all its Jewels taken out and set about the Speakers Chaâ—r the King made a Cypher and divested of all Power but the Name to keep up the three several and distinct shares in the Government King Lords and Commons 'T is an ingenious way of arguing but we are not yet I hope such fools to have it pâ—ss to venture at play and not know how to distinguish false Diâ—e Oh! but says a Factious Pâ—titioner that takes the House of Commons sufficiently prov'd by the learned Answer to Petyt's Book to have had no share in the Legislative power to be the Parliament all their Votes how wild and unreasonable â—oever as we have lately as well as formerly seen in print to be the sence of the Nation and have the force of Laws and yet deny any Authority to the Kings Proclamation This Scribler says he is Popishly affected a French designer a meer Tory not considering that there is not less hazard in splitting upon a rock than upon a sand-bank that if I must be a slave and forfeit my liberty 't were at least as good to do so under a single person as more the tyranny of many is much more intolerable than that of one 'T is equally destructive of my liberty whether the King or the House of Commons takes away Magna Charta I am still against arbitrary Government ruling according to pleasure not the Laws and known Constitutions of the Land whether assum'd by King or Commons if there be any choice the odds are against the latter And to speak truth by what has pass'd since the Plot any one in his wits wou'd believe the King is invaded not an invader that his frequent Prorogations and Dissolutions have been his legal defensive weapons us'd as much for his Subjects security as his own honour that arbitrary power is a delicious thing and therefore aim'd at by our Demagogues and Tribunes of the people bad and to be decry'd only while in the Soveraign 'T is very convenient to cry Whore first Solomon tells us He that appeareth first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh after and proveth him If the people in an Island are alarm'd that an Invasion is design'd and that only at one Port and they become so foolish as for the guard of that to neglect and expose all other they do but make the easier way for their enemies to land and overcome Those who are the Watchmen the Sentinels of our safety ought with Ianus to have two faces one behind and the other before and many eyes like Argus there being otherwise no security against surprize I remember in Thucydides that the Gretians besieging a strong City found no means but stratagem to become Masters which they thus contriv'd After they had puchas'd within some Pensioners they kept the besieged awake and put them into a great distress by continual false alarms and as design'd prepar'd to believe nothing more was intended than amusement and distraction The false Citizens within taking this advantage affirm'd they ought for the future to make it death to any Watchman to give the Alarm This decreed notice was given to the enemy and without the least resistance the besieg'd were taken and undone when and where they least suspected whereupon this Proverb was taken up Amyclas perdidit silentium I wish we may never run the same fate the application is too easie and natural to be dwelt upon And yet I cannot but take notice how the late House of Commons have assum'd to themselves a power extraordinary and by a Vote without proof or conviction made eminent men and known Protestants guilty of Popery and French designs made them Advisers and Counsellors according to their own 〈◊〉 imprison'd several DURING PLEASURE seiz'd Closets and Writings without Information and contrary to Magna Charta voted Acts of Parliament made for the preservation of the establish'd Religion usâ—less and their execution grievous to the Subject against the Protestant interest and an encouragement to Popery c. and among these which is most wonderful a Law made by the darling Queen Eliz. who cannot well be suppos'd to have been a friend to Popery If these be not odd and arbitrary proceedings I know not what are nor why that shou'd be tolerable or lawful for them which is not for any no not for our Sovereign Considering men are afraid the abettors of such practices are not friends to peace and quiet but rather factious and dangerous willing to enslave us to foreign Invasions or domestick Encroachments whatever may be said to the contrary these actings are but too good grounds for such apprehensions The cunningest Whores seem most devout and inveigh very bitterly against the lewdness they daily study commit Your rooking Gamesters abhor if you will believe their shams and oaths the use of false Dice and the un-Gentleman-like-trick of cheating However none but Cullies who want wit or years to make observation can be wheedl'd and drawn in by such pretences Before the discovery of the Plot our Ministers were reflected on as designing Popery and Arbitrary Government by many scandalous Pamphlets and one in particular call'd an Account of the â—rowth of â—opery c. as if the people were to be prepar'd to believe the whole Court were Popish that while they were alarm'd against that party they might be unprovided to defend themselves against the-other The Presbyterian true blue who like Aesop's
Service these were his own words to the King another was preferr'd to the Command of the Lord Plymouth's Regiment I cannot but commend this Noblemans Ingenuity in owning the true Cause and not pretending as others Conscience and publick good for his motives But I am sorry he should forget not only the obligations of gratitude which he is under for his Bread and for his Honor but also who says Appear not wise before the King and give not Counsel unask'd He has learning enough to understand the meaning of in consilium non vocatus ne accesseris 'T is to be hop'd he may repent and 〈…〉 wit may be turn'd into Wisdom As for the D. of M I believe him perfectly drawn in by designing Politicians for ends of their own who never intended him more than as an useful Tool afterwards to be laâ—d aside 'T is no wonder that one of his Youth and Spirit shou'd be tempted with the Baits and Allurements of a Crown the splendor and gaity of Power has blinded many Elder men's understandings But that they never had him in their thoughts for K. appears from the Author of Plato Redivivus and indeed if they had they went the wrong way to work They shou'd not have engag'd him so far as to deserve his being turn'd out of his Command as General a Post that wou'd have best enabl'd him to seize upon and make good any pretence to the Crown after the death of his Majesty I am apt to believe his Grace is sorry for what is past I am certain it were his Interest to throw himself at the Kings Feet and quit the Counsels of those men who intâ—iegâ—â—ng for themselves puff him up with false hopes and yet sufficiently discover that nothing is farther from their hearts than his Exaltation or what is so much in their mouths publick service to the King and Country 'T is much better for him to be content with the second place in the Kingdom than by pretending to the first against all manner of reason and the obligations oâ— gratitude forfeit all his Fame and Honor Life and Fortune The Petition being already answer'd I will only observe that His Majesty intending to turn them out sent Mr. Secretary to the E. of E. for a List of the Papists he mention'd in the Guards But the Noble Peer had none to give but may be suppos'd to have taken the story upon hear say from some that had the malice to invent it And now must the Nation suffer themselves to be rid by any Faction because designing particular advantages they guild all with the specious pretences of Religion and Loyalty particular respect for the Church of England by opening her Doors to all Diâ—senters and for the Monarchy by clipping the Kings power to prevent the Papists Contrivances against his Person Examine whether the zealous sticklers for the Protestant Religion have any at all or if they have whether it be not as far from that Establish'd by Law as Popery Whether if the King wou'd grant their desires receive them into Offices and Power they wou'd not stand up in justification of the Court as fiercely as now they do the contrary What has been before may well be expected again He that considers this and that malice never spoke well of any will give the Factious little credit especially when against reason and sense they wou'd impose upon us that the King himself is in the Plot or as one the Members in a printed Speech tells the House The Plot is not so much in the Tower as in White-Hall there 't is to be search'd for and thâ—â—e to be found And all 〈…〉 noâ— unking himself and put his Crown into their hands and against Law his Coronation-Oath and brotherly affection pass the Bill of Exclusion to the prejudice of himself and the whole Kingdom This is not a single or private man's opinion but the judgement of the Supreme Tribunal of England the House of Lords where upon the first reading it was thrown out with the odds of 63 agâ—inst 31 for which reason their Lordships are call'd Masquerading Protestants Tories Papists or their adherents as if the Lords must not be allow d the priviledge the Commons take with any of their Bills without censure and affront But why for their Act must His Majesty be loyally libell'd and dispers'd It had been time enough one wou'd have thought to have call'd him Papist c. had he rejected the Bill after it had pass'd both Houses Oh! then who cou'd have doubted but his doing more against the Papists than any of his Predecessors had been promoting their Interest that his pardoning no man condemn'd nor stopping the execution of any Law against Recusants was making it no Ploâ— and that passing the Test was letting in Popery by whole-sale He that can believe these things is prepar'd for any thing to say a Lobster is a Whale or a Whale a Lobster that the Moon is a Green-Cheese and the Sun a round Plate of red hot Iron and then I presume it may not be decided whether we are Fools or Madmen Let us not idly and unjustly bely our Consciences and publish to the Nation and all the World that nothing can secure us against Popery but the shaking and alteration of the Monarchy by the Bill of Exclusion an Act in it self unjust and impolitick both for the King and People No man is to be punish'd expost-facto by the Laws of this and all other Countries Besides why shou'd the Duke more than any Fanatick of England be outed his Birth-right The Scripture says You must not do â—vil that good may come of it And Prudence will tell us That this an evil that must be attended with greater For the minute that it passes the Duke is at liberty to recover his Right by secret or open Viâ—lence Foreign or Domestick He is declar'd an Enemy and a Traytor condemn'd without Trial or Conviction This piece of injustice must be defended by an Assotiation or an Army this Army must be entrusted in the hands of the King or a General either may make himself Absolute and Arbitrary and therefore if people are now afraid of slavery from the Government what may then be their apprehensions And if they are jealous of the King what General will they find to entrust Those meanly skill'd in story know that Commanders of Armies have at pleasure subverted Commonwealths and Kingdoms Agathocles from being General became Tyrant of Syracusa Pisistratus of Athens Sforza of Millain the Medici of Florence the Caesars of Rome and not to go so far off Cromwel of the three Kingdoms Most of the Roman Emperors were dethrown'd by their Generals and therefore this cannot but make the King as unwilling as the People to entrust this great Power in any person And yet without such a trust the Act of Exclusion is not woth a straw nor with it can we be secur'd against Slavery whether the Duke conquer or be overcome The Duke
Caâ— though transform'd into the beautiful shapes of Court-Imployments and Honors will still be hankering after the old sâ—ort of Mousing they will ever be lovers of a Common-wealth and enemies to Monarchy This is plain from former as well as later proceedings since the discovery of the Popish Ploâ— when â—hey began to shew themselves in their proper colors when they cry'â— nâ—t only the Court but the Church was Popish and all that are for the â—stablish'd Government You cannot now be loyal unless you are factioâ—s nor a Protestant if no Presbyterian But pray observe none tell you this but the spawn of those seduc'd or concern'd in the late Rebellion men turn'd ouâ— or that wou'd get into Court-Imployments that account themselves slighted or disoblig'd men of great Ambition or of desperate Fortunes who make all this noise and clutter to be taken off To what purpose else did the late House of Commons make the Vote against the bargain or hopes of Court-preferment but that such a design was a driving between some leading Members and Courtiers Can they after such a discovery pretend zeal for Religion and the good of their Country For shame let not Faction and private Interest make men forgetful of the publick of the peace and quiet of the Nation Let them secure our Constitutions against the encroachments or invasions of any whether Presbyter or Papist and remember that the most forward in the Long Parliament were soon turn'd out by others and because what is Sawce for a Goose is sawce for a Gander this of course will be the fate of those who now glory in being Ringleadâ—rs of Faction to thwart and oppose their Sovereign Nay it may possibly be worse the Gentlemen the Knights of the Shires may be kick'd out by Mechanicks by Citizens and Burgesses for he that practiseth Disobedience to his Superiors teacheth it to his Inferiours Sir W. I. Sir F. W. Collonel T. c. all know were disoblig'd and if taken into favour the Employments and Honours they covet wou'd stand up for the Court as much as now they do against it Whether the Petitioning Lords be not of the same temper will best appear from the story of every single person One of them has the humour convey'd with 's Bloud His Father was a Gentleman that appear'd zealous in the long Parliament for the good of his Country the first that brought in the complaint of Ship-money But soon after when he was made a Lord and a Courtier he chang'd notes and sung another song no man more for the Monarchy in its defence he lost his lâ—fe and at his death publickly repented his actings against the Earl of Stafford His Son was made an Earl upon the Kings retuâ—n sent Embaâ—sador Abroad and Lord Lieutenant into Ireland to get his command he despis'd not the Courtship and assistance of Coll. T. though a R. C. and a Creature of his R. H. to whom he made no slender Professions not being satisfied with gaining vastly in that Station five years he grows peevish in hopes of being sent the second time nay rather than fail he is content to be Commissioner of the Treasury in hopes that by the Courtship and Interest of some Women no matter what Religion they are of he may come to be Lord Treasurer But not like to gain the White Staffe and perhaps not caring to govern an empty Exchequer he bent his Thoughts again towards Ireland slighting the Treasury he is outed and grows more discontented and at last turn'd out of Council the next day he repeats a Speech of E. of S. his making and unask'd presents a piece of Councel and Advice to His Sovereign pretending as a Peer it was his duty I am sorry his zeal made him forget that Peers have no right of advising the King but when he makes them of his Council or by Writ Summons 'em to Parliament And what 's very odd he advises just the contrary to what he and the other Noble E. had done tâ—e year before when Courtiers This Noblemans Life wou'd make a Comical History he knows how to put on all shapes and in the late times was not ignorant how to make an Apple-tree supply the place of a Pulpit he knew how to serve himself in all turns and changes and has not fail'd since 1640. to have been often out and in with the several Higher â—owers â—o give him his due he is a man of extraordinary Parts but if one of these Lords said true when he was a Courtier and the other newly remov'd they are alâ— fitted and turn'd for confounding and amusing but not for extricating out of difficulties He wants not Wit to hold forth in the House or in the open Air upon occasion nor is he meanly skill'd in the methods of Court-Pleasures as well as Business He must have an ill memory that forgets who advis'd the breaking the Triple-League and making an Alliance with France and a War with Holland pronouncing in the Language of the Beast Delenda est Carthago that a Dutch Common-wealth was too near a Neighbor to an English Monarch the Shutting up the Exchequer the granting Injunctions in the case of the Bankers and lastly the sourse of all our present misfortunes the general Indulgence These things being found of ill consequence and the Ministers remov'd as designers of Popery Presbytery Atheism or Irreligion Arbitrary or French Government must any of such Principles assoon as turn'd out of Court be receiv'd into the Country as if these two had different Interests Whoever say there is more than one common wealth in both are Deluders and Incendiaries and Betrayers of the Nation Those that strive to divide the King and his People are to be look'd upon as Pensioners of France and to be most severely punish'd There are that can tell Tales what Great man since the Plot offer'd a Reconciliation with the D. and for a Restoration to his former Power and Greatness wou'd be his Servant to all intents purposes But the D. cou'd not be perswaded one that had as often chang'd Parties as Proteus his Shapes and the Chamelâ—on his Colors cou'd be true to any Interest bâ—t his own and therefore rejected his many Messages on this subject Another Peer whose Son in the Lower House is the great Tribune of the People wou'd have had a Dukedom added to the Garter to make both Sing to another Tune A forth wou'd fain be a Privy Councellor in Reversion A fifth not long since at any rate of purchase wou'd have been Master of the Horse to the Duke Strange â— that a Protestant Lord shou'd think of serving a suppos'd Popish Prince and after hope though thus mounted on Horseback to get to Heaven 'T wou'd be tedious to give particular accounts of all only by the way observe that a Young Lord newly come to Age own'd himself to His Majesty Disoblig'd because after a Voyage to Tangier his great Valor there shown and spending his Youth in his Prince's