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 setting open the Doors And therefore 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 Arminians and Lâ—vasteâ—â— party in Holland and as such prorounce that both are to be suppress'd or neither because by empâ—â—ing only one of the Scales the Ballance is broken and the Court or Monarchical party is first weakn'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 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 cunningly to preserve the Monarchy wou'd set up a plain Democracy and for an English King obtrude upon us a Dâ—eg of Venice for he tells you at large that the ancient 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 Chair the King made a Cypher and divested of all Power but the Name to keep up the three several and distinct shares of 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 passe to venture at play and not know how to distinguish false Dice Oh! but says a Factious Petitioner 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 soever 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 forfeitt 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 securitie 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 Janus 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 Thucydide's that the Grecians besieging a strong City found no means but Stratagem to become Masters which they thus contriv'd After they had purchas'd within some Pensioners they kept the besieged awake and put them into 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 enemie 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 fancies 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 useless and their execution grievious to the Subject against the Protestant interest and an incouragement 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 they are nor why that shou'd be tolerable or lawful for them which is not for any no not for our Soveraign Considering men are afraid the a betters 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 and commit Your rooking Gamesters abhor if you 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 growth of Popery 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 Cat tho' transform'd into the beautiful shapes of our Court-Imployments and Honours will still be hankering after the old
sport of Mousing they will ever be lovers of a Commonwealth and enemies to Monarchy This is plain from former as well as later proceedings since the discovery of the Popish Plot when they began to shew themselves in their proper colours when they cry'd not only the Court but the Church was Popish and all that are for the establish'd Government You cannot now be loyal unless you be factious 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 out 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 driving between some leading Members and Courtiers Can they after such a discovery pretend zeal for Religion and the good of their Countrey 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 Ringleaders 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 Superiours teacheth it to his Inferiours Sir W. I. Sir F. W. Collonel T. c. all know were disoblidg'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 Countrey 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 life and at his death publickly repented his actings against the Earl of Strafford His Son was made an Earl upon the Kings return sent Ambassador Abroad and Lord Lieutenant into Ireland to get this Command be dispis'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 grew 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 Soveraign 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 the 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 he has not fail'd since 1640. to have been often out and in with the several Higher Powers To give him his due he is a man of extraodinary parts but if one of these Lords said true when he was a Courtier and the other newly remov'd they are all 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 of 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 Commonwealth was too near a Neighbour to an English Monarch the shutting up the Exchequer the granting Injunctions in the case of the Bankers and lastly the sourse of all of our present misfortunes the general Indulgence These things being found of ill consequence and the Ministers remov'd as designers of Popery Presbytrie Atheism or Irreligion Arbitrary or French Govermnent must any of such Principles assoon as turn'd out of Court be receiv'd into the Countrey as if these two had different Interests Whoever say there is more than one Common-weal 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 Greatnesse wou'd be his servant to all intents and purposes But the D. cou'd not be perswaded one that had as often chang'd Parties as Proteus his shapes and the Chamaelion his Colours cou'd be true to any Interest but his own and therefore rejected his many Messages on this subject Another Peer whose Son is 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 fourth 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 House to the Duke Strange 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 It 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 Majestie Disoblig'd because after a Voyage to Tangier his great Valour there shown And spending his youth in his Princes 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 Ingenuitie 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 Honour 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 with more years his 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 laid 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 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 not 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 quite the Counsels of those men who intriguing for themselves puff him up with false hopes 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 of gratitude forfeit all his Fame and Honour 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 Papist 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 hearsay 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 Dissenters 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 all 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 of 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 there to be found And all this because he will not 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 against 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 aspers'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 aginst the Papists than any of his Predecessors had been promoting their Interest that this pardoning noman condemn'd nor stopping the execution of any Law against Recusants was making it no Plot 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 Wale 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 thus 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 ex post-facto by the Laws of this and all other Countries Besides why shou'd the Duke more then any Fanatick of England be outed his Birth-right The Scripture says You must not do evil that good may come of it And prudence will tell us That this is 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 Violence Force Foreign or Domestick He is declar'd an Enemy and Traitor condemn'd without Tryal or Conviction This piece of injustice must be defended by an Association of an Army this Army must be entrusted in the hands of the King or a General either may make himself Absolute and Arbitary 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 Casars of Rome and not to go so far off Cromwel of the Three Kingdoms Most of the Roman Emperors were dethron'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 trust the Act of Exclusion is not worth a straw nor with it can we be secur'd against Slavery whether the Duke conquer or be overcome The Duke will still find a party at least if he out-lives the