A Brief HISTORY OF THE Rise Growth Reign Supports and sodain fatal Foyl of POPERY during the three Years and an half of JAMES the SECOND King of England Scotland France and Ireland Together with a Description of the Six Popish Pillars THE Anabaptists Presbyterians Quakers Independants Roman-Catholicks Popish Church-men The perpetual Addressers of the King The Second Edition Prov. XXIV ver 21. My Son Fear thou the Lord and the King And meddle not with them that are given to Change LONDON Printed for the Author And are to be Sold by most Booksellers in London and Westminster 1690. AN HISTORY OF THE Rise Growth Reign Supports and sodain fatal Foyl of POPERY c. RAiling Accusation was such a thing as Michael the Arch-Angel durst not use against the Devil Jud. 9. But when Men speak Evil in such cases by surmise only of things which they know not and that of Dignities ver 10. 8. Then woe unto Them saith the Apostle for that they are in the way of Cain and are greedily running after the error of Balaam for reward and are threatned that They shall perish in the gainsaying of Korah ver 11. These are spots in our feasts Now in all National and Publick Affairs it is the Duty of all good Christians to perform all Offices and acts of duty with utmost Charity as They tender the wellfare of the common good of Their Country wherein They inhabit But of all such National Affairs none call louder for acts of pure Charity than the Election of grave and wise Magistrates and Councellors who are to sit at the Helm in order to manage the great Councils of a whole Kingdom Wherefore to hear of Schisms and Factions in such cases savors exceedingly of the spirit and temper of Cain who slew his Brother and why But because his own works were evil and his Brothers good Joh. 3.12 Was it any wrong to the City of London that it had yet More men of Reputation to stand as Candidates to be Elected Members of Parliament to serve for that most famous and Metropolitan City of the Kingdom and that over and above and besides what had served immediately before Surely no but rather it is for the glory of that Noble City that it hath such variety of Choice But was it so that the Reputation and fame of the wisdom and vertue of the New Members did make the loudest noise above the Old Ones yet why should this breed so much the more envy What needed Malitious Lies to be strown into the Vulgar Ears in order to suppress the noise of Vertue and Honour Or what needed the Clamours of Anabaptists Presbyterians Quakers and Congregational-Men that cry'd down the choice by such Men as They said would bring in King James again to Reign over us That Popery is one of the greatest Annoyances that can befall this Kingdom and the bitterest Pill that can be prescribed for the Subjects here to take is a Doctrine past Dispute And to be an Instrument to introduce such Members of Parliament as shall purposely endeavour to set up such a Prince as certainly will Establish Popery in all that ever He can do savors neither of Charity towards this Church or Kingdom of England nor of Piety towards God What King James hath done is too well known And we cannot say but the Sin of the People hath justly deserved all that hath befallen us and not only so but also the whole of all those fears upon us that they should have come to pass even as we feared And what the wrath of God because of our Sins hath yet behind to throw upon us God knows And we may justly dread However it becomes not us to speak evil of Kings especially so nearly Related unto such by whose means we have received good things Leaving therefore that wickedness to be acted only by the wicked and devilish Railers let us only for the good of this Church and Kingdom make a strict inquiry out of the Publick and Weekly Gazettes who and what They were who were the greatest promoters of all these Evil things for the sake of which we cry out so much against King James On February the 6th 1684. King Charles the II. Died. And on the same day was Proclaimed James the II. as His only Brother and Heir And afterwards King James the Second having confirmed all Officers in Place as were before came into the Privy-Council Chamber and spake saying to this effect as follows That He would follow His Brothers Example in Clemency and Tenderness to His People That He would endeavour to preserve the Government both in Church and State as then it was by Law Established That He would always take care to Defend and Support the Church of England That He would never invade any Man's Property That He would go as far as any Man in preserving the Defence of this Nation in all its just Rights and Liberties This Speech by the King's Command was made Publick How He hath kept His Royal Word God knows it becometh not me to say On February the 11th came in the first Address from Portsmouth Garrison and the Society of Lincolns Inn Congratulating His Majesties Accession to the Throne and promising Obedience And henceforwards came in more February the 4th from Ipswich The East India Company Merchants of the Levant The Bishop and Clergy of London The Inner-Temple Middle-Temple London Grays-Inn Portsmouth Corporation Wells in Somersetshire Westminster c. And on the same day was King Charles the Second Buried Privately at Westminster in the Evening Henceforward followed Addresses from all Counties and most of the Great Towns all over England Scotland and Ireland and from most Parts of His Majesties Dominions And Ambassadors from all the Neighbouring Kingdoms and States did Congratulate On April the 23d 1685. King James the Second with Mary His Queen were both Crowned at Westminster with great Pomp and State at what time His Majesty took His Oath to do all things according to what he had afore promised on the day he came first to be King Now presently after His Majesty came to the Crown He began to shew Himself a Papist and openly went to Mass at His Palace at St. James's Notwithstanding which infinite numbers of Addresses of Congratulation were continually coming in unto His Coronation and after On the 23d of April also met the Parliament called in Scotland Which being Met did greatly Congratulate His Majesties Accession to the Throne with promises of much Obedience And this Parliament made an Act to confirm and secure the Protestant Religion as it was then Established by Arch-bishops and Bishops and did promise in a Letter to the King to do their best to Extirpate Fanatacism as in those days They counted and called the Presbyterian Government On May the 23d the English Parliament Met at Westminster At what time His Majesty renewed His Promises made at His first coming to the Crown viz. To maintain the Church of England and
repent of His Princely favours to them in vain bestowed Or else they have hereby declared themselves a company of meer empty flattering Sycophants promising that which they never intended And now was it true as is said in the Address then are they themselves the Men bound to bring in King James against all sense of the Opinion of His most Excellent Majesty King William in His Declaration expressed and of the late Parliament in declaring the Government of the Kingdom by King James to be Forfeited by reason of Mis-government Or if otherwise they say what they never intended Then is no Credit to be given to any thing they say their Tongues are no Slander the Anabaptists in and about London are a Profligate People of the Sperm of John of Leydon and Knipperdoling a company of branded Hypocrites never to be believed or trusted They pretend to have an absolute Confidence in King James as to His tender care of the Peace and quiet of His Subjects they pretend to strive against all Dissenters with Emulation to do more for Him than all of them They pretend to be bound to Wish Pray and Fight and to do all that may be done that His Majesty and the Prince of Wales His Son and His Government may be Blessed And so by consequence they must hold that all opposers ought to be Accursed And yet these Men cry'd out against the late choosers of New Members That they would bring in King James again On May the 10th was presented to the King The most Humble Address of the Anabaptists in Leicester-shire Wherein these also acknowledge as the former Their Thankfulness for the King's Declaration and promising most faithfully and ambitiously to Serve Him with their Obedience and Loyalty in all ways to ihe best of His Advantage Praying for Him and His Posterity And on May the 14th came in more of the same from Exeter in the same County On May the 17th was Presented the Humble Address of the Independents and Anabaptists of Gloucester-shire Magnifying His Majesties Wisdom and Clemency with Hyperbolical Language stiling Him the Rightful Father of His Dominions Praying Him there may be a Total Abolishment of the Poenal Statutes concerning Religion and promising Him Exemplary Loyalty and concluding with Long Live and Reign King James the Just. On May the 21st was Presented The Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Stafford Derby and Nottingham shires promising Their utmost Loyalty to Him even unto the making of Him Great throughout all the World And at the same time came forth another Address of the Anabaptists of Che-shire Shrop-shire and Stafford-shire stiling His Majesty A Prince by Heaven designed for the highest Pattern of Royal Goodness and true Policy and promising to serve Him with such ready Obedience and stedfast Loyalty to the utmost of their Capacity in their Station as it shall not be possible for any other Subjects to exceed On May the 28th was presented to His Majesty the Humble Address of the Anabaptists of the City of Bristol acknowledging promising and wishing much after the manner as those before On June the 18th was Presented the Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Kent acknowledging promising and wishing like their preceeding Brethren acknowledging the King though a Zealous Papist yet the most tender and affectionate Prince that ever sway'd the Scepter of His Empire out-doing all expectation and desert of His Subjects promising Submission to Him under God and that unfeignedly in all things commanded them by Him Praying that God may grant Him whatsoever may be needful for His then present and future Happiness On June the 29th was Presented to His Majesty the Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Middlesex Hertford Bucks Oxon Warwick Northampton Lincoln Huntington Bedford Cambridge Essex Kent Surry Sussex Southampton and Dorset-shires Confirming with very Hyperbolical Compliments all things afore promised and owned by the rest of Their preceding Brethren And after all these was presented yet one more Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Oxford Abbington and Wantage with the same Flatteries and Warranties as their Fellows They had once afore Addressed in that of the Counties of Oxon and Berks But it seems these Anabaptisto-Papists could not rest so without a peculiar application so proud it seems they were of their Interest in a Popish Prince And by all these Addresses it appears plainly that not only the most part if not all the Anabaptists in and about London but all over England have voluntarily and freely engaged themselves unto their utmost to aid and assist King James in taking off the Test and all Poenal Laws and by consequence to open the ancient Floud gates of Stoppage and to let in an Inundation of Popery to over-run and drown not only the Church of England but also the whole Kingdom with an overflow of Popish Oppressions Now true it is that Liberty of Conscience is a matter not reasonably of any Power to be denied unto any of its Subjects and cannot be spoken against But Liberty of Schism is quite another thing and such as Holy Writ utterly Abhors It is the will of God that all Christians be of one mind Eph. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 1.10 And we know what an heinous thing it was esteemed by St. Paul That there were Divisions in the Church the Members dividing and separating into Parties ver 11 12 c. And these things both Magistrates and Ministers ought to remedy to the best of their skill And in Old times they were always esteemed good Kings who punished Innovations in Religion and that with Severity And the Apostles in the New Testament were as urgent to the same purpose to reject all Hereticks Tit. 3.10.2 Joh. ver 9 10 11. and 3 Joh. ver 9 10. Such Paul accurseth Gal. 1.8 And wisheth such Perverters who trouble the Church that they might be cut off Gal. 5.12 Consider we therefore that the Anabaptists being a pernicious sort of People dangerous both to Church and State wherever they have crept into Power As was manifest at Amsterdam and after at Munster in Germany and since in England in times of the late Rebellion And are a Sect that do hold Dectrines destructive to the Peace of Church and State denying the Power of the Civil Magistrate in many things and do maintain a Church against a Church and Altar against Altar in the same Church and set up Lay Preachers and maintain Re-baptizing All which Doctrines being by the General Councils in purest Primitive times Forbidden and Accursed and declared to be Schismatical and Haeretical cannot be called matters of Conscience no more than Theft and Fornication can be so called Against Re baptizing see Can. 4. Apost and Can. Prim. Carthag confirmed by the Can. Secund. Concil Oecumen Constant. against Lay-Preachers and setting up Altar against Altar see Can. 16 and 17. Concil Millev and all the first six General Councils Now whatsoever is Condemned by any of the Six or at least Four first General
Published on the same day April the 30th 1687. The Humble and Thankful Address of the King's Subjects commonly called Quakers in and about the City of London And these also glory in it that they were of Cabinet Council with the King acknowledging that They were privy to the design of the Declaration for Liberty long before it came forth and with great joy declare Their Thanks that they have such a King of such a Principle promising Him always to approve themselves His faithful and loving Subjects And on May the 25th came forth The Humble and grateful Acknowledgment of the peaceable Subjects called Quakers in this Kingdom from their usual Yearly Meeting in London the 19th day of the Third Month Vulgarly called May 1687. Bespeaking in all things as the former in the name of the Quakers all over England On June the 18th came forth The grateful Acknowledgement of the People called Quakers of Scotland Proclaiming God's wonderful Providence who made the King's retiring into their Country give an happy turn to His Affairs to the Defeating the Designs of His Enemies acknowledging His great Kindnesses to them for favouring them in 1679. And so proceeding in Hyperbolical Thankfulness they conclude with promises of Obedience On August the 18th much after the same rate was brought in from the Quakers of the West of Scotland And on August the 26th came the like from the Quakers of Ireland Transmitted to the King by the Earl of Tyrconnel the Lord Deputy there On September the 29th the King being in His Progress the Hearty welcome and humble Salutation of the peaceable Subjects called Quakers of Wales and the North West of England Bespeaking in their Canting way their welcome of him into those Parts their joy of Him and promises of Obedience And so also came in the Humble Congratulation of the peaceable Subjects of Bristol called Quakers bespeaking much as the rest These Quakers generally an Ignorant sort of People of uncertain Principles of Religion and without any orderly Confession of Faith have broached many old Haeresies and as is apparent have many hidden Papists among them and are thought to be much Popishly inclined and many of them appear as it were Paganish and seem as if inspired with Diabolical Delusions and Enthusiasms and are a dangerous sort of Haereticks pretending to be perfect in Righteousness full of the Light of the Spirit do much debase if not deny the use of God's holy Ordinances pretending to be above them And therefore plainly appearing to be a People void of all Conscience damnable Haereticks And yet these also under pretence of Liberty of Conscience must have Liberty to sow their Tares of Haeresies all over the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and boast themselves as the great Confidents of King James the Second And among the rest of the Pillars of Popery Voted for the Old Members in London and were of the number of those Upbraiders of the New Members That they would bring in King James again After that of the Quakers on the same day April the 30th 1687. came forth the Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion otherwise called Independants in and about the City of London Acknowledging His Majesties Declaration a Transcendent and Unparallel'd favour promising their constant Endeavour to answer His Majesties just Expectations from them that is to choose Members of Parliament for His Majesties Interest Approving themselves in Inclination as well as Duty His Majesties most Loyal Subjects These were the chief and prime actors in the Murther of King Charles the First as the Principal designers in the whole Tragedy And yet now to see to are as Zealous to make amends for all their Regicide by a most firm Affection and Diligence to maintain His Son in all His Popish Designs as from their own Profession is most plainly signified On May the 14th the Gratulatory Address of the People of the Congregational Perswasion of the City of Norwich was presented to His Majesty Acknowledging Him Placed on the Throne of this Realm by the most High God as Natural Legal and Rightful King it seems notwithstanding His being a Zealous Papist and violently Transgressing against the known Laws of the Land yet in the whole course of his Reign a Wise and Merciful King Also acknowledging that they are for Monarchy as the only An cient Legal and Rightful Government of this Nation It is to be remembred that these were the late Oliverians who turned out the Rump to set up the Protector That His Majesty hath taken care as a Common Father for the good of all his People Wherefore they shall adhere unto him as their King with all Loyalty Fidelity and hearty Service to their power On May the 17th was Published the Address of the Independents and Anabaptists together of which already said in the Anabaptist Address for Gloucester Now these Independents either spake truth from their Hearts or Dissembled If the last Then who shall believe them hereafter If the first Then they are still in their Hearts for the bringing in of King James again And if so why then upbraided they the New Members of London lately Nominated that they would bring him in But will they say they are Changed yet must they go for Impostors and false Villains for King James kept fair with them to the last however he Opprest the Church-men But what can we expect from the Sons of Murtherers They smell of the Bloud of the Father they are false to the Son and cannot be true to the Grand-child And it 's to be fear'd in the end will be found false to their own Souls On May the 28th came forth the Joynt Address of the Independents and Anabaptists of Bristol which has been mentioned before in the Addresses of Anabaptists And on June the 11th appeared another Address of the Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion dwelling in Ipswich Eury St. Edmunds c. in Suffolk Acknowledging King James to be their Covering Cherub under whose refreshing Shadow they promise themselves Rest Promising truly to subserve therefore the Interest of His Majesties Power and Greatness Which in plain terms was as much as to say The Advance of the Popish Religion At the same time also was Published the Humble Address of the Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk Acknowledging Praising promising and Praying as their Fellows before them On July the 4th became Publick the Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion of Bidford in Devonshire And another August the 2d of the same of the Norfolkshire-men And another September the 1st of the Presbyterian and Congregational Nonconformists of Macclesfeild in Cheshire And another September the 29th of the Congregational Perswasion of the Counties of North Wales and Shrewsbury And October the 17th another of the same together with the Presbyterians and Anabaptists of Pembroke Caermarthen Cardigan and Swansey in Glamorganshire And November
the 14th Another of the same from Hitching and Hertford in Hertford-shire All bespeaking much to the same purpose in extolling the Vertue and Wisdom of King James and promising Him their utmost Service in furtherance of His Designs Only this last more expresly promises to do their utmost that such Persons may be chosen to sit in Parliament as will concur with His Majesty that Liberty may be setled by an unalterable Law and that His Majesty may be the greatest Monarch on Earth Such was the Sense of these Independent Addresses Now these Independents are a sort of Schismaticks adhering partly with the Presbyterians and partly with the Anabaptists and in a middle way between both are a sort of Hereticks who denying the power of Bishops in Ordination and Constitution of Churches against all Orders of Christ and his Apostles set up Churches in the name of Themselves dependent upon no other Authority except the Elections of the People And being Renders of Christ's Seamless Coat ought to have been Suppressed However having nothing of any case of Conscience to plead for Their Schisms ought rather as men weed out Tares from among their Wheat to have been rooted up out of God's Church or at least ought not to have been Cherished as when the Tares are suffered to overtop and shoulder out the good seed However Liberty of Conscience ought not to have been made a Cloak for Liberty of Schism Such were the four first Pillars of Popery Which four having begun the Work anon after followed certain popishly inclined Members of the Church of England who minding the love of the World more than their Religion they professed Flattered the King's Majesty with their Addresses also The first beginners were the Unanimous Address of the Bishop Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Durham and the rest of the Clergy of that Dioecess on May the 17th 1687. Acknowledging His Majesties favour in promising to Protect His Archbishops Bishops and Clergy c. Now His Majesty by His Declaration of Toleration had broken down the Hedge whereby the Rights of the Church were to be preserved and had let in the Wild-Beasts the Swine to devour the Grapes and the Kine to break down the Boughs and the Wild-Boar to root up the Trees of God's Vineyard only the Arch-Bishops c. were Protected to stand by and look on without Molestation but were to have no power to fray one Cow or to hunt out one Hog do they never so much Mischief Now the truth is the Declaration of Indulgence was a thing Inconsistent with it self That His Majesty should at once protect and maintain all manner of Haereticks and Schismaticks which destroy the Church and yet do as much for the Pastors of the Flock who are to defend the Church from such destroying Wolves as are the Haereticks c. That he should at once maintain the Canons of Holy Councils which are the true Rights of the Church and yet at the same time maintain all those who break those Canons to pieces And yet loe how these tame Cattel come in with their Address to Thank His Majesty that in preserving the Thieves and Robbers He promises notwithstanding that he will not destroy the Housholder This was an odd sort of Flattery like the Man who meeting his Physician prayed him not to be angry that he was not yet Sick But to guess at these mens meaning the Bishop Dean Chapter and Clergy among the Quakers Anabaptists Presbyterians and Independents Addressing for the Declaration It must follow that either the Men designing in conclusion to turn Papists were found also among the Addressers in hopes upon the fall of the Church to share in her Spoils Or else at best they were a sort of timerous Rats who thinking the House to be falling down did run between the Legs of the Destroyers for Refuge After these came in the Addresses of the Mayor Aldermen Common Council and Free-men of the City of Durham bespeaking the very Language of their Right Reverend Bishop May 28. And at the same time was published the Humble Address of the Lord Bishop the Dean and Prebendaries of the Cathedral Church of Chester and the rest of the Clergy of the Arch deanries of Chester and Richmond c. Then followed the Address of the Mayor Aldermen c. of Richmond and Chester the Subjects of the Right Reverend Father of those Places June 11th next follows the Address of the Bishop Dean Arch Deacon and Clergy of the Diocess of Lincoln Now to guess at the length of Hercules by his Foot we know that ten for one of that Dioecess opposed the Address and yet it is called the Address of the Arch deacons and Clergy and so it was of some of them And thus it 's probable it was also in the Dioecess of Durham and Chester This July the 1st And on the 5th was publick that of the Dean and Chapter of Rippon in York-shire Then followed that of the Bishop and Clergy of the Dioecess of Coventry and Litchfield July 9th And lastly though long first came out the Address of the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocess of St. Davids that is of the new made Bishop for it seems the Dying Bishop was not for it Now all these Church-men wrote after one Copy which was from Durham There was also an Address of certain pretended Church-men of the City of London but it was only a name of what was not by some certain pretenders And indeed all the five Episcopal Addressers though true Bishops yet were but pretended Church-men while they became perfect Pillars of Popery Lastly after all the rest had begun the sixth and last and main Pillar of Popery presented it self The Humble Address of His Majesties Roman Catholick Subjects which appeared May the 28th Now whatever the rest were these were certainly in earnest in all their acknowledgments applauses promises and good wishes But what is most remarkable in their Address is that they say That they can do no less than thank God and His Majesty for such an happy Expedient as His Declaration for Liberty of Conscience for the ease and comfort of all His loving Subjects Now it is against the profest Principles of the Roman-Catholick Religion to allow Liberty of Conscience in matters of Haeresie and Schism as they do esteem all Presbyterians and Anabaptists Quakers and Independents to be such And in truth it is no wonder that they who count it a Principle of their Religion to Aequivocate or in plain terms to Lie for advantage can admit it into their practice to comply with the worst of Hereticks in order to carry on their Design in breaking down the good Laws which are the sence of the Church of England And this they may as aptly consent to do as practically to dissemble themselves to be Quakers among the Quakers and Anabaptists among the Anabaptists in order to increase Schism and Heresie in a strange Church that they may with the more safety
and Bishops of St. Asaph Ely Chichester Bath and Wells Peterborough and Bristol were Summoned before the Lords of the Council and after Appearance were committed to the Tower June 8th but Bailed out came to their Tryal and were Acquitted unto the great joy of the People though to the great Grief of all Addressers During these times were strict enquiries made after all Ministers who refused to read the King's Declaration in their Churches by the Lords Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Affairs but the Chancellors in most parts delaying the Returns farther time was given But e'er the day appointed came no a new face of Affairs happen'd About these times also came in new Addresses thick and three-fold congratulating for the Birth of the Prince of Wales But in these Addresses the several Pillars of Popery appeared not distinctly as before But in all Corporations Grand Juries and meetings of Justices which at that time were fo far Purged as most of them were either Papists or Popishly inclined or Anabaptists Presbyterians Quakers or Independents All which promoting the Design Addresses innumerable ceased not until the King himself Addressed beyond Sea But at length news arrived of His Highness the Prince of Orange preparing as if he would Invade England whence King James being immediately smitten with a sudden astonishment sent for His Pillars about him the Presbyterian Ministers the Independents the Anabaptists the Quakers the Roman-Catholicks and the Popishly inclined who all protested that they believed the Prince of Wales to be undoubtedly his Son And one Dr. Bates being Spokesman for the Presbyterians spake with great confidence how much they were bound to believe His word and so said they all and promised to assist him to the utmost Also many or most of those Ministers Presbyterian or Independent who had fled into Holland for shelter because of the Duke of Monmouth's or the Earl of Argyle's Insurrections wherein they had been concerned had returned home and laid themselves at the King's Foot and were admitted to kiss his Hand and were esteemed White Boys Some also of the Gentlemen returned and became great Sticklers of King James but the preparations from Holland damp'd all For King James Drooping in Spirit all His Pillars could not keep up His Heart For on the last or September the Bishop of London was restored to his Dioecess On October the 2d came forth the general Pardon and the Charter was restored to the City On the 5th the Ecclesiastical Commission was Dissolved And on the 12th the Bishop of Winchester had a Commission to restore the Rights of Magdalen Colledge Oxford Whence followed the restitution and Fellows On the 17th all Rights were restored to the Corporations Hence all the Pillars of Popery beginning to reel and totter on November the 5th His Highness the Prince of Orange Landed But after some face of Resistance for some time appearing at Salisbury on November the 26th His Majesty returned to London from Salisbury The 11th of December he privately withdrew from White-hall On the 12th the Lord Chancellor was Taken and carried to the Tower On December the 16th King James returned to White-hall and on the next Morning went quite off And His Highness the Prince of Orange came to St. James's And thus fell flat all the Sir Pillars of Popery May it please God that Truth may flourish and that Popery appear no more But God's Will be done Let all good Men do their Duty and then Blessed shall be the Dead who Die in the Lord and their Works shall follow them
the Property of the Subject And withal gave notice of Argyle Landed in Scotland And immediately the Lords first and then the Commons were thankful for the King's Speech and promised to assist him against Argyle who coming in well furnished with Armour Ships and Men as his case stood yet met with small Encouragement managed his business very meanly fought Cowardly and in a Month's time was utterly ruined and broken Himself taken his Son Charles as was thought Dead and all his Company broken He was executed on the First of July 1685. On June the 13th the Duke of Monmouth with two or three small Vessels loaded with a good quantity of Arms and a few Men Landed at Lyme in Dorset-shire But against him also the Parliament unanimously joyned with the King and giving Him Money to raise an Army Declared the Duke of Monmouth Traytor by Act of Parliament But the Duke encreasing his Army mightily at Taunton in Somerset-shire managed his Affairs with a notable Conduct and Courage But finally at Wells his Army beginning to Plunder and to break out into Debauchery he soon after Perished in a Pitch't Battel some Three miles from Bridgewater where being worsted for want of good Horse-men His Foot fought well until overpowered by the King's Cannons and His Horse and Foot all together upon them the Field was lost and soon after the Duke was Taken July the 8th being hid in a Ditch and being brought to London he was Beheaded on Tower-Hill the 15th of July 1685. But the L d G y being also Taken Confessed the Confederates and was Saved On July the 12th was a day of Thanksgiving for the Success of these Victories Richard Goodenough was also Taken who after confessed the Accomplices and saved his Life But Ferguson Escaped Major Wildman Mr. Speke Mr. Trenchard and others The Lord Delamere Earl of Stamford and Lord Brandon were made Prisoners From these stirs of Civil Wars it came to pass that a standing Army was ever after kept up by the King and the Parliament Adjourned and Prorogued from time to time it was paid out of the King 's own Revenues And hence Popery encreased with much advance the Queen and one Father Petre much spurring on On November the 9th the Parliament met at Westminster according to Adjournment at what time the King excusing His Standing-Army kept up and several Officers allowed against Law who had not taken the Test The Parliament not pleased herewith were soon Prorogued On March the 11th came forth His Majesties Proclamation of General Pardon not without many Exceptions 1686. In the Army Popish Officers by degrees filled all vacant Places As also French and Irish Popish Souldiers mingled in most Troops and Companies Papists also were admitted into Privy-Council were made Judges Sheriffs and Justices without taking the Test And in February 1686. the Earl of Tyrconnel a great Papist Succeeded the Earl of Clarendon Lieutenant of Ireland And the Earl of Rochester refusing to become a Papist was put out of Place of High Treasurer On February the 24th was Published His Majesties Proclamation for Liberty of Conscience to Papists and all others as could be trusted in the Kingdom of Scotland For which the Lords of the Privy-Council of that Kingdom returned their Thanks Thus His Majesty by uniting the Popish and Presbyterian Interest in Scotland began to lessen the Authority of the then present established Church by Protestant Bishops By this time the Deputy of Ireland being become a Papist and much of the Council the Army there the Sheriffs Judges and Justices also being mostly Popish or Popishly affected Persons in Popish Rebells Estates began to be thrust out apace even by Law too by means of those Judges and Sheriffs and Popish Robbers also multiplied insomuch as little safety for Protestants began to appear in that Kingdom To quiet which last Oppression came forth the Proclamation from the Deputy February the 21st On March the 18th His Majesty declared His intention to grant Liberty of Conscience unto all Persons of what Perswasion soever And the better to Father His design He Prorogued the Parliament to November 87. And on April the 4th 1687 His Majesties Declaration to all His loving Subjects for Liberty of Conscience came forth Hence followed a crowd of Congratulatory Addresses from all sorts of Dissenters The first who began this Holy Dance after His Majesties Pipe was a great number of Anabaptists in and about London and being delivered by several of the Chief of them April the 14th was called The Humble Address of divers of Your Majesties Subjects in and about the City of London commonly called Anabaptists and saith WE Your Majesties most Humble and Loyal Sabjects who have been of a Long time great Sufferers by the severe Execution of Poenal Laws about matters of Religion unto which for Conscience sake we could not conform cannot sufficiently pay those acknowledgments we owe to Your Majesty for your late Most Gracious Declaration whereby we are not only delivered from our past Distresses and our Families from Ruine but are also allowed the free exercise of our Religion which is dearer to us than any Worldly Enjoyment Great Sir 't is the fense of this invaluable Favour and benefit derived to Us from Your Royal Clemency that compels us once more to Prostrate our selves at Your Majestics Feet with the tender of our most humble Thanks for that Peace and Liberty which both we and all other Dissenâ—ers do now enjoy and rest confident of under Your most Gracious Protection And being our selves most firmly resolved as in Conscience bound to endeavour to the utmost to give that proof of our Duty and Fidelity to Your Majesty that you may never have occasion to repent of Your Princely favour towards us We cannot but rest confident That such demonstrations as these of Your Majesties tender care of the Prosperity and quiet of Your Peaceable Subjects of all sorts though differing in some Sentiments of Religion will so absolutely command the Hearts of them all that the only Emulation among them will be who may approve themselves best worthy of your Majesties favour and contribute most towards the glory and happiness of your Reign And that God Almighty by pouring out His signal Blessings upon Your Majesty Your Royal Posterity Government and People will be pleased to convince the whole World of the Wisdom and truth of Your Majesties Sentiments c. Such were the whileom thoughts of the Anabaptists of King James notwithstanding all His endeavours of advancing Popery who appeared in this Address A sort of People avowing themselves so exceedingly obliged to King James for favours done them that their utmost proof of Duty and Fidelity to His Majesty can never enough satisfie until They give Him occasion never to repent of those princely favours to them Which if so then either by this Address they think themselves bound in Conscience to adventure their Lives to Restore Him again to His Throne for otherwise he must needs