A Seasonable Addresse To both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT Concerning the Succession The fears of Popery and Arbitrary Government By a true Protestant and a hearty Lover of his Countrey IT was the Aegyptians practice before Physick was reduc'd into Art or Profession to carry forth into the Roads and High-wayes the Diseas'd and enquire of all passengers concerning the Causes and Remedies of their distempers out of whose prescriptions their Friends selected and applied what they judg'd most proper What was then done for the Natural is now as necessary for the Body politick of this Country sick almost unto death of Fears and Jealousies the plots and devices of the wicked and ambitious expos'd to all Travellers among whom good Nature and Self-preservation have at length after two years silent compassion prevail'd upon me to give my opinion of the Causes and Cures of our Evils which I will offer without fear or favour of Party or Faction of Court or City enquiring how far our apprehensions of Popery and Arbitrary Government that have so long discompos'd us at home and made us contemptible abroad are just and reasonable Tho' I confess 't is said There never was smoak without some fire yet at first sight it seems hard to believe that sober men shou'd ever attempt innovations seldom or never advantageous always hurtful because necessarily attended with the sad effects of Civil War a calamity that has so lately prov'd fatal to the Kingdom in general to the Prince and to the Subject Whence it may be reasonably presum'd when our passion is over and we have fully consider'd the rise progress and event of the Last Rebellion we shall grow calm and wise permit the King to enjoy his own Prerogatives and content our selves with our just Rights and priviledges 'T will be time enough when these are invaded if Religion even then will allow it to oppose or stand upon our defence to offer at it sooner is madness and folly Rebellion and Impiety For the better coming to our point 't is necessary we take a review of the times preceding Forty One when from the end of King James's Reign the people were as now full of murmurings repinings and distrusts against the Government At last the smother'd Embers burst forth into a Flame and after ten years Violence War and Confusion and near as many more of Usurpation and Tyranny the Commonwealth was so far from being better'd by any of the many changes and expedients that the recalling our King from his unjust Exile was found and unanimously agreed the only way to prevent its utter Ruine Our Gracious Sovereign merciful beyond example pardons his Rebellious Subjects the Murderers of his Royal Father and the Usurpers of his own Crown and Dignity loads even among them with Offices and Honour such as seem'd penitent and were capable He then proceeds first to the resettlement of the Religion of the Church of England like Vertue seated in the middle and equally endanger'd by the two extreams of Popery and Presbytery and after to that of the State in peace and quiet which we enjoy'd to the envy of our Neighbours This happiness occasion'd a War with Holland France and Denmark to their great Loss and the Renown of England ending in a League of friendship and amity for the general good of Europe Not long after the King was advised to grant a toleration for the ease of tender Consciences and the advancement of Traffique and Manufacture This was press'd with arguments That the want of it occasion'd Venner's Insurrection the Plot in 1662 for which several suffer'd at Tyburn that in 1663. begun in Ireland and carried on in England for which in 1664. divers were executed in Yorkshire as were others after in London April 1666 who confess'd at Tyburn a Design of subverting the Government seizing the Tower and firing of London the September following and withal declaring there were those behind of their party that wou'd still effect that design which as to that part was too evident This is notorious from the historical account publish'd in 8 and confirm'd by the Gazette and therefore I cannot but wonder at the Commons Vote of last January the 10th That it is the opinion of this House that the City of London was burnt in the year 1666 by the papists designing thereby to introduce arbitrary Power and Popery into this Kingdom It wou'd be a great satisfaction to the World to publish the grounds of this opinion because that otherwise that otherwise considering they did not pursue it nor any reason assign'd what should have hindred it will hardly gain more credit than the philosophers paradox that Snow was black I have read of some who never wanted opinions cou'd they but find arguments to make them probable for which their being at a loss made them ridiculous with the sober part of mankind The King consents and at the same time declares a War against Holland whose insolence and injustice in point of Trade and Honour was become insupportable Soon after the Parliament conveen'd and apprehending the Indulgence might in time prove destructive to the establish'd Religion pray'd it might be revok'd the King Contrary to the then Ministers advice answer'd their desires Hereupon they grow peevish and thenceforeward vow and study all the methods of Revenge and Confusion tho with the hazard of the publick Ever since we have been continually alarm'd with Libels against the Government at last a discovery is made of a Popish contrivance sisted as far as possible by the King in Council and after earnestly recommended to the Parliaments further consideration This is pursued but some men laying hold on this design to drive it on to further purposes and under pretence of defending the Kings Person and expelling Popery set up Presbytery and pull down the Monarchy But there being too strict a bond of mutual love and loyalty between the King and that Parliament means are now us'd upon a great Ministers being impeach'd to have it dissolv'd An Act that answer'd not his expectations A new one is call'd and exceeding the bounds of prudence and moderation quickly sent home A third is summon'd and the King having to this as to the former over and over press'd the impartial examination of the Plot the tryal of the Lords and the care of the establish'd Religion wherein by all just and lawful wayes he often declar'd he wou'd not follow but heartily go along with them But alas they intended no such thing The Plot must be kept on foot else they wou'd be defeated The King perceiving they still neglected the good of the publick breaks them and summonds a fourth at Oxford where I wish they may be inspir'd with softness and prudence answerable to the designs of the Place and the needs of the Kingdom After this short account is it possible to believe these who insinuate the King himself is in the Plot is a Papist and intends arbitrary Government Oh ridiculous nonsensical fancy If the Plot
as false and damnable But 't is justified both by Books and Practice of the whole Presbyterian party 't is so plain and fresh in our memories I need not instance in the Authors St. Peter's Chair is not more Infallible than that of an Assembly of Presbyters in a National Classis or Synod Men of these Antichristian Principles stirr'd up the Late Rebellion and being active and diligent drew in many unwary honest men beyond the power of retreating Did not the Faction here tamper in Scotland where the promoters of the Covenant that Godly instrument apply'd to the Crown of France for protection as appears by the Letter found with the Lord Lowden therefore sent to the Tower But what was the issue of this Contrivance but Confusion and Misery through the three Kingdoms the Presbyterian party over-power'd by the Independents and these again by the Army a Commonwealth set up and soon after turn'd into a perfect Tyranny under Oliver Cromvel after more money had been illegally squeez'd from the Subjects by Ordinances and Loans Sequestrations and Decimations Excise and other Impositions than was ever known before or since The people weary call home their Prince who by an excess of mercy and clemency sparing to root up men of these Principles gave way to their infecting others with the same humour of discontent 'T is to be observ'd that the year 1535. is remarkable for the Geneva Reformation and the spawning of the Jesuits Order and that our unlucky home-bred Divisions were fomented if not first set on foot under hand by directions from the Court of France as well as from Rome the Interest of that State as well as of the Church depending on our Distractions to which end Richlieu that great Minister imploy'd many Pensioners into Scotland as did after his Successor Mazarine in England And therefore there is nothing more inconsiderate than to think we are not now acting and promoting French-Designs 't is their businesse to divide us and yet so to manage the Ballance that they let neither the King nor Parliament have the better or ever come to a Right understanding They can no otherwise obtain the Western Empire and 't is directly against their Interest ever to suffer England to be either a perfect Monarchy or an absolute Common-wealth Those that roar most against French Councils and Measures under-hand-bargains and agreements between both the Kings know they bely their own Conscience and that the French have us in the last degree of contempt This the E. of D. printed in his own vindication perhaps not ignorant that some of their Ministers did in the year 1677. and 78. before the breaking forth of the Plot declare That Monsieur L. had greater Interest and more Friends in England than the D. of Y. That the K. had need be on his Guard for he was in great danger of running the same risque with his Father when it was likewise enquir'd What Interest among the People two great Peers had who have since the Plot been the great Pillars of the Protestant Religion tho neither was ever reputed to have any were Ministers and Advisers in 1670. and 71. very good Friends to France and Popery Enemies to the Triple Alliance and to Holland c. It was also said That 300000 l. a year bestow'd in Scotland and England among the Factious and Discontented wou'd better serve the Interest of France than any Bargain they cou'd drive with the Ministers 'T is too well known that the greatest of these two Noblemen made a secret journey into France some weeks before the Plot after some private Transactions here with others among whom were Sir E. L. fam'd for Religion for Morality Major W. and H. N. as notorious for the same perfections and their love of Monarchy and hatred of a Commonwealth nor did A. S. want his Share in the Consultation a stout assessor of Prerogative witness'd by his and others living out of this Kingdom ever since the Kings Restauration untill they saw some likelyhood of a change the one returning about the time the D. of B. and the other Lords were in the Tower and the other a few months before the breaking forth of the Popish Conspiracy which no sooner came before the Parliament than some of the great Lords of the Committee for the Examination of the Plot kept their Consultations and manag'd much of that affair at Wallingford-House Major W. their Secretary where they concluded to take hold of this opportunity for the carrying on some long-hatched Designs of their own Nor is it to be forgotten that in June before a Letter was writ by an eminent person of the Faction and can be now produced That very shortly somewhat wou'd be discover'd that wou'd prevent our much longer walking in the dark and that one of the greatest Lords sent to an Astrologer to know whether he was not in a short while to be in the head of 60000 men The methods agreed upon in France and pursu'd here were to make a Court and Countrey-party to sow and disperse Jealousies between both and widen the Gap with all possible Devices which resolutions some here were the sooner induc'd to embrace upon this consideertion That they should not live to see the issue and were unconcern'd for what shou'd come after But yet I am too charitable to think if we have any French Agents at home they are impos'd upon by their own unwariness and the others cunning to act rather against than with their knowledge a part so much contrary to the Interest of England and the Duty of a Christian But however it be I am morally assur'd we are doing their work and if we are not Knaves and Pensioners we are Block-heads or Fools that are blind and besorted like men prepar'd for Destruction Quos Jupiter perdere vâ—lt hos dementat If any one talk thus he is presently call'd a Papist and a Tory every true Son of the Church of England and Loyal Subject is Branded with Nick-names and run down by Noise and Faction and he that opposes Popery if he defends not Presbytry is but a Protestant in Masquerade if he commends Monarchy and our Legal Constitutions to the discredit of a Commonwealth he is a Rascal a Villian and a dangerous person not considering that we are made Tools and Instruments for French purposes betray'd by their Cunning and Adresse to forward and act with our own hands our Slavery and Ruine Shall we be still blind and deaf to reason and demonstration Can we not reflect upon the French double-dealing in our late Civil Distractions and remember what the Lord Keeper Puckering tells the Parliament in Q Elizabeth's days That the Puritans even at the time of the Spanish preparations for Invasion were urging and pressing intestine Commotions where he largely sets forth their being as dangerous to the Crown and Mitre as the others and therefore that both were to be equally suppress'd Papists and Puritans I cannot find that either have since
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