THE CHARACTER OF A REBELLION And what ENGLAND May expect from one OR The Designs of Dissenters Examined by REASON EXPERIENCE And the LAWS and STATUTES OF THE REALM LONDON Printed for Benj. Tooke 1681. The CHARACTER of a REBELLION AND What England may expect from one c. HE does not deserve the name of an Englishman who in a time of Common and Imminent Danger dare not stand up for his King his Religion his Country Laws Liberty and the most Excellent Constitution of Government in the whole World And that all these are in the most apparent hazard even from those People who pretend to be the great Opposers of Popery and Arbitrary Government I appeal not only to the Swarms of Insolent Scandalous Seditious and Malitious Pamphlets which of late have made the Press and the whole Nation groan and are one of the greatest Grievances and Pests of the Commonwealth but to that general fear which the Insolence of Factious Dissenters hath raised and thereby given too just ground for apprehensions of their breaking out into Rebellion and Insurrections I am satisfied that they lay a great stress upon the Policy of this Invention to incourage their Party and frighten their Opposers by the frequent boasts of their Strength Numbers and what may follow if they be not gratified how dangerous it is to disoblige them and I believe they had much rather compass their Designs by these artifices than run the Chance and Risque of a Decision by the Sword and I know also that many of the principal Engineers have more of the Fox than of the Lion and are better at the Encounters of the Tongue and Pen than of the glittering Steel but yet I think no Enemy ought to be Esteemed contemptible and the very first Essayes towards Rebellion ought to be encountered it being not impossible but Law and Reason may baffle and subdue them before they take the Field and it will be a very happy Combat where nothing is spilt but Ink. It cannot discourage me that of late some Mercenary Pens and Designing Persons have countenanced the notorious Enemies of the Establisht Government with the Character of the only true Protestants and that Libelling has been esteemed a Virtue if not a part of their Religion Lying and Defamation the scandals of good Moral Heathens have been adopted into Christianity while such as durst adventure to assert or appear in defence of the Government and known Laws were loaded with all the invidious Reproaches of Billingsgate Invention and most certainly with the name of Papist I have a Veneration for men of Sense but cannot but despise those little writing Things who are but one degree advanced above Apes and Monkeys that chatter and bite as they are set on And certainly a more contemptible piece of Senceless Detraction was hardly ever invented on this side Bedlam than to affirm that the Papists are contriving to subvert the Government and pretend to be Zealous against them as all honest men are against whoever shall attempt that and at the same time to brand all such as vigorously appear for it against both Papists and Phanatiques with the title of Papists But Polititians move great Wheels by little ones and the King and Government must be disarmed by this Popular Odium of all their true Friends under the Notion of Papists that so they may come under the Guardianship and Protection of these true Protestant Dissenters and is it possible to Conjecture they would not then be in good hands I may be mistaken but I believe I am not single in my Opinion that they would be in Salva Custodia according to the English of Jaylors And after all the repeated Affronts both to his Sacred Majesty and Persons of the most Eminent Characters and Loyalty in the Nation they must not be reproved or censured for fear of dis-uniting Protestants or forcing them to Rebel But truly if they proceed in these Methods as they seem incorrigible they must excuse us if we cannot contribute our assistance to such an Union as must terminate in our Ruin The Laws have ever Esteemed them as well as the Papists Enemies to the Peace of the Nation and we know their Principles are inconsistent with the Ancient Constitution of the Monarchy and both their past and late Actions have proved them true to their dangerous Principles and the Character which Learned Grotius gives of them That they subvert St. Paul's Rule of Subjection and therefore that no Crowned head can be longer secure from their practices than while they want Power and if Sedition Rebellion Murther Rapine Sacriledge Usurpation Injustice Oppression Tyranny Cruelty Persecution exercised by Dissenters during their Empire as is attested and avowed by their own Records and justified in Print be recommendatory Qualifications to trust them again with our Lives Liberties Laws Estates and Religion judg all ye People Nay had they no other Crime besides Ingratitude I think that such a Compendium of all that is ill that they need not be painted more black than that has made them and for that let his Majesties Gracious and Generous Act of Oblivion witness both their former Guilt and present Ingratitude If they had not offended the Laws and were not obnoxious to Justice why did they stand trembling after his Majesties wondrous Restauration till they got the Security of that Act for which yet the King out of the Abundant Excellency of his Nature and Unexampled Clemency seemed no less solicitous than the Criminals and how they have requited his Royal Bounty in all their late Actions is an Ingratitude that not only England but all Europe is with Astonishment a witness of The King like a Just and Excellent Prince who like Heavens Monarch delights in Mercy suspends the Rigors and Severities of the Penal Laws against them this they construe to be Fear and not Favour and improve it to a confidence to demand their abolition not without menacing insinuations upon refusal he assures them he will Govern according to Laws to obviate a notorious Calumny spread abroad by them among his People of a Design of introducing Arbitrary Rule and that he will neither act Arbitrarily nor permit others to do is this is so far from giving satisfaction that it is highly displeasing the Laws themselves are Uneasie and to Govern by them burthensom and unsupportable and indeed it is impossible to please those with any thing who are resolute to receive no satisfaction unless they may have all Whither these Procedures must lead us we need not to consult the Oracle When the Quicksilver rises so high in the Weather-glass of State it is not difficult to conjecture some blustring may follow And indeed the methods which these People have made use of are too well known to leave us in suspense if Providence does not interpose what will be the End They have so far Exceeded the Limits of their Duty and have so accustomed themselves to affront the Government by the repeated
ever Infamous and their Posterity to curse them Secondly All their Liberties Franchises Charters Immunities Priviledges and even that great One of Chusing and sending Representatives to Parliaments will be forfeited and lost for their Freedoms and Freeholds upon which that Priviledg depends are by Rebellion ipso facto lost and gone Nay Thirdly Should they prevail against the Government which morally speaking is impossible their Circumstances being so different from those of the late Rebels who had first disarmed the Government before they attempted to overthrow it Yet what could they rationally hope for even after a Conquest Is it possible for Men in their Senses to imagine that an Usurping Power which is advanced by all the steps of Wickedness and the Violation of the Laws of God and Man will value any Laws Contracts Oaths Promises or Stipulations or that they will not maintain a Standing Force to protect their ill acquired Sovereignty And if a Military Government be so Formidable in a Lawful King bounded by his own Laws must it not be much more Dreadful in Lawless and Usurping Tyrants Was the Scepter of any Usurpers ever made of any other metalâ— than of Iron or in reality any thing besides a Sword You know the Fable The Horse had a quarrel with the Stagg and to satisfie his Ambition and Revenge he takes the man upon his Back 'T is true he won the Field but for ever lost his Liberty being unable to dismount his Rider Such Brutes are they who being weary of their present Condition set up a Power which reduces them to a worse Sovereignty and Supreme Power must be in some hand there can be no Society no Commerce no living without it and certainly it is most advantageously lodged there where God and Nature have placed it and our Laws declared it to be and the Reason is plain We have not power to choose for our selves for all Power is from God and if we had sure 't is an Atheistical presumption to think we are able to make a better choice than the only Wise God And besides what security can we possibly have from Usurpers Is it rational to think that they who can upon any considerations be tempted to violate their Faith and Allegiance to their Natural Liege Lord shoul esteem it a Crime to break their word with their Equals or Inferiors it is just as likely as that he who thinks it no sin to kill a man should scruple to tread upon a Worm Remember how you were treated for Twelve Years after the Execrable Murther of the late King and you will find I tell you the Truth and what is to be expected from these Protestant Dissenters should they get into Power and become a Government by Rebellion And because there is a lamentable out-cry against Jus Divinum and affirming Kings to Rule by Divine Right and that therefore all Attempts or Rebellions against them are unlawful under what pretence soever give me leave with a Digression not wholly impertinent to stop the mouths of these Ignorant or Designing Clamorers They have often ridiculed Scripture Arguments upon that subject and therefore I will offer them some Parliament Authorities which seem to them far more convincing and Canonical 1 Eliz. c. 3. It is declared That the Queen is and ought to be by the Laws of God and by the Statutes of the Realm our most Rightful and Lawful Sovereign Liege Lady and Queen So that you see by Act of Parliament and a Protestant Parliament she held her Crown by this double Tenure Jure Divino humano 1 Jacob. 1. The King is Recognized to be Lawful Heir to the Imperial Crown of these Realms both by the Laws of God and Man and this Act is Ordained to be a Memorial of Record by his Majesties Assent to all Posterity among the Records of the High Court of Parliament without which Assent it could neither be compleat nor perfect nor remain to all Posterity These are the very words of the Statute so that you see after all the noise which hath been made against Jus Divinum the Title of our Kings is declared to be so by Two Acts of Parliament unless those words The Law of God have some other meaning which hitherto the great Masters of Revelation have not discovered to us But that I may come close up to the Point There is not that person in England or any other of his Majesties Dominions of what Rank Degree Age Sex or Condition soever who has not besides the General Concern a particular Interest which does oblige him or them to endeavour to maintain defend support and preserve the present Establishment of the Government and Monarchy and by clear consequence to detest abhor and by all Lawful wayes and means to labour to suppress detect oppose and prevent all such Designs whether of Papists or Commonwealth Protestants who under Colour of Religion Reformation Liberty Property or any other of their specious pretences shall go about to alter or subvert the prosent most Exeellent Establishment And to make this good I will give a true but short account of the Principal Advantages which we do at present enjoy under his most Excellent Majesty and the Monarchy all which will be lost or forfeited if the Old Foundation be destroyed by Rebellion I will begin with that which is in every mans mouth and is every mans concern the Magna Charea or the Great Charter of England the greatest and most glorious Franchise and Immunity which is possessed by any Subjects on this side Heaven This Charter since the first Grant has been confirmed above 30 several Times with all the dreadful solemnities and imprecations upon whoever should violate or infringe it and if there were nothing in these formalities of its Ratification yet the consideration of such an irreparable loss ought to make us jealous and watchful against whatever may indanger it Now though this Charter may be forfeited by Rebellion and yet the Monarchy survive yet can it not possibly survive the Monarchy should that be subverted or changed into a Common-wealth as is evident both by the beginning and conclusion for we hold it of the Kings of England and their Heirs for so it runs Henricus Dei gratia c. Know ye That we have given and granted these Liberties following to be held in Our Kingdom of England for ever By which it appears they are granted so long as it continues a Kingdom and when ever it ceases to be a Kingdom of England or comes to be a Common-wealth of England the Grant and Charter becomes null and void And suitable to the Beginning is the Conclusion which after the Enumeration of all the General and Particular Liberties and Priviledges too long to be here inserted and too great to be lost for want of due caution or consideration is in these words Nos autem Donationes Concessiones praedictas ratas habentes c. Which Grants and Concessions aforesaid We having ratified and
breach of Laws that it can be no wonder if they indeavour even beyond what is consistent with Loyalty to be secured from the Penalties due to their disobedience and if they are so violent and head-strong when the Curb of the Law is so strict upon them can we rationally suppose they will be more tame and manageable if they were secure of Impunity or possessed of Power The truth is they are under the misfortune of all those who having affronted Laws and Government are perpetually haunted with their own Guilt and the fear of Punishment they can never think themselves secure so long as there is a Superior Power to call them to an account nor is any thing capable of obliging or giving them satisfaction besides an absolute and unaccountable soveraignty But how can this be Effected God and Nature have vested his Majesty and the Laws of the Land have declared the Sole Power of the Sword to be his inherent Right and it is both unnatural and irrational to suppose the Contrary for without this he can neither Protect Himself nor Defend his Subjects And though an Essex Address was so confident to make a demand to have the Navy Forts and Garrisons put into confiding hands that is into the Power of Dissenting Protestants or their professed Favourers yet it is to be hoped that his Majesty is too well acquainted from the 12 Years Experience of his Exile during their Usurpation with their temper as to Loyalty and too sensible who are his Enemies from the many Disturbances they have given him since his Happy Return to trust them with Power A Scepter is a mere trifle without a Sword to guard it and therefore there is little hope for them from that Quarter nor can they have the least ground to think that the King will ungird himself of his Royal Seignory to oblige those who will make no other use of it but to his disadvantage What will they have a ruffle for it truly it has been confidently affirmed That some of the Party who have wanted the gift of Taciturnity have intimated as much and the insolence of their behaviour the boasts of their Numbers though it is well known they make very false Musters and their Ten to One is not One in Ten together with the late Cavalcades of so many hundred Armed Men through the Streets of London to attend some persons towards Oxon so directly contrary to the Statute of Northampton 7 Edw. 1. and to the 2 Edw. 3. c. 3. 20 R. 2.1 absolutely prohibiting all Riding Armed to Parliaments seemed to discerning men little less than a sucking Rebellion or at least a Design to awe their Sovereign into Compliance and such Extraordinary Attendance contrary to Law as it speaks a guilt in the Persons so it betrayes a fear on the one hand and a confidence on the other never practised by any Subjects but such who wanting the Guard of Loyalty and Innocence fly to unlawful Arts and Arms for Safety and Protection But Generous Countrymen pray let us consider of the matter a little Precipitation is the Daughter of Folly or Madness and the Mother of Ruin and too late Repentance I doubt not but all arts and insinuations are used that may gain encourage animate or buoy up a Party t is most evident every one sees it all persons know it Discontents are raised Fears and Jealousies suggested and blown up to the height the People are debauched with false Representations and Rebellious Principles and now that they are under a disappointment they are taught a certain Wild Enthusiastick Faith and by their Zealous Rabbies made believe that God has a great Work to do that is to destroy the Popish Church of England and work the thorough Reformation and he will bring it to pass though they cannot tell how and thus their party are kept up in Expectation of some Miracles of Rebellion This certainly is done in order to something And therefore it imports all Englishmen to consider what they do who they are managed by what they may get or lose for certainly we of this Nation have something to lose beyond what all our Neighbours can boast of but nothing to be got by altering our present Condition and therefore by the most Early precaution we ought to be aware of and indeavour to prevent any tendencies to Rebellions or Insurrections I think Consideration the Method of Sober and Judicious Men and am assured no person ever lost by those moments spent in that Employ but the want of it has ruined not only single persons and private Families but Mighty States and Empires I will therefore offer to your deliberating thought these following things 1. Consider who they are that make all this noise and give these disturbances to the Nation Upon Examination you will find they are those very restless murmuring Dissenters who within less than Forty Years with the same Acts turned the Kingdom upside-down turned the Monarchy the Ancient Hereditary Imperial Monarchy of England into a Commonwealth or Republique and who for that Reason and the many Disturbances they gave Queen Elizabeth and King James are by many both New and Ancient Statutes of the Realm deservedly Esteemed The Dangerous Enemies of the Government These are the Persons that fill both the City and Country with Out-cryes of the Fears and Dangers of Popery and Arbitrary Government who yet when they were got into the Throne of Usurpation acted by Popish Principle and Popish Counsels and the very worst of the very worst of Papists the Jesuits and of Jesuits the most infamous such as Mariana and Scioppius putting in Execution their Doctrines of Murdering and Deposing lawful Princes who governed with the most Arbitrary Injustice imaginable and notwithstanding their Repeated Oaths and Promises to observe the Fundamental Laws yet without Faith Honour or Conscience they Taxed Assessed Decimated Fined Imprisoned Sequestred Plundred Banished and by a pretended High Court of Justice having thrown down the Supream Court of Judicature the House of Peers as Useless and Dangerous at their uncontrolled will and pleasure which was then theirs and our only Law they Murdered whom they pleased as the Reason of State to support their Usurpation made it appear Necessary or Expedient Who to their Eternal Infamy put it three several times to the Vote Whether they should not give One Blow for all and massacre all those whose unshaken Loyalty Honour and Religion made them suspect as Enemies who kept up continual standing Armies at a vast Expence to maintain their unlawful authority till at last the Servants turn'd out their Masters and made us all Slaves to the Law and Power of the Sword These are the Persons or their Sons for whom Dissenters joyn all their Interests For these Herod and Pilate must be made Friends nay some who were in the Black List of the late King's Judges and strongly suspected to have worn the Frocks and Vizzards Excepted out of the Act of Indempnity and the late General
Complement to accost them with to tell them their Honours will be lost but credit me Illustrious Ladies neither your Beauties nor other most Attractive Charms will be able to secure you from the Insolence of Common-wealth Ravishers England can be no longer the Paradice of Women than it continues a Monarchy My Lord cannot suffer but my Lady will have a share the Widows of Barons by the Curiality or Curtesie of England enjoy the Titles and Priviledges of Peerage and the Daughters of Dukes Earls and Barons do by the Favour of the same Custom enjoy the Honour and Title of Ladies these too must fall with the Monarchy and in a Common-wealth Joan is as good as my Lady even by day-light I remember Harry Martin who was said not to be the greatest Enemy of the soft Sex yet in the late times stretched a Commission be had to seize Horses for the Service of the Common-wealth even to the taking the Coach-Horses of some Noble Ladies sitting the Parliament which was an Insolence and Breach of Priviledge that had Monarchy been in Power he must have made a severe account for but all the redress they could obtain was to sit down with the affront for the Commons House justified him in it and he justified himself for taking not only theirs but the Kings Horses from the Muse by pleading this We have said he selzed the Kings Castles Forts Navy and Magazines for the good of the Common-wealth and sure we may seize the Horses of any Person for the same purpose and the poor Ladies were obliged with patience to pocket up the Injury and either stay at home or learn to walk in Pattins to make their Visits or take the Air notwithstanding their Quality and the Priviledges of their Peerage Thirdly The great Priviledge the very Being and Essenne of Parliaments falls with the Monarchy for it is by vertue of the Kings Writ that Parliaments are called chosen meer sir debate and do every thing that a Parliament can do without this there may be Assemblies or Conventions but they are no more Parliaments than the Consults of Jesuits at Wild-house or the White Horse Tavern were Parliaments and are in reality no better than Riots and unlawful Assemblies who have no Right no Power no Authority and whatever they act or do is a perfect Usurpation and Arbitrary Invasion of Sovereignty over their fellow Subjects And what Justice Equity Law or Right are the People to expect from those who can have no Power all the People being their Equals And when this shall once be understood who will submit to them or obey them who have no Authority to command and then what Confusions Distractions Insurrections and Mutinies must follow to the utter ruine and subversion of Peace Trade Justice and the Prosperity of the Nation till we come either to be a Prey to some Eorreign Invader or ambitious Domestick Tyrant and Usurper Fourthly the Charter of London the Imperial City and those large Liberties Franchises Immunities Lands and Revenues Freedom from Tolls in all places of England nay their very Incorporation of Major Aldermen Common-Councel Sheriffs Courts Companies c. which are all the Favours of His Majesty and His Royal Progenitors as at large appears by the Charter of London lately printed in English must all stand and fall with the Monarchy from which they derive their Original their Power Authority and Jurisdiction and without which they cannot subsist and if Gratitude were not able as I hope it will to oblige this great Metropolis to a firm adherence to the Crown yet their Interest and Dependancy upon it does For let us but consider what a wild Desert of unmanageable Brutes must this City of necessity be without Laws and Government when even with the best and strongest which it enjoys under the Monarchy together with the assistance of the Militia all is little enough to prevent disorders and hinder the licentious from ruining the Honest and Industrious and should the Indigent Multitude the Licentious Rabble and the Head-strong and unconsidering Youth come to know there was no Law to punish them no Constables Beedles Justices Compters or Officers and Courts to restrain them the Freemen disfranchised the Courts dissolved the Indentures of the Apprentices cancelled what could be expected but Riots Tumults Disorders and that the Rich and Wealthy should become a Booty to the Poor lawless and unruly Multitude and this now Well-governed Rich Populous and Flourishing City become a Ruinous Heap and have stretched out upon it the Line of Confusion and the Stones of Emptiness and this great Mart or Emporium famous throughout the Habitable World lose all her Trade Riches and Glory and become the astonishment of the whole Earth Nor would the Lesser Cities Corporations and Burroughs be in a better Condition all their Charters Freedoms Priviledges Fairs Markets Tolls c. being derived from the same Fountain of Monarchy must have the same Date and Period with it to their utter Undoing Impoverishment and Ruine Fifthly All Priviledges granted to Merchants-Strangers as the Hans Towns the Lombard Eastland Norway Spain Venite Burgundy the Dutch c. and all our ancient and present Leagues of Peace War Offensive and Defensive Commerce and Traffick made with several Princes and States are built upon the Foundation of the Monarchy and expire with it and what a Damp must such a Blow give to the Trade of England when all the Forreign Merchants shall withdraw their Effects for want of the Security of these Alliances and how insecure must our Merchants be without them I leave to the Thoughts and Consideration of those Industrious and Worthy Merchants who frequent the Change which Place would have few Inhabitants besides the Statues of the Kings who have encouraged promoted and advanced Commerce and Trade if those were permitted to stand which I much question being they must reproach Usurpers with Ingratitude and Disloyalty Forreign Trade is the great support of England and does so universally Influence all Mens Estates that we see they rise and fall in Proportion with the Actions of the Merchants and what will become of the East India Guinea African Turky Hamburgh Companies and of all the Fraternities Guilds and Companies of Trade in London and all the Cities and Burroughs of England and Wales whose very Essence and Being depends upon the Monarchy and their Protection Encouragement and Well being upon those advantageous Priviledges Stipulations and Leagues of Commerce which have been and are made with Forreign Princes and States it is easie to determine and should any of our Potent Neighbours upon our unhappy Circumstances ingross the Trade and turn the Current of it let Antwerp teach London and Flanders England that Staples and Factories once removed are difficultly if ever regained Besides that the setting up a Common-wealth as it Cancels our Leagues and Alliances so it must put us into a state of War with all our Neighbours for all Crowned Heads must of necessity in regard
of the dangerous Precedent and Example such a Revolution gives their Subjects be declared Enemies and for Republicks the Emulation that is between them can never permit them to be Friends Sixthly Nor will the Dismal Effects of changing the present Established Government only affect the Nobility and the Merchant the Gentleman must have his share too for whereas there are about 10000 Mannors in England and Wales whereof the Lords are as it were little Kings among their Tenants and have the Liberties of Sake Soke c. and many Jurisdictions as Court-Barons Court-Leets to order and do Justice to their Tenants from whence arise Fines Amerciaments Estreats Forfeitures Deodands Waifs Strayes Fines certain and incertain Quit-rents Heriots Freewarren Swanning c. all these being Grants of several Kings have their dependancy upon and must run the same Fate with Monarchy if that stands they stand if that falls they must fall also to the no small loss and detriment of all those Noblemen Gentlemen Bodies-Corporate and others who are at the present possessed of them Seventhly And lest there should be any Persons to whom the mischiefs of Rebellion will not extend its Consequences will affect the Body of the Commons the Free-holders Copy-holders and Common People there being none who have any thing to lose but must hazard and lose all and many Thousands their Lives in to the Bargain it will strip the Copy-holders which are above a fourth part of the Lands of England and Wales of all their Ancient and Beneficial Customs the Common People of their Rights Apportionments and Admeasurement of Common of Pasture Common of Estover Agistments in Forests and Purlieus which in many Places of England are the greatest part of the Livelihood of the Inhabitants all which they possess by vertue of the Grants and Charters of several Kings and for the Free-holders when their Interest in Magna Charta and Election of Representatives are gone they will have little left to boast of Eighthly Nor will it only wrong the Living but the Dead for not to mention the Impropriations and Advowsons to Rectories which depend upon Grants from the Crown what will become of the Foundations of Colledges in the Universities Free-schools Hospitals Alms-houses all which possess their Revenues by Charters and Grants from the Kings of England and depend upon the Monarchy and should that fall which God forbid their Titles are gone and they must be at the Will of the New Lords who according to the Proverb will be for new Laws And how near the Brink of Ruine and being swallowed by the devouring Avarice of Pretended Religion all these Foundations and Supports of Learning were in the late Rebellion need not be remembred since it is impossible it should be forgotten and since among our Protestant Dissenters the Compter the Cart and the Plough can afford such plenty of Learned Apostles Evangelists Elders and Teachers there will not want a Judas to cry out against Universities and Tithes Quorsum perditis haec Why all this loss let them be sold to maintain the Charges of the Common-wealth Thus it was and thus it would be again if they had Power which I confess gives me some admiration to see Persons who pretend to be learned and favourers of Learning herd with such illiterate and ignorant Impostors How were the poor People cajoled with taking away the burden of Tithes as they called them in the late times whereas had they been taken from the Clergy whom they would render poor and mercenary that they may not have courage to oppose Rebellion yet the poor Laicks would have had no more benefit than the Asse whose wise Master to ease him took off the Load which before he rid upon and laid it upon his own shoulders which though it loaded him did not at all lighten his Brother Animal Ninthly Neither will it stop here but pass the Seas and discharter all the Forreign Plantations of Virginia Maryland Carolina c. which are holden by the Proprietors by vertue of Royal Grants Tenthly To conclude it will render the whole Nation Slaves for I pray once divest us of the before recited Charters Freedoms Immunities and Liberties either by the prevailing of Usurping Rebels or by the forfeiture of Rebellion and what are we but the most despicable and abject Slaves and of all slavery that is certainly the most insupportable where we must submit to the Yoak of our Equals and Inferiors Thus have I given you Generous Countrymen a short but true Character of that Monster Rebellion which though she puts on the Face and Voice of an Angel always hath the Hands of a Devil If you have any remainders of true English Courage and Gallantry for which your Ancestors have been so renowned if you think Liberty and Property worth the preserving either to your selves or to be transmitted to your Posterity it imports you to use your utmost indeavours to crush the Cockatrice of a Common-wealth in the Egge and by all lawful ways and means to support maintain and defend the Monarchy with the last drop of your Blood and the last Penny of your Estate It is your indispensable Duty the Laws of God and the Statutes of the Realm require it your own safety preservation and indeed your whole Interest challenges it from you it is a Justice to your Posterity to whom you were better leave no Name than the infamous Intail of slavery to their Fellow-Subjects Manacles and Chains instead of Charters and Royal Franchises which as they have descended to you you ought to take care to transmit them to Posterity whole and entire I know the greatest Criminals will make the first and loudest Protestations of Innocence and Loyalty Who so brisk as Hazael to repartee to the weeping Prophet who charged him with the Barbarous Mischiefs he would do when he should get into Power what am I a Dog that I should do this Who so quick as Judas to put the Question Is it I But we have learnt to read Men by their Actions not their Words and that I may not criminate without Proof which is Calumny and Detraction I refer you to the Testimony of two Evidences that will not deceive and can neither be accused of detracting Malice or biassed Partiality the one is Law the other is Old Experience By these you shall know who are the Enemies of the Monarchy and established Government Now the Law expresly charges Papists and Sectaries or Dissenting Protestants with the Accusation of being dangerous Enemies to the Government That the Papists are so is allowed of all hands and that the other are no more innocent in the Eye of the Law is evident in that there is not one Title of Law the least shreds of Records which can give them a favourable word but on the contrary 35 Eliz. c. 1. charges them with the danger of great inconveniences and perils which may happen and grow by the wicked and dangerous Practises of Seditious Sectaries and the Reign
of King Charles the first turned this into a Prophesie which they fulfilled 13 Car. 2. c. 1. charges the Growth and Encrease of the late Troubles upon their score and we know it was they that preached us into Rebellion and fought us into slavery and the 13 Car. 2. c. 1. tells us All His Majesties Endeavours and unparallel'd Indulgence in pardoning all that is past has not been able to oblige them but that nevertheless many evil Spirits are still working and therefore for prevention of mischief for the time to come and for Preservation of the publick Peace both in Church and State be it Enacted c. This we have found true ever since 16 Car. 2. c. 4. tells us of growing and dangerous Practises of Seditious Sectaries and other disloyal Persons who under pretence of tender Consciences do at their Meetings contrive Insurrections as late Experience hath shewed 17 Car. 2. c. 2. informs that they distil the poisonous Principles of Schism and Rebellion into the Hearts of His Majesties Subjects to the great danger of the Church and Kingdom so that the Testimony of the Laws and Statutes of the Realm are clear against them and declare them dangerous Enemies and if there were nothing else their strict Confederacy in the Common Cause and the sudden Reconciliation that is among so many differing Sects who are mortal Enemies in perswasion and damn one another as deep as Hell only to get the Penal Laws against them repealed is a sufficient acknowledgement from themselves both what our Laws esteem them and what they esteem our Government and truly one of them speaks plain Plotters Doom Pag. 10. where he tells you That if Martin Luther were alive he would call those who put the Penal Laws in Execution against Protestant Dissenters the Devils Magistrates and the Devils Ministers and not Gods and a little after Of these therefore beware as of the Devil whose first begotten Children they are And lest the single Testimony of the Laws should not be sufficient Experience makes good the Charge have they not been infamous for Sedition Conspiracies Rebellion Have they not actually once before overthrown the Monarchy set up Arbitrary Power trampled under foot our Magna Charta Liberty Property Lives and Religion Murdered their Lawful Prince Banished his Son and had not Providence miraculously interposed nothing could have secured us from utter Ruin and Destruction Nor will it at all avail them now to pretend that they abhor and detest all such Designs or Intentions the saving their Necks and Estates oblige them to that Declaration and the Design they have to impose upon the People keeps that concealed from them but yet they are not so cautious at all times nor so full of abhorring all the Art of Man cannot perswade them to abhor their Dagon of the Solemn League and Covenant or to abhor the Traiterous Position of taking up Arms by His Majesties Authority against His Person which if they did not think Rebellion Lawful or did not intend to Rebel upon a fair occasion they would voluntarily and ex animo declare to be their Sense and Judgment But that you may see through these thin Pretences to Loyalty Duty and Affection to His Majesty pray observe first that the Late Rebels did the very same who so Dutiful and Loyal such faithful Subjects as the Dissenting Protestants till they had grasped the Power and when Victory which they argued was a Declaration of Gods Favour had Elevated their Arms then the Note was changed and he who before was treated with the Stile of Sovereign and Majesty could get no better Language from them than plain Charles Stuart Tyrant and Usurper and after the loss of His Crown and Life to have His Reputation murdered with an Epitaph in Capital Letters written under the Pedestal from whence they had pulled His Statue in the Old Exchange Exit Tyrannus Regum Ultimus that there might be as many Nations Witnesses of their Infamous Villany as Curiosity or Commerce draws to that Publick Place which for my Particular I cannot but look upon as an infatuation in them that forced them to proclaim their own Infamy and Guilt to the whole World and that there should scarcely be a Nation under Heaven that is not able to produce a Testimony against them Secondly Observe That the Survivors of that Black Tragedy have not given one single Symptom of Repentance for their former Guilt but as a most Infallible Demonstration that they are given up to the utmost Impenitence and a seared Conscience notwithstanding all their Pretences to Tenderness they do not only continue obstinately in their Errors but compass Sea and Land to proselyte others to their Opinions and it is evident it is not Religion but Design that is the chief Motive that gives fire to their Zeal that they are for the Drag-Net of a Toleration and all are Fish that come to the Net if they do but center in the main Point which unites all these true Protestants which is to oppose the Government How do they upon all occasions either extenuate or endeavour to evade the Horrid Crimes of which they were the Actors do they not as before was instanced notwithstanding the Premunire they incur still adhere to the Covenant Are not all the Conventicles shut up on the 30th of Jan. lest they should shew any remorse for their having shed the Blood of the Just and call themselves Villains by deploring the Tragedy wherein they were principal Actors Abetters and open Justifiers Have they not constantly opposed the Government both in Church and State broken the Laws disturbed the Peace and do they not avow and justifie their doing it with pretence of Conscience and if they be the same Persons as they shew plainly they are if ever they were dangerous they are so still and their pleading Not Guilty is no more Justification against the Testimony of the Laws and Experience than it is in any other Criminals and Malefactors Thirdly Observe They do exactly trace the same Method and Footsteps of the late Rebellion they begin with Popery but they presently change the Scent and fall upon Prelacy the Church of England and the Loyal Party These must be hunted down for Papists Tories Tantivies Pensioners Evil Counsellors and Enemies to the King and Kingdom and those must have the Title of the only true Protestants who are the most fierce and violent Schismaticks and such as favour them must be reputed the only fit Persons to represent the Nation whilst such Loyal Gentlemen or their Sons who hazarded their Lives and Fortunes in defence of the King and Government are contemned affronted punished and treated with all the ignominious and reproachful Terms and Marks of Infamy that spite and artful Malice can invent to render them odious or suspitious to the People They traduce the Government and endeavour to make it contemptible revile the Bishops malign the Loyal Peers vilifie the King and have much to do to keep from down-right Treason and if these be not sufficient Arguments to prove that they are Enemies still dangerous Enemies to the Monarchy our Ancient Laws Government Established Religion and to the true Interest and Happiness of England I think if an Angel came from Heaven he would not find credit for sure I am he might manage it with greater skill but he could not produce more demonstrative Truth This my Generous Countrymen is the true state of your Interest and our present Affairs This is what you must expect should these Zealots come to give you Laws If therefore you have any value for your selves your Posterity your Liberties Property Laws the true Protestant Religion the Trade Peace or Honour of the English Nation it is both your Interest and your Duty to assert and stand up for the Monarchy to support the Laws and Government to the uttermost of your power and by all Lawful Ways and Means to convince perswade and reclaim the Credulous and Mistaken to suppress oppose and defeat the Designs of these Factious dangerous Sectaries and Schismaticks for so our Laws call them who with fair Speeches and flattering Pretences steal the Hearts of the People like Absalom only to exalt themselves into Sovereign Power and reduce you to the desperate Condition of slavery which is always the Reward and Issue of Rebellion FINIS