REMARKS upon a late PAPER ENTITULED A True Relation of the Cursed Designs and Intrigues which have been lately carry'd on both in England and France to Restore the late King JAMES c. Discovered by some Gentlemen lately Arriv'd from St. Germaines IT is agreed by most Men that there are several degrees and sorts of Liâ—s which as far as they concern this True Relation we shall divide into these Two One when a Man repeats that for Truth which he certainly knows to be false the other when he reports that for Truth which he doth not know to be true or in his Conscience believes to be false the latter is but a small Extenuation of the first But both of them if they may prejudice a third Person are malicious and damnable I will not determine how far the Author of the True Relation is guilty in either or any Case but shall leave the Censure of him â—o the Judgment of every Impartial Reader when the Matter of Fact shall be examined We shall divide the Relation into two Parts First We shall consider the Matter of Fact and then the Application and use made of it The Birth of this Wonderful Paper justly claims our first Remark not that we know any thing of its Noble Descent or of those Gentlemen of very good Note who it seems club'd in its Generation but it is of great Importance to acquaint the Reader That the Body of this Paper with the very Numerical Words contain'd in it first appear'd to the World in a certain Pamphlet which had in its Title A Shâ—rt and True Relation of Intrigues transacted both at Home and Abroad to Restore the late King James It was publickly dandled about the Streets with great Noise for one Day and then vanished not one to be had for Love or Money The Reasons might probably be these The first part of that Pamphlet is an Invective against King James particularly for his Ingratitude to his Friends and of those it makes special mention of the Irish Catholicks and Protestant Dissenters both which it says he hath made an Oblation to the Passive-Obedience-men meaning I suppose the Church of England-men who it further says are now the late King's Creatures and the only Persons that would Abdicate the Gospel rather than their Church-Livings And next it highly Censures K. James for his great Mercy to his Enemies and concludes that part of it with a Curse viz. Seeing now King James 's Favours are only reserved to promote his Enemies let his Enemies grow potent every where and numerous withal and let him be so lost that he may never be found here at Home I suppose it will be easily granted me that these were not proper Topicks to insist upon especially at that Juncture of Affairs for every young States-man would soon conclude that if this Learned Pamphlet together with K. James's late Declaration could convince his Enemies of their Security and His Favour towards them the Passive-Obedience-men as he calls them would easily concur with his Enemies notwithstanding King James's Ingratitude towards his Restoration which would make it unavoidable Now the Wiser Government seeing the ill Consequence of so foolish a Suggestion had very good reason to recal betimes this ill-digested and worse-concluding Pamphlet besides it insinuates strongly to the Church of England for whose Preservation King Charles the First suffered Martyrdom and for fear of whose falsly and maliciously-pretended Destruction his Son King James the Second is turn'd out of his three Kingdoms that K. James is so truly and sincerely their Friend that he scruples not to make an Oblation of the Roman Catholicks themselves to the Church of England 's Interest Now whatsoever the Government may intend hereafter it is certain that during this Session of Parliament it would have been a surprizing Indiscretion to have given or permitted so just an Occasion to be given to the Church of England established by Law and for whose pretended Preservation so many thousands of English Lives have been vainly cast away to adhere to the Interest of King James through the hasty Zeal and Phanatical Itch of this foolish Pamphleteer For the Church of England have found by Experience and at present without the additional help of this Pamphlet are sensible enough that whatsoever hath been or may be pretended for her Security she can never be so happy under any unjust Revolution or Usurpation as under a Lawful Rightful Prince who is not only bound by the Law but by Royal Promise to protect and defend her But notwithstanding these plain and broad Hints already given this Man is so fond of his Project that he anticipates the Privy Council and forces the Cabinet it self to give vent to his Folly he tells us then toâ—ards the Conclusion of his Pamphlet that he hath found a long Snake in the Grass which it seems is no other than some Church of England-men with whom the major part of our Councils and places of Trust are fill'd and ends that excellent Paragraph with News from the Court at St. Germains viz. That it dreads nothing more than such an alteration of the Leiutenancy and Justices of the Peace over all England as it hath pleased their Majesties of late to cause in London It must be acknowledged that about this Time a Discourse was spread about that the Leiutenancy and Government of all England as well as London would be settled in the Hands of the Presbyterians and some of the Dissenting Party in Exclusion of the Church of England-men whether the Government intended any such Alteration I know not But I think it sufficiently evident that it would have been a gross Beveiâ— and Over-sight to have suffered this Scribler so much to over-run their own Councils as publickly to insinuate a Change so ungrateful to a Parliament which was to grant a Supply for the Support of this Government and of which the most considerablest part is look'd upon to be firm to the Doctrine and Interest of the Church of England By this time I think it is visible enough that the Government had very good Reason to suppress betimes this foolish Contradictory Pamphlet which as it blows hot and cold with a Breath so it would probably have done much more harm than good to that very Cause which it pretends so affectionately to support But however though this Pamphlet was supprest for these sufficient Reasons before-mentioned yet there was not the same Cause to stifle the True Relation for since its chief Design is to set forth King James's Ingratitude and Inconstancy to his Friends without touching upon his Royal Mercy and Favour to his Enemies it was to be hoped that it might cool and moderate at least the Zeal and Affection of his Friends especially since the Truth will want no Confirmation and that further Enquiry into Foreign Affairs will remove all Doubts and leave no room for Contradiction without inflaming the good Will of his Enemies whom his Favours are only reserved
been reasonably expected that the Relator should have explained himself what sort of Dissenters he meant for I suppose the word Dissenter includes all sort of Perswasions or Religions which are not in the Communion of the Church of England or that differ in Doctrine or Discipline from the same The Popish Dissenters Timing me are not here included And for the Protestand Dissenters it is very certain that there is a fort of them which have hitherto been so far from deserving any Reward or Thanks from the King that his Mercy must be very extensive at his Return if it comprehends them But since the Man hath spoken in general Terms I answer also That in general the Protestant Dissenters cannot desire more than what the King hath already offered and declared in their behalf To prove this it is only to be considered whether the Protestant Dissenters can reasonably desire more of the King than a general Pardon and an impartial Liberty of Conscience except he means a Dissolution also of the Liberties of the Church of England established by Law If he means thâ— last the King will be much obliged to them for being to modest as to ask only that very Thing the vain and ill grounded Imagination whereof was made use of as one main if not the chief Pretence which hath brought these heavy Misfortunes both upon him and us but if he means Pardon and Liberty of Conscience the King hath then anticipated their Desires and prevented all Grounds of Dissatisfaction their part by promising Solemoly in his last Declaration under the Great Seal a free Pardon and Indemnity to all his Loving Subjects of what Degree or Quality soever which shall not by Land or Sea oppose him c. A Pardon so full and comprehensive that no man is excluded who shall not wilfully and voluntarily reject it and to such I suppose the Relator himself hath not Confidence to expect that his Majesty's Gratitude should extend And as for Liberty of Conscience the King hath taken Care also in his said last Declaration to give all Sorts and Degrees of Protestant Dissenters the greatest Security imaginable by declaring That he will with all Earnestness recommend to his Parliament such an Impartial Liberty of Conscience as they shall think necessary for the Happiness of these Nations More I think cannot be desired by the one nor granted by the other except the Dispincing Power be called again in Question which already hath made so much Noise and which the King declares in the immediate following Paragraph he will leave to be explained and limited by his Parliament And I do affirm my self to have heard some of the most considerable and it may be the most prudent among the Dissenters Declare That in Conscience they ought not to ask more than the King is willing to procure for them But Thirdly The Church of England or Passive Obedience-Men as the Relator scornfully calls them are of all people the most secure from meeting any ungrateful Return from the King for he declares upon his Royal Word That be will protect and defend the Church of England as 〈…〉 is naâ—â— established by Law and seâ—arâ— to the Members of its all the Churches Universities Colâ—iges and Schools together with their Immunities Rights and Priuiledges But not to multiply Arguments in a Case that needs none the Relator himself in the Pamphâ—er before mentioned hath saved us that Trouble For he acknowledges with a sort of Spight and Indignation That the King hath made the Irish Catholicks and Protestant Dissâ—â—ter an Oblation to the Pâ—sstoâ—â— Obediencâ—-Men who are now become the late King's Creatures We will for once take his word as to this last part of it and since we are agreed upon the Point we come now to the last Rank and Son of Persons who may suffer by the King's Ingratitude and those are his English Catholick Subjects Now to understand their Case aright we must distinguish them into these two Sorts Those who are men of Estates And those who are younger Brothers and men of Fortune and these we must also subdivide into such as remain in the same Circumstances â—bating the Misfortunes of this Revolution that they were in before K. James's Accession to the Throne and such as have followed K. Jame's Fortune since this Revolution and have suffered Imprisonment Losses and many other Hardships upon the Account of their Loyalty to him As for the first Sort we dare almost affirm for them that they neither expect nor desire no nor need much more of K James's Favour than to be freed from the Buâ—then of heavy and double Taxes and some personal Severities which they sometimes lye under or are at least exposed to through the Malice of their Enemies And to speak plainly they have general behaved themselves with so much Indifferency and Coldness towards K. James and towards his Friends during this their time of Tryal that they have but very small Pretences to deserve more The second sort who are supposed to be under the same Circumstances they were in during the Reign of King Charles the Second I know not how the King's Gratitude is far her concern'd with them than to restore them to their former Liberties and dispence his Favours to them according to their Qualifications and he â—â—â—portion they bare with the rest of their 〈◊〉 Subjects as far forth as the Law will permit And I do not find the King â—â—â—th declared against this There remain then those of the laâ—â— soâ— only who have really veâ—â—oâ—ed and suffiâ—â—â—d much and who can very hardly subsist except the King should be pleased to make some honourable Provision for them in reâ—â—mpence of their saithful Services and Sufferings which 〈◊〉 imagine the â—eâ—ator believes he either cannot or will not do it he keep to his Dâ—â—lantion That he will not dispâ— not with nor value the Test If the Case were so it were indeâ—â—â—â— haâ—d Dilemma upon the King either to be justly accused of Iâ—igratâ—â—ndâ— or of violating the Law which is seems was made as a Bulâ—ark 〈◊〉 scoure the Church of England from â—opish Invasion but I do not find it 〈◊〉 unanoidable Consequence that the King must needs be Guilty elther of the one or the other For First If the King hath declared he will not violate the Test but will defend and protect the Church of England and less he could not declares if he declar'd any thing and so much he declared in his first Declaration partly in express Terms as to what relates to the Church of England and the other part sufficiently included in his last Paragraph In which he refers the healing of the late Distractions to the Advice and Assistance of his Parliament It is not impossible but the Wisdom and Justice of a Free and Well-tempered Parliament might find our some meâ—zi termini or Medium between a violating of the Test and the Ingratitude of the King to to his deserving Subjects There are many Moderate and
Wise Men God be praised still lest among us and the Nation is now taught by woful Experience to distinguish between Laws extorted by Faction to serve a particular Turn and equal Laws made for the Publick Good and Union nor the Distruction and Ruiâ—e of the Nation but however taking all Things in their extream I do not find the King intends or will be forc'd if I may so say to be ungrateful to such as deserve his Favours For First his poor Suffering Roman Catholick Subject here intended are reduced by the Violences of the War and nâ—tural Dissolutions to every small Handful of Men and it cannot be well supposed that the King's Hands will be ever sâ—â—bound up by Twelve or Four and Twenty Articles as nor to be able to provide for these poor Remains of Suffering Loyalty without violating the Test or Law of God or Man and if he can 't is not to be doubted he will but whether he can or cannot will or will not We have some Reason to believe that Ingratitude will never be justly imputed to him by those poor Gentlemen among whom their will be sound more than one Mephiloseth who will be contented to lose all even that little All that is left them Provided they may live to see their Lord and King return in Peace Thus I have Answered plainly and fully I hope to the Odious Accusation of the King's Ingratitude which I own to be a Crime so much unworthy of a Prince that it is scarce pardonable in the meanest of his Subjects But God be thanked our most Gracious King and Royal Master is so free from the least Spot or Tincture of it who besides knows very well that it often proves the Punishment as well as Sin of the Ungrateful that I appeal to the whole Nation even to his Enemies if they will recollect themselves and speak impartially whether King James Gratitude and Constancy to his Friends or at least to his pretended Friends have not hiâ—herto been more prejudicial to him through the whole Course of his Life then the practice of their contrary Vices probably could have been Let therefore every good and honest Man lay his Hand on his Heart and consider seriously with himself as â—he expects Mercy from the King or from the King of Kings in a better World Whether it becomes a Christian or a true Englishman to treat a Royal Prince the Son of our Royal Martyr and Father to our present Governours unhear'd uncondemn'd absent and unfortunate with such opprobrious villainous false and odious Crimes and Language and Litensed according to Order as could be scarce pardoned betwixt Man and Man But I shall conclude with this one Observation more Let us suppose for once that the whole Matter of Fact in this True Relation were really as true as the Relater fâ—lsly and impudently pretends I must then make this Remark upon iâ— That its Application and Conclusion is directly opposite to what he pretends to prove and to the very Title of his Pamphlet and Paper he tells us that the Jacobites for he can mean none else together with the French carried on a Cursed Design to Restore the late King James but would prove all along that the Measures which he hath taken together with his Declaration have all ended in a Dissolution of the Hopes of a Second Restoration Now from whence did he take his Measures but from the Jacobites and the French who advised him to publish this fatal Declaration but the Jacobites who were of his pretended Protestant Council but Jacobites who mutiny'd and wish'd themselves at Home but the Irish Jacobites who are dissatisfy'd and returning Home in a most deplorable Condition but the English Jacobites In a Word who but the Jacobites and the French have reduced him to this desperate Condition By which it is most apparent that if there hath been any Design carried on according to this Man's Notion it was indeed a Cursed Design not to Restore but as this Trifler proves contrary to his Intention intirely to ruine the late King James Let it therefore suffice to observe at last That never did Irish Evidence more naturally contradict himself than this Man hath done FINIS