Circumstances being considered it is not to be wondered at if we read of so frequent Tumults when a Bishop then was declared or in danger to be declared an Heretick or Schismatick or to be Banished It will not then seem strange if upon the dissention betwixt Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria and Arius a Presbyter of his after that the Latter was Excommunicated great Tumults did follow For though the Power and Authority did seem Lodged in the Metropolitan yet did Arius supply that Defect by his Learning and Subtilty He was befriended by many Neighbouring Bishops of great Repute and Power he himself was exceeding Popular and he framed several Drolling Songs and Discourses whith were Sung in the Streets by the Vulgar and made the common entertainment of all Festivals Those of the Bishop's party were Exasperated at these Actions and being Instigated with Zeal Indignation and Interest they engaged the others in several Quarrels The Emperour interposed by reconciliatory Letters but to no purpose for the Arians drawing no Emolument from the Charity of the Bishop and being subjected to the Ignominy and Odium of an Excommunication they grew so outragious as to injure the Statues of Constantine The Pagans fomented the Division and abetted the Arians that so they might with more facility ruine Constantine The Meletian Bishops and their Followers being Orthodox yet under an Umbrage and looked on as Schismaticks by their Metropolitan did contribute all they could to the support of Arius So that Constantine was necessitated to call the Nicene Council where the Tenets of Arius were condemned and those that adhered thereunto Anathematized But neither was Arius by Name fulminated against nor did the Council solicite for but rather pitied his Banishment After the censure passed upon the Arians in the Nicene Council most Ecclesiastical Historians do agree that Constantine did Banish him and a few other Bishops his Adherents But the Narrative which they make concerning his Exile and his Revocation is so incoherent and defective that Baronius doubts and Gothofredus knows not what to make thereof If he Theognis and Eusebius of Nicomedia were Banished against the latter civil crimes as Treason are alledged for the cause And whether the forementioneâ— Tumults or the sense of any future Broils in Egypt which was the Granary of the Empire and prone to Rebellions did occasion the Banishment of the others I know not Their Fxile was not long nor were their Followers rigorously proceeded against but the Edict suspended And afterwards Athanasius having succeeded Alexander is Banished no otherwise then they had been before by the power of the Arian Faction Athanasius was sent back again by Constantine the Son upon the Death of Constantine the Great whereupon he Repossessed himself of the Sea at Alexandria Upon the Division of the Empire betwixt the three Sons of Constantine the East fell to Constantius who finding the perpetual Tumults which arose from this contest tried many wayes to compose Affairs The Arians did attribute a greater Power unto the Emperour in matters of Religion then did the Catholick And they perswaded him to violate the Canons for Election of Bishops by Imposing upon the People such as he should Nominate cause to be ordained and sent Whereupon he Ejected the Catholick Bishops and Substituted Arians the Orthodox were Tormented and Punished sundry wayes as by Imprisonment Banishment c. and a Toleration given unto all but those of the Nicene Faith The proceedings of this Emperour not being very Exemplary I shall conclude the account of his Reign with this Observation That by reason of this Persecution Athanasius and other Catholick Bishops moved Disputes Whether the Emperour had any power to Judge in Ecclesiastical Affairs And Whether it were lawful to Persecute any in cases of Religion with Imprisoning or Banishment Julian the Apostate succeeded Coustantius He laboured by all means possible to restore Paganism to its pristine Glory He granted Liberty of Conscience to all the Sects of Christians But withal he did equally subject them unto civil Employments and took away the publick Allowances which had been granted unto the Catholicks He recalled all the Exiled Bishops but did not restore them to their proper Seas and Admonished them and such as had been Deposed for Scandal to look after their Churches and provide for their Parties and Interests as well as they could Whereupon in sundry Cities there started up two or three Bishops an Arian a Meletian and a Catholick In some places more He permitted them to Quarrel and Fight and commit all Outrages one against the other encouraging the Sectaries and Pagans against the Orthodox This was the Indulgence which he gave unto them and whereby he designed to overthrow Christianity After his Decease succeeded Jovianus who was an Orthodox Emperour his Reign was but short he found the Empire divided into Potent Factions of the Orthodox Arians Gentiles c. Whereupon he declared that he would not molest any Person for his Faith whatsoever of Paganism Hrresie or Schism he professed But he should principally Love Honour and Favour those which endeavoured to Restore the Church unto its peace He restored the Orthodox unto their former Immunities and Priviledges which Constantine had bestowed on the Catholick Church These proceedings gained unto him this Character That the Empire had been brought unto a most happy Posture as to Church and State if it had pleased to God to grant him a longer Life Upon the Decease of Jovianus there was chosen for Emperour Valentinian and he Elected his Brother Valens for his Consort They were both Christians but Valentinian was Zealous for the Nicene Faith and Valens favoured the Arians as much Such testimonies had each of them given of his Sincerity that both did proffer to Die Martyrs rather that Sacrifice to Idols under Julian The Artifices of Julian had broke Christianity into so many Sects and Subdivisions of Sects that in every City almost their might be found Two Three Four or more Bishops all Anathematizing each other and most Rebaptizing the Converts gained from any other Congregation The East did abound principally with Arians and Macedonians Eunomians c. Which were of the same Sentiments almost in the West the Interest of that Heresie was much lessened by the care and piety of Saint Hilary who by his Christian Prudence Charity and exemplary Piety joyned with as great Indulgence or forbearance did reclaim the Arians in France Yet were those Hereticks considerable at Millain and in sundry others places of the Western Empire As also were the Donatists in Africk notwithstanding their fierce Persecution under Constans by Macarius Governour of Numidia It was then seen that no confiscations of Lands and Churches nor Exiles or the most severe Punishments could extinguish a numerous and obstinate Sect Whatsoever they endured they esteemed it as Martyrdom and became Implacable against the Catholicks as having solicited that Emperour and
revenues of the Provinces were much less than they were thereby to draw from her the greater sums And whereas it was covenâ—…nted betwixt the Qâ—…een and the States that the Earl of Leicester should continue all such in their employments which he should find already preferred this Barnevelt did solicite the States of Holland and West-Friesland that they and also Zealand would choose Grave Maurice State-holder before the arrival of the Earl thereby to disappoint him of that Government at which he aimed and unto which by a custome received in Brabant the Earl might well pretend He did also further contrive that Grave Maurice should be dignified with the Title of Prince though it did not of right appertain unto him he not being the Heir but Administrator of the Principality of Orange during the imprisonment of his elder brother Philip William in Spain Both these actions the Queen being already engaged did think fit to dissemble though the Earl did not conceal his resentments but construed the one as a diminution of his power and the other as a lessening of his esteem and glory The Election of Grave Maurice to the said State-holdership was purely a provincial act he had not any Commission from the Generality yet he had thereby the disposal and managing of the affairs of war by land in Holland and Zealand and particularly the besetting or garrisoning of all Cities and Forts of those Countries by the advice of the States thereof or their Commissioners and also the removing or trans-placing the encreasing diminishing or altering of the Garrisons of the said Provinces was to be done by the Orders of his aforesaid Excellency of Nassau with the advice of the States afore named or their Commissioners To allay the Indignation of the Earl of Leicester upon his arrival at the Hague the States contrary to the mind of the Queen made him by a publick instrument and absolute Commission to be Governour and Captain General not simply of the Leaguers or over the Souldiery only without the voicing Provinces so as the successive Princes of Orange had their Commissions of Captain General limited and circumscribed but absolutely over all the United Provinces themselves thère being yielded up unto him powerfully and absolutely to make use of the words of Authorization given by the States General unto the Earl Jan. 10. 1586. to command in the matter and point of war and that which depends thereon by Sea and Land over all the aforesaid Provinces Cities and Members thereof c. accordingly as he should think best The collation of this absolute power which all the Dutch Historians acknowledge was the voluntary and unanimous deed of the Deputies of the Generality and Olden Barnevelt as Pensioner of Roterdam was instrumental in the promoting it but no sooner did the Earl begin to put in exeoution the power which they had given him without applying himself most humbly unto the Council of State and the then pittiful Magistrates of each Province and City but the confederates of Olden-Barnevelt begin to repine clamour and contrive how to invalidate the Commission of the Earl and to elude that obedience which they had so solemnly sworn unto In the same year 1586. Olden-Barnevelt is put into the place of Advocate General of Holland whereupon he was no sooner entred but he informs the people and Provincials of Holland that all their former Customes were inverted their priviledges infringed the Government in danger to be altered the Union of Utrecht violated by the excluding Papists from the Magistracy that they had done ill to confer so great power on the Earl and to permit the English in the Council of state to be acquainted with all the Secrets of their Government Having possessed that province herewith designs were formed against the Earl of Leicester to invalidate his Authority Remonstrances framed Libels Medails and scurrilous pictures scattered abroad jealousies fomented betwixt Pr. Maurice and the Earl the Count Hohenlo is exasperated and spreads dissentions in the Army a devi ce is found out for the introducing an Assembly of the States General with an Authority and Superintendency over the Council of State All oaths taken unto the Earl are either forgotten or annulled and it is declared that the People are the original of the Magistrates power which is so transferred upon them that it still remains in the donors that the Majesty of the Government is not fixed in the persons of thirty or forty assembled and ruling as States but in the Provinces themselves who might reject or admit of the decrees of the Council of State as they saw cause A declaration to this purpose was sent unto the Earl by the States of Holland and West-Friestand being penned by Olden-Barnevelt This Notion of Government and of the States Generall was at first laugh'd at and exploded universally in a manner and the persons of the provincial States rendred contemptible but in time Olden-Barnevelt and his associates made the Government so uneasie unto the Earl that he departed and resigned it up and because the Ministers were extreamly devoted to the Earl and asserted his power and the obligation of the Oaths of fealty taken unto him to distract and divide them this Olden-Barnevelt introduceth amongst some of them the Tenets afterwards denominated from Arminius whence arose such fâ—…uds amongst them that they were forced to divert their thoughts from State-affairs to those of Religion and and to demand a National Synod for the composing of Church-Divisions The Advocate by his artifices and private insinuations eludes the calling thereof and thereby necessitates the Ministers to seek their support by a greater compliance with the Burgo-masters The Earl having relinquished his titular Authority the States General assume all power to themselves the Office of Governour general is extinguished they make Pr. Maurice Captain General whose power extended only to the Souldiers in the Leaguer and field he not having any command over the particular Governours or State-holders of the Provinces within their respective jurisdictions but these particular Governours notwithstanding the Captain General appointed over the Souldiery were themselves Captains General over the Souldiers lying in the respective provinces Neither could the Captain General transplace any Garrisons or enquarter in any City without the Consent of the Province and Magistracy of the City The prerogative of the Advocate General 's Office consists chiefly in this viz. To have a priority in all matters and to defend the Soveraignties and rights of the States provincial and the immunities of the Countrey to have a care of calling the publick Assemblies in them to have a voice in all businesses to take charge of Remonstrances and Petitions tendred unto them and to exhibite them at convenient times to consult and deliberate with the Nobles concerning them and all other things propounded in those meetings That being done to pronounce the verdict passed either by joint consent or at least plurality of
voices to be their verdict and to strengthen them with allegations and reasons as should be most fit Afterward to demand the suffrages of the free Cities to conclude by most voices and lastly to employ his utmost ability that what was decreed may be put in execution This place is esteemed the highest whereunto any man can arrive in that Democracy the people reverence him as the great assertour of their franchises and the Atlas libertatis Belgicae It is not to be wondred if a man of great address and subtlety being thus dignified do sway the Provinces as he please the whole interest of Holland being at his devotion Olden-Barnevelt and his faction have endeared themselves always to their Provincials by raising suspicions and jealousies in the heads of the populace as if the Princes of Orange had designed to make themselves Soveraigns there and have peretually except when they made use of the house of Nassau in opposition to the Earl of Leicester laboured by all manner of practices to depress them and lessen their power so that upon every occasion the instructions of the Captain General were more and more limited and the power of State-holder was abated by many restrictions in the several Provinces according as the province of Holland could influence the Members thereof Every Province doth separately choose its State-holder and the power doth vary much in the several Provinces One part of his power is to choose the Magistrates out of a double number proposed unto him this he doth with the Council or Court provincial or in his absence the Court alone doth it Another part of that charge is that in case the Provinces or Towns could not agree amongst themselves about matters of Truce Peace War or Contributions the difference was to be referred and submitted to the State-holders of the said Provinces who were to reconcile the differences betwixt the parties or determine the same as they should judge it fitting in equity there being no appeal from or review of their sentence But notwithstanding this Authority so refractory were that people always so tender of their priviledges so jealous of their State-holders that the Lords State-holders durst not make use of their power to pronounce any definitive sentence or make decisions between the principal members of such a considerable body but endeavoured for the most part to compose the differences by way of intercession and perswasion Twice we find the State-holders to have acted Authoritatively in the suppressing of Olden-Barnevelt Hugo Grotius c. in 1618. and in the visitation of Holland and attempt upon Amsterdam in 1650. But so malevolent and tumultuous are those Provinces especially Holland that they have never laid aside the resentments for those proceedings nor ever ceased to contrive the ruine of the house of Orange upon that account Notwithstanding that their State-holders did therein nothing but what the Union and resolutions of the States General impowered them to do and what was absolutely necessary for the preservation of the Countrey in peace Grotius and Hogherbet were imprisoned in Louvestein house near Gorcum and so was deWit together with the other five Lords in 1650. This faction hath always been enemies unto England and although Olden-Barnevelt did prefer the protection of the English before that of France it was rather out of interest than affection and with a design upon all occasions to impose upon and cozen the Queen The which he did sundry ways whereof he boasts in his Apology as of so many services rendered unto his Fatherland He was perpetually averse from K. James and hated him for his opposition to Arminius In the several Treaties betwixt that King and the States about the Fishing and East-India trade he it was and his faction that first disputed the Soveraignty of the Seas and from that Cabal did issue the Mare liberum entituled unto Grotius Not one of those Treaties betwixt the two Nations did ever take effect and all the dammages which the English have sustained in the East-Indies all the mischief which hath befaln this Nation hath ever been occasioned or fomented by that party It is not to be wondred that they have so long continued for in that government if I may call it so for it never deserved that name any more than Poland doth The Burghers or Townsmen have no power to elect their Magistrates but the Common-council or Vroed-Schapen which are for life and consist of 20 26 32 or 40 do choose them and supply their own number accordingly as any one happeneth to decease and the people are absolutely concluded by their Magistrates whence it is manifest that the Republick was no Democracy nor were the people free as the Considerer and those Canaanites did pretend This party being thus once setled did perpetuate themselves nor was there ever any of their State-holders who did not once in a year or two sensibly understand who were their Masters This party of Olden-Barnevelt did always profess to vindicate the liberties of the people and by alledging old customes and immunities and insisting thereon as also by new expositions of Laws and deeds nice distinctions which â—…bid more of acuteness than probability and urging oftentimes the Letter contrary to the meaning intent and design of the Authors did imbroyl and dissolve the Government Those that shall hereafter write political discourses when they come to treat about Common Lawyers what interest employment and regard they merit in a Government will find occasion to amplifie their debates from the consideration of the United Provinces The Province of Holland being the most rich and contributing more than all the rest unto the publick as also abounding more in Towns was the most easily wrought upon and Olden-Barnevelt did so contrive affairs that his partisans ruled in Holland and Holland did rule all the rest of the Provinces Although the Union of Utrecht was so formed that in matters of the greatest concern the plurality of voices had no place but every Province was particularly to consent yet did Olden Barnevelt in 1609 enforce Zealand to admit of the Truce and afterwards when he was resolved to ruine the Authority of Pr. Maurice which was not great except when the Army was in the field that he might fortifie the Arminian faction he revived old priviledges that each Town might raise what Souldiers they pleased without the consent or privity of the States General or Provincial and without any subordination unto the Captain General or State-holders and administer an Oath of fealty unto them to be true to them not the States provided they did this at their proper charge He told the People that they were the Soveraigns and that the States General had but a delegated representative power the real Majesty being fixed in them He sowed discontents and jealousies be wixt the Nobility Gentry and Commons and also betwixt Holland and the other Provinces and either actively advanced that Province unto a Sway over the rest or
did the Festivals of Bacchus or as it is usual to proceed against Traitors I think I may now put a period unto the Discourse about Indulgence which I have so managed as becomes a Son and a Friend unto the Church of England as well as a lover of the peace and welfare of his Native Countrey I have not debated the point of Prerogative in particular partly because what was said heretofore about the Deity is true concerning these Gods on earth It is dangerous to tell even the truth concerning their Essence partly because I could not do it without offending if not prejudicing the Church of England I do not think it convenient or seasonable that we should minutely inquire whether All the Power which was owned to be in the Pope at the Lateran Councill were vested in K. Henry VIII Or to examine strictly what the purport of those words are that The Kings of this Realme shall be taken accepted and reputed the onely Supreame Head on Earth of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia and shall have and enjoy annexed and united unto the Imperial Crown of this Realm as well the title and stile thereof as all Honours Dignities Preheminences Jurisdictions Priviledges Authorities Immunities Profits and Commodities to the said Dignity of Supream Head of the same Church belonging and appertaining Our Laws doe likewise tell us that the King is the onely and undoubted supream Headof the Church of England and Ireland to whom by Holy Scripture all Authority and power is wholly given to hear and determine all manner of causes Ecclesiastical Which passages whosoever shall discreetly consider He will esteem of these Arcana Imperii as matters which no wise man will search into that affects the tranquillity of these Realms To exemplify this further did not Q. Elizabeth dispense with the Act for coming to Church and connived at the Popish Service in private Houses in a manner without punishment although it were prohibited by the Law under a pecuniary mulct This Indulgence she used for thirteen years And when the Statute was made against the bringing in of Bulls Agnus Dei's and hallowed grains c. privy tokens of Papal obedience or to reconcile any man unto the Church of Rome yet was there no man in full six years proceeded against by that Law What imports it whither a Law be suspended by Practice or Declaration Her Reign doth afford some instances of Toleration as also do the Primitive Times which I have declined to mention But yet they are instances of what a Prince may do upon Reason of State and against which I have not met with any Father Bishop or Lawyer that hath protested I thought to put an end here unto this Preface which is grown prolixe beyond my intention But I met lately with a Book written by an English Lawyer in 1640. and tendered to the Parliament which requires some Animadversions thereupon The Case is about Ship-Money but there is an excursion against the English Soveraignty of the Brittish Seas the which since I have so perspicuously asserted against the Dutch it seems necessary that I do not suffer it to be betrayed by the English I am sorry to find a sort of Civil war betwixt the Temple and a faction in Lincolns-Inn and I wondered who had suggested unto the Dutch those principles of refusing the Flag and denying our Rights on the Sea until I found this Book to have given them a pretext thereunto If I be any thing sharp in my reflections thereon I may be pâ—…doned since those assertions are less to be endured in an English man then in an Hollander After the writings of Selden it is strange to find a Subject of the King of Great Britain that doubts Whether the Sea be a part of the King's dominions and adds But grant the Sea be a part of the King's Dominions to some purposes How is it a part Essential or equally valuable or how does it appeare that the Fate of the Land depends wholly upon the Dominion of the Sea France subsists without the Regiment of the Sea and why may not we as well want the same If England quite spend it self and poure out all its treasure to preserve the Seignory of the Seas it is not certain to exceed the Naval force of France Spain Holland c. And if it content it self with its antient strength of Shipping it may remain as safe as it hath formerly done Nay I cannot see that either necessity of ruine or necessity of dishonour can be truly pretended out of this that France Spain or Holland c. are too potent at Sea for Us. The Dominion of the Seas may be considered as a meer Right or as an Honour or as a Profit to us As a Right it is a Theame fitter for Scholars to whet their Wits upon then for Christians to fight and spill blood about And since it doth not manifestly appeare how or when it was first purchased or by what Law conveyed unto Us we take notice of it onely as matter of wit and disputation As it is an Honour to make others strike saile to us as They pass it is a glory fitter for women and children to wonder at then for Statesmen to contend about It may be compared to a Chaplet of Flowers not to a Diadem of Gold But as it is a profit unto Us to fence and enclose the Sea its matter of moment yet it concernes Us no more then it doth other Nations By too insolent contestations hereupon we may provoke God and dishonour our selves we may more probably incense our friends then quell our enemies we may make the Land a Slave to the Sea rather then the Sea a Servant to the Land I mention this passage to shew the Frenzy which possessed the Heà ds of many that would be reputed Patriots and Defenders of the Laws and Liberties of the English Nation in 1636 c. But there are some fatal periods amongst these Northern Regions when the Inhabitants do become so brutal and prejudicate that no obligations of Reason Prudence or Conscience and Religion can prevail over their passions especially if they are instigated by the Boutefeus of the Law in opposition to the Gospel of Peace and Obedience At another time it would have seemed strange that a Common-Lawyer should doubt whither the Sea be a part of the King's Dominions Whereas our Laws and Parliaments have alwayes decreed it to be so It is strange that one of that Robe should controvert our Right thereunto or scruple How it was purchased since in Vulgar Titles the Common Law looks no farther then Prescription and in explication thereof they are not so nice as the Civilians â—…or by the Civil Law there is required a Just Title which the Common Law requireth not And Bona fides which the Common Law requireth not and continual Possession which the Common Law only requireth And This He might have seen proved in Mr. Selden and Sir John Boroughs
complying with the more general concernments by the neglect whereof the other lost themselves and became a prey unto the Turks Of two evils the least is to be chosen and that is the least not which is accompanied with the greatest inconveniences at present but which occasions the greatest dammage for the future Wherefore it becomes prudent persons to attend unto both these cases For as in Arithmetick one great sum doth prove much less then many smaller accompts put together and added to the first So in the Government of a State that which seems a very great evil at the first view may judiciously be submitted unto if the contempt thereof be probably accompanied with greater and irreparable detriments Besides that a very great prejudice if the effects thereof be of no long continuance is to be chosen before a less but everlasting misery Let us then peaceably acquiesce in those Counsils which Prudence it self seems to have dictated and whence we derive our present tranquillity and an hopeful prospect of future Strength and Riches Let us not asperse our Superiors with Calumnies to their great discouragement and the distraction of the Realms Let us think better of them and more meanly of our selves There is not any Pest so dangerous to a State as that of declaiming against Men in Authority I need not urge the destruction of the Florentine Republick which was ruinated thereby we may remember what did precede our Wars and was the consequent of those specious pretexts of bringing Delinquents to Tryal and how fatal was the Denomination of Malignants No Ruler no Minister of State could ever please all people and some have valued themselves and their Counsils by a repugnancy to the populace If we will consult the Presidents of Rome we shall find it to have been a part of their Civil prudence rather to pass by then punish the failors of their Magistrates and to have had that regard unto Authority that those who had either voluntarily mis-employed their power received but gentle punishments and such as had miscarried through ignorance were appaied with Honours and Rewards They did imagine that publick affairs were accompanied with so much of Solicitude so great difficulties that 't was imprudence to augment the cares of their Governors with new terrors and additional considerations of their personal hazards if they miscarried in their Counsils or Transactions And certainly those Men create a very ill president against themselves who instruct the giddy multitude in complaints against their Governors If there be any rumours of this nature diffâ—…sed through the nation be they well or ill-grounded they are unseasonable and all wise Men ought to stifle them as far as they can possible All private animosities and injuries ought to be forgotten out of a respect to the general welfare Not onely Rome and Greece but also the Barbarians have celebrated those who have relinquished their domestick concernes and feuds the better to serve their Countrey Thus Themistocles and Aristides being joyn'd in an Embassy agreed to lay aside all particular quarrels betwixt them untill their returns And I cannot but recommend unto Christians the example of the Christian Emperour Constantine Several People resorted unto Him with Remonstrances and Complaints the Emperour commanded them all to bring in before Him on a certain day all their Libels and Petitions that He might take cognizance thereof Which being done He arose up and having with a grave Speech reproved them for retarding the publick business and concernments by Private quarrels and remonstrances He cast them all into the fire without vouchsafing to read those Papers which were likely to embroile not amend His Affaires That Nicene Council which we all reverence did admire and magnifie this conduct and by their Authority do I propose it to the imitation of our Parliaments though the considerations of the distracted and forlorne condition wherein the late-united Provinces and the Kingdome of Poland now suffer are more immediate Objects to convince this Age How unseasonable and dangerous an attempt it is for Inferiours to foment even just quarrels or resentments against their Superiours much more to revile and persecute them with unjust calumnies idle suggestions and frivolous surmises whilest the approach or attack of a most puissant Enemy or a suspicious Neighbour doth oblige us to pursue the more secure courses An APOLOGY c. WE cannot but with some resentments behold those who after that gracious Act not only for our Indemnity but the utter Oblivion of our defaults continue to upbraid Us and unseasonably to foment those differences amongst the English which the most Heroical Example Authority Prudence and Charity of his Sacred Majesty hath so studiously and wisely endeavoured to extinguish We are all promiscuously twisted together by mutual affinity relations and common Interest subjected equally to the same Prince and Natives of the same Realms and we do heartily desire that we may be looked upon as Brethren under which Civil consideration we do regard our other Fellow-Subjects We profess to retain no other Memory of our former quarrels then what endeareth us to the service of his Majesty by imprinting in us a sense of those dangers which arise from mis-interpretations of State-Affairs vain jealousies and imaginations of remote and forreign consequences which may happen God knows when from such grounds and principles as popular brains do rather phansie to themselves then really comprehend We do experimentally know upon what specious pretences the vindicative and Ambitious spirits do contrive their siâ—…ister and wicked designs to the publick detriment and the great abuse of well-meaning persons And we have been so often betrayed and suffered so much hereupon that they must be strangely prepossessed who think us not impregnable against any suggestions or attempts of that nature We are infinitely sensible of the Clemency which our King expressed to us in his Act of â—…race and we think He hath compleated his Royal favour towards us by the late Declaration for suspending the penal Laws in reference to All Non-conformists It is our unhappiness to dissent from the doctrine and discipline of that Church to which his Majesty doth adhere but since we continue to do so rather out of Zeal for the supposed Truth then Faction against His Majesty and pursue spiritual not temporal advantages thereby It is evident that the Civil Government can receive no prejudice by such toleration of us It may receive much accessional strength from the continuance of so numerous parties and perhaps if we may credit great Politicians some security from the so-much exclaimed against diversity thereof since it is apparent that wheresoever there happen to be in any Realm potent factions and such as the supream Authority cannot well extirpate 't is much more safe for the general peace that dissentions remain under many entire and lesser parties then be reduced to a narrower compass And the Prince is best served whilst each party distinctly courts and strives