Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n
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A75533
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The necessity of altering the present oath of allegiance made evident also the declaration signed by above 28000 in Lancashire, when they expected a late French invasion, compared with the association signed in this present Parliament / in a letter to a nobleman.
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W. A.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing A35A; ESTC R42793
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8,057
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6
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The Necessity of altering the present OATH OF ALLEGIANCE made evident Also the DECLARATION Signed by above 28000 in Lancashire when they expected a late French Invasion Compared with the ASSOCIATION Signed in this Present Parliament In a LETTER to a Nobleman IF My Lord it were possible for any private consideration to add to the satisfaction your Lordship has in the happy Discovery of that Horrid Plot against his Majesties Person and Government which is now too big to be Conceal'd I might believe it would be a particular pleasure to be freed from that Character which Men of great Moderation in the Cause of God and their Countrey affix to those who believing that the most will act according to their avowed Principles have long desired to come to a distinction who by Principle are against the Government and who for it This the House of Commons have done in great Measure by their Voluntary association in which they have set an excellent Example to all Societies of Men among us and claim the Honour of being before hand with the People as they in the time of Queen Elizabeth were with the Parliament which rejoyced to ratify what they worthily did without standing nicely upon Ancient Forms But certain is the Wisdom of former Ages has thought no Publick Associations sufficiently Solemn without an Oath which invokes the Almighty for a Witness and Party to what is declared before Men and they who would not be Sworn Brethren to defend the King and Kingdom were deservedly accounted Out-laws if not Enemies Nor need I enquire what your Lordship thinks of them who value the reputation of their Coat or Party 〈◊〉 than the security of our Religion Laws and Liberâ—… and who are so blindly partial as to assert it to 〈◊〉 to impose the Sacramental Test as a means to preâ—… the Peace by an uniformity in what they call the Reâ—… of their Countrey and yet will sacrifice the essentiâ—… our Religion and a Government which is the 〈◊〉 Visible security for that and us rather than â—…y-men should be thought to depart from Princiâ—… to be repented of or to suffer for an obstinate adâ—…ing to 'em against Sense Conviction and their 〈◊〉 practice at the beginning of this Revolution which 〈◊〉 not only complyed with but courted by their greatest â—…ts Some Timerous Politicians would be against Prosecuâ—…g the advantages which a most propitious providence puts into our Hands least if our Enemies should prevail they should profit of the Precedents for their security set by us But 1. They who always act in fear of their Enemies are never likely to subdue ' em 2. The others will never regard Precedents when they have power of doing mischief 3. Not to disable is to encourage 'em and all gentle usage to such Irgenerous Natures as appears by recent experience is but warming the Snakes till they get strength to sting 4. Not to disarm an Enemy in our power is a very absurd effect of fear 5. If that whereby we might disable the Enemy relate to Friviledges they who will hazard Life and all rather than deprive those of the Priviledges of Erglish Men who justly forfeit 'em are as ill Patriots as Politicians Wherefore I take leave here to lay before your Lordship an Abstract of those reasons which long since convinced me That the Government would be greatly wanting to it self if it should not press for a farther caution for the fidelity of the Subject than can be had from the Oath of Allegiance appointed by the late Act of Parliament and that if they who contributed to the present settlement or are for the right of it express a foolish tenderness for those who scruple all Oaths Declaratory of the Right and engaging to Defend it they will deserve what has for the most part been their fate to be despis'd and trampled on whatever side is uppermost Upon which occasion I cannot but apply the Observation of Ploughing with an Ox and an Ass to the Papists using the Services of the Tory and the Whigg The Oath appointed by the late Act is this I Do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be Faithful and bear True Allegiance to Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary Upon which I may observe 1. That this Oath is conceived in fewer Terms than ever any Oath to the Government required at Common Law or by Statute 2. The Omissions are very material and seem to have been contriv'd by some to leave themselves and their Friends a design'd Latitude by others to draw Men in to Swear Allegiance and to urge the true Import of the Oath upon them who might think themselves under no Obligation to defend this Government notwithstanding the Oath for that 3. The Common Law Oath of Fidelity and those which have been Enacted by any former Statute always required Defence of the King or Queen for the time being and acknowledged their Right to Govern either in express Terms or by plain Implication The Omission of which some have urged as an Argument that the Allegiance Sworn to the Late King was never intended to be alter'd or touch'd by this Oath 4. Many have openly declared that they have Sworn to this Government not only without regard to its Right but with a belief that the Right remains in King James This Collusion is justified by the writings of Men of the greatest Authority among them and that not only of the present but past Age particularly of Sir Robert Filmer and Bishop Sanderson whose dictates are never disputed by that set of Men. 5. That in Consequence of such belief there can be no security in the words of such an Oath might appear from the Nature of the thing and does evidently from those dictates according to which some misled Men believe they may take the present Oath and yet not only with some Men question whose commission they ought to obey when King Williams and King James's interfere but are positive that they ought to obey King James and are not to serve King William farther than they may presume the consent of their King of Right 6. If upon these accounts the Oath appears defective not to obviate the known and common evasion would imply great neglect of the safety of a Government which has done so much to make Men safe under it 7. Parliaments in several Ages have found it expedient to Swear the Subjects to maintain the Establish'd Succession of the Crown whereby great confusions have been prevented upon the Deaths of Princes 8. The Oath in Question is now only Personal to his Present Majesty and they who deny his Right notwithstanding their Oath to bear true Allegiance to him would certainly upon his Decease think themselves at liberry to declare for King James or the Prince of Wales in exclusion of Princess Ann and her Issue 9. Consequently tho' His Majesty may be secured of the Loyalty of many who take the Oath they not being subtle enough to understand the thin-spun evasions
Oaths to him yet if Oliver had lived some years longer the Restoration of C. II. would have been morally impossible 4. Insurrections in England have rarely succeeded without Foreign assistance and the Nation ought to take care to encourage Generous Deliverers by shewing as much forwardness to act for them as they to Rescue the People from Tyranny But if the prefent Oath be less expressive of the Daty of the Subject than any ever yet known If it is notoriously evaded and rendred insignificant why should this Government be less secured and more reflected on than our Law ever hitherto allow'd Is it for want of Right then indeed it might well be sayd Let us repent of our former Oaths rather than take New For it is evident that all Oaths of Allegiance are Founded upon the Supposition of Right to Govern Is it because the late King's pretence of Right is supported by France This certainly would be the greater argument for a farther Oath to shew that we are Enemies to France as we pretend to be And they who refuse this when the French threaten an Invasion encourag'd by a barbarous Plot to Assassinate his Majesty may thank themselves if they are treated as Enemies That many should reuse such an Oath when duly enforced there is not the least shadow of reason to believe and if it should be taken by ill Men who seem unalterably attach'd to the Late Kings pretended Right the very taking the Oath would break all confidence between them and their Old Party disable 'em from serving that side and insensibly draw 'em to Act in good earnest according to the apparent obligation of their Oath and their truest Interest I know it is often urged that Oaths bind none but honest Men yet it cannot be doubted but many who would be thought such would be bound rather than lose the advantages they now enjoy while they shamefully keep off from the Cause of God and their Countrey thinking it a commendable piece of wisdom to attend the events of providence rather than to use means to preserve that Peace and security to our Religion which providence has settl'd among us If all the honest Men who are Lovers of their Countrey and of the Present Government to which they owe the Restitution of its Laws and Liberties had sufficient means to distinguish themselves from those who seek for a New Revolution I am persuaded That which looks like a formidable Party through the weakness of some who give accession to their own Ruin would be shamed out of its perversness Tho' the Peoples Zeal for a Protestant Queen put 'em upon a voluntary Association to stand by one another in the defence of Her and their Religion Which was afterwards ratified in Parliament Yet it must be confessed That for the most part it were desirable that the Effects of such Zeal should be prevented by a prudent anticipation Certain it is Your Lordship and the numbers of Nobility and Gentry with the Body of the common People who are for maintaining the Act of Settlement will not tamely give it up But had much rather know before-hand who and who are together But will it ever be believed in Story That any who were instrumental in the late Revolution and Settlement and are by Principle for the Right of this Government should be against making it the Interest of others to acknowledge that Right Can they neglect the Providence which would give Authority to their Opinions if they themselves did not fight against it Because Men who come reeking with the Blood of the best of our Patriots upon 'em now set up for a Country Party shall the Sons or Friends of the Martyrs for their Country be charm'd out of their Senses to find those Sauls among the Prophets This hot fit will soon be over and give way to that other Rage which has long plagued this Nation and now seems the choice of those very Men who have suffer'd most under it I can hardly think 'em so weak to imagine that this new Country Party spawn'd from the Corruption of former Reigns should help to establish them at the Helm And I may add That to dream of this were much more absurd than the Expectation of the Tories to engross Preferments upon the return of the late King or setting up the pretended Prince of Wales with Protestant Tutors and Regents Yet I cannot but hope to see them convinced of the Vanity of such Expectations by the establishment of an Oath to maintain the Act of Settlement In which that there would be the entire Concurrence of the Body of this Nation besides other Arguments may appear from the unanimity of the Protestants of Lancashire who tho' the Papists there pretend to almost equal Numbers yet at the very time when our Fleet retired from before the French who were dayly expected to land chearfully subscribed the following Declaration By which they look'd upon themselves as listed for His Majesty's Service As we are to presume they do who have subscribed the Association made by this House of Commons Both which I here set in distinct Columns because of their resemblance to each other To the King and Queen's most Excellent Majesty The humble Declaration of the Nobility Gentry Militia and Commonalty of the County Palatine of Lancaster WE Your Majesties most dutiful and obedient Subjects being fully satisfied in our Consciences That Your Majesties are the Lawful and Rightful King and Queen of these Realms and abhorring their Principles who either refuse to swear Allegiance to Your Majesties or if they have sworn declare they are not bound to assist Your Majesties in consequence of which it is too evident that there has been great Treachery in many of Your Majesties Subjects Therefore do declare That we are ready and resolv'd to draw our Swords and venture our Lives and Estates in Defence of Your Majesties Persons and Government against all the Force of Foreign Enemies and of them at Home who that their Plot might pass unobserved have traduced Your Majesties most Loyal Subjects as designing a Common-wealth but have made it manifest that themselves were for the French Monarchy and King who by the evil Counsels of Men thinking of nothing more than to enslave their Country has been taught and enabled to build Ships and to arrive to that Power which has brought so many Calamities upon Your Majestics Dominions From which we are delivered through the Resolution and Wisdom of Your Majesties in an extraordinary manner bless'd by God and admired by Your Subjects in whose Hearts Your Majesties entirely reign ☜ This Declaration was subscribed by above Twenty eight Thousand Persons and presented by the Earl of Macclesfeld whom they would readily have followed into the Field The Association subscribed by near Four Hundred Members of the House of Commons WHereas there has been a horrid and detestable Conspiracy formed and carried on by Papists and other wicked and traiterous Persons for Assassinating His Majesties Royal Person in order to incourage an Invasion from France to subvert our Religion Laws and Liberties We whose Names are hereunto subscribed do heartily sincerely and solemnly profess testifie and declare That His present Majesty King WILLIAM is Rightful and Lawful King of these Realms And we do mutually Promise and Engage to stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our Power in the Support and Defence of His Majesty's most Sacred Person and Government against the late King James and all his Adherents And in case His Majesty come to any violent or untimely Death which God forbid we do hereby further freely and unanimously oblige our selves to unite associate and stand by each other in Revenging the same upon His Enemies and their Adherents and in Supporting and Defending the Succession of the Crown according to an Act made in the First Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary intituled An Act declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subjects and Settlirg the Succession of the Crown Since which the whole House of Peers except 11 Temporal and 2 Spiritual Lords have subscribed an Association much the same SUch indeed is the Vertue of the Common Men of England That Danger but unites and stirs 'em up for acting in the Defence of the Kingdom And I must say the Nobility especially are in Interest as well as Gratitude obliged to do their utmost to preserve a Government which has restored to them that Security in relation to their Trials which they had been deprived of from the time of Hen. VII and which must stand and fall with the Act of Settlement If either the King or Princess Ann should be indifferent in this Matter presuming upon the Affections of the People I am sure they who wish well to England ought to look upon it as their Concern Such an Oath being as necessary for their Safety as it can be either for His Majesty or the Princess In whose undivided Interest that a true Love for your Country has settled your Lordship's Judgment must be believed by all who have the Honour to Converse with Your Lordship But by no Man with more firm Grounds of Certainty than by My LORD Your Lordship 's most Faithful Humble Servant W. A. LONDON Printed for John Salusbury at the Rising-Sun in Cornhil