A Letter from a gentleman in the country, to a person of honour in London in vindication of the Church of England, from certain scandalous aspersions cast upon them.

A LETTER from a Gentleman in the Country, TO A Person of Honour in LONDON IN VINDICATION OF THE Church of England. From certain Scandalous Aspersions cast upon them.

Honoured Sir,

I Received Yours, wherein you hint certain Fears and Jealousies, as if ••ome that pretend themselves▪ Members of the Church of England, (Tainted with the Popish Leaven, or Infatuated with the Temptations of Imaginary Pro∣fit and Honour, in this Critical Juncture, which requires the greatest Zeal and Courage) should be Bewitched into such a

〈…〉〈…〉 or rather Inclinable to 〈…〉〈…〉 ••udgment for our Sin, should 〈…〉〈…〉 (which God ••••e••t) in their 〈…〉〈…〉ions.

And though I hope, nay promise my self, such Suggestions are utterly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈…〉〈…〉 yet to satisfy you, that if any such t〈…〉〈…〉 they have taken wrong Measures as well in Policy as 〈…〉〈…〉 I offer you these few hasty Rea∣son•• that no 〈…〉〈…〉 of England ▪ Men can in such a Change, ex∣pect any Termporal Advantages to themselves.

First Consider the vast Number of English, Scottish, and Irish 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prests F••••ars 〈…〉〈…〉 for the Spoyl and you will find, that the In-come of Ten Thousand 〈…〉〈…〉 Twenty Six Bishopricks▪ and all their Appurtenances six times more Valuable, than 〈…〉〈…〉 Author of, Omnia Comesta •…•… B•…•…lo) will ne∣ver satisfy the Rapacious Jaws of such a Numberless Troop of Vultures and Cormorants.

Seco••••••y, ••••••ough ou•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Gentlemen may have some Pre∣tence to struggle for their Church Lands; as being Estated in them not only by Act of Parliament, but also the Popes Rem•••••• in Queen Mar•…•… Time, (which yet by the way, is nothing worth in that Case; the Act being, they will tell you, 〈…〉〈…〉 and no Pope ••ested with Power to impoverish the Church)▪ Yet the P••••testant Clergy can claim no such Grace from hi•• H••••••ness▪ But must certainly turn out. Cedite Majoribus: Begone you Intruders; make room for the Antient Proprie∣tors.

Thirdly, Suppose they Comply betimes; this will be no Se∣curity for 〈…〉〈…〉 or getting New Preferments. For a New Conve•…•…t in any General Turn, (to which he must be supposed to be sway'd more by Interest than Conscience) is al∣wayes look't upon with an Evil Eye, by the Old preventing Party▪ who will never endure these New Truckers to Reap the Sweets, which they so long have been sweating to obtain.

These came in 〈…〉〈…〉 Shall they be Equals with us, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have 〈…〉〈…〉 of the Day?

Fourthly, 〈…〉〈…〉 English Clergy are Mar∣ryed▪ conseq•••••••••••• of any Ecclesiastical Office, if Popery prevail▪

Fifthly, 〈…〉〈…〉 Jesuits have already pretend∣ed to the 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••••ected Harvest: And Quar¦rels for 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••ween Them and the rest of the Orde•• 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉se Gibblets; before She be pluck't. What 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉full Hugenot Regenado's, ever hope for▪

Sixthly▪ As 〈…〉〈…〉 Bargain, if any Prince hereafter should be 〈…〉〈…〉 Barter away the Protestant Religion (which, 〈…〉〈…〉 Soveraignty) for a Fancied Arbitrary Powe•• 〈…〉〈…〉 to the Paramount Plea∣sure of the 〈…〉〈…〉 bearded in his own Domi∣nions, by every 〈…〉〈…〉 So 'twill be no less Prejudicial 〈…〉〈…〉 ••lergy themselves, when in∣stead of being 〈…〉〈…〉 gratis,, by the King, for their Merit, th••y pay a vast Fine for a Pall and Confirma〈…〉〈…〉 to the ••••and Seignior at Rome: As Walter Gray 〈…〉〈…〉 to deposite Ten Thousand Pounds sterling 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••••••••••prick of York; and William de Raley, Eight Hundred M〈…〉〈…〉, for that of Winchester, &c. See Matthew Paris, in 〈…〉〈…〉 & alibi.

Seventhly, When〈…〉〈…〉 can any of our English Clergy, though never so much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of injoying Preferments, when (besides 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••easons before recited) we find, that here∣tofore under the ••way of Popery, Forreigners were usually plac'd in the best 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ As in the Year 1253. on an inquisition 〈…〉〈…〉 that the Revenues of the Itali∣ans an England (whereof many were Boys, most Dunces, all Aliens) 〈…〉〈…〉 Threescore and Ten Thou∣sand Marks▪ Per Annum▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 a greater Revenue, than that of the Kin•••• And ••••other 〈…〉〈…〉e, Matthew Paris tells us,

Tha•• the Pope made a Bargain with the Peop••e of Rome, that if they would effectuall•• 〈…〉〈…〉d him against the Em••••¦rour Frederi••k, their Children should be put into all the Vacant Benefices in England▪ whereupon Order was sent to Edward Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Lincoln, and Salis∣bury; That Provision should be made for Three Hundred Ro¦mane Children to be served of the next Benefices that should fall.

I need not mention the slavery they they must be under of Trudging to Rome on every impertinent Appeal; Their be¦ing liable to be Sp〈…〉〈…〉g••ll, as oft as the Popish Court pleases; the Hatred they will Incurr from Protestants, and deserv•••••• Scorn from Old Papists, with an hundred other Inconvenien∣cies: But shall only add, that as they must needs be Rebels to God. and their own Consciences, so at the same time they must be Traitors to their King, and Betrayers of the Liber¦ties of their Country; whoever shall attempt or submit 〈…〉〈…〉o any Reconciliation with Rome; which I assure my self no English Man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unbyased Liberal Education, much less any that have e••••r imbib'd the true Loyal Gene••ous Principles of the Church of England, will be Guilty of: Therefore advise you to silence unjust Suggestions of that nature, as that will Conserve the good Opinion, of▪

Your Friend and Servant, &c▪

FINIS.