Parliamentum pacificum, or, The happy union of King & people in an healing Parliament heartily wish't for, and humbly recommended / by a true Protestant and no dissenter.

SECT. VI. The Means that may be us'd to Prevent the Malice and Insinuation of Such as would Obstruct It.

AND now at length, we are arriv'd to put a Period to these Points; and having considered the Methods that have been us'd to Hinder this Healing Parliament, we are come to the Sixth and last Section, to Consider the Sixth Point; The means how to Prevent the Designs and Insinuations of such as would Obstruct It.

And for that, reflect but a little on these following Con∣siderations: if they have but little Weight with them, you are not burdned much; if they have not a little, 'tis your Interest to bear with them.

Consider, That notwithstanding the specious pretences, of some spiteful and malicious men, these dreadful apprehen∣sions that are put into your heads, may be none at all; at least not such as they are represented; that the Authors of them may be men that oppose his Majestys Gracious intenti∣on, more out of malice to him, than kindness to themselves, and their Church: I speak to Church-men (for Dissenters can't

be suppos'd dissatisfy'd with that mercy that makes them happy beyond their expectation) but they are Members, I be∣lieve of this Establisht Church (for all the many Letters to the other Congregations) that from the present Constitution of our Government, I fancy must for the most part be concern'd, that can best Second the Clemency of their KING, and con∣firm to them an establisht Toleration by a Law, and such an one as will repeal All those by which they have a long time so unreasonably suffer'd.

• I. 'Tis Reasonable to be done.
• II. 'Tis Fittest for them to do it.
• III. 'Tis Their Interest so to do.

And first, let them tell me, their best pretenders to Rea∣son; whether the suffering for Conscience sake, can without the greatest reluctance of Conscience it self, be defended; or whether it's advocates are not toucht with an inward aver∣sion, at the same time they write for it, especially, should they reflect, it may be their turn to suffer? whether a body ought to suffer for the sentiments and suggestion of the Soul that informs it, when it consists only in the Worshiping of the same God, in which all Christian Churches agree? sure these men are not so fond of the Fire and Faggot they so much fear, as to Justifie for it the persecution of the Primitive Christians, and make their Martyrdoms but so many Judicial Processes for their Nonconformity, when of the old Hea∣then Emperors, few were of Opinion in this Point, to Pu∣nish people into Compliance: the Christian Religion, I think, is now so well settl'd, and the Seed of the Church, so well sown, that there is no great need of the Sanguis Martyrum to water it; neither is the representation of it in this man∣ner so improper, or the comparison so absurd; for tho there may be a better Warranty to force people of the same Faith in Christ, to the worshipping their God in an Esta∣blisht Way, than the Pagans could pretend to, for the forc∣ing us to be Infidels; yet this would justify them still, who thought their Irreligion and Idolatry the best of Devotion, and had the Decrees of their Emperors to Authorise it; which were with them the Statutes and Laws of the Land: and

I am sorry that I can add, that such severities amongst our selves, seem much worse, when we agree in one common Faith, in one Creed, in one Christ Iesus: neither is the compari∣son of the Punishment, and sort of Suffering so absurd; for tho we do not exercise, by our Laws, the Long Sheet in Foxes Martyrology, and are left, as we see the Heathens were there, to study Torment; tho' the Flames that he has made to rage so strongly through his vast Volumms, are happily quencht, all Burnings forbidden, and Religion no more to suffer with a Writ de' Haeretico: it will be as little credit to it still; that 'tis now, no Fire and Faggot that can force a Conscience, but only an Hangman and an Halter. 'Tis true, that whatever has been the severity of the Laws, such cruel∣ties have seldom been put in Execution; but to say, they ne∣ver were, is as certainly false: Several in Queen Eliz. Reign, suffer'd meerly for professing of their Faith, and my self remember three that dy'd for it, and that only for being Priests, in the late Perjurious time of Arbitrary Oaths, and pack't Evidence; besides, another that was condemn'd and banisht; whom I have met with since in his Exile. But what∣ever be the Mercy of the King, the Cruelty of the Laws can never be the more defended, and they are never the more Merciful because of the Clemency of the Prince that remits them. In the mean time, such bloody sanctions are certainly blots to that Religion that keeps them upon Record; and if we commend those that are for retaining them, we must at the same time blame those that but so lately repeal'd the Writ de Comburendo.

So much for the Reason of them, and but this little for Fact; they cannot tell us of any Country that is Protestant, nor of any Catholick, but where the Inquisition is Establisht, where it is made Capital to profess a particular Faith, even in France (whose Cruelty is decry'd so much) tho' the fugitives are driven to the Galleys, they are not gon so far yet, as for professing, to make it Death. How quietly do those peaceable Coun∣tries Flourish, where at this time for Conscience there is no Oppression at all? The celebrated Dr. ought to have Magni∣fy'd that too, as well as the Misery of those places where any Persecution reigns. The Protestant and Popish Churches,

I've seen stand very Quietly together in most of the fron∣tier Towns of Holland; and in the Dominions of several PRINCES of Germany; and the Magistracy by turns Ex∣ecuted by the two different Perswasions, without any Laws for Hanging or Burning one another; and 'tis sure, no Bad President, if we only take Example by our Protestant Neigh∣bours.

But as some of our Laws are sanguinary for Matters of meer Religion: so there are others that are less severe, tho' as inconsistent with the Charity of a Church, or the Quiet of a State; such as Fines, Confiscations and Imprisonments; and what Inconveniences they have brought upon the Na∣tion in general, as well as the poor Sufferers in particular, we have touch't upon before, and now as needless to re∣late. The Discovery of those vast Summs of which the KING is defrauded, may hereafter make appear what was Extorted from the Subject, to the Enriching of some Knaves, and the Ruine of more Honest Families.

But the pressing the Reasonableness of it so much, seems almost unnecessary, when the most invisible Commissioner from the Church that is so Concern'd, comes up so far, as to coun∣tenance with his Celebrated Reasonings the Ʋnreasonableness of these severe Sanctions; by seeming so willing to Suspend them for the sake of some Dissenters, & not others: & shall this be taken for Reason too? sure the Universities will teach him better Logick. I know the Aphorisms of their Schools in some Sence say; That of Contraries there is the same Reason; but sure they won't make it out in Contradictories too. Is then Tolleration? is the Repealing of the Laws Reasonable, for the sake of some Dissenters, and not others? I don't know what they fear of Arbitrary Power, I am sure this is Ar∣bitrary Reasoning; and but little better than none at all. The Letter might have been a little more Contracted; to say much in a little, and all the solidity of his mighty Argu∣ment made up into one syllogism (i. e.) It is but Iust that all the Penal Laws for Religion, should be Repeal'd; but that all Penal Laws for Religion, should be Repeal'd, is not Iust; Ergô, The Laws against the Roman Catholicks, &c. If there be any Contradiction in the Terms and Premises;

who can help it? for certainly suffering for Religion, must be the same to All, whatever are the Professors of it; and if we once grant it unreasonable to some, then presently to all unprejudic'd Reason, untainted with Interest and Art, it must conclude Ʋniversally, and extend to All; and I know these Barbarcus Logicians know so too, and include in it both Turk and Jew, and any thing that's Pagan, unless it be Mr. Johnsons the Papist.

Are then the Roman Catholicks no Dissenters? or are they Dissenters with you worse than Infidels? for it seems, for the Christian Protestant. Dissenters, the Circumcis'd Dissenters, the Mahometan Dissenters, and the Pagan Dissenters; these Per∣secuting Laws are too Cruel and Severe. May Birthright, Humanity and Property, be concern'd in the Case, and made Motives to the removing of what is Injurious, Scan∣dalous, or Prejudicial to them; and cannot Roman Ca∣tholicks come in for a share by Birth, by Nature, or common Equity; or are Papists not Born to the Pri∣viledges of Society; are they all Beasts, or all Beggars? (and truly if we may trust some descriptions, not long since applauded, they have set them out but little better. Sure this is not the way for continuing the Fame of that Church, for being alway on the Charitable side toward Papists; this will instead of having her Charity mistaken, shew that she mi∣stakes her Charity. It would be a more Charitable Act for this Church, by way of an expedient, to get one Statute to pass for making the Papists Perfect Out-Laws (i. e.) as my Ld. Coke expounds it, to be hunted like Woolfes, then to keep Twenty-four in Force, for their Confusion, Death and De∣struction. How can it be answer'd either to God or Man, when by so publick an Act as a National Repeal, you de∣clare, that to make men suffer for Religion is Barbarous and Inhuman, and at the same time you leave upon Record the severest of those sufferings in their fullest force; this is filing up such a lasting reproach to your selves, that you would seem to take care, lest time should take it off, and the In∣famy fail to be transmitted to posterity.

But as by Nature and Charity they must come in for a Common Share, so I see no reason of State, no Civil Con∣cern

that Obliges you to keep them out; 'tis but a bad ar∣gument of the Clergy (as often as 'tis us'd) when from the Popes Supremacy, they make all Papists such mortal Enemies to all Monarchs; they might as well prove that by their own swearing to obey their Metropolitan, they part with their Allegiance to the King of England, and so set Lambeth too against Whitehall: 'Tis profest by them All, they acknowledg no other Power of the Pope but in Spirituals; and Prote∣stants will tell them that they do, whatever they do or say to the contrary; nay, tho' some have disallow'd even that, and will no practise to the contrary please them? does not the King of Spain, the most Catholick King alive, live as free from Rebellions (I am asham'd to say more) then the King of England? is not the King of France as absolute as our own at Home, & as ready to quarrel with Rome upon the least diminution of his Right? and to come homer to our selves, have not our own Laws justl'd out this Jealousy with the Popes Pretentions, in several † Statutes, under our Catholick Kings.

But besides their Principles (as to their particular Practise and Behaviour) have they not given England Proof enough, they can live in it like good Subjects; and if we put the Test of their Loyalty, against That made to prevent Dan∣gers from Popish Recusants, I am afraid it will spoil all the Praeamble. Gentlemen, Matter of Fact confirms it; and 'tis in vain to dispute: They Fought with You for CHARLES the FIRST, in the Field; and They alone Preserv'd the SECOND in the Royal Oak; forsook their Fortune at Home, and follow'd Him in his Exile Abroad. The Best of Pro∣testants could do no more; tho' some might fare better that did not so much: and their being among the Rebels, is but a Libel of Burnet's, both on the † KING's Declaration, and

them: which is sufficiently Baffl'd by the well-known Story of Coll. Ashton; who, when refus'd by his KING, was Courted into Commission by the Parliament; which, assoon as Receiv'd, he Laid himself and That at His Majesties Feet. This is as certain, as that some Protestant Subjects were in Rebellion; which, if such a thing must Reflect on a Church, I am afraid that will very much suffer: and to say the Na∣tional and Establish't Church did disown all such Proceedings, will not much mend the Matter, when so many of her Mem∣bers were so mainly concern'd; for tho' the Sectaries at last prevail'd, for the subverting of the State; the Commons of Forty-One that Commenc'd the Quarrel were generally Church-men; and 'tis not impossible for such to be Zealous, and Discontented too; neither is the Communion bound to an∣swer for the faults of those members she Condemns; the Lord Lieutenants that this Parliament chose, were for the most part Conforming men, and Essex's Army had many such Officers too; some can tell us this for a truth, that liv'd then, and their Catalogue for the Militia makes it no ly. 'Tis too much to remember, and too soon to forget, that most of the Excluding Members were of that Communion, as well as all the most Eminent Conspirators in the last Plot and Rebellion; and even her Passive Obedience was Burlesque by one that publickly profest himself her son: I speak it not for a disparagement to the Church, that was then be∣yond dispute, both in Principal and Practise faithful to the Crown; but to satisfy such men, that it is both imprudent and irrational for them to fling out such arguments as will fly in their face; and as unjust to censure a whole Perswa∣sion, only for the fault of some of it's Professors: for King-killing and deposing, to condemn a Catholick Communion; and from the writings of a Jesuit to upbraid the Church of Rome, and that in Terms too bitter for a Prayer; to make their Religion to be Rebellion, and their Faith Faction.

And so much for the Reason of a Legal Toleration, and General Comprehension. Now to shew too, that the Members of the Church Establisht, ought to be willing to get it Done: And that 2d. It is fittest for Them to do it.

And first, they must remember, that by themselves these Laws

were made; and as a learned Lawyer lets us know, that he is the best Judg of a Law that has the Power to make it; so we may say, those that make it, when it happens to become unreasonable, are the Fittest to get it Repeal'd: if the Prelates are become less riged, if the Spirit of Persecution is turn'd into a Spirit of Peace, if they make no matter of Conscience to give Indulgence, what greater proof can they give of all this, then by their own voluntary Cancelling those severe Laws, which themselves must own, for some considerations of State were only made? This would be a much better evidence of their more mercifull disposition then all the Promises of T. W. It will be no such scandal, tho' it be true, when all that can be said, is, You were overseen: Length of time, and revolution of affairs, tell People at last their long errors, tho commonly too late, and then for the most part make men wise, when they cannot make amends for their folly. But Fortune seems to favour you now, and puts it in your Power, to mend all that was amiss; she seems to Court your Inclinations, and tempt you, to Credit your selves, Gratify your KING, and Pleasure all.

In the next Place, I hope it will be as plain, That 3d, It is their Interest so to do.

First, because 'tis they themselves that have asserted the Kings Power in Eclesiasticals to be such; that it may be much to their detriment to Provoke such a Prince, whom they by Law have made so Powerful; neither is it such a Childish reason, that it must be dally'd with, or laught out of doors, as an Author does it, with a Legal Establishment (even whilst it remains so) legally subverted. It may be done Sir, without such a deal of Contradiction, when People make Laws that Contradict themselves: if Popish Recusants are so dangerous, that they must not be Tolerated in England by a Law, and we have such Laws, that set the King as Supream, to do whatsoever the Pope could have done; Papists may well expect to be Protected from such a Catholick King, and perhaps Protestants owe to His Promises most of their Security: the Review of their first-Fruits, to the full Value, as little as it terrify'd the bright Spirits of Oxford, may Perchance be found the smallest part of the Prerogative; and tho such a Canon could not Frighten them so far as to comply with their Di∣ocesan

(if matters are to be manag'd meerly by the Laws that are made) I fear there may be some found that em∣power the Prince to deprive them of a Bishop.

Secondly, they will do wonderous well, I will not say wiser, if they do it themselves, if only for fear lest others should do it for them: I much doubt, if Dissenters should once come to be the Prevailing part in a Parliament, whether they would make so good terms for this Establisht Church, as she might do (if she pleas'd) for her self. The King has gi∣ven her very good words for it, and I wish she may not for∣go the Benefit of them; He has promis'd to Protect, and doubtless will not deny her any reasonable means for her Pre∣servation: if he has a mind to do her Good, how can she be angry, if he'll only keep her from doing ill? the perse∣cutors of Daniel could find no Occasion against him, but in the Case of his God; but yet we saw the King labour'd to deliver him. 'Tis not to be doubted, if she comply with his Majesties request, he will refuse Hers; and why may she not be as safe with an Act of Jac. 2d. for Establishing her the National Religion, tho she part with the 13 Eliz. for hang∣ing up all that differ from her? It will never be the worse Church, because it cannot do more ill. And the Notion that some sort of people have got in their Noddles, of the Ne∣cessity of such Laws in a Church, for the Support of what is the Religion of the State, is false both in Reason and Fact; for certainly, that may be supported without surpressing all other Opinions; and there is no need that a Jesuit must be Gibbeted, and other Dissenters Banish't, and Hang'd too if they return, and that Sanoumary Laws must be subservient to an Act of Ʋniformity: Tis no more, then if a man should tell you; Look you Sir, most People are of our mind, and we can get a Patent to make you think so too; and if you wont be∣lieve what you cant believe, or believe all that we can be∣lieve, you must even suffer what coms on't, be it Fine, Impri∣sonment, Banishment, or Death; why, a moral Heathen would be divided in his passions at the nonsense of such severity; and Democritus himself in a doubt, whether he should laugh or cry; and such partial Christians must Blush too when they blame the Proceedings of the most Christian King; and whom

they make for it too in their fam'd Antiphrasis even An∣tichrist himself. But one would think that doubt should be out of doors, of a Church Establisht by Law not to be able to subsist, without it reserve a Power by Law, to punish all others: when the Present practise of so many Forreign States, proves the Consistency, and we have the promise and experiment of two KINGS Reigns, that it shall, and can be so in ours at home.

'Tis to no purpose, to Tattle us out of the Integrity of a good Action, with the tale of a Tub, or fool away a pruden∣tial Act, with an Aesop's Fable, To tell us of the Conditions of Peace, that were made upon the surrendring of the Dogs, and that the Sheep, afterward, were worried by the Wolves: Setting aside the malice of the Application, it is most foolish, and impertinent, when the contrary is more true, and these san∣guinary Laws are to be laid aside, and that only for their suck∣ing of blood; and sure 'tis not the first time too, we have known Dogs to worry Sheep.

And Lastly, Common gratitude to so good a King should Perswade this Church to Comply with his reasonable requests: has he discountenanc'd any of them, but such as have in∣curr'd it by this Obstinacy, perhaps more imprudent, than safe? And had the Parliament dissolv'd, but a little conde∣scended, I fancy there would not have been so much work cut out for this: Has not the King, whose Royal dispensations qualify all, prefer'd them Equally, both in Court and Camp, making every mans merit his promotion, without examin∣ing of his Faith? Has there a single man been prefer'd to any Benefice or Cure, but such as have been qualify'd by Law, tho some perhaps have been dispens'd with to keep them, that for altering their Religion, they might not starve.

Where is this mighty progress for the introducing of Po∣pery? The KING now is going into his fourth year, and the Church stands still it as was four years agon; and the Migh∣ty Din, of the measures and faggot of Queen Mary, is as much to the Purpose, as if they told us of the fire Ordeal of Queen Emm: She remov'd all the Bishops in no more than one year; and I think Queen Eliz. did it all in one Month: and here, since Appropriating of Loyalty is so much in fashion,

we cannot but say this for the Papist too, (whose Fidelity to the Crown is too much question'd:) this Protestant Queen was by their own Confession, and as it plainly appears from our own Annals, advanc'd to the Throne, by a Popish Parliament, then sitting; and no one can tell, had they been sitting at KING Charles the Seconds Death, of what temper they would have been, the Legitimacy of Queen Eliz. was then in dispute amongst all Catholicks; the Succession of his present Majesty was indisputable by his blood, and yet Heath the Popish Me∣tropolitan and then Lord Chancellor, without any discontent, says their own Historian, declares her Title to the Crown, to both Houses of Parliament, and so was she receiv'd without the least opposition, which certainly does savour somwhat of an Ʋnquestionable Loyalty: And if that wont serve, the same Author says more, That many in the House of Commons that had a great zeal for their Popish interest, yet Preferred their Alle∣giance to their Natural Prince, before their concernments for the Church of Rome. And this is sure more Loyalty then was shewn by the Protestant Reformers to her Predecessor, against whom they set an Usurper in the Throne, contriv'd a Will, and rais'd an Army; tho so much must be said for the Suffolk-Gospellers of the Country, that they were better Subjects, then the mighty Liturgy men at Court, and assisted Queen Mary with Men and Arms, when the other kept from her the Capital and the Crown.

Queen Eliz. held more Bishopricks in her hand for many years, many more, then this KING since his coming to the Crown has dispos'd of: their Churches, their Chappels are all at their own Devotion, and that within his Royal Pallaces, and his own Walls. Upon Application of these very Peo∣ple, has he confirm'd to them several Freedoms and Immunities, where he might have interpos'd with his Power, and Preroga∣tive: These undistinguisht favours to all alike, one would think should oblige some persons not to deny that Peace to their Soveraign, which he labours to give to all his Subjects; A Peace of Mind, A Peace in the midst of Arms; but such only as are employ'd for their defence, the credit of their Nation, and the Terror of their neighbours; tho even that must be made their Grievance too, which by the Goodness, and Grandeur of their Prince, is their greatest glory.

But there are many things besides to be consider'd; consider but the reason of Enacting these Laws, especially against Po∣pish Recusants, upon whom they are most severe, and that they are now become the most unreasonable; because the very occasions that call'd for them, and to some people seem'd to make them necessary, are now just none at all: the Pream∣bles to those very Statutes seem but so many Contradicti∣ons to the body of the Law. It would be hard for a Judge or Justice to tell the King of his dangers from Popish Recusants, when he's sure he can put his greatest faith, and confidence in them, and has so often try'd them in dangers too: but it seems they and the Statutes being the better Judges of it, are not bound to believe the KING, but to Prosecute his friends for High Treason, whom trusting and trying, he finds to be guilty of no Treason at all. And had not our Protestant offi∣cers of the Peace better repeal those Laws, that are become but a dead letter, thenly under a seeming sort of Perjury, for not putting them in Execution?

Consider, if in the time of the late KING, by some Antece∣dent † Law, all the Conformists had been banisht the Court, or from Access to the Kings Person, if they had been made Malefactors, Felons, and Traytors, of whose Loyalty he had so much proof in their adhering to the Crown, would not his Majesty have been bound to get them repeat'd, and them∣selves have thought it the most reasonable thing in the world, that the Roman Catholicks in England have for a long time lain under severity not only of Opinion, and Censure, but Pu∣nishment and the Law? even Protestants may allow, without falling from their Faith, or favouring their Religion: for such a modest confession in their favour, is no Vindication of the Doctrine of their Church; and their Case to be consider'd here, respects only their affairs in relation to the State; and the matters being meerly Political, must be determin'd by the Maxims of our States-men, and so no Subject to be decided by the School-men and Divines: And since those Per∣sons suffer from the Constitution of Past-times, partial to them∣selves, since Papists that were once deny'd access to the person of their KING, are now the Support of his Crown and Dig∣nity, since such put in but for a freedom from Penalty, and an

Immunity only from their being punisht as Malefactors, it would be as great a want of honesty, to call them Knaves for it, as it is of Wit, to think them fools.

But the Absurdity of such unreasonable Laws is somwhat more Considerable, when they seem not a little to touch, what is expressly forbidden, The Lords Anointed: Let them tell me, where there is another such absurd inconsistency of State, where the Statutes and Laws serve only to pollute their very Fountain, the KING; and make a Criminal of the Prince to that very Go∣vernment in which he Presides, where the Worship of his GOD must be said to be an Offering to Idols, and his Conversion to a Faith, High Treason against himself.

And then again, since Papists, as 'tis now apparent, have prov'd themselves No such Criminals to the State, No such Pests of Society, as they have been represented; since they have Suffered the Severities of the Nations Iustice, and seal'd their Innocency in their sufferings and Blood; since they were sacrific'd to the Perjury of Recorded Villains, and for a Con∣spiracy that can now only be Believ'd by Fools upon Re∣cord; 'tis time sure, after this Iustice of the Nation has been satisfy'd so much, even to the Arraigning of it self, to let them find a little Mercy too; and the more (one would think) for their Misfortunes.

Consider who they are that Furnish you with such distrustful Apprehensions of the Promises of your PRINCE; and would frighten you into Dangers and Despair: One of them a discontented Malecontent, an Exile out of your Coun∣try; a Criminal by Process in his Own; and whose Al∣legiance, if we believe him, is tranferr'd to another abroad; and shall the severest Satyrs, that Sedition can afford, or Rage and Malice invent, pass with us for pure Politicks and Impartial Truth? There are ‖ Others we have touch't upon, that are no less Notorious and Applauded, whose best of Praise, is in not being Known, that affect us like Vipers with their sting, while at the same time, they can hide their Heads.

Never Credit those, that endeavour to Discredit their KING; for such as will take that Liberty, forfeit their

Honesty, and by the very Fact, are not to be believ'd: Pray, what Attempt has he made, to make the National Religion the Roman Catholick? Which perhaps, were it design'd, is as little feasible: that will alway preserve it self the Na∣tional Religion which is most generally Receiv'd; and untill they can prove to us, That the Revealing the Laws, will make more Papists in England than Protestants; they may make many Words, but no Arguments. Has it not all the appearance in the world, that it is the Principle of His MAJESTY's Soul, and not any Designs of State, that makes Him desire to have all the Souls of His Subjects at ease too; to succour, and relieve the Oppressed; and let the Prisoner go free: if not, pray, what then Oblig'd Him to that tender Compassion to the French-Protestants? They are as much Hereticks to the Church of Rome; and cannot pretend to a greater share of Friendship, from the Agree∣ableness of their Doctrine or Faith: They could not Plead Priviledges, Immunities, and Magna Charta; and tell the KING He was bound by His Coronation Oath to Protect them; yet'tis well known what Encouragement He has gi∣ven Them: He has made use of His Prerogative for Their Preservation, and even Dispens'd with Law, for the get∣ting of their Livelihood, and exercising of their Trades; made use of His Proclamations to Command our Charity; and repeated them often to press the Performance. These are Great Truths, and no little Arguments to silence some Mens seditious Insinuations; and the Celebrated Dr. would have been a better Subject, and Historian too, had he ap∣ply'd the Faith of the Prince Palatin! he so much Commends, to the constancy and goodness of his Own at home; and not set off his adhering to their Laws, only to represent the Breach of Ours here: besides, he might have been so Can∣did to observe, that the Peaceable and Flourishing Condi∣tion of those German Countries, is chiefly owing to that free Exercise that is permitted of Religion: the Roman and Lutheran Churches being both sumptuously Built in some Places, and as publickly frequented; nay, in one and the same Church we have known them successively celebrate the Mass, and the Protestant Service, and the Magistracy took

it's Turn in Civil Administration, after the same manner as the others did in Ecclesiastical: The Dr. would have done well to observe, that in these Dominions, there was no Forcing of Conscience, nor any Penal Laws for it in Force; even where the Roman Bishops Preside as Soveraign Princes; there is no such Persecution, as in the Electorates of Cologn and Mentz: but the painful Gentleman must be pardon'd for his Elaborate Observations to abuse his Prince, when he has dealt as boldly with the Trinity; and from the most An∣tient of the Manuscripts, made room for the Doctrin of the Arians: If he can serve the Protestant Religion no better abroad, than by Betraying the Christian, he had better Dispens'd with his Travels, and stay'd at Home. His frequent Reflections on the late Chief Minister of His Majesties Justice, and now the chiefest in the State too; as they cannot detract from the mighty Merit of that Loyal Peer, so they serve only to make up the Measure of the Drs. Malice: his Zeal to the Service of the Crown can never be made Criminal by the Pen of a Zealot that invades it, and he cannot but Libel the KING's most Faithful Friends, that so willingly would Abjure his own Faith and Allegiance.

All Injury is superseded by such Calumny, even to the contradicting of the most common Aphorism, and nothing of it will stick, tho' laid on in abundance: Consider, that such Mens Suggestions are Malitious, and must not, can∣not be Believ'd: Consider, that some may make a cry for their Diana; tho' no one be going to intercept their Trade, or take away her Shrines: In such cases, those that have no concerns of Employment in the Church, are the best Judges, whither She be really injur'd; for partial People, and Persons concern'd, are apt to Anticipate Dangers, tho' they are not so much as in the Clouds, or Hanging over their Heads; and those that are but standers by, are the best Judges of the Fair Play: The Jealousies of such Men is a debasing of their Function that is Sacred; when like Mechanicks in a Trade, they are afraid of Interlopers, and will give occasion to say, that this earnest Contending seems more for their Temporal Possessions, than for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints.

If our Laws were truly like the Medes and Persians, that they Alter'd not, and which was insisted on to a Persian Prince up∣on the like occasion, for Darius his condemning of Da∣niel for the Worship of his God; then I confess the least de∣sign of Altering such Laws, would make the very intention of it Criminal. But when our Law it self tells us, That any Subsequent Parliament, can Null all the Acts of the Pre∣ceding, When it has been done almost every Session, and is absolutely necessary for the Constitution of a State; it must not be put upon with Falshoods and Paradoxes. And to say, that if the Penal Laws are Repeal'd, Popery will then be Establisht by Law, will be False, both from Inference and Fact; for sure that is not presently an Establisht Church that is just let loose from the Prison and the Jayl; and there will several Statutes remain in Force, For maintaining of her Tyths, Dignities and Revenues, For making none capable, but such as shall be exactly Conformable: For preserving the Present, a National One, unless she be No Church, when she has No Power to Punish.

Don't be deceiv'd with the shaddow; that all things shall be granted to your hearts ease under the Next Successor; this (were it not a foolish sort of argument) would help me to Cap their Fable of the Dogs, with another to the same; but this is certainly Folding your Arms, a pensive hoping in the Shade, when you can run out and play in the Sun; and will ever it's Beams be the less refreshing, because it will rise again the next day; and you are not sure but it may be in a Cloud: but then, these Men that draw such a wise Scheam of future Politicks, can they foresee the Breasts of Princes, that they thus Promise for them, and when their Hearts are said to be only in the hands of God? Who knows but the Royal Heir, out of a Sense of Filial Duty, and Pious Gratitude to the memory of it's Parent, will protect All those that have Faithfully serv'd him, of any Perswasion whatsoever, especially when so nearly ally'd to the very Bosome of a Prince, whose way of Worship neither is the same with the National here, and in whose Countries All Religions have been ever alike Tolerated. But besides, with sub∣mission to their most Judiciary Calculations, I look upon it as a

little sort of undecent forecast, to be Always Erecting such Scheams for the Next Heir, both in Discourse, and Writ∣ing, as seem almost to calculate the Nativity of the Pre∣sent, and as if they would comfort themselves, that his Reign wont be long; Arguments are made, Conclusions are drawn, and even Projects fram'd, with the Premisses Still, If the King die. Stanley lost his Head by a less severe con∣struction of Treason Ex hypothesi; And such insinuations seem to savour of the Prayers made by some Zealots in the 1st. of Queen Mary, that her Days might be Shortned, or her Heart Turn'd; but for all the Condition annext, it was made Abso∣lutely Treasonable. I would not have some men play the Gad∣bury too much, and limit the Life of a Monarch, by the cal∣culating of his Age; the Prayers of Good men may prolong it, and those of the Bad will never cut it short.

Future Contingencies cannot be foreseen, but by that Pro∣vidence alone that had its being from All Ages, that has a Continu'd view of Time, and all Eternity by Intuition, and in whose Hands alone are these Princes Hearts. Hu∣man Judgment was always fallible, and very apt to make false conjectures; some People could not think His Ma∣jesty would prove a Prince so Gracious, Merciful, and In∣dulgent, & for that were uneasy; and who would have thought that some men that insisted so much on Passive Obedience to the Successor, shou'd be now Impatient, and almost Disobedient under his Reign? To Distinguish themselves out of their Loyalty, may shew their Logick or their Law, but never will their Love and Allegiance; I am asham'd to see men labour to make Law and Loyalty the same, as if People when they have got a Capricious Interpretation in their Head, have Autho∣rity to spoil the Common acceptation of a Word. We all know forsooth, as well as the Criticks, that Loy signifies Law; but was ever Loyalty taken yet, in common discourse, for Lawfulness too? we are bound to do all that's Lawful & Right to one another, by Law; & are we therefore one anothers Loyal and Liege Subjects? but to take it in their Perverted Sense, or that of Coke Littleton; to Defend this Kings Power of Dispensing, is the most Loyal Act you can do, since by those very Lawyers, the Kings Prerogative is main∣tain'd

to be the Best and Chiefest Part of the Law. But I am sorry to see Church-men now assume this very Notion for a reserve to their Love and Allegiance, when to my know∣ledg, this very quibling on the Word, was us'd, not long since, by those they call'd Wiggs and Phanaticks, and was by the Prerogative-Lawyers of those times laught at, and refu∣ted; 'tis the Fate always, when men begin to grow Facti∣ous, to contradict themselves; as if what was Loyalty under one Prince, was not so under another, and one King cannot dis∣pense with what the other Can.

Faction and Malicious Accusation can never carry the cause a∣gainst Loyalty and the King, consider in the Common Case of Felons, and Malefactors, the credit of their Accusers is in no∣thing more Invalidated then by proving any manner of Ma∣lice in their Prosecutors; and pray then let the King, when He's arraign'd (for the sake of his Prerogative) have but as much Priviledge as a Prisoner at the Bar, when his Accu∣ser too appears the most Malicious, and what is more, by Process upon Record, the greatest Malefactor: the Law in many Cases Implys a Malice, but here it is most plain be∣yond Implication, if you Consider the Libells the learned Doctor has lay'd at your doors are penn'd by a Person that wanted more preferment here, and who for his mis∣deameanors was turn'd out of the little he had: By one that left England (and I believe him) with his Maiesties Appro∣bation; and by his commands was forbid to return: By one that ly's charg'd with no less than High Treason, and who confesses in the Second Address that he sent to the Se∣cretary; that such proceedings shall provoke him.

Whatever is the veracity of the most moderate Man, he must not be believ'd when he rages most Immoderately; no more than a Bear is to be trusted when you have baited him, only because before he was quiet and tame: and mens Passions too, in spite of our boasted Reasoning, even by be∣ing too much exalted, can debase themselves so far as to become brutal, and then the deliberate mischiefs they do, are the more dangerous, from the sagacity of that seduc'd rea∣son, that then truly, sells it self to do wickedly; and what more Ingenious Revenge, could an enrag'd, and provok't

bassal take against his Liege Lord, then such a pretty ex∣pedient, for the renouncing his Allegiance: And that he means by it more than a Temporary Revolt to a forraign Jurisdiction, will appear from some passages in his own Pa∣pers, when he suggests to our Peaceful Subjects here, the Principle of Mr. Hobbs his State of War, and the Scurvy Pa∣ragraph of self Preservation; when he insinuates also that his Faith to his Prince may be Temporary too at home, and to last no longer than the King will Countenance or Pro∣tect.

What more Malicious Construction can be made from the plain meaning of Express words? The King Declares, no one shall suffer for meer Religion. And what says the Dr? Why, then when Religion and Policy are interwoven, they can claim no benefit by the Declaration. Would the Doctor oblige the King from his Liberty of Conscience to Tolerate Robbers and Murderers? for it is the Policy, and Publick safety of the State that punishes them still: or is it possible that people, when they suffer for any other offence that by Law is truly Criminal; can be said to suffer for meer Religion, when by Law too that is made no Crime at all? Or would the Doctor have had the KING's mercy to have Anticipated the Justice of future times, and extended to the Crimes, which hereafter on the Pretence of Religion they may possibly Commit? and yet this with prejudic'd persons must pass for Reason that has nothing in it of Common Consequence; and that the Doctor may not want contradiction too (for malice will make wise men commit absurdities) tho I am sorry to see so Celebrated a Reasoner run himself into such misfortune, only for the defaming of his own KING: at the same time he would re∣fute for it the French-man for too much Praising of His.

In one Page of his Reflections, he makes our Queen Ma∣ry to get the better of the Monarch of France, to be more fie∣ry in her persecution; and to have Animated the bloodiest of her Bishops, Bonner, he makes her as much a Monster as his own malice, or that of the other Sex can make a Woman well to be, or be well imagin'd: and whats the meaning of all this? Why! Here 'tis very fit for his purpose so to do, and the Doctors Satyr, must come in here only in opposition to the

Monsieur's Panegyrick; but then in another Page, this same Q. Mary was a Woman so far from delighting in seenes of blood, that her Clemency was much magnify'd, and the mildness of that Princesses Reign, gave no Cause to complain of the Ri∣gor of her Proceedings, and what's the matter now? Why, the KING, the Council, the then Chief Justice are all to be Libell'd; and the Clemency to Wiat's Crew, set against the Doctors Cru∣elty in the West; and I warrant you, we should have heard no∣thing of Queen Mary's being mild, had it not been to make our most Merciful Monarch Cruel: there is not one such a touch of kindness to that Queen Mary, in all his Book of Reformation. But after all this his forc't Compliment to her Pious Memory and mildness, his excepting it as to matters of Religion, will not much mend his matter here, for let the Mo∣tives to Cruelty be what they will, it can never make the Cha∣racter of the Person mild, much less in matters of meer Reli∣gion; for there it more aggravates, and for that the Doctor might have spar'd a little Panegyrick upon His Majesty, that in this point is so full of mercy; and if Religion only did so Animate Queen Mary to Blood, She must in his very in∣stance have shed abundance, since that most dangerous Rebellion (as he calls it) was most upon that score, tho' the Spanish Match was so much pretended, tho' I think there was as much danger too in that which this KING went through, and the se∣verity no more than the necessity of the State so generally distemper'd, did inevitably require.

In the next place, in another page of this applauded piece, To condemn a p••rson in Absence upon Attainder, is there Justify'd in opposition to Varilla's, to be alway practis'd by our Law, when the Absence was wilful: but in other of his works, and even there in the next page the Cases of Monmouth, and Arme∣strong, are made so many Murders, and the highest in∣vasions of Equity and Justice: Was the thing alway practis'd by Law, and shall it be, when the Doctor pleases unlawful? But by his leave, the two Cases that he confounds so Lear∣nedly, were never the same: The first was an attainder in Parlia∣ment, and never question'd for illegal: the latter was attainted too, but upon Outlary; and tho' the Dr. would insinuate the Pro∣cess upon his seisure to be so unjust, only to have another touch

at the Judge, 'tis as certain that he suffer'd Justly, for to be sure the Clemency for Revoking the Judgment, was by the Law only intended to a Voluntary surrender; otherwise the Prosecution of the Law must be in a sort of Abeyance, and at a stand; and the KING's Officers hearing of his abode, could not Seise an Outlaw'd Malefactor, till he has abscon∣ded Out his Year and a Day: but it would be well if the Dr. would make better use of his Case, and take warning by it, to forbear his Libells, lest his High and Mighty States of Holland and West-Friezland should be rob'd of such a Jew∣ell. If this Case does not concern him, I know he remem∣bers all the Reformation, and how they dealt with a Dr. in Q. Eliz. time; that among his Mildnesses too of that Prin∣cesses Reign Story was taken even out of Flanders; and if we believe his Famous Fox, cut up alive in England: His Case was so Compleatly Parallel, that I compassionately wish this Dr. may never draw the lines so far, as to perfect it in his Fate. His Case was also put too to the Consultation of all the Lawyers; he was Try'd for High Treason; he Pleaded hard for himself, that he was a sworn Subject to the King of Spain, and none to the Queen of England; that the Judges had no Power to meddle with him; however, his Plea was Overul'd with this Resolution, That no man can renounce the Country where∣in he was Born, nor abjure his Prince at his own Pleasure: If this be Mahometan Government, Murder, and Court of Inquisition, Protestants will have little cause to thank him for his complements too on that mild Reign, and the Mer∣cy's of Queen Eliz. in carrying on the Reformation.

But besides; these expedients of bringing over Persons obnoxious to the Government from Forreign Parts; which we see so confirm'd by President, even where the Protestant Party Prevail'd: the Protection of the States he so stands upon, may fail him too; and the succour of that Country which he so relyes on, by leaning on too much, may like the Reed of another Egypt, run into his Side: as little as he may value Mr. D' Albevills motions to remove him, his Masters there are too cunning to Procure a Breach with a Crown, for the Protection of a Subject that is indeed none of theirs. Those that never yet dealt so fairly with Princes, may be

suspected for such a superfluous Faith, to one that puts himself upon them for a Vassal; but especially the dan∣ger to the Dr. may be more than he Imagines, when the Justice and Law of Nations will oblige them to a surren∣dring of him up; or at least a sending him away, unless he fancies for that reason, the Dutch will refuse it. Men of a greater Figure have been serv'd so: the Earl of Suffolk attainted in Hen. 7. time, was after a long Debate, deli∣ver'd up by the King of Spain; and so was the Constable of France, by the Duke of Burgundy, to Lewis the 11th. and what this Celebrated Historian must remember more, even in the times of Reformation: Queen Eliz. demanded Morgan from France, and told the Scots when they did Both well, that she would either yield him up to Them, or send him away from Her; and sure He will not now Blast and Blemish that Reign too, as well as all the rest that have been since.

This Historian must have met with too in his reading; that where the delivering up such Fugitives has been refus'd, it has only been because they would put them to as fair a Tryal There; and so it was told the same Queen by the King of Scots, when she writ for Fernihurst. Inferiour Criminals for defrauding the Revenue, have been return'd us here, and High-Treason I hope is of a higher Nature: the Crimen laesae Majestatis Mutually concerns all Crown'd Heads not to Protect in the Fugitives of a Forreign State, no more than they can Encourage the committing it in their own at home: and the Dutch cannot deny it us, unless it be only because they have nothing of a Crown. It would be an hardship to a Government, not to be endur'd; that an individual Subject should seize for Contract and Debt in another Do∣minion, or by Reprisals at Sea right himself; and yet Fu∣gitives to find refuge for betraying even the Commonweal; this would subject the States General to such an Incapaci∣ty of righting themselves, which every Particular Skipper is capable of, that sells but an Herring. And at last, all doubt is out of doors, where such Protection is provided a∣gainst by the Articles of Peace.

All Impartial People, I hope, will Pardon me for deal∣ing

a Little freely with the Dr. that has been certainly more bold with His MAJESTY, and taken the liberty to Libel no less than the whole Line: and for the Perti∣nency of such Animadversion I appeal to all his Papers, put out on purpose to Oppose any Happy Union, and all good agreement between King and People; and for the re∣flections I've return'd, I can safely say, I have but Mildly toucht upon, and that Promiscuously, the most Provoking Se∣dition; from one that with the severest Satyr has pointed at his KING.

Such rude Recriminations on the Crown, he knew would Interrupt the Peace that is expected from an Approaching Parliament; and so to clear it from such Scandals, and refute such Seditious Argument, must fall under our Duty, as well as Design.

But whatever are his hopes from it's Approach, and the diffe∣rences he expects in its Debates, (who it seems is now so much a Naturaliz'd Dutchman, as to promise himself good Fishing from troubl'd Waters and the Mudd). I am Morally perswaded they will hardly espouse his Quarrel, much less return him ano∣ther Thanks of the House: and what ever are the fond expectan∣cies of some vain People, will be so far from Invading the Rights of the Crown, as to Confirm this so question'd Prerogative of their King; against which, the follies of some inconsiderate Persons do so promise an Appeal, and will more likely draw up a Resolve to suppress such Libels, than any Remonstrance for Grievances to be Redrest.

The late Ld. Shaftsbury was once against All Tests, especially for Religion; & made a Notable Speech in the House of Lords a∣gainst that of the Oxford Act being more Ʋniversally im∣pos'd: but some Years after, when he had a mind to put tricks upon the Papists; then, Transubstantiation, Praying to Saints, Sacrifice of the Mass, must be all confuted, and confounded with a Test, when they might as well have Enacted the Tri∣nity to be Nonsense; as positively, to define, what possibly may be None, Superstition and Idolatry: The Notions of Divini∣ty, I think, were never before without a General Council, so Dogmatically declar'd with an Order'd and Resolv'd, and most part of the Christian World Transubstantiated into Pagan with an Act of Parliament.

If the belief of Catholicks is so Captivated, as to consent to the Corporeal, and Elemental change into the Substance of a God; for Godsake! Would they not be worse then Idolators, if they did not Adore? And must they now be Voted such, only because they do not think as others do? I must confess, I al∣way thought it would have been a wiser definition of this E∣stablisht Church; to have made Her Sacrament more Figura∣tive, or the Sacrifice of the Mass less Idolatrous; for Really Present, and the body and blood, to be verily, and indeed Taken; are Terms that must put us to our Metaphysicks; and which I have not yet seen so well Explicated, as not to touch upon an Elemental transmutation: Luther lik't it so little, that ra∣ther than like Mahomet's Tomb, to hang between two Ele∣ments, the Heaven, and the Earth; he made up his more absurd composition of both.

And then for that other Idolatry of Images, and Invocation; from their plain words, and in Charity to them, I am apt to think, has really no other Existence, than in the Letter of our Laws, and the resolution of our Act of Parliament; for my self have put it as a Question to several Papists abroad, as well as to some of our own at home, even to the most ignorant Votary's: and if any can be blind Adorers, the poorest Plebeians, to what they Exalted, and in what they Terminated their extreams of Worship, when addrest to an Image or a Saint? Why! the An∣swer was still to this Purpose, To the True GOD alone, look∣ing upon those Material Objects, but as so many Representa∣tions to move, and elevate their Devotions to their Savi∣our, and excite them to have recourse to Him by such In∣tercessors: so that if we believe their own words, and men may be allow'd to know their own minds, their Church cannot be guilty of the only Idolatry that can with any Charity be charg'd upon it; A Consequential, and even that is but a forc't, unkind, unintelligible extension of it; a Term that has as much of malice in it, as of Metaphysicks; and certainly can no more make their Doctrine Idolatrous, than that would the Church of England, if her nine and thirty Articles by a mad-man or a fool, should be taken for the Alcoran: Ignorance may be the Mother of Superstition, or even a Criminal Devotion in the Members of a Communion; when it would be madness to

make the whole body of Christians suffer for it too, as so many Turks and Mahometans.

I'le tell you now the substance of some of the Arguments of that Noble Peer, against the first Test; and you shall see, whether they will not serve against all the rest.

Ay, says he, It will be a great step to the overthrowing of the Act of Oblivion, and reviving distinctions among Par∣ties.

That all such former Oaths were steps to to the same end, that we should rather think of repealing, than enjoyning them to be taken by all the Officers of the Nation, and Members of both Houses.

That Oaths ought to be simple and plain, whereas that about Re∣ligion was intricate and dark, and only a snare to the Consciences of well-meaning men.

That such Oaths were against the Property of the Sub∣ject.

That it is directly against the Kings Crown and Dignity, that Subjects should be sworn to matters of the Church.

That it was the highest invasion of the Supremacy, and the greatest attempt that has been made against it, since the Refor∣mation.

These His Arguments cannot but take with Dissenters, since it was a Speech he made in their own favor, and defence, and sure Conformists cannot condemn the reasonings of such a Noble Peer, who introduc'd both the Tests against the Roman Catholicks: And so Efficacious was his Oratory then, that the Lords Iaid aside all further considerations of any Ʋniversal Imposition of such unreasonable Oaths; and so concern'd were they for offering the Imposing it, that they drew up Protestations against it, as the Invasion of their Peerage, and the Freedom of Parliaments. And sure, if any of these Pro∣testing Peers are yet Living, (as I am sure some are,) their Ho∣nor, their Interest, their Birth-Right, their Peerage, the very Judgment of their Souls, their Hands & Hearts, are all pawn'd, for the repealing of such Laws, when against the Passing them they enter'd such a notable Protest: a Repeal which Shaftsbury himself would be asham'd were he now alive to oppose: This is no flourish, but Argument upon the Case, that is kept

upon Record, and that in the highest Court; and 'tis but con∣sulting the Journal of the House of Lords, and by that let the rea∣sons of such Laws to stand, or fall, that Honourable Assem∣bly, when ever it Sits, will find sufficient Reasonings, and as much Matter of Fact, for the removing all such Tests, preserv'd for them within their own Walls; and their own Books shew them the best of Presidents, and a President, where the Case has been contested, is worth an hundred when there has been no con∣test.

And being here come home to that, which touches the only tender Part of the Government, The two Tests of Car. 2. against the Catholiques: I cannot but take notice of the New Paper of the Dutch Pensioner; that is so diligently spread for the diffusion of an industrious mischief, and crea∣ting the most dangerous Difference, that can arise from the debates of a Divided House; I cannot do better than close our last Animadversions on their latest effort, that is so freshly set afoot for our disturbance: The Reasons that it brings up in the Reer, are less to be regarded than the Royal Characters, that it carries in the Front; and we could forgive mijn Heer F. his Arguments (if we did not refute them) when we can∣not so soon Pardon the Presumption for prefixing to a Pam∣phlet, Surreptitious, and unauthoriz'd, the rever'd name of the Princess of O. the sweetness of whose temper, and gentle dis∣position, as it cannot be suppos'd to delight in severity, and Persecution; so certainly is as little pleas'd to promote any thing to the disturbance of a State, to which She still seems so neerly related; as her obliging nature does sufficiently secure us, she'l favour an Indulgence; so does that dutiful affection as morally perswade, she cannot Patronize the opposers of her Parent. But the names of such Princes to their pretended piece, they were well assur'd would make it Popular; the weak∣est side is the wisest too, when it makes the strongest party: it was their last expedient that made them trespass upon good manners, and presume to make Theirs, Her Highnesses opi∣nion.

It is offer'd it seems, in the first place, that the Papists through∣out all our three Kingdoms, should be suffer'd to continue in their Religion: I confess the kindness is somewhat extraordinary,

considering the Present season; when the greatest Persecuti∣on in the Past, could not prevail with them to renounce it: but if it shall be as the Paper promises, with as much Liberty, as is allow'd by the States in those Provinces; Then I humbly conceive, that from their own Concessions, both these Two Tests must be taken away; for by them both, both Peers and Commons of that perswasion are Incapacitated for Milita∣ry Employment; which the Letter it self, says by the Laws of that Country even there they cannot; do not exclude them from: and sure then it will ly harder upon them here, to be hinder'd from serving their KING in his Camp, when a na∣tural Liegeance requires it, express Statutes command it, and a Prince of their own Religion receives it: Shall the Dutch trust them for their defence, that are of a different faith? And cannot the KING of England confide in them, because they agree in the same? And yet by both these Tests they so contend for, the Catholicks are excluded from serving His Majesty, tho' they take up Arms only for his preservation: So that this Letter-maker, must certainly fall into the neces∣sity of this Dilemma; that the Papists must not be permit∣ted here the Liberty they are allow'd in Holland, or these Tests must be taken away for their more free Admission in∣to Military affairs; and without any medium, he must renounce his own Position, or admit ours.

The Author of this Paper that must pass for the Pensi∣oner, is certainly the worst in the world to write for the Tests; when he gives it under his hand, that he has never read them; and for that reason may be a Forreigner to our Laws, as well as Land; when he says, that thereby Roman Catholicks receive no other Prejudice, than their being exclu∣ded from Parliaments, or publick Employments; when by the latter of those, Recusants Convict are banish't the Court, so much as seeing, or coming into the presence of their King or Queen; or places where they reside, upon pains of incur∣ring all the fearful Penalties, and forfeitures, that follow the † violation of that Act: I hope the bare ‖ seeing of their Royal Soveraigns, can't be call'd a Sitting in Parliament, an Office, or publick Employment, and the coming into their Pre∣sence, or Place of abode, be presently interpreted a promo∣tion

to a Place too of high Preferment, since 'tis seldom de∣ny'd the poorest Plebeian, that never expects (perhaps) the turning of the spit in the Kings Kitchin. I confess this clause is so far for keeping them out of Publick Employment, that it almost excludes them human society: Herds them among Beasts, debases them below Brutes too; for if we believe our old English Proverbs, even A Cat may look upon a King.

But I must tell these Politicians too, who so finely extenuate the severities of these Tests into a meer Metaphysical Entity; A Negative sort of Punishment, that only denies Papists to be pre∣ferr'd; that to any impartial person, these disabling Laws, will appear a positive Persecution; and that only, for the sake of Pure Religion: The Abjurations that they force upon the people in France, are only more Ʋniversal; and with this disparity, they that there will not renounce their Religion, must resolve to suffer as Patiently as they can, the insolency, spoil, rapine, and outrages of all the Souldiers they send them, which reduces several Families to misery and want; and for refusing the same renuntiation here, many persons that have had their sole dependance upon some office, or place, have meerly for that been dispossest and remov'd to their utter Ruin and destruction; all the difference lying in this, be∣tween being devour'd by dragoons, or beggar'd by being turn'd out & discarded: or putting the case more favourably, we'l look up∣on these Oaths only as they respect (in the sense of this Letter) the keeping Papists out of Employment: what comfort can this be to the poor Catholiques, or what mitigation of a Prote∣stant Persecution; when they are deny'd the common Advan∣tages that may make them rich? It must be certainly the same misfortune, as to be turn'd out of their possessions, that they may be sure to become poor.

I cannot see with what Conscience this late Celebrated Letter can assert, that, neither from these Tests, nor the Other Laws, Roman Catholicks are made to suffer upon account of their Consciences. This is too gross to be put upon the Dutch them∣selves; for certainly were these Penal Laws so favourable as only to incapacitate them for Office and Trust; yet even that is a severity, which they are necessitated to suffer, and that for Conscience sake: it is but a poor extenuation of an unchari∣table

temper, when he tells us that for some Political ends, these Laws for Religion must remain unrepeal'd; as if the Sacraments themselves, were only made to be subservient to some Civil Institutions, and the God of Heaven, but an in∣strument to work out the inventions of man: if meerly for secular ends, so sacred a being, as the Drity it self must be so solemnly invok't, (which the best Advocates for the cause do seem to confess) I am afraid such an Invocation may be worse than that to Saints, and be at least very profane, if not Ido∣latrous; neither can it be answer'd us, that then all Decla∣rations, all Oaths must be laid aside; for the Consequence fails them too, for the Common reason of Imposing them is only, or only should be, for the detecting of Justice and E∣quity, the discovering of truth from falsehood, whereas these Protestations call'd Tests, are by their own Confession kept a foot, only to be Injurious to their fellow-Subjects that are E∣quitably born to the Common Priviledges of their Country, and are so far from a discovery of what is true or false, that they are made about matters so profoundly divine and myste∣rious, that it is morally impossible for human understanding to discover or find it out, unless the swearing to an Article of Faith be found a sufficient proof of the soundness of the Doctrine, and the books of Scripture, Antient Fathers, modern Criticks, can be all Confuted, or be better Expounded by the Votes of an house of Commons.

This States-man makes it so Incomprehensible for any that pro∣fess themselves Christians, to go to disturb the quiet of a state, and over-turn Constitutions, only that they may be admitted to employments: And pray, must not others then think it as Vn∣christian, to have the professors of the same faith, and their fellow-Subjects excluded from such employs, which as their Religion cannot really debar them from, so their very Na∣tive Birth-right demands it: it is false in fact, tho they take it for granted, that it is the Roman-Catholicks alone that do so disturb, and disquiet the State of the Kingdom; it is only these Laws that create all this disturbance to them, and the state, these establisht-men would have been loath under the Op∣pression of Oliver, to have merited the Name of disturbers of the Nation; and 'tis shewn before, that suffering from a pow∣er, Legal or Ʋsurpt, is still the same where the Laws are op∣pressive;

and if the Overturning of old Constitutions be a thing of that consideration, (tho hardly a Parliament passes in which there are not new ones made) if that I say be such a considerable argument, as to make it absolutely necessary for our English Catholiques to acquiesce; to continue Out-Laws, more incapacitated them some Protestant Aliens: how destruc∣tive must this be to the Protestant Interest should the Ro∣manists take an opportunity to return upon us an old Law of the Romans, that of Talionis; and exclude all the Reform'd from Trust, with a Test of Retaliation? why we must sub∣mit, we must not endeavour for our Restitution, we must not di∣sturb the state, overturn establishment, or repeal Laws. And must not we look very silly too, when by our own Arguments we have silenc'd our selves? What a formidable blow will this give to the Reformation in England, which was carried on (as some say) by the overturning of all that was Antient, and Establisht, Sacred and Civil, both in Church and State; and afford them a Scurvy Argument, That they may overturn with a better warrant than they were turn'd out; that their alterations will be only a re∣storing of an old establishment, whereas we overturn'd that, to set up new Constitutiens? In short, if they bring no better Reasons for our Religion, than its being so much Establisht, it will certainly resolve it self into the Power and Pleasure of the Prince, and really be, what they so scornfully reject, truly Precarious; for surely they must see, that assoon as they had a Protestant King, they presently had their Protestant Religion: And that in spite of far more Antient Constitutions, and Establishments to the contrary.

I'le grant him, that every constituted body, or Assem∣bly whatsoever, will be willing to make Laws for its own safety and Preservation: But whatever be the Policy of the State, it must be still agreeable to the Rules of Reason and E∣quity; otherwise it proves no more than that all things are Lawful that are Expedient; and that a Common-wealth, (to use his own terms, as well as their own Constitution) tho the result of an absolute rebellion, revolt, and defection from their Prince, may make what Laws they please, to prevent any Casual return to there natural Allegiance; or that an Assembl'd or tumultuous People, may pull in pieces even a Pensioner, to provide against attempts thaet may disturb their peace: and grant∣ing too that in Political bodies, like to those that are truly

natural, there will be alway somwhat of innate tenderness to their own Preservation; that genuin Principle, only respects all opposing of a forreign force, and no way determines it to domestick oppression, no more than if the lazy man that is said alway to see the Lyon in the way, should cut off one of his legs, that he might the better run away with the rest of his car∣kass: I am sorry I can say, that this dismembring of our selves for the difference of Communion at home, does no less expose us to Invasions from abroad; but I am sure the saying is as certain∣ly True, prov'd by Experience & Fact; & unavoidable from these Statutes, and the Laws; for should the best Seaman, the best Souldier, by his birth, or Conversion, be a Papist Convict; he is totally incapacitated, utterly impossible to do the least service to the Kingdom or the Crown: and why should these Dutch peo∣ple put that upon us, the inconvenience of which they see in themselves; and take all the care to avoid: unless they would have the more of the Kings Subjects unqualify'd to fight for him, only that they might the sooner invade him. Before the making of our first Test; when Papists Participated of Em∣ployments, had their Places in Parliament; I cannot remem∣ber that they did Impeach our Peace; I am sure some of them did us signal service in the Dutch Wars, his foes felt too much of the force of the Admiral, and so may well fear the Preferment of his friends.

What the Reform'd Religion suffers from the Roman-Catho∣licks in France, is no reason at all against the repealing of these Laws in England, unless they can prove the disposition of the Princes, and the Politicks of the Two States, to be en∣tirely the same; which as precariously, as it is beg'd for an unquestionable Truth, if but duly consider'd, is as positively false: for the Principle of our King will not permit him to Persecute, & by the Constitution of our state against Protestants in general, it cannot be done: for sure such a mighty Majority must secure them from being supprest, tho perhaps it cannot from oppressing all others; and they may as well tell us, that the Hugonots in France, are able to Frighten the Papists, and subdue them; since the Reform'd there, have been al∣ways much more formidable, both by number and force, than ever the Papists can be suppos'd here; and yet even

there, notwithstanding these insinuations, till these late revo∣lutions in the Policy of that State, the Protestants were admit∣ted to Offices and Trust, in Court, and in Camp, by Sea, and by Land; the truth of which is so plain, that to name the Persons, would be needless and impertinent.

It is more Dogmatically laid down, than Judiciously asser∣ted, when he says, that it is Impossible for Roman-Catholiques and Protestants to live Peaceably together, when both are put in∣to places of Trust: as if Religion, and Divine Illumination, must only divest us of Humanity, enlighten us only so far, as to see the better how to fall out among our selves. First, 'tis plain, that it is very Unchristian that it should be so. Second∣ly, The contrary appears by practise in several of the neigh∣bouring states to Holland, and in some Towns that even they still call their own; where both Civil and Military matters, are manag'd by both; as before we have prov'd, and that with∣out these suggested consequences of Suspicions and Animosities. Thirdly, We our selves perceive none of this bad Correspon∣dence, from these mixt preferments that His Majesty bestows; but on the contrary a better understanding; & it would be hard indeed, if the Examination of his Faith, must only qualify the man as to his merit and desert; shall it be therefore hard for Papists in Hol∣land to be shut out of Military Employment, because in the first for∣mation of their state, they joyned in the defence of their publick Liberty; (that is, as I conceive in English) in maintaining that revolt they had made from their Lawful Prince? And shall it not be as Injurious a piece of Hardship, or the greatest injus∣tice to exclude them here from the same Employments, when they joyn'd with all their Loyal Fellow-Subjects in the de∣fence of their Soveraign, and in some cases were more emi∣nently, and solely concern'd in his preservation? And where∣as he insinuates their being mixt so together in Offices of Trust, must so necessarily cause this contention and Animo∣sity? nothing is more true than the Contrary; when all our Jealousies, and Envy, Emulation, and Division, have been oc∣casion'd by this ingrossing of Office and Preferment, from the partiality of the Laws; and men must needs be more apt to malign those, that only will allow themselves to govern, than such as will more modestly admit any other to share

in the Government. Whatever has been the sense of some Church-men, they need not be asham'd to retract their opi∣nion, when the Recantation too will only make them better Christians, and add the more Credit to their restor'd Cha∣rity; as many among them never approv'd of the making men suffer for the Religion of their Church; so several of them unprejudic'd, thought it as hard they should utterly be disabl'd for all Administrations in the State. To tell us, be∣cause we were once of an opinion, we must never change it; is a better Rule in Religion; and if observ'd, would have prevented all Schism, if not hinderd a Reformation, but is still a bad Maxim in the Politicks of a Common-wealth; for the changes and wonderful revolutions that happen in those ag∣gregated bodies, as well as in our Personal and individuals; which many times in less than seven years, are mouldred all into new matter, make some Constitutions and Establishments, Rules and Reasons, not only ridiculous but Impracticable; and we cannot find in Scripture too, (unless interpreted by the whimseys of such as set up for Christs Kingdom,) that our Sa∣viour, has assur'd us he'll be with the Government, as well as the Church to the end of the world. To this Point I can only tell the Pensioner further, that Catholiques here are not made uneasy under their perferments, unless it be by these Laws that make them such Criminals only for being prefer'd; and Pro∣testants may maintain with them a good Correspondence, un∣less such, whose Ambition would alone share the Administra∣tion of the State, or the favour of the Crown, and make of the very Government it self A Monopoly.

That learned Dilemma, does not pinch, and press the Ar∣gument so close, as the Paper Pretends, viz. That, if the Papists are so Few, the Laws have the Less reason to be Re∣peal'd for them; and if their Numbers are much Greater, Pro∣testants have more reason to be affraid. This sort of syllogi∣sing, as sound as it is, is as soon answer'd with another to the same, and that, out of his Own Concessions. If their Numbers are so Few (as he sayes they are in Polland) 'tis hard, to hinder them from Publick Employments, when the Pub∣lick Safety can no ways be endanger'd by them: and if they are so Numerous, as he would make them in Ireland, then

we have no reason to be affraid; since where so many of them (and we'll imagin them, if he will, the Major Part) People the Country, Inhabit the Towns, are Intrusted with Offices, Ci∣vil and Military, the Protestant Religion remains as firm and unviolated, and the Constitution of the Government, as much Ʋnshaken: and to bring it Homer to our selves in England, in a farther Answer to these fearful apprehensions that are sent us from Holland; That, when the Restraints of the Laws are Repeal'd, then we shall see them brought into the Govern∣ment; and Protestants find no more the support of the Laws from such Magistrates. I hope he does not think too, we shall have no Protestant Lords left, and that the Peerage it self shall be displac'd: but this Gentleman, is too much an Alien to our Commonwealth, to be admitted either as a Iudg or Iuror; being utterly unacquainted, both with Law and Fact. For first, the Establishment of the Protestant Religion does not solely depend upon those Statutes that are Penal, and those are only desired to be Repeal'd. In the next place he has forgot, or is not yet inform'd, that our KINGS from the Constitution of our Laws, have a power to Dispense with them too; which a Dr. of Ours, and a Fa∣vourite of these Dutch, has made as dangerous as a Repeal, & indeed, the very same: He knows not that his Majesty has Actu∣ally exercised this Power, & Offices of all sorts of Trusts, are already in their hands, Civil, Military, as Souldiers and Magistrates; and none can be more Powerful to make Al∣terations, than such as have the Command in an Army; and yet his fearful forebodings of future Invasions are now be∣come no matter of Fact, & makes that fail him too; the Prote∣stants promiscuously enjoy, & that quietly with them too all man∣ner of Publick Imployment; and their Religion remains as much Ʋndisturb'd and Establisht. But to infer from these Priveleges that the Romanists already Enjoy from the Clemency and Prerogative of the King, that therefore they must have fur∣ther designs than their Own security; and that they need no∣thing of a Repeal for to compleat their Happiness, or to ascertain their safety, is certainly an inference uncharitable, groundless, False: for as they have not shewn themselves so forward to subvert this Protestant Religion; for this four

Years, wherein they may be imagin'd to have had all op∣portunities of doing it; (and if we believe Dr. B. and the mighty influence he sayes they had in all the last Reign, we may add Twenty four Years more) we must conclude, that it is the want of some Peoples Charity, that makes them so designing; and that they are only so Formidable, be∣cause some Persons are resolv'd to be afraid: but nothing is a greater Mistake and falser Inference, than from the Im∣munity they Enjoy from the Meer Prerogative of the Prince, to say their necessity for abrogating these Laws is Superse∣ded; when their sole Safety they must needs see (and so do their Enemies too with more satisfaction) depends upon the Life of a Merciful Monarch (that must be mortal too) as long as these Laws are left in Force for their future De∣struction; and how compleatly they are fram'd for it, in the loss of All Property, Liberty, and Life (if these little things can destroy a man) by only being lookt upon, will ap∣pear. Ple appeal to any Impartial Protestant, whether his endeavours would not be the same, if his Circumstances were so too; one would think that such Counsellors as would Lull them asleep with their seeming security, propos'd only their more easy ruin by some sudden surprise, such as are content for a time that their helpful Hands bear with them the Sword of Jus∣tice, as long as another hangs over their Heads; that will allow them a good Dinner, if they'le but take it under Damocles his Dag∣ger: But Gentlemen, this is none of the greatest Kindness to Com∣plement them to such a Meal; 'tis but civilly telling them in the literal sense, Eat and Drink, for to Morrow ye Dy.

Having said so much before, on this so controverted Subject; we should hardly have pursu'd it so much farther, had not this fresh Provocation, upon the closing of this Piece, fell into our hands, which any one may see, is set a foot, on purpose to divide the Parliament, that themselves are af∣fraid might otherwise Agree in an Vniversal Repeal: And I must tell these Contenders, as long as a Legal Tolerati∣on will certainly be as great a security to all Protestants, in the Liberty of their own Worship, as any Legal Tests whatsoever: These Retainers of them, positively declare, 'Tis not the Protestant Religion alone, they are so tender

to Preserve; For if the Bill of Erclusion had by the more Corruption of the House, been Past into an Act, they might as well have labour'd too for the continuance of That: Since, if I have any conception of the Politicks of those times, those very two Tests they are so Zealous to re∣tain, were directly intended against the very Person of His Ma∣jesty: The First, most effectually made him lose the Place of an Admiral; and 'twas with much ado, the Proviso of the Latter, left him a Place among the Peers.

The Veneration all English Subjects should have, for the Presumptive, or Apparent Successor of the Crown (for in spite of the Sophistry of the late Lord Shaftsbury, the sense of the Terms is the Jame, when there is none Appears before to Intercept him;) That as it was sufficient to recommend the Contents of such a Piece to a Serious Perusal; so it must needs make it Merit as Modest a Reflection, did it really bear that Image and Superscription, which I've reason to imagin was but a Counterfeited Coin. The Presses at London, did more probably produce, what was their Prudence and Poli∣cy to Paum upon the Hague; and if Holland had the ho∣nour of bringing it into light, this Pensioner of the States, was only our Dr. at Amsterdam; however, it is handled with All the respect imaginable, even for the sake of those Vene∣rable Characters so Politickly Feign'd: The Name of such a Princess, by Nature the Best, and by Birth Inferiour to None; we would truly revere, tho' we were sure it was there as Fa••sly prefixt, as we are still bound to Pray for the Royal Family, so must Her Prosperity be as much remembred in our Prayers; neither will those we use now for the Propaga∣ting of It, displease such a Generous Princess; much less, Should make some Protestants so sullen, as in a Zeal, to de∣cline their Church, and Libel their very Prayers; since only they are offer'd for Perpetuating that Royal Line, of which there are but few in remainder, and not so many left: and if only the Touching upon such a Subject, shall by some be made so Criminal, for the sake only of so Sacred a Title, tho' without Their Authority, they must pardon me that undecency, since Royal Papers have been sufficiently reflected on, that have been more Au∣thoriz'd, and that by those too, who with greater decency might have spar'd their Animadversion.

There remains no more to be said, if men will Consider their Interest, Examine their Reason, have a regard to Equity, they will soon see that what is desir'd, is only, To do to others, as they would be done unto: But this Golden Rule, cannot I con∣fess, guide or direct those that can Outface it with a forehead of brass; that can treat Princes and Prelates with more opprobrious terms than themselves would bear, or so many Porters; but this incomparable Impudence is only due to that unimitable Dr. which in his affected Phrase, must be needs an Original, because never to be Copy'd.

Such transcendent insolency soars a pitch beyond Imitati∣on, and, is indeed such a sublime, such a flight to which nothing but a brow of a peculiar composition could attain; To Threaten KINGS with their Characters and Life as it is that Altitude and Acme of the most exalted Arrogance; So it must be the surest indication of the Profoundest folly; it does but bid a de∣fyance to sense and truth; and assures us he can reconcile to his Rage and Calumny, those vast extreams of Falsehood and Contradiction; it only bespeaks the Reader to that villany, which the Author is intended to commit, secures him his infamy beforehand; and blasts his Credit with an Anticipation of his Crime; the Memoirs of King Charles the Second, when sent us from such hands, must needs have as much Malice and Reputation, as the Court of King James the first; and the Confutation of both, has been best adjudg'd to be the Pro∣vince of the Common Executioner; and if threatned men live long (as the Dr. himself observes) 'tis in that sense alone he makes his Monarch Immortal.

'Tis time now to Apply our selves to an approaching Parlia∣ment, since the Party that opposes its Agreement has form'd it's Faction; and been so forward, as to be before us in their Application: for men that have but a bad cause to carry on, commonly make diligence to supply the defect of the Goodness of their Case; and therefore the late Letter to a Dissenter (only in a new dress) is now directed to a Person of Quality; whom the Author (forgetting his former reflections) has al∣ready Return'd a Member of the House, before his Maje∣sty (not to mention the leave to Debate) has granted them so much as Liberty of Election.

I need not revy upon the Reflecter on the late Letter of the Pensioner, who has only put out a Panegyrick, in the name of an Animadversion; he'le find himself refuted beforehand in our Observations upon that Original, and there is nothing more in his Copy besides the Malice; & that is extended even to the making of their Primitive Hero, a Pusillanimous deserter that would keep himself at a distance from their deeper designs; and sure 'tis but a bad cause that shall make a Subjects defe∣rence to his Prince the very Occasion of his Crime; His in∣ference from mijn heer F's. Wit and Parts, is no more an Argument that he made the Letter, than it is a stronger one a Majori, that the same Person made both that and the Reflecti∣on; and we know what Author it is, so much fam'd for his mischief, that is as notoriously vain for the commendation of himself.

I Shall therefore close with two Exhortations to those that are to chuse our Representatives, and offer one consideration to those that are Chosen.

When ever the KING sends you his Summons, let your E∣lections be carried with Moderation, and your Choice of such men, as are either concern'd to Repeal these Laws for their own sakes, or inclin'd to do it for the Reasons that require it.

Let your Returns be made as fairly as possible; for that which is a sound Parliament, will the sooner be an Healing One.

And may that Peaceful Assembly, when it Sits, consider how to Pacify the Nation, and grant too, His Majestys Proposi∣tions for Peace. Let them consider, that their present Prince (tho as powerful as any of his Predecessors, or more absolute neighbours) does only desire a Repeal by Law, does allow them all that Liberty of Debate, which even our Hen. the Eighth did indeed make but a Merit of Obedience; and the Kings of France in the True Sense, their Le Roy Vult. I never saw a Parliament end well, when it began at Cross Purposes with their King. I remember the time, when it was thought a Pretty play, to Triffle with the Crown, when It was Ask't —A Supply. It was Answer'd, Popery. — It was Ask't — to Consider the Navy. It was Answer'd, Arbitrary Power. Such Sessions we saw end in Remonstrances, but never in any real good to the Kingdom, or the Crown.

And may we all say to his Majesty, as it was unanimously said to General Monk against the sitting of that Healing Assembly, [We will all submit to the Determinations of the next Parliament:] And may that Session, prove as Auspicious, for the settling of an Vnion and Ʋniversal Peace: may it answer the intention of Our Present Soveraign, and merit the glorious Character of the Past, that its fame may be as lasting, as the Liberty that it gives; and that both may be transmitted, and continued to Posterity.

Notes

• Mastrich, Breda, &c.
• Heidelberg, Ausburg nd Duseldorp. By the Treaty at Munster & Osnabrugh.
• Vid. His Popery & Pa∣ganism.
• By 1 Eliz. 3 Jac. 25 Car. 2d. & 30. They are deny'd Office. they are de∣bar'd from Sitting in Par∣liament, to which they are Born.
• By 35 Eliz. 3 Jac. They are forbid the Court & Com∣pany, Towns & City.
• By 31. E∣liz. 13 Jac. 3. Car. 1. Their Assurances, Wills. Lega∣cies, Trusts Voided, Goods confiscated, E∣states forfei∣ted.
• By 1 Eliz. 3 Jac. 25 Car. 2d. & 30. They are deny'd Office. they are de∣bar'd from Sitting in Par∣liament, to which they are Born.
• By 35 Eliz. 3 Jac. They are forbid the Court & Com∣pany, Towns & City.
• By 31. E∣liz. 13 Jac. 3. Car. 1. Their Assurances, Wills. Lega∣cies, Trusts Voided, Goods confiscated, E∣states forfei∣ted.
• By 1 Eliz. 3 Jac. 25 Car. 2d. & 30. They are deny'd Office. they are de∣bar'd from Sitting in Par∣liament, to which they are Born.
• By 35 Eliz. 3 Jac. They are forbid the Court & Com∣pany, Towns & City.
• By 31. E∣liz. 13 Jac. 3. Car. 1. Their Assurances, Wills. Lega∣cies, Trusts Voided, Goods confiscated, E∣states forfei∣ted.
• By 1 Eliz. 3 Jac. 25 Car. 2d. & 30. They are deny'd Office. they are de∣bar'd from Sitting in Par∣liament, to which they are Born.
• By 35 Eliz. 3 Jac. They are forbid the Court & Com∣pany, Towns & City.
• By 31. E∣liz. 13 Jac. 3. Car. 1. Their Assurances, Wills. Lega∣cies, Trusts Voided, Goods confiscated, E∣states forfei∣ted.
• Vid. Tryal of the New Test. page 1.
• †

  Vid. Stat. of Carlile of Pro∣visoes, &c.
• This their Celebrated Dr. has made K. James 1. to curse his Posterity: K. Charles 1. to betray his Friends, Char. 2d. to deceive his People, James 2d. to Oppress his Subjects: as if He had labou∣red to ly un∣der the Glori∣ous Infamy of Libelling four Kings in one piece of Paper; as if his Quarrel were too meanly commenc'd, if it did not ter∣minate in the lasting Reproach of our whole Scottish Line; and he had better Authority to do it, because himself a Scot; and his Soveraign Lords were all at last to Suffer, because his Master by him was at first Betray'd. Vid. Paper, page 12, 36, 23. 1.
• †

  How can this Establisht Church, if it has any Veneration to the Dust of their Late Pro∣testant Prince Deceas'd? applaud, approve of the Writings of such an Injurious Impostor, that would have his Name Buried too; and that tells them, The greatest Kindness that can he done to His Memory, is to Forget Him. page 23.
• Vid. Tryal of the New Test. page 6.
• Vid. Tryal of the New Test, &c. p. 5.
• In Edw. the Sixths Reign, even from the confession of Doctor Burnet, most of the Bi∣shops, only for being true to their old perswasions, were troubl'd, were turn'd out Illegally, were impri∣son'd several years; till Queen Marys Reign. Vid. the continuance of his Reflection on Mr. Vari∣las. pag. 63. And sure our present Bish∣op of Londons Case was ne∣ver yet so hard, tho so highly resented.
• Vid. Heylins Reformation. Page 101.
• page 107.
• Dr. Burnets Papers.
• What can e∣ven the Church suffer, from the Repeal, that it is not ex∣pos'd to from the Kings dis∣pensation? And the malice of their Dr. Bur∣net makes them the same. Re∣flections on Declaration.
• †

  Vid. Q. E∣liz. K. I. K. Ch. before Cited.
• vid. Oat's Tryal.
• Tho'by the Dr's. leave, the Lawyers say, Abjura∣tion will not Transfer it; vid. Cok. 7. Rept. p. 9. Dyer, sol. 300.
• ‖

  Vid. Dr. B's Papers, Letter & Tryal of the Test.
• Vid his Let∣ter.
• Regno H. 7.
• Vid. also Collins Case in Rolls Re∣port, Jac. 1. of words spo∣ken on suppo∣sitions, vid. 1 Mar.
• Vid. Tryal of the New Test. page 2.
• 2d. Inst. p. 496.
• Liegeance is the Proper Loyalty, and that implys an obligation of obedience, from the Sub∣ject to the So∣veraign by Birth, by Na∣ture, who is call'd their Natural Lord, without re∣spect to Muni∣cipal Laws. Vid. to this purpose 2 Inst. 128, 7 Report p. 4. and ma∣ny Acts of Par∣liament.
• Vid. First Letter to Ld. Midd.
• Vid. His Process and Citation.
• Vid. Second Letter.
• Vid. Third
• Vid. Six Pa∣pers, pag. 22.
• Vid. Ibid page, 23.
• Vid. Con∣tinuation of Reflection on Mr. Varil. p. 5.
• Ibid. pag. 150.
• Reflection, P. 54. 55,
• These Cases prove, that the prejudice of the Histo∣rian has tran∣sported him to give false Colours to his Characters; even to con∣tradiction, only for the defaming of his KING.
• Acts and Mon. page 2152. Lond. Edit. 1583.
• Vid. Fox, Ibid.
• 6 Papers page 21
• Vid. Varill, page 55.
• Phil. de Commines. l. 4. Cap. 12.
• Vid. Camb. 1593.
• Ibid. 1585.
• So were the Regicides to be return'd us by the Fifth Article of the Crown of Denmark. 1660. and e∣veh the Dutch did the same.
• April 65.
• An. 1665. Oxf. Act.
• So also in 73.
• Vid. Letter of Pens. F. to Mr. St.
• Vid. Letter of Pens.
• Vid. Coke. 7. Rept. page 4.
• 1•• H. 7.
• †

  30 Car. 2d.
• ‖

  Even the Ld. Digby a Prose∣lited Papist, that conten∣ded for Pas∣sing the 1st. Test, us'd this as an Argu∣ment, because it did Not Ba∣nish them the Court, which the 2d. does most effectu∣ally.
• Vid. Letter of Pens. F.
• Vid. Letter of F.
• Vid. Letter
• Vid. Oxford Reasons.
• Vid. Letter
• 1673.
• Vid. Letter
• Vid. Letter
• Vid. Prote∣stant Reconci∣ler, &c.
• Vid. Protest of the Lords a-against the Tests.
• Vid. Six Pa∣pers, page. 25.
• Vid. His Enquiry a∣gainst the Bi∣shop of Ox∣ford.
• Vid. Com∣pare but Bur∣nets Memoirs with Weldens Court.
• Vid Letter to a Person of Quality, &c.
• Vid. Reflecti∣ons on F's. Let∣ter.