A Plea for succession in opposition to popular exclusion wherein it is evidenced, that an association, or any other such method, is a more immediate way to arbitrary power and a more certain road to popery than a standing up to the right of succession can in any reason be supposed to be : with some remarques on Coleman and his letters.

In fine, it is certainly a most fond trouble, that we disquiet our selves withal, about the Succession, and the King of France.

For the Queen may Dye, the King Marry, and leave Heirs of his own body. Or the Duke may Dye first, and the Succession fall upon a Protestant. Indeed the King is the elder, but it is so little that it is recompenced in his advantages of being the first born: for it is held that the Seminal vertue is greater in the first, than in the second Generation; and in this, than in the third, and so downwards; whence it is observed that the Eldest Brother generally outlives the Younger; unless in case of accidents, of contagious Diseases, which seize the sounder, and stronger Constitutions, rather than the weak, and the more disposed to Corruption: and of ill Habits, or Diseases, contracted by any kind of intemperance: accordingly we see His Majesty is the stronger, and more likely to live; therefore it is not yet come to an even Cast, the odds lie on the King's side. Therefore for this Reason only, the Evils under a Popish Successor are improbable, because it is more probable they will not reach us, than that they will. And certainly it is the greatest folly in the

World to trouble our selves with improbable Evils. Were these Evils certain, but yet at a distance, solely because they are at a distance, we ought not by the fear of them to imbitter our lives at present. An anticipation of miseries is a double misery; and the former, which consists in the fear, is the worst, because wilful; the latter more supportable, because unavoidable: that is our sin, this our unhappiness only. The one we bear as Men, the other as Fools. But that men should make their lives uneasie by a load of Plagues, which are both at a distance, which we may never live to see come, in case they ever come; and also unlikely ever to come at all; is the business of men, that want both wit, and something to do.

And as for the French King, we know not, whether: he may live to see an alteration here; and if his Son do, it is uncertain what Spirit he may prove of. That Kingdom is set round with Enemies, and may be disabled to transport Armies into another Soyl. Or, however these things happen, he is a likely instrument of seting up Popery in these Kingdoms, who is pul∣ling it down in his own.

Upon the whole matter then, I cannot believe these Men fear what they talk of, it is not their Passion, but their Policy. Even this Pamphlet in the second part pretends the same fears under His present Majesty, and yet in this part pag. 4. saith, he hath too much goodness; and pag. 5. that he hath too little mony to do it: themselves Expound their own Riddle, and give us to understand, that by pretended Fears they would beguile us into real Evils.