Refractoria disputatio: or, The thwarting conference,: in a discourse between [brace] Thraso, one of the late Kings colonels. Neutralis, a sojourner in the city. Prelaticus, a chaplain to the late King. Patriotus, a well-willer to the Parliament. All of them differently affected, and disputing on the subjects inserted after the epistle, on the dissolution of the late Parliament, and other changes of state.

To the intelligent Reader, whe∣ther Royalist, Malignant, or howsoever affected.

Gentlemen,

IT is a facete observation of * 1.1 a Person of honour, that a diligent Reader may apprehend more then the Author himself ever meant or inten∣ded; If then it shall be either thy fortune or neglect in reading this Thwarting Conserence, to understand less then is intended for the general instruction, that's the Readers fault none of the Authors; If so much as is presented for the rectification of particular mens judgements (doubtful of their own principles) and unset∣tled in their minds; here is that which

(if they be afore-hand not infatua∣ted) will compose their distractions; out of the whole, the Reader may recollect his memory in some parti∣culars of State as haply are either for∣gotten or unknown unto him, and so he may take a review of things past as they were caried on in their vari∣ous and mystical traverses of Court, and thence to foresee what may be the event of the late miraculous change of Government. If on thy first view of the Title, thou findest any itching desire to know the scope and whereat the Discourse ayms (as all novelties provoke appetite) take this in the way of an advertis∣ment, that here are vetera, vera, no∣vaque intermixta, old, true, and new passages, cursorily presented in an interlocutory Conference; then look over to the next page, and haply the Contents may set a new edge on thy desires; then read all or none; and not unlikely thou mayst go very neer henceforth to know how to or∣der

thy self to the best advantage under the present powers, and there∣with judge of the universal destiny of the Nation, should it revert into Mo∣narchy; and on casting up of thy ac∣compt, take these following Ani∣madversions into thy more serious consideration; first, with what labor, travel, care, and vexation of spirit, the two late Kings even from the very Ingress to their Crowns, to the period of their days, prepared the way to their own ruines, by pur∣suing their ambitious designs of heightning their Soveraignties above and beyond the bounds and limits thereof; whereas with much honour, love, loyalty, content, and profit to themselves, peace, pleasure, security, and tranquillity to their Subjects, they might have spent those their vexa∣tious days in the full fruition of all worldly happiness; But intoxicated with those restless desires of greatness and of ambition, to climb above the right end and orb of Government,

and inflamed with those over-high heats of strengthning themselves with that frail support of the arm of flesh, verified in that their long con∣tinued and chargable negotiations, to contract Alliances, and intermar∣riages with Spain and France, Fami∣lies of contrary and Idolatrous Re∣ligions (aspirations) which were ne∣ver yet prosperous to Princes, profes∣sing (as they pretended) the purity of Religion without intetmixtures; what Apologies and Defences have been made either by themselves (living) or by others surviving and exposed to the world, in vindication of their actions and too too manifest errors, are no other then the superfluity and fineness of mens wits, byassed with∣out judgement to discern between truth and falshood, the infallible te∣stimonies of humane frailty and the Devils juglings, onely to deceive the common belief, whereas truth is still the same, and will one day clearly appear and discover those dark

traces and ambages of the greatest Masters of Art and Policy, though for a time they may be inveloped and hidden from the sight of the Vul∣gar, and happily predominate on the credulity of too many that think themselves wise above the ordinary sort; yet at length they must be un∣mask't and layd open to the Worlds view; for magna est veritas, &c. and it cannot be resisted. 'Tis most true, they were: Princes of great parts and endowments, though now in another World, whether we must all follow to render an accompt of our Steward∣ships; howsoever without prejudice to their memories, both for our own and the instruction of posterity, we may take into observation what they were living, and what instruments they made use of for carying on their ambitious Designs, to their own dishonour, the blemish of their fames, the disturbance of their domestick peace, the publick tranquillity, and of that secure settlement which the

old King found here in a most perfect establishment on the decease of that unparalleld Princess Elizabeth; and as to the late most unfortunate King to the destruction of three flourishing Kingdoms, himself, his Posterity, the Royalty, and the ruine of many of the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons of England, Scotland and Ireland.

In the next Scene, we may take a short view of that remarkable fate which befel the Authors, Promoters, Incendiaries, and principal Work∣masters, both Ecclesiastical and Ci∣vil, both before and throughout the whole managery of the late prodi∣gious War, and work of darkness to their own ruine, as a just reward to such as in assistance and advance of a lawless and unlimited Soveraignty, most unnaturally and treacheously steered in the Regal course of attain∣ing, and well-nigh to the accom∣plishing of more absolute power over the three Nations, then ever was at∣tempted on the Theator of this

Kingdom; whence we may learn and set up our rests on these infallible Aphorismes, that

Consilium malum consultoribus pessimū. evil counsel is most inauspicious to the Councellours themselves; and on that other which by lamentable ex∣perience we have found most true,

Quicquid delirant Reges, plectuntur Achivi:

whatsoever Kings project, the poor innocent people must suffer for all and for their faults.

Gentlemen, to come a little neerer unto you, and more openly to ex∣plain my self; you have in the fol∣lowing Discourse, not onely a part of the old case between King and Par∣liament cursorily disputed, but what the issue (in all probability) will be, in case the Scotch King cometh in by the sword, with the fearful conse∣quences thereof, both in relation to your selves and the universal people; ye may by the way remember what

work the late King made in all parts of the Land wheresoever his Armies and Garrisons were, how many Coun∣ties he made the constant seats of a furious and bloody War; how long he continued to embrew the land with innocent blood even to desola∣tion; in how many places the poor Inhabitants had neither bread left them to eat, nor houses wherein to put their heads; and that had his power been answerable to his will, how much worse it would have been with the whole Nation, had the Danes, French, Lorra••nres, Scots, and Irish came to his Assistance; all which how earnestly he solicited their coming over, his own Instru∣ctions to Cockrans, his Letters to the Queen, Montross and Ormond, suffi∣ciently declare; Yet there are of you that d••re publickly say, that you are not ashamed to own his cause, and disown the Parliaments, which is no good sign of your eternal being, when

you are known to glory in evil, and stand fixed in the defence of him, and a cause that was most unjust in the beginning, bloody (beyond exam∣ple) throughout the whole managery, tragical in the end to himself, loss of honor, estate, and fortunes of most that sided with him; and should the Scotch Pretender come in, how much worse and more oppressive and more bloody it must be, I leave to your own consideration.

For a close, I wish you all better to bethink your selves, and take this into your more serious thoughts of the wisest of men; He that justifieth the wicked, and condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord, Prov. 17. 15. Then as you please, read on, and haply you may finde somewhat that will terrifie your consciences, or rectifie your judge∣ments in your erroneous princi∣ples, and turn the torrent of your depraved affections to a hearty com∣pliance

with the present Powers, as they are set over us by the hand of the Almighty, which doubtless, is the best and safest course you can take for your future happiness;

Which that you may enjoy, are the hearty wishes of an unknown yet your un∣fained friend

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mou••tague in his Essays.