A VINDICATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE Late Parliament A.D. 1689. A VINDICATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE Late Parliament OF ENGLAND An. Dom. 1689. Being the First in the Reign of Their present Majesties King William and Queen Mary LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the King 's Arms in the Poultrey 1690. A VINDICATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE Late Parliament OF ENGLAND I. THE Proceedings of the late Parliament were so fair so prudent so necessary and so advantageous to the Nation to the Protestant Interest in general and in particular to the Church of England that all true English-Men must needs acknowledge they owe to the then Representatives of the Nation their Privileges their Liberties their Lives their Religion their present and future security from Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power had they done nothing else but enacted the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and settling the Succession of the Crown So that it is now and perhaps but now that we may call our selves the Free-born Subjects of England as being fully secured for ever by this Act from the heavy and insupportable Yoke of Arbitrary Power the necessary Consequence of a Power of dispensing or suspending of Laws without consent of Parliament II. Their settling the Crown upon the Head of a Protestant Prince who is the very Centre the chief Prop and Pillar of the Protestant Religion secures all Protestants not only at home but likewise in all other parts of Europe insomuch that it is upon him only we ground all our Hopes of seeing e'er long Lewis XIV called to a just account for all his Unjust Arbitrary and Tyrannical Proceedings against his own Subjects as likewise against his injured and weaker Neighbours III. Their not acting in the least after the example of their Neighbours against Prelacy but rather favouring it by such Acts as fit only Episcopal Men for publick Imployments gives all reasonable satisfaction to the Church of England without any just offence either given to the Dissenters who under the present Government enjoy to their own Hearts desire their long wish'd for Liberty without being liable to the lash of the Law for serving God after their own way Notwithstanding all this so hard yea so impossible a thing it is to content all Parties not a few vent their Malice in every Corner yea and in Print too against the King and Parliament though all their Proceedings hitherto tend so directly to the general good of the Nation that we must either want common Understanding not to see it or prove most ungrateful to our Representatives not to acknowledge such an evident truth as this is with our most thankful returns To proceed with some method in this designed Vindication of the late Parliament I shall first take a summary view of the late condition of our Affairs and secondly give a full answer to whatever is maliciously suggested to the unthinking Multitude yea and in Printed Pamphlets likewise to the seducing of the simple and to the great encouragement of the professed Enemies and Disturbers of the present Government IV. If we consider in what condition we were in the two last years of King James's Reign we may remember we were given up for lost by all our Friends in Europe and did think so to our selves it being then impossible for us to imagine from whence our relief should come A Power of dispensing with and suspending of Laws and the execution of Laws was already so fully established that the very humble petitioning to be excused from concurring to the said assum'd Power was Crime enough for the Commitment and Prosecution of divers worthy Prelates The Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes was a sort of Inquisition or at least a certain Fore-runner of the new way of converting People by the irresistible Eloquence of arm'd Dragoons The levying Money for and to the use of the Crown by pretence of Prerogative for other time and in other manner than the same was granted by the Parliament was nothing else but a preparatory contrivance to try afterwards a French experiment upon the Gold and Silver of the Nation The horrible and illegal Punishments inflicted by corrupt Judges excessive Fines and Bails and several Grants and Promises made of Fines and Forfeitures before any Conviction or Judgment against the Persons upon whom the same were to be levyed and all the other Injustices Grievances and Irregularities of those days were but previous dispositions to the new modelling of the Nation into a Frame the more easily to be wrought upon by the Romish Priests in case their weak Arguments could not prevail as 't was impossible they should have prevailed in a Nation so well provided and stock'd with solid Learning both against Error and Superstition V. If this was our condition within our selves it was made much worse by the dismal prospect of the threatning French Greatness The French King 's known and close Engagements with the late King James the sudden Growth of his Power both by Sea and by Land seem'd to threaten all his Neighbours with the utmost Desolation unless by laying aside the use of their Reason they acted all like Fools and turned Papists which could not secure them neither from Oppression and Slavery since none are greater Slaves nor so unmercifully oppressed as the French Papists themselves This is but a short and summary view of the publick Calamities and Miseries we lay under till our Deliverer came over to free us from them by the best Methods our Representatives could fall upon for our safety in times to come which are certainly such as give full satisfaction to all good Men and Loyal Subjects that are not still in love with Popery and Slavery both of Body and Soul which always attends it So that the present posture of our Affairs is now such that we have all reason to hope if we can but agree among our selves this Kingdom may become again as 't was of old the terrour of France Europe never bid fairer for a level of the French Monarch he being now surrounded on all sides by those he has made his irreconcileable Enemies by his daily breaches of Oaths by his Oppressions and Invasions contrary to all Treaties made with him either of Peace or Truce VI. We cannot then but highly commend the prudent measures of the last Parliament for supplying his Majesty with necessaries towards a vigorous prosecution of this present War the Nation so long wish'd for in vain the French Interest prevailing too much formerly at the Court of England against the Interest of the Protestant Religion and of the English Nation Such then as complain of some present hardships always unavoidable in time of War and would fain work the People into a belief of a happier condition under another change of Affairs seem not to understand their true Interest for must we expose our selves to a certain ruine to the loss of our Lives and Liberties by not contributing liberally to the maintenance of
a War so necessary in this present juncture of our Affairs Our All lies now at the Stake our Lives Properties Liberties and Religion Should any Tax or Impost put us out of Humor and cause us to wish for a change as if we could pretend to any security in case things were settled again upon the same Foundation they were on before VII Are we not sufficiently acquainted from daily experience with this undoubted Popish Principle That a Papist is obliged to break his Oath taken not to extirpate Heresie as soon as he is in a capacity to root out what he thinks Heresie under a no less pain than that of Eternal Damnation King Lewis has satisfied all the World by what he has lately done that this is no Calumny and King James cleared all our Doubts upon the matter by what he likewise really did and endeavoured to doe VIII But a late Seditious Pamphlet tells us a Tragical Story of the decay and loss of Trade by this present War That the Dutch run away with our Trade at Sea and the French with our Ships This is but a meer groundless flourish that can only make impression upon some weak Minds that neither understand their own Interest nor that of the Nation they are in 't is true we have lost several Ships and that is unavoidable in the beginning of any War as well as in this till the Merchant-Men bound homewards are informed of a War declared which must needs require some time but of late we have lost none or we have taken the equivalent of our losses from the Enemy and for the time to come his Majesty has taken such measures that it shall not be hereafter in the Power of the French to put a stop to our Trade either into Holland Spain the East Countries or West and East Indies and as for the Dutch 't is a groundless supposition though too often in the Mouths of such as are disaffected to the Government That they run away with our Trade since the contrary may be easily made out to an unprejudiced Mind Do we not Trade still as well as the Dutch both to the East and West Indies to Sweedland Denmark Hamburgh and Poland Do the French allow them free passage more than to us And if they send abroad greater Merchant Fleets and perhaps under greater Convoys than we do by so doing they rather lend us a helping Hand than wrong us because in the mean time they clear the Seas of French Privateers which makes of course our Voyages the safer and great Convoys not so absolutely necessary as they would be at another time when we were not in Union with the Dutch So that such reflexions are either but idle and frothy Discourses or made upon a design to raise Sedition and stir up the Nation against the present Government But grant that what this disaffected Pamphleteer says were really true as it is not in the full measure he would have it let us balance our present decay of Trade on the one side and on the other hand the consequences of not prosecuting vigorously the present War against the French and we shall easily discover either the gross mistakes of such as discourse after this rate or their real designs to ruine their Country by preferring a small inconveniency of not so sull a Trade to the very being of Liberty and Religion and perhaps of the Nation it self IX For let us allow to this pretended Politician the desired change of Government he seems to aim at this can never happen but in one of these three ways either by the returning of King James again or by the invasion of King Lewis or by a Civil War at home which last thing if some do really intend they design nothing else but their own ruine and that of their Country and if they would have King James to come again must he come in by Conquest If he ever recovers England by Conquest where are then our Properties our Liberties our Religion our Laws and whatever Privileges we now glory in and that no other Subjects in the World can boast of Would they have King James come in again by agreement Besides the apparent impossibility of the thing upon several and obvious accounts I would willingly be satisfied as I was saying before how we can trust him after so many violations of his Word and since by the Principles of his Religion he is obliged in Conscience not to keep either Word given or Oath taken to protect and promote Heresie if he is once in Power to destroy it If our Pamphleteer pretends to a Change of Government by a French Invasion he must either be a professed French Papist or a very bad English Protestant and quite of a different temper from all true English-Men who have stood in opposition from all times to the French Interest not only upon the account of the Protestant Religion but likewise because of their Civil Rights which both they must of necessity part with if the French ever got footing in England X. I confess as things now stand there is little or no danger at all of their attempting the Conquest of their ancient Conquerors the English because of our Union at present against France with so many powerful Allies but yet if we take not hold of this opportunity by the Fore-look I know not what may happen in another Scene of Affairs in case we were lest alone to deal with the French who by the connivance of the last two Reigns are become so formidable at Sea as to be a match either for Us or the Hollanders Now can any Man of reach blame the King for recommending so often to the late Parliament the absolute necessity of prosecuting vigorously the present War in this present juncture of our Affairs or find fault with the Representatives of the Nation for supplying him with the necessary Sinews of War especially since he has offered to give them an Account of the disposal of their Money for the very uses they designed it for Neither can we be jealous of his Majesty's Design in calling in Foreigners in order to the speedy reduction of Ireland because 't is a matter of great Consequence for the Humbling of France both by Sea and by Land together with our Allies to put an end to our Domestick Broils with all possible expedition and this cannot be better performed than by joining to our own Forces a Body of veterane and experienced Forreigners XI But this looks say some of our Male-Contents as if his Majesty mistrusted his own Subjects which if narrowly looked into is a meer groundless aspersion since all his Majesty's Forces both by Sea and by Land an inconsiderable number of Foreigners excepted are Natives either of England Scotland or Ireland Does the French King mistrust his own Subjects because of his joyning with them several Foreign Nations as Switzers Italians and both English Scotch and Irish upon occasion the true reason of this common Practice
it might be immediately succeeded by an unhappy one after the like manner it was a piece of great prudence in our late Representatives not to be over hasty in settling the Militia of the Nation till both they and the King were throughly acquainted with those who were to be trusted with Commissions of such an high concern but it being impossible they should understand their real temper while all things were as yet on float no wonder if they deferred the settling of the Militia till the Hearts of Men were known to be first settled which Time only could inform them of As to the Act of Indempnity it is clear there was little or no inconveniency to defer it for a while for since it relates mostly to such as have been guilty of Irregularities and Illegal Proceedings in the late Reign where is the harm if the Government keep them somewhat in awe by deferring their Pardons to more fettled times lest they might prove Ringleaders to new Changes if they were not check'd by the fear of the punishment their past crimes deserve For it is a groundless reflexion to say that the not passing of the Act of Indempnity encourageth them to doe their utmost endeavours towards the bringing in of King James again since it is clear to all Men acquainted with the present posture of his Majesty's Affairs both at home and abroad that they must needs despair of ever being secure if they hope for no security till King James is settled upon his Abdicated Throne again And may not I be allowed to say that to judge of things to come by the present temper of the Nation they are in no danger at all or at least not so great as some would have them apprehend it to be because of the great moderation the Government has hitherto shewn and will undoubtedly shew hereafter to all such as are willing to comply with the present that is the Protestant Interest in opposition to Popery and the French King's Designs against our Properties and Liberties if by the help of the Irish Papists and other Male-Contents he were enabled to conquer us But to mention here another pressing particular relating to this Subject since it is well known that at the sitting down of the late Parliament the King by the advice yea and earnest request too of our late Representatives entered into a necessary War against France on the one hand and against the Irish Papists in Ireland on the other hand I would fain know from any not designing Man what was fittest to be done in this case was the time to be trifled away with the settling of the Militia and passing an Act of Indempnity before any supplies had been granted his Majesty for maintaining this Kingdom and his Subjects against the formidable French King's Fleets at Sea and his Irish Forces at Land commanded by the late King James in Ireland Sure all Men of Sense must needs confess that this Principal was first to be minded before any such Accessories as undoubtedly these were in that juncture of our Affairs Now it is methinks evident that the ordering the Sinews of great Warlike Preparations both by Sea and by Land then as now so necessary could not but take up a great deal of time especially when the Money is to be levyed in due proportion upon all the chief Subjects of the Nation the necessary debates upon such occasions about the Summ it self to be raised upon what and the manner how it is to be gathered are things of such a Nature as cannot be done on a sudden whatever Men's endeavours may be to bring them in a short time to a period The late Transactions of the last Parliament besides the Nature of the thing it self are evident proofs of what I do here affirm to all such as understand any thing in Affairs of this kind never done in England otherwise than by Meetings Conferences Committees Debates Votes and such other like Methods used in Parliament upon all matters of a General and National Concern To conclude notwithstanding all that I have said grant it was expedient though I have sufficiently proved it was not to settle the Militia of the Kingdom and pass the Act of Indempnity before any thing else these so much talked of omissions are both inconsiderable in themselves since we smart not yet for them and not at all dangerous in their Consequences which if really hurtful may easily be prevented by the next Parliament FINIS Books Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's-Arms in the Poultrey THE History of the Treaty at Nimeguen with Remarks on the Interest of Europe in relation to that Affair Translated out of French A Vindication of the present great Revolution in England in five Letters passed betwixt James Welwood M. D. and Mr. John March Vicar of Newcastle upon Tyne Occasioned by a Sermon Preached by him on Jan. 30. 1688 9. before the Mayor and Aldermen for Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance The second Edition An Answer to the late King James's Declaration dated at Dublin-Castle the 8th of May last To all his pretended Subjects of the Kingdom of England And ordered by the Vote of the Honourable House of Commons to be burnt by the common Hang-man A Seasonable Discourse wherein is examined what is Lawful during the Confusions and Revolutions of Government especially in the Case of a King deserting his Kingdoms And how far a Man may lawfully conform to the Powers and Commands of those who with various successes hold Kingdoms Whether it be Lawfull 1. In Paying Taxes 2. In Personal Service 3. In Taking Oaths 4. In giving himself up to a final Allegiance As also whether the Nature of War be inconsistent with Nature of the Christian Religion The History of the Plot Anatomized Or the late Sham-Fanatical-Plot briefly and plainly laid open wherein those Worthy Patriots who were charged therewith are vindicated from the Malicious and False Aspersions cast upon them c. The Murmurers A Poem To which is added the Character of a Grumbletonian Joannis Georgii Graevii Oratio de Auspicatissima Expeditione Britannica cum Potentissimus Invictissimus Guilielmus Arausionensis Princeps Angliae Galliae Hiberniae Rex inauguraretur Die xj Aprilis Auctoritate Praepotensium Illustrium Ordinum Trajectinae Dioeceseos habita 1689. Ad Augustissimum Magne Britannia Frenciae Hiberniaeque Regem Guilielmum Vna cum Maria Aug. consecratum â—â— 22 April AE Vulg. 1689. Adlocutio Qua pro Imperii Aeternitate Salute Regnorum vota nuncupat Fridericus Spanhemius F. F. Reasons why the Parliament of Scotland cannot comply with the late King James's Proclamation sent lately to that Kingdom and prosecuted by the late Viscount Dundee Containing an Answer to every Paragraph of the said Proclamation and vindicating the said Parliament their present Proceedings against Him Nosce Teipsum Or A Leading-step to the Knowledge of our Selves as the surest Foundation to true Religion in all Persuasions In a brief Discourse of Man's being made and undone in order to his more happy Recovery And also of the Original and Nature of Man's Body and Soul and of the Faculties or different Ways of the Soul's Operation in the Body With a brief Discourse of the Lord's Day and of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper By an unworthy but happy Proselite of Religion and Morality To which is added a Poem treating of Humane Reason and the Nature Original and Immortality of the Soul written nigh one hundred years since by Sir John Davies Attorney-General to Q. Elizabeth and now herewith reprinted The History of Self-Defence in requital to the History of Passive Obedience The Dilucidator Or Reflections upon modern Transactions by way of Letters from a Person at Amsterdam to his Friend in London Published once a Fortnight The Sighs of France in Slavery First Second Third and Fourth Memorials A Breviary of the History of the Parliament of England expressed in three Parts 1. The Causes and Beginning of the Civil War of England 2. A short Mention of the Progress of that Civil War 3. A compendious Relation of the Original and Progress of the second Civil War Written by Thomas May Esq A short view of the Methods made use of in Ireland for the Subversion and Destruction of the Protestant Religion and Interest in that Kingdom from the beginning of the Reign of the late King James to this Time And of the Suffering of the Protestants all along By a Clergy-Man lately escaped from thence A brief Exposition of the Church Catechism with Proofs from Scripture By John Williams D. D. Rector of St. Mildred's Poultrey and St. Mary-Cole London The Character of the Protestants of Ireland impartially set forth in a Letter in Answer to Seven Quenies their Original Humour Interest Losses Present Condition Apprehensions and Resolutions With Remarks upon the great Charge England is like to be at with those People and the Dostruction of that Kingdom by Famine if not prevented The Intrigues of the French King at Constantinople to Embroil Christendom Discovered in several Dispatches past betwixt Him and the late Grand Seignion Grand Vizcar and Count Teckely All of them found among that Count's Papers seized in December last None of them being hithered seen in English With some Reflexions upon them A Vindication of the two Letters concerning Alterations in the Liturgy in answer to Vox Cleri with an Appendix concerning the Remarks c. The History of Gustavu Adolphus sirnamed the Great King of Sweden with the Life and Reign of his Successor after Christina Carolus Gustavus Count Palatius Sold by most Booksellers The Monthly Account of all considerable Occurrences Civil Ecclesiastical and Military with all Natural and Philosophical Productions and Transactions c. Mercurius Reformatus Or The New Observator is continued to be published every Week