Impeach him of High Treason then the dangers of Dissolving them are quite blown away and now it 's advisable that His Majesty should meet his People in frequent Parliaments I would ask the Clamores against the late Parliaments Whether they did not heartily approve of the Character given to that Parliament in the Book cited and of the Treasurer and other Councellors Advice to continue it If they did how can they think that good Counsel which induced his Majesty to Dissolve it and that at a time when the people were never more full of Fears of the Designs of Papists against the King's Life the Religion and Government of the Kingdom Or was this House of Parliament all of a suddain fallen from their Loyalty their Understanding and firmness to the Crown and Government There was a long Bill of Pensioners said to be found amongst them such as the Treasurer had gratified with the Sum of 231602 l. in two years time I presume these were not the cause of their Dissolution It was not the Treasurers Interest to cast of these Servants whom he bought at of dear a rate It was the generality of that House which he had by his Agent so much extoll'd whom he now falls out with and by whose Influence judge you they were dissolv'd What clearer Demonstration would any man have that the Cabal Councellors and the most substantial and loyal people of the Kingdom were now at odds For to be sure those Members of this Parliament which had behav'd themselves well and according to the minds of those most loyal Freeholders Citizens and Burgessers that chose them at first would be in high estates with them still and this they manifested by choosing them into the Parliaments that succeeded Accordingly we find near 200 besides Court-dependants of the same individual men in the next Parliament Those that were left out were either Pensioners or Dependants on Cabal Councellors Those that were chosen were the ablest men of Parts and estates whence it came to pass that these were the leading-men still in the House of Commons and thereforet read in the very same steps and prosecuted the Treasurer and his Adherents the Papists and their Abbetters just as they had done before with only this advantage that they were freed from a heavy clog of Court-pensioners where by they were more unanimous and more uniform in their Votes and Addresses than they could be whilst those were among them But we have a greater Testimony than this that Cabal Councils and Parliament Councils were at a great distance for His Majesty himself in his Declaration of April 20. 79. whilst this new Parliament was sitting for the dissolution of his Old Privy Council and the choosing a new one tells us That He had been induc'd to use the Advices of some few for many years past He is sorry for the ill success he has found in this course and sensible of the ill posture of Affairs from that and some unhappy Accidents which have raised great Jealousies and Dissatisfactions among his good Subjects and thereby left the Crown and Government in a Condition too weak for those Dangers we have reason to fear both at home and abroad Hereupon he resolves for the future to take the Advice of this Privy Council and the Parliaments I think this is an unexceptionable Evidence of the illness of Cabal Councellors and the great difference between them and Parliaments And I hope men shall not incur the reproach of Disloyal Fanatick Whigs Enemies to the King and Government c. for adhearing to and commending the Counsels and Actions of Four Parliaments successively whereof the 18 years Parliament has such Testimonies to their Ability and Loyalty as they surpass in their opinion for any that has gone before them or that in moral possibility can come after them excepting those that have already succeeded them wherein their very selves made the most considerable and leading number insomuch that all these Four Parliaments may in reason be reckon'd One Long Parliament with this difference that in the Three last they were reform'd and purg'd from many diseased and corrupt Members which had been poyson'd by Court Empericks Shall men I say be made Enemies for adhering to this House of Parliament which represents both the Persons Judgments and Affections of all the substantial and unbyass'd Commons of England And that against either the same Councellors or those that succeed them in the same Spirit especially at the time when the only security of the Papists and guilty Caballers and the only hope they have of carrying on their Plots and Designs lies in fomenting these Differences and Animosities among His Majesties Protestant Subjects and hindring the effectual sitting of Parliaments How many Sham-plots have they set on foot to throw guilt upon these Protestants that are most eager in their Prosecution How many persons have they labour'd to Suborn to charge Treason to take away at once the Lives and Innocency of those whose only security lies under Divine Providence in the safety of the King and the Government can you think Sir that any other persons can possibly be in these endeavours and in that party but such as I have already discribed unto you You hear perhaps of many Addresses which disaprove of the late Parliament-councels and actions and they are said to come from numerous Bodies of men But I conceive you will easily grant that the temper of their Representatives in Parliament doth better shew the temper of the People than those Addresses which many times are gained by sinister Arts and from a few that take upon them the Name of the Many Besides there is so much clear reason and wisdom in the House of Commons assembled in Councels that even those persons that are chosen by the Caballers Interest if at least they have any sparks of Ingenuity left in them do sometimes become quite other men and have other Sentiments than they had before Have we not known some who by this change have reap'd the Curses and Dam'ems of their Electors so that the mind of the people cannot be known till they meet together in Parliament And I perswade my self that many of those that are now of a contrary mind could they but be admitted to hear the Debates in Parliament would give their Suffrage to the same things they condemn But I seem now to have said enough in this matter tho' very little to what might be said and almost all I have said is plain matter of Fact As for my reasoning a little upon it I refer it to your judgment whether it is not genuine and clear But if you chance to shew my Letter to any of your Popish Conversants they 'l turn it off with a scoff and think you must take that for an Answer but they are much mistaken in you or else I am who still retain that hearty affection for you which I profest at your departure hence and I am sure I shall never cease to love you and hope I shall never have any cause not to Honour you for your Affection to all true Protestants and Lovers of English Government Sir Yours c. T. B.
Affair If of the Declaration then they had the Presbyterians and Dissenters in Generall on their sides owning the Prerogative by taking Licences for exerciseing Worship and Religion contrary to Law if they did not approve of the Declaration but of the Address then let them acknowledge that at this turn the Dissenters were more Loyall as they call it and greater Adorers of Prerogative then themselves and that it is not the King's Prerogative which these love but their own Malignity and the Prerogative for the sake of that so that if the King should use his Prerogative contrary to their minds they would be as much against it as now they are for it Judge they as they will concerning it it 's a plain Case that the Parliament which sprang out of the most Ardent Affection that ever was in a People towards their Prince and out of the greatest Detestation of Republican Principles yet resolv'd that the King was deceiv'd by his Cabal Councillors in a matter which in the direct consequence of it tended to the interrupting the free course of the Laws and altering the Legislative Power And since the discovery of Coleman's Letters I think there 's none doubts but that Indulgence was the effect of Popish Councils and the Papists were the Persons who designed the greatest advantage to their cause by it If any Favour was intended for Dissenters by it it 's strange that His Majesty should not pass a Bill for Nulling of the Rigorous Act of the thirty five of Queen Elizabeth when it had already past both Houses of Parliament In the same Session of Parliament it was that the Parliament pass'd a Bill for imposing a Test against Popery upon all that should bear any Office Civil or Military in the Kingdom which the Duke of York submitting to had his Commission of High Admiral vacated but his Advice and Influence still vigorous By this means also my Lord Clifford was discover'd to be Popish and quitted his High Office of Lord Treasurer and great Minister of State Was it not high time for those in Parliament that had any love to their Religion and Government to look about ' em Or was it sawcily done for the Parliament to concern themselves with the King's Councellors and find fault with their managment Nay they proceeded so far in the next Session as to Address against the consummation of the Marriage between his Royal Highness and the Dutches of Modena which was already done by Proxy because she was a Papist And after they had receiv'd one Answer from his Majesty in this matter The Commons in Parliament proceed to give their reasons against it praying him to relieve his Subjects from those fears and apprehensions which at present they lie under from the Progress made in that Treaty That for another Age at the least this Kingdom will be under continual Apprehensions of the GROWTH of POPERY And the danger of the Octo. 31. 1673. Protestant Religion Here we see that the language of fears and apprehensions of the Growth of Popery and danger of Protestantism is as well the language of the King 's happiest Parliament that ever was as of the unhappiest Parliament of Forty One Three days after this they Address to his Majesty for a General Fast and that upon these Grounds viz. Being passionately sensible of the Calamitous condition of this Kingdom not only by reason of the War which was then mannaged against the Dutch wherein it is at present involved but many other intestine differences and divisions amongst us which are chiefly occasioned by the undermining contrivances of Popish Recusants whose numbers and insolencies are greatly of late increased and whose restless practises threaten a Subversion both of Church and State What is the difference now between this Seventy Three Parliament and that of Forty One Feb. 7. Following they shew there resentment of the Black-heath Army and resolve That the continuing of any standing forces in this Nation other than the Militia is a great grievance and vexation to the People What This Loyal Parliament talk of grievances and vexation to the People in the King's management of his Prerogative This House of Commons as well as some that have been since take upon them to pray the King to remove some of his Great Councellors from his Presence and their Publick Imployments But their Address against Duke Lauderdale Feb. 23. 75. is very remarkable both for the matter and language of it for thus they say Though we have great cause to rest assured of the continuance of your Majesties Gracious Disposition towards us yet we find upon a serious examination of the State of this Kingdom that there is a great jealousie arisen from some State-proceedings in the Hearts of your Subjects That some Persons in great imployment under your Majesty have fomented designs contrary to the Interest of your Majesty and People intending to deprive us of our antient Rights and Liberties that thereby they might the more easily introduce the Popish Religion and an ARBITRARY Form of GOVERNMENT to the Ruine and Destruction of the whole Kingdom Here 's a Charge with a Witness all the worst of Forty one Forms of Declaiming against the Government This is the Generall Charge let 's hear the Particular The said Duke of Lauderdale did Publickly affirm in the Presence of your Majesty sitting in Council And before divers of your Majesties Subjects then attending that your Majesties Edicts ought to be obeyed for your Majesties Edicts are equal with Laws and ought to be observed in the first place Thereby justifying the said Declaration of 15 March 71. and the proceedings thereupon and declaring his Inclinations to Arbitrary Councels in terrour of your Majesties good Subjects They conclude thus We do therefore in all humility implore your Sacred Majesty That for the ease of the hearts of your people who are possest with extream grief and sorrow to see your Majesty thus ABVSED and the Kingdom endangered That your Majesty would graciously be pleased to remove the said Duke of Lauderdale from all his Imployments c. Is not this Writing after the 41 Copy Is not this striking at His Majesty and the Government through his Ministers sides What! that House of Commons tell His Majesty he is abused and the Kingdom endanger'd which was chosen and nourish'd and indulg'd for 18 years together to be an ensample to all succeeding Parliaments But to proceed in His Majesties Answer to their Address of the 20 or 26th of May 77. advising him to enter into a League Offensive and Defensive with the States against France He tells them How highly he was offended at that great invasion of his Prerogative And in His Majesties Answer to their Address of Jan. 31 he reminds them of it But says He you take no notice of it but on the contrary add to your former ill Conduct new Invasions equally offensive to His Majesties Authority as contrary to His and He thinks most other mens judgments
Unhappy House of Commons now how ever happy heretofore thus to interfere with His Maiesties Authority and Judgment too This sharp Answer and Reproof bears date 4th of Febr. 77. but in March following the Parliament having prepar'd a Poll-Bill for furnishing His Majesty with money for entring into an actual War against the French King His Majesty past that Bill March 20. Thus with great vigour and animosity to the universal joy of the whole Nation Drums were beat up and all preparations made for the War and a bitter Book intituled Christianissimus christianandus published by Allowance against the French but the Conspiritors at Court intended no such thing for the then Lord Treasurer's Letter to Mr. Montague then Ambassador in the French Court bares date 5 daies after viz. Mar. 25. wherein he gives him directions for proposing Conditions of Peace between the King and ours with the Confederates and such as for which says he the King expects to have six Millions of Livers yearly for three years because he adds it will be two or three years before he can hope to find his Parliament in humour to give him supplies after the having made any Peace with France This I take notice of to let you see Sir how different Sentiments and Designs that Prerogative Parliament and the great Ministers had in the transacting of State-matters But before this Letter was discover'd the Commons in their Address of May 10 78. did deeply resent the Councils the King took in these Affairs ' For they tell his Majesty that the refusing of their advice given the 26 of May before and reiterated the 31 of January ensuing and dismissing the Parliament in May last was the accasion of these ill Consequences which have since succeeded both at home and abroad All which have arisen from those misrepresentations say they of our proceedingss which have been suggested to your Majesty by some particular persons in a Clandestine way without the Participation and Advice as we conceive of your Council-board as though we had invaded upon your Majesties Prerogative of making Peace and War Whereas we did only c. upon which Grounds your Majesty was induced to give us such Answers to those two Addresses rejecting our advice as thereby your Majesties good Subjects have been infinitely discouraged and the State of your Majesties Affairs reduced to a most deplorable condition We do therefore most humbly desire that for the good and safety of this Kingdom and the satisfaction of your Subjects your Majesty would Graciously be pleased to remove those Councellors c These things were done and said by this Parliament even before the discovery of the horrid Popish Plot and Treasons For how vigorously they acted after that discovery in the Prosecution of Coleman the Jesuits and Godfrey's Murderers in the Impeachment of the Popish Lords and Danby for High Treason in throwing out the Popish Lords from sitting in the Lords House and other matters for which they were subjected to an Honourable Death or Dissolution I shall not need to mention because they are fresh in every ones memory One thing of an elder date I will call to mind wherein the temper of that House against Popish and Arbitrary designs does notably appear it was their rejecting of two Bills past in the House of Lords and sent down to the Commons The one was tituled An Act for the more effectual Conviction and Prosecution of Popish Recusants which they rejected with great contempt for being ready to put the question for throwing it out it was mov'd they should stop a while to see if any Member of their House had the face to speak for it It appearing so evidently to them that this Bill tended directly contrary to its Title The other Bill was to be An Act for further securing of the Protestant Religion by Educating the Children of the Royal Family therein and for the providing for the continuance of a Protestant Clergy In this Bill there was a Test to be presented to every future King and Queen of this Realm against Popery A fine Project which clearly implied that any King or Queen in future may be a Papist and then the security of the Protestant Religion c. was to lye in this Paper-Statute Maugre all the Wit Policy Craft Power secret and open violence of all Jesuits and Papists with the Crown of England on their sides But the Commons rejecting this did not only shew disaffection to Popish Cabal Councils but also their judgment in seeing into the malice of those contrivancies that had already over reach'd the House of Peers with the Bishops in it and that in the great concern of Religion their proper Province But because the Impeachment of the Earl of Danby is a full discovery of the sence of that House touching Court Councils and Actions give me leave to mind you of it more particularly The first Article saith That he hath Trayterously encroacht to himself Royal Power by treating in matters of Peace and War with Forraign Ministers c. against the Express Declaration of His Majesty and His Parliament c. For when the King at the instance of the Parliament had made provision for War had raised an Army and money for that end Then did he treat of peace with the French Ministers and with the French King by the English Ambassador as aforesaid The second Article That he hath Trayterously endeavoured to subvert the antient and well establisht Form of Government in this Kingdom and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical way of Government and the better to effect this His purpose he did design the raising of an Army upon pretence of a War against the French King and to continue the same as a standing Army within this Kingdom And mis-imployed the money given for the disbanding of that Army to the continuance of it 3. Article That he Traiterously intending to hinder the Meetings of Parliaments and to deprive His Majesty of their Council and thereby to alter the constitution of the Government did negotiate a Peace for the French King for the doing whereof he endeavoured to procure a great summ of money of him for the carrying on his Trayterous designs 4. Article That he is Popishly affected and hath Trayterously concealed the late horrid Popish Plot and hath supprest the Evidence and reproachfully discountenanc'd the Kings Witnesses c. 5. Article That he hath wasted the Kings Treasure by issuing out of His Majesties Exchequer for unnecessary Pensions and secret services to the value of 231602. l. within two years c. 6. Article That he hath by indirect means procured from His Majesty to himself divers considerable Gifts and Grants of Inheritance of the antient Revenue of the Crown even contrary to Acts of Parliament Here we have a great Favorite and mighty Minister of State accused for High Treason in respect of great Transactions of Government for a long time together And the accused person thought not fit to