first yet the present Conservators of our Liberâ—y have transmitted to after Ages a president for Parliameâ—taâ—ily taking away that Liberty whensoever the caprice of a fearful or foolâ—sh Minister seâ—s up pretences of State for doing it Certainly Paâ—liaments â— begin to â—orget the design of their first Instituâ—â—on begin to forget they wâ—re to assist us against Arbitrary Ministers to secure our Rights and not to sacrifice them I believe had the old Custom oâ— instructing tâ—em been revived few Flectors would have given a power to their Râ—presentativesâ—â—o Imprison their peaceable Neighbours without proof for nothing â— no' â—t can admit of no good excuse yet something more like one might have â—een offered if that Act had been suspended only whilst they could examine the cause of their pannick fear but to repeat it to reiterate such a prostitution of what wiâ—h all due Reverence to that Assembâ—y â—e it spoken tâ—ey have so liâ—tle to do withal unless to secure it by more express Laws is of â—â—â—amous example and I would almost as soon have been oâ—e of the Regicides of King Charles the first as such a murderer such a staâ—er oâ— our â—uâ—dâ—menâ—al Rights Was any of the men that were by vertue I mean by the Villany of that Suspentiâ—n committed ever tryed to this day Nâ—y did the Gâ—vernmeâ—t eâ—er pretend to try any one man for Crimes committed before oâ— during that Suspâ—ntion The Nation remembers how many the Mâ—ssâ—â—gers then locked up how many were then Imprisoned in lâ—athsome Goals how many were sent to the expensive Tower 〈◊〉 a Member of that Parlâ—amâ—nâ— I would not think a private Repentance would obliterate my â—aâ—lt I would print my Recantation of so destructive a Vote I call it dâ—stâ—ucâ—iâ—e because it has given an Inlet to Prerogative that our Forefathers never knew that no King ever once imagined that a Parliament of England would countenance tho' it were but for the least point of time But let us come to the Articles of Limerick does not King William plainly act by that devouring Monster as Doctor Welwood calls it the Dispensing Pâ—â—eâ— Does he not grant them Indulgence for their Religion allow them Arms and a freedom from Oaths and Securiâ—y against prosecutions for â—â—eir Plundering and does not he do all this by his own single authoriâ—y tho' it was contrary to the Laws of the Land the Rights and Privileâ—gâ—s and the very Safety too of the Protestant Subjects of Ireland Did ouâ— Parliament take any notice of the Illegality of this Act nay did they not ratifie it I suppose the Parliament of Ireland was not so cram'd with men in Places nor had the Members of it been so much softned by Pentions as the Members of our House of Commons are for when an Act for confirming those Articles was proposed to them they could find that the first Article of that Treaty if confirmed would make an Established Religion and the sixth would deprive all Protestants of their Actions against the Papists by wâ—om they were plâ—ndered even whilst they lived in Peace with them This you may find in a little Pamphlet called an Account of the Sessions of Parliament in Ireland 1692. Which Pamphlet was put forth by some Members of that Parliament who are very fond of this Government tho' they are willing that the Settlement in Ireland may be Religiously observed and that the Proâ—estant and Brittâ—sh Interest there may be secured as the Prince of Orange worded it and promised in the last paragraph of his own Declaration Did we pay so many men to make War in Ireland and make at last such Conditions Could the Prince of Orange to Reduce one Town when hâ— had all the rest of these three Kingdoms assisting him to Reduce it promisâ— to enervate the Act of Settlement and yet must King Iames when he waâ— in the hands of the Irish when very few others of his Subjects appeared foâ— him when the greatest part of the Protestants in Ireland were actually in Arms against him or combining with his Enemies forever stand confounded because he was prevailed upon contrary to his own Inclinations and by a sort of fatal necessity to Repeal that Act of Settlement I believe if the Doctor will read Great Brittain's Iust Complaint and the Answer to Doctor King's Book he will not have Forehead enough to assert any more as he does page the 36 th that the King was Master and without controul when he passed that Act of Repeal and the King promises to consent to every thing that an English Parliament shall think necessary to reâ—establish that Act now he is really and properâ—y Master of his own Actions and tho' the King has good reason and is obliged in honour to recommend to the Parliament of England those Irish that have followed him to the last yet the rascally Irish as this mannerly Pupill of Titus Oates Doctor Welwâ—od calls them do not appear dearer to King Iames then to the Prince of Orange for King Iames will leave the method of recompensing those that have been Loyal to him to an English Parliament But King William falls out with the Parliament of Ireland because they are not willing those Irish Papists who plundered even while they lived in Peace with them should go unpunished which in plain English shews that King VVilliam to endear himself to the Natiâ—e Irish is willing to give an Instance that he thinks Robbery is no Crime but perhaps he remembred what the Pyrate said to Alexander may think that 〈◊〉 an Irish Popish Rapparee has no more natural conviction of the hainiousness of such a transgression then his Protestant Dutch Highness has shewn to his own Actions I am past Wondering at any thing King William does but Posterity will be astonished that a Parliament of England could ratifie such Articles To proceed to another Head it is notoriously known that several men were Executed by Martial Law before it was Enacted When an Army is no better paid then ours has been either in England Ireland or Flanders to empower a Commander to Shoot a man to Death because he demands the Money he has earned for himself and his Family with his Sweat and with his Blood is a Law that requires great subtilty and argumentation to prove it equal or just but to give this power to imperious and cholerick Officers without examining how many men had been before the settling of it murdered in their rage and to gratifie their own violence I say to enact this Law without such a retrospection and without guarding 〈◊〉 against a too vigorous execution of it for the future is what little becomes an English House of Commons who ought to have a tender regard to the Life of the meanest Subject Let us come to consider of the numerous Parliamentary Pardons bestowed upon Ministers who have falen foul upon our Laws have not the Subjects even the Peers of England been hunted by Proclamations clapt into Prisons for High Treason and refused the
he has broke it with the Episcopal partâ— there when I come to shew in what an admirable in how much a more setled condition Secretary Iohnson has left that Kingdom but at present I wilâ— observe how he has kept it with the Parliament of Scotland as I have heretofore how he has kept it with the People of England It is sufficiently known that those who delivered him the Crown of Scotland took a most parâ—ticular care to make the Redress of Grievances and the assertion of their oâ— Rights the conditions of taking it And the Conditions upon which only theâ— gave that Crown I must allow for the honour of that Nation and 〈◊〉 mitiâ—gation of what they did that had they had a Right to do it they acted like wise and serious men they provided Substantial Securities by their claim of Rights and they ordered those who presented their Crown to secure their Liberties by reading first their Claim of Rights then their Grievances both which went to the bottom of things and then to insist upon the exacting of a Promise from him to govern according to the one and to Redress the other before they administred the Oath unto him by which they designed and evidently implyed his being sworn to the performance which Instructions were punctually observed by those that delivered that Crown but within a very short time after that Crown was given tho' it was upon this promise yet notwithstanding the greatest part of that Parliament which placed the Crown upon his Head humbly petitioned the present King for which priviledge of Petitioning they had provided by their Claim of Rights as well as the Prince of Orange had in his own Declaration declared the slighting and rejecting Petitions delivered by Subjects with respect and submission to be a high strain of Absolute Power I say altho' that Parliament humbly Addressed to the present King for his Assent to some Votes which they had passed for Establishing their â—iâ—erties and which were agreeable to their Antient Laws and Priviledges and pursuant to their Claim of Rights they were scornfully and disdainfully refused and rejected Will you giâ—e me leave to mention some of the Laws of Scotland such as were set down in the Prince of Orange's Declaration to that Kingdom According to the Scotch Declaration the appointing of Judges in an unusual manner and giving them Commissions which were not to continue during Life or good behaviour was highly Illegal yet King William after he got the Crown found he was mistaken in that Paragraph and nominated the whole Bench without subjâ—â—ting them to a Tryal and the approbation of Parliament according as Law and Custom required did not think fit to continue their Commissions during Life or good behaviour and appointed them a Lord Presâ—â—â—nt tho' by express and antient Statutes he was to be Elected by the Bench. By the Prince of Orange's Declaration the Imposing of Bonds without Act of Parliament and the permiting of free quarters to the Souldiers are declared to be high and intollerable Stretches of Government as indeed they are by the municipal Laws of that Kingdom but yet under this Government with greater Confidence and less Compassion then ever Bonds have been in Scotland imposed by authority of Parliament as may appear from their publick Proclamations and many thousands of Souldiers have been maintained upon free quarter for many Months together countenanced and abetted in it by the Government and the Funds for the reimbursing the Country which were appointed by Parliament have been otherwise diverted The Commissionating the Officers of the Army to sit as Judges upon the Lives and Estates of the Subjects and the â—uâ—ing People to death without a Lâ—gal Tryal Iury and Record were complained of in the Dâ—claâ—ation wâ—re thought good reasons for Forefaâ—â—â—ing of King Iames and were provided against upon this last settlement of the Crown and yet both the caution given against them by the sentence of Forefaulture in the Person of King Iames and the future provision made by the Estates prove too weak to restrain this Government from practising the same things for Colonel Hill and Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton were ordered and empowered to puâ— Glencoa and all the Males of his Clan under seventy to death which was partly executed upon them without any Legal Tryal Iury or Record Neither can their former enmity and opposition to the Government furnish any appology for so barbarous a Murder since they had all either actually taken the benefit of the Indemnity then granted and so were pardoned or had Protections in their Pockets which put them under the immediate care and safeguard of the Government Will you give me leave now to put you in mind of a matter that concerns both Kingdoms The frequencies of Parliament for redressing of Grievances the amending strenthening and preserving of the Laws with all freedom of Speech and Debates in them was insisted upon and fundamentally established by the States of both Kingdoms when they Elected their present Majesties to the Throne How well this is observed and made good to both Kingdoms is obvious enough I believe it would puzzle Doctor Welwood to give any considerable Catalogue of Grievances Redressed No it is not for Redressing of Grievances amending or preserving the Laws they are assembled but for giving of Money The craving Necessities of the State the pressing circumstances of the Confederates and Forreign Affairs the early Preparations of the French King anâ— honourable Peace the good of the Protestant Religion and Fears of King Iames are become the cruel and everlasting Topicks the common and ordinary Stale whereby the true intent of Parliaments is baffled and the Money-business quickned and finished The last is now so much the business of Parliaments and the first so little that is is an equal Wager that this Court may come at last to plead Prescription against Parliaments as to any other business but Money Bills Doctor I am afraid you will be put hard to assign many redressed Grievances but I can present you with an account of at least six or seven and twenty Millions that we have paid King William a prodigious Sum for five Years besides the Money that we have in that time lost by his management and the vast Sums he owes Methinks our bounty should have made him keeâ— better touch with us have made him perform his Promises I begin to pitty you Doctor for as I said you must not discount for theâ— things by laying the blame upon the advices of Ministers thereby to easâ— the Prince because every Branch of Law is a Breach of Promise by your own Doctrine if such a poor Animal as I can pick out the sence of what you write Methinks you are a little abashed we have been a long time â—very serious Have you a mind to be merry Doctor and I will by repeating a Jest shew you how in a very few Lines you might have given a more effectual answer to thâ—s Declaration The Story
so strong as to Canonize him a Martyr and to appoint upon the account of his usage a Day of Humiliaâ—ion and Repentance to all after Ages Nay since the Injury done to him has left still such an impression that many men who have had a Hand in this Revolâ—tion yet remember his Blood shed with Horrour and since however contradictory it was to the Principles of this change the Convention it self caused Ludlow to be sent away with a Proclamation at his heels and farther since multitudes of People in all parts of England attribute almost all our Misfortunes to that Vâ—ngâ—ance wherewith God retaliates the Injustice of his Death I say all this considered can it be doubted that King Charles the First would have been bâ— this change of the Peoples temper re-possessed of his Throne had he had the good luck to have gone into Exile From all these Instances and many more that may be met with in Story I think we may infer that nothing is more certain than that the love which People have to the rightful Descendant and Successor of a Family that has a long time held the Reins of Government and which has been submitted to by them will at last prove too hard for any Fascination with which the People may for a while be inveigled by the arts of an Usurper and his Emissaries together with the Billinsgate of such Scriblers as your self That the King will be Restored I don't at all question The Follies the Faults the Unsuccessfulness and Ingratitude of the Prince of Orange make way for his Restoration Our Injustice and his Right enter a strong Claim for him in the Courts of Providence and our own Consciences His own repentance 〈◊〉 the Male-administrations that were committed during his Reign and the â—ecurities he offâ—rs against such Errours for the fuâ—ure corroborate his Title â—â—d will infallibly dispose all mankind to receive him But afâ—er all I must â—onfess that how much soever I have all along been convinced that he will â—ome home and that the Monarchy of England is Hereditary and conseâ—uently that he is our Rightful and Lawful and only King of all which I â—m absalutely convinced I say as much as I am satisfied of all these particulars yet I should have had leâ—s Heart to serve him had I not been well â—atisfied also that Common Proâ—estancy the Church of England as it is Established by Law and our Civil Rights would be all Safe if impartial Liberty of Coâ—science wâ—ich does not imply sharing Ecclesiastical Preferments but freedom to all sorts of People be their perswasion what it will to worship God according to the â—ictates of their own mind withouâ— any Penalty I saâ— Common Protestancy will be safe if such a Liberty is settled The Church of England may make her self now safe by drawing at present proper Civil Securities within the Walls of our Hâ—use of Commons and tendering them in the first Parliament after the Restoration The same promise of raâ—ifying Laws now made might give us uâ—questionable Securities for our Civil Rights if the present House of Commons would think it their duty to provide any Securities for the Nation But farther if these Gentlemen don't think that their business yet we have another paragraph in the Declaration that will if it is not our own fault effectually secure us and I think we need not be afraid of a Revolutionary Parliament under a Popish King In the paragraph I mean the King promises with all speed to call together our Representative Body and therein to inform himself whâ—t are our united Interests and Inclination and with their concurrence to redress all our Grievances and to give all those Securities of which we shall stand in need And in another place he particularly promises they shall chain up your devâ—â—ing Monster explain and limit the Dispensing Power and most effectually secure the Church of England more effectually than that Promise you recite page the twenty ninth could be supposed to secure it before this Dispensing Power was either circumscâ—iâ—ed or defined and before the Power of the Judges to interperet away our Laws was provided against We have not only his Promises the King 's being Sixty and his Son not Six our advantages against him by reason of the King 's being of a Religion that is not popular amongst us but also our own Tenures and tempers and his experience that English men nay that the generality of the Members of the Church of England will not live up to all the stretches of Prerogative and Passive Obedience to proâ—ect us against future Iâ—regularities It will not be the King's fault if any umbrage for Jealousies is left in relation either to Religion Liberty or Property It is not He sees it is not his Interest to leave any and therefore ever since he first heard of the Prince of Orange's intended design of conâ—â—â— and likewise what Jealousies whether well or ill grounded his Peoâ— have had he has been always willing to condescend to ample Securitiâ—â— and in this last Declaration he very plainly invites us to secure our selves 〈◊〉 the future encourages us for the future to Word our Acts of Parliament mâ—â—â— cautiously What Despotick Doctrines may be found in our English Statâ—â— Books And when the Duke of Queensborough one of King William's pâ—â—sent Privy Counsellours was Commissioners in Scoâ—land was not that foâ— of speaking Absolute Power without reserve introduced into their Laws 〈◊〉 was the King the safer for these extravagâ—nt Complements of these Parâ—â—â—ments Did these Flatteries of those Houses subjugate the minds of 〈◊〉 People of these Kingdoms I am glad to see by the wording of the King Declaration that hiâ— Majesty is sensible that soothing exprâ—ssions giveâ— real Power don't establish the Interest of the Câ—own I said some tiâ—â— since that I wouâ—d make no Apology for the Male-administrations of Kiâ—â— Iames's Reign but yet if we would Saddle the righâ— Horsâ—s I think Parlâ—â—ments and Pulpits come in for their share of reproof as well even as tâ—â— King's Ministers and I am sure are more blameable by our Constitutioâ— than the Kâ—ng For was not that Parliament of Scotland more faulty â—oâ— introducing such a luscious Expression into the Laws of their Country thaâ— King Iames or his Minister for using the very Words of an Act of Paâ—liament in the Declaration of Indulgence that was sent â—hitheâ— As I saiâ— in another case Extravagant Acts of Parliament never have the validity 〈◊〉 Laws but yet they may mislead Kings It is happy for Kings when the keep exactly to the Fundamental Constitutions of their respective Kingdoms but sure they are pardonable if not excusable when Representatiâ—â— Bodies tempt them inâ—o Errours unless by sâ—me Declaration of their own they seem to have a thorow knowledge of the Constitution Indeed thâ— Prince of Orange seemed in his Declaration to uâ—derstand our Constitutioâ— so well that he understood even the Chicaneriâ— of our Beautifâ—ux and fâ—â— this
there was written by one in the King's Interest a Paper called Honesty is the best Policy wherein the Author avers and that upon his own knowledge that that Declaration was contrary to the King 's own sence of things as he inferred from discourses that he had the honour to have personally had with the King at St. Germaines I believe was the Author known no body could justly accuse him for want either of Probity or Love to England After the Answers of these Letters came over the Iacobite Principles was written which contained notions which are plainly hinted at in this â—ast Declaration and before the Publication of this last Declaration came forth the French Conquest neither desireable nor Practicable and now it is evident by this Declaration that the good things asserted in those Pamplets in behalf of the King were not the private Suâ—mises of the Author but founded upon â—ood authorities from St. Germaines and since thâ—s Government has printed in Scotland some Letters that they have either intercepted or made I will venture so far to betray the Secrets of his Majesty as to transcribe some passages out of Letters that have been sent me from the Earl of Melfort and many others have had Letters of the same purport I have mine by me and if the Parliament will obtain a safe conâ—uct for us I will produce them and I don't question but many others of his Majesties Friends wiâ—â— produce such other Letters either written by the King or his command as would abundantly satisfie the Nation that the King is ready to do all things necessaâ—y to secure them from all those dismal Hobgoblins which some through Malice and others through Folly have bug-â—eared us withal The passages I shall transcribe out of my Letters are as follow 3 d. Iuly 1692. I had Yours of the last Month and the only one I have had this considerable time In it I find your objections to the Declaration and find that most of them are Just and what shall be help'd in the next There was not one Topick sent but was made use of and if we have failed it has been the fault of those that have not informed aright what would please and not ouâ—s and as for that draught you sent me I had it at the Sea-side when we were past thinking of Declarations As to our Intentions the King was resolved to Govern by the known Laws of the Kingdom to consult with his Parliament in all things relating to the establishment of Peace and quiet in his Kingdoms to maintain the Liberties and Properties of all his Subjects to protect the Protestant Religion and to obtain Liberty of Conscience for all Dissenters He designed to except none from his mercy excepting those who opposed his Restoration and to Govern so as that he might gain him the Love of his People and make them as fond of him as they had been violent against him and tho' he could not at this distance tell how this was to be attained to yet he was resolved if once upon the place to have persued the true methods of doing it Withal I must tell you that no Declaration was ever published by the King's authority for tho' it was printed it was not to have been dispersed till the King 's Landing and having met with some of his Friends and if they had disliked it even then it had not been Published 11 th Iuly 1692. No man in the world wishes more heartily then my self to see Bounds and Limits fairly cleared betwixt the People and Monarchy of England that so we may not oppose the Prerogative ignorantly nor unknowingly ruâ— into Arbitrary Notions against the Liberty of the Subjects if these Limits were once fixt one who meant well might tread sâ—cure which is now impossible for both Parties pretending to have right and it may be in some things without reason one may design well and yet displease both which could never occur if Prerogative and Property were once clearly defined and stated What all this may end in is hard to foretell and whether ever we shall be so happy to see things cleared on just and equal terms but of this I can assure you it is the King's desire that it should be so Aug. 29 th 1692. I am for large measures and having the Crown established upon the Love and Affections of the Subjects and that in our days we may see the King and People in mutual confidence of one another and all Jealousies and Fears and the grounds of them rooted out that the design of the Court may be the Happiness and Prosperity of the People and the design of the People to encrease the Glory of the Crown and the legal rightful Succession thereof that Liberty and Property might be secured and that Prerogative which justly belongs to the Crown Established for their protection All this might be now were England so happy to lay hâ—ld on the Conjuncture 22d Septem 1692. The French King did not so much as pretend the Forces he sent should have English Pay but his own which looks far from deâ—â—nding great Sums of the Nation and I can assure you he was as frank as any English man whatever for securing the people in the possession of their Religion Liberty and Property Let not England stand in its own way and oppose its own happiness and I 'le answer France shall not meddle nay if it were to meddle betwixt the King and his People it would be to gain the People more of their Will to humour them more not to complement the Crown AND ANY MAN OF GOOD SENCE WILL FIND REASONS OF STATE FOR THEIR SO DOING In another place of the same Letter he says that The King of France when the King was to come last Year to us said all he had to pretend to was to wish the King happy in the possession of his own and that in serving his Friend he had all he aimed at October 6 th 1692. Things shall be established upon the antient English bottom Religion Property and Liberty shall be as in the freest of times no man shall suffer for his Opinion in matters of Religion The King will have a free Parliament with whom he will consult the settling of all these upon the most lasting Foundations and differences once cleared he will govern according to Law he will have no different Interest from that of England and will make it his chief Study to gain the Love of his People and to be more Lord of their Affections then of their Persons he will avoid all Jealousies and the occasion of them and will look upon him as the worst of Traytors who would advise him to do aâ—y thing might give his People any Iealousie or Fear In short govern so as honest English men would have him mind the Interestâ—â—rade and Honour of the Nation and that against all its Rivals This is the Interest of the Nation and will be performed and being meant in the full
reason and by the doctrines of this Revolution is inexcusable but believe King Iames never heard our Constitution so frankly debated 〈◊〉 men that he might confide in as he has since his Misfortunes Heretoforâ— the men that spoke unflatteringly to were at enmity with him and 〈◊〉 men are with great reluctancy 〈◊〉 their Interest by their avowed Aâ—â— versaries but now it has been laid before him by such as daily hazard theâ—â— selves for his Service and you see the Fruits of such Representatives are 〈◊〉 Royal Word to do more for our Constitution than the most renowned 〈◊〉 his Ancestors which implies that he will give us better Laws even the Edward the third or Queen Elizabeth c. To protect the Church of England as Established by Law and to secure its Members all the Churches â— to recommend Liberty of Conscience to a Parliament To leave the Dispensing Power to that Parliament to consent to every thing nâ—cessary to secure the frequent calling and holâ—ing of Parliaments the free Elections and fair Returns of Members and provide for impartial Tryals and to consent to all things that are necessary to re-establish the Act of Settlement in Ireland And to exchange Chimney-Money or any other part of the Revenue of the Crown for any other easier Assessmenâ— These things are Particularly mentioned and the general Promises imply his willingness to agree to any thing that can contribute to our Happiness tho' he could not in his Declaration enter into all the particulars of Grace and Goodness that he shall be willing to grant some of which particulars are in other mens Letters and some too in Letters I have by me tho' they are not as I said at the beginning proper to be mentioned out of Parliament Those Particulars he promises are so beneficial and I am so confident of his Majesties exact Performance that as much as you and I differ in Politicks and the Rights and Titles of Kings yet I will put the Issue of things upon that and joyn with you in Prayer that God may give him Success in the prosecution of his Right as he sincerely intends the Confirmation of our Liberties I heartily say this Prayer and I wish no more to facilitate the Restoration of the King than that all his Subjâ—cts would say it with as honest a regard both to their Country and the King as I do Then no more Blood would be shed in this quarrel Then these Nations and his Majesties Family would return to their duty Then the Prince of Orange must be soon content to return to his proper Station to his Statholdership in the Vnited Provinces And then we should be delivered from those Tyrannical Oppressions and Buâ—thens with which we have been oppressed and are like to be destroyed I had once thoughts of closing here but I can't forbear making one observation upon the Words of the Declaration cited at the end of my last Paragraph which observation is this The King with a Royal decorum avoids writing Libels tho' by what Doctor you have provoked me to say of the Male-administrations of the Prince of Orange you may see he did not want matter The King thinks it enough to tell his People what he will do for them and not becoming his character to tell the world what the Prince of Orange has done either against him or them He will no more imitate the Prince of Orange in sending over Invectives than the French King will the Dutch in being so mercinary as to expect repayment for what he has or shall do for the King The King declares he will forgive and be reconciled to all his Subjects that don 't after his Landing oppose him tho' they venture neither Life nor Limb for him and which is remarkable there is no expression in this whole Declaration which shews the least unwillingness to be reconciled even to his own Family notwithstanding the ill treatment and unjust usuage he has met with from them to whom he had been so indulgent I pray God that the whole Family may be yet reconciled if it be his blessed Will and Pleasure It is time to end for I have answered all that is material in your Libel and I have tyred my self and I believe my Reader with poring upon it tho' I have avoided in many places ridiculing your tedious repetitions fantastick discoveries c. as likewise giving an exact and full detayle of the Ministers and managements of the present Government When I first scratched down my rough draught I designed to have used you a little familiarly and therefore collected some maâ—erials for railery to which you have very much exposed your self but upon second thoughts I concluded the Times too tedious even for Tragicomedy and too busie for a long Pamphlet If you don't some where or other meet with a full Answer to any thing you value your self for it is because I did not think it of so much weigâ—t as you do I have not urged the third part of what I could say against what you have written but if any body will with care look over what I have said I presume no farther Antidote will be wanting to preserve them from the infection of your Libel Your good breeding Doctor has not been very remarkable your Inferences are very weak and your Ignorance very notorious To pass by forty other instances of either the greatest disingenuity and most impudent falsification or else the most apparent Ignorance that ever appeared in Print can any thing manifest a more notorious want of knowledge in History then what you say page 25 th where you peremptorily affirm that King James made more steps in four Years time towards the reconciling this Nation to the Church of Rome then was made in France it self from the death of Henry the fourth until about three Years before the Edict of Nants was revoked for did not Lewis the 13th who succeeded Henry the 4th attack the Protestants by force of Arms kill many thousands of them in the Field tear out of their hands no less then 300 Walled Cities and Forts Did King Iames make any Steps like these Did he attack the Protestants by Force As a Friend I advice you never to Print again till you have read and thought more since had the Press been free and men had leisure to read Sportive Pamphlets a man might lash'd you most unmercifully After this friendly Advice pardon my taking leave of you without any farther Ceremony than giving you for a subject of your Contemplations a grave observation that Mr. William Prynne made after he had tumbled over all our Annals His observation is Vsurpers of Crowns without Right tho' they court the People with Coronation Oaths and fair Promises of good Laws Immunity from all Taxes and Grievances yet usually prove the greatest Tyrants and Oppressors to them of all others You see Doctor I have brought you acquainted with Mr. Osbâ—rnâ— Mr. Wilson and Mr. Prynne all men that were never taxed with holding any â—â—â—respondence with your grand and sworn Enâ—my the Old Passive Obeâ—iâ—â—â— Principle I leave you to enjoy their Company and bid you Adieu ADVERTISEMENTS SInce so severe a Critick as Doctor Welwood will not fail reproaching me for being a Plagiary I think it not amiss to break the Stroke of his Accusation by freâ—ly owning that where Great Brittains just Complaint has said things directly to my purpose I ordered the Transcriber for the Press to set them down and many times in the same Words not only because I know not how to cloath them with better but also becausâ— I â—m really of too lazy a disposition to disguise the Stealth tho' a few â—ours would have done it This Reply had been ready against the meeting of the Parliament if it could have been Printed for it has been at the Press above two Months and had it not been so near finished the History of throwing out Mr. Brockman's Bill together with the manner of guelding it would have made a very entertaining Paragraph amongst the Legislative Errours Whatever parts of the Preface or Reply come too late for the reasons of writing them they must be considered with respect to the time in which it was hoped the whole would have been published FINIS * The Bill to ascertain the Salaries of the Iudges * The Triannial Bill The Bill of Mines Prynne's Rights Laws of English free-men
Sunderlâ—nd was coming as the phrase is into play again I thought it a merryment and raillery both upon this King and him for who could think that he who was the Author of all the unanswerable 〈◊〉 methods of King Iames's Reign should be encâ—uraged and employed in this it being such a piece of Discretion as if a Sick man should send for the same Mountebanck to cure him that had kiâ—led his Father but a week before But this it seems is not more strange then true yet by this we may beâ—old the steddiness of this worthy Monarch of our Isle to the Princiâ—les by which he came and the Professions he then made since that only man whom he excepted against in his Declaration and who now stands excepted from Indemnity by Act of Parliament who for many years received a considerable Pension from the King of France and who in the space of six Months altered his Religion twice This very man in contempt of common Decency to say no more is coming in to be the Support and Pillar of our Church and State What Effects this will have upon the minds of men we must expect to see and wait the operations of hiâ— Councils but in the mean time we heartily congratulate this able Polititian with King William for an old Sayings sake That things must be worse before they will grow better I have liâ—tle more to add but apply my self to the people of England and hope that they will now awake out of the Lethargick Fit in which they have lain so long that they will make use of the few moments that are given them to manage their last Stake and that they will think it high time to grow weary of the scandalous and destructive War and labouring in vain to fill a Sieve When we consider the vast Treasure that has been given and mispent and that all the Returns we have are Beggary and disgrace we ought to be ashamed that we have deviated so long from the known Maxims of our Government which consists in Trade and keeping as even as the times will bear the Ballance of our Neighbouring States and not in runing blindly into a foolish and unprovoked War upon the Continent to please the humour of one man and to preserve a Barriar for the Dâ—tch I am amazed to hear men talk of the approaching Sessions of Parliament as if the War were now but just begun or that a Tax had not as in King Iames's days been Levied in all this Reign It is pitty our Ancestors had not provided effectually against corruption in our Parliaments which would have rendred them what they were designed the best form of Government in the world for we never had so much cause as now to lament the miscarriage of Sir William Coventry's and the late Self-denying Bill Without refleâ—â—ing with any Conscience upon the monstâ—oâ—s Sumâ— which have imâ—â—verisht us already theâ— threaten us with a General Excise and another Tax which must complâ—at a modest reckoning of six Millions for the next Campagnâ— How can Country Gentlemen or any who depend nâ—t on the Court subsist Tenants must throw up their Leases and Landlords quit their Houses and all the ready Cash our nâ—merouâ— Allies have left us mâ—st be engross't at last by those whose Sâ—â—maâ—hs never rise agâ—inst a Cloâ—â—ting that Lists them in the Pay of secret Service There is no man has a greater honour for Parliaments thâ—n I but they must excuse me from thinking any thing so very Sacred that I see so liable to be debaucht besides we know by our Histories and Records that several of them have been wholly repealed and many most irreverently nicknamed That Parliament that will give away all we have is as much a Tyrant as a Kâ—ng that will force it and therefore it not being imaginable that the Electors who are their Principals have delegated a power to them for their own undoing since they grow so extravagant I hope the collected Body of the Nation wâ—ll vindicate it self and by an universal Remonstrance rescind their Acts or disobey them It was extreamly well answered by a most ingeâ—ious and a learned Writer of our own to those who said that Councils could not err tho' private Persons may That at first sight it is a merry Speech as if a man should say that every single Souldier indeed may run away but a whole Army cannot especially having Hanniball for their Captain I must beg leave to think at least as ill of this our Civil Council as he did of an Ecclesiastical one for I suppose that no man will deny to me but that Sir Robert Howard and many more are capable not only of erring but of Acting something with a Câ—urser name either in the Pallace-Yard or in the Strand and therefore since I am sure the Walls of St. Stephen's Chappel have not the vertue of inspiring any more Probity then Infallibility into the minds of those who are equally prepossest against them both I will be so bold as to pronounce there never was a more Erring Council then our ownâ— at present which â—o carry the allusion a little farther has neither Hanniball nor Pope at the Head on 't but a false anti-Anti-King himself chosen as they are called in direct opposition to the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom From what has been said I conceive that all intelligent and unbyassed People must conclude that our Safety and our Restoration to Peace to Trade and Plenty lies in our Return to our Duty and Allegiance to our Lawful King who has in his Declaration offered us those very Terms which we demand and think Essential to our Government They who promote a diffidence and distrust of his performance do but persue the Imposture they set out with to this Revolution and continue those Arts by which they have enriched themselves with the Ruins of the Innocent and laborious Farmers of the Country But I will prosecute this no farther here and hope all honest men will approve of these short â—nimadversions which I have laid down at least that they won't be ill received by such from one who neither hâ—s nor ever will have any thing else to do with so depraved a Generation as now governs The REPLY THe new Secretary having always had the reputation of good Sence and a very smart Elocution his Licencing Doctor Welwood's Answer to the Declaration of King Iames made everâ—body read it aâ— soon as it appeared but all that know the Secretary conclude he never took the pains to read it himself or he would so far have consulâ—ed his own credit as to have denyed his Pasport to so frivolous and so Scurrilâ—us a Pamphlet 〈◊〉 so remarkably both that it would be still as much neglected by me as it has been despised by others had I not at present more then ordinary leiâ—ure for it is stuffâ—d with such ignorant Assertions such weak and quibling Sophiâ—try it so plainly prevaricates from the Genuine and clear Sence of the
will forget his quaâ—dum Negoâ—iations with that Parliament which the lewd Whiggs many of whom are your intimate Friends called Pentionary but I protest I can't help remembring that my Lord Montague told odd tales as if he held some unfit Correspondencies with that Tyrant of France Good God â— that a man who stands Impeached by a House of Commons for such transactions with a Crown with whom we now wage War should be made the President of all our Councils Is iâ— not more wild and a greater protonation in our Politicks to place an Impeached man at the Head of all our Affairs than even to make a Iâ—sâ—ite a Privy Councellour But let the Marquess of Car -- then make room for the Earl of Sun -- land The Preface has given some account of that eminent States-man but I will tell you Doctor a Secret upon condition that you will not tell that you have it from me the Earl of Sun -- land this very Earl of Sun -- land tho' he has been out of Office has not for a great while been out of business I am sure for above these two Years he has not been out of it Are you at leisure worthy Sir to go to the Secretaries Office where Mr. Br -- n is to be found who must be a very adroit and experienced person and well worth your acquaintance for all the World knows he has run through all sorts of business He was Secretary to that Offensive High Commission Court The four Popish Bishops found him very useful He could instruct Regulators and at Tryals lend an Oath Heavens bless me No body but Sun land could have recommended such a Tooll to Fâ— rd who must certainly think himself overstocked with Reputation of which deservedly he haâ— a great share or he could never have ventured so much of it by pâ—tting the Secrets and business oâ— his Office into such hands I am really sorry he made such a choiâ—e for there are some men in this Government whom I would not have disgrace themselves He is one of those and I am sure he might have chosen out of his old acquaintance men that would not have been a reproach to him Had Nature pleaded as strongly for his Father I would have forgiven the Princes of Orange tho' she had overlooked all the faults of her Uncle R r and recommended him to the Cabiâ—et I believe you aâ—e well known to Sir R râ— R h and I think I ought not to name him upon the accounâ— of Regulation because he â—out started in the House of Commons all those that laid it to his charge as a Crime I must confess this Government could not have found out a â—iâ—ter man â—o be a Secretary of War than handsom formal Mr. Bl te for 〈◊〉 Speech in the House of Commons did to the utmost of his power demonstrate that a standing Army was cheaper then the Militia He talked himself out of Breath and the whole House out of Patience upon that subject and I have been told by those that were by that if he had any meaning what I have set down was what he dâ—ove at He is indâ—ed a profound man and therefore our Senates was not so much to blame that they could not understand all he said but so much is certain he had a mind to a standing Army and that propensity is a good qualificaâ—ion for a Secretary of War and we shall comprehend his Reasons for what he would have maintained when he thinks fit to publish his Notes I believe you will be weary before you have made these Visits therefore we must let alone the Right Honouraâ—le 〈◊〉 Lord Câ—nningsby Sir Râ—bert Howard Siâ— R. Tâ—mple Sir I. Wâ—rdâ—n and a mulâ—itude of other such excellent Persons who are very well with the Government till another oppâ—rtunity Another reason why the authorised Writers for this Government should not so eternally insist upon Male-administrations of the last iâ— because we have so many Instances of misgovernment under our Reformer and I asure you Doctor his Title will totter if he may not discharge himself upon evil Ministersâ— from which 〈◊〉 such Writers as you by the doctrines of your own Pamphlets shut him out In speaking to the Male-administrations of this Government I must make use of a division that some will think new for I must speak of Lâ—gislative Errours as well as Execuâ—ive Male-administrations Amongst the first I reckon the suspention of the Habeas Corpus the gratification of the Articles of Limerick and the Enacting of Marital Law without punishing those that had exercised it before it was enacted and also the numerous Pardons they have bestowed upon the Ministers of State when they had broken thoâ—ow the most valuable of our Rights when they had broken in upon the Lâ—berty of our Persons Thesâ— and many other such exorbitanâ— measures which have passed both our Houses may be reckoned Legislative Errours I don't question but sâ—me will think it very strange that I impeach a Parliamâ—â—t but what man that has common sence can believe that the Nation ever intruâ—ed a Hâ—use of Commons with a Power to destroy them with a Power to surrender up all our Liberties to enslâ—ve the Nation to sell our Rights to a â—orreign tho' â— Dutch Pâ—â—â—ce to sink our Ships or to burn our Cities They may as well make any of these and Murder it self â—egal as long Imprisonments without assigned Crimes Extravagant Acts of Parliament are no Laws and it our Senate House is delivous we can be sâ—pposed to render obedience tho' a Lawful King were at the Hâ—ad of them upon no other reason but because we are not in a condition to deny or dispute it OUR ORACLE COOK has some where in his Institutes an expresâ—on to this purpose Laws made against right Reason and the â—aâ— of Nâ—turâ— are Nâ—ll in themselvesâ— Can it be reasonable that the Habeas Corpus should be three timâ—s one after another suspended and that upon no better pretence than a Minister's shewing some Letters that he said came from Scoâ—land and which were stuffâ—d with palpable Falshoods such as King Iames's being Landed there with a greâ—t Force and of which Letters we nâ—ver heard more after the first suâ—pention of the Habeas Corpus The Liberty of our Persons is a Native Night Our Common Law originally provided for it by Wrâ—â— before it was provided for by Sâ—atute and the Act of Habeas Corpus was only to make uâ— as safe in the Vocation as in the Term and to provide a Puâ—ishment for the Judges that denyed to obey that Writ Those Judges that had before that Penalty was ascertained denyâ—d to obey the Wrâ—t were punished severely in the Late times when they went upon Principles of Liberty tho' they went too far and the Persons injured had Reparation made them out of the Estates of those Arâ—itraâ—y Judges Câ—sless Imprisonmeâ—s was one of the most clamarous and best warranâ—ed Gâ—ievances in the days of King Charles the
benefit of their Habeas Corpus and this when there was no Information upon Oath as the Law appoints to justifie such a proceedure And have not the Ministers had all this pardon'd by a Parliament Doctor Welwood does make so many Repetitions himself that I hope he will not redicule me if I now and then repeat the same thoughts and set down here that Parliaments heretofore thought fit to punish and not to skreen such Arbitrary Ministers to make the reparation of the Subject more easie more certain but now they take part with the Ministers to oppress the Subject Another Parliamentary Errour under this Government is that our Legislators don't at the beginning of every Sessions read the Prince of Orange's own Declaration for there are in it some things that deserve their Reflections These are the Words of one Paragraph And we for our part will concur in every thing that may procure the Peace and Happiness of the Nation which a Free and Lawful Parliament shall determine Since we have nothing before our Eyes in this our undertaking but the preservation of the Protestant Religion the covering of all men from Persecution for their Consciences and the Securing to the whole Nation the FREE ENJOYMENT of all their Laws Rights and Liberties under a Iust and Legal Government I don't know whether the present Gentlemen that meet at VVestminster take themselves to be a free Parliament but if they do here is a very fair Invitation which is also in other places expressed by declaring that the design of his coming should be to rescue the English Government from the Violencies and Disorders which had overturned the whole Constitution Really if this was true our Civil Fabrick wants a great deal of Reparation and if he was in earnest you are to blame that you don't propose solid Securities against Arbitrary Government and to prevent the possibility of Slavery for the future as the Declaration has it in another place But in troth after all I know not whether the Prince of Orange takes the present for a free Parliament because that I can name his Highness some Bills that they have determined very unanimously to be for the happiness of the Nation to which nevertheless King VVilliam has not thought fit to give his assent no he did not think fit to concur tho' some men absolutely attached to his Interest have honestly according to their Principles told him that a Prince who comes in for the sake and upon the Foot of Reformation can never stand long unless he really perform the business and design of his exaltation He has been so far from concurring that it has been observed that every Session he has taken all our Money but followed none of the Advice either of a Parliament or of such whose avowed Principles make them capable to go in heartily with his Government nay he has rejected one Bill that the whole House of Commons passed Nemine Contradicente Mr. Finch excepted â—nd which was not opposed by any body but my Lord Nottingham in th e â—ouse of Lords He hath been pleased to refuse some â—ther Bills that were notwithstanding all the pains â—e and my Lord Portland took to hinder them Voted â—y a great majority of both Houses Methinks the preâ—ent Parliament should enquire what are his thoughts concerning them since 〈◊〉 seems it is not to them that he refers the accomplishments of the ends of â—is Declaration I believe there are some that sit now in Saint Stephen's Chappel that have thought no King of England no Hereditary King of Engâ—and ought to have a Negative Voice and I wonder that no Person of â—hat perswasion disputes the Title that their Elective King has to it but inâ—tead of this now these men are in Places they can as well as other throw â—ut the Judges Bill as soon as the Prince of Orange lets them know his Will â—nd Pleasure They let him carry Absolute Monarchy to a higher pitch then â—hat in which the imagination of Xenophon placed his Cyrus for Cyrus had â—bout him many great men whom he consulted who were called his Eyes â—nd Ears and who were in a sort the Representatives of his Subjects but â—ur present House of Commons are content that our All-sufficient Monarch should â—o every thing by the advice only of that Stranger that Gaveston his Monâ—â—eur Bentinck who has the reputation of too good a Courtier to expostulate â—is Masters Will. Will you give me leave Dr. to repeat another Paragraph of the Prince â—f Orange's Declaration But to Crown all there are Great and Violent Presumptions inducing us to believe that those evil Counsellours in order to the carrying on of their ill designs and the gaining to themselves the more time for the effecting of them for the encouraging their Complices and for the discouraging of all good Subjects have published that the Queen hath brought forth a Son tho' there have appeared both during the Queen's PRETENDED Bigness and in the manner in which the Birth was managed so many just and visible grounds of suspition that not only WE OUR SELVES but all the good Subjects of those Kingdoms do vehemently suspect that the pretended Prince of Wales was not born by the Queen And it is notoriously known to all the World that many both doubted of the Queen's bigness and of the Birth of the Child and yet there was not any one thing done to satisfie them or to put an end to their doubts Doctor Welwood you must forgive me if I think that it has been at least a great oversight in our Legislators that they have not charged this Crowning Male-administration home upon King Iames. This was a Male-administraâ—ion that was not only to confirm at present but to Crown and perpetuate â—ll the Male-administrations of King Iames's Reign The proof of it would â—ave effectually silenced almost all mankind in the behalf of that King It â—s such an unnatural Male-administration that I should have thought him worse then an Iâ—fidel that had so destroyed the Provisions our Law 〈◊〉 made for his Family for his Daughters I would not only have alloweâ— him insane but a Monster if this had been proved upon him The not proâ—ving this upon King Iames has laid a Foundation for Lancastrian 〈◊〉 on s and for eternal Standing Armies which must remain for a Guard tâ— our Elective Crown Had the Prince of Orange intended to have requiteâ— that most particular Affection and esteem which he says we had formerly testified to him and his dearest Consort the Princess he should not have been willing we should have been left in the dark in this matter Had the Parliament tooâ— any care for our future Security they would have cleared this point Thâ— Prince of Orange was very particularly concerned to clâ—ar it since it was thâ— most Justifiable part of hiâ— Errand hither the Parliament can never have 〈◊〉 better opportunity to be satisfied of the truth of this matter since now they and
the Witnesses cannot be supposed to be constrained by an Exiled Prince They have been challenged they have been provoked to search to the very bottom of that Mystry of Iniquity I will not use so rough Language but I humbly recommend that inquiry to them this Sessions Certainly it was an Errour in our Legislators that no Member of iâ— took any Oaths at the meeting of the Convention and that they laid asidâ— the use of the Test at a Juncture when the whole Nation was allarum'd aâ— the exercise of the dispensing Power I have heard a Jolly Papist say thaâ— if the Priests can dispense with him for eating a Shoulder of Mutton upon a Fryday he would even dispense with himself for that small matter leâ— him be thought as Hetrodox by the rest of the Catholicks as they pleased Upon my Faith a man would think if the Test and the Oaths can be dispensed withal by one of our three Estates as some phrase it they may be aâ— well dispensed withal by either of the other I don't say this as being fond either of Oaths or of the Test. I have always thought and have lately seen that Oaths are no great Security to Governments and I never had nor will have any hand in Test-making tho' I can take twenty against Popery All that I mean by this is that methinks the Conventioners our Senate should not have fallen into that Dispensing Power the Nation had so lately cryed out upon with open Mouth The Convention's choosing a Speaker upon a Corporation bottom and a disputed Election possibly cannot in strictness of language be called a Legislative Errour but yet it was such an one as made the Convention it self unfit to be termed any part of our Legislative Authority and invalidated if there had been no other exceptions against them all the acts of that Convention I am sure made them at least disputable I think we may reckon amongst Parliamentary Errours that our Convention draw no better a Bill of Rights did not qualifie explain and limit the Dispensing Power that the threats that were used to Bâ—scowen Hampdenâ— Powel c. and their being promised good Preferments should be able to â—â—fle all provisiâ—ns against Arbitrary Power and leave our Constitution as doubtâ—â— and precaâ—ious as the Sycophants of both Robes have pretended it to be in the worst of times Whatever these two last particulars mentioned will be reckoned now I bâ—lieve Posterity will allow them to be Legislative Errouâ—s amongst which also will be reckoned their Scandalous throwing out of the Iudges hill and the opposition that many of the House of Commons have made to a Bill for Regulating Tryals in Cases of â—igh Tâ—eason and I averr that neither the future will nor can the present Age assign any other reasonable cause for the treatment those Bills have met with but the multitude of Officers and Pentioners that corrupt all the debates of our Senate House I don't intend to run â—hrough every Errour committed by our Legislators I will omit the admission of Out Laws such as Major Wildman Manley c. into the Convention to make Laws for us before they had râ—versed their own own Out-Lawries I will not mention that the Houses suffered themselves to be thrâ—atned by the Mobb sometimes by Members within and sâ—metimes by People without doors and have given for excuse of what they have done those threats the violence of the times c. and yet have looked and acted and expect to be considered as a free Parliament I will omit the non-prohibition the last Sessions of the exportation of our Money in Specie These and many other Parliamentary errours I will omit that I may as cursoâ—ily look into the Executive Male-administrations Some of these which I have called and which became at length Legislaâ—ive Errours were originally and at their first setting out executive male-administrations and since I have spoke to them under the one I shall not repeat them under the other Head of my division I will talk no more of Imprisoning without Oath nor executing bâ— martial Law before it was in Beâ—ng I will not repeat the Articles of Lymerick But did not the Prince of Orange mâ—ke his first Steps in the exercise of â—his Government in both Kingdoms upon the Dispensing Power Did he not before he was King send Letters to the City of London to choose unqualified Persons into Places of Trust Did he not also and that before he was King send a Proclamation into Scotland that authorized and impowered Magistrates to officiate in Corporation who were not elected according to their Charter Has not every Term excessive Bail been required three thousand pounds for men that have not bâ—en worth thâ—ee hundred Shillings Excessive Fines imposed besides setting in the Pillory a hundred Marks upon a Boy that was not worth so mâ—ny Pence and now five hundred Marks apiâ—ce besides setting them three times in the Pillory upon two that dispersed this Declaration tho' one of them is not worth so many Grâ—â—ts Where is that Salvo continemento that we used to talk of Have not Illegal and cruel Punishments been Inflictâ—d one of the Female Sex set in the Pillory and Fined severely for a foolish Song Have not the Armies taken and forced free quaâ—tâ—r in England Scotland and Ireland Have they not been counâ—enanced in doing it by those that sit at the Hâ—lm Are our Elections of Parliament men according to our old Constitution Were not my Lord Nottingham and the booted Apostle sent down to solicite against Colonel Mildmay's Election in Essâ—x Have there not been many bare-faced Sollicitations Threats and Promises sent to Countries Corporaâ—ions and pâ—rticular Electors Were thâ—re â—ot greaâ— Sums of Money expended by the Court to hinder the Elections of Wildman and others who had been great authors of the Change meerly because it was plain they made this Change with a design to secure their Country from the abuse of future Ministers Have not Governours been imposed upon the Plantations abroad upon the quo Warranto Foot and contrary â—o the opinion of the Privy Council and meerly by the Arbitrary Command of King William Are not such Judges out of favour and their Sallaâ—ies ill paid who will not do all Jobbs for the Court I appeal to my Lord Chief Baron Atkins and others of the Judges whether or no I am a Slanderer Has not an Order been sent down to the Custom-House at Dover dispensing with the Act of Parliament which prohibits French Wines Was not that Act which prohibits the bringing in of Silk for Sir Henry Limerick Furnace's sake dispensed with the other day by a formal Act of Council In the Name of God is not all the world satisfied that my Lord Bellamount was Closeted during the last Sessions and that many others were so before the Parliament met as well in Flanders as in England Was not the witty Iack How turned off because he would not hold his tongue when the Interâ—st of the
Nation called upon him to speak in the House And when he had the misfortune to beat a Foot-man just before the last Sessions within the verge of the Court did not the Court Animals tell about in triumph their Masters Sentiments and how many good Speeches were spoiled by having Iack How upon that hank When King William returned from that Skirmish of the Boyne which is the only time he ever faught successfully did not he threaten the whole Parliament in a Speech But I must confess a man that Pays them so well may take the Liberty to use those Gentlemen a little Scurvily but the Figure they should make and the treatment they then had would have taught Barbarians how little they ought for the time to come to have wished success to King William's Arms. All that I have reckoned up except this last instance are the measures of Adversity but who can guess what would be the Maxims of his Government if he could do those mighty things that he sometimes promises in his Speeches and weak Men and silly Women expect at his hands But I must return to what he does as things are with him at present Was not Mr. Ashton murdered by presumptive Treason and Anderton against the plain sence of many Statutes and without the least shadow or proof and in despite of the conviction and repentance of several of his Jury particularly the Foreman have not many of the Judges hectored the Juries in their Circuits But why should I go on to enumerate all the effects of the Prince of Orange's most Despoâ—ick Rule Thâ—se Instances are enough to demonstrate the Imprudence I had lâ—ke to have said Imâ—udence of these Pamphleteers and are enough â—o verifie Osboâ—ne's Aphorism which I have put upon the Title page and to convince us that what he says is the true reason why we at present bear such infractions of our Antient Constitution The Aphorism is so pat here that it will scarce be lost time to read it over again People endure Oppression with more patience from an Vsurper then one ascending through a long Succession as esteeming it MORE NATURAL and no less then looked for or as acknowledging to have deserved it FOR NOT SEEING WHEN THEY WERE WELL. I will not be so particular as to shew how especially of all their Scriblers â—t little becomes Doctor Welwood to exaggarate matters against King Iames since his discourseâ— about a Dictatorial Power c. brought him for his Arbitrary Doctrines under the censure of the House of Commons A House of Commons wherein some Members have been so notoriously and of a sudden so debauched that when some of them have stood up to speak those that sate next have as I am told instead of crying hear called out hyre him â—f I may believe a Person that I think of credit this is true but I am cauâ—ious of laying down any thing for matter of Fact that is not minutely true â—hat I will not vouch for this Report tho' it is well handed to me Howâ—ver I must confess since Pentions have been so much talked of and so much â—nown I think the promotion of no Test will ever so honourably carry down â—he names of the Authors of iâ— to our Childrens Children as the late self â—enying Ordinance and yet that ought to have been carryed a little farther â—or it were to be wished that every Member should make Oath he received â—o Pay either directly or indirectly from King William and then a reaâ—onable man might know what to say to them and how much soever they â—ould oppose King Iames yet they would certainly take some care of their â—iserable Native Land I am coming Doctor to my third Head which is in Answer to a Maxim â—ou lay down and build very much upon page the 4 th Your Maxim is Neâ—er to trust the Promises of one that has broke with us before especially if those â—ormer were backed with the Religious Sanction of an Oath Doctor don't you â—mell a Rat In good earnest as ill as the Convention provided for our â—ecurity I suppose what I have mentioned may be either found in our new â—ill of Rights or plainly and without straining a point be deduced from it â—nd tell me frankly was it not designed that the Coronation Oath should obâ—ge King William to observe that paultry Bill of Rights and also all our Laws have observed Doctor you have an ill memory and a worse observation and for that reason I must remind you that the Male-administrations in thâ— Reign of King Iames are by your Libel made breaches of his Coâ—onatioâ— Oath I fancy upon reading it that you reckon that notiâ—n the very hingâ— of our Constitution because else sure you can't but know that your wholeâ— Treatise is impertinent what hole then have you for King William to creepâ— out at How shall he go Scot-free But to proceed â—radatim did not theâ— Prince of Orange break his Oath to his own Country-men by taking upâ—â— him the Statholdership and this too when he was of years to be obliged by an Oath for when they first made him Captain Geneâ—al he took an Oath never to take the Power of the Statholdeâ— upon him Well but I will not ramble into the Vnited Provinces I will let him the People of Amsterdam and Tergous alone But did not the Prince of Orange break his Word hiâ— Declaration with us when by advancing his Troops he mad it impracticable for King Iames when a Treaty was on Fâ—ot betwixt him and the King to summon such a Parliament as the Prince of Orange said he would refer every thing to and for which the King had issued out several Writsâ— Nay was the threatening not to say insolent inhumane and unnaâ—uralâ— Mâ—ssage he sent to the King to command his removal from Whitehall aâ—sâ— unseasonâ—ble a time of the Night and to go by conveyance that coâ—sidâ—ring the coldness of the Weather must be so dangerous to his Health agrâ—eable to what he promised to those of the Gentry and Nobilâ—ty who invited him over without design of carrying things so â—ar without design to carry them to any extremity either against the King's Person or the Just Rights and necessary Pâ—erogatives of his Crown Nay farther has King William since he was Crowned kept his Oath with any of thâ—se Kinâ—doms I think it is plain he has not I dare appeal to his Friends of both the Rosâ—s The Rose Tavern at Temple-Barr and in Covent-Garde◠〈◊〉 dare appeal to his Advocates at Richard's Coffee-House and to his activâ— Friend Paschall who delivered his Declaration at the Door of the House oâ— Commons Nay I dare appeal to any man liviâ—g that has Sence and Memory whether he has always kept his Word I am sure England Scoâ—land anâ— Ireland complain of the breach of it I know no body indeed that he haâ— kept it with but the Irish Pâ—pists He has broke it with both Parties in Scotland I will give an account how
is worth your hearing I have been told of a Witty Wagg of King William's own party who when he saw this Declaration at first looked a liltle solmn and cryed out Pox take it this may do mischief but after he had recollected himself he said Now I think of it it will signifie little for King William has taken the best way to make this and all Declarations of no effect for there is no body can name any one Paragraph of his own that he has kept to so that the Nation I hope will never mind Declarations more It was a severe Jest upon the Prince of Orange because the best Friends he has must own it a true one nor can King William plead ignorance in excuse of what he does since the Prince of Orange could so nicely and so Libellously anatomize in his own Declaration every breach of our Laws made in King Iames's Reign and also since the doctrines of this Revolution and Doctor Welwood's Libell make the King of this Kingdom the author of all that is done it Good Doctor what shall we do Shall we ever trust to the Promis of one that has broke his Word with us before Shall we trust a man that has broke Promises that were backed with the Religious Sanction of an Oath Come Doctor be good naâ—ured Advise the World to be good natured to be forgiving and forgetting or King William's Government will be in a dangerous condition But let us not entertain our selves any longer with such dismal Prospects Let us make to the last Head I perceive Doctor tho' not only the Hawkers have carryed Six penny-worth forty pages of youâ— Works through all the City but the Government has industriously spread them through all the Villages of the Country with as much diligence as the Ordinaries do the Fâ—â—st-Prayers yet you Sir are not satisfied that it is King Iames's Declaration Really Doctor I am forty that a man of your Fiâ—ure and Talents ventured to spend so much of your time upon an uncertainty but that you may not too much repent of your labour I will asure you Doctor that I have seen this Declaration Signed with King Iames's own Hand which I will Swear to as much as I will to any Similitude of Hands and belief may serve in this case tho' I think it no evidence in Criminal Causes notwithstanding its being used as such at some Tryals since the Reversal of Sydney's Attainder in which Reversal to do them Justice the Convention was in the Right But to proceed I don't desire the World should take my Word for this matter I believe there are many Members of the House of Commons know his hand as well as I and if they will become Security for my Person on this occasion too I will produce it either to the House or to any Member of it whose Honour I can trust Upon my word Doctor it is in Town Signed with his own hand if I may trust my own Eyes and I will assure you too Doctor as I said â— never saw the King's hand to that former Declaration which you are soâ— very willing should pass for an authentick one Where have you lived Doctor of late You used to be a man of good Intelligence I wonder you have not heard that this last Declaration was in the French Gazette which the other Declaration would questionless have been too had it been more then an unfinished undetermined Scrole If you will be pleased to enquire the French Gazette of Iune the 20 th 1693. I believe you need not put your self to any farther trouble about the reallity of this being King Iames's Declaration but if you are still in doubt there is an Astrologer who is a Prisoner in the Fleet and who was formerly of another Profession to whom you may apply and if he is a Master in his Art he will easily by casting a Figure find that this Declaration has passed the Great Seal at St. Germaines as well as the approbation of many of his Majesties Friends here The Gentleman who studies the Stars can spell his own Name out of this little hint but altho' he fawned upon King Iames in his Prosperity and has been a busie little stickler against him since his Misfortunes and has had a mind to have a flirt at this Declaration yet I pitty the hardships that Gentleman has brought upon himself and wish at last he would mind his own proper Function and not trouble himself any more with Politicks which God and Nature never designed for his Province He will know I ken but I will not expose him who is more miserable already then I wish him were it in my power to make him otherwayes I have said all I think necessary to the general Heads and now shall proceed to those things that have not fallen under them In looking over page the 6 th I perceive Doctor you have a wonderful good opinion of the Face of Affairs in Scotland therefore if you please I will compare Notes with you My Correspondents Doctor assure me that your Country-men are less affected then they were to the present Government which they say appears by the general obstinacy against taking the Oathes the Episcopal Party generally and some of the Presbyterian Ministers themselves refusing and those that have taken the Oaths even amongst the Presbyterian Clergy have taken them with such a Reservation and Explication as plainly shews that they have King William in suspition and that they don't desire to place a Dictatorial Power in the Prince of Orange I think I had best send the explanation it self We do take the Oath of Allegiance to King William and Queen Mary in so far as they defend our Religion and our Liberties according to the Claim of Right and their Coronation Oaths I suppose you have heard of Mr. Windram Professor in Divinity at Glascoe Mr. Iohn Ballendine and Mr. Thomas Linnin These men repeated these Words in the name of themselves and the Kirk of Scotland and they demanded and would not be satisfied till they had got Instruments from the Clerk of the Commission who was empowered to adminster the Oaths unto them that upon these terms only they had Sworn the Oaths and Signed the Assurances Now I have repeated their Explanation methinks even these men have not bound themselves Hand and Foot The Claim of Rights the Coronation Oath have been may again be broken by King William and Queen Mary and then the Kirk of Scotland is at Liberty to step out of the way of their Allegiance and by what has been done to King Iames such Sallies as those are brought into president There are prodigious numbers both of Noblemen and Gentlemen who were living Peaceably and willing enough to live peaceably under the protection of this Government some of whom are Imprisoned others Fined in a Years Revenue of their Estates besides many that are Banished and all this meerly for refusing to take the Oaths at all and it is