Bishop of Worcester from a Libell of Mr. Bagshaw's And This now under my Hand carries the Necessity of it along with it So that Thus far my Pen has only been Defensive either of the King the Church or in the last place of My own Honour My Memento it 's Truth is a Mixt Dâ—scourse and the Greater part of it Effectually rather a Paraphrase upon Sir Francis Bacon then my Proper Text. It is written with more Honesty then skill and it has the Common Fate of other Things Friends and Enemies He that understands it as I meant it shall do Mee no hurt and he that takes it otherwise is the more likely of the Two to miss my Meaning Such Venemous Natures there may be as to Blast All they Touch Draw Poyson from the Holy Writ and Turn the very Decalogue into a Libel If it Displeases Such the matter is not great for it was beside my Purpose to Oblige Them I shall now be as good as my word concerning Defamers of the Government c. Since the Burning of the Covenant was Publish'd a Book Entitul'd A PHAENIX or The Soleâ—n LEAGUE and COVENANT Pretended to be Printed at Edenburgh and Dated In the year of COVENANT-BREAKING The Drift of the Whole is to Justifie the last War to disaffect the People to his Majesty now in Being and to Enforce the Obligation of the Covenant out of an old Sermon of Mr. Edm. Calamie's call'd The Great Danger of COVENANT-REFUSING and COVENANT-BREAKING This Book being brought to my Hand I procur'd a Warrant to search for it and Retriv'd about 120 Copies which I seiz'd together with the Printer Disperser and One Stationer of the Three that were Partners in the Impression I Brought These People to His Majesties Principal Secretary Sir Edward Nicholaâ— by whose Order the Printer and Stationer were Committed and the Disperser being Poor to Extremity was upon certain Conditions left at Liberty Concerning the Printer it appear'd that he acted rather upon Necessity then Malice but for Two of the Three Stationers to wit Giles Calvert who was Apprehended and Livewell Chapman who was now fled No men whatever of their Profession have more Constantly and Malitiously prosecuted the Destruction of the Royal Family The Third Stationer's Name is Thomas Brewster who absented himself for a while and is since return'd Francis-Tyton was one of the Puâ—lisâ—ers as Right as any of the Rest At the same Time I Seiz'd the first Two sheets of the Book of Prodigies then newly put to the Press and for the same Booksellers Giles Calvert did not only come off for This but during his Imprisonment which contâ—nued till the Adjournment of the Parliament his Wife went on with the Prodigies upon Proof whereof She was likewise Commâ—tted and is come off too See now the Temper and Design of These Pamphlets A King abusing his Power to the overthrow of Religion Phoenix Pag. 52. Laws and Liberties which are the very Fundamentals of this Contract and Covenant may â—e Controlled and Opposed and if he set himself to overthrow all These by Armes then they who have power as the Estates of a Land may and ought to resist by Arms Because he dâ—th â—y that opposition break the very â—onds and overthrow the essentials of this Contract and Covenant This may serve to justifie the proceedings of this Kingdom against the late King ☜ who in an Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties Among the Hâ—llish rout of Prophane and Ungodly men Praeface to the Prâ—digies let especiâ—lly the Oppressours and Persecutours of the True Church look to themselves when the hand of the Lord in the strange Signs and Wonders is lifted among them for then let them know assuredly that the day of their Calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make haste Deut. 32.35 The retale and final overthrow of Pharaoh and the Egyptians those cruel Task-Masters and Oppressours of the Israelites did bear date not long after the Wonderful and the Prodigious Signs which the Lord had shewn in the midst of them ☞ Prodigies Pa. 1. Two Suns seen neâ—r Hertford c. The like in the Beginning of Queen Mary and about the Time of the Persecution in Germany It portends aâ—sâ— the Fall of Great men from their Power Ibid. Pag. 11. 12. Armies were seen in Sussex c. This happened a while before the King of Swede routed the Imperial Army and here in England in 1640. A Terrible Tempest and Raging Tides This in the Low-Countries Pag. 42. a little before they threw off the Yoak of the King of Spain A River dry'd up c. This portends a Revolt and Division of the People Ibid. Pag. 53. Let what I have said serve to satisfie Mr. Bagsâ—aâ— that Defamers of the Governmenâ— and the Publishers of Treâ—son may câ—me off and better too then their Accusers for I am expos'd to dayly Menaces Libels Violences only for Asserting the Kings Interest and Discovering his Enemies It 's time now to draw to a Conclusion and I cannot end better then with giving the World a Particular View of some few of Those Many Treasonous Seditious and Schismatical Pieces which have been Published Since his Sacred Majestie 's Return and with That I shall wind up my Justification Wherein I shall observe in Order how they Treat the Church and the King's Cause and his Authority Upon the Restoring of the King Mr. Manton Publishes Smectymnuus The Smectymâ—â—â—ns and in his Preface to the Reader I suppose sayes he the Reverend Authors were willing to lye hid under this ONOMASTICK partly that their work might not be recâ—ived with prejudice the Faction against which they dealt arrogaâ—ing to themselves a Monopoly of Learning and condemning all others as Ignorants and Novices not worthy to be heard c. Now see the Judgment of his Reverend Authours and what Stuffe Mr. Manton Publishes for the Reception of His Majesty he himself calling the Episcopal Party a Faction Do we not know the Drunkenness Profaneness Superstition Popishness of the English Clergy rings at Rome already Smectym Pag. 58. Yes undoubtedly and there is no way to vindicate the Honour of our Nation Ministry Parliaments Sovereign Religion God but by Causing the Punishment to ring as far as the sin hath done that our Aâ—versaries that have triumphâ—d in their sin may be confounded at their Punishment Note Do not your Honours know that the plastring or palliating of these rotten Members will be a greater dishonour to the Nation and Church then their cutting off and that the personal acts of these Sons of Belial being connived at become National sins Here 's Episcopacy Root and Branch with all Circumstances Suitable to a Presbyterian Modesty Publish'd by a Pardon'd Non-conformist for the Welcome of Hâ—s Sacred Majesty How comâ—s it to pass that in England there is such increase of Popery Superstition Arminianism Ibid. Pag. 66.
Truth and Loyalty VINDICATED From the Reproches and Clamours OF Mr. EDWARD BAGSHAW TOGETHER WITH A Further Discovery of the LIBELLER Himself and his Seditious Confederates By ROGER L'ESTRANGE Ex Ore Tuo LONDON Printed for H. Brome and A. Seile and are to be sold at the Gun in Ivy-lane and over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet June the 7 th 1662. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTIES Most Honorable Privy-Counsel My LORDS IF in Duty to his Majesty I become Troublesome to your Lordships I hope you will vouchsafe to Pardon so honest an Importunity Especially considering the high Necessity of the Office as to the Publique and the little Benefit he expects to reap by it that Undertakes it It is in Truth My Lords grown hazzardous to Assert the Cause of the Late King or the Authority of This against the open and profess'd Adversaries of Both And they Proceed as if the Act of Oblivion had only Bound the Hands of his Majesties Friends and left his Enemies Free Which would not be were but your Lordships duly Enform'd in the Matter and That you may be so is the Scope and Service I pretend to in This most humble Dedication I Think My Lords it may be made appear upon a Modest Calculation that not so few as Two-Hundred-Thousand Seditious Copies have been Printed since the blessed Return of his Sacred Majesty which being Exposed with Freedome and Impunity cannot fail to be Bought up with Greediness To These may be added divers Millions of the Old Stock which are Contriv'd and Penn'd with Accurate Care and Cunning to Catch All Humours What This Glut of Poysonous Libels may Produce is submitted with Just Reverence to your Lordships Wisdom for I presume not to make a Judgement but barely to Offer an Information Wherein as the fairest Evidence of my Respect and Duty I shall be as short and plain as possibly the Case will bear The late War is in Terms Justified against the Late King Pag. 57. and His Majesty Charg'd as an Overthrower of Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties Several Counterfeit Prodigies Apply'd Pag. 58. as Portents of Revolts Persecutions Casting off Kings And in fine the Drift of the whole Book tends Chiefly to Predict the Dissolution of the English Monarchy and Episcopacy The Totall Extirpation of Bishops under the Title of Sons of Belial is Recommended Pag. 59. in Mr. Manton his Publication of Smectymnuus The King 's Supreme Authority in Matters Ecclesiastical is absolutely disclaym'd Pag. 60. and the People are Encouraged to Oppose the Imposers of Ceremonies as Adversaries of the Truth The Power of the Two Houses is Asserted in Coordination with the King Pag. 62. Harrison Carew Ibid. c. are call'd the Servants of Christ Their Cause Christ's Cause and the Murther of the late King is reported as the most Noble Pag. 63. and High Act of Justice that our Story can Parallel Iâ—id The King's Judges and Counsell together with the Jury that Sate upon John James are Charg'd with thirsting after His Blood Iâ—id His Majesty is Revil'd and Menaced for his Proclamation against Conventicles For Opposing These Insolencies and Defending the King's Rights His Cause and Government without ever receiving any Pretence to a Reply I have been Twice Libell'd by Mr. Edward Bagshaw as Cromwels Spy Pag. 34. and a Person Infamous both for Condition and Morality My Lords I dare not Beg but I do secretly Wish that he may be call'd to make it Good which I the rather do because the Latter of the Two was Tender'd to your Lordships as My Character But Principally for the Consequence For if it comes to That once That in a time of Peace a Man cannot be Loyall but at the Hazzard of his Life and Honour and that it becomes more Safe and Beneficial to be Guilty then to be Innocent I do mâ—st Dutyfully remit the Rest to your Lordships Humbly Beseeching You My Lords to receive This further Advertisement concerning Mr. Bagshaw He denies the King's Supremacy Pag. 11. and Animates the Subject against it Affirming That God has not Committed unto the Magistrate but to his Son the Government of His Church even in the Outward Polity That the Command renders a Thing in it self Innocent utterly Unlawful He makes the King an Usurper An Idolater Pag. 12. An Impious Pretender Pag. 14. He calls the Praelation of Bishops an undue and Anti-Christian Dignity He Inferrs His Majesty either no King Pag. 15. or no Christian. He is Peremptory Pag. 16. That the King is Singulis Minor and that the People may Depose him Fixum Ratumque habeatur Pag. 17. Populi Semper esse debere Supremam Majestatem Having exposed These Particulars with several of the Authours and Publishers of them Referring to the Pages of the Ensuing Discourse I shall leave before your Lordships Feet This Humble Testimony of my Desires to serve the King Wherein if I have done Amisse I Submit if Otherwise I have done but my Duty Which obliges me to Live and Dy with an Unspotted and Inviolable Faith toward his Sacred Majesty keeping my self also within Those Terms of Modesty and Veneration which may become My LORDS Your Lordships Most Obedient Servant Roger L'Estrange The Praeface I Have no Ambition to get my self a Name by a Dispute with Mr. Bagshaw and in effect This way of Wrangling is but a putting of it to the Question Which is the finer Fool the Plaintiff or the Defendent Yet in regard that in This Case the Publique and my Particular appear so Complicated that as I Suffer for That so That likewise is Wounded through Mee for 't is the King is Strook at in his Loyal Subjects and They are only Persecuted as the Bar betwixt Auâ—hority and Rebellion I hold it but a Modest and Discreet Justice not to divide in the Defence what Faction and Malice have united in the Scandal This being Resolv'd upon The Course I mean to take with Bagshaw's late Rhetorical Libell obtruded upon the World in form of a Letter to my Lord Chancellour is to Report him Word for Word and then to Examine First his Pretended Loyalty and after That his Bold and Scurrilous Defamations Pag. 10 11 12 16 17. For want of Softer Words I must make use of Schism Sedition Treason c. All which are prov'd against him under his own Hand Touching the Libellous part I leave it so clear that I defie his greatest Adorers to be my Judges The Greatness of His mind we must Imagine would never have stoop'd to so low an Ebbe of Baseness Pag. 46. as to have brought a Fiddle under his Cloke for a Recommendation to Oliver as he sayes L'Estrange did See now This Miserable Snake licking the very Dust at the Feet of Bradshaw Pag. 53. The Measure of his Conduct and Veracity may be taken from his Frequent and Ill-Menag'd Contradictions For the Purity of
would be unjust and of ill example In this Concession his Majesty only suspends the Strictness of the Law and Mr. Bagshaw peremptorily concludes against the Equity and Authority of it The King gives Mr. Bagshaw leave to forbear Ceremonies and Mr. Bagshaw denyes the King leave to Impose them The End of This Indulgence was for the Relief and Quiet of Tender Consciences and Mr. Bagshaw Imployes it to the perplexing and ensnaring of them In fine his Majesty applyes This Dispensation but to the Omitting of Ceremonies and Mr. Bagshaw extends it to the Damning and Forbidding of them See now the Condition of his Majesties Grace and Mercy in This Declaration exhibited We hope and Expect that all men will hence-forward forbear to bent any such Doctrine in the Pulpit Decl. Eccl. Asf. Pag. 19. or to endeavour to work in such maner upon the Affections of the People as may dispose them to an ill opinion of Us and the Government and to disturbe the Peace of the Kingdom c. No man shall be Disquieted or call'd in question for Differences of Opinion in matters of Religion Ibid. Pag. 5. which do not disturbe the Peace of the Kingdom c. Does it not dispose the People to think Ill of his Majesty and Government for Mr. Bagshaw to deny his Authority Royall in denying the Magistrates Power of Imposing To reproach him as an Impious pretender and to presage that â—e sâ—all be rooted up To charge him with Idolatry and Usurpation c. Can any Opinions be more hazzardous to the Publique Peace then Those that dissolve the very Order and Relation of Governmâ—nt teaching that the mere Command of a thing in it self Lawful renders the Magistrate Criminal and the Obedience Sinfull If the Publishing and Inculcating of Theâ—e Doctrines be not Dangerous I have no more to say But if it bee I am to seek for Mr. Bagshaw's Interest in the King 's Declaration which yet by his own Confession hâ—â— Indulged as much Liberty as any Sober-minded Christian can pretended to A little of his Kindness now to the Order of Bishops Letter of Animadversions Pag. 2. Ibid. Pag. 5. Mr. B. calls the Praelation of Bishops an Undue and as some think Antichristian Dignity A Bishop is but one Minister and ought not to silence his Fellow-Minister If by Arguments he can 't is well but not by Authority That is the Bishop of Wor'ster ought not to have Silenc'd the Bishop of Kidderminster Mr. Baxter Would it not hold thus The King is but one Man and ought not to Impose upon his Fellow-man This we shall shew by and by to be his Position as to the Civil Government I perceive Mr. B. has but mean thoughts of Prelates and Ceremonies What 's his Opinion of Churches When the Publique Duties are ended the Place is as Common I mean as to any Special Holyness as That Mount was when the Trumpet ceased from sounding E. B. Brief Treatise c. Pag. 23. Exod. 19.13 He thinks to save himself now with his Parenthesis but there 's no Comment upon his Oracles like his own Explication of himself This Gentleman being Catechist-Reader in Oxford reads his Lectures in the Church with his Hat on and being admonish'd of it as a thing very unusual and disallow'd he reads his next Lecture Uncovered and gives This Reason for what he had done before That he did not Idolise Fabriques ☞ but thought himself free to use any Posture in the Church which he might in his Chamber That is the Posture of a Tumbler or a Jack-Pudding for every man is Free to chuse his Posture Were it not a Spectacle to move Devotion to see a full Congregation and every man making a several Face in a several Posture Methinks That 's a strange Religion that can better digest an Antique in the Church then a Ceremony But Mr. Bagshaw is of so singular a Caprice that by Fits hee 'll talk a little odly even of God himself As we set Traps to catch Vermin E. B. Necessity and Use of Herefies Pag. 8. so God appoints Heresies to ensnare arrogant and sâ—lf-presuming or Viticus and Self-defiling men I suppose it sufficiently Prov'd that the Church of England has a sure Friend of Edward Bagshaw Student of Christ-church We are now to see what he sayes to the Civill Power No man more satisfy'd with the Present Government Pref. to the Great Quest. or that hath a more Loyal and Affectionate esteem for his Majesties Person and Prudence And in his Animadversions A Passionate Lover both of the Kings Person and Government Pag. 2. In his late Letter to my Lord Chancellour he professes to have not only a Loyal Pag. 3. but a most Affectionate esteem for his Majesties Person and Government Nay Ibid. so Innocently has he behav'd himself during our late Confusions that he has not done any one Publique Action which is not Capable of a fair and equitable Plea If Mr. Bagshaw can do as he sayes Mr. Bagshawes Loyalty let him shew a fair and equitâ—ble Plea for Affirming that there is no Monarchy but what is Unchristian That the Universality of the People may depose the Prince and for stating the Supreme Authority of England to be in the People All which is done in his Dissertatio Politica De Monarchiâ Absolutâ Printed in 1659. and Apply'd to the Republican Juncto as a Hint for a Common-wealth when all Honest men were endeavouring the Recovery of the King Monarchia Aâ—soluta est Christiano Illicita sayes he An Aâ—solute Monarchy is not a Government for Christians De Mon. Abs. Pag. 6. Ibid. Pag. 16. and for a Mixt Monarchy he sayes that there never either was or can be any such thing nec fuisse unquam aut esse pâ—sse by which Dilemma his Sacred Majesty is render'd either no King or no Christian. Now for a Pretty Position Ibid. P. 6. 7. Coercenda est omnis Impotens Dominatio quod in Imagine Dei Infimus quisque non minus ac ipse Princeps sit Creatus easdem secum in Pectore gestet Divinitatis Notas i. e. All Unruly ☞ and Domineering Power ought to be Curb'd for the Beggar bears the Image of God as well as the Prince Mr. Bagshaw should be Instructed to distinguish betwixt a Divine Impression Common without Distinction to Reasonable Nature and the Partâ—cular Dispensations of Providence in the Order and Regiment of Humane Societies Mr. Bagshaw may pretend to be made after God's Image but I can hardly take him for God's Vicegerent and here 's the Difference betwixt Infimus and Princeps In another place Ibid. Pag 9. Qui Potestate summâ praediti sunt impios poenis coercere Bonos Praemiis afficere debent quod nisi praestent non amplius Dei Ministri sunt sed sui nec digni retinere diutius istud Imperium quod tam male administrant Detrahere autem Indigno Magistratum etsi