I Have not as yet been convinced of the least mistake in writing those two Books, in the Title mentioned: tho' the Secta­ries and Malecontents almost dayly print their Sophisms and false Maxims, by which they would induce the credulous to a belief, that his Royal Highness is a Roman Catholick: But what they write, has no other Warrant than what proceeds from themselves; an Argument too inconsiderable to prevail a­gainst Truth, and as easily baffled, as the rest of their nonsensical Opinions. Neither have I received any probable contradiction, but instead of Arguments, have had bitter Railings and Revilings, and am my self e­steemed to be a Papist (though of no other Communion than that of the Church of England) by those who are most malitious against the Duke, for endeavouring to clear him of that aspersion, and for admonishing those that are Papists, to return to the Go­vernment [Page 2] of the King, and to be humbled for those of their Perswasion, who have made such bold attempts upon the Govern­ment; a Test that may easily be taken, and save them from the danger that may ensue, by reason of such wicked devices, which are not only sinful in themselves, but teach others (who watch every opportunity to invade the Government) to rebel; an example of which we lately had in Scotland, which put that Kingdom into a great Con­sternation, and was the occasion of the King's sending an Army under the Com­mand of the Duke of Monmouth, to quell that unnatural Rebellion. Neither do we want Examples at home, of the like na­ture, when Badges and Distinctions were given for the Parties to be known by; Traiterous Associations, framed Libels of the most scandalous nature dispersed, and the Government environ'd by those who hate and do all they can to destroy it: And we are at this time to bless God, for giving the King Wisdom and Courage to prevent an open Rebellion, that was so unluckily hatch'd, and so traiterously nourish'd, that [Page 3] it did, as it were, threaten and destroy at the same time, and made it manifest, that God was on our side, or it could not have been prevented.

Now since the Roman Catholicks have of late so much disorder'd our Govern­ment, by endeavouring to supplant it, and open'd a door by which other Sectaries and Enemies to the King have been let in, to trample upon the Flowers of the Crown, and to prophane our holy things, I did think my self obliged in Duty and Con­science, to print the Book call'd The Grand Inquest, &c. 1680. And the Book call'd The Royal Favourite Clear'd, &c. 1682. Wherein I do assert, that there has not been any reasonable Arguments offer'd, by which it may be prov'd, That his Royal Highness is a Roman Catholick: and therefore it must rationally be conjectured, that all the Re­proaches and Scandals that have been cast upon him, as such, were more to serve the wicked designs of his enemies upon the King and Government, than any real belief they had of his being a Papist: especially, since neither the Roman Catholick nor Fana­tick, [Page 4] have to this day one word to justifie themselves, in what they have so boldly and so vainly insinuated into the credulous Multitude.

Therefore in pursuance of this Discourse, I shall observe to you.

First, What they seem to aim at, who desire and wish, that his Royal Highness were a Papist.

Secondly, What they design, who would stigmatize the Duke with the name of Papist.

Thirdly, What they would be at, that only fear him to be so?

Fourthly, What they aim at, who cre­dit the Duke with their best belief, not­withstanding his many sufferings, by reason of the extream malice of wicked men.

First then, Those who wish the Duke a Papist, must at the same time express Zeal for God, wish the Conversion of Hereticks, and the good of the Land: But, that all this is only pretended, is plainly to be demonstrated, since the ways they go about to effect their designs, have been by Plots, dark Intrigues, Lyings, Perjuries, Mur­thers, [Page 5] Treasons; and God, nor can, nor will, require these things at their hands: There­fore it must be their wicked Mammon that incites them to it, that so they may regain their long wish'd for and ill gotten Lands, with many other unlawful and tyrannical Advantages, with which they did former­ly oppress these Nations, curb our Kings, and miserably drain the Purses of the Peo­ple, making St. Peter's Net a Drag to take Gold; not Souls; and his Key to un­lock the Door of their Treasure, not that of their Hearts; in fine, they have signa­lized themselves to the World, by the o­dious marks of Pride, Covetousness, and Letchery, which will be ever handed down to succeeding Ages, by the still mo­dern Examples of their lazy Monks, Friers, and the rest of that Idolatrous Crew: Therefore it must be a pretended, or at least, a misguided Zeal in them, who do believe▪ or endeavour to perswade the World, That his Royal Highness is a Papist; that so they may have a better colour to perform what they go about, and make his Innocence, Justice and Valour, a Cloak [Page 6] for their Wickedness, and as it were, sancti­fie their Crimes by counterfeiting his Name, as a Party to their Black and Hel­lish Contrivances. So fond are wicked men to have their Iniquity believed to be none, that if they can but pretend to have perswaded the just into their Opinion, even they themselves begin to think they have done no harm.

Secondly, What they design, who would stigmatize the Duke with the name of Pa­pist, is obvious in the Fanatick, who, con­joyn'd with the Papist, endeavour to ef­fect the same thing, tho' with different Ends. The Jesuit makes use of the Fa­natick, as the Ape did of the Cats Foot; only, with this difference, the Fanatick was willing to be made use of, though it were with the hazard of burning, hoping, at last, to deceive the cunning of him, who exposed him; and so the Jesuit, who had laid the Snare, was to be taken in his own Gin, together with what he most en­deavour'd to destroy (viz.) The present Go­vernment: And this Jack Presbyter zealously concluded would set Whiggery on Horse­back, [Page 7] make Kings Elective, or bring forth their great Diana a Common-wealth, whose practice is to imbrue their Hands in the Blood of Kings, Priests and Nobles, that they may once more enjoy their Dignities and Estates and secure to themselves, those Possessions by a more durable Tyranny. For that reason, like eager Hounds, they pursue the Duke, and are ready with like Numbers to vote him a Papist, tho' a Protestant `as to exclude him from the Succession, tho' Brother to the King; by which associating Principle they seem to resemble the Guise Faction, who, by the hand of Clement the Monk, murthered Hen­ry the Third of France, for being a Perse­cutor of the Roman Faith, tho' he lived and died a zealous Roman Catholick; as Davila does at large recite in his History of the Civil Wars of France. But what need we cross the Seas, when we have a Do­mestick and more recent Example, that is able to convince the worst of men, in the death of King Charles the First of ever Bles­ed Memory, who died a Martyr for the Protestant Religion? And yet by our Co­venanteers, [Page 8] (who may be said to be the Spawn of that Holy League) he was branded with the Name of Papist: Instances so pat and suitable to my purpose, that they can­not be passed over without a particular Remarque. In vain therefore do those persons, who would stigmatize the Duke with the Name of Papist, plead Statutes and Laws to strengthen their Pretensions, when Laws and Statutes will not speak or act according to their crooked and obscure Opinions: neither will their con­ceited Numbers be able to justifie them in the sight of God or Men.

Thirdly, What they would be at, who fear the Duke to be a Papist: Truly, it is a very hard matter to guess at the meaning of their Fears, unless, it be supposed like Foxes, they take their Ears for Horns, and there­fore will run with the Cornuted Company, thinking to find more safety from them, than under the Protection of the Noble Lion, who seem'd to have banish'd those only that bore Arms against him.

Will any believe the cunning Papist▪ the scandalous Fanatick, or the malicious [Page 9] discontented States-man? then let them cry, as they do, the Duke is a Papist, the King is Popishly affected, and so are the Mi­nistry and Gentry, and that Popery and Tyranny are coming in as a Torrent; but let these men consider, they ought to be esteemed the greatest Plague of a Nation, and to be most severely dealt with, who are such Weather-Cocks, that will turn with every Wind, and give credit to such discontented Parties, that never think they are doing their Duty, if they are not lam­pooning the Government, aspersing the King, the Royal Family, and their best Friends; nay more, associating and con­triving how to give Law to their Superi­ours; tearing and rending from the Prero­gative, what should support the Crown in its due Glory and Splendor, and keep them in their Allegiance.

Again, Have any received just Fears and Suspitions of the Duke's being a Papist? if they have, yet, still they are but Fears and Suspitions, and are to be corrected, if they will hearken to the King, who speaks o­therwise in his Speech to his Parliament, [Page 10] on the 6th. of March, in the 31st. year of his Reign; and to two Acts of Parliament, the one made 25. Car. 2. the other 30. Car 2. which likewise say otherways; so do the Scotch Clergy and Nation (who are as lit­tle addicted to Popery as England is) wit­ness the Letter from thence, directed to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, from Edenburgh the 9th. of March, 1682. So do our Universities, and so do all those that seek Peace and Truth: and whatever the Fears of these men are, yet 'tis to be hoped, that this Truth will still prevail, in spite of all its Opposers; and then those wretch­ed Creatures, that run screaming about, and know not what they would have, be­ing fill'd with Fears and Jealousies, proba­bly, may be some of them, that aim at a Ge­neral Pardon; and so render the late Plots (as much as in them lies) ridiculous, by such a Solicitation, wherein their own Fears are as demonstrable, as the others Crimes, and in the Croud, tho' guilty, they may pass a­way undiscerned, leaving the Taint upon those who remain squalling behind.

Fourthly, What they aim at, who credit [Page 3] the Duke with their best belief, notwith­standing his many sufferings, by reason of the unparalled malice of wicked men, must, I hope, at this time of the day, be esteem'd Generous, and extreamly for the establishment of Religion and Loyalty; and if their numbers be small, yet, that with the blessing of God, must be lookt up­on to exceed the Numbers of their Ene­mies; for, if God be for them, who can be against them?

And if the Duke do not appear publick­ly at our Churches, it must be thought to take off a Calumny, that otherwise would have been cast even upon the Church it self, by those, who have been so lately ripe for Rebellion, and would therefore have call'd our Clergy, Romish Priests; and our Ser­vice Book, the Mass, as they have call'd the Duke Roman Catholick; and this is plain, since they have already declared our Ministry and Gentry Popishly affected; and branded them with the ignominious Names of the Dead Weight, French Pen­sioners, and Betrayers of their King and Country.

[Page 12]And (speaking after the manner of Men) could they then have hearded the Duke a­mong the Clergy, who, like the blown Deer, was pitied, but could not be assisted by his Companions, these cruel and Blood-thirsty men, would have worri'd the whole Flock of Christ, and made it ere this, a Prey to the most Barbarous People that were ever seen upon the face of the Earth.

But (speaking after the manner of An­gels) Christ has said, his Church is built upon a Rock, and that it shall never be destroyed: And therefore, we ought not to trim the Business, who profess faith in Christ, and good-will towards men, lest it prove worse with us, who have enjoy­ed the Gospel above 1500 years, than with Peter, who curs'd and swore, and e­ven in the High Priest's Hall, deny'd his Master: or with those, who, to this day, usurp St. Peters Chair, yet, still lay un­der the Reproach of excluding the Faith, and making Good Works the only way to Heaven.

But, by the Wisdom of our Governors, the Measures of our implacable Enemies [Page 13] are broken: and (thanks be to God) there is now no danger of Spanish Pilgrims, French Invasions, Romish Priests, or Geneva Presby­ters: Nor of any that are so malitious and base, as to detract from the Honour of the King, and his Ministers of State, which gives me a Remarque of the Grandeur and Stability of our Government, when those who stand at the Helm, are able to with­stand (through Generosity and Courage) the Calumnies and Slanders of their Enemies; and by true Rules of Vertue, render them­selves, as it were, Tempest Proof.

Yet, to prevent the Inconveniencies that may arise hereafter, by the Ignorance of simple People, who of late run too much after State Quacks, upon the least motion of the Government, fearing it should lean to Popery or Tyranny: I say, when any such popular Distemper shall happen, and the Nation stand in absolute need of a Physici­an, I question not, but these several Ap­plications will be as well, if not better ap­proved of; since the nature of the Disease, which tends only to Faction and Sedition, will be so well known, that scarce one in [Page] [Page 6] the whole Colledge of our wise Physicians, but will easily apprehend it.

Thus I have endeavour'd to strengthen my former Impressions, with such farther Rea­sons, as I did not think fit to make use of in those Times, lest, by endeavouring to support, I might have contributed to the disadvantage of his Royal Highness, whose Wisdom seems to be like that of Noah, who, after the Flood began to abate, did not presently open the Gates of his Ark, but at a Window sent forth a Dove, that brought him back an Olive Branch, by which he had hopes the Deluge was re­tired into its proper place and boundary; and after that, he sent out a second, that never returned again; which gave him as­surance the Insurrection of the surly Waves was appeased: And sometime after that, he uncovered the Ark, and then the Hea­vens were clear, and the Earth, as when created, seem'd to rejoyce; and God spake to him to come forth, which he no sooner did, than immediately he was seen to be upon his Knees, praising God, and built an Altar, on which he sacrificed, and [Page 7] with which God was well pleased, and said in his heart, he would not curse the Ground any more for his sake.

And now lastly, for my self, who have undertaken these Discourses, under the hard­est circumstances imaginable (having none to encourage me but my own Observations, and those, when ever argued, opposed by the Multitude, with the greatest Heart­burnings and Malice, that misguided Zeal could invent) tho' Ignorance and Malice may sit upon, and censure this Treatise for a Time, yet I have sufficient hopes, God will put it forth (at one time or other) with the Comment of my honest meaning upon it, not tortured, and wire-drawn with false or Ignoramus Expositions: And in the mean time, I hope wise men will take me into their serious consideration, and conclude what I have wrote is my real Opinion, not biassed with Flattery, as some say, or clogg'd with hopes of Preferment, as others pre­tend; and then, what the Roman Catho­lick or Roundheaded Whigs shall deter­mine of me, whether as a Papist, for justi­fying of the Duke, or an ill manager of [Page 16] my Pen, I shall not matter either, or all of their Condemnations, since I see before me the whole frame of their Proceedings, to be as it were, but one grand Mistake, and their Counsels to be despised and rejected, like that of Achitophels; but as a man, I wish them not the same Fate, and as a Christian, I hope they may live to make amends, or at least, repent of their Contrivances, that so we may at last see our weather-beaten Government freed from those Storms and Tempest that were rea­dy to overwhelm it, and unanimously magnifie our God, who hath brought us into a safe Harbour, maugre all the pow­er of outragious and blood-thirsty men.

And now, having no more to say up­on this Subject, other, than that no man is infallible in his Opinion, I shall hum­bly beg, that I may be received by the kind Reader, with that candor, as every one would expect to be dealt with in the like nature. And (that every one laying his hand upon his Breast) would not obstinately disbelieve his Friend, when in his own Conscience he cannot find [Page 17] any thing to oppose him, even in his most secret thoughts.

Withal, I am not a little anxious, to think that these Discourses may seem pre­carious by some, as well as prejudicial by others, to the interest of his Royal High­ness; but it is impossible to please all, or to escape without censure in this detracting Age, tho' our Actions were regulated by the strict­est Reason. Yet what I have said, carries the face of so much Justice and Honesty, that I would not change my Opinion, with­out greater Demonstrations than I have yet had to the contrary: however, were I obli­ged to believe that the Duke is a Papist (which no man yet has sufficient grounds to think) I hope, I am so well satisfyed in the exercise of our Protestant Religion, that I would do every thing becoming an honest man and a good Christian; and then I am sure I should never do evil, that good might come of it; which Observation I recom­mend more particularly to those, who are so fond of the Bill of Exclusion.