[Page 31]THe story of Boetius being ended, we will now consi­der a little the silly malice of our Narrative-monger, or Dwarf in wit; Dwarfs every body knows are still great Tale­tellers in the mo [...]t Classic and Authentic Re­cords of Chivalry; I say, we will a little consider his silly malice, having acted here the part of some Witnesses (since the landing of Brute) who, to serve (as they thought) a prsent turn, swear not only what clashes and interferes with several branches of their for­mer Evidence, but what plainly ruins their whole project and de­sign.

Thus does this happy Writer make, by his foolish Illation, a Rod for himself and friends; For, were His R. Highness a Papist, and therefore to be prosecuted for deserting the Religion of His late Ancestors now established by [Page 32] Law: How can this same Writer, I say, with his Apostate Brethren, avoid ruine and destruction also? unless by the vile and damnable practice they use, even that of the Simonians, Adamites, and o­ther Old Troublers of Christian unity, who in former times com­plied, as the Spanish and Portugal Iews still do, with all Laws en­trenching on their Advantage, though never so opposite to their real Pro [...]ession, and Belief. Be­sides, this Doctri [...]e highly vindi­cates the Papists in the beginning of the Reformation, and even the worst of their Actions here in England, and what continually they are hitten in the teeth with; I mean Qu. Maries Tragical and Bloudy Scene. For, if every body that peacably and modestly differs from the Religion of a Nation out of conscience, must be presently deem'd a Iulian, and one that deserves not to breathe: why [Page 33] should the Squire and his turbu­lent Tribe blame the proceedure of that unhappy Princess, who only according to Law, Punish't those that had (in the Popish Di­alect) Apostatiz'd from the Reli­gion of their Ancestors; and from a Religion too warranted and au­thoriz'd (as the Queen verily thought) even by God and his Holy Word.

But our Author is not conten­ted with collaterally blanching and defending in this manner Popery; but quotes even the Preamble of an Act then made, which says; J [...]lian's Life, p. 96. ‘That the Prote­stants, did out of their Malici­ous Stomacks Pray against the Queen's Majesty, That God would turn her Heart from Ido­latry to the true Faith, or shor­ten her days, or take her quick­ly out of the Way. A Prayer (as the Act further urges) ne­ver heard of, or read to have [Page 34] been us'd by any good Christian, against any Prince, tho a Pa­gan or an Infidel.’ Now what can Papists say more for them­selves? Nay, do's not their V [...]d. Re­ply, p. 195 Apologist urge this very unruly proceedure of the [...]ro [...]stants, as the Cause (among such other pieces of Zeal) that made the Queen so severe, and consequent­ly recal that Toleration, which she had granted during the two first years of her Reign. Nor has our Religious ESQVIRE any other inference from this Villai­nous Citation, but to tell us to this effect; Jul [...]a [...]'s Life, p. 98 That the Popish Parliament was blinded, and mis­taken; The Primit [...]ve Christians not being for If's and Ands, but for IVLIAN's downright Destru­ction. So that first here is a Scan­dal and a Lie too cast upon Chri­stianity in general; for no Man [...]ver publickly Pray'd for the Emperours Death, but only re­peated [Page 35] the Psalms against Idols and Idol-makers, desiring God to Iudge his own Cause, to remember his Vine, the Wild Boar, &c. as all sorts of Iews and [...]hristians do, when they suffer Persecution and Trouble. And secondly, Here is a vindication of Bonner, and the Laws then in being; so that he willfully Stab's FOX under the fifth Rib, and with one [...]uff Blow's up his friend CARE and all his Works: For whereas a Papist (when prest with that Bloodshed) used Commonly to say to his Antagonists; Pray Sirs break not my head with Stories of Co [...]ks and Bulls, I a [...]prove not the Transactions you mention, were all true that is Writen; Now we shall have the very same Papist (after reading our wise SQUIR [...]) make this pert addi [...]ion, to his former Harangue; But Gentle­men, If you will have me further speak, I refer my self to the Tale-Teller [Page 36] and the worst of his Gang, and let them tell you, whither any Magistrate in England would spare me, or any good Man pity my Sufferings, Should I Pray to God, To make the King a Papist, or else to take him presently out of the World.

In the same manner has Old Hickeringili (that Babe of Grace, that Neophyte, or young Convert) in the very last Leaf of his Black Nonconformist (to have it the more in view and remember'd) belsh't out the ranckestand most dangerous Notion, that ever Po­pery vented against the Protestant Religion; just as if F. Parsons or some other Notable Iesuit had had the guidance of his very Pen. His words are these: Black Non-Conf. Pos [...]scrip [...]. ‘Well, this I'll say for the Pope, and a fig for him; (for we ought to give the Devil his due, much more the Arch-Bishop of all Bi­shops, the Pope.) I say, give him [Page 37] his due, he builds the fabric of his Ecclesiastical policy rationally, if the foundation were true; But Protestants do not, that confess Themselves and their Churches fal­lible and f [...]il, as does the Church of England in her 19 ^th. Article.’

Now, what is the plain En­glish of all this? Is not his inten­tion first to make all our Prelates Pen [...]ioners to the Pope, and Birds of a feather? So that, by still ad­ding to the Odium, (and the an­nual Procession of the Bishops with his Holyness's Pageant was design'd for it) he hopes the True Protestants will be no longer con­tented with the bare wounding my Lord of Chichester's Coach-hor­ses (as they have done) but burn the whole Hierarchy, when their Head, the ARCH-BISHOP of all BISHOPS, as he maliciously stiles him, is next condemn'd to a Bone­fire at Temple-Bar, or in Smith­field.

[Page 38]In the next place, how will a Papist chuckle and crow at the asse [...]ion; it being what the Bel­larmines, the Baronius's, the Ig­natians, and the rest of their grea­test Hect [...]rs have ever aim'd at. F [...] on [...]he one side, the Church of England is render'd by him to be a pitiful, silly thing, and no more to be heeded or minded, than an old woman's chat, or tattle; and on the other side, the Pope, and his [...]reatures, are applauded as excellent Architects, rational in their fabric, and in fine what not? only, out of fo [...]m sake, (for other­wise he would be hang'd for a down-right Papist) he doubts, for­sooth, whether the foundation be so firm and solid as it should be. So that still (without the trouble of breaking ground, and intrench­ing.) he gives a subtle Priest the Counterscarp at a dash; I mean, he puts him (without more ado, up­on the desirable and [...]ushious To­pic [Page 39] of the CHURCH, a Notion, which he continually dreams on, and is no sooner started, but he runs division without end; as the famous Whitaker hints to the Iesuit Campian in these words: Whit. cont. Durae­um, p. 246 Catholici vestri turbulentis alia­rum disputationum procellis jactati, in isto Ecclesiae Portu libenter ac­quiescunt. This is the Recipe which every Papist makes so many brags of; which he offers to the Rich, and to the Poor; to the Scholar, and to the Fool. This is the Hook with which he catches your Bristows, your Bellassis, your Berkshires, and the rest of them; and this is the Bait which they lay for the great Dutchess, as well as for the low and hum­ble Chamber-maid.

Is not then this Conventicler (for I'll never own him a Minister of the Gospel) a rare Champion of the Reformed Religion, that shoots thus hand over head among them [Page 40] he calls Protestants, even without any caution, or pre-arming them? But what will not blind malice do? or what will not a mad-man ven­ture, who dares not only (as may be seen all along in his Scandalum magnatum) equal himself (tho' a mean Parson) to a Bishop of London; but represents himself so, that any body (that knows nothing but what the Libel says) must take him for a far better man than the Earl of Northampton's Son; a Fa­mily not only Illustrious for the rank it has in the Catalogue of Peers, and of Note, as being a Compton: but to be honour'd & esteem'd for the signal Loyalty of a Father, for those faithful and e­minent Sons; & spes crescentis Iuli, for the hopes of a Grand-son, that may perchance out-vie that Noble and Great Subject, his Great-grand-father.

Enough then of Hickeringill, an honest man one may swear [Page 41] when, upon a Heady pique, he could presently herd himself with a Race of Animals, made blacker than [...]iends in his own vid. that Sermon. Curse ye Meroz; Enough, I say, now of honest Hick, who has yet this excuse left for himself and Mr. Iulian, that several True Prote­stants, long before them, have, in their very Hue's and Cry's against Popery, zealously taught their Flock the horridest Tenets which they brand any of the Red-letter'd Gallants with; as may be seen at large in the late King's Scotch-Declaration. vid. that large folio Declarat

Having therefore done with JULIAN's Life, and being come now to the Section of passive O­bedience: how can I with good manners pass by this Aphorism of that Primitive Saint, the True Pro­testant Mr. Goodman, in his very Pag. 52 Treatise Of Obedience; For there he tells us in express terms, That altho' Popes, for sundry Enor­mities, [Page 42] have deposed Kings by un­law [...]ul Authority; the reason yet that moved them so to do, was Ho­nest, Iust, and meet to be received and executed by the body of every Commonwealth Is not this an ex­cellent way of destroying Babylon? And are not Papists like to repent, and be asham'd of the Principles and Actions laid to their charge, if this Puritan Divinity be true? But Mr. Iulian has out gone all his bold Predecessors many a fur­long; for he dares not only call St. Gregory's counsel of Prayers and Tears (in time of Persecu­tion) Julian's l [...]fe, page 95. Treason: but spends se­veral pages against this following position; ibid. pag 85. That the Gospel is a suffering Doctrine, and so far from being prejudicial to Caesar' s Autho­rity, that it makes him the Minister of God; and commands all its Professors to give him, and all that are in Authority under him, their dues; and rather to die, than re­sist [Page 43] him by force. To which he an­swers, That, at this rate, under a P [...]pish Successor, the Lives of all Protestants shall ly at the Mercy of any Iustice of Peace; And then he runs on in his old gibbe [...]is [...], to the very end of the Chapter.

'Tis n [...]t my intention (as I mentio [...]ed in the beginning) to answer him in all particulars, for that has been amply and excel­lently done already; only now & then I mmst take leave to shew you the Devil by his Claw, or clove [...] foot, and consequently to let you see what a TRUE PRO­TESTANT is; to wit, One that cares not what he grants or what he deny's, so it conduces (in his poor Iudgment) to his private design; which is the destruction of the Mo­narchy. This shall make him therefore to paint JULIAN a Cherubin, or at least a Lamb, or very moderate Prince; on the [Page 44] other side to describe the Primitive Christians (especially the most fam'd for Learning and [...]iet [...]) to be a Company or Legion of The­bean Coxcombs, or else more Factious and Rebellious than the Fallen Angels; This shall oblige him also to furnish the Papists (as has been shew'd) with Arms both Defencive and Offencive; ane this shall cause him, like a true Huntsman, to let the Hare (which with great eagerness and Crys he has long persu'd) get home to her Forme, that he may have (at a seasonable and Critical time) the advantage of another chase [...] And truely seeing I am talking of JULIAN, and of a True Prote­stant, I must not pass by the Hu­gonet BLONDEL, who (to con­fute forsooth Purgatory, as his Adversary V [...] Cra [...]se [...] against B [...]ondel. Crasset shows) decry's the famous and long celebrated Prophesies of the SYBYLS as forged, making the most Ancient [Page 45] Christians the Forgers, tho JU­LIAN himself, who sought all manner of means to disparage Christianity, never question'd the Books, nor taxt its professors with any Cheat.

But now before I end with JULIAN, I must tell my Reader, that the [...] Popish Writers have had the start of this his SQUIRE; for as he draws inferences from his Master against them, with by-blows (home to purpose) against the Church of England; so they have their Remarks too upon this famous Man, not very ad­vantageous I'l assure you to true Protestants. For whosoever con­sults Gualterus, a Iesuit eminent for History, he shall find the four fol­lowing, and only Observations up­on that Apostate; And by the way I must add this, that his drift all along is to make the Cal­vinian Doctrine to agree ad amussim, even to a hair with [Page 46] some old condemn'd Heretic or Infidel.

His first Note is, That Tabula Chron. p. 300. IVLI­AN was a Monk (for, you must know for his Security, and to a­voyd Suspicion he became one) and presently with his Coul, He left Christi [...]nity also. so that thus we may see, that SAINTS, who for their profit, and to serve a turn, can (contrary to their Iudgement) exteriourly comply with this or that Religion, will at the first advantageous opportuni­ty, not barely leave their Coul, that is to say, their Profession, but shake hands as we see (if it be more convenient for them) with Christianity, and all Mora­lity too. His Second observa [...]ion is; 2 That as after IVLIAN's A­postasie, He made himsely High Priest; so our Henry the VIII. af­ter his abandoning Popery, would be deem'd Head of the Church, a power his Successors (as he tells [Page 47] us) still assume. Here then we find our Iesuit and a true Protestant (for all their noise and quarrel) to go hand in hand; the Presbyterians and other Se­ctaries being as eager forsooth against the Supremacy as a Papist; Nor has Mr. Calvin, nor Mr. Luther been less Satyrical and Touchy in that Point, than the great Guy of Warwick, the migh­ty Bellarmin himself. 3 and 4. His third and fourth Observations are, upon JULIAN's Calvinistical proceedure in pulling down Crosses, and de­stroying our SAVIOURS's [...]ffigies, even that miraculous Statue ( men­tion'd by Eusebius) which the [...]o­man that had the Issue of Bloud erected in his memory. Now how exactly the English JULIANS have imitated their Ancestors herein; We who have seen the late War, and felt the Plagues which accompany'd it, can to their eternal Honour abundantly Witness.

[Page 48]Nay, neither must, nor can we forget, how godly Sir W. Waller (a man Loyal in his Father, Loyal in Himself, and a great hater of Beads, (especially those that look like Pearl) publicly burnt the ve­ry Picture of Christ in the Palace yard, to the horrour of all good Protestants, the real, and not preten­ded, Children of the Church of Eng­land. Nor are we to wonder, that those who approv'd or gave a helping hand to such an action, should afterwards cut and slash His Royal Highness's Picture, or make so many desperate offers even at the [...]rown and Honour of the King Himself.

Having done with this second Section (which shows us not only the Obedient Principles of Mr. Iu­lian and his Fellows, but how still they promote Popery, by thei [...] Arguments, Parallels, and In [...]e­rences) we will now hasten to the Third and last, tho' he cannot be [Page 49] but Victorious there, especially when I my self must already sing him an Io Poean.

The Argument of the said Se­ction is, a Comparison between Po­pery and Paganism; and so let it be; Yet in Justice I must inform my Reader, that we are not one whit beholding to the Pilfering Squire for the Simile, seeing the Nation has had it long ago from Vid. His Survey of Popery. Dr. Sutcliffe, and many a grave Retailer since. In the next place, had I the faculty of Squabling; for I confess and declare— Timeo Danaos & dona ferentes; I fear light it self, when 'tis convey'd to me by a Par [...]y, who under the shelter of the deepest Execrations and Oaths, and by the Treache­rous Stile of HAILE SOVE­RAIGN, Your most Dutiful, your most Obedient, and most Loyal Subjects, can lay hold on their Kings Sword or Milita, th [...]n Seise his Royal Person, and lastly [Page 50] Cut his Throat; I say had I a Squa­bling faculty (and such Mounte­banks afford sufficient matter) my Tongue and Hands are tied, pro­fessing still (as I did in the be­ginning) That I heartily pitie all the Errors of the Papists, and will never desend them therein; Tho' for their Loyalty, I think them in general very Eminent, and e­specially those Gallant Men I knew, during the late Rebellion. Let then Paganism, Calvino-T [...]rs [...]ismus proves a true Prote­stant a Turk. TUR­CISM and all the [...]alse Doctrines of Popery perish together; yet this must not hinder me from telling the SQUIRE to his Face, That 'tis better be a Papist then a true Protestant, for several rea­sons, besides the formentioned brand of Mahometism. Therefore see­ing many of the Cabal have made mighty Complaints, and been ex­treamly angry forsooth with the Church of England for this Assertion, I think it very fit to ex­plain [Page 51] and set down what She and her Loyal Children mean by it.

But before I come to particu­lars, I must premise this; That no body (I suppose thinks) un­less we take Sectaries in a Lump, and together, but that the TRUE PROTESTANT, and a GOOD ONE, (I mean a Reform'd Dis­senter, and a Church of England Man) agree in more points of Faith, or differ openly in fewer, then do a good Protestant, and a Papist; from whence arises the fallacie and surprise; that seing this is so, How a good Protestant can assert a thing which puts him at such a Distance with a Presby­terian, Independent, and the rest of the Godly Iuncto.

I answer, that Iudaism and Gentilism differ'd in far more particulars from an Othodox Christian, than He from any of the first Hereties; Yet many of the Faithful Beleevers (in those [Page 52] times, and why not since) had rather been Iews or Gentils ( as more excusable at the last day) than Ebionits, Cerinthians, or e [...]pecially Nicolaitans, so dete­sted by God in the Rev. 2. 15 Apocalips. And here be pleased to remem­ber, that a Man has no more in­clina [...]ion to Popery, by making this declaration, than he has to be SHOT, because he had rather die so, than be HANG'D. This is the Scandal which the true Saints asperse a rational Axiom with; and I am sure in the late Rebellion both Presbyterians and Independents did often use it a­gainst each other, whilst they were discovering their mutual Nakedness and Villa [...]ies. Besides [...]ince every good Protestant, that stands in their way is Blackned by them with the odious name of Papist; what can be more pertinently urg'd (after he has given the Calumniators the lie by [Page 53] [...]requenting the Church and Sa­craments) than by thus asserting, That 'tis yet better be a Papist, than a Sectary or true Protestant (a NICKNAME of their own giving) for these, and a thou­sand other Reasons.

I. What Man had not rather (of the two) be of a Religion, which was once true according to the opinion of very good Prote­stants (which seems to be ground­ed on St. Paul's Congratulati­on, That the Rom. 1.8. Roman Faith was spoken of throughout the World) than of one that has been always false and troublesom. And if a Man must believe (to Sodder up the breaks and contradictions.) That all our opposit Sects (by uniting against the Government) have a saving Faith; He will I fear at his Deat [...] say, Sit Anima mea cum Philosophis; I wish my Sou [...] then, with Socrates, Plato, S [...]neca, and such like Philoso­phers.

[Page 54]II. The Church of Rome (accor­ding to all good Protestants too) is a true Church, tho corrupt and diseas'd; for as a King remains a true one, notwithstand his ill administration; and a Man is still a Man tho Leprous, so this Church (they tell us) falls not by her [...]rrors from being a Church, or still having Iurisdiction. This made King Iames to call the Pope Vid. His work, pag. 305. Patriarch of the West; and this is the reason why the Priesthood and Ordination of that See re­mains good here; and why the Church of England draws thence her Succession and Descent; a thing zealously insisted upon by her learned Members, and parti­cularly by the smart and inquisi­tive Mr. Mason. Now the Pres­byterian Assembly (and much more that of the other Dissenters) is no Church at all, having no Bishop, and therefore no Ordination or Sacraments: Nay the Church of [Page 55] England in her Vid. Ro­gers, p. 86. 19th. Article defines the true Church to be, A Congregation of Faithful Men that have the Sacraments duly admi­nistred; So that the wilful loos­ing this Blessing is a Curse of the first Magnitude, depriving them that incurre it, of the very Candle­stick, at least of the inestimable benefit of our Lords Supper, which was instituted for our Re­freshment and Strength, and for the remembrance of his Passion till he comes.

III. What good Protestant would not sooner be of a Religi­on which converted us from Pa­ganism, and left (as Brit. p. 163. Cambden says) Many Monuments of Piety and Devotion, to the Honour of God, and the propagation of the Christian Faith; (And among these may be nam'd Churches, Bishoprics, Deaneries, Canonries, Colledges, &c.) I say what good Protestant would not prefer such [Page 56] a Religion to One which (instead of advancing the Christian Wor­ship) has not only put us in con­stant broils, but profan'd and pull'd down the very Churches themselves; and which de fa [...]to gobbled up and swallowed (without the least stop or Keck­ing) the Lands of the Prelates, and the other Ecclesiastical Go­vernours? Nor would the Vni­versities have stood two years longer, had not God by a Miracle restor'd His Majesty.

IV. To come even to down right Popery, and their most [...]ightful Opinions; What good [...]r [...]testant would not rather with a Lutheran and a Papist believe (if Will and Choice can make a Man believe) That Christ is cor­porally present after Consecration, than as Sectaries do, That the outward part or sign of the Sacra­ment is still meer Bread & Wine; a Tenet wholly opposit to our [Page 57] very first Rudiments in Religion; for the public Catechism in the Common Prayer, declares and tells us, * That the Body and Bloud of Christ are verily and in­deed taken and received by the [...]aithful in the Lords Supper.

V. Who had not rather Com­municate under one Kind, than not at all; for several of the true Protestants never do: Nay, in their very expressions they call the SACRAMENTS by the name of Beggerly Elements, and Formalities beneath the Sain [...]s and Regenerate.

VI. Who would not rather say AMEN to Prayers in the China or Coptic Languages, where he is sure that the Bishops and other pious and wise Governours of the Church fram'd them, than to the extemporary Vociferati­ons of every Enthusiast; to whom (as long experience has show'd us) Tautologie and Nonsence are [Page 58] Essential; And more especially when Sedition (we know) is their Aime, and Blasphemy an usual Adjunct.

VII. Who will not deeme it a less and a more pardonable error, To desire the Prayers of a good fel­low Creature, who (as it chances) hears not our Requests; and to wish also a happy Voyage, and the speedy getting home of a friend, who is already (it seems) at his Iourney's End (for thus in effect lyes the Insignificancy of Invoca­ting Saints, and of Suffrages for the Dead) than in the first place (omi [...]ting the many horrid Opi­nions of other Sects) to deny with Vid. [...]ez. Act. [...]. BEZA, and his Desciples the PRESBYTERIANS, Christ's descent into Hell, one of the Tri­umphant Victories of his Death; And secondly to affirm His not d [...]ing for all [...] a Doctrine that (besides the Blackness of it) makes so many of their Hypocon­driacal [Page 59] Followers (commonly the quietest and best meaning Peo­ple of the Rout) to Hang them­selves, and so ensure their Dam­nation out of meer fear of being Damn'd [...]

And here again I must desire my Reader to remember what I have now said, dos by no means prove any Popish opinion true, but only that the Phanatical Doctrine is worse, and certainly what follows will yet more evi­dently make it appear.

VIII. 'Tis better be under the lash of one spiritual Superiour, than Ten thousand Popes; Presbytery making every pragmatical Mini­ster worse in some respects than a Hildebrand, or any of his angry Successors; For, as to a private man (unless he be like Wickliff, Oldcastle, and the like, very e­minent and remarkable) he will hardly or never be taken notice of by the Court of Rome, and its [Page 60] great Officers; whereas, under Calvin's Iron Rod, no youthful Man shall [...]e merry; no body mus [...] so much as dance; no Abi­gal or Handmaid shall cramp Sir Roger with the Book of Martyrs, or play little tricks with his Re­verend Cloak, or wilfully fail per­chance in well starching his mystical band, but will be presently sent headlong to the Devil, or forc'd to a Penance harder (it may be) in their opinion, than going half way to him. Then, for great Monarchs, and great Governours, let any man judge, whether it be not first more honourable for them to contend with a Foreign Bishop and Prince, than with an Assembly of their meanest Sub­jects, both in Quality and Estate. But in the next place, when we come to consider the peril of their sacred Persons, there is no man­ner of equality in the matter; for there are even Laws in every [Page 61] Popish Kingdom against the Popes Bulls, Sentences, and the like: and the entrance of his Legats and Envoys may be legally hin­der'd; Nay, the very Decrees of his Councils (as we see by those of Trent) are receiv'd and unre­ceiv'd as Princes order. Besides this, the stout ones have Imprison'd ruffling Popes; as did the Empe­rour Charles V. and Philip the Fair of France. Others have laugh'd at his Holiness's anger, and beat­en him with his own Weapons; that is to say, have oppos'd him with the Bishops and Clergy. Thus dealt the Venetians with Paul V. and thus serv'd this French King the late Alexander VII. and espe­cially, the present Innocent XI. whom the Gallican Church has so notably baited. Our Will. Rufus, our Henry I [...] our Edw. I. and se­veral other of our Kings, (and reckon'd also good Sons of the Church) have disputed, and got [Page 62] the point of the Pope; and who­soever reads the story of Hen. II. and King Iohn, will find, [...]hat they had done the like, had they not been altogether inconstan [...] and irresolute. Now, under the Presbyterian Yoak, what Prince ever contended with those Ty­rants, without the utmost shame and loss; for these AEgyptian Taskmasters being at home, and not only knowing their own strength, but (like skilful Knight [...]rrants [...] the defects of their Adver­saries Armour, they never strike but the Blow proves deadly, their greatest mercy being to make their [...]rince sit publicly in the Stool of Repentance; nor must their Synodical Ordinances be disputed or disobey'd by any Governour whatsoever. These and the like vexations made King Iames (who understood the Party fully) so often to re­peat that true and witty Apothegm [Page 63] No Bishop no King; as also be so severe with them in his Basili­con Doron, as to incite even his hopeful Heir, the great Prince Henry against them.

IX. Let us now come to the Deposing Doctrine; and whoso­ever reads but Knox, Bucanan, Goodman, Bishop Bancro [...]ts dan­gerous Positions, the Disse [...]ters sayings &c. (all writen within the four Seas) Must needs aver and say that no Imp of Hell has ever yet out done them on this Sub­ject. Then for the Practice, DOCTOR HEYLIN's History of Presbyterians (without the pains of searching and turning over Volumns) plainly shows, That the proportion between the Ro­man and Calvinian Heros, in this dispute (and more especially if we consider the extent of Iuris­diction, and the age of them) is like the Tyber to the Mediterra­nean; nor are the Sain [...]s ever [Page 64] contented with the bare depo­sing of a Governour, but like Turks persue the whole Line, and which is more are never quiet till they have alter'd the very Government also. But what can a man think, when we add this aggrevation; that not only Eng­lish Papists have it seems writen several Treatises against the Power of Deposing Kings, but even in Popish Countries, the Santarelluses, the Marianas, the Schopiuses, the Bellarmins, the Suarezes, the Becanuses, and o­ther Books haue been publickly Condemn'd or Burnt, as the Vid. Com­pend. p 75. Pope­lings themselves make appear; and which is yet much further, the very Priests and Supporters of the Triple Crown have this very year in France (as our News Books publish) damn'd the said Opinion to the pit of Hell; a thing never yet done by any one Pres­byterian Author that I know of [Page 65] (tho Justi [...]ied by Thousands) and much further from having been openly censur'd in any of their Convocations or Assemblies. Nay our Goodmanites and Cargilites will bitterly Exclaime at the Do­ctrine as Antichristian in the Pope, and yet die with it in their Mouths, and own it with their last breath as an Article of Faith. Nay how have the party even in London labour'd and sweated like so many Cyclopses in their Caves and secret Dens; and at last (thinking themselves strong and irresistible) how openly have they declar'd, with the im­pudence of Prostitutes, For the putting by the Heir of the Crown (the Prelude of degrading our present Sovereign) and this not­withstanding his often hazarding his Royal Person in defence of his King and Countrey.

'Tis out of the hatred to Mo­narchy, and not out of the least [Page 66] fear or apprehension of Religion, that moves them to this fury; for (as most of our notedst Writers of the times remark) no true or pre­tended Authority since the Refor­mation winkt more at Papists, than the loud Criers against Popery, as soon as they got into the Sad­dle, or would have sooner given them Toleration, had not the said Papists been such known and desperate Enemies to a Rep [...]b­lick.

But further, What Man in England of the least understand­ing or Moment, that did not as much know the Duke's Religion since the year 74, as since that of 78. Yet till Oates's Information or Discovery (for then the whole gang were Cock a Hoop) how did the considerablest of the harmless Lambs still run to that compassionat Prince for favours? Did not Dr. Owen and the chief of their respective Levites, and [Page 67] in fine all the eminent Men (as well Pastors as Sheep) that found themselves agriev'd, make appli­cations to him, tho the possibili­ty of his Succession (against which none of them exclaim'd, till they could stand on their own Legs) had then the same fatality and inconvenience atten­ded it, as at present. Nay the PLOT should raise in any Man (that do's not effectively deny it) a higher esteem and admira­tion of this Great Man than be­fore; seeing Oates and Bedlo have both Sworn, That the Con­spirators ever dreaded his know­ledge of their Designs; notwith­standing it tended on the one hand to the Establishment of his now suppos'd Religion, and on the other, to the exal [...]ing him to the Crown it self.

But the partiality of the Saints (when any thing crosses, as they think, their purpose) will not [Page 68] only damn BEDLG, but OATES too, and all his Family and Abet­tors; for thus they serv'd DUG­DALE, tho' not long before he had been so highly vouch'd [...] Oath by their Martyr COLLEGE of famous memory.

Thus too TURBER VIL was u­sed, whō was so serviceable, that he even carried away the Bell from his elder Brethren, in the Tryal of my L. Stafford. Thus it has also far'd with SMITH, a Man once honour'd with several Elogi­ums; and among othe [...]s, with that of his great Le [...]rning, by reason of his Narrative, which (like Affrica­nus, Asi [...]ticus, &c.) gave even lustre and distinction to his NAME; but now this very fa­mous piece (as an addition to his Misfortunes) is declar'd and con­fess'd by a True Vid. No. Protestant Plo [...] fi [...] st part, p. 31. Protestant to be written by a PHANATIC. But who knows, (to the honour of the Phanatical Tribe) but they [Page 69] have been the Writers and Inven­ters too of all the NARRA­TIVES? and certainly, that hor­rid imposition on the People of BEDLO's Narrative of the Fires, does abundantly confirm us; CARE being the Author, and three or four Tender-conscienc'd BOOKSELLERS the Promoters, as the All-discovering OBSER­VATOR has most fully prov'd.

But of all the scrupulous and consciencious Witnesses, I must needs confess none have been so stigmatiz'd, and hardly used, as the IRISH; for the Godly have even made the Testimony of all the Natives of that Kingdom Pro­verbial; and yet, Who but They brought these poor Men upon the Stage? Who but They fed them with the fat things, and with the very Grapes of Canaan, till at last they put their Teeth on edge? and Who but They were the common Vouchers and Com­purgators [Page 70] for their Manners, and the learned Heralds and Anti­quaries [...]o prove their great Des­cent and Quality? Yet now, how many mean Villains, Scoundrels, Beggers, Papists, Tories, Bog-trot­ters, not to be credited by any Chri­stian, &c. were they call'd, after they once appear'd against the Brethren? Nay, so illuminated were all the True Pro [...]estants on a sudden, that, notwithstanding the Oaths of seven or eight of these Teigues, upon whose Testi­mony the Parliament voted an IRISH PLOT; and, notwithstan­ding half as many English-men, who had (with the general ap­plause of the Saints) so illus [...]rated and made evident the English Plot, that several were Hang'd and Executed upon their Oaths; and, notwithstanding also a pretty Paper, declar'd Treason by the four INNS of COURT, and by the Loyal Addresses of most of [Page 71] the NATION: they brought in the Bill IGNORAMUS, though some of the Iury were of such tender consciences, (a thing that cannot be too often remembred, and which our Chronicles will never forget) they could Indict, (and th [...] Bill was also found!) no meaner a Person than the Earl of Danby, upon the Account of one single man's Accusation, who was then actually at the Bar for Treason, and whose Evi­dence plainly tended to his own security and advantage.

But who dares or can censure a Iury-man's Conscience, say they, and their Apologists? I answer, a MONSTER that has no Rea­son, no Principle, but Will; that can think any thing a Sin, which runs counter to his Aim; and yet, to promote it, shall (without scruple) do the same thing, and a thou [...]and times worse. For were not Sir G. WAKEMAN's IVRY [Page 72] Middlesex [...]Gentlemen, and Pro­testants of Account and Estates? And was it not proved to them in open Court, That CORKER was never President of the Benedictins, contrary to Oa [...]es's positive Oath? with many o [...]her by particulars, as ma [...] be seen in the printed vid. Si [...]. Wa [...]e [...]'s Tryal. p. 75 Tryal. But besides this, did not Sir Philip Lloyd declare, That the said Oates, before the Coun­ci [...] (when Sir George was first ac­cused by him,) call'd upon God, and with lifted-up hands, (being prest to a positive Accusation by the Board) cry'd, ib. p. 55. That he knevv n [...]thing m [...]re against him, than vvhat he [...] already accused him of; which was only about some [...]-says from the Iesuits. Yet, for [...] and Sir Philip's being [...] M [...]n of Quality; nay, a Man [...] [...] Co [...] ­ [...]. Pap [...]s [...] rightly urges) [...] not for his head assert th [...] [...]hing [...] well knowing, [...] [...]ouncel, and my LORD [Page 73] SHAFTSB. their then President, would not countenance a Lie; I say, notwithstanding all these cir­cumstances, that JURY was so calumniated by all True Prote­stants, that One of them (I re­member) coming upon the CHANGE next day, was houted at, and shun'd as if he had been in­fected, or the most infamous man a­live. Nor are their Tongues and Pe [...]s yet quiet in that Affair; and [...]s for Sir Philip, they have thirst­ [...]d for his very Bloud ever since.

But to proceed a little further upon the same Key; what At­tempts have the Tender Conscien­ces made upon His Royal High­ness's very Honour and Life! For first, tho' Oates and Bedlo (as I said before) freed that excellent Prince from any Conspiracy a­gainst the King or his Crown; yet no sooner did Dangerfield appear, with that most impossible story, That three of the Imprison'd [Page 74] Lords, when they had already smarted for their supposed Credu­lity, when they had several Popish younger Brothers at hand, and Partizans (to be sure) in any Plo [...] of Theirs; and when they well saw what Rewards and Encou­ragements all the Discoverers re­ceived, should yet take a common Rogue, a meer Stranger, out of Newgate, to Kill the King. I say, no sooner did this Fellow appear with his impossible story (and tho' afterwards he was prov'd (in the Tryal where he was concerned) the greatest Recorded Villain that has been heard of, and false also in the main particulars of his A­verments; and, which is more, a Forger of an prov'd by Justice Fo­ster in Councel. Affidavit even against His Highness;) but the whole Party toil'd like Bulls to have him received for a good Witness; which would have cer­tainly succeeded, had not the Peers utterly rejected it, as abo­minable. [Page 75] Nay, to shew further how tender a thing a True Prote­stant Conscience is! they asserted in Print, vid. that Pamphlet. That Dangerfield' s Te­stimony ( tho' he were prov'd Per­jur'd) was te be taken against a Papist; and all this passion and heat only to Murther the first Prince of the Bloud; For the Reader must know, that Danger­field had formerly been with the vid. Dang Narrative King, Duke, Lord Peterborough and Secretary Coventry, and had thereby sufficient room to expa­tiate in, as True Protestants and the Spirit should suggest. Now, see­ing this hopeful Youth had been (as I said) with the King, Duke, &c. he and his infer, That his ac­count must be True forsooth, since it shews (they say) he was mightily intrusted with secrets, by his ha­ving access to such Great Persons; and yet who knows not, but the common Hang-man, if he says, he has a Treason to discover, (and [Page 76] Dangerfield pretended to know of a * Presbyterian-Plot) shall have admittance to His Majesty, and to his greatest Officers, at an easie rate.

In the next place, when this project fail'd, Fitz-Harys afforded a new one; for tho' he were sent to Newgate by the King and Coun­cel, as being (besides other Crimes and Suspicions) taken with a Treasonable Libel in his Pocket, yet durst two or three City-Officers go and examine him, tho a Prisoner of State, and commit­ted by that Supreme Power; So that presently after, he that had seve­ral things to say against the True Protestants, (had the King or His Ministers encourag'd such Accu­sers) had now God knows what to declare, not only concerning the Popish Plot, and many Great Per­sons not yet accused, but even against His Royal Highness; and how undeniable and plain an Evidence [Page 77] (as the times stood) would this have been, if the Lords had receiv'd the Impeachment, every body is fully sensible. Nay, the Peers were highly exclaim'd at, because they wav'd their own Iurisdiction, and left the Malefactor to the Common Law. Nor did the men of conscience fail to threa­ten the Kings-Bench, if they dar'd to med­dle with him; and all this (we see) to gain a new Witness, who, by the help of their Cries, and other Artifices, would have certainly at last overthrown the very Go­vernment. Yet, after all this huge Clutter and Do, when the poor Creature came to the Gallows, he sufficiently show'd how he had been tamper'd with, and that he knew nothing of any Plot, but what ten­ded to the Eternal Shame, and not Rest, of Mr. Baxter's Saints, as may be seen in Dr. Hawkins's Narrative all along.

Lastly, (for I'l run to no more particulars at present) let any sober man consider, what a fearful stir they would have made, and how many fatal disorders and confu­sions must have ensued their improvement [Page 78] if Mr. THYN's Murther had not been discover'd as it was? The Horse-men of Israel (we see) were all booted and spur­red, and unanimously ready (for the Quiet again of the Kingdom to throw the Fact on the Papists, who now have some rea­son (I confess) to boast of Miracles; for had not the Assassins been miraculously taken (as it were) in the Act, which even hinder'd them from the impudence of de­nying it, they would have been so far from being search'd after, that a man might have run in danger of the Pillory, (especially if some tender consciences were of his Iury) for offering so much as to suspect them. Things therefore standing thus, how could the Popish Duke (as they call him) have escap'd the new Witnesses (that were already consulting the Coffee-houses for their Lesson) when there was so much malice in the Party, and some small pretence for a Lye? Nor should any of the obnoxious Ministers o [...] State, nor any Courtier (Mr. Thyn being reputed an Enemy to the Court) have mist of being hamper'd, no not the King Himself been free from Calumny; & [Page 79] truly, some have had the impudence al­ready to suspect Him of knowing the whole Plot, and all its Appendices, unless that of Pickering's Silver Bullets; for as to Sir George W [...]keman's Pills and Design, Sir Philip Lloyd's being sent to his Tryal by the Board, makes it plain, and (as they think) beyond dispute.

Now, after all these cursed Defamations of His Majesty; these bloudy Conspiracies against His faithful Brother and Heir; and the many Endeavours against His best Pro­testant Friends and Servants: I would ask the SQUIRE himself, whether we have not reason to believe infallibly, and hand over head, every PLOT, and every Story of their recommendation; and espe­cially since we find they can at pleasure cry down, and in effect perjure any Witness; even those that have assured us, upon their Words and Oaths, (and what else has yet proved it?) of a Damnable and Hellish PLOT of the PAPISTS against the KING? But since I am comparing the Faith, Prin­ciples and Actions of the True Protestants and the Papists, whom the said SQUIRE [Page 80] makes worse than Pagans: I would fain know of him, whether the proceedure of the Papists, in the kind we are now speaking of, was not something fairer, even in the Reign of QUEEN MARY? For in all her Time, tho' she highly dislik'd her Sister ELIZABETH's Religion, and had also a pique against her Person, upon the account of their Mothers Quarrel; yet never was there one VOTE of Parliament, and much less a BILL for her EXCLUSION. And, what is yet more, when WYAT was ta­ken, who was a Protestant, and General, or chief Commander in his Insurrection, He accused the said Princess ELIZABETH as a Complotter; yet for all that, neither the Queen nor the Councel would believe him, notwithstanding the probability of the Accusation; so that, when he was brought to the place of Execution, and finding no benefit or encouragement by his Lye, like a­nother Fits-Harys, He ask'd God and his Prince forgiveness for that horrid Crime, and so dyed.

[Page 81]X. But Tenthly (to proceed with the Parall [...]l,) they are the better [...]hrictians, who assist their Prince and are [...]riends to his Friends, than they, who still speak ill of Dignities; who watch for every occa­sion to oppose & ensl [...]ve their Sovereign; and who think it a sufficient cause to hate any man, and persue him unto Death, if he offers to stand for the King's Honour and Prerogative. I shall not now speak what the Papists did during the late trou­bles of Charles I. and II. Meta­morp. lib. 13. Vidistis enim sua narret Vlisses, I mean let Mr. Iulian repeat his, and the True Protestant Loyalty, for we have been all eye Witnesses of the Popish actions. I say I intend not to speak what either Party did from 41 to the King's Restauration, but what they have done since. On the one hand then, if any Royalist or Faith­ful Subject stood Candidate at an Election, he had to be sure the Voices of all the Papists there. If there happened to be any of your Strictlands or your Swalls in the Lower-House: (to wit, new Converts as the busie Priests call them) their Votes fell ever [Page 82] (we see) on the Crown side. If again any thing for the King's Advantage and Ho­nour came to be proposed to the Lords, let it be even the readmission of the Bishops, the Catholick Noble-men fai [...]'d not (with a Nemine Contradicente) to be for it. Again if the King thinks a War for his Honour and In [...]erest to be best, the Papists at home will not only approve and abet it, but the Do [...]glasses and the other considerable Officers abroad leave (at the first Com­m [...]nd) their respective great Imployments and returne. If Tangier be in distress, if Argiers troublesome, or any other pub­lick Misfortunes appear, these Gentlemen become all on a sudden chang'd into Presbyterians and Phanaticks, that is to say, they se [...]m Surley, Dogged and wholy ou [...] of humou [...]; but if any happy News ar­rive, whom do we find more gay than the [...], and wh [...]se Bonefire makes a greater Flame? Now on the other side (not to speak of the actual insurrections of the True Protestants since the King's return) what C [...]v [...]lier or known Servant to the Monar­chy has been designed [...]or any Elective [Page 83] Office, but had his whole life ript up, with a thou [...]and addi [...]ional l [...]es and Nick-names of Papist, Pensioner, &c. on purpose to put him by the S [...]ddle? What Stout Pe [...]r or Man of Honour crost a Seditious In­t [...]igue, but was presently pointed at as a Sta [...]ordian, and as unfit for any Tr [...]st and Imployment? In our late War what Arti­fices have been us'd to put His Majesty up­on streights; or if that miscarried, how have they rai [...]'d at the King's Councellors and Advisers; so that Doleman and o­thers of the Cabal might without censure M [...]n the Enemies Ships up to Chatham; and the Fitz-Patrics and the rest Com­mand Boilduke and the Adjacent Coast, tho' it were to hinder and oppose our Landing? As for T [...]ngier and Argiers the Mahometans are not ignorant of the [...]rin­kling and good wi [...]hes of th [...]ir Brethren he [...]e; and that Coll. Sackvil and Admi­ral Herbert have had many a Prayer at least many a hearty [...]jaculation offered up for their Ruine and Con [...]usion; seeing the King by their Galantry has fewer Irons in the fi [...]e than before. No wonder then [Page 84] [...]hey abhor all publick Ioy, and that in­stead of contributing to the Festivity, they'l put out their very candles, and even cover their Hearths, as if William the Con­queror's Coverfeu-Bell were still Ringing.

One ( Bonefire I must needs confess) they now Religiously observe, viz. That on the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation; tho' they never intended by it to shew any hearty hatred to the Pope or any sincere Reverence and affection to the memory of that great Princess, but only to vent their inveterate Malice a­gainst the whole Line of the STUARTS, for as the Old True Protestants were goads in the Sides, and prickles in the Eyes of Her Majesty during her whole Reign, so their Faithful and Legitimate Children continue the same rancour by railing at, and breaking those Laws of Hers, which, preserving the uniformity of the Ppotestant Religion, are the certain cause of our pre­sent Peace and Quiet. And if the meer dis­gracing of his good Holiness were the De­sign of [...]he Solemnity, the 5 th. of November would be much the fitter day; she having [Page 85] been a Papist, and He thereupon an open and declar'd Enemy, so that every thing he did against Her might in some manner be expected; whereas King Iames and He were not at any particular odds, which renders every Plot of His against His Ma­jesty more reflecting and odious. But Saints care not for congruities, their aim being only to blacken the present Royal Family, add by crying up the Protestant, the Protestant Queen, to insinuate as if all the STUARTS were ever Papists. But this I must acknowledge is no new thought or invention of the Gang, but a small im­provement of their Fathers practice after the Murder of Charles I. for they then made Her our last Monarch, and therefore never (but by accident) destroy'd and pull'd down any Statue Arms or Ensigns of Regality during our Bondage under them, unless those that related to this Princely and Glorious House.

Seeing then by their former and pre­sent Artifices the English World has un­doubted assurance of their Loyalty and Affection to th [...] Government; 'tis no mar­vel [Page 86] if they should destroy the very [...]redit and belief of the late PLOT. For who can we upon second thoughts hear [...]ily blame for want o [...] Faith, when on the one side the Infidel sees not only several Old Caviliers, seve [...]al Z [...]lous Church of Eng­land men [...] and several persons (whofe whole Livelihood depends on the King's well [...]are) question not a li [...]tle (by reason of many strange stories in the Narratives, & man [...] evident d [...]sproof [...]s in Tryals) whether His Maj [...]sty were really in all this so long talk'd of danger; and especially when the Lives, poverty, parts, and odd coming in of the Witnesses happened not [...]o be o­ver advan [...]agious to their Testimony; to w [...]ich may be also added that all Prote­stant Emb [...]ssadors and Ministers smile at the Noise; nor has any Reform'd Prince or State congratulated [...]is Majesty's escape, as they and their Predecessors have al­ways done when any of our King's were in real dan [...]er. I say who can heartily bla [...]e the Infidel, when on the one side he sees the [...]ing's known [...]riends to Hesi­tate, and on the other side finds all the re­maining [Page 87] Iudges of Charles I. all that were at Retrive for Charles II. after Worcester Fight; all th [...] were in Garison in Haber­dashers and Goldsmiths-Hall; all Venner's Brigadeers, and in fine all mankind that are op [...]nly [...]aters of the King and Monar­chy, wonderfully Solicitous for His Maje­sty's Safety, support the Witnesses, de­mand with zeal Iustice on the Conspirators and their ABETTERS, and will not only go to fisty-cuffs with any man that doubts, or scratches his head at some hard particu­lars, but hang him without mercy, if e­ver he comes under any Iury of Theirs.

Certainly, one may with some reason doubt Miracles which Iews (and Iews that never agreed together before, so much as in the day of the month) promote and cr [...] up; assuring us all the while, that the defence of Christianity is their dri [...]t and aim. Nay, Iews too that fly in the faces of these infallible Witnesses, and presently make them the greatest Monsters in Nature, if they chance to accuse a Brother of any Villany, tho' never so probable or plain.

To shew yet further the real zeal a True [Page 88] Protestant bear [...] to His Majesty, what Ma­gistrate or Magistracy asserts His Kingly Rights, whom they have not vilified and Lampoon'd, at the very time perchance when they are running down [...]ome Ser­vant of His Majesty, even upon pretence of his defaming the Justice of the Nation? 'Tis lawful in them to rail at a Surrey Iury, if they censure Mr. Pilkington for discre­diting a fellow Citizen. They may (for­sooth) without any fault, libel some of the eminentest Gentlemen of Essex, as corrupt and perjur'd, if they find Billingsgate-Hickeringill to have a black and scandalous m [...]u [...]h Nor shall the Oxfordshire Iury-men want Iudgments, if Pamphlets can creat [...] them, for condemning COLLEDG, a Traytor of as rank a smell (in a manner) as the late Regicides themselves. For he was publicly Seditious in his words, and he himself confess'd, that he came with Horse and Arms to Oxford to guard the Parlia­ment against the Papists; and what that means in the mouth of one that reckon'd the Bishops Tantivies, and the rest of the King's Friends at least Popishly inclin'd, [Page 89] may be easily imagin'd. 'Twas prov'd also against him, that, in a Q [...]arrel about the Parliament, he said, he had lost bloud in the Cause, and that more ere long would be lost. He said also openly, He might (for ought he knew) be a Colonel shortly. Again, 'twas proved, that, upon the old sham and pre­tence of Protestant Religion and Property, he was a promoter (even by distinctive Ribbons) of Ligues and Parties; That he was a disperser of Villanous Pictures and Ballads, to the King's Dishonour; That the first Draught of the Trayterous Libel the RARE SHEW was found in his House; That He had given it out to be Printed; and that he justified the horrid Proceedings of the Long Parliament, even the King's Murther, All which, and more was made out against him, by Witnesses of unspot­ted Reputation; besides the many positive and probable Treasons, sworn by Dugdale, Smith, Turbervil, and the rest of his inti­mate Companions; And yet for all this, the Miscreant is vindicated by the Party, honour'd with a Picture, and under i [...] Ver­ses that vilifie the public Iustice in the high­est degree.

[Page 90]But, if we come to single Persons, who has in the Nation been so harrast, and bespatter'd with so many Calumnies and Lyes, as Mr. L'ESTRANGE? One, if we consider his Quality, not only of a Family still in being, and Eminent among us, but as ancient as the Conquest; and, which is more, so Noble and Great then, that a Princely House (to wit, that of Darby) deem [...] the Title and Honour it receives thence, as the first [...]lower in its C [...]ronet.

If we come to his Breeding, He is a Man of [...]etters, and o [...] excellent Con­vers [...]tion too. Nor was there ever a grea­ter Master of the English Tongue, whether we consider the clearness and variety of his Expression, or his stupendious celerity in writing.

Then, for his Loyalty (which is his great fault, and has contracted him all his Ene­mies) He sided early with the l [...]e King; was in Newgate for Treason also (as they call'd it) for Him; He was esteem'd, in the worst of Times, by all the Cavaliers as one of their choice Members; and as soon as the King return'd, by defending the Chu [...]ch [Page 91] He drew all the enrag'd Hornets about his Ears; which now shows us further his Fidelity, since, upon the discovery of any Treachery or [...]alshood in him, they might have legally excluded him from all Pardon and Indemnity.

Lastly, for his Religion, and firmness to the Church of England, no man from first to last ever gave g [...]a [...]er testimony of it than he; being still in the Cap, still in the Breach, as his disadvantageous Books to Popery show, as well as those against the Treachercus and Apostate Children of the Church, the most dangerous Enemies by many degrees, as the Affairs of the Nati­on have stood these sev [...]ral years. Mr. Prance therefore got as little Credit by accusing him for a Papist, as he did by his voluntary and open Confession to the King and Council, That what he said of Sir E. Godfrey' s Murther, was false from Top to Bottom. Nor could he have invented a more foolish and unlikely place than SO­MER SET-HOUSE, for Mr. L'Estrange (as a conceal'd Papist) [...]o frequent; since [...]rotestants of all conditions are daily run­ning [Page 92] thither (as they do to the Iews Sy­nagogue) to view their Fashions and Ceremonies.

But what has this Gentleman done, to deserve their Barbarous and Republican Usage? Why, because like a faithful East-Angle, or Nor [...]olk-man, OBSERVING the Danish-Fleet on the Coast, their Hinguar and Hubba landed, King Edmond and his Family pursu'd: he fires the Beacons, al­larms his Fellow-subjects, and thereby de­fends not only Christian Religion, but pre­vents also the spilling of more Royal Bloud; and therefore, I dare affirm, if ever any body sav'd a Kingdom by a PEN; Mr. L'Estrange has really done it.

Besides, we are not only beholden to Mr. L'Estrange and ingenious Heraclit [...]s, (who follows him close, and with long strides) for discovering the many abomi­nable Lyes and Contrivances against Church and State, but for preventing Ten thousand more; for these Loyal and Wor­thy men have (after much Fatigue and re­peated Out-cries) taught the Seditiou [...] Scriblers, or rather their Grave Directors, [Page 93] a little Orthography; that is, to spell now and then true, a passage not false in every word; as also, some little caution in their ill-design'd insinuations and Comments, since they dare not proceed in their for­mer impudent and prodigious way of vin­dicating here, and defaming there, which must (had it continu'd) have insensibly inflam'd the whole Nation; for they now find by woful experrience, That Truth will out next day; and that all things are at length, nay presently, answer'd to their loss.

And now I am mentioning these Excel­lent men, and how outrageously they have been us'd by the KETTS, or True Prote­stant Mechanics of the Age, because they zealously stood up (as I said) for His Ma­jesty, and all His faithful Followers and Servants: I cannot pass by Mr. DRY­DEN's Case, since it so particularly shows us (according to my Design) the Nature and Folly of the Herd; who, to make some little noise, or evasion, will run down their very darling Arguments, and most specious pretences, without the least care [Page 94] or regard; for this Gentleman [...] (looking doubtless upon Neutrality or Idleness as a piece of Ingratitude, as well to that Migh­ty Giver of the Talents He enjoys, as to to the Great Monarch, who has still been so Indulgent and Kind) thought fit to de­scribe the Kingdoms Miseries, and their Cause in Absalon & Achitophel, The Medal, &c.POEMS, that convin­ced the very Factious in Their Iudgment, and tryumph'd over every f [...]culty of theirs, exc [...]p [...] that Diabolical Will, which (as we see) resists even GOD Himself. No sooner then had he publish'd his happy Thoughts, which pleas'd many an honest man, but the Hor­nets were presently about him too; and, to give him (as they thought) his mortal wound, they printed his Elegy upon Crom­wel, with great clamour and joy; But whether they have hurt Him or Them­selves most by it, I desire the Reader to judge. For how hideously have they bawl'd against every Royallist who twit­ted them (and that with great Reason and Necessity) with FORTY ONE, the KING's MURTHER, &c. because it intrench'd, [Page 95] forsooth, on the Act of Indemnity; when as that Amnesty or Pardon never intend­ed ( had man the power of knowing Thoughts and future Actions) the forgiving of any, but those that were sorry for their for­mer Crimes, and consequently resolv'd to be afterwards True Subjects. What impu­dent [...]ools therefore a [...]e They, who throw the said Elegy into the Author's Dish, who has not only the genuine and true Plea of Inconsideration for himself [...] (as being, when he wrote it, a young Graduate, or Boy newly come to Town) but also (which is much more) his latter apparent Duty to his King, both in Words and Actio [...]s, ought most effectually to vindicate hi [...]; Where­as, no Transgressors are charged with the late Rebellion, or any thing belonging to it, but Those who manifestly [...]un now to Sanctuary with polluted hands, and with their former blackne [...]s of Intention. Nay, if we consider this Accusation as to Mr. Dryden, and interpret it verbatim, what can it mean but this? You wrote, Sir, once in praise of Cromwel; and therefore are a [...]reat Villain for opposing any body that either [Page 96] writes or acts at present against your law­ful King and Master; And truly, thus in effect (that is to say, as to the matter of Fact) stands their Justice to any one, whom they decry and calumniate.

But to draw to a conclusion for the present, (tho' the Subject abounds with such Supersluit [...] of Matter as to render the sterilest fancy exuberant) I will, in imi­tation of the SQUIRE (having already given him Preface for Preface, Story for Story, and Section for Section) end my Treatise [...] also, with my end of writing it; which is (I must needs say) to remind the Reader of our late Miseries, and of our happiness by the King's Return; To let Him see the True Protestant DESIGN, viz. That of Subverting the Gevernment, and of bringing us again into our former Bondage under the threed-bare pretences of the fear of Popery; to give Him also a short account of their Religion in spec [...] ­lation and practice; and then to shew their disobedient Principles, and restless­ness, who will have even JULIAN in [Page 97] their mouths, when they themselves are the most abandon'd APOSTATES that ever were. And so transcendent and parti­cular are they herein, that notwithstan­ding their publickly owning themselves Seperatists, their constantly frequenting Conventicles, their openly writing and exclaiming against the Superstition of the Church of England, yet for the Office of a SHERIFF shall Mr. Bethel himself go to Church, Assist at the Common Prayer, and then not only receive the Commu­nion at an Altar surrounded with Rails, and from a Priest in his Surpliss but with the horrible (as they some [...]imes cry) and unsufferable aggravation of Kneeling also, What Mercy therefore can the most com­passionating Government [...]hew to such a sort of People? Or what would tender Origen (were he alive) think could be­come of them at the Day of Iudgment? The Papists have perchance some thing to Mo [...]lifie an [...]asie Magistrate with, when he really see [...] both Great and Small a­mong them, leave Imployments, suffer Confiscations, endure [...]mprisonments and [Page 98] the like, for what what they think and call Conscience. This also makes several good Men to commiserate not a little the Qua­kers, who believing their way of Wor­ship conformable to Gods command, will bear afflction and loss rather than forego it; so that 'tis evident no Dissenters from the Church of England have any Consci­ence except these two; and therefore none but they (could the Legislative Power with prudence Indulge) deserve any favour or connivance; all the others meeting meerly out of Faction and Inte­rest; to the great damage of the Go­vernment.

These are the Motives (to wit Interest and Faction) that cause the SQUIRE, (instead of quieting the minds, of his Party, and endeavouting to bring them to [...]heir due Obedience) to declare against Gregory's Tears and Prayers, and to in­still Fear (if posible) into the Silly, and furnish at the same time the harden'd and inveterate with his best pretences; these al­so moved him so earnestly to wish, not on­ly the unnatural tearing a [...]rother out [Page 99] of the King's Arms, who (humanly spea­king) is His sole Bulwark and Defence; but to aim (by His Exclusion from the Crown,) at the subversion of our most Fun­damental Laws, which must certainly have created unexpressible Troubles in our Age, and most dismal consequences here after, and lastly, these made him so mali­tious against a Prince of Valour; a Prince of His word; and a Prince of that virtue and conduct; that His Goodness has thaw'd the very Orcades and Thule, and His matchless Prudence (in spight of His late mighty disadvantages) rendred Scotland even quiet and united, notwithstanding its turbulent temper during the Reigns of Queen Mary, King Iames, Charles I. and Charles II. till now. Nay when every thing is fully considered, the Interest he has preserv'd in England, and the real Affection the Persons of Quality and Estate (both Noblemen and Gentlemen) bear him is as great a demonstration of his Wisdom as can possibly be imagined. Had the said SQUIRE thought of his Pro­fession and follow'd the admirable example [Page 100] of the present Clergy, he would instead of his villanous JULIAN have spent his time in descanting on the Accidents of the late Rebellion, and then remember'd the Facti­ous, that the first promoters even of a pro­sperous Sedition are still left in the Lurch, whilst a new Brood (perchance 5 or 6 re­moves off) are they that get the Prize; for thus I am sure it happen'd formerly with all the first Sticklers among the Lords, the Commons, the Army, and the City also. I say had the SQURIE thought of his Pro­fession and perform'd his Duty, he had sav'd his own Reputation, and my trouble: for being an [...]nglish Subject and having seen with my own eyes the late glorious King at the Head of a Loyal, tho unsuccessful Ar­my, and afterwards March before Ano­ther, besmeer'd with the gore of His most faithful Servants, and conducting Him to the bloudy Theatre on which He made Himself greater than the Caesars, I cannot ( [...] con [...]ess) but have often [...]ad thought [...], especially when I see the same Methods and Ph [...]sick prescrib'd again, and many of the same Mountebanks, the present Ope­rators and Dispensers.