bury?] It is utterly impoffible, my Lord, to answer this Question; because the Grand-Fury stifled the Prefentment, before it could be known whether it would affect my Lord, or not.

Your Lordship does kindly, however, in taking Notice that Mr. Sandars is to be recorded in the Paper-Office, and lodged among the Heroes of the Age; as Sequeftrators, Decimators, Committee-men, Mr. Baxter's Saints, Noble Peers, and True Proteftants without Number, that ftand regiftred there among the MEN WORTHY.

I am now coming, my Lord, to the Clofe of your Letter; where you say [If you have Patience but a while, the Wicked that thus profper, their Place Shall know them no more.] I do moft humbly beg your Lordship's Interpretation of this Paffage, whether it be intended as a Denunciation, a Prediction, or a Friendly Caution; and whether this Great Work is to be done by Fire and Brimstone, a Maffacre, or a Rebellion?

A Second RETURN to the LETTER of a Noble Peer, concerning the ADDRESSES. 1682.

My Lord,

T

HE Favour you conferred upon me, to permit me to write to your Honour, with a condefcending Invitation, occafioned that of March the 4th, directed to your Hand; in which my Thoughts of the numerous Addreffes feemed to me fo plainly fet down, that no Miftake could enfue: Yet it hath other wife happened, and your Anfwer, although not altogether differing from my Expectation, is not wholly fuch, nor fo ingenious, as I expected. I could have wifh'd, that as you printed the Anfwer, you had with it published my Letter, which gave the Occafion; that if any Knowledge of the Perfons between whom this Intercourfe is used, should give the World Occafion to repeat our Names, and defcant upon our Judgments, I might not appear, after fo much refolute Conftancy, now dotifh and fluctuating.

But for your whole Difcourfe, Noble Peer, I muft be plain in telling you, that not I, but the Likeness of it to that Speech you made in the House, which being publish'd the Hangman committed to the Flames, hath publifh'd you the Author : And you do fo mince this Affociation, and turn and wind it fo tenderly, that it feems your own Projection, and a Brat so taking in your Affections, that every Abborrence of it is a Dagger's Point at your Heart. You are much in Labour to have it believed never to have a Being, thinking that Way to fecure it from the zealous Abhorrors, and yet at every other Turn your Fondness of it makes you break out into Commendations of it's pretty Features and Ufefulness. Indeed, your Shiftings fhew you have fomething of a debauch'd Modefty left, and that you are afhamed of what you so much love My Willingness to excufe what will bear it, faith this of you; but the Generality cry out upon your Impudence, in saying, An Affociation pretended

to

to bave been feized in the Earl of Shaftsbury's Clofet, when nothing was ever more exactly proved, nothing more unquestionable and free from Difpute, nothing more defended by that Lord's Clientage, and even owned in the Court' by two of his Compurgators (for they acted fuch more than Jury-men) who looking upon it faid, This is the fame with that which we faw produced, and promoted in the House of Commons. And, by the way, you may take Notice what Juftice was like to be done the King, when his Caufe was in the Hand of Perfons guilty of the fame Confpiracy; for, fhould they have found the Bill, they had directed the Attorney-General to draw up one against themselves; as truly' it is to be lamented, that they and all others fhould efcape free from Punishment, who in the Houfe faw and promoted this Damnable Plot of Affociation, and did not fo difcover it, as to have the Projectors and Forwarders rewarded with their merited Rope. The Authors of fuch Parliamentary Proceedings ought to have their Heads advanced to the House-top, to admonish their Succefors of Modefty and Allegiance.

But to return your Title, at the firft Sight, made me merry with the Remembrance of your Lordship's and that Religious Party's, you fo diligently ferved, accustomed Activity, that out-run their Sagacity, laying open dangerous Plots and Defigns before they were detected. As your Lordship hath been frequently termed a Cat, from your noted Skill in falling fafely, fo you further merit it from the Apology of the Cat changed into a Beautiful Woman, receiving a Change only in Form not in Conditions. You are by the exceeding Greatnefs of Royal Favour raised to very great Riches and Honour, not only out of a mean Fortune, but (pray Pardon my Plainnefs and neceffary Freedom) an ill State (as you are too confcious) that merited Severity: Yet all Indulgences, all immerited Additions of Luftre and Fortune, cannot alter you, but you must be Catting, ftill playing your Old Tricks, laying open before detecting. Your Wit hath, like Galba's, very unfeemly Lodgings, and is no other than what may be conjectured to proceed out of fo ill contrived a Frame, mifchievous and unlucky: It ferveth to no eminent Counfel, but to impofe upon the filly and credulous Multitude, who adore you as fome Idolaters are faid to choose and worfhip their God for it's excellent Deformity. No Man, who makes a just and serious Inspection into thefe Addreffes, fayeth any thing but what becomes generous and loyal Subjects, whom the Senfe of their own Duty, and the odious Practices of Men of your Principles, ftir up to thefe Expreffions of Fidelity on their own Part, and a most reasonable Abhorrence and Deteftation of the others.

And now, because it is an Answer to my Letter, you lay upon me the Tafk of inquiring what this Monster, which you have rip'd up and laid open, is?

You begin to tell me, that the Fermentation which the Nation is put into muft be cherished by the Ways that firft occafioned it, and that the RomishDefigns against the Proteftant Religion and Liberties of England would mifcarry, if the Heats and Animofities between Proteftants were not artificially fomented. Here the Tale you tell of the Romish Defigns is fo exceedingly ftale, that it ftinks abominably, and is rejected by most of the apprehenfive Diffenters and Factious Party, who see it in vain to talk any more at that Rate, the Generality of the Nation being cured of thofe Fits which the affrightful Noife of Popery put it into.. For, as foon as honeft and quiet Men hear any begin to blutter thofe fufty Difcourfes, they leave them as Men tainted and rufty, Tools (as you call'

them)

them) to your Trade of Proteftant Joinery. And the Truth is, you all fo torment and saw what you take in hand to polish, that it's great pity the Masters of the Company are not hanged, for Company, with the Journey-men. It's Time indeed fome End were put to the Lunacy the Kingdom hath been afflicted with, and I hope we may conlude it wrought, or near effecting ; feeing the greatest Part of what you ftile distracted are recovered, and you are found not Lords of the Afcendant predominant over Affections, but Witches and Jugglers that have held Men under fome fhort Surprifal, but are delivered by Divine Providence, Prefident at the Council-Table. Even they who commend you do not believe you, and the reft will never truft you: Neither have you fhot your Bolt any thing near the Mark, in faying, the Operation of the Declaration against the two laft Parliaments being wholly fpent, this against the Affociation is flipt in, and managed to perpetuate Rancours; for yourself (I fear to your Grief) find the contrary, both that the Efficacy of the Declaration is not spent, but hath produced this brifk and genuine Off-fpring, the natural Iffue of fo incomparable a Conjunction as the People's Affections answering their Prince's Condefcenfion and Love; and that it is fo far from foftering Animofities, that it is the most certain Bond of Union that could ever have been framed; a League indeed Offensive and Defensive, not as your fquinting Loyalty and unmannerly Comparifon would make it feem, between the Prince and a Faction, but between the King and all his Subjects, who confcientiously respect their own Duty and the general Welfare. We never think or call that a Faction, which, compelled by the Fear of God, honouretb the King; but you, who of all Men living have the greatest Provocations to admire and love regal Clemency and Bounty, do most wretchedly, after all the ftricteft Engagements to Loyalty, turn back like a Dog to bis Vomit, and are pleafed no otherwife, but during your Refpect to that vile Excrefcence of Government, which hath been spewed out and abhorred, as your beloved Affociation is now, chiefly for it's Tendency towards the fame.

After you have made a Citation of a Loyal Gentleman's Words, you will needs infinuate from them, a Parity of his most excellent Majesty's, and that bafest of Ufurpers Oliver's Caufe, and do in Effect deride all that out of Devotion worship the True God, because fome, out of Fear or Illusion, have worshipped the Devil. Ufurpers, confcious to themselves what Hatred their ambitious and tyrannical Invafions merit, ftudy Popularity, and are forced to fawn upon the worft of Men, whom they intereft to impofe upon others, and always rule by Arts contrary to the Prefcriptions of legal and juft Monarchy; They either affright or corrupt Men to obfequious Acknowledgements; Thefe, with majeftical, but gracious Countenance, receive the due Tributes of voluntary Obedience, and encourage Fidelity, to the Shame and Terror of fuch as affociate and confult, by their Kings to difturb the Publick Peace. Because fome unduly flatter'd Oliver (once your Mafter) therefore you will allow none to give our Lawful King thofe proper Elogies and Thanks which his wife and excellent Government challenges from all, whom God hath bleffed with Judgment to fee and rejoice in their Happiness, by and under him. But this, with your Lordship, is a Bafe and Destructive Defign: A ftrong Affirmation, which you would have received, although you have forgotten to tell us the Reason. And fo in Truth you have the Senfe which fhould direct us to what you mean, in faying, It would have been fome Argument of the Ad

dreffors

dreffors Candour, and Sincerity of their Intentions, in what they did before, if they had forborne their hard Applications, till they had found they were not mistaken in the Grounds upon which they think to vindicate themselves for what they then did. Something your Lordship did here conceive, but being ill midwife'd, is fpoiled in the Production. As to what you faid a little before, you are as unfortunate in your Expreffions and Reasoning: For these Addreffors are not fick of your Lordship's Megrims and Diftempers of the Brain, that giddily rave and anticipate the Fruits of Royal Counfels before Maturity. They, as all Brave Spirits, are bleffed with Humility, and meddle not with the King's Prerogative, neither take upon them to inftruct him when a Parliament will be moft feasonably called, but leave it to his Wifdom; from which, by God's Bleffing upon it, they hope to reap the fatisfactory Effects of thefe and their former Addreffes, while your Lordship and your factious Adherents fhall fit in melancholy Poftures, and enviously assist your Tormenting Angels in your own Vexation.

How you call Mr. Gwyn's Oath a bare Suggestion, I understand not; neither what Credit you gain by faying this Affociation was, for what appears, only feigned and imaginary. Thofe few Words upon this Account before fpoken may (I think) fuffice; for all your fcrupulous Artifice will neither cover nor colour that Villainy. You may as well call in Question, Whether that Noble and Loyal Peer was accufed and indicted, as whether that Paper was feized in his Clofet, or any where promoted by Affociators; you may as well queftion, Whether that Lord ever was Lord Chancellor, and afterward made good his own Words in his Speech to Lord Treasurer, and found His Majesty a Prince under whom the Unfortunate fall gently; Whether afterward in the House of Peers he made any Speeches in Oppofition to a certain ftrict Teft for the Discovery of Popery, promoted in that Houfe; Whether he was fince at Oxford, and afterward committed to the Tower?

Your Lordship thinks it congruous, that the Addressors teftify their Deteftation of the many Sham-Plots, whereby Loyal and Innocent Proteftants have been endeavoured to be destroyed; and what is more evident, than that they do this, abhorring both the Real and Sham-Plots, which Bold and Bloody-minded Factions, under the Name (forfooth) of Proteftants, were engaged in, to the Destruction of the King, Religion, and Government? This you are fierce and zealous to have done, yet being done, you diflike and complain of it; and what's the Reafon, but becaufe while you cry out of Popish-plots, and Popish Sham-plots only, thefe Addreffors, the true Friends of the Proteftant Religion and Peace of thefe Kingdoms, fee you involved in the fanie Plots which you cry out against, and engage to defend the King and established Religion against all Confpirators whatsoever, whether Popifhly, Schifmatically, or Heretically affected?

But when all of you make fuch a Dinn about Proteftants, and name the Proteftant Religion, why do you not fet forth what this Proteftant Religion is, that we may know it before we engage to defend it? The Religion eftablished in the Church of England we are fure you would deftroy, not preferve; for this the Addreffors promife and defire to preferve, which Promifes only give you thefe Galls and Disturbances. Neither will you own the Prefbyterian to be the only Proteftant, nor with the Presbyterian the Independent, for then the other younger Brethren, Anabaptift, Brownift, Quaker, Fifth Monarchy Man, and all the rest of this large Family, will take it very ill to be rejected as fpurious, and VOL. II. unprovided

X x

unprovided of Proteftant Portions. If you take all into your Politick Ark, whether feather'd or naked, cloven-footed, clawed, or hoofed, this Conjunction will make England in the next Generation furpass any Part of Africa for Monstrous Iffue, when those of Baxter's, Vincent's, and Jacomb's Holy Proteftant Herds fhall mingle with Proteftant Muggletonians, Proteftant Quakers, Proteftant Ranters; and your Honour's, which is Proteftant Atbeifts. Confidering then the Impoffibility of fuch pretended Union in different Opinions, knit together in one Band of Religion, and yet that if any one or more Part or Opinion be rejected, the Project is that way inconfiftent with what it throws out, and would feem, because there's a Rupture made with the Muggletonian or Ranter, or whomfoever this holy League receives not, who yet hath as good a Title to that Vocabulum of Proteftant, as Jack Presbyter, Jack of Leyden, George of Munster, or Hugh Peters, when he came from New-England; therefore I find the League hits not upon the Score of Religion, but all these are Proteftants, as protesting against Monarchy, and the whole prefent Frame of Government, and that can no otherwife come under one Name of Proteftant, than by joining with it the Word Rebel; and then, Protestant Rebel speaks all the Parties together, Presbyterian, Muggletonian, Anabaptift, &c. being as the Colours of yellow, tawny, green, &c. by which the feveral Regiments are to be diftinguished. And thefe, you think meet, the City of London should lead the Way to address for their Protection, until they may conveniently be (as is aforefaid) united and formed into a Body that can defend and fet up for itself. But your Lordship is ftill unfortunate, advising impertinently; for the City, feeing the Defign, hath, in the Lord-Mayor and Lieutenancy, taken a truly fafe, commendable, and contrary Way to your Prefcription, and fo have bid your Honour good Night, wifhing you to fleep for more Wit.

And when Parliaments fhall, inftead of Endeavours to perfect the important Matters of the Kingdom, fit down and fpin out more Time in doing nothing, than other Parliaments have taken to dispatch Multitudes of Affairs; or rather, in doing nothing but chalking out unwarrantable Rules for the Subjects to grow licentious, and act as in an authorized Difobedience; what Reafon is there, that good and peaceable Men fhould not make to their Prince grateful Addreffes, for his Care of them, in diffolving fuch Parliaments, and fcattering the impending Mischiefs which threatened Ruin to our Univerfe? As an Anniverfary Day of Thanksgiving for our Deliverance from the ineffable Calamities we fuftained by that traiterous Convention, called a Parliament, affembled under King Charles the First, whom they devilishly perfecuted, unking'd, and murder'd, is appointed upon the Day of the Birth and happy Return of his Sacred Majefty now reigning; it feems to me as reafonable, that thofe Days, whereon bis Majefty fecured the Liberty of the Subject, by diffolving the laft Parliaments, be kept feftival, in Commemoration of our Deliverance from thofe great and apparent Dangers, wherewith we were encompassed while they were in Seffion.

Neither are all Affociations (as either your nine-eyed Perufal reads, or your distorted and grieved Fancy interprets them) abhorred in any of thefe Addreffes, which deteft only those two Diabolical ones, the first, of the folemn League and Covenant, and this feized in the Earl of S's Closet, but are themselves pious and loyal Affociations, excellently adapted (to use your Words) for the Prefervation of his Majesty's Perfon and Dignity, and the Proteftant Religion now

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