9

And yet it is not unreasonable to fufpect a Defign on foot of fubverting the Monarchy, if it be confidered that the paffing the Bill against the Duke will not alone fatisfy his Adverfaries, who further expect that all thofe now firm to the King be removed, and their Truft put into confiding Hands; and thus when they had him in their own Power, it would be no hard Matter to act their Pleasure. The Speech difowned by the Proteftant Lord, and burnt by the Hangman (a Fate the Author does certainly deferve) tells us in plain English, We must have a Change, and a King we may trust, and well affected Counsellors, with much more treasonable and Teditious Stuff. Thefe Things, and the frequent mentioning the Fates of Edward II. Richard II. and Henry VI. cannot but alarm his Majefty, and reftrain him from ever complying with fuch Perfons against his only Brother. He has fo often affirmed the Bill fhould never pass, that he cannot now, without Diminution of his own Honour as well as Safety, alter his well-grounded Refolution, taken upon the Senfe of Confcience and Duty, the prefent and future Good of himself and People: An Act that would be the highest Violation of Magna Charta, that ordains none should be put by his Birth-right and Inheritance, but by the Law of the Land and legal Procefs: And therefore, I hope, what cannot be fuppofed to be granted will no longer be infifted on, left the Confequences prove fatal.

One Thing I cannot but admire, that the Duke should be abfolutely excluded on Suppofition of being a Papift, for otherwise he is allowed by all to be a Prince of incomparable Virtues and Endowments, leaving no room for enjoying his Right, in cafe he become Proteftant. Do they fuppofe an Alteration of Opinion impoffible? That's falfe and foolish. There are Inftances of Men that have changed often, and to mention no more, the Duke's Grandfather Henry IV. twice altered his Opinion. Befides, it is unjust, and contrary to their own Practice; for L- B was an imprisoned Plotter, but as foon as he became a Convert, without further Procefs or Trial, he was innocent and acquitted. We do in this exceed the Papifts of France, and condemn our Proteftant Ancestors, and all others abroad, who accufed them as Antichriftian and Rebellious, for oppofing their lawful King Henry IV. on the Score of Religion; for the Parifians loved his Perfon, and stood upon no other Condition than his turning Papift, to receive him for their Sovereign; as all the other RC of that Kingdom had done before. And therefore I very much fufpect we are grown weary of Monarchy, and with an Inconftancy natural to flanders affect a Change, though for the worfe. To this I am induced by many Reasons, and not a little from a Proteftant Lord's Speech the laft Seffions, That the People of Athens were fo fond of good King Codrus, that they refolved to have none after him. But to attempt this' Piece of Folly and Wickedness, will inevitably embroil us in a civil War, and of that the Event is fo uncertain, that we ought to dread the Lofs of all, by ftriving to enlarge our prefent Liberties. This Madness ordinary Prudence will carefully avoid, because in all Probability the King would get the better; his Condition is not like his Father's: He has ftanding Troops, which the other wanted, to guard his Perfon; he has the Militia in his own Hands; he has no Scotch nor Irish Rebellion, to divide or distract his Forces; and above all, he has the Parliament in his own Power, to let them fit or not fit, at his Pleasure and

their good Behaviour: Andris happy he has this Power to fecure himself from popular Fury, at this Time efpecially, when whatever the Papifts have done, we daily fee others run into Clubs and Cabals, diftinguishing themselves by green Ribbons, by General-Committees and Sub-Committees, where all Tranfactions of Parliament are firft defigned and hammered, Collections made, a common Purse managed, and Agents employed in every County to prepare and influence the People, write and difperfe falfe News, Libels against the Government, Addreffes made and fent into every Shire and Borough, and if the Members do not go down to their Elections, they can print for them fuch Speeches as ferve their Purpose; witnefs one my Lord Vaughan spoke at his Election, though his Lordship was not out of London. I have not heard before that Sir Samuel Morlan's Speaking-trumpet could convey a Voice a hundred Miles Distance: But this is nothing with our true Proteftant Intelligencer B H, who printed an Addrefs from the City of Colchester, that never was feen nor presented by any of the Inhabitants, as by an Inftrument under the Town-Clerk's Hand does plainly appear: For though Swearing be, Lying is not against the Intereft or Practice of the Godly, the Presbyterian, true Offfpring of the Ignatian Fathers, who outdo them in the Doctrine of Pia Fraudes, as well as in all other their immoral and Antimonarchic Principles.

And now, confidering that none that have any Thing to lofe can ever get by a Rebellion, and that there is no juft Pretence for one, our Liberties and Properties not being broken or invaded; the Rich, unless they are mad, will never begin, and yet with or without their Affiftance a Rifing of Jack Cade or Wat Tyler, inftigated by greater Perfons, will but enlarge the regal Power,and enrich the Crown: And for thefe and many more Reafons I look upon the Threats or Fears of Rebellion, as idle and vain as our Jealoufies and Apprehenfions of Popery, never poffible in England but by a Civil War, fince their Numbers here are but as 1 to 230, and by an exact Calculation in the three Kingdoms, the whole Number of Papifts is but as I to 205 Non-Papifts, and their Wealth and Poffeffions is not 1 to 300. If their Power had been fo terrible, they wanted not fince the Plot Provocations to make us feel as well as hear of it. But these Noises are like Armies in Difguife at Knights-bridge,and Regiments of Horse hid in Cellars under Ground, and blowing up the Thames to drown London; Artifices formerly used to draw in the Easy and the Credulous. But it is to be prefumed, the fame Trick will not pafs twice upon us in one and the fame Age, while the bleeding Wounds of the laft are ftill fo fresh in our Memories. To remedy and compose our present Madness and Distractions, and prevent future Evils, muft without Doubt be the hearty Endeavour of all honeft Men, who expect this will be a healing Parliament that will make up all our Breaches, and unite our Divifions by the Methods of Prudence and Difcretion; weighing the true Caufes, and applying fit Remedies, without Regard to Faction or Intereft, Heat or Paffion; reflecting how unreafonable it is, to fufpect in the King or his Minifters any Defign of introducing Popery and arbitrary Government; a malicious and idle Invention, fet on foot with Purpose to enflame the Kingdom, by Men who are outed, or defirous of Court Employments, disobliged Perfons, or French Penfioners: That the Bill of Exclufion is not like to pafs either the Lords Houfe or the King, because in itself unjuft, impolitick, and dangerous, not only to the Prince but to the Subject: That all other legal Ways for preventing Popery and Presbytery are

to

to be taken by those who defign, the Prefervation of the established Monarchy and Religion: That this is already, or may with Eafe be fecured against the Attempts or Power of any Popish Succeffor: That our Fears in this Point are groundless, and at beft founded upon Accidents that may never happen: That 'tis the highest Imprudence to run into real, prefent, to avoid poffible, future Evils: That Innovations of this Sort would be against the Prince's Intereft, who, having not a fourth Part of the Revenue neceffary for the Support of the Crown, must be under a Neceffity of complying with his People in Parliament; and that his Temper, Practice and Declarations, fecure us against Impofitions of this Nature: That it be confidered, whether the unquiet Apprehenfions from the Plot may not be laid by a speedy and impartial Trial and Execution of all. the Accufed and Convicted, and the King's afterwards granting a General Pardon, with fuch Exceptions as have been ufual. The doing this will beget a right Understanding between the King and his People, defeat the Contrivances of our Adverfaries, reftore us to Peace and Quiet at home, refcue us from Contempt and Danger abroad, and make the Name of Parliament as famous and renown'd, as fome Libellers endeavour to make it bafe and odious, How this is to be compafs'd, you yourselves are defervedly made the Judges, and therefore I will not, like the foolish Orator, teach Hannibal the Art of War... Fiat Juftitia, & ruat Cælum.

Miracles Revived, in the Discovery of the Popish Plot by the late Reverend Doctor of Salamanca. 1682.

I

T is a Vulgar Error, that Miracles are ceafed in the Reform'd Churches. To confute which Paradox, we fhall here produce fome (among many) fuch Demonftrative Arguments and Inftances, taken from the acknowledged miraculous Discovery of the Popish-Plot, made by that famous Minifter of the Gofpel, and learned Doctor of Salamanca, TO, as none but Papifts, and Popishly affected, can have the Confidence to deny.

1. The Doctor (out of pure Zeal to difcover Popish Intrigues) profefs'd himself a Papift; renounced the Proteftant Religion; adored, and received the Confecrated Hoft; took Dreadful Oaths, even upon the Sacrament, to practise and purfue most hellish and bloody Defigns for divers Years together; yet all this while remained (as he says) a real, fincere, and conftant Proteftant. If this be not a Miracle, the Devil's in it.

*

II. The Doctor (good Man) to fave his Majefty's Life, had wheedled the Jefuits out of all their Secrets. † He knew the very Time when Groves and Pickering laid daily wait to fhoot the KING; he hourly expected the horrid Effects of Sir George Wakeman's Poifon; he was privy to the defign'd Assassination of the KING at Windfor; he was certain, the Ruffians were actually upon the Place; he faw the Money fent them for Expedition, and every VOL. II. Moment

* Stafford's Trial.

A a a

+ Oates's Narrative.

Moment waited to hear the fatal Blow was given; yet (fee the wonderful Strangeness of the Thing) neither the Doctor warn'd the KING of his imminent Danger, nor did the KING all this while (God be thanked) fuffer any the least Harm. This is Miracle upon Miracle.

III. The Doctor affures us, there were huge Armies of English Papifts (befides Wild-Irish and Spanish Pilgrims) raifed for immediate Service; yet ('tis ftrange) not one Man of them ever appear'd: Thefe Swarms of Papifts were to be arm'd with Swords, Guns, Black-Bills, Fire-Balls, &c. yet none of thefe Magazines could ever be found. Oates faw, and deliver'd, not a few Patents, Bulls, and Briefs; he read whole Bufhels of Letters and Packets, all containing Damnable Treafon; nay, he could puntually recite upon his Fingers-ends the exprefs Words of almost every Letter; yet (till more strange) neither he, nor any one for him, could ever produce one fingle Patent, one Letter, one Scrip of Paper, whereby to testify the Truth of the reft. Here is a whole Heap of Miracles!

IV. The Doctor immediately before his Difcovery, though he had both the Purfes and Lives of the Confpirators at his Command, † yet at the same time was ready to ftarve, and beg'd at the Papifts Doors for Bread. This is as frange as if it were a Miracle!

V. The Doctor before the King and Council fwore he never knew nor had feen either Mr. Coleman, or Sir George Wakeman, until he then faw them there prefent at the Council-Board: The like Ignorance of Mr. Corker, or his Concerns, he attefted at the taking of Pickering in the Savoy; yet at their feveral Trials he knew them all, and had been their intimate Acquaintance and Bofom Counsellor. This furely is no fmall Miracle!

VI. The Doctor was perfonally in London and at St. Omer's at the felf-fame Time; he faw and spoke with Mr. Ireland in London, that very Moment Ireland was in Staffordshire. Nay, if this be not sufficient, he was really prefent, difputed, and took Degrees at Salamanca; yet never was feen or heard there. Thefe are fwinging Miracles!

VII. The Doctor fwore before the Houfe of Lords, he had declared all he knew against any Perfon of what Quality foever in England; § yet afterwards he accufed one of the Beft and Higheft Perfons in England ** of the blackest Crimes Hell and Malice could ever invent. This, if it be not a Miracle, is at leaft a monstrous Prodigy!

VIII. The Doctor once depofed, Mr. Bury was a very honest harmless Man; yet afterwards when the faid Bury gave Evidence against him, he swore he was a notorious Prieft and Jefuit. This is a Miracle the wrong Side outwards!

IX. The Doctor formerly fwore Abfolute Impoffibilities against the Papifts in Behalf of the King; now he fwears Moral Improbabilities in Behalf of the Diffenters against the King. This is a Prefbyterian Miracle!

X. The Doctor is a Preacher of the Gospel, yet no Christian; a Prieft, yet not baptized. This is little less than a Miracle!

XI. The

Oates's Narrative. +Stafford's Trial.

Jefuits Trial. Stafford's Trial. ** The Queen. + Coleman's Trial, †† Cafilemain's Trial. Colledge's laft Trial.

XI. The Doctor fwore, that Mr. Elliot (a Minifter of the Church of England) having been a circumcifed Slave, had poifoned his Patron; yet, (O Wonder!) the fame Patron is now alive again, and ready to atteft the direct Contrary. Now we hope none will deny, but that the Raifing of the Dead is a Grand Miracle!

XII. The Doctor preach'd a Sermon, wherein he affirm'd, The Crucifixion of Christ was not available to Salvation, &c.* This indeed is not a Miracle, but it is a Piece of the newest and most refined True-Proteftant-Reformation, ever yet come to Light fince the Primitive Times of Blafphemy and Atheism; and may justly give a Luftre and Credit to all the other Miracles here attested.

If it be objected against thefe folid Proofs; That, for a Profligated Wretch of a loft Confcience and a defperate Fortune, allured by Gain, and encouraged by Indemnities, to fwear palpable Contradictions and Nonfenfe, is no great Miracle! It is anfwer'd; the lefs the Miracle is in fo Swearing, the greater ftill the Miracle is in being Believed; efpecially, when Sodomy, Buggery, Felony, nay, and Perjury too, proved upon him by his own Supporters, D~~ T, and Sthrewdly diminish the Credit of his Evidence.

This is a Miracle with a Witness.

Thus I have in fhort (omitting Hundreds of Arguments more of the like Nature) clearly demonftrated, not only that our Renowned Doctor and Swearing-Master bath wrought Grand Miracles; but also that the Magnitude of the Miracles, and Holiness of the Saint, bear equal Proportion.

Ex Ungue cognofce Leonem.

Plain Dealing is a Jewel, and Honesty the best Policy. In Answer to a Letter received by a Gentleman in London, from his Friend in the Country. 1682.

S

INCE the Arguments I have used for obtaining your Excufe have been fo far from prevailing, that on the contrary you are pleased, by your laft, pofitively to command my Sentiments of the prefent Conjuncture of Affairs, and Thoughts concerning thofe fcandalous Reports induftriously spread throughout the Kingdom, of his Majefty's having had (for many Years paft) a Defign carrying on (and which is ftill kept on foot) for the introducing arbitrary Power, setting up Popery, invading Liberty and Property, and extirpating (if poffible) the Proteftant Religion established by Law.

I fhall with Sincerity recount to you my Judgment, and offer fuch Reasons as I hope will convince all fober and unbiaffed Readers to be of Opinion, that thefe Reports are all falfe and malicious, having nothing of Truth in them, but occafioned as followeth :

Aaa 2

There

* Before the Company of Weavers.

+ Colledge's Trial.