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<DATE>2013-01-08</DATE>
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<NAME>Alexis Jakobson</NAME>
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<P>THE VINDICATION: OR THE PARALLEL OF THE <HI>FRENCH</HI> HOLY-LEAGUE, AND THE. Engli&s;h League and Covenant, Turn'd into a Seditious Libell again&s;t the KING and his ROYAL HIGHNESS, BY <HI>Thomas Hunt</HI> and the Authors of the <HI>Reflections</HI> upon the Pretended Parallel in the Play called The DUKE of <HI>G&V;ISE.</HI></P>
<P>Written by Mr. <HI>DRYDEN.</HI></P>
<Q><L>Turno tempus erit magno c&ugrave;m optaverit emptum</L>
<L>Intactum Pallanta: &amp; c&ugrave;m &s;polia i&s;ta, diem&abque;</L>
<L>Oderit.&mdash;</L></Q>
<P><HI>LONDON,</HI> Printed for <HI>Jacob Ton&s;on</HI> at the <HI>Judges Head</HI> in <HI>Chancery-Lane,</HI> near <HI>Fleet&s;treet,</HI> <ABBR>MDCLXXXIII.</ABBR></P>
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<PB N="1" REF="2">
<HEAD>THE VINDICATION OF THE Duke of Gui&s;e.</HEAD>
<P>IN the Year of His Maje&s;ty's Happy Re&s;tauration, the Fir&s;t Play I undertook was <HI>the Duke of Gui&s;e,</HI> as the Faire&s;t way, which <HI>the Act of Indempnity</HI> had then left us, of &s;etting forth the <HI>Ri&s;e</HI> of the <HI>Late Re|bellion;</HI> and by <HI>Exploding</HI> the Villanies of it upon the <HI>Stage,</HI> to <HI>Precaution Po&s;terity</HI> again&s;t the Like Errors.</P>
<P>As This was my <HI>Fir&s;t E&s;&s;ay;</HI> &s;o it met with the For|tune of an <HI>&V;nfini&s;ht Piece;</HI> that is to &s;ay, It was Damn'd in Private, by the Advice of &s;ome Friends to whom I &s;hew'd it; who freely told me, that it was an Excellent Subject; but not &s;o Artificially wrought, as they could have wi&s;h'd: And now let my Enemies make their Be&s;t of This Confe&s;&s;ion.</P>
<P>The <HI>Scene</HI> of the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;e</HI>'s <HI>Return</HI> to <HI>Paris,</HI> AGAINST the King's <HI>Po&s;itive Command,</HI> was then written; I have the Copy of it &s;till by me, almo&s;t the &s;ame which it now remains, being taken <HI>Verbatim</HI> out of <HI>Davila:</HI> For where the <HI>Action</HI> is <HI>Remarkable,</HI> and the very <HI>words Related,</HI> the Poet is not at liberty to change them much; and if he will be adding any thing for <HI>Or|nament,</HI>
<PB N="2" REF="3">it ought to be <HI>wholly of a piece.</HI> This do I take for a &s;ufficient Ju&s;tification of that Scene, unle&s;s they will make the <HI>pretended Parallel</HI> to be a <HI>Prophecy,</HI> as well as a <HI>Parallel</HI> of <HI>Accidents,</HI> that were <HI>twenty years after to come.</HI> Neither do I find that they can &s;ugge&s;t the lea&s;t colour for't in any other part of the Tragedy.</P>
<P>But now comes the main Objection, <HI>Why was it &s;topt then?</HI> To which I &s;hall render this ju&s;t Account, with all due Re&s;pects to tho&s;e who were the Occa&s;ion of it.</P>
<P>Upon a wandering Rumour (which I will divide be|twixt <HI>Malice</HI> and <HI>Mi&s;take</HI>) that &s;ome Great Per&s;ons were repre&s;ented or per&s;onated in it, the Matter was com|plain'd of to my Lord <HI>Chamberlain;</HI> who, thereupon, ap|pointed the Play to be brought to him, and prohibited the Acting of it till further Order; commanding me, after this, to wait upon his Lord&s;hip; which I did, and hum|bly de&s;ir'd him to compare the <HI>Play</HI> with the <HI>Hi&s;tory,</HI> from whence the Subject was taken, referring to the <HI>Fir&s;t Scene</HI> of the <HI>Fourth Act,</HI> whereupon the <HI>Exception</HI> was <HI>grounded,</HI> and leaving <HI>Davila</HI> (the <HI>Original</HI>) with his Lord&s;hip. This was before <HI>Mid&s;ummer;</HI> and about two Months after, I receiv'd the Play back again from his Lord&s;hip, but without any po&s;itive Order whether it <HI>&s;hould</HI> be Acted or <HI>not;</HI> neither was Mr. <HI>Lee</HI> or <HI>my &s;elf</HI> any way &s;olicitous about it: But this indeed I ever &s;aid, That it was intended for the <HI>King's Service;</HI> and <HI>his Ma|je&s;ty</HI> was the be&s;t <HI>Judge,</HI> whether it an&s;wer'd that End or no; and that I reckon'd it my duty to &s;ubmit, if his Maje&s;ty, for any Rea&s;on what&s;oever, &s;hould deem it unfit for the <HI>Stage.</HI> In the <HI>interim,</HI> a &s;trict Scrutiny was made, and <HI>no Parallel</HI> of the Great Per&s;on de&s;ign'd, could be made out. But this Pu&s;h failing, there were immediately &s;tarted &s;ome terrible In&s;inuations, that the <HI>Per&s;on</HI> of his <HI>Majesty</HI> was <HI>repre&s;ented</HI> under that of <HI>Henry the Third;</HI> which if they could have found out, would have conclu|ded, perchance, not only in the <HI>&s;topping</HI> of the <HI>Play,</HI> but
<PB N="3" REF="3">in the <HI>hanging up</HI> of the <HI>Poets.</HI> But &s;o it was, that his Maje&s;ty's <HI>Wi&s;dom</HI> and <HI>Justice,</HI> acquitted both the <HI>One,</HI> and the <HI>Other;</HI> and when the <HI>Play it &s;elf</HI> was almo&s;t <HI>forgotten,</HI> there were Orders given for the <HI>Acting</HI> of it.</P>
<P>This is Matter of <HI>Fact;</HI> and I have the Honour of &s;o Great Witne&s;&s;es to the truth of what I have deliver'd, that it will need no other Appeal. As to the Expo&s;ing of any Per&s;on living, our innocency is &s;o clear, that it is almo&s;t unnece&s;&s;ary to &s;ay, <HI>It was not in my Thought;</HI> and as far as any one Man can vouch for another, I do believe it was as little in Mr. <HI>Lee</HI>'s. And now &s;ince &s;ome People have been &s;o bu&s;ie as to ca&s;t out fal&s;e and &s;candalous Sur|mi&s;es, how far we two agreed upon the Writing of it, I mu&s;t do a common Right both to Mr. <HI>Lee</HI> and <HI>my &s;elf,</HI> to declare publickly that it was at his earne&s;t De&s;ire, without any Solicitation of mine, that this Play was produced betwixt us. After the writing of <HI>Oedipus,</HI> I pa&s;s'd a Promi&s;e to joyn with him in another; and he happen'd to claim the performance of that Promi&s;e, ju&s;t upon the fini&s;hing of a Poem, when I would have been glad of a little re&s;pite before the undertaking of a &s;econd Task. The Per&s;on that pa&s;s'd betwixt us, knows this to be true; and Mr. <HI>Lee</HI> him&s;elf, I am &s;ure, will not di&s;own it: So that I did not <HI>[&s;educe him to joyn with me]</HI> as the malicious Authors of the <HI>Reflections</HI> are pleas'd to call it; but Mr. <HI>Lee</HI>'s <HI>Loyalty</HI> is above &s;o <HI>ridi|culous</HI> a <HI>Slander.</HI> I know very well, that the Town did ignorantly call and take this to be <HI>my Play;</HI> but I &s;hall not arrogate to my &s;elf the Merits of my Friend. <HI>Two thirds</HI> of it belong'd to <HI>him;</HI> and then to <HI>me</HI> only the <HI>Fir&s;t Scene</HI> of the Play; the whole <HI>Fourth Act,</HI> and the <HI>fir&s;t half,</HI> or &s;omewhat <HI>more</HI> of the <HI>Fifth.</HI></P>
<P>The Pamphleteers, I know, do very boldly in&s;inuate, that <HI>before the Acting of it, I took the whole Play to my &s;elf, but finding afterwards how ill &s;ucce&s;s it had upon the Stage, I threw as much of it as po&s;&s;ibly I could upon my Fellow.</HI>
<PB N="4" REF="4">Now here are <HI>three damn'd Lyes</HI> crowded together into a very little room: Fir&s;t, That I <HI>a&s;&s;um'd</HI> any part of it to my <HI>&s;elf,</HI> which I had not <HI>written;</HI> wherein I appeal, not only to my particular <HI>Acquaintance,</HI> but to the whole Company of <HI>Actors,</HI> who will witne&s;s for me, that in all the <HI>Rehear&s;als,</HI> I never pretended to any <HI>one Scene</HI> of Mr. <HI>Lee</HI>'s, but did him all imaginable Right, in his title to the <HI>greater part</HI> of it. I hope, I may, without <HI>Vanity,</HI> affirm to the World, that I never &s;tood in need of borrowing another mans Reputation; and I have been as little guilty of the <HI>Injustice,</HI> of laying claim to any thing which was not my own. Nay, I dur&s;t almo&s;t refer my &s;elf to &s;ome of the angry Poets on the other &s;ide, whether I have not rather <HI>countenanc'd</HI> and <HI>a&s;&s;i&s;ted their Beginnings,</HI> than <HI>hinder'd</HI> them from <HI>Ri&s;ing.</HI> The two other Fal&s;ities are, the <HI>ill &s;ucce&s;s of the Play,</HI> and <HI>my di&s;owning it.</HI> The former is manife&s;tly without <HI>Foundation;</HI> for it <HI>&s;ucceeded</HI> beyond my very <HI>hopes,</HI> having been frequently Acted, and never without a con&s;iderable Audience: And then 'tis a thou&s;and to one, that having <HI>no ground,</HI> to <HI>di&s;own</HI> it, I did not <HI>di&s;own</HI> it; but the <HI>&V;niver&s;e</HI> to a <HI>Nut-&s;hell</HI> that I did not <HI>di&s;own</HI> it for want of <HI>&s;ucce&s;s,</HI> when it <HI>&s;ucceeded</HI> &s;o much beyond my <HI>Expectation.</HI> But my malignant Ad|ver&s;aries are the more excu&s;able, for this cour&s;e method of breaking in upon <HI>Truth</HI> and <HI>good Manners,</HI> becau&s;e it is the only way they have to gratifie the <HI>Genius</HI> and the <HI>Intere&s;t</HI> of the <HI>Faction together;</HI> and never &s;o much pains taken neither, to &s;o very, very little purpo&s;e. They <HI>decry</HI> the <HI>Play,</HI> but in &s;uch a manner, that it has the Effect of a <HI>Recommendation.</HI> They call it a <HI>dull Enter|tainment;</HI> and that's a dangerous word, I mu&s;t confe&s;s, from one of the <HI>greatest Ma&s;ters</HI> in <HI>humane Nature,</HI> of <HI>that Faculty.</HI> Now I can forgive them this Reproach too, after all the re&s;t: For this Play does openly di&s;cover the Original and Root of the Practices and Principles, both of their Party and Cau&s;e; and they are &s;o well acquainted
<PB N="5" REF="4">with all the Trains and Mazes of Rebellion, that there's nothing new to them in the whole Hi&s;tory. Or what if it were a little in&s;ipid, there was no Conjuring that I re|member in <HI>Pope Joan:</HI> And the <HI>Lanca&s;hire Witches</HI> were without doubt, the mo&s;t <HI>in&s;ipid</HI> Jades that ever flew up|on a Stage; and yet even <HI>The&s;e</HI> by the favour of a <HI>Party</HI> made a &s;hift to hold up their heads. Now if we have out-done the&s;e Plays in their own <HI>dull way,</HI> their Au|thors have &s;ome &s;ort of <HI>priviledge</HI> to throw the <HI>first &s;tone:</HI> But we &s;hall rather choo&s;e to <HI>yield</HI> the Point of <HI>Dulne&s;s,</HI> than <HI>contend</HI> for it, again&s;t &s;o indi&s;putable a Claim.</P>
<P>But <HI>Matters of State</HI> (it &s;eems) <HI>are canva&s;&s;ed on the Stage, and things of the Grave&s;t Concernment there ma|naged:</HI> And who were the <HI>Aggre&s;&s;ors,</HI> I be&s;eech you but a few <HI>factious, popular Hirelings,</HI> that by <HI>tampering</HI> the <HI>Theatres,</HI> and by <HI>poy&s;oning</HI> the <HI>People,</HI> made a <HI>Play-hou&s;e</HI> more Seditious than a <HI>Conventicle:</HI> So that the <HI>Loyal Party</HI> crave only the &s;ame freedom of <HI>defending</HI> the <HI>Go|vernment,</HI> which the other took before-hand of <HI>expo&s;ing</HI> and <HI>defaming</HI> it. There was no complaint of any <HI>Di&s;|orders</HI> of the <HI>Stage</HI> in the Bus&s;le, that was made (even to the <HI>forming</HI> of a <HI>Party</HI>) to uphold a <HI>Farce</HI> of <HI>Theirs.</HI> Upon the Fir&s;t day, the whole Faction (in a manner) appeared; but after One &s;ight of it, they &s;ent their <HI>Proxies</HI> of <HI>Serving-men</HI> and <HI>Porters</HI> to <HI>Clap</HI> in the Right of their Patrons: And it was impo&s;&s;ible ever to have gotten off the <HI>Non&s;ence</HI> of <HI>three hours</HI> for <HI>Half a Crown,</HI> but for the Providence of &s;o <HI>Congruous</HI> an <HI>Audience.</HI> Thus far, I pre|&s;ume, the <HI>Reckoning</HI> is even, for <HI>Bad Plays,</HI> on <HI>Both Sides;</HI> and for <HI>Plays</HI> written for a <HI>Party.</HI> I &s;hall &s;ay nothing of <HI>their Poets Affection</HI> to the <HI>Government,</HI> unle&s;s upon an <HI>ab|&s;olute</HI> and an <HI>odious nece&s;&s;ity.</HI> But to return to the <HI>Pre|tended Parallel.</HI></P>
<P>I have &s;aid enough already to convince any man of common &s;en&s;e, That there neither <HI>was,</HI> nor could be any
<PB N="6" REF="5"><HI>Parallel intended:</HI> And it will farther appear, from the <HI>nature</HI> of the <HI>Subject;</HI> there being no <HI>Relation</HI> betwixt <HI>Henry the Third</HI> and the <HI>Duke of Gui&s;e,</HI> except that of the <HI>Kings</HI> marrying into the Family of <HI>Lorrain.</HI> If a Com|pari&s;on had been de&s;ign'd, how ea&s;ie had it been either to have found a Story, or to have invented one, where the tyes of nature had been nearer? If we con&s;ider their <HI>Actions</HI> or their <HI>Per&s;ons,</HI> a much le&s;s proportion will be yet found betwixt them: and if we bate the <HI>Popularity,</HI> perhaps none at all. If we con&s;ider them in reference to their <HI>Parties;</HI> the <HI>One</HI> was manife&s;tly the <HI>Leader,</HI> the <HI>Other,</HI> at the wor&s;t, is but <HI>mi&s;led.</HI> The <HI>De&s;igns</HI> of the <HI>One</HI> tended openly to <HI>&V;&s;urpation:</HI> tho&s;e of the <HI>Other</HI> may yet be interpreted more fairly; and I hope from the natural candour and probity of his temper, that it will come to a perfect &s;ubmi&s;&s;ion and reconcilement at la&s;t. But that which perfectly de&s;troys this <HI>pretended Parallel,</HI> is that <HI>our</HI> Picture of the <HI>Duke of Gui&s;e</HI> is exactly accord|ing to the <HI>Original</HI> in the <HI>History;</HI> his Actions, his Man|ners; nay, &s;ometimes his very Words, are &s;o ju&s;tly co|pied, that whoever has read him in <HI>Davila,</HI> &s;ees him the &s;ame here. There is no going out of the way, no da&s;h of a Pen to make any <HI>By-feature</HI> re&s;emble him to any other Man: and indeed, excepting his Ambition, there was not in <HI>France,</HI> or perhaps in any other Country, any man of his Age vain enough to hope he cou'd be mi&s;taken for him. So that if we <HI>Wou'd</HI> have made a <HI>Parallel,</HI> we <HI>Cou'd</HI> not. And yet I fancy, that where I make it my bu&s;ine&s;s to draw <HI>Likene&s;s,</HI> It will be no hard matter to judg who &s;ate for the <HI>Picture.</HI> For the <HI>Duke of Gui&s;es return to Paris contrary to the Kings Order,</HI> enough al|ready has been &s;aid; 'Twas too con&s;iderable in the Story to be omitted, becau&s;e it occa&s;ion'd the mi&s;chiefs that en|&s;ued: But in <HI>this likene&s;s</HI> which was only <HI>Ca&s;ual,</HI> no dan|ger follow'd. I am confident there was none intended; and am &s;atisfied that none was fear'd. But the Argument
<PB N="7" REF="5">drawn from our evident de&s;ign is yet, if po&s;&s;ible, more convincing. The fir&s;t words of the <HI>Prologue</HI> &s;pake the <HI>Play</HI> to be a <HI>Parallel,</HI> and then you are immediately in|form'd how far that <HI>Parallel</HI> extended, and of what it is &s;o. <HI>The Holy League begot the Covenant, Gui&s;ards got the Whig, &amp;c.</HI> So then it is not, (as the &s;harling Authors of the <HI>Reflections</HI> tell you) a Parallel of the <HI>Men,</HI> but of the <HI>Times.</HI> A Parallel of the <HI>Factions,</HI> and of the <HI>Leaguers.</HI> And every one knows that this Prologue was written before the &s;topping of the Play. Neither was the name alter'd on any &s;uch account as they in&s;inuate, but laid a|&s;ide long before, becau&s;e a Book call'd the <HI>Parallel</HI> had been printed, re&s;embling the <HI>French League,</HI> to the <HI>En|gli&s;h Covenant;</HI> and therefore we thought it not conveni|ent to make u&s;e of another mans Title. The <HI>chief per&s;on</HI> in the <HI>Tragedy,</HI> or He who&s;e <HI>di&s;a&s;ters</HI> are the <HI>Subject</HI> of it, may in rea&s;on give the Name; and &s;o it was call'd the <HI>Duke of Gui&s;e.</HI> Our intention therefore was to make the Play a Parallel, betwixt the <HI>Holy League</HI> plotted by the Hou&s;e of <HI>Gui&s;e</HI> and its <HI>Adhaerents,</HI> with the <HI>Covenant</HI> plotted by the <HI>Rebels</HI> in the time of King <HI>Charles</HI> the <HI>Fir&s;t,</HI> and tho&s;e of the <HI>new A&s;&s;ociation,</HI> which was the Spawn of the <HI>old Covenant.</HI></P>
<P>But <HI>This Parallel</HI> is plain, that the <HI>Exclu&s;ion</HI> of the <HI>Law|ful Heir</HI> was the main de&s;ign of <HI>Both Parties:</HI> and that the endeavours to get the <HI>Lieutenancy</HI> of <HI>France</HI> e&s;ta|bli&s;hed on the <HI>Head</HI> of the <HI>League,</HI> is in effect the &s;ame with offering to get the <HI>Militia</HI> out of the <HI>Kings hands</HI> (as declar'd by Parliament) and con&s;equently that the pow|er of Peace and War &s;hould be wholly in the People. 'Tis al&s;o true that the <HI>Tumults</HI> in the <HI>City,</HI> in the choice of their <HI>Officers</HI> have had no &s;mall re&s;emblance with a <HI>Pari&s;ian Rabble.</HI> And I am afraid that both <HI>Their Faction</HI> and <HI>Ours</HI> had the <HI>&s;ame Good Lord.</HI> I believe al&s;o that if <HI>Julian</HI> had been written and calculated for the <HI>Pari&s;ians,</HI> as it was for <HI>our Sectaries,</HI> one of <HI>their Sheriffs</HI> might have
<PB N="8" REF="6">mi&s;taken too, and call'd him <HI>Julian</HI> the <HI>Apo&s;tle.</HI> I &s;up|po&s;e I need not pu&s;h this Point any further, where the <HI>Parallel</HI> was intended, I am certain it will reach: But a larger account of the Proceedings in the City may be ex|pected from a better hand, and I have no rea&s;on to fore|&s;tall it. In the mean time, becau&s;e there has been no <HI>Actual Rebellion,</HI> the Faction triumph in their <HI>Loyalty;</HI> which if it were out of <HI>Principle,</HI> all our divi&s;ions would &s;oon be ended, and we the happy People, which God and the Con&s;titution of our Government have put us in condition to be: but &s;o long as they take it for a <HI>Maxim,</HI> that the <HI>King</HI> is but an <HI>Officer in Tru&s;t,</HI> that the <HI>People,</HI> or their <HI>Repre&s;entatives</HI> are <HI>&s;uperiour</HI> to him, Judges of <HI>Mi&s;carriages,</HI> and have power of <HI>Revocation,</HI> 'tis a plain ca&s;e, that when ever they plea&s;e they may take up arms; and, according to <HI>Their</HI> Doctrine, <HI>lawfully</HI> too. Let them joyntly renounce this one opinion, as in Con&s;cience and Law they are bound to do, becau&s;e both Scripture and Acts of Parliament oblige them to it, and we will then thank their <HI>Obedience</HI> for our quiet, whereas now we are only beholding to them for their <HI>Fear.</HI> The mi&s;eries of the la&s;t War are yet too fre&s;h in all mens memory: and they are <HI>not</HI> Rebels only becau&s;e they have been &s;o <HI>too lately.</HI> An Author of theirs has told us roundly the <HI>We&s;t-Country Proverb; Chad eat more Chee&s;e and chad it:</HI> Their Stomach is as good as ever it was; but the mi&s;chief on't is, they are either <HI>Muzled</HI> or want their <HI>Teeth.</HI> If there were as many <HI>Fanatiques</HI> now in <HI>England,</HI> as there were <HI>Chri&s;tians</HI> in the <HI>Empire,</HI> when <HI>Julian</HI> reign'd, I doubt we &s;hould not find them much enclin'd to <HI>pa&s;&s;ive obedience;</HI> and <HI>Cur&s;e ye Meroz</HI> wou'd be oftner preach'd upon, than <HI>Give to Cae&s;ar,</HI> except in the &s;en&s;e <HI>Mr. Hunt</HI> means it.</P>
<P>Having clearly &s;hown wherein the <HI>Parallel</HI> con&s;i&s;ted, which no man can mi&s;take, who does not wilfully; I need not ju&s;tifie my &s;elf, in what concerns the &s;acred Per&s;on of his Maje&s;ty. Neither the <HI>French Hi&s;tory,</HI> nor our own
<PB N="9" REF="6">could have &s;upplied me, nor <HI>Plutarch</HI> him&s;elf, were he now alive, could have found a <HI>Greek</HI> or <HI>Roman</HI> to have compared to him, in that eminent vertue of his <HI>Clemency;</HI> even his enemies mu&s;t acknowledge it to be <HI>Superlative,</HI> becau&s;e they live by it. Far be it from flattery, if I &s;ay, that there is nothing under Heaven, which can furni&s;h me with a <HI>Parallel;</HI> and that in his <HI>Mercy,</HI> he is of all men the <HI>True&s;t Image</HI> of his <HI>Maker.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Henry the Third</HI> was a Prince of a <HI>mix'd Character;</HI> he had, as an old <HI>Hi&s;torian</HI> &s;ays of another, <HI>Magnas virtutes, nec minora vitia:</HI> but among&s;t tho&s;e vertues, I do not find his <HI>forgiving qualities</HI> to be much celebrated. That he was deeply engag'd in the bloody <HI>Ma&s;&s;acre</HI> of <HI>St. Bar|tholomew,</HI> is notoriou&s;ly known: and if the relation print|ed in the <HI>Memoires of Villeroy</HI> be true, he confe&s;&s;es there that the <HI>Admiral</HI> having brought him and the Queen Mo|ther into &s;u&s;pition with his Brother then reigning, for en|deavouring to le&s;&s;en his Authority, and draw it to them|&s;elves, he fir&s;t de&s;ign'd his Accu&s;ers death by <HI>Maurevel,</HI> who &s;hot him with a <HI>Carabine,</HI> but fail'd to kill him; after which, he pu&s;h'd on the <HI>King</HI> to that <HI>dreadful Revenge,</HI> which immediately &s;ucceeded. 'Tis true, the Provocations were high, there had been reiterated Rebellions, but a Peace was now concluded; it was &s;olemnly <HI>Sworn</HI> to by <HI>both Parties,</HI> and as great an a&s;&s;urance of <HI>Safety,</HI> given to the <HI>Prote&s;tants,</HI> as the <HI>Word of a King and Publick In&s;tru|ments</HI> could make it. Therefore the Puni&s;hment was ex|ecrable, and it plea&s;'d God, (if we may dare to judge of his &s;ecret Providence) to cut off that King in the very flower of his Youth, to bla&s;t his Succe&s;&s;or in his Under|takings, to rai&s;e again&s;t him the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;e,</HI> the Com|plotter and Executioner of that inhumane Action (who by the Divine Ju&s;tice, fell afterwards into the &s;ame &s;nare which he had laid for others) and finally, to dye a violent Death him&s;elf; murder'd by a <HI>Prie&s;t,</HI> an <HI>Enthu&s;iast</HI> of <HI>his
<PB N="10" REF="7">own Religion.</HI> From the&s;e Premi&s;&s;es, let it be concluded. if rea&s;onably it can, that we could draw a <HI>Parallel,</HI> where the lines were &s;o diametrically oppo&s;ite. We were indeed obliged by the Laws of Poetry, to ca&s;t into <HI>Shadows</HI> the <HI>vices</HI> of this <HI>Prince;</HI> for an Excellent Critique has lately told us, that <HI>when a KING is nam'd, a HEROE is &s;uppo&s;'d:</HI> 'Tis a reverence due to Maje&s;ty, to make the Vertues as con&s;picuous, and the Vices as ob&s;cure as we can po&s;&s;ibly. And this we own, we have either perform'd, or at lea&s;t endeavour'd. But if we were more favourable to that Character than the exactne&s;s of Hi&s;tory would al|low, we have been far from dimini&s;hing a <HI>Greater,</HI> by drawing it into compari&s;on. You may &s;ee through the whole conduct of the Play, a <HI>King</HI> naturally <HI>&s;evere,</HI> and a <HI>re&s;olution</HI> carried on to <HI>revenge</HI> him&s;elf to the uttermo&s;t on the <HI>Rebellious Con&s;pirators.</HI> That this was &s;ometimes &s;haken by rea&s;ons of policy and pity, is confe&s;&s;'d; but it always return'd with greater force, and ended at la&s;t in the ruine of his Enemies. In the mean time, we cannot but ob&s;erve the wonderful Loyalty on the <HI>other</HI> Side; that the <HI>Play</HI> was to be &s;topp'd, becau&s;e the <HI>King</HI> was <HI>repre&s;ented.</HI> May we have many &s;uch proofs of their Duty and re&s;pect: but there was no occa&s;ion for them here. 'Tis to be &s;uppo&s;'d, that his Maje&s;ty him&s;elf was made ac|quainted with this objection; if he were &s;o, he was the &s;upream and only Judg of it; and then the Event ju&s;tifies us: If it were in&s;pected only by tho&s;e whom he com|manded, 'tis hard if his own Officers and Servants &s;hould not &s;ee as much ill in it as other men, and be as willing to prevent it; e&s;pecially when there was no &s;ollicitation u&s;'d to have it acted. 'Tis known that noble per&s;on to whom it was referr'd, is a &s;evere Critique on good Sen&s;e, Decency, and Morality; and I can a&s;&s;ure the World, that the Rules of <HI>Horace</HI> are more familiar to <HI>him,</HI> than they are to <HI>me.</HI> He remembers too well that the <HI>vetus Comae|dia</HI> was bani&s;h'd from the <HI>Athenian Theatre</HI> for its too
<PB N="11" REF="7">much licence in repre&s;enting per&s;ons, and would never have pardon'd it in this or any Play.</P>
<P>What opinion <HI>Henry the Third</HI> had of his <HI>Succe&s;&s;or,</HI> is evident from the words he &s;poke upon his <HI>Death-bed: He exhorted the Nobility</HI> (&s;ays <HI>Davila</HI>) <HI>to acknowledge the King of</HI> Navarre, <HI>to whom the Kingdom of right belong'd; and that they &s;hould not &s;tick at the difference of Religion: for both the King of</HI> Navarre, <HI>a man of a &s;incere noble na|ture, would in the end return into the bo&s;om of the Church, and the Pope being better inform'd, would receive him into his favour to prevent the ruine of the whole Kingdom.</HI> I hope I &s;hall not need in this Quotation to defend my &s;elf. as if it were my opinion, that the Pope has any right to di&s;|po&s;e of Kingdoms: my meaning is evident, that the Kings judgment of his Brother-in-law, was the &s;ame which I have copied: and I mu&s;t farther add from <HI>Davila,</HI> that the Arguments I have u&s;ed in defence of that <HI>Succe&s;sion,</HI> were chiefly drawn from the King's an&s;wer to the Deputies, as they may be &s;een more at large in page 730. and 731. of the fir&s;t Edition of that Hi&s;tory in <HI>Engli&s;h:</HI> There the three E&s;tates, to the wonder of all men joyntly con|curr'd in cutting off the <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion;</HI> the Clergy, who were manag'd by the Arch-bi&s;hop of <HI>Lyons,</HI> and Cardinal of <HI>Gui&s;e,</HI> were the fir&s;t who promoted it; and the Commons and Nobility afterwards con&s;ented, as referring them&s;elves (&s;ays our Author) to the <HI>Clergy;</HI> &s;o that there was only the <HI>King</HI> to &s;tand in the Gap; and he by artifice diver|ted that Storm which was breaking upon Po&s;terity.</P>
<P>The Crown was then reduced to the lowe&s;t Ebb of its Authority; and the King, in a manner, &s;tood &s;ingle, and yet pre&s;erv'd his <HI>Negative entire:</HI> but if the Clergy and Nobility had been on his part of the Ballance, it might rea&s;onably be &s;uppo&s;'d, that the meeting of tho&s;e E&s;tates at <HI>Blois,</HI> had heal'd the breaches of the Nation; and not
<PB N="12" REF="8">forc'd him to the <HI>ratio ultima Regum,</HI> which is never to be <HI>prai&s;'d,</HI> nor is it here, but only <HI>excu&s;'d</HI> as the la&s;t re|&s;ult of his nece&s;&s;ity. As for the <HI>Parallel</HI> betwixt the King of <HI>Navarre,</HI> and any other Prince now living, what like|ne&s;s the God of Nature, and the de&s;cent of Vertues in the &s;ame channel have produced, is evident; I have only to &s;ay that the Nation certainly is happy where the Royal Vertues of the Progenitors are deriv'd on their De&s;cen|dants.</P>
<P>In that Scene, 'tis true, there is but <HI>one</HI> of the <HI>Three Estates mention'd;</HI> but the <HI>Other two</HI> are virtually <HI>inclu|ded;</HI> for the <HI>Arch-bi&s;hop</HI> and <HI>Cardinal</HI> are at the head of the <HI>Deputies:</HI> and that the <HI>re&s;t</HI> are <HI>mute per&s;ons,</HI> every Cri|tique under&s;tands the rea&s;on, <HI>ne quarta loqui per&s;ona labo|boret;</HI> I am never willing to cumber the Stage with many Speakers, when I can rea&s;onably avoid it; as here I might. And what if I had a mind to pa&s;s over the Clergy and Nobility of <HI>France</HI> in &s;ilence, and to excu&s;e them from joyning in &s;o <HI>illegal</HI> and &s;o <HI>ungodly</HI> a <HI>Decree?</HI> Am I ty'd in <HI>Poetry,</HI> to the &s;trict rules of <HI>Hi&s;tory?</HI> I have follow'd it in this Play more clo&s;ely, than &s;uited with the Laws of the <HI>Drama,</HI> and a great Victory they will have, who &s;hall di&s;cover to the World this wonderful Secret, that I have not ob&s;erv'd the Unities of <HI>place</HI> and <HI>time;</HI> but are they better kept in the <HI>Farce</HI> of the <HI>Libertine destroy'd?</HI> 'Twas our common bu&s;ine&s;s here to draw the <HI>Parallel</HI> of the Times, and not to make an <HI>Exact Tragedy:</HI> For this once we were re&s;olv'd to erre with hone&s;t <HI>Shake&s;pear:</HI> nei|ther can <HI>Catiline</HI> or <HI>Sejanus,</HI> (written by the great Ma&s;ter of our Art) &s;tand excu&s;'d any more than we, from this exception: but if <HI>we</HI> mu&s;t be <HI>critici&s;'d,</HI> &s;ome Plays of our <HI>Adver&s;aries</HI> may be expo&s;'d, and let them reckon their gains vvhen the di&s;pute is ended. I am accu&s;'d of <HI>ignorance,</HI> for &s;peaking of the <HI>Third E&s;tate,</HI> as <HI>not &s;itting in the &s;ame Hou&s;e with the other two:</HI> Let not tho&s;e Gentle|men
<PB N="13" REF="8">mi&s;take them&s;elves, there are many things in <HI>Plays</HI> to be accommodated to the Country in vvhich vve live; I &s;poke to the under&s;tanding of an <HI>Engli&s;h Audience; Our three E&s;tates</HI> novv &s;it, and have long done &s;o in <HI>Two Hou&s;es;</HI> but our <HI>Records</HI> bear witne&s;s, that they, accord|ing to the <HI>French Custom,</HI> have &s;ate in one; that is the <HI>Lords Spiritual</HI> and <HI>Temporal within</HI> the <HI>Barr,</HI> and the <HI>Commons</HI> without it. If that Cu&s;tom had been &s;till con|tinued here, it &s;hould have been &s;o repre&s;ented; but be|ing otherwi&s;e, I was forc'd to write &s;o as to be under|&s;tood by our own Country-men. If the&s;e be Errours, a <HI>Bigger</HI> Poet than either of us two has fallen into greater, and the Proofs are ready, whenever the Suit &s;hall be re|commenc'd.</P>
<P>Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> the <HI>Jehu</HI> of the Party, begins very furiou&s;ly with me, and &s;ays I have already <HI>condemn'd the Charter and City,</HI> and have <HI>executed the Magistrates in Effigie upon the Stage, in a Play call'd the</HI> Duke of Gui&s;e, <HI>frequently acted, and applauded, &amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Compare the latter end of this Sentence with what the <HI>Two Authors of the Reflections,</HI> or perhaps the <HI>A&s;&s;ociating Clubb</HI> of the <HI>Devil-Tavern</HI> write in the beginning of their Libel. <HI>Never was Mountain deliver'd of &s;uch a Mou&s;e; the fierce&s;t Tories have been a&s;ham'd to defend this Piece: they who have any &s;parks of wit among them are &s;o true to their plea&s;ure, that they will not &s;uffer dulne&s;s to pa&s;s upon them for wit, nor tediou&s;ne&s;s for diver&s;ion: which is the rea&s;on that this Piece has not met with the expected applau&s;e: I never &s;aw a Play more deficient in Wit, good Characters or Entertainment, than this is.</HI></P>
<P>For &s;hame, Gentlemen, pack your Evidence a little better again&s;t another time: You &s;ee, <HI>My Lord Chief Baron,</HI> has delivered his Opinion, that <HI>the Play was fre|quently
<PB N="14" REF="9">acted and applauded;</HI> but you of the <HI>Jury,</HI> have found <HI>Ignoramus,</HI> on the <HI>Wit</HI> and the <HI>Succe&s;s</HI> of it. <HI>Oates, Dugdale</HI> and <HI>Turbervile,</HI> never di&s;agreed <HI>more</HI> than you do; let us know at la&s;t, which of the Witne&s;&s;es are <HI>true Prote&s;tants,</HI> and which are <HI>Iri&s;h.</HI> But it &s;eems your Au|thors had contrary De&s;igns: Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> thought fit to &s;ay, it was <HI>frequently acted and applauded, becau&s;e,</HI> &s;ays he, <HI>it was intended to provoke the Rabble into Tumults and Di&s;|order.</HI> Now if it were not &s;een frequently, this Argu|ment would lo&s;e &s;omewhat of its force; the <HI>Reflectors</HI> bu&s;ine&s;s went another way, it was to be allow'd <HI>no Re|putation, no Succe&s;s,</HI> but to be damn'd Root and Branch, to prevent the Prejudice it might do their Party; ac|cordingly, as much as in them lay, they have drawn a Bill of <HI>Exclu&s;ion</HI> for it on the <HI>Stage;</HI> But what <HI>Rabble</HI> was it to provoke? Are the <HI>Audience</HI> of a <HI>Play-hou&s;e</HI> (which are generally Per&s;ons of Honour, Noblemen and Ladies, or at wor&s;t, as one of your Authors calls his Gallants, <HI>Men of Wit and Plea&s;ure about the Town</HI>) are <HI>the&s;e</HI> the <HI>Rabble</HI> of Mr. <HI>Hunt?</HI> I have &s;een a <HI>Rabble</HI> at Sir <HI>Edmundbury Godfreys</HI> Night, and have heard of &s;uch a name, at <HI>true Prote&s;tant Meeting-hou&s;es;</HI> but a <HI>Rabble</HI> is not to be provoked, where it never comes. Indeed, we had one in this Tragedy, but it was upon the <HI>Stage;</HI> and that's the Rea&s;on, why your <HI>Reflectors</HI> would break the Gla&s;s, which has &s;hewed them their own Faces. The bu&s;ine&s;s of the <HI>Theatre,</HI> is to expo&s;e <HI>Vice</HI> and <HI>Folly;</HI> to di&s;&s;wade men by Examples from one, and to &s;hame them out of the other. And however you may pervert our good intentions, it was here particularly to reduce men to Loyalty, by &s;hewing the pernicious con&s;equences of Rebellion, and Popular In&s;urrections. I believe no man, who loves the Government, would be glad, to &s;ee the <HI>Rabble</HI> in &s;uch a po&s;ture, as they were repre&s;ented in our Play: But if the <HI>Tragedy</HI> had ended, on <HI>your &s;ide,</HI> the <HI>Play</HI> had been a <HI>Loyal Witty Poem,</HI> the Suc|ce&s;s
<PB N="15" REF="9">of it, &s;hould have been recorded by immortal <HI>Og</HI> or <HI>Doeg,</HI> and the <HI>Rabble Scene,</HI> &s;hould have been <HI>true Pro|te&s;tant,</HI> though a <HI>Whig Devil</HI> were at the <HI>Head</HI> of it.</P>
<P>In the mean time, pray, where lies the Relation, be|twixt the <HI>Tragedy of the Duke of Gui&s;e,</HI> and the <HI>Charter of London?</HI> Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> has found a rare connexion, for he tacks them together, by the kicking of the <HI>Sheriffs:</HI> That Chain of thought was a little ominous, for &s;omething like a kicking, has &s;ucceeded the Printing of his <HI>Book;</HI> and the <HI>Charter of London</HI> was the <HI>Quarrel.</HI> For my part, I have not Law enough to &s;tate that que&s;tion, much le&s;s decide it; let the <HI>Charter</HI> &s;hift for it &s;elf in <HI>We&s;t|min&s;ter Hall,</HI> the Government is &s;omewhat wi&s;er, than to imploy my ignorance on &s;uch a Subject; my pro|mi&s;e to hone&s;t <HI>Nat. Lee,</HI> was the only Bribe I had, to ingage me in this trouble; for which, he has the good fortune to e&s;cape <HI>Scot-free,</HI> and I am left in pawn for the Reckoning, who had the lea&s;t &s;hare in the Entertain|ment. But the Ri&s;ing, it &s;eems, &s;hould have been on the <HI>true Prote&s;tants &s;ide, for he has tryed,</HI> &s;ays ingenious Mr. <HI>Hunt, what he could do, towards making the Charter forfeitable, by &s;ome Extravagancy and Di&s;order of the Peo|ple.</HI> A wi&s;e man I had been doubtle&s;s for my pains, to rai&s;e the <HI>Rabble</HI> to a <HI>Tumult,</HI> where I had been certain|ly, one of the fir&s;t men, whom they had <HI>limn'd</HI> or <HI>drag'd</HI> to the next convenient <HI>Sign-Po&s;t.</HI></P>
<P>But on &s;econd thought, he &s;ays, this ought not to move the Citizens: he is much in the right; for the <HI>Rab|ble Scene</HI> was written on purpo&s;e, to keep his Party of them in the bounds of <HI>Duty.</HI> 'Tis the bu&s;ine&s;s of facti|ous men to &s;tir up the Populace: Sir <HI>Edmond on Hor&s;e|back,</HI> attended by a <HI>Swindging Pope in Effigie, and forty thou&s;and true Prote&s;tants</HI> for his Guard to Execution, are a Show more proper for that de&s;ign, than a <HI>thou &s;and Stage-Plays.</HI></P>
<PB N="16" REF="10">
<P>Well, he has fortified his Opinion with a Rea&s;on, however, why the People &s;hould not be moved; <HI>be|cau&s;e I have &s;o maliciou&s;ly and mi&s;chievou&s;ly repre&s;ented the King, and the Kings Son; nay, and his Favourite</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>the Duke too; to whom I give the wor&s;t &s;trokes of my unlucky Fancy.</HI></P>
<P>This need not be an&s;wered, for 'tis already manife&s;t, that neither the King, nor the Kings Son are repre|&s;ented, neither that Son, he means, nor any of the re&s;t, God ble&s;s them all. What &s;trokes of my unlucky Fancy, I have given to his Royal Highne&s;s, will be &s;een, and it will be &s;een al&s;o, who &s;trikes him wor&s;t and mo&s;t unluckily.</P>
<P><HI>The Duke of Gui&s;e,</HI> he tells us, <HI>ought to have repre|&s;ented a great Prince, that had in&s;erv'd to &s;ome mo&s;t de|te&s;table Villany, to plea&s;e the Rage or Lu&s;t of a Tyrant; &s;uch great Courtiers have been often &s;acrificed, to appea&s;e the Furies of the Tyrants guilty Con&s;cience; to expiate for his Sin, and to attone the People. For a Tyrant naturally &s;tands in fear of &s;uch wicked Mini&s;ters, is obnoxious to them, aw'd by them, and they drag him to greater evils, for their own impunity, than they perpetrated for his Plea&s;ure, and their own Ambition.</HI></P>
<P>Sure, he &s;aid not all this for nothing, I would know of him, on what per&s;ons he would fix the Sting of this &s;harp Satyr? <HI>What two</HI> they are, whom, to u&s;e his own Words, he <HI>&s;o maliciou&s;ly and mi&s;chievou&s;ly would repre&s;ent?</HI> For my part, I dare not under&s;tand the villany of his meaning; but &s;ome body was to have been &s;hown a <HI>Tyrant,</HI> and &s;ome other <HI>a great Prince, in&s;erving to &s;ome dete&s;table Villany, and to that Tyrants Rage and Lu&s;t;</HI> this great <HI>Prince</HI> or <HI>Courtier</HI> ought to be <HI>&s;acrificed,</HI> to attone the <HI>People,</HI> and the <HI>Tyrant</HI> is per&s;waded, for his own intere&s;t, to give him up to <HI>publick Justice.</HI> I &s;ay
<PB N="17" REF="10">no more, but that he has &s;tudied the Law to good pur|po&s;e. He is dancing on the Rope without a <HI>Metaphor,</HI> his knowledge of the Law is the Staff that poizes him, and &s;aves his Neck. The <HI>Party</HI> indeed &s;peaks out &s;ome|times, for wickedne&s;s is not always &s;o wi&s;e, as to be &s;e|cret, e&s;pecially when it is driven to de&s;pair. By &s;ome of their Di&s;cour&s;es, we may gue&s;s at whom he points; but he has fenc'd him&s;elf in with &s;o many Eva&s;ions, that he is &s;afe in his Sacriledge; and he who dares to an&s;wer him, may become obnoxious. 'Tis true, he breaks a little out of the Clouds, within two Paragraphs; for there he tells you, that <HI>Caius Cae&s;ar (to give unto</HI> Cae&s;ar, <HI>the things that are</HI> Cae&s;ars) <HI>was in the</HI> Catiline Con&s;piracy; a fine in&s;inu|ation this, to be &s;neer'd at by his Party, and yet not to be taken hold of by <HI>publick Ju&s;tice:</HI> They would be glad now, that I or any man, &s;hould bolt out their Co|vert Trea&s;on for them: for their loop hole is ready, that the <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI> here &s;poken of, was a private man. But the application of the Text, declares the Authors to be <HI>a|nother Cae&s;ar,</HI> which is &s;o black and &s;o infamous an a&s;per&s;ion, that nothing le&s;s than the highe&s;t clemency can leave it unpuni&s;h'd. I cou'd reflect on his ignorance in this place, for attributing the&s;e words to <HI>Cae&s;ar, he that is not with us, is again&s;t us:</HI> He &s;eems to have mi&s;taken them, out of the <HI>New Te&s;tament,</HI> and that's the be&s;t defence I can make for him; for if he did it knowingly, 'twas impiou&s;ly done, to put our <HI>Saviours words</HI> into <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI>'s mouth. But <HI>His Law</HI> and <HI>Our Go&s;pel,</HI> are <HI>two things;</HI> this Gentle|man's <HI>Knowledge</HI> is not of the <HI>Bible,</HI> any more than his <HI>Practice</HI> is <HI>according</HI> to it. He tells you, he will give the world a ta&s;t of my <HI>Athei&s;m</HI> and <HI>Impiety;</HI> for which he quotes the&s;e following Ver&s;es, in the &s;econd or third Act of the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;e.</HI></P>
<Q><L>For Con&s;cience or Heavens fear, religious Rules</L>
<L>Are all State-bells to toll in pious Fools.</L></Q>
<PB N="18" REF="11">
<P>In the fir&s;t place, he is mi&s;taken in his <HI>Man,</HI> for the Ver&s;es are not <HI>mine,</HI> but Mr. <HI>Lees:</HI> I ask'd him concern|ing them, and have this account, that they were &s;poken by the <HI>Devil;</HI> now, what can either <HI>Whig</HI> or <HI>Devil</HI> &s;ay, more proper to their <HI>Character,</HI> than that <HI>Religion</HI> is on|ly a <HI>Name,</HI> a <HI>Stalking hor&s;e,</HI> as errant a <HI>Property</HI> as <HI>Godli|ne&s;s,</HI> and <HI>Property them&s;elves</HI> are among&s;t <HI>their Party?</HI> yet for the&s;e two lines, which in the mouth that &s;peaks them, are of no offence, he hallooes on the whole pack, again&s;t me: <HI>Judge, Ju&s;tice, Surrogate,</HI> and <HI>Official</HI> are to be employed, at his Suit, to direct <HI>Proce&s;s,</HI> and boring through the <HI>Tongue</HI> for <HI>Bla&s;phemy,</HI> is the lea&s;t Puni&s;h|ment his <HI>Charity</HI> will allow me.</P>
<P>I find 'tis happy for me, that he was not made a <HI>Judge,</HI> and yet I had as lieve have him my <HI>Judge</HI> as my Council, if my Life were at &s;take. My poor Lord <HI>Staf|ford</HI> was well helpt up with this Gentleman for his Solici|tor; no doubt, he gave that unfortunate Nobleman, mo&s;t admirable advice toward the <HI>Saving</HI> of his life; and would have rejoyc'd exceedingly, to have &s;een him clear'd. I think, I have di&s;prov'd his in&s;tance of my <HI>Athei&s;m,</HI> it remains for him, to ju&s;tifie <HI>his Religion,</HI> in putting the words of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> into a <HI>Heathens</HI> mouth: and much more in his prophane allu&s;ion to the <HI>Scripture,</HI> in the other Text; <HI>Give unto</HI> Cae&s;ar, <HI>the things that are</HI> Cae&s;ars; which, if it be not a profanation of the Bible, for the &s;ake of a <HI>&s;illy Wittici&s;m,</HI> let all men, but his own Party judge. I am not malicious enough to return him the names which he has call'd me; but of all &s;ins, I thank God, I have al|ways abhor'd <HI>Athei&s;m:</HI> and I had need be a <HI>better Christi|an</HI> than Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> has &s;hown him&s;elf, if I forgive him &s;o infamous a <HI>Slander.</HI></P>
<P>But as he has mi&s;taken <HI>our Saviour</HI> for <HI>Julius Cae&s;ar,</HI> &s;o he would <HI>Pompey</HI> too, if he were let alone: to him, and
<PB N="19" REF="11">to his <HI>Cau&s;e,</HI> or to the like Cau&s;e it belong'd, he &s;ays, to u&s;e the&s;e words, <HI>he that is not with us is again&s;t us.</HI> I find he cares not who&s;e the Expre&s;&s;ion is, &s;o it be not Chri&s;ts. But how comes <HI>Pompey the Great</HI> to be a <HI>Whig?</HI> He was indeed, a Defender of the ancient e&s;tabli&s;h'd <HI>Ro|man Government;</HI> but <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI> was the <HI>Whig,</HI> who took up Arms unlawfully to <HI>&s;ubvert</HI> it. Our <HI>Liberties</HI> and our <HI>Religion</HI> both are &s;afe, they are &s;ecur'd to us by the <HI>Laws,</HI> and tho&s;e <HI>Laws</HI> are executed under an <HI>e&s;tabli&s;h'd Government,</HI> by a <HI>Lawful King.</HI> The <HI>Defender</HI> of our <HI>Faith,</HI> is the <HI>Defender</HI> of our <HI>Common Freedom;</HI> to <HI>Ca|bal,</HI> to <HI>Write,</HI> to <HI>Rail</HI> again&s;t this Admini&s;tration, are all <HI>Endeavours</HI> to de&s;troy the <HI>Government,</HI> and to oppo&s;e the <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion</HI> in any private man, is a <HI>Trea&s;onable Pactice</HI> again&s;t the <HI>Foundation</HI> of it. <HI>Pompey</HI> very honourably maintain'd the <HI>Liberty</HI> of his Country, which was go|vern'd by a <HI>Common-wealth:</HI> So that there lies no <HI>Pa|rallel</HI> betwixt his <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> and Mr. <HI>Hunts,</HI> except in the bare notion of a <HI>Common-wealth,</HI> as it is oppo&s;'d to <HI>Monarchy:</HI> and that's the thing he would obliquely &s;lur upon us. Yet on the&s;e Premi&s;&s;es, he is for ordering my <HI>Lord Chief Ju&s;tice,</HI> to grant out <HI>Warrants</HI> again&s;t all tho&s;e who have <HI>applauded the Duke of Gui&s;e;</HI> as if they committed a <HI>Riot</HI> when they <HI>Clapp'd:</HI> I &s;uppo&s;e they paid for their Places, as well as he and his Party did, who Hi&s;s'd. If he were not <HI>half Di&s;tracted,</HI> for not being <HI>Lord Chief Baron,</HI> me|thinks he &s;hould be Lawyer enough, to advi&s;e my Lord Chief Ju&s;tice better. To <HI>Clap</HI> and <HI>Hi&s;s</HI> are the Priviledges of a <HI>Free-born Subject</HI> in a <HI>Play-hou&s;e:</HI> they buy them with their Money, and their Hands and Mouths are their own Property: It belongs to the <HI>Ma&s;ter of the Revels,</HI> to &s;ee that no <HI>Trea&s;on</HI> or <HI>Immorality</HI> be in the <HI>Play;</HI> but when 'tis <HI>acted,</HI> let every man like or di&s;like freely: not but that re&s;pect &s;hould be us'd too, in the pre&s;ence of the King, for by his <HI>Permi&s;&s;ion</HI> the <HI>Actors</HI> are allow'd: 'Tis due to his <HI>Per&s;on,</HI> as he is <HI>Sacred,</HI> and to the Succe&s;&s;ors, as being
<PB N="20" REF="12">next related to him: there are opportunities enow for men to hi&s;s, who are &s;o di&s;po&s;'d, in their ab&s;ence: for when the King is in &s;ight, though but by accident, a Ma|lefactor is repriev'd from death: Yet &s;uch is the Duty, and good manners of the&s;e good Subjects, that they for|bore not &s;ome rudene&s;s in his Maje&s;ties pre&s;ence; but when his Royal Highne&s;s and his Court were only there, they pu&s;h'd it as far as their malice had power; and if their Party had been more numerous, the Affront had been greater.</P>
<P>The next Paragraph of our Authors, is a Panegyrique on the Duke of <HI>Monmouth,</HI> which concerns not me, who am very far from detracting from him: the Obligations I have had to him, were tho&s;e, of his Countenance, his Favour, his good Word, and his E&s;teem; all which I have likewi&s;e had in a greater mea&s;ure from his excellent Dutche&s;s, the Patrone&s;s of my poor unworthy Poetry. If I had not greater, the fault was never in their want of goodne&s;s to me, but in my own backwardne&s;s to ask, which has allways, and I believe will ever keep me from ri&s;ing in the World. Let this be enough, with rea|&s;onable men, to clear me from the imputation of an un|grateful man, with which my enemies have mo&s;t unju&s;tly tax'd me. If I am a mercenary Scribler, the Lords Com|mi&s;&s;ioners of the Trea&s;ury be&s;t know: I am &s;ure, they have found me no importunate Solicitor: for I know my &s;elf, I de&s;erv'd little, and therefore have never de&s;ir'd much. I return that &s;lander with ju&s;t di&s;dain on my ac|cu&s;ers; 'tis for men who have ill Con&s;ciences to &s;u&s;pect o|thers: I am re&s;olv'd to &s;tand or fall with the Cau&s;e of God, my King and Country; never to trouble my &s;elf for any railing a&s;per&s;ions which I have not de&s;erv'd, and to leave it as a Portion to my Children, that they had a Father, who dur&s;t do his duty, and was neither Cove|tous nor Mercenary.</P>
<PB N="21" REF="12">
<P>As little am I concern'd at that imputation of my back friends, that I have confe&s;s'd my &s;elf to be put on to write as I do: If they mean this Play in particular, that is no|toriou&s;ly prov'd again&s;t them to be fal&s;e: For the re&s;t of my Writings, my hatred of their Practi&s;es and Principles, was cau&s;e enough to expo&s;e them, as I have done, and will do more. I do not think as they do; for if I did, I mu&s;t think <HI>Trea&s;on:</HI> But I mu&s;t in con&s;cence write as I do, be|cau&s;e I <HI>know,</HI> which is more than <HI>thinking,</HI> that I write for a <HI>lawful e&s;tabli&s;h'd Government</HI> again&s;t <HI>Anarchy, Innovation,</HI> and <HI>Sedition:</HI> But <HI>the&s;e Lyes</HI> (as Prince <HI>Harry</HI> &s;aid to <HI>Fal|&s;taffe) are as gro&s;s as he that made them.</HI> More I need not &s;ay, for I am accu&s;'d without witne&s;s. I fear not any of their <HI>Evidences;</HI> not even him of <HI>Salamanca;</HI> who though he has di&s;own'd his <HI>Doctor&s;hip</HI> in <HI>Spain,</HI> yet there are &s;ome allow him to have taken a certain <HI>degree</HI> in <HI>Italy;</HI> a Climate they &s;ay more proper for his <HI>Ma&s;culine Con&s;titution.</HI> To conclude this ridiculous Accu&s;ation again&s;t me, I know but four men in their whole Party to whom I have &s;po|ken for above this year la&s;t pa&s;t; and with them neither but ca&s;ually and cur&s;orily. We have been acquaintance of a long &s;tanding, many years before this accur&s;ed Plot divided men into &s;everal Parties: I dare call them to wit|ne&s;s, whether the mo&s;t I have at any time &s;aid, will a|mount to more than this, that <HI>I hop'd the time would come when the&s;e names of</HI> Whig <HI>and</HI> Tory <HI>would cea&s;e among us; and that we might live together, as we had done formerly.</HI> I have &s;ince this Pamphet met accidentally with two of them; and I am &s;ure they are &s;o far from being my Accu&s;ers, that they have &s;everally own'd to me, that all men who e&s;pou&s;e a Party, mu&s;t expect to blacken'd by the contrary Side: that them&s;elves knew nothing of it, nor of the <HI>Authors</HI> of the <HI>Reflections.</HI> It remains there|fore to be con&s;ider'd, whether, if I were as much a <HI>Knave</HI> as they wou'd make me, I am <HI>Fool</HI> enough to be guil|ty
<PB N="22" REF="13">of this Charge: and whether they who rai&s;'d it, wou'd have made it publique, if they had thought I was theirs inwardly. For 'tis plain they are glad of wor&s;e Scriblers than I am, and maintain them too, as I could prove, if I envy'd them their mi&s;erable &s;ub&s;i&s;tance. I &s;ay no more, but let my Actions &s;peak for me: <HI>&s;pectemur agendo,</HI> that's the trial.</P>
<P>Much le&s;s am I concern'd at the noble name of <HI>Bayes;</HI> that's a <HI>Brat</HI> &s;o like his own <HI>Father,</HI> that he cannot be mi&s;taken for any other body: they might as rea&s;onably have call'd <HI>Tom Sternhold, Virgil,</HI> and the re&s;emblance would have held as well.</P>
<P>As for <HI>Knave</HI> and <HI>Sycophant,</HI> and <HI>Ra&s;cal,</HI> and <HI>Impudent,</HI> and <HI>Devil,</HI> and <HI>old Serpent,</HI> and a thou&s;and &s;uch Good|morrows, I take them to be only names of Parties: And cou'd return <HI>Murtherer</HI> and <HI>Cheat,</HI> and <HI>Whig-napper,</HI> and <HI>Sodomite;</HI> and in &s;hort the goodly number of the <HI>&s;eaven deadly Sins,</HI> with all their Kindred and Relations, which are Names of <HI>Parties</HI> too; but <HI>Saints</HI> will be <HI>Saints</HI> in &s;pight of Villainy. I believe they wou'd pa&s;s them&s;elves upon us for &s;uch a <HI>Compound</HI> as <HI>Mithridate,</HI> or <HI>Venice-Treacle;</HI> as if Whiggi&s;m were an admirable <HI>Cordial</HI> in the <HI>Ma&s;s,</HI> though the &s;everal <HI>Ingredients</HI> are ranck <HI>Poy&s;ons.</HI></P>
<P>But if I think either Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> a <HI>Villain,</HI> or know any of my <HI>Reflectors</HI> to be <HI>ungrateful Rogues,</HI> I do not owe them &s;o much kindne&s;s as to call them &s;o; for I am &s;atisfied that to prove them either, would but recommend them to their own Party. Yet if &s;ome will needs make a <HI>merit</HI> of their <HI>infamy,</HI> and provoke a <HI>Legend</HI> of their <HI>&s;ordid lives,</HI> I think they mu&s;t be gratify'd at la&s;t; and though I will not take the <HI>Scavengers</HI> employment from him, yet I may be per&s;waded to <HI>point</HI> at &s;ome mens doors, who have heaps of filth before them. But this mu&s;t be when
<PB N="23" REF="13">they have a little anger'd me; for hitherto I am provok'd no further than to &s;mile at them. And indeed, to look upon the whole Faction in a lump, never was a more plea|&s;ant &s;ight than to behold the&s;e builders of a new <HI>Babel,</HI> how ridiculou&s;ly they are mix'd, and what a rare confu|&s;ion there is among&s;t them. One part of them is carry|ing Stone and Mortar for the building of a <HI>Meeting-hou&s;e,</HI> another &s;ort under&s;tand not that Language; they are for &s;natching away their Work-fellows materials to &s;et up a <HI>Bawdy-hou&s;e:</HI> &s;ome of them <HI>bla&s;pheme,</HI> and others <HI>pray;</HI> and both I believe with equal godline&s;s at bottom: &s;ome of them are <HI>Atheists,</HI> &s;ome <HI>Sectaries,</HI> yet <HI>ALL True Prote&s;tants. Mo&s;t</HI> of them love <HI>all Whores,</HI> but her of <HI>Babylon.</HI> In few words, any man may be what he will, &s;o he be one of <HI>Them.</HI> 'Tis enough to de&s;pi&s;e the <HI>King,</HI> to hate the <HI>Duke,</HI> and rail at the <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion:</HI> after this 'tis no matter how a man lives; he is a <HI>Saint</HI> by <HI>infection;</HI> he goes along with the <HI>Party,</HI> has their <HI>mark</HI> upon him; his <HI>wickedne&s;s</HI> is no more than <HI>frailty; their righteou&s;ne&s;s</HI> is <HI>imputed</HI> to him: So that as <HI>ignorant rogues</HI> go out <HI>Do|ctors</HI> when a <HI>Prince</HI> comes to an <HI>&V;niver&s;ity,</HI> they hope at <HI>the last day,</HI> to take their <HI>Degree</HI> in a Crowd of <HI>True Prote&s;tants,</HI> and thru&s;t unheeded into Heaven.</P>
<P>'Tis a credit to be rayl'd at by &s;uch men as the&s;e. The <HI>Charter-man</HI> in the very <HI>Title-page,</HI> where he hangs out the <HI>Cloth</HI> of the <HI>City</HI> before his Book, gives it for his <HI>Motto, Si populus vult deeipi; decipiatur;</HI> as if he &s;hou'd have &s;aid, <HI>you have a mind to be couzen'd, and the Devil give you good on't:</HI> If I cry a <HI>Sirreverence,</HI> and you take it for <HI>Honey,</HI> make the be&s;t of your bargain. For &s;hame, good Chri&s;tians, can you &s;uffer &s;uch a man to <HI>&s;terve,</HI> when you &s;ee his de&s;ign is upon your <HI>Pur&s;es?</HI> He is contented to expo&s;e the <HI>Ears repre&s;entative</HI> of your <HI>Party</HI> on a <HI>Pil|lory,</HI> and is in a way of doing you more &s;ervice than a worn out Witne&s;s, who can hang no body hereafter but him&s;elf. He tells you <HI>the Papists clap their hands in
<PB N="24" REF="14">the hopes they conceive of the ruine of your Government:</HI> does not this <HI>&s;ingle &s;yllable YO&V;R</HI> de&s;erve a <HI>Pention,</HI> if he can <HI>prove</HI> the <HI>Government</HI> to be <HI>Yours,</HI> and that the <HI>King</HI> has <HI>nothing</HI> to do in <HI>your Republick?</HI> he continues, as if that were as &s;ure and certain to Them, as it is to Us, without doubt, that they (the <HI>Papi&s;ts</HI>) once fired the City, ju&s;t as certain in your own Con&s;ciences. I wi&s;h the Pa|pi&s;ts had no more to an&s;wer for, than that accu&s;ation: pray let it be put to the <HI>Vote,</HI> and re&s;olv'd upon the <HI>que|&s;tion,</HI> by your <HI>whole Party,</HI> that the <HI>North-ea&s;t Wind,</HI> is not only <HI>ill-affected</HI> to Man and Bea&s;t, but is al&s;o a <HI>Tory</HI> or <HI>Tantivy Papi&s;t</HI> in <HI>Ma&s;querade.</HI> I am &s;atisfy'd, not to have <HI>&s;o much art left me as to frame any thing agreeable, or veri&s;imilar,</HI> but 'tis plain that he has, and therefore, as I ought in ju&s;tice, I re&s;ign my <HI>Laurel,</HI> and my <HI>Bayes</HI> too, to Mr. <HI>Hunt;</HI> 'tis he &s;ets up for the Poet now; and has the only art to <HI>amu&s;e</HI> and to <HI>deceive the people.</HI> You may &s;ee how profound his knowledg is in <HI>Poetry;</HI> for he tells you ju&s;t before, that <HI>my Heroes are commonly &s;uch Mon&s;ters as</HI> The&s;eus <HI>and</HI> Hercules; <HI>renown'd throughout all Ages for de&s;troying.</HI> Now <HI>The&s;eus</HI> and <HI>Hercules</HI> you know have been the <HI>Heroes</HI> of <HI>all Poets,</HI> and have been renown'd through all Ages, for <HI>de&s;troying Mon&s;ters,</HI> for <HI>&s;uccouring</HI> the <HI>Distre&s;t,</HI> and for putting to <HI>death inhumane arbitrary Tyrants.</HI> Is this your <HI>Oracle?</HI> If he were to write the Acts and Monuments of <HI>Whig Heroes,</HI> I find they &s;hou'd be quite contrary to mine: <HI>de&s;troyers indeed,</HI> but of a <HI>Lawful Government; Murtherers,</HI> but of their <HI>fellow Sub|jects; Lovers</HI> as <HI>Hercules</HI> was of <HI>Hylas;</HI> with a journey at la&s;t to <HI>Hell,</HI> like that of <HI>The&s;eus.</HI></P>
<P>But mark the wi&s;e Con&s;equences of our Author. I have not, he &s;ays, <HI>&s;o much art left me to make any thing agree|able, or veri&s;imilar, wherewith to amu&s;e or deceive the peo|ple:</HI> and yet in the very <HI>next Paragraph,</HI> my Province is to <HI>corrupt the Manners of the Nation, and lay wa&s;te their
<PB N="25" REF="14">Morals, and my endeavours are more happily apply'd, to ex|tingui&s;h the little remainders of the Vertue of the Age.</HI> Now I am to perform all this, it &s;eems, without making any thing <HI>veri&s;imilar</HI> or <HI>agreeable:</HI> Why, <HI>Pharaoh</HI> never &s;et the <HI>I&s;raelites</HI> &s;uch a Task, to build <HI>Piramids</HI> without <HI>Brick</HI> or <HI>Straw.</HI> If the Fool knows it not, <HI>veri&s;imilitude</HI> and <HI>agreeablene&s;s,</HI> are the very Tools to do it; but I am willing to di&s;claim them both, rather than to u&s;e them to &s;o ill purpo&s;e as he has done.</P>
<P>Yet even this their celebrated Writer, knows no more of <HI>Style</HI> and <HI>Engli&s;h,</HI> than the <HI>Northern Dedicator.</HI> As if <HI>Dulne&s;s</HI> and <HI>Clum&s;ine&s;s</HI> were fatal to the <HI>Name</HI> of <HI>TOM.</HI> 'Tis true, he is a <HI>Fool</HI> in <HI>three Languages</HI> more than the <HI>Poet,</HI> for they &s;ay, he under&s;tands <HI>Latine, Greek</HI> and <HI>Hebrew,</HI> from all which, to my certain know|ledge, I acquit the other. <HI>Og</HI> may write again&s;t the King if he plea&s;es, &s;o long as he <HI>Drinks</HI> for him; and his <HI>Writings</HI> will never do the Government &s;o much <HI>harm,</HI> as his <HI>Drinking</HI> does it <HI>good:</HI> for true Subjects, will not be much perverted by his <HI>Libels;</HI> but the Wine <HI>Duties</HI> ri&s;e con&s;iderably by his <HI>Claret.</HI> He has often call'd me an <HI>Atheist</HI> in Print, I would believe more charitably of him; and that he only goes the <HI>broad way,</HI> becau&s;e the o|ther is too <HI>narrow</HI> for him. He may &s;ee by this, I do not delight to meddle with his cour&s;e of <HI>Life,</HI> and his <HI>Immoralities,</HI> though I have a long <HI>Bead-roll</HI> of them. I have hitherto contented my &s;elf with the <HI>Ridiculous</HI> part of him, which is enough in all con&s;cience to employ one man: even without the &s;tory of his late fall at the <HI>Old Devil,</HI> where he <HI>broke no Ribbs,</HI> becau&s;e the hardne&s;s of the <HI>Stairs</HI> cou'd reach <HI>no Bones;</HI> and for my part, I do not wonder how he came to <HI>fall,</HI> for I have always known him heavy; the Miracle is, how he got <HI>up again.</HI> I have heard of a <HI>Sea-Captain</HI> as <HI>fat</HI> as he, who to &s;cape Arre&s;ts, would lay him&s;elf flat upon the ground, and let the <HI>Bay|liffs</HI>
<PB N="26" REF="15">carry him to <HI>Pri&s;on,</HI> if they cou'd. If a Me&s;&s;enger or two, nay, we may put in three or four, &s;hould come, he has friendly Adverti&s;ement how to &s;cape them. But to leave him, who is not worth any further con&s;iderati|on, now I have done laughing at him, Wou'd every man knew his own Tallent, and that they who are only born for <HI>drinking,</HI> wou'd let both <HI>Poetry</HI> and <HI>Pro&s;e</HI> alone.</P>
<P>I am weary with traceing the Ab&s;urdities and Mi&s;takes of our great Lawyer, &s;ome of which indeed are <HI>wilful;</HI> as where he calls the <HI>Trimmers,</HI> the <HI>more moderate &s;ort of To|ries.</HI> It &s;eems tho&s;e Polliticians are odious to both &s;ides; for neither own them to be theirs. We know them, and &s;o does he too in his Con&s;cience, to be <HI>&s;ecret Whigs,</HI> if they are any thing. But now the de&s;igns of <HI>Whiggi&s;m</HI> are openly di&s;cover'd, they tack about to &s;ave a Stake, that is, they will not be villains to their own ruine. While the Government was to be de&s;troyed, and there was probability of compa&s;&s;ing it, no men were &s;o violent as they; but &s;ince their <HI>Fortunes</HI> are in hazard by the <HI>Law,</HI> and their <HI>Places at Court</HI> by the <HI>Kings di&s;plea&s;ure,</HI> they pull in their horns, and talk more peaceably; in order, I &s;uppo&s;e, to their vehemence on the right &s;ide, if they were to be believ'd. For in laying of Colours, they ob|&s;erve a <HI>Medium;</HI> Black and white are too far di&s;tant, to be plac'd directly by one another, without &s;ome &s;hadow|ings to &s;often their contrarieties. 'Tis <HI>Mariana</HI> I think (but am not certain) that makes the following relation; and let the noble Family of <HI>Trimmers,</HI> read their own Fortune in it. <HI>Don Pedro, King of</HI> Ca&s;tile, <HI>Sirnam'd</HI> the Cruel, <HI>who had been re&s;tor'd by the Valour of our</HI> Edward the Black Prince, <HI>was finally di&s;po&s;&s;e&s;&s;'d by</HI> Don Henry the Ba&s;tard, <HI>and he enjoyed the Kingdom quietly, till his Death; which, when he felt approaching, he call'd his Son to him, and gave him this his la&s;t Coun&s;el. I have,</HI> &s;aid he, <HI>gain'd this Kingdon, which I leave you, by
<PB N="27" REF="15">the Sword; for the Right of Inheritance was in</HI> Don Pe|dro; <HI>but the favour of the People, who hated my Brother for his Tyranny, was to me in&s;tead of Title. You are now to be the Peaceable Po&s;&s;e&s;&s;or of of what I have unju&s;tly gotten: and your Subjects are compos'd of the&s;e three &s;orts of men. One Party e&s;pous'd my Brothers Quarrel, which was the un|doubted Lawful Cau&s;e; tho&s;e, though they were my Enemies, were men of Principle and Honour: cheri&s;h them, and ex|alt them into Places of trust about you, for in them you may confide &s;afely, who priz'd their</HI> Fidelity <HI>above their</HI> Fortune. <HI>Another &s;ort, are they who fought my Cau&s;e a|gain&s;t</HI> Don Pedro, <HI>to tho&s;e you are indeed oblig'd, becau&s;e of the accidental good they did me, for they intended only their</HI> private Benefit, <HI>and help'd to rai&s;e me, that I might afterwards promote them: You may continue them in their Offices, if you plea&s;e; but tru&s;t them no farther than you are forc'd, for what they did, was again&s;t their Con&s;cience. But there is a third &s;ort, which during the whole Wars, were Neuters; let them be cru&s;ht on all occa&s;ions, for</HI> their bu|&s;ine&s;s <HI>was only</HI> their own Security. <HI>They had neither Cou|rage enough to ingage on my Side, nor Con&s;cience enough to help their Lawful Soveraign: <HI>therefore let them be made Examples, as the wor&s;t &s;ort of intere&s;&s;ed men, which certainly are Enemies to both, and would be profitable to neither.</HI></HI></P>
<P>I have only a dark remembrance of this Story, and have not the <HI>Spani&s;h</HI> Author by me, but I think, I am not much mi&s;taken in the main of it: and whether true or fal&s;e, the Coun&s;el given, I am &s;ure, is &s;uch, as ought in common prudence, to be practis'd again&s;t <HI>Trimmers,</HI> whether the <HI>Lawful</HI> or <HI>&V;nlawful</HI> Cau&s;e <HI>prevail. Loyal</HI> men may ju&s;tly be di&s;plea&s;'d with this <HI>Party,</HI> not for their <HI>Moderation,</HI> as Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> in&s;inuates; but becau&s;e, under that Ma&s;que of <HI>&s;eeming mildne&s;s,</HI> there lies hidden either a deep <HI>treachery,</HI> or at be&s;t, an <HI>interre&s;&s;ed luke|warmne&s;s.</HI>
<PB N="28" REF="16">But he runs riot into almo&s;t trea&s;onable Ex|pre&s;&s;ions, as if <HI>Trimmers were hated becau&s;e they are not perfectly wicked, or perfectly deceiv'd, of the</HI> Catiline make, <HI>bold, and without under&s;tanding, that can adhaere to men that publickly profe&s;s Murthers, and applaud the de&s;ign:</HI> By all which villanous names, he opprobriou&s;ly calls His Ma|je&s;ties mo&s;t <HI>loyal Subjects;</HI> as if Men mu&s;t be <HI>perfectly wicked</HI> who endeavour to &s;upport a <HI>lawful Government;</HI> or <HI>perfectly deceiv'd,</HI> who on no occa&s;ion dare take up arms again&s;t their <HI>Soveraign:</HI> as if <HI>acknowledging</HI> the <HI>right</HI> of <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion,</HI> and <HI>re&s;olving</HI> to <HI>maintain</HI> it in the <HI>Line,</HI> were to be in a <HI>Catiline Con&s;piracy;</HI> and at la&s;t, (which is ridi|culous enough, after &s;o much &s;erious Trea&s;on) as if to <HI>clap the Duke of Gui&s;e,</HI> were to <HI>adhaere to men that pub|lickly profe&s;s Murthers, and applaud the de&s;ign of the A&s;&s;a&s;|&s;inating Poets.</HI></P>
<P>But together with his <HI>Villanies,</HI> pray let his <HI>incohaerences</HI> be ob&s;erv'd. He commends the <HI>Trimmers</HI> (at lea&s;t tacitly excu&s;es them) for men of &s;ome <HI>moderation;</HI> and this in oppo&s;ition to the in&s;truments of wickedne&s;s of the <HI>Catiline</HI>-make, that are <HI>re&s;olute</HI> and <HI>forward,</HI> and <HI>without con&s;idera|tion.</HI> But he forgets all this in the next twenty lines; for there he gives them their own, and tells them roundly, <HI>in internecino bello medii pro ho&s;tibus habentur.</HI> Neutral men are Traytors, and a&s;&s;i&s;t by their indifferency to the de&s;truction of the Government. The plain <HI>Engli&s;h</HI> of his <HI>meaning,</HI> is this; while matters are only in <HI>di&s;pute,</HI> and in <HI>machination,</HI> he is contented they &s;hou'd be <HI>mo|derate;</HI> but when once the Faction can bring about a <HI>Civil War,</HI> then they are <HI>Traytors,</HI> if they declare not o|penly for them.</P>
<P><HI>But it is not,</HI> he &s;ays, <HI>the Duke of</HI> Gui&s;e, <HI>who is to be a&s;&s;a&s;&s;inated, a turbulent wicked and haughty Courtier, but an innocent and gentle Prince:</HI> By his favour, <HI>our Duke of
<PB N="29" REF="16">Gui&s;e,</HI> was neither <HI>Innocent</HI> nor <HI>Gentle,</HI> nor a Prince of the <HI>Blood Royal,</HI> though he pretended to de&s;cend from <HI>Charlemaign,</HI> and a <HI>Genealogy</HI> was printed to that pur|po&s;e, for which the Author was puni&s;h'd, as he de&s;erv'd; witne&s;s <HI>Davila,</HI> and the <HI>Journals</HI> of <HI>Henry the Third,</HI> where the Story is at large related. Well, who is it then? why, 'tis a <HI>Prince who has no fault, but that he is the Kings Son:</HI> Then he has no fault by con&s;equence; for I am certain, that's no fault of his. The re&s;t of the Com|plement, is &s;o &s;illy, and &s;o ful&s;ome, as if he meant it all <HI>in ridicule.</HI> And to conclude the Jea&s;t, he &s;ays, that <HI>the best People of</HI> England, <HI>have no other way left, to &s;how their Loyalty to the King, their Religion and Government, in long intervals of Parliament, than by pro&s;ecuting his Son, for the &s;ake of the King, and his own merit, with all the Demon&s;trations of the highe&s;t e&s;teem.</HI> Yes, I can tell them one other way to expre&s;s their Loyalty, which is, to <HI>obey</HI> the <HI>King,</HI> and to <HI>re&s;pect</HI> his <HI>Brother,</HI> as the <HI>next Lawful Succe&s;&s;or;</HI> their <HI>Religion commands</HI> them both, and the <HI>Government</HI> is &s;ecur'd in &s;o doing. But why <HI>in Intervals of Parliament?</HI> How are the more oblig'd to honour the <HI>Kings Son</HI> out of Parliament, than in it? And why this pro&s;ecution of Love for the <HI>Kings Sake?</HI> Has he order'd more Love to be &s;hown to one Son, than to another? Indeed, his own quality, is cau&s;e &s;ufficient for all men to re&s;pect him, and I am of their number, who truly honour him, and who wi&s;h him better than this <HI>mi&s;erable Sycophant;</HI> for I wi&s;h him, from his Fathers Royal <HI>Kindne&s;s</HI> what <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> can make him, which is a greater Honour, than the Rabble can confer upon him.</P>
<P>But our Author finds, that <HI>Commendation</HI> is no more <HI>his Talent,</HI> than <HI>Flattery</HI> was that of <HI>E&s;op</HI>'s <HI>A&s;s;</HI> and there|fore falls immediately, from <HI>pawing</HI> with his <HI>fore-feet,</HI> and
<PB N="30" REF="17"><HI>grinning</HI> upon <HI>one Prince,</HI> to downright <HI>braying</HI> again&s;t <HI>another.</HI></P>
<P>He &s;ays I have not u&s;'d <HI>my Patron Duke much better: for I have put him under a mo&s;t di&s;mal and unfortunate Character, of a Succe&s;&s;or, excluded from the Crown by Act of State, for his Religion; who fought his way to the Crown, chang'd his Religion, and died by the hand of a Roman A&s;&s;a&s;&s;inate.</HI></P>
<P>If it plea&s;e his <HI>Royal Highne&s;s</HI> to be <HI>my Patron,</HI> I have rea&s;on to be proud of it; becau&s;e he never yet for&s;ook any man, whom he has had the goodne&s;s to own for his. But how have I put him under <HI>an unfortunate Character?</HI> the <HI>Authors</HI> of the <HI>Reflections,</HI> and our <HI>John a Nokes,</HI> have not layd their noddles together about this Accu&s;ation. For 'tis their bu&s;ine&s;s to prove the King of <HI>Navarre</HI> to have been a mo&s;t <HI>&s;ucce&s;sful, magnanimous, gentle,</HI> and <HI>grateful Prince:</HI> in which Character they have follow'd the &s;tream of all <HI>Hi&s;torians.</HI> How then happens this jarring among&s;t friends, that the &s;ame man is put under &s;uch <HI>di&s;mal cir|cum&s;tances</HI> on <HI>one</HI> &s;ide, and &s;o <HI>fortunate</HI> on the <HI>other,</HI> by the Writers of the <HI>&s;ame Party?</HI> The an&s;wer is very plain, that they take the cau&s;e by &s;everal handles. <HI>They</HI> who will not have the <HI>Duke</HI> re&s;emble the King of <HI>Navarre,</HI> have <HI>magnify</HI>'d the Character of <HI>that</HI> Prince, to <HI>deba&s;e</HI> his <HI>Royal Highne&s;s;</HI> and therein done what they can to &s;how the <HI>di&s;parity.</HI> Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> who will have it to be the <HI>Dukes Character,</HI> has <HI>blacken'd that King</HI> as much as he is able, to &s;how the likene&s;s. Now this wou'd be ridiculous plead|ing at a <HI>Barr,</HI> by Lawyers retain'd for the &s;ame Cau&s;e; and both &s;ides wou'd call each other fools, becau&s;e the <HI>Jury</HI> betwixt them wou'd be <HI>confounded,</HI> and perhaps the <HI>Judges</HI> too.</P>
<PB N="31" REF="17">
<P>But this it is to have a bad Cau&s;e, which puts men of nece&s;&s;ity upon knavery; and that knavery is commonly found out. Well Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> has in another place confe&s;&s;'d him&s;elf to be in <HI>pa&s;&s;ion,</HI> and that's the rea&s;on he is &s;o gro&s;ly mi&s;taken in opening of the Cau&s;e. For fir&s;t the King of <HI>Navarre</HI> was neither under <HI>di&s;mall,</HI> nor <HI>unfortunate cir|cumstances.</HI> Before the end of that very Sentence, our Lawyer has confe&s;&s;'d that <HI>he fought his way to the Crown;</HI> that is, he gloriou&s;ly vanqui&s;h'd all his Rebells, and hap|pily po&s;&s;e&s;t his Inheritance many years after he had re|gain'd it. In the next place, he was <HI>never excluded from the Crown by Act of State.</HI> He chang'd his <HI>Religion</HI> indeed, but not till he had almo&s;t <HI>weather'd</HI> the <HI>Storm,</HI> recover'd the be&s;t part of his <HI>Estate,</HI> and gain'd &s;ome glorious <HI>Vi|ctories</HI> in <HI>pitch'd Battels;</HI> &s;o that his <HI>changing</HI> cannot with|out inju&s;tice be attributed to his <HI>fear. Mon&s;ieur Chiverny,</HI> in his <HI>Memoirs</HI> of tho&s;e times plainly tells us, that <HI>he &s;o|lemnly promi&s;ed to his Predece&s;&s;our</HI> Henry the Third, <HI>then dying, that he wou'd become a</HI> Romani&s;t; and <HI>Davila,</HI> though he &s;ays not this <HI>directly,</HI> yet <HI>denyes</HI> it not. By who&s;e hands <HI>Henry the fourth</HI> died, is notoriou&s;ly known; but it is indiviou&s;ly urg'd, both by Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> and the <HI>Re|flectors:</HI> for we may, to our &s;hame, remember, that a King of our own Country was <HI>barbarou&s;ly murther'd</HI> by his <HI>Subjects,</HI> who profe&s;&s;'d the <HI>&s;ame Religion;</HI> though I believe that neither <HI>Jaques Clement,</HI> nor <HI>Ravillac,</HI> were <HI>better Papi&s;ts,</HI> than the <HI>Independents</HI> and <HI>Presbyterians</HI> were <HI>Protestants:</HI> So that their <HI>Argument</HI> only proves that there are <HI>Rogues</HI> of all <HI>Religions: Iliacos intra mu|ros peccatur &amp; extra.</HI> But Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> follows his blow a|gain, that I have <HI>offer'd a Ju&s;tification of an Act of Ex|clu&s;ion again&s;t a Popi&s;h Succe&s;&s;our in a Prote&s;tant Kingdom, by remembring what was done against the King of</HI> Navarre, <HI>who was</HI> de facto <HI>excluded by an Act of State.</HI> My Gentle|man, I perceive, is very willing to call that an Act of
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<PB N="32" REF="19"><HI>Exclu&s;ion,</HI> and an Act of <HI>State,</HI> which is only in our Lan|guage, call'd a <HI>Bill:</HI> for <HI>Henry the third</HI> cou'd never be gain'd to <HI>pa&s;s</HI> it, though it was propo&s;'d by the <HI>three E|&s;tates</HI> at <HI>Blois.</HI> The <HI>Reflectors</HI> are more mode&s;t; for they profe&s;s, (though I am afraid it is &s;omewhat again&s;t the grain) that a <HI>Vote</HI> of the Hou&s;e of <HI>Commons</HI> is not an <HI>Act:</HI> But the times are turn'd upon them, and they dare &s;peak no other Language. Mr. <HI>Hunt</HI> indeed is a <HI>bold Republican,</HI> and tells you the bottom of their meaning. Yet why &s;hould it make the <HI>courage of his Royal Highne&s;s quail, to find him&s;elf under this repre&s;entation?</HI> which by our Authors favour, is neither <HI>di&s;mal,</HI> nor <HI>di&s;astrous. Henry the Fourth</HI> e&s;cap'd this dreadful Machine of the <HI>League:</HI> I &s;ay <HI>dreadful;</HI> for the <HI>three E&s;tates</HI> were at that time compo&s;'d generally of <HI>Gui&s;ards, factious, hot headed rebellious interre&s;&s;ed men:</HI> The King in <HI>po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion,</HI> was but his <HI>Brother-in-Law;</HI> and at that time publickly his <HI>Ene|my;</HI> for the King of <HI>Navarre</HI> was then in <HI>arms</HI> again&s;t him: and yet the &s;en&s;e of <HI>Common Ju&s;tice,</HI> and the good of his <HI>People</HI> &s;o prevail'd, that he with&s;tood the Project of the <HI>States,</HI> which he al&s;o knew was levell'd at <HI>him&s;elf;</HI> for had the Exclu&s;ion proceeded, he had been immedi|ately lay'd by, and the Lieutenancy of <HI>France</HI> conferr'd on <HI>Gui&s;e:</HI> after which the Rebel wou'd certainly have put up his Title for the Crown. In the Ca&s;e of his <HI>Royal Highne&s;s,</HI> only <HI>one</HI> of the <HI>three Estates</HI> have offer'd at the <HI>Exclu&s;ion;</HI> and have been con&s;tantly oppo&s;'d by the <HI>other two,</HI> and by his <HI>Maje&s;ty:</HI> Neither is it any way probable, that the like will ever be again attempted: For the <HI>fatal Con&s;equences,</HI> as well as the <HI>Illegality</HI> of that De&s;ign, are &s;een through already by the People. So that in&s;tead of offering a <HI>ju&s;tification</HI> of an Act of <HI>Exclu&s;ion,</HI> I have expo&s;'d a <HI>rebellious, impious,</HI> and <HI>fruitle&s;s</HI> contrivance <HI>tending</HI> to it. If we look on the Parliament of <HI>Paris,</HI> when they were in their right wits,
<PB N="33" REF="19">before they were <HI>intoxicated</HI> by the <HI>League,</HI> (at lea&s;t whol|ly) we &s;hall find them <HI>addre&s;&s;ing</HI> to King <HI>Henry the third</HI> in another Key, concerning the King of <HI>Navarr's Succe&s;|&s;ion,</HI> though he was at that time (as they call'd it) a <HI>re|lap&s;'d Heretique.</HI> And to this purpo&s;e I will quote a pa&s;|&s;age out of the <HI>Journals</HI> of <HI>Henry the Third,</HI> &s;o much magnify'd by my Adver&s;aries.</P>
<P>Towards the end of <HI>September,</HI> 1585. there was pub|li&s;hed at <HI>Paris,</HI> a Bull of <HI>Excommunication,</HI> again&s;t the King of <HI>Navarre,</HI> and the Prince of <HI>Conde:</HI> The Parlia|ment of <HI>Paris,</HI> made their <HI>Remon&s;trance</HI> to the King up|on it, which was both grave, and worthy of the Place they held, and of the Authority they have in this King|dom. Saying, for conclu&s;ion, that <HI>their Court had found the Style of this Bull, &s;o full of Innovation, and &s;o di&s;tant from the Mode&s;ty of</HI> antient Popes, <HI>that they cou'd not un|der&s;tand in it, the voice of an</HI> Apo&s;tles Succe&s;&s;or; <HI>fora&s;|much, as they found not in their Records, nor in the &s;earch of all Antiquity, that the Princes of</HI> France, <HI>had ever been &s;ubject to the Ju&s;tice or Juri&s;diction of the</HI> Pope, <HI>and they cou'd not take it into con&s;ideration, till fir&s;t he made appear the Right which he pretended in the Tran&s;lation of King|doms, e&s;tabli&s;h'd and ordain'd by Almighty God, before the Name of Pope was heard of in the World.</HI> 'Tis plain by this, that the Parliament of <HI>Paris,</HI> acknowledg'd an in|herent Right of Succe&s;&s;ion in the King of <HI>Navarre,</HI> though of a contrary Religion to their own: And though after the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;es</HI> Murther at <HI>Blois,</HI> the City of <HI>Paris</HI> revolted from their Obedience to their <HI>King,</HI> pretending that he was fallen from the Crown, by rea&s;on of that and other Actions, with which they charg'd him; yet the &s;um of all their Power to renounce him, and create the Duke of <HI>Mayenne Lieutenant General,</HI> depended <HI>ul|timately</HI> on the <HI>Popes authority;</HI> which as you &s;ee, but three years before, they had peremptorily denied.</P>
<PB N="34" REF="20">
<P>The Colledg of <HI>Sorbonne</HI> began the Dance, by their Determination, that the <HI>Kingly Right was forfeited;</HI> and &s;tripping him of all his <HI>Dignities,</HI> they call'd him plain <HI>Henry de Valois:</HI> after this, &s;ays my Author, <HI>&s;ixteen Ra&s;|cals</HI> (by which he means the <HI>Council,</HI> of that <HI>Number</HI>) <HI>having admini&s;tred the Oath of Government to the Duke of</HI> Mayenne, <HI>to take in quality of</HI> Lievtenant General <HI>of the E&s;tate and Crown of</HI> France; <HI>the &s;ame ridiculous Dig|nity, was confirm'd to him, by an</HI> imaginary Parliament, <HI>the</HI> true Parliament <HI>being detain'd Pri&s;oners, in divers of the City-Gaols, and two new Seals were order'd to be imme|diately made, with this In&s;cription:</HI> The Seal of the King|dom of <HI>France.</HI> I need not inlarge on this Relation, 'tis evident from hence, that the <HI>Sorboni&s;ts</HI> were the <HI>Original,</HI> and our <HI>Schi&s;matiques</HI> in <HI>England,</HI> were the <HI>Copiers</HI> of <HI>Rebellion;</HI> that <HI>Paris</HI> began, and <HI>London</HI> follow'd.</P>
<P>The next Lines of my Author are, that <HI>a Gentleman of Paris, made the Duke of</HI> Mayenne<HI>'s Picture to be drawn, with a Crown Imperial on his Head,</HI> and I have heard of an <HI>Engli&s;h Nobleman,</HI> who has at this day, the Picture of <HI>Old Oliver,</HI> with this <HI>Motto</HI> underneath it, <HI>&V;tinam vixeris.</HI> All this while, this cannot be reckon'd an Act of <HI>State,</HI> for the <HI>Depo&s;ing King Henry the Third;</HI> becau&s;e it was an Act of <HI>Ouvert Rebellion</HI> in the <HI>Pari&s;ians:</HI> nei|ther could the holding of the <HI>three E&s;tates</HI> at <HI>Paris,</HI> af|terwards, by the &s;ame Duke of <HI>Mayenne,</HI> devolve any Right on him, in prejudice of King <HI>Henry the Fourth;</HI> though tho&s;e pretended States, declar'd his Title void, on the account of his <HI>Religion:</HI> becau&s;e tho&s;e E&s;tates could neither be call'd nor holden, but by and under the <HI>Authority</HI> of the <HI>Lawful King.</HI> It wou'd take more time than I have allow'd, for this Vindication, or I cou'd
<PB N="35" REF="20">ea&s;ily trace from the <HI>French History,</HI> what Misfortunes at|tended <HI>France,</HI> and how near it was to Ruine, by the En|deavors to alter the Succe&s;&s;ion. For fir&s;t, it was actually <HI>Di&s;membred,</HI> the Duke of <HI>Merceur</HI> &s;etting up a Principa|lity in the Dutchy of <HI>Bretagne, Independant</HI> of the <HI>Crown:</HI> the Duke of <HI>Mayenne</HI> had an evident de&s;ign to be elected <HI>King,</HI> by the favour of the <HI>People</HI> and the <HI>Pope:</HI> the young Dukes of <HI>Gui&s;e</HI> and of <HI>Nemours,</HI> a&s;pir'd with the intere&s;t of the <HI>Spaniards,</HI> to be cho&s;en, by their Marriage with the <HI>Infanta Izabella.</HI> The Duke of <HI>Lorrain,</HI> was for cantling out &s;ome part of <HI>France,</HI> which lay next his Territories; and the Duke of <HI>Savoy,</HI> had before the Death of <HI>Henry the Third,</HI> actually po&s;&s;e&s;s'd him&s;elf of the <HI>Marqui&s;ate</HI> of <HI>Saluces.</HI> But above all, the <HI>Spaniards</HI> fo|mented the&s;e Civil Wars, in hopes to reduce that flou|ri&s;hing Kingdom, under their own <HI>Monarchy.</HI> To as many, and as great Mi&s;chiefs, &s;hould we be evidently &s;ubject; if we &s;hould madly ingage our &s;elves, in the like Practi&s;es of altering the <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion,</HI> which our Gra|cious King, in his Royal Wi&s;dom well for&s;aw; and has cut up that accur&s;ed Project by the Roots; which will render the memory of his <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> and <HI>Prudence, Immortal</HI> and <HI>Sacred to future Ages,</HI> for having not only pre&s;erv'd our pre&s;ent quiet, but &s;ecur'd the Peace of our Po&s;terity.</P>
<P>'Tis clearly manife&s;t, that no Act of <HI>State</HI> pa&s;s'd, to the <HI>Exclu&s;ion</HI> of either, the King of <HI>Navarre,</HI> or of <HI>Henry the Fourth;</HI> con&s;ider him, in either of the two circum|&s;tances: but <HI>Oracle Hunt,</HI> taking this for granted, wou'd prove <HI>&agrave; fortiori,</HI> that <HI>if a Prote&s;tant Prince, were actually excluded from a Popi&s;h Kingdom, then a Popi&s;h Succe&s;&s;or is more rea&s;onably to be excluded from a Prote|stant Kingdom; becau&s;e,</HI> &s;ays he, <HI>a Prote&s;tant Prince, is under no Obligation to de&s;troy his Popi&s;h Subjects, but a Po|pi&s;h Prince, is to de&s;troy his Prote&s;tant Subjects:</HI> upon
<PB N="36" REF="21">which bare &s;uppo&s;ition, without farther Proof, he calls him <HI>in&s;ufferable Tyrant,</HI> and the wor&s;t of <HI>Mon&s;ters.</HI></P>
<P>Now I take the matter quite otherwi&s;e, and bind my &s;elf to maintain, that there is not, nor can be any Obli|gation, for a King to de&s;troy his Subjects of a contrary Per&s;wa&s;ion, to the e&s;tabli&s;h'd Religion of his Country: for <HI>quatenus Subjects,</HI> of what Religion &s;oever, <HI>he is infallibly bound</HI> to pre&s;erve and cheri&s;h, and not to de&s;troy them: and this is the fir&s;t duty of a Lawful Soveraign, as &s;uch, antecedent to any tye or con&s;ideration of his Religion. Indeed, in tho&s;e Countries where the <HI>Inqui&s;ition</HI> is intro|duc'd, it goes harder with <HI>Prote&s;tants,</HI> and the rea&s;on is manife&s;t, becau&s;e the Prote&s;tant Religion has not gotten footing there, and &s;everity is the means to keep it out: But to make this in&s;tance, reach <HI>England,</HI> our Religion mu&s;t not only be chang'd (which in it &s;elf, is almo&s;t impo&s;&s;ible to imagine) but the Council of <HI>Trent receiv'd</HI> and the <HI>Inqui&s;ition admitted,</HI> which <HI>many Popi&s;h Countries</HI> have rejected. I forget not the Cruelties, which were exer|ci&s;'d in Queen <HI>Maries</HI> time, again&s;t the <HI>Prote&s;tants;</HI> nei|ther do I any way excu&s;e them: But it follows not, that every <HI>Popi&s;h Succe&s;&s;or</HI> &s;hou'd take example by them, for every ones Con&s;cience of the &s;ame Religion, is not guided by the &s;ame Dictates in his Government: Neither does it follow, that if one be cruel, another mu&s;t; e&s;pecially, when there is a &s;tronger Obligation, and greater Intere&s;t to the contrary: For if a <HI>Popi&s;h King</HI> in <HI>England</HI> &s;hou'd be bound to de&s;troy his <HI>Prote&s;tant People,</HI> I wou'd ask the Que&s;tion, over whom he meant to Reign afterwards? and how many Subjects would be left?</P>
<P>In Queen <HI>Maries</HI> time, the Prote&s;tant Religion had &s;carcely taken root: And it is rea&s;onable to be &s;uppos'd, that &s;he found the number of Papi&s;ts, equalling that of
<PB N="37" REF="21">the Prote&s;tants, at her entrance to the Kingdom; e&s;peci|ally if we reckon into the account tho&s;e who were the <HI>Trimmers</HI> of the times; I mean &s;uch, who privately were Papi&s;ts, though under her Prote&s;tant Predece&s;&s;our they appear'd otherwi&s;e. Therefore her difficulties in per&s;e|cuting her reform'd Subjects, were far from being &s;o in|&s;uperable, as ours now are, when the &s;trength and num|ber of the Papi&s;ts is &s;o very incon&s;iderable. They who ca&s;t in the Church of <HI>England</HI> as ready to embrace <HI>Popery,</HI> are either <HI>Knaves</HI> enough to know they <HI>lye,</HI> or <HI>Fools</HI> e|nough not to have con&s;ider'd the <HI>Tenents</HI> of that Church, which are <HI>diametrically oppo&s;ite</HI> to <HI>Popery;</HI> and more &s;o than any of the <HI>Sects.</HI></P>
<P>Not to in&s;i&s;t on the quiet and &s;ecurity, which Prote&s;tant Subjects at this day enjoy in &s;ome parts of <HI>Germany,</HI> under Popi&s;h Princes; where I have been a&s;&s;ur'd, that <HI>Ma&s;s</HI> is &s;aid, and a <HI>Lutheran Sermon</HI> preach'd in different parts of the fame Church, on the &s;ame day, without di&s;turbance on either &s;ide; nor on the Priviledges granted by <HI>Henry the Fourth</HI> of <HI>France</HI> to his Party, after he had for&s;aken their Opinions, which they quietly po&s;&s;e&s;&s;'d for a long time af|ter his death:</P>
<P>The <HI>French Hi&s;tories</HI> are full of <HI>Examples,</HI> manife&s;tly proving, that the fierce&s;t of their <HI>Popi&s;h Princes</HI> have not thought them&s;elves bound to de&s;troy their <HI>Prote&s;tant Sub|jects:</HI> and the &s;everal <HI>Edicts</HI> granted under them, in favor of the <HI>Reform'd Religion,</HI> are pregnant in&s;tances of this truth. I am not much given to Quotations, but <HI>Davila</HI> lies open for every man to read. <HI>Tolerations,</HI> and <HI>free exerci&s;e of Religion,</HI> granted more <HI>amply</HI> in <HI>&s;ome,</HI> more <HI>re&s;traindly</HI> in <HI>others,</HI> are no &s;ign that tho&s;e Princes held them&s;elves ob|lig'd in <HI>Con&s;cience</HI> to de&s;troy men of a different Per&s;wa|&s;ion. It will be &s;aid tho&s;e Tolerations were gain'd by force
<PB N="38" REF="22">of <HI>Arms:</HI> In the fir&s;t place 'tis no great credit to the Pro|te&s;tant Religion, that the Prote&s;tants in <HI>France</HI> were actu|ally <HI>Rebels.</HI> But the truth is, they were only <HI>Geneva Pro|testants,</HI> and their opinions were far di&s;tant from tho&s;e of the Church of <HI>England,</HI> which teaches <HI>pa&s;&s;ive obedience</HI> to all her Sons, and not to propagate <HI>Religion</HI> by <HI>Rebellion.</HI> But 'tis further to be con&s;ider'd, that tho&s;e <HI>French</HI> Kings, though Papi&s;ts, thought the pre&s;ervation of their Subjects, and the publick Peace, were to be con&s;ider'd, before the gratification of the Court of <HI>Rome;</HI> and though the number of the <HI>Papi&s;ts,</HI> exceeded that of the <HI>Prote&s;tants,</HI> in the proportion of three to one; though the Prote&s;tants were always beaten when they fought, and though the Popes pre&s;s'd continually with Exhortations and Threat|nings to extirpate <HI>Calvini&s;m,</HI> yet Kings thought it enough to continue in their own Religion them&s;elves, without for|cing it upon their Subjects, much le&s;s de&s;troying them who profe&s;&s;'d another. But it will be objected tho&s;e Edicts of Toleration were not kept on the <HI>Papi&s;ts</HI> &s;ide: They wou'd an&s;wer, becau&s;e the Prote&s;tants &s;tretch'd their Privileges further than was granted: and that they often relap&s;'d into <HI>Rebellion:</HI> But whether or no the <HI>Prote&s;tants</HI> were in <HI>fault,</HI> I leave Hi&s;tory to determine: 'tis matter of <HI>fact,</HI> that they were barbarou&s;ly <HI>ma&s;&s;acred,</HI> under the protection of the <HI>Publick Faith:</HI> Therefore to argue fairly, either an <HI>Oath</HI> from <HI>Protestants</HI> is not to be <HI>taken</HI> by a <HI>Popi&s;h Prince;</HI> or if <HI>taken,</HI> ought inviolably to be <HI>pre&s;erv'd.</HI> For when we oblige our &s;elves to any one, 'tis not his per&s;on we &s;o much con&s;ider, as that of the mo&s;t high God, who is call'd to witne&s;s this our action: and 'tis to him we are to di&s;charge our Con&s;cience. Neither is there, or can be any <HI>tye</HI> on <HI>humane Society,</HI> when that of an <HI>Oath</HI> is no more regarded: which being an appeal to God, he is im|mediate Judge of it; and Chronicles are not &s;ilent how often he has puni&s;h'd perjur'd Kings. The in&s;tance of
<PB N="39" REF="22"><HI>Vladi&s;laus</HI> King of <HI>Hungary,</HI> breaking his faith with <HI>Amu|rath the Turk,</HI> at the in&s;tigation of <HI>Julian</HI> the <HI>Popes Le|gate,</HI> and his mi&s;erable death en&s;uing it, &s;hows that even to <HI>Infidels,</HI> much more to <HI>Chri&s;tians,</HI> that obligation ought to be accounted &s;acred. And I the rather urge this, becau&s;e it is an Argument taken almo&s;t <HI>verbatim</HI> from a <HI>Papi&s;t,</HI> who accu&s;es <HI>Catharine de Medicis</HI> for violating her word given to the <HI>Protestants</HI> during her <HI>Regency</HI> of <HI>France.</HI> What &s;ecurities in particular we have, that our own Religi|on and Liberties wou'd be pre&s;erv'd, though under a <HI>Po|pi&s;h Succe&s;&s;our,</HI> any one may inform him&s;elf at large in a Book lately written by the Reverend and learned Doctor <HI>Hicks,</HI> call'd <HI>Jovian,</HI> in an&s;wer to <HI>Julian the Apo&s;tate:</HI> in which, that truly Chri&s;tian Author has &s;atisfy'd all &s;cruples which rea&s;onable men can make, and prov'd that we are in no danger of lo&s;ing either; and wherein al&s;o, if tho&s;e a&s;&s;urances &s;hou'd all fail (which is almo&s;t morally impo&s;|&s;ible) the Doctrine of <HI>Pa&s;&s;ive Obedience</HI> is <HI>unan&s;werably demon&s;trated:</HI> a Doctrine deliver'd with &s;o much &s;ince|rity, and re&s;ignation of &s;pirit, that it &s;eems evident the A&s;&s;ertor of it is ready, if there were occa&s;ion, to &s;eal it with his blood.</P>
<P>I have done with mannerly Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> who is only <HI>magni nominis umbra;</HI> the mo&s;t <HI>malicious,</HI> and withal, the mo&s;t <HI>incohaerent ignorant Scribler</HI> of the whole Party. I in&s;ult not over his misfortunes, though he has him&s;elf occa&s;ion'd them: and though I will not take his own excu&s;e, that he is in pa&s;&s;ion, I will make a better for him; for I con|clude him crack'd: and if he &s;hould return to <HI>England,</HI> am charitable enough to wi&s;h his only Pri&s;on might be <HI>Bedlam.</HI> This Apology is truer than that he makes for me: for <HI>writing a Play,</HI> as I conceive, is not entring into the <HI>Ob&s;ervators Province;</HI> neither is it the <HI>Ob&s;ervators</HI> man|ner <HI>to confound truth with fal&s;ehood, to put out the eyes of
<PB N="40" REF="23">People, and leave them without under&s;tanding.</HI> The quarrel of the Party to him, is that he has <HI>undeceiv'd</HI> the <HI>ignorant,</HI> and laid open the &s;hameful contrivances of the <HI>new vampt A&s;&s;ociation:</HI> that though he is <HI>on the wrong &s;ide of life,</HI> as he calls it, yet he pleads not his <HI>Age</HI> to be <HI>Emeritus:</HI> that in &s;hort, he has left the Faction as bare of <HI>Arguments,</HI> as <HI>E&s;ops Bird</HI> of <HI>feathers;</HI> and plum'd them of all tho&s;e fal|lacies and eva&s;ions which they borrowed from <HI>Je&s;uits</HI> and <HI>Presbyterians.</HI></P>
<P>Now for my <HI>Templar</HI> and <HI>Poet</HI> in <HI>a&s;&s;ociation</HI> for a <HI>Libel,</HI> like the Conjunction of <HI>Saturn</HI> and <HI>Jupiter</HI> in a <HI>fiery Sign:</HI> what the <HI>one</HI> wants in <HI>Wit,</HI> the <HI>other</HI> mu&s;t &s;upply in <HI>Law.</HI> As for Malice, their quota's are indifferently well ad|ju&s;ted: the <HI>rough Draught</HI> I take for granted, is the <HI>Poets,</HI> the <HI>fini&s;hings</HI> the <HI>Lawyers.</HI> They begin, that in order to one Mr. <HI>Friend's</HI> commands, one of them went to &s;ee the Play. This was not the <HI>Poet,</HI> I am certain, for no body &s;aw him there, and he is not of a <HI>Size</HI> to be <HI>con|ceal'd.</HI> But the <HI>Mountain,</HI> they &s;ay, <HI>was deliver'd of a Mou&s;e:</HI> I have been <HI>Go&s;&s;ip</HI> to many &s;uch <HI>Labors</HI> of a <HI>dull fat Scribler,</HI> where the <HI>Mountain</HI> has been <HI>bigger,</HI> and the <HI>Mou&s;e le&s;s.</HI> The next Sally, is on the <HI>City Elections,</HI> and a Charge is brought again&s;t my <HI>Lord Mayor,</HI> and the two <HI>Sheriffs,</HI> for excluding true <HI>Electors.</HI> I have heard, that a <HI>Whig Gentleman</HI> of the <HI>Temple,</HI> hired a <HI>Livery-Gown,</HI> to give his Voice among the <HI>Companies</HI> at <HI>Guild-Hall:</HI> let the que&s;tion be put, <HI>whether or no, he were a true Elector?</HI> Then their own <HI>Juries</HI> are commended from &s;everal <HI>Topiques;</HI> they are the <HI>Wi&s;e&s;t, Riche&s;t,</HI> and mo&s;t <HI>Con&s;cientious:</HI> to which is an&s;wer'd <HI>Ignoramus.</HI> But our <HI>Juries</HI> give mo&s;t <HI>prodigious</HI> and <HI>unheard of Damages.</HI> Hithero there is nothing but <HI>Boys-play</HI> in our Au|thors: <HI>My Mill grinds Pepper and Spice, your Mill grinds Rats and Mice.</HI> They go on, <HI>if I may be allow'd to</HI>
<PB N="41" REF="23">judge (as men that do not <HI>Poetize,</HI> may be Judges of Wit, <HI>Humane nature</HI> and <HI>Common Decencies:</HI>) So then the Sen|tence is begun with <HI>I:</HI> there is but one of them puts in for a Judges Place: <HI>that's he in the Gray:</HI> but pre&s;ently 'tis men; <HI>two more in Buckram,</HI> wou'd be <HI>Judges</HI> too. <HI>Neither</HI> of them it &s;eems, <HI>Poetize;</HI> that's true, but both of them are in at <HI>Rhime Doggrel;</HI> witne&s;s the Song a|gain&s;t the <HI>Bi&s;hops,</HI> and the <HI>Tunbridge-Ballad.</HI> By the way, I find all my Scribling Enemies have a mind to be <HI>Judges,</HI> and <HI>Chief Barons:</HI> proceed Gentlemen. <HI>This Play (as I am inform'd by &s;ome, who have a nearer Com|munication with the Poets and the Players, than I have.)</HI> Which of the two <HI>So&s;ia's</HI> is it that now &s;peaks? If the <HI>Lawyer,</HI> 'tis true, he has but little <HI>Communication</HI> with the <HI>Players:</HI> if the <HI>Poet,</HI> the <HI>Players</HI> have but <HI>little Com|munication</HI> with <HI>him.</HI> For 'tis not long ago, he &s;aid to &s;ome body, <HI>By G&mdash; my Lord, tho&s;e</HI> Tory-rogues <HI>will act. none of my Plays.</HI> Well, but the Accu&s;ation, that this Play was once written by <HI>another,</HI> and then 'twas call'd the <HI>Pari&s;ian Ma&s;&s;acre:</HI> Such a Play, I have heard indeed was written; but I never &s;aw it. Whether this be any of it or no, I can &s;ay no more, than for my own part of it. But pray, who denies the unparalleld villany of the <HI>Papi&s;ts,</HI> in that bloody <HI>Ma&s;&s;acre?</HI> I have enquired, why it was not Acted, and heard it was &s;topt, by the interpo&s;iti|on of an <HI>Amba&s;&s;ador,</HI> who was willing to &s;ave the Credit of his Country, and not to have the Memory of an Acti|on &s;o barbarous, reviv'd. But that I tempted my Friend to alter it, is a notorious <HI>Whiggi&s;m</HI> to &s;ave the <HI>broader Word.</HI> The <HI>Sicilian Ve&s;pers</HI> I have had <HI>Plotted</HI> by me above the&s;e &s;even <HI>years:</HI> The Story of it, I found under borow'd Names in <HI>Giraldo Cinthio;</HI> but the Rape in my Tragedy of <HI>Amboyna,</HI> was &s;o like it, that I forbore the Writing. But what had this to do with <HI>Prote&s;tants?</HI> for the <HI>Ma&s;&s;acres</HI> and the <HI>Ma&s;&s;acred</HI> were all Papi&s;ts.</P>
<PB N="42" REF="24">
<P>But 'tis ob&s;ervable, they &s;ay, that though the <HI>Ma&s;&s;acre cou'd not be acted, as it was fir&s;t written again&s;t Papi&s;ts, yet when it was turn'd upon Prote&s;tants, it found reception.</HI></P>
<P>Now all's come out, the Scandal of the Story, turns at la&s;t upon the <HI>Government:</HI> that <HI>Patroni&s;es Popi&s;h Plays,</HI> and <HI>for|bids Prote&s;tant.</HI> Ours is to be a <HI>Popi&s;h Play,</HI> why? becau&s;e it expo&s;es the Villany of <HI>Sectaries</HI> and <HI>Rebels?</HI> Prove them fir&s;t to be <HI>Prote&s;tants,</HI> and &s;ee what you will get by it when you have done? your Party are certainly the men whom the Play attaques; and &s;o far I will help you: the De&s;igns and Actions repre&s;ented in the Play, are &s;uch as you have Copyed from the <HI>League;</HI> for though you have wickedne&s;s enough, yet you wanted the <HI>Wit</HI> to make a <HI>new Contrivance.</HI> But for &s;hame, while you are carrying on &s;uch palpable villany, do not a&s;&s;ume the name of <HI>Prote&s;tants.</HI> You will tell us, you are friends to the <HI>Government,</HI> and the Kings <HI>be&s;t Subjects;</HI> but all the while, you are a&s;per&s;ing both <HI>it</HI> and <HI>him.</HI> Who &s;hall be Judges, whether you are Friends or not? the <HI>Govern|ment</HI> or <HI>you?</HI> Have not all Rebels always &s;ung the &s;ame Song? Was ever Thief or Murtherer Fool enough to plead <HI>Guilty?</HI> For your Love and Loyalty to the King, they who mean him be&s;t among&s;t you, are no better Subjects than <HI>Duke Trinculo:</HI> They wou'd be con|tent he &s;hou'd be <HI>Viceroy,</HI> &s;o they may be <HI>Viceroys</HI> over him.</P>
<P>The next Accu&s;ation is particular to me, <HI>that I the &s;aid</HI> Bays, <HI>wou'd fal&s;ly and felloniou&s;ly, have robb'd</HI> Nat. Lee, <HI>of his &s;hare in the Reputation of</HI> Oedipus: Now I am <HI>Culprit;</HI> I writ the fir&s;t and third Acts of <HI>Oedipus,</HI> and drew the <HI>Scenary</HI> of the <HI>whole Play:</HI> when ever I have own'd a farther Proportion, let my Accu&s;ers &s;peak: this
<PB N="43" REF="24">was meant mi&s;chievou&s;ly, to &s;et us two at variance: Who is the <HI>old Serpent</HI> and <HI>Satan</HI> now? When my Friends help my barren Fancy, I am thankful for it: I do not u&s;e to receive a&s;&s;i&s;tance, and afterwards ungratefully di&s;|own it.</P>
<P>Not long after, <HI>Exemplary Puni&s;hment</HI> is due to me, for this mo&s;t <HI>devili&s;h Parallel.</HI> 'Tis a devili&s;h one indeed; but who can help it, if I draw <HI>Devils</HI> like <HI>one another,</HI> the fault is in them&s;elves for being &s;o: I neither made their Horns nor Claws, nor cloven Feet: I know not what I &s;hou'd have done, unle&s;s I had drawn the <HI>Devil</HI> a <HI>hand&s;om proper Gentleman,</HI> like the Painter in the Fable, to have made a <HI>Friend</HI> of him; but I ought to be <HI>exem|plarily puni&s;h</HI>'d <HI>for it;</HI> when the <HI>Devil</HI> gets <HI>uppermo&s;t,</HI> I &s;hall <HI>expect</HI> it. <HI>In the mean time, let Magi&s;trates (that re&s;pect their Oaths and Office)</HI> which words you &s;ee, are put into a <HI>Parenthe&s;is,</HI> as (if God help us) we had none &s;uch now; let them put the Law in execution, a|gain&s;t <HI>leud Scriblers,</HI> the <HI>Mark</HI> will be too <HI>fair</HI> upon a <HI>Pillory,</HI> for a <HI>Turnip</HI> or a <HI>rotten Egg</HI> to <HI>mi&s;s</HI> it. But for my part, I have not Malice enough, to wi&s;h him &s;o much harm; not &s;o much as to have a Hair of his head peri&s;h, much le&s;s, that one whole &s;ide of it &s;hould be di&s;mantled: I am no Informer who writ &s;uch a Song, or &s;uch a <HI>Libel,</HI> if the <HI>Dulne&s;s</HI> betrays him not, he is <HI>&s;afe</HI> for <HI>me.</HI> And may the &s;ame <HI>dulne&s;s</HI> pre&s;erve him ever from <HI>publick Ju&s;tice:</HI> 'tis a &s;ufficient thick <HI>Mad-wall,</HI> betwixt <HI>him</HI> and <HI>Law:</HI> 'tis his Guardian Angel, that protects him from Pu|ni&s;hment, becau&s;e in &s;pight of him, he cannot de&s;erve it. 'Tis that which pre&s;erves him innocent, when he means mo&s;t mi&s;chief; and makes him a <HI>Saint,</HI> when he intends to be a <HI>Devil.</HI> He can never offend enough, to need the Mercy of the <HI>Government;</HI> for 'tis <HI>beholding</HI> to him, that he writes again&s;t it: and he never offers at a
<PB N="44" REF="25"><HI>Satyr,</HI> but he converts his <HI>Readers</HI> to the <HI>contrary pinion.</HI></P>
<P>Some of the &s;ucceeding Pargraphs, are intended for <HI>very Ciceronian:</HI> There the <HI>Lawyer</HI> flouri&s;hes in the <HI>Pul|pit,</HI> and the <HI>Poet</HI> &s;tands in <HI>Socks</HI> among&s;t the Crowd to hear him. Now for <HI>Narration, Refutation, Calumniati|on, Aggravation,</HI> and the whole <HI>Artillery</HI> of <HI>Tropes</HI> and <HI>Figures,</HI> to defend the Proceedings at <HI>Guild-Hall:</HI> the mo&s;t minute circum&s;tances of the Elections, are de&s;crib'd &s;o lively, that a man, who had not heard he was there in a <HI>Livery-Gown,</HI> might &s;u&s;pect, there was a <HI>quorum pars magna fui</HI> in the Ca&s;e: and multitudes of Electors, ju&s;t as well qualified as him&s;elf, might give their Party the greater Number: but throw back their <HI>guilt Shillings,</HI> which were told for <HI>Guinnies,</HI> and their true Summ was con&s;iderably le&s;s. Well, there was no Rebellion at this time, therefore &s;ays my Adver&s;ary, there was no <HI>Parallel.</HI> 'Tis true, there was no <HI>Rebellion;</HI> but whoever told him, that I intended this <HI>Parallel</HI> &s;o far? if the likene&s;s had been throughout, I may gue&s;s by their good will to me, that I had never liv'd to write it. But to &s;how his mi|&s;take, which I believe wilful, the Play was wholly writ|ten a month or two before the la&s;t Election of the <HI>She|riffs.</HI> Yet, it &s;eems there was &s;ome kind of <HI>Prophe&s;ie</HI> in the Ca&s;e: and till the Faction gets clear of a <HI>Riot,</HI> a part of the Compari&s;on will hold even there; yet, if he plea|&s;es to remember, there has been a King of <HI>England</HI> forc'd by the Inhabitants from his <HI>Imperial Town.</HI> 'Tis true, the Son has had better fortune than the Father; but the rea|&s;on is, that he has now a &s;tronger Party in the <HI>City,</HI> than his Enemies: the <HI>Government</HI> of it is &s;ecur'd in <HI>Loy|al</HI> and <HI>Prudent Hands,</HI> and the Party is to weak to pu&s;h their de&s;igns farther. <HI>They re&s;cued not their beloved Sheriffs, at a time</HI> (he tells you) <HI>when they had mo&s;t important
<PB N="45" REF="25">u&s;e of them.</HI> What the importancy of the occa&s;ion was, I will not &s;earch; 'tis well if their own Con&s;ciences will acquit them. But let them be never &s;o much belov'd, their Adherents knew it was a Lawful Authority that &s;ent them to the <HI>Tower;</HI> and an Authority, which to their &s;orrow, they were not able to <HI>re&s;i&s;t:</HI> &s;o that if four men guarded them without di&s;turbance, and to the con|tempt of their &s;trength, at broad noon day, and at full Exchange time, it was no more their hone&s;ty, to &s;tand looking on with their hands in their Pockets, than it is of a &s;mall Band of <HI>Robbers,</HI> to let a <HI>Caravan</HI> go by, which is too &s;trong for them to a&s;&s;ault.</P>
<P>After this, I am call'd after the old rate, <HI>loo&s;e and in|famous Scribler,</HI> and 'tis well I &s;cape &s;o cheap: bear your good fortune moderately, Mr. <HI>Poet:</HI> for as loo&s;e and as in|famous as I am, if I had written for your Party, your Pen|tion wou'd have been cut off, as u&s;ele&s;s. But they mu&s;t take up with <HI>Settle,</HI> and &s;uch as they can get: <HI>Bartholo|mew-Fair Writers,</HI> and <HI>Bartholomew-Clo&s;e Printers;</HI> there's a famine of Wit among&s;t them, they are forc'd to give un|con&s;cionable rates, and after all to have only Carrion for their money.</P>
<P>Then I am <HI>an ignorant fellow for not knowing there were no Juries in Paris:</HI> I do not remember I have written any &s;uch thing: but whoever did, I am confident it was not his <HI>ignorance.</HI> Perhaps he had a mind to bring the ca&s;e a little nearer home: if they had not <HI>Juries</HI> in <HI>Paris,</HI> we had them from the <HI>Normans,</HI> who were <HI>French-men:</HI> and as you manag'd them, we had as good have had none in <HI>London:</HI> Let it &s;atisfie you we have them now; and &s;ome of your loo&s;e and infamous Scriblers may come to under|&s;tand it a little better.</P>
<P>The next is the Ju&s;tification of a Noble Peer decea&s;'d: the Ca&s;e is known, and I have no quarrel to his memory:
<PB N="46" REF="26">let it &s;leep; he is now before another Judge. Immedi|ately after I am &s;aid to have intended <HI>an abu&s;e to the Hou&s;e of Commons;</HI> which is call'd by our Authors, <HI>the mo&s;t Augu&s;t A&s;&s;embly of Europe.</HI> They are to prove I have abu&s;'d that Hou&s;e; but 'tis manife&s;t They have le&s;&s;en'd the Hou&s;e of <HI>Lords,</HI> by owning the Commons to be the <HI>more August A&s;&s;embly.</HI> 'Tis an Hou&s;e cho&s;en (they &s;ay) by every <HI>Prote&s;tant</HI> who has a con&s;iderable Inheritance in <HI>England;</HI> which word <HI>con&s;iderable</HI> &s;ignifies forty &s;hil|lings <HI>per annum</HI> of free Land. For the intere&s;t of the loyal Party, &s;o much undervalued by our Authors, they have long agoe confe&s;s'd in print, that the Nobility and Gentry have di&s;own'd them: and the Yeomanry have at la&s;t con|&s;ider'd, <HI>queis haec con&s;evimus arva?</HI> they have had enough of unlawful and arbitrary power; and know to their co&s;t, what <HI>an August A&s;&s;embly</HI> they had once without a <HI>King</HI> and <HI>Hou&s;e of Peers.</HI></P>
<P>But now they have me in a burning &s;cent, and run af|ter me full cry: <HI>Was ever &s;uch licence conniv'd at yet, in an impious Libeller and Scribler, that the Succe&s;&s;ion, &s;o &s;olemn a matter, that is not fit to be debated of but in Parliament, &s;hou'd be profan'd &s;o far as to be playd with on the Stage?</HI></P>
<P>Hold a little, Gentlemen, hold a little (as one of your fellow Citizens &s;ays in the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;e:</HI>) Is it &s;o <HI>un|lawful</HI> for me to argue <HI>for the Succe&s;&s;ion in the right Line</HI> upon the <HI>Stage;</HI> and is it &s;o very <HI>lawful</HI> for Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> and the <HI>Scriblers</HI> of <HI>your Party,</HI> to <HI>oppo&s;e</HI> it in their <HI>Libels off</HI> the Stage? Is it &s;o &s;acred, that a Parliament only is &s;uffer'd to debate it, and dare you run it down both in your Di&s;cour&s;es and Pamphlets out of Parliament? In con|&s;cience what can you urge again&s;t me, which I cannot re|turn an hundred times heavier on you? And by the way you tell me, that to affirm the contrary to this, is a <HI>Prae|munire</HI>
<PB N="47" REF="26">again&s;t the Statute of the 13. of <HI>Eliz.</HI> If &s;uch a <HI>Praemunire</HI> be, pray an&s;wer me who has mo&s;t incurr'd it? In the mean time do me the favour to look into the <HI>Sta|tute-Book,</HI> and &s;ee if you can find the <HI>Statute:</HI> you know your &s;elves, or you have been told it, that this <HI>Statute</HI> is virtually <HI>repeal'd,</HI> by that of the fir&s;t of King <HI>James,</HI> ac|knowledging his <HI>immediate lawfull and undoubted right to this Imperial Crown, as the next lineal Heir:</HI> tho&s;e la&s;t words are an <HI>implicit anti-declaration</HI> to the Statute in Queen <HI>Elizabeth,</HI> which for that rea&s;on is now omitted in our Books. The lawful Authority of an Hou&s;e of Com|mons I acknowledge; but without fear and trembling, as my <HI>Reflectors</HI> wou'd have it: For why &s;hou'd I fear my <HI>Repre&s;entatives?</HI> they are &s;ummon'd to con&s;ult about the publick good, and not to frighten tho&s;e who cho&s;e them. 'Tis for <HI>you</HI> to <HI>tremble</HI> who <HI>libel the &s;upream Authority of the Nation.</HI> But we knavi&s;h Coxcombs and Villains are to know, &s;ay my Authors, that <HI>a Vote is the opinion of that Hou&s;e.</HI> Lord help our under&s;tandings that know not this without their telling! What <HI>Engli&s;h-man</HI> do you think does not honour his Repre&s;entatives, and wi&s;h a Parliament void of heats and animo&s;ities, to &s;ecure the quiet of the Nation? You cite his Maje&s;ties la&s;t <HI>De|claration</HI> again&s;t tho&s;e who dare trifle with Parliaments: (a Declaration by the way, which you endeavour'd not to have read publickly in Churches, with a threatning to tho&s;e that did it.) <HI>But we &s;till declare</HI> (&s;ays his Maje<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="3 letters">) <HI>that no irregularities of Parliament &s;hall make us out of love with them:</HI> Are not you unfortunate Quoters why now, &s;hou'd you rub up the remembrance of tho&s;e <HI>irregularities</HI> mention'd in that <HI>Declaration,</HI> which cau&s;'d, as the King informs us, its di&s;&s;olution?</P>
<P>The next Paragraph is already an&s;wer'd; 'tis only a clum&s;ey Commendation of the D. of <HI>M.</HI> copied after Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> and a proof that he is unlike the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;e.</HI></P>
<PB N="48" REF="27">
<P>After having done my drudgery for me, and having mo&s;t officiou&s;ly prov'd that the <HI>Engli&s;h</HI> Duke, is no Parallel for the <HI>French;</HI> which I am &s;ure he is not, they are next to do their own bu&s;ine&s;s, which is, that I meant a Parallel be|twixt <HI>Henry the Third,</HI> and our mo&s;t gracious <HI>Soveraign.</HI> But, as fallacies are always couch'd in general Propo&s;iti|ons, they plead the whole cour&s;e of the <HI>Drama,</HI> which, they &s;ay, <HI>&s;eems</HI> to in&s;inuate my intentions. One may &s;ee to what a mi&s;erable &s;hift they are driven: when, for want of any one in&s;tance, to which I challenge them, they have only to alledge, that the Play <HI>SEEMS</HI> to in&s;i|nuate it. I an&s;wer, it does not &s;eem, which is a <HI>bare Negative</HI> to a <HI>bare Affirmative;</HI> and then we are ju&s;t where we were before. Fat <HI>Fal&s;taffe</HI> was never &s;et har|der by the Prince for a <HI>Rea&s;on,</HI> when he an&s;wer'd, that that <HI>if</HI> Rea&s;ons <HI>grew as thick as</HI> Black-berries, <HI>he wou'd not give one.</HI> Well, after long pumping, le&s;t the lie &s;hou'd appear quite barefac'd, they have found, I &s;aid, that at <HI>Kiug Henry</HI>'s <HI>Birth,</HI> there &s;hone a <HI>Regal Star:</HI> &s;o there did at <HI>King Charles the &s;econds:</HI> therefore I have made a <HI>Parallel</HI> betwixt <HI>Henry the third,</HI> and <HI>Charles the &s;econd.</HI> A very concluding <HI>Sillogi&s;m,</HI> if I &s;hou'd an&s;wer it no farther.</P>
<P>Now let us look upon the Play, the words are in the <HI>fo<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">th Act.</HI> The Conjurer there is asking his Devil, <HI>what Fortune attended his Ma&s;ter, the</HI> Gui&s;e, <HI>and what the King?</HI> The familiar an&s;wers concerning the King. <HI>He cannot be Depos'd, he may be</HI> kill'd; <HI>a violent Fate attends him: but at his Birth, there &s;hone a</HI> Regal Star, <HI>(Conj.)</HI> My Ma&s;ter had a &s;tronger, <HI>(Devil) no not a</HI> &s;tronger, <HI>but more</HI> Popular. Let the whole Scene (which is one of the be&s;t in the Tragedy, though murder'd in the <HI>Acting</HI>) he read together; and it will be as clear as day-light,
<PB N="49" REF="27">that the <HI>Devil</HI> gave an <HI>A&s;trological</HI> account of the <HI>French Kings Horo&s;cope:</HI> that the <HI>Regal Star,</HI> then <HI>culminating,</HI> was the <HI>Sun</HI> in the tenth <HI>Hou&s;e or Mid-heaven;</HI> which <HI>Caeteris paribus</HI> is a <HI>Regal Nativity</HI> in that Art. The re&s;t of the Scene confirms what I have &s;aid: for the <HI>Devil</HI> has taken the <HI>Po&s;ition</HI> of the <HI>Heaven</HI>'s, or <HI>Scheam</HI> of the <HI>World,</HI> at the point of the <HI>Suns entrance into Aries:</HI> I di&s;pute not here the <HI>Truth</HI> or <HI>Lawfulne&s;s</HI> of that Art; but 'tis u&s;ual with <HI>Poets,</HI> e&s;pecially with the <HI>Italians,</HI> to mix <HI>A&s;trology</HI> in their Poems: <HI>Chawcer,</HI> among&s;t us, is frequent in it; but this Revolution particularly I have taken out of <HI>Luigi Pulci,</HI> and there is one almo&s;t the &s;ame in <HI>Boiar|do's Orlando Inamorato.</HI> Now if the&s;e <HI>Poets</HI> knew, that a <HI>Star</HI> were to appear at <HI>our Kings Birth,</HI> they were bet|ter <HI>Prophets</HI> than <HI>Nostradamus,</HI> who has told us nothing of it. Yet this they &s;ay is <HI>Trea&s;on with a Witne&s;s,</HI> and <HI>one of the Crimes for which they condemn'd me to be hang'd drawn and quarter'd:</HI> I find they do not believe me to be one of their Party at the bottom, by their charitable wi&s;hes to me; and am proud enough, to think I have done them &s;ome little mi&s;chief, becau&s;e they are &s;o de&s;i|rous to be rid of me. But if <HI>Jack Ketch</HI> mu&s;t needs have the handling of us <HI>Poets,</HI> let him begin fir&s;t where he may take the <HI>deepe&s;t Say:</HI> let <HI>me</HI> be <HI>hang'd,</HI> but in my <HI>turn;</HI> for I am &s;ure I am neither the <HI>fatte&s;t Scribler</HI> nor the <HI>wor&s;t;</HI> I'le be judg'd by their own Party. But for all our Com|forts, the days of hanging are a little out of date: and I hope there will be no more <HI>Trea&s;on with a Witne&s;s,</HI> or <HI>Witne&s;&s;es;</HI> for now there is no more to be got by <HI>Swear|ing,</HI> and the <HI>Market is over-&s;tock'd be&s;ides.</HI></P>
<P>But are you in earne&s;t, when you &s;ay I have made <HI>Henry the Third fearful, weak, bloody, perfidious, hypo|critical</HI> and <HI>fawning</HI> in the <HI>Play?</HI> I am &s;ure an unbi|a&s;s'd Reader will find a more favourable image of him
<PB N="50" REF="28">in the <HI>Tragedy;</HI> what ever he was out of it. You wou'd not have told a lye &s;o &s;hamele&s;s, but that you were re&s;olv'd to &s;econd it with a wor&s;e; that I made a <HI>Paral|lel</HI> of that <HI>Prince.</HI> And now it comes to my turn, pray let me ask you, why you &s;pend three Pages and a half, in heaping up all the villanies true or fal&s;e, which you can rake together, to bla&s;t his memory? Why is all this pains taken, to expo&s;e the <HI>Per&s;on</HI> of King <HI>Henry the Third?</HI> are you <HI>Leaguers,</HI> or <HI>Covenanters,</HI> or <HI>A&s;&s;ociators?</HI> What has the poor dead man done to nettle you? Were his <HI>Rebels your Friends,</HI> or <HI>your Relations?</HI> Were your <HI>Norman</HI> Ance&s;tors of any of tho&s;e Families, which were Con&s;pirators in the Play? I &s;mell a Rat in this bu&s;ine&s;s: <HI>Henry the Third</HI> is not taken thus to task for nothing. Let me tell you, this is little better than an implicite con|fe&s;&s;ion of the <HI>Parallel</HI> which I intended. This Gentle|man of <HI>Valois</HI> &s;ticks in your &s;tomacks: and though I do not defend his Proceedings in the States, any other|wi&s;e, than by the inevitable nece&s;&s;ity which caus'd them, yet acknowledging <HI>his Crime,</HI> does not extenuate <HI>their Guilt,</HI> that forc'd him to it. 'Twas bad on both &s;ides, but the <HI>Revenge</HI> was not &s;o wicked as the <HI>Trea&s;on:</HI> for 'twas a <HI>voluntary</HI> act of theirs, and a <HI>compell'd</HI> one of his. The &s;hort on't is, he took a violent cour&s;e to cut up the <HI>Covenant</HI> by the <HI>Roots;</HI> and there's your quarrel to him.</P>
<P>Now for a long winded Panegyrique of the King of <HI>Navarre:</HI> and here I am &s;ure they are in earne&s;t, when they take &s;uch over pains, to prove there is no likene&s;s, where they &s;ay I intended it. The <HI>Heroe</HI> at whom their malice is level'd, does but laugh at it I believe: And a|mong&s;t the other vertues of that Predece&s;&s;or, wants nei|ther his <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> nor his <HI>Clemency,</HI> to forgive all the Heads of the <HI>League,</HI> as fa&s;t as they &s;ubmit: As for
<PB N="51" REF="28">obliging them, (which our Authors wou'd fain hook in for an Ingredient) let them be &s;atisfied, that no more Ene|mies are to be bought off with Places and Preferments: the Tryal which has been made in two Kings Reigns, will warn the Family from &s;o <HI>fruitle&s;s</HI> and <HI>dangerous</HI> an <HI>Ex|pedient.</HI> The re&s;t is already an&s;wer'd, in what I have &s;aid to Mr. <HI>Hunt;</HI> but I thank them by the way, for their in&s;tance of the fellow, whom the King of <HI>Navarre</HI> had pardon'd, and done good to, <HI>yet he wou'd not love him:</HI> for that Story reaches home &s;omewhere.</P>
<P>I mu&s;t make ha&s;te, to get out of hearing from this <HI>Bil|ling&s;gate Oratory;</HI> and indeed, to make an end with the&s;e Authors, except I could call Rogue and Ra&s;cal as fa&s;t as they. Let us examine the little rea&s;on they produce, concerning the <HI>Exclu&s;ion.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Did the</HI> Pope, <HI>the</HI> Clergy, <HI>the</HI> Nobility <HI>and</HI> Commo|nalty <HI>of</HI> France <HI>think it rea&s;onable to exclude a Prince for profe&s;&s;ing a different Religion, and will the Papi&s;ts be angry if the Prote&s;tants be of the &s;ame Opinion? No &s;ure, they cannot have the impudence.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, here's the <HI>different Religion</HI> taken for <HI>granted,</HI> which was never <HI>prov'd</HI> on <HI>one</HI> &s;ide: though in the King of <HI>Navarre,</HI> it was <HI>openly profe&s;&s;'d.</HI> Then the <HI>Pope,</HI> and the <HI>three E&s;tates of France</HI> had no power to alter the <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion,</HI> neither did the King in being, con&s;ent to it: or afterwards, did the greater part of the <HI>Nobility, Clergy</HI> and <HI>Gentry</HI> adhere to the <HI>Exclu&s;ion,</HI> but maintain'd the <HI>lawful King</HI> &s;uccesfully again&s;t it; as we are bound to do in <HI>England,</HI> by the Oaths of <HI>Allegiance</HI> and <HI>Supre|macy;</HI> made for the benefit of our Kings, and their Suc|ce&s;&s;ors: The Objections concerning which Oath, are fully an&s;wer'd by Doctor <HI>Hicks,</HI> in his Preface to <HI>Jovian,</HI> and thither I refer the Reader.</P>
<PB N="52" REF="29">
<P>They tell us, that what it concerns <HI>Prote&s;tants</HI> to do in that ca&s;e, enough has been heard by us in <HI>Parliament Debates.</HI></P>
<P>I an&s;wer, that <HI>Debates</HI> coming not by an <HI>Act</HI> to any <HI>I&s;&s;ue,</HI> conclude that there is nothing to be done again&s;t a <HI>Law e&s;tabli&s;h'd,</HI> and <HI>fundamental</HI> of the <HI>Monarchy.</HI> They dare not infer a Right of taking up <HI>Arms,</HI> by vertue of a <HI>Debate</HI> or <HI>Vote,</HI> and yet they tacitly <HI>in&s;inuate</HI> this: I ask them, what it does concern <HI>Prote&s;tants</HI> to do in this ca&s;e, and whether they mean any thing by that expre&s;&s;ion? They have hamper'd them&s;elves before they were aware; for they proceed in the very next lines to tell us, they believe <HI>the Crown of</HI> England <HI>being Hereditary, the next in Blood, have an undoubted right to &s;ucceed, unle&s;s God make them, or they make them&s;elves uncapable of Reigning:</HI> So that according to them, if either of tho&s;e two Impe|diments &s;hall happen, then it concerns the Prote&s;tants of <HI>England</HI> to do that &s;omething, which if they had &s;poken out, had been direct <HI>Trea&s;on.</HI> Here's fine <HI>Legerdemain</HI> among&s;t them; they have acknowledg'd a <HI>Vote</HI> to be no more than the Opinion of an <HI>Hou&s;e,</HI> and yet from a <HI>Debate,</HI> which was abortive before it quicken'd into a <HI>Vote,</HI> they argue after the old Song, <HI>that there's &s;omething more to be done, which you cannot chu&s;e but gue&s;s.</HI> In the next place, there's no &s;uch thing as <HI>Incapacity</HI> to be &s;uppos'd, in the immediate <HI>Succe&s;&s;or</HI> of the Crown; That is, the <HI>rightful</HI> Heir cannot be made uncapable on any account what&s;oe|ver to &s;ucceed. It may plea&s;e God, that he may be <HI>in|habilis,</HI> or <HI>inidoneus ad gerendam Rempublicam, unfit or unable to govern the Kingdom;</HI> but this is no <HI>impediment</HI> to his <HI>right</HI> of reigning; he cannot either be <HI>excluded</HI> or <HI>depo&s;'d</HI> for &s;uch imperfection: For the Laws which have provided for <HI>private</HI> men in this ca&s;e, have al&s;o made provi&s;ion for the <HI>Soveraign</HI> and for the <HI>Publick:</HI> and
<PB N="53" REF="29">the Council of State or the next of Blood, is to admi|ni&s;ter the Kingdom for him. <HI>Charles the &s;ixth of France</HI> (for I think we have no <HI>Engli&s;h</HI> Examples which will reach it) forfeited not his Kingdom by his <HI>Lunacy,</HI> though a victorious King of <HI>England</HI> was then knocking at his Gates; but all things under his Name, and by his Au|thority, were manag'd. The ca&s;e is the &s;ame, betwixt a King <HI>non compos mentis,</HI> and one who is <HI>nondum compos mentis,</HI> a di&s;tracted or an Infant King. Then the Peo|ple cannot incapacitate the King, becau&s;e he derives not his Right from them, but from God only: nei|ther can any <HI>Action,</HI> much le&s;s <HI>Opinion</HI> of a Soveraign, render him <HI>uncapable</HI> for the &s;ame rea&s;on; excepting only a <HI>voluntary Re&s;ignation</HI> to his <HI>immediate Heir,</HI> as in the ca&s;e of <HI>Charles the fifth:</HI> for that of <HI>our Richard the &s;econd</HI> was <HI>invalid,</HI> becau&s;e <HI>forc'd;</HI> and not made to the <HI>next Succe&s;&s;or.</HI></P>
<P>Neither does it follow, as our Authors urge, that <HI>an unalterable Succe&s;&s;ion &s;uppo&s;es England to be the Kings E|&s;tate, and the People his Goods and Chattels on it:</HI> For the pre&s;erv<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">tion of <HI>his Right,</HI> de&s;troys not <HI>our Propriety,</HI> but maintains us in it. He has ty'd him&s;elf by <HI>Law,</HI> not to in|vade our Po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions, and we have oblig'd our &s;elves as <HI>Subjects</HI> to him and all his <HI>lawful Succe&s;&s;ors:</HI> By which irrevocable <HI>Act</HI> of ours, both for our &s;elves and our Po|&s;terity, we can no more exclude the <HI>Succe&s;&s;or,</HI> than we can depo&s;e the <HI>pre&s;ent King.</HI> The E&s;tate of <HI>England</HI> is indeed the Kings, and I may &s;afely grant their &s;uppo&s;iti|on, as to the <HI>Government</HI> of <HI>England:</HI> but it follows not, that the <HI>People</HI> are his <HI>Goods</HI> and <HI>Chattels</HI> on it; for then he might &s;ell, alienate, or de&s;troy them as he pleas'd, from all which he has ty'd him&s;elf by the <HI>Liberties</HI> and <HI>Priviledges</HI> which he has granted us by Laws.</P>
<PB N="54" REF="30">
<P>There's little el&s;e material in this Pamphlet: for to &s;ay, <HI>I wou'd in&s;inuate into the King, a hatred to his capital City,</HI> is to &s;ay, he &s;hou'd hate his be&s;t friends, the la&s;t and the pre&s;ent Lord Mayor, our two Honourable Sheriffs, the Court of Aldermen, the worthy and Loyal Mr. Common Serjeant, with the re&s;t of the Officers, who are generally well affected, and who have kept out their factious Mem|from its Government. To &s;ay I wou'd in&s;inuate a &s;corn of Authority in the City, is in effect, to grant the <HI>Parallel</HI> in the <HI>Play:</HI> For the authority of <HI>Tumults</HI> and <HI>Seditions</HI> is only &s;corn'd in it: an Authority which they deriv'd not from the <HI>Crown,</HI> but exercis'd again&s;t it. And for them to confe&s;s I expos'd this, is to confe&s;s that <HI>London</HI> was like <HI>Paris.</HI></P>
<P>They conclude with a Prayer to <HI>Almighty God:</HI> (in which I therefore believe the Poet did not club:) to li|bel the King through all the Pamphlet, and to pray for him in the conclu&s;ion, is an action of more prudence in them than of piety: perhaps they might hope to be forgiven, as one of their Predece&s;&s;ors was by King <HI>James;</HI> who after he had rail'd at him abundantly, ended his <HI>Lampoon</HI> with the&s;e two Ver&s;es.</P>
<Q><L>Now God pre&s;erve our King, Queen, Prince and Peers,</L>
<L>And grant the Author long may wear his Ears.</L></Q>
<PB N="55" REF="30">
<P>To take a &s;hort review of the <HI>whole;</HI> 'Tis manife&s;t, that there is no &s;uch <HI>Parallel</HI> in the <HI>Play,</HI> as the <HI>Faction</HI> have <HI>pretended:</HI> that the <HI>Story</HI> wou'd not <HI>bear</HI> one where they have <HI>plac'd</HI> it; and that I cou'd not rea&s;onably <HI>intend</HI> one, &s;o contrary to the <HI>nature</HI> of the <HI>Play,</HI> and &s;o re|pugnant to the <HI>Principles</HI> of the <HI>Loyal Party.</HI> On the other &s;ide, 'tis clear, that the <HI>Principles</HI> and <HI>Practices</HI> of the <HI>Publick Enemies,</HI> have both <HI>formerly re&s;embled</HI> tho&s;e of the <HI>League,</HI> and <HI>continue</HI> to hold the <HI>&s;ame Re&s;emblance.</HI> It appears by the outcry of the <HI>Party</HI> before the <HI>Play</HI> was <HI>acted,</HI> that they <HI>dread|ed</HI> and <HI>fore&s;aw</HI> the bringing of the <HI>Faction</HI> upon the <HI>Stage:</HI> and by the ha&s;ty printing of Mr. <HI>Hunts Libel,</HI> and the <HI>Reflections,</HI> before the <HI>Tragedy</HI> was <HI>publi&s;h'd,</HI> that they were infinitely concern'd to prevent any farther operation of it. It appears from the general con&s;ent of the <HI>Audiences,</HI> that <HI>Their Party</HI> were <HI>known</HI> to be <HI>repre&s;ented;</HI> and <HI>Them&s;elves</HI> own'd openly by their <HI>hi&s;sing,</HI> that they were incen&s;'d at it, as an Object which they cou'd not bear. 'Tis evident by their en|deavours to <HI>&s;hift off</HI> this <HI>Parallel</HI> from <HI>Their Side,</HI> that their Principles are too &s;hameful to be maintain'd: 'Tis notorious, that <HI>They,</HI> and <HI>They on|ly</HI> have made the <HI>Parallel</HI> betwixt the Duke of <HI>Gui&s;e</HI> and the Duke of <HI>M.</HI> And that in <HI>Revenge</HI>
<PB N="56" REF="31">for the <HI>manifest likene&s;s</HI> they &s;ind in the <HI>Parties them&s;elves,</HI> they have carried up the <HI>Parallel</HI> to the <HI>Heads</HI> of the <HI>Parties,</HI> where there is <HI>no Re&s;emblance at all.</HI> Under which colour, while they pretend to <HI>advert</HI> upon <HI>One Libell,</HI> they <HI>&s;et up Another:</HI> For what <HI>re&s;emblance</HI> cou'd they &s;ugge&s;t betwixt two per&s;ons &s;o <HI>unlike</HI> in their <HI>de&s;cent,</HI> the qualities of their <HI>minds,</HI> and the di&s;parity of their war-like <HI>Actions,</HI> if they grant not, that there is a <HI>Faction here,</HI> which is like that other that was in <HI>France?</HI> &s;o that if they do not fir&s;t acknowledge <HI>one Com|mon Cau&s;e,</HI> there is no foundation for a <HI>Parallel.</HI> The <HI>Dilemma</HI> therefore lies &s;trong upon them; and let them avoid it, if they can: that either they mu&s;t <HI>avow</HI> the <HI>wickedne&s;s</HI> of their <HI>de&s;igns,</HI> or <HI>di&s;own</HI> the <HI>likene&s;s</HI> of <HI>tho&s;e two per&s;ons.</HI> I do fur|cher charge tho&s;e audacious Authors, that <HI>they them&s;elves</HI> have <HI>made</HI> the <HI>Parallel</HI> which they call <HI>Mine,</HI> and that under the <HI>covert</HI> of this <HI>Parallel</HI> they have odiou&s;ly compar'd our <HI>pre&s;ent King</HI> with King <HI>Henry the Third.</HI> And farther, that they have <HI>forc'd this Parallel expre&s;ly</HI> to wound his <HI>Majesty</HI> in the <HI>Compari&s;on.</HI> For &s;ince there is a <HI>Parallel</HI> (as they would have it) it mu&s;t be either <HI>Theirs</HI> or <HI>Mine.</HI> I have prov'd that it can|not po&s;&s;ibly be <HI>Mine;</HI> and in &s;o doing, that it mu&s;t be <HI>Theirs</HI> by con&s;equence. Under this &s;hadow all the <HI>Vices</HI> of the <HI>French</HI> King are
<PB N="57" REF="31">charg'd by tho&s;e Libellers (by a &s;ide-wind) up|on <HI>Ours:</HI> And 'tis indeed the bottom of their de&s;ign to make the <HI>King, cheap;</HI> his <HI>Royal Bro|ther,</HI> odious; and to alter the cour&s;e of the <HI>Suc|ce&s;&s;ion.</HI></P>
<P>Now after the <HI>Malice</HI> of this <HI>&s;puttering Trium|virate</HI> (Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> and the <HI>Two Reflectors</HI>) again&s;t the Per&s;on and Dignity of the <HI>King,</HI> and again&s;t all that endeavour to <HI>&s;erve</HI> him (which makes their hatred to his Cau&s;e apparent,) the very <HI>charging</HI> of our <HI>Play</HI> to be a <HI>Libel,</HI> and &s;uch a <HI>Paral|lel</HI> as the&s;e <HI>Ignoramus's</HI> wou'd render it, is almo&s;t as great an <HI>affront</HI> to his <HI>Maje&s;ty,</HI> as the <HI>Libellous Pi|cture it &s;elf,</HI> by which they have expos'd him to his <HI>Subjects:</HI> for it is no longer our <HI>Parallel,</HI> but the <HI>Kings,</HI> by who&s;e <HI>Order</HI> it was <HI>Acted,</HI> without any <HI>&s;huffling</HI> or <HI>importunity</HI> from the <HI>Poets;</HI> The <HI>Tra|gedy</HI> (cry'd the Faction) is a <HI>Libel</HI> again&s;t <HI>&s;uch and &s;uch Illu&s;trious Per&s;ons.</HI> Upon this the <HI>Play</HI> was <HI>&s;topt, examin'd, acquitted,</HI> and order'd to be brought upon the <HI>Stage:</HI> Not one &s;troke in't, of a <HI>Re&s;em|blance</HI> to an&s;wer the <HI>Scope</HI> and intent of the <HI>Com|plaint.</HI> There were &s;ome <HI>Features</HI> indeed, that the <HI>Illu&s;trious</HI> Mr. <HI>Hunt,</HI> and his brace of Beagles (the Reflectors) might &s;ee re&s;embling theirs. And <HI>no other Parallel</HI> either <HI>found</HI> or <HI>meant,</HI> but betwixt the <HI>French Leaguers and Ours:</HI> and &s;o far the A|greement
<PB N="58" REF="32">held from Point to Point, as true as a couple of <HI>Tallies.</HI> But when neither the <HI>King,</HI> nor my Lord <HI>Chamberlain,</HI> with other ho|nourable Per&s;ons of eminent Faith, Integrity and Under&s;tanding, upon a &s;trict peru&s;al of the Papers, cou'd find one &s;yllable to countenance the <HI>Calumny;</HI> up &s;tarts the <HI>Defender of the Char|ter, &amp;c. opens his Mouth, and &s;ays; What d'ye talk of the</HI> King? <HI>he's</HI> abus'd, <HI>he's</HI> impos'd upon. <HI>Is my Lord</HI> Chamberlain <HI>and the</HI> Scrutineers <HI>that &s;uc|ceed him,</HI> to tell US, when the <HI>King</HI> and the <HI>Duke of York</HI> are <HI>abus'd?</HI> What &s;ays my <HI>Lord Chief Baron of Ireland</HI> to the bu&s;ine&s;s? What &s;ays the <HI>Livery-man Templer?</HI> What &s;ays <HI>Og the King of Ba&s;an</HI> to't? We are men that &s;tand up for the <HI>Kings Supremacy</HI> in <HI>all Cau&s;es,</HI> and over <HI>all Per&s;ons,</HI> as well <HI>Eccle&s;ia&s;tical</HI> as <HI>Civil,</HI> next and immedi|ately under <HI>God</HI> and the PEOPLE. We are for ea&s;ing his <HI>Royal Highne&s;s</HI> of his <HI>Title</HI> to the <HI>Crown,</HI> and the <HI>Cares</HI> that attend any &s;uch Pro&s;pect; and &s;hall we &s;ee the <HI>King</HI> and the <HI>Royal Family parallel'd</HI> at this rate, and not <HI>reflect</HI> upon't?</P>
<P>But to draw to an End. Upon the laying of matters fairly together, what a <HI>King</HI> have the&s;e <HI>Balderda&s;h Scriblers</HI> given us, under the <HI>Re&s;em|blance</HI> of <HI>Henry the Third?</HI> How &s;candalous a
<PB N="59" REF="32">Character again, of his Maje&s;ty, in telling the World that he is <HI>Libell'd,</HI> and <HI>Affronted</HI> to his <HI>face, told on't, pointed to't,</HI> and yet neither <HI>He,</HI> nor Tho&s;e <HI>about</HI> him can be brought to <HI>&s;ee</HI> or <HI>under|&s;tand</HI> it. There needs no more to expound the meaning of the&s;e People, than to <HI>compare</HI> them with <HI>Them&s;elves:</HI> when it will evidently ap|pear, that their <HI>Lives</HI> and <HI>Conver&s;ations,</HI> their <HI>Writings</HI> and their <HI>Practices</HI> do all take the <HI>&s;ame Bia&s;s:</HI> and when they dare not any longer re|vile his Maje&s;ty or his Government <HI>point blank,</HI> they have an intention to play the Libellers in <HI>Ma&s;querade,</HI> and do the <HI>&s;ame thing</HI> in a way of <HI>My&s;tery</HI> and <HI>Parable.</HI> This is truly the Ca&s;e of the <HI>Pretended Parallel.</HI> They lay their Heads to|gether, and compo&s;e the Lewde&s;t Character of a <HI>Prince</HI> that can be imagin'd, and then exhibit that Mon&s;ter to the <HI>People</HI> as the <HI>Picture</HI> of the King in the <HI>Duke of Gui&s;e:</HI> So that the <HI>Libel</HI> pa&s;&s;es for <HI>current</HI> with the <HI>Multitude,</HI> whoever was the <HI>Author</HI> of it: And it will be but Common Ju|&s;tice to give the Devil his due. But, the truth is, their contrivances are now &s;o manife&s;t, that their Party moulders both in Town and Coun|try: (for I will not &s;u&s;pect that there are any of them left in Court.) Deluded <HI>well-meaners</HI> come over out of <HI>hone&s;ty,</HI> and <HI>&s;mall</HI> offendors out of common <HI>di&s;cretion,</HI> or fear. None will
<PB N="60" REF="33">&s;hortly remain with them, but men of <HI>de&s;perate fortunes</HI> or <HI>Enthu&s;iasts:</HI> tho&s;e who dare not ask pardon, becau&s;e they have <HI>transgre&s;s'd beyond it,</HI> and tho&s;e who gain by <HI>Confu&s;ion,</HI> as Thieves do by <HI>Fires:</HI> to whom <HI>forgivene&s;s</HI> were as vain, as a <HI>Reprieve</HI> to <HI>condemn'd Beggars;</HI> who mu&s;t hang without it, or &s;terve with it.</P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
