VVHen I consider the present Condition of this Na­tion, the seditious endeavours of our Enemies of all sorts, the slanderous Reports in City and Coun­try, and the strange Jealousies which men of cor­rupt and wicked designs foment, to the great dis­quieting of our minds, and to the prejudice of the Religious and un­spotted Intentions of a most Gracious King, I judge it not unseaso­nable to offer to the Publick these few Lines, as well to prevent the mischiefs of discontent and seditious fears, as to encourage all persons to those duties, and that Loyal behaviour, which our Heavenly Pro­fession, and our Worldly Interest, require from us; and the rather I have been perswaded to this attempt, because there are such numbers every where of men, of divers Principles and Designs, busily em­ployed in undermining the Nations Tranquility, by labouring to alie­nate the Peoples Affections from their Superiours, by aspersing his wisest Proceedings and Actions, and by spreading abroad the dangerous Seeds of Distrust, Suspicions, and Rebellion; chiefly in this juncture of time, since the Discovery of the Popish Plot; now that Mens minds are apt to take ill impressions, the Malice of some is un­sufferable in divulging the greatest Improbabilities, which never­theless have ill Effects and Consequences attending them. It is not long since we have smarted under the woeful Sequels of such Unchri­stian Practices, which should oblige all men of reason to be cautious how they entertain and give encouragement to any thing that may lessen the Reverence to Government, or divert us from our Duty; for let the Idolaters of Liberty say what they will, a Kingdom can never flourish whiles Authority is dis-respected; and a Government is never safe when People give themselves the liberty to cast all manner of abuses upon the lawful Governours. The contempt of Laws is the next door to Rebellion; and the Slanders fastened unjustly upon those that execute them, are near a-kin to Murder and Assassination. If the tongue wounds the Name, the Hand will scarce spare the Per­son, if opportunity were offered; and the rather we should take heed how we entertain, or are instrumental in spreading abroad ill Reports [Page 4]of the Sacred Persons of our Governours, or of their Government, because we see confirmed to us, that this is the Method which their Enemies and ours observe to bring us to our ruine. That we may therefore better secure our selves from such dreadful Calamities here­after, and now from the wicked impressions of disaffected Persons, that we may quiet the Clamours and Fears of jealous Souls, and en­courage men to a right esteem and respect of our truly Religious King, and to the duties that tend to his preservation and ours, from the Fury and Malice of our irreconcileable Enemies: I shall first give my Reader a short Narrative of several Instances observable in our Princes Reign, of his love to his People, of his gracious Disposition, and of his sincerity and care in the preservation of the Protestant Re­ligion: 2. I shall examine what Duties our own interest, and the present condition of the Nation, in relation to our Enemies abroad and at home require from us.

Never any Prince hath suffered more from Rebellious Subjects than ours; never any more disobliged, and more cruelly handled. By the late Civil Wars he was driven out of all his Inheritance, forced to seek for shelter in Forreign Nations, after that he had seen his Royal Fa­ther barbarously murthered, his Nobles and faithful Servants massa­cred, his Friends and Relations persecuted, and their Estates seque­stred, and yet never any more merciful to his greatest Enemies. When God was pleased to restore his Sacred Majesty to his Throne and Kingdoms, and with him Religion and Peace, how gracious hath he shewn himself to his fiercest Persecutors. He hath not diminish'd any thing of their Estates, who endeavour'd to take all from him. He hath not attempted upon their Lives, who labour'd to deprive him of his: Nay in all his Majesties Actings, in relation to publick or private concerns, since his happy Restauration, we may all take notice of his rare and Christian disposition, and of his constant endeavours to oblige the Nation. At his first appearance upon the Throne of England, of his own accord he granted a General Act of Oblivion, to silence all our fears, to stop the mouth of our Jealousies, to prevent the active mallice of some men, to secure our lives and fortunes, to heal up all National Wounds which had been bleeding too long, and settle that Peace and Tranquillity which we have enjoyed at home ever since. His just resentment might have taken notice of those who had enriched themselves with the Plunder of his people, and the Spoils of his Imperial Crown: The laws of Retalliation would have justified the Sequestration of the Sequestrator's ill-gotten Goods; but his majesty's Wisdom and Goodness smothered all his Displea­sures [Page 5]in a gracious Pardon, and gave, to the peace and quietness of h [...] People, those Estates and Riches which he might have justly and law­fully taken to himself by a due Execution of Justice. He was content to lose the great advantages which Divine Providence put into his hands, out of a special regard to the good of the Nation, and, in Imi­tation of his Royal Father, (that couragious Martyr) act in this oc­casion more like a good Christian, than like a powerful King.

Amongst all the Princes mentioned in holy or prophane Literature, I find none so gracious, so merciful, and so ready to forgive offences, as ours hath been: I find none more provok'd by the Cruelty and Re­bellion of his Subjects, and none so willing to spare the lives of Of­fenders. Augustus the Emperour, in whose peaceable Reign the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus was born, was dignified by the Roman Senate with this Honourable Title, The Father of the People, because he was of an admirable disposition: But we all know how cruel his Triumvirate was, and the beginning of his Empire was stained with the blood of the Noblest Families of Rome. Ʋlpius Trajanus was an excellent Prince, not guilty of the extravagancies of his Predecessors, and yet he could not pardon the offences of his Subjects without a bloody Compensation. His Successor Adrianus was so merciful, that he offered his Diadem to a Noble Traytor, who had harbour'd the ig­noble thought of murdering his Prince; yet in several occasions he gave liberty to his Passion and Revenge to spill the blood of the guil­ty. Likewise amongst the people of God, who more Religious and devout than David, a Man after Gods own Heart; yet his Vengeance would not suffer the gray hairs of Joah and Shimei to go down in peace to their Graves, though the latter had acted against him but with his Tongue; whereas many of this Nation, whose Hands and Tongues, if not their Hearts, have been acting against our merciful Prince, have been pardoned, suffered to enjoy their Estates in peace, protected by his Laws, and many of ability preferr'd and imployed. Though these kindnesses have been done to private Persons and Fami­lies, and they have chiefly reap'd the benefit of his Majesties graci­ous Disposition, the whole Kingdom is thereby obliged to his Majesty, because in the forgiveness of such Offenders, he hath had an Eye to the Publick good, peace and satisfaction of all his Subjects, rather than to his just Resentment. Moses was a Meek Man, yet how many hundreds and thousands were made Examples of his Justice, and Gods Wrath, for their Rebellions; few or none pardoned. Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperour's Name is sacred in the memo­ries of men; he forgave his Enemies, advanced Religion, incouraged [Page 6]Piety, yet he imbrued his Fatherly hands in the blood of his own Son and Heir Crispus, upon the suspition of a Rebellion. Theodosius the Emperour was a brave and an excellent Prince, yet the Inhabitants of Antioch complain of the promiscuous killing of their Citizens in the Emperours rage. Justinian, the Law-giver of the World, could not give Laws to his own passions, nor save Bellisanius and Narses, his two great Generals, from the cruel hands of his Empress Theodora. I might run over all the Histories of former times, from the beginning of the World to this day, and mention to you the noblest, the rarest, and most merciful Princes in forreign Nations, and in this, yet I dare affirm, and do offer my self to prove from a certain knowledge of the Histories of the World, that I may say I have perus'd, that there was never any King, or Soveraign Prince, neither in England, nor else­where, who hath been so gracious, so compassionate and merciful to his People, as our King Charles; neither hath any Reign been more free from shedding of blood; never any Government more mild and happy; never any Prince less ruled by violence and interest, nor more govern'd than himself, by that Sacred Maxim of his Royal Father; The setled Laws of these Kingdoms are the most excellent Rules a King can govern by.

Where are the Widows and Orphans amongst us that can complain of the unjust murder of their Relations? Where is the Family ruined by the Confiscation of its Estate and Patrimony? Where can we meet with any particular instance of his Majesties over-ruling the ordinary course of Law and Justice. Henry the VIII. and our former Kings, would sometimes give place to wrath, anger, and revenge; and their Wills sometimes took the place of Laws: But where can we meet with any such Example in our days? Where is there a person either Condemned, or Executed, or deprived of an Estate, by our Princes Command alone? Many have received their Lives and Estates from him, which had been forfeited by Law; but to this very day, none e­ver lost either Lives or Fortunes to gratifie his Majesties will and plea­sure; even in this late wicked Plot against his Royal Person, he hath not punish'd any man but by course of Law.

Is not this a happiness for all the English Subjects, for Poor and Rich, to live under such a reasonable Government, and gracious a Go­vernour, and where Law and Equity, Justice and Conscience sway the Scepter, where Power and the Regal Authority are never used, but in vindication, and for the execution of righteous Laws; though the Papists never intended to observe any measures of Reason, Conscience or Humanity with his Majesties Person and People, but in a secret and [Page 7]private way intended to fill the Land with Assassinations and Murders; nevertheless, he observes a Legal Method, and proceeds against them by such means as are justifiable before God and Man: His Majesty de­livers them over to a Court of Judicature, to have a fair Tryal for their Lives; he suffers them to answer for themselves, and leaves them to an impartial Judge and Jury. In forreign Nations such Ene­mies of the Publick Safety would have been pull'd in pieces, as the De Witts; cut down and mangled by the rude Rabble, as Sejanus at Rome, and the Assassins of the Prince of Orange, and of Henry the III. of France, and many others: They would not have had the patience to see them alive, who had resolved upon so cruel a design, as to murder the King and his People without cause: But the World sees the mode­ration of our English Natures, the Excellency of the Principles of our Religion, and the Justice of our King, who is willing to make his most desperate Enemies sensible of it in their own persons, without any passion, which hath never carried him to act against them, but in a re­gular way. And though some of them had forfeited their Estates by Law, and it had been but a piece of Justice to reduce their Posterity to poverty, who intended to make so many poor Families in this Land; yet to the Eternal praise of his Majesty be it spoken, he hath not at­tempted to take ought of their Estates, but hath restored since his Restauration, to the Children of many Rebels, Traytors, and Regi­cides, the Patrimonies belonging to their Fore-fathers, it is therefore a most unreasonable Aspersion, and a wicked Slander, proceeding from the Shop of Ignatius, and his bloody Jesuits, to report any thing amiss of his Majesties most Excellent Government: As Mr. Oats hath very well taken notice, it hath been the design of those Troublers of Peace, to make us stand in fear of an Arbitrary Government; and to fasten upon his Majesty, and his proceedings, the most abusive Lyes: but let any man run over the passages of his good Reign, he shall have no cause to suspect what there is not the least colour to believe.

The suspitions and jealousies in relation to Religion, are as plainly scandalous and unlikely; it is sufficiently known, how zealous his Ma­jesty hath always been in the profession of the true Protestant Religi­on from his Infancy: It was the Advice of his Royal Father, Above all, I would have you, as I hope you are already, well grounded and setled in your Religion; the best Profession of which I have ever esteem'd that of the Church of England: In this I charge you to persevere, as coming nearest to Gods Word for Doctrine, and to the Primitive Examples for Government. According to this direction our King hath behaved himself so, that neither fear, favour, nor interest, could ever draw him from this Re­ligion. [Page 8]In his Banishment his Majesty alone knows the greatness of his Tryals, and we and all the World the constancy of his mind.

Here the whole World might have seen the Religion of King Charles the II. Neither the love nor glory of a Crown, nor the ho­nours of the World, nor the advantages of Life could prevail upon him to waver in the least from that excellent Religion and Faith, for which the King his Father spilt his blood, and which Christ and his Apostles have recommended to us; or to accept of the Popish Super­stitions: And since his Majesties return to his Honour and Dignity, which may be look'd upon as a Reward of his Fidelity, as a glorious and honourable acknowledgment of Divine Providence of our Prin­ce's faithfulness to the Profession of the true Protestant Religion, and a Testimonial from God himself of his reality in his Faith, sufficiently evidenced to all the World by the wonderful Circumstances of his hap­py Restauration. I say, since his Majesties return, how many plain and undoubted Testimonies hath he given us of his sincerity in the Prote­stant Profession and Resolution, to maintain it in his Kingdoms against all Dissenters and Opposers. His Royal Father left him this Charge: I do require and intreat you, as your Father and you King, that you never suffer your Heart to receive the least check against, or disaffection from the true Religion establish'd in the Church of England: I tell you, I have tried it, and after much search, and many disputes, have concluded it to be the best in the World; not only in the Community as Christian, but also in the special Notion, as reformed, &c.

Therefore as soon as he was settled by the advice of his Loyal Parli­ament, he restored the Orders and Government of the Church of Eng­land, which in the approved judgment of the King his Father is the best in the World, because it is the most conformable in Doctrine and Practice, to Christ, his holy Apostles, and and the Primitive Church, as he expresly declares: And to secure this most excellent Religion the better, by removing all the causes of dissention, and Obstacles that seem'd to hinder such as had received contrary principles from em­bracing it, the Kings Majesty yielded to an amendment of certain things which gave offence. What could have been desired more from generous and a gracious Prince, than was then granted in complyance with the peoples weakness and mistakes? The Nation was then, through the disorders that had been in Church and State, split into many pieces, and sad divisions: Mens judgments were possessed with unreconcileable Prejudices and strange Principles, in opposition to the Church of England, which they would not, nor could not speedily over­come. It was therefore judged convenient to grant them time, and yet to [Page 9]establish those Law as might both declare to the World His Majesties constancy in the true Protestant Religion, and direct them that were Dissenters to embrace it. Examine but the Royal proclamations, and the Acts of Parliament, and see what they say, and it will plainly ap­pear, that the Kings Majesty never had any design, since his Corona­tion, nor before, but to settle, protect, favour, and maintain, ac­cording to his Royal Promise, the true Protestant Religion of the Church of England, as it was establish'd in Queen Elizabeth's, King James's, and his Martyred Father's days.

And if not withstanding, out of his royal goodness and wisdom, the Laws against Papists were not always strictly put in Execution, it was because the necessities of the Kingdom, and the good of the Publick did so require it, for the preservation of Peace, and the better settle­ment of the Truth. Fire and Sword are not always seasonable against Dissenters in Religion: It belongs to a King to mitigate his Laws, and suit them to Times and Cases: He is not always bound to observe them in all their rigour and exactness, neither doth such proceedings consist with the general good and happiness of a King­dom; though the surious zeal of inconsiderate Subjects may sometimes wish for the contrary. But, as in distempered Bodies the Physician doth not always observe the same Rules of his Art, nor apply the same Remedies; but changeth and altereth them according to the Diet, Hu­mour, Pulse, Country, Air, and other Circumstances of the Patient: So it becomes a wife Prince to handle the Distempers of Church and State, in such a manner as may answer the universal good, the chief end of Government, and prevent the increase of the Disease. It is therefore a grand presumption, for every petty Fellow, and ignorant Mechanick, to exclaim against his Superiours Actions in such a case, when he is not capable to understand the great Reasons of Sate that govern them.

Besides, the Papists did scemingly express their Duty and Allegiance to the King, out of a design as it is now supposed by some, when he was in his Banishment, when many Protestants were unable to do him service, but with their Prayers and Wishes. After his happy return, could he do any thing less than grant them some freedom under his good Government, for which many of them had taken up Arms against Re­bellion? It was but just, whiles they confined their Religion within their own Breasts, and professed to live as peaceable Subjects, and quiet in their Offices and Estates, that they should reap some of the Fruits, and taste of the sweetness of that Reign, for which many of them had ventur'd their Lives and Fortunes. As they had a share in the suffer­ings, [Page 10]it was but just that they should have also a share in the happiness that succeeded: As they have been concerned in his Majesties Calami­ty, Reason and Conscience obliged him at first to suffer them to have an Interest in his Restauration and happiness. This is sufficient to ju­stifie our Kings gracious Proceedings towards the Papists from all jea­lousie and suspicion, and to make it appear that his Grants and Allow­ances proceeded not from any approbation of the Popish Idolatries and Superstitions, but from a Principle of Justice; not from an allowance of their Religion and Abominations, but of their Persons, and faithfulness to him in his distress, which had obliged him in requital to shew them some favour.

And not only to them his Majesty hath given several Expressions of Royal goodness, but also to all Dissenters from the Religion of the Church of England. Though the Laws are severe against Conven­ticles, and Conventiclers, whiles they are peaceable and not mutinous, though their Practices are of ill consequence, and not agreeable with Law, yet so great is his condescention as to suffer them in their way, without disturbing their Meetings, according to this Christian Speech which hath been often heard from his Majesty. I will never trouble any for his Conscience, but let no Man trouble, nor disturb my Government.

If the Papists had not plotted the Nations ruine, and agreed toge­ther to murder both Prince and People, they might have yet continu­ed freely in the enjoyment of their Religion, and of as much privi­ledge as they could reasonably desire under the Government of so fa­vourable a Monarch. No person would have dream'd to disturb them in their Privacies and secret Devotions: They might have lived and died, without any fear of the Execution of the Laws, in the fruition of their Estates and Places, with as much liberty as the Protestants them­selves. We all began to look upon them with kindness, to esteem them as our Brethren and good Countrymen, and to favour them in many respects: But how strangely have we been mistaken and deceived, let the World judge. However this is our comfort, that their malice and bloody designs intended against us were causeless, and without any provocation on our parts. Neither his sacred Majesty, nor any of his people did ever before give them any distaste, but in harmless Di­sputes; in which they had as much freedom to answer as any Prote­stant Divine.

But when this hellish Plot broke out, to our great amazement, it can­not be judged unreasonable if they are restrained by Authority, and the ancient Laws revived against these new Traytors, that offer for Religion to rise in Arms against their King and Country. It cannot [Page 11]be thought unreasonable if their Leaders, and the Chieftains of their Rebellion be secured, that they may not put in practice those Inhu­man purposes unto which they had encouraged their silly Proselites. It cannot be thought unjust, if Governours and People require from them security for their good behaviour for the time to come, and such Oaths as may oblige them to a peaceable Behaviour, if any such there be that hath that good influence upon their wide Conscien­ces and licentious Principles.

His Majesties care to prevent the mischiefs which they intended against us, our Religion, and Nation, hath been answerable to and no less than his favour and goodness to them before. Truth, this Conspiracy is so hainous, that at the first Relation it may not seem strange, if a good Prince, who is as much perswaded of his peoples Affection for him, as he knows his love and mindfulness of their wel­fare and safety, could not easily believe it; it being so unlikely an At­tempt, that Posterity may look upon this Plot, as some in our days do upon the Gun-Powder-Treason, as upon a Romantick Story, or a Politick Invention, or a State Trick, and give no more credit to it than to the Histories of Grand Cirus, or of Guy of Warwick, or of Amadis de Gaule.

In a matter of so great a moment, it did become a Prince of Rea­son, Judgment, and Wisdom, to weigh the Testimonies, examin the Circumstances, and consider all particulars, before he ought to pass a determinate Sentence in this Case. But now the Evidences are as plain as the Sun, now that it appears that this Barbarity was really har­boured in the breasts of some of the Popish Party; now that we see their Malice and Cruelty written with the indelible Characters of the innocent Blood of an eminent Magistrate and Martyr, whose only Crime was that he knew theirs, and their horrid Proceedings; now that we see, by his unexpected Murder, what our King and People were to receive from the merciless hands of these men, who can deny it? Certainly God hath infatuated their Wicked Counsels for the good of our People, Nation, and Religion, and suffered their furious Zeal to begin one Tragedy which they intended should have acted many more. But by this Cruel Murder they have given us a clearer Prospect of their Diabolical Designs, and allarm'd us all in defence of our Persons, King, and Country, against such future Inhumani­ties: They have hereby listed up the Mask, and shewn to all the Na­tion the fearful Features of their disguised Religion, and declared to us all what Mallice and Cruelty governs them, what Wickedness they would commit, if Power and Authority were in their hands. O Bar­barous [Page 12]Impiety! could you offer to strike at a Breast full of tender­ness and affection for your persons? Could you attempt upon a life upon which depends all our lives and fortunes? Your Inhumanity is the more inexcusable, and not to be parallell'd amongst the Turks and worst of Infidels, whose Principles suffer them not to be wicked to their Benefactors.

This Circumspection of our merciful Prince deserves our Eternal Praises, rather than the Abuses of disaffected people. Why should the Papists plot against his life, for being our Friend? This is an Injustice guilty of the most grievous folly and palpable mistakes, pro­ceeding from Ignorance, and the not observing the great care that his Majesty hath taken to discover and prevent all the mischiefs intended against us and his Government; for, upon the first Discovery of the Plot his Majesty gave speedy Orders to his privy Council to proceed in the Examination of this great business: According to his Royal Com­mands they sate regularly twice every Week to sift out the matter, and when they found the truth of it by undoubted Circumstances, they sent to apprehend divers of the Conspirators; examin'd them severally to sift out the matter; afterwards they committed others to Custody; using in this and all other Proceedings all the Care and Se­cresie immaginable. All persons chiefly concerned or suspected were sought for; and as many as were found were sent to Prison, to be tryed according to the Order of Law. It is true, our people laid not violent hands upon them: We did not tear them in pieces as they went about, nor dis-member them upon bare suspicions of Treason: We did not mangle their Bodies, nor exercise our rage upon these bloody men.

The Proceedings of our King and Council were agreeable with the Rules of Humanity, Reason, and Equity. The Malefactors were secured, and delivered over into the hands of Justice, to be treated according to the Laws of the Land. They had fair Tryals for their lives; men of Conscience and Worth judged them Guilty by most undeniable Testimonies: They had liberty to answer for themselves, and to defend their own Cause: They were heard with patience and Christian moderation; and there was nothing acted against them, but was suitable to Christs precepts and his Holy Gospel. If all the Proceedings be observed, we shall find nothing more reasonable, no­thing more Christian and just, than the Actions of our King and Su­periours in this Case. They are sufficiently justified from all suspi­cions of Cruelty on one hand, and from all neglect or carlesness on the other. Can the Papists now find fault, if they are abridged in some [Page 13]respects from that liberty which they intended to abuse in so wicked a Plot? Can they blame our Governours, for seeking so carefully to preserve themselves, the King's Majesty, his Dignity, Government, and Religion, from their Inhumanities? And on the other side, to sa­tisfie all the English Subjects, let us observe the care and diligence of his Majesty, and of our Governours, to secure the nations peace from Popery and the Conspirators.

After the Plot was fully discovered, his Majesty re-inforced his Guards, and gave liberty to the Trained-Bands to stand up in their own defence; Care was also taken to secure and seize upon all suspected persons. About this time the Papists thought to have smothered the noise of the Plot, in the Death and Blood of a diligent Inquirer into their proceedings, Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, whom they inhumanely murdered. When he was missing divers Reports were raised, and Slanders fastened upon him: They that were guilty of this black Crime endeavoured to make us believe the greatest Improbabilities; That he hadkill'd himself, &c. But the manner of his lying, with all the Circumstances, convinc'd the Coroner and Jury, assisted by Chy­rurgions on purpose, that he had been basely and inhumanely murder'd. The boldness and desperateness of this Villany awaken'd the whole Nation, and caused his Majesty immediately to send forth his Royal Proclamation, for the seeking out and finding the Actors in this In­humane murder, commanding them to give intelligence of all such Discoveries to one of the principal Secretaries of State: For their greater encouragement, five hundred pounds were promised to them, with a Pardon, if the Discoverer were any ways guilty. I cannot here express what displeasure his Majesty received, how sensible he was at the loss of so useful a Subject, who dyed for his care and dili­gence in the Service of his Prince and Country. The Vertues and Excellency of his person, the Integrity of his Behaviour, his Good­ness, Piety, Prudence, and Discretion in his Place and Calling, caus'd his Majesty, and all that knew him to mourn for him. But the baseness of his Murder, the Treachery of his Assassins, the Marks of their Cruelty lest upon his dead Body, call'd for Vengeance from man as well as from God; which every good Subject was so much the more concerned to see executed upon the bloody Butchers, in regard of their impudency, and the boldness of the Attempt, wilfully to betray and murder an innocent person, a famous Justice of Peace, in a Royal Pallace; a Justice known to his Majesty by his great Services, and to all the City by his good behaviour and Religious life: To mur­der him within the protection of the Guards; and having carryed his [Page 14]Body into the Fields, and cast it away as a Dog, to endeavour next to murder his Name and Reputation with vile Slanders. All these Cir­cumstances could not but stir up the Justice of a good King, by the punishment of the Inhumane Villains, to secure other men from such like Inhumanities, and declare to all the World his sorrow, grief and displeasure for such a barbarous Act. For the better finding out of the Murderers, his Majesty caused a diligent enquiry and search to be made, summon'd and commanded all his Officers and good Subjects to do the like: And when he was inform'd that some were willing to come in and reveal the Murder, but the fear of the Consequences, as of the revengeful hand of the Friends, or of the other Murderers, made them cautious how they indanger'd themselves: His Majesty, for their incouragement, by a second Proclamation, promis'd on the Word of a King, That if any person should speedily make discovery, he should not only receive the Reward of 500 l. and Pardon promised, but his Majesty would take such effectual care for the security of such Discoverer, as he should in reason propose. What other ways and methods could be proposed more likely to bring this Murder to light, and the wicked Varlets to their deserved punishment? They have by Gods goodness proved so effectual, that this Popish act of Inhumanity, with all its Circumstances, is generally known, and fully understood. The guil­ty persons were secur'd; search, and a diligent enquiry was made for them that were fled; Green, Hill, and Berry were tryed, found guilty, condemned to be hang'd: Which Sentence was accordingly executed upon them; two suffer'd upon the 21. of Febr. Berry was Reprieved for a few days, but is now executed also.

During his Majesties most peaceable Reign, as he hath always ex­pressed an abhorrency of the shedding of Innocent Blood, so he hath al­ways been diligent and careful to see to the due execution of the Laws upon bloody-minded men, and to cause his Justice to take away the Lives of those who cannot suffer his good Subjects to live in peace. As in this occasion his Justice hath been remarkable to the whole Na­tion, his Piety towards God, and care for the preservation of the Protestant Religion, in other respects, have been no less visible; for considering the number, the power and devillish subtilties of our Ene­mies; and that therefore without Gods goodness, protection, and watchfulness over us, we are in continual danger to be oppress'd by our vigilant and malicious Adversaries, his Majesty by a Proclamati­on called upon all his good Protestant Subjects, to humble themselves before God, to ascribe to him the glory of all our Deliverances, to amend sincerely our lives, and put our selves into such a disposition, as [Page 15]may reasonably expect Gods protection for the time to come: A me­thod always observ'd by good Kings and Princes, when their Enemies were numerous and great. Queen Hester sent to Mordecai, and the Jews, to humble themselves before God when Haman's Conspiracy was discover'd and known. The King of Nineveh commanded a ge­neral and a strict Fast within his Dominions, when Jonah foretold the Judgment of God by Fire that was to consume that sinful City: And David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, and all the good Kings of Judea, took the same course to divert Gods approaching Judgments: And as their Prayers and Humiliation proved effectual, so as to prevail upon the goodness of God, and oblige to withdraw the Sword of his Justice stretch'd out over their heads: So likewise I hope God will forgive the great sins of this Nation, preserve his Majesty in prosperity and health, many any many years, and keep his Royal Person, and us all, from the bloody hands of all Papists.

By the Death of Sir Edmundbury Codfrey this Plot appear'd so plain, and with so many hainous and dreadful Circumstances, that every one was fully convinc'd of the reality of this Hellish Design; which, if not prevented in time, would have drown'd us all in Rivers of our own blood. To hinder therefore all sequels of the Plot, and take from the Papists the power and opportunity of putting any part of it in execution, his Majesty on the 30th of Octob. issues out his Royal Proclamation, to command all Popish Recusants to depart from Westmin-Hall, Somerset-House, S. James's, the Cities of London and Westmin­ster, and not to come within ten miles of these places. By this means his Majesty hath provided for the security of his Royal Person; he hath hinder'd our Enemies from meeting together in numbers; he hath broke the Neck of all Popish Resolutions, Consultations, Tu­mults and Rebellion in the City, or near his Royal abode. And lest they should gather together in any considerable numbers in the Coun­try, and raise there any stirs, to the disquietness of his Majesties Subjects and Government, by another Proclamation of the 10th of Novemb. his Majesty first declares his knowledge and perswasion of the dangerous and wicked Plots and Designs of Popish Recusants against his Person and Government, tending to the subversion of the true Protestant Religion established by Law within this Realm: And then he strictly commands all his Subjects, being above the age of 16 years, if they be, or shall be lawfully Convicted, to repair to their several abodes, and not to pass above five miles from thence, upon pain that the Offenders shall lose all their Estates moveable and immoveable. And because some Popish Recusants have escap'd Conviction, through [Page 16]the Indulgence and favour of his Majesties Officers, he is pleas'd to command all such as shall be reputed Popish Recusants, though not Con­victed, if they obey not his Royal Orders, that they shall be punish­ed, by tendring to them the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and in case of a refusal, that they shall be treated according to the severity of the Laws in such cases provided. And further, if they refuse obe­dience to this his Majesties Royal Commands, the Justices are order'd to signifie their Contempt to my Lord Chancellour, who is appointed to take that severe course which is agreeable with the Laws, and the Publick Safety: Only his Majesty out of his Royal goodness is pleas'd to except such as are hinder'd by sickness, weakness of body, impri­sonment, and such as are banish'd ten miles from the Cities of London and Westminster.

By this Proclamation his Majesty provides for the safety of his Subjects all over the Kingdom, and prevents the mallice of the Papists from breaking out in the Country at a distance, as it intended to break out in the Bowels of the City: Therefore they are hereby con­fin'd within certain limits, and such circumspection is used, that those who are willing to disturb the Nation, shall not have the least power to effect their desires and designs.

Though the Papists of Note and Credit are generally accused for being accessary to, and acquainted with this Conspiracy, his Majesties Wisdom, Christian moderation and Justice, have endeavoured to se­cure none, but those who are apparently guilty, and against whom there are evident proofs. On the rest he lays such Injunctious and Commands, as may keep them in peace; but those he hath laboured to find out, and bring to their deserved punishments.

And because some of them were fled, his Majesty by his Proclama­tion of the 20th of Novemb charges them to come in to their Tryals be­fore the 10th of Decemb. and justifie themselves from the Crime laid to their Charge, of designing to destroy the Kings Royal Person, sub­vert his Government, and root out the true Protestant Religion esta­blish'd by Law; His Majesty declares, if they will not surrender themselves, that they shall be declar'd guilty of High-Treason by Law, commanding all his Officers and Loyal Subjects to endeavour to find out, and apprehend them; and for their incouragement, his Ma­jesty promiseth them 100 l. as a Reward. And for the better disco­very of these Offenders, all Officers are commanded within their Pa­rishes and Precincts, to take the Names of all Popish Recusants above to years of age, and to deliver a List of them to the Justices of the Peace, who are thereby ordered to send for them, and tender to them [Page 17]the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and in case of a refusal, to bind them over to appear at the next Sessions of the Peace, where they are to be treated according to law.

In the same Proclamation his Majesty gives an Express Command to all his Officers in the Country, to proceed without delay to disarm all such persons as shall refuse to take the oaths; and promiseth also ten pounds to every one who shall find any considerable quantity of Arms in the houses of any Popish Recusant, to be paid to them by the Sheriff of that County. Order is there likewise given to all Officers upon the Sea-coasts, to use diligence in the taking of Popish Priests, and of other English Papists coming in or going out of the Realm, and to carry them before a Justice of the peace to take the Oaths; which if they refuse, they are to be sent to Goal, and their names to be sig­nified to his Majesties Privy Council, that such further course may be taken for the safety of his Majesty, and of his Government, as to his Majesties Royal Wisdom shall be thought fit.

The same day his majesty, having taken notice of the numbers and wicked actings of Popish Priests and Jesuits disguised within the Realm, with an intent not only to draw his Subjects from the true Protestant Religion to the Romish Idolatries, but also to set on foot divers trayte­rous Plots and Designs against his Majesties Government, and the Protestant Religion, was pleased by another Proclamation to charge all Magistrates, and other Officers, to use their utmost endeavour to disco­very, apprehend, and commit to safe Custody, in order to their Try­als, all Popish Priests and Jesuits; and for the incouragement of every such Discoverer, his Majesty promiseth twenty pounds for every Priest or Jesuit apprehended, to be paid at the time of the Appre­hension.

The Jesuits and Popish Priests have always been the Popes Emissaries in England, and have had a hand in all the Wars and Disturbances in the Land, since the Reformation: They have been the Spies upon our Publick Peace, Tranquility, Government, Church and State; therefore our own preservation calls upon us, to secure and treat them according to the Ancient Laws of the Realm, as our sworn E­nemies, and the Disturbers of the Nations Peace. By this last Pro­clamation therefore, every one may see how careful his Majesty hath been to secure such wicked persons, and deliver them over to Justice, to hinder all their evil designs and purposes, and defend his Subjects Lives, Religion, and Estates, from this and all other damnable Con­spiracies.

And because in all Plots of this nature, when the chief Actors are [Page 18]either silent, or not apprehended, there remains something secret which cannot easily come to light, for the better discovering of such things, and the whole Design, with all its hainous and criminal cir­cumstances, his Majesty was pleas'd, on the 27th of Novemb. by ano­ther Proclamation, to declare and promise, That if any person would come in, and make any further discovery of the late horrid Design against his Majesties Sacred Person Government, before the fifth day of De­cember, he should have as a Reward a full Pardon, either for being guilty thereof, or for the concealment, and two hundred pounds in Money for such a discovery.

Here are Rewards and Punishments, Promises and Threatnings, much vigilancy, circumspection, and care imployed by his most Excel­lent Majesty, to secure us and our Religion from the wicked designs of our Popish Enemies: Nothing that Wisdom or Prudence can sug­gest, hath been omitted for the Publick safety: And because the Je­suits Policy hath always invited over into their Schools, and Semina­ries several Gentlemens Children, under a pretence of a better and a more speedy Education, and a greater Proficiency in Learning, but purposely to infect them with their Popish Principles and Religion, to the great prejudice of the Nation, as well as to the ruine of such poor Souls, his Majesty hath been pleased strictly to forbid such Transpor­tation for the time to come, because these Persons, when they are grown up to years of understanding, and have learn'd their Lesson perfectly, they are sent back into England, as Sapho's Parrots and Birds were amongst the Woods and Caves of Africa, upon the same Errand, to proclaim that the Pope he is God. These Persons are dan­gerous to Religion and the Publick safety, for they are like Sampson's Foxes, they spread the Fire every where in this Field of England; they borrow from beyond the Seas that subtilty, which together with the courage and strength of Resolution, natural to our Nation, ren­ders them the most fiery and desperate Enemies of our Religion and Government, and carries them to the boldest Attempts against the Lives of our Kings and Princes: Of this number were Pool, Campian, Garnet, Piercy, Catesby, and others of the same Principles.

To prevent such Evils for the time to come, and hinder our English Gentry from Popish and Jesuitical Infection, the Kings Majesty sent out his Proclamation on the 8th of January, to command home all such young persons as are in forreign Seminaries, and their Parents or Guardians to send for them speedily, promising his gracious Par­don for their former offence, if they return according to his Majesties Order; forbidding, for the future, any such persons to be sent into [Page 19]those Forreign Schools of Papists, and their Parents and Guardians to send them any relief: Besides, his Majesty declares in this Procla­mation; That he expects due obedience to this Command, and that such as shall disobey shall be punish'd according to Law, as well as de­serve his high displeasure.

Here are several Proclamations in which all the ways and methods that can be imagined, to prevent the growth, the machinations and wicked designs of Popery, are carefully observed. All that may or can conduce to the settlement and security of the Protestant Religion, and the present Government is established and commanded. The Papists are banished from Court, disarmed in the Country, confin'd to their Dwellings, bound to their good behaviour; their Children are commanded away from Popish Schools, their Priests and Jesuits are sought for and imprisoned, penalties and rewards are promised and threatned for to encourage the Execution of the Laws. What greater Testimony of his Majesties Sincerity to our Religion, and care of our Welfare, can we wish for? What means more effectual could be employed for that good purpose? What other Orders and Commands can we imagin seasonable and sit to secure our selves from Papists or Popery? But if these Commands and Proclamations have not met with an exact obedience in all respects and in all parts of the Land, I suppose it is the fault of some private Officers, who prefer their Obligations to, and intimacy with Papists, to the performance of their Princes Orders, and a due obedience to his Commands. I am perswaded no reasonable people can justly desire from a good King greater assurances of his reality in the Protestant Profession, and of his resolution to maintain it, than we have always had. In his Majesties most gracious Speech, on the 9th of Novemb. to the Lords and Com­mons when his Majesty went to thank them for their care of his safety, and preservation in these times of danger; he assures them, That he studies as much their preservation, and promiseth to joyn with them in all the ways and means that may establish a firm security of the Pro­testant Religion according to their hearts desire. In his time his Majesty tells them that they need not sear, but for the time to come he pro­miseth to concur with them readily in all Bills and Acts which they will pre­sent for the security of their Persons and Religion, and desires them to think of some more effectual means for the Conviction of Popish Recusants. In the conclusion his Majesty declares, That he is ready to do any thing that may give comfort and satisfaction to all his dutiful and Loyal Subjects.

In these words his Majesty's Royal Sincerity and candour in Reli­gion [Page 20]appears as clear as the Sun in its splendour; and no reasonable Person can desire greater Evidences of his care of his peoples safety, of his resolution to maintain the Protestant Profession, and to keep Po­pery out of this Land, than his Majesty hath lately given us.

Likewise at the Prorogation of the last Parliament his Majesty was pleased to tell them, That he would immediately enter upon disbanding the Army, and that he would let all the World see that there was nothing that he intended but for the good of the Kingdom, and for the safety of Religi­on; That he would prosecute this Plot, and find out who were the Instru­ments in it. And in the Conclusion his Majesty promis'd, That he would take all the care that lay in his Power for the security of Religion, and the maintenance of it as it is now established.

To the same purpose his Majesty declares in his gracious Speech to both houses of Parliament lately assembled, That for the publick good, and satisfaction of all his Subjects, he had done many great things.

Again, in order to our safety, his Majesty in that Speech offers to confirm any new Law which they shall think seasonable or necessary for the securing of the Kingdom against Popery: and assures them, That with his life his Majesty will defend the protestant Religion, and the Laws of this Kingdom.

By these Gracious Words and Promises this wife and Loyal Par­liament is encouraged to act in order for their own security as vigo­ously as they can. What now can any Prince say or do more in such a case as this? He hath endeavoured to secure Religion from Dome­stick Plots, and Forreign Attempts: He hath set all Engines at work, and made it his whole and chief business to provide for our good, welfare, security, and the happiness of the Kingdom, according to the pious and Religious Examples of the Royal Martyr, his Maje­sties Father, and of King James his Grand-father, under whose Go­vernments these Kingdoms and true Religion have long flourished in Peace, and would never possibly have been so much disturbed with Wars, Tumults, and Civil Dissentions, had it not been for the Je­suits that thrust themselves amongst us. King James was sensible of their dangerous proceedings, therefore he enacted against them most wholesome and just Laws, which caused them to attempt often upon his Sacred Life. For our late Royal Martyr, we know by whom he was condemned to dye, before that Arch-Traytor and Usurper Oliver and his Butchers brought him to his Tryal. The most noble Family of the Stuarts, it seems, is not sit for their unjust and superstitious pur­poses; they have been the nursing Fathers of Gods true Church a­mongst us; they have defended Religion against their Idolatries with [Page 21]their Swords, Pens, and Blood; their noble and generous minds cannot stoop to acknowledge any other Superiour but God; they will not yield to their cruel purposes; therefore these wicked Traytors have alwayes laboured to cut off that most Religious Family: There can be no greater Testimony of our King being a true Protestant, than this, that the Pope and his Papists have declared him to be their Enemy, and have sought to destroy him who is God's Anointed, and the best of princes.

By these wicked Designs, and restless endeavours, the Papists have from time to time drawn upon themselves the hatred of the English People, anger'd the Governours of the Church and State, and obliged them to enact Laws against them, to restrain them from that Liberty which a great part of them never knew how to use with moderation and discretion in this Land.

Their Proceedings and Attempts are not only disconsonant with the peaceable temper and blessed Rules of Christs Religi­on, but so barbarous and inhuman, that we may justly wonder what spirit of madness possesseth their Souls; what cruel De­vil prompts them to such Actions, and makes them forget all sense of Humanity: The settlement of their Religion, which is their ordinary pretence to excuse their Tragedies, may blind the Consciences of Fools; but Men of any reason may per­ceive a Human not a Divine End of their Villanies: The Pope, and Court of Rome, whose Agents the Jesuits are, care as little for the Salvation of English Souls, as it seems, they do for their Bodies. Were this Island a barren and a fruitless place, they would never take the pains to seek to subdue this Nation; but they are longing to finger again the Peter-pence, the Annates, the First fruits, the Revenues, and dispose of the sat Benefices of this Land: This is their aim and end: To come to it they set all Engines a work, and dread not to spil Rivers of inno­cent Blood. But did but the English Subjects, that are Papists, and so forward and zealous to promote their Catholick Cause, know the weight and unsufferable burden of the Pope's Keys, did they but call to mind the Tyranny and base­ness [Page 22]of the former Popes in England, and the Groans of our English Nation when Popery had the Command, they would never be such Fools to sacrifice their lives to bring their Native Country to so great a Bondage, which our Fore­fathers could never bear: Is it not a madness for them that have a good King of their own, and a lawful Authority ap­pointed by God over them, to strive to murder him, and all his Generation, and set up a Pope, an Italian, a Stranger, who never intends to Reign amongst us in Person, but to govern us by his Cardinals and proud Legats, and who will give to them the least share of their Country, when in his hands? Is it not a strange madness, for Natives of England to seek to inthrall their Country to a Forreign Power, and the pleasure of an Enemy? Have they no other way to exercise their un­daunted Courages, but by massacring their Brethren and Kins­folks, for the Lust and benefit of Imperious Italians, or French­men? Must Religion be the Cloak for this Villany and Mad­ness? God, whose Power and Providence have preserv'd this Church, and our Princes from barbarous designs of Roman Murderers, will I hope defend the Person and Life of our Pi­ous, Gracious, Merciful, and Christian King, from all Popish Conspiracies. I pray God to awaken all Christian Princes into a sense of the Popish Usurpations, that they may shake off all the Fetters of this Italian Thraldom, the Bolts and Chains of the Popes Bondage.

There is an old Prophecy amongst the Papists, which I have heard from some of their Doctors in the Schools, That an English-man shall take the City of Rome, dissolve the Roman Church, and put a period to the Papacy. It is certain, from the 17th and 18th Chapters of the Revelations, that there is a time when God will bring that proud City to ruine, and treat her in the same manner as she hath treated other Nations; who knows but God may raise up some brave Soul that may endeavour to free the World, and all Nations from so great a Plague, and set at liberty so many Christian Princes, that scarce dare think of delivering themselves, for fear of a Ra­vailack, [Page 23]a Stab, or a Cup of Poyson? who knows but that Providence may pitch upon, and Commission a Native of this Land to punish Rome for her Murders, Burnings, and Villanies committed by her Emissaries in our Cities, more than in any under the Sun. I am certain this agrees with the methods of Gods proceedings in the World, as well as with his holy Word; for in former Ages, the overthrow of Empires have been commonly brought to pass, by those Nations who have been most afflicted and distressed by them, in the times of their prosperity.

In the mean while, as our good King hath been, and is yet vigilant and careful to protect us, our Religion, and Country, from ruine and destruction; and he neglects no labour, spares no cost, declines no trouble nor pains for the general good of his People, for their safety, honour, and interest, I think we are obliged by all the reason of the World, to make him some Returns, to assist him in so pious a work, as the Establishment of Religion, and the security of the English Nation, and to de­mean our selves as thankful and dutiful Subjects. I shall not here mind you of the Commands of God, nor heap together passages of Scripture that tell us, that we must be subject to the Powers, because there is no Power but of God; that they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation; that we must obey for Conscience sake; that we must love, honour, and re­spect him as Gods Vicegerent, &c. I shall only mind my Rea­der, what the present posture of Affairs, in relation to our own good, and his Majesties vigilancy and care in providing for our safety, require from us; and what present Obligations we lye under, to perform those things which both our Interest and Duty demand from us.

This Hellish Conspiracy of the Papists, that hath now at last awaken'd us into a sense of our great danger, hath been many years contriving and designing; as the Design was pri­vately and subtilly laid, it was to be carried on with vigour, and would handly have wanted the assistance of forreign Prin­ces, and Armies: If the first Train had taken fire, this Church [Page 24]and State had been infallibly blown up, and cast into a Civil War: God hath been merciful to us in the discovery and pre­vention of it.

But the Persons chiefly concerned, and the vast Treasures heap'd together for the carrying on of the Popish Designs, are not like to sit and remain idle after this disappointment; our proceedings, and the Execution of the Instruments, will in all probability oblige them to take other measures to carry on their wicked purposes with more secresie than before; our Divisions and unreconcileableness give them no small advan­tage and incouragement to make fresh Attempts, which God of his Mercy frustrate: However, our Nation is not yet out of danger by the death of a few Malefactors; we have Enemies both at home and abroad, that watch for, and endeavour our destruction: His Majesty, you see, hath imployed his utmost endeavour for our safety, security, and happiness, and is yet resolved to imploy all his power to defend and protect us, and our Religion, from all Popish Designs. It concerns us not to be idle, but in our several places to contribute to our own hap­piness and preservation, to give our assisting hand to our Re­ligious Prince, in so blessed a work as the settlement of our Religion and Government, chiefly in these particulars, which I shall recommend to the perusal and practice of all sincere Protestants.

First, Let every one of us in our several Places and Cal­lings, watch with diligence over our Enemies designs and moti­ons, at home and abroad; and in all occurrences that we may justly suspect; let us carefully give Intelligence to Authority, take heed of concealing out of friendship or fear, resolutions and actions that are ominous to Prince or people: They that are abroad in forreign Courts, have a great advantage to learn all Transactions, and understand the designments of great Re­volutions; for such weighty matters can never be so secretly intended, but they must be discovered to many, whose hands and assistances are needful to further and advance them.

Secondly, Let us all return to his Majesty the Tribute of [Page 25]sincere, and Loyal affections, out of a sense of his care of our welfare. The Crown of it self is heavy, our Enemies render it heavier by their daily Conspiracies; let us not, who are true Subjects, add more weight and trouble to the Crown of our good King, by unreasonable jealousies, and unreasonable fears and murmurings; but in our several Spheres, and according to our Abilities, let us alleviate as much as in us lies, his Maje­sties Burden: And by all dutiful expressions of our love and re­spects discover to him our sensibleness of his continual care of our safety and welfare.

3. Take heed we discredit not his Authority, vilifie his Per­son, or dishonour his Government, by any wicked and slan­derous Reports, of our own, or others invention; for this kind of Ingratitude which his Majesty never deserv'd from the Hands of his Protestant Subjects, nor any others, will breed ill blood amongst the People, and afflict the Heart of a good Prince.

4. Let us Protestants be so sensible of our danger and good, as to reunite again in the Profession of one Religion, and in the publick worship of our God; that our Enemies seeing that their often repeated malice hath caus'd us to stick and unite closer together, may be discouraged from all future attempts of this kind, and never be advantag'd through our Divisions.

5. Let us, as well for the honour of our Protestant Professi­on and for the credit of our Nation, as to prevent the Judg­ments of God threatened upon us for our Sins, abstain from all National Sins, and such Crimes as deserve the severity of Gods Justice, and have heretofore involved Kingdoms in dis­mal Calamities. Chiefly, let the Ministers of the Gospel look carefully to themselves, and their behaviour, that they may not give occasion of scandal by their Lives. And they whose Actions are look'd upon as Examples, should take heed how they countenance those disorders and Breaches of Gods Di­vine Laws, which his Justice hath been oblig'd to punish se­verely in other Nations heretofore.

6. Let such Magistrates and Justices as are intrusted with [Page 26]the execution of the Laws, and his Majesties Royal Commands, be vigorous, resolute, and speedy in the performance of their Duties; and aim all their Actions at the publick welfare, the honour of their Prince, the safety of Religion and Govern­ment. As their Enemies and ours want not resolution to put in practice the boldest Attempts, methinks our Noble and brave Officers cannot want courage to oppose them.

7. Let every one be true, trusty, and faithful in the man­nagement of those Publick Concerns that are put into our hands; Treachery seldom proves faithful and beneficial to the Traytors. It was the Custom of a Turkish Emperour, to hang up a Traytor with the Rewards promised for his Trea­son: And we all know the Story of that Roman Virgin who was killed and buried under the heavy weight of that which was in the Enemies lest hand; but of all Treasons, none more dangerous to the Authors, than those which expose their Na­tive Country to the Power and Malice of desperate and For­reign Enemies.

8. Take heed of raising or encreasing the Peoples jealou­sies, and needless fears, by incouraging idle Rumours: It is good to foresee an approaching danger, for that will prepare us to receive it; but it is dangerous to be too timerous, and suspect a Mischief where really there is none; and men are commonly disheartened by flying Tales, which are wont to breed much mischief in a Government.

9. Remember your Places, Callings, and Capacities, and act accordingly, without presuming to meddle with, or ad­vise Authority, in matters that are either above our reach, or concern us not immediately.

10. Let us not be sparing of our Purses and Estates when the publick safety, the honour of our God, the safety of our Souls and Religion, the Lives and Fortunes of our Children are in danger; but as our Enemies are ready to sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes for the promotion of their blind Supersti­tion and our Ruin, let us express no less liberality and genero­sity for our own safety, and the defence of our Christian [Page 27]Profession. It is better to give a small Portion of our Estates than to lose all. Mahomet, the Turkish Emperour, wonder'd at the parcimony of the Grecians of Constantinople, at the tak­ing of that Imperial City, for though it was full of Plunder and Gold, they chose rather to suffer the Turks to carry all away, than to assist their Emperour with Monies to pay his dis­contented and hired Souldiers. Lastly, in regard all our en­deavours, the Prince's vigilancy, and the peoples disposition, are in vain without a blessing from the God of Heaven, let us all, by our constant and Religious Prayers, strive unanimously to obtain it from God; let us beseech his Divine Goodness to watch over us still by his Divine Providence, to discover the wicked Machinations of all our bloody Enemies, to defend the person and sacred life of our good King, to grant him a long continuance amongst us, to direct his Councils, bless his Armies, and preserve our Religion and Government from all future Conspiracies. If we could be perswaded to a care­ful practice of all these Advices and Duties, there might be reasonable hopes of securing our selves and Nation from all Papists and Popery. We are so much the more engaged to ob­serve them; because, not only our gratitude to our Prince calls upon us to joyn with him in promoting our own good, but also the safety of our Religion is highly concerned; for false Re­ligions men have undergone all manner of dangers and diffi­culties: how much the rather should we take care for the pre­servation of the true Religion; of that Religion which Christ and his Apostles recommend to us, without which neither we nor our posterity can reasonably expect either safety or sal­vation; besides our lives and fortunes are aimed at by these Popish Plots. Thousands of Families will be utterly undone if they can obtain their ends. No Mercy nor Compassion will be shewn to such Hereticks as they judge us to be. The whole Nation will swim in Blood, and we must expect all the Cruel­ties and Torments to be exercised upon us, that Hell and the Devil can suggest: and not only our lives will be sacrificed, but also the lives of our Wives, and of our innocent Chil­dren; [Page 28]and every where ruine and calamity, misery and woe, will appear amongst us, if we secure not our selves in time. Where is that national Soul which this cannot move and oblige to a timely pr [...]ntion of Popish Designs of such dreadful Con­sequences.

In a word, the honour of our God is highly concern'd: To him we owe our Wives, Children, Fortunes, Lives and E­states; we must part with all for the glory of our Great Ma­ker and Redeemer: Suffer not this glory to be stain'd with Popish Superstitions in this Nation: What a dishonour will it be, if through our weakness, neglect, parcimony, or other­wise, the Pope brings in again into this Land his unsufferable Tyranny, Ignorance, and filthy Abominations.

To conclude, I pray God so to direct his Most Excellent Ma­jesty, his Councils and Resolutions, so to prosper his Pious and Religious Endeavours, and so to stir up all his good Sub­jects to the defence of their Laws, Liberties, and Religion, that they may all joyn unanimously with him together, and al­ways defeat the proud purposes of the Popish Party; and that none of them may be more wanting to their own good, than his Sacred Majesty will be to the Safety and Security of the Religion, and Peace of his Kingdoms.