TO you who are not only the principal Patriots of your Country, but the sole Protectors of our lives and fortunes, under (Almighty God and our most Gracious Soveraign now reigning) whom, God of his goodness preserve and protect in health and prosperity, spight of all Romish Treasons whatsoever. At your feet (Right Honourable) these subsequent Proposals are humbly layed, with that due reverence and humility as is due to so great an Assembly; and with an integrity every way equivo­lent to the justness and equity of the present Case, now de­pending betwixt the inhuman Blood-thirsty Romanists (for Catholicks I dare not presume to call them) and the honest, loyal, well meaning, and truly faithful Protestants in England. But by the way, let us request your Honours not to misconstrue the method of our proceeding, since we do not desire to render the Papists odious; could we our selves secure our own safety, we have that candid construction-for them, which, possibly, they never deserved, nor ever may, I pray God we may be mi­staken: we design no tumults, nor will spit out any frothy language, that may encourage any so to do, since this is our [Page 2] principle, to beseech your Honours for redress, which if your Honours do, we shall be beyond measure thankful; if not, we are confident Almighty God will protect us.

We need not inform your Honours of the prodigious growth of Popery, or the dismal effects thereby occasioned, former ex­perience hath sufficiently convinced us of their hellish designs; and that the same things (and woful Tragedies) may be acted again, we have as great reason to fear, as your Honours to pre­vent. In a word, your Honours are humbly desired to take these few following proposals into consideration, as you tender the welfare, not only of your King and Country, but conse­quently of your selves.

Setting aside the Succession to the Crown (a thing not fit for inferior subjects to intermeddle withall) which we shall leave, Let us humbly request, with your Honours leave and per­mission, these few things following. viz.

First, Unity; That what God hath not set up in his Church may be pulled down, and those things taken out of the way which have been (and possibly may be) always bones of con­tention amongst persons truly learned and pious: For certainly, it can neither be prejudicial to the Church, to yield in those things which Dissenters account sinful, and which the Church it self calls but indifferent; and therefore no more than chips in Porridg, not worth contending for. This, your Honours know, is the ready way to unite all in affection, and what the conse­quence will produce, your Honours are best able to conceive, especially when Popery is so prevalent, and their faction so po­tent amongst us, as now it is.

Your Honours are not unsensible of what great concern Unity will be amongst us, and chiefly that of Religion; in which re­spect (with your Honours approbation) we humbly conceive, with all modesty be it spoken, no more probable course can be propounded than the aforegoing Proposal, which doubtless with His Majesties consent, may be happily effected to the eternal glory of the Nation.

This main (and indeed chief) business being obtained, we with your Honours permission further request,

That in respect the bringing in, and introducing of Popery, will in all probability, not only put a period to our fortunes, but our lives to boot (for Fire and Faggot will never be for­gotten as long as a true English Protestant survives) we there­fore, [Page 3] on our bended Knees, supplicate your Honours, That Smithfield may never appear in Flames, except on the Fifth day of November Annually. Your Honours know it is an old Proverb no less usual than useful, That the burnt Child dreads the Fire; and it now alone lyes in your bosom to prevent, what we with dread fear, though we hope God Almighty will never suffer our Enemies to effect.

To induce your Honours to so pious a deed, we need urge no further Arguments than the infallible losing your own E­states and Fortunes; for the Cannon-Law of the Church of Rome absolutely determines, That not only a private person, but a Prince, being a Heretick (as they term all Protestants, without exception, to be) incurs by his default,*Caput Vergentis, de Hereticus, in a General Council. Crimen lesae Majestatis divinis, as their own Au­thors affirm, whereupon it is no more sin to kill such a Heretical Prince than a Dog, as well as confiscate his Estate: And if Princes are thus served, what must their Sub­jects expect?

Multitudes of the like decrees I could mention unto your Honours, but I suppose your Honours are not ignorant in this case, what your selves, as well as we must depend on, if ever such blood-thirsty Villains get the upper hand, which God for­bid. We therefore humbly request your Honours, by the kind­ness you have for your selves and peculiar Families, as well as the whole Nation, that you would herein gratifie our humble and modest request.

Your Honours are not ignorant of what an eminent Divine told us of late, viz. That those persons who already had the im­pudence to deny a Popish Plot, would never boggle to effect their Treason upon the first opportunity that offers. And since His Ma­jesties life (which we value insinitely beyond our own private concerns) stands on so ticklish a point, as to be in a manner subject to the blood-thirsty Sword of every daring Russian, we have the greatest reason in the World to beseech your Honours to take a timely care to prevent so eminent a mischief, which, for ought we know, will not only ruine us, but strike a great blow towards the utter subvertion of all the Protestants in Eu­rope.

And now let us humbly request your Honours, to consider, whether any thing can possibly be fitter propounded for the pre­sent times, at this season, than what is here humbly layd at [Page 4] your feet, viz. The strengthning of the Nation at home by a perfect and entire union amongst our selves, and suppressing all appearances of Popery, a name which makes all loyal English Protestants tremble. This may it please your Honours, is hum­bly offered you for your serious perusal, in behalf of all Loyal Protestants; by a