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I Shall not ſpend time in Hunting out the Abſconded Author of this Paper, Though by the impertinent Contents dangling down its ſides, one might give a ſhrewd gueſs. There is a certain Worſhipful Scribbler that peſters the Town with a Litter of Pamphlets much of the ſame complexion, and juſt ſo accoutred, Buffoon in the Text, and Stateſman in the Margin. But whether it be He, or onely ſome puny Imitator of the ſame Caſt, is not much material. Our buſineſs is to conſider its matter and ſcope; which, without Spectacles of Prejudice, may be diſcoA Libel upon the City of London; and perhaps it is the firſt time that ever that Honourable Corporation was ſo openly and effrontedly, and withal ſo cauſeleſly ſcandall'd: For can any thing be more falſe and ſlanderous than that—The City proudly and inſolently calls all the Proteſtants that go to Church, by the name of Church-Papiſts, and Popiſhly affected? And yet this He no leſs than four times repeats in leſs than forty lines. Again, he takes them all to task — Come, come, leave your Madneſs and Fooling: As if our Citizens, every Mothers Childe, were turn'd Bedlamites and Jack-Adamſes. Nay, not content to repreſent them as Changlings and Mad men, he makes them Cannibals and Villains too, that will Treat the beſt and greateſt part of the Nation with Blows and bloody Perſecution. And immediately after feigns them ready prepared for a Rebellion, longing after an Holy War, to fight the Lords Battel; and preſcribes where they ſhall muſter, and where they muſt not quarter their Troops, &c. Now what can all this tend to, but to create Jealouſies in the mind of the King? (were he not (as we know, and bleſs God he is) a Prince of greater wiſdom than to hearken to the miſchievous ſuggeſtions of any ſuch vile mercenary Incendiaries:) To make him ſuſpect the Loyalty of his Imperial City? and render the Inhabitants thereof infamous, and for ever odious to all the good People and Loyal Subjects in the world?
But what's the matter? what horrid Crime has London committed to give cauſe for ſuch black Reflections? Nothing in the world, Sirs, but choſen according to Cuſtom a couple of Sheriffs. This our Author acknowledges at firſt ſtep, the occaſion of all his out-cries We have of late been in a woundy Pudder and Tattle about the Election of Sheriffs. Here he belies the Country as liberally as afterwards the City; for ſure Country-men are generally more diſcreet than to trouble themſelves ſo much about a matter that did not concern them; eſpecially if they are ſo very indifferent as he preſently tells us, Not to care what they are, or what they will be, or what Party they are of, as long as they have money. But though he makes his ſuppoſed Country fochuſe men (as much as in us lies) that are likely by their Prudence and Moderation to be moſt ſerviceable to the Publick: for though we neglect not the Eſtate, yet we ſhould not (whatever we have done) make that the ſole Qualification. For why ſhould ſuch Offices be intruſted in the hands of any whoſe Brains
Cleeſt, or whoſe Zeal for the Proteſtant Religion reaches no further than beHealth, or who ſhall think they have laudably diſcharg'd their Duty when they have ſpent a thouſand pounds or two in making people drunk for the Honour of the City. We ſpeak not this to reflect on any, much leſs the worthy Gentlemen late in nomination, (who for ought we hear, were perſons very well qualified, and the onely reaſon why they were not Elected, ſeems to be, that they had too many Friends in the City who were unwilling to vote them into a Charge ſo troubleſome and expenſive;) we mention it onely to confute that ſage Aphoriſm of our little Sir Poll, wherewith he ſtruts his Margin — That It is no matter who the City chuſes for Sheriffs, ſo they are wealthy. But before this, he falls into a Raving fit, and talks of carrying the Cauſe, a Battel, and a Victory, and this attended with Houting and Shouting, and flouriſhing of Handkerchiefs. 'Tis hard to reconcile it to ſenſe, how the City can be ſaid thus to Battel and Tryumph over it ſelf; but it ſeems he would have his folks in the Country believe that the Livery-men went to Loggerheads about their Choice, and a pitcht field to have been fought in Guild-hall. This is not the firſt miſrepreſentaclear'd, and the Authors of ſuch Stories cover'd with guilty Bluſhes; yet ſince he revives it, let us briefly review the matter.
The City of London has a Right (though this Libeller take liberty to jeer at it) practis'd time out of mind, allow'd by many Charters, and confirm'd by divers Acts of Parliament, freely to elect every year their Sheriffs. To this purpoſe being met in Common Hall, the two Gentlemen, ſince Declared, were choſen by majority of Hands (in the judgment of moſt indifferent Spectators, near Ten to one;) and the preſent Sheriffs gave their Opinion, that they were Elected. It happened (I know not why, or out of what deſigne) ſome perſons preſent would, notwithſtanding the apparent Diſproportion, demand a Poll, which was as freely granted; but adjourn'd (moſt Citizens apprehended contrary to former Cuſtom) for deciſion, from time to time for ſeveral days after: ſo that no Surprize, Tumult, &c. could be pretended. This being admitted and accompliſht, upon ſumming up the Books, it appeared that the firſt two had fairly near a thouſand Names a piece more than the others; and ſo they were declared the Free Choice of the City.
Now where's the Treaſon of all this? or if there were any Faction, on which ſide did it lie? How does this buſineſs wound the Church of England, or concern Forty one? or why muſt this Gaffer Two-ſhoes poſt up a Letter to the City of London, and charge it with Schiſm and Rebellion upon this occaſion?
But we muſt dive a little deeper, if we would fadome the bottom of theſe peſtilent Scribblers Intrigues. 'Tis too apparent there are a ſort of men in the world that would be taken for good Proteſtants, and the moſt Loyal Subjects, who very induſtriſubtlely, and under odd Diſguiſes, endeavour to leſſen or utterly efface the belief of the Popiſh Plot, and baulk the proſecution of the Conſpirators, and at the ſame time take all occaſions (and rather than fail, will make ſome) to diexaſperate Proteſtants one againſt another, and create miſunderſtandings, and horridly repreſent the moſt innocent Actions, and particularly amuſe people that the Church of England is in danger, and the Government ready to be invaded by ſome Proteſtants, and that all Diſſenters in point of Ceremony are far more dangerous than Papiſts; that Forty one is reviv'd, and a Rebellion carrying on, &c.
Now to take right meaſures of their deſignes herein, we muſt conſider,
1. That within theſe two years there was diſcovered, juſt when it was ripe for exA Damnable Popiſh Plot. And that the ſame was real, we have (after a long Examination) it atteſted by the King in repeated Proclamations, by ſeveral Parliaments in unanimous Votes, by all the Judges of the Land in their proceedings, and by the Church in publick Prayers and Thankſgivings for our Deliverance. So that whoever ſhall deny or doubt of it, muſt neceſſarily be guilty of the moſt ſawcy impudence, in giving the lye to the greateſt AuAccomplice or Abetter of that horrid Conſpiracy.
2. The Reality of a Dlot of that vaſt undertaking, and ſo far advanc'd, being granno body but poor Ned Coleman and half a ſcore raskally Jeſuits were concern'd in it? 'Tis true, there are ſome people would gladly lay it wholly on the Society. The Jeſuits (ſay they) are Villains, and always plotting TreaCatholicks could be drawn in to con
To this we anſwer, This is but an old thred-bare Shift. The Gunpowder-TreaDeſperado's, the buſineſs in Ireland (where there were Two hundred thouſand Innocents moſt barbarouſly murder'd) was onely the Heat of a few zealous Tories, &c. But in truth, theſe things being of the nature of thoſe, Quae nunquam laudantur niſi peracta, which are never own'd till accompliſht, we are to look upon ſuch Pretenſions as frivolous and deſigning. Thoſe that now pretend to abominate it, would, if it had taken effect, have applauded it as brave and meritorious. And whereas they would pin it onely on the Jeſuits, 'tis well known moſt of the Popiſh Nobility and Gentry have perſons of that Society for their Confeſſors. Now if they are (as theſe little Advocates agree) people of ſuch deſperate principles, will they not (having ſuch opportunities) ſoon leaven the whole Lump? He that acknowledges Jeſuits are Plotters, will but in vain deny, that all the reſt whoſe Souls they have the conduct of (which are the greateſt part and of the greateſt influEngland) are very likely to be ſo too.
3. Agreeing therefore (as neceſſarily we muſt) That 'tis not likely a few ſhould unnumbers of perſons of Quality and Eſtates; and that 'tis probable the Body of Papiſts were actuvigilance be too great, any care too much? is not a charitable union amongſt Proteſtants neceſſary, and ſtrict proſecution but requiſite to obviate and puniſh ſuch a Conſpiracy?
4. But this Plot having thus taken wind, how ſhould the Traitors ſecure their repute, make good their Retreat, or gain preſent Impunity, and future opportunities for an After-game, but either by an obſtiante out-facing, or a Politick diverſion? The firſt they ran as far as 'twould go, witneſs the impudent denyals of the Traitors at the Gibbet, wherein ſeveral of them have notoriouſly been proved Liars, as Gavan, Ireland, &c. Witneſs too their numerous bare-fac'd Pamphlets, as, The Compendium, &c. But finding this too ſhort, they take up the ſecond: Then comes on the forging of a Proteſtant Plot, (happily diſManſels Lodgings) the Buzze that the Church of England was in danger, and the out-cry of Forty one, without the leaſt grounds in the world: but thus Thieves purſued, hope to eſcape by crying ſtop Thief after an honeſt man; and crafty Lapwings draw people from their own Neſts, by fluttering and Mewing at a diſtance. And though it were the moſt unaccountable notion imaginable, That the Church of England ſhould ſuffer or be endangered by a vigorous proſecution of Popiſh Traitors. yet by the induſtry of the Broachers, this conceit has not a little ſerved their intereſt.
5. They have therefore procured, (or at leaſt ſo it has happened) That multitudes of wheadling ſquinting Pamphlets are daily ſpawn'd abroad, ſome to Ridicule the Plot, and Aſperſe the Evidence, others to Create Jealouſies and Animoſities; ſome to baldiſſenting Proteſtants equally dangerous. And though the firſt are actually proved guilty, but the ſecond beſides contributing to His Majeſties Reſtauration, have ever ſince moſt peacefully demean'd themſelves, yet ſo prevalent are theſe dividing Charms, That the Church of England is not only ſet at a greater diſtance, and ſo new Fewds raiſed, but things almoſt brought to that paſs, that the Popiſh Plot ſeems forgot by Proteſtants; and every one that zealouſly enConſpirators to Juſtice, is preſently ſtigmatiz'd as a Phanatick, a Factious Fellow, an enemy to the Church and Govern&c. and what greater Advantages can the Romaniſts hope for?
6. In order to this, obſerve what ſlender opportunities they lay hold on. A little debate happens in London about Sheriffs, ſtraight the whole City is Arraign'd as ready for Rebellion. The City in Common-hall humbly deſires its Loyalty to be ſignified to the King, to take off baſe miſrepreſentations; proteſts its reſolution to ſtand by him to the utmoſt peril; begs His Majeſty to make uſe of His Great Council, as a ſure Expedient to fruſtrate the wicked Councils of Rome. And the Citizens aſſembled, ſignifie their joyning in this humble Petition, and demonſtrate their zealous affection to His Majeſties Perſon and Government, by unanimous (but not diſorderly) Acclamations; and this is here carpt at, as Tumult and Sedition, and the Triumphs of the City for a Victory over the Church of England! Can any thing be more unjuſt, or indeed more Seditious! or tend more to amuſe our fellow-Subjects in the Country or more diſhonour and render us conabroad?
Yet ſtill our Author is ſore offended, that any body ſhould ſay there are any ſuch Amphibious Creatures amongſt us, as Church-Papiſts, or Proteſtants in Maſquerade; but is not this a ſhrewd ſign that himſelf is one? Conſcius ipſe ſibi, &c. For though no good
man, much leſs the whole City of London (as they villainouſly aſſert) ever ſaid or thought, That all that go to Church were ſuch; for without doubt, the Church of England in her Doctrine, and by the Writings of her Learned Members, both Prelates and others, hath been, and is the greateſt Bulwark againſt Popery: yet 'tis not impoſſible, that Jeſuits and Papiſts may ſhelter themſelves under her Mantle, and in their Pamphlets, or when called before a Magiſtrate, pretend to be her Sons. And ſuch furious ones commonly they ſeem, (by which mark they may be known) that they are ready like thoſe of Zebedee, to be calling for fire on all their Brethren, that cannot keep pace with them in Ceremonies and External Obſervations. The Term Church-Papiſt is not new, but older much than 41; and if we ſee a Jeſuitical or Atheiſtical villain, that merely for ſecular ends, or to create diſturbances, vapours of his being a Son of the Church, and yet endeavours to weaken the Proteſtant Intereſt, whiffle over a Popiſh Plot againſt the Life of the King, and divert the proſecution of the Traiterous Conſpiratours, &c. how then can we more appoſitely expreſs him, than by the Title of a Proteſtant in Maſquerade? And though no Proteſtant holds it lawful, yet 'tis no wonder for a Rank Papiſt to ſwallow Oaths, and joyn in outward Communion conConſcience; witneſs their Doctrine of Diſpenſations, &c. I ſhall onely give you the Teſtimonies of two Authors, one a Papiſt when he wrote, the other but late beAnno 1601. Intituled, A Dialogue between a Gentleman and a Prieſt, p. 97. has theſe words: — The Jeſuits have freely permitted Catholicks to go to Church with Proteſtants, and make no ſin nor ſcruple of it; thus no Law could take hold of them, for who could be known to be a Catholick?
Gent. Did they grant this Liberty to all?
Prieſt. In this ſort they did it. If one were a notorious known Catholick where be came, then they taught it to be unlawful in that place to go to Church, by reaſon of ſcandal, and no otherwiſe, but if one were not certainly known to be ſuch a Catholick, he might go without offence; upon condition, that if he heard any Heretical Doctrine preached, which moved him to doubt in any point of Faith, he ſhould preſently come to ſome of thoſe Fathers to be reſolved.
The ſecond, one John Copley a Seminary Prieſt, (converted from the Romiſh Church) in a Book called — Doctrinal and Moral Obſervations, publiſhed Anno 1612. in his Epictle to the Reader, thus expreſſes himſelf, — I muſt give you farther notice, that there are in this Realm many diſſembling Proteſtants, [there's a Synonymous term for the Proteſtants in Maſquerade] who outwardly do all the acts of Religion belonging to this Church of England, either to ſtay in their places in the Common-weatlh, or to avoid the Penal Laws; and yet in their hearts are reſolved Believers of the Roman Faith, egregiouſly diſſembling both with God and men, and practiſing moſt notorious equivocation, not ſticking to take Oaths, receive Sacraments, go to Church, and commit many a like act directly againſt their Conſciences and perſwaſion.
Thus you ſee by Catholick Teſtimonies what has been done; and is there not as much reaſon for them to play theſe tricks now as ever? Therefore let the Bliſter riſe on that falſe Tongue that would wheadle us into too good an opinion of Popiſh Innocency.
Having thus laid open our Authors main deſign, I have not only Anſwered him, but two and twenty Pamphlets beſides, for they are all of a piece. As for the reſt of his Libel, 'tis fooling and impertinence. Did the people in King Edward's, or Queen Maries days, firſt Model and Compile your Religion? how then will you ſatisfie the Papiſts when they ask you, where it was before Luther? In Queen Elizabeths, King Jameſes, and King Charles the Firſt's time, people went to their Pariſh Churches, Ergo, there is now no Popiſh Plot, nor any body that can make miſchief under an honeſt pretence. But how are you ſure, that if ever an Army of ſixty thouſand men get into the heart of our Kingdom, they ſhall ſo eaſily Conquer it? Perhaps you are North Country, but I aſſure you I am Weſt, and our Volk are not of the opinion: for if ever we catch you with your Threeſchre Thouſands, be they French or Iriſh, or any other Papiſts, I, or Scotiſh PreſKing, and our Religion, ſend you all to Purgatory, and then how will your Worſhip anſwer it, for Beroguing and Bepoxing the Pope at this fate? We will not vilifie any honeſt Church of England men, but love and honour them; yet we will implore God and the King, that Popiſh and all other Treaſons, may be fully detected and puniſhed.
Thus withing you to cloſe, and prevent (if you can) a ſmarter Anſwer ſhortly from the Pillory, or the Whipping poſt I commit you to your deſtiny,