The English-man's allegiance, or, Our indispensable duty by nature, by oaths, and by law, to our lawfull king 1691 Approx. 48 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 6 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-04 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A38465 Wing E3099 ESTC R11149 13296499 ocm 13296499 98894

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A38465) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 98894) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 453:15) The English-man's allegiance, or, Our indispensable duty by nature, by oaths, and by law, to our lawfull king 11 p. s.n., [London? : 1691?] Caption title. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.

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eng Oaths -- England. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1689-1702 -- Sources. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2009-07 Assigned for keying and markup 2009-08 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2009-09 Sampled and proofread 2009-09 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2010-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
The ENGLISH-MAN's Allegiance: OR, Our Indiſpenſable Duty by Nature, by Oaths, and by Law, to our Lawful King. Ante leves ergo paſcentur in aethere Cervi; Et freta destituent nudos in littore Piſces; Quam noſtro Illius labatur pectore Vultus. Virg.

BEing as fully ſenſible, as any Man breathing, how much we OWE to the late Pious, and Diſintereſted Undertaking of the Matchleſs Prince of Orange, now our declar'd True and Lawful Soveraign: And being alſo as intirely convinc'd, as the beſt of my Fellow-ſubjects, of his Wonderful PRUDENCE ever ſince, which renders him (we muſt confeſs) Worthy of the Crown, were his TITLE queſtionable, as having put the whole Nation in the preſent happy State; nay, fixt (beſides our Liberties and Religion) the Monarchy it ſelf, on a moſt firm and a durable Foundation. I ſay being fully ſenſible, and intirely convinc'd of all This; and finding beſides, by the ſober, cool, and well-temper'd Votes of our Loyal and moſt Legal Parliament, (I mean thoſe of the Houſe of Commons) That all Perſons, (whether Men or Women) above the Age of Sixteen, are to take the Oaths of Allegiance, or be Impriſon'd without Bail or Mainprize, I thought it an incumbent Duty (being a known Patriot, and yet walk ever Incognito) to caſt in my Mite; that is, in other terms, to do ſomething; and what (conſidering ſome Circumſtances) can I do more (for if I cou'd I would do it without fail) than adviſe Loyalty to others, as well as practiſe it my ſelf? Therefore, in this ſmall Treatiſe, I ſhall ſhew to the World, even to all that have their Eyes (as the uſual Phraſe is) upon our World, That as following a River is a moſt certain way for a young Virtuoſo to find out the Sea, ſo the breaking Allegiance is the ready, and Infallible Road to the Devil. Now, ſeeing what I am to Diſcuſs is a very difficult and nice Point, (and who in manners and good breeding can call that Eaſie, which has many hard and wilful Antagoniſts) I intend to handle it in exact form, and like a Grave School-man, or perchance a School-Boy, and ſo muſt tell my Reader as well what I am not, as what I am.

Firſt, Negative: I am not a Quaker, for I can ſwear, and have both ſworn Allegiance, and am alſo very fully reſolv'd to keep it, as firmly believing, that whoever makes a Vow, I will require it at his hands, ſays the Lord. Secondly, I am no Commonwealths-man, and therefore had far rather hear the Dutch (whoſe Wit and Language I ſtrangely fancy,) call an Engliſh-man-of-War the Conſtant Prater, than our own people ſtile an Engliſh-Grown-man the Conſtans Speaker: Nor do I by any means admire a Duke of Venice, unleſs it be in the Morea, or ſome other p rt of Turkey. Thirdly, Affirmative, I am; and three or thrice bring generally moſt men (as well as Poets) to the point: Nay, it diſtinguiſhes a Chriſtian from an Infidel, and makes even Dogs (according to Plutarch) to Syllogize, and find out a Hare without ſmelling; and truly I love three Things, or three Perſons with all my heart, as I gueſs my Reader will (tho I am about Oaths) preſently Believe without an Oath. I ſay, Thirdly, Affirmatively, I am one Born and Bred in the Church of England, that extremely lov'd Plumb-Broth when Porredge was out of Faſhion; that Eat many a Mince-Pye in Defiance of the Directory; and that ſtill daily ſays, We have Err'd and ſtray'd like loſt Sheep. Beſides, I am of the long Robe, eſpecially when I put on a Night-gown, and ready therefore (ſecundum Artem) to give i under my hand, that Abdicating is a far leſs Engliſh Law-Term, than Diſpenſing. In my Family (for want of a Chaplain) I ſay Grace my ſelf, and then heartily pray (according to the Ancient Rubricks and Canons) for both Their Majeſties and the Prince; that is (in the words at length) for King, Queen, and Prince of — Denmark; and doubtleſs, this laſt p tition is moſt decent and juſt, for if we conſider that Hero in himſelf, he is certainly a Great Man, but when we Reflect upon the preſent Courteſie of England (by which Men precede their Wives) he is a kind of an Heir apparent. Now had this been Law in other places, Jack in the Old Tale of Ruſhy Coat (who ran away with the Kings Daughter) would have been the True King, and ſhe in her own Kingdom only Hoyty Toyty, and Nominal; but all Legiſlators are not of the ſame opinion as the Hebrew Proverb has it.

So much then for the Porch or Preliminaries; now for the Main Body of the Fabrick, and thence to the Penetralia, and innermoſt Receſſes of the very Oracle. For to ſpeak the plain Truth (after Puns and Witticiſms of that Nature) I love plain dealing, and therefore was from Youth (tho it may ſeem, at firſt daſh, a Bull) much inclin'd to Riddles, and to Doat on Enigma's and Hieroglyphicks, which ſtill makes me think Sphinx the greateſt She-Philoſopher among the Ancients; and yet I acknowledge I ſhall never willingly follow her Example, ſhould any Ingenious and Egiptiacally-Abſtruſe Meaning of mine be found out. But certainly, no way of Speaking, and of Writing alſo, can be more proper for our Refin'd Age and Nation, ſince we have ſo many rare men, ſo many Oedipus's (nay, greater than he) among us; Sparks that to ſerve a Turn, can Kill a Father, without rubbing an Eye; and would Lye too with their Mother, out of a meer Experiment or Joke. JOCASTA (Mr. Bays) JOCASTA! Pray remember that happy jeſt, and particularly, what a Bob (in your own way) I have given to Tottenham-Court; or as ſome now write it, Totteridge, alias Tottering-Court, and then confeſs I have out-done you a whole Bar and a half.

But to the buſineſs; and firſt for Definitions, Axioms, or common receiv'd Opinions.

A Promiſſary Oath, or Vow (Terms here Synonimous) is not only a Declaration, That as ſure as God is, or has a Being, I will make good my Word, but alſo a ſincere Supplication and Wiſh, That he would (if I fail in it) both eternally deprive me of his bleſſed ſight, and throw me headlong into Hell.

All Oaths lawfully injoyn'd, are ever to be taken in the ſenſe and meaning of the Impoſer; ſeeing otherwiſe, a Cardinal might poſſibly (without breach of Principles) take the Oath of Supremacy; which poſſibility Enervating the whole Drift and Intent of the Oath, renders the Action a ſin in it ſelf, for who without ſin can take Gods Name in Vain? To wit, conſiderately uſe it to no purpoſe?

Theſe Oaths are ever to be Impos'd by Lawful Authority; that is to ſay, by thoſe that have Right to do it, for elſe they oblige no more, than if a Filoux, a Highway-Man, or any other Atheiſtical Ruſſian ſhould (by Invading, or ſetting upon us on the Road, or any place elſe) force us to ſwear. Nay, the bare compliance in taking ſuch an Oath (tho upon Compulſion) may chance to be a ſin to be repented of with many Tears; eſpecially, if we have already taken the contrary by lawful order. But the inſisting upon ſuch a Contradictory Oath, or intending to make it good, is a Double Crime; ſo that continuing thus to the end, is final Impenitence, and conſequently equal to the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt.

The Supream Lawful Authority of England is our Lawful King; all other Lawful Authority in the Kingdom being but ſubordinate, and Act by his Commiſſion. Nay, our very Laws are not only call'd his, but (as Laws) ſolely made by Him; for tho the matter be Conſider'd, and the words put in order by the Wiſdom of a Parliament, yet all is but a Lump, a Dead Letter, till his Fiat gives it Life. And as the Scripture calls Kings Gods, by reaſon of their high and neceſſary Attributes, ſo nothing can better Quadrate with that Allegorical Title, than the common and uſual Rhetorick of our moſt Ancient Lawyers, when they treat of the Majesty, Power, and Right of our Kings.

Our Lawful King, (and to him our Obedience in only Due) ſits always on a Hill, and is as Conſpicuons as the Pyramids of Modin, the Tombs of the Maccabees, which might be ſeen even by all that ſail'd on the Sea. The Inſcription on his Throne is in ſuch legible Characters, that he that runs may read it: Nor can any Native of England, or Scotland, poſſibly miſtake his Royal and Sacred Perſon, unleſs the Remainder of thoſe ten Tribes, who could (in Defiance of Law and Law-Makers) ſer up a Calf in Dan and Bethel, and yet own themſelves ſtill in the Right.

Our Obedience to our Lawful King is not only poſitively, and explicitly injoyn'd by the Word of God, who equals Rebellion to the Highect Crime; but we are oblig'd to it by the very Law of Nature, which Dictating Self-preſervation, tell us, that Government is the only Medium to it; and conſequently, that even Tyranny in the Abſtract, is far better than Anarchy and Confuſion. Yet ſeeing the Depravity and Corruption of Mankind is great, and that without refreſhing Artifices, our very memory grows torpid, if not wholly loſt; Good Men in all Ages thought it neceſſary to impoſe Oaths, and Enact Laws alſo to preſerve Obedience.

In a Well-meaning man (by the ſacredneſs of the action, and by the grievous penalty that follows the Breach) Swearing, or a juſt Oath, makes his Conſcience ſtrangely mindful of the thing, tho a known Duty before; nay, we ſee ſometimes great Effects of it even in private Oaths between man and man, for by this means a Profligate Rogue ſhall ſometimes (V. G.) pay a Debt which he never perchance intended to do, a Drunkard to continue for a while ſober; and it may be, a Common Whore as long Continent: So that Lawful Governours finding this and the like by Experience, have (on emergent occaſions;) ſworn their Subjects in general, as well as Miniſterial Officers in particular; even to thoſe very things (as I ſaid) which they all knew they were oblig'd to before, both by Nature and Religion

Obedience being the firſt Postulat in Government, and indiſpenſably due to it, our principal Laws have therefore Exacted it from us, to our Lawful King, under the higheſt Puniſhments, and call even the lifting up of a Finger againſt his Sacred Perſon, not only Treaſon, but (fully to awaken and terrifie us) give it the moſt horrid and ſacrilegious Name of Killing him; nay, our Law (like the Precepts of the Goſpel) deſcends even to thoughts; and (to ſilence all Criticiſms and Excuſes in unquiet Breaſts) it declares not only that the Crown takes away all former Blemiſhes and Faults, but that the King can do no Wrong. Now to ſhew us that this is indiſputably ſo, no ſubject from the beginning of Monarchy among us (which is far Antienter than our very Records) was ever yet Indicted for Rebelling, or Maliciouſly doing the King Harm, that (the Fact being prov'd) did eſcape Conviction, let his Pretence, Reaſon or Plea be what it would. Even Bethel and Corniſh knew this full well, and that 'twas paſt all Art to bring the moſt Pick'd and Garbled Jury to the Impudence of doing otherwiſe; ſo that Ignoramus to ſave a Noble Peer, was forc'd to Damn and disbelieve three Diſcoverers in Oats's Plot, even three Saviours of the Nation, with ſeven more of the ſecond Rate, Men once of mighty Fame and Valour, for the whole Gang (tho they and others had made Cha. II. long before, blacker every way than his hair) were yet ſufficiently aſſur'd that this (if true) leſſen'd not his Royal Authority, and that all Defences of that Nature, were too weak to ſtop the Fury of the Law, that Uncontroulable Bear, if once Unmuzzl'd and let looſe. All which demonſtrates what we owe to our Lawful Soveraign, and that his Perſon being out of the reach of Man, can cry peccavi to none but God.

This being then the ſumm of our written, as well as often inculcated Conſtitutions, the preſent Repetition cannot but be infinitely ſerviceable to the Mighty WILLIAM, whoſe Sirname is Juſt, and whoſe Title is ſo much beyond Controverſie, that even meddling would (if poſſible) leſſen and diſhonour it; I ſay, this cannot but be extreamly ſerviceable to him, eſpecially when I ſhow the Indiſpenſability of the Oath of Allegiance, which we have, or ſhall take at any time to our Lawful Prince, and how the Breach of it will moſt certainly draw upon Tranſgreſſors all the Plagues and Judgments that the highest Perjury can deſerve.

The Indiſpenſability of the ſaid Oath appears (even at the firſt ſight) by the intent and purpoſe of it; For 'twas purpoſely fram'd, and deſign'd (by our Lawful Governours) to oblige all, that took it, to a ſtrict remembrance, and performance too of their natural duty, in caſe our Lawful King were in any danger or misfortune; and this they hop'd it might chance to accompliſh, by alarming not only good Men, and ſo cauſe them to have their Eyes and Hands in readineſs, but by obviating alſo all ſly Inſinuations and Fancies, as if Allegiance were an indifferent thing, and at the pleaſure of a Subject; for an Oath (the end of ſtrife) makes indifferency become an obligation. Now to give my Reader a full and true Idea of the Breach of a Lawful promiſſary Oath, and what a vile baſeneſs it is in a Subject, as well as a foul ſin, I ſhall here lay down a very remarkable Example, and (as I believe) very pertinent alſo to the preſent buſineſs.

Henry the firſt (drawing towards his end) called his Great Lords and prime Subjects together, and then told them that his Son being Dead, and Maw (his ſole Heir) being therefore to be their Queen, he deſired (for his own ſatisfaction, as well as for preventing all ſcruples about Women) that they would own, and ſwear Allegiance to Her. This being deemed very far from unreaſonable, they did it not only once but thrice alſo; yet after his Death, one Stephen (ſeiſing the Crown) was declar'd the true and Lawful Monarch. But that the whole matter may be yet more plain and Eaſie, 'twill not perchance be inconvenient (before I go on further) to let the Reader fully underſtand, who and what the ſaid Stephen was.

He was (it ſeems) Nephew to the former King, and (if we credit ſome Hiſtorians) a kind of Son in Law alſo. He had a Feud in France, and upon that account was called Earl, or Prince of Bologne, a little Inconſiderable thing in an out-Province of that Kingdom, which (as to its Yearly value) was even Inferiour to Sheffield, and ſeveral other Mannors in our Nation. Nay (if I miſtake not) He had been for ſome time Commander in chief of the Armies of the Earls of Flanders; who were then the moſt conſiderable of any in the whole Low Countrys. This Stephen (who well knew (it ſeems how to forſwear and break an Oath for advantage) having now (as I ſaid) Uſurp'd the Throne, and many Enormities being found (to be ſure) in the preceding Reign, no body more pertly aſſerts His Right, than the Paultry Biſhop of Salisbury; one (as all our Writers have it) that was wholly obſcure of himſelf, and beholden altogether to Fortune and good hitts; one falſe and Treacherous by Nature, and (which made it beyond Cure) that thought it Wit to be ſo; one that had formerly received much Countenance and Favour from the late King; and one alſo that (more than once) ſwore the forementioned Oath, which again particularly oblig'd him to a true and ſteady Allegiance to his Prince and Lawful Succeſſour; and yet now ran counter to it, as well by diſtinctions and inſinuating diſcourſes, as by the ſhameful and overt Act.

Yet not to make the Devil uglier than he is (tho it be the new mode to Blacken even Angels of Light) This precious Divine (notwithſtanding his ſeveral Idle Sophiſms) had more ſenſe than to bolt out the leaſt Argument in favour of a Conqueſt: And to ſpeak truth, how was it poſſible for a Man (that had any regard to himſelf) to pretend to ſo ſilly a thing, ſeeing Stephen had never fought for the Crown; nor ever directly, or indirectly ſtood upon any Right of Force; but took and received the Government upon the ſole conſcientious invitation and Agreement of our Great Men. Beſides ſince petty Principalities or Royalties (the former Gifts of Emperours and Kings to deſerving Men) are Eſtates that may be bought by any mean Banker (and we know 'tis frequently done to this very day in Germany and elſewhere) therefore the Civil Law, or Law of Nations look upon theſe Toparchs (tho Abſolute enough among their Vaſſals) with another ſort of Eye, and place them in another Claſs than they do thoſe, who are truly ſtiled Soveraign Princes; ſo that if theſe ſhould chance Sculkingly to Invade the other, they might (if taken) be Legally proſecuted and puniſhed as Pilferers, and the like. Laſtly, Stephen being (as I ſaid before) a Servant and Subject (for a General that receives Wages is as much ſo as any common Souldier) had he by War and Battle brought England under his Power, yet this Acquiſt muſt have been (as all Civilians tell us, his Maſters not his own.

But perchance I excuſe our worthy Biſhop too much; for 'twas not (it may be) truth that hindered him from inſiſting on the ridiculous Title of Conqueſt, but common Prudence; as reaſonably apprehending, that a Doctrine, that takes away all Freedome and Property from every Engliſhman; might well deſerve ſome remarkable cenſure in Parliament; and Parliaments in former daies were (by fitts) as hot as thoſe that lately ruined poor Sibthorp, and Manwaring, for a Tenet not half ſo fooliſh, not half ſo dangerous, nor half ſo ſcandalous as this. For, were this truly ſo, every Gallant that gets (in a Factious time) the Crown, and perchance Monſieur Blood among the reſt (eſpecially if ſome Men want an argument) will preſently forſooth claim the almighty Title. And let me again tell my Reader, that not only all we poſſeſs, belongs really to a Conquerour, but (ſhould he paſs an Act or two in favour of the Subject) who knows the Equitable Plea of having been deceived in his Grant, may not come into his thoughts; and then (—Arma Tenenti &c.) the; Lord have mercy upon us all. Curſed therefore be the wretch, that dares call any Man Conquerour of England. But ſtill a great Patriot a Man of God is exempted, and far out of the reach of this wiſh, tho in his Arcadia, or Paſtoral, he ſtands highly upon a Conqueſt; for every one that can Read his A B C knows, that, beſides his uſual Tropes and Figures, he has a pretty way of his own, and therefore only means, I'll engage that the Victory of the most potent William was over our Hearts, and not our Lands and Purſes.

To proceed. If then the Advancing of Stephen were a horrid Perjury; and truly the Remarks of Baker are not (I ſee) always impertinent; for he tells us, That many as well of theſe Biſhops, as the other Lords, came afterward (for this grand Villany) to an ill End, or at leaſt to many Calamities before their End. I ſay if this were a horrid Perjury, how black and unexcuſable muſt the Breach Now be, when our Religion is ſo pure; when the Oath is ſo Declaratory againſt any Evaſion or double Meaning; when the Statute-Law (a Law not ſo well known to our Anceſtors) has in expreſs Terms taken away all pretences for Rebellion; and laſtly, when We have ſo often, and upon ſo many accounts, openly in the preſence of God and Man diſown'd all power in Pope or Devil, of hurting, as well the Rights, as the Perſon of our Lawful Soveraign?

Now ſeeing there's neither If nor And in this Oath; and ſeeing the Oath it ſelf was purpoſely made (as I ſaid) to Remember us of, and to ſtir, and keep us up to our Duty in times of Troubles and Affliction, (for Kings want no Body's Duty but then) it cannot be but pleaſant (and the Arguments alſo are much to be heeded) to hear a man (upon the Succeſſes of a Rebellion, or the like) gravely to Ph loſophize, and poſitively to Aſſert, That we are abſolv'd from our Oath. Nor is it leſs agreeable when we ask the Reaſon Why, to have this excellent one palm'd upon us, becauſe (forſooth) the King cannot Protect us; to which I anſwer, Then we ought to Protect him. For I am ſure this was the Impoſers meaning at the giving of the Oath; as hoping thereby to prevent the being deſerted his ſubjects.

Tho the Devil be God's Ape, and therefore ſome Uſurpers have ſome times impoſed their Oaths alſo, yet Ours here in England have ſeldom or never done it in general. For we read not of any thus required by the aforeſaid Stephen, by Hen. 4, or by Rich. 3. nay honeſt Cromwell (like Gallio) cared for none of thoſe things. And certainly they were all in the Right, and far Wiſer than to think that thoſe whom their former Oaths could not keep true to their reſpective Lawful Kings, would be obliged now to Them by any tie of that nature. They know too, that it makes (out of pity as well as juſtice) the Refuſers much more eſteemed and conſiderable; and that this too often awakens their own Party, and brings upon many a concern for their former weakneſs and miſcarriage. Nor were they even then ignorant that Compulſion and Dragooning (when a Conſcience is doubtful and ſqueamiſh) cauſes often numbers not only to complain, but be stubborn, who would otherwiſe have been Tepid, and perchance at laſt on their ſide. Beſides, Oaths ſwallowed with an ill will, riſe generally in the Stomach; and if ſuch Perſons happen to be but a little diſgusted, they turn (not ſeldom) the greateſt Enemies imaginable.

No Maxim alſo ſeemed more ridiculous and falſe to our ſaid Uſurpers than this; That men ought not to have the ordinary protection of a Government, who refuſe the ordinary aſſurance of living quietly under the Government. For ſince an Oath was no tye, but brought (as I ſhewed) great inconvemences often with it; and that depopulation muſt then neceſſarily follow (as we now ſee in Savoy, &c.) when the demands of one Great Party are oppoſite to the Profeſſion and Tenets of the other; therefore they (like wiſe men) depended, in relation to ſafety, on vigilancy and care, and not on the ſlight and weak Reed of Swearing. Upon this account therefore They had Forces on foot; upon this account They often diſarm'd the ſuſpected; and ſometimes alſo Impriſon'd them; eſpecially if extraordinary Accidents happen'd. Thus Men may give common Protection to Travellers or Strangers, tho their Country be no friend; Thus Priſoners of War, and Servants in our Plantations may be beneficial, and yet Hate the Government; Thus the Turks deal with Chriſtians, and thus do all that Get the upper-hand, that are not Lunatics or Mad.

Now tho there be no ſuch Coxcombs under the copes of Heaven, that will Aſſert or Fancy, that a Child can be worth hanging, as to his Book, who may go to School, and leave it when he pleaſes; yet we have in England moſt egregious Fools and Knaves, that padder much to have the Nation ſtrictly obedient (as they pretend) to the incomparable William and Mary; and at the ſame time tell us, We are not indiſpenſably Bound to our Lawful Princes. I could ask theſe Gentlemen, whether there ever was a Rebellion? and they will, I am ſure, anſwer Yes; and particularly call every Riſing ſo, that Touches their Humour or Intereſt. I could ask them alſo whether they can ſhew me here, or in any other part of the World, a Rebellion without a Lamentable Cry, and that had not at hand a Bead-Roll of Oppreſſions and Injuſtice; and then (ſuppoſing all this) let me deſire them to come (for all their Learning) to one reaſonable Diſtinguo? But ſince my Paper will not permit ſuch Excurſions, and much leſs ſulfer me to Examine their reſpective Arguments about Oaths and Obedience (Arguments far caſier anſwer'd than repeated) I ſhall therefore only preſent them now with a Suppoſe or two; which (tho it be Bis coctum Crambe; heated Cabbage, or, in our Mother tongue, the ſame thing over again) will yet, newdreſt, and apply'd, make what They have, can, or ſhall ſay, fall on their own weak Heads, and Grind all into Sand and Dust, even lighter (if poſſible) than Themſelves.

Suppoſe then William and Mary being (as no body can certainly deny) our undoubtedly Lawful King and Queen, that one of Harriſon's or Lilbourn's Royal Progeny were for ſetting up again the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt; and effectually to accompliſh it, did endeavour to be his Vice-Roy till He came. And by the way (tho in reality The Chariots and Horſemen of Iſrael are again making ready) I cannot but bring in this well-known Inſtance, to make the whole the more Ridiculous, and conſequently the more clear; for Tros Tyriuſ que mibi — Lancaſter to me (as to Title) is Jack Straw, whileſt Clarence has an Heir; nor do I value York more than Watt Tyler, if he ſtands wholly upon his own Right, as a Cadet, or Younger Brother. Let us now (to go on) ſuppoſe yet further, that Their Majeſties (to obviate the infamous Deſign of this hopeful Deliverer) do appeal (in reſpect of Right and Poſſeſſion) to the known Laws of the Land; that they alſo ſhow us, that the Statute of Edw. 3. makes every man a Traytor, that Aſſiſts, let his pretence be Religion, Liberty, Property, or what he pleaſes; and in ſhort, that (to make the ſubjects in general more careful, or at leaſt more mindful) they Swear all, in plain and ample words, to be true and faithful to them, and to their Lawful Heirs, viz. to their Children, and Childrens Children born in Wedlock, the Sons preceding Daughters, and the Elder, the Younger of either Sex, according to the cuſtom of the Kingdom. All this being then ſuppoſed; would it not curdle one's Blood in his Veins, and make one's Hair ſtand like Briſtles, to hear but a Hum or a Hah, as to our Duty and Allegiance to Their Majesties? What would an old Heathen think of an Engliſhman that (after all theſe particulars) could not only cheerfully ſwear Allegiance to the Enthuſiaſt, but would publickly maintain, that what he ſwears is lawful and juſt: I ſay wou'd not a Diſtinction (in this caſe) turn a Man into a Statue? and would not any Pagan wiſh, for the ſpeed of an Arrow, leſt the Iſland ſhould ſink before he could get out of it. Nay, what Turk or Jew is there (tho he had ſeen all the Miracles of Chriſt) that would not cry Nolo Baptizari, if a Chriſtian ſhould pretend to Faith or Troth after ſo Monſtrous a Breach.

If it be ask'd, what muſt be then done, when the Winds are high, when this ſtorm Rages, and both Fields and Vineyards fall within the ſphere of the impetuous Hurricane? I Anſwer, remember ſtill your firſt Love; for if a Spark, a Cavalier, Swears Cum Paris Oenone &c.—His new Ligue with Helen will certainly ruine Him and His. I anſwer again, remember the intrinſic value of a ſacred promiſe, even that which all the terrours of Afric could never make a Regulus to forget. In fine, I anſwer, and poſitively I ſay it, remember (tho Antiochus Reigns,) that Swines-fleſh is not to be Eaten. But now if thro' Intereſt, Raſhneſs, or Fear, a Man ſhould ſuccumb, and ſwallow the curſed thing, he is not yet loſt, if in the firſt place He asks God forgiveneſs, (for that will certainly attone and recontile Him to the King in Heaven, as well as to our King on Earth) and then of he immediately reflects, how much Scylla's Oath to betray her Father Niſus and his Kingdom did oblige her to the Contract; how much we are bound to kill a Neighbour if paſſion or the like ſhould make us ſwear the Performance; and again whether we ought to diſcover the private Avenues of a Friends Houſe, becauſe a Miſcreants Piſtol made us ſolemnly engage to do it. Thoughts here in the Affirmative, are Pelion upon Oſſa, ſin on ſin; ſo that a wilful perſ v rance is the very Fact (as I have formerly ſaid) which will never be forgiven in this World, nor in the World to come. By all which 'tis evident that, as Contradictories can never be both true; ſo there can be but one Lawful King in England, which makes all others but meer troubleſome Scare-Crows and Impoſtors.

But ſince I am fallen upon the word Impoſtor; I muſt not (tho much preſſed in time) paſs by, without mentioning the grand One; I mean little Mahomet, or Him. whom not a few, as well Proteſtants as Papiſts, call and deem the True Prince of Wales. Now, that the World may ſee, that men (when they pleaſe) can be far more wilful than Mules, and deafer alſo than an inchanted Adder; I will here give my Reader a ſmack or taſte of ſome of the wiſe Arguments, with which the Muſſelmen or Tories defend the Paradox; and then I'll ſhew in ſix words (for Truth hates Meanders and Ambages) how the Loyal can (like Hercules himſelf) tear open young Cacus's Den, and ſo with one Pull expoſe the mighty Thief in all his Shapes and Colours.

Firſt, Thoſe odd Jacobites ask in what Region or Age was ſuch a Hocus-Pocus-Trick ever yet played? Nay (omitting the Authors of Caſſandra, Grand Cyrus, and men in that Claſſe of Fancy) they demand whether Bays durſt for ſhame venture on a Plot founded on this Impoſſible Suppoſition; That a Great Queen living publickly, and after her uſual manner in a thronged, prying and ſuſpicious Court, was not only to carry a fictitious Great Belly Nine Months undiſcovered, but was alſo with the like ſucceſs to be brought to Bed in a Chamber crowded with Perſons of both Sexes, and many of them utter Enemies to Her and Hers.

Secondly, That tho this might paſs muſter at the Antipodes, or in Terra Incognita, yet how could it be effected in England, when there would be (in ſpite of Fate) Great Men and Women that muſt be Spectators and Actors too in the Play, not only of different Intereſts and Factions, but that hated both Papiſts and Popery, as much as Calvin and Luther ever did; and Perſons alſo, to whom the Diſcovery would infallibly have been much more Advantageous, than the Concealment.

Thirdly, Was it poſſible for King James (of whoſe Morality moſt Men had a good Opinion) not only to put by (and with ſuch hazard too) both his Daughters, which had received ſuch Conſtant marks of his Tenderneſs, but to Diſinherit (by a Suppoſititious Brat) any Son that he might chance to have by this Queen, who was ſtill Young, or by a New One if ſhe died; nor could his conſtant Hunting, or other manly Exerciſes but aſſure every body of his ſtill remaining Vigour.

Fourthly, They ask whether the Practic part were not yet (if poſſible) more Impoſſible than what has been already hinted. For (ſay they) there muſt have been at leaſt three or four Women procured, of the utmoſt Fidelity, and all with Child, and of the ſame Reckoning; who (when they came near their Time, muſt be alſo taken from their Friends and Acquaintance (which could not but occaſion ſtrange talk and diſorder) to be put in ſecret places near the Court; for one or two (beſides Accidents) might bring forth Daughters, and if they were all to be Delivered in their reſpective Dwellings, the Cheat would not be concealed two hours.

Fifthly, after all theſe unexpreſſible Difficulties, New ones (they ſay) 〈◊〉 greater muſt follow. For upon the firſt Womans being in Labour, the Queen muſt preſently be ſo too, where-ever ſhe were; and if that Child happen'd to be a Female, the whole Seene muſt be re-acted, i. e. deferr'd till the next Woman cry'd out. Now when fortune ſhould bring a Boy, it muſt be carry'd with all its After-Birth, &c. (thro a Court, which would have in it for certain many Curious Eyes, do what they could) into the Queens Bed, either before ſhe were lay'd, or after; If before, then the Query is, whether a Child (were he not in that ſtrange impoſſible pickle) could lye under the Cloathes, for three or four hours, and neither be ſtifled, nor cry. If the famous Warming-Pan were brought in afterwards, then the Chamber muſt be neceſſarily (as it was) full of Men and Women: And how could they place the Creature (a thing to be done with wonderful gentleneſs and care) in a Bed, if not in the preſence of Men, yet in the open view and ſight of, God knows how many Ladies and Women, that encompaſs'd the Queen; and ſtill the Child (notwithſtanding Her Majeſties many turnings and ſeeming throes) was neither to be ſmother'd nor to cry.

Sixthly, they ſay, let all this alſo paſs, and let my Lady Sunderland her ſelf be miſtaken, that ſwore. She forwarded the Birth with her hand; but how can a Child after ſo long a ſtay, come out of the Bed reeking like one newly Born, as ſo many Proteſtant Doctors themſelves ſwore? Nay, they depos'd that the Blood came from the very Navel-ſtring when they cut it, which they gave the Child for a Medicine againſt Convulſions.

Laſtly: Well then (cry they) for once we'll ſuppoſe the preſent Loyal people of England turn'd Papiſts; that is to ſay, Perſons that will maintain any Impoſſibility if Religion and Interest commands it; as alſo that the Counteſſes of Peterborow, Sunderland, Roſcommon, Lady Bellaſis, and other great Proteſtant Peereſſes, and of the Bed-Chamber, will Diſpence with an Oath, tho' the Diſpenſing Power be now Null and Void by Law. VVe will ſuppoſe too, (continue they) that my Lady Wentworth, Mrs. Bromley, Dawſon, with the reſt of the Dreſſers once known to be moſt Zealous againſt Popery, will now rather forſwear themſelves, than that Popery ſhould not be ſecur'd: Add beſides to this, that a crowd of Proteſtant Doctors, Apothecaries, Surgeons, and other neceſſary people, are to go to the Devil for Company; But how came it (roar they out higher than Stentor and Moreland) that the Princeſs of Denmark whom the Cheat ſo much concern'd both as to Religion and Intereſt) could neither perceive it all along with her own Eyes, nor with thoſe of her Faithful Ladies? If ſhe did, the Difficulty (they ſay) is harder; for 'twas impoſſible that ſhe would be ſilent and mealy-mouth'd, that had the Courage and Piety (in Defence of Religion and Property) to forſake her Fathers houſe, and to Head an Army againſt his Wicked Councellors, as we all know. But further (proceed they in the like tone) Is it not beyond Comprehenſion, if things had been but ſuſpicious, and much more if really ſo, that William and Mary (who hazarded their All for the Goſpel and Common Juſtice) ſhould upon the Childs Birth ſend Monſieur Zuleſtein as their Embaſſadour, to Congratulate with the King and Queen; to Viſit and Complement him as Prince of Wales; and which is yet ſtranger, to Inſert him in the Collect of the Royal Family, and conſequently Pray for Him thus in their own public Chappel .

Now as an aſſuredly compleating blaſt (which blows away every Corn of Doubt) They ſtretch their voice and cry; Tho all theſe unaccountable Blots were overſeen formerly, why did both King William and the Parliament join in a manner with theſe Clancys and Fourbs by their preſent ſilence, which makes the Cheat (if it had been one) not only victorious, but invincible. Nay a Parliament alſo that had all the Reaſon in the World to take the Buſineſs in hand, both for our future Quiet, and for the confounding of all King James's Party; ſince the fierceſt of them, would (upon this proof) have granted, that nothing could be ſaid againſt him that was falſe.

Thus reaſon theſe extravagant Men. But now let us hear, how all is anſwered (as I ſaid) in ſix words by theſe Loyal, Wiſe and Conſcientious men, that have contributed ſo much to our Deliverance, and helpt to put us in our preſent happy and flouriſhing condition.

Was not a Prince of Wales (anſwer they) for the Advantage of the Papists? are they not a restleſs Party? and is there any thing they will not do or venture for the advancement of their Religion? all men know what Diſpenſations they have; and howindefatigable they are in propagating their Cheats? and how ſubtly they always endeavour'd to amuſe and confound poor Protestants. Tho piety of the King and Queen is apparent, who wave the blackening of a Father, as ſuch ſecret actions muſt do, when publick to the World; and what is more ridiculous, and below a Parliament, than in time of great buſineſs, to debate, and then vote 'tis day at Noon. Rex & Regina beati.

Quid agitur in Anglia? conſulitur de Religione, non de Partu.

FINIS.