The hard Case of Protestant Subjects un­der the Dominion of a Popish Prince.

A Prince putting himself and his Dominions under the Authority of the Pope, and admitting (as he must unavoidably) the Laws and Decrees of the Romish Church, all his Protestant Subjects being, by the Judg­ment and Sentence of that Church, Hereticks ^(a), do forthwith lie under the Penalty which those Laws and Constitutions will have inflicted upon Hereticks; Heresie ^(b) being the highest de­gree of High-Treason, called therefore by them, Laesae Crimen Majestaetis Divinae: So the English Protestant must be a Tray­tor, and the worst of Traytors, and exposed to the Penalties of High-Treason.

An Answer to a late Pamphlet, Intituled, A Short Scheme of the Usurpations of the Crown of England, &c.

THE World may very justly wonder at several Passages in this ill-designed, and as ill-writ Pamphlet, which the Author has taken the pains to collect from some perty Grubstreet Chronicle. Henry II. is call'd an Usurper (pag. 4.) because he accepted of the Crown of England in his Mothers Life-time; tho' by her not opposing his Claim, it may very reasonably be concluded, that she freely consented to his Promotion, as the most essectual means to secure the Crown to her Posterity.

But we are told, That a Crown is no Estate to be made over in Trust: If our Author's meaning is, that a Crown is an Estate which the Possessor cannot divest himself of by a voluntary Resignation; both Reason, and a multituide of Ex­amples in several Ages, and Nations, prove that the Principle our Author has laid down, is founded on a gross Mistake. Therefore if our Author designs to publish any more Schemes [Page 9]of Usurpation, let him first inform us what it is, and how far it extends, lest the World should accuse him of having as noto­riously usurped to himself the Title of a Writer, as any of our Princes ever did the Crown of England. He would per­swade his Readers to believe, that God punish'd King Edward III. and King Henry V. for their Usurpations, with frequent and unexpected Victories; in the acquisition of which, tho' there was some English Blood shed, (as it was impossible it should be otherwise) yet the Enemies paid an excessive Price for it; after the defeat of their great Armies, and the Imprisonment of their King, they being forced to buy their Peace upon such Terms, as our conquering Usurpers pleased to impose. Nor did ever any well-wisher to the English Nation deny, that these Two Princes were the Glory of their Age, and of our British History. If I should reckon up all the evident Mistakes and salfe Inferences in this Libel, it would be too tedious, since a careless Eye cannot easily overlook them.

If the Pamphlet finds so undeserved a Reception in the World, as to need a Second Impression, the Author is desired to add to it this Postscript; which being founded on the Principles asserted by him, will shew the World that he hath wilfully, and perhaps partially, forborn to speak of as notorious an Usurper, as any that are mentioned in his Scheme.

Queen Mary, the Off-spring of an Incestuous Marriage, had no other unquestionable Divine Right to the Crown of England, than what was given her by an Act of Parliament, made in her Father's Reign, and the common Consent of the Nobility and People after the Death of her Brother King Edward VI. whose disposal of the Crown, by Letters Patents under the Great Seal, being directly contrary to the former Entail of it, limited by a higher Authority; His Sister, the Lady Mary, was acknow­ledge Queen. Therefore, according to our Author's abstruse Notions, She (as well as her Grand-father Henry VII.) must be reckoned among the Usurpers of the Crown of England. Let us now see what success attended her, and whether the Nation was happy under her Government. As soon as She saw her self fixed in the Throne, She imprisoned and deprived several of the Protestant Bishops, contrary to the then Establish'd Laws of the Realm: She intruded Popish Bishops into the Sees, thus decla­red vacant; the small remainder of the Protestant Bishops, who [Page 10]had been called to Parliament by Writ, were, nevertheless, violently thrust out of the Parliament-House, for refusing to worship the Mass. The Members of the House of Commons, in her First Parliament, were chosen by force and threats: the Free­holders were hindred by violonce from exercising their Right of chusing Representatives: false Returns were made; and those who were for the Reformed Religion, tho' duly elected, were by force expelled the House. So that we cannot wonder at the Statues made in this pretended Free Parliament; which was in every Thing influenced by the Court-Party. Shortly after, her Marriage with the haughty jealous Spaniard (of which She her self felt the ill Consequences) was justly disliked by the No­bility and Commonalty. Her base Design of setting up a Supposititious Child for Heir to the Crown, was not only hap­pily defeated, but deservedly exposed to the Censure of the Nation: Her Design to erect the Spanish Inquisition in England was disappointed. Calais (after having belonged to the Crown of England about two hundred and eleven Years, and which was gained with great difficulty, after eleven Months Siege) was, in the depth of Winter, lost in a Weeks time: And quickly af­ter, all the English Territories were, with small difficulty, re­covered by the French. We must not forget how exactly She put in practice the base, treacherous, and destructive Princi­ples of the pretended Catholick Religion, in these remarkable Particulars. She barbarously used her only Sister, the Lady Elizabeth, and designed to have taken away her Life, for no other Cause, but her firm adherence to the Protestant Religion. She imprisoned and burnt Arch-Bishop Cranmer, who had for­merly sheltered her from her Father's Fury. She deprived and imprisoned Judg Hales, who alone resolutely opposed King Ed­ward the Sixth's Will: and preferred Judg Bromley to be Lord Chief Justice, though he had, without any reluctancy, pre­pared the Letters-Patents for her Exclusion. The Inhabitants of Norfolk and Suffolk, who were the first that took up Arms for her, (upon her Promise to permit them the Exercise of their Religion) were the first that suffered Persecution under her. And after she had put to death near three hundred Per­sons, (without respect to Quality, Age, or Sex) it pleased God to put an end to the Romish Cruelty and Idolatry, by her unexpected and unlamented Death. Nor is her Memory pre­served [Page 11]from Oblivion by any thing, but her repeated Acts of Cruelty and Injustice. This was the Success that attended her, this the Happiness, the Liberty, the Religion establish'd in the English Nation, during her five Years Tyranny.

That I may not detain the Reader any longer, I will con­clude this Advice to our Learned Pamphleteer; That for the suture he do not so positively ascribe all unhappy Accidents, as frequent Wars and Rebellions, the Effusion of English Blood, the unfortunate End of some of our Princes, to the Divine Vengeance upon them, for the Usurpations he accuses them of; smce, if he will consult our Historians, he may find that Edward II. Richard II. and the Incomparable Prince, King Charles I. though their Title from William the Conqueror is indisputable, were far unhappier than any of the Usurpers he mentions. That in Edward the Fourth's, and Henry the Eighth's Reign, a great deal of English Blood was shed both at Home and Abroad, though their Right was unquestionable, and universally acknowledged. And that as to the promiscuous good or ill Success of all Affairs in this lower World, the ob­servation of the Wisest of Princes, and of Men, is very of­ten exactly verified; There is one Event to the Righteous and to the Wicked: To the Prince who ascends the Throne by an unquestionable Right, and to him that ascends it by Vio­lence and Usurpation. To the Prince that religiously performs the Solemn Oath taken at his Coronation, and to him that wilfully breaks through all the Obligations he is under, and en­deavours by the most base Methods to dissolve the Establish'd Government.

An Humble and Hearty Address to all the English Protestants in this present Army.

NEXT to the Duty which we owe to God, which ought to be the principal Care of Men of your Profession especially, (because you carry your Lives in your Hands, and often look Death in the Face). The second Thing that deserves your Consideration, is, The Service of your Na­tive Country, wherein you drew your first Breath, and brea­thed a free English Air. Now I would desire you to consider, how well you comply with these two main Points, by engaging in this prsent Service.

Is it in the Name of God, and for his Service, that you have joined your selves with Papists; who will indeed fight for the Mass-Book but burn the Bible, and who seek to Extirpate the Protestant Religion with Your Swords, because they cannot do it with their Own? And will you be Aiding and Assisting to set up Mass-Houses, to erect that Popish Kingdom of Darkness and Desolation amongst as, and to train up all our Children in Popery? How can you do these Things, and yet call your selves Protestants?

And then what Service can be done your Country, by being under the Command of French and Irish Papists, and by bring­ing [Page 13]the Nation under a Foreign Yoke? Will you help them to make forcible Entry into the Houses of your Country-men, under the Name of Quartering, directly contrary to Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right? Will you be Aiding and Assisting to all the Murders and Outrages which they shall commit by their void Commissions? Which were declared Il­legal, and sufficiently blasted by both Houses of Parliament, (if there had been any need of it) for it was very well known before, That a Papist cannot have a Commission, but by the Law is utterly Disabled and Disarmed. Will you exchange your Birth-right of English Laws and Liberties for Martial or Club-Law, and help to destroy all others, only to be eaten last your selves? If I know you well, as you are English Men, you hate and scorn these Things. And therefore be not unequally yoa­ked with Idolatrous and Bloody Papists. Be Valiunt for the Truth, and shew your selves Men.

The same Considerations are likewise humbly offered to all the English Seamen, who have been the Bulwark of this Nation against Popery and Slavery ever since Eighty Eight.

Several Reasons for the Establishment of a Standing Army, and Dissolving the Militia.

1. BEcause the Lords Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, and the whole Militia, that is to say, the Lords, Gentlemen, and Free-holders of England, are not fit to be trusted with their own Laws, Lives, Liberties, and Estates, and therefore ought to have Guardians and Keepers assigned to them.

2. Because Mercenary Souldiers, who fight for twelve Pence a Day, will fight better, as having more to lose than either the Nobility or Gentry.

3. Because there are no Irish Papists in the Militia, who are certainly the best Souldiers in the World, for they have slain Men, Women, and Children, by Hundreds of Thousands at once.

4. Because the Dragooners have made more Converts than all the Bishops and Clergy of France.

5. The Parliament ought to establish one standing Army at the least, because indeed there will be need of Two, that one of them may defend the People from the other.

6. Because it is a thousand pities that a brave Popish Army should be a Riot.

7. Unless it be Established by Act of Parliament, the Justices of Peace will be forced to suppress it in their own Defence; for they will be loth to forfeit an hundred Pounds every day they rise, out of Complement to a Popish Rout. 13. H. 4. c. 7. 2. H. 5. c. 8.

8. Because a Popish Army is a Nullity. For all Papists are ut­terly disabled (and punishable besides) from bearing any Of­fice in Camp, Troop, Band, or Company of Souldiers, and are so far disarmed by Law, that they cannot wear a Sword, so much as in their Defence, without the allowance of four Justices of the Peace of the County: And then upon a March they will be perfectly inchanted, for they are not able to stir above five Miles from their own Dwelling-house. 3. Jac. 5. Sect. 8, 27, 28, 29.35. Eliz. 2.3. Jac. 5. Sect. 7.

9. Because Persons utterly disabled by Law are utterly Un­authorized; and therefore the void Commissions of Killing and Slaying in the Hands of Papists, can only enable them to Massacre and Murder.

A Discourse of Magistracy; of Pre­rogative by Divine Right; of Obe­dience, and of the Laws.

The Definition of a TYRANT, by the Learned and Loyal Abraham Cowley, (published by the pre­sent Lord Bishop of Rochester) in his Discourse concerning the Government of Oliver Cromwel.

I Call him a Tyrant, who either intrudes himself forcibly into the Government of his Fellow-Citizens, without any Legal Authority over them, or who, having a just Title to the Government of a People, abuses it to the destruction or tormenting of them: So that all Tyrants are at the same time Usurpers, either of the whole, or at least of a part of that Power which they assume to themselves; and no less are they to be accounted Rebels, since no Man can usurp Authority over others, but by rebelling against them who had it before, or at least against those Laws which were his Superiours.

A LETTER TO THE KING, When DUKE of YORK, Perswading him to return to the Protestant Religion, where­in the chief Errors of the Papists are exposed, and the Ten­dency of their Doctrines to promote Arbitrary Govern­ment, proved.

WHEN I look up to the Greatness of your Quality, and down on my own meanness, I cannot but tremble to make this Address, so liable to be censur'd as presumptuous, and obnoxious to variety of Misconstructi­on. But since my Pen is guided by an Heart fill'd with profound Loy­alty, and Veneration towards all the Royal Family, and a sincere respect, and most passionate desires for the particular Prosperity (Temporal and Eternal) of your Royal Highness, I cannot refrain discharging what I apprehended my Duty; and therefore with good Esther, finding not only my Country, but your Highness also, in such apparent (I wish it may not prove inevitable) hazard of Ruin, am resolved to adventure forth, and cast my poor weak Sentiments at your feet; and, If they perish, they perish.

Tis generally reported, That you are long since turn'd Papist; and so far believ'd, That every day many hundred thousand Protestants are melted into Tears and Hor­ror meerly on that Consideration, and lament the same, as one of the greatest Calami­ties that has happened in our Age. I must do my self so much Justice as to declare, That [Page 2]I am none of those fanatical Spirits, that either raise, or lightly credit Rumours to the prejudice of my Superiors. But besides what has been sworn by Persons, whose Evi­dence none have hitherto been able to invalidate by any substantial Reasons, or Incohe­rence in their Depositions; your Highnesses Conduct, and Deportment for many years past, your absenting from the publick Worship of our Church, Refusing legal Oaths and Tests, your countenancing, retaining an intimate Correspondency with Roman Catholicks; and many other Reasons not fit, at least unnecessary here to be mention'd, do all loudly speak it: And for those who would go about to deny it (as some wretched Pamphlet-scriblers, and unthinking Health-drinkers have done,) besides the folly of the attempt, they unwarily cast a greater load of Ignominy and Dishonour on your High­ness, whilst they pretend to vindicate you.

For is it imaginable, That a Prince of your Generosity and Prudence would so far suffer the Affairs of your Royal Brother to be imbroil'd, His Councils discompos'd, all the Protestants in the World swallowed up with Astonishment, and almost despair, your own Honour fullied, your Interest impaired, and these Three Kingdoms put into a de­plorable Distraction, meerly upon a false supposition, without rectifying in all this time their mistake by some real Demonstrations to the contrary? If such a Capricio should sway with your Highness, what were it but to render you the worst Subject, the most unkind Brother, the most Impolitick Prince, and the maddest, or most mon­strous Man in the World?

I shall therefore take it for granted, and consequently must, tho' with all Humility, and a Sorrow inexpressible, direct my Discourse to your Highness as an Apostate from the Protestant Faith; and if I am mistaken, 'tis your Highness has led not only me, but almost all the World into that Error.

I am not insensible of my own weakness, and how unfit I am to argue matters of Re­ligion with your Highness, and those subtil Sophisters (the Pest of Europe, and shame of Christianity) which are always croaking about Persons of Quality, whom they have perverted to their Idolatries; being my self but a Lay-Gentleman, of little Learning, and in the course of my Life more conversant with the Sword, than the Pen: And I must wonder with Regret, if none of the Right Reverend Fathers, my Lords the Bi­shops, or some of our other Learned Divines have not vigorously made Applications to your Highness, even in a publick Manner, to regain you to the Protestant Commu­nion: If they have not charg'd you, as they are God's Ambassadors, to shew some Reasons, why you have broke the League (your Baptismal vows) with his Church, and join'd your self to the Tents of his Enemies. If they have not adjur'd you in the Name of our Lord, to shew on what offence taken amongst us, and for what Beauties observ'd in the Church of Rome, you quitted the true Spouse of Christ, to follow the Enchant­ments of a Strumpet, whose shameless Adulteries have long since caused an utter Di­vorce between Her and the Blessed Jesus: If they have not solemnly called Heaven and Earth to Record, that they are ready to satisfie all your scruples, to answer all your objections; and to shew, That it is not through any default in them, for want of En­deavours, nor in our Church for want of Truth; but that your defection must be wil­ful, as well as unreasonable, whereby to render you either convicted, or inexcusable.

Nor do I doubt, but several of those Glorious Lights of our Church, may accord­ingly have discharged without fear of flattery their Functions herein, in private dis­courses: But certainly a matter of that inestimable importance, as wherein not only the Soul of one of the Bravest Princes of the Earth, but also the whole Potestant Interest in the World, especially within these Three Nations, is so deeply and dangerously con­cern'd, might require, since I am sure it deserves a Publick and General Application: [Page 3]Nor ought any, though the meanest of Men, to be blam'd for contributing modestly, his help to prevent a disaster of such universal influence: And therefore who knows but that Almighty Providence, who overthrew Jericho's proud Walls of old, not with Battering Engines of War, but with the blast of contemptible Rams-Horns, and is of­ten pleased to make use of the weakest Instruments to effect mighty Works; may give a Blessing to these poor unpolish'd, inartificial Lines, which have nothing but the Power of Truth, and the Honesty of a sincere Intention to recommend them to your Princely Consideration?

That you were educated in Protestant Principles, is notorious. I beseech your High­ness therefore to satisfie the World what could induce you to a change. I shall not men­tion your Royal Grandfather, whose Learned Pen baffled all the Conclave, nor shall I insist on that Curse which he solemnly pronounced on any of his Posterity that should turn Papists: I shall only say, Had you not the Example, and the Commands too of a most Indulgent, Pious Prince, your Royal Father, for perseverance therein; who, though barbarously murder'd by vile Men, yet continued stedfast, and even with his last breath discharg'd and clear'd the Doctrine of the Reformed Religion from having a­ny share in their Crimes? What Impiety is it, if you should dare to profess your Fa­thers Blessed Soul to be eternally damn'd! and yet, if you are a Papist, you can do no less; for you cannot be such without believing, That there is no Salvation out of the Pale of the Church, and that there is no Church but that of Rome; and I am confident none can have the Impudence to suggest, that He died in the Communion of that Church: What follows then? or how will you answer this Horrid Scandal on his Sa­cred Memory, when you shall meet his glorisied Spirit at the last dreadful Judgment­day? Nor can the keenest Jesuit blunt the edge of this Argument by a Retortion from the Consideration of your Highnesses Illustrious Mother: For though Papists are so au­dacious, as to place the Keys of Heaven at the Pope's Girdle, and uncharitably doom us All to unquenchable flames, not affording us so much as a Room in Purgatory: yet Protestants are not so unchristian (but according to Scripture) leave secret things to God, and allow grains for Education, Prepossessions, Ignorance, &c. which is yet no more a Reason for any Man to turn Papist, than 'tis for him that stands safe on the shore to leap off into a Vessel so rotten and leaky as just ready to sink, upon a presumption that still some of those that are in her may escape the danger: Or to chuse an impudent Quack, who boasts he only can cure him; and refuse a Learned Physician, who modest­ly grants he may peradventure be healed by the other, though very improbably; but withal, that 'tis a Million to one, but the Patient, under such hands, miscarries; and that in this case, eternally.

But quitting this Argument, which is only Personal, I beseech your Highness to tell us, how you, or any Man of sense can so far forget, not only his Education and Inte­rest, but his very Reason, as to imbrace POPERY, frightful, detestable, ridiculous Popery, that Chaos of Superstition, Idolatry, Error and Imposture, that has no foun­dation but a Cheat; No Ends but to gratifie Pride and Avarice; no solid Argument to promote and maintain it, but Impudence and Cruelty.

Popery, That depends wholly upon nice and poor uncertainties, and unprovable sup­posals: As 1st. That Peter was Bishop of Rome. 2dly. That He left there one to be Heir of his Graces and Spirit, in a perpetual unfailable Succedion. 3dly. That He so bequeathed his Infallibility to his Chair, as that whosoever sits in it, cannot but speak Truth; so that all who sit where he sat, must by some secret Instinct, say as he taught; that what Christ said to him absolutely, without any respect to Rome, must be referr'd, yea ty'd to that place alone, and fulfill'd in it. 4thly. That Linus, Clemens and Cletut [Page 4]the Scholars, and supposed Successors of Peter; must he preferr'd (in the Headship of the Church) to John the beloved Apostle, then still living. 5thly. That He whose Life is oft times monstrously debauch'd, his Judgment childishly ignorant, cannot yet, when in his Pontifical Chair, possibly erre. 6thly. That the Golden Line of this Apo­stolical Succession, in the confusion of so many long desperate Schisms, shamefully cor­rupt Usurpations and Intrusions, and confess'd Heresies, yet neither was nor can be broken.

Popery, That teaches Men to worship Stocks and Stones, and painted Clouts, with the same Honour as is due to our Creator; and lest that practice should appear to her simple Clients too palpably opposite to Gods Law, most sacrilegiously stifles one of the Ten Commandments in their vulgar Catechisms and Prayer Books.

Popery, That utterly confounds the true Humanity of Christ, while they give unto it Ten thousand places at once, and yet no place; Flesh, and no Flesh; several Members without distinction; a substance without quantity, and other Accidents; or Substance and Accidents, that cannot be seen, felt or perceived; so that they make a Monster of their Saviour, or nothing.

Popery, That utterly overthrows the Perfection of Christ's satisfaction; for if all be not paid, how hath he satisfied? If Temporal Punishments in Purgatory be yet due, how is all paid? And if these must be paid by us, how are they satisfied by him?

Popery, That hath made more Scriptures than ever the Holy Spirit dictated, or the An­cient Church received; and those which it doth make, Imperiously obtrudes upon the World; and while it thunders out Curses against all that will not add these Books to God's, seems to defie the Curse pronounc'd by God himself to those that add unto his Word, Rev. 22.18.

Popery, That erects a Throne in the Conscience to a meer Man, and many times ra­ther a Monster than a Man; and gives him absolute Power to make a sin of that which is none; and to dispense with that which is; to create new Articles of Faith, and to im­pose them upon Necessity of Salvation; to make wicked Men Saints, and Saints Gods; for even by the Confession of Papists, lewd and undeserving Men have leap'd into their Calendar; yet being once install'd there, they have the Honour of Altars, Temples and Invocations; some of them in a stile fit only for their Maker.

Popery, That robs the Heart of all sound Comfort, whilst it teachethus, That we neither can, nor ought to be assured of the Remission of our sins, and of present Grace, and future Salvation; that we can never know whether we have receiv'd the true Sacraments of God because we cannot know the Intention of the Minister, without which they are no Sacraments.

Popery, That racks the Conscience with the needless torture of a necessary shrist, wherein the vertue of an Absolution depends on the sulness of Confession; and that upon Examination; and the sufficiency of Examination is so full of scruples (besides infinite Cases of unresolved doubts in this feigned pennance) that the poor soul never knows when it is clear.

Popery, That under pretence of Religion plays the Bawd to sin, whilst both in pra­ctice it tolerates open stews, and prefers Fornication in some cases before honourable Matrimony, and gently blanches over wilful Violations of God's Law with the favourable title of Venial Crimes.

Popery, That makes Nature vainly proud, in joining her as Copartner with God in our Justification, Salvation, and idly puffing her up with a conceit of her Perfection and Ability to keep more Laws than God hath made, whence their Doctrines of Merit and Supererogation, &c.

Popery, That requires no other Faith [...]o Justification in Christians, than may be found in Devils themselves; who, besides a confused Apprehention, can assent to the Truth of God's revealed Will, and Popery requives no more.

Popery, That instead of the pure Milk of the Gospel, hath long fed her starved Souls with such idle Legends, as the Reporter can hardly deliver without laughter, nor their Abettors be told of without shame and disclamation; so that the wiser sort of the World read these Stories on Winter Evenings for sport, which the poor credulous Multitude hear in their Churches with devout astonishment.

Popery, That requires nothing but meer Formality in our Devotion; the work wrought suffices alone in Sacraments, and in Prayers; if the number be repeated by Rote, no matter for the Affection; as if God regarded not the Heart, but the Tongue and Hands; and while he understands us, cared little whether we understand our selves.

Popery, That hath been often dyed in the Blood of Princes, that in some cases teaches and allows Rebellion against God's Anointed; and both suborneth Treasons; and ex­cuses, pities, honours and rewards the Actors.

Popery, That overloads Men's Consciences with heavy burdens of infinite, unnecessa­ry Traditions, far more than ever M [...]ses Commented upon by all the Jewish Rabbins; imposing them with no less Authority, and exacting them with more Rigour, than any of the Royal Laws of their Maker.

Popery, That cozens the vulgar with nothing but shadows of Holiness in Pilgrimages, Processions, Offerings, Holy-Water, Latin Services, Images, Tapers, rich Vestures, garish Altars, Crosses, Censings, and a thousand such like, fit for Children and Fools, robbing them in the mean time of the sound and plain Helps of true Piety and Salva­tion.

Popery, That cares not by what wilful Falshoods, Equivocations, Perjuries and Abo­minations it propagates it self, and maintains its credit: And therefore being conscious of her own Villainies, goes about to falsifie and deprave Authors, that might give Evi­dence against her, to outface all ancient Truths, to foist in Gibionitish Witnesses of their own forging, and leaves nothing unattempted against Heaven and Earth that might advance her Faction, and disable her innocent and just Accusers.

This, this is the true figure of Popery, through whatever false Opticks your Highness may have view'd it: This is that for which you are resolv'd to hazard a Crown of Glo­ry, and three temporal Diadems to boot; and to which you sacrifice both your own Fortunes, and the Tranquillity of many Millions of Souls.

What then can the World, that knows the clear light of your Hignesses Elevated Understanding, imagine can be the Cause of your Revolt? Will they not be apt to conceive, that you have not espoused this block Religion purely for its own sake, but for some promised Dowry of an Absolute Monarchy, or Arbitrary Power, which she might pretend to bring one day with her to your Embraces? But as this is far below the Justice and Generosity of your Highness, so 'tis unworthy the thoughts of any conside­rate Politician. For suppose any Prince, to whom the British Sceptre may hereafter devolve, intoxicated with the Tinsel Glories of the French Monarch's blustering Gran­deur, should be so vain, as to hope to subjugate the English Liberties, and destroy the Constitution of the best Establish'd Government on Earth, by assuming to himself the whole Legislative Power, raising Money, and draining his Subjects at Pleasure without their common Consent in Parliament, &c. and should be so extravagantly enamour'd on this fatal Project (fatal I say, because for above Five hundred years it has shipwrack'd all that coasted that way,) as to be content to shift his Religion, and exchange his Faith, and turn Papist, on a presumption, that the same might facilitate and accomplish his Enterprize: As King John, 'tis said, resolv'd once to embrace Mahumetism, ra­ther than not to be reveng'd of his Barons, claiming their just Liberties. Suppose I say all this should be, and that the present Papists, to get their Religion publickly esta­blish'd, [Page 6]should comply with his Designs; yet still is it not most reasonable to believe. That having once gain'd their Point therein, they, or their Posterity, will soon recal to mind their Birth rights and Privileges due to them as English-men; and will they not then be perpetually tugging and strugling to regain them, whence continual di­sturbance will ensue, and a standing Army must be kept on foot to support this ill acquired Grandeur? For those Subjects that contended with King John and King Henry the Third, &c. tho' they were Papists, and of the same Religion with those Princes, could not brook it, to be Slaves to their Arbitrary Pleasures in their Civil Rights: Besides, what a waking dream is it for any King, that is free from the Roman Yoke, to think to make himself more Absolute by involving himself and his Kingdoms in Thraldom to the Church of Rome; wherein not only the Pope pretends a Right to domineer over him, but every Ecclesiastick esteems him­self wholly exempt from his Jurisdiction, and all his People will be but half his Subjects, viz. in Temporals; for in Spirituals, and in ordine ad spiritualia (a monstrous draw net, that may include almost all the Actions of Humane Life,) they are wholly to be Conducted by his Holiness and his Subordinate Ministers. How therefore can your Highness, if a Roman Catholick, complain of the late successive Houses of Commons for pressing a Bill to exclude you? Is it any Disloyalty to endeavour to preserve the Imperial Crown of England from a truck­ling and shameful Servitude to a Foreign Usurper's Power? Or is it any such un­heard of thing to debarr a Prince from a Throne, that hath obstinately disabled himself? Certainly, above all Men, the Roman Catholicks ought not to murmur at this; for did not the Pope issue forth a Bull to exclude your Grandfather, King James, unless he would turn Papist? And did not the Romanists, though they acknowledged the Title of your other Grandfather, Henry the Great, to the French Diadem; yet refuse to pay him any Obedience, because a Prote­stant, and on that only score fought against him, as long as he continued so, and thought it no Rebellion? Your Highness perhaps will say—What though they did so, true Protestants, and the Church of England do not own such Principles? Well then, if the Protestant Principles be better than those of the Church of Rome, what Madness is it in your Highness to abandon the first, and chuse the latter?

I am a dutiful and hearty Lover of Monarchy, and when establish'd on such an Equi-pois'd Basis of Wisdom as ours is, shall ever assert it to be the best Form of Government in the World, and most agreeable to the Genius of Eng­lish-men: But that lineal descent is so sacred a thing, that the Heir presumptive can for no default or crime whatsoever be debarr'd from the Crown by an Act of Parliament, or publick Decree of State, I do not understand; For I am sure the practice in all Ages, both at home and abroad in almost every Nation in the Earth, hath run contrary: And as to Right; those that pretend such Succession in all Cases to be Jure Divino, would do well to shew in what Texts of Scripture the same is prescribed; till then, they do but talk, not argue; and if a Candidate to the Crown, for any Reasons whatsoever, may without offence to the Law of God or Nature, be Excluded by an Act of King, Lords and Commons; Then the June-divino-ship vanishes, and nothing is left to be considered: But whe­ther such next Heir have done such Acts, or is so qualified, that in Prudence it be necessary for the Tranquillity of the Publick to Exclude him. Now I be­lieve there are but few of the Church of England, but if the Bill had passed the Lords, and his Majesty had given his Royal Assent to it, would have acquiesc'd [Page 7]therein, and consequently they do not believe the Exclusion to be simply unlawful by the Law of God or Nature, for against either of them no Humane Ordinances ought to prevail.

But all true Loyalists do not despair, but your Highness may yet prevent all Occasions of such Disputes by opening your eyes; or rather that God (in whose hands are the Hearts of Princes) may irradiate your Royal Understanding, and let you see the horrid Blackness of those Men who have endeavour'd to seduce you, and of those Principles to which they would have inveigled you, on purpose to have made your Highness a Property to their Ambition and Avarice, and that under the shadow of your Illustrious Name they might one day Tyrannize at Pleasure over these Three Kingdoms.

If Heaven shall be pleased to work such an happy Inclination in your Highness, you shall presently see the whole British Empire echoing with Praises and Acclamations, and instead of murmurs of Seclusion, every good Subject shall erect you a Throne in his heart.

But the grand difficulty will be to satisfie the prejudiced World of your sincerity herein; for if your Highness (which God forbid) should declare your self a Protestant only to serve a present turn, and use the Sacred Name of our Religion but as an Engine to advance the design of our bloody Enemies, you would act at once the most disho­nourably and (in the end) most prejudicially to your own Interest, in the world, and must certainly expect the blasts of Heaven, and curses of Earth on all your future proceedings [...] for Hypocrisie is odious to God and Man, nor is there any Monster so abominable to serious Men of both sides, as a Church-Papist.

Your Royal Highness, I hope, will excuse our fears, for we are not ignorant of the Arts and Craft of Rome, that she esteems no means unlawful to obtain her ends. How shall any Oaths be sufficient Tests, when a private dispensation may at once allow the taking, and warrant the breaking of them? Or what signifies the participation of our Sacraments to one that is taught, We have no true Mini­sters of Christ; if so, no consecration, consequently nothing but an ordinary Break­fast of common Broad and Wine, and who shall lose the hopes of three Crowns rather than not taste such harmless viands? Not that I dare imagine your Highnesses Understanding would suffer you to believe the lawfulness, or your Princely Gene­rosity permit you to practise these lewd dissimulations; yet since such Doctrines are daily taught in the Roman Church, how shall Protestants be assured they have no. Influence on your Conduct? I must therefore with all humble freedom assure your Highness, that after so general an Opinion of your Highnesses having been a Roman Catholick, though you should go never so duly to Church, receive the Sacrament a thousand times, and take Oaths all the way from Holy-rood House to St. James's, yet the People would scarce believe the reality of your Conver­sion, unless withal they see it accompanied with some other Demonstrations. For as Faith without works is dead, so Profession of a Religion, without agreeable en­deavours to advance it will be vain. If his Royal Highness, will the People say, be a good Protestant, he will undoubtedly discourage all Papists, the sworn inveterate Enemies of our Religion, he will not suffer a Popish Priest to approach his Per­son or Palace. If he have had any intimation of any ill designs, if any have been tampering to reconcile him to Popery (which is no less than Treason) he will pre­sently detect those mischievous Instruments, that they may be brought to condign Punishment, and applaud the Justice that has been done on Coleman, the five Je­suits, [Page 8] Godfrey's Murderers, &c. thereby stopping the Mouths of that brazen Tribe who would make the World believe they died innocently. He will declare against all Arbitrary Designs, detest those who by sneaking flatteries would unhinge the ancient and most wise Constitution of our Government. He will heartily recommend Parliaments to his Sacred Brother as the wisest and safest Councils, and even thank the late Houses of Commons for their zeal against him, whilst they apprehen­ded him as an Enemy to his King, and the Religion and safety of the Kingdom. He will vigorously by his Counsels and Interests oppose the growing greatness of the French, which at this day threatens all Europe with Chains, and immediately tends not only to the decay of Great Britains. Trade and Glory, but also to the diminu­tion, oppression, and (if it lay in humane Power) utter subversion of the Reformed Religion throughout the World.

These and the like Noble Fruits, will the People not unreasonably expect from your R. H. when ever you shall please to declare your self a Protestant; which that you may speedily do, not Politickly or Superficially, but with that sincerity, as so seri­ous a matter (of infinite more value than the Three Crowns you are Presum­ptive Heir to) is the Prayer of all good Men, and particularly of