The loyal city of Bristol vindicated from Amsterdamism, or Devil's-borough, two appellatives occasioned by the over credulous, who have taken it for granted, that the schismaticks and hereticks of all sorts were more numerous than the truly loyal, orthodox, and liege people there. But at a late tryal of skill, managed by the more vigilant, and worthy angel-guardian of that city, the point has been lately clear'd, and the church-men for an Earl have out voted the fanaticks for a knight, though to little purpose: for they have rallied again, since the dissolution, to fetch in the same persons. But who? or what? and how equipp'd this ensuing letter (to an utopian prelate) will fully inform you.

The loyal city of Bristol vindicated from Amsterdamism, or Devil's-borough, two appellatives occasioned by the over credulous, who have taken it for granted, that the schismaticks and hereticks of all sorts were more numerous than the truly loyal, orthodox, and liege people there. But at a late tryal of skill, managed by the more vigilant, and worthy angel-guardian of that city, the point has been lately clear'd, and the church-men for an Earl have out voted the fanaticks for a knight, though to little purpose: for they have rallied again, since the dissolution, to fetch in the same persons. But who? or what? and how equipp'd this ensuing letter (to an utopian prelate) will fully inform you.

The loyal city of Bristol vindicated from Amsterdamism, or Devil's-borough, two appellatives occasioned by the over credulous, who have taken it for granted, that the schismaticks and hereticks of all sorts were more numerous than the truly loyal, orthodox, and liege people there. But at a late tryal of skill, managed by the more vigilant, and worthy angel-guardian of that city, the point has been lately clear'd, and the church-men for an Earl have out voted the fanaticks for a knight, though to little purpose: for they have rallied again, since the dissolution, to fetch in the same persons. But who? or what? and how equipp'd this ensuing letter (to an utopian prelate) will fully inform you.

Table of contents

Title page

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.

A LETER to the BISHOP OF UTOPIA. Briſtol February the 9th. 1680.

A LETER to the BISHOP OF UTOPIA. Briſtol February the 9th. 1680.

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My deareſt Lord,

AFter all the Presbyterian Lyes of your departure I am overjoyed to hear your Lordſhip is ſtill well amongſt us in the Land of the living, for the King and the Churches ſake; and could wiſh, (for my own) that my Body was alwaies as near you as my Soul is ſome times, for that has Wings and flies frequently to Ʋtopia, to ſee the Angel of the Church there, leaving its body tenantleſs, till ſhe requites her prior Manſion with news from thence, of Love and Charity, Humility and Obedience, reverential Awe [Page] and Dread of her ineffable Creator, Honour and Loyalty to her King, and Contempt of thoſe fluid Atoms whoſe reſtleſs Vibrations diſturb the Veſſel which contains them.

Of thoſe fiery Meteors, thoſe Ignes Fatui in the Region, that never keep their Stations, that diſparage the Element they move in, and amuſe the Inſipid here below, (on whom alone they have Influence,) leading them out of the ſure paths they are appointed to walk in, by meer Chymaerical jealouſies and fears, which they call Portenſions and Prodigies, to actuate the Mobile into Sedition.

Of thoſe Airy Spirits, the Protei of Shapes and Colours, whoſe Prince is Beelzebub that can appear as an Angel of Light to gull its ſimple Inhabitants, that are Captivated by falſe glitterings, and dazled by the glare of thoſe Lambent flames, about which they grow Gay and Splendid, hover and ſport, believing themſelves to be the happy Finders of the new Light, which the Seekers have been ſo long in queſt on, till at length (like the Buſie-bodies that dared too near the Ark) their Wings are ſcorched with their overcurious and inſolent approaches, by which they are made helpleſs to themſelves, and conſequently a prey to their Enemies.

Of thoſe Earthly Inhabitants, the Ephori, the Tribunes of the People, the Democratical Rabble which are given to change even their Principles for gain, their Religion for Intereſt, their Church for a Conventicle, their whole King for ſcarce half a Houſe of Commons, and their Kingdom for a Common-wealth.

The contempt of theſe men (my Lord) thus Principl'd, made me ſtay at home the other day, when a Cavalcade of Fanatical Porters, and other Mercenary [Page] Fellows, mounted on Halliers and Colliers Horſes, rod out to fetch in a rotten Member, who ('tis hoped) will ſcarce hold together till it meets the Body at Oxford. But what ſhould ſuch an old Logerheaded Dunce doe at a Ʋniverſity, I pray'e?

Since that, here has been a more numerous but equally ſplendid Regiment of Dragoons, to fetch in (and conſequently to diſgrace) our worthy Recorder; here was Colonel Tagg, Major Ragg, and Captain Bobb, in ſhort, Tagg, Ragg, and Bobb, did each lead up a Squadron: All that could ſuck an Egg of the Cockatrice, all that were hatch'd from theſe Eggs, and brooded under the Presbyterian Petticoats; all that could peep, and all that could run of that race, cheated their reſpective Maſters of their Service the while; and footed it to mend the Muck-heap. All that could beg, and all that could borrow a Chephall, and had the wit or courage to mount him, aſſiſted to grace the Ceremony. Nay, one zealous Brother of the Saddle ſtole a Horſe for the Service to ride amongſt'em; and as I hope to live (my Lord) had as honeſt a Face as the beſt of 'em; and the impudence not to be out of countenance when the Owner of the diſſenting Beaſt caſhier'd his Trooper, tho' at the high Croſs in Briſtol. My Lord, was the Devil a Limner, and imploy'd by a Mahometan to make a Chimny-piece for the grand Viſers Dining-room, and order'd to deſcribe in it a Regiment of ſquint-eyed, ill-looking Rebels, to diſparage Chriſtianity by, he could not doe it more to the life than this Coetus (this compoſition of Simples, whoſe Maſs is call'd Behemoth, to make Pills for the Devil on) has repreſented. And if any of the back-ſliding Siſterhood longs to ſee ſuch a ſight as this was, (leſt ſhe ſhould miſcarry of the Babe of Grace) let her take [Page] a Balcony in Holbourn ſome few days after the Seſſions in the Old Baily, to fix her Mercurial Embrio. For nothing but the gentle Spectators at Tiburn can Copy this Original. In good earneſt, my Lord, the Autometons they beſtrid were fitter for a Dog-kennel than a Parade; and their Beſtriders lookt ſo like a pack of hungry Dogs, that I expected every minute when they ſhould alight and fall on, worry, and eat the Beaſts that brought them hither. By the ſtrength of which imagination I had deſigned a Painter to expreſs the Aſſailants in this Poſture, as an everlaſting Emblem of Presbyterian Gratitude. But oh! (my Lord) had you ſeen 'em ride! you would have taken them ſingly for ſo many Centaurs, and altogether for a Covy of Witches, mounted upon anointed Broom-ſticks and Fire-ſhovels at an appointed Rendevouze, by their Grand Maſter the Devil.

'Tis too long (my Lord) for a Letter to deſcribe either their perſons or their parts. Zancho Pancho pickeering upon Roſinante in Don Quixot; and Ralpho riding to the Slaughter of the Fidles and the Bears in Hudibras, are too gentile and learned for a Similitude, tho' they come the neareſt to them (I confeſs) in Story. For thoſe Squires could reade we hear, but the Devil a one of Three hundred in this Farce could tell a Letter of the Book; and I am informed it was more for fear than love that this illiterate Crew attended him, leſt he ſhould uſe them (they ſay) as he did their Coſin Bromfield, who he ſerved right enough (for being their Kinſman) when he hang'd him in this City, becauſe he could not ſay his Neck Verſe, as was pretended, tho' the more Judicious ſay there was Emulation in the caſe; for this amorous Bromfield (you muſt know) was an Ingroſſer of Fine Women, [Page] and two of a Trade can never agree, according to the old Greek Diſtick, as aptly apply'd as engliſhed;

[...],

[...].

Cou'd he at Bar change places with the Bencher,

Then this (as that) had hang'd for being a Wencher.

Thus was this noble Knight, Sir Robert, attended into the ſame place, and by ſome of the ſame Perſons that had formerly uſher'd in James Nayler, the Blaſphemiſt, with triumphant Hoſannahs; and marcht hither (poor Gentleman) as much aſhamed of his baggage (I warrant ye) as the great Godfry of Bullen when he went to the holy War: Where the Hiſtorian obſerves, that Thieves and Murtherers took upon them the Croſs to eſcape the Gallows.

But in all this excellent Proceſſion, where every individual Devil carried his peculiar Croſs, to the eternal praiſe of thoſe that love, honour, and obey the King, and the Church, as it is now eſtabliſhed by Law, there was not one ſuch perſon ſeen amongſt them.

And now to undeceive the credulous, let them know that Briſtol has at length ſhaken off her Fanatical Fetters, which hitherto have hung as Lead on the heels of her jollity, and dull'd her motion, and is fledged with Loyal Feathers, (into an activity) that will carry her above the reach of thoſe Vermin, whoſe Habitations are in holes and naſty corners, that never crawl out but to doe miſchief, and then skulk again into obſcurity, hating the light without them becauſe their deeds are evil.

[Page]That ſhe is fortified with a legal Loyal Band, a noble and worthy Artillery, who with their Abettors are viſibly the Major part of her Inhabitants, and that may create a Confidence of her continuance in this happy State; for when there is more of the Yeomans and Bouchiers than there are of the Scroops and Fines, it is not to be ſuppoſed, ſhe can eaſily deviate into manifeſt Murthers again, becauſe the Hang-men (you ſee) are not ſo numerous as the Royal party.

I beg your Lordſhips pardon for this rude diverſion, and remain (as every honeſt man ought to his Dioceſan)

My Lord,

Your Lordſhips moſt obedient Son, and Servant, [...].

FINIS.

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§

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The LOYAL City of Briſtol, Vindicated from Amſterdamniſm, or Devil's-borough, Two Appellatives Occaſioned by the over credulous, who have hitherto taken it for granted, that the Schiſmaticks and Hereticks of all Sorts were more numerous than the truly Loyal, Orthodox, and Liege people there.

BUT AT A late Tryal of skill, managed by the more Vigilant, and Worthy Angel-Guardian of that City, the point has been lately clear'd, and the Churchmen for an Earl have out voted the Fanaticks for a Knight, though to little purpoſe: For they have rallied again, ſince the Diſſolution, to fetch in the ſame Perſons.

But Who? or What? and how Equipp'd? this enſuing Letter (to an Ʋtopian Prelate) will fully inform you.

Quiſquis medium defugit iter

Stabili nunquam tramite curret. Senec. Trag. SED

Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas.

Printed for J. Davies, 1681.

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.

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THIS enſuing Deſcription of the Hogan-Mogan Herd, a hotch-potch of all Sects and Factions, that lately fetch'd in none of the beſt Friends (you may imagine) the King, or the Church had, to ſtand as Members in Parliament for this City, was Writ by an Eye-witneſs of it; one that heard the bleating of the Calves, as plain as the Inhabitants of Dan and Bethel did thoſe of Jeroboam's, when driven through their Streets.

And the Deſcription was deſign'd only to turn the Fanatick zeal here into Ridicule; to ſhame the more tender of their reputation (if any amongſt them) for ever appearing again [Page] in ſuch Cabals, and to make the Royal party Merry.

But the fallen Angels, with their Luciferian Crew, have falſly magnified the Qualities and Quantities of ſuch Cattel, (what tho', I pray ye? ſays my beloved Hudibras,

Extreams of Glory and of Shame,

Like Eaſt and Weſt become the ſame;

No Indian Prince has to his Palace,

More Followers than a Thief to th' Gallows.)

And their beloved Benjamin, who was juſtly puniſhed in the offending parts, when his Ears were nail'd to the Pillory, for hearing ſuch Reports, and obtruding them upon the People; and the Pro. Dom. Intelligencers have diſperſed the ſame Fables; and the old Nicknam'd Proteſtant Coffee-houſes, (for ſure the Devil was their Godfather,) every where ſwarm with Diabolical Presbyterianiſms of this Sort, and the late Eleven famous Lyars of Briſtol alſo, (who were preſented by the Worthy, Couragious, and Loyal Grand-Jury here, at the Quarter-Seſſions the twenty ſixth day of April laſt, for endeavouring to impoſe upon the Wiſdom of the Nation, by exhibiting a ſcandalous, [Page] falſe, malicious Petition, at the late Aſſembly of the Houſe of Commons in Oxford, to corroborate the forerunning Lyes, eſſential to this, their Supplication; againſt our Loyal Members, legally elected, by the Majority of more than Three hundred Voices,) have ſtrenuouſly out-thrown their Brother Lyars a Bar and a half, in this their plauſible piece of Forgery.

Theſe, and ſeveral other notorious Ʋntruths, tending to the eternal diſhonour of our Loyal City, being ſpread abroad, we thought it was neceſſary to contradict them, by publiſhing this Dormant Letter, which, every one that took notice of the reception of the laps'd Member, can teſtifie, tells nothing (in the main) but matter of fact; and will, I doubt not, pleaſantly enough entertain the Gentle Readers, eſpecially thoſe that love the King and the Church, as ſhe is now govern'd by his Royal ſelf, and his Laws; and for any body elſe, we declare (by theſe preſents) that we care no more for them than (as we have cauſe to believe) does the Utopian Deſcriber, of this riotous and wretched Ribble-Rable, to the Prelate of his own Country.

Farewell,

G. J. cum multis aliis.

C. B. cum multis aliis.

Briſtol, May the 5th. 1681.

Information about this book

Title statement

The loyal city of Bristol vindicated from Amsterdamism, or Devil's-borough, two appellatives occasioned by the over credulous, who have taken it for granted, that the schismaticks and hereticks of all sorts were more numerous than the truly loyal, orthodox, and liege people there. But at a late tryal of skill, managed by the more vigilant, and worthy angel-guardian of that city, the point has been lately clear'd, and the church-men for an Earl have out voted the fanaticks for a knight, though to little purpose: for they have rallied again, since the dissolution, to fetch in the same persons. But who? or what? and how equipp'd this ensuing letter (to an utopian prelate) will fully inform you.

Edition statement

1681

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2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A49346

ID [STC]

Wing L3340

ID [STC]

ESTC R224122

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99834588

ID [PROQUEST]

99834588

ID [VID]

39090

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— The loyal city of Bristol vindicated from Amsterdamism, or Devil's-borough, two appellatives occasioned by the over credulous, who have taken it for granted, that the schismaticks and hereticks of all sorts were more numerous than the truly loyal, orthodox, and liege people there. But at a late tryal of skill, managed by the more vigilant, and worthy angel-guardian of that city, the point has been lately clear'd, and the church-men for an Earl have out voted the fanaticks for a knight, though to little purpose: for they have rallied again, since the dissolution, to fetch in the same persons. But who? or what? and how equipp'd this ensuing letter (to an utopian prelate) will fully inform you.,

Extent

[6], 5, [1] p.

Printed for J. Davies,. [S.l.] :: 1681.. (Caption title on p. 1: A letter to the Bishop of Utopia.) (Last page is numbered "12".) (Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library.)

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