IT is agreed by most Men that there are seve­ral degrees and sorts of Li [...]s, which as far (as they concern this True Relation) we shall divide into these Two: One when a Man re­peats that for Truth which he certainly knows to be false; the other when he reports that for Truth which he doth not know to be true, or in his Conscience believes to be false; the latter is but a small Extenuation of the first: But both of them, if they may prejudice a third Person, are malicious and damnable.

I will not determine how far the Author of the True Relation is guilty in either, or any Case; but shall leave the Censure of him [...]o the Judg­ment of every Impartial Reader, when the Mat­ter of Fact shall be examined: We shall divide the Relation into two Parts, First, We shall con­sider the Matter of Fact, and then the Application and use made of it.

The Birth of this Wonderful Paper justly claims our first Remark, not that we know any thing of its Noble Descent, or of those Gentle­men of very good Note, who (it seems) club'd in its Generation; but it is of great Importance to acquaint the Reader, That the Body of this Pa­per, with the very Numerical Words contain'd in it, first appear'd to the World in a certain Pamphlet which had in its Title, A Sh [...]rt and True Relation of Intrigues transacted both at Home and Abroad to Restore the late King James: It was publickly dandled about the Streets with great Noise, for one Day, and then vanished; not one to be had for Love or Money: The Reasons might probably be these, The first part of that Pamphlet is an Invective against King James, particularly for his Ingratitude to his Friends, and of those it makes special mention, of the Irish Catholicks and Protestant Dissenters, both which (it says) he hath made an Oblation to the Passive-Obedience-men, meaning I suppose the Church of England-men; who (it further says) are now the late King's Creatures, and the only Per­sons that would Abdicate the Gospel rather than their Church-Livings: And next it highly Censures K. James for his great Mercy to his Enemies, and concludes that part of it with a Curse, viz. Seeing now King James's Favours are only reserved to promote his Enemies, let his Enemies grow potent every where, and numerous withal, and let him be so lost, that he may never be found here at Home.

I suppose it will be easily granted me that these were not proper Topicks to insist upon, especially at that Juncture of Affairs; for every young States-man would soon conclude that if this Learned Pamphlet, together with K. James's late Declaration, could convince his Enemies of their Security and His Favour towards them, the Passive-Obedience-men (as he calls them) would [Page 2]easily concur with his Enemies (notwithstand­ing King James's Ingratitude) towards his Re­storation, which would make it unavoidable.

Now the Wiser Government seeing the ill Consequence of so foolish a Suggestion, had ve­ry good reason to recal betimes this ill-digested and worse-concluding Pamphlet; besides it insinuates strongly to the Church of England (for whose Preservation King Charles the First suffered Martyrdom, and for fear of whose falsly and maliciously-pretended Destruction, his Son King James the Second is turn'd out of his three Kingdoms); that K. James is so truly and sin­cerely their Friend, that he scruples not to make an Oblation of the Roman Catholicks themselves to the Church of England's Interest. Now whatso­ever the Government may intend hereafter, it is certain that during this Session of Parliament, it would have been a surprizing Indiscretion to have given, or permitted so just an Occasion to be given, to the Church of England established by Law (and for whose pretended Preservation so many thousands of English Lives have been vainly cast away) to adhere to the Interest of King James, through the hasty Zeal and Phana­tical Itch of this foolish Pamphleteer: For the Church of England have found by Experience, and at present (without the additional help of this Pamphlet) are sensible enough, that what­soever hath been, or may be, pretended for her Security; she can never be so happy under any unjust Revolution, or Usurpation, as under a Lawful Rightful Prince, who is not only bound by the Law, but by Royal Promise, to protect and defend her.

But notwithstanding these plain and broad Hints already given, this Man is so fond of his Project that he anticipates the Privy Council, and forces the Cabinet it self to give vent to his Folly; he tells us then to [...]ards the Conclusion of his Pamphlet, that he hath found a long Snake in the Grass, which it seems is no other than some Church of England-men, with whom the major part of our Councils and places of Trust are fill'd; and ends that excellent Paragraph with News from the Court at St. Germains, viz. That it dreads nothing more than such an alteration of the Leiutenancy and Justices of the Peace over all Eng­land, as it hath pleased their Majesties of late to cause in London. It must be acknowledged that about this Time, a Discourse was spread about, that the Leiutenancy and Government of all England, as well as London, would be settled in the Hands of the Presbyterians, and some of the Dissenting Party, in Exclusion of the Church of England-men; whether the Government intend­ed any such Alteration, I know not: But I think it sufficiently evident, that it would have been a gross Bevei [...] and Over-sight to have suf­fered this Scribler so much to over-run their own Councils, as publickly to insinuate a Change so ungrateful to a Parliament, which was to grant a Supply for the Support of this Govern­ment, and of which the most considerablest part is look'd upon to be firm to the Doctrine and Interest of the Church of England.

By this time I think it is visible enough, that the Government had very good Reason to sup­press, betimes, this foolish Contradictory Pamphlet; which as it blows hot and cold with a Breath, so it would probably have done much more harm than good, to that very Cause which it pretends so affectionately to support.

But however, though this Pamphlet was sup­prest for these sufficient Reasons before-menti­oned, yet there was not the same Cause to stifle the True Relation; for since its chief Design is to set forth King James's Ingratitude and Inconstancy to his Friends, without touching upon his Roy­al Mercy and Favour to his Enemies, it was to be hoped that it might cool and moderate at least the Zeal and Affection of his Friends, especial­ly, since the Truth will want no Confirmation, and that further Enquiry into Foreign Affairs will re­move all Doubts and leave no room for Contradiction, without inflaming the good Will of his Enemies, whom his Favours are only reserved to promote.

It was agreed upon then, that this Paper should receive a new Caesarian Birth, and accor­dingly she was ript out of the Bowels, and be­came the fatal Daughter of her unhappy Sister Pamphlet: Abroad she appears the second time, altered only in her outward Dress, saving that a new Head, or Title, was given to her, carrying a Cause in her Mouth, and her Tail tyed up by Authority, with a Licensed according to Order. [Page 3]Being thus set forth and recommended to us, we [...]hall treat her with the respect due to: her Cha­ [...]acter; but at the same time we think it a piece [...]f Justice due to the Nation, and conducing much to her own Honour, that the Matter of fact may be strictly, but Impartially, ex­ [...]mined.

The Preamble informs us, that the following [...]elation was had from Gentlemen of very good [...]ote, who have seen most of the Transactions at St. Germains, &c. That some Notorious Gen­ [...]lemen may possibly have contributed something [...]owards the setting forth this True Relation, I will [...]ot deny: But as for the Gentlemen of very good Note (especially such as have seen most of the Trans­ [...]ctions at St. Germains for about four Years last past) [...]here is not a Man of them, of what Nation or Religion soever he be, but is Personally known [...]o us; nor are we ignorant which, and how many of them (to a Man) have during these [...]our Years arrived in England: And we do posi­ [...]ively affirm, that no such Gentleman of very good Note, either hath or ever will affirm any one material part of this True Relation to be really [...]rue; notwithstanding therefore, that the Au­ [...]hor of this True Relation tells us, That the Truth if it will want no Confirmation, &c. We must desire the Reader to suspend his belief, till Mat­ [...]er of Fact be more strictly examined, into which we shall now make an Impartial Enquiry.

The Paper tells us in the first Paragraph, That abont two Years since, the late King fed himself with the Thoughts of being an Absolute Monarch, from the great Incouragement at that Time received from the Pope and the French King; but meeting with unex­pected Disappointments, he consulted some of his Pro­testant Council, and told them he was resolved to [...]reat with his late Subjects, and to give them any Conditions, and reconcile himself to them. 'Tis an îll Omen (they say) when a Man stumbles at the Threshold; but this Fellow stumbles through­out, he stumbles upon all Four: And having already obtain'd a License, he may in good time procure a Patent to stumble all the Days of his Life.

He tells us, That about Two Years, since the King had Thoughts of being an Absolute Mo­narch, by the great Incouragement received at that Time from the French King and the Pope, &c. Now about two years since must fall in with the Spring 1692; and this Pope was chosen a­bout the latter end of August immediately pre­ceding that Spring; and in that Interval of Time he was so little setled in his Geers, that the Complemental Civilities had scarce past between Rome and Versailes, in which Time this True Re­lation, nevertheless, fixes the Incouragement given by that Pope to King James: And can any Man believe that a Neopolitan Pope, so lately a Subject to the King of Spain, would whip and spur to St. Germains on purpose to set up an Ab­solute Monarch, against the Interest of his late Master, and without the Desires, and contrary to the Intentions and publick Declaration, of that very pretended Absolute Monarch himself. Certainly this Man imagins that we have lost our Memories and our Understandings, as well as our Honour and Loyalty; or he would never presume to impose such incredible Stuff upon Men who had any of their Senses left them.

A great many Considerations might be offer­ed to shew also how improbable it is that the K. of France should engage in such a Design; but above all what Intimation hath King James given by his first Declaration, of the 20th of April 92, that he himself desired any thing more than the Fe-establishment of the Greatness of the English Monarchy upon its Old and True Foun­dation, the united Interest and Affection of the Peo­ple? And what other Means doth he propose to do this by, than by the Advice and Assistance of his Parliament? which I suppose to Man be­lieves would voluntarily present him with an Absolute Power.

He tells us further. That K. James consulted his Protestant Council; certainly these Gentlemen of very good Note were altogether asleep at St. Germaines, during the Transactions there for four Years last past, or they could never have dreamt of any such thing as a Protestant Coun­cil; since it is notoriously known that for above two Years last past the King hath had no Coun­cil at all, [...]therwise than as extraordinary Oc­casions or Emergencies might happen; he may have consulted some Persons of Quality about him: And there is no doubt but these Gentle­men [Page 4]of very good Note, could easily have inform­ed us how many Protestants of that Rank were to be found at St. Germaines, when he fixes the Date of this Protestant Council. So that the Story which he makes the King tell to them, or him, or No-Body, must be a Story which No-Body but this Relator could have told again. And yet if the Story had been true, viz. that the King resolved to treat with, and reconcile him­self to his late Protestant Subjects; I see no reason this Man hath to blame him for it, except he thought it might conduce to his Happy Re­turn.

This true Relator proceeds, and informs us, That my Lord Middleton drew a Declaration (meaning the King's last Declaration) answerable to the Desires of the Church-men of England and Ire­land, brought it to France about the beginning of March 93. And after high Debates about it, (at which no doubt the Relator was present.) The King to remove all Scruples of Conscience, consulted the College of Sorbon, and the Irish College; The Faculty of Sorbon declared against it, and the Irish College for it. Had we not seen many of such true Narratives in our Days, it would be very surprizing (especially under the dispensation of a Government that hath most signally secured the Church of England, and the whole Nation, from the Danger of Popery and Arbitrary Power) to read a True Relation, Licensed according to Order, which, nevertheless, hath scarce one word of Truth in it. We do affirm then, (and will leave no room for Contradiction) that my Lord Middleton did not arrive at St. Germaines till after the Date of the King's last Declaration. Now, though this might be a sufficient Answer, and Confutation of a great part of this true Re­lation; yet to give the Readers entire Satlsfacti­on, and disabuse the Credulous, who are apt to take Grub-street News for a London Gazette, we shall follow this True Relation through all the Particulars; and do further avert First, That the College of Sorbon was never consulted in this Matter, and by consequence did never give their Opinion concerning it; 'tis true the R [...]ator hath given us his Opinion for them, which I perceive he thinks Just and Honourable: But it is most likely that he would not have past this Complement upon a French Popish College were it not to aggravate the Machiavillian Do­ctrine of the poor Irish, whose Countrymen, ne­vertheless, he affectionately pities. But, Se­condly, We must take the Liberty to declar [...] also, that there is no such College in Pari [...] as the Irish College; true it is, that there is th [...] College Lombard, in which Lodgings are give [...] gratis to some few poor Irih Priests, and non [...] others, but without Government, Collegiate Rules, Sallaries, Stipend or Maintenance what­soever; their Subsistence chiefly consisting an [...] proceeding from Masses and Priestly Function [...] exercised in the Churches and Chappels of tha [...] City: Those Irish Priests (we affirm) were ne­ver consulted about this Declaration, nor ( [...] they had been consulted) is it probable that th [...] Irish Army would be more Conscientious tha [...] their supposed Natural College, or have mur­mured against such an Admirable Salvo, whic [...] they had found out for the Security of th [...] King's Conscience, and Satisfaction of thei [...] Countreymen's.

I suppose nothing more need to be said con­cerning their Imaginary Reasons which were never given, nor like to be given, if desired nor do they infer rightly or conclude truly: I [...] short they are the Relator's Reasons, and that [...] enough.

But we cannot pass by the irreconcileable Differences between the Lord Melford and my L. Middleton, about the Empire of the World, without remarking that this is just as true, as i [...] is politick and practicable, for a Convert unde [...] the shadow of Religion to cloath himself i [...] Wolves dress, (the first A la mode Suit of tha [...] kind, which I am confident was ever put on by an Hypocrite) as he would have my L. Melford to be; but however, the Learned Relator seems to confirm this Miracle by a Tantum Religio [...] which is as much to the purpose, in this place, as Tytire tu patulae, &c.

In his next Paragraph the Relator is very busy about Expresses into Flanders and England, from Flanders to St. Germaines; Consternations Mutinies, New Declarations; doing and undo­ing, booting and unbooting; till at last he leave [...] England very well contented with this last Declara­tion, [Page 5]but the Irish still continue in great Disorder about it, and being very unruly, and weary of King James, would give any thing to be at Home. Ne­ver did Knight Errant of very good Note, equip himself more formidably against the Whimsies of his own Adutled Brain than this Man hath done. We must again take the Liberty there­fore as we have done, to deny p [...]remprorily what our Relator most impuden [...]ly affi [...]m [...] in these [...]wo Paragraphs; and accordingly we as­sure the Reader,

• First, That the Declaration so Signed by the King, as is pretended, was not sent to the Irish in Flanders, before it had been published in Eng­land.
• Secondly, That the said Declaration was never afterwards ordered to be sent to the Irish Army.
• Thirdly, That the Irish Army never mutiny'd about it, nor had any Reason so to do.
• Fourthly, That there was no such Thing as a Second Declaration.

To the First we do affirm, that the said De­claration was actually in England before my L. Middleton arriv'd in France; but it is true that after my L. Middleton came to St. Germaines, in or about the Mon [...]h of May, the King command­ed Sir Richard Neagle to give the Irish Officers an Account of that part of the said Declaration (and not the Declaration it self) which related to them, which was to re-establish the Act of Settlement in Ireland, but withal to take care to recompence those who followed him to the last, for the Loss [...]s they might sustain by renew­ing the Act of Settlement; which Act (by the way) was notoriously known to be broken, contrary to the Sense and Design of the King, as also of many eminent Irish Catholicks, who pro­portionable to their Estates suffered more con­siderably by the Repeal than most of the Prote­stants had done: And the King himself lost thereby Lands to the Yearly value of about 3000 l. In an [...]wer to Sir Richard Neagle's Let­ter, the Irish Collonels, and Commanding Offi­cers, have unanimously, and under their Hands, declared themselves in [...]rely and fully satisfy'd with what His Majesty had done, and were all well contented to rely upon his Promises for such Recompences, as His Majesty should hereafter procure for such of them as might be Losers by the Re-establishment of the said Act of Settle­ment. And it is also so true, that neither the Irish Officers, nor the pretended Irish College, were acquainted with or consulted about this Declaration; that neither they nor the Lord Prima [...]e of Ireland, nor the Bishop of Dublin knew the Contents of the said Declaration, un­til His Majesty had Advice of its publication in England: And that then, and nor till then, the King discoursed with the said Primate and Arch-Bishop, together with my Lord Lucan, about what related to the Irish; and then and there they all of them professed their Satisfaction in what His Majesty had done: This is Matter of Fact, and will be attested in its proper time and place, not only by Gentlemen of very good Note, but by Men of undoubted Honour and Conscience. By what hath been already said, it is sufficiently evident, I hope, That First the Declaration was not sent to the Irish before pub­lished in England. Secondly, That the Decla­ration was not sent by His Majesty's Command afterwards, but only that part of it which rela­ted to the Irish. And Thirdly, That the Irish did not mutiny upon it; and we shall now make it appear that they had no reason so to do.

We must then acquaint the Reader, That up­on the Capitulations of the City of Limerick, the Irish Officers who treated about it, as the Lord Lucan, Collonel Garet Dillon, and others, neither desired nor agreed for more in that Article rela­ting to their real Estates, than that they should enjoy them according to the Act of Settlement, which was consented to by the English; the Capitulations were accordingly concluded, and Signed by those, and such other Officers of the Irish as were concerned to treat and conclude about the same.

Thus then was the Articles agreed to, and Signed by the Irish Officers: Now what says the King in his last Declaration? ‘In that Parliament, says he, (meaning the first Par­liament to be assembled after his Return) "We will also consent to every thing they shall think necessary to re-establish the late Act of Settlement of Ireland, made in the Reign of our Dearest Brother; and will advise with [Page 6]them how to recompence such of that Nati­on, as have followed us to the last, and who may suffer by the Re-establishment, accord­ding to the degree of their Sufferings there­by; [...] [...]o, as the said Act of Settlement may always remain in [...]ire.’

It had been already observed that the Irish neither desired nor Capitulated for more than than to be restored to their Estates, according to the Act of Settlement, and so much the King promises for them; but to explain this Matter more fully, and to leave no room for Cavil, we shall divide the Article-Men (as they call them) into three Ranks. First, Those who lost by the Repeal of the Act of Settlement. Secondly, Those who will lose by the Act of Re-establish­ment. Thirdly, Those who had no real Estates at all, and by Consequence will neither gain nor lose by it. Now to the first and second sort of those who followed the King into France, after the Capitulation, it is most certain that they amount not to the hundredth Man of those who followed him; and as for those who stay'd be­hind, they had the benefit of the Articles, and were, or ought to have been admitted to their Estates, according to the Act, after a Praevious Oath of Allegiance taken to K. William and Q. Mary; These therefore, I suppose, neither are, nor intended to be concerned in the King's De­claration, neither can those who lost by the Re­peal of the Act of Settlement he offended at the King's Resolution to re-establish it. In short it affects those only who followed the King to the last, and will be Losers if the said Act be re-established; these also must be distinguished in­to two sorts, those who followed the King pure­ly out of Lovalty, Zeal and Affection to his Person and Cause; and those who for some Ex­travagancies and Misdemeanours, during the War under K. James, did not think it safe to stay behind; for they had heard and were well informed, that many vexatious Suits were car­ [...]d [...]on against some on this side the Shannon, who had taken Protection under K. W. for Mis­demeanours commited during the War, even to the undoing many of them.

But howeve [...] [...] either of those sorts of Persons had any Reason to be offended at any part of the King's Declaration, relating to them: For first, had the King taken no Notice at all of them, they could never have justly pretended to more than they themselves desired or agreed unto by their Capitulations: Nor Secondly, had, they deserted K. James and gone over to K.W. they could never have had any other Conditi­ons than to be admitted to their Estates, accor­ding to the Act of Settlement. But Thirdly, The King for thei [...] Loyalty and good Services to Him; promises to recompence such as may suffer by the Re-establ [...]shment, according to the degree of their Sufferings; and what better and securer way could he have proposed to do this, than by the Advice and Consent of his Parliament. And what greater Promises could he have made the man relation to their Estates, and in his present c [...]rcumstances, than he hath done; especially (as hath been already said) since the very Repeal of that Act was, in a great measure, extorted from the King, con­trary to his own Opinion therein often decla­red, and contrary to the Interest of very many considerable Catholick Irish. For it is well known that after the Act of Settlement, many Convey­ances and Purchases were made among them­selves under that Title, which by the Repeal are dest [...]oyed: And so univ [...]rsally w [...]re the Ca­tholick-Irish Merchants (more especiall) in Gallo­way and thereabouts) conc [...]rned in this Repeal, that their Loyalty was [...]o a little suspected up­on that Account, and many hard things said of them, during the Siege, not nec [...]ssary now to be repeated. What more then could these Men have desired of the King than to be restored to their Estate, according to the Act of Se [...]le­ment, and Promise to those who may suffer by the Re-establishment of it, of a Recompence according to the degree of their Suff [...]rings, which is much more than they had and Reason to hope for under this present Government. By this Time (I [...]ope) it is [...]iden beyond Con [...]ra­diction First, That in France [...]e Irish Army did never mutiny about the King's Declara [...]ion; and Secondly, That they had no Re [...]son so to do; I suppose there is no need of [...]aying any thing about a Second Declaration: For First we have and do affirm, That there was no Declara­tion [Page 7]at all [...]en [...] by R. J Order to the [...] Army; And next (by what hath been already said) there cannot nor could be any Occasion for a Second: Whatsoever relates therefore more to the [...]ish, is meer fictitious Stuff, and the Man's own Ima­gination.

We must now take Notice (and thank the true Relator for it) That he hath offered one piece of Truth to us viz That the King caused the Declaration to be put in the Paris Gazette. From whence we may observe these two Things, First. That the King had well considered the Consents of his Declaration, which most pro­bably was communicated to, and approved of by the Court at Versailes; and that by the Pub­lication of it he intended no less, than the Chri­stian Wo [...]ld should be acquainted with his just and merciful Resolutions taken for the Satis­faction of his Subjects and that he always would, and now actually doth stand by the same upon the Conditions therein offered.

The Second Remark is That had the Facul­ty of Sorbon declared against the said Declaration (as this Man pretends) especially when formally consulted, and in a Case of Conscience [...] it is most unlikely we should ever have found it in the Paris Gazette; or that after it, the King should be so extreamly much made of in the Court of France, as this Man tell us he is; though in the same Paragraph he hath the Fol­ly to say also, that he hath lost thereby the Affecti­on of the French Nobility, which comes very near a direct Contradiction [...] except he can make a Court subsist without Nobility, or extreamly much made of (as he words it) with­out Affect [...]on. In his next Paragraph, he tells us of Articles and twelve Heads; God help his poor Head for we know [...] where [...] any such Ar [...]cles, except in tha [...] [...].

Then he proceeds to acquain [...] us, [...]ha not­withstanding [...] King had lost the Interest and Affection of the French Nobility and Clergy, and the high Di [...]contents and Disatisfaction of the Irish, together with his own Ingratitude and Inconstancy; yet now the court is elevated with Joy, at the Hopes of his Return: But as Ill-Luck will have it, he tells [...] in the lame Breath, That the great Joy was o [...] sudden tain'd [...] Sorrow, and a total Dissolution of all hopes of a Second Restoration. Immediately after this dis­mal Dissolution, The King is nevertheless so cer­tainly assured that he could not said of being re­ceiv'd in England, without any Opposition, that he posts to Versailes to demand Succours: But, Oh! the Inconstancy of Fortune, and Favour of Princes; when all Things, just before, were ready Abroad as well as at Home▪ and no doubt in the least but they would have answered Ex­pectation, the French King dashe [...] all with a Speech, which King James taking in Sheet-Hand, and these Gentlemen of very good Note, taking it also in short Hand; from the Mouth of King James; the whole Court ever since hath been in a Fit of the Choslic [...] (by which they are so disfigured and altered that they are like so many People going to die. It is impossible for me to give a satisfactory account of such strange and violent Revolutions; but the French King it seems all along knows all things better than we know our selves: And I should be heartily glad that those Gentlemen of very good Note, which help'd the Relator [...]o that excellent Speech, would have help'd him also to have made some Answer to it, and not to have expes'd the Nation in Print, by a Character given of us, from the Mouth of so Wise and so great a Monarch, which by how much the more it carries with it a great Ap­pearance of Truth, by so much the more was it necessary for him to confute it, if he could: But I shall leave the farther and more serious Consideration of it to his own Conscience.

He concludes as he began, with St [...]ff unsup­p [...]rally false and invidious; Most of the decay'd Gentlemen, as he calls them that have return'd Home a [...]e come upon the account of their particular and Family Concerns; and that the English, Scotch and Irish Protestants wish them­selves all at Home again [...] [...] not▪ and the R [...]man Catholicks [...]: Nor do we [...] find they despair of attending their King and Royal Master in an Honourable and Happy Condition We hear nothing of their being forbid the Court, except such of [...] are look'd upon as Spie [...]; and or those, who are with any Reason [...]spected to be such the King of France takes other Measures with them, than [Page 8]for [...]dding [...] them only the Court of St. G [...] ­maines.

THi [...] last Paragraph is so full of irreconci [...]able Nonsense and Impertinence, that I only won­der'd [...] should conclude, with a Licensed accord­ing to Order; but upon better Consideration, I observe a Difference between Licensed according to Order, and Licensed by Authority, which makes me conclude than a Ballad would have obtain'd the same Honour; and I cannot but look upon this true Relation to be much of the same Strain and Quality.

Thu [...] have I followed this Rambling Relator through all his uneven and intricate ways of Falshood, Malice and Contradiction; and have given (I hope) a full and plain account of the true Matter of Fact, which must prove his true Relation to be totally false.

I shall only make a short Remark of a Pas­sage or two that requires some Explanation, and conclude with the Application and Use which he would make of his false Premises.

He tells us in his Paper, That King Charles the Second took the Covenant in Scotland, and after his Restoration burnt it at London, by the Hands of the common Hangman: But it being most certainly true, that it was done by Order of Parliament, as also the Exception of several of the Regicides from the Act of Indemnity, notwithstanding King Charles in his Declaration from Breda, had Pardoned all those who had been any ways concerned in the Rebellion a­gainst his Royal Father, and himself. I sup­pose the Relator will need no further Arguments to distinguish between the Action of the King and of Parliament, and the King in Parliament, or together with the two Houses of Parliament, which together includes not only the Supream Authority and Wisdom, but the Justice also of the Nation: And by Consequence the just Exe­cution of the Covenant, cannot be looked upon otherwise than the Act of the Nation, and not as the private or particular Command of the King.

In his Pamphlet he reflects on King Charles the Second for his Ingratitude to his Friends: But when it shall be considered, that the King was so superabundantly grateful to those who were the Inst [...]ments of his [...]ration and who (I suppose the Relator will: agree with me) were truly to be looked upon as his Friends, that Gratitude to them hath flown so strongly in his Face, as to have made him and the whole Na­tion sensible, in his own Time, that not only his Sacred Li [...]e [...] as in Danger, by the Treache­rous Designs of man [...]f those very Persons whom he had emi [...]ntly advanced and honour­ed; but it gave him also so dismal a Prospect of those Miseri [...] which of late have fallen upon us, that he applied himself seriously to the sinding out such proper Remedies, which (had God granted him longer to us) he would not only have perfected, but in all probability he would also have fecured to us, these Blessings, which (for our Ingratitude and Sins) God Almighty hath at present removed from us. The Relator therefore (very foolishly and impertinently) puts us in Mind of Gratitude; since to touch upon it at this time, can only serve as a Caution to Princes how they dispence their Favours, or bestow their Pardons upon such an ungraceful People as we have been. He further, tells us in his Paper, That my Lord Melford and my Lord Middleton are to this Day Irreconcilable Enemies; insinnating thereby, that the Cir­cumstances of King James, in relation to his hap­py Return, are so very ill, through the Differ­ences of his two great Ministers, who it seems do not contend for any Good to this Side or that, that it is in vain to hope for any such R [...]essing, and by Consequence all is in Disorder, and his Friends like so many People going to dye: But I would have this Rela [...]on know (to his own Con­fosion, and all Honest Men to their great Com­fort) That there is no Strise between these two Honourable Lords, and Loyal, Faithful Sub­jects and Servants, but who shall serve their Royal Master best, and secure a firm and Nati­onal Blessing to us, by a happy Union and per­fect good Understanding be ween the King and his much abused People, when God in his Pro­vidence shall Restore him to as. I could en­large much upon this Subject, i [...] it were necessa­ry, and add Demonstration to what l [...]ffirm; but having some Reason to believe, by this time, that the Reader, as well as my self, is [Page 9]weary of this trifling Relator; I shall conclude with his Application.

The Relator hath rak' [...] up all this false matter of fact, only to set forth K. James's Inconstancy and Ingratitude to his Friends: but having (I hope) sufficiently and fully disproved his Fact, his Application and Use must fall to the Ground. However, that mothing may, be wanting to the Performance of that piece of Justice, which is true to all Mankind, and more particularly to an Injur'd Prince, I shall briefly examin the [...] with all Plainness and Sincerity. It is evident that K. James's Ingratitude is appli­cable only to K. James's Friends, who may be divided into these four Classes or Ranks.

• 1. His Irish Roman-Catholick Friends.
• 2. His poor Distendng Friends who never did him any Wrong.
• 3. His Church of England Friends.
• 4. His English Roman Catholick Friends.

As to the first Sort, I have already spoken so fully to the King's Declaration, as far as it re­lates to the Irish, that there needs no) further Repetition▪ I shall refer the Reader therefore to what hath been already said in their Case [...], and proceed to the poor Dissenters. And, First, It might have been reasonably expected, that the Relator should have explained himself, what sort of Dissenters he meant; for I suppose the word Dissenter includes all sort of Perswasi­ons or Religions which are not in the Commu­nion of the Church of England, or that differ in Doctrine or Discipline from the same: The Po­pish Dissenters Timing me are not here included: And for the Protestand Dissenters, it is very certain that there is a fort of them, which have hitherto been so far from deserving any Reward or Thanks from the King, that his Mercy must be very extensive, at his Return, if it compre­hends them: But since the Man hath spoken in general Terms, I answer also▪ That in general the Protestant Dissenters cannot desire more, than what the King hath already offered and declared in their behalf: To prove this, it is only to be considered, whether the Protestant Dissenters can reasonably desire more of the King, than a general Pardon and an impartial Liberty of Conscience, except he means a Dis­solution also of the Liberties of the Church of England, established by Law: If he means th [...] last, the King will be much obliged to them, for being to modest as to ask only that very Thing, the vain and ill grounded Imagi­nation whereof, was made use of as one main, if not the chief Pretence, which hath brought these heavy Misfortunes both upon him and us; but if he means Pardon and Liberty of Consci­ence, the King hath then anticipated their De­sires, and prevented all Grounds of Dissatisfacti­on their part, by promising Solemoly in his last Declaration, under the Great Seal, a free Pardon and Indemnity to all his Loving Sub­jects, of what Degree or Quality soever, which shall not by Land or Sea oppose him, &c. A Pardon so full and comprehensive, that no man is excluded, who shall not wilfully and voluntarily reject it; and to such I suppose the Relator him­self hath not Confidence to expect that his Maje­sty's Gratitude should extend. And as for Liberty of Conscience the King hath taken Care also, in his said last Declaration, to give all Sorts and Degrees of Protestant. Dissenters the greatest Security imaginable, by declaring, That he will, with all Earnestness, recommend to his Parliament such an Impartial Liberty of Conscience, as they shall think necessary for the Happiness of these Nations. More, I think, cannot be desired by the one, nor granted by the other, except the Dispincing Power be called again in Question, which al­ready hath made so much Noise; and which the King declares, in the immediate following Paragraph, he will leave to be explained and limited by his Parliament: And I do affirm my self to have heard some of the most considera­ble, and it may be the most prudent among the Dissenters Declare▪ That in Conscience they ought not to ask more than the King is willing to procure for them.

But Thirdly, The Church of England, or Passive Obedience-Men (as the Relator scornfully calls them) are of, all people the most secure from meeting any ungrateful Return from the King; for he declares upon his Royal Word, That be will protect and defend the Church of England▪ [Page 10] as [...] is na [...] established by Law, and se [...]ar [...] to the Members of its all the Churches, Universities. Col­ [...]iges and Schools, together with their Immunities, Rights and Priuiledges. But not to multiply Arguments in a Case that needs none, the Rela­tor himself, in the Pamph [...]er before mentioned, hath saved us that Trouble: For he acknow­ledges (with a sort of Spight and Indignation) That the King hath made the Irish Catholicks and Protestant Diss [...]ter an Oblation to the P [...]ssto [...] Obe­dienc [...]-Men, who are now become the late King's Creatures. We will for once take his word, as to this last part of it; and since we are agreed upon the Point, we come now to the last Rank and Son of Persons who may suffer by the King's Ingratitude; and those are his English Catholick Subjects.

Now to understand their Case aright, we must distinguish them into these two Sorts; Those who are men of Estates: And those who are younger Brothers, and men of Fortune; and these we must also subdivide into such as remain in the same Circumstances ( [...]bating the Misfor­tunes of this Revolution) that they were in be­fore K. James's Accession to the Throne, and such as have followed K. Jame's Fortune since this Revolution, and have suffered Imprison­ment, Losses and many other Hardships, upon the Account of their Loyalty to him.

As for the first Sort, we dare almost affirm for them, that they neither expect nor desire, no, nor need much more of K James's Favour, than to be freed from the Bu [...]then of heavy and double Taxes, and some personal Severities, which they sometimes lye under, or are at least exposed to, through the Malice of their Ene­mies: And to speak plainly, they have general behaved themselves with so much Indifferency and Coldness towards K. James, and towards his Friends, during this their time of Tryal, that they have but very small Pretences to de­serve more.

The second sort who are supposed to be under the same Circumstances they were in during the Reign of King Charles the Second; I know not how the King's Gratitude is far her concern'd with them, than to restore them to their for­mer Liberties, and dispence his Favours to them according to their Qualifications; and he [...] ­portion they bare with the rest of their [...] Subjects, as far forth as the Law will permit: And I do not find the King [...]th declared against this.

There remain then those of the la [...] so [...] only, who have really ve [...]o [...]ed and suffi [...]d much, and who can very hardly subsist, except the King should be pleased to make some honour­able Provision for them in re [...]mpence of their saithful Services and Sufferings; which [...] ima­gine the [...]e [...]ator believes he either cannot or will not do, it he keep to his D [...]lantion, That he will not disp [...] not with, nor value the Test: If the Case were so it were inde [...] ha [...]d Dilemma upon the King, either to be justly ac­cused of I [...]igrat [...]nd [...], or of violating the Law, which is seems was made as a Bul [...]ark [...] scoure the Church of England from [...]opish Invasion; but I do not find it [...] unanoidable Conse­quence, that the King must needs be Guilty el­ther of the one or the other. For First, If the King hath declared he will not violate the Test, but will defend and protect the Church of Eng­land, (and less he could not declares, if he declar'd any thing;) and so much he declared in his first Declaration, partly in express Terms, as to what relates to the Church of England, and the other part sufficiently included in his last Paragraph: In which he refers the healing of the late Distractions to the Advice and Assi­stance of his Parliament. It is not impossible but the Wisdom and Justice of a Free and Well-tempered Parliament, might find our some me [...]zi termini, or Medium, between a violating of the Test and the Ingratitude of the King to to his deserving Subjects: There are many Mo­derate and Wise Men (God be praised) still lest among us; and the Nation is now taught by wo­ful Experience, to distinguish between Laws ex­torted by Faction, to serve a particular Turn, and equal Laws made for the Publick Good and Union, nor the Distruction and Rui [...]e of the Nation; but however (taking all Things in their extream) I do not find the King intends, or will be forc'd (if I may so say) to be ungrate­ful to such as deserve his Favours.

For First, his poor Suffering Roman Catholick Subject here intended, are reduced by the Vi­olences of the War and n [...]tural Dissolutions to every small Handful of Men; and it cannot be well supposed that the King's Hands will be ever s [...]bound up, by Twelve or Four and Twenty Ar­ticles, as nor to be able to provide for these poor Remains of Suffering Loyalty, without violating the Test, or Law of God or Man; and if he can, 'tis not to be doubted he will; but whether he can or cannot, will or will not: We have some Reason to believe, that Ingrati­tude will never be justly imputed to him, by those poor Gentlemen, among whom their will be sound more than one Mephiloseth, who will be contented to lose all, even that little All, that is left them, Provided they may live to see their Lord and King return in Peace.

Thus I have Answered plainly and fully (I hope) to the Odious Accusation of the King's Ingratitude, which I own to be a Crime so much unworthy of a Prince, that it is scarce pardonable in the meanest of his Subjects: But God be thanked, our most Gracious King and Royal Master is so free from the least Spot or Tincture of it (who besides knows very well, that it often proves the Punishment as well as Sin of the Ungrateful;) that I appeal to the whole Nation, even to his Enemies, (if they will recollect themselves, and speak impartially) whether King James Gratitude and Constancy to his Friends, or at least to his pretended Friends, have not hi [...]herto been more prejudi­cial to him, through the whole Course of his Life, then the practice of their contrary Vices probably could have been. Let, therefore, every good and honest Man lay his Hand on his Heart, and consider seriously with himself, as [...]he expects Mercy from the King, or from the King of Kings in a better World, Whether it becomes a Christian, or a true Englishman, to treat a Royal Prince, the Son of our Royal Martyr, and Father to our present Governours, un­hear'd, uncondemn'd, absent and unfortunate, with such opprobrious, villainous, false and odious Crimes and Language, (and Litensed ac­cording to Order) as could be scarce pardoned betwixt Man and Man.

But I shall conclude with this one Observation more, Let us suppose for once that the whole Matter of Fact in this True Relation, were really as true as the Relater f [...]lsly and impudently pretends: I must then make this Remark upon i [...], That its Application and Conclusion is di­rectly opposite to what he pretends to prove, and to the very Title of his Pamphlet and Pa­per; he tells us that the Jacobites (for he can mean none else) together with the French, car­ried on a Cursed Design to Restore the late King James; but would prove all along, that the Measures which he hath taken, together with his Declaration, have all ended in a Dissolution of the Hopes of a Second Restoration. Now from whence did he take his Measures, but from the Jacobites, and the French; who advised him to publish this fatal Declaration, but the Jaco­bites; who were of his pretended Protestant Council, but Jacobites; who mutiny'd and wish'd themselves at Home, but the Irish Jaco­bites; who are dissatisfy'd and returning Home in a most deplorable Condition, but the English Jacobites: In a Word, who but the Jacobites, and the French, have reduced him to this despe­rate Condition. By which it is most apparent, that if there hath been any Design carried on, (according to this Man's Notion) it was indeed a Cursed Design, not to Restore, but as this Trifler proves, contrary to his Intention, in­tirely to ruine the late King James. Let it therefore suffice to observe at last, That never did Irish Evidence more naturally contradict himself than this Man hath done.