A short ansvver to a whole litter of libels by Roger L'Estrange.

A short ansvver to a whole litter of libels by Roger L'Estrange.

Table of contents

Title page

A Short Anſwer, &c.

A Short Anſwer, &c.

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FOr a matter of Two Months laſt paſt, I have been pelted with Libells, at the rate of two or three Libells a Week, one with another: But Who, What, or Where the Libellers are, is only known to their Own Good Lord, the Father of Lyes and Calumnies, that ſets them a work. For they ly lurking in the Dark, like Poyſonous Serpents, ſtinging what falls within their Reach, and blowing about their Venom, but there is no finding of their Holes. So that where there appears no Adverſary, (unleſſe a man will contend with a Phantome) there is no Place for a Competent Reply: Neither, in Truth, is there any great Need of it, where the Infamy of the Practice does ſuffieiently diſcredit the Lewdneſs of the Pretence. Beſide that He has a very mean Opinion of himſelf, that conſults the Vomit of a Libell, for the State of his own Value and Repoſe. For what is a Libeller; but only a baſer ſort of Bravo, that does more miſchief, with Leſſe Hazzard; and is conſequently the more Ʋnmanly Proſtitute of the Two?

No ſooner is there a Pique taken up againſt the Government, or againſt Any man that according to his Duty, Endeavours to ſupport it; but preſently That Malevolence yields matter for a Libell, and is popp'd into the world by ſtealth, (as an Authority to the Rabble) by ſome Little Mercenary Scribler that ſpunges for his very Bread, and commonly couſens the Printer too, into the Bargain. I knew a Quack, once that being reſolved to Cure all Diſeaſes went to Riverius's Index to ſupply and fill up his Bill. This Caſe holds a Good way with a Libeller; he charges as many Deſamations into his Paper as he can well crowd in: (for there's nothing ſo Rank, but ſome Fools or other will believe it.) Only he has this advantage of the Quack, that he needs not go out of himſelf for Villany, to fill up his Roll. How far the Government will finde it Convenient to ſuffer theſe Scandalls to Chriſtianity, Publique Order, Good Manners; (Nay to the Peace, and Common Duties of Human Society) to paſſe unpuniſh't, I ſhall ſubmit to my Superiors: And after this brief Reflexion upon Libells in Generall, proceed to what concerns my ſelf in Particular.

[Page] THe very Catalogue of the Pamphlets that have been written againſt me would take up more Room then at This time I can well afford them: So that I ſhall only run over the Heads of them (ſo far as to my Purpoſe,) without Referring to This, or That Paper, where I do not know the Authour; and fairly diſtinguiſh the Defamation from the Argument. For the Oppoſing of Reaſon to Reaſon, or of One Colour to Another, is a Courſe agreeable to the Rules, and Methods of all Candid diſputes: But when I find Ʋnnaturall Violences put upon my Words, or Periods, fraudulent Additions, or Suppreſſions, to make me ſpeak more, or leſſe then I intended, and to pervert my Meaning: Together with Inſolence of Language; Opprobrious and Virulent Aggravations; Malicious Reports; and no better then direct Fargery in the matter of Fact; and all This, Printed and Publiſhed, without either the Bookſellers, or the Authours Name; Under theſe Circumſtances, I ſhall be bold to pronounce any Pamphlet that Touches me, to be a Libell.

The Common Clamour which This Infernall Band of Libellers (for they are not to be heard of above-Ground) Advances againſt Me, is, the Vilifying of the Kings Evidence; the turning of the Plot, into Ridicule; and being Popiſhly Affected: And This, for want of Proofs againſt me, out of my Converſation, and Actions, they take great pains to prove from my Writings: But with ſo barbarous a Torture of the very Syntax, and Sentences; and ſo Illogical a Train of Inconſequent Deductions; that they might as well have taken the Elevation of my Religion, and Opinions, from the Length of my Noſe. Within This compaſſe they contented themſelves, till they found their Deſign would never work That way: And Then they had Recourſe to Hiſtory, and Invention; and brought matters at length to This Iſſue, that becauſe Pool the Jeſuit is a great Maſter of the Viol, and Harmony ſtands in Oppoſition to Diſcord; Therefore under the very Quality of a Fidler, L'Eſtrange is made a Ridiculer of the Plot. Nay they will have an Old Fellows Marrying of a young Laſſe, to be a Vilifying of the Kings Witneſſes; for That's one point of my Charge too; and under the Roſe that I ran away with her, which is yet worſe; And That, without a Portion too, which is worſt of all. This is very True; and I do not at all repent me of my Bargain, and I had very good reaſon for ſo doing; tho' not ſo proper to be told, out of a reſpect to ſome Other perſons. There's one of theſe Whifflers that would inſinuate to the World that I'me afraid of my Fleſh; but as he belies the Circumſtance, ſo he is not Poſitive upon the Main. [Page] The truth of it is, I was knockt down at my door, One Morning, Undreſt; and not being at all aware of the Perſon that did it, as my Enemy: It is as true again that the Gentleman after this exploit, went his way; and that I preſently dreſt my ſelf, and ſent a Friend to him to Demand Satisfaction: And it is likewiſe as True, that I never received any Affront in my Life, without calling the Perſon that offer'd it to an Account. I do not ſpeak as if it were a Great thing, not to be a Raſcall, but to give This Individuum Vagum the Lye; and to tell him moreover, that even I my ſelf, had the Courage to chooſe rather to be Hang'd, then to take the Covenant: Which does not (I muſt confeſs) come up to the Courage of Thoſe Heroes that will rather be Damm'd, then Renounce it.

They often caſt it in my Teeth, that I was a Newgate-Bird, but I have this Comfort, however, to my Calamity, that I ſuffer'd for my Prince, and my Conſcience, and that my Father did not paſs the hand of the Common-Hangman at the Gallows, for Treaſon.

There is one of them ſays, that the Print call'd the Committee, or Popery in Maſquerade, is not ſo much a Dumb Narrative of What's paſt, as a Scheme of what I would intimate, is, at preſent, Deſigned: which he inferrs, becauſe the Muggletonians, Quakers, and eſpecially James Nayler were not ſo much as heard of, when John Presbyter was Chairman. Now in Common Juſtice he ſhould rather Allow it to be the Hiſtory of the Late Times, for Pennington's Sake, then Deny it, for Muggleton's; And though their Names poſſibly were not in Thoſe days, yet their Principles were. And the intent of ſhewing That Rabble of Sects in Conſult, with John Presbyter, their Chairman, was, Firſt, to Suggeſt the Schiſms that flow from Presbytery; Secondly, to repreſent the Impoſſibility of Ʋniting theſe Schiſms, and Thirdly, the Danger of Permitting them: Which is all expounded in the four laſt Verſes of the Explanation, Viz.

Presbytry breeds Worms: This Maggot-Fry

Is but the Spawn of Lawleſs Liberty.

Licenſe is like a Sea-breach to your Grounds:

Suffer but One Flaw, the whole Country Drowns.

Now to ſhew it manifeſtly to be a Piece Hiſtorical, and only recommended by way of Caution, read the Five firſt Verſes, and the two Laſt, of the Firſt Stanza.

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Behold Here, in This Piece, the Plague, the Fate

Of a Seditious Schiſm in Church, and State:

Its Riſe, and Progreſſe; with the Dire Event

Of a Blinde Zeal, and a Packt Parliament.

It WAS This Medly that confounded All, &c.

Think on't, my Maſters: and if ere you ſee

This Game play'd o're again, then Think of ME.

There's Another Obſervation upon Swaſh, and the Elders Mayd, the Colcheſter Quaker and the Mare, Petitioning againſt Biſhops, Service-Book, Popiſh Lords, and Evill Councellors &c. Now theſe kind of Beſtialityes were never charg'd, (ſays he) which the Well-Natur'd Author would intimate, ought to be, upon the Decryed Party. pray'e take notice Here, of the Faith and Honeſty of This man; and in the eight Lines that referr to thoſe four Figures under the Letter E, you will finde the Authour So far from Charging thoſe Beſtialityes upon the Decryed Party, that he does expreſly acquit them. Viz,

Take a View, next, of the Petitioners.

But why, (you'l Say) like Beaſts to th' Ark, in Pairs?

Not to expoſe the Quaker, and the Mayd,

(By Luſt to thoſe Brutalityes betray'd.)

As if Thoſe Two Sects more Addicted Stood

To Mares and Whelps, then Other ſteſh and Blood:

No; But they're Coupl'd, Here, only to tell

The Harmony of their Reforming Zeal.

The Scope (you ſee) of This paſſage was only to intimate that they underſtood the matters in hand all alike.

He is Scandaliz'd too at the Colcheſter Bridegrooms Petitioning againſt Popiſh Lords; when there is now an Act of State to take away all Legiſlative power from them, As if That Solemn Act which has been graciouſly granted at the Petition of the Three Eſtates, was to be run into Ridicule, by every Buſſoon at Pleaſure. But I Suppoſe (ſays he) he Stands Candidate to Sncceed his Friend B. H. in his late Eminency. This Magiſterial Fop, becauſe he ſits Dictator perhaps at ſome Coffee-houſe, or Rheniſh-wine Club, Sets up for a Privileg'd Fool, with as much Confidence, as if Old Archees Patent had been to Himſelf, and his Heirs forever. Now where's the Buffoonery of our Quakers I'etitioning? [Page] When the wildeſt of Schiſmatiques, and the meaneſt of Mechaniques,, throng'd the Lobbyes of Both Houſes of Parliament, with the Same Outcry in their Mouths of NO POPISH LORDS, NO POPISH LORDS; which came in Convenient time, to be NO BISHOPS too; No Houſe of Lords at all; No Houſe of Commons: And in the Concluſion, No King. This is not only a Willfull, and a Silly Miſtake, paſt upon the Authour of That Deſigne, but a moſt Audacious Indignity upon the Government: Asif, by expoſing the Outrages of a Tumult to Contempt for caſting out the Popiſh Lords, Without, and Againſt Authority, a man muſt be concluded to make ſport with the ſame thing done according to the Regular ſteps and Motions of Law and Government. His conceipt of the Authours ſtanding Candidate to ſucceed his Friend B.H. in his late Eminency, is Grave, and alſo Incomprehenſible, unleſs (by a ſingular Faculty of Alluſion upon the Double meaning of the word Eminency) he would erect the Libeller into a Cardinal. He comes now to be allmoſt as Squeamiſh as the Great-ear'd Knave (that he takes notice of) Spewing of Canons and Common-Prayer. He calls the Inſcription of a Verſe out of Jeremiah upon the Table of the Solemn League and Covenant, a Scurrilous way of Citing a Piece of Holy Writ; Whereas there is nothing ſaid upon it, nor any other Uſe made of it, but only to notify the Text whereupon the Conſpiratours founded their Project, and authoriſed the Rebellion. The words are Theſe. Come and let us joyn Our ſelves unto the Lord, in a perpetuall Covenant, that ſhall not be forgotten, Jer. 50. 5.

There are Two Verſes that the Libeller does the Authour the honour to remarque upon; as now very well Timed and Tinctur'd with Jeſuites Loyalty. He makes (ſays he) a Company of Fellows ſay Thus.

Our Deſigne's This; to Change the Government,

Set up our Selves, and do't by a Parliament.

Thus far he delivers my very Thoughts; for it is the Cloſe Caball of Forty and Forty One that ſpeaks the Words; in Confirmation of Dr. Oats's Teſtimony, that the Jeſuites Inſluence and Leade the Councils of the Schiſmatiques: But ſee how he turns it now. A very excellent Argument (ſays he) for the ſitting of that Court; but ſuitable enough, I ſuppoſe, for the Authours Deſigne. Where was the Moon I wonder when the Gentleman wrote This? To draw an Argument, For, or Againſt the Parliaments ſitting in 1680. from the Roguery of a Club of Conſpirators, that were laying their Heads together for the packing of a Parliament in 1641.

[Page] But his Good Nature, I perceive, is now coming upon him, and I take it for a ſingular favour, that He, being a Perſon (as you may perceive) of moſt notable Government and Circumſpection, ſhould vouchſafe now to give the world ſo fair a Teſtimony of my Good Breeding: And to ſay Truth (ſays he) the Gentleman had, in his youthfull days, as many Remedies againſt hanging himſelf for Love, as Leukeners-Lane, the Old Cherry-garden, or Madam Bear her Damoſels (a Lady as famous in her Generation for Thoſe Intrigues, as either Mother Gifford or Betty Beuly, of Late and Happy Memory) could afford. I have not (really) read of a more Hiſtorical Whoremaſter: And then the Preſcription ſtrikes ſo directly at the Diſtemper, that nothing but a Codpieee-Doctor could ever have hit upon't. But in good Faith, Mr. Libeller I never had any thing to do either with theſe Women or any of your Relations there, that I know of: And yet let me tell you (for you know I wedded Late) I could have given a ſhrewd Gueſſe before I was marry'd, at the difference betwixt a Woman, and a Weathercock. He falls now upon his Decorums; and talks ſo like a Poetaſter, that there's no enduring of it. Only there's one thing I would beg of him. He Phanſies that if any man ſhould but ſo much as write againſt ſitting up whole Nights, at Cards, I would call it a Libell; Now the Truth of it is; I have given over Cards above this Twelve-month: And my Requeſt ſhould be This, that he would do me the favour not to put forth his Parts againſt Card-play; for his Reaſonings lie ſo curſedly Kim Kam, that I'm afraid if he ſhould ſet pen to paper againſt Playing, I ſhould go near to take it up again.

This ſame LIBELLER is a boyſterous, unruly word, and will not couch ſo well in a Period; and therefore hereafter for want of a better name we ſhall now and then call him Dogrill. He ſays that Citt and Bumpkin is a very Scoffing Scurrilous Pamphlet, without either Truth, or Good Manners; for it beſpatters many of the Nobility, the moſt Eminent Gentry, and Citizens, with the baſeſt, and meaneſt Practices of Forgery, imaginable; and that the Authour of it is within the Equity of the Pillory, referring the Reader to Pag. 3. But in that whole Page I cannot finde ſo much as One of thoſe Diſmal Syllables: Only a Couple of Officious Buſy Knaves, diſcourſing the Roguy Contrivances that were made uſe of for the gaining of Subſcriptions to a Petition. And it is certainly True, that Maſters did ſet hands for their Children, and Servants; Women for their Husbands, at a great Diſtance, and without Commiſſion, Pedagogues for their School-boys, Diſſenting Miniſters for their Congregations, and Generally, the Heads [Page] of the Non-Conformiſts ſtickled might and main for the carrying of it on. It is True alſo, that a World of Names were Subſcribed, and the Perſons not to be found; and that upon ſeverall Rolls there were Thirty Names ſometimes together all of the ſame hand. And it is likewiſe True, that the Faction had their Clubs, and Committees both in Town and Countrey, to promote This Affair.

Doggrill will not allow that This was to amuſe the Nation with Numbers, as if they meant to do ſomething further: Notwithſtanding that the Refuſers were menaced in many places, and people forc [...]d in, by Importunity, Aw, and Terrour. Inſomuch that in Speeches, and Pamphlets, thoſe men were expoſed to have a Mark ſet upon them as Diſaffected to the Publique, that would not Subſcribe the Petition.

In the next Page, Doggrill Pronounces the Author to be either a Sot, or a Knave, in plain Engliſh: Never conſidering that the rude and Cenſorious Coxcom himſelf ſhews himſelf every ſtep he ſets, to be Both; And a little after, whatever he is in his Religion, he's ſure (he ſays) that he's a Papiſt, in Faction. And again a little lower; what Jeſuit (ſays he) could leſſen the Drs. Teſtimony, or Narrative of the Plot, more then He has done, by ſaying; I believe the Plot, and as much of it, as every good Subject ought to believe; Nay, I do ſo abſolutely believe it, that in my Conſcience, you your ſelf Dr. do not believe more of it then I do. How can he pretend to call That a Leſſening of the Drs. Credit, to ſay that a man believes as much of it as the Dr. himſelf does, unleſs Doggril will have it that the Dr. does not believe it at all? And then he abuſes L'Eſtrange moſt abominably, two lines after, in ſaying that he compares the whole thing to the raining of Butter'd Turnips; whereas This is not ſaid of the whole thing, but of ſome Caſes, which are not as yet given in Evidence, and remain doubtfull. This Comment might have been ſpared, after ſo much ſaid upon it in a Former Reply.

Doggrill goes on, P. 4. ſtill like himſelf. L'Eſtrange (he ſays) was as mutinous in Print as any body, before he came to the Preferment of his Half Crown Books, and Ballads; becauſe he could get nothing. The Government, Then, lay under a Male-adminiſtration; the reſt is, (to meet him in his own way) Infandum renovare dolorem; and ſo wee'l ſay nothing on't. But to the Books and Ballads; Is it not more Honourable to get a little Mony by Stifling, and preventing Sedition, then by Compoſing, and vending it. And then for the Mutiny he ſpeaks of, it was my Caveat to the Cavaliers in 1661. and whoever reads that Pamphlet, will find I was not ſo much a Libeller, as a Prophet.

[Page] Doggrell was e'en now upon his Equity; and then one would have ſuſpected him for a Chancery-man: But now he ſets up Phyſitian again; and very Courtcouſly adviſes the Authour of Citt and Bumpkin, to make a ſtep from Newgate, to Bedlam. The man's a Civill man; and I am conſident, has a minde I ſhould give him a viſit there: For ſurely nothing but a man in Bedlam would behave himſelf at his Inperious rate. Do you not think it a very flagitious thing (ſays he) for a little unknown fellow to comprehend all the States, Orders, and Diviſions of men; Both Lords, Citizens, and Commons of England, under the Opprobrious names of Citt and Bumpkin? Now do but obſerve what a Couple of Raſcalls, this Citt and Bumpkin are in the very Dialogue, repreſented to be. Pag. 26. You (ſays Trueman) are the Repreſentative (forſooth) of the City; and You of the Country; Two of the Pillars of the Nation, with a Horſe-pox. A man would not let down his Breeches in a Houſe of Office, that had but Two ſuch Supporters. Do not I know You, Citt, to be a little Grubſtreet Inſect that but t'other day, ſcribled Handy-dandy for ſome Eighteen pence a Job, Pro and Con, and glad on't too? And now (as it pleaſes the ſtars) you are advanced from the Obort, the Miſcarriage, I mean, of a Cauſe-ſplitter, ta a Drawer up of Articles; and from your skill in Counterfeiting Hands, preferred to be a Sollicitor for Fobb'd Petitions.

The Intent of This Reprehenſion is only to ſhew what pittyfull Knaves there are, that in the name of the Nation, impoſe upon the People; and to diſtinguiſh by theſe Opprobrious Names, Raſcalls, from men of Honeſty, and Honour. Toward the Bottom of Page 7. Doggrill denies that the King was twitt d with his Coronation Oath; the calling for Delinquents to be brought to puniſhment; and that the Parliament might ſit as long as they pleas'd; Tho' ſcarce a Porter but knows that it was the daily Clamour of the Preſs, and the Clubbs are known too that ſupply'd Thoſe Pamphlets. Poſſibly (ſays he) there might be ſomething of Trying the Lords in the Tower, which might give the Proteſtantiſh Authour occaſion of that flouriſh, as if Their Caſe were Parallel to thoſe worthy Lords and Gentlemen, Then called Delinquents; then which nothing can be more vilely inſinuated, To this, it is anſwer'd, that the Queſtion is not Here, of the Parliament, but of the Petitioners, who did more then inſinuate the Particulars by Him deny'd, and it is no leſs True (in deſpite of the moſt Impudent Contradiction) that ſeverall of the Models of Petitions expoſed in Print, inſiſted upon the Parliaments ſitting as long as they pleaſed.

He proceeds now, to another detracting paſſage, (as he calls it) to wit; that it would be never the worſe, if the men of Eſtates were out of favour [Page] at Court; for an honeſt Revenge (you know) goes a great way with a Tender Conſcience, Pa. 7. This is ſpoken now by a Raſcall, and as a Raſcall, with a very good Decorum; and the Drift of it is to ſhew that Revenge goes a great way even with thoſe that are the higheſt Pretenders to Conſcience.

By his Tenth Page a man would ſwear him not only to be in Bedlam ſtill, but in his Fit too; for he's at his Raſcally Politiques, Raſcally Pick-Thanks; and runs ſo damnable upon the Pox, and the Raſcall, and then Sycophantly Knave, in the next Page, that there's no coming near him. And yet upon the Top of the ſame Page, he takes a little Breath; and patiently Hears an Account of five Petitions more that were upon the Anvill. One againſt the Lords in the Tower, Another, for the Setting of the Parliament, till they had gone through with what they had to do; a Third for taking away Biſhops Votes; a Fourth, for the Remove of Evill Councellours; a Fifth, for putting the Militia into Safe Hands. And then his fit of Raving takes him again. The Ranging (ſays he) of theſe Petitions, Together, looks as if to Petition for the Tryall of the Lords, were equally Criminal with the reſt. Bleſs me! what Jugling is this? Firſt, here is no Charge, or Intimation of a Crime, upon any of theſe Petitions, Secondly, his Ranging of them Together, is a kinde of a Doggriliſm; for they are Ranged one after another. But ſuppoſe the matter as he intends it. Muſt the Ranging of them in Order, be underſtood as if it imply'd them to be all of a Quality? This is a Reach very extraordinary, that the ſequence of one, two, three, four and five, ſhould operate upon the Condition or Morality of Things or Actions that are Ranged under the Order of Theſe Numbers. Here follows, now, one of the Bloudieſt Conſequences of all. Thoſe Heads (ſays Cit. P. 10.) will finde hands, if there be occaſion. And This (ſays he) is to tell us what dangerous Rogues the Citizens are; and to aſperſe, by Intimation, the City of London, with Contrivances againſt the Government. We muſt minde this man of Decorum, once again, of the Perſon that ſpeaks it, and the Occaſion whereupon it is spoken. Citt and Bumkin are laying their heads together to make a Party of Mutineers againſt the Magiſtrates and the Body of the City, and Dogril will needs engage the Citizens of London (contrary to all ſenſe and Reaſon) to be reflected upon here as the Mutineers. I cannot but wonder how This good man comes now to be ſuch a Zealot all on a ſudden for the honour of the City: And yet when this very City of London (the Body, I mean, and the Governours of it) was affronted by that Seditious Libell called, An Appeal from the Country to the City, he had not ſo much [Page] as a word to caſt at a Dog upon the Subject. But he is even with me for my paſſing by the Rebellion In Ireland, Pag. 14. which is juſt ſuch another Caſe, as if he ſhould Quarrel a man that is intent upon the Theme of Conventicles, for not writing the Hiſtory of Japan.

In his 15th Page he is Fumbling at the Kings being one of the Three Eſtates; but it is either too hot, or too heavy, and ſo he lets it fall again. And in the ſame Page, he is very Angry with Cit, for calling the Proteſtant Religion the Religion of the Diſſenters from the Church. And why ſhould not Citt that Perſonates a Fanatique, Talk like a Fanatique? and we know very well, that ſo ſoon as ever the Sehiſmatiques got the Power, they called the Engliſh Clergy, Popelins, and themſelves the only I roteſtants.

And then he goes on, (ſays he) as if the Plot was only a Blind, to enrage People; and that there was a reall Deſign to deſtroy the Hierarchy; and all the Sons of the Church, by the name of Papiſts in Maſquerade, and get all the places of Profit to themſelves. All This (I ſay) has in the Memory of man, been contrived, ſet a foot, and accompliſh't: And we are at this day told to our faces the preciſe number of our Proteſtant Biſhops; (which runs very Low) and that there are not above four Proteſtant Clergy men, of the Church of England, in London. But I ſhall refer Him that has a minde to be better reſolved in This point, to the Schiſmatiques Behaviour toward the Clergy in Eſſex, upon the laſt Election of Knights of the Shire there.

He follows his Kindneſs to That Party, pag. 18. in ſaying that they aſſerted the Kings Cauſe in the Loweſt Ebb, and that they were the Second Cauſe of his Majeſtyes Reſtitution. Now I'le go farther with him: They were the very Prime Cauſe it ſelf; For if the King had not been Driven out, he could not have been Reſtored. Methinks he might have afforded the Poor Cavalieres a good word or two upon This Occaſion. But he has forgotten the Indefatigable Endeavours of That Party; and their prodigious Conſtancy thorough all hazzards, and Extremities; which ſtill kept the Rebells waking, and in ſuch Apprehenſions; that they could never bring matters to a Steady and Secure Settlement, thorough the whole Courſe of their Ʋſurpations, He has forgotten how they were hang'd and cut to picces like Doggs, Smother'd in Iayles, Plunder'd, Tranſported &c. and for what; and who they were that did the Execution; And All This, forſooth, the Mealy-mouth Libeller covers under the Gentle Term of a DEVIATION. The Brute can open his Mouth, and out-rail Billingſgate, at a man that does his Duty to This King; but the murther of the Laſt, and the Totall Diſſolution of the Government comes off in a Soft way, only for a [Page] DEVIATION. He has forgotten the Two Votes that his worthy Friends paſs'd, as previous to the calling of That Parliament which Actually finiſhed the work of his Majeſtyes Reſtauration: The Former, that no man ſhould have any Office in the Militia, without Declaring that the War Ʋndertaken by Both Houſes of Parliament in their DEFENCE againſt the Forces raiſed in the Name of the Late King, was Juſt, and Lawfull. The Second, was for the Excluſion of all that had ever Serv'd his Majeſty; and their Sons, from Serving as Members of the next Parliament.

In diſſecting the Former Vote, we ſhall effectually Diſſect the Libeller, and judge of his Affections by the Party he Stickles for. There is Firſt a Sentence paſt upon the King, as the Aggreſſor, when the world Knows how he was forc'd and Hunted from his Royall Palace by Affronts, and Tumults. Secondly, In juſtifying the War of the Two Houſes (though a Notorious Rebellion:) for the Firſt Complement they put upon the Son, was to Declare his Royall Father a Traytor. Thirdly, If That War was Juſt, and Lawfull (as They Suggeſted) the Late King, was Lawfully put to Death: Which was very fairly to tell his Majeſty, what, in the like Caſe, he was to truſt to Himſelf. This was one of the Laſt Viſible Acts, that carry'd any Countenance of Authority, which Doggrills Friends appeared in, toward the reſtoring of the King, which plainly be-ſpake Their Implacable Malice to the Government; where they had but the leaſt hope of a Power to exerciſe it. As for Thoſe that Frankly, and generouſly Struggled to Reſtore his Majeſty, without any By-regards to the ſetting up of Themſelves; I ſhall agree, in Attributing to them all the Honour they deſerve.

Let any man judge now with what Front, (as Mr. Formality has it) this Libeller can Talk of an Act of Oblivion, when he himſelf puts a man upon the Neceſſity of either Recriminating upon his Fellow-Raſcalls, (to pay him in his own Coin) or otherwiſe, tacitly to reproach ſo many Honourable Inſtances of Loyalty and Reſolution; and to bury their Names and Services, in Common Duſt and Rubbiſh.

Doggerill has another fling at me, P. 19. for Licenſing Humane Reaſon. I cannot deny but that the Copy coming to my hand at paſt Midnight; and being engaged out of Town at four a Clock that day, by the morning-Tide, and finding that it had been Overlookt by an Authority which I thought ſufficient to ſupport it, I put a Licence to it, Ʋnrend; which I ſhould not have done upon a Peruſall. But I do not remember that there fell any Fire and Brimſtone upon the Printing of it; and at my Return, I found Whitehall juſt in the ſame [Page] place where I left it. But it is a Damn'd ly (Converſing with this Bear has made me Foul-mouth'd) that ever I excuſed my ſelf, by ſaying (as he pretends) that I would Licenſe an Anſwer to it. And it is Another, his ſaying that I had a hand in the Ballad of Now is the Time, p. 20. And it is yet a Third, that I had any ſort of concern in the Loyall Intelligence; as he would have the World believe I had. Pa. 26. But what do I talk of This or That Falſhood; when the Entire Pamphlet is but one great Blot of Forgery, and Gall? In his 20. and 21. Pages, in proof of his Infinite Tenderneſſe and Veneration for the Life, and Authority of his Sacred Majeſty, he rakes up Inſtances of Severall Princes that have been Stabb'd, Aſſaulted, Strangled, Depoſed, ſet aſide and Empriſon'd by their own Subjects. And tho', to palliate the diſcourſe for the ſaving of his own skin, he tells you, that it is the Subjects Duty to ſuffer Patiently, yet Nature (he ſays) in ſome Caſes, is very ſtrong, and Princes had beſt have a Care what they do; with a hint to the people, that there may be ſuch provoking Circumſtances, that a body does not know what may come on't: As who ſhould ſay 'tis one thing what people ſhould do, and another thing what they are able to do, under ſuch and ſuch Provocations: For Men are but Men. And there he leaves it.

Now if you would ſee what point it is he drives at, read his following Citation out of Denhams Sophy, and the Firſt Scene of the Fourth Act. It is a diſcourſe betwixt Abdal, and Morat (Two Lords of the Princes Party) in Confederacy againſt the King. It begins at—[Poor Princes! How are they miſled? &c. Pag. 44. and ends with Morats ſpeech pa. 46. Now ſee the Reſult they come to, pa. 47.

Morat:

Farewell unhappy Prince, while we thy Friends

Are Strangers to Our Country and Our ſelves;

Seek out our ſafety, and expect with patience

Heavens Juſtice.

Abdal.

Let's rather Act it then Expect it

The Princes Injuries at our hands require

More then our Tears and Patience!

His Army is not yet dishanded,

And only wants a Head; Thither wee'l fly

And all who Love the Prince or Hate the Tyrant

Will follow us.

Mor.

Nobly Reſolv'd; and either weel reſtore

The Prince, or periſh in the brave attempt.

[Page] There's a Myſtery in his Meaning, and we ſhall leave him to expound it himſelf.

I have here beſtow'd more pains upon him then I intended when I firſt took him in hand; for finding This piece of his, upon Second Thoughts, to be the Venom and Malice of Severall other Libells drawn into One, with Lyes, Sawcyneſſe, and Ribaldry, in abundance, of his Own, I thought it better to make One work of All, and to lay open the Libeller, tho I cannot find the Man. Upon the Reaſon, and Truth of the whole, I ask no favour, either from the Reader, or the Government. He makes me one of Olivers Minſtrells: So that while He and I Live, the State ſhall never want a Fool and a Fidler. And he will have me to be a Papiſt two and a Penſioner. I wiſh he had as much Reaſon for the Latter, as he has Little for the Former. I could have prevented the Publiſhing of his Pamphlet; but upon my Own account, I did not think it worth the while; for my Conſcience, and (I hope) my Character in the World, with all Honeſt men, is proof againſt much more then This amounts to. So that I ſhall Jog on ſtill, juſt at my old rate, without any more concern at the Barking of a Two-legg'd Puppy, then if the Curr went upon all Four, and Bawl'd for Porridge.

I ſhall however try a point of Law, in time Convenient, with ſome of the Publiſhers and Diſperſers of it; and I do not doubt but at the ſame time to make it appear, that they are as bold with the King himſelf, as they are with his Subjects▪ And yet notwithſtanding the Contempt that I have for theſe ſneaking and Inſidiary Hirelings, the Practice is never the leſſe of ſo Bloudy and Dangerous a Conſequence, that it is Impoſſible to preſerve the Peace either of Communities, or Private Families, where This Licenſe is permitted: Nay, it takes away the Taſte and Comfort of Humane Society, by Diſſeminating, Baſe Suspicions, Blowing up of Animoſities, and Fewds, even to the Dividing of the Neareſt Relations, & Friends. For all people are not fortify'd alike againſt the Force of Evill Impreſſions: But variouſly Tranſported, (according to the Diverſity of their Tempers) either to Revenge themſelves upon their Enemyes, or to miſtake their Friends. So that in effect, the beſt of Princes, of Governments, and of Men ly equally at the mercy of the moſt Profligate of Villains. They make Tyrants of what Princes they pleaſe; Model Governments after their Own Humour, and ſet forth Publique Miniſters, and affairs of State in what Colours they think fit. Theſe are the Arbitrators of War and Peace, and their Domini [...] o [Page] reaches from the Top of Mankind to the Bottom. Pimps and Bawds; Cuckolds and Whores, Penſioners and Papiſts, are all of them, Honours of Their Creation.

The Common Objections that theſe Incendiaries make uſe of againſt Mee, are theſe; That my Writings Raiſe unneceſſary Diſputes, Create Miſunderſtandings, Enflame Animoſi ies, and tend to the Embroyling of the Kingdome. Now This is all ſo Falſe, and Groundleſſe, that I Defy all the Legions of the Faction to produce any one Paper that I have publiſh't, ſince I enter'd upon this Hurry of Scribling, to which I was not obliged, either by my Duty to the Publique, or by Common Prudence in my Own Particular, upon ſome Occaſion, or Provocation of Antecedent Libells againſt the Government, or againſt my ſelf. And all this Virulence againſt me, ariſes only from the Malice of my Adverſaries, to the Intereſt which I have Conſtantly Aſſerted. For after all theſe Rogues, and Raſcalls, they have not anſwer'd any one of my Arguments. Doggrell will needs have it, that I write out of an Itch of Scribling, and not out of any Noble end to my Prince. p. 25. And the Wizzard gathers it from my Tranſlations. What was my End of Scribling at the ſame rate, in the Late Rebellion? When I had no other Reward to expect but the Satisfaction of my Conſcience, the One way, and a Halter, (over and above) the Other. [...]f he gathers my Itch of Scribling from my Tranſlations, 'tis an Itch I perceive that he is in no Danger of: There's Tully and Seneca; a Couple of Pagans that will ſtand Fairer before the Great Tribunal then a Million of Calumniating, and truly Diabolicall Chriſtians. There's Bona's Guide to Eternity, (a Manual, of Pious, and Excellent Morality) why ſhould That trouble him either? For his Conſcience is layd faſt enough, for flying in his Face; and Sleeps as comfortably in the High way to Hell, as if it were no more then Truckling into his Own Kennell. As for Eraſmus's Colloquies, and Quevedo's Viſions, They are not Tart enough perhaps for His Palate, for 'tis not the Strength, or Moral of a Satyr that pleaſes Him; but the Spite, and Venom of it. and in Truth I have heard (if I do not miſs my Mark) that he is much Happier too in his Libells that Paſs only in Manuſcript; then in his Printed ones: For being infinitely Familiar with the Seven Deadly Sins, hee'l put you a Set of the Honeſteſt Lords and Ladies that you can lay your hand on, into ſo lewd a Dreſſe, that they ſhall all look like Rogues, and Jades in a Trice; and without running the Riſque too of a Reply. 'Tis a notable Lad (they ſay) at a Lampoon.

[Page] The Reader has hitherto had only my Own Word for the Grounds of So many Pamphlets as I have lately expoſed to the Publick; I ſhall now come nearer the matter, and deliver a juſt Report of the Inducements that led me to it.

Finding not only the Entire Frame of the Engliſh Government torn to Pieces, by the Audacious Inſolence of Licentious Libells, but the Dignity of Government it ſelf expoſed to Popular Contempt, and made Cheap in the Eyes of the Multitude: finding theſe Outrages, (I ſay) in a manner Authorized,, by paſſing Ʋnpuniſht; and the Cauſe it ſelf half yielded up for want of Advocates, and Arguments to Defend it; I thruſt my Self into the Controverſie; not (as I hope to be Sav'd) out of Paſſion, and Bitterneſs againſt any ſort of People whatſoever: but out of an Impulſe of Conſcience, and a Senſe of Duty, This Officious Zeale of mine has made me as many Enemies as there are Ill-willers to the Government; and to deal Freely, I cannot but take it for an Honour to be Reviled by Thoſe Lips that Speak Evill of my Maſter. But So it is however, that whether I made good my Poſt, or not, it was a thing of abſolute neceſſity that Something ſhould be done, toward the putting of a Check to So Impetuous a Courſe of Calumny, and Sedition. And This Neceſſity will better appear, upon a due Conſideration of the Bold Diſcourſes, and Poſitions that were dayly vented from the Preſſe, to the Weakening, and Wounding of the Government, in the Head, and in every Part of it.

As to the KING himſelf, the Late Caſe of Sebaſtian King of Portugal is offer'd to the Engliſh as a Preſident.

The Doctrine of Co-ordination, and the Kings being Singulis Major, Univerſis Minor, is Common

It is poſitively affirmed, that in many Caſes a King may be Depoſed.

Alſo, that in ſome Caſes the Subject may take up Arms againſt both his Perſon and Authority.

That he Derives his Power, and Authority from the Conſent of the People.

That God himſelf approves of the Removal of Evill Kings.

[Page] That the Two Houſes may Levy Men, Mony and Arms; Without, or Againſt the Kings conſent.

They have already Erected a Vote of the Houſe of Commons into the Equivalence of a Law.

His Majeſty is Charg'd with Raiſing a Mercenary Popiſh Army to have joyn'd with the French, Beſides Oblique Reflections Innumerable.

Now for the PARLIAMENT; the Late Long Parliament is called a Treacherous and a Lewd Parliament. And 197. of the Members of That Parliament Scandalouſly expoſed, by Names, in a Libell.

As to the CLERGY, beſide the Dayly Reflections upon the Biſhops, and Epiſcopacy it ſelf; they, are expreſly call'd the Sons of Belial; Whom (ſays the Libeller) if the whole World were now to make their Wills, all but Fools and Knaves would leave them a Curſe for a Legacy.

The People are call'd upon to Deſtroy Epiſcopacy, Root and Branch.

The Courts of JUSTICE, ſcape no better; for not only their Proceedings, but the Perſons of Several of his Majeſtyes Judges are Libelled by Name.

The Juryes are expoſed in Several Libells alſo. And in one Libell, in Theſe Words.

—Wakeman's, or a Gaſcoyne-Jury,

Pickt, Brib'd, Inſtructed how to murther Truth,

From, &c.

The Juſtices of the Peace are Served with the same Sawce too: For upon Sir W. Wallers being put out, it was preſently hinted to the World in a Libell, as if the reſt of the Middleſex Bench were all Papiſts. And ſo much for Publique; But the Perſonal Libells are not to be Number'd.

[Page] I have Publiſhed Theſe Inſtances in Hope, and Expectation of receiving a Command to make them out, and to Trace them: For I have the Libells in my Poſſeſſion. If this Liberty holds, every man that honeſtly ſerves his Prince, and his Conntry becomes a Sacrifice to the Multitude, and the Rabble gives Laws to the Government, It is no wonder now after theſe bold attaques upon the Conſtitution of the Government, if they let fly their Malice at it, in Piece-meal too. And if ſome Pamphlet-Pedler, or Hedg-Printer happen to be taken in the Manner he has his Plea at his Fingers End. He has ſerv'd out his Time, and is not to be put by the Exerciſe of his Trade. Has not a Cutler, or a Gunſmith the ſame Plea too, for the very Piſtol, or Dagger which he knows before-hand is Deſigned for the Murther of the King?

In fine; whether it be Impudence, or Openneſſe of Nature, I know not; But (upon my ſoul) if my whole Life were ript up, and all my Actions expoſed (other Perſons excepted out of the Hiſtory) I would make no more ſcruple of owning the Truth, then of acknowledging my ſelf to be Fleſh and Blood: For I do not ſet up for a Saint, but for a Loyall Subject, a True Friend, and (as the world goes) a very Honeſt Fellow.

The End.

§

[Page] [Page] A Short ANSWER TO A WHOLE LITTER OF LIBELS.

By ROGER L'ESTRANGE.

LONDON, Printed by J. B. for Hen. Brome at the Gun at the Weſt-End of S. Pauls, 1680.

Information about this book

Title statement

A short ansvver to a whole litter of libels by Roger L'Estrange.

L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704.

Edition statement

1680

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A70421

ID [STC]

Wing L1307A

ID [STC]

ESTC R20535

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12610147

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12610147

ID [VID]

64333

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A70421)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 64333)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 696:14, 963:18 or 1486:18)

Source

— A short ansvver to a whole litter of libels by Roger L'Estrange., L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704..

Extent

[2], 17 p.

Printed by J.B. for Hen. Brome ...,. London :: 1680.. (Reproduction of originals in Huntington Library, Cambridge University Library and Harvard University Library.) ("Chiefly aimed at Edmund Hickeringill". cf. DNB.)

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