Citt And Bumpkin (1680) Part 8

_Citt._ But it is hard, if _Protestants_ may not meet as well as Other People.

_True._ Yes, _Protestants_ may meet, but not in the quality of _Conspirators_, no more then _Conspirators_, may meet under the _Cloak_, and _colour_ of _Protestants_. The intent of the _Meeting_ is matter of _State_, and you turn it off, to a point of _Religion_.

_Citt._ But is it not matter of _Religion_ to joyn in a _Pet.i.tion_ for the meeting of a _Parliament_, to bring _Malefactors_ to a _Tryall_, and to _extirpate Popery_?

What Pet.i.tions warrantable and what not.

_True._ Such a Pet.i.tion as you Instance in, is in the appearance of it, not only _Lawfull_, but _Commendable_; But then it must be promoted by _Lawfull means_, and under _Decent Circ.u.mstances_. 'Tis a good thing to _Preach_, or C_atechize_, but it is not for a _Lay-man_ presently to pluck the _Parson_ out of the _Desk_, or _Pulpit_, that he himself may do the Office. It is a Good thing to execute _Justice_, but yet _a private man_ must not invade the _Judgment-Seat_, though it were to pa.s.se even the most _Righteous Sentence_.

_Citt._ The King may chuse whether he'l _Grant_ or no; So that without invading _His Right_ we only claim the _Liberty_ of _Presenting_ the _Request_.

No Pet.i.tion to be press'd after Prohibition.

_True._ That may be well enough at _First_; but still, after _One Refusal_, and That with a _Publick Interdict_ on the Neck on't, forbidding the pursuance of it; such a _Pet.i.tion_ is not by any means to be _Repeated_. _First_, out of _Respect_ to _Regal Authority_: _Secondly_, as the _King_ is the _Sole Judge_ of the matter: _Thirdly_, upon the _Importunity_, it is not so properly _Desiring_ of a thing, as _Tugging_ for it. _Fourthly_, It tends many ways to the Diminution of his Majesties _Honour_, in case it be Obtain'd: For it implys, either _Levity_, or _Fear_; or (to make the best on't) the _King_ confers the _Obligation_, and the _Heads of the Pet.i.tion_ receive the _Thanks_. Now adde to all this, the _suborning_ of _Subscriptions_, and the _Inflaming_ of _Parties_, what can be more _Undutifull_ or _Dangerous_?

_Citt._ But do not you find many _Honest_ and _Considerable men_ concern'd in these _Pet.i.tions_?

The Nation poyson'd with False Principles.

The Injustice of our Common Wealthsmen.

_True._ Yes, in several of them _I_ do; and the main reason is This.

There's no man under _Five and Fifty_, at Least, that is able to give any Account, of the _Designe_, and _Effects_ of this way of Pet.i.tioning in _Forty_ and _Forty One_, but by _Hear-say_: so that This Nation proceeds mostly upon the _Maxims_, and _Politiques_, which That _Republican_ Humour deliver'd over to us: But yet let the _Thing_, or the _Manner_ of it be as it will, Those that _disarm'd_, and _turn'd back_ the _Kentish Pet.i.tioners_ at _London-bridg_. Those that _Wounded_, and _Murther'd_ the _Surry-Pet.i.tioneres_ in the _Palace Yard_, only for desiring a _Peace_, and in order to the _Preservation_ of his _late Majesty_: _Those People_ methinks, that were so Outrageous _Against Those Pet.i.tions_ (and Several others of the same kind) should not have the Face now to be so _Violent, for This_. And whoever examines the _present Roll_, will find the _Old Republicans_ to be the _Ring-leaders_.

b.u.m. Really, _Citt_, the man speaks Reason.

The mean ways of promoting their Designs.

_True._ Consider then the _Mean ways_ ye have of advancing your Pretensions, by _Falshoods_, and _Scandals_, to disappoint Honest men of _Elections_; The use ye make of the most _Servile Instruments_, to promote your Ends; your _fawning Methods_ of _Popularity_ toward the _Rabble_; your ways of undermining the _Government_ of the _City_, as well as of the _Nation_; your worse then _Jesuitical Evasions_ in matter of _Conscience_; your _Non-sensical Salvo's_, and _Expositions_ of _Christian Liberty_; your putting out the _Church of Englands Colours_, and calling your selves _Protestants_, when you are effectually no better then _Algerines_, and _Pyrating_ even upon _Christianity it self_; your Beating of the wood, in the History of our most _Seditious Times_, to start _Presidents_ and _Records_ in favour of your own Disloyal Purposes. The _Pharisaical_ Distinguishing of your selves from the _Profane_ (as you are pleas'd to stile all others,) even in your _Dresse, Tone, Language_, &c. Your Uncharitable _Bitternesse of Spirit_; your _lying in wait_ for _Blood_; and laying of _Snares_ for the _Unwary_ and the _Innocent_; and still vouching an _Inspiration_ for all your _Wickednesse_; your gathering of _all Winds_ toward the raising of a _Storm_; Your _Unity_ in _Opposition_, and in _nothing Else_: your _Clamours_, and _Invectives_ against _Priests_, and _Jesuits_, when it is the Church of _England_ yet, that feels the _Last effect_ of your _Sacrilegious Rage_. 'Tis not so much the _Officers_ of the Church, and State, that are _Popishly Affected_, but the _Offices_ Themselves; and Those in the first place (as you chuse your _Sins_ too) that are most _Beneficiall_. To say nothing of your wild _Impostures_ upon the _Mult.i.tude_.----

_Citt._ Now you talk of _Impostures_, what do you think of _L'Estrange's History of the P L O T_, and his _Answer to the A P P E A L_? Whether are Those Pamphlets, _Impostures_ upon the _Mult.i.tude_, or _Not_?

_True._ You were saying e'en now, That _The History of the d.a.m.nable Popish Plot_ was of your Writing; Answer me That Question, First; Was it so, or not?

_Citt._ No, it was not of my Writing; It was done by a _Protestant-Club_.

_True._ Why then let me tell ye, if a man may believe the _Preface_ to That _Club-History_, or the _Notes_ upon the _Answer to the Appeal_ (for I have read them all:) _L'Estrange's Pamphlets_ are great abuses upon the _People_: But if you had the Books about ye, the matter were easily clear'd by comparing them.

_Citt._ By good luck we have 'um all about us, that can any way concern this Question. And look ye here now.

Reflexions upon _L'Estrange_.

First, _He calls his_ Abridgement _of the_ Tryals, _The_ History _of the_ Plot, _without mentioning one word of the Original Contrivance, the Preparatives, manner of Discovery, and other Remarkables essential to a_ History.

2. _He omits_ Staly's _and_ Reading's Tryals, _which yet sure had Relation to the_ Plot.

3. _In his_ Epistle, _he seems to drown the_ Popish Plot _with suggestions of an_ Imaginary One _of the_ Protestants.

4. _The amusing People with such Stories, is notoriously a Part of the_ Grand Popish Designe.

5. _Whereas he tells us, that not one_ Material Point _is omitted, most Readers cannot finde the substantial part of Mr._ Bedloes _Evidence against_ Wakeman, _(P. 46 of the Tryall) So much as hinted at: Not to mention the gross shuffles, and Omissions in_ Pag. 77, _and elsewhere._

6. _He charges the_ Printed Tryals (_in his FREEBORN SUBIECT_ P. 15.) _with many_ Gross Incoherences, _and very_ Material mistakes; _yet Instances but_ One, _and corrected too, as an_ Erratum.

7. _When Our Posterity shall urge these Tryals for proof against_ Papists, _how easily may the subtle Villains stop their Mouths, by alledging from this Authour that_ no heed is to be given to the said Tryals; _(being so publickly own'd by a Person of his Note, and Late Qualification) to be guilty of so many, and such very_ Material Mistakes.

The Fore going Reflections Answer'd.

_True._ Observe here, _First L'Estrange_ expounds his _History_ in the _t.i.tle Page_, by restraining it to the _Charge_ and _Defence_ of _the Persons there mentioned_: Beside that he calls it an _Historical Abstract_, and a _Summary_, in his _Epistle_.

2. _Staleys Trial_ had no Relation at all to the _Plot_, and _Reading_ was not Try'd for's _Life_; and so not within the Compa.s.s of his intention exprest in the _Preface_.

3. The _Epistle_ acknowledges a _Detestable Plot_, and a _Conspiracy_: but advises _Moderation_, and that the _Rabble_ may not dictate Laws to _Authority_; for _that Licence_ was the Cause of the _Late Rebellion_.

4. It was more then a _Story_, the _Murther_ of the _Late King_, and the _Subversion_ of the Government, and the _suppressing_ of these _Necessary Hints_, and _Cautions_ is notoriously a part of the _Grand Phanatical Design_.

5. In _L'Estranges History_ here _Pag._ 79 and 80. there's every particular of Mr. _Bedloes_ Evidence in Sir _George Wakemans Tryal, Pag._ 46. with many other pa.s.sages over and above: whereas your _d.a.m.nable History_ here _Pag._ 295. falls short at least by One Half.

And then for the _shuffles_, and _Omissions_ reflected upon, _Pag._ 77.

see _L'Estranges Words, Pag._ 88. _The Lord Chief Justice_ (says he) _after some Remarkes upon the_ Romish Principles, _summ'd up the Evidence, and gave Directions to the Jury:_ which is the substance of the _Page_ cited in the _Preface_. Touching your _Elsewhere_, it is in plain _English, No where_.

6. Look ye, here's more Juggling. He says S E V E R A L _Gross Incoherences_, and you have made them M A N Y: and then you have left out the _Parenthesis_, (_especially in the Latter of them_) which varies the Case too. And I remember again, that the _Erratum_ was supply'd after _L'Estrange_ had _corrected_ it: And sure it was a Gross one too, to expose a _Protestant Gentleman_ for a _Papist, Nine times_ in _two Pages_. I could shew ye several other _Material Mistakes_, but One shall serve for _all. Pag._ 45. (as I take it) of _Irelands Tryal_; which you will finde charg'd upon the Press, in _L'Estranges History, Pag._ 18.

7. Pray'e mark me now: _L'Estrange_ findes _Errours_ of the _Press_ in the _Other Tryals_ and _Rectifies_ them, in his _Own_: Now if Posterity shall finde in the _Right_, that the _Other_ are _wrong_, they are in no danger of being _Misled_ by the _One_, in what is _Corrected_ by the _Other_: And if they do not read the _Right Copy_ at all, there's no harm done to the Other, but they must take it as they finde it. So that this _Remark_ is so far from _Disparaging_ the _Proceedings_, that a greater Right can hardly be done to _Publick Justice_ by a _Pamphlet_.

But now let the _Epistle_ speak for it _self_.

To the READER.

The Epistle to L'Estrange's History of the Plot.

There has not been any point, perhaps, in the whole Tract of _English Story_, either so dangerous to be mistaken in, or so difficult, and yet so necessary to be understood, as the Mystery of this detestable _Plot_ now in Agitation. (A Judgement for our Sins, augmented by our Follies,) But the world is so miserably divided betwixt some that will believe every thing, and others nothing that not only _Truth_, but _Christianity_ it self is almost lost between them; and no place left for Sobriety and Moderation. We are come to govern our selves by Dreams and Imaginations; We make every _Coffee-house Tale_ an Article of our Faith; and from Incredible Fables we raise Invincible Arguments. A man must be fierce and violent to get the Reputation of being _Well-affected_; as if the calling of one another _d.a.m.ned Heretique_, and _Popish Dog_, were the whole Sum of the Controversie. And what's all this, but the effect of a Popular Licence and Appeal? When every Mercenary Scribler shall take upon him to handle matters of Faith, and State; give Laws to Princes; and every Mechanique sit Judge upon the Government! Were not these the very Circ.u.mstances of the late _Times_?

When the Religious Jugglers from all Quarters fell in with the Rabble, and managed them, as it were, by a certain sleight of hand: The _Rods_ were turned into _Serpents_ on both sides, and the Mult.i.tude not able to say, which was _Aaron_, and which the _Enchanter_. Let us have a Care of the same Incantation over again, Are we not under the protection of a Lawfull Authority? Nor was there ever any thing more narrowly Sifted, or more vigorously discouraged, then this _Conspiracy_. _Reformation_ is the proper business of _Government_ and _Council_, but when it comes to work once at the wrong End, there is nothing to be expected from it, but _Tumult_ and _Convulsion_. A Legal and Effectual provision against the Danger of _Romish Practices_ and _Errours_, will never serve Their Turn, whose Quarrel is barely to the _Name_ of _Popery_, without understanding the Thing it self. And if there were not a _Roman Catholick_ left in the three Kingdoms, they would be never the better satisfied, for where they cannot find Popery, they will make it: nay and be troubled too that they could not _find_ it. It is no new thing for a Popular Outcry, in the matter of _Religion_, to have a _State-Faction_ in the belly of it. The first late Clamour was against _Downright Popery_; and then came on _Popishly Affected_; (_That_ sweeps all.) The _Order of Bishops_, _and the Discipline of the Church_ took their Turns next; and the next blow was at the _Crown_ it self; when every Man was made a _Papist_ that would not play the Knave and the Fool, for Company, with the Common People.

These things duly weighed, and considering the Ground of our present Distempers; the Compiler of this Abridgment reckoned that he could not do his Countrymen a better Office, than (by laying before them the naked state of things) to give them at one view, a Prospect, both of the subject matter of their Apprehensions, and of the Vigilance, Zeal, and needful severity of the Government on their behalf. To which end, he hath here drawn up an _Historical Abstract_ of the whole matter of Fact concerning those Persons who have hitherto been Tryed for their Lives, either upon the _Plot_ it self, or in Relation to it: opposing Authentick Records to wandring Rumours; and delivering the _Truth_ in all Simplicity. He hath not omitted any one material Point: There is not so much as one _Partial Stroke_ in it; not a flourish, nor any thing but a bare and plain _Collection_, without any Tincture either of Credulity, or Pa.s.sion. And it is brought into so narrow a Compa.s.s too, that it will ease the Readers _head_, as well as his _purse_; by clearing him of the puzzle of _Forms_, and _Interlocutories_. that serve only to amuse and mislead a man, by breaking the Order, and confounding the Relative parts of the _Proceeding_.

Having this in Contemplation; and being at the same time possest of a most exact _Summary_ of all pa.s.sages here in Question; This Reporter was only to cast an Extract of these Notes into a Method: especially finding, that upon comparing the substance of his own papers, with the most warrantable Prints that have been published; his own _Abstract_ proved to be not only every jot as Correct, but much more Intelligible, which being _short_ and _full_; he thought might be useful, and find Credit in the world upon its own account, without need of a _Voucher_.

_L'Estranges_ Narrative Justify'd.

His Adversary detected

A Bold and senceless libel

_True._ You have now the whole matter before you; the _Epistle_, ye see, justifies it self: And then for the _Narrative_, I dare undertake he shall yield up the Cause, if you can but produce any _One Material Point_, which he hath either _Falsify'd_, _Palliated_, or _Omitted_, in the whole _Proceeding_. But to be plain with you, _Citt_, One of the _Authours_ of _your Preface_ is a _Common setter_, _a Forger of Hands_, _a little spy_ upon the _Swan_ in _Fishstreet_; a _Hackny Sollicitor_ against both _Church_ and _State_: You know this to be true _Citt_; and that I do not speak upon Guess; so that _Calumny_, and _False Witnessing_ is the best part of that _Authours Trade_. And then the _pretended History_ is a direct _Arraignment_ of the _Government_. He takes up the _King_ and _Council_, _Pag._ 381. reflects upon the _Judges_ in the very _Contents_, and elsewhere; he descants upon the _Duke of York_ in opposition to the express sense and declaration of the _Bench_, _Pag._ 145. and has the confidence yet to Dedicate this _Gally-mawfry_ of audacious _slanders_ to _the Two Houses of Parliament_. There is little more in the whole, then what has been eaten and spew'd up again Thirty times over: and the intire work is only a _Medly_ of _Rags_, and _Solacisms_, pick'd up out of _Rubbish_, and most suitably put together.