The poor man's plea to all the proclamations, declarations, acts of Parliament, &c. which have been or shall be made or publish'd for a reformation of manners and suppressing immorality in the nation.
         Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.
      
       
         
           1698
        
      
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             The poor man's plea to all the proclamations, declarations, acts of Parliament, &c. which have been or shall be made or publish'd for a reformation of manners and suppressing immorality in the nation.
             Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.
          
           
             The second edition corrected.
          
           28 p.
           
             Printed for A. Baldwin,
             London :
             1698.
          
           
             Preface signed: D.F.
             Reproduction of original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 17th century.
           Great Britain -- Moral conditions.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           
             Poor
             Man's
          
           PLEA
           To
           all
           the
           
             Proclamations
             ,
             Declarations
             ,
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           WHICH
           Have
           been
           ,
           or
           shall
           be
           made
           ,
           or
           publish'd
           ,
           for
           a
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           ,
           and
           suppressing
           Immorality
           in
           the
           Nation
           .
        
         
           The
           Second
           Edition
           Corrected
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           
             Printed
             for
          
           A.
           Baldwin
           ,
           
             near
             the
          
           Oxford-Arms
           in
           Warwick-Lane
           .
           MDCXCVIII
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           REformation
           of
           Manners
           is
           a
           Work
           so
           Honourable
           ,
           and
           at
           This
           Time
           so
           absolutely
           necessary
           ,
           that
           ,
           like
           the
           Reform
           of
           our
           Money
           ,
           it
           can
           be
           no
           longer
           delayed
           .
        
         
           The
           Ways
           by
           which
           the
           present
           Torrent
           of
           Vice
           has
           been
           let
           in
           upon
           the
           Nation
           ,
           and
           by
           which
           it
           maintains
           the
           Tyranny
           it
           has
           usurp'd
           on
           the
           Lives
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           ,
           are
           too
           plain
           to
           be
           hid
           .
           The
           following
           Sheets
           aim
           at
           the
           Work
           ,
           by
           leading
           to
           the
           most
           direct
           means
           ,
           Viz.
           Reformation
           by
           Example
           .
           Laws
           are
           ,
           
             in
             Terrorem
          
           Punishments
           ,
           and
           Magistrates
           
           Compel
           and
           put
           a
           Force
           upon
           Mens
           Minds
           ;
           but
           Example
           is
           Persuasive
           and
           Gentle
           ,
           and
           draws
           by
           a
           Secret
           ,
           Invisible
           ,
           and
           almost
           Involuntary
           Power
           .
        
         
           If
           there
           can
           be
           any
           Remedies
           proposed
           more
           proper
           to
           bring
           it
           to
           pass
           ,
           they
           that
           know
           them
           would
           do
           well
           to
           bring
           them
           forth
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           the
           Author
           thinks
           Conscience
           in
           the
           Minds
           of
           Men
           Impartially
           Consulted
           ,
           will
           give
           a
           Probatum
           to
           the
           following
           Proposal
           ;
           and
           to
           that
           Iudgment
           he
           refers
           all
           those
           who
           Object
           against
           it
           .
        
         
           
             D.
             F.
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           THE
           Poor
           Man's
           PLEA
           TO
           All
           the
           Proclamations
           ,
           Declarations
           ,
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           &c.
           which
           have
           been
           ,
           or
           shall
           be
           made
           ,
           or
           publish'd
           ,
           for
           a
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           ,
           and
           suppressing
           Immorality
           in
           the
           Nation
           .
        
         
           IN
           searching
           for
           a
           proper
           Cure
           of
           an
           Epidemick
           Distemper
           ,
           Physicians
           tell
           us
           't
           is
           first
           necessary
           to
           know
           the
           Cause
           of
           that
           Distemper
           ,
           from
           what
           Part
           of
           the
           Body
           ,
           and
           from
           what
           ill
           Habit
           it
           proceeds
           ;
           and
           when
           the
           Cause
           is
           discover'd
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           removed
           ,
           that
           the
           Effect
           may
           cease
           of
           it self
           ;
           but
           if
           removing
           the
           Cause
           will
           not
           work
           the
           Cure
           ,
           then
           indeed
           they
           proceed
           to
           apply
           proper
           Remedies
           to
           the
           Disease
           it self
           ,
           and
           the
           particular
           part
           afflicted
           .
        
         
           Immorality
           is
           without
           doubt
           the
           present
           reigning
           Distemper
           of
           the
           Nation
           :
           And
           the
           
           King
           and
           Parliament
           ,
           who
           are
           the
           proper
           Physicians
           ,
           seem
           nobly
           inclin'd
           to
           undertake
           the
           Cure.
           'T
           is
           a
           Great
           Work
           ,
           well
           worthy
           their
           utmost
           Pains
           :
           The
           Honour
           of
           it
           ,
           were
           it
           once
           perfected
           ,
           would
           add
           more
           Trophies
           to
           the
           Crown
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Victories
           of
           
             this
             Bloody
             War
          
           ,
           or
           the
           Glories
           of
           
             this
             Honourable
             Peace
          
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           a
           Person
           under
           the
           Violence
           of
           a
           Disease
           sends
           in
           vain
           for
           a
           Physician
           ,
           unless
           he
           resolves
           to
           make
           use
           of
           his
           Prescription
           ;
           so
           in
           vain
           does
           the
           King
           attempt
           to
           reform
           a
           Nation
           ,
           unless
           they
           are
           willing
           to
           reform
           themselves
           ,
           and
           to
           submit
           to
           his
           Prescriptions
           .
        
         
           Wickedness
           is
           an
           Ancient
           Inhabitant
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           and
           't
           is
           very
           hard
           to
           give
           its
           Original
           .
        
         
           But
           however
           difficult
           that
           may
           be
           ,
           't
           is
           easy
           to
           look
           back
           to
           a
           Time
           when
           we
           were
           not
           so
           generally
           infected
           with
           Vice
           as
           we
           are
           now
           ;
           and
           't
           will
           seem
           sufficient
           to
           enquire
           into
           the
           Causes
           of
           our
           present
           Defection
           .
        
         
           The
           Protestant
           Religion
           seems
           to
           have
           an
           unquestion'd
           Title
           to
           the
           first
           introducing
           a
           strict
           Morality
           among
           us
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           but
           just
           to
           give
           the
           Honour
           of
           it
           where
           't
           is
           so
           eminently
           due
           .
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           has
           something
           of
           a
           Natural
           Consequence
           in
           it
           from
           Reformation
           in
           Religion
           :
           For
           since
           the
           Principles
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           disown
           the
           Indulgencies
           of
           the
           Roman
           
           Pontiff
           ,
           by
           which
           a
           Thousand
           Sins
           are
           ,
           
             as
             Venial
             Crimes
          
           ,
           bought
           off
           ,
           and
           the
           Priest
           ,
           
             to
             save
             God
             Almighty
             the
             trouble
             ,
          
           can
           blot
           them
           out
           of
           the
           Account
           before
           it
           comes
           to
           his
           hand
           ;
           common
           Vices
           lost
           their
           Charter
           ,
           and
           men
           could
           not
           sin
           at
           so
           cheap
           a
           Rate
           as
           before
           .
           The
           Protestant
           Religion
           has
           in
           it self
           a
           natural
           tendency
           to
           Virtue
           ,
           as
           a
           standing
           Testimony
           of
           its
           own
           Divine
           Original
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           it
           has
           very
           much
           suppress'd
           Vice
           and
           Immorality
           in
           all
           the
           Countries
           where
           it
           has
           had
           a
           Footing
           :
           It
           has
           civiliz'd
           Nations
           ,
           and
           reform'd
           the
           very
           Tempers
           of
           its
           Professors
           :
           Christianity
           and
           Humanity
           has
           gone
           hand
           in
           hand
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           so
           visible
           a
           difference
           between
           the
           other
           Civiliz'd
           Governments
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           those
           who
           now
           are
           under
           the
           Protestant
           Powers
           ,
           that
           it
           carries
           its
           Evidence
           in
           it self
           .
        
         
           The
           Reformation
           ,
           begun
           in
           England
           in
           the
           days
           of
           King
           Edward
           the
           sixth
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           gloriously
           finished
           by
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           ,
           brought
           the
           English
           Nation
           to
           such
           a
           degree
           of
           Humanity
           ,
           and
           Sobriety
           of
           Conversation
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           doubt
           will
           hardly
           be
           seen
           again
           in
           our
           Age.
           
        
         
           In
           King
           Iames
           the
           First
           's
           time
           ,
           the
           Court
           affecting
           something
           more
           of
           Gallantry
           and
           Gaiety
           ,
           Luxury
           got
           footing
           ;
           and
           Twenty
           Years
           Peace
           ,
           together
           with
           no
           extraordinary
           Examples
           from
           
           the
           Court
           ,
           gave
           too
           great
           Encouragement
           to
           Licentiousness
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           got
           footing
           in
           King
           Iames
           the
           First
           's
           time
           ,
           it
           took
           a
           deep
           Root
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           his
           Son
           ;
           and
           the
           Liberty
           given
           the
           Soldiery
           in
           the
           Civil
           War
           ,
           dispers'd
           all
           manner
           of
           Prophaneness
           throughout
           the
           Kingdom
           .
           That
           Prince
           ,
           though
           very
           Pious
           in
           his
           own
           Person
           and
           Practice
           ,
           had
           the
           Misfortune
           to
           be
           the
           first
           King
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           in
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           that
           ever
           establish'd
           Wickedness
           by
           a
           Law
           :
           By
           what
           unhappy
           Council
           ,
           or
           secret
           ill
           Fate
           he
           was
           guided
           to
           it
           ,
           is
           hard
           to
           determine
           ;
           but
           the
           
             Book
             of
             Sports
          
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           called
           ,
           that
           Book
           to
           tolerate
           the
           Exercise
           of
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Pastimes
           on
           the
           Lord's
           Day
           ,
           tended
           more
           to
           the
           vitiating
           the
           Practice
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           ,
           
             as
             to
             keeping
             that
             Day
          
           ,
           than
           all
           the
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           Proclamations
           ,
           and
           Endeavours
           of
           future
           Princes
           have
           done
           ,
           or
           perhaps
           ever
           will
           do
           ,
           to
           reform
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           yet
           the
           People
           of
           England
           express'd
           a
           general
           sort
           of
           Aversion
           to
           that
           Liberty
           ;
           
             and
             some
          
           ,
           as
           if
           glutted
           with
           too
           much
           Freedom
           ,
           when
           the
           Reins
           of
           the
           Law
           were
           taken
           off
           ,
           refused
           that
           Practice
           they
           allow'd
           themselves
           in
           before
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           time
           of
           King
           Charles
           the
           Second
           ,
           Lewdness
           and
           all
           manner
           of
           Debauchery
           arriv'd
           at
           its
           Meridian
           :
           The
           Encouragement
           it
           had
           from
           the
           Practice
           and
           Allowance
           of
           the
           Court
           ,
           is
           an
           invincible
           Demonstration
           how
           far
           the
           Influence
           of
           our
           Governors
           extends
           in
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           People
           .
        
         
           The
           present
           King
           and
           his
           late
           Queen
           ,
           whose
           Glorious
           Memory
           will
           be
           dear
           to
           the
           Nation
           as
           long
           as
           the
           World
           stands
           ,
           have
           had
           all
           this
           wicked
           Knot
           to
           unravel
           .
           This
           was
           the
           first
           thing
           the
           Queen
           set
           upon
           while
           the
           King
           was
           engaged
           in
           his
           Wars
           abroad
           :
           She
           first
           gave
           all
           sorts
           of
           Vice
           a
           general
           Discouragement
           ;
           and
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           rais'd
           the
           value
           of
           Virtue
           and
           Sobriety
           by
           her
           Royal
           Example
           .
           The
           King
           having
           brought
           the
           War
           to
           a
           Glorious
           Conclusion
           ,
           and
           settled
           an
           Honourable
           Peace
           ,
           in
           his
           very
           first
           Speech
           to
           his
           Parliament
           proclaims
           a
           New
           War
           against
           Prophaneness
           and
           Immorality
           ,
           and
           goes
           on
           also
           to
           discourage
           the
           Practice
           of
           it
           by
           the
           like
           Royal
           Example
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           Work
           is
           begun
           nobly
           and
           regularly
           ;
           and
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           the
           General
           Representative
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           readily
           pursues
           it
           by
           enacting
           Laws
           to
           suppress
           all
           manner
           of
           Prophaneness
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           These
           are
           Great
           Things
           ,
           and
           well
           improv'd
           ,
           
           would
           give
           an
           undoubted
           Overthrow
           to
           the
           Tyranny
           of
           Vice
           ,
           and
           the
           Dominion
           Prophaneness
           has
           usurp'd
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           men
           .
        
         
           But
           we
           of
           the
           Plebeii
           find
           our selves
           justly
           aggriev'd
           in
           all
           this
           Work
           of
           Reformation
           ;
           and
           the
           Partiality
           of
           this
           Reforming
           Rigor
           makes
           the
           real
           Work
           impossible
           :
           Wherefore
           we
           find
           our selves
           forced
           to
           seek
           Redress
           of
           our
           Grievances
           in
           the
           old
           honest
           way
           of
           Petitioning
           Heaven
           to
           relieve
           us
           :
           And
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           we
           solemnly
           Enter
           our
           Protestation
           against
           all
           the
           Vicious
           Part
           of
           the
           Nobility
           and
           Gentry
           of
           the
           Nation
           ;
           as
           follows
           :
        
         
           First
           ,
           We
           Protest
           ,
           That
           we
           do
           not
           find
           impartially
           enquiring
           into
           the
           matter
           ,
           and
           speaking
           of
           Moral
           Gooodness
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           one
           jot
           better
           than
           we
           are
           ,
           
             your
             Dignities
             ,
             Estates
             and
             Quality
             excepted
             .
          
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           bad
           enough
           ,
           and
           we
           are
           willing
           in
           good
           Manners
           to
           agree
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           as
           wicked
           as
           you
           ;
           but
           we
           cannot
           find
           on
           the
           exactest
           Scutiny
           ,
           but
           that
           in
           the
           Commonwealth
           of
           Vice
           ,
           the
           Devil
           has
           taken
           care
           to
           level
           Poor
           and
           Rich
           into
           one
           Class
           ,
           and
           is
           fairly
           going
           on
           to
           make
           us
           all
           Graduates
           in
           the
           last
           degreee
           of
           Immorality
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           We
           do
           not
           find
           that
           all
           the
           Proclamations
           ,
           Declarations
           ,
           and
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           yet
           made
           ,
           have
           any
           
             effective
             Power
          
           to
           punish
           you
           
           for
           your
           Immoralities
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           us
           .
           Now
           ,
           while
           you
           make
           Laws
           to
           punish
           us
           ,
           and
           let
           your selves
           go
           free
           ,
           though
           guilty
           of
           the
           same
           Vices
           and
           Immoralities
           ,
           those
           Laws
           are
           unjust
           and
           unequal
           in
           themselves
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           the
           Laws
           do
           not
           express
           a
           Liberty
           to
           you
           and
           Punishment
           to
           us
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           King
           and
           Parliament
           are
           free
           ,
           as
           King
           and
           Parliament
           ,
           from
           this
           our
           Appeal
           ;
           but
           the
           Gentry
           and
           Magistrates
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           while
           they
           execute
           those
           Laws
           upon
           us
           the
           poor
           Commons
           ,
           and
           themselves
           practising
           the
           same
           Crimes
           ,
           in
           defiance
           of
           the
           Laws
           both
           of
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           go
           unpunish'd
           ;
           This
           is
           the
           Grievance
           we
           protest
           against
           ,
           as
           unjust
           and
           unequal
           .
        
         
           Wherefore
           ,
           till
           the
           Nobility
           ,
           Gentry
           ,
           Justices
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           and
           Clergy
           ,
           will
           be
           pleased
           either
           to
           reform
           their
           own
           Manners
           ,
           and
           suppress
           their
           own
           Immoralities
           ,
           or
           find
           out
           some
           Method
           and
           Power
           impartially
           to
           punish
           themselves
           when
           guilty
           ,
           we
           humbly
           crave
           leave
           to
           object
           against
           setting
           any
           Poor
           Man
           in
           the
           Stocks
           ,
           or
           sending
           them
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Correction
           for
           Immoralities
           ,
           as
           the
           most
           unequal
           and
           unjust
           way
           of
           proceeding
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
        
         
           That
           this
           Protestation
           may
           not
           seem
           a
           little
           too
           rude
           ,
           and
           a
           Breach
           of
           good
           Manners
           to
           our
           
           Superiors
           ,
           we
           crave
           Leave
           to
           subjoin
           our
           humble
           Appeal
           to
           your selves
           ;
           and
           will
           for
           once
           ,
           knowing
           you
           as
           English
           Gentlemen
           ,
           to
           be
           Men
           of
           Honour
           ,
           
             make
             you
             Iudges
             in
             your
             own
             case
             .
          
        
         
           First
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           We
           appeal
           to
           your selves
           ,
           whether
           ever
           it
           be
           likely
           to
           perfect
           the
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           ,
           without
           you
           :
           Whether
           Laws
           to
           punish
           us
           ,
           without
           your
           Example
           also
           to
           influence
           us
           ,
           will
           ever
           bring
           the
           Work
           to
           pass
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           Step
           from
           a
           loose
           vicious
           Practice
           in
           this
           Nation
           ,
           was
           begun
           by
           King
           Edward
           the
           Sixth
           ,
           back'd
           by
           a
           Reform'd
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           a
           Sober
           Nobility
           :
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           carried
           it
           on
           .
           'T
           was
           the
           Kings
           and
           the
           Gentry
           which
           first
           again
           degenerated
           from
           that
           strict
           Observation
           of
           Moral
           Virtues
           ,
           and
           from
           thence
           carried
           Vice
           on
           to
           that
           degree
           it
           now
           appears
           in
           .
           From
           the
           Court
           Vice
           took
           its
           Progress
           into
           the
           Countrey
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           Families
           of
           the
           Gentry
           and
           Nobility
           it
           harbour'd
           ,
           till
           it
           took
           heart
           under
           their
           Protection
           ,
           and
           made
           a
           general
           Sally
           into
           the
           Nation
           ;
           and
           We
           the
           Poor
           Commons
           ,
           who
           have
           been
           always
           easy
           to
           be
           guided
           by
           the
           Example
           of
           our
           Landlords
           and
           Gentlemen
           ,
           have
           really
           been
           debauch'd
           into
           Vice
           by
           their
           Examples
           :
           And
           it
           must
           be
           the
           
             Example
             of
             you
             the
             Nobility
             and
             Gentry
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ,
          
           that
           must
           put
           a
           Stop
           to
           
           the
           Flood
           of
           Vice
           and
           Prophaneness
           which
           is
           broken
           in
           upon
           the
           Countrey
           ,
           or
           it
           will
           never
           be
           done
           .
        
         
           Our
           Laws
           against
           all
           manner
           of
           Vicious
           Practices
           are
           already
           very
           severe
           :
           But
           Laws
           are
           useless
           insignificant
           things
           ,
           if
           the
           Executive
           Power
           which
           lies
           in
           the
           Magistrate
           be
           not
           exerted
           .
           The
           Justices
           of
           the
           Peace
           have
           the
           Power
           to
           punish
           ,
           but
           if
           they
           do
           not
           put
           forth
           that
           Power
           ,
           't
           is
           all
           one
           as
           if
           they
           had
           none
           at
           all
           :
           Some
           have
           possibly
           exerted
           this
           Power
           ;
           but
           whereever
           it
           has
           been
           so
           put
           forth
           ,
           it
           has
           fallen
           upon
           us
           the
           poor
           Commons
           :
           These
           are
           ▪
           all
           Cobweb
           Laws
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           small
           Flies
           are
           catch'd
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           ones
           break
           through
           .
           My
           Lord-Mayor
           has
           whipt
           about
           the
           poor
           Beggars
           ,
           and
           a
           few
           scandalous
           Whores
           have
           been
           sent
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Correction
           ;
           some
           Alehousekeepers
           and
           Vintners
           have
           been
           Fin'd
           for
           drawing
           Drink
           on
           the
           Sabbath-day
           ;
           but
           all
           this
           falls
           upon
           us
           of
           the
           Mob
           ,
           the
           poor
           Plebeii
           ,
           as
           if
           all
           the
           Vice
           lay
           among
           us
           ;
           for
           we
           do
           not
           find
           the
           Rich
           Drunkard
           carri'd
           before
           my
           Lord
           Mayor
           ,
           nor
           a
           Swearing
           Lewd
           Merchant
           Fin'd
           ,
           or
           Set
           in
           the
           Stocks
           .
           
             The
             man
             with
             a
             Gold
             Ring
             and
             Gay
             Cloths
             ,
          
           may
           Swear
           before
           the
           Justice
           ,
           or
           at
           the
           Justice
           ;
           may
           reel
           home
           through
           the
           open
           Streets
           ,
           and
           no
           man
           take
           any
           notice
           
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           if
           a
           poor
           man
           get
           drunk
           ,
           or
           swear
           an
           Oath
           ,
           he
           must
           to
           the
           Stocks
           without
           Remedy
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           second
           place
           ,
           We
           appeal
           to
           your selves
           ,
           Whether
           Laws
           or
           Proclamations
           are
           capable
           of
           having
           any
           Effect
           towards
           a
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           ,
           while
           the
           very
           Benches
           of
           our
           Justices
           are
           infected
           with
           the
           scandalous
           Vices
           of
           Swearing
           and
           Drunkenness
           ;
           while
           our
           Justices
           themselves
           shall
           punish
           a
           man
           for
           Drunkenness
           ,
           with
           a
           
             God
             damn
             him
             ,
             set
             him
             in
             the
             Stocks
             :
          
           And
           if
           Laws
           and
           Proclamations
           are
           useless
           in
           the
           Case
           ,
           then
           they
           are
           good
           for
           nothing
           ,
           and
           had
           as
           good
           be
           let
           alone
           as
           publish'd
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           hard
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           to
           be
           punish'd
           for
           a
           Crime
           ,
           by
           a
           man
           as
           guilty
           as
           our selves
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Figure
           a
           man
           makes
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           must
           be
           the
           reason
           why
           he
           shall
           or
           shall
           not
           be
           liable
           to
           a
           Law
           :
           This
           is
           really
           punishing
           men
           for
           being
           poor
           ,
           which
           is
           no
           Crime
           at
           all
           ;
           as
           a
           Thief
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           hang'd
           ,
           not
           for
           the
           Fact
           ,
           but
           for
           being
           taken
           .
        
         
           We
           further
           Appeal
           to
           your selves
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           to
           inform
           us
           ,
           whether
           there
           be
           any
           particular
           reason
           why
           you
           should
           be
           allow'd
           the
           full
           Career
           of
           your
           corrupt
           Appetites
           ,
           without
           the
           Restraint
           of
           Laws
           ,
           while
           you
           your selves
           agree
           that
           such
           Offences
           shall
           be
           punished
           in
           us
           ,
           and
           do
           really
           execute
           the
           Law
           upon
           the
           Poor
           People
           ,
           
           when
           brought
           before
           you
           for
           the
           same
           things
           .
        
         
           Wherefore
           ,
           That
           the
           Work
           of
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           may
           go
           on
           ,
           and
           be
           brought
           to
           Perfection
           ,
           to
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           Honour
           of
           the
           King
           and
           Parliament
           :
           That
           Debauchery
           and
           Prophaneness
           ,
           Drunkenness
           ,
           Whoring
           ,
           and
           all
           sorts
           of
           Immoralities
           may
           be
           suppress'd
           ,
           we
           humbly
           propose
           the
           Method
           which
           may
           effectually
           accomplish
           so
           great
           a
           Work.
           
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           the
           Gentry
           and
           Clergy
           ,
           who
           are
           the
           Leaders
           of
           us
           poor
           ignorant
           people
           ,
           and
           our
           Lights
           erected
           on
           high
           places
           to
           guide
           and
           govern
           us
           ,
           would
           in
           the
           first
           place
           put
           a
           voluntary
           force
           upon
           themselves
           ,
           and
           effectually
           reform
           their
           own
           Lives
           ,
           their
           way
           of
           Conversing
           ,
           and
           their
           common
           Behaviour
           among
           their
           Servants
           and
           Neighbours
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Gentry
           .
           They
           are
           the
           Original
           of
           the
           Modes
           ,
           and
           Customs
           ,
           and
           Manners
           of
           their
           Neighbours
           ;
           and
           their
           Examples
           
             in
             the
             Countries
             especially
          
           are
           very
           moving
           .
           There
           are
           three
           several
           Vices
           ,
           which
           have
           the
           principal
           Management
           of
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           viz.
           Drunkenness
           ,
           Swearing
           ,
           and
           Whoring
           ;
           all
           of
           them
           very
           ill
           becoming
           a
           Gentlemen
           ,
           however
           Custom
           may
           have
           made
           them
           Modish
           :
           Where
           none
           of
           these
           Three
           are
           in
           a
           House
           ,
           there
           is
           certainly
           something
           of
           a
           Plantation
           of
           God
           in
           the
           
           Family
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           such
           Epidemick
           Distempers
           ,
           that
           hardly
           Human
           Nature
           is
           entirely
           free
           from
           them
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Drunkenness
           ,
           that
           brutish
           Vice
           ;
           a
           Sin
           so
           sordid
           ,
           and
           so
           much
           a
           Force
           upon
           Nature
           ,
           that
           had
           God
           Almighty
           enjoyn'd
           it
           a
           Duty
           ,
           I
           believe
           many
           a
           man
           would
           have
           ventur'd
           the
           loss
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           rather
           than
           have
           perform'd
           it
           .
           The
           Pleasure
           of
           it
           seems
           to
           be
           so
           secretly
           hid
           ,
           that
           wild
           Heathen
           Nations
           know
           nothing
           of
           the
           matter
           ;
           't
           is
           only
           discover'd
           by
           the
           wise
           people
           of
           these
           Northern
           Countries
           ,
           who
           are
           grown
           Proficients
           in
           Vice
           ,
           Philosophers
           in
           Wickedness
           ,
           who
           can
           extract
           a
           Pleasure
           to
           themselves
           in
           losing
           their
           Understanding
           ,
           and
           make
           themselves
           sick
           at
           heart
           for
           their
           Diversion
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           History
           of
           this
           well
           bred
           Vice
           was
           to
           be
           written
           ,
           't
           would
           plainly
           appear
           that
           it
           begun
           among
           the
           Gentry
           ,
           and
           from
           them
           was
           handed
           down
           to
           the
           poorer
           sort
           ,
           who
           still
           love
           to
           be
           like
           their
           Betters
           .
           After
           the
           Restitution
           of
           King
           Charles
           the
           Second
           ,
           when
           drinking
           the
           King's
           Health
           became
           the
           distinction
           between
           a
           Cavalier
           and
           a
           Roundhead
           ,
           Drunkenness
           
             began
             its
             Reign
          
           ,
           and
           it
           has
           Reign'd
           almost
           Forty
           Years
           :
           The
           Gentry
           caress'd
           this
           Beastly
           Vice
           at
           such
           a
           Rate
           ,
           that
           no
           Companion
           ,
           no
           Servant
           was
           thought
           proper
           ,
           unless
           he
           could
           bear
           a
           Quantity
           of
           
           Wine
           ;
           And
           to
           this
           day
           't
           is
           added
           to
           the
           Character
           of
           a
           Man
           ,
           as
           an
           additional
           Title
           ,
           when
           you
           would
           speak
           well
           of
           him
           ,
           
             He
             is
             an
             honest
             drunken
             Fellow
          
           ;
           as
           if
           his
           Drunkenness
           was
           a
           Recommendation
           of
           his
           Honesty
           .
           From
           the
           practice
           of
           this
           nasty
           Faculty
           ,
           our
           Gentlemen
           have
           arriv'd
           to
           the
           teaching
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           might
           be
           effectually
           preservd
           to
           the
           next
           Age
           ,
           have
           very
           early
           instructed
           the
           Youth
           in
           it
           .
           Nay
           ,
           so
           far
           has
           Custom
           prevail'd
           ,
           that
           the
           Top
           of
           a
           Gentleman's
           Entertainment
           has
           been
           to
           make
           his
           Friend
           drunk
           ;
           and
           the
           Friend
           is
           so
           much
           reconcil'd
           to
           it
           ,
           that
           he
           takes
           that
           for
           the
           effect
           of
           his
           Kindness
           ,
           which
           he
           ought
           as
           much
           to
           be
           affronted
           at
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           kick'd
           him
           down
           Stairs
           :
           Thus
           't
           is
           become
           a
           Science
           ;
           and
           but
           that
           the
           Instruction
           proves
           so
           easy
           ,
           and
           the
           Youth
           too
           apt
           to
           learn
           ,
           possibly
           we
           might
           have
           had
           a
           Colledge
           erected
           for
           it
           before
           now
           .
           The
           further
           perfection
           of
           this
           Vice
           among
           the
           Gentry
           ,
           will
           appear
           in
           two
           things
           ;
           that
           't
           is
           become
           the
           Subject
           of
           their
           Glory
           ,
           and
           the
           way
           of
           expressing
           their
           Joy
           for
           any
           publick
           Blessing
           .
           Iack
           ,
           said
           a
           Gentleman
           of
           very
           high
           Quality
           ,
           when
           after
           the
           Debate
           in
           the
           House
           of
           Lords
           ,
           King
           William
           was
           voted
           into
           the
           vacant
           Throne
           ;
           Iack
           ,
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             God
             damn
             ye
          
           Jack
           ,
           
             go
             home
             to
             your
             Lady
             ,
             and
             tell
             her
             we
             have
             got
             a
             Protestant
             King
             and
             Queen
             ;
             and
             go
             
             and
             make
             a
             Bonfire
             as
             big
             as
             a
             House
             ,
             and
             bid
             the
             Bntler
             make
             ye
             all
             drunk
             ,
             ye
             Dog
             :
          
           Here
           was
           Sacrificing
           to
           the
           Devil
           ,
           for
           a
           Thanksgiving
           to
           God.
           Other
           Vices
           are
           committed
           as
           Vices
           ,
           and
           men
           act
           them
           in
           private
           ,
           and
           are
           willing
           to
           hide
           them
           ;
           but
           Drunkenness
           they
           are
           so
           fond
           of
           ,
           that
           they
           will
           glory
           in
           it
           ,
           boast
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           endeavour
           to
           promote
           it
           as
           much
           as
           possible
           in
           others
           :
           'T
           is
           a
           Triumph
           to
           a
           Champion
           of
           the
           Bottle
           ,
           to
           repeat
           how
           many
           Quarts
           of
           Wine
           he
           has
           drank
           at
           a
           sitting
           ,
           and
           how
           he
           made
           such
           and
           such
           honest
           Fellows
           drunk
           .
           Men
           Lye
           and
           Forswear
           ,
           and
           
             hide
             it
             ▪
          
           and
           are
           
             asham'd
             of
             it
          
           ,
           as
           indeed
           they
           have
           reason
           to
           do
           :
           But
           Drunkenness
           and
           Whoring
           are
           Accomplishments
           People
           value
           themselves
           upon
           ,
           repeat
           them
           with
           pleasure
           ,
           and
           affect
           a
           sort
           of
           Vanity
           in
           the
           History
           ;
           are
           content
           all
           the
           World
           should
           be
           Witnesses
           of
           their
           Intemperance
           ,
           have
           made
           the
           Crime
           a
           Badge
           of
           Honour
           to
           their
           Breeding
           ▪
           and
           introduce
           the
           practice
           as
           a
           Fashion
           .
           And
           whoever
           gives
           himself
           the
           trouble
           to
           reflect
           on
           the
           Custom
           of
           our
           Gentlemen
           in
           their
           Families
           ,
           encouraging
           and
           promoting
           this
           Vice
           of
           Drunkenness
           among
           the
           poor
           Commons
           ,
           will
           not
           think
           it
           a
           Scandal
           upon
           the
           Gentry
           of
           England
           ,
           if
           we
           say
           ,
           That
           the
           Mode
           of
           drinking
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           now
           practised
           ,
           had
           its
           Original
           from
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Country
           Gentlemen
           ,
           and
           they
           again
           from
           the
           Court.
           
        
         
         
           It
           may
           be
           objected
           ,
           and
           God
           forbid
           it
           should
           not
           ,
           That
           there
           are
           a
           great
           many
           of
           our
           Nobility
           and
           Gentlemen
           ,
           who
           are
           Men
           of
           Honour
           and
           Men
           of
           Morals
           ;
           and
           therefore
           this
           Charge
           is
           not
           universal
           .
           To
           which
           we
           answer
           ,
           'T
           is
           universal
           for
           all
           that
           ,
           because
           those
           very
           Gentlemen
           ,
           though
           they
           are
           negatively
           clear
           as
           to
           the
           Commission
           of
           the
           Crimes
           we
           speak
           of
           ,
           yet
           are
           positively
           guilty
           ,
           in
           not
           executing
           that
           Power
           the
           Law
           has
           put
           into
           their
           hands
           ,
           with
           an
           Impartial
           Vigor
           .
           For
           where
           was
           that
           Gentleman
           or
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           ever
           yet
           found
           ,
           who
           executed
           the
           Terms
           of
           the
           Law
           upon
           a
           Drunken
           ,
           Swearing
           ,
           Lewd
           Gentleman
           ,
           his
           Neighbour
           ,
           but
           the
           Quality
           of
           the
           Person
           has
           been
           a
           License
           to
           the
           open
           Exercise
           of
           the
           worst
           Crimes
           ;
           as
           if
           there
           were
           any
           Baronets
           ,
           Knights
           ,
           or
           Squires
           in
           the
           next
           World
           ;
           who
           because
           of
           those
           little
           step
           ▪
           Custom
           had
           raised
           them
           on
           ,
           higher
           than
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           should
           be
           exempted
           from
           the
           Divine
           Judicature
           ;
           or
           that
           as
           Captain
           Vrats
           said
           ,
           who
           was
           Hang'd
           for
           Murth'ring
           Esquire
           
             ●hynn
             ,
             God
             would
             show
             them
             some
             respect
             as
             they
             were
             Gentlemen
             .
          
        
         
           If
           there
           were
           any
           reason
           why
           a
           Rich
           Man
           should
           be
           permitted
           in
           the
           publick
           Exercise
           of
           Open
           Immoralities
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Poor
           Man
           ,
           something
           might
           be
           said
           :
           But
           if
           there
           be
           any
           difference
           
           it
           lies
           the
           other
           way
           ;
           for
           the
           Vices
           of
           a
           Poor
           Man
           affect
           only
           himself
           ;
           but
           the
           Rich
           Man's
           Wickedness
           affects
           all
           the
           Neighbourhood
           ,
           gives
           offence
           to
           the
           Sober
           ,
           encourages
           and
           hardens
           the
           Lewd
           ,
           and
           quite
           overthrows
           the
           weak
           Resolutions
           of
           such
           as
           are
           but
           indifferently
           fix'd
           in
           their
           Virtue
           and
           Morality
           .
           
             If
             my
             own
             Watch
             goes
             false
             ,
             it
             deceives
             me
             and
             none
             else
             ;
             but
             if
             the
             Town
             Clock
             goes
             false
             ,
             it
             deceives
             the
             whole
             Parish
             .
          
           The
           Gentry
           are
           the
           Leaders
           of
           the
           Mob
           ;
           if
           they
           are
           Lewd
           and
           Drunken
           ,
           the
           others
           strive
           to
           imitate
           them
           ;
           if
           they
           Discourage
           Vice
           and
           Intemperance
           ,
           the
           other
           will
           not
           be
           so
           forward
           in
           it
           ,
           nor
           so
           fond
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           To
           think
           then
           to
           effect
           a
           Reformation
           by
           Punishing
           the
           Poor
           ,
           while
           the
           Rich
           seem
           to
           Enjoy
           a
           Charter
           for
           wickedness
           ,
           is
           like
           
             taking
             away
             the
             Effect
             ,
             that
             the
             Cause
             may
             cease
             .
          
        
         
           We
           find
           some
           People
           very
           fond
           of
           Monopolizing
           a
           Vice
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           all
           of
           it
           to
           themselves
           ;
           they
           must
           ,
           as
           my
           Lord
           Rochester
           said
           of
           himself
           ,
           
             Sin
             like
             a
             Lord
          
           ;
           little
           sneaking
           Sins
           won't
           serve
           turn
           ;
           but
           they
           must
           be
           Lewd
           at
           a
           rate
           above
           the
           Common
           Size
           ,
           to
           let
           the
           World
           see
           they
           are
           capable
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Our
           Laws
           seem
           to
           take
           no
           Cognizance
           of
           such
           ,
           perhaps
           for
           the
           same
           reason
           that
           Lycurgus
           made
           no
           Law
           against
           Parricide
           ,
           because
           he
           would
           
           not
           have
           the
           Sin
           named
           among
           his
           Citizens
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           Poor
           Man
           sees
           no
           such
           Dignity
           in
           Vice
           ,
           as
           to
           study
           Degrees
           ;
           we
           are
           downright
           in
           Wickedness
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           in
           our
           Dealings
           ;
           if
           we
           are
           Drunk
           ,
           't
           is
           plain
           Drunkenness
           ;
           Swearing
           ,
           and
           Whoring
           ,
           is
           all
           Blunderbus
           with
           us
           ;
           we
           don't
           affect
           such
           Niceties
           in
           our
           Conversation
           ;
           and
           the
           Justices
           use
           us
           accordingly
           ;
           nothing
           but
           the
           Stocks
           ,
           or
           the
           House
           of
           Correction
           is
           the
           Case
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           brought
           before
           them
           ;
           but
           when
           our
           Masters
           the
           Gentlemen
           come
           to
           their
           Refin'd
           Practice
           ,
           and
           Sin
           by
           the
           Rules
           of
           Quality
           ,
           we
           find
           nothing
           comes
           of
           it
           but
           false
           Heraldry
           ,
           the
           Vice
           is
           punish'd
           by
           the
           Vice
           ,
           and
           the
           Punishment
           renews
           the
           Crime
           .
        
         
           The
           Case
           in
           short
           is
           this
           ;
           the
           Lewdness
           ,
           Prophaneness
           ,
           and
           Immorality
           of
           the
           Gentry
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           main
           Cause
           of
           the
           General
           Debauchery
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           is
           not
           at
           all
           toucht
           by
           our
           Laws
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           now
           Executed
           ;
           and
           while
           it
           remains
           so
           ,
           the
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           can
           never
           be
           brought
           to
           pass
           ,
           nor
           Prophaneness
           and
           Immorality
           Suppress'd
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           Punishing
           the
           Poor
           distinctly
           is
           a
           Mock
           upon
           the
           good
           Designs
           of
           the
           King
           and
           Parliament
           ;
           an
           Act
           of
           Injustice
           upon
           them
           to
           punish
           them
           ,
           and
           let
           others
           who
           are
           as
           guilty
           go
           free
           ;
           and
           a
           sort
           of
           Cruelty
           too
           ,
           in
           taking
           the
           advantage
           
           of
           their
           Poverty
           to
           make
           them
           suffer
           ,
           because
           they
           want
           Estates
           to
           purchase
           their
           Exemption
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           some
           weak
           Excuses
           for
           this
           Matter
           ,
           which
           must
           be
           considered
           :
           As
           ,
        
         
           (
           1
           )
           .
           The
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           is
           a
           
             Passive
             Magistrate
          
           ,
           till
           an
           information
           be
           brought
           before
           him
           ,
           and
           is
           not
           to
           take
           notice
           of
           any
           thing
           ,
           but
           as
           it
           is
           laid
           in
           Fact
           ,
           and
           brought
           to
           an
           Affidavit
           .
           Now
           if
           an
           Affidavit
           be
           made
           before
           a
           Justice
           ,
           that
           such
           or
           such
           a
           man
           Swore
           ,
           or
           was
           Drunk
           ,
           he
           must
           ,
           he
           cannot
           avoid
           Fining
           him
           ;
           the
           Law
           obliges
           him
           to
           it
           ,
           let
           his
           Quality
           be
           what
           it
           will
           ;
           so
           that
           the
           Defect
           is
           not
           in
           the
           Law
           ,
           not
           in
           the
           Justice
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           want
           of
           Information
           .
        
         
           (
           2
           )
           .
           The
           Name
           of
           an
           Evidence
           or
           Informer
           is
           so
           scandalous
           ,
           that
           to
           attempt
           to
           inform
           against
           a
           man
           for
           the
           most
           open
           Breach
           of
           the
           Laws
           of
           Morality
           ,
           is
           enough
           to
           denominate
           a
           man
           unfit
           for
           Society
           ;
           a
           Rogue
           and
           an
           Informer
           are
           Synonimous
           in
           the
           Vulgar
           Acceptation
           ▪
           so
           much
           is
           the
           real
           Detection
           of
           the
           openest
           Crimes
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           Civil
           Government
           ,
           Discouraged
           and
           Avoided
           .
        
         
           (
           3
           )
           .
           The
           Impossibility
           of
           the
           Cure
           is
           such
           ,
           and
           the
           Habit
           has
           so
           obtain'd
           upon
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           that
           it
           seems
           twisted
           with
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           as
           an
           Appendix
           to
           Natural
           Frailty
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           impossible
           to
           separate
           from
           it
           ▪
        
         
         
           For
           Answer
           ;
        
         
           1.
           
           ▪
           T
           is
           true
           ,
           the
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           is
           in
           some
           respect
           a
           
             Passive
             Magistrate
          
           ,
           and
           does
           not
           act
           but
           by
           Information
           ,
           but
           such
           Information
           would
           be
           brought
           if
           it
           were
           encouraged
           ;
           if
           Justices
           of
           the
           Peace
           did
           acquaint
           themselves
           with
           their
           Neighbourhood
           ,
           they
           would
           soon
           hear
           of
           the
           Immoralities
           of
           the
           Parish
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           did
           impartially
           Execute
           the
           Law
           on
           such
           as
           offended
           ,
           without
           respect
           of
           Person
           ,
           they
           would
           soon
           have
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           Persons
           and
           Circumstances
           .
           Besides
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           want
           of
           Information
           ,
           but
           want
           of
           punishing
           what
           they
           have
           information
           of
           ▪
           A
           Poor
           Man
           informs
           against
           a
           Great
           Man
           ,
           the
           Witness
           is
           discouraged
           ,
           the
           man
           goes
           unpunish'd
           ,
           and
           the
           Poor
           Man
           gets
           the
           scandal
           of
           an
           Informer
           ;
           and
           then
           't
           is
           but
           too
           often
           that
           our
           Justices
           are
           not
           men
           of
           extraordinary
           Morals
           themselves
           ;
           and
           who
           shall
           Inform
           a
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           that
           such
           a
           man
           Swore
           ,
           when
           he
           may
           be
           heard
           to
           Swear
           himself
           as
           fast
           as
           another
           ?
           or
           who
           shall
           bring
           a
           man
           before
           a
           Justice
           for
           being
           Drunk
           ,
           when
           the
           Justice
           is
           so
           Drunk
           himself
           ,
           he
           cannot
           order
           him
           to
           be
           set
           in
           the
           Stocks
           ?
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Besides
           ,
           the
           Justice
           has
           a
           power
           to
           punish
           any
           Fact
           he
           himself
           sees
           committed
           ,
           and
           to
           enquire
           into
           any
           he
           hears
           of
           casually
           ;
           and
           if
           he
           will
           stand
           still
           and
           see
           those
           Acts
           of
           Immorality
           
           committed
           before
           his
           Face
           ,
           who
           shall
           bring
           a
           Poor
           Man
           before
           him
           to
           be
           punished
           ?
           Thus
           I
           have
           heard
           a
           Thousand
           horrid
           Oaths
           sworn
           on
           a
           Bowling
           Green
           ,
           in
           the
           presence
           of
           a
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           and
           he
           take
           no
           notice
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           go
           home
           the
           next
           hour
           ,
           and
           set
           a
           man
           in
           the
           Stocks
           for
           being
           Drunk
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Scandal
           of
           Informing
           ,
           
             't
             is
             an
             Error
             in
             Custom
          
           ,
           and
           a
           great
           Sin
           against
           Justice
           ;
           't
           is
           necessary
           indeed
           that
           all
           Judgment
           should
           be
           according
           to
           Evidence
           ,
           and
           to
           discourage
           Evidence
           ,
           is
           to
           discourage
           Justice
           ;
           but
           that
           a
           man
           in
           Trial
           of
           the
           Morality
           of
           his
           Neighbour
           ,
           should
           be
           ashamed
           to
           appear
           ,
           must
           have
           some
           particular
           Cause
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           It
           proceeds
           from
           the
           Modishness
           of
           the
           Vice
           ;
           it
           has
           so
           obtain'd
           upon
           mens
           Practices
           ,
           that
           to
           appear
           against
           what
           almost
           all
           men
           approve
           ,
           seems
           malicious
           ,
           and
           has
           a
           certain
           prospect
           either
           of
           Revenge
           ,
           or
           of
           a
           Mercenary
           Wretch
           ,
           that
           Informs
           meerly
           to
           get
           a
           Reward
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           if
           no
           Reward
           be
           plac'd
           upon
           an
           Information
           ,
           no
           man
           will
           take
           the
           trouble
           ;
           and
           again
           ,
           if
           too
           great
           a
           Reward
           ,
           Men
           of
           Honour
           shun
           the
           thing
           ,
           because
           they
           scorn
           the
           Fee
           ;
           and
           to
           Inform
           meerly
           for
           the
           Fee
           ,
           has
           something
           of
           a
           Rascal
           in
           it
           too
           ;
           and
           from
           these
           Reasons
           arises
           the
           backwardness
           of
           the
           People
           .
        
         
         
           The
           very
           same
           Rich
           men
           we
           speak
           of
           are
           the
           persons
           who
           discourage
           the
           Discovery
           of
           Vice
           ,
           by
           scandalizing
           the
           Informer
           ;
           a
           man
           that
           is
           any
           thing
           of
           a
           Gentleman
           scorns
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           Poor
           still
           Mimick
           the
           Humour
           of
           the
           Rich
           ,
           and
           hate
           an
           Informer
           as
           they
           do
           the
           Devil
           .
           'T
           is
           strange
           the
           Gentlemen
           should
           be
           asham'd
           to
           detect
           the
           Breach
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           which
           they
           were
           not
           asham'd
           to
           make
           ;
           but
           the
           very
           Name
           of
           an
           Informer
           has
           gain'd
           so
           black
           an
           Idea
           in
           the
           minds
           of
           People
           ,
           because
           some
           who
           have
           made
           a
           Trade
           of
           Informing
           against
           People
           for
           Religion
           ,
           have
           misbehaved
           themselves
           ,
           that
           truly
           't
           will
           be
           hard
           to
           bring
           any
           man
           either
           of
           Credit
           or
           Quality
           to
           attempt
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           main
           thing
           which
           makes
           our
           Gentlemen
           backward
           in
           the
           prosecution
           of
           Vice
           ,
           is
           their
           practising
           the
           same
           Crimes
           themselves
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           so
           much
           wicked
           Modesty
           and
           Generosity
           in
           them
           ,
           being
           really
           no
           Enemies
           to
           the
           thing
           it self
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           with
           any
           sort
           of
           freedom
           punish
           in
           others
           ,
           what
           they
           practise
           themselves
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           Times
           of
           Executing
           the
           Laws
           against
           Dissenters
           ,
           we
           found
           a
           great
           many
           Gentlemen
           very
           Vigorous
           in
           prosecuting
           their
           Neighbours
           ;
           they
           did
           not
           stick
           to
           appear
           in
           Person
           to
           disturb
           Meetings
           ,
           and
           demolish
           the
           Meeting
           Houses
           ,
           and
           rather
           than
           fail
           ,
           would
           be
           Informers
           themselves
           ;
           
           the
           reason
           was
           because
           they
           had
           also
           a
           dislike
           to
           the
           think
           ;
           but
           we
           never
           found
           a
           Dissenting
           Gentleman
           ,
           or
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           forward
           to
           do
           thus
           ,
           because
           they
           approved
           of
           it
           .
           Now
           were
           our
           Gentlemen
           and
           Magistrates
           real
           Enemies
           to
           the
           Immoralities
           of
           this
           Age
           ,
           did
           they
           really
           hate
           Drunkenness
           as
           a
           Vice
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           forward
           and
           zealous
           to
           root
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           out
           of
           the
           Neighbourhood
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           be
           backward
           or
           asham'd
           to
           detect
           Vice
           ,
           to
           disturb
           Drunken
           Assemblies
           ,
           to
           disperse
           those
           Plantations
           of
           Leachery
           ,
           the
           Publick
           Bawdy-Houses
           ,
           which
           are
           almost
           as
           openly
           allowed
           as
           the
           Burdelloes
           in
           
             Italy
             ▪
          
           They
           would
           be
           willing
           to
           have
           all
           sorts
           of
           Vices
           Suppress'd
           ,
           and
           glory
           in
           putting
           their
           hands
           to
           the
           Work
           ;
           they
           would
           not
           be
           asham'd
           to
           appear
           in
           the
           detecting
           Debauchery
           ,
           nor
           afraid
           to
           embroil
           themselves
           with
           their
           Rich
           Neighbours
           .
           'T
           is
           Guilt
           of
           the
           same
           Fact
           which
           makes
           Connivance
           ,
           and
           till
           that
           Guilt
           be
           removed
           ,
           the
           Gentlemen
           of
           England
           neither
           will
           ,
           not
           can
           indeed
           with
           any
           kind
           of
           Honour
           put
           their
           hands
           to
           the
           work
           of
           Reforming
           it
           in
           their
           Neighbours
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           think
           't
           is
           easy
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           that
           this
           difficulty
           of
           Informing
           may
           be
           removed
           ,
           and
           there
           need
           not
           be
           much
           occasion
           for
           that
           Scandalous
           Employment
           .
        
         
         
           'T
           is
           in
           the
           power
           of
           the
           Gentry
           of
           England
           to
           Reform
           the
           whole
           Kingdom
           without
           either
           Laws
           ,
           Proclamations
           ,
           or
           Informers
           ;
           and
           without
           their
           Concurrence
           ,
           all
           the
           Laws
           ,
           Proclamations
           ,
           and
           Declarations
           in
           the
           World
           will
           have
           no
           Effect
           ;
           the
           Vigour
           of
           the
           Laws
           consists
           in
           their
           Executive
           Power
           ;
           Ten
           thousand
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           signify
           no
           more
           than
           One
           single
           Proclamation
           ,
           unless
           the
           Gentlemen
           ,
           in
           whose
           hands
           the
           Execution
           of
           those
           Laws
           is
           placed
           ,
           take
           care
           to
           see
           them
           duly
           made
           use
           of
           ;
           and
           how
           can
           Laws
           be
           duly
           Executed
           ,
           but
           by
           an
           Impartial
           Distribution
           of
           equal
           Rewards
           and
           Punishments
           ,
           without
           regard
           to
           the
           Quality
           and
           Degree
           of
           the
           Persons
           ?
           The
           Laws
           push
           on
           the
           Justices
           now
           ,
           and
           they
           take
           care
           to
           go
           no
           faster
           than
           they
           are
           driven
           ;
           but
           would
           the
           Justices
           push
           on
           the
           Laws
           ,
           Vice
           would
           flee
           before
           them
           as
           Dust
           in
           the
           Wind
           ,
           and
           Immoralities
           would
           be
           soon
           Suppress'd
           ;
           but
           it
           can
           never
           be
           expected
           that
           the
           Magistrates
           should
           push
           on
           the
           Laws
           to
           a
           free
           Suppression
           of
           Immoralities
           ,
           till
           they
           Reform
           themselves
           ,
           and
           their
           Great
           Neighbours
           Reform
           themselves
           ,
           that
           there
           may
           be
           none
           to
           punish
           who
           are
           too
           big
           for
           the
           Magistrate
           to
           venture
           upon
           .
        
         
           Would
           the
           Gentry
           of
           England
           decry
           the
           Modishness
           of
           Vice
           by
           their
           own
           Practice
           ;
           would
           
           they
           dash
           it
           out
           of
           Countenance
           by
           disowning
           it
           ;
           that
           Drunkeness
           and
           Oaths
           might
           once
           come
           into
           disesteem
           ,
           and
           be
           out
           of
           Fashion
           ,
           and
           a
           man
           be
           valued
           the
           less
           for
           them
           ;
           that
           he
           that
           will
           Swear
           ,
           and
           be
           Drunk
           ,
           shall
           be
           counted
           a
           Rake
           ,
           and
           not
           fit
           for
           a
           Gentleman's
           Company
           .
           This
           would
           do
           more
           to
           Reforming
           the
           rest
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           than
           all
           the
           Punishments
           the
           Law
           can
           inflict
           ;
           the
           Evil
           encreased
           by
           Example
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           suppress'd
           the
           same
           way
           .
           If
           the
           Gentry
           were
           thus
           Reform'd
           ,
           their
           Families
           would
           be
           so
           too
           :
           No
           Servant
           would
           be
           Entertain'd
           ,
           no
           Workman
           Employ'd
           ,
           no
           Shopkeeper
           would
           be
           Traded
           with
           by
           a
           Gentleman
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           like
           themselves
           ,
           were
           Sober
           and
           Honest
           ;
           
             a
             Lewd
             ,
             Vicious
             ,
             Drunken
             Footman
             must
             Reform
             or
             Starve
             ,
          
           he
           would
           get
           no
           Service
           ;
           a
           Servant
           once
           turn'd
           away
           for
           his
           Intemperance
           ,
           would
           be
           entertain'd
           by
           no
           body
           else
           ;
           
             a
             Swearing
             Debauch'd
             Labourer
             or
             Workman
             must
             Reform
             ,
             or
             no
             body
             would
             Employ
             him
          
           ;
           the
           Drunken
           whoring
           Shopkeeper
           must
           grow
           Sober
           ,
           or
           lose
           all
           his
           Customers
           and
           be
           Undone
           .
           
             Interest
             and
             good
             Manners
             would
             Reform
             us
          
           of
           the
           poorer
           sort
           ,
           there
           would
           be
           no
           need
           of
           the
           Stocks
           or
           Houses
           of
           Correction
           ;
           
             we
             should
             be
             sober
             of
             course
             ,
             because
             we
             should
             be
             all
             Beggars
             else
          
           ;
           and
           he
           that
           lov'd
           his
           Vice
           so
           dearly
           as
           to
           purchase
           it
           with
           the
           loss
           of
           his
           Trade
           or
           Employment
           ,
           
           
             would
             soon
             grow
             too
             poor
             for
             his
             Vice
             ,
             and
             be
             forced
             to
             leave
             it
             by
             his
             own
             Necessities
          
           ;
           there
           would
           be
           no
           need
           of
           Informers
           ,
           a
           Vicious
           Fellow
           would
           be
           presently
           Notorious
           ,
           he
           would
           be
           the
           Talk
           of
           the
           Town
           ,
           every
           one
           would
           slight
           and
           shun
           him
           for
           fear
           of
           being
           thought
           like
           him
           by
           being
           seen
           in
           his
           Company
           ;
           he
           would
           expose
           himself
           ,
           and
           would
           be
           punish'd
           as
           unpitied
           as
           a
           Thief
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           in
           short
           ,
           the
           whole
           Weight
           of
           this
           Blessed
           Work
           of
           Reformation
           lies
           on
           the
           shoulders
           of
           the
           Gentry
           ;
           they
           are
           the
           Cause
           of
           our
           Defection
           ,
           which
           being
           taken
           away
           ,
           the
           Effect
           would
           cease
           of
           course
           ,
           Vice
           would
           grow
           Scandalous
           ,
           and
           all
           Mankind
           would
           be
           asham'd
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           The
           Clergy
           also
           ought
           not
           to
           count
           themselves
           exempted
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           whose
           Lives
           have
           been
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           places
           still
           are
           so
           Vicious
           and
           so
           loose
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           well
           for
           England
           we
           are
           not
           subject
           to
           be
           much
           Priest-ridden
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           a
           strange
           thing
           how
           it
           shou'd
           be
           otherwise
           than
           it
           is
           with
           us
           the
           poor
           Commonalty
           ,
           when
           the
           Gentry
           our
           Patern
           ,
           and
           the
           Clergy
           our
           Teachers
           ,
           are
           as
           Immoral
           as
           we
           .
           And
           then
           to
           consider
           the
           Coherence
           of
           the
           thing
           ;
           the
           
             Parson
             preaches
             a
             thundering
             Sermon
             against
             Drunkenness
             ,
             and
             the
             Iustice
             of
             Peace
             sets
             my
             poor
             Neighbour
             in
             the
             Stocks
             ,
             and
             I
             am
             like
             to
             be
             much
             the
             better
             for
             
             either
             ,
             when
             I
             know
             perhaps
             that
             this
             same
             Parson
             and
             this
             same
             Iustice
             were
             both
             Drunk
             together
             but
             the
             Night
             before
             .
          
        
         
           It
           may
           be
           true
           ,
           for
           ought
           we
           know
           ,
           that
           a
           Wicked
           Parson
           may
           make
           a
           good
           Sermon
           ;
           and
           the
           Spanish
           Proverb
           ,
           may
           be
           true
           of
           the
           Soul
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Body
           ,
           
             If
             the
             Cure
             be
             but
             wrought
             let
             the
             Devil
             be
             the
             Doctor
          
           ;
           but
           this
           does
           not
           take
           with
           the
           downright
           ignorant
           People
           in
           the
           Country
           ;
           a
           poor
           Man
           gets
           Drunk
           in
           a
           Country
           Ale
           house
           ,
           
             Why
             ,
             are
             you
             not
             asham'd
             to
             be
             such
             a
             Beast
             ,
             says
             a
             good
             honest
             Neighbour
             to
             him
             the
             next
             day
             ?
          
           Asham'd
           ,
           says
           the
           Fellow
           !
           Why
           should
           I
           be
           asham'd
           ?
           Why
           ,
           there
           was
           Sir
           Iohn
           —
           and
           Sir
           Robert
           —
           and
           the
           Parson
           ,
           and
           they
           were
           all
           as
           Drunk
           as
           I.
           And
           why
           a
           Beast
           ,
           Pray
           ?
           I
           heard
           Sir
           Robert
           —
           say
           ,
           That
           
             
               He
               that
               Drinks
               least
               ,
            
             
               Drinks
               most
               like
               a
               Beast
               .
            
          
        
         
           A
           Vicious
           Parson
           that
           preaches
           well
           ,
           but
           lives
           ill
           ,
           may
           be
           like
           an
           unskilful
           Horseman
           ,
           who
           opens
           a
           Gate
           on
           the
           wrong
           side
           ,
           and
           lets
           other
           Folks
           through
           ,
           but
           shuts
           himself
           out
           .
           This
           may
           be
           possible
           ,
           but
           it
           seems
           most
           reasonable
           to
           think
           they
           are
           a
           means
           by
           that
           sort
           of
           living
           to
           hinder
           both
           themselves
           and
           others
           ;
           and
           would
           the
           Gentry
           and
           Clergy
           of
           England
           but
           look
           back
           a
           little
           on
           the
           Guilt
           that
           really
           lies
           
           on
           them
           ,
           as
           Gentlemen
           by
           whose
           Example
           so
           great
           a
           part
           of
           Mankind
           has
           been
           led
           into
           ,
           and
           encouraged
           in
           the
           Progress
           of
           Vice
           ,
           they
           would
           find
           Matter
           of
           very
           serious
           reflection
           .
        
         
           This
           Article
           of
           the
           Clergy
           may
           seem
           to
           lie
           in
           the
           power
           of
           their
           Superiors
           to
           rectify
           ,
           and
           therefore
           may
           be
           something
           more
           feasible
           than
           the
           other
           ;
           but
           the
           Gentry
           who
           are
           
             Sui
             juris
          
           ,
           can
           no
           way
           be
           reduced
           but
           by
           their
           own
           voluntary
           practice
           .
           We
           are
           in
           England
           exceedingly
           govern'd
           by
           Modes
           and
           Customs
           .
           The
           Gentry
           may
           effectually
           Suppress
           Vice
           ,
           would
           they
           but
           put
           it
           out
           of
           Fashion
           ;
           but
           to
           Suppress
           it
           by
           Force
           seems
           impossible
           .
        
         
           The
           Application
           of
           this
           rough
           Doctrine
           is
           in
           short
           both
           to
           the
           Gentry
           and
           Clergy
           ,
           
             Physicians
             Heal
             your selves
          
           ;
           if
           you
           will
           leave
           off
           your
           Drunkenness
           and
           Lewdness
           first
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           follow
           you
           ,
           then
           set
           us
           in
           the
           Stocks
           ,
           and
           send
           us
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Correction
           ,
           and
           punish
           us
           as
           you
           please
           ;
           if
           you
           will
           leave
           off
           Whoring
           first
           ,
           then
           Brand
           us
           in
           the
           Foreheads
           ,
           or
           Transport
           or
           Hang
           us
           for
           Fornication
           or
           Adultery
           ,
           and
           you
           are
           welcome
           ;
           but
           to
           preach
           against
           Drunkenness
           immediately
           after
           an
           Evening's
           Debauch
           ;
           to
           Correct
           a
           poor
           Fellow
           for
           Swearing
           with
           the
           very
           Vice
           in
           your
           Mouths
           ;
           these
           are
           the
           unjustest
           ways
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           have
           
           in
           themselves
           no
           manner
           of
           tendency
           towards
           the
           Reformation
           of
           Manners
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           true
           Design
           of
           the
           Law.
           
        
         
           'T
           is
           acknowledge'd
           there
           are
           in
           England
           a
           great
           many
           Sober
           ,
           Pious
           ,
           Religious
           Persons
           ,
           both
           among
           the
           Gentry
           and
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           't
           is
           hoped
           such
           cannot
           think
           themselves
           Libell'd
           or
           Injur'd
           in
           this
           Plea
           ;
           if
           there
           were
           not
           ,
           Laws
           would
           never
           have
           been
           made
           against
           those
           Vices
           ,
           
             for
             no
             men
             make
             Laws
             to
             punish
             themselves
          
           ;
           't
           is
           design'd
           to
           reflect
           upon
           none
           but
           such
           as
           are
           Guilty
           ,
           and
           on
           them
           no
           farther
           than
           to
           put
           them
           in
           mind
           how
           much
           the
           Nation
           owes
           its
           present
           Degeneracy
           to
           their
           folly
           ,
           and
           how
           much
           it
           is
           in
           their
           power
           to
           Reform
           it
           again
           by
           their
           Example
           ;
           that
           the
           King
           may
           not
           publish
           Proclamations
           ,
           nor
           the
           Parliament
           make
           Laws
           to
           no
           purpose
           ;
           but
           that
           we
           might
           live
           in
           England
           once
           more
           like
           Christians
           ,
           and
           like
           Gentlemen
           ,
           to
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Honour
           of
           the
           present
           King
           and
           Parliament
           ,
           who
           so
           publickly
           have
           attempted
           the
           great
           Work
           of
           Reformation
           among
           us
           ,
           though
           hitherto
           to
           so
           little
           purpose
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .