More shams still, or, A further discovery of the designs of the Papists to impose upon the nation the belief of their feigned Protestant or Presbyterian plot by Thomas Dangerfield. Dangerfield, Thomas, 1650?-1685. 1681 Approx. 78 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A36344 Wing D191 ESTC R24288 08118592 ocm 08118592 40874 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36344) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 40874) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1227:13) More shams still, or, A further discovery of the designs of the Papists to impose upon the nation the belief of their feigned Protestant or Presbyterian plot by Thomas Dangerfield. Dangerfield, Thomas, 1650?-1685. [2], 39 p. Printed for Richard Baldwin, London : 1681. Imperfect: p. 29-32 wanting. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Popish Plot, 1678. 2006-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-08 Taryn Hakala Sampled and proofread 2007-08 Taryn Hakala Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion More Shams still : OR A FURTHER DISCOVERY OF THE DESIGNS OF THE PAPISTS , To impose upon the Nation the Beleif of their feigned PROTESTANT OR Presbyterian Plot. By THOMAS DANGERFEILD . LONDON , Printed for Richard Baldwin . MDCLXXXI . TO THE Right Honourable Sir John More , Kt. Lord Mayor of the City of LONDON . My Lord , HAD I given those Opportunities for men of ill Converse , and worse Insinuations to have drawn me aside , as others have done , to accuse the Innocent , perhaps I had had no Occasion to give your Lorship this Trouble : But because the Enemies of the King , the Kingdom and the Protestant Religion , observe my Resolutions fixt and constant to serve all three , to the utmost of my Power and Capacity ; therefore , rather than they will leave Plotting , they have placed their little Sham Plots upon me too . However they go on in the old Popish Track of endeavouring to render Scurrilous and Scandalous , the Person against whom they raise their Batteries ; Among the rest I find my slef most terribly assail'd by two of these Enginees of Defamation ; by the one in a publick Pamphet ; by the other in a written , but very malicious Letter , cunningly distributed about the Town to several of the most Eminent Persons of this City . Which being done , without the least Proof of the Charges therein contained , I cannot but look upon it , as an intended Assassination of his Majesties most Royal Grace and Mercy towards me . This , my Lord , is that which enforces me thus to appear in my own Vindication , lest the World should think those Reproaches confirm'd by my Silence , and consequently those Royal Favours ill bestow'd , as being unworthily forfeited . This it is that emboldens me to make this Address to your Lordship , to shew that I am not affraid of Contradiction before so worthy and so great a Magistrate : Whose Zeal for the Protestant Religion is so well known , that you disdain the Plotters of its Destruction : Whose Charity , Generosity , and Candor are such , that you will not lend a forward Ear to Scandal and Reproach : and whose Justice is such , that should I be found imposing Falshood upon your High Dignity , as you would be the first to Condemn me to deserved Punishment , so you will be as ready to uphold and vindicate the Innocent . And it is under the Protection of being so , that I here presume to subscribe my self My Lord , Your Lordships most Humble and most Faithful Servant Tho. Dangerfeild . More SHAMS still &c. THE best and most pious men that ever were in the World , could not avoid the Scandals and Reproaches of venemous and malicious Tongues : Even the very Saints and Apostles were not free . Nor could our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so well behave himself in his unspotted Life , but that the Wicked had their Scorns and Scoffs ready at hand to blur and defame his Immaculate Conversation : Men as impious as Satan found out Accusations and false Oaths to betray his Innocency , and either through the Credulity or the Obduracy of his Judges to condemn and put him to Death . If then those devout and holy Persons , if Jesus the Saviour of the World , could not be safe , though it were in an Age when the Crafts and Devises of Hell were not so well known , or at least so well practised among men as now they are , how can poor miserable Creatures not only laden with Original Sin , but more obnoxious , once perhaps for Crimes perticularly committed than the rest of their fellow Creatures , and the Transgressions of Human Precepts , propose Immunity to themselves , more especially when the most refin'd Villanies and Perjuries abound that ever were heard of , such as neither the Memory of Man or History can Parrallel , by swearing , forswearing , counterswearing , and all this made a Trade by Men-Swearers , and Women-Swearers , that live by the price of Blood , who if they can but fasten a moments Privacy upon a man , never leave till they have sworn him out of his Life ? Now is it in the power of Man to Divine when this their thirst of Blood will be quenched , while they still under various Pretences endeavour to worry the people of God , and to annihilate the Immaculate True Religion of Christ , set on to the End , that what the Jesuits began , but could not accomplish by Clandestine Contrivance , they should finish by the accursed , but most seemingly plausible Procedure of that Caitiff Jezebel . For always the Jesuits were of opinion that the best Expedient to introduce Popery , and that Hellish Sting in the Tail of it that Destruction of Mankind , called Arbitrary Power , was to inflame the Nation by false Alarums , and impious Insinuations of Sham-Plots , and Contrivances laid upon the Protestants , to whip and spur on Prosecutions against the Innocent , hoping thereby to provoke them into Mutiny and Rebellion , that so there might be a Colour to call in a Forreign Power , the more easily to accomplish their Destruction . Another sort of Men ( so call'd ) there are , who encourage , abett , and uphold those Instruments of Satan , and their inferior Tools , who are of such a malicious and venemous Tincture in themselves , that the least appearance of Morality or Virtue , or the least Inclination to Penitence or Reformation in another , so cu●s them to the heart , that if he be not a Proselite of their own , that is a Convert to , their wicked Designs , he must be presently persued at the heels with a sort of Cur-like Observations , on purpose to forestal him in the good Opinion of Men , and to render him Odious for well doing ; as if Reformation and the Imbracing of a Christian course of Life in him were Wickedness and Impiety , or that his former m●scarriages were never to be blotted out . A piece of Charity which would never be owned by any but a Papist , that Abhorrer of all Mercy , from whom the Protestants are never to expect any favour : So that it is no wonder I should be so Viperously bitten by one that either professes or upholds , a Sham Politick , called Religion , that bears such an Antipathy to Charity , that would shut Heaven Gates , and no● suffer the God of Mercy himself to forgive any but such as they should approve of . I have observed , though perhaps not so well read as my Persecutor , that the great Creator , whom Man offends Millions of times more than Man can offend Man , declares himself that he is willing to receive a Sinner at what time soever he repenteth ; and that there is no one Attribute in which he more glorifies himself than in that one Attribute of his Mercy . I have also observ'd from the words of our Saviour , what great rejoycing there is in Heaven at the recovery of one lost Sheep . But the Custom alters with the Place ; for certainly never was there such Madness , Fury , Cursing , Swearing , Drunkning , Whoreing , Backbiting , Rayling Fretting , Fuming , Grinning and Girning , at the retrieving of one Penitent Sinner , as I have observ'd in my self . All which makes me apt to beleive , that that same Person of Quality ( so reported to be ) who wrote those celebrated Observations , called , Observations upon a late Libel , called a Letter from a Person of Quality to his Friend , concerning the Kings Declaration &c. was rather led by the Custom upon Earth , than instructed by Heaven ; for besides that the work does not seem to be any way inspir'd by reason of its insipidness ; it has this Paragraph , for I shall give it no other Title , till I have Dissected it . It is said Dangerfeild was a Rogue , granted , and yet as I hear , this Rogue was brought into both houses just before the Debate , to whip them up into the Bill of Exclusion , but now they tell a very strange thing , which is , that Dangerfeild is become truly honest . It is much , and in my Opinion , it is a lower kind of Transubstantiation to beleive Dangerfeild is honest , when nothing is visible but the Knave . That this man should be made honest would be a mighty Cure , and such a one as some of his Doctors would be loath to work upon themselves . In the mean time I cannot but put them in mind that it looketh a little Popish , not only to give a general Indulgence to such a known Sinner , but immediately to make a Saint of him . If the gathered Churches can do such Miracles , it is well , but if they should endeavour to put false ones upon the World , it might disparage their Prudence , and lessen their Reputation ; of which I am so tender , that in kindness to them I give them this Warning of it . It is said Dangerfeild was a Rogue , granted . With Mr. Person of Qualities leave , it is not granted , I was no Rogue , nor was it said so by any but Mr. Person of Qualities Gang. For before that time he talks of , I had received mine and his Soveraigns gracious Absolution for my past Transgressions : So that it is apparent , this Paragraph was jostl'd in by head and shoulders by the Observator , to call me Rogue , that he might cast an aspersion on both Houses of Parliament then sitting : For saith he , And yet this Rogue was brought into both Houses to whip them up into the Bill of Exclusion . The Paraphrase of which runs thus , Dangerfeild , then no Rogue , though unpardon'd , when he was brought up to kiss the D. of Y's , hand &c. to whip up the Sham Plot , afterwards became a Rogue by discovering of the Secret : and being brought into both houses to declare the Truth of the business , to the end they might be able to justifie such high and national Proceedings against the Party accused , he was still the same Rogue ; from whence that it must be gathered from his words , either the Parliament had Rogues brought before them to spur them up to look after the Kingdoms Safety ; or otherwise , that the Grand Counsel of England , and the Noblest in the World , suffered themselves to be Dog whipped by a Rogue into an ill Act : Which is the most scandalous Imputation that ever any Person of Quality could have invented where withal to defile his own Nest . Now was it less injurious to the honour of his Majesty to vilify that Pardon , which was therefore given me , to the end I might be qualified to appear before those great Assemblies ; the very business for which I am by the Observator call'd Rogue ? This is the Quondam C. J. S. with the Image of his dear Mrs. Celliers before him all over — The unlucky fate of your high flown Observators now a days to be still against Parliaments , and consequently against the Rights and Liberties of their Native Country . But , saith he , This Rogue was brought into both Houses just before the Debate . And thus the Observator is not only contented to scandalize both Houses , but more irreverently to asperse them with an Untruth : For the disguised Person of Quality must of necessity in this beleive me , in regard the Journals of the House will otherwise correct him ; wherein he will find that I had not been at the House of Commons Bar , not in twelve days at least before the Bill of Exclusion passed , save once , which was to acquaint the House concerning the defect of his Majesties Pardon to me ; so that the words , just before the Debate to whip them up , must needs be looked upon either as an Excursion , or Deviation , or what ye please to call it , from the Truth , or else a most Malitious Supposition . As to the Imputation upon the House of Lords , true it is , that I attended several days in expectation of being called in , to inform that , as I had done the other House , how far the D. of Y. had been privy to the Designs of Mrs. Celiers , but had for a considerable time failed of admittance , and understanding that the Bill was just ready to be brought up , I was very importunate to give my Information before the Bill came ; and accordingly made my Application to a Noble Peer upon whose Motion , as I humbly conceive , I was called in , where I related the whole Truth to the best of my knowledge . Now was I a little glad of having the opportunity to deliver my self just before the coming of the Bill ; as beleiving that nothing could more concern the Preservation of the True Religion and Establish'd Government , the Safety of his Majesties Life ( whom God preserve ) the ancient and just Rights , and Liberties of the Nation , than the Bill of Exclusion did : and besides I thought it no small honour to my self , that it was in my poor Capacity , having Truth and Justice on my side , to contribute to the warmth of debate about the passing of a Bill in the Lords House , which the Commons had passed with so much Vigor and Resolution but just before . Now for doing this , which I have reason to think , was one of the best Actions I ever undertook in my Life , here comes an Observator , with a farc'd Paragraph , and calls me Rogue , and Parliament Spurrer . And yet , if he be the Author , who is so reported to be , of those Observations , he was formerly of another mind , what ever Collyrium has cleared the eyes of his Judgment : For I well remember that a little before the meeting of the last Parliament which conven'd at Westminster , I met with a Person of Quality , in a certain place , at which time amongst other discourses , I took the liberty to give him the Epitome of those Hellish Designs wherein the Papists had engaged me ; which being done , his Lordship did me the honour to make this Reply Verbatim as follows . I am so well satisfied that there hath been and stillis , a most Hellish Plot of the Papists against the Kings Life , our Religion and Government , and to enslave us to a Foreign Power ; and I find such Demonstration attending all the Discoveries thereof , that for my part I am satisfied there is none but Fools or Knaves , and those must be in it too , that at this time of day doubt the truth of a Popish Plot. Nay he that hath but honour and honesty enough to be concern'd for the safety of his own private Affairs , cannot but acknowledg himself most highly indebted to the Discoverers , for what he now enjoys ; and for my part my Concern for the Protestant Interest is such , that I desire all men , when ever I am found in the Disbeleif of a Popish Plot , or any ways acting in the least matter or thing whatever , contrary to the Interest , Safety , and well Being , of what I said to you before , ( meaning as I suppose tbe Kings Majesty , the Protestant Religion , and Government ) to slight , and deem me the worst and basest of Men. And yet I have a strong jealousie concluding from rational grounds , that this is the very Person that at this time of day , so confounds the Popish Plot , so vilifies the Protestants with Shams and fictitious Contrivances . I am credibly informed , he is the only Person whose Zeal and great Concern for the prosecuting and detecting of Popish Traytors and Treasons , hath now transformed it self into the shape and real beleif of a Presbyterian Plot ; but pray Heavens he be not the only person that can be found to be in that Presbyterian Plot , when a Parliament comes to look into the bottom of it ; and it s well if he have not made use of my name for a Colour only , that he might the more freely lay out upon the Parliament , for addressing against him . This is the Person of Quality that so be-Rogues me about whipping the two houses into the Bill of Exclusion . A Town top Metaphor that no way agrees with the before mentioned Expressions , the Dignity of the Assembly , nor my business at that time . Yet for all this , notwithstanding so great a change of Opinion , and such an importunate Desire to all Mankind , of which I may be looked upon as a Morsel ; I have a greater deference for Persons of Dignity , than to condemn him from his own Lips , as he has setenc'd me for acting according to my Duty . But now they tell a strange Thing . Why what is that ? Do the Beasts in Epping Forest begin to speak Arabick ? Or has the Thames flowed over the Traytors heads upon London Bridge ? No , none of these whipping Miracles neither . What then ? Why Dangerfeild is become truly honest . Truly I have heard of far greater Miracles than this , among the Observators Friends the Papists , I have heard of several Hypocritical Luberly Fryers that have scraped acquaintance with the Virgin Mary in Heaven : Others that have been Sainted . Shall it be no wonder for a Company of Leacherous Dominicans to be the Virgin Mary's only Favourites in Heaven , and is it such a Wonder that I should become trnly honest ? But I find the Temper of this Paragrapher : He is so Spotless , so clear from Stain or Blemish of Sin , just ready for Elisha's Chariot , that he cannot endure to hear of the return of a Prodigal Son. No — let him be whip'd back to his Actions again with a Wannion . The Coldness of his Charity has condensed the word Knave into a Visible Substance , so that it comes out of his Mouth , like his breath in a Frosty Morning ; and all this while the only reason why the Knave is so visible to him in me , is , because he supposes me to have been Lasher to the two Houses . But if that be all , seeing his Majesty has been pleased to Absolve me from my former Transgressions , and I defie any person to charge me since , I shall presume fo far by vertue of the Kings prerogative of Mercy , as to beleive my self as honest as the Person that see 's the Knave so visible in me . And so his hard strain'd Simile of Transubstantion vanishes into it's original Nonsense . But saith he , persisting in his malice , That this Man should be made honest , would be a mighty Cure. What is this but to snarle at Heaven it self ? For Conversion is a Cure from thence . He then that Questions the strangeness of such a Cure , calls in doubt either the Power or Practice of the Almighty , as if it were an unusual thing with God to work such Cures . I would gladly know of the Paragrapher wherein I have been dishonest either to him or the publick . If I whip'd up the two Houses by speaking Truth , I was neither Rogue nor Knave : If I did not , he was bound in Conscience , if honest , to have convinc'd the World of my defects . Otherwise all he says must be looked upon as meer insinuation of some conceiv'd Malice , and an overweaning hatred of Reformation . To which if any Doctors of mine , as he calls 'em , have been instrumental , it was their Duty so to do ; and an evil peice of severity in him to abuse them for it . Nevertheless he lets fly at Randome at certain Individuum Vagum's , Heaven knows whom , and tells them , It looks a little Popish , not only to give a General Indulgence to such a known sinner , immediately to make a Saint of him . But he mistakes the point extreamly . I never received any such kindness at their hands . T is to the Kings Indulgence that I ow my forgiveness in this World : Nor can I tell , why the Supream head of the Church , may not as Lawfully and with as much Authority forgive on Earth , as the Paragraphers dear friend the Pope . Had I been fond of General Indulgences , or been ambitious of a Saintship , I should have moved in the same sphear of Iniquity from whence the Kings most Royal Clemency redeem'd me . Which had I done , I make no question but I might have had a General Indulgence from the Paragrapher himself ; Now what he means by their making a Saint of me , I know not ; I am apt to beleive he was himself in a Popish dream when he said it . I must confess the next way to be a Saint , is to converse with good and vertuous men , and so to be made a Saint , I think is much better than to be made a Devil with those incarnates from whose wicked Society I am so happily retird . In the mean time what a severe Interpreter of other peoples actions is this same Paragraphers ? Men cannot cherish the sprouting blossoms of Reformation and Penitency , with the Common Acts of kindness and Civility , but whip , they must be said to Saint the person they favour . Certainly the Papists and their adherents , are the most cruel people in the World , that make so many Saints themselves , and will not permit my Doctors to make one . But as severe as they are , if any Doctors do make me a Saint , I am resolved I will make one shift or other to slip in i' the croud . And again , I promise the Paragrapher that whoever they be that may make him a Saint , I will neither envy him , nor trouble my head about it . In the last place he falls upon the Gathered Churches , lays the Miracle of my Conversion to their charge , and very gravely Cautions them to finish their work , upon the high forfeitures of disparaging their prudence , and lesning their Reputation . So eagerly does this Nimrod of inveteracy persue me through all Societies of Men , as if he envi'd me a being upon Earth , and therefore resolved to hunt me out of the World. Thus did Satan appear among the Angels of God , to heap accusation upon accusation against Innocent Job : And thus the Observator endeavors to Whip up the gathered Churches into an ill opinion of me . But suppose the Miracle should be accomplished , as I trust it is ; I hope the Observator will not exclaim against Justice , if the disparagement of imprudence and the lesning of Reputation should redound to himself . For my party I look upon this Shimeian Paragrapher , as proceeding from Providence , contrary to the intent of the Writer , to make me the more wary of my future demeanor . For certainly it would whip up any man of Ingenuity , how prone soever to vice , to prosecute his intentions of a reformed life , if it were but to spite the fury of such a malicious adversary . As for the Gathered Churches , as he calls them , he acknowledges both Prudence and Reputation to be among them . But withal , by way of Tenderness would insinuate to the World , that he beleives that the Nut-shel which contained Homers works would comprehend both . Otherwise he could never be so idle as to think , they would forfeit those pretious Jewels of Prudence and Reputation to uphold a Rogue or a visible Knave or cherish a known sinner in his Wickedness . But the mark at which he shoots is apparent . For having fixed the Characters of Rogue and Knave , upon me , he endeavors by the same Artifice to undermine the Prudence and Reputation of the Gathered Churches , by pretending them to be my Abettors : With the Stilletto of a Tender Caution wounding both their Reputation and Prudence at once , which he seems to be so nice of . In all which he does but verifie the Text of Holy Writ , whose Oracles never fail , which tells us , that the Tenderness and Mercies of the Wicked are Cruelty . Thus the Prudence of the Gathered Churches distinctly discerns , and more than this ; for they cannot but be almost assured from the venemous Symptoms of this Paragrapher , that their present persecutions proceed in some Measure from his Councles , and that if a new Writ de Haeretico Comburendo were let loose again , he would be as active and as nimble as ' ere a Bonner or Gardner in England ever was to remove these eye sores of the Protestant Religion from his sight . Nor do their Reputation less appear , by their Patient suffering the Scorns and Contumelies which are daily thrown upon them , with the same Patience , and enduring the Disturbance of their Consciences , by awaking dormant Acts against them ; And all this to Exasperate their Loyalty , and incense them to incur their Soveraign's Displeasure : While the Dreams and Buffoonries of the Observator and Heraclitus are fostered and encouraged , to lighten and enflame our Divisions ; those pretty Motions that are blindly moved through the Fatal Cunning of Jesuitism , by the great Wheel of Romish Consultation . Those Corrosives of imbittered Language , that keep our Wounds still festring , which else might soon be closed without the least appearance of a Scar. Proceedings so much the more to be wondred at , that we should be vexing and tormenting the Native Protestants of the Land , at the same time when the Kingdom rejoyces to be the far applauded Sanctuary of Exiled Foreigners of the same Profession , exterminated from their Estates , their Callings and their Habitations , only for the same Crimes of Conscience and Protestant Religion . Having thus as I hope wiped off the Stains of Printed Reproach , cast upon me by those I never in my Life provok'd or injur'd ; I am now to give an Account of an Accident that lately befel me in Essex . An Affair that has made such a great Noise in the World , and set the Clacks of all my Adversaries a going , even to a Midwives Vanity : and would have made a far louder Din , had not my Innocency , Scann'd in the face of Justice , brought me off . A Gentleman , a Friend of Mr. Colledges , understanding I was to take a Journy into Essex , and that I was well acquainted at Waltham , desired me to take that place in my way ; and to discourse with one George French an Inn-Keeper in that Town , to know what he could truly testifie concerning the Life and Conversation of one Heynes an Irishman , who was expected to give Evidence against Colledge at Oxford , and if I could judge him to speak any thing material , that I would serve him with a Subpena , he giving me one at the same time . At first , I refused to engage in this Affair , as being an Evidence for the King in the Discovery of several Treasons and Villanies of the Papists ; but the Gentleman pressing it upon me , and withal telling me that I was as much obliged to use all lawful and honest means to preserve the Kings Subjects , as to testifie against them upon any Legal Prosecution , and having no knowledge more than what was Popular and Common talk of what was laid to Colledge's Charge , no way concern'd either for , or against him ; on the other side Personally knowing Hayns to be a most Notorious Papist , that had corresponded with Mrs. Celiers , and the Popish Lords in the Tower , and one that had been employed of her to run of Errands to the Prisons , and perticularly between her and my self , when I was a Prisoner for Debt in the Kings Bench , upon these Considerations I thought my self , as much obliged to do that peice of honest service to Mister Colledge , as the Gentleman was willing to have me , and took Horse upon the Sunday after Evening Prayer , and rode to the said George French's house at the Kings Arms in Waltham , designing to stay there all Night . Being shewed into a Chamber , I sent for the Master of the house , who neither knew me , nor I him . I asked him his name , and how long he had kept the house . To which he replyed his name was French , and that he had kept the house about two or three years ; that he had a few years before served the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury , in the Station of an Under-Groom , by which means he had got together a small parcel of mony , and hapning withal to marry an industrious woman , ( he meant one of Buscon 〈…〉 Ladies of Industry ) all helps brought him into a capacity of taking that House . Then he began to relate the Disasters he had met with since he undertook that employment , particularly that about a year before , he had entertain'd three Irish-men , who continu'd with him till they had run Forty or Fifty pounds in his debt , that they were often visited by one Heynes ; that one Mr. Ohara , Who was one of the Three before mentioned , took upon him to pay the Debt● upon which the other two came away for London , but that Ohara continued in his House for some few days after ; in which time Ohara took an occasion to quarrel with him , which gave him an oppertunity of swearing he would do the Inn-keepers business , and be revengd upon him : Soon after , to make his words good , Ohara came to London , and upon Information given to Sir George Treby Recorder , he procur'd a Warrant to apprehend French for Clipping and Coyning . About a day or two after this , French having some extraordinary business to London , in a Coach upon the Road ( and within the County of Middlesex ) met Ohara and Haines , who imediately seaz'd , and carried him before Mr. Raynton , one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace ; who , upon what the Warrant imported , committed French to Newgate . French thus took up , before th time of Prosecution , Ohara desires to withdraw his Information ; but being told how Villanous such practices were , and how liable he had made himself to an Indictment of Perjury , better consider'd of the matter , and going to Newgate to French , sell upon his knees before him , and ( with an Irish Ohone ) besought his pardon , offering to repair all the damages he had suffered by that Imprisonment ; withall declaring , that what he had ●worn against him was all false ; that he was made Drunk and put upon it by that Villain Haines ( for so he call'd him ) and promised to take care about his discharge at the next Sessions , which was accordingly done . Upon this relation , which is verbatim as I had it from French , I serv'd him with a Subpena , whereupon he demanding my name , I told it him . This being over , French leaves me , saying he would acquaint his Wife with it , whom he promis'd to bring up ; and intreated me to rightly inform her about it , being big with Child , least she might possibly be too much concern'd for the absence of her Husband ; and going away , leaving the Subpena upon the Table , but before he saw his Wife , he went into the next Room , in which was a Quartermaster belonging to one of my Lord of Oxford's Troops , who goes by the name of Bruff , and four or five Troopers more , who had been tossing the Glasses about all that day , ( as French inform'd me ) and to them he makes his complaint , swearing he had been serv'd with something call'd a Subpena to go down to Oxford , to be a witness for one Colledge , upon which , Bruff desir'd to see the Warrant , which French fetch'd him . He , upon perusal , swore Damn him , that could not force him to go , because there was neither Hand nor Seal to it ; that it was a new design to draw him into trouble , by making of him be a Witness against the King ; that it was a piece of Forgery , &c. and then asked French who gave it him ? He answer'd one Dangerfield . Presently says the Coxcombly pollitician of a Quartermaster , do you go and tell him here are four or five Gentlemen would be glad to drink a Glass of Wine with him , to have an oppertunity of acknowledging the good services he has done by his discovery , to the King and Countrey ; for if I get but once into his Company , let me alone to affront him . Upon which , French returning to my Chamber door , made a stand , and there related the desire of the aforesaid Company , Bruff all the while standing behind him ; I answer'd French , I was a little disturb'd with riding , and was so unfit either to take , or make a visit , that I did intend so soon as I had sup'd to go to Bed : Upon which Bruff forc'd himself into my Room , swearing Damn him , the Company were honest drunken fellows , and that they were resolv'd to drink a Glass of Wine with me , and then he sate down . Whereupon I demanded if he or any of his company knew me , or if he thought I knew any of them ? to which he answer'd no. Then I told him my circumstances would not allow me to be in company of persons I knew not ; withall excusing to him what rudeness I could not avoid being then guilty of , for that I could not allow him to stay longer than the drinking of one Glass of Wine ; then he swore , Damn him , he did not intend to stay any longer with me , and desired me to drink any health to him , what I pleased , which he promised to pledge and be gone : To this I answered , I did not accustom my self to drink healths , in regard it was the only promoter of quarrels . He replied , that was only about the healths of women ; and then pressed me to drink the Kings health . I told him I was unwilling to drink any health at all , for many reasons , some of which were these ; First , the Lords day was not expir'd . Secondly , that the King had caused a Proclamation to be published , shewing His Majesties dislike about drinking of any health . And thirdly , It was not visible to me , wherein I could in the least measure contribute to the Kings service by the drinking of his health ; but if he would undertake to make out that it did , I should think my self as much oblig'd , as he seem'd earnest to have it done , and that with a heart as full of Loyalty as he , or e're a man living . Upon which he took upon him to make me understand how it would be serviceable to the King , for me to drink His Majesties health , by this Interpretation : For says he , To drink a health , does imply the honour , good-wishes , and highest obligations to service imaginable ; and in fine , after one man has drunk anothers health , 't is to be understood from that very time , that he becomes his Slave and Vassal , and therefore , in such a time of distinction as this is , he thought every loyal hearted man , that lov'd his King as he ought to do , oblidged to that interpretation , is an argument prevalent eenough to drink the Kings health . To this I replied , the King , I humbly conceived , only expected a peaceable and quiet obedience from his People , whom His Majesty calls good Subjects , not Slaves or Vassals ; and I could not hold my self oblig'd to take any notice of his interpretation . Then he pressed me in the Common Dialect of Civility , intimating how much I was oblig'd to answer the request of a Gentleman and a Stranger , and in my own Room too . To that I reply ▪ d , that he was only a presumtive guess that had by his carriage , rendred himself more bold than welcome because not invited ; but yet since he had put the thing by the way of Common Civility , I would not be behind hand with him ; and then I promis'd to drink the Kings , provided he would not impose any other health upon me : Upon which he let fall a Rapsodie of Oathes and Curses , wherein I thought he had bound himself as fast as that sort of Troopery engagement could hold him . But he little regarded those ties : For I had no sooner fill'd his Glass but he begins the D. of Yorks health upon me . Whereupon I stood up and declar'd I would not drink it , because of the interpretation which he himself had made but just before of health drinking ; and for that , I had a Thousand reasons best known to my self , besides as many well known to the world , why I would not engage my self , to be his Highnesses Slave or Vassal , and so I refused his health . Then he began to catch at the expression , Reasons best known to my self ; and said , he would give me one convincing argument for my drinking that health : I being full of curiosity to hear that , desired him to declare what it was ; then he insisted that the Duke being of the Church England , His Majesties Royal Brother , and next Heir to the Crown , and pray'd for in the Church according to the appointment of the Canon Laws thereof , I ought to , and that was the very reason that induc'd him and many Thousands besides to drink his Highnesses health . To Which I replied , that though the Duke were prayed for as a branch of the Royal Family , in a distinct Prayer ; yet I could not understand that either that Prayer , or the Common Laws of the Church , had made any appointment for drinking his health , and therefore I refused it ; adding , that if he were no better acquainted with Martial , than he seem'd to be with Ecclesiastical Affairs , he was very unfit to serve the King ; and so I desired the Bugbear to withdraw ; for which he call ▪ d me Son of a whore , and gave me some other Thunder-thumping complements of the same nature , which I very patiently took , finding his behaviour such , as if he had the Popes Pardon or dispensation in his Pocket , for his own security , in case he had cut my Throat . And therefore I courted him divers times to march off , which at length he did , discharging , as he went , such Volleys of flaming Oathes , as if his Jaws had been the vent of Aetna . When he came into his own Room , he and his Crew , drank my Damnation , and while he continued there , I went to Supper , having sent for the Woman of the house , to whom I declar'd how I had serv'd her Husband with a Subpena , to go the next day , being Munday , towards Oxford ; and then I asked if she would be content to spare him for five or six days ? she answered yes , if the business he went about were just and honest , and that he might have his charges borne . To which I answered , the business was just and honest ; for which I refer'd her to the words of the Subpena , ( viz. ) that he was to testifie the Truth according to his knowledg , in a Cause between the King and &c. and that what Money the Law did allow to other Witnesses in such Cases , I did promise to see paid to her Husband . The Woman seemed very well content , and after Supper leaving mine , went into the Troopers Room , where by that time , they and the man of the House were gotten sufficiently Drunk ; in which condition they laid their heads together to paraphraise upon the writ of Subpena . Says Bruff , Dam him for a Dogg that made that Subpena , ( speaking to the Woman ) t is a shamm , and a design to dram your Husband into some more Roguery . Then says the Woman , Damn that Dog , Dangerfield , for I will have his business done before he goes hence . Damn me , says Bruff , do , wel all help you . I being in my own Room , and hearing this threatning Dialogue , thought I had reason enough to apprehend my Life in danger . Thereupon I sent my man for the Master of the House three times , but he still brought me word he was so Drunk that he could not come ; which answer he had every time from the Wife , who as often as the Husband attempted to stand up ; she struck him down again with a swinging Curse or two , interlarded with slaps o' th' Face . Then I sent several times for the Woman , but neither was to be perswaded . Presently hearing an extraordinary noise amongst 'em , I thought they were putting themselves into a posture to do my business , ( as they had all call'd it but just before . ) Whereupon I betook my self to my Sword and Pistol , resolving to stand upon my Guard , knowing the Law justified Self-preservation ; as being in my own Room , and besides , having nothing wherewith to fasten the Door , I found my self so much the more expos'd . Then 't was that I sent my man into the Street to call a Constable , or raise the Town , with all speed , that I might be safe ; who was no sooner gone from me , but in came Mother Industry , Sir ( says she ) I understand you sent divers times for my Husband , then for me , and now for a Constable , I cannot understand your meaning by it . And then stepping out of the Room she Swears , Dam her , my business should be done before the Constable could come . Which was no sooner said , but in comes the Quartermaster , who confidently demanded , what was the matter with me , and what apprehensions of danger I had that made me send for a Constable , and put my self in that posture of defence . ( for then I cock'd my Pistol ) To this I reply'd ( drawing forth my Sword , and making a scratch on the boards of the flowr between him and me ) Sir , you are the Person from whom I apprehend my Life to be in Danger , ( I having heard all your Design ) and this being my Room , and my Castle , you having twice forced your self into the same , without being requested thereto by my consent , either be gone , or else I will certainly fire upon you , then the woman ( for she was in the Room all the time ) push'd him into a char , swearing and cursing at the old rate , that he should stay there for her pleasure . Then I told them I knew their design was upon my life , and if he did attempt to come over that line or scratch upon the boards before the Constable came , I would Pistol him , laying my Sword by at the same time , and recovering a holster Pistol , which I also cock'd and held in my Sword hand , as thinking my self more secure with two , than with one Pistol and a slight Sword. Upon this , the Woman whispered to Brnff , who assoon stood up , draws his Sword and whistled , which was no sooner done but in came four or five Ruffian-like Fellows , which I afterwards understood to be the Troopers who had been all the time in the next Room waiting for notice . Two of them Bruff commanded to stay in the Room , and the rest to fetch their Carbines : which was accordingly done . Then he commanded the Peace ( as he call ▪ d it ) and me to deliver my Pistols , at which time I must confess it vvas in my mind to have fired ; but it pleased God in his Infinite Mercy , for so it fell out , I had just time enough to consider , that I vvas all alone , and among People vvho joyntly sought my Life ; and if it should happen that I should kill one of them , tho it vvere in my ovvn defence , and my self invaded by them in my ovvn Room ; yet I could not tell hovv the Devil might put it into their hearts to svvear the thing upon me ; so that I rather chose to capitulate for my life upon their terms , and be at their mercy , than to run the hazard of being Hang'd ; for that in vvhich case I had reason enough to knovv , the Plea of my Innocency could do me no service : Thereupon I told the Quartermaster I vvould deliver my Pistols , provided I could have any tollerable Security for my Life . Then he Svvore Dam Him , I should have none ( pressing upon me ) Was not his Honour sufficent enough for me to depend upon ? He ( as he said then himself ) had fought divers Prizes at the Bear-Garden , had been in divers Land and Sea-Fights , And should such an Eternal Son of a Bitch as I was , question his Honour ? Upon this , I resolv'd upon the considerations aforesaid , not to fire ; and so turning the Muzles of my Pistols outwards ( not having time to uncock them ) to prevent Mischief , I surrendred my self to this man of Honour ; which I had no sooner done , but as soon the Quartermaster , catches hold of my Pistols , and turns the Muzels of 'em to my Brest , strugling to trip up my Heels , at which time I being somewhat stronger in my left Arm , than he was in his right with which he held my hand , I forc ▪ d the Muzle of the Holster-Pistol by the hollow of my Body , and pass'd it under my Arm , believing it their secure : But having been wounded several times in my right Arm and Shoulder , I wanted strength to secure the small Pistol as I had done the other , upon which Bruff pressed so hard , that my Thumb which was on the top of the Cock , and my fore-Finger which was at the Tricker fly'd off , then down went the Cock , giving fire to the Powder that was in the Pan. However by the Infinite goodness of that God who knew the Innocency of my Cause , the Pistol did not Discharge ; which had it done , it must undoubtedly have kill'd me ; for it was Loaden with a Bullet sru'd on , and the Muzle was exactly at the middle of my Brest . Now that I might be so much the more induced to admire and value that infinite goodness of God , which had so miraculously deliver'd me , I have made tryal of the same Pistol , divers times since exactly as it vvas then , and it never faild to discharge , this being the second deliverance of that kind , vvhich hath hapened to me vvithin this six Months ; for all vvhich , I bless that God vvhom I serve , that he hath made me knovv , 't is he only is able to deliver ; for all vvhich I submit my self to his infinite Grace and Goodness , and novv return to our Quartermaster , vvho by this time , vvith the help of his Fellovv Ruffiains having gotten the Pistols out of my hands , fell upon me with a most outragious Violence . Toar all my Linnen and Cloaths , not vvithout some remembrances of the Womans Malice , vvho vvould novv and then lend her helping hand vvith some small Cuffs at my Face ; and because their usage to me was too soft , she would often cry to them , Damn him , Murder him , Kill him , Kill the Dog. And indeed I expected no other ; for they drew me by force , out of my own into their Room , where , under pretence of searching for small Arms in my Pockets , they intended to take my money : But my telling rhem it would make 'em liable to Indictments for Robbery , they desisted in that , but not in their blows upon my head and face , till the Constable come , who was no sooner entred the Room , but the Quartermaster , not giving me leave to speak , commanded the Constable to secure me till the morning , that I might be brought before a Magistrate , telling him how he had been forc'd to keep the peace ; upon which , this being the very Constable which my man brought , ( whose name is Thomas Vines ) he took me back into my own Room , where I had the oppertunity of informing him what had hapned to me , which he little regarded , but still suffered the Quartermaster and his train to come into the Room and abuse me . By this time it was near one of the Clock , so that I resolv'd not to go to Bed ; but when it was day , to take my Horse and make my complaint to some Justice of the Peace , little dreaming that the Constable for whom I sent , only to keep the Peace for the safety of my life , vvould have had the impudence to detain me longer than I had pleased ; so that about Five a Clock in the morning I vvas preparing to be gone , and thanked the Constable for his care about me ; but he svvore he vvould not suffer me to go , untill I had been before a Magistrate . I demanded if he understood the duty and office of a Constable ? or if he thought himfelf safe to detain me vvithout a Warrant , there being not the least appearance of injury that had been done to any but my self ? or if he look'd upon the Quartermasters command to be as vvarrantable to them both , as if it had been given by a Civil Magistrate to vvhom such matters only belong ? To all which , he replied , he well understood his business ( and so ' t vvas a sign ) and vvould not suffer me to stir from my Room . Nevertheless the Constable thinking I had touch'd him to the quick by vvhat I had said , goes into the Tovvn to advise ( as I since understood ) with one Tho. North , the High Constable of that Hundred , to whom he stated the Case , fearing that what he had done in detaining me was not warrantable , it being only the command of a Millitary person . To which , the High Constable , who was either as much Knave or Fool as any of 'em , replied , that he would justify him in what he had done ; and ordred him , if I did attempt to be gone , he should knock me down , or use any other violence what he pleased . Upon this the Constable returned , and told me he had very well considered his business , and found himself justifiable , though he kill'd me , if I offered to be gone . Whereupon I submitted , only demanding what Magistrate he intended to have me before ? and when ? His answer was , whom he pleased , and his own time . When I found him so huffy , I gave him to understand how much he was mistaken in that point ; for that the Law did allow me the liberty of chusing my Justice , provided it were in the same County , and I were not taken upon a special Warrant : but it was all one to him , for he little regarded what I said , only in a short time after he gave me notice to prepare my self . But I was more surprised when I understood what they intended and had contrived to swear against me : For I had overheard the Quartermaster , who told the Woman of the House they were all undone , if she did not stand their Friend , for they could not justify what they had done , unless she would swear the Peace against me . That she soon promised to do . And that made me consider of taking some friend along with me to be my Bail ; and I accordingly sent for one , that came , and upon my relation of the business , was as willing to go , as I was to desire him , being well satisfied how much I had been abused . My Friend being gone before , the Constable whispers me to this effect , Sir , I believe you are doubtful of what is intended to be sworn against you , and least there should be occasion for Bail have sent for that Friend , which I do assure you need not have been . For notwithstanding what has happen'd about my detaining of you , yet you had better make use of and depend upon me , who will be bound for you as far as a hundred pounds goes . For that person which you intend for your Bayl is a Presbiteryan , and will do both you and himself , much prejudice , should he appear in this Affair . Now as for my friends being of any other perswasion than that of the present Church of England , as it is Estabish'd by Law , I knew to be most notoriously false , and had sufficient reason to think my friend the Constable , as great a Rogue as any of the rest , whoe 's best principles are all sorts of Debaucheries , and therefore I thought my self so much the more oblidg'd to have a friend : Because I saw all they drove at , vvas to triumph and rejoyce at my Committment to Prison . After this , vve set forth tovvards the Justices , vvhoes habitation vvas about four miles from Waltham , vvho hath formerly been best knovvn by the name of Mad Wroth : A person as fit for the purpose , as my accusers and the Constable vvere . Before him , the Woman testified vvhat the Troopers and she had agreed upon before , the heads of her Information being here set dovvn , as they vvere taken by that Officious Just'ass , vvho out of his abundant care and Zeal ( but for vvhat he hardly knevv himself ) took the pains to ride over to Whaltham that very same day , to take fresh examinations , or rather to temper vvith suborn vvitnesses against me , as perhaps he may one day be sencible off . Lucy French made Oath before Squire John Wroth the 15th . day of August 1681. That Thomas Dangerfield drew his Sword and Pistol at her , and swore he would kill her . That he told her she must take leave of her Husband , for she should see him no more , that he told her the Subpena which he had served upon her Husband , was in favour of my Lord of Shaftsbury , that he did give her Husband instructions what to say when he came to Oxford , on the behalf of Colledge . That he the said Dangerfield did swear he would dye upon his sword point , if he did not ruin both her and her husband , before he went out of their house , that he came not out of kindness to the house , but to do them hurt ; that he would cause her Husband to be put in the Garet , that he would procure their Lycence to be taken away in a months time , &c. With this and such kind of stuff did our Justice make shift , to patch up an Information ; which vvhen it vvas taken , and as I thought , all things over as to that , I desir'd my Defence might be heard ; to which he replied , The Law did not allow such Rascals , as I was , any defence : And besides , I stood there charg'd with Subornation , and had taken part with my Lord Shaftsbury , whom he said was the greatest Traytor in the Nation ; That I had refused to drink the Duke of York's health , because he was a Papist : But then he swore , Damn him , he knew the Duke to be a better Protestant than I was , with a great deal more of such like impious Riff Raff . Then I told him , I thought the rest of the Justices of the Peace , would scarce be of his opinion at the Quarter Sessions : To which , he swore , Damn him , but he was sure they would . However , Sir , said I , you are not Parliament Proof . With that , he swore , Damn him , he vallued not a Parliament , a Fart for a Parliament . Then I held up my Finger and bid him have a care ; upon which , he became somewhat mild , and offered to let me go upon Bail , which I had ready , and so the heat was over . But just when I was coming away , says he to me , pray Sir , let me desire you to inform your self well about the persons which put you upon serving of this Subpena ; for your cannot chuse but find , they had a design to embroyl you by it , and to leave you in the Bryers , whereby your prossecuting and detecting of Papists , and the Popish-Plot , might be rendred useless . Pray , says he again , take my advice , and sift it to the bottom : And if you find it as I say , make use of me to represent your discovery to the King , vvhich shall serve to restore you to my good opinion again ; which you have at present lost by appearing in so foul a thing , as serving the Subpena . Now let all the world judge whether or no , this Gentleman had not a design to suborn me to charge Mr. Colledges Friend , from whom I had the Subpena ; with a design to destroy my Evidence in the Popish-Plot ? And whither or no the overflowing of his Gall has not carried him so much beyond the sedate and mild behaviour of a Civil Magistrate , that I had just cause to think him as bad a person as the Woman who had sworn so falsely against me ? For how likely a thing is it , that I who never knew the Woman , nor spoak to her in my life before , nor had ever heard of any the least injury , either her self or any thing relating to her had done me , should attempt to kill her , to threaten either her , or her Husbands Life or Ruine , as she had sworn . But now to shew you what became of this affair , which Mr. Justice Overdo , by his double dilligence had taken no small pain to Nurss into a Subornation , I shall tell you in a few words . Being bound over to the Quarter-Sessions which opened at Chelmsford the 4th of October , I attended , and the Evidence being heard against me , and my Defence against that ; the thing I stood charg'd with seem'd so improbable , that the Court ( not being of Squire John's opinion , though he had pawn'd his Soul upon it , ) by their great Justice and Honour , discharg'd both me and my Bail , leaving those malicious Prosecutors to my course at Law ; which I soon made use of , for I straight vvay procur'd a Bill to be dravvn up against Slouch the Quartermaster for the assault , and preseuted it to the Grand Jury , vvho upon direct Evidences found it Billa vera ; upon the knovvledg of vvhich , the Bacchanalian Svvash-Buckler , notvvithstanding all his health-drinking , leaving , fearing the process of the Courr vvould reach him , flead , but our Justice remain'd behind , biting and punishing his Lips that had so unadvisedly published his Ignoronce in the Law , his contempt of Heaven , and slght of Salvation , finding himself not only liable besides to a just complaint in Parliament , but in the Interval , obnoxious to several Informations in the Crovvn-Office ! not only for his misbehaviour in this single affair , but for several most notorious misdemeaners by him committed , at a Special Sessions held at Epping in the Month of September , vvhich he may be sure to hear of on both sides his Ears . As also hovv basely he hath represented the Kings Person to the vvhole Country ? That which follows now , is such a piece of unparralel'd Impudence , as nothing but a Devil in that horrible Shape of a Papist would be guilty of . The Copy of a Letter which was sent to the Honourable Sir Thomas Player , there having been some Scores containing the same matter , sent by the Penny-Post to divers other Eminent Citizens and Persons of Quality . Which Letters by the Stile , the hand Writing , and the most notorious and apparent stories and defamations hodg podg'd together in the same , sufficiently demonstrate them to be contriv'd and sent abroad by some Rascally lying Priest , and subscrib'd by the two first Letters of that so Famous Female Politition , Madam Cellier's Name . The Letter runs thus , Verbatim . I cannot but extreamly concern my self about your great misfortune , in having any thing to do with that Monster of a Man Dangerfield : who though his carriage among you seem very demure , and his cunning such that he yet passes for a very honest man , and is hug'd and caress'd by many Eminent Citizens ( as I my self have been an Eye Witness too ) yet I can assure you , since the King came from Windsor , he has been to kiss his hand , and has given such a Catalogue of Name , charged with such desperate , bloody , and Villanous Treasons , and that for the most part against no small Persons ; that when I first heard the account thereof , it made my Hair stand an end , admiring how it was possible for a man to have so much of the Devil in him , and to conceal it thus long , and so well , as to be taken for the greatest miracle in a Correction that hath happened in these latter days . For my part , I am of the Church of England Established by Law , and yet have the Charity to be concern'd to see how that subtel Emissary , that true Emblem of his Lord and Master , Shaftsbury , ( who is certainly a Papist in his heart , and would hazard both Body and Soul to destroy the least thing bearing the name of a Protestant were it in his Power ) gulls and leads you poor unthinking Fanaticks about by the Noses , when in very deed he is at the same time endeavouring to destroy all that industry and pains , which you have been so long taking , to secure Religion , Liberty , and Property , and instead of that thing call'd Unity ( then which the thinking men of our Church nothing more desire ) he is using far worse means than any of those Shamming Villains have yet done to inflame the Nation , put us all into Mutiny and Confusion . As for what is past in relation to Colledge and others , 't is very insignificant ; and all those Irish , and the rest of the Tools , had rendred themselves useless ; and you will see them as much slighted shortly , because they cannot go through-stitch with what they undertook . But I can assure you , Dangerfield is too cunning a Rogue , to miscarry in such a weighty Affair , where his Neck is so much concern'd ; and hath taken such good Notes ( as he calls 'em ) , and brought such considerable Persons of Quality , in Disguises , into your several Clubs and Meetings , that , for ought I see , if the Great God stand not firmly by you , you are all lost as one Man. It maketh my very Heart bleed , to find such Villains have any Being on Earth ; much more to live in Conversation with , or have any room in the Opinions of honest Men. I cannot give you an Account of any the Particulars of his Hellish Design as yet ; but hope my Diligence in the discovery thereof , will afford you more in a short time ; till which , take this , as it imports perfect Truth , and the great esteem I have for the safety and well-being of your self , and all sober honest Men. Sir , Yours in all lawful Services , E. C. August 31. 81. From this Letter all Men of Reason , that wilfully will not close the Eyes of their Understandings , may easily deduce the Character of the whole Popish Gang , of which this same Jesuitical Caution-monger seems to be one of the great Bell-weathers . There is in it Malice , Envy , Treachery , Inhumanity , counterfeited-Friendship , Forgery , Dissimulation , Lying , and that particular Vice which gave to Satan the additional Name of Devil , or Diabolus , False accusation ; which makes out the Character of a Papist to be Envious , Malicious , Treacherous , Inhumane , a Counterfeit-Friend , a Forger , a Dissembler , a Liar , and a False-accuser : A Vice so much detested and abominated by all the Saints in Heaven , that one of the Reasons set down in the Revelations why they gave Glory and Honour to God , was this , Because the Accuser of the Brethren was cast down into the Bottomless-pit . Now to shew the World that this same Son of Mischief , who wrote the foregoing Letter , has accumulated to himself all those rare and diabolical Qualities before-mentioned , and made himself the very Pandora's Box of all the Infections that destroy Common Morality ; his Malice , his Envy , and his Inhumanity appear in this , that believing me to be in the favour of worthy and good Men , he endeavours to canker their Friendships towards me ; as if all other Men were to bear me hatred , because it would be a thing acceptable to the envenom'd rancour of him and his Party ; and because he thinks , if they should forsake me , I should be abandon'd by all the World beside . Then , thought he , necessity would constrain the miserable and forlorn Wretch to seek for succour , to unsay what I have said , to unswear what I have sworn , and make my self the Opprobrium of the World , as others have done . No , no , Sir , you were mistaken in your Measures ; I am not a Person of those tottering Resolutions , to be shaken by your Paper Engines : Nor shall all the Necessities in the World make me recede a Tittle from what I have asserted in the Face of the Nation ; but shall be ready to appear again , whenever call'd , with the same boldness and the same Truth that redeem'd me from the Vassalage of a burthened Conscience . His Counterfeited Friendship and Dissimulation appears in his being so extremely concern'd for the great Misfortune of Sir Thomas Player , and other Eminent Citizens , for having any thing to do with that Monster of a Man , Dangerfield : By which he shews himself an exact Follower and Admirer of his Doctor St. Judas , to pretend a kindness , and trouble for their Misfortune , while he was seeking to betray them with a Kiss . For , his kind Paper , and his deep Concerns , were Contrivances to probe their Hearts . Had those worthy Gentlemen shewed any Signs of Commotion , had they seem'd to have been startled at the News and Discovery of such a Monster of a Man , thence they would have argu'd a certain Guilt : And then you should have had those Miscreants observing every Motion and Lineament of their Faces , like Picture drawers ; then you should have had 'em diving into the very bottom of their Breasts , like Indians for Pearly Oyster-shells : Nor would they ever have left 'em , till they had found , tho' it had been but a Barley-corns-worth of Probability ; knowing well what a Mountain of Treason they could have built upon such a small Foundation . But such was the firm and unspotted Loyalty of those Gentlemen , that all the Efforts of this same Hell-prompted Son of Belial prov'd unsuccessful . But now to compass his Design , and to make out his Kindness , Dangerfield must be a Monster of a Man : For the Papis's never use to slander , but they do it to purpose . And indeed I 'll say that for him , hitherto he has laid the Plot of his Lie like an Artist ; 't is all super-fine Roguery , all Wimble-Mischief . But alas ! by and by , through the diverting Direction of Providence , the Fool spoils all again , and down comes the whole Machine of his Forgery upon his own Head. For , saith he , tho Dangerfield pass for a very honest Man , &c. yet I can assure you , since the King came from Windsor , he has been to kiss His Hand , and has given such a Catalogue of Names , charged with such desparate , bloody , and villainous Treasons , &c. A Man had been finely serv'd now , that should have made a Lying Match , and laid a round Wager upon this Fellow's Head. Certain it is , that this same Intelligencer could not chuse but be assured , that at the same time all this was false ; and yet he has the impudence to make His Majesty Himself concern'd . Had he no body to put his Fables and his Stories upon , but upon the King ? Could he not be content to forge an impudent Untruth , but his Villainship must be so detestably insolent , as it were to bespeak the Royal Attestation to make it probable ? However , I gain one extraordinary Happiness by it , of which I am not a little proud , that I have the Great Exemplar of Justice on my side , to acquit me from so foul a Reproach ; to whom I humbly appeal , and at the same time provoke the Engraver of my Monstrosity to do the same . Nay , he goes on , driving the Nail to the Head , and thinking to clinch it o' th' other side : The Treasons , quo ' he , were so desparate , bloody , and villainous , that when he first heard the account thereof , his Hair stood on End. He would seem by these Words to be a Person that us'd to be frighted with his own Shadow ; but he is too desperate a Knave to be so easily scar'd . Some say it was the Devil that stood at his Elbow , to help his Invention , that made his Hair stare : But that can never be neither ; the Visit of a dear Friend , such as the Devil is to him , can never be terrible to any Man : Therefore there must be some other Reason why his Hair stood on end : I think I have it ; His Conscience appear'd to him in the gastly shape of Treason and Murder , mantled with Perjuries and High-Treasons , with a Glory of Hell-sire encircling her Brows ; and that put him into a terror for a while : but it seems he had a Charm , and sent her packing with a vengeance ; for he has no sooner done with one Lie , but he begins another immediately . For my part , saith he , I am of the Church of England established by Law. Which if he be , I durst be bound to do Penance with Nebuchadnezzar . He of the Church of England ! Rather of some of those West-India Congregations that worship the Devil . No Man can believe him to be of that Church , of which no sooner has he professed himself a Member , but he presently divests it of the true Character of Christianity : For , saith he , I am of the Church of England , yet have the Charity to be concern'd , &c. As if Charity , without which there can be no true Religion , were not a thing usual in the Church of England ; only he had pick'd up a little by the bye . Truly the Church of England is very much honour'd by such a Member . But the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of England , I hope , is too well known , to be canker'd by such a polluted Gangren as he . They say , indeed , that Persons infected with the Plague are still de 〈…〉 infect others ; and this , I make no doubt , was the ●●●son why he professed himself to be of the Church of 〈◊〉 For , thinks he , if I could persuade the World , that the Members of the Church of England were without Charity , Liars , and Forgerers , like himself , what a fine Church would he make of it ? And thus you see how he levels his Porcupine Quills at all , in particular , in general ; here , there , and every where ; as if he thought that Scab of himself were sufficient to Leprosie the whole Church of England . But wherein does his Charity consist ? Why , in being concern'd to see how that subtile Emissary , that true Emblem of his Lord and Master Shaftsbury , who is certainly a Papist in his heart , gulls and leads you poor unthinking Fanaticks about by the Noses . One would think a Person of so much Charity , a Man of more Charity than all the Church of England beside , might have reserv'd about the quantity of half a Scruple for me too , and not in the midst of all his Charity have shewn himself so transported , and in such an agony of raving and railing : And all this to usher in a Lie , as long as from Dan to Beersheba , spun up with a great deal of curiosity and study , and yet not worth the while : It being impossible for a Lie of such a magnitude to continue long conceal'd . For Lies of this sort , like Fire-works thrown in the middle of the Street , spend themselves with a Bounce , and do no more mischief . And thus it is a strange thing that I should have been all this time inflaming the Nation , and putting all into Mutiny and Confusion , and no body hear of it . Nay , I am persuaded , that had this same Lie-framer known it himself , he would not have been sparing to have given a piece of Intelligence so conducing to the Nations safety and my Ruine . In the Conclusion , he says , he cannot give any account of the Particulars of this Hellish Design . Hereby the Devil may see what a great care he ought to take , and what a Watch to set over that Creature Man. Here is a little Conjurer , that has been using his Art , and summoning from the Infernal Regions a whole Squadron of Lies , to assail my Reformation ; and the active Hobgoblins are busie at work : when on a sudden out drops an unwary bit of Truth from the mouth of their Master , and then they all vanish ; as our Grannams of old us'd to tell us , the Devil was wont to take his Heels upon the recital of a Gloria Patri , or a Dose of Holy Water . For now he is plain with all , and tells the World , he cannot give any account of the Particulars of this Hellish Design . Where I shall leave the Fool groping in the dark , desiring him nevertheless , That when he has met with his Tinder-box , struck a Light , and overtaken the Particulars which he is hunting after , he will be so candid as not to conceal the least Tittle of his Knowledge , to the end he may in some measure acquit himself from being those three things , which otherwise I must needs take him to be ; that is to say , a Liar , a Fool , and a Knave . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A36344-e170 A happiness many of the Irish have by the benefit of their Consciences , that they can pay Debts with a jerk , and not be constrain'd to lye lurking and gusling away their precious tune in White-Fryers among Sharpers . For some my be greater Rogues then others . This Quartermaster was a profound Bacchanalian , of the Order of the Holy Eumenides ; and had read all the Folio's of the famous Asdriasdust Tissofican all over , and has made comments upon them : but bring him a Point of War , and you gravel him presently . That must be forgiven him , as being done by the appointment of the Ecclesiastical Cannon Laws , which he had studied . For you must know there are a sort of Industrions Women that use to swear at this rate . These are other marks of an Industrious woman . And yet notwithstanding these reasons , many Whelps of Bitches , do question the Honour of the Bears themselves . But it seems , according to that Quartermasters Arguments , he 's no compleat Gentleman , that has not read Harry Baily's Titles of Honour , as well as Seldons . This Justass was certainly cut out , to fulfill the ancient Proverb , The Devil corrects Sin. Or had a certain Charm , by which such Countrey Gentlemen , us be is , in Commission as they call it , instead of Polton's Statutes , awaken Drowsie or rather Bowsie Justice . But here we may see what such a Countrey Justice can do , when he has the Law in his own hands . A fine insinuation this , to dull my memory about his durty , Billingsgate expressions concerning Parliaments .