Discovery upon discovery in defence of Doctor Oates against B.W.'s libellous vindication of him, in his additional discovery, and in justification of L'Estrange against the same libell : in a letter to Doctor Titus Oates / by Roger L'Estrange. L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. 1680 Approx. 120 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-05 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A47844 Wing L1239 ESTC R30937 11731586 ocm 11731586 48393 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. A47844) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 48393) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1486:17) Discovery upon discovery in defence of Doctor Oates against B.W.'s libellous vindication of him, in his additional discovery, and in justification of L'Estrange against the same libell : in a letter to Doctor Titus Oates / by Roger L'Estrange. L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. The second edition. [2], 38 p. Printed for Henry Brome ..., London : 1680. Reproduction of original in Harvard University 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 Oates, Titus, 1649-1705. B. W. Popish Plot, 1678. Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685. 2003-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-01 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-02 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2004-02 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion DISCOVERY UPON DISCOVERY , In Defence of Doctor OATES against B. W's Libellous Vindication of him , in his Additional Discovery ; and in Justification of L'Estrange against the same Libell . In a Letter to Doctor TITVS OATES , By ROGER L'ESTRANGE . The Second Edition . Latrant , non Loquuntur . LONDON , Printed for Henry Brome at the Gun in S. Pauls Church-yard , 1680. SIR , THere is a horrible Libell come out against you , under Pretence of a Vindication ; and it is so much the worse , for endeavouring to turn another Discourse written in Vindication of you into a Libell ; and such a Libell too , as will not allow any Good that is spoken of you , to be True , nor any man that speaks it , to be Honest : But the most spitefull and audacious Circumstance of all , is the Dedicating of the affront to your self ; and in such a stile and Way too , that a man had better be half-Gibbetted then so commended ; 't is in such an Abject , Beastly , Dawbing way of Flattery . He says , y' are bespatter'd ; and he goes such a way to work , as if he should wash you with the Reversion of a Glister , to make you clean again . This Libell is Entitled , An Additional Discovery of Mr. Roger L'Estranges his Further Discovery of the Popish Plot ; Wherein Dr. Titus Oates , and the rest of the Kings Evidences are Vindicated , from the aspersions cast upon them in that Pamphlet , &c. In a Letter to Dr. Titus Oates , by B. W. This Letter to a man in a Feaver might be pertinent enough , for it is so drowsy a piece , so arrant an Opiate , that if it had but come out time enough , the Old Poets should never have needed a Mercurial Rod for the Charming of Argus : And who knows but that this same B. W. may be Hir'd to write the Three Kingdoms asleep ; and a Foreign Enemy , in the mean while , to come in , and catch us Napping . And yet this very Pamphlet , Doctor , has had the Honour of Your Countenance : I would you had Read it before you had recommended it : For , as the Case Stands , I have no other way of delivering either You or my Self from the Dint of this Venemous Paper but by exposing Some Remarks upon it , in a Second Dedication , to the Doctor . You 'l say perhaps , that I 'm a Sawce-Box , for Presuming to Dedicate any thing to You , without Your Leave . But 't is all a case to Me , whether With it , or Without it ; for I have a Common Right with my Adversary , to the Liberty of this Application , as well the One way as the Other . Upon the Perusall of it , you will finde it to be Miserably Weak , and Silly ; and yet Insufferably Abusive ; Iesuitically False ; Scurrilously Rude , and most Diabolically Malicious . He tells you Sir , Pag. 3. That you told L'Estrange , he was a Papist , and that he reported You for a Fanatick ; whereas neither is L'Estrange a Papist , neither did You Say he was one but only by Hear-say , and that you had been told he was a Papist . So that he charges you with speaking a false thing , to the Disadvantage of your Evidence in greater matters . But for This abuse , he makes you amends in the same Page , by Comparing L'Estrange and the Doctor to the Devill and our Saviour . I am sure ( says he a little after ) the Unerring Rule is , he that is not With , is Against . Now This Gentleman , ( under favour ) is not Sure ▪ ; neither is That Rule Unerring ; for there are Deliberations , Suspensions , Neutralities , in which Cases , we are neither With , nor Against . If This hold for a Maxim , it is but a Natural Conclusion from B. W' s premises , that Those that are not For the Legall Order of the Church and State , are Enemyes to it , and to be lookt upon as Cankers in the Bowells of the Government . And again . He Cites this Passage out of My further Discovery , Pag. 2. He tells you as a friend ; ( says he ) I have more Charity for One Morall Pagan , then twenty Hypocriticall Christians . And in Reflection upon it ( Pag. 4. ) he has These Words . Indeed I have not learn'd this Distinction of a Christian afore ; but allways from the Woes pronounced against Hypocrites , in the Scripture , I took them not to be Christians . Now the meaning of it upon the whole , is This. That L'Estrange has more Charity for Tully , and Seneca , then for Peters , and Bradshaw . But see his Goodly Criticism now upon Hypocrite : The Scribes and Pharisees , in Propriety of Speech , were not Hypocrites ; and Figuratively Speaking , we have but too many Christians that are Hypocrites ; for Hypocrites in Religion , are only Spirituall Stage-Players . His next Citation is This : I have a Naturall Veneration for the Government , and all that Love it ; the Kings Loyall Witnesses , and Preservers of his Life . Now he has thought fit to leave out these words [ in the First place ; with an Equall Horrour , and Detestation for all his Enemyes , under what Masque or Form soever . ] And then he falls in again , That I believe the Plot ; as much of it as every Good Subject ought ; leaving out , [ or as any man in his Right Wits can believe . ] Nay ( Says he again ) and pawns his Conscience ( which doubtlesse is Large . ) You do not believe more of it . Observe , First , that whereas L'Estrange says , he has Naturally a Veneration for the Government , He makes it a Natural Veneration , which in Nicety of Acceptance differs from the Other , as a Common Principle differs from a Particular Bent , or Inclination : As I have Naturally a Love for Musick : This Sounds much stronger then I have a Natural Love for it . And so to say , I have Naturally a Veneration for the Presbyterian Discipline , is quite another thing , then to Say I have a Natural Veneration for 't . He tells you a little after , that the Plot is in a great measure one of the things of God ; and not rightly to be understood by meer Natural men : Which is the grossest Affront , perhaps , to the Kings Evidence , that has been yet Attempted . You will take notice , in his First Omission , that his Conscience flew in his face , upon that Latitude , of the Kings Enemies , under what Masque soever ; And so he left it out . And then for the Second Omission of the Words , As any man in his right Wits can believe , he says nothing on 't , for'tis enough in all Conscience to believe so much of the Plot as none but a Mad man can believe more . Good Doctor observe him now in his Descant upon the Quotation abovementioned . I am ( says he ) of a quite Contrary Opinion ; for I know you are of a sharper sight , Doctor , then to have your Iudgment eclipsed with a Fogg . So that your sharpnesse of Sight , is made the Cause of his Contrary Opinion . I do assure you , Sir , if you 'l be so kind as to Read it , I 'le put you up a Bill for him , when you preach next ; for no Flesh is able to hold out long , at this Ridiculous rate . And yet when Sense , and Grammer fail , the Malice goes on still . Now here 's Another Iesuitism for you Doctor . He tells you that L'Estrange cannot believe what he does not , nor cannot : which Expression , together with the learned Instance ( as he calls it ) of Butter'd Turnips , he makes use of as a Reflexion upon You ; because it plainly intimates your Evidence is as little to be credited , as that Assertion . Now L'Estranges Words are these . The whole Earth ( says he , Pag. 2. and 3. ) can never bring me to believe , or to say that I believe , That which I neither do , nor can believe : As the businesse of Bedingfields being alive again , or that I my Self am in the Conspiracy . See , first , how he has Falsify'd the Quotation it self ; and then let any body shew me the Reflexion . Why does he not point to it with his Fools finger , and say , There ' t is . But for a man to be hookt within the Statute of dangerous Reflexions , for not believing things Incredible , or for not saying that he Does believe that which he does Not believe ; deal frankly with me , Doctor , Is it reasonable or not ? But the Reader has the matter here before him , and let him try what he can make on 't , beyonda Loyall Affection to the Government , and the Inculcating of a Necessary Caution , in dubious , and Improbable Cases , in order to a fuller Discovery , and Eviction of the Truth : For otherwise B. W. shall cram me with Tennis-Balls and make me Swear they 're Sugar-Plumbs , under pain of being Arraign'd by every little Schismaticall Setter , as a Blaster of the Kings Evidence ; which is L'Estranges Case in this very Paragraph ; where he 's charg'd with Affronting King , Lords , and Commons , the Lord Chancellor , the Bench , Iury , and Evidence , in his unworthy Reflexions , not to be forgiven or forgotten . This is a Teizer , and probably of the Old stamp , he flies at the Throat so ; and nothing but Bloud will Content him . You see here Doctor what a Deduction he has made , and the Ground of it : And your Candour cannot but acknowledge the Inference to be Folly , Rudenesse , and Malignity to a very High degree . Mark now what another fling ( as he calls it ) at the Doctor , this Wizzard has found out . L'Estrange has a Value for him , and believes him as far as he OUGHT ; now B. W's Quarrell is ; that L'Estrange has not a higher Value for him , and that he does not believe him further then he ought . He pretends to be Scandaliz'd at L'Estranges Equivocall meaning ; but the thing that troubles Him in Truth , is , that L'Estrange has Worded the matter so cautiously , that a Republican Spy can lay no hold on 't . But pray'e read the Context to This Citation , Pag. 4. It was never my Humour ( as a French-droll has it ) to commend an Orator , for an Excellent Head of Hair ; or a man of State , and Bus'ness , for the Government of his Beard ; or to spend three or four Pages , upon such an Occasion as This , in Flattery , and Panegyrick . So that L'Estrange ( ye see ) did purposely avoid the Temptation of falling into a Vein of Servile Flattery , by any pompous Recitall of your Good Qualities : And rather chose to tell you , like a Gentleman , ( Short and Round ) that he valu'd ye as he OUGHT . But this is Heathen Greek now to Him that is not verst in the true Ayre and Stile of Good manners . L'Estrange values the Doctors Function and Character too as he ought , as well as his Employment . Why does he not complain to the Bishops , that he mocks the Ecclesiastical Order , as well as to the Doctor , that he Abuses Him ; for they are both equally concern'd in the same Period ? He Cites L'Estrange , Saying , Pag. 5. that he 's a Friend to Downright Dealing ; to Liberty of Speech ; an Easy Glasse , and an Easy Companion . The First , he does not believe , he says , but the rest he does ; ( with a Bobb at the end on 't . ) And yet to many peoples thinking L'Estrange deals as plainly with Himself , and his Brethren , as a body would wish . And for the Rest , it is so far True , that L'Estrange had much rather drink his Majesties Health in a Glasse of Wine , then his Confusion in a Dish of Association-Coffee ; and that he 's a Profest Enemy to all sorts of Sniveling Formalities whatsoever . B. W. Proceeds now to certain Scholasticall Distinctions betwixt Rogue , and Rogue ; and has found out an Admirable Invention for the bringing of You , and Mee , Doctor , to call one another Rogues by Consent ; and to shew you Sir , how far you may call any man Rogue , without danger of the Law. His words are These , He tells you , Doctor , of your calling him Rogue twenty times ; for which he thanks you , and Forgives you ; but this is but a Coppy of his Countenance , and used as a meer shooing-horn , to draw on the Like likewise , of calling you Rogue . I know its a word you often use , and its Twenty to one you were Right , Nineteen of the Twenty , if not all : But it 's not to be taken in the Common sense of the Vulgar Usage to a man of vile and base Actions ; but as a differing Character of an Adversary to yours and Others Evidence in the great matter in question . So that he has here made L'Estrange to be precisely Nineteen Rogues , and Nineteen Twentieth Parts of another . But then to make me amends , they are Rogues , you see , of Quality ; that is to say , they are ' Plot-Rogues , Sham-Rogues , or some other of the more Creditable sort of Rogues . This Fellow has no Commission , I hope , to treat men of our Condition at this Course rate . And a little further , he says , that because Currs hunt Me , I take the Freedom to reflect upon You ; slighting your Favours , and setting you at Defiance ( Pag. 4. of my Further Discovery . ) Pray'e mind the Shifting , and Shuffling of this Fanatical Iesuit My words are These . There is no Design in this Paper , Sir , to bespeak your Favour , in case of any Imputation upon me , either for my Words , Actions , or Writings ; for I defy Malice it self to charge me with any sort of Malevolence , toward the Church or State. Now from my Defying of Malice in the Abstract , does he most abusively inferr my defying of the Doctor under that Notion : whereas any man that runs , may read my Intention to be This. Here am I threaten'd , Doctor , with Articles , and Impeachments , by a Pack of Rascalls ; and here am I at the same time , making Court to You. Do not imagine Sir , that This is to curry favour with you for your Protection against these Blood-hounds ; for my Innocence will support me against the very Devil and his Angels . Now this is so far from being a Reflection upon you , that it would imply a High Confidence in your Integrity , even if I should have so little Reveence as to defy you . For it would be as who should say ; The Doctor can do me no Hurt upon the Square , and I 'le trust his Conscience , for setting false Dice upon me . And now what 's the ground of all This Exception ? Nothing in the world but L'Estranges saying , that he has a great value for your Function , Imployment and Character . He picks another Quarrel with me for calling the Detestable Plot , a MYSTERY ; as if it were a denial of the Fact : whereas I speak only of the Project or Contrivance , ▪ not of the Fact ; tho' after all this Discovery there 's a great deal in matter of Fact , that lies yet in the Dark . And then he has a Bout with me for saying , that it is no New thing , for a Popular Outcry in the matter of Religion , to have a State-Faction in the belly on 't . Whereupon he modestly acknowledges that he cannot understand how Religion is concerned in the least : Especially the difference betwixt the Church of England , and the Dissenters from it . Now as to the Plot , We are told that Religion is the very Root of it : and for the Dissenters , they have almost all Sorts of Heresies among them ; which I take to be matter of Religion . Besides that we have our Agenda , as well as our Credenda ; and our Practical Cases relating to Civill Obedience , Brotherly Charity , Peace , Order , &c. wherein the Dissenters do exceedingly differ from the Church of England in matters also of Religion . He has Another Touch at me , for arraigning the Iudgments of the Representatives of the Nation in Parliament , in saying , that nothing was ever more narrowly Sifted , or more vigorously Discourag'd then This Conspiracy . And yet ( says he ) the neglect of it was one part of the Earl of Danby's Charge , which was not ( again ) without due Consideration of Authentique Proofs , to make it good . But bare Charges are no Proofs ; and 't is well for me that they are not ; for if they were , B. W's Libell would have hang'd me Twenty times over . But I am glad to hear the Dignity , and Prudence of That Assembly , so well supported ; for the world is well amended , since the House of Commons was Libell'd for an Unanimous Clubb of Voters ; an Infernal Regiment of Pensioners : Since they were call'd a Treacherous , and a Lewd Parliament ; and since a Reverend Divine told some of the Members to their Teeth , that they were a pack of as Arrant Rascalls as ever layd their Heads together : And every day some Pamphlet or other to the same Tune . There 's a long Paragraph ( Pag. 6. ) which is only a Huddle of words , and not three Lines in the whole , for a man to make either Earnest , or Sport of . The man is willing , Sir. to do you a Civill Office ; but then he goes so Awkwardly to work , and with such a deal of Nauseous , Fulsom Flattery , 't is half a Vomit to think on 't . But at last , after mighty pains taken to no end , he passes sentence upon Intents and purposes ; and has found it out at the long Run , that the getting of a small Reward for my Pamphlet , the vindicating of the Papists , and crushing of the Fanatiques , are the three Ends of my Scribling . All which ( do assure you Dr. ) he speaks by Revelation ; but gives you , in the Conclusion the hopes of making it out by Demonstrations to come : By my Troth , Sir , this is a strange Mortification for a man to be ty'd in good manners to bear all this Impertinence as if he were oblig'd to his Persecutor . He begins his 7th Page with a Flower ; and pray'e intend it . But now warmly clad with These wonderfully Erroneous Considerations , that incumbered his Disturbed Brains , with the help of taking your Works to pieces ; he had now fallen under such a Conception , from which the world might expect such a Product , as was expected from the Mountain ; but you know that prov'd a Mouse . This is nothing in the world but the water-Poets Nonsense turn'd into Prose : One Line more on 't would make me call for a Bason . In the next Paragraph , I am arraign'd over again , for a Dishonourer of the Nation , the Governours or Government , the Protestant Religion , and the Kings Wittnesses : and all This for calling it the allmost Inextricable Labyrinth of the Plot. At the next word he makes half a Iesuit of me : and says I vilisie the Doctor , under a Disguise of Friendship : And I think ( Says he ) he hath cause to rejoyce that he is not question'd for a Seditious Pamphleteer . This Charge is founded , Doctor , upon my saying , that none can fall foul upon my Further Discovery , without wounding Your Evidence . This gives him occasion to deny your Swearing that the Priests and Iesuits herd with Nonconformists ; and yet you tell us , how they contrived the late War , by inslaming Partyes ; that they had their Instruments in Scotland , expressly to Preach to the Disaffected ; and that Blundel did actually teach the youth in the City of London , Treasonable , and Seditious Doctrine ▪ He says , I 'm in Wrath , and speaks as if I doubted your Evidence concerning the Pilgrims , and the Forty thousand Black-bilts ; when my business is to set before the People the Danger of that defigne taking effect , if the Priests be still suffer'd to lurk among the Fanatiques . And then when I speak of Infidells , as of those that will not believe this Mixture ; he turns the word Infidells , into Dissenters ; and so makes a Slander of the Propriety only of the Term , Pag. 8. Take notice , I beg of you Sir , how he poysons all my Respects towards you ; when I tell you that I have Read , Consider'd , and Study'd you ; and the Sense I have of the Roundnesse of your Periods , the Luxuriancy of Your Invention , ( where there is Scope for it ) the Franknesse of your Stile , and the Harmony of Your Conceptions . What is it that makes him call These Expressions Ironies ? but that he undervalues you , as if you were a person that had no sort of Title to these Civilities . Nay , he will not so much as allow you the Common Faculty that Distinguishes Men from Brutes ; that is to say , CONCEPTIONS : For I know not ( says he ) of any Conceptions in all your Works . He says , indeed , that if you had made your Trade of Living , and getting Dinners by Scribling ; or had you employ'd your Genius That way , if it had been in making a Play against your own Mother , what work you 'd have made with your Syllogisms and Coherences , &c. This is some devillish Wipe , Doctor , if a body could but hit the drift on 't : But for the Trade of getting Dinners by Scribling , 't is the Honourable Trade of the Nation , from the Prime Minister , to the Sub-Sizer . And truly , Doctor , as the world goes , 't is well if an Honest man can keep himself clear of the Almes-basket , or turning Mendicant from door to door . Now he whips me up again for Poysonous Principles , and Frothy Strains of Wit ; with Paper-Squibs , audaciously Traducing , and Flying in the Face of Governours , and Government : and this is only for saying , that the present humour of France runs upon Poysoning ; the Enemyes of our Government altogether upon the Vein of Plotting . What 's your Opinion , Sir , of these Inferences ? To the business now of being a Papist . I do not remember , ( says he ) Pag. 9. one Authentique Proof , nor any other Rational Argument , yet produced by L'Estrange , that he is not a Papist . Now I thought Sir , that One mans Oath might be as well taken for being no Papist , as Anothers for being a Protestant : And That Proof I have given for 't . There was indeed a perjurious Race of men , that in despite of the Late Kings Piety , and Practice ; Declarations , Protestations , and Sacramentall Professions to the Contrary , brought him to the Block , under the Same Pretence , where at last he deliver'd himself up a Martyr for the English Communion . But it is not with the Sacraments of men of Consciences , as it is with the Oaths of Mercenaryes , and the Covenants of Conspirators , that look one way and work another . But since my hand is in , Doctor , I 'le go a little farther with you . I had the Honour in the late times , ( and being Then in Exile ) to passe a matter of Eight months in the House of the Cardinal of Hesse ; where I was as kindly receiv'd , as if I had been at my own Fathers . I wanted neither Invitations , nor Arguments , to carry me over to the Church of Rome ; besides the Private Temptations of a Hopelesse Interest ( as to the King ) and a Broken Fortune . Now if I had been so easily disposed to Truck my Religion , for Mony ; ( as the whole Litter of the Town-Scriblers will have it ) I do assure you Doctor , I could then have made my Market . But after this Assertion of the Faith I was brought up in , I do declare to you , that I reckon my self yet bound , as a Christian , to entertain a Tendernesse for the whole Race of Mankinde . I abhor the thought of seeing men of any Perswasion Worry'd , for a bare Appellation : I should reckon my self a Villain , if I were not Iust , and Grateful , even to many Papists ; having in diverse Extremities , receiv'd Offices of great Honour , Piety , and Humanity , from People of That Perswasion . Beside that Providence was pleas'd to make Some Loyall Papists the Instruments of delivering my Sovereign out of the hands of Other Protestant Rebells . And yet after all This ; I am not such a Noddy , as not to see the Plot ; though You may look further perhaps into a Mill-Stone , then Another man : But still I discern enough on 't , to make my heart ake . Pray'e forgive me this Digression . He blunders , in the next Paragraph , at something , as if he would hint to the Reader that L'Estrange has plaid Iack on both sides : Now in good truth , Doctor , I never had that shifting Faculty ; and I dare Appeal to my most malicious Enemies to say that ever I falter'd in my Duty to my Sovereign , in any kind , or degree whatsoever . And I can safely affirm , that in Thought , Word , or Deed , I did never so much as Countenance any disloyal Pretext toward his Majesty . From This , he passes into a Rapture concerning the Christians of Antioch ; and for a matter of a Page and three quarters , Doll Common in her Fits was not half so wise as his Worship . He takes me to task again ( Pag. 11. ) where I am commented upon , for saying the Dissenters from the Church of England cannot any way be ayding in a Reformation , but by their Prayers , and good Wishes , upon pain of Sedition . Now certainly ( says he ) as men , and Subjects under his Majesties Obeysance , the Dissenters are as Capable , and Legally , of serving his Majesty in any such Commands , as any other men , or Subjects whatsoever . Now my words are These . Put the Case that the Design strikes at all that call themselves Protestants in Generall ; as well Non-Conformists , as Church-men ; The Dissenters must yet range themselves under the Government , to Oppose it ; and without intermedling any other way too , then by their Prayers and Good Wishes , upon pain of Sedition . So that the Dissenters are not excluded any Publique Service , but subjected to the Rules , and Orders of Authority , and not to Act beyond That Sphere , any otherwise then by their Prayers , and good wishes ; and the word REFORMATION not so much as mention'd in the Case . But now Sir let me look to my self , sor I think ( says he ) no man in his Right wits will conceive L'Estrange knows what he says ; and he wonders exceedingly that I should dare to tell you Doctor , that Religion is a Spirituall Notion ; And for this Notion he would have me to be reputed , and legally judg'd , SEDITIOUS . I am affraid that this worthy Gentleman takes Religion for a Manufacture : You will now do me a kindnesse , Doctor , to give me a Hint , upon what Statute I am to be Indicted for Notions . To see now this Envious Creature again . I never give you a kind word , but I 'm sure to have a Lash for 't . They are wonderfull things ( say I ) that you have done already ; and I am perswaded that you are yet reserved for more wonderfull things . And This does the Malevolent spleen of B. W. interpret only a Ieer , and Scoff , in contradiction to the Sense and Proof of the whole Nation : And so he calls it a Flurt at your Name , to presage that Time shall render your Name as Famous to Posterity ( Pa. 21. ) as your Virtue has made it to the present Generation . Yes , yes Sir ; I do predict it over again ; that your Name shall be so : For this grand Revolution , wherein you have supported so Eminent a part , will transmit your Name to future Ages so long as there shall be any Memorialls Extant of the present Government . He is at me again for wounding and unworthily traducing the Wisdome , and Iustice of the Governours of this Nation , by turning their Transactions in this affair , into meer Sophisticall Ridicule . And this I get for saying ( as he has translated me Pag. 12. ) that none in his Right wits should take you for no Friend to the Church of England . And now Dr. 't is your turn to be abus'd , for he says that it was forreign , and remote from the Scope , and drift of your Evidence , to give the Sectaries so great a blow , as I affirm that Evidence to have done : Which truely I take , to be little lesse , then Actionable ; for if a man shall be condemn'd in damages only for saying of a Taylor , He 's but a Botcher , because of the Loss it may cause him in his Trade ; of much greater Moment is it , to disparage a Divine , in so necessary a part of his Qualification ; to the hindrance of him in his Ecclesiastical Preferments . For Fanaticism , and Church-Dignities will not stand together . Now see Sir , what work he makes with my saying that It is a matter of absolute Necessity to fetch these Plotters out of their Holds . From hence , he concludes , that I would have all the Dissenters from the Church of England to be destroy'd , as Plotters : which is none of my Proposition ; but only to put them to the Test , that we may distinguish , and Separate the Priests , and Iesuits from Other People . He comes now to passe Sentence upon me , as a Blaster of the Kings Evidence , and a favourer of the Conspiracy , for supporting the Truth of Your Testimony , and the Necessity of Proceeding Congruously upon it . His next advance is to my Further Discovery of the Plot , from your Narrative , and Depositions : He denies it to be a Further Discovery ; but how and how , I am not able to comprehend . His Latin , his French , and his Greek ; his Nonsequiturs , Sentiments and Katexochens ; I can make a sh●ft withall ; but I am plaguily gravell'd still at his English. Pray'e do me the favour to help me out with it ; And here it is . But whatever there is further in that Pamphlet , but in truth it s no further Discovery of your Discover'd Plot , but of his own it is , and what that is , what I have by my Observations already made , to that of which part of this is in matter but Repetition , and of that of which I shall make to that which is New ; I doubt not Doctor but will give you full and Evident Satisfaction . I should be very glad , Sir , to see this Clause unriddled . It will concern me now I perceive to look about me ; for B. W. sticks close to me for calling the just Proceedings of the Authority of the Nation a Havock , and saying , after all this Havock made of the Papists . I pray'e take notice , Doctor , that I have Solemnly expounded my self upon this poynt ( Pag. 3. ) where Authority has past a Sentence there is no longe ▪ any place for Hesitation , or Demurre . So that His meaning is out of doors : And now give me leave to tell you mine : When Goods are taken away from one man , and either given , or Sold to another ; when Books , good and bad , are swept away together ; or disposed of contrary to the Direction of Law ; This I call making Havock , and I make use of this word too with all possible Veneration to the Sacrednesse of Publique Justice . I must needs rectify one mistake in the next Paragraph , wherein B. W , ( not for want of Ignorance ) follows my Printer , and instead of Indue says that the Priests will Indure all Shapes : He gives me here a Lick by the By , for Fiddling to Oliver , and then pronounces that without all peradventure a Discovery must and doth imply new Fact ; otherwise it 's no discovery : and so infers that for want of New Fact , mine is not a Further Discovery . But by B. W's . favour , one Discovery leads to Another ; as several other Discoveries have been superinduc'd upon the Circulation of the Bloud ; and yet the matter of Fact still the same ; as This Additional Discovery in a Pamphlet has produc'd a Further Discovery of the Authour . Now blesse your self Doctor , at B. W's Amasement ( pag. 14. ) with what confidence L'Estrange dares write such things : that is to say , that That part of the Designe against his Majesties Life is broken to all intents and purposes , but we are beholden to you , for the Discovery of Other , and Further Plots , in defaming the King and Government , subversion of our establisht Religion , and Disturbance of the Peace , so that our Deliverance is but half done . Observe now , how Iesuitically this Fanatique has guelt this Passage , by leaving out These Words ; so that [ unless the remaining and the still growing Difficulties and Hazzards be encountred with Timely and Effectual Remedies , ] the work of our Deliverance is but half-done ; Beside the maiming of the Period throughout . Now am I to be question'd and punisht over again , for my Dislike of that which I call ( pag. 26. ) a remote and undutiful Supposition of the Kings Death . But I adhere to that Dislike ; for it is our part to do all we can to preserve his Sacred Life , and not by the supposal of his Majesties Death to set Parties and Factions a Fermenting . And for This , I 'me fetch'd up again , for giving the Lye to the Representative of the Commons of the Nation : This Fellow calls for Iustice , as if he went a snip with the Hangman , for an old Periwig . You cannot imagine Doctor , how it comforts me that I am now entring upon the 16th Page ; where he takes it very ill to have the Church-of-England-Members clear'd of any hand , or Interest in This Plot ; and to palliate the matter , neither he , nor any man ( says he ) can say , that there was not members of the Church of England , on both sides , in those unhappy Wars . Now , Doctor , I am Positive , that there was not one Church-of-England-man in the Parliaments Army ( as they cal'd it : ) For how should it be Otherwise ? when the Order , the Discipline , and the Service of the Church were wholly Extinguisht among them ; the use of the Common-Prayer made Penall ; and the whole Masse of that Seditious Body was only a Confederate Union of so many Schisms , to oppose the Eeclesiastical Government . It will not yet down with B. W. Doctor , that you have altogether clear'd the Church of England , and her sons , from the calumny of being either mediately , or immediately guilty of this horrid Plot ; and his Reason is , that you are Impartiall . It is not sayd that you have Spar'd , but clear'd them , and so you have ; in not accusing them . He reflects ( Pag. 7. ) upon my Contradicting my self in my Computation of the Numbers of Papists ; One while not above One to three Thousand ; but now ( says he ) Tables must be turn'd upon Dissenters to the Church of England ; Then because of some of the Dissenters Scruplesomeness in swearing , his Opinion is chang'd ; for now there is a great deal of Danger he says . This man is no fair Dealer , Doctor ; for my expression is three thousand to one in Sight : and then , the fewer they are that appear , the greater is the number , and consequently the danger of them in their Retreats . This is not to presse a Totall Extirpation neither , as B. W. weakly and malitiously suggests ; but some such means of distinction as may rationally secure the Peace of the Government . He values himself much upon one Argument out of my own mouth . Because many of the Dissenters will not take Oaths ( says he ) therefore There , the Jesuits may hide themselves : And so also , many of the Jesuits will take the Oaths of Allegeance , and Supremacy , and so will the Members of the Church of England . If so , then what can hinder the Jesuites to herd , and hide There . The Answer to This , Doctor , is Obvious ; They have not the Means , in one Place , for the gaining their ends , that they have in the Other ; the Rule , and the Forms of the Church are Stated , and Certain ; and there 's no Preaching , but under due Circumstances and Qualifications : Whereas in Conventicles , they can take all Libertyes , and vent what Doctrines they please : the People being already prepared by the humour of Separation to entertain undutifull Impressions . All the remainder now amounts to no more then the Fagg-end of a Narrative ; and a great deal of pains taken , Doctor , to tell you so particular a Story of Your own Transactions , as no Mortal can honestly pretend to know , but your self . You have had enough , Sir , I suppose , of the Stile , and Faculties of the Author of this Pamphlet , I should be glad now to learn something more particularly concerning the man himself : For this same B. W. may be Cloven-Footed , for ought I know ; and the spirit of slander couch'd under those two Letters . The best way to understand him , is to read him backward ; as Enemy for Friend , and Friend for Enemy ; Truth for Falshood , and Falshood for Truth : And This Unciphers him . One while I phansy him to be a Iesuit ; for he 's so damnably Cunning , that as he carries it , a body would think he had no more Brains then a Dormouse . But then methinks , on the Other side , if he were one , You should have met him at Madrid , or Salamanca , Doctor , or somewhere else abroad in your Travels . I would you 'd cast a Figure for him , Sir , for nothing but a Di-a-mond , you know , can cut a Di-a-mond . And yet upon comparing this Additional Discoverer , with the Marks , and Tokens of a Iesuite , as you have describ'd him ; I am half-perswaded that B. W. may come to be found a Iesuite yet at last . Do the Iesuites change their Shapes ? So does he : Are they Cruel , and Sanguinary ? So is he . Have they their Equivocations , and Mentall Reservations ? So has he : And not only his Own neither , but he pronounces upon the Mentall Reservations of Other men , and brings Thought against Thought , into Evidence . Are the Iesuites given to Scandalize , and Undermine Societies ? to add , and Substract , in the matter of Truth ? Are they Pragmaticall in affairs out of their own Province ? Are they Officious toward men of Interest , and Power ? so is He you see . Are they men of Addresse , plausible Behaviour , Parts , Learning ? So is Not he . Now That 's the difference , I conceive , betwixt a Conventicle-Iesuit , and Another . He does all he can in the world to possesse you that he is Your friend , and my Enemy : And yet , upou the Issue , in despite of his Hearts blood ; he proves himself to be Your Enemy , and my Friend . How can That man be Your Friend , that calls it Abusing of you , to speak Well of you ? His very Flatteryes , are as Childish , and as Cloying as Suger-plumbs ; there 's no Ayr , no Grace , no Vigour in them ; nay his very Complements are Scandalls . He treats you with an Old-fashion'd Legg to a Queen-Elsabeth-Iustice ; and he shall pay the same Homage to one of Your Lacquays , if you should but send him to him of an Arrand . The poor wretch , in fine , is as humble , as the Country fellow that askt my Lord Mayors Horse Blessing . What work Sir , does he make with the Respect ●● paid you in a Former Letter ? he calls That Letter a Mock ; but give me leave to tell you Doctor that his calling it so , is a Libell . I take upon me to affirm , that Dr. Oates is a Canonicall , Orthodox person ; but he 'l have This to be an Abuse , and so makes you a Fanatique . I stand up again , to advance the Authority of Your Evidence , and to Emprove the Use , and Reputation of Your Discoveries . Now This is all Ieering , and Flouting with Him ; as who should say , upon the whole matter : There 's nothing in 't . You Swear point-blank that the Priests and Iesuits haunt the Conventicles : and He , as audaciously on the Other side , denys it , and gives the Ly , point-blank to your Testimony . Pray'e tell me , Sir , if you should say now that L'Estrange is a very Honest , Loyall Fellow ; and B. W. cry out that the Doctor Abuses him ; what Construction could any man make of it , but that he takes L'Estrange for a Disaffected Knave ? Or suppose that any man should speak of L'Estrange , as a man of Competent Sense ; Is it not a clear case , that he that thinks him Abus'd in 't , takes him for a Fool ? But the best way of finding him out is to let him expound himself . Wherefore I beseech you , Doctor , do but observe , when the smooth , Supple Humour goes off with him , how Magisterially he behaves himself , and how he Grows upon you : Under the Colour of a Friend , how he takes upon him , and plays the part of a Governour . He tells you what you are to Think , in This case , and what you are to Do in That : How to understand One Poynt , and how , Another : Here he Spells for you , and There , he puts Together : And all This , with the Weaknesse of a School-boy , and the Arrogance of a Pedant . And what 's his End ; but to have it thought in the World , that you are Rul'd , and Influenc'd by His Dictate ? But This is not the First time that other people have layd Claim to the Reward of Your Merits . I lost a Friend I 'm sure , my self once , because I would not License a Book for Another Person , as the First Discoverer of the Plot. And it cannot be expected , that a man in your Post , and Station , should live without Envy . But yet how far it may stand with your Credit , or Good Liking to suffer your self to be Cokes'd , and thus Impos'd upon by every Little Sir-Politique Would-be , is submitted to your Consideration . In One word Sir , can any man be Your ( or indeed any bodys ) Friend , that has neither Brains , nor Shame , nor Good manners , nor Good Nature , nor Truth , nor Honour in him ? This , I do assure you , Doctor , is the just Character of my Antagonist , if a body may measure the Man by his Discourses . It will be objected perhaps ; what does it concern L'Estrange , the vanity of this mans setting up for the Doctors Friend , and Adviser ; or how he behaves himself , in the Execution of That Office ? If what the One Does , the Other thinks fit to permit , L'Estrange is but a Coxcomb for medling . ( Nay and 't is well if he scape so too ) for he has been call'd Rogue , Rascall , Thief , Turnspit , for much Lesse . ) It must needs be acknowledg'd , Doctor , that what You Two agree upon betwixt your selves , is nothing at all to me ; but by my Faith , Sir , when I come once to be represented to you as a Papist , Plotter , or Enemy to the Government ; and to the Kings Witnesses ; This touches my Coppy-hold ; and 't is well for me that I 'm fallen into Good hands ; for such an nformation , given to a man that would have ventur'd an Oath upon Hearsay , might have been as much as my Neck 's worth . But 't is a double Happynesse to me , First , that You believe nothing of all This ; and Secondly , that he proves as little : for he cannot pitch upon any One Line in the whole Pamphlet , and say , This is the point I le Charge him with . But when he has flutter'd , from One Surmise , to Another ; Falsify'd my Sentences , taken up here and there a word by Snaps , and left the Connexion , behind him ; he is yet forc'd at last to fly from the plain , and Genuine Sense of my Expressions , to the Mysticall Possibility of Another Intention . Make it your own case , Doctor : Suppose I should see you upon your knees at the Sacrament , and tell some body , Look ye : now is that Damn'd Doctor making a contract with the Devil : Or that you should see me ( tho' with all the Devotion imaginable ) poring upon the Four Evangelists , and cry out , do ye see that dogg L'Estrange ? Now is he turning the History of our Saviour into Burlesque . Why where 's Christian Charity at This rate ? what becomes of the Common Methods of Intercourse , and the Faith of Human Society ; If when a mans Words are Open , and the Construction Obvious , his Heart shall be torn out of his Breast , for Another Meaning ? The Sun shines ; that is to say , ' T is Midnight : Wee 'l make him a Glorious King ; that is to say , wee 'l cut off his Head. This is a Fanaticall figure Sir , and of no account among the Orthodox . And yet upon such grounds as These , am I most zealously recommended , by B. W. to your Care Doctor , to see me hang'd , drawn and quarter'd , in time Convenient . You will see at large , Sir , in this Angry Tract of his , that as the Gentleman has render'd me to be Your Enemy , under the Masque of a Friend , he is no lesse My Friend , in the Shape of an Enemy . First , he 's an Incomparable Foil ; such a Setter-off , that when you come to compare us , I 'le leave You to be the Judge , ( and I 'me sure you 'l not spare me ) if even L'Estrange himself be not an Angell to him . Now and then , 't is true , he stumbles upon a Right number , or Person ; but the Nominative Case and the Verb are Mortall Enemies with him . Secondly , the whole piece is but One Grin , from End , to End ; without ever fastening upon any thing ; and at last , he proves me to be Innocent , by proving , with much labour , that he cannot prove me to be Guilty . Thirdly , his Frauds , and Fallacies are as Palpable as Egyptian Foggs ; so grosse , they may be felt : Which does but all serve to Illustrate My Integrity , and Credit . If These be not the Offices of a Friend , pray what are ? And then all is perform'd too , in such a way of Gravity , Weighing ( forsooth ) Considering , Pondering , and Advising , at such a Supercilious Rate ; a body would have thought he had had the whole Councell of Trent in his Belly : And yet at length , when he comes to Open , out comes just nothing but Gall , and Clamour . Pray'e advise him Sir , if he falls in your way , to be modest , and Temperate , and not to bear so hard upon a poor decayed Gentleman , ( as a learned Author has it in his Courant ) that lives by his Fingers End. Consider , Sir , It has been your own Case ; and yet you see the Advantages that many times attend Resolution , and Industry , under the Blessing of a Propitious Fate . We are all of us the Sport of Fortune . She Raises from the Alms-Basket , and casts down into the Dungeon ; She sets Beggers a Horse-back , and turns their Masters afoot ; She brings Princes to the Block , and advances Traytors to the Throne ; She gives Money and Credit to those that wanted it ; and takes from those that had it in abundance . And thus the World Rolls , as her slippery Ladyship pleases . It is cast in my Teeth , I know , at every Turn , that I write for Bread ; which is either True , or False : If True , it is one of the fairest ●leas that a man can have for Scribling ; Provided that he governs his Pen by the Measures of Conscience , and Duty : And within That compasse I have allways contained my self . And yet I cannot admit that Pinch to be a Truth neither ; without some Reflexion of Scandall , and Ingratitude upon the Government ; As if after allmost Forty years inviolate Loyalty and Service to the Crown , I should live to see my self thus deserted at last . Now if This Reflexion be False , and groundlesse , it is but a poyson'd Arrow out of the Same Quiver that has allready furnisht mischief abundantly against My Superiors : And This Calumny , or any other , that Malice it self can invent , touches me no more then if they should report that you and I , Doctor , had chang'd Heads . But give me your Pardon , Sir , tho' I am not at all Disturb'd , by the Common Clamours of the Vulgar , that draw in Contagion with their very Breaths , and then blow it about again , till the Disaffection , comes to be Epidemicall : I cannot yet , but as a Friend to the Kings Evidence , ( in despite of all Unkindnesses ) I cannot , I say , but be in some degree Sensible of Your Joyning with the Multitude in that Popular Contempt . And this is more for Your sake ( I assure you Sir ) then for my Own ; for it is not a Generous Return , toward a Person that has render'd you those Offices which ( without Vanity ) I have done . And truly I should take it very Ill from you , in your Personal , if it were not for the Reverence I bear you , in your Politicall Capacity . And yet the case is hard , at best ; taken with the Aggravations ; That is to say , from the Kings Witnesse , and a Divine , to a Person of my Known Affections to the Church , and State ; from the Doctor , to his Country-man . But I 'le carry it no further . The Oates's , and the L'Estranges are two Names very well known in Norfolk . So that I shall not need to tell you , Doctor ( being your Country-man ) that I am a Gentleman ; beside , that I am to presume You , Doctor , to be Read as well in the Heralds , as the Schoolmen . It is a long time , Sir , that you have done me the Honour to mention my Name ; and still with Rogue , Rascall , Villain , Papist , or some such Mark of your displeasure along with it : Now These are Terms which B. W. distinguishes from Reflexions upon Persons , or Qualities , and imputes them only to an Impetuous Fervor , of Zeal , that transports you , impartially , & without distinction into those Freedoms ; So often as difference of Opinion , upon the Main , happens to be the thing in Question ; Now I know very well that when a man's Tongue has got a Habit of walking One way , he can no more forbear speaking what comes Next , then spitting , for 't is only matter of Course : And I do absolutely discharge you , Sir , of any Malicious Intent toward me , in the Heat of That Language ; upon this presumption , that it was all grounded upon the Mistake of My Principle , and an Opinion that I did not stand right , as to the matter of the Plot , without any Malignity ( as I said e'en now ) either to my Quality , or Person . Nay I have heard you my self ( in Confirmation of B. W's . Remark ) frankly , and openly affirm that Laud ( the Martyr ) was a Rascall , and a Traytor ; and that ere long you 'd tell the World as much in Print . And what was all this , but still the Impulse of a Transcendent Zeal , upon a full belief that the Arch-Bishop was a Papist ? But who can tye up the Winds , or set Limits to the Dictates of a Boundlesse Spirit ? I have heard of a beyond-sea-Divine , ( a Strenuous Asserter of the Romish Communion ) that would familiarly run thorough whole Royall Families of Protestant Professors , by the Names of Rogues , and Bitches . Well , Sir , let it be granted , ( for Peace sake ) that I am that wretched fellow , that Pittyfull Rascall , that Scribbles for Bread , as you were pleas'd , in Great , and Reverend Company , but upon Good-Fryday-last , to call me . ( I could wish This had rather fall'n out upon a Shrove-Tuesday , for Good-Fryday is not a proper day for such a piece of Masquerade . ) Why faith , Sir , Blesse your stars , that you your self are struck into a better way ; and leave me to the Liberty of taking up what fair Employment I think fit for an Honest Lively-hood . Where 's the Hurt , or the Shame of This I beseech you ; if I can make a shift by this means to do my Duty , and my Businesse ? I know there are more Expedite , and Beneficiall ways of Thriving in the World , if I could but bring my Conscience to Bear ; as Iuggling , Treppaning , Cross-biting , Canting , Swearing , &c. But alas , Sir , I am Old ; and for a man to begin late , and go to the Devil before he has done his Jobb , would not do so well . Alack , alack , Sir ! what can a man get by a Snip in a poor Pamphlet of 4 or 5 sheets of Paper ? No , no , Doctor , 't is your Narratives , that Sweep all . Those are the Swingeing Coppies . I heard you say my self once , that you lost 500l . at One Bout , by having your Narrative Printed upon you . Now your Narrative was precisely Nineteen sheets . And I am assur'd that you have Six hundred more at this Instant , Ready for the Presse ; which in Proportion will be worth to you , Sixteen Thousand seven hundred and seventy pounds six shillings and eight pence , within a Fraction . Nay , 't is Forty Guinnyes , the bare signing a Narrative of Another mans Writing . But Doctor , that I may not be behind-hand with you , in Confidence , and Freedom , I do really write for my Bread ; and which is more , for my Head too , into the Bargain : Nay , upon my Soul , according to my Estimat of the Case , I write My Part for the very Bread of my Master ; and to shew the people the Snares that are laid by Anabaptists , and that Brood , ( as well as Papists ) for the Government . You see , Sir , what an Out-cry this same Little Fanatical Faux makes about my Further Discovery ; which only advises the plucking of the Priests , and Iesuits out by the Ears , from among the Conventicles ; where your Testimony , and Depositions have Lodg'd them . And this is done too with as much Respect , and Honour to your self , as any man Can pay you , that Scorns to Flatter you : And with a most Dutyfull Passion for the well-fare of the Nation . But on the Other hand ; tho' every day brings forth Multitudes of Poysonous , Seditious , and Schismaticall Libells , that strike at the very Root , and Branches of the Government ; This Officious Zelote ( I 'le Warrant you Sir ) is as blind on That side , as a Beetle . The Kings Authority may be Invaded ; his Person Lampoon'd ; the Clergy-men Themselves affronted , as well as their Function : As at the Essex-Election , and elsewhere : And here 's no Libelling taken notice of in These Cases . But if a man puts in a Sober , and a Moderate Word another way , presently the Plot , and the Kings Witnesses are Topt upon him . The People may Remove wicked Kings ( says One ) and what says the Author of the Free-holders Choice ? I believe ( says he ) Good Father Jacob had a Foresight of these Sons of Levi , when in his Last Will and Testament he left them a Curse for a Legacy , instead of a Blessing . And if the whole world were now to make their Wills , all but Knaves , and Fools would do the like . Here 's no threatening of men with Parliaments , or Arraigning of them for Traytors upon These points ; which does evidently shew a Designing Partiality , and Disaffection . And after all ▪ This , I am so far from questioning the Plot , that it strikes me with horror , the Apprehension where it will end . But still give me your pardon , Sir , if I reckon it to be worth the care of the Government , to discourage and Suppresse Treasonous Principles , as well as to punish Treasonous Practises : For Thought is but the Root of Action . I would have the Conspiracy sifted to the Last man ; but yet that which is found Criminall , on the One hand , I would not have it expos'd to the Multitude , as Lawfull , as the Other : For it is much more dangerous to have the People possest , that such or such an Ill thing may be done , then Privately to contrive the Doing of it . We shall now Sir , if you please , put all the Rogues , Rascals , Villains , Sauce-boxes , Papists , Turn-Spits , pittifull Fellows , and Scriblers for Bread , upon the account of an Exuberant Zeal in matter of Conjectural Opinion . But when you come to matter of Fact , ( if I may be so bold Sir , ) you should really do well to be a little Tender : As when you were pleas'd to say Positively the Other day , that L'Estrange was one of Nolls Fidlers . The businesse was , He came in once in the middle of a Consort , where I was playing a Part ; and that was all . Now This is a great Scandal to me , Sir ; aud you must allow me to tell you in your Personall Capacity , that the Aspersion is as false as Hell ; But I have nothing to say to you in your Political Capacity but with Submission , and Respect . For it is Doctor Titus Oates that defames Me in This Particular , without aspersing the Kings Witnesse . So that the Falshood of the Person does not at all Invalidate the Strength of the Evidence . Pray'e Doctor take into your Consideration how great a Sufferer I am render'd by This Slander : For it will be understood , either that I went over to Cromwell , to betray the King : Or else I must be taken to have pretended my self reconciled to his Interest , and under That Colour to Swear and Abjure to the Pit of Hell , for the gaining of some other Point . As to the making of me a State-Rogue , That would have been pardonable yet , if you had not made a Fiddling-Rogne of me ; a Common Statute-Rogne . Why , Doctor , how shall I have the face to shew myself in White-hall again , uuder This Character ? What will : People think of L'Estrange at This rate ? especially having the Authority of the Great Witnesse of the Nation , for the Credit of the Report . But Infallibility , Sir , in matter of Fact , is a point that the Church of Rome it self could never yet be brought to swallow ; so that a man may contradict some of your Mistakes , without any Offence at all , either to your Testimony , or Doctrine . You were pleased at the same time Sir ( according to your wont ) to enlarge your self upon some other Loose Topicks too , concerning mee ; and with so little regard , either to Candour or Caution in your Reports , that really , Doctor , I should chide you , if I durst , for defaming the Kings Evidence : And , under favour , it is not well done to take up Infamous Stories upon the High-way , and vent them again presently for Pos●●●ve Truths : especially for a Person under your Circumstances , the Credit of whose Testimony does so much import the Nation . The Subject being Clamour , and Reviling , was in it self a very unfitting Theme for a Church-man . But for a Divine , upon a Good-Fryday , after a Passion-Sermon , and in his Preparatory for the Solemn Festival of Easter , to abandon himself to such an Impotence of Outrage , without either Ground or Provocation , and in so venerable a Presence too ; ( I need not tell you where Sir ) nor , as I am a Christian , did I come to the Knowledge of This directly or indirectly from any Member of the Family . ) Why will you suffer a violent Passion to carry you thus beyond all bounds of Decency and Consideration ? It takes away your Reason , Doctor ; and in these Fits rather then not do me a Mischief , you care not what you say : For you do no more believe me to be as you have represented me , then I believe you to be the Ghost of Thomas Aquinas . I have not deliver'd one syllable here , without a due Respect , both to what I say and to Whom I speak : and if every Particle in This paper should be put to the Torture , to force an Evidence from it against the Authour ; 't is no more then I look for . But so secure am I in the Conscience of my own Integrity , and so well satisfi'd in the Title I have to the Common Right of defending my self ; that I am not at all sollicitous about the Event of This Freedom . And to shew you that I have not enter'd rashly upon This Undertaking , I 'le give you a clear prospect of my Thoughts upon the Question , with submission to be better inform'd , where I 'm mistaken . You cannot but observe , Doctor , that the stresse of B. W's . Charge upon L'Estrange lyes with its whole weight upon These Four Poynts , viz. that he Favours the Papists , Lessens the Blot , Disparages the Wittnesses , and Arraigns the Government : And all this serves only as a Common-place to work upon , when any man is to be render'd Odious to the People : For 't is a thing easily sayd , greedily swallow'd ; of Violent Operation , and hard to be disprov'd ; which is a very great disadvantage , when a man comes to be arraign'd for his Thoughts , without any possibility of clearing himself . It is a thing that extreamly Confounds , and Misleads us in This Affair , the Governing of our selves by the Common Forms of speaking , and according to the Vulgar understanding of the matter in hand . As for the purpose ; we make a Favourer of the Plot ; a Favourer of Popery , and a Favourer of Papists to signify , for the most part , one and the same Thing : And 't is no matter which comes out First , when we would throw Dirt at a man : Whereas in Truth , and Equity , there is a great difference ▪ betwixt them ; as will better appear by taking them apart , and distinguishing the One from the Other . By the Papists is properly intended the whole Party among us of That Perswasion . By Popery , the Opinions , or Religion of That Party . By the Plot , is to be understood , the Conspiracy ; which is a Third Consideration , separate from the Other Two. So that a man may be a Favourer of the Plot , against the King and Government , and yet an Enemy to the Opinion of the Papists , and to the Party ; For we see , That the same Designe has been formerly Carry'd on , and Executed by men of Opposite Iudgements . And likewise a man may have a Kindnesse for the Opinion , and yet be an Enemy to the Plot ▪ As ( in Despite of Detraction ) we have seen many Instances . And Lastly , a man may have a Tendernesse and Charity for the Party , without Leaning at all to the Opinion , and with a perfect detestation of the Execrable Confederacy . [ Well Doctor , but you will tell me that This Popish Plot is a Complicated Plot ; and not barely a Plot upon the Government , but a Plot also supported upon Popish Principles , and carry'd on by a Popish Party , for the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion . It is not Sir , to extenuate the Guilt , and the Foulnesse of This Plot , if I tell you , that the Fanatical Revolution matcht it in every point . There was , First , a Confederacy ; and then , a Design layd : a Change of Government resolv'd , the Lawfullnesse of it Debated , and Asserted ; and the Instruments that carry'd it on , were the Fanatical Party : And all Terminated in the Snppression of the Protestant Religion : That is to say , if the Church of England was Protestant : Or if Otherwise , and if they that destroy'd This Glorious Church were Protestants Themselves , from such Protestants good Lord deliver us . But you will say , Sir , that Prelacy , Ceremonyes , Habits , and set Forms of Prayer are not to be accounted matters of Religion . I beseech you , Sir , what Religion is there in a Messe of Porridge ; or in looking out at the Window to see what a Clock ' t is ? And yet I take it to be a very material Transgression in point of Religion , to throw That Porridge in the face of my Father , in the One case , or to resuse upon his command , to look out at the Window on the Other . For Religion consists in Doing , as well as Believing , and in the Conservation of Unity , and Order . The Resemblance betwixt the Face and the Glasse , is scarce liker then these Two Cases ; and I do not know why the same way of Reasoning may not hold as well too , upon things so agreeing betwixt Themselves . The Popish Plot is Impious , for so much as concerns the destroying of the King , and the laying of the Nation in Confusion , and bloud ; And so was the Schismaticall Plot too , And This is a poynt that all men , even of all Perswasions in Religion ; that have either Honour , or Brains will easily accord . But you 'l say that This Plot is prov'd by Witnesses , and Iudgments ; and give me leave , Doctor , to tell you , that the Other was also prov'd , by Fact , and the Final Execution of a Fore-layd Design . Well , but you 'l say Sir , that the Iesuits Principles are Bloudy , and Dangerous : As That of Keeping no Faith wiih Heretiques ; and the Doctrine of Absolving Subjects from their Obedience to such Princes . These are Hellish Positions 't is true ; but in the History of our Late Troubles , and in That of the Kirks Proceedings in Scotland , you I find these Maxims taught in the very Schools , and Pulpits ; Nay , and warranted too , by the most Eminent States-men and Divines : and not only so ; but authoriz'd by General Assemblyes , and the Votes , and Declarations of a Mock-Representative of the Commons of England . Nay and it went further yet ; for all these diabolicall Illusions were put in practice . They sought the Lord , for a Complement of the Wickednesse ; they put the King to Death , as by a Revelation ; and glory'd in the thing done , as a favourable Dispensation of Providence . Once again , Sir , There were none but Papists ( you 'l say ) in This Plot : there were none but Schismatiques in the Other ; so that vou see the streights of the Church of England , betwixt these two Extreames ; and the Danger is as mortal on the Right hand as on the Left. And give me leave to think Doctor , that as the Danger is Equall , so the Affliction is much bitterer , from those of our Own Family , then from strangers ; the Prophet David himself seem'd to stagger a little under the weight of it : If it had been an Open Enemy , he could have born it , but to be wounded by Those , with whom he had taken Counsell , and walkt in the House of God as Friends ; This was the almost Insupportable Aggravation of his Calamity . In fine , both Plots , and Partys were influenc'd alike by Fallacies , and Impostures both in Religion , and State. From This Parallell , if you please Sir , I will proceed to an Application of what is Past , to our present Use , and purpose . I could wish that every man that had any part whatsoever in the promoting , inflaming , or upholding of our Late Troubles , would now upon This Occasion lay his hand upon his Heart , and tell his Story : What a variety of Errours and Corruptions would This Tale , truly told , afford us . Alas , I was but young ( says one ) and meerly drawn in ; I meant no more Hurt to the King ( God knows ) then to my own Heart , cries Another . They told me the King was gotten into the Papists hands , and that they only intended to bring him back to his Parliament : But when I was once In , there was no getting out again . I never thought ( says a Third ) that it would have gone so farr ; but I should have been well enough content to have seen some Grievances Redrest . One had a Father , or a Son on the Kings side , and he took the Other , to save stakes . Some were frighted into the Cause by Stories of German Horse , Massacres , &c. I was in the Parliament-quarters , and my Estate must have gone for 't , if I had not comply'd . One had a good Office , a Benefice , or an Estate to lose ; a Family to provide for ; Another had a Court-grudg , and took his Revenge , or fought only for Pay , as a Soldier of Fortune : And at This rate people were hookt in , some through weaknesse , but with good Intention ; Others , by Interest , Fear , or Misguided Conscience , and not one man of a Thousand that Acted Originally , against the Government , either by Malice , or Design . I would have these people that have been thus seduc'd themselves , soberly to reflect upon it . We are all of us Flesh and Blood alike ; why may not Other men be missed as well as we ? Or why should we grudg Others the same measures of Tendernesse , and Remission , that we our selves have received . Well , but those are Papists ; and the Other are Schismatiques . The Papists are men of dangerous Principles , and so are the Fanatiques ; but then some of the Dissemers are better then Other ; and so are some of the Papists . If the Papists lie under the Lash of the Law , so do the Non-Conformists ; and in short , This Plot ( we hope ) has miscarry'd , the Other succeeded ; and yet only the Express Murtherers of the King were singled out for Exemplary Iustice , and all the rest of the Criminals , and Common Actors in the Rebellion were pardon d in the Conspiracy that took effect . Now let me ask you , Doctor , if you would have the Innocents , Men , Women , and Children promiscuouly exposed to more Rigour in the case of a Plot that is disappointed , then the Nocents were on the Other hand , where an Unparalleld Rebellion took place . Give me leave now , Sir , to put a question ; not to the Reason , and Equity of the Thing , but to the Conscience , and Modesty of the Men : For let the Prosecution , on the part of the Government , be never so necessary , there may yet be some Regard had to the Circumstances of the Prosecutors . I would have those men , I must confess , that have been so Frankly pardon'd , Themselves , ( even for the Consummated Destruction of Three Kingdoms , ) be a little Tender in pressing an utter Extirpation of an Entire Party , because of a Conspiracy , among Some Particulars of That Perswasion ; and a Conspiracy too , that is crusht by Providence , in the very Egg. What would you think on 't , Sir , if you should see a Company of fellows that have been in at a hundred Robberyes and Murthers , Themselves , and got their Pardons , and still keep their Bootyes ; what would you think , ( I say ) to see These men , of all Others , the fiercest sticklers for Extremityes upon Other Felons that had only design'd the Outrage which they themselves had actually accomplisht ? Besides Sir , that it seems to Carry a very suspicious Countenance to have Those men pretend the greatest zeal for the Safety of the Government , that are most Notoriously known to be Disaffected to it . And yet upon the Mayn , we finde none so eager and prone , as some of these people are , to Calumniate the Iustice of the Nation by Remonstrances , and Clamorous Addresses ; and by Violent Importunities to Precipitate Councils , as who should say , We are the Arbitrators of the great Affairs of the Government , and take more care of it , then the Government does for it Self . Pray'e take notice Doctor , that This is intended only of Licencious , and Illegall Proceedings , with due Submission to all Forms , Orders , and Resolutions of State : And that I do not speak of any sort of favour toward Criminals ; and more Especially in the matter of Sir Edmund Bury-Godfrey ; and this late barbarous Inhumanity upon the person of Mr. Arnold ; which I look upon to be two Instances , allmost Unpardonable : And I do here protest before the Living God , if I either knew or could make a farther Discovery , or if I ever can get the means of doing it , I would , and I will , ( though the neerest Friends I have in the world ) deliver them up into the hands of the Law. Now as there appears some affinity betwixt the Case , and Danger of both the Extreams , ( as to the Government , ) be pleas'd to enform me Sir , if there may not be allow'd some Proportion also of Compassion from the Government , in the matter of Mitigation , and Redress , toward both these Partyes . To which opinion I finde my self induced by these following Considerations , but with great readynesse to be overrul'd by better Judgements . In the First place , Doctor , we are all of us Christians , and cannot take a surer Measure for the Government of our Lives , and actions , then the precepts , and practices of Our blessed Saviour . He commands us in the Gospell , to Blesse those that Curse us , to do good to them that Hate us . And These Precepts to his Disciples , he made good upon the Crosse ; in praying for his very Crucifyers . Our Saviour reprov'd his Disciples for urging him to call for fire down from Heaven : There was no calling Rogue , and Rascall , but the great work of our Redemption was wrought out with Meekness , and Patience . And there is a regard to be had likewise to the matter of Humanity , as we are all of us Men , and liable to the same Infirmityes , and Errours . It is the Condition of being forgiven Our selves , the forgiving of our Neighbours ; and it concerns those men , of all others , that do the most need and presse for Relaxation , and Mercy , Themselves , not to oppose it , in some degree to Others . And it is another Consideration , as we are Fellow-subjects and Members of the same Community ; for all Dissenters from the Rule are equally liable to a Cheque from the Government , and ly under the Same Ty , of Conformity , and Obedience . It does not belong to me Sir , to speculate upon Political Expediences , one way or another ; I could otherwise tell you how much we are Underpeopl'd already , and the greater the Depopulation the Deader , upon Necessity , must be our Trade ; the Circulation of Money must be Lesse ; our Lands fall , our Commodityes ly upon our Hands , and our Taxes still run higher : and Consequently , the lesse able shall we be dayly , to defend our selves , in case of a Foreign Invasion : For 't is a Foolery to talk of any more Holy Wars , the Hot Fit of that Unwarrantable and Romantique Zeal is long since over , and out of the world ; and the Bone of Contention among Princes , is Empire , not Religion . If I have sayd any thing here contrary to Law , Conscience , or Humanity , I shall submit my self to a Fayr Tryall for 't : But if I keep my self within the Terms of Christianity , Humanity , and Civill respect to my Superiours , I do but discharge the part of an Honest man , and a good Subject . Here 's more work Sir , for B. W. to ground an action of Popery upon ; and you have a sure Card at a Dead Lift , when he stands at Your Elbow , to help you out with an Enformation . But see Doctor , how far , ( and no farther ) I approve my self in This Paper to be an Advocate for the Papists ; and that is to say , just so far as I am an Advocate for Fanatiques ; I wish , with my Heart , that the Government were Clear of all Plotters on Bothsides ; and that the Peaceable , Honest Mixture in Both Partyes might have as much Ease , as may stand with the Security of the State. Now having thus equally divided my Kindnesse ; it shall be Cross , or Pile ( if you please , Doctor , ) whether I am a Papist , or a Fanatique , I must confess , I abhor the Thought , of Christians worrying one another , worse than Wolves ; and This , as well on the One side , as on the Other . But where People of Either Perswasion , will be Vexatiously , and Pragmatically Troublesome to the Publique Peace , it is but Reason they should suffer for 't . But then there are several ways of Approach , or Advance toward the same End ; Seditious Positions are every jot as Ill , as Seditious Actions , but much meaner : For the One is the Authorizing of a Villany , as the Other is the Executing of it . There is something of Bravery in him that Attempts it ; but the Setter on , is a Scandall , even to his own Party . So that I have now Competently explain'd my self concerning the Plot , Popery , and Papists . For the First , I have a perfect Abhorrence ; and no sort of Kindnesse for the Other Two , as Such . And yet as Papists are Christians , ( and I my self one ) I cannot but have a Conscientious respect , in Common for all the members of That Profession . Beside that as they are men too , there are Indispensable Offices of Humanity due from One man to Another ; and then there are Certain Considerations of Alliances , Acquaintances , and Society , which we cannot wholly divest our selves of , without a violence to the very Instincts of Reasonable Nature , and degenerating into Beasts . Now as to the poynt of Popery , so far as it is made use of as a Politicall Engine to loosen Societyes , and to Authorize Disobedience ; I look upon it as a Plot upon the Peace of Mankind , in That way of applying it : As the Disciplinarian Presbytery ; ( on the Other hand ▪ ) which is the very Counter-part of it . But taking it nakedly , and Abstractedly as a Particular Scheme of Faith , and Religion ; without any relation to Temporall matters ; my being of Another Opinion will not hinder me yet from having the Same Charity for Another man in that which appears Erroneous to me , which , in a thousand Cases , I my self may stand in need of from Others . And This Softnesse has something in it of Complexion , as well as Iudgment . I cannot endure to see Children tormenting of poor Birds and spitting of Flyes : And it has cost me many a Six pence , the redeeming of Puppyes , and Kitlins from the Cruelty of Boys in the Streets , that were Tearing them to pieces . And This , Doctor , may be done , I hope , without being of Pusses , or Ringwoods Religion . But here 's more pains taken then needs , to gratify Iohn a Nokes , and Iohn a Stiles ; for my Adversaryes have yet This Modesty in them , that they are asham'd both of their Names , and Faces . These Lihellers follow the Example of their Fellow Murtherers ; they ly in wait for the Innocent ; and it is the work of the One to Godfrey Honest men out of their Reputation , as the Other did that worthy Gentleman Sir Edmundbury Godfrey out of his Life . But It shall suffice that my Conscience as well as my Acquaintances , will acquit me in the matter of Conformity to the Rites , as well as the Doctrine of the Church of England ; which I have ever asserted , both with my Pen , and Practice ; and fully answer'd all the Tests of my Profession , which the Law requires . It will be cast in my Dish , I know , that This pretended Moderation toward Dissenters is only introduced in favour of a Common Indulgence , wherein the Papists may come in for a share ; and wholly Inconsistent with the Rigour I have promoted in all my Writings , toward the Non-Conformists , But I must desire you , Doctor , to observe , that I never opposed the Liberty of Thought in Disagreeing Perswasions ; for 't is impossible to bring all men to the same apprehensions of the same thing . But my business has been always , in This Case , to lay open the danger of permitting a Liberty of Practice , which must of Necessity dissolve the Order , and the Authority of the Government : For it is ( effectually ) a Translation of the Power from the Magistracy to the People ; and a Contradiction to the Obligation and Intent of Laws ; when the Rule prescribes to us the doing of This , or That , and the License , on the Other side , says we may do what we please . Now I have wip'd off all these Aspersious , of favouring either Plot , Popery , or Papists ; or of so much as Implying any Iniquity in the proceedings of the Government : ( nay , I have , on the Contrary , asserted the Iustice of it , in This matter ; ) It only rests , that I purge my self in the point of a becoming Resignation , and Respect to the Kings Witnesses ; which is the hardest thing in the world to do , because there appears no Foundation for the Charge ; and how shall a man prove , or make any thing out of Nothing ? at least , if Other people can , I must confess that I have not yet the Faculty of doing it . But since there is no substantial Ground for This Charge , Pray'e Doctor do but cast your Eye upon the Pretence . I give you the Character of a Loyal , Orthodox man , a Lover of your Countrey , and a Master of your Pen ; I tell the Government , out of your own Mouth , where they shall finde the Priests and Iesuites ; so that 't is but pursuing the way that you have chalkt out , for the Retriving of them . I magnisie your Discoveries . I set a just value upon your Performances , I prophesy that you will be famous to Posterity ; and that the great things you have already done will be follow'd with greater . How comes it now that those Expressions which would be Panegyricks from another man , should be Libels from me ? Or how can any man call it a Scandall , to speak well of him that endeavours to support the Government , without implying it to be matter of Reputation to designe the Overturning of it ? And how again comes B. W. to lug into his Title-Page , by head and shoulders , a Vindication also of the Rest of the Kings Evidences , without any Hint , or Mention , in the Book he pretends to answer , of any other but your self ? The Mystery is this . There are a sort of people that will call a man a Defamer of the Kings Evidence , not as a Charge , but 't is a kinde of giving the word to the Rabble . As we cry he sweats , to a Dog when we would have him take a man by the Collar . Now as the Offence ought to be punish'd , on the One hand , so the Scandal methinks should not go Free , on the Other : and it were well if both Parts were agreed , First , upon the Force , and Intend ●●nt of That which is called the Kings Evidence ; and Secondly , what it is , to defame it . Every body knows , what it is to swear for the King ; and that the Witnesse must be Famae Integrae , and Probus . But now how far That Qualification extends , will be the Question . He that gives Evidence for the King is no further the Kings Witnesse , then for so much as concerns the subject matter of his Testimony ; though there are some , I know , that will have the WHOLE MAN to be swallow'd up , in a manner , and Transubstantiated into the Evidence ; as , if every Word , or Act ( for the purpose ) of L'Estrange were to be reputed as the Word , and Act of the Kings Witnesse : ( supposing Him so to be ; ) And that nothing could be spoken of him in One Capacity , without affecting him in the Other . Now under favour , Sir , This would be so dangerous a Mistake , that upon the Admittance of it , there would be no longer any Security either for King , or I Pople . For if my speaking any thing that is False of one of my Fellow Subjects , should invalidate the True Evidence I have given for his Majesty ; what becomes of our Sovereign ? And again , if my being an Evidence for the King , should entitle me to a priviledge of Abusing and Scandalizing other men at pleasure ; what becomes then of the Liberty of the People ? So that though This Qualification gives me more Credit , and Esteem in the world , according to the weight of the Cause in Question ; it gives me no more Power yet , or Advantage , over my Fellow-Subjects , in Other cases , then I had before . Yours ( I must Confess , Doctor , ) is very Particular , in regard of the Important Consequences that depend upon it : And yet This does not hinder , but that the same Rule holds good throughout . As for example Sir ; supposing me now to be one of the Kings Witnesses , would This Character Authorize me to place the Supreme Power in the People ; to say that the King is only as One of the Peers , and that the House of Commons made him what he is ; To give out , how I 'le Order the matter of the Succession ; and what course I 'le take with the Privy Council , when the Parliament meets ? to represent his Majesty to be Popishly Affected ; ( though a Premunire by the Statute ; ) to Garble the Bench as I please ; and to say who shall Out , or who Continue ; to call Princes , Traytors , and Canary-Birds ; To pronounce upon This or That man ; and say which Officer shall stand , and which , Fall ; whose Offices I 'le shake , and what Lawn-steeves I 'le Ruffle ; to Inveigh against the Bishops , as Popish ; with their Anti-Christian Holy-days ? to say I 'le be the Death of this man ; or I 'le have the Bloud of t'other , as the Toy takes me in the Crown : And all This , as if my being the Kings Evidence had made me Controller of the Government ; and Subjected the Lives , Libertyes , and Reputations of his Majestyes good Subjects to my Arbitration ? These are Excesses that a man cannot well-suppose : But however , This may suffice to shew that all things are not allowable , even to the Kings Evidences . But still as the Witnesses are Limited , the One way ; by the Rules of Good Manners , and Law. So it is not sit for people to make Sport with them the Other ; and ( as B. W. says ) to turn the whole History into Ridicule . But then Doctor , you must distinguish betwixt a mans Vindicating of Himself and Defaming You : for otherwise men must sit down and confesse themselves to be Rascalls as often as you are pleas'd to call them so , for fear of Blasting Your Evidence . Now though you are pleas'd to call me ten Thousand Rogues , and Villains ; ( and in very good Company too ; ) I am apt to think yet , that I 'm never the Lesse Honest for your calling me any thing to the Contrary ; and in passing This Reflexion upon your Intemperance and Choler ; What wrong is This to your Evidence ? Or if it be , you may thank your self for 't . Must I stand upon Record for a Villain , in a Compliment to your Testimony ? You tell People that I was a Common Fidler to Oliver , which allmost half the Nation knows to be False ; And from this Instance , you would infer my Truckling to that Usurper . You do not imagine that I will yield my self to be a Rascall now , for fear of disobliging any man by a Contradiction . I do here affirm to you , Doctor , that I never took Oath , Covenant , or any Engagement whatsoever , from that Party ; or in any sort whatsoever comply'd with them . Do but you prove the Contrary , and I 'le allow my self to be all the Rascalls you call me . Nay , it is publiquely known , that when I lay in Newgate , condemn'd to be Hang'd for serving his Majesty , I had the Intercessions offer'd me of very Powerfull Men in the Party , if I would take the Covenant , to endeavour to bring me off , and I refused it . And , in fine , since I am forc'd upon 't , I shall here annex Three Papers out of Twenty at least , upon the same Occasion , which I publish'd upon that bloudy Crisis in 1659. here in the Town , ( and honest Harry Brome got them Printed too , to his very great Hazzard ) when I do assure you Doctor , I did not write for Bread. You may perhaps take me to be a little Bolder in This Freedom , then becomes me ; but truly I did not think it safe to discourse this matter to you by word of mouth , for fear of enflaming you further : And to deal Freely with you , Sir , I had not gone thus far neither , if you had not most injuriously broken in upon my Family , in a more Tender point : A Nicety , that I must entreat you not to proceed any further upon , without advice of Counsell . This Personal Unkindnesse of yours shall not at all lessen the Esteem I have for you as you are the Kings Evidence : I shall go on advancing the Reputation of your Services , celebrating the good Offices you have rendred the Church as well as the State , in your plain-dealing with Fanatiques and Papists alike . But yet I am afraid , Doctor , that you are a little too easie of Belief : 'T is a great wrong to mee , and a greater yet to your self , This way of taking things upon Trust ; For Truth should be as Sacred in a Word , as in an Oath . I have at This Instant before my Eyes all the Inconveniences that can possibly arise from This way of Exposing my Vindication . First , I know that you are apt enough to take Fire of your self , Sir , and that you do not want Malevolent Spirits neither , to push you forward . I do know very well also your Power and Interest , with all the Ill Consequences that can attend it . I know likewise the Rancour of a Company of little Prostigate Wretches that will be forward enough to cover their Malice under your Name , and Protection ; and in my Conscience ( to give the men their due ) will not stick out at any thing , to do my business : Fellows that will make no more of Kissing a Book , then of Kissing a Back-side . But Sir , I shall oppose my single Honesty to all these Difficulties , and value their Swearing , as little as I do their Lying , tho' I am well assured , that they are conferring Notes upon That point already . And remember what I tell you , Sir ; if ever they come to Agree upon 't , That Perjury will be found allmost the fairest part of their Practice . There is another sort of Malignants , that please themselves mightily in the Contemplation of having L'Estrange Run down , ( as they call it ) at the next meeting of Parliament . I shall take my time likewise to vindicate That Honourable Assembly from the Scandal of That Character which these People would give them in the world : As if we were now coming to be Govern'd by Ordinances again ; and that Honest men , for discharging their Duties to their Prince , and Country , were now a Second time to be Sacrific'd to a Faction . No , no Sir ; I have no Apprehension of any hard measure from that Illustrious Assembly , to the degree of Oppressing me Contrary to Law ; and I have as little Apprehension from the Dint of any Known Law that I have Transgrest . Give me your favour , Doctor , but for One word more . My believing of the Plot , under certain Restrictions , and Qualifications , is by B. W. exhibited against me , as a great Enforcement of my Charge . Now upon my Faith , Sir , I am perswaded , that I believe every Tittle of the Real Plot ; but you must give me leave yet to Suspend my Faith in many Cases , where there is a Plot pretended , and Aggravated , and the supposed Principals not one jot concern'd in 't . What do you think , Sir , of the quality of those Inflaming Papers that are publisht in the Witnesses Names , and yet are only the Contrivances of a Knot of Booksellers , for their own Advantage ? Papers of manifest Scandal against the Royall Family ; some of the Loyall Protestant Nobility ; and in Generall , against his Majesties most Faithfull Subjects ? Papers composed for the Tumultuating of the Rabble ; and if the Citizens had not been too Honest , and too Sober , to be transported with those Libells , they had been sufficient to have engaged them in Blood : Papers , that allmost from One end to the Other of them are in effect the very Coppies of two Libells which I had formerly seiz'd my self . And shall This now be called a dis-believing of the Plot , which is only the not giving Credit to the most Shamelesse , and Insolent Impostures that ever were put upon any Government ? No , pardon me Doctor , Those Mercenaries are the Defamers of the Kings Evidence , that publish Lies , and Scandalls in Their Names . And pray'e take notice withall , that these pretended Asserters of Religion and Government , are men of Notorious , and Pestilent Principles against both Church , and State. I do not know , Sir , what Construction you may make of the good Office I have done you , as the Kings Evidence , in This way of asserting you to be a Loyall Subject , and a Good Church-man ; or in my Freedom of telling you , that in your Personal Capacity , you have not us'd me kindely . If you take the Latter amiss , I 'le leave it to Time , to reconcile me to your better Thoughts ; But for the Other part , Doctor , is you will needs misunderstand me , I shall however content my self in This , as well as in Other Cases , that I have render'd a Duty , and a Service to the Publique , without any Profit , to Sir , Your Disobliged , but Unchangeable Servant , Roger L'Estrange . P. S. I shall here present you , Sir , with the Papers I promised you in my Vindication from the mistake imposed upon you , as if I had gone over from the King to Cromwell . In 1659. Lambert was upon his March toward Sir George Booth , and Sir Henry Vane had listed the Separatists in and about London , to be in Readinesse At which time I Publisht This following Paper , under the Title of , The Declaration of the City , to the Men at Westminster . Gentlemen , WE have waited for the good you have promised us ; with a ridiculous Patience : but we find you Men of the Originall , and to be read backward . We are for the Religion of the Heart , not that of the Nose ; and for the Law of the Land , not that of the Sword ; we are likewise for the Charter of the City , and for the Liberties of Free-born Englishmen ; with which we are resolv'd to Stand and Fall. It is high time for us to look to our selves , when we are coming under a Guard of your Chusing , and when we have only this Choice left us , whether we will ▪ Adventure to destroy You to Day , or be sure to be destroyed our Selves to Morrow . That 's the short of the Case ; for , a Massacre is not only the Design , but the Profession of the Party you have Arm'd against us ; 't is their very Exchange-talk at noon day ; But the work will be either too hot , or too heavy : for my Masters , we are determined to suffer these affronts no longer , we are now come to understand one another , The Ruine of the Nation is Your Interest , the Peace and Preservation of it , Ours , and the mischief of it is , your destruction is as Easie , as 't is Necessary : for every Creature which either Loves God , or his Countrey , Hates You. You have not so few as 200000 Enemies in This Town , to dispute the Quarrell with some half a dozen of you ; not to multiply words , your Practices are such as a Generous Nature cannot Brook , and your Power so despicable , that a Coward needs not Fear it . You have made the City but a Cage of Broken Merchants ; Tradesmen are ready to Perish for want of Businesse ; and their Families for want of Bread ; nor have the Poor any other Employment than to Curse you . Those few amongst you that have any thing , are but Cover'd with the Spoiles of the Nation , and out of the Scum of the People you have composed your inconsiderable Rest. Well Gentlemen , play your own Cards your selves , Wee 'll play Ours : you 'll have no Single Person in the State , wee 'll have none neither in the City ; at least , we 'll have no White-Hall-Major ; we will neither extend our Priviledges an Inch , nor abate an Hair of them . And in the matter of Blood-shed , so let Heaven prosper Us , as we shall proceed tenderly : But if there be no other way left us than violence whereby to preserve our selves in our Just Rights , what Power soever shall presume to Invade the Priviledge of a Citizen , shall finde 20000 Brave Fellows in the Head on 't . This we do Unanimously Remonstrate to You , and to the World , to be our Firm , and Finall Resolution . After This , the Citizens presented a Petition to the Common-Council , pressing for a Free Parliament : But they were put off for the present , and upon Munday , December 5. 1659. Horse and Foot were dispatch'd into the City , by violence , to hinder the Re-inforcement of the Petition . But there was a great number of brave young Fellows that opposed them : And if the Factious Magistracy ( at That time ) had not by a Wile , perswaded them Home again , the Work had certainly been done ▪ That Bout. Upon This , after five or six days expectation what this affront would produce , I Printed this following Paper , to quicken them ; Entitled , The Engagement and Remonstrance of the City of London , Dec. 12. 1659. ALthough , as Citizens we are reduced to a Necessity of Violence ; and as Christians , obliged to the Exercise of it ; Unlesse we will rather prostitute our Lives and Libertyes , Fortunes and Reputations ; Nay our very Souls and Altars , to the Lusts of a Barbarous and sacrilegious Enemy : We have yet so great a tendernesse for Christian bloud , as to leave unattempted no means of probability to save it . This is it which hath prevayl'd with us to Declare , First to the World , what we Propose , and Resolve , ere we proceed to further Extremities : and to satisfie the Publique , as well in the Reasons of our Undertakings , as to Iustifie our selves , in the Menage and Event of them . We find , in the Middest of us , the House of Prayer converted into a Den of Theeves : Our Counsels Affronted by Armed Troups , our Fellow-Citizens knock'd on the head , like Dogs , at their own doors , for not so much as Barking : Nay , 't is become Death , now to desire to Live ; and Adjudg'd Treason , but to Claim the benefit of the Law against it . Witnesse those Infamous Murthers committed but Monday last , upon our uuarm'd friends : and the glorious Insolencies of that Rabble , towards such of the rest , as they seized , and carried away . But this is nothing : to make us a Compleat Sacrisice , we are to be Burnt too : a thing not only threatned , in the Passion of the Tumult , but soberly intended ; for they have layd in their Materials for the work already : ( a prodigious Quantity of Fire-Balls in Pauls , and Gresham College ) Briefly , We are design'd for Fire , and Sword , and Pillage : and it concerns us now , to look a little better to our gracious Guards . ( Not to insist upon the losse of Trade ; how many thousand Families have nothing now to do , but Beg , and Curse these wretches ? ) The Honour and Safety of the City lyes at stake : and God so blesse us , as we 'll fall together . We will not live to see our Wives , and Daughters ravish'd : our Houses Rifled , and our Children Beggers , that shall only live to Reproach their cowardly Fathers : and all this done too by a People , which we can as easily destroy , as mention : by a Party , so Barbarous , and so Inconsiderable together , that , certainly , no creature can be mean enough , either to suffer the one , or fear the other . In this Exigency of Affairs , we have found it both our Duty and our Interests to Associate ; and we desire a Blessing from Heaven upon us , no otherwise , than as we do vigorously , and faithfully pursue what we here Remonstrate . First ; We do engage our selves , in the presence of Almighty God , with our lives and fortunes , to defend the Rights and Liberties of the City of LONDON ; and if any person that subscribes to this Engagement , shall be molested for so doing ; We will unanimously , and without delay , appear as one Man to his Rescue . Next ; we demand , that all such Troups and Companies , as do not properly belong to the Guard of the City , nor receive Orders from the lawfull Magistrates thereof : — that such Forces withdraw themselves from the Liberties , within 12. hours after the Publication of This : upon pain of being deemed Conspirators , and of being Proceeded against accordingly , ( for to this extent , both of Judgment , and Execution , is every Individual qualified in his own defence . ) We are next , to demand the Enlargement of our Fellow Citizens , which were taken away by Force , and in a tumultuous manner , contrary to the known Laws of the Place , and Nation . This being performed , we shall acquiesce , in the Enjoyment of those Liberties , which we will not lose but with our Lives . In Fine , to remove all Impediments of the peace we desire : We do undertake , both as Men of Credit , and Justice ; that such of the Souldiers as will betake themselves to honester Employments , shall receive their Arrears from the City , and such a further care of their future well-being , as is sutable to the Necessitys of the One part , and the Charity of the Other . THis Paper was so well received , that it encouraged me to follow it with Another , Entitled , The Final Protest , and Sense of the City . HAving diligently perused two Printed Papers , bearing date , the 14th . of this instant December : The One , in form of a Proclamation concerning the summoning of a Parliament : The Other as an Order of the Common Counsell , commanding the City to acquiesce in expectation of That Parliament : We find therein contained , matters , so contrary to the Honour of the Nation , and to the Freedom of the City , that we stand obliged both as English-men , and as Citizens , to Protest against the Impositions of the former , as Illegal , and the Concessions of the Latter , as a direct Combination against us . These Two Papers are Seconded by a Third : ( for the Two are One , both in effect , and design , ) and that is , a Proclamation of Banishment , directing to the late Kings party , under the notion of the Common Enemy : so that there 's no love lost betwixt the Committee of Safety , and the Common Councill , when the General provides for the Peace of the City , and the Mayor for the Safety of the Army ; not to argue Acts of Oblivion , and the violation of Publique Faith in the case : that they Conditioned for their Lives and Liberties , and Compounded for their Fortunes . This is not our Concern , what they do suffer ; but what we may , if we trust those , that Keep no Faith with them : And that we 'le take a care of : When They are Gone , then We are the Common Enemy ; So are the Laws of God , and of the Nation , and such is every Man that loves them . What this Malignant Party is , these People talk of , we neither Know , nor Meddle ; the Gentry 't is we Live by , and by the Laws of Gratitude , and Hospitality , we are bound to Protect them , and resolved to do it , within our Walls , against any other Power , than that of the Known Law. The short of the Design is This ; a Danger is pretended to the City , from the late Kings Party , and to prevent the mischief , the Kind Committee Banishes the Gentlemen ; with Order to the Mayor to make strict searches for Delinquents . Now in pursuance of this precious Order , our Houses must be forced , and we Disarmed , and then , our throats cut , to preserve the City . Let those that would be Chronicled for Slaves , and Fools ; submit to suffer this ; and after that Infamous Hour , may a Yellow Coat , and a Wooden Dagger , be the Badge and Distinction of a Citizen . To conclude , We our selves are That City , so much the Care and Cry of the Proclamation ; and This is our Unanimous sense , and Resolve . The Army proposes to Pillage , and Murther us , the Mayor , and his worthy Advisers , Ireton , &c. — are to hold our Hands , while They give the Blow ; So , that we are now to provide both against Force and Treason ; having One Enemy 〈◊〉 in our Walls , and Another in our Counsels . But withall , we have our Swords in our Hands , and our Brains in our Heads ; and only to Strike the One , and to Disbelieve the Other , is to Subdue , and Disappoint them Both. We do therefore declare to the World , that we will by Violence oppose all Violence whatsoever , which is not warranted by the Letter of the Established Law : and that in pursuance of this Duty , both toward the Nation , and City , an Insolent Souldier , and an Apostate Magistrate shall be to us as the same thing . — Not to Word it much further , as we will not be Baffled , by Affronts , so neither will we be Fooled , by Flatieries . After the Loss of Trade and Liberty , a vast expence of Blood , and Treasure ; After many Injuries received , more threatned , and none returned , We made a sober , and Regular Application , to the Authority of the City , for Redresse . This they Promised , and we Expected , till at last , in stead of a Reparation for past Wrongs , or a Security against worse to come ; We are paid with an Expectation of a Parliament in Ianuary . This is a Logique we understand not . It is in English , Lye still , till we cut your Throats It would be well to commit the disposition of our Fortunes , co tho● people , that are at this Instant designing an Execution upon our Persons ; and to requite those Worthies , that have already Robb'd us of all we have Lost , with the Offer of that little Rest they have Left. But this will not do our Business ; we will not have our Murtherers , for our Iudges : nor will we wait . That Parliament they babble of so much , will scarce Vote up the City again out of Ashes , nor all the Saints in that holy Assembly , bring the poor Cobler into the world again , that was Kill'd by order of his Brother Hewson . No , the Cheat is too stale , and we are Determined to Redeem our selves ; but with this Caution , We do solemnly profess , that we will exercise all the Tendernesse which possibly the Case will bear : The Common Souldier is engaged rather out of a Heedless , than Malicious Interest : We do therefore Protest , that such of those as shall not evidence their Malice , by their Obstinacy , shall receive a Fair Consideration : But , for such as Lead them , we do Resolve , not to allow Quarter to any one of them , that draws his Sword in the Quarrel : And in order to the Quicker , and Gentler Dispatch of the Business : We conclude with a Text , Fight neither with Small nor Great , but with the King of Israel . And so God give a Blessing to the Endeavours of all Honest Men. It makes me blush to think how like Vanity , and Ostentation , this Appendix may appear to any man that does not duly Consider the Occasion of Reprinting it . The End.