A Brief answer to Mr. L'Estrange, his appeal 1680 Approx. 38 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A69629 Wing B4543 ESTC R18986 10624231 ocm 10624231 45435 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. A69629) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 45435) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 731:32 or 1399:9) A Brief answer to Mr. L'Estrange, his appeal Blount, Charles, 1654-1693. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng L'Estrange, Roger, -- Sir, 1616-1704. -- Answer to the Appeal from the country to the city. Popish Plot, 1678. 2006-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-10 Celeste Ng Sampled and proofread 2006-10 Celeste Ng Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Brief ANSWER TO Mr. L'Estrange HIS APPEAL . EVERY body that carries his eyes in his head , and hath but an ordinary reason and understanding , may see through this fine spun Appeal of Mr. L'Estrange ; it is plain enough , That having rendred himself obnoxious not only to particular persons and parties of a Nation , but to the Government , and the Peace and quiet thereof , by his wicked and malicious Pen , he would , now , fearing to be called to Justice for the same , endeavour by this his last Appeal , to palliate his Crimes and hide his Knavery , with this Cloak of seeming Honesty . But at the same time , for all his Justification in Words , he takes a wiser course , in slipping out of the way to avoid Justice , and flies from those very persons to whom he Appeals , the King and the 3 Estates . As this very Act shews him not so very Innocent as he would make the World believe , or that he little confides in the Justice and Integrity of those to whom he had Appealed , so it might sufficiently serve for Answer of his Appeal to all the World. However , since the Gentleman has been ever very free of his Pen , and medling where it little became him , he may expect that some who have as little to do as himself , will also find time to return answer to his Scribling , and in a far better cause , endeavour to unblind the eyes of the people , which may be easily done , and in a very few words , in a case so plain and easie : For truly Mr. L' . E. uses nothing but Sophistry , and tho' he believes he writes well himself , every body else is not of that Opinion , but considering the Badness of his Cause , we may give him allowance . In this his Appeal , this Gentleman thinks , or at least would have others believe , that he had Justify'd himself by shewing you sufficient proofs of his Loyalty and Innocency , brought out of his own Printed Writings , and that way hopes he has stop'd the mouths of all his gain-sayers , and rendred himself Innocent and clear of all those Accusations laid against him ; But should we grant all those proofs he has brought out of his Printed Pamphlets , to be true in Terminis , it is not for any of his good Deeds or good Words that he is accused , but for the many wicked and scurrilous , and indeed most horrid and pernicious Abuses , he has put upon most part of the Nation , and truly on all that love not to see their Nation inslaved , nor the Protestant Religion subverted : It is now plain enough of what Party and Faction he has been , and for what end he has made all this stir and pudder with his Writings ; hoping to blind the eyes of the people , and under the colour of a Protestant , set Protestants together by the ears , to advance Popery . It shall not be my work at present , to make Roger sight with L'Estrange , and to turn over all his impertinent Scribbles , to shew you how contradictory the whole scope of his writings are to those shreds and parcels he has pick'd out to Justify himself withal . I have something else to do , and it would swell this beyond the bulk of a Pamphlet , which I intend not ; but let any one impartially read over his books , and they will finde enough , to oppose against what he hath wrote in his Appeal , in his own Justification , when the whole byass , and stream runs contrary : And all those six particular charges , which he has observed in his 2d page of his Appeal , very sufficiently made good against him from his own words ; and would , had he staid , have found Witnesses Vivâ voce that would have said more . But we will descend from Generals to Particulars , and briefly as may be , consider the several parts of his Appeal , which he has cast into 5 Heads , the 1st . is the subject matter of his Libellers as he calls e'm : The 2d . to vindicate himself therefrom : The 3d. the Rancour of the Libellers : The 4th . to shew their Designs and Practises upon the Government ; and lastly , how much it concerns the State to protect him the assertor of their Laws , Rights and Priviledges . This man knowing for whom he had undertaken , believed he had a publick Cause in hand , and like another Coleman , priding himself in his parts , believes himself a States-man , and one already advanced to the Helm of Government , he has link'd the Security , Honour and Justice of the Government , with his particular quarrels , intreagues and wicked abuses , and made his very Apology a publick Duty . Alas ! that it should so much concern the King and the 3 Estates , to take notice of this man , and of his Appeal , and that he should vanish in a Mist , that when they would grasp this honour and support of the Cause , they can find nothing but Air ! But notwithstanding the Vanity and Ostentation of this man , there is no body that can see the Honour , Justice and Security of the Nation , with what Circumstances soever his Case is complicated , to be at all concerned in any of his Pamphlets , and much less in his Appeal . This is but a taste of the Vanity this self-conceited States-man , and Machivillian Politician would have shewn us , if once the Wheel had come about , and his Lord of the Faction , come to be head of the Kingdom . But to our business , the matter of his Charge , which he has himself very well drawn up into 6 heads . 1. The ridiculing the Plot. 2. Countenancing the Sham-Plot . 3. Discrediting the Kings Witnesses . 4. In abusing the Nation under the Names of Cit and Bumpkin . 5. In misrepresenting the late Petitions and their Promoters as Scandalous and Seditious . 6. In embroyling the Kingdom by his Writings . This is the Charge that he finds is fixed on him , and which he very slenderly acquits himself of , by bringing some seeming proofs out of his own Writings to the contrary : But his Enemies , and such as he has made to be justly so , have more to charge him with than this , though this be enough , and more than he can ever clearly wipe off : But as I am none of his Accusers , I shall not say any more as to that point , how far he has rendred himself obnoxious to Justice , but only consider a little , how far he has made himself Innocent , and how cleverly he has wiped his mouth , and looks demurely and full of Loyalty , after he has rendred himself odious to a Nation , by his Calumnies and Abuses . In the first place , he brings you , as he calls them , the undeniable Evidences of his own Papers , which testifie his Opinion of the Plot ; and here he would have you to believe , That he could not turn the Plot into ridicule , because he believ'd it , a very fine way of arguing , Mr. L'Estrange cannot be a dishonest man , because I know him . I would be loath to stretch this point too far against him , and rather think , for all his proofs , that he did not believe the Plot , and that he laughed at it , as many other fools do , because they are blind , and led away by the Nose by Jesuitical cunning , and so think there is no such thing . We know , that none knows better that there has been a Plot , and an horrid Plot and Conspiracy against the Kings Life and Government , than the Jesuits and several of the Papists , and yet who I pray is there that more laughs at a Plot than they ? Who more hard to believe any such thing ? Who more ready to turn it into ridicule ? to Lampoon it , and to write against it ? Therefore this can be no Argument that you could not ridicule the Plot , because you have own'd it ; and indeed it hath been too manifestly made evident that this Plot was no fiction , and since you had undertaken its History , you must of necessity own the matter of Fact ; and you could do no less than justify your proceedings thereon . Yet in the very entrance of your Narrative you are so full of it , that you cannot forbear jeering at the Narratives of the Plot , which were set forth for the Satisfaction of the People . Yet there you say , Those Authors should hang a Table at their Doors , and say , Here you may have a very good Narrative for threepence , a groat or sixpence a piece , or higher if you please , for we have 'em of all sorts and sizes : The only danger is of popping upon us Cat and Dogs flesh for Venison , for take 'em one with another at the Common rate of Narratives , there 's hardly one in five will pass Muster . Then by and by we have Narratives of things Visible and Invisible , Possible and Impossible , one of Fact , and another of Imagination ; so , by and by , he plays again with the word PLOT . Plots of Interest , Plots of Passion , Plots to undermine Governments , Plots to support them , Plots simple , and Counter-Plots , Plots Jesuitical , Plots Phanatic . and such like stuff . And then pag. 4. he plays upon Dr. Otes , and as one says , serenades him , but as he says himself , improving his Plot , and raising a Superstructure out of his own words , of a Schismatical Plot , and this pag. 21. he calls the transmigration of Conspiracy . It would be too tedious to trace him in his own Steps throughout , neither have I all his Pamphlets by me , as not thinking them worth the keeping , that I might quote the particular pages , for enough of his Ridicule might be gathered together , and in his Cit and Bumpkin , p. 11. his Cit says , If we were but once at the bottom of this Plot , which Bumpkin is a most hideous one , and wanted matter for another . Then he cunningly jibes at the belief of it , by shewing many ridiculous and impossible things imposed on the people on purpose by Cit. And pag. 12. a fourth fancies two Plots . Now all this , and a great deal more in the sense of a great many , seems a Laughing and Jeering at the Plot , and did lessen the esteem of it in many people that were too credulous of what Mr. L'Estrange writes . But it is not enough to laugh at it , and to jest and jibe with it , but the drift of the latter part of his Narrative is to lessen this Plot , by representing to you the several false belief of it , concerning Powels being Trepann'd on Ship-board , and of the Arms found at Sir Henry Tuchburns , of Bedingfields being dead , and yet alive ; The Conspiracy of the Apprentices ; The Stories of the Booksellers ; and the miscarriages of some forward Magistrates . To what did all this tend , in the understanding of any Judicious and Loyal person , but to the lessening the Plot ? or putting it wholly on the Presbyterians , whilst a suspicion is so fiercely raised of their dangerousness to the State , and of their cunning and malicious Inventions , that the Plot might be forgot , or be lessened in the esteem of the People . And this Truth , a few Quotations of Mr. L'Estranges of his belief of the Plot , will never blot out , nor will all honest men be so blind , as not to see he hath sufficiently , nay too too much ( for one that pretends to so much Loyalty ) laugh'd at the Plot , and turn'd it into ridicule . In the second place , as to shamming the Plot , this is a new invented word , and asks explaining , but if I am not mistaken , it signifies belying or discrediting the Plot , or making it a blind only to some other Plot in hand , viz. that of the Presbyterians , which he has been always so careful to remind the World of , even as he says himself , p. 6. ever since 61 , and here he quotes what he then said , and I think has as good as said nothing , for everybody that knows him is sufficiently convinced of his dear love to those people ; but still to be harping on the same String , and especially at this time , when it was so palpably known , as he himself confesses , that there was a most horrid and damnable Popish Plot , to murder the King , and to subvert the whole Protestant Religion , when all parties of the Reformed Church were concerned , then I say , to reap up the old gleanings , and evil miscarriages of the Rump of Presbyterians , concatinated with some few other Sectaries , and others of desperate Principles and Fortunes , and at this time to put them upon the whole body of Dissenters , who have hitherto shewed themselves Loyal in all respects , and hate and abhor those Principles he would fling upon them , and with so much earnestness , with great labour and pains almost in every Pamphlet , represent these persons doing and acting the same things over again , to stir up Jealousies in the King , and to make them odious to the people , and this to be as he calls it , pag. 2. the Superfoetation of another Plot. Now let the World judge how far this Gentleman agrees with that most horrid Design of the Jesuites and Papistical party , of framing a Sham-Plot , in which Mrs. Celliers was so stirring an Agent , and putting it upon the Presbyterians , by which means they would have cut off the chief and most Loyal of the Nation , by telling the World , and endeavouring to make the World believe , that these persons whom he calls dissenters , are framing a Plot , and have a Plot in hand to ruine the King and the Bishops , and to set up themselves and a Common Wealth in their stead . If this be not shamming the Plot , as he calls it , I know not what is , for unless his Papers had been found in the very bottom of Mrs. Celliers Meal tub , they could not have been more like those , so evenly are they yoak'd , and draw both one way , to make the King and Kingdom believe it was the Presbyterians , not the Papists , that were in hand of a desperate Plot , and therefore he says , pag. 5. he is convinc'd there are several Sham-Plots Contriv'd and Started , where there is no colour or pretence at all , for a blind to the advancing of a Fanatical Design , and as he is convinc'd , so he endeavours to convince others , but what these Sham-Plots are , unless those of his and the Jesuits framing , we are yet Ignorant of . As to the third charge of endeavouring to discredit the Kings Witnesses , Mr. L'Estrange has again brought his own Quotations , every one of which , rather makes good the Charge , than any way excuses it , for all the World cannot but see that those Civilities as he calls 'em , and Complements to Dr. Otes , are down right Jeers and Scoffs , and have been ever taken so , by every one that has read or heard them , and yet this Gentleman has the confidence to bring them as proofs of his Innocency and Civility to Dr. Otes , and would have all the World put out their eys , and not see the true force and meaning of those words , but according to his false glosses . And for what reason is he an Enemie to Dr. Otes , but because he is one of the Kings Witnesses ? and one of his Chief Witnesses ? and by discrediting his person , and making him ridiculous , or of small esteem with the people , that he may that way lessen the esteem of the Plot ? pag. 7. They are wonderful things which the Doctor has done already , and am perswaded he is yet reserved for more wonderful things to come , when Truth shall deliver her self from the Rubbish of Oppression and Slander , and in despight of Envy and Imposture , render his Name as famous to Posterity , as his Virtue has made it to the present Generation . And this he says he writes with little less than the Genius of a Prophet . This may be true , though not as he intended , and may be a Prophesie , tho' he to himself may be a false Prophet . But this though palpably a Jeer , he calls a Panegyrick , and that you may take notice of his meaning , and as if there were Emphasis , or something more than ordinary in the words , Wonderful , things to come , Truth , Oppression , Slander , Envy , Imposture , Name , Posterity and Virtue , they are all put in a different Character , that you might observe the force of his most ingenious Complement , that like Janus looks two ways at once . The rest of his Quotations are much after the same Nature , and how gladly he traces the Doctor , as he calls it , in making it plain that the Jesuits and the Schismaticks in the late Rebellion , went hand in hand in Dethroning and Murthering our late Sovereign . Who was it but you that found out the Conspiracy it self ? and then the Conspirators , & c ? thus would he also fix it on Dr. Otes , to be an Author of Accusing the Presbyterians to have a Plot in hand , because he had said that the Jesuites formerly , in the shapes and disguises of Presbyterians and other Sectaries , were a great means of promoting and of fomenting the late Rebellion , therefore mark his Conclusions by Dr. Otes , his own Testimony , they are so still ; this is to do honour to the Dr. as he calls it , yea more than ever any did him , except the person that first called him the Saviour of the Nation . The fourth Charge , that he abuses the Nation under the Names of Cit and Bumpkin . And here Mr. L'Estrange takes the pains to quote his own Characters of them , that they represent a couple of Rascals , and not Lords , Citizens or Commons , &c. but I suppose the disgust was not so much at the Names of Cit and Bumpkin , as at the matter Cit and Bumpkin discours'd of , and how far that Book has disgusted and offended the sober and good people , hath been already manifested by the several Answers has been wrote to it , though Mr. L'Estrange will tell you that all was to no purpose . Yet all that read his Dialogues both first and second part of them , will confess that he has not only been severe upon the Presbyterians , but has abused almost all that are not like himself , driving on a faction , though of the Church of England , and no dissenters , except from the Romish Church . He would perswade the World that he wrote those Dialogues of Cit and Bumpkin , in Answer to the virulent Appeal , which gave a direct encouragement to a Rebellion , but to help it forward , he takes a course to irritate the Presbyterians , by making them worse than the Papists , and favourers of the Appellants Principles . And after he has sufficiently abused the Citizens , by his Rascally and Fanatical Cit , he now in his Appeal seeks to cajole them . But what a business he makes , what words and distinctions he flies to , what Inferences he draws , and what a Grammarian he shews himself in 2 or 3 whole pages to salve his Cits Discourse of the Parliament ! and when all is done , the Cloud of Dust he has raised , will not put out the peoples eyes from seeing his good intentions therein : Then he thought the sitting of the Parliament a great way off , but now he would mince his Discourse ; then was then , and now is now , it speaks too plain , his Conceptions of the Parliaments not being for his purpose . But there has been enough spoken of this already . As to the fifth particular , that he has scandalously represented the late Petitioners and the Promoters of them , he would evade also by his own self Quotations . He grants Petitioning Lawful , if the thing be simply good Petitioned for . If so , surely the calling of a Parliament to ease the Burthens of the People , to rectifie errors in Government , and to bring offenders to Justice , is simply good in it self , and therefore Lawful ; and yet he tells you it belongs not to the multitude to interpose in matters of State , that is , in plain English , for the People to Petition their Sovereign to call a Parliament , to ease their grievances , so that he grants , what in effect in the very next words he denyes . By no means , he will not hear of the peoples Petitioning , it is of dangerous Consequence , and he tells in many particulars , in the late times . They began with Petitioning against Evil Counsellors and Grievances , then Petioned for the Militia , the Kings Towns and Forts , till they brought the King to the Block . And after this manner they procoeded now again , p. 18. what think you , is not this man an Abhorrer of Petitioning ? and is not this a rendring the Petitioners , and Petitions also scandalous and odious ? Then he tells us of several undue courses and practises , used in former times , therefore he says , he has good Authority for apprehending the danger of Popular Petitions . Goodman , because some have been choaked with eating Plumbs , none must ever eat them hereafter . If the abuse of any thing must make the lawful use of any thing suspected or avoided , we must forsake our meat and our drink , and our Garments . Men must by no means intermeddle with that they have no skill in ; that is , Petitioning for a Parliament ? what has the People to do with that ? it is the Kings business and Prerogative ; Why may not 20000 Plow-Jobbers as well Subscribe a Petition to the Lord Mayor of London , for the calling of a Common Council ? p. 17. a very good Conclusion , because it is out of the Sphear of these Plow Jobbers to Petition the Lord Mayor for what they have nothing to do with , therefore the People of England have no business to Petition the K●ng for the calling of a Parliament to ease their burthens and to rectifie their Grievances . But though it be the Kings undoubted Prerogative , to call and dissolve Parliaments , we may now say , since the Votes of this Honourable House now sitting , has given us new boldness , that notwithstanding the assertions and Opinions of these Abhorrers , that it is the undoubted Right of the People of England , humbly to Petition their Sovereign , when Grieved , for the calling of a Parliament , and to redress their Grievances . But Mr. L'Estrange doth not abuse the late Petitioners by no means ; have a care of that , he abuses no body , though he gives them never so vile terms , and renders them odious and ridiculous . Cit says , p. 2. speaking of Subscriptions , There was hardly a Register about the Town that escaped us for Names , Bedlam , Bridewell , all the Parish Books , nay the very Goals and Hospitals , we had our Agents at all publick meetings , Courts , Church , Change , and all the Schools up and down , Masters underwrit for their Children and Servants , Women for their Husbands in the West Indies , nay we prevail'd upon some Parsons to engage for their whole Congregation ? we took in Jack Straw , Wat Tyler , and the whole Legend of Poor Robins Saints into our List of Petitioners , and some Names served us for 4 or 5 several places . And then Bumpkin replies ; and you shall see how now that we were put to our shifts in the Country , as well as you in the City , I was employed , you must know to get Names at 4 shillings an hundred , and I had all my real subscriptions written at such a distance one from another , that I could easily clap in a name or two , betwixt them , and then I got as many School-boys as I could to underwrite after the same manner , and after this I fill'd up all those spaces with Names , that I either remembred or invented my self , or could get out of 2 or 3 Christening Books . There are a World you know of Smiths , Browns , Clarks , Walkers , Woods , so that I furnished my Catalogue with a matter of 50 a piece of these Sir-Names , which I Christned my self . And besides we had all the Non-Conformist Ministers in the Country for us , and they brought in a power of Hands . Thus the Gentleman plays with the Petitions , and shews his abhorrency of Petitioning , seeking to deter the People from using their modest Rights in Petitioning their Sovereign . But now , if all , or most of these scurrilous things , which he has made Cit and Bumpkin say , be false ; and falsly applyed to , and fixed upon the late Petitioners , is not this man Guilty of scandalously misrepresenting the late Petitioners , and the Promoters of the late Petitions ? let all the World judge . To the last of his Charge he says , That he is extreamly out of his Measures , to be still Creating misunderstandings in the very Act of endeavouring either to rectifie or prevent them . And to be indangering the Peace of the Kingdom , in the design of preserving it . No doubt but Mr. L'Estrange is the unhappy man , if those were his measures , as to be utterly mistaken in them , for I know not what could have created a greater misunderstanding , or more tended to the embroyling of the Nation : Not in asserting the Law and Government against all Opposers , as he would make you believe , but in ridiculing the Plot , abusing the Kings Evidence , writing against Petitioning , railing against the Presbyterians , and raking in all the old Dunghills . Not by laying open the Malice of many bold Libells against his Majesties Person , Authority and Government , but by railing against every body that gives an Answer to his Scurrilous Pamphlets , and by abusing all that he believes not of his way and Faction : not by maintaining the Apostolical Order and Constitution of the Church against Schism , but in rendring the whole body of Dissenters odious , factious and seditious . Not by maintaining the Powers and Priviledges of the State , against all Principles of Sedition , but by making his Cits and Bumpkins to blow about the Coals of Sedition . Not by inculcating Reverence and Obedience to Superiours , but by abusing , scoffing at , and terrifying Inferiours . Not by recommending the Blessings and Duties of Vnity , but by widening the breaches , and making greater the gap of Dissention . These are the things that have created ill blood , and have tended to the embroyling the Kingdom , but whether defignedly , or whether he mistook his measures , I shall not say . The next thing he passes to , is to give you a scurrilous Description of the Quality of his Libellers as he calls them ; for all those who write in Answer to his idle and abusive Pamphlets , he calls so . And here he is Satyrical and abusive , and the things touching particular persons , I shall leave him ; for whether the things he charges them with , be true or false , it shews his railing disposition and foul mouth , nothing becoming the Gentility and breeding he would pretend to . But yet I cannot but take notice of his extream Pride and Vanity , in thinking and ranking himself as a State and Church Martyr , and his justly suffering for his abusive Pen , he calls suffering with the King and with the Church , and for their sakes also . The Jesuites say as much , and it is a vanity inherent to such Martyrs . But it now appears , that the Representatives of the whole Kingdom , have no such Opinion of the Service he has done , either to King or Church , but rather to the contrary , by his many abuses put upon the people in his Pamphlets , has much disserted either . He says it is the part of the Devil himself to blacken and defame , and after he has thus said Grace , falls to with open mouth , and blackens and defames all he can , with the spleen and rancour of a Cynick : especially one little Creature as he calls him , which little Creature indeed has been a Goad in his side , and has prick'd the Bull so hard , as has made him bellow full loudly . But he is not only Splenetick at Mr. Care , for writing smartly against him , but has also put Mr. Curtis in several of his Pamphlets , among the Libellers , for exercising his Trade of Publishing Printed Books and Pamphlets . He is so very dogged a Cynic , that he will let no body live in Peace , that he thinks loves not him , or believes not well of his railing . The very acquaintance of any that writes against him , is enough to make him a Libeller , and there are several to my own knowledge that hardly spake of him , that he has abused because Friends or Relations to those who have answered some of his Scurrilities . But he is no ways genteelly Satyrical , but a down right abuser and scoffer , without Salt or Wit , and where he cannot charge 'em with any thing of Crime or dishonesty , rather than be wanting to his own Malice , he will seek for natural defects ; which also if he cannot find , he will Create , and rather than want matter for his Buffoonery , will play with the Visage of a man , and render it like a Visard , an Ape or a Monky , or any thing that will render the person ridiculous . An old Jesuitical trick , who upon the Reformation in England , and the establishing of the Protestant Religion , made the Common People of Spain believe that all the English were turned into M●nsters , and were all metamorphised into strange Creatures , with Asses heads , and Monkies tails , so that when our late Sovereign arrived there with all his Train , they were not a little amazed to find han●some men instead of Monsters , as the Jesuites had sworn them all to be . Just so does this Satyrical Wit play upon the Visages and postures of several persons , rendring them almost as disguised as his own , but this is pitiful and mean. However they have since thought it good , par pari referre , and to Answer his Skeldri , as he had made others Owls and Monkies , so have they changed him into the Cur Towzer . As for his particular malice to Dr. Oates , that plainly appears to be the business of the party , who set him on , who thrust this silly scratching Cats foot of his into the fire , to pull out the Nut , that is to abuse him , and to render him ridiculous , and to endeavour to make him in little esteem with the People , that his Evidence might be slighted , or else he , certainly would never have so publickly scofl'd at a person that has merited so much of all good men , and all Protestants in this Kingdom , in first discovering this most Horrid Popish Plot. Now to use his own words ; Is not the World come to a fine pass now , when such a Fellow as this , shall hold the Ballance of Empires ? That shall be the Pillar to support the Crown and Miter ? that shall charge the whole Body of Presbyterians with Fanaticism and Rebellion ? That makes sport with that Tool the Plot ? as the Buffoon calls it : and to canton out all people that write against him , or the Plot to be Libellers , Fools , Egyptian Locusts , and what not ? But as to his Reasons of his Libellers Rancour against him , first , he says , That they say he began with them ; But that I suppose is not the true ground of the Quarrel , they endeavoured to take up the Cudgels against him , seeing him lay about him so furiously , that he might not sight with his own shadow , and like an over-grown Colossus of Wit , terrifie an whole Nation , as if none durst Cope with him . But the chief and true ground was indeed to undeceive the People , and to let them see this Papist in disguise , and as he says himself for harping so unseasonably on that one String of 41 , without any ground at all , and this he terms their Rancour . This he would evade by his old way if you will believe him ( he 'l make you think the Moon is made of green Cheese ) for he tells you the weighty reasons of all his frivolous , scurrilous and scandalous scribling , which were either to defend himself , or to unmask the fallacy of imposing on the people : ( that is , that you might believe him and no body else ) or to lay open the Arts by which the City of London was formerly betrayed to Slavery and Faction ( that is , to have most of them thought Rascals ) or for the undeceiving the credulous people , that had been misled unhappily by the accursed Libel called the Appeal , and therefore he wrote his Cit and Bumpkin , which grosly abuses both City and Country ; Glorious ends , and as well acquitted . As for Dr. Otes , he has but improved his Discoveries , and help'd his Evidence towards the rooting out all the Priests and Jesuites out of the Land : that is , by destroying Presbytery , and all the disguised Romish Priests and Papists amongst them , that the Protestants Masqueders may throw off their V●zards , and appear bare fac'd . He still proceeds to tell you his good intent and meaning , in putting forth his many Pamphlets , nay and the good they have effected , by making some Converts , and satisfying and confirming others , if you will believe him . It is very hard , that he should do those things by those very means which has offended most of the Nation , especially the more sober and moderate sort , and rendred himself of being suspected no true Son of the Church , nor faithful Servant of the King , but all the while serving another Interest . He says , p. 24. he has lived long enough in the World to understand in some measure both Men and Books , and that popular passions are moved by popular Discourses , as the Waves of the Sea by the power of the Winds . It is the first Office of Political Pamphlets in all case of design upon any eminent alteration of the State to possess the people with false Notions , &c. Now may not we suppose that Mr. L'Estrange well knowing these Maxims , has followed them ( or at least seems so in the eyes of many ) and now , when so great a design of the alteration of the Government was in hand , which is the PLOT , has most fairly and opportunely taken the time of troubling and muddying the waters with the silth of 41 , nothing but all the Miscarriages of the Schismaticks and Sectaries must be now laid open afresh , to beget disgusts and murmurings and jealousies of one part against another , and instead of closing up the breach , as a good man ought to have done , and of calling to Unity , he nothing but roars out 41 , 41 , in every paper , whilst the Jesuitical Design in the mean time is working the ruine of 3 Kingdoms , Divide & Impera , set them together by the ears , and we shall do the work ; but yet do it under the notion of serving the King and Kingdom by all means . The Gentleman is angry at the liberty of the Press , I cannot blame him , but 't is hoped whatever restraint should be put thereon by Authority , that it shall never fall under Mr. L'Estranges hand to be a Licenser , for then 't will be very hard to get any thing Licensed that should be wrote against the Papists , but should be stifled , as he had served several when he had power ; Writing against the Plot , he calls writing against the Government : and writing against him , he calls writing against Superiours and Magistrates : writing against Papists , is an undutiful and intemperate practice against the publick peace , to the extream hazard and dishonour of the State. And yet this is the Doctor who professes in his Papers , Antidotes against all Pestilent and Poysonous Infusions , The State Quack , who purges the Nation of its errors . The Hocus Pocus that resolves all its riddles and expounds their meaning . The zealot for the Church , and one who has Dedicated Soul , Body , Fortune , Interests to the Service of his Prince and Country . He next proceeds to discover the Designs and Practices on the publick Peace , by the spreading Scandalous and dangerous Libels , a great many of which he quotes , and we agree with him , that such pernicious Libellers do much mischief in a State , but as they have always been , and ever will be as Vermine in a State , so they are liable to the Laws and answerable to them , let such be punished , but let not all that write against Mr. L'Estrange be thrust among these pack of Libellers ; nor let it be in the power of Mr. L'Estrange to be the only Judge of what is sit to be Printed , and what not . In the last place he troubles himself to little purpose , how far in Honour and Justice a Prince or State ought to countenance and protect the Assertors of their Rights or Priviledges ; we grant 't is much to their Honour and great Justice to do it , but yet we will not say , Therefore Mr. L'Estrange ought to be countenanced or rewarded , as such an Assertor of the Rights or Priviledges of the King and Kingdom . I shall leave him with his Politicks , and draw to a Conclusion , which is , That I have wrote this very brief Answer to Mr. L'Estrange's plausible Appeal , without any thing of rancour or malice , or particular Spleen against the man , but to shew the World that all is not Gold that glisters , and that Mr. L'Estrange is not the Loyal Person he pretends to , nor a State Martyr , but one that suffers , ( in the Opinion of most , ) justly for his own folly . FINIS . London , Printed for T. Davis , 1680.