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A LETTER from Her Royal Highneſs, the Princeſs
Η Ι Α,
SOPH
A,
ELECTRESS of Brunswic and Luneburg,
To His Grace
The Archbiſhop of CANTERBURY,
With another from
HANNOVER
Written by
Sir ROWLAND GWYNNE
To the Right Honourable
The EARL of STAMFORD.
J
譬
​ود
A LETTER from Her Royal Highness, the Princefs SOPHIA, Eledrefs of
Brunfwic and Luneburg, to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury.
My Lord,
I
Receiv'd Your Graces Letter: *** You have no
reafon to make any Excufe that you have not
Writ to me more often: For I do not Judge of
Feoples Friendship for me, by the good
Words they give me, but I depend upon your
Integrity, and what you tell me in general of the Ho-
nest Men of England.
I dfire no further Affurance of their good Will
and Affection to me, unless they think it neceffary for
the Good of the Proteftant Religion, the Pub.ick Li-
berties of Furope, and the People of England.
I thank God, Tain in good Health, and Live in Quiet
and with Content here, there ore I have no reafon to
defire to change my tway of Living, on the Account
}
of any Perfonal Satisfaction, that I can propoſe to my
felf.
However, I am ready and willing to comply with
what ever can be defired of me, by my Friends, in cafe
that the Parliament think,that it is for the Good of the
Kingdom, to Invite me into England.
But I fuppofe they will do this in fuch a manner,
as will make my Coming agreeable to the Queen,
whom I fhall ever Honour, and Endeavour to deſerve
Her Favour; of which She hath given me many Pub-
lick Demonftrations, by what She hath done for me in
England and Scotland, which you can judge of more
particularly And I moft remember that She Order'd
me to be Pray'd for in the Churches.
I doubt nct, but Her Majefty is as much inclin'å
at prefent, to Eftabli the fafety of the Three King-
A
doris`
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doms upon fuch a Foot, that They may be expofed to
the leaft Hazard, that is poffible; and that She will
begin with ingland.
Mr. How has Acquainted me with Her Majefties
Good Inclinations for my Family; which makes me
think, that, perhaps, Her Majefty fees this is a proper
time for Her to Exprefs Herfelf in Our Favour. But
whether I am right in this Foint or not, my Friends
in England can beft judge.
It is but reafonable, that I fhould fubmit my felf to
their Opinions and Advice. And I depend moft upon
what your Grace fhall Adviſe, which will ever have
the greateſt Weight with, me.
Therefore I Write the more plainly to You, and tell
You my 1houghts, that You may Communicate them
to All You think fit. For they will then ſee that I
have great Zeal for the Good of England, and a moſt
fincere Refpe& for the Queen.
This is the beſt Froof that I can give, at preſent,
of my Efteem for Your Grace: But I fhall be glad of
fhall ever be moft Sincerely
further Opportunities to afïure you, that I am, and
My Lord,
Voftre tres Affectionnee
Hannover Novemb.
3d. 1705.
a`vous fervir
Sophie Electrice.
DA
*
A Letter from Sir ROWLAND GWYNNE, to the Right
Honourable Earl of STAMFORD.
My Lord,
I
Perfons of Credit, that Her good Inclinations for the
Queen and the Nation, were Mifreprefented; Some
having Reported, That She did not think of England;
Others, That She might give a Rife to Intrigues
against the Queen and the Publick, if She came thi--
Did long fince receive the Letter your Lordship
was pleas'd to honour me with of the 9th of
November, and have hitherto delay'd returning
any anſwer to it, that I might, with more delither,
beration, tell you my Thoughts upon a Matter of ſo
great Importance.
I did alfo expect, that fome Friends: would have
difcover'd to us the Wicked Defigns you fufpected to
lie hid nnder the Advice to the Queen, to invite the
Ele&iefs over into England; and fhew'd us better
Realons, than I have yet feen why they were not
for it.
But I must own, that I am hitherto at a lofs in this
matter, and not a little furpriz'd to ſee them Act fo
contra y to the Opinion they were formerly of.
The occafion of my laft Lester to your Lordship,
was to Communicate to you A Letter writ by the
Ele&refs to my Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, in an-
fwer to one, that Her Royal Highneſs had receiv'd
from his Grace; wherein She thought fit to declare
Her Reffect for the Queens Majefty, and the good
Intentions She hath always had for the Good of
England.
?
Her Royal Highnefs being informed from ſeveral
She thought Herfelf therefore oblig'd to declare to
my Lord Arch-Biſhop, and Others, She Write to, and
alfo to tell the Duke of Marlboreugh, and Earl of Sun-
derland, when they were here, That She would always.
most Sincerely Maintain a true Friendhip with the
Queen; and alſo be ready to Comply with the Defires
of the Nation, in whatever depends upon Her, though
She Should hazard Her Perfon in paffing the Seas, if
They thought it Neceffary towards the Establishment of
the Proteftant Succeffion, and for the Good of the
Kingdom. But that, in the mean time, She Liv'deins
great Quiet and Content here, (without meddling with
Parties or Cabals) and left it to the Queen and Parli--
ment to do whatever they should think fit.
I did therefore believe I fhould Pleafe your Lord-
fhip, by fending you fo defireable a Declaration, by
recommending you, as a fit Perfon to be Confulted up-
on it, and by entreating you to Communicate it to our
Friends, being well affur'd of your Zeal for the Pro-
teſtant Succeſsion, and Friendſhip forme..
But
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1
17.st. Erg
1- 2844.
4570
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But I was very much furpriz'd when I found by |
your Aufwer, that you did Attribute Her Royal High-
nefs's Declaration, which was fo Innocent and Nece-
fary in it felf, to the Artifices of the Jacobites.
What, my Lord, would you then be pleas'd, that
the Electrefs fhould not think of England, and that
the People fhou d believe fo? Or that She would
Countenance Cabats against the Queen? Or ought one
to be call'd a Jacobite for Undeceiving the World of
fo Grofs and Wicked a Mifrepreſentation?
The Electress hath been often defir'd to Declare, that
She was willing to come into England, but She never
thought fit to give any Anfwer to it (further, than
that She fubmitted Herfelf and Family to the Pleaſure
of the Queen and Parliament) till She was prefs'd to
Declare, That She would not approve of the Motion to
be Invited to some over.
This was fuch Advice, that it gave Her juft reafons
to fuffect, that there were fome fecret Defigns against
the Succeffion, or at least tending to Alienate the Affe-
dions of the People from Her Perfon: And this was a
further Reaſon for the Declaration She made, that She
might not be Mifreprefented.
Your Lordfhip further tells me, That you will not
dip in any thing of this kind (I ufe your own Words,
that I may not miſtake your meaning) which tends, in
your Lordships Opinion, to fet up two Courts in Eng-
land, in Oppofition to each other.
Did I propofe any thing to your Lordfhip, but to do
Fuftice to Truth, by making known to Our Friends
Her Royal Highness's Good Intentions? And can you
complain of me, for defiring a thing fo Juft in it felf,
and which every Honeft Man ought to do? How
then can your Lordfhip imagine, that this tends to
fet up Two Courts in Oppofition to each other?
It is plain by the Electrefs's Declaration, that She
hath faid nothing therein, either to defire Her being
Invi ed Over, or to hinder it; but She leaves all to
the Queen and Parliament. I told you this, and you
feem'd to take it ill, or at leaſt otherwife, than I
tended it.
Years to come, in all appearance, and have Vertues
that deferve the Crown of England, when ever it' fhall
Pleaſe God that the Reverfion fhall come to them.
Can you approve of fuch Advice? Or can you think
the Authors of it Friends to Her and Her Family, or,
which is more, Friends to England?
Muft we fay, That thofe, who fpeak against Her, are
Her Friends; and thofe who fpeak for Her, are Her
Enemies? This feems to me to change the Name and
Nature of things.
When your Lordship confiders what I have faid,
and reflect upon it in your own Heart, I doubt not,
but you will fee that you have been impos'd upon by
thofe, who are Jacobites themſelves in their Hearts,
or fomething worfe, if it is poffible; and certainly
defign to Subvert the Proteftant Succeffion Etablish'd
by Law, or foo Weaken it, that it may depend upon
Accidents, or upon the Humour and Intereft of parti-
cular Men. For none but fuch can have the Malice
to Invent and to Infinuate to Others, That the Prefence
of the Succeffor is dangerous.
This is a thing, that hath not been heard of in
other Countries, and is directly againſt Common Sense.
This is a New Paradox, which cannot be receiv'd
in England, by any but thofe, who are very Weak, or
Corrupted.
We ought to Maintain the contrary, fince we know
that we have Secret and Dangerous Enemies at Home,
and an Irreconcilable and Powerful Enemy Abroad
who may have both the Will and Power to hinder the
Paffage and Eftablishment of the Succeffor, at the
time when it may be moft Neceffary; and totally,
thereby, to Subvert our Conftitution, if it does not
pleafe God, once more, to preferve us, by his Manifeft
Providence.
You go on, my Lord, and defire, that I would Ad◄
vife the Electress to take Care, that She is not impos'd
upon by the Facobites: But this Caution is very un-
neceffary; for I can affure you, That Her Royal
in-Highnefs does not Confult Them in any thing, and
much lefs will She do it in what relates to the Suc
ceffion: For if She did, She muft act against all Rules
of Good Reafon and Senfe.
Whoever did Reprefent this to your Lordship, as a
thing, that may diflurb our prefent Quiet, and future
Peace, muft be an Enemy to Both.
Do you think, my Lord, that the Electrefs ought to
declare, That She would not come into England; or
that She Herfelf fhould Obftruct any Invitation, that
the Queen and the Parliament may give Her? This
might be taken as an Abdication of Her Right to the
Succeffion. But I can affure your Lordship, that She
will not Betray the Truft and Confidence the People of
England have Repofed in Her, nor Injure Her Family.
It is true, That She is much advanced in Years, and,
according to the Courfe of Nature, may not Live
Mong; but the Elector and Prince Electoral, have many
You may fay, That they are Jacobites who give
thefe Advices: But Her Royal Highnefs did not want
any Advice to exprefs and declare Herfelf, as She
hath done, in a manner fo fuitable to Her former
Conduct.
If we will fuppofe that this proceeds from the F4-
cobites, we muit at least think that it is for their
Intereft.
-
But can you believe, my Lord, that it is in any
manner, for Their Intereft to perfwade the Proteftant
Succeffor to declare Her Efteem and Affection for the
Queen and Nation? And yet this is all that Her
A 2
Royal
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1
Royal Highnefs hath Exprefs'd in Her Letter to my
Lord Arch-Biſhop.
Such Facobites must be very Silly, and not to be
fear'd, who thould Adviſe that which mutt Destroy
all their Hopes. For the Electrefs's Declaration was
to take off all the Groundleſs Sufpitions, to Unite all
Honeft Men, and to Secure Our Conftitution: And
therefore your Lordfhip, and all our Friends, ought
to have defir'd Her Royal Highneſs to explain Her-
felf after this manner; and all that with well to
their Country ought to Thank Her for having done it.
We Whigs would have been formerly very glad to
have feen fuch a Declaration from Her Royal High-
nefs. I pray, then, my Lord, Judge what Opinion the
Electrefs ought to have, at prefent, of our Steadiness
and Principles, if She fhould receive Advice from us,
fo contrary to what She ought to have expected.
But I do not apply this to your Lordfhip: For I am
perfwaded, that you will be one of the firft, that will
quit this miſtake; and condemn the ftrange Notions,
that have been impos'd upon you by Others.
that they will be anfwerable for the dangers, into
which they are like to bring it.
Thoſe who betray their Country, will have little
fatisfaction or affurance of enjoying their hoped for
Advantages, which will be imbittered by their Guilt,
and the perpetual Aj prehenfions they will have, and
nothing but a timely Death can deliver them from
being Punifh'd as they deferve; whether the Nation
continues to Flouriſh, and efcares the Defigns laid to
Enflave it, or whether it be Ruin'd by Popery and Ty-
ranny; which may happen by their Artful Conduct,
in making us neglect our own fafety.
For it Tyranny and Popery prevail, many of them
will fuffer under the French and Facobite Cruelties,
which will not be lefs, than thoſe we have read of in
Queen Mary's time; and they that may think them-
felves the moft fecure among us, will be happy if they
can fave only their Lives-
So terrible a Revolution is, perhaps, Mcre to be
apprehended, than People think.
But if it does not happen at prefent, yet it may
come to paſs, even in the Life time of thofe who be-
lieve they may Contribute towards it with Impunity.
They themselves may feel thofe Miferies which they
would carry down to Pofterity, and even to their own
Children if they have any; and this only to fatisfie
their own prefent Paffions,at the expence of their Coun-
try, and contrary to their Duty both to God and Man.
We have been Proud to fay, That the Houfe of
Hannover, the People of England, and our Pofterity
were moft Oblig'd to the Whigs, next to the King, for
Setteling the Succeffion upon that moft Serene Houfe:
And how much fhould we be to be Blam'd, if we
ſhould looſe this Merit, by parting with our Princi--
ples, that were fo well grounded upon Honour and
the Publick Good; and by Deftroying the Work of
our own Hands, for a Bafe and Uncertain Intereft; or
for a Blind Obedience to thofe, who lead others where
they pleafe, and yet are led themfelves by their Paffito
ens, or imaginary Profpes, of which they may yer
be Diſappointed?
For if they hope to get into Favour by fuch Me-
thods, they cannot be long Serviceable; nor preferve
the favour they feek, for they will foon be caft off,
when it is found that they have loft the Efteem and
Affection of the People, by their Weak or Mercenary
Conduct.
Thefe, my Lord, are the Sentiments and Meaſures
that are Wicked in themſelves, and that we ought to
ABHOR; and not the thoughts of Endeavouring better
fecure the Proteftant Succeffion, by having the next
Heir of the Crown in the Kingdom.
But your Lordship is told, That the coming of the
Ele&refs into England, will fet up two Courts, that
will Oppofe each other.
I cannot conceive how any Body could tell you fuch
a thing, or what Colour they could have for fo bafe
an Infinuation.
For the Electreſs declares, That She will be entire-
They cannot do any thing, that will better pleafely United with the Queen; and that all thofe, who im-
their Enemies; for while they think to keep down agine She will Countenance any Intriegues against Her
the Tories by a Majority, and Oppofe them, even in Majesty, will be very much deciv'd in their Expe&a-
bings fo reaſonable and just; they will raife their Re-tions Yet, notwithſtanding, it feems there are fome
putation, inftead of leffening it.
If others think ft to quit their Principles, yet I will
never part with mine, for I am still of the fame Opi-
wion that the best Englishmen profefs'd themfelves to
be of in the late Kings time; and I find no Reaſon for
any Honeft Man to changes
I am forry for thofe who fuffer themſelves to be
impos'd upon, but they who have Wicked Deſigns, may
one day Repent of them. And I will be bold to fay,
That they must either plunge the Nation in the grea-
teft Confufion, to make it unable to Punish them; or
People,who endeavour to perfwade your Lordship, hat
even this fincere Declaration tends to raiſe Confufion.
Is not this in plain Terms to contradict what the
Electrefs hath faid,and to put an Affront up on this great
Princefs, and your Lordfhip, as well as upon all others.
who have had the Honour to Converfe with Her
Royal Highnets, and must have done Her Juftice?
The World knows that She is a Princefs, who'e
Natural Temper is Generous, and Obliging, and Sin-
cere, and of a Publick Spirit.
Are not you, my Lord, then obliged, as much as any
Man.
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Man Living, boldly to Contradict thefe Malicious
Calumnies, which you know to be Falfe, to fet them
Right, who are Miſinform'd, and to Oppose thofe, who
endeavour to Impofe upon others?
And I alfo hope, that our Frieads will never pre-
tend to have any Reafon to Infinuate, That they ought
to have any Jealoufie of the Eledress, as to Her own
Perfón.
For People must be very Malicions to fay, or very
ill inform'd to believe, That She is Weak or Difaffe-
&ed; that She loves Divifions, or that Intrieguing Per-
can manage and turn Her at their pleasure.
You know, my Lord, that She is Infinitely above
thefe Characters.
But let us fuppofe what you fay, and allow, that
(contrary to all appearance) difcontented or ill Men
may Impofe upon the Electrefs's Good Nature, and In-
cline Her to do fuch things,as may difpleafe the Queen.fons
What hurt can that do? Since Her Royal Highnef-
fes Court can have no Power in England, and must be
fubject to the Queens Court, who is the Soveraign.
ſubjec
I will not touch upon things that have passed in our
time, and confirm what I fay
So that it is moft Abfurd, to make People believe,
That this pretended Oppofition of the two Courts can
bring us into fo great dangers, as thofe we may avoid,
by having the Proteftant Heir in the Kingdom. Let
us in the mean time examine theſe Pretences, how
Abfurd foever.
L
If we will keep the next Proteftant Heir at a di-
fance, it must be allowed to be Grounded upon two
Suppofitions: Firft, That the Queen is against the
Electrefs's coming over; and Secondly, That Her
being in England, during the Queens Life, is a thins
ill in it felf.
Thefe two Propofitions are Wicked and Criminal
in themfelves: For to fay, That the Queen would
take away, from the Prefumptive Heir, the Right of
comming into England, is to caft a great Reflection
upon Her Majefty, and to create a Miſunderſtanding
between Her Majefty, and the Perfon in the World, She
ought to be the most United with.
That She is Wife, and hath the greatest Tenderness
in the World for Her Relations, and particularly for
Her Majefty.
That She is Charitable to all Men, a Friend to
Englife Liberty; and fo knowing, that She cannot
be eafily impos'd upon, all thofe who are Acquain-
ted with Her, ought to believe, that the Queen would
be well pleas'd with Her agreeable Temper and Con-
verfarion.
Her Moderate Behaviour hitherto, ought to affure
us of the continuance of it for the time to come.
Her cuier Temper, Her Zeal for our Prefervation,
and Her Efteem for the Queen, have made Her not.
comply with the Advices of fome, who call'd them-
felves Whigs, which might have given Offence if She,
hard follow them.
If, after all this, People can think, that Her
prefence in England can be any prejudice to the Queen
or Kingdom, hey must be very Ingrateful.
And it is no lefs Injurious to Her Character, to
Mifreprefent the Publishing a Letter, that was fo Fu-
dicionfly Writ, and fo Neceffary, at this time, to fup-
thefe Ground lefs Reports.
This Letter which I fent to your Lordship, was
But to maintain, that the Electrefs's being in Eng-prefs
Tand is ill in it felf, one must declare himself to be of
a moft Rediculous, or of a moft Malicious Opinion. only to confirm what She had faid to Mr. How, who
For either it muſt be a General Rule, that the Succef
for must be always kept out of the Kingdom: Or, if
must be furros'd, that People have a juft Rreafon to
Entertain fome Strange Notion in Prejudice of the
Electiefs. But the General Rule is, Abfolutely, not.
to be maintain'd. There is neither Law nor Example
to justifie it.
02
For if it were fo, then Her Majefty, when Princefs
of Denmark, must have been fent out of the Kingdom,
and yet no Man ever pretended to Broach fo Fraiter
ou an Opinion."
And all the World knows, that the Electrefs may
come over, when ever She fleafes, without being In
vited.
is the first of the Queens Miniflers that have come to
this Court, that hath owned be had Orders to declare
to Hér Royal Highnefs the Queens good Intention,
further to fecure the Succeffion in Her Royal High
nefs's Family.
So that no Body canfay,That She hath done any thing
ar prefent, but what came from the Queen Herſelf.
It alfo appears That it is a moft Skillful and Ma--
licious Contrivance of fome, to cry out, Jacobitifm;·
as foon as any Body they do not like, feaks of Invi
ting over the Prefumptive Heir.
Thofe who are Sincerely for fo proper a Method to
fecure the Succeffion, Ought to take the Advantage of
joyning in this Point with All, whoever are for it, let
their Character be what it will.
Fown Men mean well, they will thoroughly
their Point, and confider the Nature of things,
as they really are in themfelves.
All Wife Princes and Governments, that have bad a
Succefon, have ever thought, that the fecuring of the
Succeffion was a preſent and great Security to the Pub-verfile
lick Safety; without confidering whether there fhould
arife any real or imaginary Diffures between the So-
veraign and the next Heir.
If those whom you fufpected to have had Wicked.
Defigns, were not fincere in fhewing their Zeal to In.
File:
↓
·
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vite the Prefumptive Heir, we ought to have taken
them at their Word; and by this means they had been
Puniſh'd as they deferv'd, by being catch'd in their
own Snare.
Then the Crown might have been joyn'd with the
Church, in an Excellent Addrefs to the Queen, and
both Voted out of Danger.
May the Judgment, Honour and Caudor of our
Friends never be call'd in Queſtion by our own and
other Nations! For their very vifible miſtake, in lo-
fing this great and, perhaps, irrecoverable Opportu-
nity, they had to oblige their Country for ever.
If the motion to invite the Succeffor could be of
any uſe to the Facobites, it must be becauſe it was not
receiv'd.
Ought a good thing to be difppov'd becaufe a Man,
I fuffect, ot do not love, propofes it?
| fhould be always Eſtabliſh'd in Englaud: And it
would be better Hufbandry, to make an Honourable
Provifion for him, fuitable to what was Settled in the
late Reigns; than to be at the charge of a War, to
recover his Right, and our own Liberties, from the
dangers which they then may be in. This may fave
us great Sums, which we may be Oblig'd to Lay Out,,
to bring him Over, and yet, perhaps, we may not
have the Succefs, we defire.
We may well remember, That the Nation Pay'd Six
Hundred Thousand Pounds for the Expence of the Prin-
ce of Orange's Expedition, to Deliver us from the
Danger our own Folly had brought us in o: And
yet it was a Hundred to One, that he Succeeded, tho'
fo marry Men of Quality and Interest, both in Church
and State, did appear for him.
But the Expence of Money is the leaſt Evil, that
If we maintein this Pofition, we fhall put it into our Negligence may bring upon us: Since our Reli-
the power of the Jacobites, to hinder any good Refo-gion, Lives, Liberties, and All are at Stake.
lution we can defire to take; for it will be enough if
any one we call a Jacobite, ſeems to agree with us.
It is a fhame that we should be impos'd upon by
fuch Weak end Malicious Notions.
In fhort, to Oppofe the further Securing of the
Proteftant Succeffion, is to act directly for the Jacobites;
and to hinder the Succeffors coming into England, is
to Oppofe the further Securing of the Succeffion, in my
humble Opinion.
The Succeffion and England are in great Danger
from the prefent Conjuncture of Affairs.
The Succefs of the prefent War, which is, as yet,
very uncertain, will have the greateſt Influence on
this Subject.
Our Conftitution does not allow of a Standing Army
in, time of Peace, tho' we have a Formidable Neigh-
bour, who hath always a Will, Power and Pretences to
furprize us, whether we are in Peace, or at War with
him; it we are not ever upon our Guard: And he
aims at no leis, than to Subvert our Religion, Liber-
ty and Property.
+
Under fuch Circumſtances we ought to think of all
pofible means to fecure our felves againſt a Deluge of
Blood, and an Univerfal Confufion.
The Subverfion of our Conftitution is much to be·
apprehended; if it fhonld fo Unfortunately fall Out,
that there fhould be a Demife; and the Succeffor, be-
ing Abfent, fhould not be in a Condition to paſs the
Seas; while the Enemy may have time to prevent
all our good Meaſures.
It is certain, that thofe, who are not fenfible of the
Confequences, that may attend our Negligence, and
the Malice of our Enemies, on fuch an Occafion; muft
either be Corrupted, or very indifferent, as to the
fafety of their Country.
Therefore it is neceffary, that the Prefumptive Heir
|
Your Lordship further fays, That the Court was
threatn'd laft Seffions with this Motion, and dar'd with
it ever fince the Parliament was chofe; and that it is
your Opinion, that the Electress should not give any
further Countenance to it.
I uſe your Lordships own Words, and do affure
you, That the Electress hath not meddl'd with, nor
Countenanc'd any Defign, otherwife then appears in
Her Letter to my Lord Arch-Bishop; having had no
Knowledge of what was to be propos'd in Her Favour,
before the Motion was made.
But fince you had fuch early Notice of this Deſign,
I do the more wonder, that this Motion was not made
by thoſe who belong'd to the Court: Since it is moſt
Manifeftly for Her Majefties Intereft, as well as that
of the Nation, that the Prefumptive Heir fhould be
Eftablish'd in England.
You could not then have had a pretence to com-
plain, That it came from Men you did not like: And
we have no reafon to think that it would not have
been agreeable to the Queen, if the whole Mattei had
laid before Her Majefty, who does every thing, that
can be Advis'd for the Good of Europe, and of He
own Subjects.
'Tis a ftrange Notion, to think, That the Prefence
of the Sacceffor can Ruin the Succeffun.
And it is very unlikely and not to be furpos'd, that
the Succeffor (at leaſt any of thoſe we have in this Fa-
mily, who have a true Respect and Love for the Queen
and true Honour and l'ertue in themſelves) will ever
be a Caufe of Confufion in England, by His Fiefence:
This must be invented by thofe, who ought to be as
much fufpected as Any, by All, who are for the Prote-
ftant Succeffion: And it carries fo much Mali e and
Wild Fire in it, that I am afraid to touch it any more.
As to the other Methods propos'd in the Houfe of
Loids
(7)
|
Lords, for the better fecuring of the Succeffion; tho' Northumberland, to the great Prujudice of your Lord-
I have all the deference in the World for their Lord- fhips Family.
fhips, as well as for the Honourable Houfe of Com-
mons; yet I am perfwaded (with great Submiffion)
that the Parliament will yet think fuch meaſures not
fufficient for thefe ends, and will in time confider of
others more Effectual.
We hear from England, That the Laws have been
confidered which relate to the Adminißration of the
Government, in Cafe a Demife should happen during
the Abfence of the Succeffor, and that they are found
Defedive.
This may well be, for neither our Anceſtors nor
we did ever imagine, That any good Englishman would
oppose the Establishment of the Rightful and Lawful
next, or Prefumptive Proteftant Heir in the King
dom; but that he should be ready at Hand, to fupport
the Constitution, whenever the Succeffion came to Him.
And this is more neceffary at prefent, than ever;
fince there is a Pretender fupported by France, who
Ulurps the Stile and Title of King of England, to
Her Majeflies great Difhonour, and Danger of the
Proteftant Succeffion.
As for the Act to fecure the Queens Perfon and Go-
vernment, &c.. the Powers which the Lords Fuftices
are to have, for the time being, must be very great;
and may be liable to bring Dangers, if not Ruin to
the Kingdom, if they fhall happen to fall into the
Hands of ill Men.
The Heir being kept at a distance will not be able
in time of Danger and Confufion, to diftinguish his
Friends from his Enemies; fince he will not be ac-
quainted with the Nobility and Gentry, whom he
would have known if he had been in the Kingdom:
And therefore will be under great difficulties how to
Name proper Perfons, to joyn with the Seven Lords
Junices.
Befides, it is very doubtful how far his Orders and
Choice will be Reffected; for many pretences and
meaſures may be put in practice by a Powertnl ſkill
to elude them.
Who can fay what Men will be in the great Em-
ployments, when a Demife may happen?
Thoſe we think the beft Friends to the Sueceffion
may dye before that time comes; and those whom we
call Facobites, or others, who are fuch in their Hearts
without being known, may yet come into thofe Em-
ployments.
The Power of the Nation both by Sea and Land,
and even the Treafure, may be in ill Hands; and if
this happens, they may difpofe of the Crown and
Succeffion as they pleafe.
One fingle Perfon may Ufurp the Power of the
Lords Fuftices and Council, as it did fall out in Ed-
ward the 6th time, by the Subtlery of the Duke of
And this hath often happen'd, both in England and
other Countries, the Criminals have been frequently
Punifh'd.
But fuch Circumftances may be more Dangerous in
England, at prefent, than People thought them in for-
mer Ages.
The Happy Criminals are always App'auded, far
from being Puniſh'd.
Such a fingle Perfon, at fuch a Conjuncture, may
choofe to Play the Game of Cromwell, or that of
Monk for the Falfe, or for the True Heir.
And the time may come, in which the Pretender,
with the great Foreign Power, and the Intrigues with
in the Kingdom, may be able to gain more People
than the Succeffor, being Abfent and Deflitute of the
neceffary Supports. Efpecially after the Diffolution
of the Great Alliance, which may juftly be Apprehen--
ded in time of Peace; as it did happen after the
Treaties of Nimweguen and Ryfwick, and as it is very
like to fall out again after this War; it more effectual
Meaſures are not taken in the Kingdom as well as
Abroad. And if the Allies do not find their Security
in our Conftitution and in the Succeffion.
The Lords have made an Excellent Addrefs to the
Queen, to Maintain a Good Intelligence with the Al-
lies, and particularly with the States-General.
But it is to be wifh'd that this Good Intelligence
may be fo Extended, and that fuch Meaſures may be
ta en, that we may be always certain of their Affin-
ance to fecure the Proteftant Succeffion.
England and the States are the great Support of the
Proteftant Religion and Intereft, and of the Liberties
of Europe. 'Tis undoubtedly the Intereft and Safety
of Both, always to Maintain a Good Correspondence-
and True Friendship. 1herefore the Wife and Honeft
Minifters on both Sides will eafily find the moft pro-
per Means to prevent any Quarrel, and will preferve a
perfect Union; which must be Grounded upon the Ob-
ligation and Neceffity of each others Mutual Defence .--
England may, and ought to depend upon its own
Wisdom and Force, to Defend it felf; being Secur'd
and Quiet at Home.
And we have had hitherto to the good Fortune to
preferve our Libereies, when most other Nations
have loft Theirs.
But late Experience has fhewn us how near we
may come to Slavery by our Negligence. And alfo,:
how neceffary it may then be to recur to, and how
Dangerous to relie upon Foreign Aid; as to our own
Safety.
We can be in no Danger under Her Majefties
Reign and Wife Conduct.
But we are to Apprehend and Prevent, to the ut-
moft
1
(&)
most of our Power, any ill-Accidents, that may be-
fall us, when it may fleafe God to take our Good
Queen from us.
*
Who knows what Men. t Parties may rife up ar
Home and Abroad? We ought, therefore, like Honeft
and Wife Men, to fet things upon the beft and fureft
Foundations. At least we ought not to Weaken the
Succeffion by neglecting the proper means for its
Security.
-
ceffor: And I will only mention what has been faið
in England, that we are not always fure of a Prote-
ftant Wind.
A thouſand other Accidents may befall us if we
trust to the laft Extreamity.
1
Therefore we, ought now to take right meafures,
That the Succeffor may be always Eftablished, and fure
to toffefs himself of the Power, whenever it fhall
pleafe God to afflict us with a Demife: And that we
may be as little, expofed as is pofible, either to
Chance or Treachery.
}
The Queen feems to be of this Opinion, and all
Honeft Men ought, and will contribure all they can
to make it agreeable and eafie to Her Majefty.
'Tis true, that the Invitation of the Prefumptive
Heir hath no Negative put upon it: But it is alfo
true, that if it had pleas'd our Friends in Tarliament
at this time, when they were a Majority, to Advife
Her Majesty' to it, in Concurrence with others; that
this would have better. fecured the Proteftant Succef-
fion, and our Conftitution, then all the Laws the Na-do
tion can make.
I Pray, my Lord, what will our Acts of Parliament,
our Oaths, the Proclamation of the Succeffor, and even
our Lords Fuftices fignifie; if the Succeffor is -not
certain of paffing the Sea, and of being Poffefs'd of
the Fleet, the Troops, the Treasure, the Gurifons, the
Sea-Ports, the Tower, and City of London?
The World will wonder at, and we fhall deplore
our fatal Blindnefs; if we are capable of being amus'd
by maginary Securies, and Neglect, at this time a
Day, what is really Neceffary for our Safety.
Laws are no more then Cobwebs against Power and
Force.
·
The Hiftory of England deth furnifh us with ma-
ny Examples, which new that the new ties to the
Crown, have been often excluded from the Succeffion to
it, by their being Abfent at the time of of Demife.
We have an Inftance now before us in Stan, which
bath coft us much Blood and Treafure, and is like to
coft us much more; befides, what England do, and
may fufer by the lofs of that Trade, which was next
to that of our Weft-Indies, the mon Profitable to us.
For if King Charles had been in Spain before the
Death of the late King, it might in all probability
have prevented this General War; and the French
King would never have attempted the Conqueft of
Spain, if he had not had Footing there before; nor
-the Spanish Minifters have dared to do what they did,
if the Arch-Duke had been prefent at Madrid.
Therefore to hinder the next Heir's coming into
England, will be a very great Reflection upon us: For it
muft tend to the Destruction of, or at leaft, very much
hazard our Religion and Liberties., (5
1
The Electress and the other Princes of this Family,
always Praife and Admire the Care that the Queen
takes of the Intereft of Europe against our common
Enemy; and pray for Her Majefties long Life and
Happinefs.
*
God be thank'd the Queen is in good Health, but
sla's! She is Mortal, and muft our fafety depend upon
fan Accident, that muft befall the best of Mankind?
-
*
It is true that the Fledrefs hath many Years more
than Her Majefly, and that the Queen is in the Vi-
gour of Her Age and therefore, that the Electress is
not like to furvive Her Majefty; but our Interest and
Safety confifts in making fuch a provifion once for all,
whether the Electrefs lives or not, that the next Heir
may be always prefent, or in a condition to be fo
without which, in my Humble Opinion, We cannot be
fafe, other wife,thay an extraordinary Providence,
5
My Lord Haverham hath always fhewed himfel
fo true a Friend to this Family, and the Conftitution
of England; that I thought no Man could be more
proper to be advis'd with upon the Electrefs's Letter.
I aſk your Lordſhips Pardon for troubling you with
fo long a Letter; but I thought my felf obliged in Du-
ty to my Country, and Friendship to you, to freak -
plainly upon this Queftion, which contains the Hap-
pinefs or Mifery of England: And therefore I hope
that all Wife and Honeft Men will take care how
they decide it. I am
My Lord,
Your Lordships moft Obedient
And most Humble Servant,
Hannover Jan.
And fo we ought to confider of our Dangers in
due time; fince it may fo happen, That it may not. Old-Stile.
be in our Power to fecure the coming over of the Suc- 12th. New-Sile.
} 1708.
1
R. Gwynne.
London Printed, and Sold by B. Bragge, at the Raven in Pater-Noßler-Row, 1706.
Price Two-Pence.