THE ANSWER OF A Citizen of LONDON, TO A LETTER FROM A Citizen of OXFORD, Concerning the Dissolution of the Parliament.

⟨25 Jan. 1680/1⟩

SIR,

THis with all manner of Acknowledgment that I re­ceived yours yesterday, but must assure you, That the Thoughts you have of the present Juncture, are very different from those we have here; and that only to repeat them would be looked upon as a kind of Heresy: For we cannot imagine, how any other Interpre­tation can be given to our Zeal, than a sincere and ardent Desire for the Sitting of the Parliament, that Traytors might be brought to condign Punishment, that the Plot might be destroyed, and Popery rooted out; so long as which is in being, we cannot think there is any Security for the King's Person, and the Protestant Religion, but that They, our Lives, and Liberties, are in continual Danger.

[Page 2] And we are very much mistaken by those who charge us with being jealous of the King's Authority, and as if We suspected he had a Design of depriving us of our Privileges. Far from that, we agree with you, That never any Nation enjoyed a more gracious Prince; and all the Paces and Motions we have made, were to no other intent, than that His Life and Government might be secured, and that we might be blessed with, and still enjoy under his Reign, that Happiness, and flourishing Condition, which made us envied by all our Neighbour Nations, and they de­sirous to be under a Scepter, whose Subjects are happier than other Sovereign's. We could not think there was any better Means for the Securing to us this Blessing, than the Sitting of the Parliament, who so zealously took in hand the destroying the Enemies of His Throne and Religion. And such as blame us for being desirous of having it con­tinued, are like those who should find fault with Chil­dren, who seeing their Father attacqued, and in Danger, and such of their Elder Brothers, as were armed, capable, and passionately bent to prevent his Ruine, by cutting off his Enemies, should beg of him, that they might have leave to pursue their Point, and procure his, and the whole Families Safety, by the destruction of those who aimed at nothing but its Fall.

If such a Care was faulty in such Children, then I must confess, we are very criminal: But I shall leave you to judg of that, and shall only beg, that you would furnish me with all possible Occasions of shewing how sensible I am of your Favours, and making appear the Passion and Respect, with which I am,

Sir,
Your affectionate Friend and Servant, N. P.

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