HAving lately perused a printed Paper, intituled The Declaration of James, Duke of Monmouth, &c. I thought it my duty as a true subject of England, a true Prote­stant, an honest man, and a lover of truth, to dis­charge (as far as in my Power it lyes) All true Sub­jects, true Protestants and honest men from the Imputation of being any ways concern'd in abeting soe villanous a Cause.

Next, I shall endeavour to vindicate His present Majestie and Parliament under Hîm assembled, together with those subordinate Gouvernours, Insinuated, or intended in the said Declaration, from any irregular proceeding in their administration of Justice.

And lastly, I shall answer such particular accusations as the Au­thors of the said Declaration, have falsly and impudently laid upon His Maj. (or any under Him) as they concerne his own Royal Person, the Protestant Religion ' or our own lives, liberties, or Properties.

To the first, I doe affirme that all the true Subjects, true Prote­stants, and honest men within the Kingdome of England, have promis'd and sworne to oppose to the utmost of their power with theire lives and fortunes, All such Noblemen, Gentlemen and Others now in Armes, who will own, or are supposed to have signed, agreed to, or are meant to be Included in the said Traiterous Declara­tion.

[Page 2] To prove this, I referre the Readers to the Oaths of Alleageance and Supremacy generally taken by all Subjects, as also the several ad­dresses of all the Counties, Shires and Corporations within the Kingdome of England; but more particularly to the late unanimous Addresse and votes of Both Houses of Parl. about the 23, of May last as also of June 13th. That they would assist His Majestie with theire lives and fortunes against Argyle, and James, Duke of Monmouth, and there Adherants, and all Rebels and Traitors and All Others whatsoever that shall assist them or any of them. And when I come to speake of Parl. I shall make it evidently appeare, that this present Parl. is the true, legal, and only Representative of all the Subects of Eng­land. And I doubt not but our neighbour Nations are already con­vinct, That the Kingdoms of Great Brittaine detest and abhorre this said traiterous Declaration, and all Persons abetting or Sub­scribing it.

To the second: The said Declaration setts forth that His present Majestie usurped the Crowne. That he avows Himselfe to be of the Romish Religion; That he hath cald in multitudes of Priefts and Jesuits. That he hath govern'd arbitrarily by collecting the Customs and Excise sence the death of the late King. That his Judges are suborned and fors worne. That the present Parl. is packt by false returns, Illegal Chartres, with a great deal more of such stuffe, which oblidg'd them to be take them­selus to Arms. These accusations help to make up soe absurd and ridiculous a libel, that it wants the Common Excuse of plesantrie and witt, and indeed deserv's nor a sober answer. But, least stran­gers should possibly be impos'd upon for want of that true know­ledge of our English affairs and Government, which Englishmen are suppos'd to have, I shall bieifly answer every particutar Obje­ction.

First, His Majesties right to the Crowne is so evident and cleare, that I chalenge all Historians, Civil Lawers or Examples in Chri­stendome to sett forth a Title in an Hereditary Kingdome freer from Usurpation then His own, both as to matter of Law, and matter of fact. For (supposeing King Charles the 2d. dyed with­out legitimate Issue) His present Majestie is acknowledged by his Enemies as well as by all Christendome, to be indubitably the next, and Immediate Heir to His Brother. His accession to the Crown was so peaceable, that there was not so much as one sword drawn, nor one single man rais'd to promote him to it or support him in it: it was in plain words resigned and delivered to Him by His Royal Brother upon his death bed; He was as peaceably pro­claim'd and Crown'd; As peaceably acknowledged by voluntary [Page 3]aderesses from all parts of His Dominions: By all forrain Princes; By the States of Hôlland and Those who have there at present the next and most Immediate right to succeed after Him, and even by Amsterdam it selfe: and all this unanimously acknowledged and conferm'd by the two Parl. of England and Scotland and universal Concurrance of Ireland. All this would be so plain that the most ignorant might comprehend it, were it not that James, Duke of Monmouth hath been and still is believed to have a legitimate and legal right to the Crown of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the Domi­nions thereunto belonging: In answer to this, I doe affirme, that were the said Noble Dukes right to the Crowns of England &c. legitimate and legal as he pretends, yet as his circumstances have hitherto stood, His present Majestie is noe Usurper. To prove this further, I must acquaint those who have not heard it (if any such there be) that the said Duke was not only never ownd by the King, Privy Coun­cel, or any Parl. which hath ever sett sence the late Kings happy restoration, But he hath been as publickly, solemly and legally disclaim'd and disown'd to be the Kings legitimate son by them All, as possibly the nature of the case would admittt: He as thankfully himselfe accepted the honour of bring declared the Kings Natural Son, when from Mr James Croftes (the reputed son of the late Lord Crofts) he was by the mere favour and goodnesse and recom­mendation of His present Majestie prefer'd to that, and those high Titles which he lately enjoyd: And the late King himselfe, when he was upon his death bed, and sensible that he could not out live 24. hours, and by consequence had noe apprchensions of popish poy­sons, or blunderbesses, or could be influenced by Popish Motives or Instigations, was so fair from declaring him His legitimate Son, or leaving his Crown unto him; That he left him not soe much as his blessing, which indeed he had obstinately forseited by being a treble traitor, to his King, his Country, and to his Father, and by giving publickly the lye, to his late and present Majestie, by that Gentleman like trick with which he took his last leave of white hall. Now when these known circumstances (besides many more too long to be sett forth) shall be duly considered, let all sober and Impartial men judge, whether there be the least probable grounds to believe this pretended legitimate and legal right, and whether it be morally possible, that the King should be soe unjust and unnatural, as to disinherit his only Son, Whom he so long, and so truly lo­ved, and moreover should confirme it too, even at last, when neither hopes nor danger could prevent Him from declaring the truth: The pretended right therefore of the Duke of Monmouth, [Page 4]being so highly improbable, or at least, doubtful, I say in this case, altho the Duke of Monmouth had a concealed right, yet in the mean time until this right could be legally and peaceably prov'd and granted to him, His present Majestie cannot be reputed, ei­ther in reason, in Law, or in conscience an Usurper. This accusa­tion therefore is (as I said) ridiculous and frivolous. His Majesties next pretended crime is, that he ownd Himself bairfac't to be of the Romish Religion. Indeed it seems strange, that the Son of a King, and pretended Heir to three Kingdoms: Should have yet to lettle ho­nour in him, as to impute it a crime to a Prince to practise pub­lickly the Religion which he professeth. Must Hypocricie be the badge of reformation? And must Integritie and sinceritie be judg­ed criminal by the pretended restorer of the truwe Christian faith? Ah James Scott, God who is the Searcher of hearts, knows how well thy principles and thy practises agree; And I must say (for I am noe flatterer) 'tis to be believed that were your inward man as truly known as your outward man hath been (notwithstand­ing those several shapes through which it hath lately run) the r's not a Turk but would be ashamd to accept of thee for a partner much more a Protector of his faith. Thirdly we are told that His Majestie Hath cald over multitudes of Prieses and Jesuites. Supposeing this were true, I can scarce tell of what nature his fault would be; But this I certainly know, that the indiscretion of those multitudes who went over, Isun­pardonnable, since they know how they are exposed and lvable not only to imprisonements, but even to the sentences of death it selfe; And for once I will advance a Negative against a single affirmative, and say (upon much better grounds then they affirme) that His Majestie hath never cald in such multitudes of Priests and Jesuites as is pretended, but on the contrary I have good reason to believe that he doth totally discountenance all such, except those few who may be employed for the service of His own Chappel. 4tlv It is objected, That His Majestie hath govern'd arbitrarily by collecting the Customs and Excise sence the death of the late King: Alas Gentlemen, doth all this noise and up roar against Arbitrary Power, absolute Tyranny &c. conclude in this one single pretended Instance of it? The case then is this: The Parl. of England had granted to the late King (upon good causes and confiderations the fornamed Customs and Excise during His life: The King dyes, and His present Ma­jestie by Proclamation with the advice of His Privy Councel, orders the Collection of the same until the meeting of the next Parl: Some reasons I have heard given; and they were these, First, because these Customs and Excise being granted to the late King towards [Page 5]the Support of the nauye, and for the defence of the Kingdom a­gainst its Enemies, if the effect be necessary, the cause must equally continue and the defence of the Kingdome, being the safety of the people which is the Suprema Lex, the means to procure this safety is always supposed to be also granted, for qui dat finem dat etiam media, especially sence the Customs so collected, were to continue no lon­ger then untill such time as a Parl. could conueniently Assemble; Besides, the Merchants themselves agreed generally to the pay­ments of these Customs, and declard, that (without any conside­ration of the King in the case) the abrupt stopping of the said Cu­stoms, would prove more prejudicial to the Merchants universal­ly, then the payment of them could possibly be. Thirdly, the collection of these said Customs was not only reasonable and neces­sary, but in the Opinion of eight of the twelve Judges (as these noble declaring Gentlemen confesse) it was also Judged legal, and according to the constant Custome and ancient practice in such like cases. And lastly, the Parl. being Assembled, was so far from calling the Judges to account for their Judgement, or the officers for their collection, that they immediately confirmd the same to His present Majestie as they had formerly done to the late King. Now let the world Judge what reason these violent men have to take up Arms, against their lawful King and Governor (which neither reason nor religion could ever Justifie) upon the pretence of arbitrary power and Tyranny, when this case of collercting the Customs, resolved by the Judges as a foresaid, is the only single Instance which they have produict for either: men and Brethren exa­mine your selves for yee know not what Spirit yee are of.

But to obuiate and preclude my answer to the aforesaid case of the Customs, these Gentlemen have branded our Judges with the Infamous Titles of subornd and foresworn: In deed I know not how farr these reverend Judges of the Land, and administrators of Ju­stice amongst us (made also by the late King) may be guilty of two such crimes as perjurye and subornation, but this I will affir­me, that if so many men born of good families, of honourable E­ducation, learning, wisdome, pietie, and of irreprochable lives and conversations can be capable of committing such enormous of­fences, I can never reasonably hope to see the Benches free from corrupt mercinary and the worst of men, no, not when James Du­ke of Monmouth and his Rebells shall have taken care for the future for debarring ignorant scandalous and mercinary men from the administration of Justice, and that the judges shall hold their places by the ancient tenure of quamdiu se bene gesserint, or that the wisdome of his imaginary Parl. shall [Page 6]have settled some way and method for the approbation of such as shall be aduan­ced to the degree and dignitie of Judges.

And lastly, that no consideration might stop the progres of their villanous designes, and having made way for the execution of them by the condemnation of the King with all His Ministers and Jud­ges, they now fall foul upon, and profane their pretended sacred I­dol, Parl. and tell us that this present Parl. is a Company of men, pack't together by false retuns, illegall Chartres and other corrupt means. And so by the way leaves noe hopes of a true legal Parl. whilst the sun and moon endure; for if James Duke of York a Traitor, Ty­rant, and a popish usurper (as they call Him) hath been able with out force to pack such a Parl. in which there are as many; Rich, Noble, Honest worthy Gentlemen, as any Parl hath ever known how shall we hope that the true Protestant James Duke of Monmouth back't by his pretended legitimate and legal right, together with the power of the sword should not be much more able to pack a Parl. of the greatest rebells Traitors Schismaticks and villains (to the destruction of all good men) that any age hath ever yet product The Experience of this hath been sufficiently seen in the late rebel­lion, for which (with the murder of the blessed Martyr King Charles the first, his partner and accomplice Argyle, is not asham­ed Blaspemously to returne the glory to God. But to come to the meritt of the cause, I must acquaint you how the constitution of Parliaments hath been for nere 500 Years, which is a sufficient ti­me for our purpose, without searching farther into Antiquitie: I shall tell you then, that the Parliamentaire Representatives of the Nation were chiefly the Barons of England, and Knights of the several Shires, & Counties therein: These two remaine with little or no alteration from that time to this, and to show how farr the said Knights may be taken at this day, for the Representatives of the Common of England, I must also Informe you. That every Knicht of the sheir; is chosen by the Major part of all such Com­moners who wish in the said shires or Counties, have the value of 40 sh. per ann. freehold in the said shires or Counties: Which privi­ledge comprehends so great a number of Householders, that there are few men excluded besides servants and some farmers who are often times strangers come in unto us: And the Election of these Knights of the Shires & Counties remains as it anciently was, without any alteration Illegal Chartres, or any false returns or corrupt me­ans other then what might have been used ever sence their first In­stitution, and may continue to the end of Parls and time. Illegal Chartres then have no relation to Knights of the Shires, because [Page 7]there neither are, nor never were any Chartres in the case, and if any false returns have been made, or corrupt means used, the Par­liament it self when fully Assembled is Judge of the right att this day, as formerly at any time it had been; Thus we see how far, Knights of the shires may be representatives of the Commons of England, and where the abuses or corrupt means in the choice of them, are to be Judg'd and rectifyed.

The accusation then of Illegal Chartres is applicable to Corpo­rations only, which from the Kings Chartres or Grants have re­ceived the Priviledge of sending Burgesses or Parl. men to Parlia­ments; To explain this, I doe again affirme (and I chalenge all the complotters of this Rebellious Declaration to show the contra­ry) that this priviledge of Corporations began not untill the time of King John who reigned about the year of our Lord 1199. Which was nere 140. Yeares after William the Conqueror and who was the founder of many and cald the Patron of all Corporations: The Occasion in short was this: King John, to Ballance the Power of his rebellious Barons erected severall Corporations, and out of his meer favour and benevolence, granted Chartres to them upon severall Conditons and limitations, by which they had the Privi­ledge of choosing and sending Burgesses to Parl. From hence we must observe these things. 1 ^st. that this Priviledge of Corporations was noe ancienter then the time of King John, and by consequence not a fundamentall part of the English Monarchie, which was an­tecedent so it and the Creator of it 2. This priviledge ever pro­ceeded from the meer grace and benevolence of our Monarchs, and lastly that it was granted upon severall conditions, which when bro­ken, their Chartres were forfaited in Law, and their Priviledges cea­sed: And accordingly during this intervall of time, the Charters of se­verall Corporations, even that of London it selfe) were forfeited sus­pended, and some times taken away. This then being the true case of Chartres and Corporations, we must next observe That King Charles 2d. finding several corporations had notoriously broaken, or not performed those conditions by which they held theire Char­tres, He cites them in a legal way by quo warranto's to trye thire Case at Law, whereafter a full hearing, (even to the content of the parties concern'd) with the assistance of the most learned Coun­cel that England afforded (as in the case of the Charter of London) the verdicts have been given for the King, and many other Corpo­rations sensible of there guilt, or desirous to have the Conditions of their Charters altered, having surrend'red there old Chartres in­to the hands of the late King, His said Majestie out of his meer grace and favour. did either confirme the old Chartres, or gran­ted [Page 8]new ones with such conditions and limitations, as in His Princely Wisdome He thought most fitt, according to the undoubted right of King John, and the rest of His Royal Progenitors. Now by vertue of these Chartres, and according to the Powers and Privi­ledges therein exprest, those Corporations have chosen and sent theire Represeutatives or Burgheffes to his present Parl. And this being the exact State of the case, I appeal to all men of sence and reason, whether these Chartres can be cald Illegal, or theire Burgesses (being duly chosen according to them) a Company of men packt together by corrupt and fraudulent means. And this confirms what I att first averd, that this present Parl. being the true, legal and only Representative of all the true Subjects of Eng­land, the whole Nation hath by them detested and abhord this trai­terous Declaration and all the Rebells concerned in it.

I come now to the third and last head which contains the false impudent and particular reflections of the late Duke of Moumouth against His Majesties sacred Person, in which he is not ashamd like a base villain, to call him murderer, Assassim, Traitor and such­like, and instanceth the murder of Sr Edmund Bury Godfrey, the death of the late Earl of Essex, and that even of the late King His most dearely beloved Brother. He mentions also the burning of the city of London, and subordination of false witnesses; Now let all men of honout, and men of arms Judge, whether this be like a Decla­ration of warr upon the pretence of a legal and legitimate right to three Kingdoms, or rather the most scurrulous and sawcy Invective of some mean poor spirited railing fellow, who shows himselfe at least hereby to be the true Son of that impudent scandalous abandond woman his Mother, who after Monmouth was borne became a com­mon strumpett so many Persons now alive whom I know, and could name: Hold not thy tongue o God of my praise, for the mouth of the wicked, and the mouthful of deceit, are opered upon me; They have spoken to me with a lying tongue, They compessed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause, They have rewarded me evil for good and hatred for my friendship; let his days be few, and let another take his charge, let his posteritie he destroyed, and in the generation following, let theire name bt put out, Psal. 109.

It would be impertinency and great presumption in me should I pretend to answer crimes, which are soe farr from being suspected to be true, that I am perswaded they are not believed by the Slan­derers themselves: Besides, as the truth of most of these cases hath been legally discover'd and attested, soe neither time nor place will permitt me to infert the several tryals and Evidences, which [Page 9]have been given in them. I am sufficietly convinct, That the most unspotted honour, and most Royal, Heroick, generous and pious principles, and actions of His present Majestie, even to nicenesse It selfe, through the whole course and circumstances of his life, and series of His private as well as publick actions, are soe notoriously known through the whole world, that all Christen­dome, with the Kings and Princes thereof, would unanimously concur, and beg to become His Compurgators, and from theire souls abhorr and detest those most villanous men, and worst of Traitors, who soe falsly, maliciously and sawcily have dar'd to pro­fane the Sacred Caracter of soe Incomparable a Prince: but that I may undeceive some Innocent men and strangers to Our Country who it may be have been poysned by the false reports, false Oaths and perjuries of these profligate, out lawd, and insolent Traitors; I must humbly beg His Majesties leave, that I may speak to two of those particulars, of which being my self an eye witnesse to the one, and a competent, and Impartial Judge of the other, I perswade my selfe, that according to the truth of these two cases, Those who shall peruse these Papers, will equally judge of the rest.

The first is that of the burning of London: The beginning of that fire, with its growth and progres is now as generally known, as its end: I shall only their fore say this: That being my selfe pre­sent most part of the time, both by day and by night, and a suffe­rer in that fire as well as my neighbours, I had many several occa­sions to be very nere His present Majestie, then Duke of York, and I doe testifie, That His diligence, care, and pains in stopping that dreadful fire, was almost equal to any particular sufferer in it; That His compassion and affliction for its progres, both in words and actions, seemd soe great as if He Himselfe had been the only Sufferer; and His advice in quenching those flames soe pressing, and soe reasonable, that, had not mens fears outrun theire dang­ers or had His advice been vigorously followed, in all moral pro­babilitie, they had put a much earlier stop to that vast conflagrati­on; and all honest men are throughly and fully convinct, that His then Royal high: the Duke of York, did no more directly or in­directly contrive (as they call it) the burning of the City of Lon­don, then of the soe much celebrated Temple of Diana (soe many thousand of yeares sence) at Ephesus.

The second case, Is the poysning His Majestie of bless'd memorie; Indeed the horror of soe damd and false an accusation, with the stu­pendious inveterate malice of Jams Scott late Monmouth, and his most accursed associates, doth almost confound my thoughts, and [Page 10]stop my pen: However, I must say in general: That had it pleas'd God Almighty in his great mercy to us, to have sent an Angel from heaven and assured us, that he would take (in his due time) His late Majestie from us, but by a death soe natural, that there should not be the least circumstantialt conjecture of violence, I dare be bold to affirme that the witt of man could not have found out or desired a kind of death more natural and free from the suspicions of humane malice, then that of the late King. In particular, the manner of the Kings being taken with the first fitt, was Apoplectical, the Ef­fects, Apoplectical the Method and cure of his first fitt by Cupping, Scarifying and suchlike, (accordng to the rules of art in those cases) answerd Apoplectical indications, the lettle distortion of this Mouth, and failing in His speech Apoplectical, every circumstance soe much Apoplectical, that His last fitt was plainly and truly for told Him (according to the Nature of such Apoplexies) many hours be­fore their was any outward appearance of the fitt, His Body when opend, His gutts, vitals, brains and All, were soe farr from showing the least suspicion of poyson, that they suffici­ently declared an Apoplexie, the unanimous concurrance of all his Phisitians pronounc't a natural death: And were all these circum­stances, with many more, insufficient to prouve the same, yet the soft & hearthy tears alone of that Undaunted Hero King James the second, would convince Opinias trite and incrudulite it selfe, thatt was im­possible He should with soe much sorrow lamant a Death, which (as they urge) He not only had desird but contrived, whilst the Hy­pocrisie of the bravest of men, must have exceeded the vile dissem­bling art of the most mercinary slave: And I defye Brinvillers (were she now alive) with all the art of Indian or Siciliane Poy­soners to invent a dose which should soe fully in all points & Circum­stances resemble such a natural Apoplexie, as that which caried off our late Blessed Soveraigne, I have only one objection to answer, which, how frivolous soever it be, yet since it is particular, and believed by some men, I beg leave to speak to it: they say then that when the late King perceved he was poysned, he should with great passion utter these words, Good Lord, what have they done unto me? Now as some circumstantial truths have been ever mingled with material falshood, like leafe gold over bitter pills, to make them passe the better, soe I must ingeniosluy confesse, that I have heard His Majestie should have spoken some such words as those, but good God, upon how different an occasion from what it is now applyed, I have been credibbly then told, that after the King was recouvered from his first fitt, in which his Chyrurgeons, had cupt Him sacrifyed and cutt him upon the shoulders, and other parts [Page 11]the King (not knowing what had past whilst He was sencelesse, (and feeling at last the smart and pain of those wounds which in His fitt he had received being surprised at what he had not felt before, should say some such words as those Good Lord, what have they done unto me? Thus we see Innocencye brought to support the fowlest malice, and truth it selfe enjag'd to confirme the most accursed lye: Yet notwithstanding all this, James, Duke of Monmouth declares he will prosecute James Duke of York (as he calls His pre­sent Majestie) for the aforesaid villanous and unnatural crime in pursuance of a vote torevenge the Kings death (upon Papists he shoold have said for such was the vote) in case he came to an untimely end, until he hath brought Him to suffer what the laws adjudged to be the punishment of soe execrable a fact and in a particular manner being deeply sensible of that barbarous and horrid parricide committed upon his father doth resolve to persue the said James Duke of York, as a mortall and bloody Enemie, and will endeavour as well by his own hand as by the assistance of his friends and the law to have Justice executed upon him. Gently gently yong man and put not your selfe into pas­sion, dog days are coming on, and if you heat your blood too much phlebo to my in the Jugular veyne will prove your only cure. But to be serious: Never was villanous cause supported by a more sutable ar­gument, one of the most glorious Princes and worthiest of all man­kind, must be hectord thus, and suffer (if they could compasse it) for an Imaginary crime, which was never committed by any mor­tall, besides themselves in their Impudent Declaration, and that in pursuance too of a vote for scandalous, soe unreasonable and unjust that it must remaine a blott to all Parliaments and publik Assemblies which time it selfe can never wipe off. I have spoke what is suffi­cient concerning the death of the late King, and shall only give you the cause and motive of that noble vote:

Whilst the late popish plott (supported by the Testimonies of that most execrable perjurd villaiu Titus Oates. And some others as infamous as himselfe) was most in vogue. The house of Com­mons, out of a furious zeal to preserve the Protestant Religion, had almost forgott Christianitie, and rashly past a vote, that if the late King should come to an untime end they would revenge, His death upon the Papists. This, how unjust soever it was, seemed yet tender and kind towards the late King; But oh the malice of those cursed heads, who, (having imposd upon, and deceived ma­ny, of that mistaken Parliament) had formd a Plott soe hellish and soe bloody, that nothing but the barbarous in humani­tie of it, ever made the truth of it suspected: However it being [Page 12](by Gods great mercy and providence who is the Protector of In­nocence) not only discoverd and prevented, but made soe no­toriously plain that the whole nation is fully satisfyed of its truth; I shall acquaint you with the case. That voting Parl: being dissolvd, the heads neverthelesse and promoters of the plott mett in Caballs, as was legally and fully examined and proved, where at last a reso­lution was taken (as at first designed) that the late King should be ass assinated by theirs own accomplices Rumbold, Walcup and o­thers, and immediately the odium and punishment of theire own horrid crime, was to be Throwne and executed, not only upon all Papists, but upon their Bratt Prelacy, as Argile terms the Church of England; soe with one most monstrous bloody Regedical stroake, they intended to have subverted the Government, and extirpated root and branch all those who had been ever faithfull and loval to the King and our ancient Monarchie, or true sons of the Church of England, And the pious double Apostate head and Capt. Generall of the Protestant forces (as Monmouth stiles himselfe) together and in company with the said Rumbold and others, the intended mur­derers of his deare Father King Charls 2. is now desperately, and openly endeavouring to accomplish that cursed designe, which (by the especiall providence of God) wanted then its damnable effect: Now if All this, and every particular of it be not true, then not only our own nation, but all the Christian Princes of Europe are miserably deceived, who sent theire Ministers to congratulate the the Kings happy deliverie from those bloody villains, and traitors; The adresses to the same effect from all the Courties, Shires and Corporations in England, meer delusion and mockerie; Witnesses of their own faction, and all concurring circumstances, meer eheat and leger demain, the Judges of our Land, deaf and blind; and the most legall tryalls in open Court by 12. substantiall Gentlemen and Citizens (against whom the criminalls themselves had noe ex­ceptions) the premeditated resolutions of violence, and injustice. But on the other side if what we have now affirmd, and every ma­teriall part of it be true (as heaven and earth know it is) what then shall we say to these incorrigible dissembling traitors and most bloo­dy minded Rebells? Heare all yee people, hearken thou O earth, and all that therein is, And let the Lord God be wittnesse against you, even the Lord from his holy Temple. Mich. 1 [...] v. 2.

For St Edmund bury Godfry, and the Earl of Essex their case was examined with all the strictnesse and Justice, that possibly the Law in such cases doth, or can afford, and the devil himselfe could not have invented greater lyes; then have been published concern­ing [Page 13]the latter, by some of the rebells, but to speak more particular to that would require a larger volume. Sydney, Russell and those other Traitors, who were executed for theire treasons, had not only all imaginable Justice, but much more favour and mercy shown them, then any of those Papists who before had sufferd. Armstrong in­deed was not permitted to plead to the meritt of his crimes, not that there wanted either treasons or wittnesses to have hangd him ten ti­mes over (as was publickly offerd in the Court) but he being befor out lawed for treasons, by due course of Law and not appearing or or sunendring himselfe voluntarily with in the time prefixt, he could noe more have the benefitt of that law from which he fled, but was ipso facto guilty and lyable by Law to the punishment of treasons ex­cept His Maj. out of his meer grace, and by the power of His Roy­al prerogative had pardoned his out laury and had set him in statu quo prius; which I say being a meer act of mercy as that of pardon­ning a man already condemnd, it is in the Kings Royal breast to have mercy, on whom he will have mercy, and since the King was pleased upon this Occasion to refuse it, Armstrong can noe more complain of Injustice, then any robber or traitor that has been executed these 100 Years.

As for our Religion, lives, liberties and pooperties, we enjoy them with such an entire, happy, lawfull freedome that we are envied by all the subjects of Europe; nor is there an empire, Kingdome, Commonwealth or Goverment in the whole world, under wich subjects may live more happy and secure then in our own; these are besides soe fenced and hedged about (as the Declaration, sayes) that I defye the witt of man, and power of Parl. to adde one word which shall not rather enflave then en franchise, ruine, then sup­port them. The Protestant Religion, as it is now profest, hath been soe established and confirmed by acts of Parl. for more then these 100 Yeares, that except a Protestant Parl. (and other then such there can never be) should introduce poperye, and with theire our hands deliver up that power, which they doe, and may and are soe tenacious to preserve, the Protestant Religion must eter­nally flourish in England, whilst Kings and Parliaments endure. In a word, our Religion, lives, liberties and properties an soe well founded, soe strongly fortifyed, and soe carefully protected by Our most Gracious Soveraigne King James the second, that with the machinations and conspiractes of James, Duke of Monmouth some years hence, not the present open hostilities and detestable Rebel­lion of James Scott, Argyl, with their Accomplices, and the as­sistance which they vainly (and injuriously to all Government) [Page 14]flatter themselves they shall receive from forraine powers, will ever be able (by the blessing of God) so violate them, or break in up­on us.

Thus I have spoken what is, I hope, sufficient at least what is pun­ctually true, concerning those several points of which I intended to discourse: for the rest of his insignificant, rayling canting staff. I think it not worthy of a further reply, for I perswade my selfe that what hath been already said, will satisfye al impartial Readers, but nothing will convince the positive and the prejudic't. His promises and his threats which are vastly great, are equally ayrie and ridicu­lous, and this Chymerical Hero woul have done mutch better to have employed his thoughts upon some new conquest in Terra Ausirali incognita, or of the world in the moon, then thus unjustly, wick­edley, and bloodily endeavour to disturbe the peace of three Kingdoms, which detest his principles and disown his pretensi­ons.

For those Protestant Kings, Princes, and Governours whom he im­pudently invites to partake with him in his rebellion, as it is a pu­blick afront, and unpardonable injurie to them all, soe I doubt not but they will all as publickly disown both him, and his adhe­rants.

To conclude, if ever Rebellion was grounded upon the falsest of pretences, it is this. If ever rebellion was raisd by the worst of of men, against the Best of Princes, it is this, and lastly, if the most notorious, barefac't sinns of fornication, adulterie, cold murder and repeated apostacies, rapes and incest, were lost in the whole world besides, they might be found in James Scott the pretended double head, and twice apostat popish Capt. Generall of the Protestant forces and false protectors of the reformed Protestant Religion.

O Lord God the Avenger, shew thy selfe clear­ly, Exalt thy selfe. O Judge of the World, and ren­der a reward to the provd, they prate and speak feircely, all the workers of Iniquitie vaunt them­selves, but the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the rock of mine hope, and he vvill recompence them in their vvickednesse, and destroy them in their ovvn malice, Yea the Lord our God shall destroy them. AMEN.

God save King James the II.