The History of the Mitre and Purse : in which the first and second parts of The secret history of the White Staff are fully considered and the hypocrisy and villanies of the Staff himself and laid open and detected

speciAl
coLLecrioNS

OouqLas

LibKARy

queeN's uNiveusiiy

AT kiNQSXrON

kiNQSTON ONTARIO CANADA

THE

HISTORY

O F T H E

Mitre and Ptirfe, .

IN WHICH

The Firfi: and Second Parts of the fe-
cret Hiftory of the Whke StaflP are
tully confidered, and the Hypocrify
and Villaniesof the STAFF himfeff
are laid open and Deteded.

^^t ^econti (fbinon*

Quo tcneain Vultus Mutantem Protea Nodo ? Virg.

Be left not FaBion^ but of that was left.

Dryden's Abs. and Achjt.

LOiVDON:

Prinsed for J, M0RPHEWnQ2^v Stati-

oners- Ha/i, 1714.

(price I fliiUing)

K

c^ii^.nm^H'^ii^

speciAi
coLLeccioNS

t)OUQLAS
LibRARy

queeN's UNiveRsiry
AT kiNQsxroN

kiNQSTON ONTARio CANAOA

7 ]

THE

HISTORY

O F T H E

Mhre and Purfe.

^^ H E Mercenary that has
-y '^xK been hired to raife a Duffc

in order to blind People's.

Eyes from feeing clearly in-
to the IVhue Sta^s true Chara£ler, ha-
ving acquitted himfelf of that Filthy
Work, by a fecond endeavour, it may
not be amils for a more generous and
Difmterefted Hand to do what in him
Ues towards fetting Things in a true
Light, that Juftice and Truth may
take Place of Defamation and Falfe-
hood.

A 2

Not

. ( 4 )

Not, that it does not prove Irkfome
to a Man whofe Education and Prin-
ciples lead him to other Views than
an-Infight into Mifcarriages under the
Reign of a Queen, i^whofe Memory
will always be dear and facred to himj
to look back on fome Proceedings that
may feem to refieft on that Princefs in
the choice of her Prime Minifter :
But the neceflity of the Times requires
it, and I tind my felf oblig'd with all
the Refped due to a deceas'd and in-
jur'd Sovereign to take this unwel-
come Task in Hand.

And, who can go forward with, and
compjeat it ? Who can refcue the great
Names I have taken upon me to de-
fend, from the Vile Stabs of an info-
lent Detractor, and more Cruel AlTaf-
lin than even Gutjguard himfelf ; with-
out giving a Loofc to his Paflions, and
Launching out into Expreflions that
may perhaps be too unguarded ? Who
can, without doing Violence to his
Temper hear the Sacred Charader of a
Bifhop, who for Learning, Piety, Po-
litenefs, and Sagacity may be rendred
equal to the Brighteft Luminaries of
the Protejiant Church, accus'd of De-
(igns to introduce Poperj^ and of utte-
ring

(5)

ring Blafpheraies, that the moii aban-
don'd Profligate might Tremble to
give into ? Yet thefe are the Arts that
are now put in Pra£lice and made ufe
of to run down, depretiate, and Wound
the whole Hierarchy, thro' that Vene-
rable AfTertor of the Rights of the
Church of England's^ Sides. From
thefe neither is the moft incorrupted
Fidelity Sate, for the greatcil Difpen-
fer of Law and Equity free. Even the
Tender Sex muft come in for her Share
of Reproaches, and Ingratitude does
not (tick to calumniate that Lady, by
whofe means the StaJ} himfelf was
re-introduced at Court, after he had
been thrown out of it for Endeavou-
ring to fupplant that Noble Perfon of
the fame Name that firft brought him
into it : So tar is the Author of the fe-
cret Hiftory in the Right, for faying,
We are not vptthout Examples where fuch
encroaching Injlruments^ have juPpUntfd
thoje rvho went before thew^ nay their very
Benefactors^ and Jl/pt into the Chair of
Management at the Expence of thoJe that
raij'ed them to that Power , and whoje Crea-
tures they were.

Now what Grounds the Writer had

for the abovementionM Abufcs will

. ' bcii:

#

beft appear by having Recourfe to
Matters of Fad j which cannot be
more fairly done, than by reciting, as
far as paft Occurrences will Enable us,
the fteps they have feverally taken
from their Firft Entrance upon the
Stage of A6lion till their going off
from it. Which muft of Courfe dif-
cover who have contributed moft to
the Prefervation of our Laws and Im-
munities, the iitaffy whofe Shoulders
are there faid to be only tit to fupport
the Weight of Government ; or the Mi-
tre and Purfe whom we no ways lift a-
bove their known Dignity and De-
ferc, by being brought in Competition
with him.

To begin with the Two laft. We
{hall find the Mitre, from a Private to
a Publick Station, always contending
with Spiruual Wkkednefs tn High Places.
We (hall fee him from his firil: Dawn
to his Mei'idian Hight looking for-
ward towards the Reward of a good
Confcience void of Offence towardsGod
and Man. Hif works will praije him in the
Gate, and his Labours will bear Tefti-
rriony, with what Anxiety and Care,
hchasever confulted the Honour and
Dignity of the Church, and been an

Advocate

(7)

Advocate for his Brethren the Clergy.
In the Univerfity, in -the Convocation,
in the Court, his whole Thoughts
have been bent on the Propagation
and Advancement of the E(tabii(h'd
Religion, and in whatfoever Station it
pleas'd God and his Superiors to place
him, he was rather an Ornament to
Preterment, than Preferment to him.
He never ftoop'd to mean Compliances
to better his Fortunes, or made his
Court to the Rulers of the Church by
Sapping the Foundations of it ; witnefs
his Immortal Writings whereby he has
as eminently diftinguilh'd himfelt in
Its Defence, as his Oppofers have by gi-
ving up the Rights of it : In a Word
as he was ever prefent to himfelf, fo
he has always been abiding by thofe
whole Ibmc Dodrines be fuck'd in from
his Infancy. He knows not what it
is to depart from the Vindication of
what he thinks himfelf oblig'd by the
moft Sacred Tyes of Oaths and every
Thing elfe that is bindir.g, to defend ;
and, if in few Cafes he has made uie
oi what fome People falfly call Ajpenty ;
if he has been for Penalties when he
faw Perfuafwns could not bring over
PifTenters to that Communion which

the

(8)

the great Law of the Gofpel, and that
oF the Land had Authorized to be Na-
tional \ if he was jealous of Endea-
vours on Foot ( as Endeavours
will be, while Our Church is the Glo-
ry of the Reformation) to lefTen the
Reverence and efteem that is due to
the moft Learned and Orthodox Clergy
in the whole Univerfe ; how could it
be poflible that on any of thefe Ac-
counts he could be chargeable with
being in the Intereft of Po^erj/y efpeci-
aliy lince he never advanced one Te-
net in all his Writing or, Sermons that
look that way ? But he was for the S.chjsm:
Bill, fay the Weak Difputants a-
gainlt him, and the Schifm Bill jvas brought
in to introduce Foj^eryy therefore the

B/(h is in the Inter eji of Popery,

When that very Bill which the Staff
boafts of Cafiratingy was intended as
the moft EfFe£lual means of Extin-
guiQiing the Hopes of the Pretender^
and, by bringing overfuch as differ'd
from the Church in fome few Particu-
lars, of Uniting us into one joint Xnte-
reit againll tliQ Fap/flsy between whom
and us there is a much wider Difagree-
ment, and who are under ftri£i:er Ob-
ligations not to recede from the Do-
ctrine

(9)

Gnne they have imbib'd from Educa-
tion and the Subtiky of their Priefts.
So much for the Mitre at this Time,
till our Obervations on the Proceeding
of the STAFF call him upon the
Stage again, who as an Inferior Cler-
gyman acted after fuch an intrepid
manner as plainly fliew'd him not to
feek the Office of a Bifhop, tho' he that
feeketh it feeketh a Good Office, but to be
fought by it^ fince notwithftanding he
might attain it by the Inttreft of the
STAFF, it is next to a Demonftratioa
he gain'd little or nothing by it, his
Deanery and other Spiricual Prefer-
ments being of greater Value than the
Bifh— rick.

As for the PURSE, if he was ever
ied into any Miftakes, it was through
his Implicite Attachment to the Inte-
reft of the STAFF : Thej liv'd toge^
ther as Brethre»^2.nd were bred up thro'
the Prejudices of their Parents under
one and the fame Inftrudor. This
made them for a Confiderable Time
purfue the fame Meafures, and at the
Beginning of the late P.e volution,
when they came to fit in Parliament
where they were curious Obfervers of
rhe Steps that were taken by the moff
B knowing

C 10 )

knowing Members to have an Eye to-
wards the Votes of Sir ChriMer Muj-
grave, Sir Edward Sejmo»r and ^other
Worthy Patriots that would in no
Cafe whatfoever give up. 'the Rights
of Church or State. But it was whol-
Iv owincT totheSoUcitations and Con-
viaions of. the PURSE that the
STAFF whofe Father could whme
and Cant moft enormouQy, and had
StifFenMhis Son's Temper mto a very
ferious Bent, could be anyways indu-
ced to vote with them. At laft they
both got themfelves into feveral Black
Lifts by adhering to the Tory Party,
and having feen their Names expos d
ill feveral fcandalpus Libels written by
the Whigs fide, were accounted Staunch
Churchmen, as moft certainly the
PURSE continued from the hrlt ot
his renouncing the Errors of Educati-
on. It is here to be noted that botli
thc^e Gentlemen were bred to the Law
and Studied it at the Inns of Court :
But- the- 67/^/ finding Coke upon Little-
ton a drv Study, and his Fellow Stu-
dent a much greater Proficient in the
Art and xMlftry of Haranguing at the
Bar thought it m.ore advifeable, and
perhaps more gainful, to turn Solicitor

oF. Caufes in the,,S .-,n - te, wliere
he had his Eyes up6n'\Vhac would fee
him into the Road of Preferment upon
all Occafions. He had ^not-- long ficten
in the Houfe but he perceiv'd feveral
Members through the Dexterity ot .the
Courtiers, who could not otherwife
bring them over to their Party, often
made Profelvtes to Preferment ; and
tliat their \*s fome valuable PoH: of
Profit generally laid in their Way, as
a Bait to make them change their Par-
ty, that open'd loudeiT: againlf Mif-
managements in Publick Employs .\
Therefore he refolv'd to put in tor the
Prize and. to make ufe of the fame
MeafUres. for obtaining it. In the car-
rying on of this Project he had fre-
quent Opportunities of diiplaying the
Artifices which he was naturaljy -Ma-.
fler of, and Cajoling of young Members
at their firfi: Appearance in the Houfe^
into his Meafurcs, till in Procefs of
Time he grew very Confidcrable, and,
by the means of his Pupils who. could
tell Nofes at"a,Divifion,if they could not
make Speeches, was thought Worthy of
being invited to fide with the Court
by Vertue of the Abovemention'd Al-
lurements. This was fuggefted to the
B 2 ' King

( lO

JCing by one of the Secretaries of State
in the Year 1697, who made his Ma-
jefty acquainted with his Talent and
how ufeful it would be to his Affairs
at that JunQ:ure, which feemed to re-
quire fome (landing Forces after the
Conclufion of the Peace at Ryftvick, and
which would certainly be enibarrafs'd
by his Oppofition. But that Prince who
perfe£liy knew the Man,f|nd the Spi-
rit of DifFimulation which he was a-
gitated by, was too unreferv'd and
open of Heart himfclf, to admit of the
Propofal • And gave for Anfwer, hg
could by no means think his Council fafe in
the Breafi of orte, who was of fo ver futile
And Changeable a Temper^ as to keep a fe^
cret no longer than it fuited with his Ca-
pricious and volatile Temper^ to which
he added, That he trufled in God the
friends to the Fublick Welfare would be
more numerous in Parliament^ than thofe
that fought only their Private Advantage,
But that Wife Prince found himfelf
miftaken, for when he had recommen-
ded the Keeping a fuificient Number
of Troops on Foot, which feem'd the
more neceffary then on the Account
of the King of Spain's Illnefs, which
ibme time after ended in that Mon-

archs

(«J )

arch's Death, none more violently op-
posM the Motion made for that Pur-
pofe, in Conjundion with the PURSE
and other Friends, than the STAFF,
who under the Pretext of AfTerting
the Liberties of the People, and Vin-
dicating the jufl: Rights of theSubjeft,
which were thereby expos'd to the
greateft Danger, grew more and more
popular, and had fuch a prevalence at
laft, as to be more than a Match, for
Mr. Montague (now E. of Halifax) who
at that Time of Day with the Gentle-
men who gave into his Sentiments, was
accounted able Enough to carry any
one Queftion he thought fit to propofe
to be put to the Houfe.

Nay the STAFF and his Adherents,
whom I fhall not altogether leave with-
out Excufefor denying a Requeft that
might have been productive of ill E-
vents from the greatnefs of its Lati*
tude, were not content to fucceed in
their Endeavours for a Bill to disband
the Army, whereby only 7000 Men
were left upon the Englifh Eftablilh-
ment, and 12000 upon the Info, but
when his Majefty had, not without
Reluctance, in Confidtration of the
Nation's being too much expofed,
pafs'd that Bill mto an Acl, and limi-
ted

(14)

^ed his Defires to a few Body Guards,
who had ferved him from his Infancy,
and been with him, in every Adion
wherein he had ever been engaged,
and by fo being, had endear'd chem-
felves to his Majefty; no fooner was
the Kings MefTage brought into the
Houfe, tho' out of a more than Ordi-
nary complacency of Temper, he had
not only fign'd it, but written it every
Word with his own Hand, but he
clamour'd againfl: the Purport of it,
moved an Addrefs to the Kmg againffc
thofe that Advifed it, and obtain'd at
laft, not with feme DiiBculty, to have it
entirely rejedled. The Meffage ran thus.
Wtllum R.

HIS Majefty is pleafed to let the
* Houfe know, that the ne-
celTary Preparations are made for
Tranfporting the Guards that came
with Him into E/^g/^W: and that he
intends to fend them away imme-
diately, unlefs out of Confidcration
to him the Houfe be difposM to find
a way for continuing them longer in
his Service which his Majelty wilj
take very kindly. !' ^

Thus was the xVIan that boaft's hini-
felf to be early in the Meafures of the

Revolution

Revolution, and by his Hireling Scrib-
Icrs moft infolently toll's the World
that he was one of the Firjl that gave into
the Scheme of fettling the Succeffion of
the. Crown upon the prefent IlUtflriom F.i-
mily that enjoys it, at the Head of thofe
who oppos'd all the Meafures of that
Prince who left us that valuable Lega-
cy ; and thus did he recommend himfelf
to the Good Graces of the Prefent King
and his Royal Progeny, who have too
great a value for the Memory of a Prince
that a little before his Death provided
for Pofterity by an Entail, which was
wholly owing to that deceas'd King,
and communicated by hirrt to his
Council, foon after the Death of the late
Duke of Glocefler, •

This declared Averfion to comply
with his Sovereign, pulh'd him upon
Experiments, ot doing what in him lay
to get into the Favour of the immedi-
ate Succeilor, which he knew no other
ways to bring about, than by continu-
ing to aflume the Characler of one that
would never deviate from the Intereft
of the Court Party, well knowing
that her late Majefty, then Princefs of
Denmark, had fome Grudging ftill re-
fting upon her in Relation to fome
Mifrepiefentations,

( i<5 )

Mifreprefentations, concerning the
Kings Condud towards Her. Ac-
cordingly as the Gentlemen who were
made to beUeve that Defigns were in
Agitation to alter the Settlement, and
bring in another Bill of Exclufion,
could not but refent fuch Extrajudicial
Machinations, fo they could pitch on
no one to prefide in the Chair of the
Enfuing Houfe of Commons, than
Him who by his SeduUty and Vigilance
to provide tor himfelf, was thought all
the while to be wholly bufied in ma-
king Provifion for the Legal Inheri-
tance of ithe next Immediate Heir.
Wherefore he was no fooner named

for their Sp r, but the Majority

was declared on his fide, and he pre-
fented to the King and accepted.

Now, had the STAFF a Game to
play that required the greateft Dexte-
rity and Add refs, fince in this Station,
if he went into the Court Meafureshe
would wholly lofe himfelf with thofe
that took Part with the Country, or if
he declared openly for the latter, he
would inevitably be in no Condition
of deceiving the Firft. He therefore
for fome Time ilood Neuter, till find-
ing the Tide of Complaints run high

againft

(17)

againft the Court and Enquiries after*
JMifmanagement at Helm Multiply
themfelves, he underhand Encourag'd
thePurfuit of them, andtho'asa Pri*
vy Councellor (for he was called to that
Station foon after his Eledion) he was
tyed by his Oath not to divulge the
Meafures concerted at that Board, yet
fo far did his Luft after Increafe o£
Power and Authority there, prevail
over him, that he prefer'd the Breach
of it to lefs alluring Confiderations.
Well knowing that Complaints in Par-
liament when pufh'd home and Vi-
goroufly back'd, occafion Alterations
in the Miniftry, and that thofe Altera-
tions might make Room for him to fuc-
ceedtofome Exalted Preferment. But
the Houfc of Lords at that Time, made
fuch a Noble ftand againft the At-
tempts of the Commons, that tho'rhe
Latter carried their Refentments {o
high as to Impeach 4 of the Peers that
were the greateft Favourites belonging
to the King, yet thofe Gentlemen not
having fuificient Proof to make good
their Allegations, and not appearinga-
gainft them at a Tribunal Ereded for
xhat Purpofe, they were acquitted to
C the

( i8 )

the great Mortification of the 5^/«/and
his Party.

True it is that the PURSE went a*
long with him in this Aftair, and not
only Voted for bringing thofe Lords to
Juitice, but was made ufe of to carry
up the Mellage of Impeachment againil:
one of them, but whether he did it
out of Regard to the Friendihip that
was between him and the STAFF, who
always glolTed every Intention of his
howfoever mifcheivous or unjuft, with
the Varnifh of a Patriot ; or whether
his own Judgment prompted him to
think t^eir Lordfliips Criminal, it is
left to the PURSE himfclf to Elucidate
and Explain ?

To go on with the STAFF'S Proce-
dure, who could find Ways and Means
to Impeach others for making difad-
vantagious and dilhonourable Treaties
(for this was grounded upon that of
the Partition) tho' he thinks it hard
to be called to aa Account for making
onehimfelf; Th\sTnckJ}er, knew how
to enjoy his very difappointments, and
made ufe of his Defeat in this Particu-
lar, to obtain Viftories in others.
What had he to do but from this Ad
of thegreateft Juflice to the Innocent,

to

( 19)
to whifper among thofe that were
guilty of accufifig them, that the Lords
hat! done unjUttly by them, and that
they ought to vindicate and allert their
Rights and Privileges, wiiich had fuch
an Influence upon Hot Heads and weak
underftandings, as to make both Hou-
fes Burll out into Reixionllrances a-
gainll: each ocher.

The Miniftry forefaw from what
Quarter an Enfuing Tempeil: would a-
rife if noi timely prevented, and there-
fore adcd under a Difguife with the
Staffs as he had a6led with them, and
promis'd him great Things if he would
put a flop by his Iiitereil: in the Houfe
ot Commons todioie growing DilTen-
tionsjand the King himfcif who had
the word Opinion of him that was
podible, was prevailM upo ■ to tell Him
that it would be very acceptable to
him from his own Mouth. This fired
his Ambition, and animated him to
draw off his Creatures from their for-
mer Scent of xMifmanagements, Abu-
fes, Frauds, &c, to confider the State
of the Succeirion. and to bear in Mind,
what he would never otherwife have
been admonifh'd of, that upon the De^.
mife of "the Duke oi Glocejhi^ further
C 2 (ecu ri ties

( 20 ) . .

rltles were neceilary for the niaintain-
ance of the Settlement in ihtProtep^t
Line, and ior the Attainder of the
Pretended Pamce of PF./e., who upoa
the Death of the late King >^^^^ the 11.
had llyled,and caufed himtelf to be pro-
claimed Kmgof£..^/^«^ ^^••^^'^'k'' h
it be fupposM, howibever irritated bot^
Houfes of Parliament were agamlt each
other in Defence of their Particular
Rights and Priviledges, that when the
Publick welfare was fo nearly con-
cern'd, they would not quit their Ci-
vil Feuds, and concur with each other
jn their Mutual Detence and Security.
Accordingly the STAFF and his Adhe-
rents prelsM the Quick Paffage of Two
Bills through their Houfe, for the
Ends abovemention'd, m Hopes that
the Court would make good their Pro-
inifes, no doubt, and of being furnilh d

with Mony to buy the M ;it --— r

of the R irs Place, but the Ace i*

dent of the Kings Death who liv d only
long enough to fign thofe and other
Bills into Acts, prevented, it not bx~
cu.'d the one from making good tie
word that was given, and Bindred the
ptlApr from being at Liberty to charge
ihem with Breach oi Faith.

( 21 )

At the late Queen Jnfie^s Acceffion
to the Throne, the STAFF who ftill
held the Chair, was not at a lofs what
Countenance to put on ; but to ingra-
tiate himfelf, with thofe that had the
firft Places in her Majefty's Favour, be-
thought himfelf of New Projeds and
Contrivances. He had before, as has
been obferved, by his Emiflaries given
out that the Deceafed King had ano-
ther Succeflion in View than that of
the Princefsof Denmark^ and nothing
could be more proper at this Juncture
than to revive and give a New Publi-
cation to this falfe and fcandalous Re-
port. Wherefore, as he always made
his Court to Men of Letters and Libe-
ral hducation, whofe narrow Circum-
ftances might readily engage them in
his Service, fo he was not to feek for an
Unfortunate Gentlemen at this Time
of Day, who through the Speciouf-
nefs of the Relation, that had the Re-
femblence of Truth, would drefs it
out in the moft frightful Colours; tlio'
how he was rewarded afterwards by
the very Man that fet him at Work
will appear in its due Place.

Dr. Drake was the Perfon who was
pitch'd upon for this Ad of Policy, nor

could

( 22 )

could the STAFF have thought of a
Gentleman more equal to fuch an Un-
dertaking, and more willing to go
through with it. For his Averfion to
all the Meafures taken by King iA^illi-
am heightned by fome Difappointments
he had met with from the Mmiftry du-
ring that Prince's Reign, made him ve-
ry eafy to beleive any Thing that
might be of Prejudice to his Royal
Chara£ler, and therefore he accepted
the Offer and took upon him to write a
Book for that End called, the Hiftory of
the U(l Parliameffr^ with a Pamphlet en-
tituled, the Source of our ^refent Fears
&c. Herein it was reprefented after
iarge Encomia upon the then Reigning
Miniftry, and the Members of both
Houfes that oppos'd the Court Mea-
fures in the Preceding Adminiftration,
That the King had nothing lefs in his
Intentions, than to leave the Crown
by Right of Inheritance to Queen
Anne^ and that it had been concerted
between him and his Cabinet Coun-
cil, to poftpone her Majefty's Claim,
to that of the next SuccefTor. It was
alio fuggelkd that Papers were found
in the Kings Clofet after his Deceafe
that manifefted and evinced this pre^^

* tended'

and pulh'd forward ♦■;:,-■.- -"eHonf^

piealed to dictate to them; upon an
Enqu^y after the Co.dudt of th'e pre-
ceding Government ; the Houfe of
Lords crois-d in upon the Scent, and

outofajuftRegardtotheHonourof
His Deceas d Majefty, Order'd a Com
niittee to infpeft the King's Papers
who made their Report, that the^Ir^'
iinuation abovemention'd, rv^sfM fcan.
ddous md. v,IU«cus, &c. Moreover to do
Juftice to the Name of that Dead
i'rince they conven'd Dr. Drake, who
upon Examination before them made a
bUght Defence and was order'd to be
Profecuted ; tho' upon Trval to which
he that fet him at Work left him a~
cording to wonted Pradice, he was af-
terwards acquitted.

Thefe brisk Refolutions in the Houfe
of Peers, wholly Still'd and hufh'd the
Cry that was luft begun to be raifed a-
mong the Commons, but the Suff ,„,
Requital for It, and out of Revengeior
Ins Plots being rendred abortive fo

i:iiT'-'

v_i

ftirrM up the Coals of Diffention be-
tween both Houfes, as to make feveral
Good Bills be loft by his Means ; that
Se^efentdown to the Houfeof Com-
mons for their Concurrence ; and the
SftSeflionof that Parliament and
>wherem the BUI againft Occafional
Conformity which he hirafelf had ad-
v^s'd and promoted the Brmgmg in of,
was readred unfuccefsful by his Means)
ended m nothing elfe but Litigations at

'^''whm now, the Queen out of a juft
Conlideration'olthe ^URSE'shgge-
feres whomasyettheTyesoTFnend-
fcp 'that blinde'd him from feemg the
Faults he was unwilling to efpye, kept
entirely in the Interefts of the STAFlS
made him Solicitor General •, m which
Poft he afted as became one that Con-
^Ited the Honour of the Sovereign,
S thoutdepreflingthe Liberties of the
Sa. After wWflie called a nevv
Parliament, that again for want of a
due Infight into what he aim d at by
the Acquifition of that Dignity, made
Choice^of the STABF for their 6;-r.
Thus he had it in his Hands once more
to give Wings to his Ambition, and
make other Efforts to attain that Con-

fidence

( 25 )

dence at Court, which he had hitherto
not thought fi: to be too percipirate in
worming himfelf inro. He (aw how
defervedly the Duke of Ahr/hrou^;,
who was advanced to that Title for his
^rvices the preceding Campaign in
PyW^n, and the Lord High Treasurer,
the Earl of Godolphin held the Firft Pofts
ot Honour and Truft there, and was fo
taken with the Sight of, and fawning De-
ftrence tnat was paid to, them in Ihofs
rtigli Stations, that he was refolved
maugre that Haughtinefs of Soul that
was too full of his own Deferts to have
any tolerable Liking for thole of others
to be m the Number of their Depen-
dents, by which the Avenues of Pre-
ferment would be open to him, and
give him an Opportunity of Supplanting
his Benefadors. For tho' he h.td fome
Men*s Perfons in Admiration b.csufs of
Advantage, He had a Real value for no
Man Exclufive of his own Profit ; and
as Love and Envy can never take up
Cheir Refidence in the lame Soul, con-
cerning the fame Objea, fo the Office
of the firll Miniffer was too inviting
not to make him entertain Invidious
Conceptions of that Dignity, and beincr
brought to Envy him that PoiTcfs'd ic^and
D to

( 26 )

to be very Solicitous of obtaining it for
himfelf.

He knew very well how to make bis
Addrefles to them, and after what man-
ner to get into their nearefl Confidence,
for he was apprized of means from the
Occafional Conformity Bills, being a-
gain brought into the Houfe of Com-
mons, which Bill was partly defign'd as
a Touch Stone to try what Mettle the
Courtiers were m?de of, or whether
they were Sterling Churchmen as they
gave themfelves out to be. He was alfo
apprized of their Knowledge of the Ten-
dency of that Bill at that Juncture, when
Peoples Minds were under Aprehenfions
of the Repealing the Toleration AQ:, and
that tho' their Education would not fufFer
them openly to oppofe it, yet the Intereft of
the Kingdom required that they fliould
no ways difoblige the Dijfenters and
their Friends, who at that Time were
the Money'd, and might prevent the
Loans that were thought neceffary to be
had for taking the Field earlier than the
Enemy. This he acquainted thofe No-
ble Lords with, as alfo with his being
capable of clogging the Bill fo by the
Agency of his Friends that it fhould ne-
ver pafs. Nor did the STAFF fail of
making good his Word, for hefo nego-
tiated with his Creatures in the Houfe,

as

(«7 )
as to make them believe that the Peers
whohad rejeded it before, would never
give their Concurrence to it unlefs they
Tack d it to a Money Bill, which they
could not refute their Confent to. But
this was the Sole Caufe of its being loil
once more,for when it was propos'd to be
Tack'd, many that were Tooth and Nail
for it before, gave their Votes againft it,
and tho' it was fent up to the Lords, it
was done with fuch an indifference, that
their Lordfhips had little elfe to do with
it, than to fling it out at a Second Read-
ing, becaufe of their Attempt to force it
upon them.

I fhould have told the Reader before,
that as anEarneft of this future Service,
he had the PromifTary Grant of one of
the Principal Secretaries of States Places,
which was made good to him by the
Removal of the Earl of Nottinghum^
and Enabled him to introduce fome
of his Bofome Friends likewife into the
Court, as Sir Thomas Ma/>fel (now Lord)
who fucceeded Sir Edward Sejmour as
Comptroller of the Houfehold, and
Henry St. ^ohn Efq; (now Lord Boli^g-
broke) who fupplied the Place of Secre-
tary of War, in the Room of Mr.
Bfaithfvait, Sir Simon Hardcourt (now
D 2 Lord)

( 28 )

Lord) was alfo advanced to the Poft of
Attorney General.

Thefe Changes, and the Defertion of
fo many Menibers that were thought
innn^ovtably fteady, in the Caufe which
wa^ then called that of the Church and
Country^ Toured many Peoples Tempers
to a g^c<^t Degree, in fo m.uch that the
Pulpits began tc found with the Danger
of theChuich, and the Clergy to exert
themfclves upon all Occafions, againft
Hypocriry and Lukewarmnefs in Mat*
ters of Religion. Which not being Cri-
minal the STAFF could not well ani-
madvert upon in a Judicial Way,wirhout
the Appearance of thofe Complaints in
Print. He therefore fo work'd it a-
bout by his Emiffaries behind the Cur-
tain, that a mod Excellent Pamphlet was
written by Dr. Drake and Nlr. Pocley^
called the Memorial of the Church of En«
gland, wherein Matters were carried at
a high Rate, and the Queen accus'd of
being Partial to fuch as favour'd the
Difftnters, and of making Choice of a
Mmiftry that were altogether in their
Intereft. But the Pefons who wrote it,
the' put upon it by his means were too
Wife to let any one into the Knowledge
of the Real Auihors but themfelvcs, fo

that

(29)

that after he had in Vain beat the Bufh
for a Difcovery, and taken up WiUiam
Shippen Efq; for running him and his
MefTengers off the Scent, without any
other Eftecl than being laugh'd at, he
contented himfelf with caufing Dr.
Dr/tke to be apprehended, and bound o-
vcr to be Prolecuted upon bare Sufpicion,
(tho' the Warrant againft him run upon
Oath,) and Wheedling another Perfon
who was in Cuftody for a Triffiing
Matter, into a ConfefTion of Writing
the Cafe of the faid MeworUl fairly Sta*
ted^c, and contrary to the moft folema
AfTurances, that fuch a Confeffion fbould
be of no Prejudice to him, with bring-
ing him to a Tryal at the Queen's Bench
Bar, the Confequences of which to his
and the poor undone Gentleman's Dif-
grace, will appear upon Record.

As for Dr. Drake, what Refentments
arc due to the Staf! from the learned
World on his Account, the Death of fo
Great and Valuable a Man, to whom
the Republick of Letters owed fo much,
and were in Expectation of Owing more,
will fufficiently make appear, fince the
Violence of the Profecution which it
was not doubted would have ended in
an-ignominious Punifhment, hurried his

Spirits

( 3o)

Spirits into a High Fever that Ended
with the Lofs of his Life.

All this while ; the PURSE who was
under an Obligation of carrying on
what Informations were fent him from
the Crown by Vertue of his Office, a-
^ied no otherwife than in a Manner that
was agreeable to his Duty. He indeed
pleaded as^his Breviate dire£led him, as
all of that ProfefFion will to the beft of
their Skill, be the Merits of the Caule
of never fo good or bad a Complexion ;
but yet he f o behaved, as to deal above
Board, and to give Proofs of his Hone-
fty to the Accufed, while he endeavoured
to make good the Accufation. So great
a Difference was there between the Sin-
cerity of the One, and the Collufive
Pradices of the Other, that tho' the
Turfe by Dint of Eloquence and Strength
of Argument made the Guiltlefs appear
faulty, and caus'd them to be found fo,
yet the 5/^/* was altogether Blame wor-
thy who led him into the Belief of their
Guilt when he knew them to be inno-
cent.

So much for Profecutions und^r the
Staffs Admiuiftration, till we come to
fee him in the Exercife of another Ofp
jice, and like a Cardinals Horfe with his}

Fiocco

( ?« )

Fidcco upon him. Let ds how View
him in his Endeavours to weaken thofe
Hands that gave him Strength, and to
give them a Caft out of their High Pofts
who introduced him into his. The
Reader has already feen by what means
he infinuated himfelf ipto Court, and is
to be told now upon what Grounds he
was removed from it.

The STAFF thinking himfelf after this
Coup d^ eclat fo Riveted in the good Affe-
£lion of the Queen his Miftrets, that no-
thing could (hake him, as indeed he was
very much in her good Opinion, for there
are ftw or no Princes but are SubjcQ: to
the Laws of Humanity, and liable tdliink
better of fome Sycophants than theyde-
ferve, gave way to his Ambition, which
fuggefted to him that he was capable of
Filling the Place of Primier Minifter. He
would willingly if he could have done
it with fafety, have acquLefs'd in the Ge-
nerals keeping his Poft Exclufive of the
Treafarer, but they were fo engaged to
(land and fall by One another, thro' the
Means of Alliances and other Confide-
rations, that he found himfelf under a ne-
ceflity of making his Attack on both at
one and the fame Time. But how to
carry on his Approaches fo as no Difco-
very fhould be made before the Mines
were ready to take Fire, was the Confi-

deration

( ?o

deration which chiefly employ*d him.
He, had before this, by Vertue of his In-
tereft, brought in a She Relation of his,
(who but for that Part of his Family's
Blood that flow'd in her Veins was eve-
ry Way worthy of that Service) as a
DrefTer to her Majefty, which was done
on Purpofe to have an Eye upon the

D fs of M oughy who from

her Attendance on that Princefs from
her Cradle, was ever held in the Higheft
Efteem by her. For he was not ignorant
of the feeming Impoflibility to difplace
the Husband, while the Wife continued
in her heft Graces, and that a Lady who
wai|lways with the Queen in herclofeft
Retirements, would of Courfe, have a
greater Afcendant over her, than any
Favourite whatfoever of another Sex.
This Kinfwoman therefore, who bating
what has been faid before, was poflefs'd
of molt Excellent Talents, and form'd
by her Method of Living to excite Be-
nevolence towards her in the beft of So-
vereigns, was 10 Inftruded, or rather
abufed by his Subtle, and Flaufible In-
finuadons, that no Op portunitys were let
flip, of fetting forth the STAFFS Loy-
alty, and Concern for his MiftrelTes
Honour and Incereft, at the fame Time
as the Power of the Two Great Men juft

mentioned

C 55 )

tttenclon'd was reprel'ented as poiTible to
be mitchievous in its Confequences, I
dare fay, the good Gentlewoman be-
liev'd bim, when in a Pathetick man-
ner he laid before her, what Hazards,
tbe Queen was encompafsM with under
their Adininiftration, efpecially when he
touch'd upon the Danger of the Churchy
which he but a Year or Two before had
been very vigorous in making appear to be
an Idle Story, by his Profecutions.
Nor had the Succefs fallen Ihort of
the Defign, (Ince her Majedy grew dai-
ly more and more weanM from the
good Opinion flie had hitherto enter-
tain'd of the General's and Treafurer's
Conduct, For the Caufe of Complaint
againit them, for wholly engroffing their
Prince's Favour was fo craftily enforced
and maintain'd, that her Majefty had
form'd a Refolution to get quit of her
pretended Governors, which had been
put in Execution a Day or Two after,
had not an unforefeen Accident fall'n
out, that Turn'd the Tables upon him
that was afTur'd of his Game, and was
already fingering the Publick Ca(h in l-
magination.

An unlucky Difcovery fpoil'd all, for

while fome Body, (and no Body elfe

E , could

( u)

could do it,) was Tranfmitting the beft
Concerted Meafures tor finilhing the
Wai atone ftroke ihat ever were fix'd
upon by the Siege of Toulorty and the
Reduclion of that Important Fortrefs
and Sea Port, bicaufe it was the Duke of
2ii— — i Projeft ; the STAFF, made the
other Scheme of no uie to himfelf, and
found himfelf tumbled down Headlong
from all his Chimerical ^Strudure of Im-
menfe Riches and Favour, and Excluded
from that Royal Prefcnce, which he had
made it his Endeavour wholly to de-
prive others of. Thus was the STAFF
again reduced to a Private Station, and,
Thanks to a certain Perfons clofe Mouth,
who chofe rather to die than to open it,
that he was left at Liberty to enjoy even
the Comforts of that. For iho' the Law
could not take hold of him, the Peoples
fufpicions did, andjuftlytoo, fince it is
not reafonable to Judge, that one retained
in a Mafters Service could have a fecret
of that Nature entrufted with him, coo-
trary to his Mailers Knowledge.

I'hisfudden Change of Affairs brings
us again to a View of what the Purft
did upon occafion of it, and here we are
to be made acquainted with the great Pre-
valence which theTyes of Friendlhip had

over

(?5)
over the Engagements of Profit. The
STAFF is no looner removed, but the
PURSE Sympathizes in his Difgrace,
and thinks himfelf unjuiily treated in
the Perf.3'1 of him that is his other Self.
He can be guilty of no Sinilier Intenti-
ons in his own Soul, and therefore can-
not believe any Machinations of an E-
vil Tendency can be formed in his.
Wherefore tho' Courted by thole whom
neceffity compell'd to be his, Pretended
Friends, Enemies, to keep PofTefTion of
his Poft, he, as didalfothe Lord JOHM
BULL of h;j>, he made a Voluntary Re-
fignation of, and Sacrificed more than
40C0 Pounds fer Ann, to (hew that no-
thing fhould ftand in Competition with
his Regard to the Vindication of a Man
whom in his Wounded Reputation, he
thought his own to be a Sufferer.

Yet notwithftanding this unexpe6le(J
pifafter, the STAFF had another Bisk
in his Sleeve to Play the fet ^ut with
yet, and his Kinfwoman at Court who
thought him the molt abufed Gentleman
in the World, left no Srcne unturn'd to
reinftate him in her Majelly's Favour,
which none but (he was capible of do-
ing, and for which he has requited her
by bldfting her good Name in Scanda-
E 3 I014S

( jO

Ions Libels fince. Accordingly, after
fhe had been too hard for aU the Lords
that prefs'd the Queen for her Removal
from Court, and had render'd their Ap-
plication to her Majefly for that End, as
derogatory to her Royal Prerogative,
and In va five of the Rights that even
MiftrefTcs of Private Families have of
chufing their own Servants ; after fhe
had artfully, and with great Stiength of
Reafon, laid before her Sovereign the
great Deference that was owing to her
high Title and Dignity : In a Word af>
ter (be had reprefented his Accufers,
who thought it their due to hold their
Places for their Lives, independent of
Her that gave them, (he obtained of
the Queen, who' could deny her no-
thing, his AdmilTien to Court in pri-
vate, that he might fpeak in his own Ju-
flification.

From hence it was, that the Queen
who had before complain'd in one of
her Speeches, againftthe Malice of feme
People that alledg'd the Church to be in
Danger under her Adminiftration, was
tobe'iicve it tobe fo •• From hence that
he found frequent Opportunity s of Poi-
foning her Majelly's Ears with Fears
and Jealoufies, when there was no O'

ther

. (37)
tfier Foundation, but his immoderate
Thirft of bearing Rule over Her, and
the whole Nation? From hence, that all
the Vi£lones and Conqefts of her Fleets
and Armies, were of no other ufe to
them that Conduced 'em, and led 'em
.forth to Hers and their immortal Glory,
than to be brought as fo many Argu-
ments of their being laid afide, as fhall
be fully proved in the fequel of this
Hiftory.

During thefe Tranfaftions another
Parliament having been called, Vhich
was chiefly compofed of fuch Members
as were ready to go into the Court Mea-
fures ; the PURSE againll whom ' an
Obfcure Perfon was put up for a Candi-
date, at a Borough which for many
Eleclionshad made Choice of him for
its Reprefentative was returned. But
as i the Contrary Party knew what
Weight and Influence fuch a fimfh'd
Pacriot mud: necefl!arily have in the
Houfe, it was concerted amongft his
Enemies, that his Opponent who had
been fairly out-number'd by feveral
Votes, fhould Petition againfl hi& Ele-
clionas undue. . In Furfuanceof which
a Hearing came on at the Bar of the
Houfe, where, tho^ it appeared, that no

Perfot

( J8)

Ptrfon was more regularly chofen than
the fitting Member, the Me^jonty ran
High againft him, and the Pf^tinoner
was declared in his Plact. How die
PURSE behav'd, and fhcw d himtelf
of an even an Gallanr Deportment du-
ring the whole Debate wh ch laftcd from
1 2 at Noon till Two the next Morn-
ing, win appear by the moft Excel 'tnt
Speech which he made before he with-
drew when the Houfe came to a Divifi-
on, and which it would be a very great
A£i c5f lajuftice, not to infert Word
for Word,as he gave it utterance.

* Whatever the Determination of this

* Houfe may be, faid He^ this I am fure

* of, and it muit be admitted, that I

* am duly eleded for the Borough of J'

* bingdony as ever any Man was.

* Had it been the Pleafure of this

* Houfe to have Conftrued the Char-

* ter, under which this Eledion is

* made, according to the natural and

* plain Words of ic, ^ the Inhabitants

* have always underftood it. Li fuch a
^ Senfe all former Parliaments have fre-
' qucntly expounded it. Had you de-

* dared the Right of EleQ:ion to be in

* thofe Perions, who have without any

\ Interruptions,

C?9)
Interruption, exercifed it for ic©
Years, you could not have heard it in-
fixed, that I had not the Majority.
Even as you have determined the
f<ight, my Majority is ft ill unqueftio-
nable: No Gci lemaa with Reafon,
can d if prove my AfTertion, whatever
Reafon he may have to refufe mc
his Vote. You have been truly infor-
med, the Petitioner on clofin^ the Pol],
declared he dtd n4 come thither with any
Proj'pici or H pes of Succejs,

* So (iuptd then was I as not to com-
prehend the meaning of thofe Words;
I would do Him Juftice, I rcaEy be-
lieve he himfcU wa* not, at that
Time, let into the fecret.

* Any Oppofition may give a Handle
to a Petition, no matter for the Juftice
of it. Power will maintain it.

* Whoever fent fcim on fuch an Er-
rand; What mean and contemptible
Notions muft he entertain of the then
Enfuing Parliament? He muft fup-
pofe them capable of the bafcft AEii'^
ODSy of being Aw'd and Influenced by
Menaces or Promifes, and to profti-
tute their Confciences at the Word of
Coaunand.

' Had

(40
< Had there been fuch a Parliamefit
Eleaed, and I declared notduely E-
leaed, I Ihould then have left my Place
with a Companion for the Unfortunate
Friends that ftay'd behind me. Who-
■ ever could have framed fuch aProjed

* to himlelf, muft undoubtedly have

' wifn'd for, perhaps have wanted fuch'
' a Parliament.

' He muft have been a Perfon, the
= moft abandon'd Wretch in the World,
' who had long quitted all Notions of
' Right and Wrong, all Senfe of Truth
' and Juftice, of Honour and Confci-

* ence*

• W^hatever his dark Purpofes were, it

< is our Happinefs and the Nations,

* that they were entirely difappointed in
« the Choice of this Parliament.

* I cannot diredly Point him out,
« but whoever he was, I have fo much

< Charity, as fmcerely to wifh he may

< feel and be truly fenfible of the Hon-

* our and Impartial Juftice of a ^ Bnn[b

< Parliament.

' The

* Bere U Surnvi'dHp the Poll on both fides^ and demon'
ftr^sdthMthe Council for the Petition y' kid left him the
Aiajorityof Two Votes. arJ hid added feveral uv^ueflmA'
bk Votes to hU oxen roll.

(41 )

* The Petition charges me Perfonai-
ly with many indire£l Practices ;
But no Attempt lias been made to
prove any Thing of that Kind.

' As for the indirect Pra£lices char-
ged on my Agents, I had no Agents ;
I knew of no Oppofition till the Morn-
ing of the Election, nor had the leaft
Apprehenfionof any. I thought no
Agent neceffary to promote my In-
tered, nor had I employ 'd any Per-
fon whatfoever to Iblicite for me;
But what Solicitations, what Mena-
ces and Promifes have been ufed a-
gainft me, and by whom, are but too
well known to too many.

Thus was this moft Excellent Man,
whom it would have been an Honour
to the Houfe of Commons to have con-
tinued as a Member, thrown out oi^ it ;
and thus was a meer Abjed of a Brew-
er, that knew nothing of the ConfLi-
tution of the Kingdom made one ot
the Keepers of the Liberties of the Peo-
ple, when at the fime Time he knew^
not how to keep his own Cafh Book;
While a Gentleman of as Ancient a
Family as any in Brit.ii?i was excluded
from his Jull Rights of Vindicating

(40
our Laws and Immunities, which none
knew better how to defend, to make
Room for a Fellow that was ot much
fuch another Capacity as one of his
own Dray Horfes.

But the MITRE had a far great-
er Deference and Rcfped payM to his
Charaaer,for he did not only ht in Con-
vocation as a Reverend Member thereot
but had the Honour atcevwards to be
dilVinguilh'd by being chofen their Pro-
locutor •, Which Omce he Executed
with that Intrepidity and Vigilance,
Conftancy, and Fidehty, as to fliew
himfelf not only equal to, but tar Supe-
rior to moll of his Predecellors: For
he ftedfaftly adhered to the Prefervati-
on of the Rights ot the Inferior Clergy,
and not falling diort in his Duty to the
Fathers of the Church,whom he was tor
paying a ftrict Obedience to, in all Law-
ful matters, continued a ihining Advo-
cate while he fate in the Chair for
the Sons of ir. And, if thro' the Luke-
warmnefs and Pretended Moderation
of fome of his Brethren in the Lower
Houfe, who expecled Preferment from
the Upper, what her Ma)erty recom-
mended to their Confideration met
with greac Difficulties and Obiiru6:i-

ons,

( 43 )

ons it cannot be imputed to him, thac
did all he could to bring them to a
Complyance with her MaieAy s molt
gracious MeHages, but muft be laid at
fome Perforis Doors, who under the
Veil of Moderation profecuted Heats
and Animofities in their Debates, and
render'd all their Confultations tor the
fecurity gf the EftabliaVd Religion
fruitlels and of no Etfed.

In the mean Time, tho' little or
nothing was done in Convocation,
that had any Tendency to the Advance-
ment of the Church's Intereft, the
Parliament, without any Intention to
enter upon Religious Affairs, did it to
their Hands for them. ^ . ^ ^ . ,

For as it has beea faid before, the
STAFF who had no other Stratagem
to recover his Credit, than a pre-
tended Zeal and Concern for the Hon-
our of the Eftablilh'd Priefthood,
forefaw that no Artifices were capable
of doing him Service, but fuchas had
a Retroipea that way ;(o he knew that
the Miniftry v/ere no otherways to be
outed from the Power they were pof-
fefs'dof, than by making the Nation
believe they were for bringing m new
Innovations in matters ot Religion, as
p 2 ^^^^*

(44)

well as Policy. Having felt the Pulfe
of the Queen, which he found by his
Confidant and Kinfwoman, to beat
high and be very Sanguine and Hear-
ty, for the Rights of the Clergy and
Her own Prerogative, he iook'd out for
a Perfon who was fearlefs enough to
dehvcr them from the Pulpit upon fo-
lemn Occafions, which he by his Emif-
faries had dealt about from the Prefs
and verbal Difcourfes.

Twill be needlefs to point out who
this Perfon was, or to look into the
Merits of the Caufe he took upon him
to defend. Both the Man and the fud-
dcn Turn of Aifairs which happened
thereupon, are fo well known as to be
in every ones Mouth • We fhall there-
fore without looking into the Particu-
lars of the moft Impolitick Tryal that
enfued thereupon, only take Notice,
that the STAFF who fet the Do£lor
upon Preaching, in Defiance of the
Gentlemen then at Helm, found Means
ip have him called in Queftion for it,
and that by ^yay o'ihnpenchwefjt ; When,
had he been profecuted in a Common
Way, and deliver'd over to the Actor-
my General, without any Pompous
J^jrmality, as was afterwards made
- ' Ufe

( 45 )

XJfe of, the Minlftry could not hava
faii'd of Handing their Ground, and
thefuppos'd Criminal of meeting with
a proper Cenfure from the Ordinary ^
Form of Juftice.

But a Parade was to be made, or
the Populace could never be work'd up
to a Heat of Temper capable of in-
flaming them to a Diflike of their Su-
periors ; Therefore Mr. Dolb^n who was
a needy Man, and made his Court to
Preferment at any Race,was look'd up-
on of a nature that would not fail of
pufhing home the Complaint. To be
as Brief as poffible, thofe in the Ad-
mid ifi: rat ion took this A61 of Indifcre-
tion as done out of Zeal for their Ser-
vice, and accordingly gave into the
Propofalby themfelvesand theirFriends
of carrying Tilings fo high as they
went in the Doftors Tryal ; Whereat
the PURSE who affifted as his Chief
Advocate, fo diftinguifh'd himfelf by
his Strength of Reafon and Force of
ExprefFion, that tho' the Miniftrv ob-
tain'd their Ends in the Condemnation
of the Doctrines, the Preacher came
off with an Eafy Sentence, and the
Queen, who conceived her Prerogative
t'o be llruck at by that Tryal, and was

prefenc

(40

prefent at it, during its Continuance
by the Contrivance of her fhe Favou-
rite, was prevailM upon to give Ear to
the Sufs^ Reprefentations ; Which had
ne'r taken Etfed, had not he prevail'd
with the Friends to the Dodor, among

whom Mr. Br ley^ was the moft

Hearty and made the Motion, that
the Commons would be prefent at
the Tryal as a Houfe, which they could
Bot be, without Ereding Scaffolds in
iVeflmmJhr Hall, by which that was
made a National Concern, that would
otherwife have been a Private,

Nor, was the MITRE as well as the
PURSE, without his (bare inthemanr
agement of the Defence that was then
made on the Part of the Accufed, who,
tho' of Firmnefs enough to abide the
Tryal, was not Mafter of Arguments
fufficient to go through with his De-
fence in it, without that Prelate's and
another ot the fame Orders A (Tifta nee;
Which as it was freely given, in the
Times of the greateft Emergency, will,
it is not doubted be as freely acknow-
ledged on the Part of the Do£i:or, who is
fo ingenious as not to difown the Helps
he receiv'dfrom the Advocates of Re-
ligion, and unlimited Loyalty on that
^ fplema

(47)

folemn Occafion. The fudden Chan-
ges that were the Refult of this
llruggle between the Contenders tor
Indejeaftble Rtght^ and unltmited Of
bedteme^ and the Champions for Ref'
fiance of the Suprennie Power, in fome ne-
cefTary Cafes are fo frefh in every ones
Memory, that it will bean Ad of Su-
perogation to recite them. Be it fufc
cient that the STAFF was thereby
elevated and raifed up to the very Pin-
nacle of the mod: Towring Ambition,
and thofe who contmued in the ftri-
deft Tyes of Friend ibip with him,
and were yet bimd to all his felfifh
Views and Defigns, as near as could be
to the Throne without intercepting the
Beams of Maje.ty whofe Rays were all
to Centre upon him.

The PURSE had the Broad Seal
given him, the Lord 'John Bull was put
into the PoiTefTion of the Office of
S_ry of State, the Mitre was pre-

fcr'd to the Deanery of Ch C in

0 — d ) but the Dr. who had richly de*
ferv'd a better Notice, by many a wea-
rifome Gallop and Trot with his White
Prauncer, and had by his Appearing in
the fcveral Countries he pafs'd tlvough
in his way to Wales^ and had brought

over

( 48 )

over vaft Numbers to vote in tlie E-
le£lions for new Menibers to ferve
in Parliament, was put off with a:
promife of fucceeding to St. Andrews^
when vacated by the then Incumbent)
who had been made a Bifhop, with
Leave to hold it, in Commendam for
5 Years.

The Parliament was fcarce afTem-
bled, and found to be fuch as would
Anfwer the Defires of the STAFF up-
on all Emergencies, but he that held
his Place jointly with 4 other Perfq^s
in Commillion at fiifl:, had the Enfigns
of that Office wholly and foleJy con-
figned over to him. Which being put
in Poffeilion of, Happy was that
Noble Family , that could form
Alliances with his. In his Hands were
all the IlTuesof Power, and Streams of
\VeaIth ; To him was every one under
an mdifpenfible neceflity of making
application that petitioned the Throne,
or ot obcaining any Favour at Court ;
and on him were the Eyes of all fuch
fix'd and placed, that had any Hopes
of meeting with the Rewards of paft
Servicer, or ot being in a Condition of
doing any for the Time ro Come.

Not

( 49 ;
.:, Nor, that he did not arrive at this
Height of Preferment b/ other Mens
Merit, fince the Lord yO//A^lii:;LL's

Difcovery ofGui/c £s Negociations

with Frarjce by way of Portugal, for
Which the AfTaiTm confefs'd, That fwce
he could, not reach his Heart, he attempeoi
that of one he had reafon to think dearefi
to him, hurried him, as it were, to it :
For it was never intended, what hafty
Steps foever he made towards the chief
Minifter's Place, that he fhould have
been fo precipitately advanced to the
Dignity of an E — le and L — d H — gh

T-- r, I'S'l not the Congratulations

made him, in purfuance of the Order

of the H of C— m ns, by

their Speaker^ upon his Recovery from a
Wound, (which, if more fatal to him,
had been lefs to the Nation,) almoffc
pufh'd her late Ma'efty upon making
thar unlucky Experiment.

Great interefl: at Court is generally
productive of great Alliances, which
the SlAFF took care not to ne^-
led for the Prefervation of iiimfelf ( in
Cafe that the Tables fhould be turn'd
once more againft him) and the Ag-
grandizement of his Family. He v;as
too well apprized of the Revolutions

G and

C 50 )

and Changes which in Proceis of 'f inie
frequently fall out in all Adminiftra-
tioiis ; and therefore to guard himfelf
ag^ainI^"^U future Accidents, married
his eldeft Daughter to the prefumptive
Heir of one of the moft ancient and
moft confiderable Earl's in Scotland^
and his youngeft to a Lord, who by
Right of Inheritance, had one of the
beft Eftates, and upon the Deceafe of
his Father, will be one of the firlt
Peers in EfjgUnd : By which two Afts
of Dexterity and Cunning, he branched
out hrs. and had his Geneology Blood
not only mix'd with the Families of the

H — s and 0 /, but through their

rneans joyningStreams with that oiBruce
and Plantannet. For the laft of which-
llluitrious Intermarriages he gratify'd

the Guardian of the young L d

with a Tranflation to a more valuable

Bifli rick, tho' he has not, as it

is faid, to this Day, made good the
Conditions of the Matrimonial Con-
tract; but continues towith-hold 2000 A
of the Lady's Fortune on Account of
Iier Deceafe.

What Groilnds there are for fuch a
Report, muft be left to their Judg-
ment who are more converfant with

kis

< 51 •)

ills Method of makings Payments; tho'
this is moft: certain, that his profufc
way of gaining over Dependents, dif-
a bled him, before he was poiTefs'd of
the 5 TJ F Fj from making every Pay-
ment regular. %jtthe 5 TjI F F ivas in
his Hands f^ow, as the Saying is, and h^
loft no Time in making ufe of it ; For,
as by affiancing his Daughters, he ob-
tain'd incredible Advantages, fo by mar-
ryinghisSon.fome time after to the great-
pft Heirefs in the Kingdom, He almoil
ihengthen'd himfelf to fuch a Degree, as
to make it impollible to fhake him.

How this lalf Match was made up.
Prudence and Caution forbids us to re-
late ', but if fome People fpeak true,
fuch Meafures were taken to bring it
about, as were not altogether of a Piece
with Honour and Juifice. Be that as
it will, none knew better how to var-
nifh it over, and give it a fair Appear-
ance, than he that firil fet it on Foot ;
and however, he fell Ihort of making
his Promife good concerning a certain

Tryal in the H- fe'.of P — rs for a

vaft Eftate between two Coufen Get-
mans, he made good the Opinion which
thofe that knew him intimately well,
ever had of him. But to look back-
G 2 Wacd

( 52 )

ward a little towards the Pcrfons, wliofc
Vindication is chiefly aim'd at in this
little Hiftory, (viz) the Mitre and the
Purfe: Thefirft, v/hofe Dignities in the
Church, tho' held by all to be defer-
ving of much greatenp were confider-
able enough to make him equal to
many that were the Fathers of it, con-
tented himfelf with the Station where-
in he was placed, and would not have
exchanged it for the Epifcopal Chair,
as he did fometime after, at the Ini-
portunities of fuch as were for provi-
ding fit Ferfons to be SuccefTors to the
Apoftles, had it not been for the. Con-
cern he had for the Propagation of the
eftablifh'd Faith, and the Meafures he
fufpedled to be in Agitation amongft
fome of the fame Order in Oppofition
to the Purity of its DoQirines,

His Care for the well Government
of the Church, 'made him only yield
to their Perfuafions of being one of the
Heads of it, under her moft Gracious
Sovereign, who had too great a Know-
ledge of Ills PPy and Learning, from
a long Attendance on her as one of her
Chaplains, not to be earneft with him
for his Acceptance of her Offer. And
the PVRSE's Abilities, which he had

exerted

exerted in every. Station he had yet beea
placed in, had rend red his extraordina-
ry Merits fo confpicuous, in the Eyes of
the Sovereign, chat, without Application
to her from any Recommender, with-
out any previous Suit in his Favour from
the STAFF^ or elfewhere, £he call'd
him to be an Ornament to the higheft
Pofl: , that had left a diftinguifhing Lu-
ftre upon Employments of a lower Na»
ture. She had feen him, Maugreall the
prevailing Intereft of Power and Au-
thority, openly, and in the Face of nu-
merous Oppofers, contending for the
Prerogatives of the Sovereign, and the
Liberties of the Subject. She had heard
him fedate and unterrify'd by the great-
eft and moil auguft Appearance in all
Chriftendom, affert, and ftand by the
Laws of Chriftianity : In a Word, her
Majefty, from the Teftimony of her
Eyes and Ears, that jiad been WitnelTes
of his Zeal and Alacrity in carrying on,
and conducting a Caufe, wherein he was
fure to meet with fo many Difficulties
and Reproaches, found her felf in Juftice
to his Service, to her Self, and Coun-
try, indifpenfibly obliged to make him
Prefide in her Supream Court of Judi-
cature. Where, how he demeap'd him-

felf

( 54)

l^lf from his firft Acceptance of tfae
Seals to his late Surrender of them ; Hi»
irreprochable Condad may defy the
To:igues of the moft outragious Ene-
mies to declare ; This worthy Patriot
having a juft Title to put the fame Que-
flion, as the Prophet Samuel did, at his
ceafmg to be a Judge over Ijrael^ with-
out any Imputation of Prefumption,
(viz.) Behold here I &m^ witnejs agatnji
me before the Lord^ and, before his Anoin^
ied. Whoft Ox have I taken ? Or whofe
Jij} have I taken ? Or whom ha've I de-
frauded? Whom h Ave loppreffed? Or from
Tvhofe Hand have I received any Brt&e to
blind mine Eyes therewith^ and I mil re-
jlore it him ?

• But the Purfe^s Incorruptnefs of pro-
ceeding in the Difcharge of his Office,
will more properly be taken notice of
in another Place. To return therefore
to the ConduiSb of the S TJFF, Ha-
ving form'd Alliances for the Support
of his own Family, his chief Concern
was to break and disjoint thofe of others.
But firft, before he would Article under
Hand with the Enemy for a feparate
Peace, in Breach of the Puhlick Faith,
and in Violation of his Royal Miii refs's
Honour, he bethought himfelf of Ways

and

( 55 )

and Means to render his Predeceflor
odious to the People. Accordingly, his
Creatures were fet at work to declaim
in general Terms againft the Frauds
and Abufes committed in the feveral
Offices under him, as the Cuftoms, Ex-
cife, Victualling, drc, by which means
he would have it in his Pov/er, not on-
ly to reftedl upon the late Treafurer in
the Choice of fuch CommilTioners, and
their (officers; but to make Vacancies
with the better Graces, and to fill therii
up with his own Dependents.

The Plot took Effed in the beft man-
ner he could have defir'd it ; and a Com-
mittee having difcover'd feveral Mif-
managements and Mifappiications of
Publick Money, pav'd the Way for a
New Commiflion of takifig and fluting
the Publick Accounts^ 8^c. which had
been laid afide for fome Years, becaufe
thought of great Expence to the Nation
to a very little Purpofe. But the Peo-
ple were to be cajol'd and drawn into
high Conceptions of the New STJFPs
integrity, by their calling an Odium
upon the Old ; and the greateit Part of
.35 Millions was to be voted unaccounted
for, that the Qaenmonious CommifTi-
^oners of Accounts might have where-
with

( 50
with to ftill their Complaints againft
the prefent Management.

Reprefentations and Reports werfe
drawn up very thick in purfuance of
this Scheme ; and not only the late
Treafurer was faid to have plunder'd
the Nation, but the General was calPd
in Queftion, and charg'd with deduc-
ing two and a hdXi per Cent, from the
Foreign Troops in the Britifh Service,
and feveral other mean and ungener-
ous Practices. But their not bringing
either to Juftice, tho' the Houfe had
order'd the lajl to have an Information
brought againft him, the Court of £je-
chec^uer againll the Attorney General,
gave People, ( howfoever willing to be-
lieve them Criminal,) reafon to fufpeft
they had but {lender Proof to make
good his Allegations.

In the mean time, the Queen having
declared from the Throne, that the Ne*
gociations of Peace were begun between
her Majefty's Plenipotentiaries,and thofe
from the States General on the one Part,
and Perfons of the fame Charader from
France and Spain, on the other, the
Emperor continuing to perfift m his
Refufal to enter into no Treaty without
a previous Declaration of the Surrender

( 57 ; 1

X)f the Spamfj Dominions in Europe and i

the H^efl Indies to the Houfe of AuftriA : j

The staff's next ProjeQ: was, by j

his EmifTaries, to infinuate the great -^

Advantages of the enfuing Determina- \

tion of the War, and the Profits, by way j
of Commerce, that would arife to the

Britijh Nation by \t, which, with Per- ;

fons ready prepared to give Ear to it, ^
upon many valuable Conliderattons, it

was not difficult to accomplifh. .

For it was very natural for Gentle. \
men that had been long harafs'd in

their Eliates by a Confuming Land VVar^ \

to entertain the" Profpect of an approach- \
ing Peace with Tokens of the grcatcft

Contentment and Satisfaclion ; efpeci- \

ally when they had it from the Oueen's \

own Mouth, that it fhouid be very 1

advantageous to our Friends and Allies ; ;

which, aftdr many ample Declarations >* ■

from the Throne that tl^nr jiiterefts j

fhouid be infeparable from her own, '
it could nxDt enter into their Thoughts

that her Majefiy cou'id be induced to '
recede from. But the Artifices of the

Courtiers are fuch as to impofe upon the i
Sovereign, and this good, this cre-
dulous Princefs, was work'd up by
^-TAFF^ t^ Sentiments quite con-

trary to what fhe had before made Prc-
feirion of, and was perfuaded while
the Treaty was in Agitation, to abandon -
her Allies, and give Orders to her New
General, the Duke of Ormond, to with-
draw the Forces under his Command
from the Confederate Troops, which
ended in a Peace exclufive of the Em-
peror and Empire, for the Reftitution
of whofe Legal Rights, the War was
at firft begun.

The Dutch indeed, after they had
held firm to their Refolutions of abiding
by their Engagements to the Common
Caufe ; after they had receiv'd the News
of feveral Thoufands of their Natural
born Sobje8:s facrificed by that fatal
reparation, at the Battle of D^;?/?/;^, and
been hufF'd into cooler Thoughts by

the E. of S d, whofe Memorials

were the Pipes thro' which- the STAFF
convcy'd his bitter Decoctions, (which
their Loiles obliged them to fwallow,')
entred into the fame Agreement with
France ; but were more cautious of
coming to Terms with S^^m^ from the
manifelt Advantages they had llipula-
ted for themfelves with Great-Brnai/j,
whofe Merchants, without any Regard
to the very Letter of the Treaty, they

(59)

Iiad opprefs'd with frefli and Hnwar-
rantable Impoih.

How the PVRSE Exerted himfelf
during the foremenjion'd Negociations,
which were kept fecret from him, in
every other Refpeft, than in being
Communicated to the Cabinet and the
Privy Council, will moft fully be dif-
play'd in the Execution of his Office as
C r, where he was employed af-
ter a much better manner than the
6' TJ F F, whom Education, had yet
made him have a ftri£t Regard for,
at the fame Time as he knew him
turning Deferter from the Principles
which he pretended to be attach'd to
from his tirli: flmging off the Principles
imbibed by it. This Noble Lord,
howfoever traduced , by a Wretch,
whom the greateft Infamy cannot keep
from bemg an AfTociate to the greateft
of Trtckfters and Betrayers^ was of too
difcerning a Genius not to fee, that
the Secrecy the ST A b F took in his
Meffages and little Envoyjhtfs , which
were always imported to, and beftow'd
on his Favourites and Dependents, fuch

as A — r M re Efq; Mv.Thomas

H — Y y^ &c, without any Previ-
ous Coxnmunication of the Purport of
" H 2 them

(6o )

them to him, or the Lordjoh/t Bully
who were the chief Perlbns at the
Helm, next to him that was fupreme,
and therefore in Reafoning the Cafe
with him, took the Opportunity of tel-
ling him, '' That their mutual Confi-
*' dence in one another ought to be the
" Refult of embarking together in the
" fame Meafures, and of being a6lu-
^' ated by the fame Fublick Spirit for
*' the Advancement of the Fublick
•' Good." To rvhich they added, *' That
* to remove all Grounds of Jealoufies
** between them which had been un-
** happily occafion'd by his daring Ge-
^' nius, and the mafterly Enterprizes
** he was always ready to go upon of
" his own Head, it would be very
<• friendly in him to let them come in
•' for their Turn of converfing with
'< State Affairs, f>nce other wife, they
4- might be, in the Stations of States-
^' men, reputed grangers to PoUticks."
Such an unexpected Requeft, put the
STAFF to a ftand ; however, fmce
his Familiarity with Lord John Bull^
and the many Bottles they had drank
together without any Symptons of Dif-
content, it was readily agreed, that he
ihould have proper Credentials to dif-

courfe

(6i)

courfe with the Miniftiy, and nnfavel
the Defign of the French King. But
Lord ! how did this Ingenious and
Quickfighted Nobleman ftand amazed,
and overcharg'd with Speculations,
when he got iato the Depth of hisln-
vefbigations. Here was fuch a Scheme
made known, foon after its firft Forma-
tion in the Embrio, of the Intelle^:, and
fuch an Advantage purpofeiy receded
from, There was a Contraft to elude
^his Article of Commerce, Peace^ and
Here was fuch a Loophole made by
confent to creep through, notwith-
ftanding the moll Sacred , the moll
Obliging, and Solemn Oaths bound our
Enemy to the Contrary. Whom could
the Difturber of the Publick Peace ob-
tain thefe Conceffions from, than him,
that under Pretence of Promoting it,
gave into Meafures repugnant to its
lading Eitablilhment ? Or whom did
he make Difcovery of, for a SAPPER
of the Foundations of his own Nation-
al Conftitution, and a Betrayer of the
Honour, Wealth, and Security of hi?
Country, than him, that had taken
upon him , exclufive of much better
and more difmterefted Underflandings,
to be their Support and Defence?

liencQ

(62)

Hence it was that the Lord JOHN
BVLL and the PVRSE, who had
fome Time before began to ftagger in
their Opinion of the STAFF, abated
of their Familiarity, and A£led with
ibmething of a Referve towards that
great Officer : For notwithftanding
they had in a great Meafure concur'd
with his Endeavours to bring about a
Peace^ they were for obtaining it a more
lioble Way, than by fetting the Ho-
nour and Intereft of their Country to
Publick Sale, as was clearly feen to be
done in this Conjuncture.

For the STAFF had by his Agent
Atty Brogue, who had crofs'd the Wa-
ter feveral Times before the Articles
were agreed on that were to be Preli-
niinary to the Peace, fo given up the
Trade of his Country to France, that
the Terms upon which the future good
Underftanding between the two Na-
tions were founded, feem'd rather to
be given to Us by our Enemies, as if
they had Conquered Us, and not We
them. But what will not a round Sum
in hand do with a Perfon whofe infa-
tiate Defire of enriching himfelf and his
Pofterity, makes all Things Vendible ?
What an Afcendant has not a Penfion of

Two

II

(6l )

Two Thoufand Loui^ d^ Ors, per Anrk, ^c.
upon a Man whofe Penury of Soul con-
tinues to crave, notwithftanding the exi
gencies of his Circumftances are more
than fufficiently provided for by a vaft
Eftate ?

Yet, notwithftanding thefe manifefl
A6:s of Treachery which the S TA FF
had been clandeftinly guilty of, they
chofe rather, in Conlideration of their
paft Intimacy, to expoftulate with him,
and draw him off from the Precipice he
was leading the Nation to, than to
break with him ; in hopes to recover
him from the dangerous Steps he had
taken, and to make him go over his
Ground again with more Honefty and
Caution. But after what a manner
did that Minifter receive their kind
and wholefom Advice ! He look'd up-
on them with an Eye of Contempt,
told them, *' They were unequal to
'* the I ask they had taken upon
" them ; and not fit to teach him
" who was able to be a Counjellor to
** Counjellor 5, He upbraided them with
" Ingratitude, and made them to know,
'* that as he had brought them into
*» the good Graces of the Queen, fo he
*» would caufe the Rays of Royal Fa-

« vour

( ^4 )
** vour to (hine no mors upon tHenl, if
*' they ofFer'd to queftion the Sagacity
*' of his Condu£l, or interfere, by any'
*' Oppofition, with the Meafures he
" had taken.

Hereupon they faw it was to no pur-
pofe to hold out their Hands to retrieve
him, and he was fo deeply funk in the
Abyfs of Treachery and Pride, as to be
inextricably loft to all Senfe of Con-
viQion : Therefore, tho' they could not
prevent the Peace from being figned^
they did all that lay in their Power,
that fuch Conditions of it, (and thofe
were very few) that were for the Ad-
vantage of their Country, fhould take
Effect. The entire Demolition of £?«;?-
kirky was not the leaft of thofe that em-
ploy'd their Regard ; and they often
remonftrated in Council againft the De-
lays and Obftacles that were made, and
raifed on that Head. But the STAFF
had, at that time, got PolTefTion of the
Queen's Ear fo much, that her Majefty
would hear nothing in Prejudice of his
Councils; which were turnM another
way, and dire£led to lefs publick Views,
than Advantages that were National.

All this while, inftead of rafing the
Fortifications of that Town, and of

filling

( ^5 )

filling up the Harbour, the Frtfjch, as
it were in Concert with the Bri^/Jfj
Court, apply'd themfelves to the Build-
ing and Digging others in a Place adja-
cent ; That when Dunkirk ihould, in
Purfuance of the Treaty, be entirely
demoliih'd, only the Name fliould be
loft, and the Strength of the Town re-
Vive in the Works that were erefting at
Mardyke. Nor could the Two Patriots
above mention'd, with feveral of their
Friends, hold themfelves any longer en-
gaged not to break out into open Hofti-
lities with the STJFFy on that and
other Head Si

For they not only faw that they
fhould partake in the Shame of his
treacherous Counfels, fhould they any
longer hold their Tongues from in-
veighing againft the ruinous Coafe-
quences of them ; but were too well
appriz'd of the Temper of the Man,
that he would extricate himfelf out of
any Difficulty which fhould encompafs
him, at the Expence of his molt intimate
and deareft Acquaintance. Nor was he
backward in providing againft their
Endeavours, by ftrengthening himfelf
with new Partizans, and by making
Overtures even to feveral of the Old

I Mi-

,*■

•V

{66)
^/liniitry, in particular to the General,
whofe Difgrace and Banilhment he had
been the fole Occafion of. But whe-
ther he or they did not dare to truft
a Man, who was incapable of being
permanent in any one good Ad any
longer,than he engrofsM the Advantage
of it; or, whether he had incur'd their
Hatred to fuch a Degree, as to make
them loath having any thing to do with
him : Not one clofed in with His Pro-
pofals. Some needy Whigs indeed,
whofe Godlinefs was Gain, and thofe
inconfiderable for their Number, were
made Profelites, and drawn over to his
Purpofes at the Expence of the Publick
Treafure; but the Generality flood their
Ground to a Miracle.

What the STAFF had moft at Heart,
was to prevent the MITRE, who by
his means had accepted of a Bifhoprick,
from falling in with the Lord JOHN
BVLL, and the PVRSE; He there-
fore was very afliduous with that Pre-
late for his Intereft, and like the Devil
in the Gofpel, fee before him all worldly
Advantages, to fall down and rvorjhip him^
But his Reply was of the fame Nature,
as that of, get thee behind me Satan,
That truly Primitive and Apoftolick

Fa.

( ^7 ) , ^

Father of the Church, would not bar-
ter his Confcience for an Augmentation
of Revenues,in exchange of his Honour,
and the Duty he owM his Queen and
Country ; but fairly told him, He muft
aB after another mikiner, tf he rvouUhave
him to come into his Meafures : Wlncn
it beina impoffible for that Mimfter to
do, the STAFF gave him alfo over
for loft, to all Intents and Purpoles.

Affairs running thus a crofs at home,
tho^ he ftill retain'd his Miftrefss ta^
vour 1 whom nothing but Demonftra-
tion could wean from the implicit be-
lief (he had of his Fidelity! the STJtl^
bethousht himfelf of fome Negociations
abroad; to make his Antagonifts turn
theii;Eyes that way, and be lels cuii^
ous in their Enquiries after his evil Fra-
aices nearer at hand. In order to this,
what did he, or fomebody for him, but
fo ftir up the Coals of Diffention in a
neighbouring Kingdom, fo exafperate
one Houfe of Parliament there againlt
the other, and inflame the Populace
aeainft their Rulers, that the greateft
and beft Man, that ever held the Great
Seal there, had like to have been made
a Sacrifice for his intrepid Probity, and
fix'd Obfervance of the Laws of God,

I 2 ana

( 68 )

and his Country. And if a certain
Great Man did not receive Orders there,
as if from the Queen, for him to ad
otherwife than her Majefty intended.
Fame, that is very often a Lyar, is
guilty of a notorious lintruth.

What Effeds this Piece of Manage-
ment m Ireland had upon the whole
Frame of the Conftitution there, and
how long the Laws of the Land
lay dormant, while Juftice, that is
always painted with her Eyes fhut,
might be emphatically faid to be afleep ;
the Dift rations in Dublin, and elfe-
where, that were but of Yefterday,
will fufficiently evince. In the City,
their ancient Government feem'd to be
inverted, and the proper Electors were
not at Liberty to chufe their own pro-
per Qjlicers. In the Country, People
wtXQ frighted into Apprehenfions of the
Lofs 01 thoie valuahie Liberties that
were purchased by their Anceftors, and
preferv'd and fecur'd to them by the
late happy Revolution. In the Senate,
Bickerings arofe, inftead of Loyal Con-
tentions who fhould be the greateft Pro-
moters of the Proteftant Intereit, or
the heartiell AITertors of true Chriltian
Liberty: la a Word, Sighs and Appre-

henfions

( ^9 )

henfions were the Produce of every Part
of the Country not inhabited by Bou-
tefeus and Incendiaries, and Men of all
Stations and Callings, that had at
Heart the Confervation of the publick
Peace, or were follicitous for the publick
Wellfare, feem'd, as if loft to all Hopes-
under the melancholy Profpea of even
worfe Attempts to be made on their
Rights and Immunities. Nor did the
Subjeds fuffer exclufive of the State :
The Crown too was under aNeceflity
of coming in for its Share in the com-
mon Lofsj for the Lower Houfe of
Parliament were fo irritated, by the
Proceedings offome of the Upper, who,
no doubt, had Inllruaions from the
6] TA FFy to go on with their Altera-
tions ; that the neceifary Funds, for
their mutual Security, were not rais'd,
and the Parliament was oblig'd to be
Prorogued, before thoU-, who, had an
Army at hand for their Defence in Cafe
of an Infurredion, or Lwafion, had
Money to pay them their .Subfiliance.

The STAFF had likewife other
Cards to play at a greater Diitance,
where he ftood in need of all his artful
Difguifes, to keep himfcif from a Dif-
covery. The 6chijm Bill was in Agi-

tation

( 70 )
tation at Wejtminpr, purpofely brought
in by the Intervention of the Mttre and
VhtL who forefaw that only to be
expedient to make that State Pro-
teus fbew himfelf in his true Colours,
and ftand a confirm'd Prodigy of Wick-
ednefs, and Diflimulation; he was now
brought to this Dilema, either to )oyn
in the Meafures that were taken to pror.
mote the Paffage of this falutary this
wholefome Bill into an Aft, or to de-
dare againft it. His Vmdicator, m his
Hiftory of the IVhite-Sta/, may fay,
he did neither, and remaind m a per-
fea State of Neutrality ; but there are
thofe among the Diffenters, can teftify;
That he not only encourag d his Kinl-
mcn and Dependents in both Houfes
To Vote againft it, tho' his own Son
had Order! to be Tooth and Nail for
it to keep his underhand Dealings from
bdng difcern-d ; nay, there are fome
that can make it apparent as the Noon
Day. that he had the View of, and
amended the Reafons that were drawn
up, and Printed, againft its obtaining
thi Sanaion of Authority : All which
Reafons, with others that were num-
berlefs, fufficiently refuted and anf«rer d
themfelves, according to the M»tgs

(70

Delicacy and Energy of Exprefflon,
who convinc'd the Houfe, which they
were laft lodg'd in, of the Weaknefs
of them. Take his own Words, If
Schifm^ faid he, be About indifferent
Things, why fhould Children be involved
in thefe Differences before they know what
they are f If about Matters of the laft
Confequence, the DifTenters have gone
off (torn the fir ft and chief Pretence^ upon
which a Tolleration was granted them ? If
a Schifm was unavoidable^ becaufe of the
Ignorance and Diftracfions of Forty One^
why (hould the Iniquity of thofe Times
he eftabltjb^d by a Law, or that Law be
made perpetual and unalterable ? If
Schifm was tollerated, on Account of
its Mortality, why jhouU it be allowed
the Friviledges of Monarchy^ and go by
Inheritance, and Succeflion ?

But the *S^tf/ was like the deaf Ad-'
der, that hears not the Voice of the
Charmer., charm he never jo wifely ;
and made ufe of what was intended
to be, (and muft neceffarily have that
Confequence,) for the Interefl: of the
Proteftant Succeflion, as he gave out
by his Emiflaries at Home, and his

K n, at a certain Court, that the

Pretender was at the Bottom of the

Scheme,

Scheme. &y thefe means making it his Bufi-
nefs to create Jealoufies and Mifunderftahd-
ings between the Throne, and thofe that
were to Succeed to it^ at the fame Time as he
pretended to Diflwade that Very Prince who
is now next to it, to come over, and learn
how to Defend the Prerogatives of it, and to
Adorn it.

When, as if the Death of Schifm was to be
the Deftrudtion of its chiefeft Abettor and
Promoter, the Staf had the Mortification to
fee all his Ingratitude and bafe Dcfigns
laid open before Injured Majefty, (who
had the fatisfadion, to fpurn him from
htv Prefence before fhe was fnatch'd hence
from the Eyes and Hearts of her Loving Sub-
jects, where her precious Memory will ever be
entomb'd) and to behold the M TT RE and
TVRSE^ even after their dear Miftrefs*s De-
ceafe, as much in Pofleffion of good Mens E-
flecm, as the STJFF is of their Hatred and
Contempt : Further Reafons for which, are
ample enough to fwell another Volume, had
the Writer of this, either Leifure or Paffions
enough to purfue him, yet further, which
perhaps he may do, when his Time will per-
mit him.

FINIS.