Page images
PDF
EPUB

the primitive christians, for all their heroick loyalty, would not do, and which no man ought to do, either for interest or revenge. For my part, I think true religion so far above all worldly concerns, and the preservation of it, so principal an advantage of government, that the prince, who will certainly suppress that, must be more intolerable than he that would take away my liberty, estate, or my life; and it must be a damnable sin in me to assist him in it, or put him into a capacity to do it. No oath or allegiance can bind me to this; it may oblige me to suffer, but not to act for such a design: wherefore, for shame, let his Irish and English popish subjects alone carry on this impious design, who can only hope for advantage by his restoration, and who are only bound in conscience to help him; neuter we must stand at least, and that will suffice to shew how contemptible a party that is, which must be set up on the nation's ruin, and how impossible it is for him to cut down the protestant religion in England, without borrowing a handle from the tree he would fell. Take warning by what is past, and what must be the inevitable consequence of your deserting this king, or assisting the late prince, even the ruin of this most famous church of England, and the endangering the whole estate of protestantism through all Europe: in vain will you complain of this consequence, when it is too late to remedy it; your guilt, shame, and sorrow will then only remain, for having had a hand in so deplorable a mischief; for my part. I have delivered my own soul, and given you fair warning; God of his infinite mercy open your eyes in time, and grant you a right judgment in this and in all things.

THE TRUE AND GENUINE
EXPLANATION

OF ONE

KING JAMES'S DECLARATION.

PRINTED IN THE YEAR 1693.
Quarto, containing Four Pages.

J. R.

WHEREAS by misrepresentation

(Of which ourself was the occasion)
We lost our royal reputation;
And much against our expectation,
Laid the most tragical foundation
Of vacant throne and abdication.
After mature deliberation,
We now resolve to sham the nation
Into another restoration:

Promising in our wonted fashion,
Without the least equivocation,

[blocks in formation]

J. R.

WH

HEN we reflect what desolation Our absence causes to the nation We could not hold ourself exempted From any thing to be attempted; Whereby our subjects, well beguil'd, May to our yoke be reconcil'd.

Be all assur'd both whig and tory, If for past faults you can be sorry, You ne'er shall know what we'll do for you. For 'tis our noble resolution

To do more for your constitution,

Than e'er we'll put in execution.
Though some before us made a pother,
England had never such another,
No, not our own renown'd dear brother.
We have it set before our eyes,
That our main interest wholly lies
In managing with such disguise,
As leaves no room for jealousies.
And, to encourage foes and friends,

With hearts and hands, to serve our ends,
We hereby publish and declare,
(And this we do, because we dare)
That, to evince we are not sullen,
We'll bury all past faults in woollen :
By which you may perceive we draw
Our wise resolves from statute-law.
And therefore by this declaration
We promise pardon to the nation,
Excepting only whom we may please,
Whether they be on land or seas.

And further, bloodshed to prevent,
We here declare our self content
To heap as large reward on all,
That help to bring us to Whitehall,
As ever did our brother dear,

VOL. X.

At his return, on Cavalier ;

Or we, to our immortal glory,
Conferr'd on non-resisting Tory.

Then be assur'd, the first fair weather,
We'll call a parliament together,

(Chuse right or wrong, no matter whether)
Where with united inclination

We'll bring the interest of the nation
Under our own adjudication:

With whose concurrence, we'll redress
What we ourself think grievances.
All shall be firm as words can make it :
And, if we promise, what can shake it?

As for your church, we'll still defend it;
Or, if you please, the pope shall mend it,
Your chapels, colleges, and schools,
Shall be supply'd with your own tools :
But, if we live another summer,
We'll then relieve'em from St. Omer.
Next for a liberty of conscience,
With which we bit the nation long since;
We'll settle it as firm and steady,
As that perhaps you have already.
We'll never violate the test,

"Till 'tis our royal interest;
Or till we think it so at least,
But there we must consult the priest.
And as for the dispensing power,
(Of princes crowns, the sweetest flower)
That parliament shall so explain it,
As we in peace may still maintain it.
If other acts shall be presented,
We'll pass them all, and be contented:
Whatever laws receiv'd their fashion
Under the present usurpation,
Shall have our gracious confirmation,
Provided still we see occasion.

Our brother's Irish settling act
(Which we, 'tis true, repeal'd in fact)
We'll be contented to restore,
If you'll provide for Teague before:
For you yourselves shall have the glory
To re-establish wand'ring Tory.

But now you have so fair a bidder,

"Tis more than time you should consider,
What funds are proper to supply us

For that, and what your hearths save by us.
Therefore consult your Polyhymne,
To find another rhyme to chimney;
Or, if I bleed, the devil's in me.

M

}

And, lest a project, in its prime,
Should be destroy'd for want of time,
We'll soon refer the whole amount
To your commissioners of account.
Thus having tortur'd our invention,
To frame a draught of our intention,
By the advice of Hunton,
Wise Ely, Fck, and Tom De
And of all ranks some fifty-one :
Who have adjusted for our coming,
All gimcracks fit for such a mumming:
And 'tis their business to persuade you,
We come to succour, not invade you.

But after this we think it nonsense ;
Besides it is against our conscience,
To trouble you with a relation
Of tyranny and violation,

Or burdens that oppress the nation.
Since you can make the best construction,
Of what may turn to your destruction.
But since our enemies wou'd fright you,
Telling our debt to France is mighty;
As positively we assure you,
As if we swore before a jury;
That he expects no compensation,
But what he gains in reputation
For helping in our restoration.

And all must own, that know his story,
How far his interest stoops to glory :
Whose generosity is such,

We doubt not he'll out-do the Dutch.

We only add, that we are come

By trumpet's sound, and beat of drum,
For our just title's vindication,

And liberty's corroboration.

So may we ever find success,

As we design you nothing less,

Than what you owe to old QUEEN BESS.

[merged small][ocr errors]

THE

CHAPLAIN'S PETITION

TO THE

Honourable House for Redress of Grievances.

BY ONE OF THE CAMP CHAPLAINS.

London: Printed for the use of the Petitioners; and sold by Thomas Ranew, in Fleet-street, near Temple Bar. 1693. Quarto, containing four Pages.

4.

SINCE the ladies 'gainst men

Have to paper put pen,

[blocks in formation]

For as to the land all,

It will be a scandal

To see sons of Levi go thread-bare;

Even so to be sure,

If the pastor is poor,

His flock will ne'er greet him with head bare.

6.

Next, when we've said grace,
Let's at table have place,

And not sculk among the waiters,
Or come in with the fruit

To give thanks, and sneak out,
To dine upon half empty platters.

7.

But besides store of dishes
(One part of our wishes)

To fortify maw sacerdotal,
Eleemosynary funk,

And leave to be drunk,

We humbly desire you to vote all.

8.

Item, pray make us able
To command steed in stable,

« PreviousContinue »