SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
533
all other interests as nothing in competition with my allegiance.
If your majesty shall vouchsafe to look so far, and so low, as in the ensuing treatise you will find it, Sir, to be partly a deliberative (uscourse about the means of regulating the press ; (the matter being at this instant under publique de- iMtte) and in part, an extract of certain treason- ous and seditious passages and positions which may serve to evince the necessity of that regu- lation. The latter of which, I do most humbly offer to your royal consideration, not presuming in any sort, to concern your majesty in the former.
In this extract, is presented to your majesty's 'view; first, that spirit of hypocrisie, scandal, malice, errour, ana illusion, that actuated the late rebellion. Secondly. A manifestation of the same spirit reigning still, and working, not only by the same means, but in very many of the same persons, and to the same ends; that is, there is a combination and design against your sacred life, and dignity, which is carryed on by the same arguments, pretences, wayes, and in- struments, that ruin'd your royal and blessed father. All which I think myself bound, not only in generals, to declare, but, more particu- larly, to trace, and to discover to your majesty, as a duty which I owe both to God and to my sovereign.
The first part of the conspirator's work, is to disafiiect the people toward your miijesties person and government; and their next business is to encourage and cany on those seditious inclina- tions into action.
Touching the former; scarce any one regicide or traytor has been brought to justice, since your majesties blessed return, whom either the pul- pit hath not canonized for a saint, or the press recommended for a patriot, and martyr, (beside the arraignment of tlie bench, for the very form- alityes of their tryals) what is the intent or what may be the effect of suggesting to the people that there is no justice to be found, either in your cause or in your courts; (both of which are struck at in the same blow) is submitted humbly to your royal wisdom. Nor is the faction less industrious to draw an odium upon your majes- ties person, and to perplex, seduce, and exaspe- rate, the multitude, in matters of religion, and concerning the government of the church.
There have been printed, and reprinted, since your majesties happy restauration, not so few as ahundred schismatical pamphletsagainst bishops, ceremonies, and common-prayer: in many of which, your majesty is directly, and in all of them implicitly, charg'd with an inclination to popery. The instruments that menage this part of the plot, are gected ministers, booksellers, and printers; and, it is believed, by men of judgment, and experience, in the trade of the press, that since the late Act for Uniformity, there have been printed near thirty thousand copies of Farewell Sermons (as they call them) in defiance of the law. All which, as they are now drawn together into one binding, (to the number of
betwixt thirty and forty) and represented with figures, do certainly maike up one of the most audacious, «nd dangerous libels, that hath been made publique under any government ; and they are now printing it in Dutch too, for the greater honour of the scandal. By these arts and prac- tices, the faction works upon the passions and humours of the common people; and, when they shall have put mischief into their hearts, their next business is to put swords in their hands, and to engage them in a direct rebellion : which intent of uieirs, together with the means whereby th^ hope to execute it, I shall humbly lay before your majesty in a few words.
That they propose and labour another change appears, first, irom the recourse they have m almost all their schismatical papers to the obli- gation of the covenant ; which is no other, than to conjure the people under the peyn of perjury, to treat your majesty as the covenanters did your father ; and (in a flat contradiction to the blessed apostle) to pronounce, that he that [obeyesl shall receive to himself damnation. A second proof of their designe may be drawn from their still pleading the continuance of the long parlia- ment; and the sovereignty of the people; which is but in plain terms to disclayme your authority- royal, and to declayre to the world, that they want nothing but anotheropportunitv for another rebellion. What may be the event of these liber- tves, belongs not to me to divine ; but that such libertyes axe taken, I do, with great reverence, presume to enform your majesty : and, further, that the visible boldness and malice of the fac- tion, seems not to be the only danger ; diverse of very instruments, who are entrusted with the care of the press, being both privy and tacitly consenting to the corruptions of it ; by virtue of which connivence, many hundred thousands of seditious papers, since vour majestyes return, have passed unpunished. And yet m this pro- digious licence and security of libelling your sacred majesty, and the government, let but any paper be printed that touches upon the private benefit of some concerned officer; the author of that paper is sure to be retriv'd, and handled with sufficient severity.
Finally; to present your majesty with some common observations : it is noted, first, as a very rare thing, for any presbyterian pamphlet to be seiz'd, and Oppressed, unless by order from above. Secondly, it is observed of those offend- ers that are discovered, that generallv the rich have the fortune to come off, and the poor to suffer; and, thirdly, that scarce one of five, though under custody, is ever brought to either of your majesties principal secretaryes of state.
I have now discharg'd my soul both to God, and to your majesty; in what I take to be as honest and a necessary office; and I have done it with this choice before me, either to suffer the worst that malice or calumny can cast upon me, or to forfeit my duty. I should not speak this but upon experience, nor dare to mention it upon this occasion, but that I think it highly imports your majesty to know how dangerous a
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