the greatest integrity, for judges in all the courts; they who punish others had need be very unblameable themselves; and here it ought to be well considered, whether of all persons, judges should not hold by the freest tenure, and enjoy their places quamdiu se bene ges serent, at least, and never be discountenanced or displaced, but upon good proof of crimes or offences, which render them unworthy that trust and dignity, and their punishment for which will rejoice your subjects: They, of all men, ought to be placed above the temptations of hopes or fears, as much as is possible; then judgment will run down like a stream, and righteousness like mighty waters. And where justice is to flow immediately from your majesty, as towards all officers and do hold may be restored to that of your most renowned predecessors; this will indeed advance your honour and esteem both at home and abroad. I who have lived to see the great hall of the king's house, and his cellars, buttery, and pantry, full of strangers at dinner, and between meals, have been heartily ashamed to see the times, when a dinner, or a cup of wine, is hardly to be had for the best guests; nor so much as food for his council, and other great persons that attend in progress, and when the court is in the country. When in parliament your majesty had a full and ample recompence given you for purveyance, and which will more than doubly supply the want thereof, it was little expected things would come to this pass: but though there was then no appropriating of the hereditary excise grant-mestics, that hold by no tenure but your royal ed in recompence, their intention that it should pleasure, care would be taken of every step be so applied did sufficiently appear, and hath leading thereunto. Pick-thank informers and sybeen generally expected. II. The plentiful cophants, are the worst instruments than can get provision for your houshold, having set your into princes courts; but if they do, they are not majesty and family at ease, the second thing to be admitted to the king's ear; nevertheless, if to be cared for, is the security of your ma- intruders happen, let your majesty be so upon jesty and government, by a well established your guard, that no man be undermined, provision for your new guards, till the unani-borne down, or ruined by a whisper; It is mous love of your people, which I will not but justice for your majesty to hear a servant despair to see, may make your majesty judge you have esteemed, or perhaps rewarded as it a superfluous charge, and the old guards your faithful, before you condemn or grieve him, majesty's ancestors were safe in, with the uni- or to make way, it may be, for a worse preted affection of all your subjects (which you judice yourself, and undo him and his family; will deserve as well as any that ever swayed such errors, many times, cost princes dear; the sceptre of this kingdom) sufficient. I11. and your resolution being known, to hear be To uphold your sovereignty of the seas, and fore you judge, you will be delivered from taleto procure your majesty's being feared and bearers and mean spirits, that have not the redoubted abroad, and your subjects account-courage or honesty to avow the accusations ing themselves safe at home; and in their they make; and when just complaints are brought trade and commerce to all parts of the world, before you, by honest and owned informations, whither they should carry your name and your maj. may be judge yourself; whereas otherfame, nothing will contribute more than a wise your maj. is but made the executioner of powerful fleet, which the circumstances of af- vile men's malice, villainy, or ambition, and fairs, and the change thereof in that point your best, and most useful and faithful servants all the world over require, should much exceed may be whispered from you, and your majesty those of your predecessors, though they ever left in the hands of those, who, for ends huclaimed the dominion of the seas; and that man frailty and designing, ambitious men are the best use may be made thereof, and with best subject to, will not spare to ruin or betray husbandry and most certainty, that your store your maj. for advantage, the same secret way houses, yards, and wharfs, may be timely reple they destroyed their fellow subjects unseen. nished with all war-like provisions and neces- Whereas, those who intend your maj. real saries whatsoever, for the speedy setting out of service, will openly and like men of honour fleets to sea, and your ships kept always in (who fear the frown of no man) charge the good repair for that end; without which such guilty for justice sake. Another main branch surprizes may happen as we have formerly felt, of justice is (that you may be king of all your and occasions for service never again to be re-subjects hearts) to find out ways to unite covered, may be lost, both being equally dishonourable and mischievous to your majesty and kingdoms. IV. The next thing to assure the obedience of your subjects, and to advance your majesty's honour and esteem among all, is to provide that the course of justice may run uninterrupted; this being the chief end that the chief magistrates, or kings, are advanced above their brethren, and have a divine stamp set upon their authority, as a bond of awe and obedience. In order hereunto, let your majesty's principal care be to chuse freely the most able and honest men, and of your people, and for that happy end, to avoid countenancing divided and dividing addresses, and invasions upon the liberties and franchise of your people, granted by your royal predecessors, or yourself; especially when the train and design of them is visible,or hath its rise from your own court, or tend to foment heats and discontents, and raise jealousies. The great lord Bacon, viscount St. Alban's, who was not only a wise statesman, but lord Chancellor of England, adviseth the king to be of no faction or party, but to make use of and be above all, if any be in his kingdom, or they will much prejudice his authority and business. If any be better supplied of meritorious persons, or great man, or others be suspected, on good their issue, who being entailed to the crown grounds, guilty of dangerous practice or crime, by former favours to them or their ancestors let the authority of the law, and not the cry for just merit, must be accounted better and of the people, (whether by art or inclination stronger supports to your majesty, than those drawn to it) bear them down, who bawl ho- whose ambition or covetousness makes them sanna and crucify, with equal zeal even against croud the court; yet never to entail your fatheir Saviour: better it were that ten malefac-vours to any will beget diligence, and raise extors escape, than one innocent person should pectation in your followers and dependents. suffer by practice, injustice, or violence. II beseech your majesty to consider, what great should rejoice to see your people unanimously kind to your majesty, but for any to pretend it in diminution of better subjects than themselves, and in ways provoking, offensive and reproachful, tending to the disquiet of your majesty, and disturbance of the peace of the kingdom, all good and wise men from their very souls abhor, as time will shew, when this land-flood of contention and humour, if not jesuitical practice, hath spent itself, which it will soon do, if not dangerously kept up and countenanced; in which case, as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, so, if my fears upon intrigues succeed till the breach be wide as the sea, I have delivered my own soul by this timely warning, which I hope you will graciously consider. And the working pens of libellers being daily at work, to undermine our peace, and foment divisions, not unlikely employed by the worst enemies of this kingdom and government, it will be the highest recommendation of your majesty's kindness to, and care of your people, that this foul commonsewer of distempered brains and tainted hearts, be diverted or shut up, lest it infect and poison the whole kingdom past recovery, and render the happiest church and state in the world, a scorn to fools. And to prevent so great mischief, it will be as glorious in your majesty, to discountenance even the libellers, boldly pretending to write in support of the crown (which, God be thanked, stands as unshaken upon your majesty's head, as upon that of the greatest of your ancestors) as to punish others upon vain pretences, taking the same licence; so that the silencing aud confusion of all libellers, as far as the law will warrant, may be one happy effect ofyour maj's. good and powerful government; and when the make-bates and sowers of division cease, then mutual love may be restored. V. The last thing I shall trouble your maj. with, is concerning the provident management of your revenue, which will be the greatest help to keep all the parts of your government in order. I know well, and can make it manifest beyond contradiction, that vast reducements may be made of your charge in England, to general satisfaction, and with the discontent only of greedy officers and suitors, whose places may things the crown of England hath done in former ages, with its own bare revenue, and by the love of its subjects, both in England, Ireland, and foreign countries; how your maj. comes now to be in pinching wants, and none of those great undertakings upon your hands, is fit to be enquired. One thing is obvious to me, which will persuade that other instances of ill management and mispence may be produced. Your majesty spends now yearly in Ireland's full peace more than served to defray the charges of the crown, in the greatest rebellions of the O'Niels, Tirones, Desmonds, and others; nay, I want not good warrant to assure your majesty, that the chief governor's profits alone in that kingdom, amount to more now than maintained the government of Ireland, both in the civil and military estate thereof, in some of the troubled and dangerous times of that kingdom; and hath incident to his office divers favours, civil, ecclesiastical, and military, to oblige you subjects both great and small with, which should most properly be dispensed by your majesty's own hand, to weaken dependance on fellow subjects, and fix greater and stronger on your majesty. To conclude, though your majesty is in your own person above the reach of law, and sovereign of all your people, yet the law is your master, and instructor how to govern; and your subjects assure themselves, you will never attempt the enervating that law by which you are king, and which you have not only by frequent declarations, but by solemn oath upon your throne, been obliged, in a most glorious presence of your people, to the maintenance of; and that therefore you will look upon any that shall propose or advise to the contrary, as unfit persons to be near you; and on those who shall persuade you it is lawful, as sordid flatterers, and the worst and most dangerous enemies you and your kingdom have. What I set before your majesty, I have written freely, and like a sworn, faithful counsellor; perhaps not like a wise man, with regard to myself, as things stand; but I have discharged my duty, and shall count it a reward if your majesty vouchsafe to read what I durst not but write, and which I beseech God to give a blessing to. No XVII. A LETTER TO A DISSENTER, upon Occasion of his Majesty, James the Second's, late gracious Declaration of Indulgence, of the 4th of April, 1687. By GEORGE MARQUIS OF HALIFAX.* SIR;-Since Addresses are in fashion, give me put on to engage you, these new friends did leave to make one to you. This is neither the not make you their choice, but their refuge: effect of fear, interest, or resentment; there- they have ever made their first courtships to fore you may be sure it is sincere: and for that the church of England, and when they were reason it may expect to be kindly received. rejected there, they made their application to Whether it will have power enough to con- you in the second place. The instances of this, vince, dependeth upon the reasons, of which might be given in all times. I do not repeat you are to judge; and upon your preparation them, because whatsoever is unnecessary, must of mind, to be persuaded by truth, whenever be tedious, the truth of this assertion being so it appeareth to you. It ought not to be the less plain, as not to admit a dispute. You cannot welcome, for coming from a friendly hand, one therefore reasonably flatter yourselves, that whose kindness to you is not lessened by diffe- there is any inclination to you. They never rence of opinion, and who will not let his pretended to allow you any quarter, but to thoughts for the public be so tyed or confined usher in liberty for themselves under that to this or that subdivision of Protestants as to shelter. I refer you to Mr. Coleman's letters, stifle the charity, which besides all other argu- and to the Journals of parliament, where you ments, is at this time become necessary to pre- may be convinced, if you can be so mistaken serve us. I am neither surprized nor provoked, as to doubt; nay, at this very hour, they can to see that in the condition you were put into hardly forbear, in the height of their courtship, by the laws, and the ill circumstances you lay to let fall hard words of you. So little is nature under, by having the exclusion and rebellion to be restrained; it will start out sometimes, laid to your charge, you were desirous to make disdaining to submit to the usurpation of art yourselves less uneasy and obnoxious to autho- and interest. This alliance, between liberty and rity. Men who are sore, run to the nearest infallibility, is bringing together the two most remedy with too much haste, to consider all the contrary things that are in the world. The consequences: grains of allowance are to be Church of Rome doth not only dislike the allowgiven, where nature giveth such strong influ- ing liberty, but by its principle it cannot do it. ences. When to men under sufferings it Wine is not more expressly forbidden to the offereth ease, the present pain will hardly allow Mahometans, than giving heretics liberty is to time to examine the remedies: and the strong-Papists: they are no more able to make good est reason can hardly gain a fair audience from their vows to you, than men married before, our mind, whilst so possessed, till the smart is and their wife alive, can confirm their contract a little allayed. I do not know whether the with another. The continuance of their kindwarmth that naturally belongeth to new friend-ness, would be a habit of sin, of which they are ships, may not make it a harder task for me to to repent, and their absolution is to be had persuade you. It is like telling lovers, in the upon no other terms, than their promise to desbeginning of their joys, that they will in a little troy you. You are therefore to be, hugged time have an end. Such an unwelcome style now, only that you may be the better squeezed doth not easily find credit: but I will suppose at another time. There must be something you are not so far gone in your new passion, but extraordinary, when the Church of Rome that you will hear still; and therefore I am setteth up bills, and offereth plaisters, for under the less discouragement, when I offer to tender consciences; by all that hath hitherto your consideration two things. The first is, appeared, her skill in chirurgery lieth chiefly in the cause you have to suspect your new friends. a quick hand, to cut off limbs; but she is the The second, the duty incumbent upon you, in worst at healing, of any that ever pretended Christianity and prudence, not to hazard the to it. To come so quick from another extreme, public safety, neither by desire of ease, nor of is such an unnatural motion, that you ought to revenge. To the first consider that notwith-be upon your guard; the other day you were standing the smooth language which is now * Somers Tracts, 1. coll. vol. ii. p. 364. The Declaration itself will be found in the present volume, under the proper date. sons of Belial, now, you are angels of light. This is a violent change, and it will be fit for you to pause upon it, before you believe it: if your features are not altered, neither is their opinion of you, whatever may be pretended, Do you believe less than you did, that there is idolatry in the Church of Rome? Sure you do not. See then how they treat, both in words and writing, those who entertain that opinion. Conclude from hence, how inconsistent their favour is with this single article, except they give you a dispensation for this too, and by a Non Obstante, secure you, that they will not think the worse of you. Think a little how dangerous it is to build upon a foundation of paradoxes. Popery now is the only friend to liberty, and the known enemy to persecution: the men of Taunton and Tiverton, are above all other eminent for loyalty. The quakers from being declared by the Papists not to be Christians, are now made favourites, and taken into their particular protection; they are on a sudden grown the most accomplished men of the kingdom, in good breeding, and give thanks with the best grace, in double refined language. So that I should not wonder, though a man of that persuasion, in spite of his hat, should be master of the ceremonies. Not to say harsher words, these are such very new things, that it is impossible not to suspend our belief, till by a little more experience we may be informed whether they are realities or apparitions we have been under shameful mistakes, if these opinions are true; but for the present, we are apt to be incredulous; except we could be convinced, that the priests words in this case too, are able to make such a sudden and effectual change; and that their power is not limited to the sacrament, but that it extendeth to alter the nature of all other things, as often as they are so disposed. Let me now speak of the instruments of your friendship, and then leave you to judge, whether they do not afford matter of suspicion. No sharpness is to be mingled where healing only is intended; so nothing will be said to expose particular men, how strong soever the temp tation may be, or how clear the proofs to make it out. A word or two in general, for your better caution, shall suffice: suppose then, for argument's sake, that the mediators of this new alliance should be such, as have been formerly employed in treaties of the same kind, and there detected to have acted by order, and to have been impowered to give encouragements and rewards. Would not this be an argument to suspect them? If they should plainly be under engagements to one side, their arguments to the other, ought to be received accordingly; their fair pretences are to be looked upon as part of their commission, which may not improbably give them a dispensation in the case of truth, when it may bring a prejudice upon the service of those by whom they are employed. If there should be men who having formerly had means and authority to persuade, by secular arguments, have in pursuance of that power, sprinkled money amongst the dissenting ministers; and if those very men should now have the same authority, practise the same methods, and disburse, where they cannot otherwise persuade: it seemeth to me to be rather an evidence than a presumption of the deceit. If there should be ministers amongst you, who by having fallen under temptations of this kind, are in some sort engaged to continue their frailty, by the awe they are in, lest it should be exposed: the persuasions of these unfortunate men must sure have the less force; and their arguments, though never so specious, are to be suspected, when they come from men who have mortgaged themselves to severe creditors, that expect a rigorous observation of the contract, let it be never so unwarrantable. If these, or any others, should at this time preach up anger and vengeance against the Church of England; may it not without injustice be suspected, that a thing so plainly out of season springeth rather from corruption than mistake; and that those who act this cholerick part, do not believe themselves, but only pursue higher directions, endeavour to make good that part of their contract which obliged them, upon a forfeiture, to make use of their inflaming eloquence? They might apprehend their wages would be retrenched if they should be moderate and therefore, whilst violence is their interest, those who have not the same arguments, have no reason to follow such a partial example. If there should be men, who by the load of their crimes against the government, have been bowed down to comply with it against their conscience; who by incurring the want of a pardon, have drawn upon themselves the necessity of an entire resignation: such men are to be lamented, but not to be believed. Nay, they themselves, when they have discharged their unwelcome task, will be inwardly glad that their forced endeavours do not succeed, and are pleased when men resist their insinuations; which are far from being voluntary or sincere, but are squeezed out of them, by the weight of their being so obnoxious. If in the height of this great dearness by comparing things, it should happen, that at this instant, there is much a surer friendship with those who are so far from allowing liberty, that they allow no living to a Protestant under them. Let the scene lie in what part of the world it will, the argument will come home, and sure it will afford sufficient ground to suspect. Apparent contradictions must strike us; neither nature nor reason can digest them: self-flattery, and the desire to deceive ourselves, to gratify a present appetite, with all their power, which is great, cannot get the better of such broad conviction, as some things carry along with them. Will you call these vain and empty suspicions? Have you been at all times so void of fears and jealousies, as to justify your being so unreasonably valiant, in having none upon this occasion? Such an extraordinary courage at this unseasonable time, to say no more, is too dangerous a virtue to be commended. If then for these and a thousand other reasons, there is cause to suspect, sure your new friends are not to dictate to you, or advise you; for instance, the addresses that fly when you are pressed; and having given up the question, when it was for your advantage, you cannot recall it, when it shall be to your prejudice. If you will set up at one time a power to help you, which at another time by parity of reason shall be made use of to des abroad every week, and murther us with ano-ing a liberty, from which men have been so ther to the same;' the first draughts are made long restrained, may be a temptation that their by those who are not very proper to be secre- reason is not at all times able to resist. If in taries to the Protestant Religion; and it is such a case, some objections are leapt over, your part only to write them out fairer again. indifferent men will be more inclined to lament Strange! that you who have been formerly so the occasion, than to fall too hard upon the much against set forms, should now be content fault, whilst it is covered with the apology of a the priests should indite for you. The nature good intention; but where to rescue yourselves of thanks is an unavoidable consequence of from the severity of one law, you give a blow being pleased or obliged; they grow in the to all the laws, by which your religion and heart, and from thence show themselves either liberty are to be protected; and instead of fn looks, speech, writing or action: no man silently receiving the benefit of this indulgence, was ever thankful, because he was bid to be so, you set up for advocates to support it; you but because he had, or thought he had some become voluntary aggressors, and look like reason for it. If then there is cause in this counsel retained by the prerogative against case to pay such extravagant acknowledgments, your old friend Magna Charta, who hath done they will flow naturally, without taking such nothing to deserve her falling thus under your pains to procure them; and it is unkindly displeasure. If the case then should be, that done, to tire all the post-horses with carrying the price expected from you for this liberty, is circular letters, to sollicit that, which would be giving up your right in the laws, sure you will done without any trouble or constraint: if it think twice, before you go any further in such is really in itself such a favour, what needeth a losing bargain. After giving thanks for the so much pressing men to be thankful, and with | breach of one law, you lose the right of comsuch eager circumstances, that where persua-plaining of the breach of all the rest; you will sions cannot delude, threatnings are employed, not very well know how to defend yourselves, to fright them into a compliance? Thanks must be voluntarily, not only unconstrained, but unsolicited, else they are either trifles or snares, they either signify nothing, or a great deal more than is intended by those that give them. If an inference should be made, that whosoever thanketh the king for his Decla-troy you, you will neither be pitied, nor ration, is by that engaged to justify it in point of law; it is a greater stride, than I presume all those care to make who are persuaded to address: if it shall be supposed, that all the thankers will be repealers of the Test, when ever a parliament shall meet. Such an expectation is better prevented before, than disappointed afterwards; and the surest way to avoid the lying under such a scandal, is not to do any thing that may give a colour to the mistake these bespoken thanks are little less improper than love letters that were solicited by the lady to whom they are to be directed; so that besides the little ground there is to give them, the manner of getting them, doth extremely lessen their value. It might be wished, that you would have suppressed your impatience, and have been content, for the sake of religion, to enjoy it within yourselves, without the liberty of a public exercise, till a parliament had allowed it; but since that could not be, and that the artificers of some amongst you have made use of the well ineant zeal of the generality, to draw them into this mistake; I am so far from blaming you with that sharpness, which, perhaps the matter in strictness would bear, that I am ready to err on the side of the more gentle construction. There is a great difference between enjoying quietly the advantages of an act irregularly done by others, and the going about to support it against the laws in being the law is so sacred, that no trespass against it is to be defended; yet frailties may in some measure be excused, when they cannot be justified. The desire of enjoyVOL. IV. Appendix. : relieved against a mischief you draw upon yourselves, by being so unreasonably thankful. It is like calling in auxiliaries to help, who are strong enough to subdue you in such a case your complaints will come too late to be heard, and your sufferings will raise mirth instead of compassion. If you think, for your excuse, to expound your thanks so as to restrain them to this particular case, others, for their ends, will extend them further; and in these differing interpretations, that which is backed by authority will be the most likely to prevail, especially when by the advantage you have given them, they have in truth the better of the argument, and that the inferences from your own concessions are very strong and express against you. This is so far from being a groundless supposition, that there was a late instance of it, the last session of parliament, in the house of lords, where the first thanks, though things of course, were interpreted to be the approbation of the king's whole speech, and a restraint from the further examination of any part of it, though never so much disliked; and it was with difficulty cbtained, not to be excluded from the liberty of objecting to this mighty prerogative of dispensing, merely by this innocent and usual piece of good manners, by which no such thing could possibly be intended. This sheweth, that some bounds are to be put to your good breeding, and that the constitution of England is too valuable a thing to be ventured upon a compliment. Now that you have for some time enjoyed the benefit of the end, it is time for you to look into the n |