1943

TO THE

READER.

I

Am perfuaded, that thofe of the Church of Eng land, who now feem difcontented at the Prefent State of Affairs in England, are mistaken in the matter of Fact and that they do imagine the Religion, Lams, and Liberties of this Nation might have been fecured to us, and our Pofterity, by other, and those more legal Methods.

Now if this Conceit of theirs were true, their Diffatif Faction would not be wholly unreasonable; but to me, who have confidered every Step of this Great Revolution with the utmost Attention of Mind, it feems altogether falfe and groundless

But whether they or I are mistaken, it is abfolutely neceffary that the matter of Fact should be truly and fairly stated; which cannot be done, but by reprefenting in one View all the Papers which paffed on both fides, with the Actions which hapned, the prefent State of Af fairs at home and abroad, when the Revolution began, and the temper of Mens Minds in all the Occurrences as they hapned: And this I have endeavoured to do with all the Brevity, Perfpicuity, and Fidelity which was possible.

As

As I am the first that have attempted it, fo it is not impossible there may be fome Miftakes, Omiffions, or Errors; but there is not one wilful Error, and I will rectifie any involuntary Stumble Imay have made, upon the first Advice of it.

To have fully cleared this Queftion, it was perhaps neceffary that I should have begun with the Year 1660. and the Reftitution of Charles the Second, or at least at his Death; but this would have taken too much time to have prefently gone about it; and if I find this is well received, and encouraged, I will in a convenient time do it; efpecially if I may have the liberty of the Council-Book, and the Paper-Office, and fuch other helps. as are neceffary.

And in the mean time, I conceive this fhort Abstract of the Publick Printed Papers, is fufficient to con vince any Man, that the Popish Party were refolved we should be Rebels, (as they now account us) or Slaves; and His late Majefty was fo far prevailed upon by them, that he chofe rather to defert his Throne, than to lose all the Poffibilities of Establishing an abfolute Soveraignty over the Nation, and Popery with it.

I fuppofe it is not pretended in England, His late Majefty forfeited his Right to Govern by his Mifgovernment; but that the fenfe of it prevail'd upon him rather to throw up the Government; than to concur with an English Free-Parliament in all that was needful to

re-establish

re-establish our Laws, Liberties and Religion; and this is a proper legal Abdication, as it is diftinguished from a Voluntary Refignation on the one hand, and a Violent Depofition on the other.

He was bound to govern us according to Law, and we were not bound to fubmit to any other than a legal Government; but he would not do the one, and faw he could not force us to fubmit to the other, and therefore deliberately relinquifhed the Throne, and withdrew his Perfon and Seals, diffolving (as much as he could) the whole Frame of our Government.

The Reader may obferve, tho' he give Reasons why he withdrew the Second time, he never gave any why be went away at first; nor can any be affigned (as I verily believe) but that which I have expreffed.

Now if this be the true state of this great Affair, then we were legally discharged of our Allegiance to James the Second, the Eleventh of December last paft; and his Return afterwards, which was forced. and involuntary, could have no Influence upon us; and if he were now to be restored again, he must be re-crowned and fworn de novo, as Henry the Sixth was after he was restored by the Earl of Warwick.

There may poffibly be fome few Men fo Superlatively Loyal, that rather than they would not ftill be under the Government of James the Second, they would throw up all the English Liberties and Privi ledges, and fubmit to an abfolute and unlimited Sove

raignty,

raignty, either out of Scruple of Confcience, Vanity, or Humour; now to these I have nothing to Jay, but that if they are willing to be Slaves, they may; but it is unreasonable that they should enflave all the reft of the Nation too; and as the Number is not great, fo I am perfuaded (if Patience and gentle Methods are ufed) thefe Men will in a fhort time be convinced by their own Intereft, and acquiefce at least, if they do not heartily joyn with the rest in the Defence of the prefent Government.

As to the fmall Piece which I have answered, I cannot but admire at the Encomiums have been given it; I hope there is nothing in it worth regarding, which I have not fairly answered; at least I am fure it is very answerable, it being wholly founded on Miflakes, either as to the matter of Fact, or the Laws of England: But be this as it will, I fubmit to it the Reader to judge between us. 9.

THE