Be sure thou fay not a word of it to any
purlicment
men ; it will turn the strongest argument we
navefor us, to be quite against us.
navefor us, to be quite against us.
Rehearsal - v1 - 1750
And is this the end of the story?
Is this the con
clusion of your romance ?
O. No, No, W- C. got asecond, was too hard for themall. C. I don't sind he needed any. But what second did
he choose ?
O. It was my lord chiefjustice Holt. For he's i
knight, and so, a man of war. At least it was so in
Spelmans Glossary.
C. And did his lordship meet them ?
O. Yes. Three of them all together, wife. Mr. Natha-
thaniel Denew, Mr. Robert Britton, and Mr. John Mer- riam. And there were twelve judges of the field. Who all gave it against W. C. that there was no conspiracy to assassinate him, as he was terribly asraid ; only a few dry blows design'd, to teach him better manners. How ever, the law could not avoid taking notice of assault
and battery, and fiud Mr. Denew for that. And so W. C. came off -victoria!
Sic
combat,
my hat at him, which miss'd him ; asterwards
15.
where he-fays
threw
which hit him upon his I
first
my peruke, shoulder:
thus,
"The REHEARSAL.
Sic freya suit, fec guisa peracta
Una nee interea spillata drossa cruorii.
C. Ifthere no great honour, there some money to he got, sind, by being drubb'd. An ill tongue, and
bad pair of bands, may prove pretty thriving trade, with good management.
But what becomes of your 20 cut-throat commissioners
the blood office, at this rate You see, that as many of them as were tryd, were all acquit of any defign of assassi- nation.
O. What signisies being acquit We can keep up the cry and the noise of still. It necessary we should do so. It will blacken these church-men still, with all that
believe us which thou know'st are not few. There fore, in my Obser*vator of Saturday fe'nnight, the 7th instant, fall again upon this wicked method of assassina- tion. And put all our good friends upon their guard! Which will alarm them not little! And make them ready for what w have to do with them For who would
not rather assassinate, than be assassinated? And they who begin sirst, have the advantage. Do'st understand me, countryman '
sassination against thy own worthy person. And that we may guess from whom like to come, thou fay'fl to thy self, out of my mouth, there's captain somebody, or lieutenant somebody, that says he'll stab you, he be bangd for it, for abufing Sir George Rook. Here's the blood-office up again and d'ye think we'll all steep till our throats be cut? No, master, we're all ready, when ever you give the word! have my Marston-moor. and Edge-hili. , both sword and musket in good order-
wipe them, clean every day and long to be at work And we know whom you mean by captain some-body, and lieutenant some-body, that captain or lieutenant
Vol. evk-.
73
C. O, persectly well, Sir your language known to us all. A word to the wife sufsicient! And that we may be more deeply concern'd, and think the knife at every man's throat, thou' alarmist us with design of as
I I.
I
;
of
I
!
; I it !
?
e
is
?
E is is a is a est
is ?
if !
a
a
is
!
efl a is:
it
The REHEARSAL.
74
every-body, whom we please. And thou tell'st they
are in office. Thou fay'st, these assafiins and bullies in other people's causes, are a new fort of men, sprung up in England in a few years time ; and that these men should Here's a stroke at all the at least all that express any We'll make assassines and bullies of them all. And as thou fay'st notably in the fame place, it is as lawful to stab on one fide as the other. And
have offices is a srange thing. officers in the army or navy ; concern for Sir George Rook.
if we begin sirst, it is only by way of prevention ! How ever, there's nothing rouses the spirit of mob, and keeps them more upon the fret, and ready, than the noise of assassinations. Then we turn this upon the government; and that these men should have offices, is a srange thing! And what is that government that employs assassmes ? Ha! ;ny boy ! we have it ! and whoever reads this Observatcr a twelve-month hence, will certainly conclude, that these Rookites did intend assassinations upon the worthy Obscr-
•vator, as surely as upon the body of W. Colepeper. And we know how to keep up the cry in the mean time, till at last all our party will have it by tradition, and believe it as certainly, as all the other stories we have told them ; and by which we have done such great things, both in
the present and past ages. -''
But hark ye, master, suppose Sir George Rook shou'd
sind some remedy at law against thee, as well as William
Colepeper, who makes him to have employ'd these assas- fines, and set them on ?
O. How can that be ? Why, man, the Judges are attack'd themselves, every one of them, the whole bench of them all together; and I lay plainly, that no fair play is to be expected, or justice done, as long as our present judges art in being. Which is quoted in the Rehearsal. N. 3. as likewise my reflections upon the lord high admiral, by name, (I am not afraid! ) and upon fine Jade victor, Sec.
And I own my self, and tell of the prosecution against me, and repeat the articles exhibited against me ; and ridicule them, and laugh at them all ; and stand upon the law of England, and good protestant juries. I'm as safe as a
The R E H E A R S A L.
75 thief 'in a mill. Forif the judges cannot sind law, or that it must not be executed (as not being seasonable, at this time, like the occafional hill) to lave themselves out ofmy lift of knaves, nor the bishops, nor the convocation, nor the of commons, nor the prince himself, nor even the : What is Sir George Rook ! that he should think to have anyjustice by law against me the Observator; who represent the whole body of the whigs and dissenters, am
employ'd, paid, and supported by /Am, in the face of /aw it self. As occafional conformity is, in despight of the corporation, and test acts. And while that stands, never sear me, countryman. It is the party must not be aV/oA- ligyd ; and that not one way more than another. No more
by affronting the Observator, or stopping his mouth, than
by bringing in again the occafional hill. Let them if they dare! w e are ready to reW. I have often proclaim'd
it. And who dare flop my trumpet ? As I fay, in the fame Observator, we are upon (Vil. 3. N. 57. ) where I am again attacking Sir George Rook, by way of extenuat
ing what I had before faid against him ; and fay, VzV «
siabVdfor giving his opinion ;
as well as another man. C. But not like another man! If any of the high- church (by which we mean all true church-men, and join
always, and in this very Observator, withjacohites and papists) shou'd fay the tenth part of what thou hast faid
against the government, and the ministry ; and name par ticular persons and chiefs of the WHic/iar/y, as f<&«« do'st
his royal highness, Sir George Rook, Sic. there would be law found out for them. And the government should disoblige us all (since that is the que) if they were not made examples of ; for we have mettle ! When the laiu was of our side, in a former revolution, Sec. we shew'd them what law was. Then Chim durst not />c#. But now the law is on their side, we bellow and £b//ii And ifiA&gi offer to take notice; we tell them, we'll be a»- gry, and, that if we are disoblig'd, it shall be worse for
forthatitisfzWofwar/ and, my boy, we carry it! the more insolent, we shall be the better u/d! for Ez '%
Aer*/ I æ
certainly
have liberty
ofspeech,
The REHEARSAL.
76
they are asraid of us! Then bullying is the uuord! » must not be disobligd; and they cannot be pro•vaiti
Or, if they are, it is no matter. They arefriends to
therefore the government may make ooi with them, and disoblige them, as pleases. For yot know friends will be friends still but we must gratify cut enemies himpostible to friend: But is the thing in the world to gain an enemy! especially such eat- ndes as we are! who never yet/sz/fVan opportunity toes- press our gratitude to those who have been most indulges to us. As evident in all the reigns since Q_Elixabttk Who was so fearful or cautious as not to trust (surged ttature and therefore had nothing but sew ill wm from us with hearty endeavours to have done more would have let us. But she watch'd our waters, and would trust none of us. And we had livd under such goal management till new, we had all been dead bo years ago!
From &slt. Oct. at, to&at. Oct. 28, 1704. N° 13.
Observator'o preparationfor his trial. The argument
of the whigs, that they must not disoblig'd, because the money they have in the public funds. The Obferva- tor's religion. And greatness his church.
G? «». TT N my Observator next before the meeting of this fijsion of parliament, last Saturday, 03<A.
gave notice, that my Obfervator should come out three times week. And told, that had notice of my trial to be on the fourth of November next, for writing these fame Ob/ervators. This shews how Tittle value
the prosecution of the government, which have bully
and must still continue to bully. That the wtrdgiven me. That thesecurity of our party, and their strength. -Without this, we could not make our selves mfiderahk,
nor terrify! Have notice then of roy trials' Jit" m fame time tell them, that am far from giving over my Observators, for which they prosecute me, that now they shall have more of them than ever they had. And
for
government
I so
a
!
I
is I
a
I d;
if
if jit
21
,IJ[ ;; Iit Iisa is;
I of k be
it it
if
tta
The REHEARSAL.
77
for their notice of my trial, I give them notice, that my
Observator shall henceforth come out every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. And for what end ? That the People may know for what 1 am tryd! And I fay, they aught to know. Here I bully the government again, and ,my judges! Let them look to have aspea I'd before hand to the people and arraign the judgment of the* court (if mould pass against me) to all the mob in En
gland, who will take their account of my trial, from what have already represented to them . new method not
before known in England; and permitted, may be come a precedent of no small consequence. As the like
method! have taken in discovering the abuses, as
in the admiralty, navy, &c. by blazoning them in my weekly hbes-s, and complaining that can get Aojustice. Whereby prejudice the mob against the government all ©ver the nation. As Absalom stole the hearts of the people, not by accusing David, but faying, there none put ed
the king to do justice. This still resects upon him. - And no government can that will suffer its admini- tration to? be pubaickly lampoon must unavoid ably alienate the hearts of the people and renders the government contemptible! for this end we do it. And now shall have trial of skill, whether
we can do or not. It not my cause only, but
of oar mighty God legion who must not be disoblig'd, and therefore must prevail! whose power consists in his grin, and making himself formidable. And who
ever are frighted at him, he devours them
one exception. ) And whoever resists him, he pies from them. Witness Q^Bess, whom we curs'd all her lise; and have her memory in detestation to this day. And wit ness K. Charles II. after the Oxfordparliament when he made us all scamper, and run like serpents into our boles
no other force than supporting the lavss, and not suffering us to trample upon them, and out-brave them, as we do now maintaining the cerporatien and test aBt in their vigour, and not letting them be explain'd
away in z. senfdefs and hypocritical occasional conformity. Thi*.
pretend,
(without
E 3
if
it, dI
! by
it
by
of
I
I
it
by
;
is a
it
;
;
I is d
;
It
is
A
d.
I
!
78
The REHEARSAL.
This brought us so/sw, that even in xealous Scotland,
there was not, at his death, (which happen'd soon after)
one presbyterian publick meeting, but what dropped of it self ; and all came to church, when they faw there was
nothing to be got by staying out of it ! but his brother K. Jamee II. set us up again ; and what he got by it is well known.
We were all as much down, and as much dispirited as ever, upon the death of our lateglorious K as thou did'st remind me in thy Rehearsal, N. 5. And if we had been let alone, we should have been as quiet as a mouse in
a cheese.
But now that we are valud and confider'd, we are
And will have t'other touch for it !
I tell thee, countryman, they dare notdisoblige us, out
party having so much money in the hank and publick funds. C. They have us the faster for that, man ; for tho' we befalse to every thing else, we never will be to our interest ! It has been the policy of several kings to run in debt to their subjects, on purpose to keep them fast to their interest. And several church-men being deep in the
funds in the last reign, was the greatest security our good K. had of them. . * O. That was an unlucky thought in thee, which may be improv'd.
Be sure thou fay not a word of it to any purlicment men ; it will turn the strongest argument we
navefor us, to be quite against us.
But hast thou obierv'd what I bid thee to get me, all
the libels that have been printed fence her majesty's accession to the throne, against her majesty's title, against the Ha-
confiderable again.
UOVir succession, in favour of Perkin, and against the
liberties, all which I may have them ready at my trial.
English
have
answer
that
C. All that thou hast answer d> Which are those thou ought'st to know them best. never heard of one of them. Or of any answer ever thou gav'st, except
calling rogue and rascal, and Bellarmin thou ft.
But have already minded thee of monstrous and Jenfeless libel, which have answer d; and struck the
I
I
a
I
If
'd,
?
I
bouse
who are the
of the liberties of I
The REHEARSAL.
79 vile v arlet dumb, that he dare not reply a word ; and
it may do thee confiderable service at thy trial. It is
the most impudent and ungrateful of vchigs, who endea- vour'd to murtber, and has, what in him lay, murder d
the memory of the who had put the greatest obligations upon him of any in the world, fav'd him from hanging,
which he richly deserv'd, and from a whipping, which he thought more grievous. It is the famous Observator— The very fame — alias Bays, alias Nobbs, alias Tutchin, alias Alias. Now look into my Rehearsal N. 2 and 3. there thou wilt sind how he mistakes, blackens, and con
demns the revolution. Compares it with the murder of K. Charles I. and makes the one as justifiable as the o/^fr.
N.
can never be. Where thou wilt sind likewise another li
bel, (which thou know'st full well) with designs against the life of the princess Anne of Denmark, to bring he r into a plot ; and to prevent her accession to the throne. And Rehears. N. 2. &c. it is shew'd, that the Observator is against the Enclish liberties, by making the govern- ment derivative' from the mob, and accountable to it; which destroys all liberty whatsoever. And N. 3. by at tacking the ministry, and distinguishing it from the govern ment. And by setting up a legistative power, without the king ; which is made premunire by the Statute 1 3 Gsr.
2. c. 1. And N. 4. by setting up legion against the
1 1. heis
against
the Hanover
succession
; and it fays,
of commons, and putting them into his /z/? of knaves,
conservators
think this is being against the
English England. liberties:
Again N. 3. you have him arraigning all our present judges, of injustice and foul play. And in the fame N. 3. and N. 8. ;oy•? / highness the prince is acrasVand riitf-
fa/V. Besides Sir George Rook, and others abundantly ! And if you will look backwards, you will sind, N. . y„.
his abuses of the late K. William, and his favourites and
ministry in their turn.
And, to conclude, it is told N.
1 1 . how he has
dinyd and oppos'd the queens hereditary right. He ays, in his Observator, Vpl. 2. N. 86. That to assert an
sally E4 here
to The REHEARS AL.
hereditary government in England, is asquint-efd reflec tion on her majesty's title. But this is no squint-efd, but a £rect and plain reflection, not only upon her mtzjt-
fiy% HEREdITARy right; but also Upon the HEREDITART
, that is made upon the house of Hanover. And soI
for ought I know, made treason by that acl. I'm sure
I have.
O. Thou'rt a delicate sellow, to help a lame dcg over
wou'd'nt come so i ear it for the best como
the stile ! But there is one part of my instructions thou Jkast forgot. That to sind out some that speak infavour ef Perkin. Thou canst not charge Observator with that too
C. can charge him with keeping up the name of whom he means by Perkin, that we may not forget. There has not been word of him from his own party, if any such are left in England: They have been all bujh, fince her majesty accession to the throne, as if they were" well pleas V. At least they are modesty And the name of Perkin might have been dead among us by this time, but for the Observator, and some hypochondriac sinners, who dream of him all night, and rave upon him all the day and tell what other people may expect, when they ait so haunted him for they measure by their own bushel. And perhaps they may plead merit anothef;day, - as the
onlyfolks who kerit'hSs cause alive tho' Under the disguise of little railing, which does Hiiti ml harm'': They: haver done as strange things as these And what can contribute more to the interest of Perkin, than to assert, that there
no hereditary right, either in the queen, or in the fuc- tesfion of the house of Hanover, as this Observator has ma nifestly done And upon this head, he has flown in the face of the many loyal addresses to her majesty, congratu lating her hereditary right blood, and her happy ac cession to the throne of her ancestors. How many Tallards hast thou had for this, Nobbs
O. The deviss in thee. Thou'lt make me mad at last What not only turn the revolution upon me (of which
am the vindicator, by providence and my queen, and the succession of Hanover, but Perkin too Wou'd'st make me
) !
;'.
I
!
is
a
I
!
!
f
?
by !
?
by
! 's
a
is,
The REHEARS AL.
81
me a Perkinitc ? What a jest it wou'd be, to have me. after all, hangV for iPerkinite! Thou wou'd'st call itr quitting old scores ! and Hotham ! but I can never £zwr it- Tisfolly to talk on't!
C. Thy godfathers and agree about thatI But in plainness, master, by all that thou hast faid, thou must be either for Perkin or puss. And some think puss is the best way to bring in Pcrkin. As it did before. Eor the nation will never bear thy puss. It was try'd before. And
she scratch''d so devilishly, there was no en
And wishing her speedy accession, is as much treason as another. As the health about which the quarrel was at
comes
Chippenbam last Miehaelmas-dry Of which I told thee, Rehears. N. II. For thou know'st speedy accession to one, is speedy removal to another.
O. Well! if I
am born to be
often into my mind) I hope I shall have compary !
O. I cou'd not help it, man, if I shou'd be hang'd for't. ' I was put upon it. Thefaction has need ot me, present needs the parliament now beginning ; and who knows bat the occafional hill may come in again ? and the high- church get up upon us ! arirj'd with their victories this-
summer! There are notices to be given, and the word thro' the nation, upon every turn, as ore fi'm requires; may be new black lists, and so forth ! And oar people must be plyd with •warm deaths, at least three times a •week,. that they may not coot, but be ready upon zn hour & warn-- iag ! And what my neck, in comparison of all this gmi? The whole cause at stake! have s. gn'd cen-- tract ofsoul and body with legion, to pall down the church.
C. There one thing exceeding necessary, master,, that while thou hast taken upon thee the post of being
stickler between churches, and regulator of all, as well" ecclefiastical as civil affairs, thou shou'd'st fatisfy the world what religion thou thy self art of what church thou art
andwhatnot. , .
han£d (which
I of her. ring
C. Upon the whole, master, I think thou had'st as good have let alone thy thrice a week Observators, till- after thy trial ; for it is very provoking.
of,
.
;
a
I
a .
is
is'
is
a
REHEARSAL.
O. I have taken care of that, in the first volume of my Observators, N. 71. Dec. 26, 1 702. Wherein axe my Reste&ions on the shortest way with the dissenters, which I make to have been wrote by a clergyman ; and call it a villainous book. (The reason of which thou'lt sind in Re hearsal, N. 10. ) And pretend to answer it (but not since
the worthy author was discover d; and the sinest plot in
the world Jpoisd! ) where having laid load upon the
church of England as a bloody, persecuting church, and de
signing no less than a very massacre of all the dissenters: and coming to answer the barbarous treatment, and per
82 The
secution (indeed) of the church in Scotland, by the prefiyte- rians, since the revolution ; I make my conclufion against them both, and all churches whatsoever, as not worth any body's thoughIt, and fay thus to thee, Truly,
church; but 1 am an utter to moltst any enemy
cIountryman, my
shall priest -crast;
don't trouble head about, nor ever
and do believe, that put any clergyman in the coach-box,
and he will lash at any rate—There's my Ineighbour
fays, he's of no religion at all, and
lives at ease and quiet, free from cavils and contention. 1 think to lay it afide also, till allparties are agreed.
C. Thus thou instructed'st me, at that time ; and all
thou hast done fince, is exactly pursuant to it. In thy
Observator ot March 29, •I704. Vol. 3. N. 2. thou jnak'& knaves both of churchmen and dissenters, and fay'st,
officers in all religions may be knaves. But thou lay'st hea viest load upon the church, and mak'st these knave-officers to be church-men, all church-men, honest countryman (fay'st thou to me) true blue protestants ofthe church of England.
Then thou mak'st all the clergy to be knaves and rogues, not an honest or sober man to be found amongst them all. And fay'st, go ask doctor Ken net ; go ask the upper house of convocation. There you may hear
them at their old trade ^"Billingsgate, thou rogue, and' thou rogue. And thou told me before to lay afide ail religion, till all parties are agreed.
But art not thou and me, master, who have no religion, nor arc of any church 1 ■
O. Hold,
John vow the man
honest
The REHEARSAL.
83
O. Hold, man, thou mistak'st. We are ofall churches
and. of all religions.
C. That's what I faid, of no church, and of no reli
gion. It is the self fame thing, majler. Verily thefame ! for all cannot be true ; and one is oppofite to another. Therefore there's no way of being ofall, but by being of none. That is, to be indifferent to all, and so oppo site to none. To carry occafional conformity about us to all, where either laiv, or civility, or any interest do's
oblige us. And there is no way so efsectual to destroy all, as by being of all, to shew, that there is no truth or importance in any of them. But I was going to fay, are men so qualify d sit arbitrators in matters of religion, and
of cburch-disputes ? as thou mak'st thy self, master. O. Yes, the most fit ; because most impartial!
aj
being concern d on none of their fides ! neither gainers nor
lofers, whoever gets the cause, whether Christ or Maho-
met-i the fincerity or infincerity of the gospel; true or false apostles Or ministry ; whether Aaron or Korah, or
the priesthood of Micah ; all is priest-crast! to which I have declar'd my self an utter enemy. And you know, put any clergyman in the coach box—It is our maxim,onX. of Dryden (which I heard quoted in an honourable assembly )
Priests of all religions are the same. And I'll tell thee, countryman, our no church, is per
haps a greater church, than any of their churches. Ours are all the whigs to a man! the deists, the beaus and de
bauchees, and the occafional-conformists. Nor do we want our quality ; our bishops and clergy ; and serjeants at law too, and writers for our church ! men of lARGE.
thoughts, comprehensive charity— —Sec.
From ^»at. Oct. 28, to ÆaCNov. 4, 1704. The\Observator's trial and desence this good day.
QbfJ ■
''HIS it the in which our valour day
Try our title to rebel be just. if
must
E6 Be*
N° 14.
king.
The OBSERVATORY
84
Besides, (as I take notice in my vindication Observator,
Oct. 26. N. 63. ) it is the birth-day of our late dear
Which I take for a good omen. I hope I may be forgiven for his fake. I am sure I served him fakh-- fully. And though I turned cat in /an to him, -and beflaved him too, when he was dead (as thou hast it in thy Rehearsal, N. 5. ) yet I hope he will consider, what a mortal fear we were in at that time, when we faw hereditary return again, in the person of & princess whom:
we bad disdainfully treated ; and some sought her life, to have brought her into a plot, and to have prevented her accession to the throne of her ancestors, as shewed in Rehears. N.
clusion of your romance ?
O. No, No, W- C. got asecond, was too hard for themall. C. I don't sind he needed any. But what second did
he choose ?
O. It was my lord chiefjustice Holt. For he's i
knight, and so, a man of war. At least it was so in
Spelmans Glossary.
C. And did his lordship meet them ?
O. Yes. Three of them all together, wife. Mr. Natha-
thaniel Denew, Mr. Robert Britton, and Mr. John Mer- riam. And there were twelve judges of the field. Who all gave it against W. C. that there was no conspiracy to assassinate him, as he was terribly asraid ; only a few dry blows design'd, to teach him better manners. How ever, the law could not avoid taking notice of assault
and battery, and fiud Mr. Denew for that. And so W. C. came off -victoria!
Sic
combat,
my hat at him, which miss'd him ; asterwards
15.
where he-fays
threw
which hit him upon his I
first
my peruke, shoulder:
thus,
"The REHEARSAL.
Sic freya suit, fec guisa peracta
Una nee interea spillata drossa cruorii.
C. Ifthere no great honour, there some money to he got, sind, by being drubb'd. An ill tongue, and
bad pair of bands, may prove pretty thriving trade, with good management.
But what becomes of your 20 cut-throat commissioners
the blood office, at this rate You see, that as many of them as were tryd, were all acquit of any defign of assassi- nation.
O. What signisies being acquit We can keep up the cry and the noise of still. It necessary we should do so. It will blacken these church-men still, with all that
believe us which thou know'st are not few. There fore, in my Obser*vator of Saturday fe'nnight, the 7th instant, fall again upon this wicked method of assassina- tion. And put all our good friends upon their guard! Which will alarm them not little! And make them ready for what w have to do with them For who would
not rather assassinate, than be assassinated? And they who begin sirst, have the advantage. Do'st understand me, countryman '
sassination against thy own worthy person. And that we may guess from whom like to come, thou fay'fl to thy self, out of my mouth, there's captain somebody, or lieutenant somebody, that says he'll stab you, he be bangd for it, for abufing Sir George Rook. Here's the blood-office up again and d'ye think we'll all steep till our throats be cut? No, master, we're all ready, when ever you give the word! have my Marston-moor. and Edge-hili. , both sword and musket in good order-
wipe them, clean every day and long to be at work And we know whom you mean by captain some-body, and lieutenant some-body, that captain or lieutenant
Vol. evk-.
73
C. O, persectly well, Sir your language known to us all. A word to the wife sufsicient! And that we may be more deeply concern'd, and think the knife at every man's throat, thou' alarmist us with design of as
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The REHEARSAL.
74
every-body, whom we please. And thou tell'st they
are in office. Thou fay'st, these assafiins and bullies in other people's causes, are a new fort of men, sprung up in England in a few years time ; and that these men should Here's a stroke at all the at least all that express any We'll make assassines and bullies of them all. And as thou fay'st notably in the fame place, it is as lawful to stab on one fide as the other. And
have offices is a srange thing. officers in the army or navy ; concern for Sir George Rook.
if we begin sirst, it is only by way of prevention ! How ever, there's nothing rouses the spirit of mob, and keeps them more upon the fret, and ready, than the noise of assassinations. Then we turn this upon the government; and that these men should have offices, is a srange thing! And what is that government that employs assassmes ? Ha! ;ny boy ! we have it ! and whoever reads this Observatcr a twelve-month hence, will certainly conclude, that these Rookites did intend assassinations upon the worthy Obscr-
•vator, as surely as upon the body of W. Colepeper. And we know how to keep up the cry in the mean time, till at last all our party will have it by tradition, and believe it as certainly, as all the other stories we have told them ; and by which we have done such great things, both in
the present and past ages. -''
But hark ye, master, suppose Sir George Rook shou'd
sind some remedy at law against thee, as well as William
Colepeper, who makes him to have employ'd these assas- fines, and set them on ?
O. How can that be ? Why, man, the Judges are attack'd themselves, every one of them, the whole bench of them all together; and I lay plainly, that no fair play is to be expected, or justice done, as long as our present judges art in being. Which is quoted in the Rehearsal. N. 3. as likewise my reflections upon the lord high admiral, by name, (I am not afraid! ) and upon fine Jade victor, Sec.
And I own my self, and tell of the prosecution against me, and repeat the articles exhibited against me ; and ridicule them, and laugh at them all ; and stand upon the law of England, and good protestant juries. I'm as safe as a
The R E H E A R S A L.
75 thief 'in a mill. Forif the judges cannot sind law, or that it must not be executed (as not being seasonable, at this time, like the occafional hill) to lave themselves out ofmy lift of knaves, nor the bishops, nor the convocation, nor the of commons, nor the prince himself, nor even the : What is Sir George Rook ! that he should think to have anyjustice by law against me the Observator; who represent the whole body of the whigs and dissenters, am
employ'd, paid, and supported by /Am, in the face of /aw it self. As occafional conformity is, in despight of the corporation, and test acts. And while that stands, never sear me, countryman. It is the party must not be aV/oA- ligyd ; and that not one way more than another. No more
by affronting the Observator, or stopping his mouth, than
by bringing in again the occafional hill. Let them if they dare! w e are ready to reW. I have often proclaim'd
it. And who dare flop my trumpet ? As I fay, in the fame Observator, we are upon (Vil. 3. N. 57. ) where I am again attacking Sir George Rook, by way of extenuat
ing what I had before faid against him ; and fay, VzV «
siabVdfor giving his opinion ;
as well as another man. C. But not like another man! If any of the high- church (by which we mean all true church-men, and join
always, and in this very Observator, withjacohites and papists) shou'd fay the tenth part of what thou hast faid
against the government, and the ministry ; and name par ticular persons and chiefs of the WHic/iar/y, as f<&«« do'st
his royal highness, Sir George Rook, Sic. there would be law found out for them. And the government should disoblige us all (since that is the que) if they were not made examples of ; for we have mettle ! When the laiu was of our side, in a former revolution, Sec. we shew'd them what law was. Then Chim durst not />c#. But now the law is on their side, we bellow and £b//ii And ifiA&gi offer to take notice; we tell them, we'll be a»- gry, and, that if we are disoblig'd, it shall be worse for
forthatitisfzWofwar/ and, my boy, we carry it! the more insolent, we shall be the better u/d! for Ez '%
Aer*/ I æ
certainly
have liberty
ofspeech,
The REHEARSAL.
76
they are asraid of us! Then bullying is the uuord! » must not be disobligd; and they cannot be pro•vaiti
Or, if they are, it is no matter. They arefriends to
therefore the government may make ooi with them, and disoblige them, as pleases. For yot know friends will be friends still but we must gratify cut enemies himpostible to friend: But is the thing in the world to gain an enemy! especially such eat- ndes as we are! who never yet/sz/fVan opportunity toes- press our gratitude to those who have been most indulges to us. As evident in all the reigns since Q_Elixabttk Who was so fearful or cautious as not to trust (surged ttature and therefore had nothing but sew ill wm from us with hearty endeavours to have done more would have let us. But she watch'd our waters, and would trust none of us. And we had livd under such goal management till new, we had all been dead bo years ago!
From &slt. Oct. at, to&at. Oct. 28, 1704. N° 13.
Observator'o preparationfor his trial. The argument
of the whigs, that they must not disoblig'd, because the money they have in the public funds. The Obferva- tor's religion. And greatness his church.
G? «». TT N my Observator next before the meeting of this fijsion of parliament, last Saturday, 03<A.
gave notice, that my Obfervator should come out three times week. And told, that had notice of my trial to be on the fourth of November next, for writing these fame Ob/ervators. This shews how Tittle value
the prosecution of the government, which have bully
and must still continue to bully. That the wtrdgiven me. That thesecurity of our party, and their strength. -Without this, we could not make our selves mfiderahk,
nor terrify! Have notice then of roy trials' Jit" m fame time tell them, that am far from giving over my Observators, for which they prosecute me, that now they shall have more of them than ever they had. And
for
government
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77
for their notice of my trial, I give them notice, that my
Observator shall henceforth come out every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. And for what end ? That the People may know for what 1 am tryd! And I fay, they aught to know. Here I bully the government again, and ,my judges! Let them look to have aspea I'd before hand to the people and arraign the judgment of the* court (if mould pass against me) to all the mob in En
gland, who will take their account of my trial, from what have already represented to them . new method not
before known in England; and permitted, may be come a precedent of no small consequence. As the like
method! have taken in discovering the abuses, as
in the admiralty, navy, &c. by blazoning them in my weekly hbes-s, and complaining that can get Aojustice. Whereby prejudice the mob against the government all ©ver the nation. As Absalom stole the hearts of the people, not by accusing David, but faying, there none put ed
the king to do justice. This still resects upon him. - And no government can that will suffer its admini- tration to? be pubaickly lampoon must unavoid ably alienate the hearts of the people and renders the government contemptible! for this end we do it. And now shall have trial of skill, whether
we can do or not. It not my cause only, but
of oar mighty God legion who must not be disoblig'd, and therefore must prevail! whose power consists in his grin, and making himself formidable. And who
ever are frighted at him, he devours them
one exception. ) And whoever resists him, he pies from them. Witness Q^Bess, whom we curs'd all her lise; and have her memory in detestation to this day. And wit ness K. Charles II. after the Oxfordparliament when he made us all scamper, and run like serpents into our boles
no other force than supporting the lavss, and not suffering us to trample upon them, and out-brave them, as we do now maintaining the cerporatien and test aBt in their vigour, and not letting them be explain'd
away in z. senfdefs and hypocritical occasional conformity. Thi*.
pretend,
(without
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The REHEARSAL.
This brought us so/sw, that even in xealous Scotland,
there was not, at his death, (which happen'd soon after)
one presbyterian publick meeting, but what dropped of it self ; and all came to church, when they faw there was
nothing to be got by staying out of it ! but his brother K. Jamee II. set us up again ; and what he got by it is well known.
We were all as much down, and as much dispirited as ever, upon the death of our lateglorious K as thou did'st remind me in thy Rehearsal, N. 5. And if we had been let alone, we should have been as quiet as a mouse in
a cheese.
But now that we are valud and confider'd, we are
And will have t'other touch for it !
I tell thee, countryman, they dare notdisoblige us, out
party having so much money in the hank and publick funds. C. They have us the faster for that, man ; for tho' we befalse to every thing else, we never will be to our interest ! It has been the policy of several kings to run in debt to their subjects, on purpose to keep them fast to their interest. And several church-men being deep in the
funds in the last reign, was the greatest security our good K. had of them. . * O. That was an unlucky thought in thee, which may be improv'd.
Be sure thou fay not a word of it to any purlicment men ; it will turn the strongest argument we
navefor us, to be quite against us.
But hast thou obierv'd what I bid thee to get me, all
the libels that have been printed fence her majesty's accession to the throne, against her majesty's title, against the Ha-
confiderable again.
UOVir succession, in favour of Perkin, and against the
liberties, all which I may have them ready at my trial.
English
have
answer
that
C. All that thou hast answer d> Which are those thou ought'st to know them best. never heard of one of them. Or of any answer ever thou gav'st, except
calling rogue and rascal, and Bellarmin thou ft.
But have already minded thee of monstrous and Jenfeless libel, which have answer d; and struck the
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The REHEARSAL.
79 vile v arlet dumb, that he dare not reply a word ; and
it may do thee confiderable service at thy trial. It is
the most impudent and ungrateful of vchigs, who endea- vour'd to murtber, and has, what in him lay, murder d
the memory of the who had put the greatest obligations upon him of any in the world, fav'd him from hanging,
which he richly deserv'd, and from a whipping, which he thought more grievous. It is the famous Observator— The very fame — alias Bays, alias Nobbs, alias Tutchin, alias Alias. Now look into my Rehearsal N. 2 and 3. there thou wilt sind how he mistakes, blackens, and con
demns the revolution. Compares it with the murder of K. Charles I. and makes the one as justifiable as the o/^fr.
N.
can never be. Where thou wilt sind likewise another li
bel, (which thou know'st full well) with designs against the life of the princess Anne of Denmark, to bring he r into a plot ; and to prevent her accession to the throne. And Rehears. N. 2. &c. it is shew'd, that the Observator is against the Enclish liberties, by making the govern- ment derivative' from the mob, and accountable to it; which destroys all liberty whatsoever. And N. 3. by at tacking the ministry, and distinguishing it from the govern ment. And by setting up a legistative power, without the king ; which is made premunire by the Statute 1 3 Gsr.
2. c. 1. And N. 4. by setting up legion against the
1 1. heis
against
the Hanover
succession
; and it fays,
of commons, and putting them into his /z/? of knaves,
conservators
think this is being against the
English England. liberties:
Again N. 3. you have him arraigning all our present judges, of injustice and foul play. And in the fame N. 3. and N. 8. ;oy•? / highness the prince is acrasVand riitf-
fa/V. Besides Sir George Rook, and others abundantly ! And if you will look backwards, you will sind, N. . y„.
his abuses of the late K. William, and his favourites and
ministry in their turn.
And, to conclude, it is told N.
1 1 . how he has
dinyd and oppos'd the queens hereditary right. He ays, in his Observator, Vpl. 2. N. 86. That to assert an
sally E4 here
to The REHEARS AL.
hereditary government in England, is asquint-efd reflec tion on her majesty's title. But this is no squint-efd, but a £rect and plain reflection, not only upon her mtzjt-
fiy% HEREdITARy right; but also Upon the HEREDITART
, that is made upon the house of Hanover. And soI
for ought I know, made treason by that acl. I'm sure
I have.
O. Thou'rt a delicate sellow, to help a lame dcg over
wou'd'nt come so i ear it for the best como
the stile ! But there is one part of my instructions thou Jkast forgot. That to sind out some that speak infavour ef Perkin. Thou canst not charge Observator with that too
C. can charge him with keeping up the name of whom he means by Perkin, that we may not forget. There has not been word of him from his own party, if any such are left in England: They have been all bujh, fince her majesty accession to the throne, as if they were" well pleas V. At least they are modesty And the name of Perkin might have been dead among us by this time, but for the Observator, and some hypochondriac sinners, who dream of him all night, and rave upon him all the day and tell what other people may expect, when they ait so haunted him for they measure by their own bushel. And perhaps they may plead merit anothef;day, - as the
onlyfolks who kerit'hSs cause alive tho' Under the disguise of little railing, which does Hiiti ml harm'': They: haver done as strange things as these And what can contribute more to the interest of Perkin, than to assert, that there
no hereditary right, either in the queen, or in the fuc- tesfion of the house of Hanover, as this Observator has ma nifestly done And upon this head, he has flown in the face of the many loyal addresses to her majesty, congratu lating her hereditary right blood, and her happy ac cession to the throne of her ancestors. How many Tallards hast thou had for this, Nobbs
O. The deviss in thee. Thou'lt make me mad at last What not only turn the revolution upon me (of which
am the vindicator, by providence and my queen, and the succession of Hanover, but Perkin too Wou'd'st make me
) !
;'.
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The REHEARS AL.
81
me a Perkinitc ? What a jest it wou'd be, to have me. after all, hangV for iPerkinite! Thou wou'd'st call itr quitting old scores ! and Hotham ! but I can never £zwr it- Tisfolly to talk on't!
C. Thy godfathers and agree about thatI But in plainness, master, by all that thou hast faid, thou must be either for Perkin or puss. And some think puss is the best way to bring in Pcrkin. As it did before. Eor the nation will never bear thy puss. It was try'd before. And
she scratch''d so devilishly, there was no en
And wishing her speedy accession, is as much treason as another. As the health about which the quarrel was at
comes
Chippenbam last Miehaelmas-dry Of which I told thee, Rehears. N. II. For thou know'st speedy accession to one, is speedy removal to another.
O. Well! if I
am born to be
often into my mind) I hope I shall have compary !
O. I cou'd not help it, man, if I shou'd be hang'd for't. ' I was put upon it. Thefaction has need ot me, present needs the parliament now beginning ; and who knows bat the occafional hill may come in again ? and the high- church get up upon us ! arirj'd with their victories this-
summer! There are notices to be given, and the word thro' the nation, upon every turn, as ore fi'm requires; may be new black lists, and so forth ! And oar people must be plyd with •warm deaths, at least three times a •week,. that they may not coot, but be ready upon zn hour & warn-- iag ! And what my neck, in comparison of all this gmi? The whole cause at stake! have s. gn'd cen-- tract ofsoul and body with legion, to pall down the church.
C. There one thing exceeding necessary, master,, that while thou hast taken upon thee the post of being
stickler between churches, and regulator of all, as well" ecclefiastical as civil affairs, thou shou'd'st fatisfy the world what religion thou thy self art of what church thou art
andwhatnot. , .
han£d (which
I of her. ring
C. Upon the whole, master, I think thou had'st as good have let alone thy thrice a week Observators, till- after thy trial ; for it is very provoking.
of,
.
;
a
I
a .
is
is'
is
a
REHEARSAL.
O. I have taken care of that, in the first volume of my Observators, N. 71. Dec. 26, 1 702. Wherein axe my Reste&ions on the shortest way with the dissenters, which I make to have been wrote by a clergyman ; and call it a villainous book. (The reason of which thou'lt sind in Re hearsal, N. 10. ) And pretend to answer it (but not since
the worthy author was discover d; and the sinest plot in
the world Jpoisd! ) where having laid load upon the
church of England as a bloody, persecuting church, and de
signing no less than a very massacre of all the dissenters: and coming to answer the barbarous treatment, and per
82 The
secution (indeed) of the church in Scotland, by the prefiyte- rians, since the revolution ; I make my conclufion against them both, and all churches whatsoever, as not worth any body's thoughIt, and fay thus to thee, Truly,
church; but 1 am an utter to moltst any enemy
cIountryman, my
shall priest -crast;
don't trouble head about, nor ever
and do believe, that put any clergyman in the coach-box,
and he will lash at any rate—There's my Ineighbour
fays, he's of no religion at all, and
lives at ease and quiet, free from cavils and contention. 1 think to lay it afide also, till allparties are agreed.
C. Thus thou instructed'st me, at that time ; and all
thou hast done fince, is exactly pursuant to it. In thy
Observator ot March 29, •I704. Vol. 3. N. 2. thou jnak'& knaves both of churchmen and dissenters, and fay'st,
officers in all religions may be knaves. But thou lay'st hea viest load upon the church, and mak'st these knave-officers to be church-men, all church-men, honest countryman (fay'st thou to me) true blue protestants ofthe church of England.
Then thou mak'st all the clergy to be knaves and rogues, not an honest or sober man to be found amongst them all. And fay'st, go ask doctor Ken net ; go ask the upper house of convocation. There you may hear
them at their old trade ^"Billingsgate, thou rogue, and' thou rogue. And thou told me before to lay afide ail religion, till all parties are agreed.
But art not thou and me, master, who have no religion, nor arc of any church 1 ■
O. Hold,
John vow the man
honest
The REHEARSAL.
83
O. Hold, man, thou mistak'st. We are ofall churches
and. of all religions.
C. That's what I faid, of no church, and of no reli
gion. It is the self fame thing, majler. Verily thefame ! for all cannot be true ; and one is oppofite to another. Therefore there's no way of being ofall, but by being of none. That is, to be indifferent to all, and so oppo site to none. To carry occafional conformity about us to all, where either laiv, or civility, or any interest do's
oblige us. And there is no way so efsectual to destroy all, as by being of all, to shew, that there is no truth or importance in any of them. But I was going to fay, are men so qualify d sit arbitrators in matters of religion, and
of cburch-disputes ? as thou mak'st thy self, master. O. Yes, the most fit ; because most impartial!
aj
being concern d on none of their fides ! neither gainers nor
lofers, whoever gets the cause, whether Christ or Maho-
met-i the fincerity or infincerity of the gospel; true or false apostles Or ministry ; whether Aaron or Korah, or
the priesthood of Micah ; all is priest-crast! to which I have declar'd my self an utter enemy. And you know, put any clergyman in the coach box—It is our maxim,onX. of Dryden (which I heard quoted in an honourable assembly )
Priests of all religions are the same. And I'll tell thee, countryman, our no church, is per
haps a greater church, than any of their churches. Ours are all the whigs to a man! the deists, the beaus and de
bauchees, and the occafional-conformists. Nor do we want our quality ; our bishops and clergy ; and serjeants at law too, and writers for our church ! men of lARGE.
thoughts, comprehensive charity— —Sec.
From ^»at. Oct. 28, to ÆaCNov. 4, 1704. The\Observator's trial and desence this good day.
QbfJ ■
''HIS it the in which our valour day
Try our title to rebel be just. if
must
E6 Be*
N° 14.
king.
The OBSERVATORY
84
Besides, (as I take notice in my vindication Observator,
Oct. 26. N. 63. ) it is the birth-day of our late dear
Which I take for a good omen. I hope I may be forgiven for his fake. I am sure I served him fakh-- fully. And though I turned cat in /an to him, -and beflaved him too, when he was dead (as thou hast it in thy Rehearsal, N. 5. ) yet I hope he will consider, what a mortal fear we were in at that time, when we faw hereditary return again, in the person of & princess whom:
we bad disdainfully treated ; and some sought her life, to have brought her into a plot, and to have prevented her accession to the throne of her ancestors, as shewed in Rehears. N.
