Here all rebellion is
sanctify
d, and made the inspira tion of God!
Rehearsal - v1 - 1750
And after Nebuchadnezzar had been turn ed to a for yean, when his reason return'd to him, his lords and his counsellors fought unto him, and he was establish'd in his kingdom, Dan.
iv.
36.
The
line ofsuccejsion was not broke, nor the people discharg'd from their allegiance, for the madness of their prince, which is generally fuppos'd to be the case of Nebuchad nezzar.
And there was no comparison, as to mischief to the
people, betwixt their bearing patiently that heavy judg ment upon their prince ; and - what their cafe wou'd have been, if they had rebeWd against him, and set up ano ther in his place ; because (as they might then have truly
i5o
faid) he was a beast!
5. O. I wou'd never have submitted to a beast ! If I
had been there, I wou'd have set up a Monmouth, or
some body else against him.
C. I doubt it not ! But what if thy Monmouth had
been beaten ? I doubt a whipping had not serv'd thy
turn.
O. But what if my Monmouth had prevaiP d ? There'*
a suppose for your suppose ! And we wou'd have mace the crown ElECTIVE.
To be
made a Poland or a Hungary !
O. But what if that Nebuchadnezzar had been a pa^
pifi? I'm sure they wou'd never have bore with hiai then ! At least Daniel and the Jews.
C. He threw the Jews into a firey furnace, for not
C. What wou'd the people have got by that ?
his idols. Whom he wou'd he slew, and whom he wou'd he kept alive. And at last run mad for pride. And yet Daniel and the Jews were very
faithful to him, and prayd for his life, and the life of hisyin. Tho' he had destroy'd Jerusalem, and burnt
•worshipping
their
O. I
The REHEARSAL.
O. I was going to call them the beasts! This bible
ruins us !
read it ; and we dare not, as yet, flatly deny it. Thou'it
r. ight.
I shall deal with thee.
I
begin
to think the common
people
shou'd not
I'll talk no more with thee to. -' Hereafter I'll bar bible, laws, and reason ! then
turn'd my bead round !
From. . §>at. Jan. i 3 to „§at- Jan. 20, 170s. N° 25.
1. The Countryman challenges Observator. 2. The Ob- servator's moderation. 3. All right of dominion taken from the crown by the Observator, the Prote stant Jesuit, &c. 4. All HEREdITARy succession con
demn d by them.
Coun. ~T Left thee, Bayes, last time confounded. And I'm 1, resolv'd to pursue thee, till either I bring thee to fense ; or convince all the nation that thou hast none. But thy nasty carcase is not worth my mobile. I'll
take thy puss, thy common-wealth by the beard, pull oat her teeth, pair her clonus, and make an anatomy of her, shall fright every one that can reckon ten upon his fingers, and has any concern for himself, his and children ; for his and country, or for o/,/ England. I've made a •&a>/7 of thee already ; and now I'll dispos sess the •atW of thee, for/>c has possess' d thee (o long,
that thou now hast possess' d him with «g/;Vr and more monstrous devils, than any in the of his nati vity ; which comes to pass in heterogeneous mixtures.
O. Hard words, and vapouring too! This is intole rable ! I'd rather come before my 'jury again, than bear this. I'd got reputation by the pillory, and, may be, a Penfion to boot. But this dog of dogs, this renegado of a
t'untryman is, like converts, pofitive and astuming ; if I answer him not, will make a. scare- crow of me,
and make me ashamd to my /ac* in zxiy honest com
i5i
pany.
H 4 C. That
152
The REHEARSAL.
C. That will do thee no harm ! for thou never com'lf into any such ; nor will any such admit thee ; unless as a raree-shew, or some monster of half human and no
shaft, that can chatter as if he cou'd speak, . but for seai of being put to work.
O. Thou'rt a rascal] (quoth Oates) and if you
vex
me, I'llswear it :
C. Done, master, done. It is a bargain.
O. Thou'rt a protestant Jesuit.
C. Why ? I'm no presbyterian —— But thou'st a mind
Thou'rt s or I'll be
Jesuit, bang'df
to slinch from thy bargain, I see ; but I'll close with thee,
even upon this. I do undertake therefore to prove, first, That the prrsbyterians are protestant Jesuits; and the Jesuits popish presbyterians ; not only upon ac
count of their being presbyters, who have broke off from
the jurisdiction of their proper hishops ; but, second/y, as to the state too, that all the mob and republican prin ciples, ofpower in the people, Sec. were taken from the
jesuits and popish doctors.
O. I'll hear none of them at present. But whence
ever we true, noble whigs had our principles, as to the
STATS-point, of coercing kings, and the
rights and liberties of the people, I defy thee, and will cor rect thy bold and insolent huffing, as ifthou thought'st thou cou'd'st make it out as plain as 2 and 3 make 5 — But hark ye, a word in thy ear — Pr'ythee tell me (thou see'st there's company hears us) art thou so very sure, as thou vapour that thou'rt in the right?
C. Most certainly, Sir think myself as sure on't, as of any thing that can be seen, felt, heard, or under
stood.
O. O' my conscience, this dog has mind to try what
our trick of bullying will do
Well since we must engage, and that we are over-
beard, desire you'll treat me cii'illy, and with mode ration and get the better of you, I'll do the fame to you.
2. C. hate compounding That's like one mistrustful of his cause Til use thee as thou deserisft. What mean'ct thou by moderation 0.
original
[Aside.
I ;
;
I?
! ?
I!
if I
!
a
ft,
The REHEARSAL.
i53 O. It is a catholicon, and cures all diseases ! Take but a dose of this, and thou may'st drink poison, and break
all the ten commandments without any offence I It recon ciles churches, or no churches, Chris and Belial, light and darkness ! It can transform a r^/ into a saint, and Sate*
to an Angel of / It can make a schismatick a true friend of the church ; and a whore an /ns«ey? woman I
C. I desire a little /roo/' of the last.
A whore is one of moderate
and your /? >o«f/? woman is immoderate in it! stands obstinately to it, and will rather part with her life, than
0. Why ?
chastity;
a little, tho' but occasionally ! She guards her eyes and her ears, will neither ogle, nor bear so much as a j,st, or a little innocent raillery that tends that way. So that it is hard for a or a man of fashion to sind
conform
conversation for her. such company.
C. She's an errant
Therefore they sldom come into
converfion ?
O. No; never!
must know we have one
honesty?
high-flier
!
And what isa man
of moderate
O. HeM never cheat you, but when he can get some
thing by it ; and will be very punctual with good look ing to.
C. You may go through all the virtues at this rate.
O. Ay ! and bring them so near their opposite vices, that you cannot tell which is which ! I tell you, there is nothing like moderation for reconciling! for
frace and un ion.
C. Will it reconcile thee and me then, since my late
For
men os debauch' d consciences, of the gravest immoralities, who have lest the true fens os religion, and have no prin ciples left, except what will indulge them in their dam nable lusts, &c.
C. Is tia&jour -modeeation,? h5a
you
general exception, that is, to all high-fliers, to all that talk of zeal for the church, of schism, and such like fulsome stuff! These, our moderation a vireue, p. 21. calls, The most dangerous enemies of thi English nation .
The REHEARSAL.
O. Yes. And it is good moderation for all tkisf we have moderation to all that help us, and are of our iide ; and has any body moderation for any others ?
C. When the devil roasted your moderation, he let the spit stand still ; one fide was burnt to a coal, and the other is blood-rain.
But what sort of moderation is it then thou wou'dst
persuade me to ?
O. Whenever I engage, I desire two sorts of modera
tion in my adversary, of courage, lest he shou'd beat me ; and ofsense, lest he shou'd baffle me.
3. C. Come, come, no longer dallying f let's to oui work ; and see if I can make good what I have pro- mis'd thee.
I've shew'd plainly in my last, that thy . mob schint
of government has no foundation ; that it is all nonsense and contradiction. Now I'll explain the consequences of it, and what thou driest at : Not only that the militia shou'd not be trusted with the crown, but no other trust what soever, not to choose the officers of state, or their own meniaj servants. Because there may be ill use made os all these, and kings may abuse the trust repos'd in them. And that the people may recall whatever trust they have given to kings, whenever they please ; and that any of the people may do all this.
And consequential to all this, that there never was any rebellion against any king ; nor any rifing up of the people, or any part of the people, against him, but it was by the inspiration of GOD, and so no rebellion! And that no hereditary entail of the crown ought
J54
to be made, as being an encroachment upon the freedom of elcction in the people.
Now if I can shew all these points, not only by in
from the whig principles, but plainly and in terms asserted by them, even now, even in this reign, then I hope I shall have perform d to the full what thou faid'st I vapour'd about.
ferences
And all this I sind in a late celebrated book of your pfir. 'y, which has been often advertis'd, and it bears the I titlt I
The REHEARSAL.
155
title we have been just now speaking of, The Protes tant Jesuit unmaftsd, in answer to the tvco parts of. Cassandra, &c. London, printed in the year 1704.
Out of which I will sirst set down this principle, that by the word people, any part of the people is meant. This he asserts, p. 8. in these words, By a part of the
people, is always meant the whole ; the greater part in cludes the less, and the less the greater.
This being fix'd. We go on, he fays, p. 19. Undoubt edly it was the right ofparliaments to d'spose of the great offices os the realm. And, p. 20. But whether they have,
d that power, or are unwilling to contradict what
I will not And, p. zz. dispute.
refign
their princes shall do,
he asserts the right of dominion in the people ; and conse
quently the choice of sheriffs, and all officers either for' the preservation of the peace, or execution ofjustice.
Then, for rebellion, see p. 1 7. where having spent
his rhetorick to shew, that people are always in the right,
when I take arms their he concludes, they against prince,
there is no as the re say, such thing spirit of
So that,
bellion, but what is founded on the insulting and arhi trary principles of the king. And, It is a duty incumbent
to oppose kings, even by violence, to prevent the shedding of
innocent blood, &c. And, p. 23. So great is the power of
the people, which is absolute in point of right in dominion,
that for several misdemeanours, they deposed the said king, &c. And, p. 25. In this cafe, the king makes himself
the people's adversary, and may be used by them as an enemy.
And in this case of the people destroying their king, he makes it a most godly act. And fays, p. 1 3. That God
undoubtedly stirs up the minds of the people- And p. 25.
Who (the people) doubtless Godstirs up against them (their kings). And p. 26. Nay, as Tve said before, the people wou'd never rise up against them,, unless inspird to it by God.
Here all rebellion is sanctify d, and made the inspira tion of God! Or rather, as before is faid, There is no,
uich, thing as rebellion !
H£
And
The REHEARSAL.
And it makes this yet more strange, and sixes it more
fully upon the author, That in Casandra, Part i
is imploy'd wholly upon this head, Whether the txale-
adminiftration of kings, or unreasonableness of the people, was most to blame in the several insurrections of the
people ? And instances are given of Mojes, David, £sfc. To which this book, which calls itself an answer to Cas sandra, replies not one word ; but as an answer to all,
asserts, That in all cases whatever the people were in the
right, When they rose up against their kings, and that it was by the inspiration of God. By which we must sup pose, that Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Absalom and Sht- ha were no rebels, in this author's opinion, but boly and infpird persons ! as he frequently through this book in
156
finuates of the 41 saints ! Their cause is the fame !
4. He jumps likewise with thee, Bays, against all
Sect,
. vi
hereditary succission of the crewn, as an increachment upon the right of dominion in the people ; who ought to have frequent elections of their kings, as of the mayors and sheriffs in London, as thou speaks in thy Qbser•vator, Vol. II. N. 25. And positively asierts, That the regal dignity can never be hereditary.
And this Proteftant Jesuit, p. 6. having expos'd mo
as adds, And, what is this persect slavery, worse,
narchy
slavery must become hereditary too
—— When no
thing is mere vifible, than tbat the people are impos'i en, and lie open to all INNOVATIONS, let them sow from
what part they will, where this hereditary right has spread its numerous branches.
Now if this be not a manifest arraigning the heredi
tary secession which is settl'd upon the illustrious house of Hanover, then nothing I have faid is demonstration . '
And that a(i having made it high treason to oppose that succession so settl'd, either by word or writing, I leave
thee to consider what thou'lt have to fay for thyself, next time thou com'st before thy god-sthers !
if I must bitang'd. I see I shallhave
!
O. Well lthy company!
C. Thou'lt make a fi
repel tho' thou deserv'd it as well as any that ever wore
sgure at the end of a that
The REHEARSAL.
i57 that collar. But I wou'd compound for thee (to shew thy
moderation ) and rather have thee indicted ubon the sta
tute 13 Car. 2. c. i. which makes it only pramunire to
esjirm, that either or iofA houses of parliament have any legislative powcr without the , or any other words tt the fume effect. And this thou hast affirm d 100 times over in thy Ohf. rvators, both in the same words, and others to
the sume effect.
And thy counter-part, the Prote/tant Jesuit chimes in
with thee upon all occasions, he makes no scruple, p. 1 8.
king's I
to deny the negative voice in parliament. And
thence insers, p. ig. Therefore,
fay, tis the part
the PEOPlE to stand by the PArlIAMENT; whofe rICHT
it is to make w ar, and even on the prince
he prove tyrannical or oppressive. And p. 2 1 . makes his conclufion upon the whole, in these words, Therefore, ac tually and pofitively, the peoplf has the rIGHT of dO MINION. king's
negative voice, his prerogative of making peace and war, and conse
quently his power of the militia, but all right of dominion whatsoever taken from him. With this threat, p. 0. That though OrIGINAl FREEdOM seems afleep, it may it
revived again !
Ifthis be not treason, there is none in our laws.
And let me revive again what I before quoted out of him, that by the people, any part of the people is meant ; and that a lesser part includes the greater, even the whole ; and then let any man judge of the sense of these schemes of popular government ! And when we can have peace and fettlement, while any band of thieves may usurp to
themselves the name of the people of England ; and by their authority pull down the king or queen, and give us what fort of new governm:nt they please!
H;w benesicial it may be to the government, to per
mit such principles to be instill'd into the minds of the
commcn-people, as they are every week in the several pa pers of the scandalous club, and a vast multitude of these
sort ofpamphlets, to consider.
I leave to the wisdom of our
superiors I
of
himsels, is
So that here is not only the
The REHEARSAL.
158
I will only mind them, that K. Char. I. in his deelard--
t'ton about the militia, May 5, 1642. when he had let matter go too far; and the acl of parliament 13 Car. 2. c. 6. when all was over, laid one chief cause of the re bellion ofjorty one, upon the permission or encouragement given to the like pamphlets ; which at sirst were neglectei and despised. To which I will only add that of St. James,
upon the licence of the tongue: behold, how great a mat ter a little sire hihdleth I
From &at. Jan. 20, to &at. Jan. 27, 170s. N° 26.
The co&ibination of the faction in Scotland.
Obs T TAd'st thou seen that paper thou carry 'st in thy J, Jt hand, last Saturday was three weeks, when
we talk'd of the Scotch affairs ? Numb. 23.
C. No, upon my word, I never had seen it nor
beard of it at that time.
O. Then thou'rt certainly a witch, or hast a plaguy
knack at guessing ! thou told'st me then, that this affaii in Scotland, was not a national, but aparty business. And this paper proves it to a demonstration.
C. It is e,afy to foresee what men will do, from what they have done, from their avowed principles and incH- nation. There nteds no spirit of prophecy to tell this. Nor need he be a conjurer who sees, that this faction is exactly treading over again the steps offorty one.
O. We may talk more of this another time. But what fays the letter in which this paper came ? and what date do's it bear ?
C. It is dated at Edinburgh, Dec. 30. 1704. and ber gins, in these words, This paper mihich you here fnd is the
result of many grave consultations in the weft, and is hani- ed about amongst the godly, &c. This 'is the account the letter that inclos'd it gives of it. And now let us read it once more, and consider it seriously. Thou hast as
it,
The REHEARS Ah.
159
Ihad without adding, diminishing, or altering one word, upon my honour. Now listen, thus begins.
Overtures for security the country against the present danger lies under, from the destgns papists and ja- cobites.
HAT the popish and jacobite party have de- X. sign against the present establishment, may ea-
sily appear to any thinking men, from many too preg nant evidences, not needful there to be mentioned. Se condly, that seems reasonable, that such as love their religion and liberty, and wish well to her majesty's go vernment and person, should be upon their guard, and use all lawful and necessary means for their own de sence, looking always unto God for his blessing upon endeavours.
And thpught needful, ist. That all necessary means be fallen upon, to awaken people, and shew them their danger. 2d. That means be fallen upon to sind out what state the well asfected of this nation are in, viz. what their number in each parioch or shire, if they be armed, what condition their arms are in, and what arms are wanting. 3dly. That way may be fallen upon to provide such of them as want either arms or ammuniti on. 4^hly. That a correspondence be begun and kept
up amongst them thro' the nation and that they may
be unite in case of an insult from enemies and,
sible, that they may be taught in the use of arms. 5thly. That methods be fallen upon to obtain the countenance of the government for that effect. But in the mean time, that people be not wanting in their private capa cities, to do what in them lies, in legal way, to pro vide against mischief.
And for the sirst proposed, that such as have any
impression of our present danger, would labour to have due sense of their own sins, and the sins of the land,
which are the procuring cause ofour miseries, and would not fail to awaken and rouse up their friends and ac
quaintance
pos
a I.
it is
is
a it
a
a ;
;
of
it
if
a
is
it
I'
it, it
of
160 The REHEARSAL. '
quaintance to have the fame impression both by discourse and writing; and by dispersing away pertinent papeis that come from abroad on that subject.
For the second it is proposed, that two or three that are heretors, or elders, in each parioch, that can have access to examination rolls of each parioch, do meet to gether and get through these rolls ; and in their going through, do pick out such as are undoubtedly well af sected to the present government ofthis nation, and cer tainly would imploy their arms for the desence against a popish successor ; and take the number of them, and that being done, they divide the parioch among them selves ; and that each go through his own quarter, and in a private and prudent way, make inquiry amongst these persons pitched upon as well affected, and who of them have arms, and ifany of them have spare arms, and how many, and what condition these arms are in, and if they be near an equal bore, and what of the niill affected people are nos able to buy arms for themselves. This account being taken, that they give in the fame to a trustee or consident in the head borough of each shire where these pariochs do lie, or as near the he. d-bor,Ough as they can, who can transmit them to a trustee at Edin burgh. By this means it will appear what number of
rwell affectcd people are in the country, how they are armed,, how many arms are wanting through the nation, and so who need be provided either at home or abroad ; and how much common fund will be needful for fur nishing such as are not able to furnish themselves.
To the third it's propos'd, that each -well ,-ffccted per son contribute to his ability for buying up of arms and ammunition to such as want, and are not able to boy; and that it may be done effectually, it is propos'd, that in each shire one or two honest substantial persons be chosen, in whose hands the contribution
and that for security of the contributors towaid the right applying of their money, to be advane'd, do give receipt thereof to the contributors if he require
these terms. A. S. grant me to have receiv'd from,
may be lodg'd,
/,
it, in
The REHEARSAL. \6i
tiff, the sum of, &c. which I oblige me to ware or be stow for him, according to the directions presently given by him to me, and to hold compt to him, therefore, as
witness my hand, &c. But if the persons willing to con tribute have not present money, and the trustee be wil ling to give him credit for some time, that the trustee
draw upon the contributor for the sum that he is wil ling to contribute to this effect: pay to me, or order the sum of, fffc. value in accompt ; and let the contributor accept to a certain day. It is hop'd that a cautioner will not be found requisite. But that people in such an af fair will give an intire credit, and trust one another : but that if that it be found requisite, then the former method seems faser, and more close, than a multitude of
subscriptions at one paper, and c: n never be discover di seeing none are privy thereto, but the trustee and con tributor; and let these considents remit the fame to two or three considents at Edinburgh, who may give account
thereof to their trustees in the shires in the above written terms is desir'd, and may bestow the money by provid ing arms at home, and by imploying merchants there
with to bring arms and ammunition from abroad, and
conform to the contributions of the several shires,
send arms and ammunition to their trustees, which trus tees may distribute them to their pariochs within their
shires according as they need, and a receipt of the num ber of arms from one or two honest men of the parioch
shall exoner the trustees.
To the fourth it is propos'd, that in each shire or
country side or bounds of a presbytery, two or hree per
sons be chosen as is faid for trustees, who may keep
correspondence with the trustees at Edinburgh from time to time in a close manner as can be, and understand what is doing in every place, and concert what is further
needful, and in particular, it will be sit, that in order to be in readiness, in case any emergent occur, that in each two or three, or more pariochs sit persons be
chosen to be captains, and they to choose their own
subalterns and serjeants, and in case there be any erupti on
may
i6z The REHEARSAL.
on that may occasion a general appearance amongst ho nest people, that they resolve themselves to be pitch'd on by the officers, to be a standing force, and that the persons not pitch'd on shall bear their proportion of the charges with the persons pitch'd on for their meet ing together, and that the places of meeting and officers, be made known to all the well affected in the
lhires.
And that likewise a place of general meeting be con
descended on, and it will be necessary that these persons pitch'd upon for officers in the conjunction, with other prudent and intelligent men in the bounds, have a watch
ful eye over those whom they judge ill affected, and ready
to join the enemy at their appearing, and that upon the
very sirst report of any eruption, they do seize upon such
anddisarm them.
For the sifth, any of our great peoplp who are •weU
persons,
effected, especially these in the government, would be spoken to for that purpose, and thatspeedily as can be.
If the government's concurrence be not speedily gotta and that merchants for sear of being obnoxious to the government shall make scruple, to give commission for arms and ammunition ; it is propos'd for an expedient, that the arms be sent for in the names of the cities ofsl- dinburgh, Glasgow, and other royal boroughs, whose magistrates are w// affected, and-who will willingly con cur : and it's thought, that merchants without hazard may bring home small quantities, not exceeding a thou sand apiece, and ammunition also. But in such towns and pariochs where they are very well affected, such as are well inclin'd, may prudently deal with others as they apprehend may be brought in without discovery at
first of the whole defign, and to use their own way and prudence in the management for the directory cannot be univerfally follow'd, but in some part it may.
From
1
The RE HEARSAL.
i6j
'rom ^)£lt. Jan. 27, to ^flt. Feb. 3, 170s. N° 27,
Tie root and spring «/ fife presSbnterian combination 1* Scotland.
^ H O U call'dst me a utt'/sÆ last time, for
M jing so right at the Scots affairs ; that we had nothing to fear from that nation, but from the wicked fa&ion, that has reign d too long there, and like- . vise > and brought great dishonour upon both nations, all
the world over, for that rebellions betraying, selling, and murdering the best ever fat on their throne, which was not the act of either of the nations, but of that
bloody faction confederated'as brethren in both the na- .
tions 5 who being indulgd, gratify d, and put into places of <ra/? , to please them, forsooth ! soon wrested the whole power into their own hands, to the utter destruc tion of thesÆar^, the king, and the laws; with the most miserable mailacre of the best part of the nation ; and con
summate tyranny, and oppression of all the rest, in such arbitrary manner, as not to be equal'd in the history of any other people.
And it being notorious, that for some time past, they have set up again the fame their former principles, bare- fac'd ; and have grasp'd at the power by the fame arti fices, and upon the fame pretences, which they made use
of in forty one: thou thought'st I had sorne more than ordinary skill, in telling what their defigns were, and what in probability, would be their nextstep, which has fallen out accordingly. And I can tell thee what they will do next, and next tq that, if way be given to them,
of all, and what all this must come to.
and what last
Nay, I have told thee all this already, over and over
again, and there go's po more conjuration to all this, than to spell and put together. Nor any other way to hinder the nation from seeing all this, but to put out their eyes.
Wh^ch is the business of thy Qbfirvators,- and the reft of
164
The REHEARSAL.
of the scandalous-club-papers and pamphlets; to ca
ver the defign, to start- new bares, to amuse the /ic//f with high church, and //ofr under ground ; and to bespat- ter the friends of the church and the monarchy, as papists,
jacohites,
and what not. And with this to deafen
the that they £far not the workers in your «aW/,
till they are ready to be sprung.
O. All had been well, if the house of commons (but they will never take my advice ! ) had gone on with my propo
sal which I made in my Obser•vstor of the 3d of last month, N. 75. that ^keel-bullies, end others em
ployed in the colliery at Newcasele, whose numbers, fay) are incredible, shoifd be arm'd from her mnjef. ys ar
senal in the tower of London, isfe.
C. I have heard that their numbers are very great,
about forty thousand. And that two thirds of these are Scots : and, which is far worse, rank nvhigs out of the
(I
nuest of Scotland; bitter presbyteriam. Here is forty-oni again in lively colours! the tower of London must be di{• arm'd, and her mnjrfiy left naked to your wanted cle
mency ! and the arms put into the hands of your dear brethren at Newcastle, to join your dear brethren of Scot land, when they think sit to bring their covenant again into England, as they did before, and declare, that they must do it y; t once again, for all our goods !
But the wisdom of the honourable house of commons has, more than once, put aspoke in the wheel of several of your pretty plots. And, for this time, has defeated your grand expectation of getting your northern friends
-
arm'd.
For this reason, they have been lampoon'd in prose and
in verse, tho' withoutfense or rhyme, by all the stinking artillery of your scandalous club, in such impudent and outragious manner, even while they are fitting, as is not to be equasd in any former times, and shews whether your licentiousness will grow, if it be not correffedht- fore it be too /ate !
It has exceeded even that part of your faflion in
Scotland,
which has the pretence of a establishment. But
The REHEARSAL.
165
Ittt that part of thefaction in England being dijsenters "rom the legal establishment here, are therefore exceed
•ngly more bold and impudent than their brethren in Scot land, in their railing and bitter invectives, which come out daily here against our church, liturgy, rites and cere monies, making them popish, anti-christian, and even
heathenish, rendring the church of England as black as
bell,
as fully is shewed in my former Rehearsals, N. 15, 16,
leaving her neither honesty, loyalty, nor christianity,
17, 18.
And besides all this, attacking the civil government,
the queen, her lord high-admiral by name, and all her admirals and generals, who please not thbm; and the
like of the bishops, judges, and whole administration, the /of*& aad commons, and all that stand in their way,
sparing none, os what rank or quality soever ! whom
they lampoon every day in print, without eitherfear or luit.
These are the pertinent papers that come from abroad,
which the combination of the faction in Scotland, set
down in my last parag. 3. orders to be dispers'd away among the faction there, to awaken and rouse up their
They crave aid of their dear brethren in En gland ; and they have it to the full ! they go hand in hand ; and neither part is ignorant of what the other are
a doing.
And as England has nothing to sear from Scotland,
but from the faction there, in combination with the fame
fadion here : and as that part of the faction in England
is more daring and insulting upon the government, than the part in Scotland ; so is there more prospect of danger to England from the faction in her own bowels, than
from that in Scotland.
There is another thing well worth taking notice of,
friends.
and that that the faction in Scotland have always been
made the forlorn-hope, to begin there, what was design ed to be brought in here, by the main body. If fall there, upon the sirst attempt, then the faction here have their part toscreen them, and excuse them, till they
it
is,
166 The REHEARSAL.
(hall be ready to begin again. Thus the sirst turnouts a Scotland were palliated to K. Ch. I. as of no danger Ut; consequence stall, and were let go on and prosper, rill the
k ing was furpriz'dby the march of a well appointed «r*»)> into England. And then their /wr/y here, who had
all the while lulPd the king asleep, against any appre henfion of them, voted them their good brethren, and
joined with them against his majesty, and brought him to ruin.
And it is to be noted, that this was after his majefy
had pull'd down episcopacy, and established presbytery in Scotland, to please the faction there ; of which he fords
repented, as a most grievous 7? « in him, and the caas! of all his after miseries : and laid down his life, rather than consent to do the like in England, which was their
modest request !
And the sirst tumults in Scotland, of women only st
the beginning, and pretending nothing against the king, were not near so formidable, as the appearance ofseven hundred men in arms, sixing up declarations at noon-day
in royal boroughs, renouncing Anne, princess of Den mark, in words at length, from being their queen, be
cause she had promis'd to maintain episcopacy in England ; which having been once a covenanted people, they declar ed themselves oblig'd by their covenant, to bring them to that again. This declaration, with the covenant re newed by both their provincial s>nods, in this reign, have been printed here *. And this covenant * See association, at sirst but voluntary, like their sirst solemn league, is now, as that was, made compulsory, and sored upon their mi- nisiers, on pain of deprivation. Yet no danger appears
from all this!
Therefore they go on j and have enter'd into secret
combinations among themselves, to raise funds for arming the well affected, but the whole defign to be discover d at sirst only to the very well affected; to name captains
and officers, and have a standing force, with places of ge neral rendezvous appointed, not to be known but to the well affected. And on the sirst report or word given to
feint whomever they judge ill-affected, &c. Now,
The REHEARSAL.
167 Now, as I faid before, that the beginnings in Scotland are a sure indication of what the faction design to be done in England.
line ofsuccejsion was not broke, nor the people discharg'd from their allegiance, for the madness of their prince, which is generally fuppos'd to be the case of Nebuchad nezzar.
And there was no comparison, as to mischief to the
people, betwixt their bearing patiently that heavy judg ment upon their prince ; and - what their cafe wou'd have been, if they had rebeWd against him, and set up ano ther in his place ; because (as they might then have truly
i5o
faid) he was a beast!
5. O. I wou'd never have submitted to a beast ! If I
had been there, I wou'd have set up a Monmouth, or
some body else against him.
C. I doubt it not ! But what if thy Monmouth had
been beaten ? I doubt a whipping had not serv'd thy
turn.
O. But what if my Monmouth had prevaiP d ? There'*
a suppose for your suppose ! And we wou'd have mace the crown ElECTIVE.
To be
made a Poland or a Hungary !
O. But what if that Nebuchadnezzar had been a pa^
pifi? I'm sure they wou'd never have bore with hiai then ! At least Daniel and the Jews.
C. He threw the Jews into a firey furnace, for not
C. What wou'd the people have got by that ?
his idols. Whom he wou'd he slew, and whom he wou'd he kept alive. And at last run mad for pride. And yet Daniel and the Jews were very
faithful to him, and prayd for his life, and the life of hisyin. Tho' he had destroy'd Jerusalem, and burnt
•worshipping
their
O. I
The REHEARSAL.
O. I was going to call them the beasts! This bible
ruins us !
read it ; and we dare not, as yet, flatly deny it. Thou'it
r. ight.
I shall deal with thee.
I
begin
to think the common
people
shou'd not
I'll talk no more with thee to. -' Hereafter I'll bar bible, laws, and reason ! then
turn'd my bead round !
From. . §>at. Jan. i 3 to „§at- Jan. 20, 170s. N° 25.
1. The Countryman challenges Observator. 2. The Ob- servator's moderation. 3. All right of dominion taken from the crown by the Observator, the Prote stant Jesuit, &c. 4. All HEREdITARy succession con
demn d by them.
Coun. ~T Left thee, Bayes, last time confounded. And I'm 1, resolv'd to pursue thee, till either I bring thee to fense ; or convince all the nation that thou hast none. But thy nasty carcase is not worth my mobile. I'll
take thy puss, thy common-wealth by the beard, pull oat her teeth, pair her clonus, and make an anatomy of her, shall fright every one that can reckon ten upon his fingers, and has any concern for himself, his and children ; for his and country, or for o/,/ England. I've made a •&a>/7 of thee already ; and now I'll dispos sess the •atW of thee, for/>c has possess' d thee (o long,
that thou now hast possess' d him with «g/;Vr and more monstrous devils, than any in the of his nati vity ; which comes to pass in heterogeneous mixtures.
O. Hard words, and vapouring too! This is intole rable ! I'd rather come before my 'jury again, than bear this. I'd got reputation by the pillory, and, may be, a Penfion to boot. But this dog of dogs, this renegado of a
t'untryman is, like converts, pofitive and astuming ; if I answer him not, will make a. scare- crow of me,
and make me ashamd to my /ac* in zxiy honest com
i5i
pany.
H 4 C. That
152
The REHEARSAL.
C. That will do thee no harm ! for thou never com'lf into any such ; nor will any such admit thee ; unless as a raree-shew, or some monster of half human and no
shaft, that can chatter as if he cou'd speak, . but for seai of being put to work.
O. Thou'rt a rascal] (quoth Oates) and if you
vex
me, I'llswear it :
C. Done, master, done. It is a bargain.
O. Thou'rt a protestant Jesuit.
C. Why ? I'm no presbyterian —— But thou'st a mind
Thou'rt s or I'll be
Jesuit, bang'df
to slinch from thy bargain, I see ; but I'll close with thee,
even upon this. I do undertake therefore to prove, first, That the prrsbyterians are protestant Jesuits; and the Jesuits popish presbyterians ; not only upon ac
count of their being presbyters, who have broke off from
the jurisdiction of their proper hishops ; but, second/y, as to the state too, that all the mob and republican prin ciples, ofpower in the people, Sec. were taken from the
jesuits and popish doctors.
O. I'll hear none of them at present. But whence
ever we true, noble whigs had our principles, as to the
STATS-point, of coercing kings, and the
rights and liberties of the people, I defy thee, and will cor rect thy bold and insolent huffing, as ifthou thought'st thou cou'd'st make it out as plain as 2 and 3 make 5 — But hark ye, a word in thy ear — Pr'ythee tell me (thou see'st there's company hears us) art thou so very sure, as thou vapour that thou'rt in the right?
C. Most certainly, Sir think myself as sure on't, as of any thing that can be seen, felt, heard, or under
stood.
O. O' my conscience, this dog has mind to try what
our trick of bullying will do
Well since we must engage, and that we are over-
beard, desire you'll treat me cii'illy, and with mode ration and get the better of you, I'll do the fame to you.
2. C. hate compounding That's like one mistrustful of his cause Til use thee as thou deserisft. What mean'ct thou by moderation 0.
original
[Aside.
I ;
;
I?
! ?
I!
if I
!
a
ft,
The REHEARSAL.
i53 O. It is a catholicon, and cures all diseases ! Take but a dose of this, and thou may'st drink poison, and break
all the ten commandments without any offence I It recon ciles churches, or no churches, Chris and Belial, light and darkness ! It can transform a r^/ into a saint, and Sate*
to an Angel of / It can make a schismatick a true friend of the church ; and a whore an /ns«ey? woman I
C. I desire a little /roo/' of the last.
A whore is one of moderate
and your /? >o«f/? woman is immoderate in it! stands obstinately to it, and will rather part with her life, than
0. Why ?
chastity;
a little, tho' but occasionally ! She guards her eyes and her ears, will neither ogle, nor bear so much as a j,st, or a little innocent raillery that tends that way. So that it is hard for a or a man of fashion to sind
conform
conversation for her. such company.
C. She's an errant
Therefore they sldom come into
converfion ?
O. No; never!
must know we have one
honesty?
high-flier
!
And what isa man
of moderate
O. HeM never cheat you, but when he can get some
thing by it ; and will be very punctual with good look ing to.
C. You may go through all the virtues at this rate.
O. Ay ! and bring them so near their opposite vices, that you cannot tell which is which ! I tell you, there is nothing like moderation for reconciling! for
frace and un ion.
C. Will it reconcile thee and me then, since my late
For
men os debauch' d consciences, of the gravest immoralities, who have lest the true fens os religion, and have no prin ciples left, except what will indulge them in their dam nable lusts, &c.
C. Is tia&jour -modeeation,? h5a
you
general exception, that is, to all high-fliers, to all that talk of zeal for the church, of schism, and such like fulsome stuff! These, our moderation a vireue, p. 21. calls, The most dangerous enemies of thi English nation .
The REHEARSAL.
O. Yes. And it is good moderation for all tkisf we have moderation to all that help us, and are of our iide ; and has any body moderation for any others ?
C. When the devil roasted your moderation, he let the spit stand still ; one fide was burnt to a coal, and the other is blood-rain.
But what sort of moderation is it then thou wou'dst
persuade me to ?
O. Whenever I engage, I desire two sorts of modera
tion in my adversary, of courage, lest he shou'd beat me ; and ofsense, lest he shou'd baffle me.
3. C. Come, come, no longer dallying f let's to oui work ; and see if I can make good what I have pro- mis'd thee.
I've shew'd plainly in my last, that thy . mob schint
of government has no foundation ; that it is all nonsense and contradiction. Now I'll explain the consequences of it, and what thou driest at : Not only that the militia shou'd not be trusted with the crown, but no other trust what soever, not to choose the officers of state, or their own meniaj servants. Because there may be ill use made os all these, and kings may abuse the trust repos'd in them. And that the people may recall whatever trust they have given to kings, whenever they please ; and that any of the people may do all this.
And consequential to all this, that there never was any rebellion against any king ; nor any rifing up of the people, or any part of the people, against him, but it was by the inspiration of GOD, and so no rebellion! And that no hereditary entail of the crown ought
J54
to be made, as being an encroachment upon the freedom of elcction in the people.
Now if I can shew all these points, not only by in
from the whig principles, but plainly and in terms asserted by them, even now, even in this reign, then I hope I shall have perform d to the full what thou faid'st I vapour'd about.
ferences
And all this I sind in a late celebrated book of your pfir. 'y, which has been often advertis'd, and it bears the I titlt I
The REHEARSAL.
155
title we have been just now speaking of, The Protes tant Jesuit unmaftsd, in answer to the tvco parts of. Cassandra, &c. London, printed in the year 1704.
Out of which I will sirst set down this principle, that by the word people, any part of the people is meant. This he asserts, p. 8. in these words, By a part of the
people, is always meant the whole ; the greater part in cludes the less, and the less the greater.
This being fix'd. We go on, he fays, p. 19. Undoubt edly it was the right ofparliaments to d'spose of the great offices os the realm. And, p. 20. But whether they have,
d that power, or are unwilling to contradict what
I will not And, p. zz. dispute.
refign
their princes shall do,
he asserts the right of dominion in the people ; and conse
quently the choice of sheriffs, and all officers either for' the preservation of the peace, or execution ofjustice.
Then, for rebellion, see p. 1 7. where having spent
his rhetorick to shew, that people are always in the right,
when I take arms their he concludes, they against prince,
there is no as the re say, such thing spirit of
So that,
bellion, but what is founded on the insulting and arhi trary principles of the king. And, It is a duty incumbent
to oppose kings, even by violence, to prevent the shedding of
innocent blood, &c. And, p. 23. So great is the power of
the people, which is absolute in point of right in dominion,
that for several misdemeanours, they deposed the said king, &c. And, p. 25. In this cafe, the king makes himself
the people's adversary, and may be used by them as an enemy.
And in this case of the people destroying their king, he makes it a most godly act. And fays, p. 1 3. That God
undoubtedly stirs up the minds of the people- And p. 25.
Who (the people) doubtless Godstirs up against them (their kings). And p. 26. Nay, as Tve said before, the people wou'd never rise up against them,, unless inspird to it by God.
Here all rebellion is sanctify d, and made the inspira tion of God! Or rather, as before is faid, There is no,
uich, thing as rebellion !
H£
And
The REHEARSAL.
And it makes this yet more strange, and sixes it more
fully upon the author, That in Casandra, Part i
is imploy'd wholly upon this head, Whether the txale-
adminiftration of kings, or unreasonableness of the people, was most to blame in the several insurrections of the
people ? And instances are given of Mojes, David, £sfc. To which this book, which calls itself an answer to Cas sandra, replies not one word ; but as an answer to all,
asserts, That in all cases whatever the people were in the
right, When they rose up against their kings, and that it was by the inspiration of God. By which we must sup pose, that Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Absalom and Sht- ha were no rebels, in this author's opinion, but boly and infpird persons ! as he frequently through this book in
156
finuates of the 41 saints ! Their cause is the fame !
4. He jumps likewise with thee, Bays, against all
Sect,
. vi
hereditary succission of the crewn, as an increachment upon the right of dominion in the people ; who ought to have frequent elections of their kings, as of the mayors and sheriffs in London, as thou speaks in thy Qbser•vator, Vol. II. N. 25. And positively asierts, That the regal dignity can never be hereditary.
And this Proteftant Jesuit, p. 6. having expos'd mo
as adds, And, what is this persect slavery, worse,
narchy
slavery must become hereditary too
—— When no
thing is mere vifible, than tbat the people are impos'i en, and lie open to all INNOVATIONS, let them sow from
what part they will, where this hereditary right has spread its numerous branches.
Now if this be not a manifest arraigning the heredi
tary secession which is settl'd upon the illustrious house of Hanover, then nothing I have faid is demonstration . '
And that a(i having made it high treason to oppose that succession so settl'd, either by word or writing, I leave
thee to consider what thou'lt have to fay for thyself, next time thou com'st before thy god-sthers !
if I must bitang'd. I see I shallhave
!
O. Well lthy company!
C. Thou'lt make a fi
repel tho' thou deserv'd it as well as any that ever wore
sgure at the end of a that
The REHEARSAL.
i57 that collar. But I wou'd compound for thee (to shew thy
moderation ) and rather have thee indicted ubon the sta
tute 13 Car. 2. c. i. which makes it only pramunire to
esjirm, that either or iofA houses of parliament have any legislative powcr without the , or any other words tt the fume effect. And this thou hast affirm d 100 times over in thy Ohf. rvators, both in the same words, and others to
the sume effect.
And thy counter-part, the Prote/tant Jesuit chimes in
with thee upon all occasions, he makes no scruple, p. 1 8.
king's I
to deny the negative voice in parliament. And
thence insers, p. ig. Therefore,
fay, tis the part
the PEOPlE to stand by the PArlIAMENT; whofe rICHT
it is to make w ar, and even on the prince
he prove tyrannical or oppressive. And p. 2 1 . makes his conclufion upon the whole, in these words, Therefore, ac tually and pofitively, the peoplf has the rIGHT of dO MINION. king's
negative voice, his prerogative of making peace and war, and conse
quently his power of the militia, but all right of dominion whatsoever taken from him. With this threat, p. 0. That though OrIGINAl FREEdOM seems afleep, it may it
revived again !
Ifthis be not treason, there is none in our laws.
And let me revive again what I before quoted out of him, that by the people, any part of the people is meant ; and that a lesser part includes the greater, even the whole ; and then let any man judge of the sense of these schemes of popular government ! And when we can have peace and fettlement, while any band of thieves may usurp to
themselves the name of the people of England ; and by their authority pull down the king or queen, and give us what fort of new governm:nt they please!
H;w benesicial it may be to the government, to per
mit such principles to be instill'd into the minds of the
commcn-people, as they are every week in the several pa pers of the scandalous club, and a vast multitude of these
sort ofpamphlets, to consider.
I leave to the wisdom of our
superiors I
of
himsels, is
So that here is not only the
The REHEARSAL.
158
I will only mind them, that K. Char. I. in his deelard--
t'ton about the militia, May 5, 1642. when he had let matter go too far; and the acl of parliament 13 Car. 2. c. 6. when all was over, laid one chief cause of the re bellion ofjorty one, upon the permission or encouragement given to the like pamphlets ; which at sirst were neglectei and despised. To which I will only add that of St. James,
upon the licence of the tongue: behold, how great a mat ter a little sire hihdleth I
From &at. Jan. 20, to &at. Jan. 27, 170s. N° 26.
The co&ibination of the faction in Scotland.
Obs T TAd'st thou seen that paper thou carry 'st in thy J, Jt hand, last Saturday was three weeks, when
we talk'd of the Scotch affairs ? Numb. 23.
C. No, upon my word, I never had seen it nor
beard of it at that time.
O. Then thou'rt certainly a witch, or hast a plaguy
knack at guessing ! thou told'st me then, that this affaii in Scotland, was not a national, but aparty business. And this paper proves it to a demonstration.
C. It is e,afy to foresee what men will do, from what they have done, from their avowed principles and incH- nation. There nteds no spirit of prophecy to tell this. Nor need he be a conjurer who sees, that this faction is exactly treading over again the steps offorty one.
O. We may talk more of this another time. But what fays the letter in which this paper came ? and what date do's it bear ?
C. It is dated at Edinburgh, Dec. 30. 1704. and ber gins, in these words, This paper mihich you here fnd is the
result of many grave consultations in the weft, and is hani- ed about amongst the godly, &c. This 'is the account the letter that inclos'd it gives of it. And now let us read it once more, and consider it seriously. Thou hast as
it,
The REHEARS Ah.
159
Ihad without adding, diminishing, or altering one word, upon my honour. Now listen, thus begins.
Overtures for security the country against the present danger lies under, from the destgns papists and ja- cobites.
HAT the popish and jacobite party have de- X. sign against the present establishment, may ea-
sily appear to any thinking men, from many too preg nant evidences, not needful there to be mentioned. Se condly, that seems reasonable, that such as love their religion and liberty, and wish well to her majesty's go vernment and person, should be upon their guard, and use all lawful and necessary means for their own de sence, looking always unto God for his blessing upon endeavours.
And thpught needful, ist. That all necessary means be fallen upon, to awaken people, and shew them their danger. 2d. That means be fallen upon to sind out what state the well asfected of this nation are in, viz. what their number in each parioch or shire, if they be armed, what condition their arms are in, and what arms are wanting. 3dly. That way may be fallen upon to provide such of them as want either arms or ammuniti on. 4^hly. That a correspondence be begun and kept
up amongst them thro' the nation and that they may
be unite in case of an insult from enemies and,
sible, that they may be taught in the use of arms. 5thly. That methods be fallen upon to obtain the countenance of the government for that effect. But in the mean time, that people be not wanting in their private capa cities, to do what in them lies, in legal way, to pro vide against mischief.
And for the sirst proposed, that such as have any
impression of our present danger, would labour to have due sense of their own sins, and the sins of the land,
which are the procuring cause ofour miseries, and would not fail to awaken and rouse up their friends and ac
quaintance
pos
a I.
it is
is
a it
a
a ;
;
of
it
if
a
is
it
I'
it, it
of
160 The REHEARSAL. '
quaintance to have the fame impression both by discourse and writing; and by dispersing away pertinent papeis that come from abroad on that subject.
For the second it is proposed, that two or three that are heretors, or elders, in each parioch, that can have access to examination rolls of each parioch, do meet to gether and get through these rolls ; and in their going through, do pick out such as are undoubtedly well af sected to the present government ofthis nation, and cer tainly would imploy their arms for the desence against a popish successor ; and take the number of them, and that being done, they divide the parioch among them selves ; and that each go through his own quarter, and in a private and prudent way, make inquiry amongst these persons pitched upon as well affected, and who of them have arms, and ifany of them have spare arms, and how many, and what condition these arms are in, and if they be near an equal bore, and what of the niill affected people are nos able to buy arms for themselves. This account being taken, that they give in the fame to a trustee or consident in the head borough of each shire where these pariochs do lie, or as near the he. d-bor,Ough as they can, who can transmit them to a trustee at Edin burgh. By this means it will appear what number of
rwell affectcd people are in the country, how they are armed,, how many arms are wanting through the nation, and so who need be provided either at home or abroad ; and how much common fund will be needful for fur nishing such as are not able to furnish themselves.
To the third it's propos'd, that each -well ,-ffccted per son contribute to his ability for buying up of arms and ammunition to such as want, and are not able to boy; and that it may be done effectually, it is propos'd, that in each shire one or two honest substantial persons be chosen, in whose hands the contribution
and that for security of the contributors towaid the right applying of their money, to be advane'd, do give receipt thereof to the contributors if he require
these terms. A. S. grant me to have receiv'd from,
may be lodg'd,
/,
it, in
The REHEARSAL. \6i
tiff, the sum of, &c. which I oblige me to ware or be stow for him, according to the directions presently given by him to me, and to hold compt to him, therefore, as
witness my hand, &c. But if the persons willing to con tribute have not present money, and the trustee be wil ling to give him credit for some time, that the trustee
draw upon the contributor for the sum that he is wil ling to contribute to this effect: pay to me, or order the sum of, fffc. value in accompt ; and let the contributor accept to a certain day. It is hop'd that a cautioner will not be found requisite. But that people in such an af fair will give an intire credit, and trust one another : but that if that it be found requisite, then the former method seems faser, and more close, than a multitude of
subscriptions at one paper, and c: n never be discover di seeing none are privy thereto, but the trustee and con tributor; and let these considents remit the fame to two or three considents at Edinburgh, who may give account
thereof to their trustees in the shires in the above written terms is desir'd, and may bestow the money by provid ing arms at home, and by imploying merchants there
with to bring arms and ammunition from abroad, and
conform to the contributions of the several shires,
send arms and ammunition to their trustees, which trus tees may distribute them to their pariochs within their
shires according as they need, and a receipt of the num ber of arms from one or two honest men of the parioch
shall exoner the trustees.
To the fourth it is propos'd, that in each shire or
country side or bounds of a presbytery, two or hree per
sons be chosen as is faid for trustees, who may keep
correspondence with the trustees at Edinburgh from time to time in a close manner as can be, and understand what is doing in every place, and concert what is further
needful, and in particular, it will be sit, that in order to be in readiness, in case any emergent occur, that in each two or three, or more pariochs sit persons be
chosen to be captains, and they to choose their own
subalterns and serjeants, and in case there be any erupti on
may
i6z The REHEARSAL.
on that may occasion a general appearance amongst ho nest people, that they resolve themselves to be pitch'd on by the officers, to be a standing force, and that the persons not pitch'd on shall bear their proportion of the charges with the persons pitch'd on for their meet ing together, and that the places of meeting and officers, be made known to all the well affected in the
lhires.
And that likewise a place of general meeting be con
descended on, and it will be necessary that these persons pitch'd upon for officers in the conjunction, with other prudent and intelligent men in the bounds, have a watch
ful eye over those whom they judge ill affected, and ready
to join the enemy at their appearing, and that upon the
very sirst report of any eruption, they do seize upon such
anddisarm them.
For the sifth, any of our great peoplp who are •weU
persons,
effected, especially these in the government, would be spoken to for that purpose, and thatspeedily as can be.
If the government's concurrence be not speedily gotta and that merchants for sear of being obnoxious to the government shall make scruple, to give commission for arms and ammunition ; it is propos'd for an expedient, that the arms be sent for in the names of the cities ofsl- dinburgh, Glasgow, and other royal boroughs, whose magistrates are w// affected, and-who will willingly con cur : and it's thought, that merchants without hazard may bring home small quantities, not exceeding a thou sand apiece, and ammunition also. But in such towns and pariochs where they are very well affected, such as are well inclin'd, may prudently deal with others as they apprehend may be brought in without discovery at
first of the whole defign, and to use their own way and prudence in the management for the directory cannot be univerfally follow'd, but in some part it may.
From
1
The RE HEARSAL.
i6j
'rom ^)£lt. Jan. 27, to ^flt. Feb. 3, 170s. N° 27,
Tie root and spring «/ fife presSbnterian combination 1* Scotland.
^ H O U call'dst me a utt'/sÆ last time, for
M jing so right at the Scots affairs ; that we had nothing to fear from that nation, but from the wicked fa&ion, that has reign d too long there, and like- . vise > and brought great dishonour upon both nations, all
the world over, for that rebellions betraying, selling, and murdering the best ever fat on their throne, which was not the act of either of the nations, but of that
bloody faction confederated'as brethren in both the na- .
tions 5 who being indulgd, gratify d, and put into places of <ra/? , to please them, forsooth ! soon wrested the whole power into their own hands, to the utter destruc tion of thesÆar^, the king, and the laws; with the most miserable mailacre of the best part of the nation ; and con
summate tyranny, and oppression of all the rest, in such arbitrary manner, as not to be equal'd in the history of any other people.
And it being notorious, that for some time past, they have set up again the fame their former principles, bare- fac'd ; and have grasp'd at the power by the fame arti fices, and upon the fame pretences, which they made use
of in forty one: thou thought'st I had sorne more than ordinary skill, in telling what their defigns were, and what in probability, would be their nextstep, which has fallen out accordingly. And I can tell thee what they will do next, and next tq that, if way be given to them,
of all, and what all this must come to.
and what last
Nay, I have told thee all this already, over and over
again, and there go's po more conjuration to all this, than to spell and put together. Nor any other way to hinder the nation from seeing all this, but to put out their eyes.
Wh^ch is the business of thy Qbfirvators,- and the reft of
164
The REHEARSAL.
of the scandalous-club-papers and pamphlets; to ca
ver the defign, to start- new bares, to amuse the /ic//f with high church, and //ofr under ground ; and to bespat- ter the friends of the church and the monarchy, as papists,
jacohites,
and what not. And with this to deafen
the that they £far not the workers in your «aW/,
till they are ready to be sprung.
O. All had been well, if the house of commons (but they will never take my advice ! ) had gone on with my propo
sal which I made in my Obser•vstor of the 3d of last month, N. 75. that ^keel-bullies, end others em
ployed in the colliery at Newcasele, whose numbers, fay) are incredible, shoifd be arm'd from her mnjef. ys ar
senal in the tower of London, isfe.
C. I have heard that their numbers are very great,
about forty thousand. And that two thirds of these are Scots : and, which is far worse, rank nvhigs out of the
(I
nuest of Scotland; bitter presbyteriam. Here is forty-oni again in lively colours! the tower of London must be di{• arm'd, and her mnjrfiy left naked to your wanted cle
mency ! and the arms put into the hands of your dear brethren at Newcastle, to join your dear brethren of Scot land, when they think sit to bring their covenant again into England, as they did before, and declare, that they must do it y; t once again, for all our goods !
But the wisdom of the honourable house of commons has, more than once, put aspoke in the wheel of several of your pretty plots. And, for this time, has defeated your grand expectation of getting your northern friends
-
arm'd.
For this reason, they have been lampoon'd in prose and
in verse, tho' withoutfense or rhyme, by all the stinking artillery of your scandalous club, in such impudent and outragious manner, even while they are fitting, as is not to be equasd in any former times, and shews whether your licentiousness will grow, if it be not correffedht- fore it be too /ate !
It has exceeded even that part of your faflion in
Scotland,
which has the pretence of a establishment. But
The REHEARSAL.
165
Ittt that part of thefaction in England being dijsenters "rom the legal establishment here, are therefore exceed
•ngly more bold and impudent than their brethren in Scot land, in their railing and bitter invectives, which come out daily here against our church, liturgy, rites and cere monies, making them popish, anti-christian, and even
heathenish, rendring the church of England as black as
bell,
as fully is shewed in my former Rehearsals, N. 15, 16,
leaving her neither honesty, loyalty, nor christianity,
17, 18.
And besides all this, attacking the civil government,
the queen, her lord high-admiral by name, and all her admirals and generals, who please not thbm; and the
like of the bishops, judges, and whole administration, the /of*& aad commons, and all that stand in their way,
sparing none, os what rank or quality soever ! whom
they lampoon every day in print, without eitherfear or luit.
These are the pertinent papers that come from abroad,
which the combination of the faction in Scotland, set
down in my last parag. 3. orders to be dispers'd away among the faction there, to awaken and rouse up their
They crave aid of their dear brethren in En gland ; and they have it to the full ! they go hand in hand ; and neither part is ignorant of what the other are
a doing.
And as England has nothing to sear from Scotland,
but from the faction there, in combination with the fame
fadion here : and as that part of the faction in England
is more daring and insulting upon the government, than the part in Scotland ; so is there more prospect of danger to England from the faction in her own bowels, than
from that in Scotland.
There is another thing well worth taking notice of,
friends.
and that that the faction in Scotland have always been
made the forlorn-hope, to begin there, what was design ed to be brought in here, by the main body. If fall there, upon the sirst attempt, then the faction here have their part toscreen them, and excuse them, till they
it
is,
166 The REHEARSAL.
(hall be ready to begin again. Thus the sirst turnouts a Scotland were palliated to K. Ch. I. as of no danger Ut; consequence stall, and were let go on and prosper, rill the
k ing was furpriz'dby the march of a well appointed «r*»)> into England. And then their /wr/y here, who had
all the while lulPd the king asleep, against any appre henfion of them, voted them their good brethren, and
joined with them against his majesty, and brought him to ruin.
And it is to be noted, that this was after his majefy
had pull'd down episcopacy, and established presbytery in Scotland, to please the faction there ; of which he fords
repented, as a most grievous 7? « in him, and the caas! of all his after miseries : and laid down his life, rather than consent to do the like in England, which was their
modest request !
And the sirst tumults in Scotland, of women only st
the beginning, and pretending nothing against the king, were not near so formidable, as the appearance ofseven hundred men in arms, sixing up declarations at noon-day
in royal boroughs, renouncing Anne, princess of Den mark, in words at length, from being their queen, be
cause she had promis'd to maintain episcopacy in England ; which having been once a covenanted people, they declar ed themselves oblig'd by their covenant, to bring them to that again. This declaration, with the covenant re newed by both their provincial s>nods, in this reign, have been printed here *. And this covenant * See association, at sirst but voluntary, like their sirst solemn league, is now, as that was, made compulsory, and sored upon their mi- nisiers, on pain of deprivation. Yet no danger appears
from all this!
Therefore they go on j and have enter'd into secret
combinations among themselves, to raise funds for arming the well affected, but the whole defign to be discover d at sirst only to the very well affected; to name captains
and officers, and have a standing force, with places of ge neral rendezvous appointed, not to be known but to the well affected. And on the sirst report or word given to
feint whomever they judge ill-affected, &c. Now,
The REHEARSAL.
167 Now, as I faid before, that the beginnings in Scotland are a sure indication of what the faction design to be done in England.
