The
dissenters
have no foundation of a church.
Rehearsal - v1 - 1750
That is not now to be done.
There has been an ancient and a solemn league and covenant betwixt you.
O. But where's your moderation all this while ? And fliou'd not all the nation be alarm d at what this common- council-man faid ?
C. You neither tell who that common-council-man was, nor to whom he faid it. Thou'sl no mind to be. deteclU And since I've prov'd thee so notorious a. liar in the othei
stories thou tellest in the fame Observator, who has rea son to believe one word thou fay'st, upon no better au thority than- thy own? Tho' if such a thing had been faid by a. private man, vxpassion or in drink, is it equal to what thou the vindicator in publick post, and the mouth of the party, ha& printed to all the nation, in the fame Observator, where telling how the peeper at Co ventry was thrown out of the window, and mash'd ti death on thestones, thou adds, that it wou'd be much sor
the ease and advantage of her majesty and her good peopie, ifall the tackers in Encland were servd as the peeper at Coventry ?
O. And is not this greater moderation, than to send them all to the devil? Tho' for my part, I'd rather fence with the devil about my soul, than with a halter about my neck. But these tackers and high fiiers pretend to value their fouls above their bodies. Believe it who can f 'Tis all hypocrisy. As in that tacker who writes godly booh,
for which we have paid him off more than any of the
rest, in our character of a tacker. Where will they sind
any such hypocrisy among us ? your
C. I have read some of the virtues of leading-
p.
faints in the address to the clergy of the church of England,
12. &c. And I sind no hypocrisy at all in them: but that they actcd what they really meant, the utmost con
tempt and blasphemy against the christian religion ; and . which couM not have come into the head of any com mon devil. The church will be well securdaxA trans
mitted by such hands !
O. I cannot bear this : 111 rather let thee tell a story,
than go' on at this rate.
C. Then
The REHEARS AL.
241
C. Then I'll tell thee a true one which I have from a
*'ery good hand. Within this month there were a com
pany of pure sour whigs got together, and discoursing over their godly deeds from forty one and downwards, they
came at last to their joyful day indeed, the de-collation of King Charles I. Upon which one of them shruggd up his shoulders, and with a fanatical grin, which they use fpr smile, faid, with a gusto, the queen has a fine white
0. And what can'st inser, what can'st make of that ?
C. Nothing! But that he said it. And no body re- provd him.
0. You know how the diffenters have vindicated them selves from having any hand in the murder of king Charles I. and I darefay they wou'd do as much for his grand daughter, if there were occafion.
C. I doubt it not in the least. But I pray God pre serve her from the tas of your mercies. You wou'd then prove, as you do new, and last week publisiYd a book call'd, the politicks of high church, Sec. to prove, that it
was the principles of the church of England, which cut off the head of king Charles I. And that it was a natu ral consequence of the passive obedience, and jure divina doctrine, to make the king the Lord's, and not the people's anointed, and so a fin to stretch forth a hand against him !
0. It was those principles cut off his head. And theso men did not know our temper. For I'll tell thee, as the goodwoman faid,
No sooner weIll convinced it is afln, But methinks standon thorns tillIbegin.
We are not for king-killing. Only we wou'd have it in our power ! and these tackers and high-church-men , I'm afraid, won't let us !
(5. ) They wou'dn't let us come into Honiton t'other day with a new candidate we set up against Sir W. D. a tucker. The very women sell upon us, andus'dus worse than at Coventry, or Hertford. - For they kilVd three of u s, and we cou'd kill but one of them. If they
M begin
242
The REHEARSAL.
begin to pluck up their spirits, we shall soon loose ours, But on whom must this blood lie ?
C. Upon the aggressors. O. Who are they ?
C. Not the tackers, to be sure, nor the house of com mons, no, nor the high church. That was a name you nuhigs invented, whereby you might blacken the whole church freely. I have fully shew'd in the foregoing pa
pers, that you were the aggressors against the church,
and she only upon the defensrve, in answer to but a sew of your virulent pamphlets. The house of s^CTZwwshas
been legion d and rogud over and over again, and by none more than by thy stinking breath, who call'st them a pack of hounds ; and bids them kiss thy arse. Vol. 3. N. 97. I wou'd not repeat thy nasty words, but to shew they are thine. But who invented the name of tackers? And expos'd them even while the house was sitting, in the character ofa tacker as •wild beasts, to whom no lava was to be given, but to be destroy d by all true Er. glip- tnen, any bow. Then, as soon as the parliament was up, out came lists of the tackers. And then again in red letters, to shew them to the people as papists, or that their names were to be wrote in blood : explain'd by cir cular letters sent through the country, toshoot them thro' the head, if any of them pretended to appear at the en- . suing elections. And that cry is still continu'd in all the
scandalous papers, and now by thee, to have their brain: beat out, and mastod against the stones. Who now are
the aggressors ?
If this shou'd oblige the members of the last parliament
to come to elections, with their friends about them, and mrmed, and any mischiefshou'd follow, remember it lies upon those who have been, and still are the aggressors.
I faw a letter since the most of these were wrought off, which makes me doubt whether any were downright kiWddX Honiton, but that many were sore wounded.
From
The REHEARSAL.
rom &3t. April 28, to •§at. May 5, 1705. N° 40.
: . A word of advice to all the dissenters, except the pref-
byterians. 2. And to the prefbyterians, concerning the ensuing elections. 3. Pop ery at the bottom. And the dissenters the cats-foot fiill.
[1. ) Coun. ▼ Must now divide your legion. I have a X. word to fay to all the rest of them, except the presbyterians. These must stand by themselves for a
tvbale.
O. I like not this. Thou'rt for dividing us. And
we are now one and all the fortsof us, even to the quak- ers, against your high church and iackers.
C. I doubt not you wou'd all willingly see the church pull'd down ; and the monarchy too : for these
support each other. But suppose this done j you can not be all in the saddle at once. Which class ofyou, do'ic think,wou'd come next in power?
O. The presbyterians, no doubt : they were the mother of us all. They began and carry d on the blessed ivork, in the reign of K. Char. I. Tho' they were mump' dm. the end, by some of their own ungracious children, upon the fame principles which they had taught them. But they have
Ikfd and prosper'd since : and are still the topping; party
among us ; supported by their alliance with the prefbyter- ian churches abroad, but especially now with Scotland.
C. What sort of quarter, what toleration will the pref byterians give to the other fects among you, if their clajfis come to be again establish'd ?
0. That is an unlucky' question. It brings strange titings into our minds. They rzVall the rest like Jehu, while they were in the power ; and call'd them as ill names as they did the papifbes themselves, or the church
of England, which they hate worse ; as more oppofite to them, especially as to principles of government. Which some body has shew'd in a large sheet of paper, with
Sampson's foxes on the top, call'd two sticks made one : M2 . or,
243
244
The REHEARSAL.
or, the devil upon dun. And there is a book come lately
out call'd, the principles os the dissentcrs concerning tele- ration, wherein they declare against all toleration to one another, in the molt violent terms, calling one anothei, Judas, Korah, and the very wbore of Babylon. And ev'n worse than the church, when it was down. Instead of toleration, they hangd up the poor quakers in New- England. And they keep them to their hard-meat now in
Scotland, where the prejiyterians rule ; who declare all to leration to the church, or any other, to be anti-christian,
and establishing iniquity by a law.
There is no one sort of our dissenters but will fay, that
they had rather be under the church of England, than un
der any of the dissenters, except themselves. And so they fay all. And of all the others, they dread the prefiy- terians most, because they have suffer d most under them.
C. Then the struggling of all the other dissenters (ex cept the prefiyterians) against the church, is only to set up the prejiyterians instead of the church. And what
will they get by that bargain ?
They pretend to be afraid of their toleration now,
iho' they have all the security for it that is possible to be given, that an act of parliament, back'd with re peated affurances from the throne, and from the house of Kommcns too. And they are not afraid of the lords. To fay, that an act of parliament may be repeas to re-
jiiin\\ the s'curity that, as faid, possible to be given.
No man has other (under God] for his life, liberty, or iftate, or can have. And he that asks an impossible
'tis plain has mind to quarrel.
But they are afraid of their toleration now, yet wou'd
set those up, who, they axtsure will take from them
V/ho are obliged to do by their constantly dedar'd/m- tiphs, and have ever done when they had thepowtr.
Let me add to this, that the most effectual way they can take to provoke the parliament to take away their ts- leration, to vote, as they have generally done, and am told intend to do so now again, at the ensuing elec tions, for such members ofparliament as axe least in the
security,
is,
I
!
it
I ,
it a
it
is
d, is
is,
The REHEARSAL.
245 of the church. Which will let the church see, -si, that it is impojsibh to please the dissenters, by what-
fere/i
i'er concessions, and how firmly soever granted. And in te next place, that while they have votes for parliament' icn, the church can never be secure; but in perpetual ha- :ard of" being overturned, every new election of parliament.
O. But at this rate, if ali the dissenters, except the
rrjhytcrians,
shou'd vote for the church, then the church
; and they wou'd never
oa'd be always
get'
s
;fr down.
establish'd
C. No. Nor ought they ever to destre they un- lerstood their own interest. Unless they preser persecuti on to toleration.
Some or other must still be uppermost. And whom stvould all desire, but those under whom all live most eafily
Besides, if the presbyterians get into the saddle, the other dissenters will sind harder work to get them disposiest than to undermine the church who not so much upon her guard, nor apt tosuspect designs against her. But
the presbyterians are vigorous, and watchful, and indefa tigable. They hold the reins of discipline strict and
vere as all the other dissenters have prov'd and that they stand not upon blood, to secure their conquests. They never sufser such open attempts against their constituti on, such revilings, and persecution of the tongue, as the church bears patiently from them every day They threw
malignant out of their parliaments, and modelVd them at pleasure, without regard to birth-rights, or primitive constitution. And they made all seel the weight of their
hand, who durst murmur or complain.
(2. ) O. Well then, tho' you think theinterest os the
other dissenters to iwte for the church, yet you allow that
the interest of the presbyterians to iwff against her. C. No. will not allow that neither. For if they do not get such wbig house of commons as they desire, they put the church upon necessity of keeping more watch-
ful eye over them, whom she sees restless for her destruc tion. Besides, they cannot hope to get the queen to break
M
those
3
is
aI a
s
it is
; 'd
?
it a!
it, if
:
se
;
1\&
The REHEARSAL.
ihose solemn promises she made to the church, upon her
acc:£:on to the crown, not only ofsupporting and main
taining it, but to bestow her distinguijhingsavours upon those who were most zealous for it ; and to take care,
that it shou'd be fasely transmitted to posterity.
But suppose the church were leveWd with the ground,
a whig parliament will never put the preflyterians into the saddle, whom they know to be such furious riders.
The n'higs aie of no religion, they are atheists, or i)Ms at best. They hate all churches. But since some or other must be set up, they like that best, where there is least discipline ; and therefore they will not easily part with the church of England: but they would garble and modi her into a no church, that is, with no discipline at all. But to submit themselves to the rigour of a presbyteriat elrsfis, their fouls abhor.
Besides, the independents, the anahaptists, and even the quakcrs, will not give their heads for the •washing.
They will dispute it with the presbytcrians, as to number,
wealth, and interest. And which ever of them stall prevail, all the r<^ will have their A«r»s in their fits. And they must ra/tf the rest with a iW of iron, ta/ecur*
themselves, as they did before, in their several chsngts. Ar. d the consequence of this wiil be what it was before,
a civil war, and horrid defiructicn of lives, liberty, and
property, without prospect of end.
So that if the love of ones countiy, and posterity can
sirm establishment only can prevent all these evils ; and
give security and toleration to the dissenters in general, as to all things for which they can any way pretend cm-
With which, since they are not content, it is
science.
plain that they seek something else !
Therefore, whoever vote not at the ensuing eleSi- ens, for such members as are most intirely in the i*~ terefis of the church of England, do all that is in their power (whether themselves know it or not) to bring these nations into confufion. And the end will be pipe.
(3-) O.
The REHEARSAL.
247
{3. ) 0. Now thou mazes me. What ! Do'st think, that either whigs or dijfenters will bring in popery ?
C. I do not believe the generality of them intend it. But they may be guWd, as they were before : and made tools of, as before, to pull down the church of England. And when that is gone, the bulwark against popery is
gone.
The dissenters have no foundation of a church. They will Z'cwÆ into a thousand divifions among them selves: Every man, woman, and child will be setting up a religion of their own. The popish
emissaries will come and preach among them, and blo-iv into their
i«M& all the old exploded heresies, which they willfuck in as it were inspiration. This was the case offorty -one times, when there were above threescore different religi ons at one time in England, whose names you may see in Htrefiography and Gangrena, wrote in those times.
In that diftraction, several families of the nohility and gentry (besides many others,not taken notice of) feeing no saceoi a church left in England, went over to the church
of Same ; and many of them have not return'd to this
day.
And the prospect there is of the like coming again
may be one reason of that strange run towards pope ry, which has been observable of late years in England. Bnt it is not only in the consequence, but it has been
always in the operation and defign to introduce popery, whenever the dijsenters were rais'd up against the church of England. It is well known that the cardinals Rich'
lieu and Mazareen fomented the' rebellion against King
Charles I. sent into Scotland the solemn league and cove
nant, drawn exactly after the model of the holy league in
France : and assisted these dissenters all they cou'd against
the church ofEngland ; and by them, at last, broke it to
pieces : And that these good protestant whigs aud-dissen ters crav'd aid of the French king against king Charles I.
After the restoration king Charles II. set up the dissenters in the year 1672. And we all know now with what de-
This was the ruin of his unfortunate brother, king M 4 James
248
The REHEARS AL.
fames II. what favours he shew'd to the papists, and M. igdalm college, were but handles taken up against him afterwards. But when he began to play the dissenters against the church, his enemies against his friends; and in the fourth year of his reign, made an alteration in the lieutenancies, and commissions of the peace, and put in whigs and disinters, then he lost the hearts of the chuich of England. Then it was he found in bisstipprr, one morning as he rose, these •verses.
,
The hearts of all thy friends are lest and gone, Wcndring they sland and gaze about thy throne, Scarcely believing thee the martyr . : son,
Those ixhom thoufavour's merit not thy praise, To their own ends they sacrifice thy case, Andixillinsorrow make thee endthy days.
The disinters were made the cats-foot then, and always will be, when there is any defign against the church of EngLnd. And ihat there are dfigning men among us, no body will doubt : because all complain of though they know not where to fix it. But time will disco
ver it.
Upon the whole, to set up the dissenters against the
church, to keep out popery;- like making holes yoOr
dykes, to keep out the sea. The dissenters may en- courag'd) break the church: and then they will dash one another to pieces, till the nation made a prey, sirst to atheism, and then to popery. The prevention of which depends in great measure, under God, upon the enlu- ing clcctions, that true friends to the church, and to the crown be chosen. And none that lie under anysuspicion, by their principles or otherwise, to hold correspondince with, or be of the party of the presbyterians in Scotland, now armd and obtain'd law.
Ifthe Englifi dijsenters have no evil designs, have given demonstration, that the true real inttrtst of them all, as well presbyterians as others, to endea vour the preservation, and seek the peace of the church of England.
it is
by a
is is
I
it,
a
(if in
The REHEARSAL.
249
! But if they set themselves up against her in the ensu-
g
ou'd be at. And if the zeal of the church
elections, it is as a plain
demonstration what they be not equal
1
o
O preserve, as theirs to destroy,
ACTDM EST— ■
From ^>at. May 5, to &at. May iz, 1705. N° 41-
1 . Past twelve a clock, and a cloudy morning. 2. The Kit-cat theatre, and its dedication. 3. The consede
racy of whigs and dissenters. 4. The loss of the late
bill against popery. 5. • The story of Philip Levi a
6. How the tackers are recewd in the country, particularly at Honiton and Exeter.
Oi. XT THAT's that in thy hand, thou Yt looking V V upon so earnestly ?
Jew.
C. A whig-watch, or barometer, caculated for the en
suing- elections.
O. It is a letter ; let me see the superscription.
It is
directed to Warrington in Lancashire : To Mr. Va
who is a justice ofpeace ; and it is sign'd W, Ajh
that is, Sir W. Ash——st, a good man, I'm sure he can. fay nothing that's ill. Come, let me see what he fays.
C. Soft and fair. I'll shew thee a gentle stroke or so, to fatisfy thy curiofity, and keep the rest to another time.
Here he dissuades his coufin Mr. Va . . ry from es poufing the interest of the HIGH-CHURC. 4, as be was told
he did in the ensuing elections.
0. That's as an honest man inou'd do.
C. But the reasons he gives — He aJJ'ures Mr. Va—ry,
That a name there at length, which I dare not repeat,
being of supreme quality, was in the interest of the dis senters ; and that it was past twelve a clock with the
church of England. These are the words.
M 5 O. Aud
•-ry t,
The REHEARSAL.
250
O. And they're pretty words, I
swear. Is it not in-
gtnijus ?
C. And ingenuous too! He tells the plain truth of
what is in defign by the whigs and dissenters ; and how near in view, as they imagine. But for the sublime lad) he is so bold to mention, as in the interest ofthe dissen- .
ters, we know her education and inclination! are other
wise ; and the repeated assurances the church of England has had from the throne, sets them above all these •wicked
and seditious surmises of any poffibility of the queens
departing, or being persuaded, in the least tittle, from
her firmness to her mother the church of England, and her faith plighted to it ; wherein she trusts her soul to be sani'd, and her body too, at the insolent rate vou iicbigs
and disinters have treated and tbreatned her majesty. The interests of the church and the crown are the fame.
They stand and fall together; and if it he. past twelve a clock with the church, the Queen is past her meridian.
All the way after is down-hill, and the motion swift. But we look upon all this as the rant of the part): First, to blacken the queen, and render her suspected to all
her true friends, that is, the church of England; and then, she having lost their hearts, (as these wbigs and dissenters wou'd have to be left naked and defenceless to the mercy of the inveterate enemies of the church, monarchy, of her family, and of herself; who insulted her, in the of her distress, in late striking at
her very life,, endeavouring to deseat her succession, and after, to bring over the princess and
nmier upon her all which have already shew'd, and am still ready to produce out of their printed pam phlets.
And this rant and bullying and lying take place, and the true sons of the church come to think the case desperate, will weaken their hands, and dispirit them and give an easy victory to their enemies. But they have not, of late, shew'd themselves so cow hearted, as
You felt to your ost, at Coventry, Honiton, and Hers*
,/W. They are awake,
and will e/>/o/£ to the uttermoii
it r
;
so
if
;
of
I
a
,
it)
The REHEARSAL.
251
all such candidates for elections, as think it past twelve a clock -with the church of England; which none think, or willfay so, but who auish it.
(2. ) O. Here's a stir kept with a private letter ; but canst thou shew any publick act countenanc'd or allowd by any of those thou call'st whigs or dissenters, which contains the least disrespect or threatning towards the church or religion ! then thou'lt fay somewhat !
C. The kit-cat club is now grown famous and noto rious all over the kingdom ; and they have built a temple for their dagon, the new play-house in the Hay-Market.
The foundation was laid with great solemnity by z noble babe of grace. And over or under the foundation-stone is a //•zte of stiver, on which is graven kit-cat on the
one side, and /////« w^j- on the other. This is in futu- ram ret memoriam, that after ages may know by what worthy hands, and for what good ends this stately fa- brick was erected. And there was such zeal shew'd, and
all purses open to carry on this work, that it was almost as soon finishV as begun ; while Pauss-worA is become a
proverb ; and the greatest part of our communicants can not come to our churches for want of room ; and there
is no zeal or money to be found to build others : while Dan. Burgess, and other dissenters, can rear cathedrals with as much expedition as that in the Hay market.
And now I come to the dedication of in
spoke at the sirst opening of which printed for our tdification Take sew lines of
Such was our buildtrs art that soon as nanid, This fabrick, like the infant world, was framd.
The architect must on dull order wait But ^tis the poet only can create.
This
Ik the good age
Honu did cathedrals rife, and zeal advance
But now that pious pageantry's no mere Andstages thrive, as churches, did before.
M will
ghostly ignorance,
faid -to be written by Dr. th, chaplain to ht-cat, an open and prosess'd enemy to all religion and
prologue
6
G
it ;
;
is
of
; ;
is
it,
! a
! a
it :
252
The REHEARSAL;
will give a sine idea of our church and nation to other
countries ; especially when they hear, that this is call'd,
Ike queen'. ; play-house.
O. Let it be the queens, : what is that to the honest
dissenters ? They hate play-houses, and have spoke as
much against them as Mr. Collier, tho' not with his ivit
and learning. I myself have sputter d at them, and call'd them ;'// names, which is all my talent, as thou hast
found.
C. Then thou dost distinguish kit-cat and whig from
dissenter ; yet they are Simeon and Levi, strict brethren in
iniquity. Are they not all whigs, whom the dissenters promote at ehctions f Is not kit-cat their sanhedrin, their
patrons and solicitors ? their very saints, and only pa triots ! whose horrid prophanations and blasphemies ( to some of which I reserr'd thee in my last ) are such as
cannot be repeated without polluting the very thought ! and wou'd not be fuffer'd in any Christian country. This calls for fire and brimstone, which will come one
day.
O. Thou mistak'st the matter quite. The dissenters
approve not of our whig-vices ; but they take us by the hand only upon the account of bufiness, because we join with them against the church; and then we have ouedity which they want, and money too, and interests,
court. By which means we can represent the most vir
tuous as unfit to serve the publick ; andsanctify the great est of our rakes into their places ! and the dissenters are
pleas'd with this, as tending to promote their good old cause. They can hold a candle to the devil for God's fake ! And they have got a pure word, which can
all these things, that is moderation ! which they extend to Lucifer himself, and all his imps, that
solve
are on their side ; any thing that is against the church of England! even popery itself! It is not the sirst time they and we too crav'd aid of that (and of France
too) against the church of England. I tell thee, country- p:an, >ve vhigs, who are of no religion at all, hett and despise these snivling dissenters as much as you do; and.
The REHEARSAL:
253
rally and ridicule them when wi are by ourselves. But we make use of them, as they do of us, each to do his own business : To over-turn the government both
in church and state, and share it between us. Give us the sower of the state, and let them set up what church they will. We know how to deal with it, as we did before, if they don't please us, when we are once got
into the power.
(4. ) But in the mean time, we must both cry out a-
^iiA popery / That's a brave word among the mob ! and we six it upon all the church of England ; especially the house of commons and the tackers. For this end we
have given it out, and it runs now among the coffee houses, that the late hill against popery, which was fram'd by the lords, was lost, by a clause added by the house of commons, on purpose to clog whereby the toleration was quite destroy
have heard that faid over and over, and consi dently averr'd which made me enquire of member of parliament, who told me the whole of which was this The hill as came from the lords, laid such pe nalties upon those papists who did not declare themselves
protestants at such an age. member of the house of commons faid the word protestant, as commonly under stood, included all the fects among us, quakers, muggle- tonians, anabaptists, &c. Whereupon, instead of the
Word protestant, the church of England was put, that those papists who shou'd enjoy the benesit of that aft, shou'd declare themselves of the church of England, and continue in it. This was all the alteration upon which such outcries are made and shews, that there are some wou'd rather have papists stay where they are, than come over to the church of England.
O. And good reason for that wou'd strengthen our enemies with whom we now contend for the power. We are not afraid of the papists They stand not now the gap against us they are of our side against the church of England, and always have been. Therefore bet
ter for us, that the papists keep where they are, they are
it is
in
;
i
d.
:
A
; ;
: C. 1
it
it,
a
it,
The REHEARSAL.
254
are now auxiliaries ; than that they should go orer to the church of England, for then they wou'd be
enemies. you (5. ) C. And for the fame reason,
had rather a Jew, a Mahometan, or a Pagan, shou'd remain as they are, than become a Christian of the church of Eng
land.
O. Yes, surely ; and we shew'd it lately : There was
one Philip Levi, a very learned Jew, whom we got to teach Hebrew in our private academy at Shrew/bury; and gave, him a good penfion, and were very kind to
him ; but minded not his converfion. This some of the churchmen did for us ; and he was baptiz'd, according to
Immediately upon which, we turn'd him off, as did the Jews at London, for a deserter. We hunted his creditors upon him, whereby he and hisfamily, his wist ready to lye-in, were reduced to great straits. Here upon the churchmen, both clergy and laity (out of pure
spite to us, and not out of zny charity ) thought them selves oblig'd not to let the poor man starve, because we wou'd have had it so, for an example to others. They therefore rais'd a contribution for him, wherein Dr. Hollins (a learned and good phyfician we must own him) was very active, as well as a large contributor. He must be some frirst-ridden sellow. But they sent this convert-
ed]iw to Oxford, with letters of recommendation foi his teaching Hebrew the re; where he meets with all pro per encouragement from the vice-chancellor and heads of
And the learned lord bishop of Worcester, and other good judges, do attest his eminent skill in the rab hinical learning, superior even to the late learned Abet- dana. But all this is out ofspite to us ! And now thou'st got this story by the end, I'll warrant thou'lt print to rake all thou canst against us.
(6. ) C. cou'd sill sheet every day with fresh tohni of your love! And that as transparent, as that Yooa bullying too has fail'd you. All your Billingsgate rbe terick has not persuaded the people out of conem Avith th»
ackers.
Easter.
houses.
t
a is
I
it,
The REHEARSAL.
155
iackers. They are receiv'd every where with greater
demonstrations of re/pect and esteem than ever were us'd to be express'd to their members, especially after the dsso- Iution of a parliament ; which (hews their inclinations to wards a future election. Here's a letter just now come to my hands, dated at Exeter the 2d of May, which fays as follows : Yesterday in the evening Mr. Snill our late member in parliament came hither with such an at- tendance ofgentry on horseback, that most people fay there hath npt been such a fight ; at least a hundred of these horse went as far as Honiton, where the gentlemen tarry d till the coach had its fresh horses, so attended to Honiton-cliff, where were a vast company more, with
foot also, with gilded laurels in their hats. At which
place the gentlemen defird Mr. Snell to mount on horse back, and ride at the head of them, there being a horse pro vided on purpose, which he did ; and all the people attend
ed with I the bells shouts ofjoy,
in all the ringing quarters of
never ; and, I fuller of people
town, and
dent happened in this great concourse ofpeople. These are the words of the letter. And this was more happily ominous than the entrance of Sir John Elwill into the fame town of Honiton, in opposition to the tackers, which was attended with blood, and over which thou mak'st thy lamentations in thy Observator dated the fame day of this letter, the zd of this month. Not knowing the triumph of a tacker at Honiton and Exeter the day before. And what was then a doing to a man whom the people (thy
God and sovereign ) delighteth to honour. For whom, and all the tackers, thou and thy rascally crew had, in
think the
streets
what is much to be remark'd, of
dont hear one ill acci
your towring imaginations, prepar'd gailowses 50 cuhits high. And to add to the omen, it was upon a double saints holy-day, the jest of whigs, and abhorrence of dissenters. The complexion of the omen thou may'st sind,
Esther vi. 1 3, which I desire thee and thy friends to read and consider.
i
From
The REHEARS AL.
From §>at. May 12, to . §at. May 19, 1705. N°4Z.
256
An account of /^election for the county Suffolk. With that of Oxford, &V. 2. A defence of the Reve rend Mr. Lamb from the foul mouth of the Obsem- tor. With the assault of the dissenters uson the church e/'Harpenden. 3. The hopes of the dissenters now in the elections nearest Scotland. 4.
O. But where's your moderation all this while ? And fliou'd not all the nation be alarm d at what this common- council-man faid ?
C. You neither tell who that common-council-man was, nor to whom he faid it. Thou'sl no mind to be. deteclU And since I've prov'd thee so notorious a. liar in the othei
stories thou tellest in the fame Observator, who has rea son to believe one word thou fay'st, upon no better au thority than- thy own? Tho' if such a thing had been faid by a. private man, vxpassion or in drink, is it equal to what thou the vindicator in publick post, and the mouth of the party, ha& printed to all the nation, in the fame Observator, where telling how the peeper at Co ventry was thrown out of the window, and mash'd ti death on thestones, thou adds, that it wou'd be much sor
the ease and advantage of her majesty and her good peopie, ifall the tackers in Encland were servd as the peeper at Coventry ?
O. And is not this greater moderation, than to send them all to the devil? Tho' for my part, I'd rather fence with the devil about my soul, than with a halter about my neck. But these tackers and high fiiers pretend to value their fouls above their bodies. Believe it who can f 'Tis all hypocrisy. As in that tacker who writes godly booh,
for which we have paid him off more than any of the
rest, in our character of a tacker. Where will they sind
any such hypocrisy among us ? your
C. I have read some of the virtues of leading-
p.
faints in the address to the clergy of the church of England,
12. &c. And I sind no hypocrisy at all in them: but that they actcd what they really meant, the utmost con
tempt and blasphemy against the christian religion ; and . which couM not have come into the head of any com mon devil. The church will be well securdaxA trans
mitted by such hands !
O. I cannot bear this : 111 rather let thee tell a story,
than go' on at this rate.
C. Then
The REHEARS AL.
241
C. Then I'll tell thee a true one which I have from a
*'ery good hand. Within this month there were a com
pany of pure sour whigs got together, and discoursing over their godly deeds from forty one and downwards, they
came at last to their joyful day indeed, the de-collation of King Charles I. Upon which one of them shruggd up his shoulders, and with a fanatical grin, which they use fpr smile, faid, with a gusto, the queen has a fine white
0. And what can'st inser, what can'st make of that ?
C. Nothing! But that he said it. And no body re- provd him.
0. You know how the diffenters have vindicated them selves from having any hand in the murder of king Charles I. and I darefay they wou'd do as much for his grand daughter, if there were occafion.
C. I doubt it not in the least. But I pray God pre serve her from the tas of your mercies. You wou'd then prove, as you do new, and last week publisiYd a book call'd, the politicks of high church, Sec. to prove, that it
was the principles of the church of England, which cut off the head of king Charles I. And that it was a natu ral consequence of the passive obedience, and jure divina doctrine, to make the king the Lord's, and not the people's anointed, and so a fin to stretch forth a hand against him !
0. It was those principles cut off his head. And theso men did not know our temper. For I'll tell thee, as the goodwoman faid,
No sooner weIll convinced it is afln, But methinks standon thorns tillIbegin.
We are not for king-killing. Only we wou'd have it in our power ! and these tackers and high-church-men , I'm afraid, won't let us !
(5. ) They wou'dn't let us come into Honiton t'other day with a new candidate we set up against Sir W. D. a tucker. The very women sell upon us, andus'dus worse than at Coventry, or Hertford. - For they kilVd three of u s, and we cou'd kill but one of them. If they
M begin
242
The REHEARSAL.
begin to pluck up their spirits, we shall soon loose ours, But on whom must this blood lie ?
C. Upon the aggressors. O. Who are they ?
C. Not the tackers, to be sure, nor the house of com mons, no, nor the high church. That was a name you nuhigs invented, whereby you might blacken the whole church freely. I have fully shew'd in the foregoing pa
pers, that you were the aggressors against the church,
and she only upon the defensrve, in answer to but a sew of your virulent pamphlets. The house of s^CTZwwshas
been legion d and rogud over and over again, and by none more than by thy stinking breath, who call'st them a pack of hounds ; and bids them kiss thy arse. Vol. 3. N. 97. I wou'd not repeat thy nasty words, but to shew they are thine. But who invented the name of tackers? And expos'd them even while the house was sitting, in the character ofa tacker as •wild beasts, to whom no lava was to be given, but to be destroy d by all true Er. glip- tnen, any bow. Then, as soon as the parliament was up, out came lists of the tackers. And then again in red letters, to shew them to the people as papists, or that their names were to be wrote in blood : explain'd by cir cular letters sent through the country, toshoot them thro' the head, if any of them pretended to appear at the en- . suing elections. And that cry is still continu'd in all the
scandalous papers, and now by thee, to have their brain: beat out, and mastod against the stones. Who now are
the aggressors ?
If this shou'd oblige the members of the last parliament
to come to elections, with their friends about them, and mrmed, and any mischiefshou'd follow, remember it lies upon those who have been, and still are the aggressors.
I faw a letter since the most of these were wrought off, which makes me doubt whether any were downright kiWddX Honiton, but that many were sore wounded.
From
The REHEARSAL.
rom &3t. April 28, to •§at. May 5, 1705. N° 40.
: . A word of advice to all the dissenters, except the pref-
byterians. 2. And to the prefbyterians, concerning the ensuing elections. 3. Pop ery at the bottom. And the dissenters the cats-foot fiill.
[1. ) Coun. ▼ Must now divide your legion. I have a X. word to fay to all the rest of them, except the presbyterians. These must stand by themselves for a
tvbale.
O. I like not this. Thou'rt for dividing us. And
we are now one and all the fortsof us, even to the quak- ers, against your high church and iackers.
C. I doubt not you wou'd all willingly see the church pull'd down ; and the monarchy too : for these
support each other. But suppose this done j you can not be all in the saddle at once. Which class ofyou, do'ic think,wou'd come next in power?
O. The presbyterians, no doubt : they were the mother of us all. They began and carry d on the blessed ivork, in the reign of K. Char. I. Tho' they were mump' dm. the end, by some of their own ungracious children, upon the fame principles which they had taught them. But they have
Ikfd and prosper'd since : and are still the topping; party
among us ; supported by their alliance with the prefbyter- ian churches abroad, but especially now with Scotland.
C. What sort of quarter, what toleration will the pref byterians give to the other fects among you, if their clajfis come to be again establish'd ?
0. That is an unlucky' question. It brings strange titings into our minds. They rzVall the rest like Jehu, while they were in the power ; and call'd them as ill names as they did the papifbes themselves, or the church
of England, which they hate worse ; as more oppofite to them, especially as to principles of government. Which some body has shew'd in a large sheet of paper, with
Sampson's foxes on the top, call'd two sticks made one : M2 . or,
243
244
The REHEARSAL.
or, the devil upon dun. And there is a book come lately
out call'd, the principles os the dissentcrs concerning tele- ration, wherein they declare against all toleration to one another, in the molt violent terms, calling one anothei, Judas, Korah, and the very wbore of Babylon. And ev'n worse than the church, when it was down. Instead of toleration, they hangd up the poor quakers in New- England. And they keep them to their hard-meat now in
Scotland, where the prejiyterians rule ; who declare all to leration to the church, or any other, to be anti-christian,
and establishing iniquity by a law.
There is no one sort of our dissenters but will fay, that
they had rather be under the church of England, than un
der any of the dissenters, except themselves. And so they fay all. And of all the others, they dread the prefiy- terians most, because they have suffer d most under them.
C. Then the struggling of all the other dissenters (ex cept the prefiyterians) against the church, is only to set up the prejiyterians instead of the church. And what
will they get by that bargain ?
They pretend to be afraid of their toleration now,
iho' they have all the security for it that is possible to be given, that an act of parliament, back'd with re peated affurances from the throne, and from the house of Kommcns too. And they are not afraid of the lords. To fay, that an act of parliament may be repeas to re-
jiiin\\ the s'curity that, as faid, possible to be given.
No man has other (under God] for his life, liberty, or iftate, or can have. And he that asks an impossible
'tis plain has mind to quarrel.
But they are afraid of their toleration now, yet wou'd
set those up, who, they axtsure will take from them
V/ho are obliged to do by their constantly dedar'd/m- tiphs, and have ever done when they had thepowtr.
Let me add to this, that the most effectual way they can take to provoke the parliament to take away their ts- leration, to vote, as they have generally done, and am told intend to do so now again, at the ensuing elec tions, for such members ofparliament as axe least in the
security,
is,
I
!
it
I ,
it a
it
is
d, is
is,
The REHEARSAL.
245 of the church. Which will let the church see, -si, that it is impojsibh to please the dissenters, by what-
fere/i
i'er concessions, and how firmly soever granted. And in te next place, that while they have votes for parliament' icn, the church can never be secure; but in perpetual ha- :ard of" being overturned, every new election of parliament.
O. But at this rate, if ali the dissenters, except the
rrjhytcrians,
shou'd vote for the church, then the church
; and they wou'd never
oa'd be always
get'
s
;fr down.
establish'd
C. No. Nor ought they ever to destre they un- lerstood their own interest. Unless they preser persecuti on to toleration.
Some or other must still be uppermost. And whom stvould all desire, but those under whom all live most eafily
Besides, if the presbyterians get into the saddle, the other dissenters will sind harder work to get them disposiest than to undermine the church who not so much upon her guard, nor apt tosuspect designs against her. But
the presbyterians are vigorous, and watchful, and indefa tigable. They hold the reins of discipline strict and
vere as all the other dissenters have prov'd and that they stand not upon blood, to secure their conquests. They never sufser such open attempts against their constituti on, such revilings, and persecution of the tongue, as the church bears patiently from them every day They threw
malignant out of their parliaments, and modelVd them at pleasure, without regard to birth-rights, or primitive constitution. And they made all seel the weight of their
hand, who durst murmur or complain.
(2. ) O. Well then, tho' you think theinterest os the
other dissenters to iwte for the church, yet you allow that
the interest of the presbyterians to iwff against her. C. No. will not allow that neither. For if they do not get such wbig house of commons as they desire, they put the church upon necessity of keeping more watch-
ful eye over them, whom she sees restless for her destruc tion. Besides, they cannot hope to get the queen to break
M
those
3
is
aI a
s
it is
; 'd
?
it a!
it, if
:
se
;
1\&
The REHEARSAL.
ihose solemn promises she made to the church, upon her
acc:£:on to the crown, not only ofsupporting and main
taining it, but to bestow her distinguijhingsavours upon those who were most zealous for it ; and to take care,
that it shou'd be fasely transmitted to posterity.
But suppose the church were leveWd with the ground,
a whig parliament will never put the preflyterians into the saddle, whom they know to be such furious riders.
The n'higs aie of no religion, they are atheists, or i)Ms at best. They hate all churches. But since some or other must be set up, they like that best, where there is least discipline ; and therefore they will not easily part with the church of England: but they would garble and modi her into a no church, that is, with no discipline at all. But to submit themselves to the rigour of a presbyteriat elrsfis, their fouls abhor.
Besides, the independents, the anahaptists, and even the quakcrs, will not give their heads for the •washing.
They will dispute it with the presbytcrians, as to number,
wealth, and interest. And which ever of them stall prevail, all the r<^ will have their A«r»s in their fits. And they must ra/tf the rest with a iW of iron, ta/ecur*
themselves, as they did before, in their several chsngts. Ar. d the consequence of this wiil be what it was before,
a civil war, and horrid defiructicn of lives, liberty, and
property, without prospect of end.
So that if the love of ones countiy, and posterity can
sirm establishment only can prevent all these evils ; and
give security and toleration to the dissenters in general, as to all things for which they can any way pretend cm-
With which, since they are not content, it is
science.
plain that they seek something else !
Therefore, whoever vote not at the ensuing eleSi- ens, for such members as are most intirely in the i*~ terefis of the church of England, do all that is in their power (whether themselves know it or not) to bring these nations into confufion. And the end will be pipe.
(3-) O.
The REHEARSAL.
247
{3. ) 0. Now thou mazes me. What ! Do'st think, that either whigs or dijfenters will bring in popery ?
C. I do not believe the generality of them intend it. But they may be guWd, as they were before : and made tools of, as before, to pull down the church of England. And when that is gone, the bulwark against popery is
gone.
The dissenters have no foundation of a church. They will Z'cwÆ into a thousand divifions among them selves: Every man, woman, and child will be setting up a religion of their own. The popish
emissaries will come and preach among them, and blo-iv into their
i«M& all the old exploded heresies, which they willfuck in as it were inspiration. This was the case offorty -one times, when there were above threescore different religi ons at one time in England, whose names you may see in Htrefiography and Gangrena, wrote in those times.
In that diftraction, several families of the nohility and gentry (besides many others,not taken notice of) feeing no saceoi a church left in England, went over to the church
of Same ; and many of them have not return'd to this
day.
And the prospect there is of the like coming again
may be one reason of that strange run towards pope ry, which has been observable of late years in England. Bnt it is not only in the consequence, but it has been
always in the operation and defign to introduce popery, whenever the dijsenters were rais'd up against the church of England. It is well known that the cardinals Rich'
lieu and Mazareen fomented the' rebellion against King
Charles I. sent into Scotland the solemn league and cove
nant, drawn exactly after the model of the holy league in
France : and assisted these dissenters all they cou'd against
the church ofEngland ; and by them, at last, broke it to
pieces : And that these good protestant whigs aud-dissen ters crav'd aid of the French king against king Charles I.
After the restoration king Charles II. set up the dissenters in the year 1672. And we all know now with what de-
This was the ruin of his unfortunate brother, king M 4 James
248
The REHEARS AL.
fames II. what favours he shew'd to the papists, and M. igdalm college, were but handles taken up against him afterwards. But when he began to play the dissenters against the church, his enemies against his friends; and in the fourth year of his reign, made an alteration in the lieutenancies, and commissions of the peace, and put in whigs and disinters, then he lost the hearts of the chuich of England. Then it was he found in bisstipprr, one morning as he rose, these •verses.
,
The hearts of all thy friends are lest and gone, Wcndring they sland and gaze about thy throne, Scarcely believing thee the martyr . : son,
Those ixhom thoufavour's merit not thy praise, To their own ends they sacrifice thy case, Andixillinsorrow make thee endthy days.
The disinters were made the cats-foot then, and always will be, when there is any defign against the church of EngLnd. And ihat there are dfigning men among us, no body will doubt : because all complain of though they know not where to fix it. But time will disco
ver it.
Upon the whole, to set up the dissenters against the
church, to keep out popery;- like making holes yoOr
dykes, to keep out the sea. The dissenters may en- courag'd) break the church: and then they will dash one another to pieces, till the nation made a prey, sirst to atheism, and then to popery. The prevention of which depends in great measure, under God, upon the enlu- ing clcctions, that true friends to the church, and to the crown be chosen. And none that lie under anysuspicion, by their principles or otherwise, to hold correspondince with, or be of the party of the presbyterians in Scotland, now armd and obtain'd law.
Ifthe Englifi dijsenters have no evil designs, have given demonstration, that the true real inttrtst of them all, as well presbyterians as others, to endea vour the preservation, and seek the peace of the church of England.
it is
by a
is is
I
it,
a
(if in
The REHEARSAL.
249
! But if they set themselves up against her in the ensu-
g
ou'd be at. And if the zeal of the church
elections, it is as a plain
demonstration what they be not equal
1
o
O preserve, as theirs to destroy,
ACTDM EST— ■
From ^>at. May 5, to &at. May iz, 1705. N° 41-
1 . Past twelve a clock, and a cloudy morning. 2. The Kit-cat theatre, and its dedication. 3. The consede
racy of whigs and dissenters. 4. The loss of the late
bill against popery. 5. • The story of Philip Levi a
6. How the tackers are recewd in the country, particularly at Honiton and Exeter.
Oi. XT THAT's that in thy hand, thou Yt looking V V upon so earnestly ?
Jew.
C. A whig-watch, or barometer, caculated for the en
suing- elections.
O. It is a letter ; let me see the superscription.
It is
directed to Warrington in Lancashire : To Mr. Va
who is a justice ofpeace ; and it is sign'd W, Ajh
that is, Sir W. Ash——st, a good man, I'm sure he can. fay nothing that's ill. Come, let me see what he fays.
C. Soft and fair. I'll shew thee a gentle stroke or so, to fatisfy thy curiofity, and keep the rest to another time.
Here he dissuades his coufin Mr. Va . . ry from es poufing the interest of the HIGH-CHURC. 4, as be was told
he did in the ensuing elections.
0. That's as an honest man inou'd do.
C. But the reasons he gives — He aJJ'ures Mr. Va—ry,
That a name there at length, which I dare not repeat,
being of supreme quality, was in the interest of the dis senters ; and that it was past twelve a clock with the
church of England. These are the words.
M 5 O. Aud
•-ry t,
The REHEARSAL.
250
O. And they're pretty words, I
swear. Is it not in-
gtnijus ?
C. And ingenuous too! He tells the plain truth of
what is in defign by the whigs and dissenters ; and how near in view, as they imagine. But for the sublime lad) he is so bold to mention, as in the interest ofthe dissen- .
ters, we know her education and inclination! are other
wise ; and the repeated assurances the church of England has had from the throne, sets them above all these •wicked
and seditious surmises of any poffibility of the queens
departing, or being persuaded, in the least tittle, from
her firmness to her mother the church of England, and her faith plighted to it ; wherein she trusts her soul to be sani'd, and her body too, at the insolent rate vou iicbigs
and disinters have treated and tbreatned her majesty. The interests of the church and the crown are the fame.
They stand and fall together; and if it he. past twelve a clock with the church, the Queen is past her meridian.
All the way after is down-hill, and the motion swift. But we look upon all this as the rant of the part): First, to blacken the queen, and render her suspected to all
her true friends, that is, the church of England; and then, she having lost their hearts, (as these wbigs and dissenters wou'd have to be left naked and defenceless to the mercy of the inveterate enemies of the church, monarchy, of her family, and of herself; who insulted her, in the of her distress, in late striking at
her very life,, endeavouring to deseat her succession, and after, to bring over the princess and
nmier upon her all which have already shew'd, and am still ready to produce out of their printed pam phlets.
And this rant and bullying and lying take place, and the true sons of the church come to think the case desperate, will weaken their hands, and dispirit them and give an easy victory to their enemies. But they have not, of late, shew'd themselves so cow hearted, as
You felt to your ost, at Coventry, Honiton, and Hers*
,/W. They are awake,
and will e/>/o/£ to the uttermoii
it r
;
so
if
;
of
I
a
,
it)
The REHEARSAL.
251
all such candidates for elections, as think it past twelve a clock -with the church of England; which none think, or willfay so, but who auish it.
(2. ) O. Here's a stir kept with a private letter ; but canst thou shew any publick act countenanc'd or allowd by any of those thou call'st whigs or dissenters, which contains the least disrespect or threatning towards the church or religion ! then thou'lt fay somewhat !
C. The kit-cat club is now grown famous and noto rious all over the kingdom ; and they have built a temple for their dagon, the new play-house in the Hay-Market.
The foundation was laid with great solemnity by z noble babe of grace. And over or under the foundation-stone is a //•zte of stiver, on which is graven kit-cat on the
one side, and /////« w^j- on the other. This is in futu- ram ret memoriam, that after ages may know by what worthy hands, and for what good ends this stately fa- brick was erected. And there was such zeal shew'd, and
all purses open to carry on this work, that it was almost as soon finishV as begun ; while Pauss-worA is become a
proverb ; and the greatest part of our communicants can not come to our churches for want of room ; and there
is no zeal or money to be found to build others : while Dan. Burgess, and other dissenters, can rear cathedrals with as much expedition as that in the Hay market.
And now I come to the dedication of in
spoke at the sirst opening of which printed for our tdification Take sew lines of
Such was our buildtrs art that soon as nanid, This fabrick, like the infant world, was framd.
The architect must on dull order wait But ^tis the poet only can create.
This
Ik the good age
Honu did cathedrals rife, and zeal advance
But now that pious pageantry's no mere Andstages thrive, as churches, did before.
M will
ghostly ignorance,
faid -to be written by Dr. th, chaplain to ht-cat, an open and prosess'd enemy to all religion and
prologue
6
G
it ;
;
is
of
; ;
is
it,
! a
! a
it :
252
The REHEARSAL;
will give a sine idea of our church and nation to other
countries ; especially when they hear, that this is call'd,
Ike queen'. ; play-house.
O. Let it be the queens, : what is that to the honest
dissenters ? They hate play-houses, and have spoke as
much against them as Mr. Collier, tho' not with his ivit
and learning. I myself have sputter d at them, and call'd them ;'// names, which is all my talent, as thou hast
found.
C. Then thou dost distinguish kit-cat and whig from
dissenter ; yet they are Simeon and Levi, strict brethren in
iniquity. Are they not all whigs, whom the dissenters promote at ehctions f Is not kit-cat their sanhedrin, their
patrons and solicitors ? their very saints, and only pa triots ! whose horrid prophanations and blasphemies ( to some of which I reserr'd thee in my last ) are such as
cannot be repeated without polluting the very thought ! and wou'd not be fuffer'd in any Christian country. This calls for fire and brimstone, which will come one
day.
O. Thou mistak'st the matter quite. The dissenters
approve not of our whig-vices ; but they take us by the hand only upon the account of bufiness, because we join with them against the church; and then we have ouedity which they want, and money too, and interests,
court. By which means we can represent the most vir
tuous as unfit to serve the publick ; andsanctify the great est of our rakes into their places ! and the dissenters are
pleas'd with this, as tending to promote their good old cause. They can hold a candle to the devil for God's fake ! And they have got a pure word, which can
all these things, that is moderation ! which they extend to Lucifer himself, and all his imps, that
solve
are on their side ; any thing that is against the church of England! even popery itself! It is not the sirst time they and we too crav'd aid of that (and of France
too) against the church of England. I tell thee, country- p:an, >ve vhigs, who are of no religion at all, hett and despise these snivling dissenters as much as you do; and.
The REHEARSAL:
253
rally and ridicule them when wi are by ourselves. But we make use of them, as they do of us, each to do his own business : To over-turn the government both
in church and state, and share it between us. Give us the sower of the state, and let them set up what church they will. We know how to deal with it, as we did before, if they don't please us, when we are once got
into the power.
(4. ) But in the mean time, we must both cry out a-
^iiA popery / That's a brave word among the mob ! and we six it upon all the church of England ; especially the house of commons and the tackers. For this end we
have given it out, and it runs now among the coffee houses, that the late hill against popery, which was fram'd by the lords, was lost, by a clause added by the house of commons, on purpose to clog whereby the toleration was quite destroy
have heard that faid over and over, and consi dently averr'd which made me enquire of member of parliament, who told me the whole of which was this The hill as came from the lords, laid such pe nalties upon those papists who did not declare themselves
protestants at such an age. member of the house of commons faid the word protestant, as commonly under stood, included all the fects among us, quakers, muggle- tonians, anabaptists, &c. Whereupon, instead of the
Word protestant, the church of England was put, that those papists who shou'd enjoy the benesit of that aft, shou'd declare themselves of the church of England, and continue in it. This was all the alteration upon which such outcries are made and shews, that there are some wou'd rather have papists stay where they are, than come over to the church of England.
O. And good reason for that wou'd strengthen our enemies with whom we now contend for the power. We are not afraid of the papists They stand not now the gap against us they are of our side against the church of England, and always have been. Therefore bet
ter for us, that the papists keep where they are, they are
it is
in
;
i
d.
:
A
; ;
: C. 1
it
it,
a
it,
The REHEARSAL.
254
are now auxiliaries ; than that they should go orer to the church of England, for then they wou'd be
enemies. you (5. ) C. And for the fame reason,
had rather a Jew, a Mahometan, or a Pagan, shou'd remain as they are, than become a Christian of the church of Eng
land.
O. Yes, surely ; and we shew'd it lately : There was
one Philip Levi, a very learned Jew, whom we got to teach Hebrew in our private academy at Shrew/bury; and gave, him a good penfion, and were very kind to
him ; but minded not his converfion. This some of the churchmen did for us ; and he was baptiz'd, according to
Immediately upon which, we turn'd him off, as did the Jews at London, for a deserter. We hunted his creditors upon him, whereby he and hisfamily, his wist ready to lye-in, were reduced to great straits. Here upon the churchmen, both clergy and laity (out of pure
spite to us, and not out of zny charity ) thought them selves oblig'd not to let the poor man starve, because we wou'd have had it so, for an example to others. They therefore rais'd a contribution for him, wherein Dr. Hollins (a learned and good phyfician we must own him) was very active, as well as a large contributor. He must be some frirst-ridden sellow. But they sent this convert-
ed]iw to Oxford, with letters of recommendation foi his teaching Hebrew the re; where he meets with all pro per encouragement from the vice-chancellor and heads of
And the learned lord bishop of Worcester, and other good judges, do attest his eminent skill in the rab hinical learning, superior even to the late learned Abet- dana. But all this is out ofspite to us ! And now thou'st got this story by the end, I'll warrant thou'lt print to rake all thou canst against us.
(6. ) C. cou'd sill sheet every day with fresh tohni of your love! And that as transparent, as that Yooa bullying too has fail'd you. All your Billingsgate rbe terick has not persuaded the people out of conem Avith th»
ackers.
Easter.
houses.
t
a is
I
it,
The REHEARSAL.
155
iackers. They are receiv'd every where with greater
demonstrations of re/pect and esteem than ever were us'd to be express'd to their members, especially after the dsso- Iution of a parliament ; which (hews their inclinations to wards a future election. Here's a letter just now come to my hands, dated at Exeter the 2d of May, which fays as follows : Yesterday in the evening Mr. Snill our late member in parliament came hither with such an at- tendance ofgentry on horseback, that most people fay there hath npt been such a fight ; at least a hundred of these horse went as far as Honiton, where the gentlemen tarry d till the coach had its fresh horses, so attended to Honiton-cliff, where were a vast company more, with
foot also, with gilded laurels in their hats. At which
place the gentlemen defird Mr. Snell to mount on horse back, and ride at the head of them, there being a horse pro vided on purpose, which he did ; and all the people attend
ed with I the bells shouts ofjoy,
in all the ringing quarters of
never ; and, I fuller of people
town, and
dent happened in this great concourse ofpeople. These are the words of the letter. And this was more happily ominous than the entrance of Sir John Elwill into the fame town of Honiton, in opposition to the tackers, which was attended with blood, and over which thou mak'st thy lamentations in thy Observator dated the fame day of this letter, the zd of this month. Not knowing the triumph of a tacker at Honiton and Exeter the day before. And what was then a doing to a man whom the people (thy
God and sovereign ) delighteth to honour. For whom, and all the tackers, thou and thy rascally crew had, in
think the
streets
what is much to be remark'd, of
dont hear one ill acci
your towring imaginations, prepar'd gailowses 50 cuhits high. And to add to the omen, it was upon a double saints holy-day, the jest of whigs, and abhorrence of dissenters. The complexion of the omen thou may'st sind,
Esther vi. 1 3, which I desire thee and thy friends to read and consider.
i
From
The REHEARS AL.
From §>at. May 12, to . §at. May 19, 1705. N°4Z.
256
An account of /^election for the county Suffolk. With that of Oxford, &V. 2. A defence of the Reve rend Mr. Lamb from the foul mouth of the Obsem- tor. With the assault of the dissenters uson the church e/'Harpenden. 3. The hopes of the dissenters now in the elections nearest Scotland. 4.
