expected, that thofe applications should be answered with effect, unless the K. be wifer than all the World, and fuch a Man was never yet found, or else what the Parlia ment complains of is falfe or frivilous, which is not eafily to be fuppos'd.

Then the Declaration reminds as of K, James's defign to pack a Parliament, that by the Peoples confent, thofe things might be made a Law, which he had done contrary to the right of the People and the Law of the Land: which was to ftab the Nation to the Heart. For a Parliament is the Soveraign and only remedy for publick Diftempers, and if rightly, apply'd works an infallible Cure, but if it be corrupted makes the Ma lady, how flight or inconfiderable foever, to become Incurable. He that defires to corrupt a Parliament, leaves very little room to believe that the good of his people is the end of his Government: for when a Prince looks upon it to be his Intreft to influence and byafs the Parliament, he cannot be thought to have fome Intereft with his People. There are two ways to corrupt a Parliament: The first is to influence the Elections, fo as to have Men chofen that will ferve a particular purpose and defign; and 2dly, if that fail, to corrupt the Members by Places, Penfions, or good round fums of Money, which is called Secret Service, whereby the Nation becomes felo de fe

The laft article against K. J. is that of impofing upon us a Prince of Wales. This indeed, if it were fo, is as great a Forgery

and

and Cheat as ever was heard of: but because those whom it more nearly concerns have not yet thought fit to inquire further into it, I fuppofe it will not be expected that I fhould give any opinion of it at this

time.

This is the fubftance of the charge brought by the P. Orange against K. J. I think I have not omitted any thing that is material: but these are not all the irregularites that K. J. was guilty of; yet are they fufficient to fhew that his administration was inconsistent with the Rights and Liberties of English-Men, and who is he that can imagin that there was any other means but force whereby we could recover our Rights; they that think it could have been effected by gentler applications, may as well pretend to bind the Leviathan with Cords: Thofe that have boasted most of Prayers and Tears, when they have been touch'd by Arbritrary Power, have found those things to be of no more force with a Prince that had will and means to be Arbitrary, than the Cords on Samplon's Arms, and then have they been very willing to make use of more violent applications. For those who value themselves most upon this fort of Loyalty, are generally fuch as are unconcern'd for the publick, provided they can make themselves fafe; and may well be compar'd to the Fox in the Fable, who having loft his Tail would have perfwaded the reft to cut off theirs. They that will not lift up their hand to fave their Country,are as much to be condemned as the Inhabitants

Inhabitants of Meroz, who were curs'd bitterly because they came not to the help of Lord against the Mighty, Judges 5. v. 23.

K. J. had fo disjointed and made fuch havcck of the Government, that the first step towards the repairing our breaches was to lay him afide, not out of any particular diflike to his Perfon but to his actions, because what he had done was not to be fuffer'd in any other Man, for whoever shall hereafter do the like must expect the fame measure.

K. J. being deem'd unmeet to fway the Scepter, the next thing was to confider,whether it was better to turn the adminiftration into a Regency, or elfe to elect another in the Room of K. J. and after fome time fpent therein, it was refolv'd, as the beft, to place fome other on the Throne; because as that did make the leaft alteration that could be, fo whatever was amifs in the State would more easily be rectified, than by another Method that was proposed: Upon this give me leave to make one obfervation; That altho' a Regency and a Common wealth are the fame in effect, being but feveral Names for the fame thing, yet there prevails an opinion, where one would leaft fufpect it: That thofe who were for a Regency are the only men for Monarchy, and that thofe who were for continuing the Administration under a King, are for a Common-wealth; how this opinion can be confiftent with it felf I do not apprehend, unless that whatever is done for the good of the people, brings us fo

much

much nearer to a Common-wealth; and if fo, Kings will find it to be their intereft, as well as their duty to make their Adminiftration eafie to the people.

It being refolved to fill the Vacant Throne, the Prince of Orange was prefently thought on, as the fittest of all others for the purpofe, not fo much for having been the chief inftrument of our deliverance, tho a great deal was due to him from the Nation in point of gratitude.

But the Crown was offered to the Prince of Orange, in hopes of having the effect of his Declaration; for as it was his interest to perform what he had therein faid and promifed, fo the Nation was more likely to obtain a full redrefs of its grievances by him, than by any other; for he had the example of King James fresh before him, he could not but very well apprehend that what could not be indured in King James, would not be fuffered in any other he knew very well that the Nation expected to have his Declaration made good to the full, as well because he had promifed, as also because of the right they had to have their greivances redreffed: and that fo far or fo long as any part of it was denyed or delayed, fo far would the people be difappointed, and think themfelves deceived: He could not but be fenfible of the reproach and hazard he ran, that having found fault with King James's Adminiftration, if he did not amend whatever was amifs; and that to trifle with the Nation in any one particular, would

would render all the reft fufpected of what he had faid or promifed.

He told us in his Declaration, that the greatness and fecurity both of Kings, Ro al Families, and of all fuch as are in authority, as well as the happiness of their Subjects and People, depend, in a moft efpecial manner, upon the exact observation and maintenance of their Laws, Liberties and Customs.

This, fo true a principle,that he who governs accordingly cannot fail to profper in all he puts his hand unto; and he that fays fo, and knows and understands what he fays, yet does not act accordingly, cannot expet the love of his people.

He was very fenfible how diftaftful a ftanding Army is to the Nation, and much more when a confiderable part of it is comopfed of Foreigners; and that to increase the number of Foreign Troops would very much alarm the Nation, unless it was by reafon of fcarcity of our own people, or want of fuch as durft fight, or for fome fuch neceffity; and therefore to remove thofe apprehenfions, he promises to fend back all the Foreign Forces he had brought along with him, as foon as the State of the Nation will admit of it.

He promised to bring Ireland to fuch a ftate, as that the Proteftants and British intereft may be there fecured, considering, no doubt, that as Ireland is the backdoor to England, he could not be thought to be in earnest as to the good of England, fo long as he neglected the fettlement of that other Kingdom;

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