against Popery,as Forty-one-men,and Enemies to the Government,occafion a great Weakness on our fide? I think, Sir, all this put together, makes a great Strength for that Party, enough to bring us into Mifery, whatever the Iffue may be. I would now, Sir, give you fome Account how the Proteftants may be able in such a Cafe to defend themselves; but, I protest, Sir, I know not what Defence they will be able to make legally. It is true, Sir, as long as our good King lives, we may live in quiet; but Things being thus, are not the Papifts under great Temptations to go on with their old damnable Defign, or fet up a new one for the Deftruction of the King? And if it fhould fo happen, either by their wicked Counfels, or naturally, I think there is no way left us to oppose this Party, but by a Rebellion, and therefore I think we may conclude, that our Lives, Liberties, and Religion, are to determine with the King's Life.

I confefs, Sir, this is a melancholy Discourse, but I am afraid too true; and that the more you confider of it, the more reafon you will have to believe, that there is fuch a Net fpread to catch poor Proteftants, as cannot fail to do it effectually, when ever the Jefuits fhall be pleafed to draw it. And our Condition looks the more difmal, because though King, Lords, and Commons, have fo often declared, that there hath been a damnable, execrable, devilish, hellish, abominable Plot, carried on by the Papifts, yet that all Remedies against the like for the future must be denied us; I mean fuch as can fignifie any thing, and we must now again be expofed, as we were before the Plot broke out, to all their Barbarities, having only weakned that Party by executing about twenty old Men; bat ftrengthned them much more by having difcouraged all Witneffes from ever revealing more of their Plots, and by the Discoveries they have made Hh 4

of the Strength of their Party, in the stifling of this Plot. And yet all will not open the Eyes of fome Proteftants, that fo, if poffible, we might be fo happy as to lay our Divifions afide, and join against the Common Enemy, without which we must certainly be ruin'd.

And if this be our Cafe, and there be nothing wanting but a Popish King to compleat our Mifery, and the Art of Man cannot find out any Way to fecure us against a Popish King, without the Exclufion Bill; is it not ftrange it should be rejected in the House of Lords? I cannot believe, that the Fathers of the Church fhould joyn in that which muft infallibly give Opportunity for the tearing out of the Bowels of their Mother, and deftroying her for ever. If fo, well may we lie down and cry, We have no Body to help us, but only thee, O God.

Sir, I have troubled you too long, but I hope what I have faid, may be of fome use to you in refolving about thefe Bills that are proposed, though I think they will all come short of our Cafe. Seeing you have voted a Bill for the Banishing of the Papifts, I think you may do well to try what a Bill of Affociation may amount to: But I agree with the Opinion of thofe worthy Members that have told you, That thefe Things are put upon you, that you may give Occafion to thofe that with ill to Parliaments, to argue thereby for your Diffolution; and afterwards to perfwade the People, that you went about to Diffolve the Foundation of the Government. And therefore I do not expect any good Effect of thefe Bills.

Sir F. R. Sir, by the ferious Discourse which that worthy Member hath made of the Sadness and Infecurity of our Condition, we may plainly fee, how by the Intereft of the Duke of York, there is a great Power combined against us, and that onr Condition is irrecoverable, if he fhould come to

be

be King. And therefore, Sir, I defire you would put the Question, upon a Motion that was made a little while fince, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that as long as the Papifts have any Hopes of the Duke's fucceeding to the Government of this Nation, that the King's Perfon, nor the Proteftant Religion, nor the Government of this Nation cannot be fecure.

१

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The Lord Melvil's, King William's High Com millioner for Scotland, his Speech to the Parliament, April 15, 1690: Shewing the Benefit of the Revolution, defiring a Subfidie, and recommending Moderation.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

T

His Seffion of Parliament had been honoured with the Prefence of my Royal Master,had not the great Weight of Affairs on his Hand, the meeting of the Parliament of England, and the defigned Expedition into Ireland, deprived you of that Happinefs and Satisfaction he really intended for you.

And tho' he still refolves, fo foon as his important Affairs can allow him, to visit this his ancient Kingdom; yet fuch a Regard hath he, to what may be for the Satisfaction of his People, that he would no longer delay your meeting, for giving fuch a Settlement to this Nation, as may be a real Secu rity to its most valuable Concerns of true Religion, and just Liberty.

Can you reflect upon the great Things that he, as the Inftrument in the Hand of God, hath done for you? Can you think of those imminent Dangers, to which (when living in the greatest Honour, Plenty, and Peace) he did fo magnanimously expofe himself, for the refcuing you from the greatest of Evils, Popery and Slavery; and delivering you from the

Fears

Fears you were ready to fink under; and not chearfully concur in doing all things that may be for the Satisfaction and Safety of your Deliverer, when linked fo much with your own Interest ?

I believe there are few true Protestants, and good Country Men, who would not give freely the half of their Eftates, for fo great a Bleffing, were it yet to be purchased.

His Defires are confined unto, and regulated by your true Interest.

He demands a Subfidie, but it is only what is ne ceffary for your Safety, the fecuring of what is deareft to you, and the Support of the Government: He hath spared no Expence hitherto, for your Protection; and it is but reafonable, he should now have your effectual Affiftance; let it never be the Stain of our Nation, that the best of our Kings was 1 the worst treated.

He refufeth nothing that can be justly demanded; his uncontroverted Rights are only valued by him, as they are useful for your Good and Security.

I am commanded by the King, (My Lords and Gentlemen) to tell you, that as he refolves to live and die in the fincere Profeffion of the true Prote ftant Religion; for the Maintenance whereof, he is again about to expose his Royal Perfon, fo he is willing to concur with you, for the Settlement of Church and State,upon fuch folid Foundations as you need not again fear a Relapfe into your former Evils:

He is ready to give his Royal Afsent, to what in Juftice can be proposed to him for fecuring Religion, Liberty and Property from all future Encroachments, and for redreffing of other Grievances, and you cannot with Reafon demand any thing, which he is not willing to grant.

His Majefty offers Redress to the Oppressed, Pardon and Peace to fubmitting Enemies, and Protecti on to all his good Subjects.

I am further impowered by his Majesty, to give his Royal Burroughs, fuch Encouragement and Redress in the Matter of Trade, and fuch Ease in Relation to the Proportion of their Burdens, as the Parliament fhall think fit.

What then remains, but that you behave with fuch Zeal for the Good of your Country, as to its religious and civil Concerns, and the Honour of your Prince, as this Seffion of Parliament may have an Iffue, which may be to the Satisfaction of both.

I fhould be injurious to you to doubt of this, or to think you need any Perfwafions, to set about those things effectually, which are fo much your own Concern.

You know the Eyes of those whom you reprefent,' as also of your Neighbours, and even of your Enemies are upon you, expecting what may be the Refult of your meeting; in which the King's Allies, as well as all his Subjects, and our Proteftant Friends abroad are not a little concerned.

You need not, that I recommend to you the laying afide all Animofities, Piques and Quarrels, and fhunning all Occafions of Contention, feeing this is fo much your own Intereft,and that these would be a great Retardment to the Work you have in Hand, I am hopeful that you will endeavour to evidence to the World, that it is not Private or Selfish Designs, but Zeal to God,and the true Religion, and Love to your King and Country which influence you.

I wish there may be many found amongst you in this Meeting, like those who represented the Tribe of Iffachar, for fetling the Kingdom in the Hands of David, Men who had Understanding of the Times, to know what Ifrael ought to do.

I hope you will not take it ill, that I mind you of that useful Precept of the Apostle, Let your Moderation be known unto all Men. For the Unfriends of our Nation have taken Occafion to reproach us more for

the