HAving very often heard of Popish Designs against the Earl of Sh. but never being able to get any true account of 'em in particular , it is not to be imagined how extreamly pleased I was the other day to meet with a merry Pamphlet , entituled , A brief Account of the Designs which the Papists have had against the Earl of Shaftsbury occasioned by his Commitment , July 2. 1681. Very good , thought I , now the Mountain brings forth , or never : So with Hat over eyes , and Legs acrosse , very gravely to reading fell I. The first thing I meet withal , is indeed a very solid Position ; Had Sir F. W. himself laboured and strained for a Period , o' my Conscience he could not have squeez'd out a duller . Says the worthy Pamphleteer , Though the Apprehending of the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbury hath filled the Town and Country with talk and noise , yet it neither frightens nor discourageth any Protestant , or good English man . Well said old Tautology : That 's as plain as the Nose in ones Face : Chear up my Country-men ; for discouragment being the effect of fear , and fear the immediat cause of discouragment , there is nothing so evident , as that a man may be frightned , and not discouraged , or discouraged and not frightened : that is to say , a man may be frightened & not frightned neither . So much for Rhetorick . But prithee Sweet heart , since thou wilt be scribling , write Truth , though thou canst not afford us Sense . For the Apprehending that Right Honourable Earl does frighten most true Protestants , & good English men ; For , if that Right Honourable Earl has been all along sovigorous an Asserter of the Protestant Religion , the Rights and Liberties of the Subject , the Laws of the Kingdom , and the Authority and Prerogative of the Crown ; Can it do less than strike astonishment into the heart and mind of every honest man , to find him accused of no less Crimes than High-Treason at last ? The Conspiring to seize upon , and secure the King's Person by violence ; the subverting the Government , and raising Men and Arms to that purpose . I believe it frightens most men , and that most men are something apt to apprehend , that he may not be altogether so good a Protestant and Patriot as he would have us believe he was : If he be , we have reason to be afraid for his Innocency ; if he be not , we have reason to be afraid that the best part of the Kingdom has long been miserably deceiv'd and misled , and to dread the Ruine into which he was seducing us . Therefore good Mr. Pamphleteer be pleas'd to recollect your self , and do not forestall the Justice of the Laws , that must acquit or condemn him ; and let me moreover inform your worship of one thing , that if you are not frightened at my Lord of Shaftsbury's being apprehended for a Traytor , I am sure you ought to be ashamed of your Pamphlet .

As for Example : You are pleased to observe , That the Perjuries of Needy and Suborned Villains may bring troubles upon Innocency . Good Friend of mine , be tender how you treat the King's Witnesses : For if want be once urg'd as an Argument against the Validity of a Testimony , for ought I know there is not one Jesuit has been hang'd these three years , but may be as little a Traytor as the E. of S.

But for a shrewd Argument let you alone , I 'le warrant you , ( viz. ) If he were traiterously inclined ( you say ) yet he is wiser than to communicat Designs of that Nature to such base and mercenary Rascals as are said to have witnessed against him , or to enter into a Conspiracy not only with beggarly Fellows , but with Irish men and Papists . One part of this I 'le grant you ; He has not entred into this Conspiracy with beggarly Fellows , Irishmen and Papists only ; for ( if rumour may be believ'd ) there are a great many Rich Knaves in the Pack ; Though ( to return an Argument of your own upon you , and tickle you in the true Protestant place , ) who so fit to be employed in Designs of that nature , as desperate beggarly Fellows and Villains ? Now , if his Lordships Wisdom would not think Irish-men , ( and Papists especially ) Rogues enough to undertake the dethroning of the King , and subverting of the Government , he had a secret Complement for them in his heart , which I am afraid he 'l hardly thank you for publishing . The time was ( if your Protestant Pamphlets be all true ) when Irish-men and Papists were not thought so very unfit to engage in Designs of that nature ; Bu● , Qui color albus erat , nunc est Contrarius albo . There 's Latine for you , Brother Pamphleteer ; by which Language of the Beast I suppose you 'l not fail to find me for a Jesuit , next time you have a need to write again .

But in the mean while , This Honourable Gentle-man ( you say ) is h●e , whose whole tenour and universal Conduct of his Life have spoken him , not only a Person of the greatest Abilities , but of the highest Loyalty to his Majesty , and warmest Zeal for His Service , that any these three Kingdoms have produced in this Age . Verily , Friend , the Truth is not in thee : For this Honourable Gentleman commanded a Regiment , that once with warmest Zeal sought against His Majesty ; This Honourable Gentleman was He , that did his utmost to confirm the Usurper Cromwel in the Throne of His Majesty ; This Honourable Gentleman was always a Member of that Rebellious Authority that opposed His Majesty : And are not these ( and be hang'd to you ) Arguments of Loyalty to His Majesty ? Look you Friend , if his Lordship can give no better Arguments of his Loyalty , when he comes to his Tryal than you do in your Panegyrick upon him , he may change to march up Tower-Hill for his Loyalty ; and , for ought I know , the Trick he 'l shew there may be the first good Service he ever did , or will do the Publick .

If it were possible , thou Phamphleteer , I would be serious with thee , but thou art a sort of a Thing that hopest to word people out of their sense and understanding ; and by a trowling of Syllables one after another in a gingling order , wouldst put off thy shallow incobaerent Nonsence , for matter of weight and moment . I have observed often in half judging Capacities , when thy know not well how to give an Account of what they have read , or may be , only heard ; their usual way of passing their Censure is by gravely shaking the Noddle , and solidly noting there 's a great deal in it : So it may be justly said of thy Pamphlet ; There is indeed a great deal in 't ; but it is such stuff as once made up a certain Cardinal's Equipage , only Lumber and Filthyness , fiter for a Dunghil than any place else . Nay , canst thou be less than asham'd , thou Son of Simplicity ! to wast the Paper Manufacture of the Kingdom at so unaccountable a Rate ? 't is enough to breed a Dearth of Rags in the Nation ; and if once that should happen , which way would'st thou contrive to hide thy Nakedness ! Would the E. of S. do himself Justice , he ought to prosecute thee for a Libel upon him : For is it less than a Libel to praise him for his unwearied Cares and Endeavours to obviate the formidable Growth of France ? Fie for shame , do the Honourable Gentleman Justice , and tell the World who it was counselled the breaking of the Triple League , and so by disuniting the common Interest of the Peace of Europe , made way for all the War and Desolation that has since follow'd amongst our Neighbours . If he ( as you say ) could not concur in Designs which he conceiv'd tended to the Ruin of these Kingdoms , and the endangering the Monarchy , as well as to the subversion of the Protestant Religion , both here and else-where , perswade him , if thou canst , to lay by the at least 30 Pardons which he has pass'd since his first Ministry , and put himself upon his Trial from that , to this present day of his Innocence . If to this Wise and Noble Peer's Influence ( according to your observation ) His Majesty owes the successful administration of his Affairs for many years together : tell us , if thou canst , what means the Riddle of so many Addresses from the last Parliaments , remonstrating from a long date the defects and miscarriages of the Government , and the Grievances that from thence have fallen upon the people ? tell us who it was that caused the first shutting up of the Exchequer , to the distress of so many poor Widows and Orphans , whose All was lodged there ? If the Friends and Abettors of Arbitrariness and Popery at home , are become his implacable and profess'd Enemies , prithee tell us , if possible , how long it is since they first fell out ? Was it before he would have brought all Elections for Parliament to have been decided in the Court of Chancery , and so have robb'd the House of Commons of the greatest and most tutelar Priviledges they ever enjoy'd , or was it since ? Rather , was it the goodness of our Just and Gracious King , that could not be prevailed upon by him to make so cruel an intrenchment upon the Rights and Safety of his People ; that caus'd this Noble Earl to withdraw himself from the Affairs of his Sovereign , or not ? Oh Truth ! Truth ! how hast thou been muzzl'd ! But to proceed .

My Author's Worship is pleased ( in his remark of the Seals being taken from this Honourable Earl ) to observe , That when . They found that They could find neither Ambition , nor Covetousness in him , to impress and work upon , so as to bring him to Their Lure , that then They accosted him with such tenders of Greatness , Honour and Wealth , as few but him would have had the Humility , Self denial and Uprightness to refuse . In the name of Nonsense , what would this Laborious Bombastick Fool mean by his Impress , his Lure , and his Accost ? Here 's the taking the Seals from him , on purpose to give him good words , to bring him to their Lure : A very plotick fetch ! What stuff is this to perswade any reasonable understanding withal ! Oh , but I had almost forgot ; there is the word They to season the Carrion with , viz. When They found , &c. And again , They accosted him . Now this Aenigmatical Ass would have us believe there is a great deal of meaning in that word They : That is , having mentioned the popish party with scandal before , he would now joyn the King with 'em too ; For who else can take away the Seals from a Chancellor ? Or who else could accost him ( as he calls it ) with tenders of Greatness and Honour ? So that here is no less than the King implicitely reflected on , as a Favourer of Popery , to affirm which , is Treason by the known Laws of the Land ; and from thence I appeal to every true Subject of England , if a Cause thus defended , can , or ought to be thought well of .

The rest of the page is fill'd up with a long impertinent story of a Design to accuse this Earl of Treason ; that one Collonel Conquest was to have been his Accuser ; that all the Offices wherein he had been concern'd were searched ; and that They greatly reckon'd upon the House of Commons , as admirably moulded for their businesse , for the Fear many of 'em might have of losing their Pensions at the end of the Sessions . Admirably well express'd upon my Life ! This Rogue would , by his good will , make that House of Commons a Cake of wey Dough : Mouided for their business ! Very quaint truly ! But here is he at it again with his old They : They greatly reckon'd upon the House of Commons , as obliged by their Pensions : Now , who can be esteemed to expect any thing from a Pensioner , for fear of losing his Pension , but he that gives him his pension ? So that here the Villain is throwing Dirt again in the King's Face ; as if that were the only way to get clear his filthy Patron . Here would he knavishly insinuate a scandalous Interpretation of the Kings Goodness , which ought to be no more questioned than limited by the hands of a Subject , here is his Noddle itching to make the world believe , That these pensioners ( as he calls them ) were meerly bought by the King for indirect and underhand-services , when upon a just and impartial scrutiny , it will easily appear , that those Gentlemen were either such , whose Estates and Fortunes had been impar'd in the Service of His Majesty's Father , that Royal Martyr of ever Blessed Memory , and that way gave them pretence to his Majesty's Largesse and Bounty ; or else others who from their former Delinquency , had return'd with Penitence into the Mercy and Service of their Master , and that way became Partakers of his Liberality , that they might ( if possible ) be never more led away , by their wants or ambition , into those Courses that ruin'd the Kingdom before , and enslav'd us under the heavy Yoak of an Usurper . But I am glad to find the Cause , now it is shaken , thus dis-embogue it self , and hope it will open the eyes of every honest English-man , to have his heart and his hands ready to defend the King , his Honour and Authority from all the vile wicked Designs , and undermining Mischiefs that have been contriving and hatching against him ; And how far the E. of S. may have been that way concern'd , I think may , in some measure , be guess'd at , from the stile and matter of the Defence , which this miserable Scribler has the impudence to make for him .

Next , to wind up the bottom of this foolish relation , he is pleased to pass a Complement upon the Kings Council , for wanting at that time sufficient matter to Accuse him of ; and so proceeds forward to his They once more ; and tells us , how They having miscarried in their Attempts upon the E's life , change the Scheme of their Designs , ( good Lord what fine words are here ) and lay a Plot to blast his Reputation : And who , says he , ●o fit for this work , as the Ecclesiasticks , as being in a more Implicit Obedince to Them . So I am glad I have got you here good Mr. Pamphleteero ! Who are the Ecclesiaticks and the posse of the Clergy ( as you are pleased to term it ) reasonably to be thought most obedient to , but the Head of the Church ? So here the King is shuffled in amongst your They again : Then you tell us , the Pulpits instead of commending Jesus Christ to the Consciences of men , were employ'd through all parts of the Nation in Blasting the E. of S. And ( if all be true ) it had not been much amiss if it had been so , for it is requisite in Preaching ( after the Praises of God ) to arm mens Souls against the practices of the Devil . Though it is evident , that your Worshipful Dulness lies in this point most abominably , and I dare be hang'd ( as you deserve ) could the matter be enquired into , if ever ( since Hugh Peter's his time ) any one of the E. of S. Names , has been so much as mentioned in a Pulpit ; by which , and what went before , it is easily to be perceived , you are neither a Friend to the King , nor the Church ; and what Party you belong to then , I leave every Honest Impartial man to Judge according to his Conscience .

But now I think better of the matter ; What Spleenatick Fool but my self would take the pains to bestow an answer upon this Dunce , this True Protestant , as he calls himself ! If he be a Round-head , a Rumper , a Rebel of Old Jack Presbyter's Stamp , why is he ashamed of his Title ? Why does he Cloak his Schism under the Name of True Protestant ? for we know no True Protestant here , but such as are so according to the Church of England , as it is Established by Law : For if every one that Protests against Popery , be a True Protestant ; for ought I perceive , the Great Turk has as much pretence to that Title as any body . That this Vermine then is not of the Church of England , is easily to be conjectured by this treatment of its Clergy : That he is not an over good Subject , is apparent enough by the Company he has found out for the King ; yet this is he that dares defend the cause of a man , under an Accusation of the most detestable Treason in the World , exhibited against him by several Witensses , whose worth and Validity none once so zealous to defend and justifie as the Earl himself and his Party were , though now they have the misfortune , to fall under our Authours displeasure , and to be treated with no better Titles , Then Beggarly fellows , Indigent , Mercenary and Perjur'd Rascals , Beggarly Rascals , such as have acknowledged that they are Hired to Swear what they have done , &c. Now to do the World Justice , and to do the Laws Justice , which 't is to be hop'd will do the E. of S. Justice ; let us enquire , who these Beggarly Rascals are that were hired to Swear what they have done .

In the first place , Heyns so much talk'd-of of late ( as report tells us ) is one of those who has a large share in the Charge against this Noble E. Good Mr. Pamphleteero , is he a Beggarly Perjur'd Rascal ? I believe my L. S. will not take it very well at your hands to treat his old Friend and Acquaintance so coursly ; for such he once was certainly , else , why did he and several Lords more Petition for a Blank Pardon for him some few Weeks since , under the Title of a man of Quality and unquestionable Reputation ? One that could give a farther account of the Popish Plot then any had been discovered yet ? Was he then a Beggar ? Was he then Perjur'd ? No , I believe neither ; for suppose the Party were so Charitable to keep him from Begging , and the Kings Wisdom in not granting him a Pardon has kept him from being Perjur'd .

As for the other Witnesses against this Noble Peer , I believe it will be for your Credit , as soon as you can , to retract your Reflections upon them too . For if their Credit is not sufficient , as you say , to suport such a Charge against such a Peer of England as the E. of S. is Committed for ; How came it about , that some of 'em were once thought fitting , even by that Earl himself , to support as great a Charge against several other Peers of England , ( some whereof are still Prisoners in the Tower ) equal in Honour , and for ought I know Superiour in Honesty to your E. of S.

But some of these Witnesses you are pleased to observe , have acknowledged themselves Hired to Swear what they have done ; handle that point as you love your Cause with Caution : I am afraid it will not be for your Earls advantage , when it comes to be known who it was Hired them to Swear what they have done .

If this will not do , what think you of a Dying Evidence Fitz-Harris ? His Solemn Declaration at his Death Signed and Attested by unquestionable Hands ? Certified by his own last Speech at the Gallowes in every particular Article to be true ? If he was ever before thought a sufficient Witness against the Queen , the Duke of York , the Earl of Denby , &c. Sure at his Death , under the awe of a terrifi'd Conscience , in the last Agonies of Contrition and Repentance , he may be allow'd to speak Truth of a L. H. and E. of S.

That he was thought a sufficient Witness before ; I appeal to that worthy Grand Jury , who ( upon his single Information only , though then a Prisoner , just coming upon his Tryal for the Treason which he has suffer'd for since ) thought fit to find a Bill of Murder against the Earl of Denby , as concern'd in the Death of Justice Godfrey . Nay he was thought so good , so proper , and so necessary a Witness , that all the Arts of Corruption and all the Tricks of Wrested Law , were made use of by the Faction to save him ; Jurles were packt , that by their proceeding , seem'd to have as littel Conscience ; as the Hamburgh Sheriff that returned them had Loyalty . Insolent Advocates were found out for him , to threaten the Judges in their Office , and if it were possible , to make the Sword of Justice tremble in the Honest hand that held it ; but it was kept steady , to the Immortal Honour of that Glorious Judge ; who when the History of this Age , shall be written , cannot but be remember'd as one of the first Protectors and Supporters of Englands threatn'd Monarchy and Liberty .

These things then being granted ( as they must be ) that the Evidence of these men against this Earl , or any body else , ought to have as much weight and Credit , as against any other Subject in the Kingdom ; and that they have been heard with Credit against divers other Subjects of the Kingdom , is manifest : How comes it to pass upon an Indictment preferr'd the last Sessions at the Old-Bayly against one Stephen Colledge for High Treason , there Swore positively against him , by six several Witnesses , that the Grand-Jury could fail to find the Bill ? When at the same Court , not long ago , upon the bare Testimony of one man , they found an Indictment of Recusancy against the Duke of York ; Shall the first Prince of the Blood be condemned upon the slender and doubtful Testimony of one Witness ? And shall not six be enough to make good a Charge against a Wretched Joyner , a Profligate Factious Fellow , that has been for these three years taken notice of as a Common Asperser of the Government , and a sower of Sedition amongst the People ? I appeal to all the World if this be common Justice ! The cause of this can be nothing less , then the miserable decay of all fear of Heaven , and Reverence of Vertue amongst us ; when we see men entrusted with Authority and Power , administring the severest Cruelty with one hand , and stopping the Justice of it with the other : Nothing can redeem us from this , but earnest and fervent Prayers to the Almighty Spirit of Truth , to assist & de fendus , whilst we make an early & resolute appeal to our Gracious Soveraign , to interpose with his Authority , and restore us to the Security of our Liberties , that the Laws may be turn'd again into their due Course and Channel , that power may be no more entrusted in the hands of such men , as practise the abuse of into the overthrowing of all Justice , the destruction of all Sanction and Unity amongst us , the encouragement of Treachery and Falshood , the Stifling of Truth , the Oppression of Innocence , and the confusion of our general Safety .