This also they did endeavour to improve to the Advantage of their Cause , by interpreting these Addresses to be Factious , and the Fore-runners of most mischievous Actions . And now the Kingly Government was underminded , because the Popish Successor was feared ; and the Church of England was like to be Subverted , because some Citizens had the Courage to open their Mouths , in humbly Representing their Dangers from the Papists . And yet in the mean time Sir T. P. is a Devout Son of the Church of England , and inferiour to no man in the City , in Abilities for Publick Employments ; and such he did appear in the last Parliament , where they would hear him with as much Readiness , and employ him in their greatest Trusts as soon as any ; he was one of their Secret Committee ; he was one of their Commissioners for Disbanding the Army , &c. But all must now turn to his Prejudice ; he was a Popular Man , and therefore to be feared and hated . Would you not wonder , that the Experience of a man's Ability and Integrity in Trusts , and the Love and Esteem he reaps thence should be an Argument against his being employed . But this was the Handle our Yorkists took this man's Actions by , and now they labour to improve this against his being chosen by the City into the Ensuing Parliament , and for his sake all the rest of their late Citizens in Parliament must be rejected , and men more firm to the Church ( that is in truth more for the Dukes Interest ) chosen ; for all these Four ( it seems ) had Voted for the Bill of Exclusion .

Another Occasion of Clamouring in the Anti-Popish Citizens was , that some of them , having long observed the Great and Unnecessary Expence their Sheriffs are at in their Shrievalties ; insomuch that no man can be capable of Holding that Office , except he have an overgrown Estate , and consequently the Magistrates must be chosen out of those few that are so rich , however unqualified with Abilities befitting their Places , and others , better qualified , must be rejected , because they are not so rich ; considering also , that this year ( in the Condition we stand with our Popish Enemies ) is like to require men of best Parts and Knowledge in the Government of the City ; and finding one Mr. Jenkins to be well qualified with Understanding , Courage and Integrity ( though not with a great Estate ) they resolved to chuse him as a man fit for these difficult Times , and that would reduce the Charge to such a moderation as might make it supportable by one of an indifferent Estate , and to keep out a Man strongly addicted to the D. of Y's Party , whom they understand some aimed at ; and therefore so many of the Common Hall held up their Hands for Mr. Jenks , that it could not well be decided on whom the Choice fell without a Poll , but Mr. Lewis carried it . This was made such a Crime , as if all that Voted for Mr. Jenks , had presently a Design under his Conduct to raise a Rebellion , and turn the Government of the City and Nation upside down ; and this is reflected on Sir T. P. because one of the Addresses to the Lord Mayor , was made the same Morning , and by many of the same Persons that were at Guild-hall , to chuse a Sheriff : as if indeed so many Citizens , many of them of good Estates , understanding Men , Lovers of Peace , should all of a suddain run mad , and in that Fit go to chuse one , that should infallibly lead them and their Families into Ruine ; but this and nothing else could be the Design of this Choice , if you will believe our City - Yorkeists , and some others that they could impose upon . This I am told , is the first time in the Memory of Man , and perhaps ever since there were Sherriffs of London , that any man was endeavoured to be chosen into that Office for Love , and not for Envy and Ill-will .

In the Management of a Second Address , another Circumstance arose , which the Adversaries made Sport with . The Lord Mayor had answered the Citizens , that he would call a Lieutanancy on Thursday ; and then if half a Dozen of them would come with Sir T. P. and offer their Reasons for their Proposal , they should be heard . This was interpreted a Promise in , Sir T. P. and his Not appearing when the Lieutenancy met , a breach of Promise ; and a Declaration was made by the Lieutenancy , entred in their Books , and put into the Gazette accordingly , with divers other Reflections upon the Citizens that had appeared in that aforesaid Address .

Thus the poor Protestants that are afraid of Popery , and Arbitrary Power with it , were banded against ; and now that the Lieutenancy was on the other side with them that usurped the Title of Church-men and Anti-Fanaticks , these men must be quite run down , nothing shall serve those mens Turns , but the Excluding them not only from Parliamentary Seats , but throwing them out of their other Offices , when time should come for repeating Elections . And that they had found their Strength in the Election of Mr. Lewis Sheriff , they doubted not to carry every thing as they pleased . This ground gained , they press on by many Clubs and Meetings , where they make their Party as industriously as a newly Commissioned Captain labours to compleat such a number of Souldiers , as may enable them to pass Muster , and have right to Pay . Here they drink and talk themselves into a great Confidence of their Numbers : For the Designing Men , think that 's the way to encrease them : for there are not a few , that love to be on the prevailing side , right or wrong . They fill the City with Boastings and Threats , their Party is so numerous now , they shall fulfill all their Pleasure ; they triumph already , as having got a Victory ; they brag , that all the Church-men are on their side , that the Day of Election shall discriminate between the Loyal Sons of the Church , and the Fanaticks ; to that end they would have a Poll , so should see what Church-men durst be against them .

Then they offer Wagers upon the Choice , from one Guinny to an hundred against one or two or all the former Representers in Parliament . Here the Popish Party , the Plotters , the Jesuites are quite laid aside . It 's no longer Papists and Protestants , but Fanaticks and Church-of - England-Men . The Popish plot of Seventy eight is asleep , or questioned . Ask one of these Sticklers , whether there was a Popish Plot against the Life of the King , the Protestant Religion and Government , he would answer minceingly , I do not make it an Article of my Creed . The King's Witnesses were exposed to all the Obloquy and Reproach imaginable .

By these Arts and Tricks , the moderate and hearty Church-men , as well as the Dissenters , were put upon Defence and Apology . They are charged as Revolters , Degenerate Sons of the Church , and of suspected Loyalty , so that these were amazed , they wondered at and bemoaned the Change that appeared in the Actings of some Citizens , Zealots indeed for our Church , but blown up by Popish Breath into a too vehement Flame , tending manifestly to the Destruction of themselves and others . Some of the more Judicious and Eminent Ministers of the Church of England , began to express their sad Resentments of these Transactions ; and did what became them to stop the Popish Torrent . In the end , the Day of Election came , October the 7th . when there was a numerous and thronged H●ll ; some without Doors , that durst not venture themselves in so great a Crowd , for all expected a Poll , and prepared themselves accordingly . But all this great Noise and Roaring by these Boasters , proved the Groanings of the Mountains , which brought forth a Mouse .

It 's generally reckon'd , there were in that Assembly of Livery-men , between Five and Six Thousand Men , and they were so unanimous in their Choice , that it 's Judged by impartial and judicious Men , that he that had most Voices among these Yorkists ( in opposition to the City's former Choice ) had not above five hundred at most , and some say three hundred Voices ; upon which I crave your patience till I make some Remarques .

1. It 's manifest that it was the Popish Interest and Agents , that made all this Bustle● and Clamour in the name of the Church of England : for really and in truth , the Church of England appeared against them , if ten to one in the whole can comprehend the Church of England : for the most favourable Account makes them but Hundreds for Thousands , or one for ten ; and if you rekon half of these to have been Dissenters , there will still remain five to one of the true Church-men ; if you reckon the Dissenters more than that number , you will make them too considerable ; if less , then will the sober Church-men be so much the more considerable , and better bear the Denomination of the Church of England . And it cannot be imagined , that these few Church-men ( whereof some are well minded ) could make so hideous a Noise , and be so unmeasurably concerned in opposition to their Brethren , if they had not been agitated by Jesuitical Emissaries .

2. These Well-minded Men that were thus drawn in by these Plotters , should see how their unwary Zeal exposes them to be made a Property and Instrument for the worst of Purposes . They design only to divide us , to beget Hatred and Animosities between us , that in pursuit of one another , they may escape , till they can get an opportunity to destroy us all ; which they will easily do , if they can keep Parliaments from making Fresh and necessary Provisions against them . If you were Papists , and in their Case , would you tread any other steps than those that these men walk in . You know they can take any Shapes , make any Pretence , use any Argument that will work . You know they have no other Argument to use at this time , but to pretend high for the Church of England , and against Forty one . So did these Members in the Pensionary Parliament , that were cast out thence for being Papists . Surely , Gentlemen , you have a high Opinion of your selves , to think that You are the only men concerned for the Church of England ; but your Neighbours ten for one , know you are but abused Machins .

3. It appears how weak the Duke of Y's Interest is in this City ; Ten to one is odds enough in a good Cause , and who will deny that to be a Good Cause , which is Defence of our Lives and Properties , the Concerns of us and our Posterities both for this World and the World to come , against most Superstitious Enemies , which of all Enemies are the most Cruel and Savage ? But if the whole City could have met , and given their Voices in this Election ▪ it may well be presumed there would have been forty for one for their old Patriots .