THe eminent Character which you bear in the Church , and those personal Accomplishments , which , I have been informed , you are Master of , have formerly engaged me to a very great Reverence for your Lordship's Name , and Person . But that late scandalous Action in Deans-yard on the 5th . of November , which could never have been done without your Countenance , and Permission ( as every one must conclude , who knows any thing of your Relation to that Society ) hath now given me ( as well as many others ) too just an occasion of entertaining different Sentiments concerning you , from what I had hitherto receiv'd . However , my former Respects have now engaged me to send your Lordship these few lines , and thereby to acquaint you with those Censures , which are generally past upon that Action . I hope you● Lordship will peruse them without Peevishness and Passion ; since it is a happiness , which few great Men enjoy ; to be faithfully enform'd of that Judgment , which the World makes concerning them .

Briefly then , My Lord , all sober persons of all perswasions were greatly surpriz'd with regret , and grief , to read so scurrilous a story triumphantly proclaim'd to the World by Tompson in his Tuesdays Intelligence , and to find upon Enquiry so little of his wonted forgery in that Relation . Especially , since it was acted on that day which is by Parliament set apart for the commemoration of our great Deliverance from a Popish Conspiracy ; and at such a juncture too of time ; when we are All equally in danger of becoming a prey to those merciless Enemies , who will not only wish ( as Tompson tells us your Scholars did ) that the Person of him who was represented , and all his followers were burnt like that Image , but really effect it , when they have an Opportunity ; and that not only upon one party , but on all , who will not readily submit themselves to that Antichristian Yoke , and Tyranny . It is said hereupon ,

That your Lordship by encouraging this , hath confuted that opinion of your Moderation towards Dissenters , which was so commonly entertain'd and believ'd ; and that there is too much cause to fear , if you still retain any thing of Temper , the Papists are the principal objects of it .

That we may now perceive the great Prudence of our late Parliament in repealing the Statute De Haeretico Comburendo , and abridging the Hierarchy of that Exorbitant power they thereby enjoy'd over such , as they pleas'd to brand with the odious Name of Heretick ; since even one of our Bishops hath in so publick a manner express'd his willingness to have it executed on his Fellow-Protestants .

That it is to be fear'd , a late Popish Pamphlet entituled The Vindication of the English Catholicks hath too just ground to speak with so much respect of your Lordship , while in the mean time it accounts the Pious and Learned Bishop of Lincoln to be scarce a Christian . And ,

That doubtless your Lordship expects some extraordinary Reward under a Popish Successor , for manifesting already so Fiery a zeal against those whom that Party esteem ( if not their ONLY , yet ) their greatest Enemies .

That by thus burning the Presbyteri●●● in Essig●e you seem to reproach His Majesties great Kindness , and to condemn many worthy Persons charity to the poore distressed French Protestants , who are all of that perswasion , and therefore , according to the Doctrine taught in your School , deserve rather to be burnt , then reliev'd .

That if any Man can think it worth his pains to enquire into the lives of many of the Actors in that spiteful Scene , he may thence too justly conclude ( as one did of the Christians in Nero's time ) that they must certainly be very good Men , who are so mortally hated by Persons of such profligate Conversations . But however ,

That the Dissenters are not conscious to themselves of any Crimes , that might deserve so severe a treatment , unless it be that one of dissenting from the Established Church in things not necessary to salvation ; which tho it be an unpardonable sin with some sorts of men , yet will assuredly prove more Venial with the Almighty hereafter , then the Excessive Drinkings , Pledging of Scandalous Healths , and Preposterous unnatural Loves of some , who account every expression of their malice against them , to be an acceptable piece of service to God , and an eminent Signal of Loyalty to their Earthly Soveraign .