THE True-Born Engliſhman, An⯑ſwered, &c. PART I.

[9]To begin with an Engliſh Proverb, looks ve⯑ry much as if our Author was no great Doctor at Engliſh Poetry; and though T— ſmells very much of a Church with a Chimney in it, ſome Roguiſh ſort of Wags will be apt to ſay, he is one of thoſe that plies at the Devil's Chap⯑pel. I don't mean the Suppoſititious one, which he would have the Church of England go by the Name of, from its Ʋniformity of Service, but Calves Head Aſſemblies, where Nonconformiſts meet together, on the 30th of January, to give Glo⯑ry to God for his Permiſſion, in ſuffering the beſt of Kings to be murder'd by his Subjects that Day before his own Palace Gates.

If Pride had Spain for her Province, Ireland, it's certain who had its Inhabitants from thence came in for a ſhare of it Governeſs's Favours, and there muſt needs be a ſmack of it in the Poet's Conſtitution who (as I have been told was a [10] Prieſt of that Nation. But how 'tis a Wiſe thing to undo the World, I can't imagine, unleſs Miſ⯑chief is an inſtance of Policy, and Barbarity a great Token of Wiſdom. That's certain if his Doctrine be true, the World's in as fair a way to be undone, as a Wicked Man can wiſh, if the Gold of Peru being in Wiſe hands (viz.) French Refiners, can make it ſo.

Italy is indeed a hot Country, but ſome de⯑grees cooler than the Weſt-Indies, which are be⯑yond the Line, and plac'd under the Torrid Zone. Had the Poet amongſt his other Enquiries con⯑ſulted the Celeſtial Globe, he would have ſaid otherwiſe: but it may be a miſtake, and pro⯑bably he deſign'd the Satyr upon Jamaica or Bar⯑bardo's, which had been proper enough, becauſe ſo many Letcherous Whores and Rogues, have made choice of thoſe Places to reſide in. I have heard likewiſe, that Air has blown up and kind⯑led a Fire, but never was inform'd before, that it was the Effect of Fire, ſince I am rather apt to believe it is the Cauſe.

I perceive now that the Spark has read Hey⯑lin's Coſmography, and taken the Character of Ger⯑many on truſt from him. But he cannot aſſign the ſame Reaſons for their Drunkenneſs, as he does for the Italians Luſt, ſince 'tis certain theſe Men Intemperance, are no more influenc'd by the Tem⯑perate Zone, which the greateſt part of it lies directly under, than thoſe Children of Luſt are affected by the Torrid. But if none pleaſe the De⯑vil ſo well as they, how comes he in his Virulent Expreſſions againſt the Engliſh, to ſay, they are his Chief Favourites. Contradiction is a Talent peculiar to himſelf, and evil ſpeaking altoge⯑ther his own; elſe he would not make 'em Sail for Heav'n, with old Nick at the Helm, plying at the Steerage, or make the Devil bring 'em all into Hell, notwithſtanding their Attempts to gain Heav'n, by following the Doctrines of Luther, Calvin, or Rome. An inſtance of our Author's Thoughts of the weakneſs of Pray'r, and the inefficacy of any ſort of Devotion what⯑ſoever.

Juſt before none pleas'd the Devil ſo well as the Germans, but now the Scene's alter'd to France, and none are more great in his Favour than the People of that Nation. How to reconcile the Superiority of 'em Both, to Sence, I know not, no more than I do the Character he gives the French Men of thriving by Chance, when their Induſtry is ſo well known, as to make their Miſ⯑fortunes the Effect of Chance, not the Succeſs which generally attends their Endeavours in matters of Trade.

One might have thought after he had ſurren⯑dred the greateſt part of Chriſtendom into Satan's Hands; he would have had ſome Compaſſion on his Brother Infidels. But however it happens he falls foul upon them too, as an Enemy of Mankind in general, and either believing the Turks to be true Chriſtians, or numbring them [13] with Cannibals, commits an Error in making them who are part of the Pagan World, worſhip the Devil as God, and offer Humane Sacrifice, at his Altars, which is a ſort of Ceremony not us'd in the Eaſtern Countries, who notwith⯑ſtanding our Author's boaſts of an upright Life, making leſs Application to the Devil than his Worſhip, who ſeems to have a great intereſt with him.

That may be; but I am apt to think, that He that made the World has the Government of it, notwithſtanding Satan's Deputy-Lieutenants. And one would think from his planting the di⯑ſtant Colonies of Hell, he was ſettling Plantations beyond the South Seas, or had taken poſſeſſion of ſome Countries beyond the Moguls, after he had given him the Dominion of all Paganiſm; but he ſeldom adviſes with his Maps, as will be ſeen by the Country which comes next in Play.

[14]By my Shoul, Dear Joy is much in the right, to give his own Country the Poſt of Honour: Ireland has Zeal for her Lord Deputy, forſooth, when Ignorance had been more proper for it, as being that which is moſt predominant there. And the Swedes are Tyrannically dealt with, by the Hypochondria; a Character no Perſon that knows their way of living can juſtly give 'em. If Wit be a Child of Hell, our Author is certainly a Child of Heaven; if thoſe who have no manner of Dealings with it deſerve that Name. But what is chiefly obſervable in this Paragraph, is, that the Dane and Portugueſe are ſo much of the ſame Complexion, that Fury rules one, and Rage the other; which in my poor ſentiments, is, they have the ſame Conſtitution of Mind: A miracu⯑lous thing, for certain, that two Nations ſhould ſo ſympathize, when the laſt is ſo near the Sun, and then firſt ſo far from it.

Upon my Conſcience he need not requeſt his Satyr to be kind, it's inoffenſive enough in every thing but Impudence: But he knows his own Temper beſt, and doubts, that 'tis impoſſible for him to treat a Country with any manner of Hu⯑manity that has uſed him better than he deſerv'd, though he makes a ſhew of expoſing her Virtues to balance her Faults, but has not the heart to do it.

For my part, I can't find where the Happineſs of England had been to have lain unpeopled, when without doubt it was deſign'd at the Creation for Inhabitants, as well as the reſt of the World; neither can I imagine that Perſon has any great skill in Hiſtory, who affirms, that every Barba⯑rous Nation, that attempted to invade Her, gain'd their Ends, and were Conquerors; even Rome her ſelf, the Empreſs of the reſt of the World, acknowledged repulſes from Her, and Ju⯑lius Caeſar's conquering Arms found a ſtop to 'em, for a time, by the Valour of Her Natives.

If Ingratitude be one of the Ingredients which make up an Engliſhman, the Poet has a Title to be called one of the Blood, for treating him after ſuch an infamous manner: But it's a Myſtery to me, how this Devil of Black Renown, could be [16] Second to Satan in Malice and in Force, when he was preferable to his Sovereign Lord by being much worſe than Him, which in Hell is a mark of precedence.

Very good, Devil-Ingratitude had an excel⯑lent hand at Temptation, if he could perſwade the Firſt-born to be ungrateful before they had any Benefactors. I always took it for granted, that an ill requital of kind Offices fell under that Name, and no Perſon could be unthankful for a Courteſie before it was receiv'd. But this Para⯑graph affords the Reader great choice of Obſer⯑vations: I ſhall only remark on as oft unpeopled, and as oft undone, and deſire 'em to conſider how that agrees with part of a foregoing Paragraph, that actually ſays, the Land had been happy had it remain'd unpeopled to this very day.

The Romans, Danes, and Saxons, that's certain, Conquer'd us, but the ſame may be ſaid of each of thoſe Countries, the Goths and Vandals, having broke in upon the firſt in ſuch a manner, as to de⯑ſtroy their very Language, and the other two fall'n under the Fate of Vanquiſh'd Kingdoms. So that we have no great reaſon to undervalue our ſelves on the account of Conqueſt, when ſcarce a Nation in all Chriſtendom has not had Revoluti⯑ons of the ſame Nature. But what is the greateſt, and moſt ſcandalous Reflection, he numbers the Iriſh amongſt our Conquerours, when it's well known that Kingdom is now dependent on the Engliſh Crown by the Right of Conqueſt, and that they been have ever ſince their Settlement ſuch an inconſiderable People, as our Kings did not think worth while for a long time to reduce 'em to their preſent Obedience.

In the Nonage of Time there was not that diſtincton made betwixt Man and Man, as there is now; and when Armies were undiſciplin'd, they had no ſwelling Titles to diſtinguiſh one Fellow Creature from another; neither is it probable that a Country ſo inviting as he owns this to be, ſhould have only the Dregs of Armes for its Poſſeſſors.

The Epithet of Amphibious to People who live in an Iſland, when the Sea is its defence is not ſo ſcandalous as he deſign'd it, though the Title he gives our Anceſtors of an Ill-born Mob ſounds very hard. I believe he's ſo little Con⯑verſant in Heraldry as to know nothing of their Originals, neither, while there was a ſort of equality among Men, has he any juſt excuſe for leſſening the Pedegree of thoſe Forefathers, from whence we ſprung. As for his finding fault with the Cadence of our Language, I have heard from ſeveral hands he has been dabbling at an alteration of it ſeveral times to no effect, and I'll defie him to tell me of any modern Tongue which is not made up of a Compound of others, as well as ours, which has riſen from the ſame Cauſe.

What Paralel is there between the Caſe of William the Conqueror, and that of our late Revo⯑lution? In his days King Harold gave him Bat⯑tle, and oppos'd Force to Force, which occaſion'd a Conqueſt; but in our Times, His preſent Ma⯑jeſty was receiv'd by the Conſent of the People, invited over by the Nobility and Gentry, and Eſtabliſh'd in a Throne: The whole Power of Holland could not have plac'd him in without our own Concurrence. Therefore as Matters were different between the Conquerour and him, it was but reaſonable that thoſe who had made him King, ſhould ſend away the Troops that came to our Aſſiſtance, ſince we had not folly e⯑nough to think they would have came to re⯑ſcue us without aſſurance of being paid, nor Eſtates enough to ſpare to make a Gentleman of every Foot Soldier. Six hundred thouſand pound was a greater reward to the States, than Queen Elizabeth had for ſaving 'em when they wrote themſelves, DISTRESS'D; and he might have ſpar'd the Story, which was more to ſhew King William might have done the ſame, than to diſgrace the Original of our Nobility, though [20] what follows ſhews that alſo was intended by it.

As Kings are the Fountains from whence Ho⯑nours are deriv'd, ſo William the Conqueror had as much Right to beſtow Titles on his Subjects, as another Prince has on his; and if the Poet was to ſearch into ſome Foreign Noblemens Families, he has ſuch an Eſteem for becauſe they are not Engliſh, it would be a good while before he could find either Sword, or Bow, or Spear, for their Creſt. But he's a Leveller, and though he flat⯑ters King William, is but for making one Eſtate of the Three the Nation is compos'd of, and re⯑ducing the People under the Government of the People, as in the Year 48.

To Anſwer that Queſtion, it is not the Blood makes an Engliſhman, but the Climate; and it's allow'd by the Civil Law, that whatſoever King⯑dom a Perſon is born in, though of Foreign Pa⯑rents, he is actually at the time of his Birth a Denizon of it.

We have no averſion for 'em, as they are Dutchmen, but as they are poſſeſſed of Places of Truſt the Natives of the ſame Country might reaſonably expect to have. And whatever our Primitive Original was, the Blood which gave us Being, having iſſued through ſo many Chan⯑nels, might in length of time purge it ſelf off; and 'tis known by experience, the moſt unclean things imaginable, thrown into a running ſtream, leave no infection behind them; which makes [22] againſt him, if he allows the Circulation of the Blood, which I believe, notwithſtanding all his Equivocations, he cannot deny.

Here he ſeems to be apprehenſive of the Argu⯑ment that was made uſe of againſt his laſt; and to fence it off guards himſelf with a known un⯑truth. Henry the Fifth, a Prince of the greateſt Honour imaginable, after his Acceſſion to the Throne, is made to countenance Vagabonds and baniſh'd Fugitives, when there are many inſtances to the contrary, if he will take the trouble upon him to read his Life. But were it actually as he would have it, it was always reckon'd no ſmall Reputation for a Kingdom to be a Sanctuary to the Diſtreſſed, and a Refuge to poor People, who poſſibly might have other reaſons for flying from the Land of their Nativity, than the Crimes he ſeems to charge 'em with.

This Paragraph being much of the ſame nature with the former, and written to reproach the Memory of the beſt of Queens, after he had too haſtily ſhot his Bolt againſt the moſt Glorious of our Kings, I ſhall jump over the repeated Crambe he tires the Reader with, to take notice of his expreſſion, God we thank thee: Full of as much Impiety as could come from an Atheiſt's Mouth, and one who denies all manner of reveal'd Reli⯑gion. He could have utter'd forth no worſe complaints againſt the Goodneſs of that infinite Being, had he ſaid, God you are only to be blam'd for putting ſuch Whims in the Fools, as the Notions of Religion, and inſtilling into their empty Skulls the Fears of offending an incenſed Deity, which has forced them to quit their own Country, and lie a Rent-charge on our Hands. Which is downright Blaſphemy, or nothing can deſerve that Name.

And what could hinder them from deſerving the Name, if they were born in England? Since they were obliged to perform all the Offices of true-born Engliſhmen, where is the hurt to give them the Title of ſuch? K. James the II. was an excel⯑lent Prince, and his Subjects were truly happy under his Reign, which he by way of ridicule calls Pacifick. And we cannot deny but ſeveral Families of Scots came with him into England; but it's worth his Obſervation to take notice, that his chiefeſt Favourite was an Engliſhman, not⯑withſtanding his Affection to his own Nation.

It's but an odd ſort of an Obſervation, that Countries thrive by Civil Wars, ſince it is evident that where the Seat of a War is, the Trade of that People is at a ſtand; and had not that in⯑jur'd Prince, whom he, for want of due reſpect to his Memory, brands with the Name of a Refugee been forc'd by Rebellious Subjects from the Land of his Inheritance, he would have had no Obligations to return to Foreign Courts. But a Party, which our Author glories in being a Member of, having been the occaſion of his Exile, we may thank them, if he was withdrawn from a due Exerciſe of thoſe admirable Parts he was the happy Maſter of; and when he was Poſ⯑ſeſſor of a Genius the fitteſt that could be for bu⯑ſineſs, that he gave himſelf up too much to his Pleaſures. The ſame reaſon that perſwaded him to a due reſpect of His late Majeſty's Natural Daughters, might have with held him from abu⯑ſing his Princely Sons, ſome of which have been [26] and are a Pattern of true behaviour to the Engliſh Court: But where Manners are not, they cannot be expected.

If we had no worſe ſort of Gentlemen amongſt our Engliſh Nobility, we need not care how ma⯑ny we had of the Breed; no diſparagement to S------g and P------d, his new made Noblemen.

Theſe ſix Lines ſhould have been explain'd, if he would have any Body know the meaning of them: For I am well aſſured no French Cooks, or Scotch Pedlars were ever made Noblemen in the King's Reign, whoſe Aſhes he diſturbs ſo baſely. And for the Italian Whores he makes mention of, they might poſſibly have been made Ladies; though I never heard the Dutcheſs of Mazarine had any Engliſh Title conferr'd on her: But if he is not abandon'd to the want of Senſe, as well as good Manners, he muſt agree with me, their Sex would not permit them to be made Lords.

Had our Author any ſenſe of Shame or Chri⯑ſtianity in him, he would never blame a Prince for an Action, that has rendred his Name Fa⯑mous in all the Courts of Europe. When the Pro⯑feſſors of Chriſt's Holy Goſpel were expell'd from the Place of their Nativity, he receiv'd them—Omnium egenos, Ʋrbe, domo Daeos: And more than imitated the Queen of Carthage's No⯑ble Saying of Non ignora mali miſeris ſuc⯑currere diſco. He had been hoſpitably dealt with himſelf, by the ſame People, whoſe Prince's per⯑ſecuting Genius flung them upon his Protection; and if there had been Two Millions, inſtead of Two Hundred Thouſand, his Name ought to be had in Everlaſting Remembrance; ſince to Feed the Hungry, and Cloth the Naked, is ſo far from the Tranſgreſſion of a Duty, that it is an actual Performance of our Saviour's Com⯑mand.

The word thus, ſeems to intimate we Engliſh⯑men had our Original from the French Refugees, who have been admitted into the Kingdom theſe laſt thirty Years, for no Perſecution began in Charles the Second's Reign before. But the Poet being not very good at Connexion, and unſa⯑tisfy'd with abuſing us in the ſame Nature before, falls again into the very ſame malicious Account of our Primitive Riſe, on purpoſe to whet our Memory, and ſtamp impreſſions on it of his great Civilities, that we might think of ſuitable re⯑turns.

It ſeems there were Ladies in the time of the Heptarchy, though he allows of no ſuch things as Lords before William the Conqueror; but though [29] he ſeems to have a reſpect for the Fair Sex by the Title he gives 'em, he deſerves to loſe much of their eſteem (if he ever had any of it) for the Character he gave the Women in thoſe Times of being Mercenary, and in Love with the ſtrongeſt ſide.

We have had as much before, in good honeſt Proſe, which has more Beauties in it than his lamentable Verſe, that the Weſtern-Angles Con⯑quer'd the reſt; but the Parts which were Con⯑quer'd, as the Eaſt-Angles, &c. help'd to give the whole Country the Name of England, as well as that which had ſubdued 'em. Which ſhews the Poet lies under a miſtake, and is guilty of ſome eſcapes in matters of Hiſtory. But what deſerves our notice more particularly, is his making the Conquerors who were Inhabi⯑tants of the Weſtern Parts, Bloudy, Barbarous, [30] and Rude, when 'tis apparent in our Chronicles thoſe of the North were the moſt Cruel, on purpoſe to taint the Nation in general, which had ſubmitted to the Conqueſt of thoſe Inhumane People, with the ſaid Vices.

Pride was wholly attributed to the Spaniards ſometime before, but now 'tis the property of the Engliſh. Either his Memory is very trea⯑cherous, or he has been ſo laviſh of the Vices he has charg'd us with, that he is forc'd to have re⯑courſe to thoſe he has flung upon others, becauſe of the lowneſs of his Stock. And if we are a-kin to all the Ʋniverſe, we have a multitude of Noble Relations for certain, which renders us above the common dregs of all Mankind, without any manner of Queſtion.

The Travelling of the Scots, is an Argument of their enquiries after Knowledge, a Vertue for [31] which they are unreproachable; therefore our Author does very ill to make uſe of Cleave⯑land's Word (Wandring) unleſs he had been gifted with Cleaveland's Wit: But how he can prove that England has receiv'd all the Glea⯑nings of the World, unleſs he can make appear we had any Forefathers from Japan and China, I can't imagine.

Though he pretends to make out our Origi⯑nal, he's more than Preſumptious to explain our Saviour's Doctine after that manner. I am apt to think, thoſe are no ones Sentiments but his own; and notwithſtanding the dangerous Opinion he has of no ſuch Perſon in the Bleſſed Trinity, no Man that has the Name of a Chriſti⯑an, but will conclude that Chriſt's Predictions will be fullfill'd, without any ſuch mean Evaſion as he impiouſly lays hold on.

'Tis well (to uſe his own words) he will ac⯑knowledge any ſuch thing as Vertue to be a⯑mongſt [32] us. It's a Condeſcenſion he has not be⯑fore been guilty of; and if we have Sixty Thou⯑ſand Engliſh Gentlemen, it's no Matter whether they are deriv'd from the Saxons or no, ſince we had People that have Conquer'd us of as great Antiquity as them.

France, and both the Germany's, High and Low, have chang'd their Maſters as often as us; and though they have great ſwelling Names, ſome of our Families may be no more obſcure than theirs, ſince we have the ſame Reaſons to boaſt of their Antiquity. And our Poetaſter had paid ne'er the leſs Difference to the Invinci⯑ble Naſſau, had he plac'd his Grand-Fathers Fa⯑mily (viz. that of the Stewarts) which is the moſt Ancient in Scotland, before that of Monroe, which I never heard was Famous for any Mem⯑ber of it, but one Mr. Monroe, who is a celebrated Tobaconiſt.

The Names may be French, on Account of the Norman Invaſion; but it's the Title that makes the Nobleman, which cannot be ſaid to be borrow'd. If the Kings of England could not make their own Peers, they would have leſs Pre⯑rogative than the meaneſt Soveraign Princes, who have a Right to multiply the number of 'em as they pleaſe; and if Impudence and Money make a Peer in theſe Days, he has made a pretty ſort of a Complement to His preſent Majeſty, whom we ſhall find he has Written a moſt Bombaſt Harangue in Verſe upon, and been after his laudable Cuſtom, exceeding Civil to the Duke and Earl, whom he would have preferable to King Charles the Second's Sons.

It's a ſign, when People riſe in the World, and make a Figure from ſmall Beginnings, Induſtry has had a great hand in their Promotion; and when People of indifferent Circumſtances are ad⯑vanc'd to Honour, there is an encouragement of Vertue going forward. The Common Seaman's Labours may do much towards the gaining a Na⯑val Victory; but it is the Admiral's Conduct that brings it to paſs; and though Engliſh Pages for their Bravery at Sea are made Lords, it is not a thing to be wondered at, ſince a certain Gentleman, belonging to a Nation he's ſo fond of, has had more than the ſame Honour done him, for none of thoſe Performances.

PART II.

This Paragraph makes our Author look like a Roman himſelf, though he will allow none of us to be any thing like them, (when they have left their Brood behind them, without doubt, as well as any of our other Conquerors;) and he ſeems like Janus to carry his Head two ways: One while, he commends us for our Valour; another, rails a⯑gainſt us for our Falſhood: He names the Na⯑tions that bequeathed us the Vices he makes men⯑tion of; and for our Stock of Honeſty, becauſe he would make it as ſmall as he could, the Saxons forſooth, above all other People, muſt be our Benefactors in leaving us that: A valuable ſort of Gift, indeed, when according to his Challenge, out of 60000 Families, ten of them had not ſo much as a drop of their Blood in them.

If the Engliſh betray the Secrets that are com⯑mitted to them, by Infirmity, not by any Deſign, it's as plain as the Noſe in his Face they are Ho⯑neſt; which contradicts the Character he gave of them in the foregoing Paragraph: And as that [36] implies a contradiction to Senſe, ſo the Character he gives them, of having Faculties too weak for Intriegues, is a downright contradiction to Truth; ſince we have Stateſmen now in being, and Eng⯑liſhmen too, not inferiour to the Richlieu's and Mazarine's of France; or to any hard Names whatſoever the Dutch are diſtinguiſh'd by. And it's beyond all manner of doubt certainly true, that the laſt might have been glad to have got back to the Texel again, had not ſome Wiſe Gen⯑tlemen, that lived near the Names, laid their Heads together, in order to forward the Happy Revolution they boaſt of.

He's Almanzor-like for killing all, and making a compleat Victory over the whole Engliſh Race. The Nobility and Gentry have had a Taſt of his Fury, and he'll be impartial, and fall upon the Poor alſo; when if they were ſo laviſh of their Money and Time, as he would perſwade us they are, few of'em would come to wear Gold Chains, [37] which he blames them for, or ſhew their Charity in Magiſterial Purple, which has been ſuch a Mor⯑tification to him, and if they had not given them⯑ſelves Time to think, they would never have ar⯑riv'd at.

I never heard but the Dutch were as good Toſs-pots as our ſelves, though he would have us believe, one Engliſhman can drink as much as will maintain two Families of 'em. However he has made amends for that known Lye, by giving his Aſſent to a known Truth, which is, that we are more dext'rous at Buſineſs than them, and are the greateſt Artiſts by conſequence, ſince he has the ill manners to call us the greateſt Sots.

The way to aboliſh Religion, which has been the main deſign of our Author, is to make the Clergy look little in the Eyes of the Laity; and he has laid hold of effectual means to further his [38] intentions, nothing being more capable to draw the People from the reſpect which is due to them, ſo much as the imputation of Drunkenneſs, un⯑leſs they open their Eyes and examine into the Character of him that charges them with it. But God be thank'd, we have the ſobereſt Clergy in the World; our Miniſters are Men of exemplary Lives, as well as great Learning; and our Gen⯑try's Tenants are ſo far from ſtanding in ſuch a reverential Awe of their Landlords, that they are Gentlemen themſelves in reſpect of the Boors beyond Sea.

The reaſon he has for pecking at our Univer⯑ſities, is, becauſe the Vice-Chancellor of one of them, civilly deſired him to withdraw himſelf from it, for fear of his corrupting young Gen⯑tlemen-Student's Morals, which he had an ex⯑cellent Talent at; otherwiſe common Juſtice would have forced him to own, there are the moſt excellent Scholars in them, which are to be found in any place of Learning throughout [39] all Europe; and the Statutes are ſo regularly put in force againſt all manner of Licentiouſneſs, that he has no manner of excuſe for the Scandal he charges them with. Engliſh Phyſicians alſo are Men of the beſt Reputation in that Faculty throughout the whole Univerſe. And to ſpeak againſt our Practitioners dexterity in Chirurge⯑ry, is to give the lye to demonſtration, and vent a known falſhood, in the room of that which is true.

One may perceive by his hungry inſipid Lines he's a Freſh-water Poet, and that Wine is very far from having any ſuch thing as Inſpiration in it, if he makes uſe of it; that is, for certain A⯑pollo would abdicate, if he was in danger of having good Senſe and Verſe murder'd by the reſt of his Subjects, as he has done; and Helicon would be ſoon drunk up, were the reſt of the Fraternity troubled ſo much with the Heart-burning as he is. But your Man of Verſe knows better, that would acquire Fame by his Writings, and to perpetuate his Memory like one of his Predeceſſors, always goes,—Bene Potus ad Arma.

As for our Stateſmen, without Queſtion, the making their Heads hot is not the way to make their Thoughts ſedate and cool, and it's evi⯑dent from the ſucceſs of their Counſels, our Au⯑thor is no great Politician himſelf. It's appa⯑rent alſo he's no Songſter, ſince he underſtands the Cuſtoms of Singing-Men ſo little, as to make them drink, when Liquors are the moſt Pernici⯑ous things to a good Voice, and the likelieſt imaginable to take their livelihood from 'em.

For certain he's not one of the leſs prophane, by the wicked Expreſſions that come from him; And ſeems to agree with the Belief of the Jews, who ſaid the Apoſtles were drunk with New Wine, when they declaring the Meſſage of the moſt High God. So that the Reader may find what Sect he belongs to, ſince he is againſt the Reſponſe, of, with thy Spirit let us pray.

[41]He's reſolv'd to pull every Body in by the Neck and Shoulders, and Mr. Aſgil is maul'd off next for his notion of Tranſlation; but in ſuch a manner, that any Man would deſerve the Name of a Wiſe one, that could find out where the Satyr Bit. He asks a Queſtion, and an⯑ſwers it himſelf; for if it would give Wings to Aſgel's Diſciples, and guard 'em from the Fear of Death, without doubt Mr. Aſgil would not forbid 'em the uſe of a Liquor, which would be very inſtrumental in forwarding their Tran⯑ſlation.

What he brings the Gods in for, is a ſecret to me, unleſs he would ſhew he has read Poe⯑try, though he is Maſter of none of the Beauties of it. And whom he means by Colon I can't tell; but if it be any particular Perſon, he points his harmleſs Satyr at, it is foreign to the purpoſe, [42] ſince he deſigns it as a Reflection againſt the Engliſh in general. For though there may be a Colon or two, or many more in the Nation, he has no Authority to infer from thence, that Drunkenneſs is the darling Vice in it; or to ſhew the Partiality of his Spleen, if it were ſo, by dating it from the Reign of a Prince whom he had before rendred infamous for a Vice which is not conſiſtent with it.

Any one may perceive he's for voting an Act of Comprehenſion, and that he would all have the the ſtraggling Sects whatſoever enjoy the ſame Privileges with thoſe that are actually in com⯑mon with the Eſtabliſh'd Church; though by his ſaying they are tenacious of miſtakes, he ſeems to conclude every different ſort of Religion Practic'd in theſe Realms is falſe, and none but the phantaſtical Schemes he propoſes to us as Matters of Faith, true.

As for the Character he gives us in the begin⯑ning of this Paragraph, it's ſo inconſiſtent with an Engliſh Temper, that he needs nothing but his own Words to refute him; and if we take leſs freely than we give, it's a plain Argument againſt that lowneſs of Birth, he would tax us with, and ſhews our Generoſity to be ſuch, that we take more Pleaſure in having our own Beneficences accepted, than to give our acceptance of thoſe of others: Which is ſo far from any thing that tends to our diſparagement, that it is a Vertue we ought to be priz'd above our Neighbours for, and an Excellence of that uncommon Na⯑ture, that makes us Superior to the reſt of thoſe Nations that People the World.

If we are inconſtant in our Temper, we ſhould certainly, by the frequent changes it is guilty of, ſometime or other fall into a Vindictive Fury, and reſent Affronts which are put upon us; but if we are ſuch Strangers to Paſſion, what a-murrain is become of the Daniſh Fury, and the Portegueſe Rage, which he not long ſince ſaid had ſuch an Aſcendant over us? And for the Humid to damp the Fume, he might have as well ſaid, one moiſt thing adds moiſtneſs to another, which proceeds from no Antipathy of one different Quality to another, as he ignorantly would have it.

The laſt Diſtich agrees very little with the firſt, and I find he's over-happy in making Simi⯑litudes; for if we are the Benefactors (which he call's a ſlender Proof of good Nature) it's our Buſi⯑neſs; to receive acknowledgments, and not return 'em before any ſuch thing is paid us.

[45]As I take it, Friendſhip is the Union of two diſtinct Minds, and not of one; neither is it an Abſtract of Agreement, which is a ſort of an Epi⯑tome of Happineſs; but an entire, perfect, and compleat Enjoyment betwixt one Soul and ano⯑ther. And if we were ſo unhappy as to deſerve the Character he gives, ſince very few Nations are Maſters of this Friendſhip, we have this com⯑fort, as to have a great many Countries (and amongſt them perhaps his beloved Dutchland) who ſhare with us in the want of it.

[46]Were our Author an Engliſhman, as he would perſwade us he is, he would have contradicted himſelf in this point, and been ſo far from giving himſelf his own good Word, that he would have ſhewn he had pick'd out the worſt he could find in the whole Engliſh Vocabulary. But he is more partial than ſo, and being of another Nation, flings all the dirt that is poſſible upon us: Tho' I dare ſwear he is in the wrong, for charging our Rich Natives with boaſting of their Riches, ſince 'tis manifeſt there is no People in the Univerſe, that are more cautious of having their Wealth known than the generality of Ours; witneſs the Numbers in this Kingdom that are poſſeſſed of vaſt Sums, and yet would have the World be⯑lieve nothing like it. As for our forgiving Ill Turns, we thank him for the Character, and take it for our own, being in hopes he will apply that of forgetting Good to himſelf, ſince he has been ſo unthankful for the Favours he has receiv'd here, and ſo ungenerous as to return the Mercy of a Nation, who might have handed him very ſe⯑verely for his impious Writings, with ſo bar⯑barous a Treatment.

His Satyr now bears the countenance of Pane⯑gyrick, and he has taken off the Scandal, he be⯑fore faſtened on us, of being a lazie People, by [47] putting that of our being chearful in Labour in its room; and if a Bottle refines our Brains, and gives a ſpirituous influence to our Wit, it very much makes againſt his ſide, who has blamed us for di⯑verting our ſelves over it.

We have all manner of reaſon to thank him for his great condeſcenſion, in being graciouſly pleas'd to ſhew his compaſſion in concealing our Vices, after he has charged us with all the Devil could put in his Head; and, if he muſt not divulge the crimes he cannot cure, he has already broke through that prohibition, by making mention of ſo much as one ſingle Fault, ſince very few Patients will accept of a Cure, where Old-Nick is known to be the Doctor. As for the Ladies, they are in his favour, though I queſtion whether he will be in theirs, ſince to make them Noiſy and Proud is enough to put them out of Humour.

If an Engliſhman is gentle in Command, and does not curb in thoſe who are put under him with too ſtiff a Rein, he is certainly praiſe-worthy, and is deſervedly had in eſteem: But if Obedience be a Stranger, in the Land, how comes it about that His preſent Majeſty is own'd as ſuch through⯑out all the Three Kingdoms. To be humbleſt when rich, is alſo a certain token of an innate Goodneſs; but to reconcile what follows with it, is beyond my Ability, ſince if their increaſe of Wealth is an increaſe of their Humility, they can never be unſatisfied, and think they merit more.

[49]To call Tutchin a Shamwig, is directly to af⯑firm, he has not half the ill Qualities of a Whig, as he would have him. For my part, I muſt own, I think he has the particular Characteriſtic of that Rebellious, and Whining Sect, if a Mur⯑muring Genius, and an Unſatisfied Temper, can point him out as a Member of ſo ſcandalous a Society. But how two ſuch Brothers in Ini⯑quity, who ſo directly Tally in every thing, but their Opinion about Foreigners ſhould fall out, that's a Riddle to me. Every Body knows Tutchin was deſervedly order'd to be whip'd, through the Weſt Country Market-Towns, and that he was ſet at Liberty, and entertain'd by ſome People of no ſmall note after the Revo⯑lution, and how that he like a True Whig, and Villain, afterwards abus'd his Benefactors, by writing a Satyr in Praiſe of Folly and Knavery, incomparably better then his True-Born Engliſh⯑man, but I never could hear any Body ſay Tut⯑chin was worſe then T—d.

This is alſo a Truth, which he has pick'd out of the Reverſe which was an Anſwer to the Foreig⯑ners, and which, as I take it, intimates he had a Place given him at the Victualling-Office; but ac⯑cuſing the Commiſſioners before the Lords of the Admiralty, and not able to make out what he charg'd 'em with, he himſelf was diveſted of his [50] own Poſt. By this the Author may perceive I am not ſo bad, and ſo abandon'd to Wicked⯑edneſs, as to be a Friend of Tutchin's, neither have I ſo little Judgment; as to have a good Opi⯑nion of the Perſon who rails at him.

It's natural for Men of both their Kidneys to change ſides as occaſion offers; and if Tutchin's deſign in writing the Foreigners, was only for the Good of his Nation, he was far enough from Huffing the King, who is an Engliſh Prince, ſince he Reigns over us, by taking part with the Eng⯑liſh who are the Subjects, that have ſtood by him with their Lives and Fortunes, and loſt abun⯑dance of Treaſure in his Defence, when the Dutch have been Gainers by the War.

If England's be a Scoundrel Cauſe, for God's ſake what muſt that of Holland be? And if we move their ſcorn, it's our own Fault, ſince we have had it in our power to Command their Fear; and might have Lampoon'd the Dutch, without Burleſquing the Nation, had we been ſo wiſe as to have leſs dealings with 'em.

Certainly, he has been in Wales, or Yorkſhire, by the Character he gives the Plough-men; and the Gentlemen of the long Robe have no Reaſon to thank him for caſting ſuch a Reflection on the Study of the Law. For their Part, thoſe are wiſe Magiſtrates indeed that are kept in awe by 'em; and for mine, I have never heard of any ſuch, but one City-Juſtice, and he has a Shoe-Maker to read Law to him.

If he blames us for our Liberty and Property being dear to us, he cannot be a Friend to the late Revolution, which he would be taken for a Champion of; and he would do well to explain his unintelligible Aſſertion of our not being able to ſubmit to our own Liberty: The next two Lines are applicable to no Engliſhmen, but thoſe of his own Perſuaſion; and the Contents of 'em put in practice by no ſort of Perſons, but thoſe who are under a perpetual uneaſineſs, and have the Impudence to call our Stateſmen Sots; [52] which reflects upon the Wiſdom of him that made choice of 'em.

He goes on with the known Qualities of his own Sect, and being ſeemingly aſham'd of owning 'em himſelf, flings 'em on thoſe who have no manner of relation to 'em. He acknowledges there are but too many of this Temper in this Kingdom, and that Rebellion, Diſſatisfaction, and the other Crimes he falſly Charges us with, has a Multitude of Diſciples ready to ſide with either of 'em. But let us ſeek for the Fountain which gives Being to this Sea of Wickedneſs, and which for other cauſes then the River Nile, hides its Head, and we ſhall ſoon find the ſource of thoſe miſchiefs, that are our perpetual Diſturbers, is on that ſide which he is the ungrateful Defender of.

And where was the Harm to think our ſelves injur'd, if we really were; and to complain of Grievances, if we had a juſt cauſe for it? King James was led aſide, and we did not make our Addreſſes to the Dutch, who treading in wrong Paths themſelves could not ſet His Majeſty in the right: but ſent our Remonſtrances over to the Princeſs and Prince of Orange, in order to let them know, whoſe principal Concern it was, that they had a Jealouſie there was no fair Play going forward at the Engliſh Court. They ad⯑dreſſed them in no humbler Tone, than was fit⯑ting to be made uſe of to Princes of their High Birth; and invited their Highneſſes to England, not ſo much for want of Force, but becauſe it was neceſſary that the Perſons whoſe Con⯑cern it was to examine into the P— of Wales his Birth, ſhould be at the Head of them to countenance what otherwiſe would have born the Face of a Rebellion.

It is not our buſineſs to queſtion what he ſays on His Majeſty's part; and he ſays nothing on the part of the People but what is true, ſince they gave their Deliverer no other Thanks than thoſe he deſerv'd. But it's the greateſt of Fal⯑ſhoods to ſay we ſoon deſpis'd him; when if any Sect of People were guilty of that piece of Ingratitude, thoſe that call themſelves Diſſen⯑ters are the Perſons, who are not ſatisfied of having a free Exerciſe of their Religion, accord⯑ing to the Dictates of their Conſcience; but will murmur on till theirs is the Eſtabliſh'd Faith, and their Meetings have the ſame Royal Autho⯑rity in their behalf, as the Kirk of Scotland; which, I preſume from His Majeſty's great Knowledge of the Church-of-England Loyalty, will never come to paſs.

Non-Reſiſtance in Things that are lawful, was the Doctrine of our Church; and the greateſt part of our Clergy preached up Paſſive Obedience only where their Prince did not violate the Rights of his Subjects. A great number of them, I am well aſſured, would have ſuffered the grea⯑teſt Extremities for the ſake of their Religion; though when the Church-Lands were called in queſtion, and the Poſſeſſors of them were likely to be forced from them; then Judgment began at the Houſe of God; and a certain Time-ſerver, who is in his Party's Intereſt, and lives not a Mile from the Temple, cut aſunder the Gordian Knot which he had before made indiſſoluble; which does not at all affect the Church-of-Eng⯑land Loyalty, ſince that fulſome Harange-maker is looked upon as one of its rotten Members.

[56]The Safety of the Church is the Preſervation of the Laws; and as the infringement of the Privi⯑leges of the one, is a downright violation of the other, ſo unleſs the Authority of Religion be kept up; and the Miniſters of God's Holy Ordi⯑nances had in Reverence, the Statutes of the Kingdom will be but an ill Fence to reſtrain the Violence of Licentious Men, who will break in upon the other Laws, after they have deſtroy'd that which is their Fundamental.

The Reflection which he deſigns upon the Lord Biſhop of London (for none of our other Fathers in God took Arms on that occaſion) is of ſo lit⯑tle [57] force, that his Lordſhip has nothing to fear from it. His Lordſhip was ſuſpended by an Ec⯑cleſiaſtical High Court which was unlawfully e⯑ſtabliſhed, was under apprehenſions of ſuffering every day worſe and worſe, and had every Miſ⯑fortune to provide himſelf againſt, that either a Subject or a Chriſtian ought to ſtand in fear of; and therefore is very much to be excuſed, though I don't vindicate taking Arms againſt a Sove⯑reign. But the Prieſts whom he joins the Epi⯑thet of Pale to (meaning the Non-Jurants) are falſly traduced; they gave no more Aſſiſtance to the then Prince of Orange, than their Prayers for his Succeſs, and their continued Vows to the Almighty to crown an Undertaking, for the ſake of Religion, with an happy Iſſue. And notwith⯑ſtanding they were Men of ſuch tender Conſci⯑ences, as not to be led by any hopes of Gain to take Oaths to a Prince, who was eſtabliſhed in the Throne during the Life of the King they had ſworn to, I am well perſuaded they are ſo far from turning Martyrs for Popery, that no People whatſoever are more againſt that idola⯑trous Opinion than themſelves.

[58]It was not only the Prieſt's thoughts, that His preſent Majeſty would have ſettled Affairs on their Ancient Eſtabliſhment, and been contented with the Glory of reſcuing Three Nations from Propery and Slavery, but his Majeſty's own In⯑tentions, as may be ſeen in his Declaration, in the year 1688. was agreeable to their thoughts; till the Parliament was ſo importunate with him to accept the Three, that he could not have re⯑fuſed them, without leaving the People he had freed to the ſame dangers they were before ex⯑poſed to.

No true Proteſtant, I am perſwaded, believes our Grievances were feign'd, but is heartily glad they are redreſs'd. However, though I have a greater Veneration for the Perſon and Merit of W— than to ſay he's a Ty---nt, I am ready to affirm one S— as I know (per⯑haps not the Perſon he means) guilty of a greater Crime than Sottiſhneſs, for betraying ſo kind a Maſter.

I muſt needs acknowledge I don't underſtand the Doctrine of puniſhing Kings; though the Murder of good King Charles has been ſuch a Barbarous Inſtance of it, that if Divine Puniſh⯑ment does not overtake the Authors of it, cer⯑tainly there is no Vengeance in ſtore for the vileſt Offenders.

[60]If I miſtake not, the two firſt Lines in this Pa⯑ragraph are not clear from Exceptions; for ac⯑cording to the rules of common ſenſe, whether a King reigns juſtly or unjuſtly, he is neverthe⯑leſs a King, beyond all diſpute, while he ſits upon the Throne. But great Diſputants are ſometimes out in their Conſequences; therefore I ſhall skip over the reſt of his Argument, as what is heard every day over Coffee and Tea, and examine into the laſt Verſes, which ſeem to bear all the ſtrength of Reaſon he is capable of muſtring up. If we may call a Perſon to the Relief of a Kingdom, without any deſign of pre⯑ſenting him with the Throne of it, as certainly we may, there is no queſtion but the People who called him, are innocent, and free from the breach of their Oath to their then Sovereign; ſince to take up Arms is one thing, and to petition for Aſſiſtance to remove Prieſts, and Evil Counſel⯑lours, another.

Perjury is the Violation of an Oath, taken af⯑ter a ſerious and premeditated manner; but to break an Oath of Allegiance to one King, with⯑out ſwearing to another, makes it impoſſible that the Non-juring Clergy ſhould fall under the [61] Cenſure of ſo notorious a piece of impiety. How⯑ever, the whole Fraternity, Swearers or Non-ſwearers, are extraordinarily oblig'd to their good Friend, Mr. Author, who makes them as ready, if they are in the wrong, to prove them⯑ſelves in the right; and as good at furniſhing themſelves with Excuſes, as a thorough-paced Whore before a Magiſtrate, or a venerable Hy⯑pocritical Bawd before one of the Society for Re⯑formation of Manners. A great token of the re⯑ſpect he has for God's Miniſters.

It is impoſſible Juſtice ſhould die, while the Fountain of it is living: The Chanels through which it paſſes may be choak'd up for a time; but as long as there is wherewithal to feed it at the Spring-head, can never wholly be ſtop'd.

The deſign of this Paragraph, is to ſhew, that the Kingly Power is the Gift of the Subjects, and that whenever a Prince fails in the Duty of his Office, the People may recal their Gift, and be⯑ſtow the Crown on whom they pleaſe. This Doctrine might do very well in Poland, amongſt the Radziouskies and Potoskies, who are for an Elective Kingdom; but never will ſuit with a Nation, whoſe Kingdom has been Hereditary upwards of ſix hundred years, and always went to the next Heir of courſe, notwithſtanding the defects of the King, for the time being, might occaſion his Dethronement.

If Laws are ſuperiour to Kings, the Creature may pretend a Sovereignty over the Creator, ſince they are the product of their Royal Aſſent, and never capable of being put in Force without their approbation: The Potſherd may as well ſay to the Potter, Wherefore haſt thou made me? as the Law put a Queſtion to the King, and ask him, Why haſt thou done thus?

Self-Defence is acknowledg'd by Univerſal Conſent for the Voice of Nature, and enjoin'd by her Laws to be put in Practice; that is, up⯑on any ſudden Attack of an Enemy, or any cauſe⯑leſs Provocation that may be given us, to take care of our ſelves. But the Divine Law which is ſuperior to it, and commands us not to lift up our Hand againſt the Lord's Anointed; prohi⯑bits us to call Rebellion Self-Defence; and ev'n Humane Ordinance allows Kings to be the Head of their People, and not liable to the Cenſure of thoſe that are inferiour to 'em.

That would be pretty indeed, and we ſhould have a hopeful Nation of it, ſhould the ſame Reaſon, or rather want of it, which governs him, govern all. Every one would cry ſuch a Poſt of [64] Honour was his Right; and if the King ſhould deny him the Grant of it, Rebellion would be the next Word; and every Fool would cry Fire, on purpoſe to make his Neighbour as wiſe as himſelf.

That is as much as to ſay, after his own way of expreſſing himſelf, England cry'd Fire, and a Neighbour came in an inſtant, and quench'd it, and receiv'd the Houſe, and all the Furniture for his Pairs. Not that I would detract from the Debt of Gratitude, which will be ever due to His Majeſty; but I Queſtion not but His Majeſty holds himſelf contented with the large Acknow⯑ledgments of both Houſes of Parliament. Since 700000 per Annum more than the Crown Re⯑venue, is a Gift never given to any Prince before, though this Impudent Author in defrance of the [65] Donors, calls down for Vengeance on their un⯑grateful Heads.

No Body doubts but the late Queen of Bleſſed Memory, was an ineſtimable Preſent to His Ma⯑jeſty; but to ſay, he had all that God could give in the Poſſeſſion of Her, was to ſet Bounds to the Power of the Deity, and ſay unto the Al⯑mighty, Hither couldſt thou go, and no farther. A thought too big for him that made uſe of it, and too little for that Infinite Being for whom he made uſe of it.

I don't believe His preſent Majeſty's Aſſent was ſo unforeſeen as our Author would have it; [66] neither can it enter into my thoughts, that his Majeſty's thoughts foretold to him, that we are a fickle, ſelfiſh, and unkind ſort of People; ſince his Majeſty would not have thought it worth his while to accept of the Government of a King⯑dom, he foreſaw he ſhould be uneaſie in; or yield to the repeated deſires of ſuch Petitioners, as would be unthankful for the Grant of their Re⯑queſt.

That Injunction's well enough! And the Whore, his Satyrical Muſe, has exhauſted her Magazine of Venome ſo much, that 'tis time her Draggle-tail-ſhip ſhould have a Holiday for ſi⯑lence. But the Panygerical Lady is the Devil and all for her part, ſhe cannot Quaver a Note, un⯑leſs both the Poles give their Attention, and loud Fame lends her a Trumpet to ſound her bombaſt unmuſical Notes in. As for the Subject's part, [67] it deſerves a better hand to undertake it: And as for the Undertaker, one would think that a worſe part might be more fit for him. How⯑ever, let us hear what Words he puts in Britan⯑nia's Mouth; tho' Hell's acquainted with his way of Sounding too well to take it for the laſt Fatal Blaſt.

The Trumpeter's out of Tune at the firſt Note; that is, he has no manner of Muſick in the firſt Line, which is diſcouragement enough to give any farther attention: But ſince the Winds, and the Poles, and the Endleſs Round, wait his Motions, it will be preſumptious in us not to do the ſame. So—now 'tis a comical ſort of a ſound indeed—the Devil-a-bit of any Eccho comes from it, which is the Beauty of Muſick; it has taken a flight into Old Time's long Ears, which though they are hollow enough to return any manner of Voice; yet the Miſer is of ſo greedy a Temper, as to keep it all to himſelf.

Sweet! The Sails of Honour furl'd, ſhews a vaſt reach of Thought, and an exuberancy of Fancy! though I know the meaning of it no more than him that wrote it. But they are Words, and that's enough; for it's uncivil to expect more, when he is made up of nothing elſe. Fans them on, too, is a very elegant Expreſſion; though he does our Great and Good King very little Ser⯑vice by the Wind he raiſes for him.

All this is to be confeſſed, and that's a Mad⯑man who will not own it, though I believe His Majeſty has thoſe Heroick Vertues in him, as to love the Name of a Conqueror, at the ſame time that he ſets us Free, ſince none but a Con⯑queror can deſerve that Glorious Appellation.

If Phraſes conceal His Majeſty's Titles, it may be taken for granted our Poetical Man of Proſe, or rather our Proſaical Man of Poetry, has pub⯑liſhed more than is conſiſtent with the true ſenſe of him. Since to ſay, he'll directly proclaim Names and Thing of Him, when he takes care to ſpeak very little of either, is as much as to ſay, Your Majeſty's gracious Favours will be an En⯑couragement for me to ſpeak more.

The Reader will infallibly conclude with me, that William is a Name too good for his hoarſe Inſtrument, that ſounds more like a Lancaſhire Horn-Pipe than a Trumpet; and that the Vir⯑gins may liſten to Eternity, and not hear ſuch a thing come from him as a Charming Sound. But I am amaz'd to ſee him turn Pimp, while he is lab'ring at the painful Vocation of a Panegyriſt, and ſeek out for Maidenheads for His Majeſty, after having offer'd up his Wiſhes that he may be a Lover as well as a King. How ſoft Thoughts can be ſublime without altering the property, I confeſs I am to ſeek: And the next is the uncha⯑ritableſt Wiſh imaginable, viz. that Heav'n ſhould ne'er hear a Prayer where his Name is left out; ſince we ought to pray for our Enemies: And ſome diſaffected People who don't own His pre⯑ſent Majeſty for their King, without doubt pray for Another. But this is the moſt diverting Paſ⯑ſage of All, after he has blamed the Men for ta⯑king a Cup ſo freely, he encourages the Ladies to take a chearful Glaſs, and drink about as a ſort of a Cordial for them.

Saytyr may return, if it pleaſes; but no body will take notice of its ſcandalous Appearance. How we have been either ungrateful or untrue to our King and Country, may be ſeen by the large Summs we have advanced for the Service of both.

That is more than he knows; Six hundred thouſand pounds is a great deal of Money; and there are People in the World would jump at it once more, ſhould we have occaſion for their Aſſiſtance. And the beſt Inſtance that can be thought on to prevail with any of our Neigh⯑bours, will be, that we paid the Dutch before we ſent them home again. As for Abuſes upon us for damning them for Foreigners, 'twas done by Vote of Parliament, and had the King's own Royal Aſſent to it; and if he has any thing to [72] remonſtrate it, againſt the Sixth of February is near at Hand, when he may ſee what thanks our Se⯑nators will give him, for finding fault with their wiſe Conſulation.

That Obſervation is a very wrong one, to my Knowledge; for the Dutch were found fault with ſome Years before the Peace, though we ſtood in need of Troops for our Quota toward the War, and 'twas more adviſeable to pay Fo⯑reigners which were Veterane Troops, than raiſe new ones of raw and unexperienc'd Natives.

We never thought that we paid the Dutch too much, though they were of ſuch an unſatisfied Temper, as to think it too little; ſo that his Simile is very little to the purpoſe, that relates to the Doctor and his Patients.

Great Portland at the time of the Revolution, was plain Myn Heer Bentnick, and Poſſeſs'd no Place which Engliſhmen were wont to be Maſters of; ſo that he gave no occaſion of murmuring to a People, who ſtand mightily upon their Birth-Right. And no Body queſtions but he perform'd his Embaſſy in France, with an Extraordinary Conduct, but we never careſs'd him as the only Man ſit for ſo great an Employment; being well ſatisfy'd that his Lordſhip, notwithſtanding his great Abilities, has thoſe who are Natives of this Kingdom, that can equal him. But I ſhall ne⯑ver [74] be of the Opinion, that France regrets his ma⯑naging the Peace, till what paſs'd between his Lordſhip, and the Duke de Boufflers, be made publick, which perhaps may lead me into a lower eſteem of the French Politicks; and England (though 'tis not her Cuſtom to reward) has recom⯑penc'd that Noble Peer's Services, by giving his Royal Maſter ſuch an addition to the Crown-Re⯑venue, as to enable him to make his Lordſhip what returns His Majeſty ſhall think fitting.

If he means the old Mareſchal de Schonberg, (as certainly he muſt by what he relates of him) he's very much in the dark as to his Knowledge; for that General was never Ill ſpoken of by the People of England; but deſervedly counted next His Majeſty, their ſupport in time of War: Or if he would have us underſtand him, as to the Preſent Duke his Son, and Generaliſſimo of the Forces in England, whoſe Poſt has cheifly been ſince the Reduction of Ireland here in England; [75] and who has been ſo far from extending his Conqueſts from Villa-Vitioſo to the Rhine, though without queſtion he has Courage and Con⯑duct to do it enough, if Opportunity ſhould of⯑fer, tho' I never heard his Grace had orders to attempt any thing, but the taking Furnes, and Dixmude. Some malicious People perhaps have ſpoken diſreſpectfully of him; but it's ſo far from being a natural affront put upon him, that it's nothing elſe but the Reſentments of ſome Soldi⯑ers under his Command.

Without doubt His Majeſty would find him⯑ſelf more aſſur'd of the Hearts, and Purſes of his Engliſh Subjects, (if it could be poſſible) if [76] none but They were admitted into His Majeſty's Council, in relation to Engliſh Affairs. For cer⯑tainly a reliance on their Fidelity, who have run all Hazards, ventur'd their Lives and For⯑tunes, and every thing that was dear to them for his Service, would not be improper at a juncture of Time when the Hearts and Purſes of thoſe Subjects may be very neceſſary. I know of no Engliſh-man in a Place of Truſt that has be⯑tray'd Him; [...]ut in His Majeſty's younger Days in Holland, there were De Wits who would, had not Providence hind'red their Deſigns: And as for the Loſs of the Turkey-Fleet, and the brave General Talmaſh, few Men of Underſtanding but know both thoſe unhappy Miſcarriages lie at a Country's door, who have no great Aver⯑ſion to Herrings and Butter.

If our Author was capable of bluſhing, he might exert that Faculty now, when he is go⯑ing to abuſe a Gentleman, whoſe Name is as Ancient as that of moſt Families, and who has advanc'd his Reputation and his Wealth to ſuch a degree, that never London-Magiſtrate acquir'd ſuch deſerved Eſteem, during the Execution of his Office, and never one went out of it with more good Wiſhes, and Money, after he had be⯑ſtow'd ſo much in Charitable Uſes. But as theſe Calumnies were written on purpoſe to leſſen the Number of thoſe who had eſpous'd his Party, a⯑gainſt the enſuing Election for Members of Par⯑liament for the City, and the Author of it was in Fee with that ſcandalous, hypocritical Sect, that gave Bills out againſt him: So Sir Charles Duncomb has the leſs to be concern'd at, from the known Partiality and Inveteracy of thoſe that are his Enemies; and may ſtand ſecur'd of thoſe Rewards for his Good Works, which no Hire⯑ling-Scribler can detract from; and which ſhall deduce his Name to Poſterity, when ſuch a Fel⯑low as the Author repreſents himſelf to be, ſhall not be known ſo much as to have been born.

'Tis well known to all People, who have any knowledge of the Gentleman he inſolently ſpits his Venom at, that his Father had not where⯑withal to educate him, as his ſprightly Genius deſerv'd; yet he was ſo far from making him a Cow-Driver, which ſort of People are ſeldom thought to write and read, that he had all the Education neceſſary for one who being born to no great Matters of Poſſeſſion, was one day to launch out into the World to make his For⯑tune.

[79]Lyars, they ſay, ought to have good Memo⯑ries, and the Poet ſhould have bethought himſelf of his making Sir Charles a Cow-driver in the preceding Paragraph, before he made him a Car⯑ter in this; elſe he muſt never expect the Cha⯑racter of a Man of exceeding Care, which he has given a Perſon that deſerves it without an Irony.

If he had not been Equip'd otherwiſe than our Author would have him, and been furniſhed with Honeſty which all Perſons, who have had any dealing him are ready to teſtifie, yet even then he had exceeded him that makes his Speech for him, and all his fancied Acquirements. And if to come up to Town in order to advance his Fortunes, may fall under the diminutive way of Buſineſs, that Men follow who are in Queſt of Bread then every Clergyman, Phyſician, and Perſon of other Creditable Callings may fall under the ſame imputation.

Sir Charles D—mb has often made ap⯑pear, that he was never ungrateful for the Kind⯑neſſes he receiv'd of Alderman Backwell, and is ready to own him now in the midſt of his Pro⯑ſperity, for the firſt, and ſome occaſion of his riſing in the World. And if the Alderman was His Maſter (as poſſibly he might, though not in the low Station the Poetaſter fixes him in) it's a ſign he was an Excellent and Faithful Ser⯑vant, or a Man of that Famous Banker's Pene⯑trancy of Judgment, and cautious way of Pro⯑ceeding, would never have truſted him with his All.

If he had ruin'd his Fortunes, the Son of that Honeſt and unhappy Bankrupt would have ſhewn his Reſentments for it. But Mr. B------ll who is now living, is ſatisfy'd of other things, and none at this time has a greater reſpect for Sir Charles D---mb, and viſits him oftner in the Country up⯑on all Occaſions.

We have nothing to urge in defence of the Sin of Ingratitude, or to ſpeak in behalf of a⯑ny Perſon who is guilty of it; but when it is apply'd to a Gentleman who has it not in his Temper to Reward Good with Evil, we ſhould be guilty of the Sin our ſelves, ſhould we not ſtand up in his Vindication. The Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt is unpardonable, and is the high⯑eſt Offence any Human Being can commit; but he makes a Compariſon between it and Ingra⯑titude which is Venial with God and Man, which ſhews he does not rightly underſtand the Na⯑ture of the Crime he writes about.

That is as much as to ſay he Broke the Alderman's Back by not holding it; when 'tis apparently true King Charles the 2d's ſhutting up the Exchequer [82] was the Cauſe of it; and he had never been forc'd out of his Native Country by his Credi⯑tors, had not his Faithful Services been over⯑balanc'd by the Treachery of ſome Perſons who manag'd his then Soveraign's Treaſury. I be⯑lieve the Author is no great Conjurer of a Grammarian by making the word Them which is of the Plural Number, agree with Publick Truſt, which is certainly the Singular; but to take notice of his Faults and Incoherences that way, would Employ us too much; and 'tis ſo well known that when Sir Charles farm'd one of the Crown Revenues, no Perſon that ever ma⯑nag'd a Place of Truſt, behav'd himſelf more to the Satisfaction of his King and Country than himſelf.

This is a High Rant indeed! The Poet might have as well Compar'd himſelf to one of the moſt Faithful among the Apoſtles, as the Gen⯑tleman whoſe good Name he takes ſuch Liberty with, to the moſt Faithleſs.

The Perſon whom he rail's at under the Name of Ziba, has ſo ſignaliz'd himſelf in his Services to the Engliſh Government, that his en⯑vious Reflections on him, return upon himſelf; and without doubt if the King was loath to break his Word, he would have had ſome ſcruple at break⯑ing his Oath, ſince Perjury is a Crime infinitely greater, than the Breach of a Promiſe.

The Report this Paragraph is grounded up⯑on, is as falſe as Hell, and Sir Charles was ſo far from getting ſuch a large Sum by the Re⯑volution, that it's well known to ſome Perſons who are more Acquainted with him than the Author, he loſt conſiderably by ſeveral belong⯑ing to the Court of St. Germains. Yet he Valued the Intereſt of the Country he was born in, more than his own, and Rejoyced at his pre⯑ſent Majeſty's Acceſſion to the Throne, purely out of a Principle of Love to the Kingdom, not becauſe he had out-witted the King.

The very Vote of the Houſe of Commons, which has been Printed by his Enemies to hin⯑der his Election in the City ſpeaks otherwiſe; and tho' there were not a few who gap'd more after his large Poſſeſſions than the good of their Fellow Subjects, the Wiſdom of the Parliament thought fit to drop the Purſuit of the Matter, notwithſtanding an Enemy of his who was a⯑gainſt Reaſſumptions, and is now above being a Member of the Houſe, puſh'd on the Matter in Diſpute as far as poſſible. And if ſuch a Crime as Forgery could have been prov'd againſt him, there was Law enough at that time in Force againſt him, and they would ſcarce have put Themſelves to the trouble of Voting for a new Act of Parliament for him.

[85]If the Devil ſtood Sir Charles's Friend, and hinder'd the Bill from paſſing; the Parlia⯑ment of Conſequence muſt have been influenc'd by him. Which is a very diſreſpectful Reflecti⯑on on ſo venerable an Aſſembly.

Sir Charles no more made an Intereſt to be dubb'd a Knight, than he did to be made a Sheriff; but ſince it was His Majeſty's and the Cities Pleaſure, that he ſhould have thoſe unex⯑pected Honours conferr'd on him, he was ready to do what lay in his Power for the Service of both. Tho' he was ſo far from declaring War againſt Needy Debtors, that he made even their Enemies to be at Peace with 'em, and reconcil'd their Creditors to 'em, by aſſiſting thoſe that were Inſolvent.

Our Author who has it not in his Nature to be tender of any ones Reputation, would have giv'n us the Name of the Lady as he has done that of the Knight, were there any thing of Truth in what he Affirms. But he knows ſo lit⯑tle of the Matter, that he cannot ſo much as give us the firſt Letter of her Name, an infalli⯑ble Argument of his inſufficiency in Matters of Proof. If Bridewell be the Reward of thoſe that Cry up the Great Actions of Worthy Per⯑ſons, Newgate certainly ſhould be the place of Reſidence for thoſe that publiſh their Praiſes on the Ʋnworthy. And tho' I ſcarce believe any of the firſt will be ſent to beat Hemp, yet if com⯑mon Diſcourſe be not falſe, one of the laſt is likely to be ſent to the Chequer Inn in Newgate ſtreet, if Captain Darby in St. Martins-Lane be taken up by a Meſſenger, as it's reported.