things were called Anti-Monarch-men, because they would break into the Succeffion, for that the Exclufion of the Duke of York was used only as a pretence to bring in a Common-wealth: To fuch a degree of nadnefs did the mistaken Loyalty of fome people them And I wish there were not fome at this day, who hope to make themfelves welcome at Court, by calling every thing Anti-Monarchical that is proposed for the good of the Nation.

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At last things being in a posture for the purpose, C. II. went off (but how is not yet certain) to make room for his Brother the Duke of York; who began very early to discover himself, and in a short time had made fo very bold with matters both in Church and State, as to demonstrate that the apprehenfions of thofe who would have Excluded him, was rather a Prophefie of what he would do, than a groundless conjecture; for his power fwelled fo fast, that he quickly makes all people to feel the intollerable burden of an unbounded Prerogative; fo that many who before fell down and worshipt Prerogative, were than as hafty to get out of the way of it, as they would to avoid a Monster that stood ready to devour them; and thereby brought them fo far to their Wits, as to enable them to fee, that it is much fafer to trust the Law, than the King's Will and Pleasure with their Liberties and Properties: and that God had no more given Kings a right to opprefs and inflave their Subjects, than he A a 2 had

had indued them with a power to Create Men. For the methodwhich King James took, thewed plainly to all the world, that nothing lefs than being Abfolute would content him; That is, he would govern by his Will, and force an obedience to his pleasure by his Army; for his Adminiftration became more exorbitant every day than other, till his prefent Majefty, the then Prince of Orange, Landed, who as is ufual upon fuch occafions, fet out a Declaration of the occasion that brought him hither, wherein is innumerated many of the irregularities of King James his Adminiitration.

The first thing mentioned is the Difpenfing-power, which King James had affumed, whereby he gave juft occafion for a very loud complaint, because it is a moft dangerous Inftrument in the hand of any King, for it not only makes a noife, but does certain execution; it fwallows up Law whereever it comes, and tears up Liberty and Property by the Roots; it does not only put every mans right at uncertainty, but imakes it uncertain whether there is any fuch thing as Right; it is of fo diffufive a Nature, that if it be exercised in one Kingdom, the next that is governed by the fame King has caufe to think it felf in danger.

This the Parliament had early under their confideration, and prepared a Bill, for taking away the Difpenfing-power, which by the help of fome other things that were in the fame Bill, obtained the Royal Affent, and fo it paffed into a Law.

The

The Declaration then takes notice, that for the better introducing of the Difpenfing-power, That the Judges were prevailed with to declare that fuch a power is a right belonging to the Crown, and in order to it, the Judges opinions were difcovered before-hand; and fuch as would not comply were turned out, thereby to intimate to the reft that they might act at all times as they fhould be directed.

This indeed was a very high aggravation of it; this was not to ufe the Law lawfully, but to establish Oppreffion, Violence, and all manner of Iniquity by a Law:For whoever fhall endeavour to influence the Judges in their opinions, by what means foever he feeks to intimidate them, whe ther it be by turning them out of their places, withholding their Sallaries, or putting others over their Heads, does plainly difcover, that he aims at nothing lefs than to Govern by his Will: For the apprehenfion of lofing a good imploy is not above the ordinary rate of men, and the stopping of a Judges Sallary must have the fame effect, because it's all one, whether a man is turned out of his place, or the profits of it are withholden from him; and that Judge is expofed to a powerful temptation, who fees he cannot rife in courfe, unless he will comply.

The Parliament being fenfible how much the Justice of the Nation lay expofed, fo long as the Judges held their Places or Sal laries at Pleasure, had the last Sessions but A a 3

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one, prepared a Bill to remedy this inconvenience, which was offered to the Royal Affent, but was refufed; for what reasons is not proper for me to give, because I fhall always advise the contrary: fo that that part of King James's Male-administration remains as it was, to be practised by any other King, who fhall be fo wicked as to have it in his thoughts, how he may inflave the Nation.

The Declaration obferves that King James put men into imployment, and continued them therein, altho they had not qualified themselves according to Law.

This, as it unhinged one of the great fecurities of the Government, fo it was a plain indication of King James's intentions to govern without Law: for when men are put into imployment in fpight of the Law, it fhews they were preferred not fo much for their fitnefs to execute that Of fice, as to ferve fome other purpose against Law; and those that fo complyed, juftly incurred the cenfure of every man that wifht wet to his Country; for they thewed that they were through-ftich-men, that would ftick at nothing, thereby rendering themselves fo infamous as to make all mankind conclude that they would never be imployed in any other Reign, by reafon of the fcandal, as well as the danger that any Prince runs, who fhall take them into his Service.

The

The Declaration then takes notice of the Ecclefiaftical Commiffion; which indeed carried an ill design in the face of it, it having been always found, that fuch extraordinary methods are not fo much to punish faults already committed, as to wish there were fuch, and to pretend men to be guilty, who have not tranfgreffed. For if nothing more had been defigned, but to punish thofe who really were offenders, what need was there of that High Commiffion, feeing the Law had before fufficiently provided; fo that the parlous intention of fetting up that Commiffion was very obvious, and it was yet plainer, becaufe it was exprefly against Law, for r6 Car. C. 11. that took away the then HighCommiffion Court, has provided and declared that any other fuch like Court is illegal, and all proceedings thereupon to be void, and of no force.

And here I cannot but obferve to you, how far they were the occafion of fetting up this Court, who were like to fuffer moft by it: For it cannot be forgot what pains the Clergy took to magnifie Prero-gative, and to preach up the Doctrine of Paffive-Obedience, and Non-refistance; upon which King James fuppofing them to be worthy of their Functions, and confequently what they preacht in their Pulpits, they would practice when they were out of them, thought he might make the more bold with them: But with what Chriftian patience they bore it, I believe you remem.A a 4

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