betrayed, by a falfe Notion of Moderation, into fuch a Neglect as may in Time prove fatal to both. The Moderation which fome Men have recommended, has heretofore, in plain English, been called Trimming, by which is meant, profeffing for one Side, and acting for the other. This has been an Art in much Esteem and Reputation of late Days, and has kindled fuch Flames and Animofities among us, as are not, without great Care, to be quietly extinguish'd; and therefore it is hoped the People will be fo careful in all future Choices, to elect fuch Perfons as lie under no Sufpicion, and will afford no Precedents, nor give any Authority to Minifters that may hereafter come to the Helm, by their Example, to play us a double Game, or put us into fuch a doubtful Condition as we have in former Times experienc'd. By the Government they acted as they did by the Church, and while they bellow'd for the Government, laboured hard to overthrow our Conftitution. In this Cafe also they kept themselves to indefinite Terms; they were (as they faid) for the Government, and others, (if you will believe them) against it; yet they never thought fit to explain what they meant by the Government. The Government of England fhould be in the King, (when we had one) Lords, and Commons, and is now, God be thank'd, in the Queen, Lords, and Commons; but this is not the Sort of Government which they meant; for by themselves, or the Party they had efpoufed, they had at feveral Times endeavoured to baffle, and render infignificant every individual Branch of the Sovereignty of England: First, the King was a Chip in Porridge, and Prerogative was a Trifle and a Piece of Ufurpation; next, the Houfe of Lords was a prefuming, arrogant, unneceffary Body; and lastly, the Houfe of Commons (their Idol, while fome of them had the leading of it) was an unreasonable, affuming, encroaching, tyrannical Affembly, that had no Senfe or Honour, and neither were, or ought to be entrusted with any Powers. It is eafy to guess where these Men would have lodged the Government, when they could not be content with any one, or all the three Eftates. Any one of them that would have acted by them, would have been accepted and recommended by them; and this was their Meaning, when they reprefented many of our best Patriots as difaffected to the Government, by which, among themselves, they meant no more, than no Friends to their Miniftry; but as they had upon their own Score very little Credit with the People, they found it neceffary to embark the King on the fame Bottom with themfelves; and to perfuade him, and by him a great many People, that his and their Interest ftood and fell with them, and both that the Nation was ruin'd whenever they were out of Credit and Employment. It pleafed Providence, however, to render them fo fecure of the Success of their Projects, as to lavish and infult at fuch a Rate, as to open the Mouths of many, who faw before how Things went, whatever the Hazard of it was to themfelves, and thereby to open the Eyes of many who had for fome Time been lull'd into a falfe Security. They faw them refolve the Government purely into themselves and the King, and endeavour to baffle the the Authority of the two other Eftates: And they faw as plainly why they allow'd the King a Share; and that it was because that under the Shelter of him they could act what exorbitant Irregularities they pleas'd, and come off with a Pretence of extraordinary Affection for the Government, and Zeal for the Proteftant Religion; the first of which they knowingly labour'd to fubvert, the latter thro' Indifference and Imprudence. Their main Cunning was fhewn in this, that keeping themfelves to their indefinite Terms of the Proteftant Religion and the Government, they left every Man to understand them in his own Senfe, and confequently to believe them of his Party: This, and the lavishing of Money very freely, engag'd to them a numerous Party, who, in Oppofition to the eftablished Church, being fond of their Patronage, and bold upon the Countenance and Favour of the Court, pufh'd hard for themselves, in Opposition to the Intereft of the Nation. They that would know who thefe were, may enquire, who oppofed the Triennial Bill; who promoted a standing Army in the Time of Peace; who obftructed the taking of the publick Accounts; who were againft enquring into the Mifapplication and Embezzlements of forfeited Eftates and publick Money; who made and figned Treaties to the Dishonour of England, and to the Injury of her Allies; who were the Abettors of the Affronts that were put upon the late Houfe of Commons, and the Injuries that were offered to the Rights of all the Commons of England; who they were that lately delivered up the Right of Impeachment, the great Bulwark of the common Liberties of England; who made great Eftates for no Service to the Nation, out of small Places; and who pretended a great Love to the Government, while they were deftroying the ancient Government of England. Let them confider who did this, and what they got by it; how much they had to get, and did get, and how little they could lofe, or do lofe; how much they have pretended to, and how little they have done; and what Proofs they can make for themselves, of what they value themselves upon, if they would but fpeak plainly and honeftly; and let them demand what they please of the Nation, when these Proofs are made out; but till these Things are made appear, and they answer what is objected against them, it behoves them to be filent, or at least very modeft, left they imprudently pull upon themselves thofe particular Proofs, which, if they be wife, they would avoid.. And fince the Queen has declared War against France, in Confidence of the hearty Affiftance of thofe very Men whom the late Ministry have fo much misreprefented, and they have anfwered her with fo much Alacrity, and with true Zeal manifefted their hearty Affections to her, and the old English Conftitution, 'tis to be hop'd, that no body can have the Impudence now to attempt to difturb the good Understanding between her and her People, or offer at thofe Mifreprefentations which have been heretofore fo much in Practice. VOL. III. F A LIST A LIST of divers worthy good Patriots, who were flander'd laft Year in a fcandalous Paper, call'd the BLACK LIST. Of whom the Reader is defired to take this Notice, TEftates, Quality, and Principles, HAT they are most of them Gentlemen of the beft Account for Nation. That they are true Sons of the Church of England, as by Law Eftablished. That they have been ftrenuous Afferters of the Liberties and Rights of the People. That they were Promoters of the Triennial Bill, a great Security against the Corruption of Parliaments. That they promoted to their utmost, a juft Account to the Nation of the great Charges they have of late Years been at. That they were for the enquiring into the Mif-application and Embezzlement of forfeited Estates, and publick Money. That they were for calling to Account the Authors of Treaties, to the Dishonour of England, and its Allies. That they were the Afferters of the Honour and Rights of the House of Commons, and of all the Commons of England, in Oppofition to the infolent Affronts and Injuries that were lately offer'd to both. That they were the Perfons, who, by their Courage and Prudence, preferv'd us from the Danger of a Standing Army in Time of Peace. That they were the Men who gave up thofe grievous Privileges which gave them Means of Exemption from paying their juft Debts. That they were the Perfons who voted Supplies to the Dutch, above a Year before they were oblig'd to it by the Articles ftipulated between England and the States. That they were the Perfons who promoted the Act of Limitation for the Security of a Proteftant Succeffion, and of our Church and Civil Constitution. That they defended the Right of the Commons of England in the Point of Impeachments. That they have provided for the Deficiences of the publick Funds, and the Payment of the publick Debts, and the Prefervation of Parliamentary Credit. That they have fhew'd an extraordinary and fingular Zeal and Affection for her Majefty's Perfon, Intereft, and Government. All which, (it is hop'd) are Recommendations to their Countrymen, whenever they fhall have Occafion for their further Service. The |