"It is we must be the authors (some say) of firing "the city, even we that have lost so vastly by it;

yet in this, our ingenuity is great, since we think "it no plot, though our enemy, an Hugonot pro"testant, acknowledged the fact, and was justly "executed for his vain confession. Again, if a "merchant of the church of England buy knives " for the business of his trade, this also is a papist "contrivance to destroy the well affected.

"We must a little complain, finding it, by expe"rience, that by reason you discountenance us, "the people rage: and again, because they rage, we are the more forsaken by you.

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"Assured we are, that our conversation is affa'ble, and our houses so many hospitable receipts "to our neighbours. Our acquaintance, therefore, "we fear at no time; but it is the stranger we "dread: that (taking all on hearsay) zealously

wounds, and then examines the business when it "is too late, or is perchance confirmed by another, "that knows no more of us than he himself.

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"Tis to you we must make our applications; beseeching you (as subjects tender of our king) "to intercede for us in the execution, and weigh "the dilemma, which doubtless he is in, either to deny so good a parliament their requests, or else "run counter to his royal inclinations, when he punishes the weak and harmless.

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"Why may we not, noble countrymen, hope for "favour from you, as well as French protestants find from theirs? A greater duty than ours none "could express, we are sure; or why should the

"united provinces, and other magistrates (that are "harsh both in mind and manners) refrain from "violence against our religion, and your tender "breasts seem not to harbour the least compassion " or pity?

"These barbarous people sequester none for "their faith, but for transgression against the state. "Nor is the whole party involved in the crime of "a few, but every man suffers for his own and 66 proper fault. Do you then the like, and he that "offends, let him die without mercy.

"And think always, I beseech you, of Cromwell's "injustice; who, for the actions of some against his "pretended laws, drew thousands into decimation,

even ignorant of the thing, after they had vastly paid for their security and quiet.

"We have no other study, but the glory of our "sovereign, and just liberty of the subjects.

"Nor was it a mean argument of our duty, when 66 every catholic lord gave his voice for the restora"tion of bishops; by which we could pretend no "other advantage, but that twenty-six votes (sub

sisting wholly by the crown) were added to the "defence of kingship, and consequently a check to "all anarchy and confusion.

"Tis morally impossible but that we, who ap❝prove of monarchy in the church, must ever be "fond of it in the state also.

"Yet this is a misfortune, we now plainly feel, "that the longer the late transgressors live, the "more forgotten are their crimes, whiles distance " in time calls the faults of our fathers to remem

"brance, and buries our own allegiance in eternal "oblivion and forgetfulness.

"My lords and gentlemen, consider, we beseech you, the sad condition of the Irish soldiers now in England; the worst of which nation could be “but intentionally so wicked, as the acted villainy "of many English, whom your admired clemency "pardoned. Remember how they left the Spanish "service when they heard their king was in France; "and how they forsook the employment of that "unnatural prince, after he had committed the never-to-be-forgotten act of banishing his dis"tressed kinsman out of his dominions. These

poor men left all again to bring their monarch to "his home and shall they then be forgotten by

you? or shall my lord Douglas and his brave "Scots be left to their shifts, who scorned to re"ceive wages of those who have declared war "against England?

"How commonly is it said that the oath of re"nouncing their religion is intended for these, "which will needs bring this loss to the king and you, that either you will force all of our faith to

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lay down their arms (though by experience of great integrity and worth), or else, if some few you retain, they are such whom necessity hath "made to swear against conscience, and who "therefore will certainly betray you, when a greater "advantage shall be offered. By this test then you "can have none, but whom (with caution) you

ought to shun. And thus must you drive away

"those who truly would serve you; for had they "the least thought of being false, they would gladly take the advantage of gain and pay to "deceive you.

"We know your wisdom and generosity, and "therefore cannot imagine such a thing; nor do "we doubt when you show favour unto these, but you will use mercy to us, who are both your fel"low subjects, and your own flesh and blood also; "if you forsake us, we must say the world decays, "and its final transmutation must needs follow "quickly.

"Little do you think the insolencies we shall "suffer by committee men, &c. whom chance and "lot hath put into petty power. Nor will it choose "but grieve you to see them abused (whom formerly you loved) even by the common enemies of us "both.

"When they punish, how will they triumph and say, take this (poor romanists) for your love to "kingship; and again this, for your long doating on the royal party, all which you shall receive "from us commissioned by your dearest friends, and under this cloak we will gladly vent our private spleen and malice.

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"We know, my lords and gentlemen, that from your hearts you do deplore our condition; yet per"mit us to tell you, your bravery must extend thus

far, as not to sit still, with pity only, but each is "to labour for the distressed, as far as in reality his ability will reach: some must beseech our gracious

"sovereign for us, others again must undeceive "the good, though deluded multitude: therefore, "all are to remember who are the prime raisers of "the storm; and how, through our sides, they would "wound both the king and you: for though their "hatred to us ourselves is great, yet the enmity out "of all measure increases, because we have been yours, and so shall continue even in the fiery day "of trial.

"Protect us, we beseech you, then, upon all your "former promises, or if that be not sufficient, for "the sakes of those that lost their estates with you; 66 many of which are now fallen asleep: but if this "be still too weak, we must conjure you, by the

sight of this bloody catalogue, which contains the "names of your murthered friends and relations, "who in the heat of the battle perchance saved "many of your lives, even with the joyful loss of "their own."

LXV. 4.

Oates's Plot.

WE now reach the event in this monarch's reign, in which the English catholics are most interested; the plot charged on them by Titus Oates. The facts relating to it, are so well known, as to render any particular mention of them, in this place, altogether unnecessary. The account, which Hume gives of it, is one of the most highly finished parts of his history; and probably has been perused by every reader of these pages. A more ample account of it, and a collection of