







 
   
     
       
         A letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel, pensioner of Holland, to Mr. James Stewart, advocate giving an account of the Prince and Princess of Orange's thoughts concerning the repeal of the Test, and penal laws.
         Fagel, Gaspar, 1634-1688.
      
       
         
           1688
        
      
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             A letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel, pensioner of Holland, to Mr. James Stewart, advocate giving an account of the Prince and Princess of Orange's thoughts concerning the repeal of the Test, and penal laws.
             Fagel, Gaspar, 1634-1688.
             Stewart, James, Sir, 1635-1713.
          
           8 p.
           
             [s.n.],
             London printed :
             1688.
          
           
             Caption title.
             Imprint from colophon.
             Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Test Act (1673)
           Dissenters, Religious -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- England -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           ,
           Writ
           by
           Mijn
           Heer
           FAGEL
           ,
           PENSIONER
           of
           HOLLAND
           ,
           TO
           Mr.
           JAMES
           STEWART
           ,
           Advocate
           ;
           Giving
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           PRINCE
           and
           PRINCESS
           of
           ORANGE's
           Thoughts
           concerning
           
             the
             Repeal
          
           of
           the
           TEST
           ,
           and
           the
           PENAL
           LAWS
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Am
           extream
           sorry
           ,
           that
           my
           ill
           health
           hath
           so
           long
           hindred
           me
           from
           Answering
           those
           Letters
           ,
           in
           which
           you
           so
           earnestly
           desired
           to
           know
           of
           me
           ,
           what
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           thoughts
           are
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           and
           more
           particularly
           of
           that
           concerning
           the
           
             Test
             :
          
           I
           beg
           you
           to
           assure
           your self
           ,
           that
           I
           will
           deal
           very
           plainly
           with
           you
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           and
           without
           Reserve
           ,
           since
           you
           say
           that
           your
           
             Letters
          
           were
           writ
           by
           the
           
             King's
          
           knowledge
           and
           allowance
           .
           I
           must
           then
           
             first
          
           of
           all
           assure
           you
           very
           positively
           ,
           that
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           have
           often
           declared
           ,
           as
           They
           did
           it
           more
           particularly
           to
           the
           Marquis
           of
           
             Albeville
             ,
          
           His
           Majesties
           
             Envoy
          
           Extraordinary
           to
           the
           
             States
             ,
          
           that
           it
           is
           Their
           Opinion
           ,
           
             that
             no
             Christian
             ought
             to
             be
             persecuted
             for
             his
             Conscience
             ,
             or
             be
             ill
             used
             because
             he
             differs
             from
             the
             publick
             and
             established
             Religion
             ;
          
           And
           therefore
           ,
           They
           can
           
             consent
             ,
          
           
           that
           the
           
             Papists
          
           in
           
             England
             ,
             Scotland
          
           and
           
             Ireland
          
           be
           suffered
           to
           continue
           in
           their
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           with
           as
           much
           Liberty
           as
           is
           allowed
           them
           by
           the
           
             States
          
           in
           these
           
             Provinces
             ;
          
           in
           which
           it
           cannot
           be
           denied
           ,
           that
           they
           enjoy
           a
           full
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           .
           And
           as
           for
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           do
           not
           only
           consent
           ,
           but
           do
           heartily
           
             approve
          
           of
           their
           having
           an
           entire
           
             Liberty
             ,
          
           for
           the
           full
           exercise
           of
           their
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           without
           any
           trouble
           or
           hindrance
           ;
           so
           that
           none
           may
           be
           able
           to
           give
           them
           the
           least
           disturbance
           upon
           that
           account
           .
        
         
           And
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           are
           very
           ready
           ,
           in
           case
           His
           Majesty
           shall
           think
           fit
           to
           desire
           it
           ,
           to
           declare
           their
           willingness
           to
           concur
           in
           the
           setling
           and
           confirming
           this
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           as
           far
           as
           it
           lies
           in
           them
           ,
           they
           will
           protect
           and
           defend
           it
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           the
           Language
           of
           Treaties
           ,
           They
           will
           confirm
           it
           with
           their
           
             Guaranty
             ,
          
           of
           which
           you
           made
           mention
           in
           yours
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           his
           Majesty
           shall
           think
           fit
           further
           to
           desire
           Their
           concurrence
           in
           the
           Repealing
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           They
           are
           ready
           to
           give
           it
           ;
           
             provided
             always
             that
             those
             Laws
             remain
             still
             in
             their
             full
             vigour
             ,
             by
             which
             the
             R.
             Catholicks
             are
             shut
             out
             of
             both
             Houses
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             and
             out
             of
             all
             publick
             Employments
             ,
             Ecclesiastical
             ,
             Civil
             and
             Military
             :
          
           as
           likewise
           all
           those
           other
           
             Laws
             ,
          
           which
           confirm
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           and
           which
           secures
           it
           against
           all
           the
           attempts
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
             .
          
        
         
           But
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           cannot
           agree
           to
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           
             Test
             ,
          
           or
           of
           those
           other
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           last
           mentioned
           ,
           that
           tend
           to
           the
           security
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
             ;
          
           since
           the
           
             R.
             Catholicks
          
           recieve
           no
           other
           prejudice
           from
           these
           ,
           then
           the
           being
           excluded
           from
           Parliaments
           ,
           or
           from
           publick
           Employments
           .
           And
           that
           by
           them
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           is
           covered
           from
           all
           the
           Designs
           of
           the
           
             R.
             Catholicks
          
           against
           it
           ,
           or
           against
           the
           publick
           safety
           ;
           And
           neither
           the
           
             Test
          
           nor
           these
           other
           
             Laws
          
           can
           be
           said
           to
           carry
           in
           them
           any
           severity
           against
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           upon
           account
           of
           their
           Consciences
           :
           They
           are
           only
           Provisions
           qualifying
           men
           to
           be
           Members
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           capable
           of
           bearing
           Office
           ;
           by
           which
           they
           must
           declare
           before
           God
           and
           men
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           for
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
             .
          
           So
           that
           indeed
           ,
           all
           this
           amounts
           to
           no
           more
           than
           a
           securing
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           from
           any
           Prejudices
           that
           it
           may
           receive
           from
           the
           
             R.
             Catholicks
             .
          
        
         
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           have
           thought
           and
           do
           still
           think
           ,
           that
           more
           than
           this
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           askt
           ,
           or
           expected
           from
           Them
           :
           since
           by
           this
           means
           ,
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           and
           their
           Posterity
           will
           be
           for
           ever
           secured
           
           from
           all
           trouble
           in
           their
           Persons
           or
           Estates
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           their
           
             Religion
             ;
          
           and
           that
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ought
           to
           be
           satisfied
           with
           this
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           disquiet
           the
           Kingdom
           because
           they
           cannot
           be
           admitted
           to
           sit
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           in
           Employments
           ;
           or
           because
           those
           
             Laws
             ,
          
           in
           which
           the
           Security
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           does
           chiefly
           consist
           ,
           are
           not
           repealed
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           may
           be
           put
           in
           a
           condition
           to
           overturn
           it
           .
        
         
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           do
           also
           believe
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Dissenters
          
           will
           be
           fully
           satisfied
           when
           they
           shall
           be
           for
           ever
           covered
           from
           all
           danger
           of
           being
           disturbed
           ,
           or
           punished
           for
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           their
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           upon
           any
           sort
           of
           pretence
           whatsoever
           .
        
         
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           having
           declared
           themselves
           so
           positively
           in
           these
           matters
           ,
           it
           seems
           very
           plain
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           They
           are
           far
           from
           being
           any
           hinderance
           to
           the
           Freeing
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Severity
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ;
          
           since
           They
           are
           ready
           to
           use
           their
           utmost
           endeavours
           for
           the
           establishing
           of
           it
           :
           nor
           do
           They
           at
           all
           press
           the
           denying
           to
           the
           
             R.
             Catholicks
          
           the
           exercise
           of
           their
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           provided
           it
           be
           managed
           modestly
           ,
           &
           without
           Pomp
           or
           Ostentation
           .
           As
           for
           my
           own
           part
           ,
           I
           ever
           was
           and
           still
           am
           very
           much
           against
           all
           those
           ,
           who
           would
           persecute
           any
           
             Christian
          
           because
           he
           differs
           from
           the
           publick
           and
           established
           
             Religion
             :
          
           And
           I
           hope
           by
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           to
           continue
           still
           in
           the
           same
           mind
           ;
           for
           since
           that
           Light
           ,
           with
           which
           
             Religion
          
           illuminates
           our
           minds
           ,
           is
           according
           to
           my
           sense
           of
           things
           ,
           purely
           an
           effect
           of
           the
           Mercy
           of
           God
           to
           us
           ,
           we
           ought
           then
           ,
           as
           I
           think
           ,
           to
           render
           to
           God
           all
           possible
           Thanks
           for
           his
           Goodness
           to
           us
           :
           and
           to
           have
           Pity
           for
           those
           who
           are
           still
           shut
           up
           in
           Error
           ,
           even
           as
           God
           has
           pitied
           us
           ,
           and
           to
           put
           up
           most
           earnest
           prayers
           to
           God
           ,
           for
           bringing
           those
           into
           the
           way
           of
           Truth
           ,
           who
           stray
           from
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           use
           all
           gentle
           and
           friendly
           methods
           for
           reducing
           them
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           confess
           ,
           I
           could
           never
           comprehend
           how
           any
           that
           profess
           themselves
           
             Christians
             ,
          
           and
           that
           may
           enjoy
           their
           
             Religion
          
           freely
           and
           without
           any
           disturbance
           ,
           can
           judge
           it
           lawful
           for
           them
           to
           go
           about
           to
           disturb
           the
           Quiet
           of
           any
           
             Kingdom
          
           or
           
             State
             ,
          
           or
           to
           overturn
           Constitutions
           ,
           that
           so
           they
           themselves
           may
           be
           admitted
           to
           Employments
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           
             Laws
          
           in
           which
           the
           Security
           and
           Quiet
           of
           the
           established
           
             Religion
          
           consists
           ,
           should
           be
           shaken
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           plain
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           is
           by
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           and
           by
           the
           
             Laws
          
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           enacted
           by
           both
           
             King
          
           and
           
             Parliament
             ;
          
           
           the
           publick
           and
           established
           
             Riligion
             ,
          
           both
           in
           
             England
             ,
             Scotland
          
           and
           
             Ireland
             ;
          
           and
           that
           it
           is
           provided
           by
           those
           
             Laws
             ,
          
           that
           none
           can
           be
           admitted
           either
           to
           a
           place
           in
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           or
           to
           any
           publick
           Employment
           except
           those
           that
           do
           openly
           declare
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
             ,
          
           and
           not
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
             ;
          
           and
           it
           is
           also
           provided
           by
           those
           
             Laws
             ,
          
           that
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           shall
           be
           in
           all
           time
           coming
           secured
           from
           the
           Designs
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           against
           it
           :
           in
           all
           which
           I
           do
           not
           see
           ,
           that
           these
           
             Laws
          
           contain
           any
           Severity
           ,
           either
           against
           the
           Persons
           or
           Estates
           of
           those
           who
           cannot
           take
           those
           
             Tests
             ,
          
           that
           are
           contrary
           to
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholick
             Religion
             ,
          
           all
           the
           inconveniences
           that
           can
           redound
           to
           them
           from
           thence
           ,
           is
           that
           their
           Persons
           ,
           their
           Estates
           and
           even
           the
           Exercise
           of
           their
           
             Religion
          
           being
           assured
           to
           them
           ,
           only
           they
           can
           have
           no
           share
           in
           the
           Goverement
           ,
           nor
           in
           Offices
           of
           Trust
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           their
           Consciences
           do
           not
           allow
           them
           to
           take
           these
           
             Tests
             :
          
           and
           they
           are
           not
           suffered
           to
           do
           any
           thing
           that
           is
           to
           the
           prejudice
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           Since
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           already
           told
           you
           ,
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           are
           ready
           to
           concur
           whith
           his
           
             Majesty
          
           for
           the
           Repeal
           of
           those
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           by
           which
           Men
           are
           made
           liable
           to
           fines
           or
           other
           Punishments
           .
        
         
           So
           I
           see
           there
           Remains
           no
           difficulty
           concerning
           the
           Repealing
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           but
           only
           this
           ,
           that
           some
           would
           have
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           render'd
           capable
           of
           all
           publick
           Trusts
           and
           Employments
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           consequence
           ,
           all
           those
           should
           be
           repealed
           that
           have
           secured
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           against
           the
           designs
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
             ,
          
           where
           others
           at
           the
           same
           time
           are
           not
           less
           earnest
           to
           have
           those
           
             Laws
          
           maintained
           in
           their
           full
           and
           due
           vigour
           ;
           and
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           chief
           Security
           of
           the
           established
           
             Religion
          
           consists
           in
           the
           preserving
           of
           them
           Sacred
           and
           unshaken
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           
             Kingdom
             ,
             Common-wealth
             ,
          
           or
           any
           constituted
           Body
           or
           Assembly
           whatsoever
           ,
           in
           which
           there
           are
           not
           
             Laws
          
           made
           for
           the
           Safety
           thereof
           ;
           and
           that
           provide
           against
           all
           Attempts
           whatsoever
           ,
           that
           disturb
           their
           peace
           ,
           and
           that
           prescribe
           the
           Conditions
           and
           Qualities
           that
           they
           judg
           necessary
           for
           all
           that
           shall
           bear
           Employments
           in
           that
           Kingdom
           ,
           State
           or
           Corporation
           :
           and
           no
           man
           can
           pretend
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           any
           Injury
           done
           him
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           not
           admitted
           to
           Imployments
           when
           he
           doth
           not
           satisfie
           the
           Conditions
           and
           Qualities
           required
           .
        
         
           Nor
           can
           it
           be
           denied
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           great
           difference
           to
           be
           observed
           
           in
           the
           conduct
           of
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             ;
          
           and
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           towards
           one
           another
           :
           The
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           not
           being
           satisfied
           to
           exclude
           the
           
             Reformed
          
           from
           all
           places
           of
           profit
           or
           of
           Trust
           ,
           they
           do
           absolutely
           suppress
           the
           whole
           Exercise
           of
           that
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           and
           severely
           
             persecute
          
           all
           that
           profess
           it
           ;
           and
           this
           they
           do
           in
           all
           those
           places
           where
           it
           is
           safe
           and
           without
           danger
           ,
           to
           carry
           on
           that
           rigour
           .
           And
           I
           am
           sorry
           that
           we
           have
           at
           this
           present
           so
           many
           deplorable
           Instances
           of
           this
           severity
           before
           our
           eyes
           ,
           that
           is
           at
           the
           same
           time
           put
           in
           practice
           in
           so
           many
           different
           places
           .
        
         
           I
           would
           therefore
           gladly
           see
           one
           single
           good
           reason
           to
           move
           a
           
             Protestant
          
           that
           fears
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           concerned
           for
           his
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           to
           consent
           to
           the
           Repealing
           of
           those
           
             Laws
          
           that
           have
           been
           enacted
           by
           the
           Authority
           of
           
             King
          
           &
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           which
           have
           no
           other
           tendency
           but
           to
           the
           security
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             ,
          
           and
           to
           the
           restraining
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           from
           a
           capacity
           of
           overturning
           it
           ;
           these
           
             Laws
          
           inflict
           neither
           Fines
           nor
           Punishments
           ,
           and
           do
           only
           exclude
           the
           
             R.
             Catholicks
          
           from
           a
           share
           in
           the
           Government
           who
           by
           being
           in
           Employments
           must
           needs
           study
           to
           increase
           their
           Party
           ,
           and
           to
           gain
           to
           it
           more
           Credit
           and
           Power
           ,
           which
           by
           what
           we
           see
           every
           day
           ,
           we
           must
           conclude
           ,
           will
           be
           extreamly
           dangerous
           to
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             ,
          
           and
           must
           turn
           to
           its
           great
           prejudice
           :
           since
           in
           all
           places
           ,
           those
           that
           are
           in
           publick
           Employments
           ,
           do
           naturally
           Favour
           that
           
             Religion
          
           of
           which
           they
           are
           ,
           either
           more
           or
           less
           .
           And
           who
           would
           go
           about
           to
           perswade
           me
           or
           any
           man
           else
           to
           endeavour
           to
           move
           Their
           
             Highnesses
             ,
          
           whom
           God
           hath
           honoured
           so
           far
           as
           to
           make
           them
           the
           Protectors
           of
           his
           Church
           ,
           to
           approve
           of
           ,
           or
           to
           consent
           to
           things
           so
           hurtful
           ,
           both
           to
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             ,
          
           and
           to
           the
           publick
           Safety
           .
           Nor
           can
           I
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           with
           your
           good
           leave
           ,
           in
           any
           way
           ,
           grant
           what
           you
           apprehend
           ,
           That
           no
           prejudice
           will
           thereby
           redound
           to
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           I
           know
           it
           is
           commonly
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           number
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           in
           
             England
          
           and
           
             Scotland
          
           is
           very
           inconsiderable
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           are
           possessed
           only
           of
           a
           very
           small
           number
           of
           the
           places
           of
           Trust
           :
           tho
           even
           as
           to
           this
           ,
           the
           case
           is
           quite
           different
           in
           
             Ireland
             :
          
           yet
           this
           you
           must
           of
           necessity
           grant
           me
           ,
           that
           if
           their
           numbers
           are
           small
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           not
           reasonable
           that
           the
           publick
           Peace
           should
           be
           disturbed
           on
           the
           account
           of
           so
           few
           persons
           ,
           especially
           when
           so
           great
           a
           favour
           may
           be
           offer'd
           to
           them
           ;
           such
           as
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           their
           
             Religion
          
           would
           be
           :
           and
           if
           their
           numbers
           are
           greater
           ,
           then
           there
           is
           so
           much
           the
           more
           reason
           to
           be
           affraid
           of
           them
           ;
           I
           do
           indeed
           believe
           that
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
             ,
          
           as
           things
           
           at
           present
           stand
           ,
           will
           not
           be
           very
           desirous
           to
           be
           in
           publick
           Offices
           and
           Imployments
           ,
           nor
           that
           they
           will
           make
           any
           attempts
           upon
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             ,
          
           both
           because
           this
           is
           contrary
           to
           Law
           ,
           and
           because
           of
           the
           great
           Inconveniencies
           that
           this
           may
           bring
           at
           some
           other
           time
           both
           on
           their
           Persons
           ,
           and
           their
           Estates
           :
           yet
           if
           the
           Restraints
           of
           the
           
             Law
          
           were
           once
           taken
           off
           ,
           you
           would
           see
           them
           brought
           into
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           chief
           Offices
           and
           Places
           of
           Trust
           would
           be
           put
           in
           their
           hands
           ;
           nor
           will
           it
           be
           easy
           to
           his
           
             Majesty
          
           to
           resist
           them
           in
           this
           ,
           how
           stedfast
           soever
           he
           may
           be
           ;
           for
           they
           will
           certainly
           press
           him
           hard
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           they
           will
           represent
           this
           to
           the
           
             King
             ,
          
           as
           a
           matter
           in
           which
           his
           Conscience
           will
           be
           concerned
           ;
           and
           when
           they
           are
           possessed
           of
           the
           Publick
           Offices
           ,
           what
           will
           be
           left
           for
           the
           
             Protestants
          
           to
           do
           ,
           who
           will
           find
           no
           more
           the
           support
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           can
           expect
           little
           Encouragement
           from
           such
           Magistrates
           ?
           and
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           the
           Advantages
           that
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           would
           find
           in
           being
           thus
           set
           loose
           from
           all
           Restraints
           ,
           are
           so
           plain
           ,
           that
           it
           were
           a
           loss
           of
           time
           to
           go
           about
           the
           proving
           it
           .
           I
           neither
           can
           nor
           will
           doubt
           of
           the
           sincerity
           of
           his
           Majesties
           intentions
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           has
           no
           other
           design
           before
           him
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           but
           that
           all
           his
           Subjects
           may
           enjoy
           in
           all
           things
           the
           same
           Rights
           and
           Freedoms
           .
        
         
           But
           plain
           Reason
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Experience
           of
           all
           Ages
           ,
           the
           present
           as
           well
           as
           the
           past
           ,
           shews
           ,
           that
           it
           will
           be
           impossible
           for
           
             R.
             Catholicks
          
           &
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           when
           they
           are
           mixed
           together
           in
           places
           of
           Trust
           and
           publick
           Employments
           ,
           to
           live
           together
           peaceably
           ,
           or
           to
           maintain
           a
           good
           Correspondence
           together
           .
           They
           will
           be
           certainly
           always
           jealous
           of
           one
           another
           ;
           For
           the
           Principles
           and
           the
           Maxims
           of
           both
           
             Religions
          
           are
           so
           opposite
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           that
           in
           my
           opinion
           I
           do
           not
           see
           how
           it
           will
           be
           in
           the
           power
           of
           any
           Prince
           or
           King
           whatsoever
           ,
           to
           keep
           down
           those
           Suspitions
           and
           Animosities
           ,
           which
           will
           be
           apt
           to
           arise
           upon
           all
           occasions
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           that
           which
           you
           apprehend
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Dissenters
          
           shall
           not
           be
           delivered
           from
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           that
           are
           made
           against
           them
           ,
           unless
           at
           the
           same
           time
           the
           
             Test
          
           be
           likewise
           repealed
           :
           This
           will
           be
           indeed
           a
           great
           unhappiness
           to
           them
           ;
           but
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           are
           only
           to
           blame
           for
           it
           ,
           who
           will
           rather
           be
           content
           that
           they
           and
           their
           Posterity
           should
           lie
           still
           under
           the
           weight
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           and
           exposed
           to
           the
           hatred
           of
           the
           whole
           Nation
           ;
           than
           he
           still
           restrained
           from
           a
           capacity
           of
           attempting
           any
           thing
           against
           the
           Peace
           and
           the
           Security
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
          
           
           
             Religion
             .
          
           And
           be
           deprived
           of
           that
           small
           advantage
           (
           if
           it
           is
           at
           all
           to
           be
           reckoned
           one
           )
           of
           having
           a
           share
           in
           the
           Government
           and
           publick
           Enjoyments
           ;
           since
           in
           all
           places
           of
           the
           World
           this
           has
           been
           always
           the
           priviledge
           of
           the
           
             Religion
          
           that
           is
           established
           by
           Law
           ;
           and
           indeed
           these
           Attempts
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ought
           to
           be
           so
           much
           the
           more
           suspected
           and
           guarded
           against
           by
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           in
           that
           they
           see
           that
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
             ,
          
           even
           when
           liable
           to
           that
           Severity
           of
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           do
           yet
           endeavour
           to
           perswade
           his
           
             Majesty
             ,
          
           to
           make
           the
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           whether
           they
           will
           or
           not
           ,
           dissolve
           the
           Security
           which
           they
           have
           for
           their
           
             Religion
             :
          
           and
           to
           clear
           a
           way
           for
           bringing
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           to
           publick
           Employments
           :
           in
           which
           case
           there
           would
           remain
           no
           relief
           for
           them
           but
           what
           were
           to
           be
           expected
           from
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           Government
           .
        
         
           Such
           then
           will
           be
           very
           unjust
           to
           Their
           
             Highnesses
             ,
          
           who
           shall
           blame
           them
           for
           any
           Inconveniency
           that
           may
           arise
           from
           thence
           ;
           since
           they
           have
           declared
           themselves
           so
           freely
           on
           this
           Subject
           ,
           and
           that
           so
           much
           to
           the
           advantage
           even
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
             .
          
           And
           since
           the
           Settlements
           of
           matters
           sticks
           at
           this
           single
           point
           ,
           that
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           cannot
           be
           brought
           to
           consent
           to
           things
           that
           are
           so
           contrary
           to
           
             Laws
          
           already
           in
           being
           ,
           and
           that
           are
           so
           dangerous
           and
           so
           hurtful
           to
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
             ,
          
           as
           the
           admitting
           of
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           to
           a
           share
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           to
           places
           of
           Trust
           ,
           and
           the
           Repealing
           of
           those
           
             Laws
             ,
          
           that
           can
           have
           no
           other
           effect
           but
           the
           Securing
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           from
           all
           the
           Attempts
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           against
           it
           would
           be
           .
        
         
           You
           write
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Roman
             Catholicks
             in
             these
             Provinces
             are
             not
             shut
             out
             from
             Employments
             and
             places
             of
             Trust
             ;
          
           But
           in
           this
           you
           are
           much
           mistaken
           .
           For
           our
           
             Laws
          
           are
           express
           ,
           excluding
           them
           by
           name
           from
           all
           share
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           from
           all
           Employments
           either
           of
           the
           Policy
           or
           Justice
           of
           our
           Countrey
           .
           Is
           it
           true
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           know
           of
           any
           express
           
             Law
             ,
          
           that
           shuts
           them
           out
           of
           Military
           Employments
           ;
           that
           had
           indeed
           been
           hard
           ,
           since
           in
           the
           first
           Formation
           of
           our
           
             State
          
           they
           joyned
           with
           us
           in
           defending
           our
           publick
           Liberty
           ,
           &
           did
           us
           eminent
           service
           during
           the
           Wars
           ;
           therefore
           they
           were
           not
           shut
           out
           from
           those
           Military
           Employments
           ,
           for
           the
           publick
           Safety
           was
           no
           way
           endanger'd
           by
           this
           ,
           both
           because
           their
           numbers
           that
           served
           in
           our
           Troops
           were
           not
           great
           ,
           and
           because
           the
           
             States
          
           could
           easily
           prevent
           any
           Inconvenience
           that
           might
           arise
           out
           of
           that
           ;
           which
           could
           not
           have
           
           been
           done
           so
           easily
           ,
           if
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           had
           been
           admitted
           to
           a
           Share
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Policy
           or
           Justice
           of
           our
           
             State.
             
          
        
         
           I
           am
           very
           certain
           of
           this
           ,
           of
           which
           I
           could
           give
           very
           good
           proofs
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           which
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           desire
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           that
           his
           
             Majesty
          
           may
           Reign
           happily
           ,
           and
           in
           an
           intire
           Confidence
           with
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           and
           that
           his
           Subjects
           being
           perswaded
           of
           his
           
             Majesties
          
           fatherly
           affection
           to
           them
           ,
           may
           be
           ready
           to
           make
           him
           all
           the
           returns
           of
           duty
           that
           are
           in
           their
           Power
           .
           But
           their
           
             Highnesses
          
           are
           convinced
           in
           their
           Consciences
           ,
           that
           both
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           and
           the
           Safety
           of
           the
           
             Nation
             ,
          
           would
           be
           exposed
           to
           most
           certain
           Dangers
           ,
           if
           either
           the
           
             Tests
             ,
          
           or
           those
           other
           
             Penal
             Laws
             ,
          
           of
           which
           I
           have
           made
           frequent
           mention
           ,
           should
           be
           Repealed
           ;
           
             Therefore
             they
             cannot
             consent
             to
             this
             ,
             nor
             concur
             with
             his
             Majesties
             Will
             ;
             for
             they
             believe
             they
             should
             have
             much
             to
             Answer
             for
             to
             God
             ,
             if
             the
             consideration
             of
             any
             present
             advantages
             should
             carry
             them
             to
             consent
             and
             concur
             in
             things
             which
             they
             believe
             would
             be
             not
             only
             dangerous
             but
             mischievous
             to
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           Their
           
             Highnesses
          
           have
           ever
           pay'd
           a
           most
           profound
           duty
           to
           his
           
             Majesty
             ,
          
           which
           they
           will
           always
           continue
           to
           do
           ;
           for
           they
           consider
           themselves
           bound
           to
           it
           ,
           both
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           and
           of
           Nature
           :
           But
           since
           the
           matter
           that
           is
           now
           in
           hand
           ,
           relates
           not
           to
           the
           making
           of
           
             new
             Laws
             ,
          
           but
           to
           the
           〈…〉
           those
           already
           made
           both
           by
           
             King
          
           and
           
             Parliament
             ;
          
           they
           do
           not
           see
           how
           it
           can
           be
           expected
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           consent
           to
           such
           a
           
             Repeal
             ,
          
           to
           which
           they
           have
           so
           just
           an
           aversion
           ,
           as
           being
           a
           thing
           that
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           Laws
           and
           Customs
           of
           all
           Christian
           
             States
             ,
          
           whether
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           or
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           who
           receive
           none
           to
           a
           share
           in
           the
           Governments
           ,
           or
           to
           publick
           Employments
           ,
           but
           those
           who
           profess
           the
           publick
           and
           established
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           and
           that
           take
           care
           to
           secure
           it
           against
           all
           attempts
           whatsoever
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           think
           it
           necessary
           to
           demonstrate
           to
           you
           how
           much
           their
           
             Highnesses
          
           are
           devoted
           to
           his
           
             Majesty
             ,
          
           of
           which
           they
           have
           given
           such
           real
           Evidences
           as
           are
           beyond
           all
           verbal
           ones
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           Resolved
           still
           to
           continue
           in
           the
           same
           Duty
           ,
           and
           Affection
           ;
           or
           rather
           to
           encrease
           it
           ,
           if
           that
           is
           possible
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           ,
           
             SIR
             ,
          
           
             Yours
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             
               
                 Nov.
              
               4.
               1687.
               
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           London
           printed
           in
           the
           year
           1688.
           
        
      
    
  

