vilege, altho' a bullying Monarch, or an Ufurper, might incroach thereupon; they have thought fit fince, to recede from the only Privilege that could make a Monarch, from any Political View, think it worth his while to attach them to his Interefts; the Confequences they have fince feverely felt.

Perhaps fome Men who have taken Opportunity from the deprefs'd and miferable State of the Clergy, in late Days, may deride this Notion, and fancy our Fathers had no more veneration for their Religion, than their Pofterity: But we shall find, even King John, who perhaps was not the beft Chriftian in his Days, look'd upon these Privileges of the Church as unfurmountable: He wrote a moft fubmiffive Letter to the Clergy, and urg'd them from all the Motives of Intereft and Honour, to raise a Sum of Money to advance Otho to the Empire; which we may fee in Rymer's Fœdera, Tom. 1. p. 130. His Spirit when he wrote to them, feem'd to favour of a little Chriftianity, and he condefcended to Beg of those whom his Anceftors had been used to Plunder.

The like bumble Letter he wrote to the Ciftertian Monks, to beg their Affiftance against the French King; which may be feen ib. p. 132. He fent a Letter upon an Account of the like Nature, to the Clergy of. Ireland, vid. p. 136.

To fhew the Deference the Bishops of that Age requir'd; the King did not fo much as pretend to write to them in a Mandatory Stile; an Inftance of which may be given, p. 138.

He defires the Bishops to intercede with the Pope in his behalf.

I have extended this Preface beyond its just length, with no other view, than to give the Reader a Specimen of what Proofs we have In fiore to fortify our Argument: He may See the Rights of the King and Clergy fairly drop'd, our old Confiitution entirely neglected, and even old Christianity taking its Leave with the rest, which was indeed the true Reafon of my adding fome Reflections, in my Appendix, on one who wou'd perfuade us he is Bishop of Bangor. I can only fay, if the Bishop of Bangor wrote that Treatife, be was a Confummate Politician, as Politicks go in thefe Days. But if we can fay no more of a Bishop's Writings, what great addition will Religion receive? Or how will the Cler gy recover their loft Luftre. But 'tis time to draw in the Reins, Paffion Indulg'd may speak Extravagant Truths.

I must needs fay our Adverfaries havė taken fevere Methods; but the God of Jufice will Protect and Defend his Caufe.

If I have advanc'd any Falsehood, either in Politicks of Religion, I am ready freely to Recant; but if I have not, I furely Me

rit

rit fome Confideration from the Reader. Let him lay his Hand upon his Breaft, and acquit his Confcience of fo much as acquiefcing in any Injuftice done to God's Vice-Gerents or in any Violation of the Laws of Nature, if he has, he may furely depend upon his feeling the Miftake; his own private Poffeffions will dwindle away, his Children will Curfe him, and Pofterity remember him with a Sigh, if he is worth any remembrance at all. There is a Power above which made even Kings, and by whatever fecret Springs he Governs Humane Affairs, and however Irregularly they feem to move, time will visibly correct their feeming Anomalies, and thew bow Righteous and how Just the Ways of God are, we shall find him firicily punctual in his Punishments, and in his Rewards.

Tyrants and Ufurpers have in all Ages prevail'd, fome have gone down to their Graves in Peace, and the reft have funk under the weight of Popular Odium and Difcontent. But fuch Men have in the end no great reafon to brave the Powers of Heaven, the Grave covers all their Pomp and their Attendants, and their Guards repair to the next Successful Invader of their Illgot Spoils, and what have they from the Hands of God but to lye down in Sorrow.

I fhall leave the Reader to Reflect upon the Folly and Distraction of Mankind, the Mu tations of Empire, and the Deffolations Rebellion has made, when he has gone through

all

all thefe Speculations, he may perhaps come into my Notions, he will find every Publick Calamity, and Private Difafter, take their Rife from the Ignorance of our English Conftitution, and the Injuftice we have fometime or other come into against our Lawful· Monarchs.

The Act of Recognition of King James I.

Reuniting of two mighty Famous and Antient Kingdoms (yet antiently but one) of England and Scotland, under one Imperial Crown, in your moft Royal Perfon, who is Lineally, Rightfully, and Lawfully defcended of the Body of the moft Excellent Lady Margaret, eldest Daughter of the moft Renown'd King Henry 7th; and the High and moft Noble Princess Queen Elizabeth his Wife, eldeft Daughter of King Edward the Fourth, the faid Lady Margaret, being eldeft Sifter of King Henry the Eight, Father of the moft High and Mighty Princefs, of Famous Memory, Elizabeth, late Queen of England.

W Loyal Subjects, the Lords Spritual

E therefore your moft Humble and

and Temporal, and the Commons in this prefent Parliament Affembled, do, from the

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bottom of our Hearts, yield to the Divine Majefty all humble Thanks and Praifes, not only for the faid unfpeakable and ineftimable Benefits and Bleffings abovemention'd; but also, that he hath farther enrich'd your Highness with a moft Royal Progeny of moft rare and excellent Gifts and Forwardness, and in his Goodness is like to encrease the happy Number of them, and in most humble and lowly Manner do befeech your most Excellent Majefty, that as a Memorial to all, Pofterities, amongst the Records of your High Court of Parliament, for ever to endure of our Loyalty, Obedience, and hearty Affection, it may be Publifh'd and Declar'd in this High Court of Parliament, and Enacted by the Authority of the fame, that we (being bounden thereunto both by the Laws of God and Man) do Recognize and Acknowlege (and there by exprefs our unfpeakable Joys) that immediately upon the Diffolution and Deceafe of Elizabeth, late Queen of England, the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England, and of all the Kingdoms and Dominions, and Rights belonging to the fame, did by inhe rent Birth-right, and Lawful and Undoubt ed Succeffion, defcend and come to your moft Excellent Majefty, as being Lineally, Juftly, and Lawfully, next and fole Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm, as is aforefaid, and that by the Goodness of Almighty

God