LONDON:

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Franco-Gallia:

OR, AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

Ancient Free State

OF

_FRANCE_,

AND

Most other Parts of EUROPE,

before the Loss of their Liberties.

* * * * *

_Written Originally in Latin by the Famous Civilian_

FRANCIS HOTOMAN,

In the Year 1574.

_And Translated into_ English _by the Author of the_

Account of DENMARK.

* * * * *

The SECOND EDITION, with Additions, and

a _New Preface_ by the Translator.

* * * * *

LONDON:

Printed for Edward Valentine, at the Queen's Head

against St. Dunstan's Church, Fleetstreet, 1721.

Translated by

The Author of the _Account

of_ DENMARK.

The BOOKSELLER

TO THE

READER.

_The following Translation of the Famous_ Hotoman's Franco-Gallia _was

written in the Year 1705, and first publish'd in the Year 1711. The

Author was then at a great Distance from_ London, _and the Publisher of

his Work, for Reasons needless to repeat, did not think fit to print the

Prefatory Discourse sent along with the Original. But this Piece being

seasonable at all Times for the Perusal of_ Englishmen _and more

particularly at this Time, I wou'd no longer keep back from the Publick,

what I more than conjecture will be acceptable to all true Lovers of

their Country._

THE

TRANSLATOR's

PREFACE.

Many Books and Papers have been publish'd since the late _Revolution_,

tending to justify the Proceedings of the People of _England_ at that

happy juncture; by setting in a true Light our just Rights and

Liberties, together with the solid Foundations of our _Constitution:_

Which, in truth, is not ours only, but that of almost all _Europe_

besides; so wisely restor'd and establish'd (if not introduced) by the

_Goths_ and _Franks_, whose Descendants we are.

These Books have as constantly had some things, called _Answers_,

written to them, by Persons of different Sentiments; who certainly

either never seriously consider'd, that the were thereby endeavouring to

destroy their own Happiness, and overthrow her Majesty's Title to the

Crown: or (if they knew what they did) presumed upon the _Lenity_ of

that Government they decry'd; which (were there no better Reason) ought

to have recommended it to their Approbation, since it could patiently

bear with such, as were doing all they could to undermine it.

Not to mention the Railing, Virulency, or personal false Reflections in

many of those Answers, (which were always the Signs of a weak Cause, or

a feeble Champion) some of them asserted the _Divine Right_ of an

_Hereditary Monarch_, and the Impiety of _Resistance_ upon any Terms

whatever, notwithstanding any _Authorities_ to the contrary.

Others (and those the more judicious) deny'd positively, that sufficient

_Authorities_ could be produced to prove, that a _free People_ have a

_just Power_ to defend themselves, by opposing their _Prince_, who

endeavours to oppress and enslave them: And alledged, that whatever was

said or done tending that way, proceeded from a Spirit of _Rebellion_,

and _Antimonarchical Principles_.

To confute, or convince this last Sort of Arguers (the first not being

worthy to have Notice taken of them) I set about translating the

_Franco-Gallia_ of that most Learned and Judicious _Civilian_, _Francis

Hotoman_; a Grave, Sincere and Unexceptionable Author, even in the

Opinion of his Adversaries. This Book gives an Account of the Ancient

Free State of above Three Parts in Four of _Europe_; and has of a long

time appeared to me so convincing and instructive in those important

Points he handles, that I could not be idle whilst it remain'd unknown,

in a manner, to _Englishmen_: who, of all People living, have the

greatest Reason and Need to be thoroughly instructed in what it

contains; as having, on the one hand, the most to lose, and on the

other, the least Sense of their Right, to that, which hitherto they seem

(at least in a great measure) to have preserv'd.

It will be obvious to every Reader, that I have taken no great Pains to

write elegantly. What I endeavour at, is as plain a Stile as possible,

which on this Occasion I take to be the best: For since the Instruction

of Mankind ought to be the principal Drift of all Writers (of History

especially); whoever writes to the Capacity of most Readers, in my

Opinion most fully answers the End.

I am not ignorant, how tiresome and difficult a Piece of Work it is to

translate, nor how little valued in the World. My Experience has

convinced me, that 'tis more troublesome and teazing than to write and

invent at once. The Idiom of the Language out of which one translates,

runs so in the Head, that 'tis next to impossible not to fall frequently

into it. And the more bald and incorrect the Stile of the Original is,

the more shall that of the Translation be so too. Many of the Quotations

in this Book are drawn from Priests, Monks, Friars, and Civil Lawyers,

who minded more, in those barbarous Ages, the Substance than the Stile

of their Writings: And I hope those Considerations may atone for several

Faults, which might be found in my Share of this Work.

But I desire not to be misunderstood, as if (whilst I am craving Favour

for my self) I were making any Apology for such a Number of mercenary

Scribblers, Animadverters, and Translators, as pester us in this Age;

who generally spoil the good Books which fall into their Hands, and

hinder others from obliging the Publick, who otherwise would do it to

greater Advantage.

I take this Author to be one of those few, that has had the good Luck to

escape them; and I make use of this Occasion to declare, that the chief

Motive which induces me to send abroad this small Treatise, is a

sincere desire of instructing the only Possessors of true Liberty in the

World, what Right and Title that have to that Liberty; of what a great

Value it is; what Misery follows the Loss of it; how easily, if Care be

taken in time, it may be preserv'd: And if this either opens the Eyes,

or confirms the honourable Resolutions of any of my worthy Countrymen, I

have gained a glorious End; and done that in my Study, which I shou'd

have promoted any other way, had I been called to it. I hope to die with

the Comfort of believing, that _Old England_ will continue to be a free

Country, and _know_ itself to be _such_; that my Friends, Relations and

Children, with their Posterity, will inherit their Share of this

inestimable Blessing, and that I have contributed my Part to it.

But there is one very great Discouragement under which both I, and all

other Writers and Translators of Books tending to the acquiring or

preserving the publick Liberty, do lie; and that is, the heavy Calumny

thrown upon us, that we are all _Commonwealth's-Men_: Which (in the

ordinary Meaning of the Word) amounts to _Haters_ of _Kingly_

Government; now without broad, malicious Insinuations, that we are no

great Friends of the present.

Indeed were the _Laity_ of our Nation (as too many of our _Clergy_

unhappily are) to be guided by the Sense of one of our Universities,

solemnly and publickly declared by the burning of Twenty seven

Propositions (some of them deserving that Censure, but others being the

very Foundation of all our Civil Rights;) I, and many like me, would

appear to be very much in the wrong. But since the _Revolution_ in

Eighty-eight, that we stand upon another and a better Bottom, tho no

other than our own old one, 'tis time that our _Notions_ should be

suited to our _Constitution_. And truly, as Matters stand, I have often

wondred, either how so many of our Gentlemen, educated under such

Prejudices, shou'd retain any Sense at all of Liberty, for _the hardest

Lesson is to unlearn_; [Footnote: St. Chrysostom] or how an Education so

diametrically opposite to our Bill of Rights, shou'd be so long

encouraged.

Methinks a _Civil Test_ might be contrived, and prove very convenient to

distinguish those that own the _Revolution Principles_, from such as

Tooth and Nail oppose them; and at the same time do fatally propagate

Doctrines, which lay too heavy a Load upon _Christianity_ it self, and

make us prove our own Executioners.

The Names of _Whig_ and _Tory_ will, I am afraid, last as long among us,

as those of _Guelf_ and _Ghibelline_ did in _Italy_. I am sorry for it:

but to some they become necessary for Distinction Sake; not so much for

the Principles formerly adapted to each Name, as for particular and

worse Reasons. For there has been such chopping and changing both of

Names and Principles, that we scarce know who is who. I think it

therefore necessary, in order to appear in my own Colours, to make a

publick Profession of my _Political Faith_; not doubting but it may

agree in several Particulars with that of many worthy Persons, who are

as undeservedly aspers'd as I am.

My Notion of a _Whig_, I mean of a real _Whig_ (for the Nominal are

worse than any Sort of Men) is, That he is one who is exactly for

keeping up to the Strictness of the true old _Gothick Constitution_,

under the _Three Estates_ of _King_ (or _Queen_) _Lords_ and _Commons_;

the _Legislature_ being seated in all Three together, the _Executive_

entrusted with the first, but accountable to the whole Body of the

People, in Case of Male Administration.

A true _Whig_ is of Opinion, that the Executive Power has as just a

Title to the _Allegiance_ and Obedience of the Subject, according to the

_Rules of known Laws enacted by the Legislative_, as the _Subject_ has

to _Protection, Liberty_ and _Property_: And so on the contrary.

A true _Whig_ is not afraid of the Name of a _Commonwealthsman_, because

so many foolish People, who know not what it means, run it down: The

_Anarchy_ and _Confusion_ which these Nations fell into near Sixty Years

ago, and which was _falsly_ called a _Commonwealth_, frightning them out

of the true Construction of the Word. But Queen _Elizabeth_, and many

other of our best Princes, were not scrupulous of calling our Government

a _Commonwealth_, even in their solemn Speeches to _Parliament_. And

indeed if it be not one, I cannot tell by what Name properly to call it:

For where in the very _Frame_ of the _Constitution_, the Good of the

_Whole_ is taken care of by the _Whole_ (as 'tis in our Case) the having

a _King_ or _Queen_ at the Head of it, alters not the Case; and the

softning of it by calling it a _Limited Monarchy_, seems a Kind of

Contradiction in Terms, invented to please some weak and doubting

Persons.

And because some of our _Princes_ in this last Age, did their utmost

Endeavour to destroy this Union and Harmony of the _Three Estates_, and

to be _arbitrary_ or _independent, they_ ought to be looked upon as the

_Aggressors_ upon our Constitution.

This drove the other _Two Estates_ (for the Sake of the publick

Preservation) into the fatal Necessity of providing for themselves; and

when once the Wheel was set a running, 'twas not in the Power of Man to

stop it just where it ought to have stopp'd. This is so ordinary in all

violent Motions, whether mechanick or political, that no body can wonder

at it.

But no wise Men approved of the ill Effects of those violent Motions

either way, cou'd they have help'd them. Yet it must be owned they have

(as often as used, thro an extraordinary Piece of good Fortune) brought

us back to our old Constitution again, which else had been lost; for

there are numberless Instances in History of a Downfal from a State of

_Liberty_ to a _Tyranny_, but very few of a Recovery of _Liberty_ from

_Tyranny_, if this last have had any Length of Time to fix it self and

take Root.

Let all such, who either thro Interest or Ignorance are Adorers of

_absolute Monarchs_, say what they please; an _English Whig_ can never

be so unjust to his Country, and to right Reason, as not to be of

Opinion, that in all Civil Commotions, which Side soever is the

_wrongful Aggressor_, is accountable for all the evil Consequences: And

thro the Course of his reading (tho my Lord _Clarendon's_ Books be

thrown into the Heap) he finds it very difficult to observe, that ever

the People of _England_ took up Arms against their _Prince_, but when

constrain'd to it by a necessary Care of their _Liberties_ and true

_Constitution_.

'Tis certainly as much a _Treason_ and _Rebellion_ against this

_Constitution_, and the _known_ Laws, in a _Prince_ to endeavor to break

thro them, as 'tis in the _People_ to rise against him, whilst he keeps

within their Bounds, and does his Duty. Our Constitution is a Government

of _Laws_, not of _Persons. Allegiance_ and _Protection_ are Obligations

that cannot subsist separately; when one fails, the other falls of

Course. The true Etymology of the word _Loyalty_ (which has been so

strangely wrested in the late Reigns) is an entire Obedience to the

Prince in all his Commands according to Law; that is, to the _Laws

themselves_, to which we owe both an active and passive Obedience.

By the old and true Maxim, that _the King can do no Wrong_, nobody is so

foolish as to conclude, that he has not Strength to murder, to offer

Violence to Women, or Power enough to dispossess a Man wrongfully of his

Estate, or that whatever he does (how wicked soever) is just: but the

Meaning is, he has no _lawful Power_ to do such Things; and our

Constitution considers no _Power_ as _irresistible_, but what is

_lawful_.

And since _Religion_ is become a great and universal Concern, and drawn

into our Government, as it affects every single Man's Conscience; tho my

private Opinion, they ought not to be mingled, nor to have any thing to

do with each other; (I do not speak of our Church Polity, which is a

Part of our State, and dependent upon it) some account must be given of

that Matter.

_Whiggism_ is not circumscrib'd and confin'd to any one or two of the

_Religions_ now profess'd in the World, but diffuses it self among all.

We have known _Jews_, _Turks_, nay, some Papists, (which I own to be a

great Rarity) very great Lovers of the Constitution and Liberty; and

were there rational Grounds to expect, that any Numbers of them cou'd be

so, I shou'd be against using Severities and Distinctions upon Account

of Religion. For a Papist is not dangerous, nor ought to be ill us'd by

any body, because he prays to Saints, believes Purgatory, or the real

Presence in the Eucharist, and pays Divine Worship to an Image or

Picture (which are the common Topicks of our Writers of Controversy

against the Papists;) but because Popery sets up a _foreign Jurisdiction

paramount to our Laws_. So that a _real Papist_ can neither be a true

_Governor_ of a _Protestant_ Country, nor a true _Subject_, and besides,

is the most _Priest-Ridden_ Creature in the World: and (when uppermost)

can bear with no body that differs from him in Opinion; little

considering, that whosoever is against _Liberty of Mind_, is, in effect,

against _Liberty of Body_ too. And therefore all Penal _Acts_ of

_Parliament_ for Opinions _purely_ religious, which have no Influence on

the _State_, are so many Encroachments upon _Liberty_, whilst those

which restrain Vice and Injustice are against _Licentiousness_.

I profess my self to have always been a Member of the _Church_ of

_England_ and am for supporting it in all its _Honours_, _Privileges_

and _Revenues_: but as a Christian and a _Whig_, I must have Charity for

those that differ from me in _religious_ Opinions, whether _Pagans_,

_Turks_, _Jews_, _Papists_, _Quakers_, _Socinians_, _Presbyterians_, or

others. I look upon _Bigotry_ to have always been the very Bane of human

Society, and the Offspring of Interest and Ignorance, which has

occasion'd most of the great Mischiefs that have afflicted Mankind. We

ought no more to expect to be all of one Opinion, as to the Worship of

the _Deity_, than to be all of one Colour or Stature. To stretch or

narrow any Man's Conscience to the Standard of our own, is no less a

Piece of Cruelty than that of _Procrustes_ the Tyrant of _Attica_, who

used to fit his Guests to the Length of his own Iron Bedsted, either by

cutting them shorter, or racking them longer. What just Reason can I

have to be angry with, to endeavour to curb the natural Liberty, or to

retrench the Civil Advantages of an honest Man (who follows the golden

Rule, of _doing to others, as he wou'd have others do to him_, and is

willing and able to serve the Publick) only because he thinks his Way to

Heaven surer or shorter than mine? No body can tell which of us is

mistaken, till the Day of Judgment, or whether any of us be so (for

there may be different Ways to the same End, and I am not for

circumscribing God Almighty's Mercy:) This I am sure of, one shall meet

with the same Positiveness in Opinion, in some of the Priests of all

these Sects; The same Want of Charity, engrossing Heaven by way of

_Monopoly_ to their own _Corporation_, and managing it by a joint Stock,

exclusive of all others (as pernicious in Divinity as in trade, and

perhaps more) The same Pretences to _Miracles, Martyrs, Inspirations,

Merits, Mortifications, Revelations, Austerity, Antiquity_, &c. (as all

Persons conversant with History, or that travel, know to be true) and

this _cui bono_? I think it the Honour of the Reformed Part of the

Christian Profession, and the Church of _England_ in particular, that it

pretends to fewer of these unusual and extraordinary Things, than any

other Religion we know of in the World; being convinced, that these are

not the distinguishing Marks of the Truth of any Religion (I mean, the

assuming obstinate Pretences to them are not;) and it were not amiss, if

we farther enlarg'd our Charity, when we can do it with Safety, or

Advantage to the State.

Let us but consider, how hard and how impolitick it is to condemn all

People, but such as think of the Divinity just as we do. May not the

Tables of Persecution be turn'd upon us? A _Mahometan_ in _Turky_ is in

the right, and I (if I carry my own Religion thither) am in the Wrong.

They will have it so. If the _Mahometan_ comes with me to _Christendom_,

I am in the right, and he in the wrong; and hate each other heartily for

differing in Speculations, which ought to have no Influence on Moral

Honesty. Nay, the _Mahometan_ is the more charitable of the two, and

does not push his Zeal so far; for the Christians have been more cruel

and severe in this Point than all the World besides. Surely Reprizals

may be made upon us; as _Calvin_ burnt _Servetus_ at _Geneva_, Queen

_Mary_ burnt _Cranmer_ at _London_. I am sorry I cannot readily find a

more exact Parallel. The Sword cuts with both Edges. Why, I pray you,

may we not all be Fellow-Citizens of the World? And provided it be not

the Principle of one or more Religions to extirpate all others, and to

turn Persecutors when they get Power (for such are not to be endured;) I

say, why shou'd we offer to hinder any Man from doing with his own Soul

what he thinks fitting? Why shou'd we not make use of his Body, Estate,

and Understanding, for the publick Good? Let a Man's Life, Substance,

and Liberty be under the Protection of the Laws; and I dare answer for

him (whilst his Stake is among us) he will never be in a different

Interest, nor willing to quit this Protection, or to exchange it for

_Poverty, Slavery_, and _Misery_.

The thriving of any one _single Person_ by honest Means, is the Thriving

of the _Commonwealth_ wherein he resides. And in what Place soever of

the World such Encouragement is given, as that in it one may securely

and peaceably enjoy _Property_ and _Liberty_ both of _Mind_ and _Body_;

'tis impossible but that Place must flourish in _Riches_ and in

_People_, which are the _truest Riches_ of any Country.

But as, on the one hand, a true _Whig_ thinks that all Opinions purely

spiritual and notional ought to be indulg'd; so on the other, he is for

_severely punishing_ all _Immoralities, Breach_ of _Laws, Violence_ and

_Injustice_. A Minister's Tythes are as much his Right, as any Layman's

Estate can be his; and no Pretence of Religion or Conscience can warrant

the substracting of them, whilst the Law is in Being which makes them

payable: For a _Whig_ is far from the Opinion, that they are due by any

other Title. It wou'd make a Man's Ears tingle, to hear the _Divine

Right_ insisted upon for any _human Institutions_; and to find God

_Almighty_ brought in as a Principal there, where there is no Necessity

for it. To affirm, that _Monarchy, Episcopacy, Synods, Tythes_, the

_Hereditary Succession_ to the _Crown_, &c. are _Jure Divino_; is to

cram them down a Man's Throat; and tell him in plain Terms, that he must

submit to any of them under all Inconveniencies, whether the Laws of his

Country are for it or against it. Every _Whig_ owns _Submission_ to

Government to be an _Ordinance_ of God. _Submit your selves to every

Ordinance of Man, for the Lord's Sake_, says the Apostle. Where (by the

way) pray take notice, he calls them _Ordinances of Man_; and gives you

the true Notion, how far any thing can be said to be _Jure Divino_:

which is far short of what your high-flown Assertors of the _Jus

Divinum_ wou'd carry it, and proves as strongly for a _Republican_

Government as a _Monarchical_; tho' in truth it affects neither, where

the very Ends of Government are destroyed.

A right _Whig_ looks upon _frequent Parliaments_ as such a _fundamental_

Part of the Constitution, that even no _Parliament_ can part with this

Right. _High Whiggism_ is for _Annual_ Parliaments, and _Low Whiggism_

for _Triennial_, with annual Meetings. I leave it to every Man's

Judgment, which of these wou'd be the truest Representative; wou'd

soonest ease the House of that Number of Members that have Offices and

Employments, or take Pensions from the Court; is least liable to

Corruption; wou'd prevent exorbitant Expence, and soonest destroy the

pernicious Practice of drinking and bribing for Elections, or is most

conformable to ancient Custom. The Law that lately pass'd with so much

Struggle for _Triennial_ Parliaments shall content me, till the

_Legislative_ shall think fit to make them _Annual_.

But methinks (and this I write with great Submission and Deference) that

(since the passing that Act) it seems inconsistent with the Reason of

the thing, and preposterous, for the _first_ Parliament after any

Prince's _Accession_ to the _Crown_, to give the publick Revenue _arising

by Taxes_, for a longer time than that _Parliament's own Duration_. I

cannot see why the Members of the _first_ Parliament shou'd (as the Case

now stands) engross to themselves all the Power of giving, as well as

all the Merit and Rewards due to such a Gift: and why _succeeding_

Parliaments shou'd not, in their turn, have it in their Power to oblige

the Prince, or to streighten him, if they saw Occasion; and pare his

Nails, if they were convinced he made _ill Use_ of such a _Revenue_. I

am sure we have had Instances of this Kind; and a wise Body of Senators

ought always to provide against the worst that might happen. The

_Honey-Moon_ of _Government_ is a dangerous Season; the Rights and

Liberties of the People run a greater Risk at that time, thro their own

Representatives Compliments and Compliances, than they are ever likely

to do during that Reign: and 'tis safer to break this Practice, when we

have the Prospect of a good and gracious Prince upon the Throne, than

when we have an inflexible Person, who thinks every Offer an Affront,

which comes not up to the Height of what his Predecessor had, without

considering whether it were well or ill done at first.

The Revenues of our Kings, for many Ages, arose out of their

_Crown-Lands_; Taxes on the Subject were raised only for publick

Exigencies. But since we have turn'd the Stream, and been so free of

Revenues for Life, arising from _Impositions_ and _Taxes_, we have given

Occasion to our Princes to dispose of their _Crown-Lands_; and depend

for Maintenance of their Families on such a Sort of Income, as is

thought unjust and ungodly in most Parts of the World, but in

_Christendom_: for many of the arbitrary _Eastern_ Monarchs think so,

and will not eat the Produce of such a Revenue. Now since Matters are

brought to this pass, 'tis plain that our Princes must subsist suitable

to their high State and Condition, in the best manner we are able to

provide for them. And whilst the _Calling_ and _Duration_ of Parliaments

was _precarious_, it might indeed be an _Act of Imprudence_, tho not of

_Injustice_, for any _one Parliament_ to settle such a Sort of _Revenue_

for Life on the Prince: But at present, when all the World knows the

_utmost Extent_ of a Parliament's _possible_ Duration, it seems

disagreeable to Reason, and an Encroachment upon the Right of

_succeeding_ Parliaments (for the future) for any _one Parliament_ to do

that which _another_ cannot undo, or has not Power to do in its turn.

An Old _Whig_ is for chusing such Sort of _Representatives_ to serve in

Parliament, as have _Estates_ in the Kingdom; and those not fleeting

ones, which may be sent beyond Sea by Bills of Exchange by every

Pacquet-Boat, but fix'd and permanent. To which end, every Merchant,

Banker, or other money'd Man, who is ambitious of serving his Country as

a _Senator_, shou'd have also a competent, visible _Land Estate_, as a

Pledge to his _Electors_ that he intends to abide by them, and has the

same Interest with theirs in the publick Taxes, Gains and Losses. I have

heard and weigh'd the Arguments of those who, in Opposition to this,

urged the Unfitness of such, whose Lands were engaged in Debts and

Mortgages, to serve in Parliament, in comparison with the _mony'd Man_

who had no _Land:_ But those Arguments never convinced me.

No Man can be a sincere Lover of Liberty, that is not for increasing and

communicating that Blessing to all People; and therefore the giving or

restoring it not only to our Brethren of _Scotland_ and _Ireland_, but

even to _France_ it self (were it in our Power) is one of the principal

Articles of _Whiggism_. The Ease and Advantage which wou'd be gain'd by

_uniting_ our own Three Kingdoms upon equal Terms (for upon unequal it

wou'd be no _Union_) is so visible, that if we had not the Example of

those Masters of the World, the _Romans_, before our Eyes, one wou'd

wonder that our own Experience (in the Instance of uniting _Wales_ to

_England_) shou'd not convince us, that altho both Sides wou'd

incredibly gain by it, yet the rich and opulent Country, to which such

an Addition is made, wou'd be the greater Gainer. 'Tis so much more

desirable and _secure_ to govern by _Love_ and _common Interest_, than

by _Force_; to expect _Comfort_ and _Assistance_, in Times of Danger,

from our next Neighbours, than to find them at such a time a _heavy

Clog_ upon the Wheels of our Government, and be in dread lest they

should take that Occasion to shake off an uneasy Yoak: or to have as

much need of entertaining a _standing_ Army against our _Brethren_, as

against our known and inveterate _Enemies_; that certainly whoever can

oppose so publick and apparent Good, must be esteem'd either _ignorant_

to a strange Degree, or to have _other_ Designs in View, which he wou'd

willingly have brought to Light.

I look upon her Majesty's asserting the Liberties and Privileges of the

_Free Cities_ in _Germany_, an Action which will shine in History as

bright (at least) as her giving away her first Fruits and Tenths: To the

Merit of which last, some have assumingly enough ascribed all the

Successes she has hitherto been blessed with; as if _one Set of Men_

were the _peculiar_ Care of Providence and all others (even _Kings_ and

_Princes_) were no otherwise fit to be considered by _God Almighty_, or

Posterity, than according to their _Kindness_ to them. But it has been

generally represented so, where Priests are the Historians. From the

first Kings in the World down to these Days, many Instances might be

given of very wicked Princes, who have been extravagantly commended; and

many excellent ones, whose Memories lie overwhelmed with Loads of Curses

and Calumny, just as they proved Favourers or Discountenancers of

High-Church, without regard to their other Virtues or Vices: for

High-Church is to be found in all Religions and Sects, from the Pagan

down to the Presbyterian; and is equally detrimental in every one of

them.

A Genuine _Whig_ is for promoting a _general Naturalization_, upon the

firm Belief, that whoever comes to be incorporated into us, feels his

Share of all our Advantages and Disadvantages, and consequently can have

no Interest but that of the Publick; to which he will always be a

Support to the best of his Power, by his _Person, Substance_ and

_Advice_. And if it be a Truth (which few will make a Doubt of) that we

are not one _third_ Part peopled (though we are better so in Proportion

than any other Part of _Europe, Holland_ excepted) and that our Stock of

Men decreases daily thro our Wars, Plantations, and Sea-Voyages; that

the ordinary Course of Propagation (even in Times of continued Peace and

Health) cou'd not in many Ages supply us with the Numbers we want; that

the Security of Civil and Religious Liberty, and of Property, which thro

God's great Mercy is firmly establish'd among us, will invite new Comers

as fast as we can entertain them; that most of the rest of the World

groans under the Weight of _Tyranny_, which will cause all that have

Substance, and a Sense of Honour and Liberty, to fly to Places of

Shelter; which consequently would thoroughly people us with useful and

profitable Hands in a few Years. What should hinder us from an Act of

_General Naturalization_? Especially when we consider, that no _private_

Acts of that Kind are refused; but the Expence is so great, that few

attempt to procure them, and the Benefit which the Publick receives

thereby is inconsiderable.

Experience has shown us the Folly and Falsity of those plausible

Insinuations, that such a Naturalization would take the Bread out of

_Englishmen's_ Mouths. We are convinced, that the greater Number of

Workmen of one Trade there is in any Town, the more does that Town

thrive; the greater will be the _Demand_ of the Manufacture, and the

_Vent_ to foreign Parts, and the quicker _Circulation_ of the _Coin_.

The Consumption of the _Produce_ both of _Land_ and _Industry_ increases

visibly in Towns full of People; nay, the more shall every particular

industrious Person thrive in such a Place; tho indeed _Drones_ and

_Idlers_ will not find their Account, who wou'd fain support their own

and their Families superfluous Expences at their Neighbour's Cost; who

make one or two Day's Labour provide for four Days Extravagancies. And

this is the common Calamity of most of our _Corporation Towns_, whose

Inhabitants do all they can to discourage Plenty, Industry and

Population; and will not admit of Strangers but upon too hard Terms,

thro the false Notion, that they themselves, their Children and

Apprentices, have the only Right to squander their Town's Revenue, and

to get, at their own Rates, all that is to be gotten within their

Precincts, or in the Neighbourhood. And therefore such Towns (through

the Mischief arising by _Combinations_ and _By-Laws_) are at best at a

Stand; very few in a thriving Condition (and those are where the

_By-Laws_ are least _restrictive_) but _most_ throughout _England_ fall

to visible Decay, whilst new Villages _not_ incorporated, or more

liberal of their Privileges, grow up in their stead; till, in Process of

Time, the first Sort will become almost as desolate as _Old Sarum_, and

will as well deserve to lose their Right of sending Representatives to

Parliament. For certainly a _Waste_ or a _Desert_ has no Right to be

represented, nor by our original Constitution was ever intended to be:

yet I would by no means have those Deputies lost to the Commons, but

transferr'd to wiser, more industrious, and better peopled Places,

worthy (thro their Numbers and Wealth) of being represented.

A _Whig_ is against the raising or keeping up a _Standing Army_ in Time

of Peace: but with this Distinction, that if at any time an _Army_ (tho

even in Time of Peace) shou'd be necessary to the Support of this very

Maxim, a _Whig_ is not for being too hasty to destroy that which is to

be the Defender of his Liberty. I desire to be well understood. Suppose

then, that Persons, whose known Principle and Practice it has been

(during the Attempts for arbitrary Government) to plead for and promote

such an Army in Time of Peace, as wou'd be subservient to the Will of a

Tyrant, and contribute towards the enslaving the Nation; shou'd, under a

_legal Government_ (yet before the _Ferment_ of the People was appeas'd)

cry down a _Standing Army_ in Time of Peace: I shou'd shrewdly suspect,

that the Principles of such Persons are not changed, but that either

they like not the Hands that _Army_ is in, or the _Cause_ which it

espouses; and look upon it as an Obstruction to _another_ Sort of Army,

which they shou'd like _even in Time of Peace_. I say then, that altho

the Maxim in general be certainly _true_, yet a _Whig_ (without the just

Imputation of having deserted his Principles) may be for the _keeping_

up such a Standing Army even in Time of Peace, till the Nation have

recover'd its _Wits_ again, and chuses Representatives who are against

_Tyranny in any Hands whatsoever_; till the Enemies of our Liberties

want the Power of raising _another_ Army of _quite different

Sentiments_: for till that time, a _Whiggish_ Army is the _Guardian of

our Liberties_, and secures to us the Power of _disbanding its self_,

and prevents the raising of another of a _different Kidney_. As soon as

this is done effectually, by my Consent, no such thing as a mercenary

Soldier should subsist in _England_. And therefore The _arming_ and

_training_ of all the _Freeholders_ of _England_, as it is our undoubted

ancient Constitution, and consequently our Right; so it is the Opinion

of most _Whigs_, that it ought to be put in Practice. This wou'd put us

out of all Fear of foreign Invasions, or disappoint any such when

attempted: This wou'd soon take away the Necessity of maintaining

_Standing_ Armies of _Mercenaries_ in Time of Peace: This wou'd render

us a hundred times more formidable to our Neighbours than we are; and

secure effectually our Liberties against any _King_ that shou'd have a

mind to invade them at home, which perhaps was the Reason some of our

late _Kings_ were so averse to it: And whereas, as the Case now stands,

Ten Thousand disciplin'd Soldiers (once landed) might march without

_considerable_ Opposition from one End of _England_ to the other; were

our _Militia_ well regulated, and _Fire-Arms_ substituted in the Place

of _Bills, Bows_, and _Arrows_ (the Weapons in Use when our _training

Laws_ were in their Vigor, and for which our Laws are yet in Force) we

need not fear a Hundred Thousand Enemies, were it possible to land so

many among us. At every Mile's End, at every River and Pass, the Enemy

wou'd meet with fresh Armies, consisting of Men as well skill'd in

military Discipline as themselves; and more resolv'd to fight, because

they do it for Property: And the farther such an Enemy advanced into the

Country, the stronger and more resolved he wou'd find us; as _Hanibal_

did the _Romans_, when he encamped under the Walls of _Rome_, even after

such a Defeat as that at _Cannæ_. And why? Because they were all

_train'd_ Soldiers, they were all _Freemen_ that fought _pro aris &

focis_: and scorn'd to trust the Preservation of their Lives and

Fortunes to _Mercenaries_ or _Slaves_, tho never so able-body'd: They

thought Weapons became not the Hands of such as had nothing to lose, and

upon that Account were unfit Defenders of their Masters Properties; so

that they never tried the Experiment but in the _utmost Extremity_.

That this is not only practicable but easy, the modern Examples of the

_Swissers_ and _Swedes_ is an undeniable Indication. _Englishmen_ have

as much _Courage_, as great _Strength of Body_, and _Capacity of Mind_,

as any People in the Universe: And if our late _Monarchs_ had the

_enervating_ their free Subjects in View, that they might give a

Reputation to _Mercenaries_, who depended only on the _Prince_ for their

Pay (as 'tis plain they had) I know no Reason why their Example shou'd

be followed in the Days of _Liberty_, when there is no such Prospect.

The Preservation of the _Game_ is but a very slender Pretence for

omitting it. I hope no wise Man will put a _Hare_ or a _Partridge_ in

Balance with the _Safety_ and _Liberties_ of _Englishmen_; tho after

all, 'tis well known to Sportsmen, that Dogs, Snares, Nets, and such

silent Methods as are daily put in Practice, destroy the Game ten times

more than shooting with Guns.

If the restoring us to our Old Constitution in this Instance were ever

necessary, 'tis more eminently so at this time, when our next Neighbours

of _Scotland_ are by Law armed just in the manner we desire to be, and

the _Union_ between both Kingdoms not perfected. For the _Militia_, upon

the Foot it now stands, will be of little Use to us: 'tis generally

compos'd of Servants, and those not always the same, consequently not

well train'd; rather such as wink with both Eyes at their own firing a

Musket, and scarce know how to keep it clean, or to charge it aright. It

consists of People whose Reputation (especially the _Officers_) has been

industriously diminished, and their Persons, as well as their

Employment, rendred contemptible on purpose to enhance the Value of

those that serve for Pay; insomuch that few Gentlemen of Quality will

now a-days debase themselves so much, as to accept of a Company, or a

Regiment in the _Militia_. But for all this, I can never be persuaded

that a _Red Coat_, and _Three Pence_ a Day, infuses more Courage into

the poor _Swaggering Idler_, than the having a Wife and Children, and an

Estate to fight for, with good wholsome Fare in his Kitchen, wou'd into

a _Free-born_ Subject, provided the _Freeman_ were as well armed and

trained as the _Mercenary_.

I wou'd not have the _Officers_ and _Soldiers_ of our most Brave and

Honest _Army_ to mistake me. I am not arguing against them; for I am

convinced, as long as there is Work to do abroad, 'tis they (and not our

home dwelling _Freeholders_) are most proper for it. Our War must now be

an _Offensive_ War; and what I am pleading for, concerns only the bare

_Defensive_ Part. Most of our present Generals and Officers are fill'd

with the true Sprit of Liberty (a most rare thing) which demonstrates

the Felicity of her Majesty's Reign, and her standing upon a true

Bottom, beyond any other Instance that can be given; insomuch, that

considering how great and happy we have been under the Government of

_Queens_, I have sometimes doubted, whether an _Anti-Salick Law_ wou'd

be to our Disadvantage.

Most of these _Officers_ do expect, nay (so true do I take them to be to

their Country's Interest) do wish, whenever it shall please God to send

us such a Peace as may be relied upon both at home and abroad, to return

to the State of _peaceable Citizens_ again; but 'tis fit they should do

so, with such ample Rewards for their Blood and Labours, as shall

entirely satisfy them. And when they, or the Survivors of them, shall

return full of Honour and Scars home to their Relations, after the

Fatigues of so glorious a Service to their Country are ended; 'tis their

Country's Duty to make them easy, without laying a Necessity upon them

of striving for the Continuance of an _Army_ to avoid _starving_. The

_Romans_ used to content them by a Distribution of their Enemies Lands;

and I think their Example so good in every thing, that we could hardly

propose a better. _Oliver Cromwell_ did the like in _Ireland_, to which

we owe that Kingdom's being a Protestant Kingdom at this Day, and its

continuing subject to the Crown of _England_; but if it be too late to

think of this Method now, some other must be found out by the Wisdom of

_Parliament_, which shall fully answer the End.

These Officers and Soldiers thus settled and reduced to a _Civil State_,

wou'd, in a great measure, compose that invincible _Militia_ I am now

forecasting; and by reason of their Skill in military Affairs, wou'd

deserve the principal Posts and Commands in their respective Counties:

With this advantageous Change of their Condition, that whereas formerly

they fought for their Country only as _Soldiers_ of _Fortune_, now they

shou'd defend it as wise and valiant _Citizens_, as _Proprietors_ of the

Estates they fight for; and this will gain them the entire Trust and

Confidence of all the good People of _England_, who, whenever they come

to know their own Minds, do heartily hate _Slavery_. The Manner and

Times of assembling, with several other necessary Regulations, are only

proper for the _Legislative_ to fix and determine.

A right _Whig_ lays no Stress upon the _Illegitimacy_ of the _pretended

Prince_ of _Wales_; he goes upon another Principle than they, who carry

the _Right of Succession_ so far, as (upon that Score), to undo all

Mankind. He thinks no Prince fit to govern, whose Principle it must be

to _ruin_ the Constitution, as soon as he can acquire unjust Power to do

so. He judges it Nonsense for one to be the _Head of a Church_, or

_Defender of a Faith_, who thinks himself bound in Duty to overthrow it.

He never endeavours to justify his taking the Oaths to this Government,

or to quiet his Conscience, by supposing the young _Gentleman_ at _St.

Germains_ unlawfully begotten; since, 'tis certain, that according to

our Law he cannot be looked upon as such. He cannot satisfy himself with

any of the foolish Distinctions trump'd up of late Years to reconcile

base Interest with a Show of Religion; but deals upon the Square, and

plainly owns to the World, that he is not influenc'd by any particular

Spleen: but that the Exercise of an _Arbitrary, Illegal Power_ in the

Nation, so as to undermine the Constitution, wou'd incapacitate either

King _James_, King _William_, or any other, from being his _King_,

whenever the _Publick_ has a Power to hinder it.

As a necessary Consequence of this Opinion, a _Whig_ must be against

_punishing the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children_, as we do (not

only to the _Third_ and _Fourth Generation_, but) _for ever_: since our

gracious God has declared, that he will no more pursue such severe

Methods in his Justice, but that _the Soul that sinneth it shall die_.

'Tis very unreasonable, that frail Man, who has so often need of Mercy,

shou'd pretend to exercise higher Severities upon his

_Fellow-Creatures_, than that Fountain of Justice on his most wicked

_revolting Slaves_. To corrupt the Blood of a whole _Family_, and send

_all_ the Offspring a begging after the Father's Head is taken off,

seems a strange Piece of Severity, fit to be redressed in Parliament;

especially when we come to consider, for what Crime this has been

commonly done. When Subjects take Arms against their _Prince_, if their

Attempt succeeds, 'tis a _Revolution_; if not, 'tis call'd a

_Rebellion_: 'tis seldom consider'd, whether the first Motives be just

or unjust. Now is it not enough, in such Cases, for the prevailing Party

to hang or behead the _Offenders_, if they can catch them, without

extending the Punishment to _innocent Persons_ for _all Generations_ to

come?

The Sense of this made the late _Bill of Treasons_ (tho it reach'd not

so far as many wou'd have had it) a Favourite of the _Old Whigs_; they

thought it a very desirable one whenever it cou'd be compass'd, and

perhaps if not at that very Juncture, wou'd not have been obtained all:

'twas necessary for Two different Sorts of People to unite in this, in

order for a Majority, whose Weight shou'd be sufficient to enforce it.

And I think some _Whigs_ were very unjustly reproach'd by their

_Brethren_, as if by voting for this Bill, they wilfully exposed the

late _King's_ Person to the wicked Designs of his Enemies.

_Lastly_, The supporting of Parliamentary Credit, promoting of all

_publick Buildings_ and _Highways_, the making all _Rivers Navigable_

that are capable of it, employing the _Poor_, suppressing _Idlers_,

restraining _Monopolies_ upon Trade, maintaining the liberty of the

_Press_, the just _paying_ and _encouraging_ of all in the publick

Service, especially that best and usefullest Sort of People the

_Seamen_: These (joined to a firm Opinion, that we ought not to hearken

to any _Terms of Peace_ with the _French King_, till it be quite out of

his Power to hurt us, but rather to dye in Defence of our _own_ and the

_Liberties_ of _Europe_) are all of them Articles of my _Whiggish

Belief_, and I hope none of them are _heterodox_. And if all these

together amount to a _Commonwealthsman_, I shall never be asham'd of the

Name, tho given with a Design of fixing a Reproach upon me, and such as

think as I do.

Many People complain of the Poverty of the Nation, and the Weight of the

Taxes. Some do this without any ill Design, but others hope thereby to

become _popular_; and at the same time to _enforce a Peace_ with

_France_, before that Kingdom be reduced to too low a Pitch: fearing,

lest that _King_ shou'd be _disabled_ to accomplish their Scheme of

bringing in the _Pretender_, and assisting him.

Now altho 'tis acknowledg'd, that the _Taxes_ lye very heavy, and

_Money_ grows scarce; yet let the _Importance_ of our _War_ be

considered, together with the _Obstinacy, Perfidy_, and _Strength_ of

our Enemy, can we possibly carry on such a _diffusive_ War without

_Money_ in Proportion? Are the _Queen's_ Subjects more burden'd to

maintain the publick _Liberty_, than the _French_ King's are to confirm

their own _Slavery_? Not so much by three Parts in four, God be prais'd:

Besides, no true _Englishman_ will grudge to pay Taxes whilst he has a

Penny in his Purse, as long as he sees the Publick Money well laid out

for the great Ends for which 'tis given. And to the Honour of the Queen

and her Ministers it may be justly said, That since _England_ was a

Nation, never was the publick Money more frugally managed, or more

fitly apply'd. This is a further Mortification to those _Gentlemen_, who

have _Designs_ in View which they dare not own: For whatever may be, the

_plausible_ and _specious_ Reasons they give in publick, when they

exclaim against the Ministry; the hidden and true one is, that thro the

present prudent Administration, their so hopefully-laid Project is in

Danger of being blown quite up; and they begin to despair that they

shall bring in King _James_ the Third by the Means of Queen _Anne_, as I

verily believe they once had the Vanity to imagine.

INDEX

OF THE

CHAPTERS

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