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diff --git a/40339-0.txt b/40339-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..702d28b --- /dev/null +++ b/40339-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2487 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40339 *** + + THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + SIR ROGER L'ESTRANGE + + + + + _SELECTIONS FROM_ + + THE + + OBSERVATOR + + (1681-1687) + + + _Introduction by_ Violet Jordain + + + PUBLICATION NUMBER 141 + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + + University of California, Los Angeles + + 1970 + + + + + GENERAL EDITORS + + William E. Conway, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + + ASSOCIATE EDITOR + + David S. Rodes, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + + ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + EDITORIAL ASSISTANT + + Roberta Medford, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +[Illustration: THE OBSERVATOR. =Numb. 1.= For text go to Page 9.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + + I fancy, _Trimmer_, that if You and I could but + get leave to peep out of our Graves again a matter + of a hundred and fifty year hence, we should find + these Papers in Bodlies Library, among the Memorialls + of State; and Celebrated for the Only Warrantable + Remains concerning this Juncture of Affairs. + (_Observator_ No. 259, 16 December 1682) + + +When the first of 931 single, folio sheets of the _Observator_ appeared +on 13 April 1681, the sixty-five-year-old Roger L'Estrange, their sole +author, had been a controversial London Royalist for over twenty years. +As Crown protégé, he had served intermittently as Surveyor of the Press, +Chief Licenser, and Justice of the King's Peace Commission; as a writer, +he had produced two newspapers, the _Intelligencer_ and the _Newes_ +(1663-1666), dozens of political pamphlets, and seven translations from +Spanish, Latin, and French.[1] Rightly nicknamed "bloodhound of the +press," L'Estrange was notorious for his ruthless ferreting out of +illegal presses and seditious publishers, as well as for his tireless +warfare against the powerful Stationers' Company.[2] No less well known +were his intransigent reactionary views, for we can estimate that some +64,000 copies of pamphlets bearing his name were circulating in the City +during the two years preceding the _Observator_.[3] Thus the +_Observator_ papers represent not only the official propaganda of the +restored monarchy, but also the intellectual temper of a powerful, +influential man whose London fame was sufficiently demonstrated in the +winter of 1680, when he was publicly burned in effigy during that year's +Pope-burning festivities. + +In the muddy torrent of "Intelligences," "Mercuries," "Courants," +"Pacquets," and sundry newssheets, the _Observator_ marks the beginnings +of a new sort of journalism, one which was to shape the development of +the English periodical. Although _Heraclitus Ridens_ and its opponent +_Democritus Ridens_ initiated the dialogue form for the newspaper +seventy-two days before the _Observator_, their relatively short run +relegates these pioneers to a shadowy background, as it does the even +earlier trade paper in dialogue, the _City and Country Mercury_ +(1667).[4] The eighty-two issues of _Heraclitus Ridens_ and thirteen of +_Democritus Ridens_ cannot be compared in quantity to the 931 issues of +the _Observator_ published three or four times a week from 13 April 1681 +to 9 March 1687, nor can their stiff dialogues be compared in importance +to L'Estrange's much fuller exploitation of the form. Consequently, even +though he did not initiate the newspaper in dialogue form, L'Estrange is +unanimously given the honor of having popularized the form, or, in the +words of Richmond P. Bond, of having "borrowed the dialogue and fastened +it on English journalism for a generation as a factional procedure."[5] + +Imitators did not wait long. Nine days after the first _Observator_, +L'Estrange's arch-enemy, Harry Care, changed to dialogue the _Popish +Courant_ section of his _Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome_, +relinquishing the expository format which he had followed since 1678. +Later, after the Glorious Revolution, the popularity of L'Estrange's +paper is evident in the spate of imitative "Observators" that ensued: +_The English Spy: Or, the Critical Observator_ (1693); _The Poetical +Observator_ (1702); Tutchin's _Observator_ (1702--a Whig organ) and +Leslie's _Observator_ (1704--a Tory organ); _The Comicall Observator_ +(1704); _The Observator Reviv'd_ (1707), and more. As late as 1716 there +was created a _Weekly Observator_. By the turn of the century, the very +term "Observator" had come to signify a controversy _in dialogue_.[6] +Interestingly enough, even the typography of L'Estrange's _Observator_ +may have left its mark on succeeding journals. A brief comparison of +Interregnum newspapers (such as _Newes Out of Ireland_ in 1642, _The +Scotch Mercury_ in 1643, _The Commonwealth Mercury_ in 1658) with John +Dunton's _The Athenian Mercury_ (1693) and Charles Leslie's _Observator_ +(1704) reveals a marked difference in typography. In the earlier papers +the typography is generally uniform, with italics used for proper names +and quotations, whereas L'Estrange's and Leslie's papers exhibit the +whole range of typeface available to the seventeenth-century printer. +Dissenter Dunton's _Athenian Mercury_, on the other hand, shows much +less eccentricity in its typography, limiting itself to generous use of +italics only, while Defoe's _Review_ goes back to the earlier restraint +and presents a neat, uniform page. Whether these typographical +differences are attributable to particular political views or merely to +"schools" of printing is difficult to say. + +In addition to this obvious sort of superficial imitation, there are +many indications that L'Estrange's _Observator_ had a more permanent +influence on posterity. It has been suggested that the periodical +specializing in query and answer between reader and editor, which was +initiated by John Dunton's _Athenian Mercury_ and which we still have +today, may have been inspired by the _Observator's_ habitual retorts to +opponents.[7] James Sutherland isolates in Defoe certain qualities of +prose style which he attributes to Defoe's extensive reading of +L'Estrange; and he sees L'Estrange's natural colloquial manner as +setting a pattern for journalists who followed him.[8] Far-fetched as it +may seem at first glance, even Addison's _Spectator_ shows a certain +similarity to the _Observator_. Although the manner, tone, language, and +political views of the two are antithetical, the _Spectator's_ peculiar +blend of moralizing and diversion is reminiscent of L'Estrange's work. +In both papers we notice a serious didactic purpose tempered by literary +techniques and imaginative handling of material. Decades before +Addison's famous credo--"to make their Instruction Agreeable, and their +Diversion useful ... to enliven Morality with Wit, and to temper Wit +with Morality"[9]--L'Estrange had formulated a similar theory: + + _Obs._: Where there has been Any thing of That which you + call Raillery, or Farce; It has amounted to no more then + a Speaking to the Common People in their Own Way.... + He that Talks Dry Reason to them, does as good as treat + 'em in an Unknown Tongue; and there's no Other way of + Conveying the True Sense, & Notion of Things, either to + their Affections, or to their Understandings, then by the + Palate.... + (II, No. 15) + +And as a link between L'Estrange and Addison we have Defoe's analogous +promise in "the Introduction" to the _Review_: "After our Serious +Matters are over, we shall at the end of every Paper, Present you with a +little Diversion, as any thing occurs to make the World Merry."[10] +These notions rest, of course, on the ancient _dulce et utile_, though +modified in various ways in each of the three papers to suit the +temperaments of their writers, the tastes of their mass-audiences, and +different times. It is perhaps not irresponsible, then, to say that the +synonymous titles of Addison's and L'Estrange's periodicals symbolize an +affinity of purpose and technique. Indeed, the _Observator_ can, in many +ways, be considered a rather crude and primitive ancestor of the +_Spectator_.[11] + +The purpose of the _Observator_ and its main targets are clearly +formulated in _Observator_ No. 1, as well as in the prefatory "To the +Reader," which was written in 1683 for the publication of Volume 1 of +the collected papers. The "faction" which L'Estrange proposes to reprove +consists at first (1681-1682) of Shaftesbury's republican-minded +followers and of the perpetrators of the Popish Plot. In his evaluation +of the Plot, L'Estrange agrees with some modern historians,[12] for he +never doubted that it was a Whig fabrication, an invented cause around +which the party members could rally and which neatly veiled the +parliamentary power-struggle behind the scenes. Titus Oates is +consequently the _Observator's_ _bête noire_, and Andrew Marvell's +pamphlet, _The Growth of Popery_, is for L'Estrange the odious origin of +the Plot: + + _Obs._: I do not know Any man throughout the whole Tract + of the Controversy that has held a Candle to the Devil + with a Better Grace then the Author of that Pamphlet ... + that Furnishes so Clear a Light toward the Opening of + the Roots, Springs, and Causes of our Late Miserable + Disorders, and Confusions.... Prethee let Otes'es + Popish Plot, Stand, or Fall, to it's Own Master; provided + that Marvels may be Allow'd to be the Elder Brother.... + (II, No. 16) + +Toward the end of 1682, when the Whigs had ceased being an imminent +threat to the government and all but one of the Whig newspapers had been +silenced, L'Estrange turned his attack against the more moderate +Trimmers, as illustrated in _Observator_ III, No. 88. But whether the +offensive is against Whigs or Trimmers, Dissenters and advocates of +toleration are always in the line of L'Estrange's fire as chief +subverters of absolute monarchy and of the Church of England, as is +evident in the satire of _Observator_ Nos. 13 and 110. On the eve of the +Glorious Revolution, this rigid stand lost him the support of both the +Anglican clergy and the universities, support of which he was so proud +in his "To the Reader." Finally, _Observator_ No. 1 singles out the Whig +press as one of its chief targets. The "Smith" referred to in that first +number is Anabaptist Francis "Elephant" Smith, publisher of the +outrageous _Mirabilis Annus_ books, the inflammatory pamphlet _Vox +Populi_, and the offensive paper _Smith's Protestant Intelligence_; +"Harris" is Benjamin Harris, publisher of the Whig paper, _Domestic +Intelligence_. These, together with Harry Care (_Weekly Pacquet of +Advice from Rome_ and _Popish Courant_), Richard Janeway (_Impartial +Protestant Mercury_), Langley Curtis (_The Protestant Mercury_), and +hordes of anti-Royalist authors or publications are habitually quoted or +referred to in L'Estrange's counterpropaganda. His untiring countering +of Whig publications earned him Nahum Tate's hyperbolic praise in _The +Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel_: + + Than _Sheva_, none more loyal Zeal have shown, + Wakefull, as _Judah's_ Lion for the Crown, + Who for that Cause still combats in his Age, + For which his Youth with danger did engage. + In vain our factious Priests the Cant revive, + In vain seditious Scribes with Libels strive + T'enflame the Crow'd, while He with watchfull Eye + Observes, and shoots their Treasons as they fly. + Their weekly Frauds his keen Replies detect, + He undeceives more fast than they infect. + So _Moses_ when the Pest on _Legions_ prey'd, + Advanc'd his Signal and the Plague was stay'd.[13] + +Parochial as these concerns seem today, the _Observator_ in its totality +goes far beyond the Harry Cares and "Elephant" Smiths in its exhortation +to greater rationality in areas ancillary to but transcending politics +proper. Its assiduous ridicule of Enthusiasm, following in the steps of +Meric Casaubon and Henry More,[14] its analyses of political +manipulation of the naive populace, its explanations of psychological +appeals, its Orwellian warnings against the snares of loaded diction and +the dangers of affective political rhetoric--all these efforts evident +in the few _Observators_ represented here are an important step in the +direction of a less superstitious, less hysterical century. +Paradoxically, L'Estrange mobilized progressive ideas in the service of +an archaic political and religious administration, thereby familiarizing +the man on the street with notions and attitudes commonly known as +Enlightened. + +The sugar coating in the _Observator_ is, however, as significant as the +pill, and distinguishes L'Estrange's journalism from his predecessors'. +Apart from the traditional satiric blend of verbal banter and polemic, +which has received ample commentary,[15] his use of established literary +modes further enhances the colloquies, making them especially diverting +for his audience and interesting for us. As dialogues, the papers belong +to a genre whose popularity has remained constant from Plato onward. The +appeal of the form lies in its pleasurable verisimilitude, immediacy, +adaptability to differing points of view, and, especially after the +Restoration, in its potentiality for humorous repartee.[16] As +_satiric_ dialogues, L'Estrange's sheets satisfy what seems to be a +universal love of ridicule, an innate trait of the human mind, although +there is no agreement among students of satire as to its exact +psychological operations. In addition to adopting this form, which +belongs to imaginative literature rather than to journalism, L'Estrange +spices his _Observator_ with a number of other devices designed to +provide variety, change in speed, and amusement for his reader, who is +in turn bullied, joshed, castigated, reasoned, or laughed into accepting +L'Estrange's views. + +Frequently, for example, the dialogue gives way to a pointed anecdote +(old or current, invented or factual), such as the story of Jack of +Leyden in _Observator_ No. 1, or the following from a later dialogue, +humorously satirizing the dour William Prynne and the Puritans' strange +concepts of sin: + + _Trimmer_: A Gentleman that had Cut-off his own hair on + the Saturday, came the next day to Church in his first Perriwig. + The Parson (that was already Enter'd into his Sermon) + turn'd his Discourse presently, from his Text in the + Holy Bible, to the Subject of Prynnes _Unloveliness of + Lovelocks_; and Thrash'd for a matter of a Quarter of an + hour, upon the Mortal Sin of Wearing False Hair. The + Gentleman, finding that he would never give him over, + 'till he had Preach'd him into a Flat State of Reprobation, + fairly took off his Perriwig, and Clapt it upon One of the + Buttons at the Corner of the Pew. The Poor Man had not + One word more to say to the Perriwig; and was run so far + from his Text, that he could not for his heart find the way + home again: So that to make short on't; He gave the + People his Blessing, and Dismiss'd the Congregation. + (II, No. 21) + +Frequently, also, L'Estrange satirizes by means of parody or ludicrous +examples of his enemies' rhetoric or behavior, as in the case of the +"Dissenting Academies" in _Observator_ No. 110. But most important of +the techniques for entertaining are his creation of carefully delineated +speaker-_personae_ and his "Characters," again both borrowed from the +literary tradition. + +After the first twenty-nine _Observators_, which are experimental in +that "Q" and "A" have shifting personalities (as in Nos. 1 and 13), +L'Estrange manipulates "Whig" and "Tory" for 171 papers, changes to +"Whig" and "Observator" for 33 papers, briefly (six papers) shifts to +"Whig" and "Courantier," and finally settles down to "Trimmer" and +"Observator" for the remaining 692 papers. In all these, the Tory +satirist (whether he be "Tory" or "Observator") is presented as the +conventional "snarling dog" described by Robert C. Elliott,[17] with +appropriate outbursts of polemic, invective, bitter irony, and railing +humor. Even the traditional crudity is there, although compared to, say, +the _Popish Courant_, L'Estrange manifests a Victorian restraint. +"Whig," on the other hand, is presented as a naive, credulous, +not-too-bright individual whose main fault is not so much that he is a +Whig but that he is a Whig because he has no mental capacity for +discrimination. The "A" speaker of No. 13 (apparently a humorous thrust +at John Eachard, author of _Grounds and Occasions of the Contempt of the +Clergy_) with his preference for Prynne, Baxter, and Smith over Tacitus, +Livy, and Caesar, is typical of the later "Whig" _persona_. Humorless, +misguided, and chronically given to believing even the most outrageous +gossip, "Whig" cuts a foolish and therefore amusing figure when pitted +against the sophisticated, trenchant-minded "Tory." "Trimmer" is quite +different. L'Estrange here creates a much more intelligent opponent, one +who is given the liberty of satirizing "Observator" himself and even +patronizing him with the nickname "Nobs." Instead of naivete and obvious +stupidity, "Trimmer" has the guile and surface morality of the perfect +hypocrite, a "pretending friend" as "Observator" notes in _Observator_ +III, Nos. 88 and 202. The humor in these later dialogues does not emerge +from the "Trimmer" personality but from the frequent self-satire and +criticism on the part of L'Estrange. "Trimmer," for example, is allowed +to mock the prose style, figures of speech, stubbornness and +repetitiveness of "Observator," as "Trimmer's" chiding tone in +_Observator_ III, No. 88 suggests. To borrow a term from Robert C. +Elliott, the entertainment of these later colloquies resides primarily +in the technique of the "satirist satirized."[18] L'Estrange, in short, +creates both _adversariuses_ as _dramatis personae_ rather than as +simple straw men, a departure from the run-of-the-mill Restoration +dialogue evident in the following interruption of his artfully built +illusion: + + _Obs._: For Varieties sake then, we'le to work another way. + Do You keep up your Part of Trimmer still: Do Just as + you use to do; and be sure to maintain your Character; + Leave the Whig and the Tory to Me. + + _Trimmer_: For the Dialogue sake it shall be done. + + _Obs._: But then you must Consider that there are Severall + sort of Trimmers: as your State-Trimmer, Your Law-Trimmer.... + + _Trimmer_: And You shall Suppose Mee to be a Statesman. + + _Obs._: But of what Magnitude? A Lord? A Knight?... + + _Trimmer_: Why truly Nobs, if they be all of a Price, I + don't care if I be a Lord. + + _Obs._: We are over that Point then; And so I am your + Lordships most Humble Servant. + +But this role playing within role playing is discarded at the end of the +paper, the role of Lord being apparently too cumbersome: + + _Trimmer_: No more of your Lordships, as you love me, + Nobs; for I am e'en as weary as a Dog of my Dignity. + (No. 242) + +The "Character," however, is not only L'Estrange's favorite satiric tool +but perhaps the literary form most frequently used in the _Observator_. +L'Estrange himself attests to his partiality in his parting comment at +the close of the _Observator_: + + _Obs._: For my Fancy lyes more to Character, then to + Dialogue; and whoever will be so Kind as to Furnish me + with Spitefull Materials, shall get his Own again with + Interest, in an Essay upon Humane Nature. + (III, No. 246) + +The Character was, of course, still highly popular in the latter half +of the century, as Chester Noyes Greenough's listings show,[19] so that +in indulging his own taste, L'Estrange was also catering to the tastes +of his public. Of whatever other value the _Observator_ may be to the +modern student, it is invaluable as a fine example of the +state-of-the-Character toward the end of the century. Practically every +type of Character analyzed by Benjamin Boyce in his two studies can be +found repeatedly in L'Estrange's dialogues:[20] the earlier imitations +of Theophrastan Characters, with their parallelisms and antitheses; the +Overburian Character, with its extravagant metaphors; the externally +dramatized; the subjective; the sprung. There are Characters of +ideologies, of political parties, of virtues, of vices, of Whigs and +Dissenters (vices), of Tories and Anglicans (virtues). There are several +"Credo-Characters" (confessions or manifestoes), and finally there is +the habitually dramatized self-exposing Character which becomes +indistinguishable from the _dramatis persona_, as is the Character of +the Modern Whig in Nos. 13 and 110. Among the _Observators_ included +here, the definition of "Dissenter" in No. 1 is based on Character +techniques, as is the conceit of the Protestant as "Adjective +Noun-Substantive" in the same number. So is also the lengthy exposure of +"Leaders" in III, No. 202, beginning with "They Talk, to the Ears, and +to the Passions of their Hearers." + +A final comment about L'Estrange's prose, which has been variously +labeled "colloquial," "idiomatic," "vulgar," "coarse"--all vaguely +descriptive terms suggesting value judgment, and none precise enough to +give an intelligible account of what L'Estrange actually does. In +addition to the obvious device of choppy syntax and deliberately +careless constructions simulating extemporaneous speech, L'Estrange's +figures and proverbial material demonstrate his meticulous shaping of an +"applied prose"[21] particularly suitable for the audience whose +opinions he tried to sway. His metaphors and analogies tend to rely on +commonly known objects or experiences, and because of rhetorical +necessity they are almost always unpleasantly graphic. A random sampling +yielded the following results: about twenty-five percent of the figures +in the _Observator_ deal with some specific part of the human body +(nails, spleen, mouth, eyes, ears, knees, heels, flesh, guts, belly) or +physiological processes (ulcerating, itching, chewing, digesting, +spitting, reeking, seeing, crouching, sweating, gobbling). There is no +euphemistic delicacy in these figures; L'Estrange carefully selects the +most earthy, common vehicles, thus achieving what James Sutherland has +termed "racy" and "vigorous" prose.[22] Another twenty-four percent of +the figures are based on common occupations, daily activities, or +objects familiar to the simpler citizen of London. These figures +ordinarily pivot on barter or trade (horse traders, hagglers, fishwives, +car men); on activities such as cooking, gambling, or glass-making; and +on such objects as clothing, bagpipes, paper-pellets, bonnets, and +chamber-pots. The rest derive from the animal kingdom, the Scriptures, +street-entertainment (jugglers, puppets, high-rope walkers) and folk +medicine (glysters and plasters). It is obvious that these +figures--their concreteness, sensuousness, and closeness to the daily +experience of the ordinary reader--are a main ingredient in the richly +colloquial texture of L'Estrange's prose, as is the proverbial material +which he incorporates unsparingly. + +In L'Estrange's language the law of the land cannot be misunderstood, +for it calls _a spade a spade_ (No. 106; T-S699).[23] The factions win +their objectives _by hook or crook_ (No. 100; T-H588) even though they +are as _mad as March Hares_ (No. 15; T-H148) and _as Blind as Beetles_ +(No. 15; T-B219). Certain things are _as clear as the Day_ (No. 25; +T-D56) or _as plain as the nose o'my face_ (No. 40; T-N215), whereas +others are so confused that one can _make neither Head nor tayl on't_ +(No. 35; T-H258). When _noses are put out of joint_ (No. 38; T-N219) and +Tories are given a _bone to pick_ (No. 55; T-B522), there will obviously +be _no love lost betwixt_ Whigs and Tories (No. 97; T-L544). + +Thus L'Estrange's Characters, together with the fanciful anecdotes, +self-satire, parodies, and _personae_, provide the satire and humor in +the _Observator_, the whole being couched in familiar, pungent language. +As L'Estrange counters the faction, propagandizes, and exhorts to +rational behavior, he also amuses and delights, always hoping that the +laughter provoked by his satiric treatment will cure what he saw as +follies of his age, always appealing to the common reader whose sense of +humor, he believed, was probably more developed than his sense. + + California State College, + Dominguez Hills + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + + + 1: The translations before 1681 are _The Visions of Dom Francisco de + Quevedo_ (1667); _A Guide to Eternity_ (1672); _Five Love-letters + from a Nun_ (1677); _The Gentleman-Apothecary_ (1678); _Seneca's + Morals_ (1678); _Twenty Select Colloquies of Erasmus_ (1679); and + _Tully's Offices_ (1680). + + 2: Various perspectives on L'Estrange's life and works can be found + in the following: George Kitchin, _Sir Roger L'Estrange_ (London, + 1913) for L'Estrange's life and impact on the Restoration press; J. + G. Muddiman, _The King's Journalist_ (London, 1923) for L'Estrange's + rivalry with Henry Muddiman, editor of the _Oxford [London] + Gazette_; David J. Littlefield, "The Polemic Art of Sir Roger + L'Estrange: A Study of His Political Writings, 1659-1688" + (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Yale University, 1961) for an + overview of L'Estrange as a political pamphleteer. + + 3: In 1679 L'Estrange wrote six new pamphlets and reprinted three + old ones; in 1680 eleven new and seventeen old; at the start of + 1681, ten new and seventeen old. A probable norm of 1000-1500 copies + per pamphlet edition has been estimated by Joseph Frank, _The + Beginnings of the English Newspaper, 1620-1660_ (Cambridge, Mass., + 1961), p. 314; two orders of 1500 pamphlets each were given to the + Restoration printer Nathaniel Thompson, as noted by Leona + Rostenberg, "Nathaniel Thompson, Catholic Printer and Publisher of + the Restoration," _The Library_, 3rd ser., X (1955), 195. + + 4: _Heraclitus Ridens_ was considered by generations of historians + as the first newspaper in dialogue; most recently, James Sutherland + (_English Literature of the Late Seventeenth Century_, Oxford, 1969, + p. 241) has given precedence to _The City and Country Mercury_. + + 5: _Studies in the Early English Periodical_ (Chapel Hill, 1957), p. + 38. + + 6: Ibid., pp. 38-39. + + 7: Walter Graham, _English Literary Periodicals_ (New York, 1930), + pp. 38, 63, 168. + + 8: _On English Prose_ (Toronto, 1965), pp. 72-74. + + 9: _The Spectator_, No. 10, ed. Donald F. Bond (Oxford, 1965), I, + 44. + + 10: _The Review_, ed. Arthur Wellesley Secord (Facsimile Text + Society, New York, 1938), I, 4. + + 11: Several of the literary techniques in the _Spectator_ had been + introduced into journalism by L'Estrange. _Spectator_ No. 1, for + example, presents a _persona_ in the character of "Mr. Spectator"; + No. 2 contains a dream-allegory; Nos. 11 and 34 present indirect + discourse between _dramatis personae_; No. 19 sketches a Character + of the Envious Man--all literary modes abundant in the _Observator_. + + 12: See especially J. R. Jones, _The First Whigs; The Politics of + the Exclusion Crisis, 1678-1683_ (London, 1961), pp. 20, 24, 50-51, + 56, 94, 112, 123-124. + + 13: For attribution and identification of Sheva, see G. R. Noyes, + ed., _The Poetical Works of John Dryden_ (Boston, 1909), pp. 137, + 966. + + 14: The works that are echoed in the Observator are Meric Casaubon, + _A Treatise Concerning Enthusiasme ..._ (London, 1655) and Henry + More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus ..._ (London, 1656). + + 15: The mixture of tones is discussed in Alvin Kernan, _The Cankered + Muse_ (New Haven, 1959), pp. 68, 76; Leonard Feinberg, _Introduction + to Satire_ (Ames, Iowa, 1967), pp. 124-125; Gilbert Highet, _The + Anatomy of Satire_ (Princeton, 1962), p. 18. + + 16: Hugh Macdonald, "Banter in English Controversial Prose After the + Restoration," _Essays and Studies by Members of the English + Association_, XXXII (1946), 22, 26, 38. + + 17: _The Power of Satire: Magic, Ritual, Art_ (Princeton, 1960), pp. + 133-136, 164-165. + + 18: Ibid., pp. 130-222 (_passim_). + + 19: _A Bibliography of the Theophrastan Character in English, With + Several Portrait Characters_ (Cambridge, Mass., 1947). + + 20: _The Theophrastan Character in England to 1642_ (Cambridge, + Mass., 1947) and _The Polemic Character, 1640-1661_ (Lincoln, Neb., + 1955). + + 21: The term is suggested by Ian Gordon (_The Movement of English + Prose_, London, 1966, p. 136) in his discussion of the simple, + clear, journalistic style practiced by L'Estrange, Defoe, and Swift + in their political writings. + + 22: _On English Prose_, p. 70. + + 23: The symbol "T" and accompanying numbers refer to the entries in + Morris Palmer Tilley, _A Dictionary of the Proverb in England in the + Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries_ (Ann Arbor, 1950). + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + + The sources for the parts of the _Observator_ in _Dialogue_ + reprinted here are Volume I of the first collected edition published + in 1684, and Volume III, published and bound together with Volume II + in 1687, both in the collection of the William Andrews Clark + Memorial Library. The pieces reprinted from Volume I consist of the + prefatory "To the Reader," and _Observator_ Nos. 1, 13, and 110; the + papers reprinted from Volume III consist of _Observator_ Nos. 88 and + 202. In this edition the following editorial changes have been made: + black letter type is indicated by underlining; inverted letters have + been corrected; obvious compositor's errors have been corrected; and + inconsistencies in font due to compositors' carelessness have been + normalized. The frontispiece to this facsimile reprint is reproduced + from the Clark copy and measures approximately 13-7/16" x 8-5/8" in + the original. + + + + +THE OBSERVATOR + +To the _READER_. + + +Most _Prefaces_ are, (Effectually) _Apologies_; and neither the _Book_, +nor the _Author_, one Jot the _Better_ for them. If the _Book_ be +_Good_, it will not _Need_ an _Apology_; If _Bad_, it will not _Bear_ +One: For where a man thinks, by _Calling_ himself _Noddy_, in the +_Epistle_, to _Atone_, for _Shewing_ himself to be one, in the _Text_; +He does (with Respect to the Dignity of an _Author_) but _Bind up Two +Fools_ in _One Cover_: But there's no more Trusting some People with +_Pen, Ink, and Paper_, then the Maddest Extravagants in _Bedlam_, with +_Fire_, _Sword_, or _Poyson_. He that _Writes Ill_, and _Sees_ it, why +does he _Write on_? And, with a kind of _Malice Prepense, Murder_ the +_Ingenious_ part of _Mankind_? He that _Really Believes_ he Writes +_Well_; why does he pretend to _Think_ Otherwise? Now take it which way +you please, a man runs a Risque of his _Reputation_, for want, either of +_Skill_, and _Judgment_, the _One_ way; Or of _Good Faith_, and _Candor_ +the _Other_. Beside a Mighty Oversight, in _Imagining_ to bring himself +off, from an _Ill_ Thing, _Done_, or _Said_, by Telling the World that +he did it for _This_ or _That Reason_. When a Book has once past the +_Press_ into the _Publique_; there's no more _Recalling_ of it, then of +a _Word Spoken_, out of the _Air_ again. And a man may as well hope to +Reverse the _Decree_ of his _Mortality_, as the _Fate_ of his +_Writings_. In short: When the _Dice_ are _Cast_, the _Author_ must +stand his _Chance_. + +Now that I may not be thought to Enterfere with my self, by _Declaiming_ +against _One Preface_ in _Another_: I do here previously Renounce to All +the Little Arts and Forms of Bespeaking the _Good Will_ of the _Reader_; +As a _Practice_, not only _Mean_, _Light_, and _Unprofitable_; but +wholly _Contrary_ to the _Bent_ of _My Inclination_; as well as +_Inconsistent_ with the very _Drift_, and _Quality_ of my _Design_. For +These _Papers_ were _Written_, Indifferently, for the _Enformation_ of +the _Multitude_; and for the _Reproof_ of a _Faction_: _Two Interests_ +that I am not much _Sollicitous_, or _Ambitious_, to _Oblige_: And upon +_This Consideration_ it is, that I have _Address'd_ them to the _Reader_ +in _Generall_; as a _Calculation_ that will serve for _All Meridians_: +But if I could have Resolved upon a _Dedication_, with any _Particular +Mark_, or _Epithete_ of _Distinction_; it should have been, _To the +IGNORANT, the SEDITIOUS_, or _the SCHISMATICAL Reader_; for _There_, +properly, lies _my Bus'ness_. + +The Reader will find in the _First Number_ of This Collection, the _True +Intent_, and _Design_ of the _Undertaking_; And he will likewise find, +in the very _Date_ of it, (April 13. 1681.) the _Absolute Necessity_ of +some Such _Application_, to Encounter the _Notorious Falshoods_; the +_Malicious Scandals_, and the _Poysonous Doctrines_ of _That Season_. + +Whether I had Sufficient _Ground_, or _Reason_, for the Warmth I have +Exprest in These Papers, upon Several Occasions, (out of an Affectionate +Sense of my _Duty_, and a _Zeal_ for the _Peace_, _Welfare_, and +_Safety_ of my _Country_;) I _Dare_, and I _Do Appeal_ to the _King_, +and his _Ministers_; to the _Consciences_ of as many of his Majesties +_Subjects_, as are not _Stark Blind_ because they _WILL_ not _See_; and +to the Justice of the Nation. I do _Appeal_, I say, to his Majesties +_Proclamations_; to his _Royal Declaration_; Several _Orders_ of +_Councel_; the _Examinations_, and _Confessions_ of _Unquestionable +Witnesses_; The _Solemnity_ of so many _Tryals_, _Sentences_, and +_Executions_; and the _Criminals_, Every Man of 'em, Either +_Acknowledging_ the _Crime_, or _Justifying_ the _Treason_: But the +_FACT_, however made as _Clear_ as the _Day_. There's the _Flight_ of +the _Conspirators_; Their _Arms Seiz'd_; Their _Councels Laid Open_; +_Men Listed_; The _Methods_ of the _Confederacy Detected_, to the very +_Time_, and _Place_ for the _Perpetration_ of the _Villany_; to the very +_Circumstance_ of the _Providential Fire_ at _Newmarket_, that +_Disappointed_ it. I have All These _Demonstrative Proofs_, and +_Convincing Evidences_, to _Warrant_ me in the most _Violent +Presumptions_ of a _Rebellion_ in _Agitation_: And the _Phanatiques +Themselves_ made good the _Worst_ Things that ever I said of the +_Party_: In _Vindication_ of the _Importunity_ of All my _Foreboding_, +if not _Prophetical Suspicions_: Nay, they were come to the very +_Point_, and _Crisis_ of the _Operation_, of That _Unaccountable_, and +_Amazing Vote_. [_If his Majesty shall come by Any Violent Death (which +God Forbid) it shall_ be _Reveng'd to the Utmost upon the Papists_.] The +_King_, and the _Duke_ were to be _Murder'd_ by _Republican_, and +_Fanatical Rebells_: _There's_ your _VIOLENT DEATH_. And _Then_, +[Reuenge it upon the Papists:] For [_the Thing_ (says _Keeling_) _was to +be laid upon the Papists as a Branch of the Popish Plot_. Walcots Tryal. +Fol.9.] And the _Next_ Step was, for the _Traytors_ to _Unriddle_ the +_Mystery_, and to _Expound_, Who were the _Papists_. [_The Lord Mayor, +and the Sheriffs_] _were Three_ of 'em. _They_, were to be Kill'd; And +[_as many of the_ Lieutenancy _as they could get; And the Principal +Ministers of State; My Lord_ Halifax, _My Lord_ Rochester, _and my_ Lord +Keeper: (_They_ were _Three Papists more_.) _My Lord_ Keeper _was to +have been_ Hang'd _upon the same Post that_ College _had hung. Sir_ John +Moor _to be_ Hung-up _in_ Guildhall, _as a Betrayer of the Rights and +Liberties of the City. And the Judges Lordships to be_ Flay'd, _and_ +Stuff'd, _and_ Hung-up _in_ Westminster Hall: _And a great many of the_ +Pensionary Parliament Hang'd-up, _as Betrayers of the Rights of the +People_. Walcots Tryal, p. 15.] You have here, a _Practical Explanation_ +of the _True-Protestant Way_, (in case of _the King's Violent Death_) +_of Revenging it to the Utmost upon the Papists_. And This Intended +_Assassination_ (says _Ferguson_ (in the same Page)) [_Is a Glorious +Action, and such an Action as_ I HOPE TO SEE PUBLIQUELY GRATIFY'D BY +PARLIAMENT; _And Question not but you will be Fam'd for it, and_ Statues +_Erected for you, with the Title of_ LIBERATORES PATRIAE. _Ibid._] Now +when Matters were come to _This Pass_ once, I think it was High Time to +Write _Observators_. + +I might Enlarge my self, upon the _Inducements_ that Mov'd me to Enter +upon This _Province_; The _Needfullness_ of some _Popular Medium_ for +the _Rectifying_ of _Vulgar Mistakes,_ and for _Instilling_ of +_Dutyfull_, and _Honest Principles_ into the _Common People_, upon That +_Turbulent_, and _Seditious Juncture_: But I am not Willing to _Clogg_ +my _Preface_, with the _Repetition_ of what I have spoken so _Expressly_ +to, in the _Book_. + +I am now to Advertise the _Reader_, in the next Place; That as I have +not Strain'd, so much as _One Syllable_, in the _Whole Course_ of _These +Papers_, beyond the _Line_ of _Truth_, Nor let fall _One Word, Contrary_ +to my _Conscience_; Nor _Layd-on_ so much as _One False Colour_, for a +_Blind_, or a _Disguise_: As I have not done any Thing of All This, I +say; Nor _Gratify'd_ so much as _One Passion_ to the Prejudice, of any +_MAN_, or _THING_; or of _Common Justice it Self_: So neither, on the +_Other_ hand, was I less _Cautious_, and _Considerate_, in the +_Undertaking_ of This _Duty_, then I have been _Clear_, and _Impartial_, +in the _Discharge_, and _Manage_ of it. + +I was no sooner Possess't, of the _Reason_, and the _Expedience_ of +the _Thing_; but I fell presently to _Deliberate_ upon the +_Invidious Difficulties_; The _Scandals_, _Reproches_, and a +Thousand Other _Mischiefs_, and _Inconveniencies_, that would +probably _Attend_ it. I laid them All _before_ me; And upon a _Full +Computation_ of the _Matter, Pro_ and _Con_; I Resolv'd, at last, to +Put _pen to paper_; not without some _Vanity_ perhaps, in +_Affecting_ the _Honour_ of being _Revil'd_, by the _Blasphemers_ of +_God_, and the _King_. I shall say Nothing of the _Traytors_; The +_Papists_; The _Fidlers_; The _All-manner-of-Rogues_, and +_Debauchees_ that they have _made_ me: For their _Cause_ is +_Founded_ upon a _Sacrilegious Hypocrisy; Maintain'd_ by _Fraud_, +_Scandal_, and _Imposture_. And when they have a mind to _Blacken_ +a man, 'tis not a _Straw_ matter, for any _Foundation_ of _Fact_, or +_History_: But _Paint_ him as like the _Devil_ as they _Can_; and to +make short Work on't, _One Fanatique_ Sits to _Another_, for the +_Picture_. But _These Scurrilities_ have more of _Noise_ in 'em, +then of _Weight_: And Those People that had the face to _Calumniate +Charles the First_, for a _TYRANT_, and a _PAPIST_; And the +_Confidence_, at This very day, to do as much for _Charles the +Second_; They that _Preach REBELLION_ out of the _GOSPEL_; Give it +the _Name_ of _GOD'S TRUTH, GOD'S CAUSE_; And offer up the _Bloud_ +of _Kings_ as an _Acceptable Sacrifice_ to _Jesus Christ_: What +_Christian_ will not _Value_ himself, upon the _Reputation_ of lying +under the _Scourge_ of _Those Tongues_, and _Pens_, that Offer these +_Outrages_ to their _Maker_, and their _Saviour_? So that these +_Clamours_, and _Maledictions_, I look upon, as Matter, rather of +_Advantage_, then _Discredit_; Where _Loyalty_ to the _King_, and to +the _Church_, is made the _Crime_: But yet I must Confess, I had +_Some Other Mortifications_ in my _Thought_, that went a little +_Nearer_ me. + +As first, the _Indecency_ of a _Gentlemans_ Entring into a +_Street-Brawl_, (and _Bare-fac'd_ too) with the _Sink_ of _Mankind_, +both for _Quality_, and _Wickedness_. 21y. The _Disproportion_, and the +_Indecorum_ of the Thing, for an _Old Fellow_ that now Writes _Sixty +Eight_, to run about, a _Masquerading_, and _Dialoguing_ of it, in +_Twenty Fantastical Shapes_, only to furnish a _Popular Entertainment_, +and _Diversion_. 31y. The _Scandalous Appearance_ of it, for Me to take +up the _Profession_, and _Bus'ness_ of a _Pamphleteer_; And (almost) to +Lose the _Name_ of my _Family_, by it, in _Exchange_ for That of the +_Observator_. 41y. I had This Prospect before me too. What +_Construction_ would be made upon't; (If I may speak it with _Modesty_) +even to the _Lessening_ of my _Character_; And Consequently, to my +Detriment, Every way, as well in Respect of _Fortune_, as _Esteem_: For +men are apt, in such Cases as This, to _Mistake_, the _Intent_, as well +as the _Reason_ of the _Office_; and to Impute the most _Sacred_, and +_Consciencious Zeal_ of an _Upright Heart_, in the performance of the +most _Important_, and _Necessary Duty_, only to a _Levity_ of _Mind_, +perchance; Or in Other Terms; to an Over _Officious_, and _Pragmatical +Itch of Medling_: It makes a man to be lookt upon, as if a _Pamphlet_ +were his _Masterpiece_; and when he's once _Nail'd_ to _That Post_, he +may reckon upon't, that he's at the _Top_ of his _Preferment_. Upon +These _Four Difficulties_, I Reason'd with my self, after This Manner. +To the _First_; What do I care, for having so much _Dirt_ Thrown at me, +that will _Wash off_ again? And at the worst, the Engaging with such a +_Rabble_ of _Contaminated Varlets_, is no more then _Leaping_ into the +_Mud_ to help my _Father. Secondly. 'Tis not for a man in years_, to do +so and so. Well! And here's a _Reputative Circumstance_, on the _One_ +hand, against an _Indispensable Duty_, on the _Other_. The _Common +people_ are _Poyson'd_, and will run _Stark Mad_, if they be not +_Cur'd_: Offer them _Reason_, without _Fooling_, and it will never +_Down_ with them: And give them _Fooling_, without _Argument_, they're +never the _Better_ for't. Let 'em _Alone_, and All's _Lost_. So that the +_Mixture_ is become as _Necessary_, as the _Office_; And it has been _My +Part_, only to _Season_ the _One_ with the _Other. Thirdly_, I must Set +the _Conscience_ of the Action, against the _Reproch_. And _Lastly; 'Tis +nothing to me what Other People_ Think, _so long as I am Conscious to my +Self that I Do what I_ Ought. + +All This I Computed upon, _before-hand_; And thus far, I have not been +_Deceiv'd_ in my _Account_. I have been _Baited_ with _Thousands_ upon +_Thousands_ of _Libells_. I have Created _Enemies_ that do me the +_Honour_ to _Hate_ me, perhaps, next to the _King Himself_ (God Bless +him) and the _Royal Family_. Their _Scandals_ are _Blown over_: Their +_Malice, Defeated_, And whenever _my Hour comes_, I am ready to Deliver +up my _Soul_, with the _Conscience_ of an _Honest Man_, as to what I +have done, in _This Particular_: And I do here Declare, in the +_Presence_ of an _All-Seeing_, and an _All-Knowing God_, That as I have +never yet receiv'd any _Answer_, more then _Cavil_, and _Shuffling_, to +the _Doctrine_, and _Reasoning_ of _These Papers_: So I never _made use_ +of Any _Sophism_, or _Double Meaning_, in Defence of the _Cause_ that I +have here taken upon me to _Assert_: But have dealt _Plainly_, and +_Above-Bord_, without either _Fallacy_, or _Collusion_. + +After This _View_ of the _Worst side_ of my _Case_; (And (in truth) a +kind of _Abstract_ of it, in _Minutes_) I should be Extremely wanting, +both to _God_ and _Man_, in not taking _This Occasion_, of making +_known_ to the _world_, the _Many Generous Instances_ of _Affection_, +and _Respect_, which I have received, not only from the most +_Considerable_ Part of his Majesties _Loyal Subjects_ of _All +Qualities_, and _Degrees_; But _Particularly_ from the _Two Famous +Universities Themselves_: And, in short, from the most _Eminent Persons_ +of the _Long Robe_, in their _Several Professions_: In _Testimony_ of +their _Favourable Acceptance_ of my _Honest Endeavours_ toward the +Service, both of the _Church_, & the _State_. And This I am Obliged to +leave behind me, upon _Record_; out of a _Double Right_, & _Regard_, as +well to my _Friends_, as to my _Self_: For I reckon upon it, as an +_Accumulation_ of _Honour_, to _Me_, to be _Rescu'd_ out of the hands of +_Publique Enemies_, and _Apostates_, by Men of the Clear _Contrary +Character_; That is to say; by Men of _Unquestionable Integrity_, and of +_Unspotted Faith_. + +My _Back Friends_ are as _Merry_, now, as _a Laugh on One side of the +Mouth_ can Make 'em; at the _Conceit_ of calling the several _Presents_ +which have been made me (and they are very _Considerable_) by the name +of a _Gathering_; and they do not Stick to put it about, That I was my +_Own Sollicitor_ for the _Begging_ of it. I have been Told of One, that +_said_ as much; _for whose sake_, I would Advise _All Parents_ to take +it for a _Warning_, not to _Stuff_ their _Childrens Heads_ so Damnably, +with _Greek and Latin_, as to leave no _Room_ for _Brains_, and _Good +Manners_. But what if it _be a Gathering_? Are not All _Publique +Benevolences; Publique Works; Publique Acknowledgments_; the _same +Thing_? Neither do I find any more _Scandal_, in receiving a _Reward_ +for a _Service_ in a _Common Cause_, then in a _Lawyers_ taking a _Fee_, +in a _Private_ One: But be it what it _will_: I shall Transmit the +_Acknowledgment_ of it, with This Paper, as the _Glory of my Life_: And +Value my self Incomparably more upon so _Eminent_ a _Mark_ of a _General +Esteem_; then upon the _Advantage_ of _Ten times a Greater Sum_, by _Any +Other way_. But _Gatherings_, with some People, are only _Honourable_, +when they are Apply'd to the _Maintaining_ of _Conspirators_, and +_Affidavit-Men_: And they Account _Money_ much better _Bestow'd_ upon +the _Subversion_ of the _Government_, then toward the _Defending_ of it: +But _That Orange is Squeez'd as far as 'twill Drop, already_. + +Now to the _Calumny_ of _My Setting This Bus'ness afoot; First_, I thank +God, that neither my _Mind_, nor my _Condition_ were ever Sunk _so_ Low, +yet, as to _Descend_ to _That way of Application_. 21y, As I hope to be +Sav'd, the Matter was Proceeded upon, in _Several Places_, and a _Long +Time_, before ever I had the Least _Inkling_, or _Imagination_ of it; +And when it was so far _Advanc'd, without my Privity_, I must Certainly +have been both a Great _Fool_, and a Great _Clown_, either to have +_Oppos'd_, or _Refus'd_, a Token of so _Obliging_, and so _Generous_ a +_Respect_. To Conclude; If any man has been so _Misled_, as to _Intend_ +That for a _Personal Charity_; which I cannot _Honourably_ Own the +_Receiving_ of, under _That Notion_; I am ready to Return him his +Proportion, with a Thousand Acknowledgments: But This shall not Hinder +me yet, from _Cherishing_ in my _Thoughts_, the _Remembrance_ of what +_Honour_ soever has been done me for the sake of the _Publique_. + +The Reflexions that have been Pass'd upon my _Quality_, and +_Conversation_, need no Further Answer, then to Appeal to my very +_Name_, and my _Acquaintance_: But for the _Charge_ of being a _Papist_, +it is as _False_, as it is _Malicious_. + +I am to say One Word more now, concerning my _L. Shaftsbury_; whose +_Name_, and _Title_, I have often Occasion to make mention of, in This +Book. The _Reader_ is to take Notice, that it is Intended of the _Late +Earl of Shaftsbury_, who Dy'd at _Amsterdam, Jan. 168-2/3. The Surviving +Heir of That Honour, and Family, having ever Demean'd himself with a +Remarkable Loyalty, and Respect, toward the King, and his Government_. + + + + +=Numb. 1.= + +THE OBSERVATOR. + +In _QUESTION_ and _ANSWER_. + +=WEDNESDAY=, April 13. 1681. + + +_Q. WEll! They are so. But do you think now to bring'um to their Wits +again with a_ Pamphlet? + +_A._ Come, Come; 'Tis the _Press_ that has made'um _Mad_, and the +_Press_ must set'um _Right_ again. The Distemper is _Epidemical_; and +there's no way in the world, but by _Printing_, to convey the _Remedy_ +to the _Disease_. + +_Q. But what is it that you call a_ Remedy? + +_A._ The _Removing_ of the _Cause_. That is to say, the _Undeceiving_ of +the _People_: for they are well enough Disposed, of themselves, to be +Orderly, and Obedient; if they were not misled by _Ill Principles_, and +Hair'd and Juggled out of their Senses with so many Frightful _Stories_ +and _Impostures_. + +_Q. Well! to be Plain and Short; You call your self the_ Observator: +_What is it now that you intend for the Subject of your_ Observations? + +_A._ Take it in few words then. My business is, to encounter the +_Faction_, and to Vindicate the _Government_; to detect their +_Forgeries_; to lay open the Rankness of their _Calumnies_, and +_Malice_; to Refute their _Seditious Doctrines_; to expose their +_Hypocrisy_, and the _bloudy Design_ that is carry'd on, under the Name, +and Semblance, of _Religion_; And, in short, to lift up the Cloke of the +_True Protestant_ (as he Christens himself) and to shew the People, the +_Jesuite_ that lies skulking under it. + +_Q. Shall the_ Observator _be a_ Weekly Paper, _or How_? + +_A._ No, No; but oftner, or seldomer, as I see Occasion. + +_Q. Pray favour me a word; When you speak of a_ True Protestant, _don't +you mean a_ Dissenting Protestant? + +_A._ Yes, I do: For your _Assenting_ and _Consenting Protestant_ (you +must know) is a _Christian_. + +_Q. And is not a_ Dissenting Protestant _a_ Christian too? + +_A._ Peradventure, he _is_ one; peradventure, _not_: For a _Dissenter_ +has his Name from his _Disagreement_, not from his _Perswasion_. + +_Q. What is a Dissenter then?_ + +_A._ Tis Impossible to say either what a _Dissenter IS_, or what he is +_NOT_. For he's a _NOTHING_; that may yet come to be _ANY thing_. He may +be a _Christian_; or he may be a _Turk_; But you'l find the best account +of him in his _Name_. _A DISSENTER, is one that thinks OTHERWISE._ That +is to say, let the _Magistrate_ think what he pleases, the _Dissenter_ +will be sure to be of _another Opinion_. A _Dissenter_ is not of _This_, +or of _That_, or of _Any Religion_; but _A Member Politique of an +Incorporate Faction_: or Otherwise; A _Protestant-Fault-Finder_ in a +_Christian Commonwealth_. + +_Q. Well! but tho' a_ Dissenter _may be_ any thing; _A_ Dissenting +Protestant _yet tells ye_ what _he Is_. + +_A._ He does so, he tells ye that he _is_ a _Negative_: an +_Anti-Protester_; One that _Protests AGAINST_, but not _FOR_ any thing. + +_Q. Ay; but so long as he opposes the_ Corruptions _of the Church of_ +Rome. + +_A._ Well: And so he does the _Rites_, and _Constitutions_ of the Church +of _England_ too. As a _Protestant_, he does the _former_; and the +_Other_ as a _Dissenter_. + +_Q. But is there no_ Uniting _of These_ Dissenters? + +_A._ You shall as soon make the Winds blow the same way, from all the +Poynts of the Compass. + +_Q. There are_ Good _and_ Bad, _of_ all Opinions, _there's no doubt +on't: But do you think it fayr, to Condemn a_ whole Party _for some_ Ill +men _in't_? + +_A._ No, by no means: The _Party_ is neither the _Worse_, for having +_Ill_ men in it, nor the _Better_, for _Good_. For whatever the +_Members_ are, the _Party_ is a _Confederacy_; as being a _Combination_, +against the _Law_. + +_Q. But a man may_ Mean honestly, _and yet perhaps ly under some_ +Mistake. _Can any man help his Opinion?_ + +_A._ A man may _Mean well_, and _Do Ill_; he may shed _Innocent Bloud_, +and _think he does God good Service_. 'Tis True: A man cannot help +_Thinking_; but he may help _Doing_: He is _Excusable_ for a _Private_ +Mistake, for _That's_ an Error only to _himself_; but when it comes once +to an _Overt Act_, 'tis an _Usurpation_ upon the _Magistrate_, and +there's no Plea for't. + +_Q. You have no kindnesse, I perceive, for a_ Dissenting Protestant; +_but what do you think of a bare_ Protestant _without any_ Adjunct? + +_A._ I do look upon _Such_ a _Protestant_ to be a kind of an _Adjective +Noun-Substantive; It requires something to be joyn'd with it, to shew +its Signification_. By _Protestancy_ in _General_ is commonly understood +a _Separation_ of Christians from the Communion of the Church of _Rome_: +But to _Oppose Errors_, on the _One hand_, is not Sufficient, without +keeping our selves _Clear_ of Corruptions, on the _Other_. Now it was +the _Reformation_, not the _Protestation_, that Settled us upon a _true +Medium_ betwixt the two _Extreams_. + +_Q. So that you look upon the_ Protestation, _and the_ Reformation, _it +seems, as two several things_. + +_A._ Very right; But in such a manner only, that the _Former_, by Gods +Providence, made way for the _Other_. + +_Q. But are not all_ Protestants _Members of the_ Reformed Religion? + +_A._ Take notice, _First_, that the _Name_ came Originally from the +_Protestation_ in 1529. against the _Decree of Spires_; and that the +_Lutheran Protestants_ and _Ours_ of the Church of _England_, are not of +the _Sam Communion_. Now _Secondly_; If you take _Protestants_ in the +_Latitude_ with our _Dissenters_, they are not so much a _Religion_, +as a _Party_; and whoever takes this Body of _Dissenters_ for _Members_ +of the _Reformed Religion_ sets up a _Reformation_ of a _hundred and +fifty Colours_ and as may [sic] _Heresies_. The _Anabaptists, Brownists, +Antinomians, Familists, &c._ do all of them set up for _Dissenting +Protestants_; but God forbid we should ever enter these _People_ upon +the Roll of the _Reformation_. + +_Q._ Well! _but what do you think of_ Protestant Smith _and_ Protestant +Harris? + +_A._ Just as I do of _Protestant Muncer_, and _Protestant Phifer_; a +Brace of _Protestants_ that cost the Empire 150000 Lives: and our own +_Pretended Protestants_ too, of Later Date, have cost _This Nation +little lesse_. + +_Q. Ay: But these are men of quite another Temper: Do not you see how +zealous they are for the Preservation of the_ King's Person, _the_ +Government, _and the_ Protestant Religion? + +_A._ I _See_ well enough what they _Say_, and I _know_ what they _do_. +Consider, _First_, that they are Profess'd _Anabaptists: Smith_ no less +then a _pretended Prophet_; and the _Other_, a kind of a _Wet +Enthusiast. Secondly_; 'tis the very _Doctrine_ of the _Sect_ to root +out _Magistracy_, Cancel _Humane Laws; Kill_, and take _Possession_; and +_wash their Feet with the Bloud of the Ungodly_; and where ever they +have set Footing, they have _Practic'd_ what they _Taught_. Are not +these likely men now, to help out a _King_, and a _Religion_, at a dead +lift? If you would be further satisfy'd in the Truth of things, reade +_Sleidan, Spanhemius, Gastius, Hortensius, Bullinger, Pontanus, The +Dipper dipp'd, Bayly's Disswasive, Pagets Heresiography_, &c. +_Hortensius_ tells ye, how _Jack of Leydens Successor_ murthered his +Wife, to make way to his Daughter, _P._ 74. and after that, cut a girls +throat, for fear she should tell Tales. _Gastius_ tells us of a Fellow +that cut off his brothers Head, as by Impulse, and then cry'd, _The Will +of God is fulfilled, lib. I. Pa. 12. Jack of Leyden_ started up from +Supper, _to do some business_ (he said) _which the Father had commanded +him_, and cut off a Soldiers Head; and afterwards cut off his Wives head +in the _Market-place. Sleydans Comment. Lib. 10._ + +_Q. You will not make the_ Protestant-Mercury _to be an_ Anabaptist +_too, will ye_? + +_A._ If you do make him _any thing_, I'le make him _That_. But in one +word, they are _Factious_ and _Necessitous_; and consequently, the +fittest Instruments in the world, for the Promoting of a _Sedition_. +First, as they are _Principled_ for't; and then, in respect of their +_Condition_; for they are every man of them under the Lash of the Law, +and Retainers to Prisons; So that in their _Fortunes_ they can hardly +be _worse_. Insomuch, that it is a common thing for them to lend a Name +to the countenancing of a Libel which no body else dares own. + +_Q. Well! but let them be as_ poor, _and_ malicious _as_ Devils, _so +long as they have neither_ Brains, _nor_ Interest, _what hurt can their +Papers do_? + +_A._ The Intelligences, you must know, that bear their _Names_, are not +of _their Composing_, but the Dictates of a _Faction_, and the Venom of +a Club of _Common-wealths-men_ instill'd into those Papers. + +_Q. These are_ Words, _all this while, without_ Proofs; _Can you shew us +particularly where the Venom lies?_ + +_A._ It is the business of every Sheet they Publish, to Affront the +_Government_, the _Kings Authority_, and _Administration_; the +_Privy-Council_; the _Church, Bench, Juries, Witnesses_; All _Officers, +Ecclesiastical, Military_, and _Civil_: and no matter for _Truth_ or +_Honesty_, when a _Forg'd Relation_ will serve their turn. 'Tis a common +thing with them, to get half a dozen _Schismaticall_ Hands to a +_Petition_, or _Address_ in a corner, and then call it, the sense of the +Nation: and when all's done, they are not above twenty Persons, that +make all this Clutter in the Kingdom. + +_Q. But to what End do they all this?_ + +_A._ To make the Government _Odious_, and _Contemptible_; to magnifie +their own Party; and fright the People out of their _Allegeance_, by +_Counterfeit Letters, Reports_, and _false Musters_, as if the sober and +considerable part of the Nation were all on their side. + +_Q. We are in Common Charity to_ allow, _for_ Errors, _and_ +Mis-reports, _and not presently to make an Act of_ Malice, _and_ +Design, _out of every_ Mistake. _Can you shew me any of these_ +Counterfeits, _and_ Impostures _that you speak of? These_ Cheats _upon +the_ People, _and_ Affronts _upon the_ Government? + +_A._ Yes, yes; Abundantly. And Il'e give you Instances immediately upon +every poynt you'l ask me: Only This note, by the way; That let them be +_mistakes_, or _Contrivances_, or what you will, they all run +Unanimously _against_ the Government, without so much as one Syllable in +_favour_ of it: Which makes the matter desperately suspitious. + +_Q. Let me see then, in the First place, where any_ Affront _is put upon +the_ Government. + +_A. Some Persons_ (Says Smiths Prot. Int. N. 7.) _in_ Norwich, _&c. who +have a greater stock of_ Confidence, _and_ Malice, _then_ Wisdom, _and_ +Honesty, _are so far transported with_ Zeal _to serve the_ Devil, _or +his_ Emissaryes _the_ Papists, _that they are now Prosecuting several_ +Dissenting Protestants _upon_ Stat. 35. Eliz. _&c._ (And so the +Protestant-Mercury, _N._ 15.) _Some People at_ Norwich, _are playing +the_ Devil _for_ Godsake: _several honest, peaceable_, Protestant +Dissenters, _having been troubled for not coming to_ Church, _or having +been Present at_ Religious Meetings &c. Now what greater _Affront_ can +there be to _Government_, then This language, _First_, from an +_Anabaptist_ that is a _Professed Enemy_ to _all Government_; and +_Secondly_, from a _Private Person_, Bare-fac'd, to arraign a _Solemn +Law_: A _Law_ of this _Antiquity_; a _Law_ of _Queen Elizabeth's_, (a +Princesse so much Celebrated by our _Dissenters themselves_ for her +_Piety, Good Government_, and _Moderation_;) a _Law_ which, upon +Experience, has been found so _Necessary_, that the bare _Relaxing_ of +it, cost the _Life_ of a _Prince_, the _Bloud_ of _two or three hundred +thousand_ of his _Subjects_, and a _Twenty-years-Rebellion_? To say +nothing of the dangerous Consequence of making it _Unsafe_ for +_Magistrates_ to discharge their Dutyes, for fear of _Outrages_, and +_Libells_. + +_Q. Well! but what have you to say now to the_ Kings Authority, _his_ +Administration, _and his_ Privy Council. + +_A. Smith_ (in his _Vox Populi, P._ 13.) saith, that _the King is +oblig'd to pass or Confirm those Laws his People shall Chuse_, at which +rate, if they shall tender him a Bill for the _Deposing_ of himself, he +is bound to _agree_ to't. _Secondly_, in the same Page, _he Denies the +Kings Power of Proroguing, or Dissolving Parliaments_; which is an +_Essential_ of _Government_ it self, under what Form soever, and he's no +longer a _King, without it_. And then for his _Administration, P._ 1. +the _Anabaptist_ charges upon his Majesty [_those many surprizing and +astonishing Prorogations, and Dissolutions_ (as he has worded his +Meaning) _to be procur'd by the Papists_.] And then, _P._ 15. he wounds +both the _King_, and his _Council_, at a Blow; in falling upon _those +that make the King break his Coronation-Oath_; arraigning his _Council_ +in the _First_ place, and the _King himself_ in the _Second_; and that +for no less then the breach of _Oath_, and _Faith_.----Wee'l talk out +the Rest at our next Meeting. + +_London_, Printed for _H. Brome_, at the Gun in S. _Pauls_ Church-yard. + + + + +=Numb.= 13. + +THE OBSERVATOR. + +In _QUESTION_ and _ANSWER_. + +=SATURDAY=, May 14. 1681. + + +_Q_. _But which way lies_ your _Humour_ then? + +_A._ My way (you must know) lies more to _History_, and _Books_, and +_Politicks_, and _Religion_, and _such as That_, But take this along +with you too; that I am for turning over of _Men_, as well as _Books_; +for that's the Profitable Study when all's done. + +_Q. Pre' thee commend me to the_ Common Hangman _then, If He that_ turns +over _the most_ men _be the_ Greatest Philosopher. _But how_ turning +over _of_ Men? + +_A._ That is to say, I _Read_ Them; I _Study_ them; I speak of _turning +over_ their _Actions_, not their _Bodys_. And Pray observe my _Simile. +Every_ Action _of a mans_ Life _resembles_ a Page _in a_ Book. D'ye Mark +me? + +_Q._ I _were to Blame else, But what are the Authors that you would +recommend to a bodys Reading?_ + +_A._ Why thereafter as the Subject is, As for _History_; ye have _Clarks +Lives_, and _Examples_; _Lloyd's Memoirs_; the _Popes Warehouse_, &c. +For _Politicks_; There's Mr. _Baxters Holy Commonwealth_, the _Assemblys +Catechism_, The Letter about the _Black Box_, &c. For _Law_, ye have Mr. +_Prinn's Soveraign Power of Parliaments_; _Smiths Vox Populi_, &c. For +_Morals_, There's _Youth's Behaviour_; And then For _Deep Knowledge_, ye +have _Brightman's Revelations Reveal'd_; _Lilly's Hieroglyphicks_; the +_Northern Star_, _Jones_ of the _Heart_: All Excellent Pieces in their +kinds, and not Inferior (perhaps) to any of the Ancients. + +_Q. I was never so happy as to meet with any of these Authors. But what +d'ye think of_ Cornelius Tacitus? + +_A._ A _Talking, Tedious, Empty Fellow_. + +_Q. Well but is not_ Titus Livius _a pretty Good_ Historian? + +_A._ Ha Ha Ha. That Same _Titus_ is an Errant _Puppy_, A _Damn'd, +Insipid, Lying Coxcomb. Titus Livius_ a good _Historian_ sayst thou? Why +if I had a _Schoolboy_ that writ such _Latin_ I'de tickle his _Toby_ for +him. + +_Q. But what's your Opinion of_ Caesars Commentaries _then? I mean, for +a_ Narrative? + +_A._ A _Narrative_ d'ye say? Deliver me from such _Narratives_! Why 'tis +no more to be compar'd to the _Narratives_ that are written _now adays_, +then an _Apple_ is to an _Oyster_. + +_Q. But however He was a very_ Brave Fellow, _was he not_? + +_A._ He was an _Arbitrary_, Oppressing, Tyrannical _Fellow_. And then +for his _Bravery_, he did pretty well at the Battel of _Leipsick_, and +after that, at _Lepanto_; and when you have said that, you have said +all. + +_Q. You have read all these Authors, have you not?_ + +_A._ Why verily I _have_, and I have _not_. They are a company of +_Lying, Ridiculing Rascals_; They do not _AFFECT_ me at all: they are +below me, they are not worth my notice. + +_Q. What would I give to be as well vers'd in_ History, _as you are_? + +_A._ And that's Impossible, let me tell ye; Utterly Impossible: For I +reade just six times as much as any other Man. I have Read more +_Folio's_ then ever _Tostatus_ read _Pages_. In one Word; I reade as +much in _one hour_, as any other man reads in _six_. + +_Q. Why how can that be?_ + +_A._ Why you must know I have a notable Faculty that way. I read ye _two +Pages_ at a _view_: the _Right-hand_ Page with _one eye_, and the _Left_ +with _t'other_, and then I carry _three Lines_ before me at a time with +_each eye_. + +_Q. But can ye_ Keep _what ye_ Reade, _at this rate_? + +_A._ I _remember_ six times more then I _reade_; for I supply all that +was left out, and yet 'tis a wonderfull thing, I cannot for my heart's +blood remember _Faces_. I dare swear I have taken one man for another +twenty times; but I am altogether for _Things_, and _Notions_, d'ye see, +and such like; _Countenances_, let me tell ye, don't _AFFECT_ me; And +yet I have a strange aversion for the two Faces I saw with you t'other +day. + +_Q. What D'ye mean_, Kings-man _and_ Church-man? + +_A. Devil's-man_ and _Damms-man_: A couple of _Canary-Birds_, I'le +warrant 'em: But _Kings-man_ is better yet then _Duke's-man_. + +_Q. Why do ye talk thus of men of Quality, and Considerable Families?_ + +_A._ Well! but I may live to see their Honours laid in the dust tho' for +all that. Prethee why is not _Circingle-man, Lawn-sleeve-man, +Mitre-man_, as good a name as _Church-man_? Pray what Family is this +same _Church-man_ of, for I know a world of the _Name_? He's of the +_Prelatical House_, I suppose, Is he not? + +_Q. Well, and is he ever the worse for that?_ + +_A._ Only _Antichrist_ is the _Head_ of the _Family_. Come let me talk a +little roundly to ye. How many sound _Protestant Divines_ may there be +of that House now, d'ye think, in _England_, and _Wales_, and the Town +of _Berwick upon Tweed_? not above _Six_, if I be a _Christian_, and all +the rest are _Tantivy's_, and worshippers of the Beast: But I may live +yet to have the scowring of some of their Frocks for 'em. + +_Q. Prethee when didst thou see Mr._ Sancroft? + +_A._ Not a good while; but _Harry_ and I had a Crash t'other day yonder +at _Greenwich_. + +_Q. What's become of_ L'Estrange _I wonder?_ + +_A._ Who! _Towzer?_ that _Impudent Dog_; That _Tory-Rascal_; That +_Fidling Curr_. He's in the Plot with _Celiers_, and young _Tong_, as +sure as thou'rt alive, and as Rank a _Papist_ (let him swear what he +will) as ever Piss't. + +_Q. But has he not taken the_ Sacrament _to the_ contrary? + +_A._ A _Popish Proselyte_ is no more to be believ'd, upon his _Oath_, +than the _Devil himself_ if he were to Expound upon the _Gospel_. Why +they have Dispensations to swear any thing. + +_Q. What and continue Papists still?_ + +_A._ Yes: And go on still with the Hellish Popish Plot, as heartily as +ever they did before. Why don't you see how the Toad Brazens it out +still that he was not at _Somerset-House_? tho' _Prance_ and _Mowbray_ +swear they saw him there? + +_Q. Well, But who knows best? He_ Himself, _or the_ Witnesses? + +_A._ Not a fart matter; For whether 'twas so or not; It were better +Forty such Rogues were Hang'd then one Kings-Evidence Disparag'd. + +_Q. But did they not swear a little short, think ye?_ + +_A._ Nay, they might have sworn _homer_, I must confess. + +_Q. But now you mind me of_ Somerset-House; _Do'nt you remember a young +Fellow of_ Cambridge _that Refus'd to receive the Sacrament, because (as +he told his Master) he was reconcil'd to the Church, of_ Rome, _and +Converted, and Baptiz'd at_ Somerset-House? _This is an old story ye +must know. Why might not this be_ Towzer? + +_A._ Nay as like as not, for the _Universitys_ are the very _Seminarys_ +of _Popery_, and it will never be well with _England_ till _those +Calves_ be turn'd a _grazing_. + +_Q. But is there no believing of a_ Converted Papist _upon his_ Oath? +_Why does the Law receive 'em then (upon such and such Certain Tests) +for_ statutable Protestants? + +_A._ The _Law_ never was among 'em as _I_ have been. There's no such +thing (I tell ye) as a _Converted Papist_, and he shall sooner change +his _shape_, then his _Nature: Kiss a Book, Kiss mine Arse_. + +_Q. Why d'ye talk thus at random?_ + +_A._ Come, come, the _Outlandish Doctor_ for my mony: that told one of +the _Macks_ t'other day in the face of the _Bench_, that _he would let +down his Breeches and shite upon him. Plain-dealing's a Jewell._ + +_Q. Thou'rt e'en as busy with a_ Backside _as a_ Glyster-Pipe. _But +(sluttery a part) Pray have a care what ye say; for if a_ Proselyted +Papist _be not to be trusted upon his_ Oath, _what becomes of the_ Kings +Evidence _that_ swear _under the_ same Circumstances? _But here's enough +of this; and Pre'thee tell us now, how go squares in the_ State _all +this while_? + +_A._ Oh very bad, very bad, nothing but _Tory-Rorys_, from top to +bottom. _Tory-Judges; Tory-Jurys; Tory-Justices; Tory-Officers; +Tory-Crackfarts; Tory-Pamphlets_. All, _Certiorari-men_, and _Yorkists_. +But I rattled up some of 'em there at the----_What d'ye +call't-House_----Oh they'r grown strangely Insolent since these Bawling +Addresses. + +_Q. Why what do they do?_ + +_A._ Why they set every _Rascally Squire_ and _Doctor above_ me: Nay, +they'l scarce put off their hats to me unless I begin; and then they +stand grinning at Me and my Train. Would you think now that a fellow +should have the Impudence to call Me to an account, for nothing in the +world, but saying, that _he had_ a Bitch _to his_ Wife, _and_ she _a_ +Rogue _to her_ Husband. And then to be call'd _Sirrah_ for my pains, +only for telling a _Court-Kinsman_ of his that _I should Lace the Rogue, +his Cozens Coat for him_. Well If I had not sent a Fool o'my errant I +had had the Rascal in _Lob's_ Pound before this time. + +_Q. And how came ye to miss?_ + +_A._ Why the Agent that I employ'd was so set upon his Guts, that he +never minded the discourse at the Table. We had had him else. Or if he +could but have got him to ha' met me, we'd ha' done his business. + +_Q. But d'ye take this to be fair dealing now; to set any man at work to +betray his Host; or to give such language to people of Condition?_ + +_A._ What not when the _Protestant Religion_ lies at _stake_? Why +Pre'thee I tell the Proudest of 'em all to their Teeth, that they are +_Villains_ and _Scoundrells_. What do I care for their _Graces_ and +_Reverences_, they _Pimp_ for _Preferment_, and some of 'em shall hear +on't too _next Parliament_. But Hark ye I have a great deal of work upon +my hands, and I want an _Ammanuensis_ out of all Cry. + +_Q. Why ye had a Pretty Fellow to'ther day, what's become of him?_ + +_A._ I'l tell ye then. A _Taylor_ had made him a _Garment_: and +afterwards coming to him for the _mony_, he deny'd the Receit on't and +being prest upon it, he offer'd to purge himself upon _Oath_, that he +never had any such Garment. Upon this, the matter rested for a while; +but at length, it was prov'd where he had _Sold_ it, and so the Taylor +had satisfaction. In short, I turn'd him away apon't, for he is no +servant for me that's _taken_ in a false Oath. + +_Q. How is it possible for you to go thorough with all your +Writing-work?_ + +_A._ Nay that's true; considering what a deal of other business I have; +for really there would be no Justice done, if I did not look after +_Witnesses_, _Jurys_, Choice of _City-Officers_, Election of _Members_ +to serve in _Parliament_, both for _Town_, and _Country_; the disposing +of _Ecclesiastical Dignitys_; the _Jurisdiction_ of _Courts_; the +_Government_ of _Prisons_; the _Regulation_ of _Messengers Fees_: In one +word, the stress of the whole Government lyes in a manner upon my +shoulders; And I am so _Harrass'd_ with it, that I profess I was e'en +thinking, a little before the Meeting of the last Parliament, to lay out +a matter of _Twenty or Thirty Thousand Pound_ upon some Pretty Seat in +the Country, and Retire. + +_Q. Why truly for a man that has seen the world as you have done, what +can he do better?_ + +_A._ Yes, I have seen the world to my Cost. 'Twas a sad thing for me, +you must think, that never went to bed in my Mothers House without four +or five Servants to wait upon me, (and if I had a mind to a _Tart_, a +_Custard_, or a _Cheescake_ at any time, I had 'em all at command:) to +be _Hackny'd_, and _Jolted_ up and down in a Forreign Country like a +_Common Body_. + +_Q. But what was it that put you upon_ Travel? + +_A._ The Desire I had to see _Religions_, and _Fashions_: And now it +comes in my head. Did you ever see my _Grounds and Occasions of the +Contempt of the Clergy_? + +_Q. Was That Yours then?_ + +_A. Mum_; betwixt friends. But I shall have a touch ere long at the +_Creed-making Rascal_ there. + +_Q. Who's that?_ Athanasius? + +_A._ The very same. What a _Declaration_ is there? + +_Q. But how d'ye like the Kings Declaration?_ + +_A. Not at all. Not at all._ It runs so much upon the _Arbitrary_, and +the _Prelatick_? Yes, and upon something else too. + +_Q. Come, 'Faith we should not part with dry lips, What d'ye think of +one_ Roomer _now to the Health of? (Hark, and I'le tell ye.)_ + +_A._ I'le drink no _Traitors_ Health. + +_Q. Why prethee what is_ Civilly-Drinking _his Health, more then_ +Dutifully Praying _for't_? + +_A._ No: I am of the mans mind that said, I _hope the Devil will have +him; and if there be any punishment in Hell greater then another_, I +_hope the Devil will tear his soul to pieces_. So Farewell. + +_Q. What a Blessed sort of_ Subjects _and_ Christians _are these, that +value themselves in the_ One Capacity, _for their_ Contempt _of_ +Authority: _And in the_ other, _for the Zeal of Flying out into_ +Blasphemys, _and_ Execrations, _instead of_ Prayers? _But what shall_ I +_call this at last? A_ Romantique, _or an_ Historical Observator? + +_London_, Printed for _Johanna Brome_, at the Gun in S. _Pauls_ +Church-yard. + + + + +=Numb.= 110 + +THE OBSERVATOR. + +In _DIALOGUE_. + +=SATURDAY=, March 11. 1681. + + +_WHIG._ Come; I'le shew ye my _study, Tory_. + +_TORY._ Why you have got a Brave _Library_ here. + +_Wh._ For a _Choice Collection_, let me tell ye, as any is in +_Christendom_. + +_To._ You have all the _Greek_ and _Latin Fathers_, I suppose; the +_Councells_, the _Schoolmen_, and those People. + +_Wh._ I had'em all; but there's a great deal of _Trash_; and so I e'en +rid my hands of'em; though some of'em did pretty well too; considering +those _Dark Times_. Now here can I sit as _Snug_ as a _Hare_ in her +_Form_, and Chat away a Winters Evening with a _Good Fire_, a _Pipe_, +and a _Friend_, and never feel how the time spends. + +_To._ Well! And why should not You and I keep our _Conferences_ here +too? + +_Wh._ Best of all: There's no body within hearing; and then we have our +_Books_ and _Papers_ about us, and all in such Order, that I'le lay my +Finger, Blindfold, upon any book you'le call for. + +_To._ But what Subject are they mostly of? + +_Wh._ Matters of _State, History, Travells_, The Rights and Power of the +_People, Reformation, Religion, Discipline, Admonitions, Remonstrances, +Petitions, Appeals_; as ye see'em mark'd upon the Shelves. But all this +is nothing, you'l say, when y'ave seen my _Gallery_. Open that same Door +before ye. + +_To._ Bless me! What a Treasure's here? + +_Wh._ Look ye now. That side is all _News-Books,_ and _Political +Divinity_. + +_To._ You mean _Polemical_ Divinity I suppose. + +_Wh._ Ay Ay; 'Tis all one for that. Now all to'ther side is _Dissenting +Protestants_; as _Cartwright, Brown, Barrow, Robinson_, _Hetherington, +Trask, Naylor, Best, Biddle, Muggleton_. And here are your _Muncerians, +Apostoliques, Separatists, Catharists, Enthusiasts, Adamits, Huttites, +Augustinians, Libertines, Georgites, Familists, Ranters Seekers, +Sweet-Singers, Antinomians, Arrians, Socinians, Millenaryes, Quakers_: +And in Two words; all the _Godly Party_. They make Fourteen Folio's of +Catalogue. + +_To._ But ha'ye no _Manuscripts_? + +_Wh._ Yes I have Three cases there beyond the Chimny, that I wou'd not +change for _Bodlies Library_ three times over. + +_To._ What do they treat of? + +_Wh._ Two of 'em are altogether upon the _Art of Government_, and the +_Third_ is Cramm'd with _Lampoon_ and _Satyr_. You sha'not name me any +one Copy that has scap'd me; nor any Exigent of State; but I'le furnish +ye out of these Papers with an Expedient for't. + +_To._ And wherein does this _Art of Government_ Consist? + +_Wh._ In _Foresight, Experience, Presence of Thought, Prudence of +Direction_, and _Vigour of Execution_. To be short; Every Motion of the +_Head_, the _Eye_, the _Hand_, the _Foot_, the _Body_. Contributes a +part to this Great Work. + +_To._ Is it a Science that may be Convey'd by _Instruction_? + +_Wh._ With as much Ease as _Fencing_, or _Dancing_. There are Three or +Four _Dissenting Academies_ here about the Town, where People are taught +to _Nod, Wink, Gape, Cough, Spit_; Nay the very _Tuning_ of their +_Hum's_ and _Haw's_, by _Rule and Method_; when to _Smite the Breast_, +and when to _Dust the Cushion_; when to _Leap_ in the _Pulpit_, and when +to _Swim_; when to be _Serene_, and when to _Thunder_: Nay the _Faces_ +they are to make at every _Period_; and the very _Measure_ of their +_pauses_; that the _Parenthesis_ may be large enough for the _Groans_, & +_Ejaculations_ of the _Secret ones_ to _Play_ in; they are taught to +Pray for the _King_ with _One Tone_ and _Countenance_, and for the +_Parliament_ with _another_. + +_To._ I have Observ'd them indeed to Cry with a Loud Voice, _Lord! +strengthen the Hands of the One_, & then to drop the Note into a kinde +of a Piping whisper, with a _Lord! Turn the Heart of the Other_; which +is as much as to say, _Alas! the Poor Gentleman is out of his way, and +we must set all hands at work to bring him to comply with his_ +Parliament, _though that_ Handy work, _at last, bring his_ Royall Head +_to the_ Scaffold. + +_Wh._ If you wou'd not be a _Rogue_ now and tell tales, I could let ye +in to the whole _Popular Mystery_; and shew ye the _Folly_, and the +_Vanity_ of any other Claim to _Sovereign Power_. And then _I_ have all +the _Prints_ brought me as soon as ever they come out. + +_To._ Pre'thee let's fall to work then. + +_Wh._ Come, I'le give you a sight of one of my _Boxes_ first; but I must +be gone in a quarter of an hour upon absolute Necessity. + +_To._ Well! And whether in such hast? + +_Wh._ There's One at _Newington_ has promis'd me an _Answer_ to the +_Dissenters Sayings_; and then I am told of a _Godly Divine_ at +_Clapham_, that has a _Reply_ ready to the _Notes upon College_. + +_To._ Let's make the best of our time then. Stay a little; what have we +here? + +_Wh._ Every thing is _Titled_, ye see, ready to your hand; so that you +may Pick and Chuse. + +_To._ Let me see then. _Pious Frauds; Mentall Reservations; +Infallibility of the Assembly; Baxters Saints; Cases of Conscience; +Dispensations, Contributions, Maxims, Intelligence, Orders, Committees, +Juryes, Caballs, Religion, Property, Demands, Proposals, Grievances, +Pretences, Salvo's, Distinctions, Explanations, Projects, Directions, +Advices, Resolutions, Invectives, Fictions, Forms of Reproaches_, suited +to _All Persons, Orders_, and _Qualities; True-Protestant Privileges_; +The _Doctrine_ of _Probabilityes_, and _Implicit Obedience_. + +_Wh._ Now upon all these Heads, ye have _Authoritys, Precedents_; and +all the _Colours, Arguments_, and _Elucidations_ that the matter will +bear. + +_To._ But your _Pious Frauds, Mentall Reservations, Infallibility, +Dispensations, Salvo's, Distinctions, Probabilityes, Implicit Faith_; +These are all _Popish Points_. + +_Wh._ They are so, when they are apply'd to the service of the +Church of _Rome_: but the _True Protestant-Cause Sanctifies_ the +_Principle_. As there's a great difference betwixt the _Popes +Excommunicating_ of an _Hereticall Prince_; and the _Generall +Assemblys Excommunicating_ of an _Antichristian, Episcopall Prince_; +betwixt a _Popish Gunpowder-Treason_, in the _Cellers, under_ the +_Parliament-House_; and a _Gunpowder Commission_ to _Kill_ and +_Slay_ within the _walls_ of the _Same House, above ground_; though +to Carnal Eyes they may both appear to _Center_ in the same _Point_: +And so in like manner, betwixt a _Conspiracy_ of _Papists_ to _cut +off the King_, and _Subvert the Government_; and a +_True-Protestant-Association_, to the very _same Effect_: Nay with +this Advantage too; that the Latter Propounds the Accomplishing of +that, in a matter of a _month_ or _six weeks_, which the Zeal of +their Fore-fathers was at least _Ten_, or a _dozen years a doing_. + +_To._ 'Tis a Great Ease for a man to have all these Subjects +_Common-Plac'd_ to his hand. + +_Wh._ Right. And where you may turn to any thing you have a mind to see, +with a _wet Finger_. + +_To._ But Pray'e How do you approve (in many of our _Seisures_) of the +_Application_ of _Popish Trinkets_ to _Prophane Uses_, which were by +them Dedicated to the service of a _Superstitious Religion_? + +_Wh._ You cannot Imagine, though an _Embroder'd Cope_ may be an +_Abomination_, what a _Cordial the Pearl_ of it is to a _True-Protestant +Professor. Lambs-Wool_ drinks no way better then out of a _Chalice_. Or +in other Cases; 'Tis but Destroying the _Popish Form_ of an _Idolatrous +Vessell_, and the _Intrinsick Value_ is never the less _Current_ +according to the _Standard_ of the _Reformation_. The _Picture_ of the +_Blessed Virgin_, with our _Saviour_ in her Arms, is never a jot the +worse for _sale_ to a _Painter_, for being an object of _Idolatry_ about +the _Altar_. + +_To._ And yet I have seen it Committed to the _Flames_, but it has been +an Oversight, betwixt the _Zeal_ and the _Ignorance_ of the +_Magistrate_. How many _Curious Crucifixes_, and _Reliques_, with +_Delicate Inlayings_, and _Carvings_ have I seen Expos'd at _Gill_ the +_Constables_ in _Westminster_; truly, at very _Reasonable Rates_? + +_Wh._ Not unlikely; but then ye must know, they were _Seiz'd_ in _One +Capacity_, and _sold_ in _Another_; for they were _vended_ in the +Contemplation of the _Workmanship_, though they were _taken_ as the +_Fooleries_ of a _False Religion_. We have in our days seen the +_Representation_ of the _Trinity_, Demolish'd in a _Church-Window_, with +Extraordinary _Zeal_ and _Approbation_. + +_To._ Why truly I am as much against the making of any _Image_ or +_Figure_ of _God the Father_ under the _Form_ of a _Man_, as any body; +for _Twenty Mistakes_ and _Inconveniencies_ that may arise upon the +Consideration of such an _Object_; but I know no hurt in the world in +the Representing of our _Saviour_ under a _Human shape_; or of the _Holy +Ghost_ under the shadow of a _Dove_: beside that the thing is presum'd +to have been done by _Authority_; for otherwise, the same _Zeal_ that +Destroys but the _Window_ of the _Church_, would not stick at the +Destroying perhaps of every thing else that belongs to't. But prethee +tell me One thing, suppose the _Blessed Trinity_, so Represented, should +be the _Seal_ of an _Ancient_ Community, or _Society_ of men, what's the +difference betwixt that _Figure_, in _Graving_, or in _Nealing_; in +_Silver_, or in _Glass_? Would not you as much _scruple_ the putting of +that _Seal_ to a _Lease_, as the _seeing_ of that _Figure_ in a +_Church-Window_? + +_Wh._ No; by no means; for the _One_ is Purely a _Civil Act_; and the +_Other_ has a Regard to _Religious Worship_. + +_To._ And yet this _Image_, or _Pretended Resemblance_, is the _same +thing_ in the _One_, as it is in the _Other_. Well! I am Extremly +pleas'd with this Private Corner for Liberty of Discourse. + +_Wh._ Here you may have all the _Papers_ as they come out, _Fresh and +Fresh_: All the _Arguments_, and _Politiques_ of the _Dissenting Party_; +Chuse _your own Theme_, Take _your own Time_, and Treat upon _your own +Conditions_. + +_To._ That's as fair as any Mortall can wish; So that when the day does +not afford other matter to work upon, we may Look a little more narrowly +into the _Merits_ of the _Cause_. And so much for that. But here let me +ask ye a Question: Do you know a _Little Cause-Jobber_ yonder somewhere +about _Kings-street, in Covent Garden_? + +_Wh._ Does he not use the _Christian Coffee-House_? + +_To._ The very same. He was saying t'other day that _L'Estrange_ was a +_Pensioner of Cromwels_; a _Papist_; and that he durst not bring his +_Action_ against any man for _Calling_ him so: That he was a _Rogue_; a +_Fidler_; Liv'd in _Covent-Garden_ a good while, and got his _Living_ by +his _Trade_; And that a _Magistrate_, not far from that place, would +_Justify_ it. The Two first Points, I suppose, will be Disputed in +another place: And for the _Fidler_: 'Tis well known that _L'Estrange_ +liv'd Eight or Nine years in one of the _Piazza-Houses_ there; and kept +_Servants_ that would have Scorn'd to have Sorted themselves with any +thing so mean as this _Paltry Varlet_. But to the Business. How far will +the _Privilege_ of a _True-Protestant-Whig_ Justify a _Villain_ in so +many _Scandalous Lyes_? + +_Wh._ So far as the _Common Good_ of the _Cause_ is more Valuable then +the _single Credit_ of a _Private Person_. But what say ye now to +_Curtis's Advertisement_ (in his Last _Mercury_) of _Tong's Narrative_, +and _Case_; concerning _L'Estrange_, Printed for C W? + +_To._ I say, 'tis _first_, a _Cheat_; for 'tis none of _Tong's Writing_; +_2ly_, 'Tis _Another Cheat_; for 'twas Printed for _Langley Curtis_, +with his Name to _Tongs Appointment_ for the Printing of it: Only he has +Fobb'd a _New_, and a _False Title-Page_ to't. But what says Mr. +_Oates_, all this while, to _L'Estranges Enformation_ against _Tonge_, +in the _Shammer Shamm'd_? where that young Fellow has the Impudence to +declare under his hand, the very _Foundation_ of _Oates's_ Plot to be a +_Cheat_: And _I appeal to all Good Protestants for Justice upon that +Scandalous Wretch_. + +_Wh._ Nay, 'tis a horrible Abuse, and really the man stands in's own +light: What was't? 500 or a 1000 Pound that he recover'd of One that did +not say the Hundredth part of what this comes to? The Lord Deliver me! I +knew the Time when 'twas _half a Hanging-matter_ to have made the least +doubt of any Branch of the Hellish Plot: But for this Audacious Fool to +say in Expresse Terms, that [_the_ Four Jesuites Letters, _wherein_ +Oates _pretended was the whole Discovery, were_ Counterfeits] is utterly +Intolerable. I'le e'en go my ways immediately, and talk with the Doctor +about it. + +_London_, Printed for _Joanna Brome_, at the Gun in S. _Pauls_ +Church-yard. + + + + + Vol. 3. =Numb. 88= + +THE OBSERVATOR, + +_A_ Schism _a Greater Judgment then a_ Pestilence. _The_ Natural +Rhetorique _of the_ Non-Cons. _The_ Danger _of them. Several_ Sorts +_and_ Degrees _of Danger. Of Coming_ About, _or Coming_ Over. _The_ +Cause _Transferr'd from_ Government _to_ Religion. + +=Munday=, September 28. 1685. + + +_OBSERVATOR._ If I were the _Master_ of a _Territory_, I would as soon +_Trust_ so many _Spirits_ in my _Pulpits, to Blow a Pestilence thorough +my Dominions_, as so many of our _Non-Conforming Divines_; and reckon my +_People_ much _Safer_ too, under the Danger of a _Plague_, then under +the _Consequences_ of a _Schism_: For the _One Taints_ but the Bodies of +Men; the _Other Destroys_ their very Souls; the _One_ takes them +_Promiscuously_, the _Good_, and the _Bad, One_ with _Another_: But the +_'Tother Marks_, and _Singles-out_ the _Best Men_ for _Ruine_, with a +_Privilege_ of _Exemption_, to those that neither fear _God_, nor _Man_. +The _One_ Sweeps away a Number of Single _Persons_; the _Other_ Tears to +pieces the _Sinews_ of a _Community_. The _One_ does, in _some Degree_, +Conduce to the _Purging_ of a _Wicked Nation_, when the _Wrath_ of +_Heaven_ is _Appeas'd_ by the _Discharge_ of some _Dreadfull Judgment_ +upon't; (as the _Air_ is Clear'd by _Thunder_) The _Other_ does All that +is _Possible_ to the _Filling-up_ of the _Measure_ of a _Publique +Iniquity_; and the making of a Land Ripe for _Vengeance_. + +_TRIMMER._ Prethee what _Danger_? Or what needs this _Lashing_, when +they are All Tongue-Ty'd; and Driven into _Holes_, and _Hiding-Places_, +to keep out of the way of _Messengers_, and _Constables_, and out of the +_Clutches_ of the _Corporation-Act_, and _Other Penal Laws_ against +their _Private Meetings_? + +_Obs._ What dost thou Talk of Tongue-Ty'd? Why I will undertake it; (and +in _Serious Good Earnest_ too) _Gagg_ the Whole Set of'em; Give Every +man his _Pulpit_, or his _Chair_, and only a Bare Standing in't; and if +they do not _Wink_, and _Nod_, and _Cuff_ any Prince in _Christendom_ +out of his _Dominions_, without a _Word Speaking_, I'le be thy +_Bond-slave_. Why they do not do their Bus'ness, man, by the Force of +_Logique, Grammar_, or by the _Dint_ of _Theology_: But by _Groans, +Pangs, Tragical Ululations, Silent Interjections, Whining Apostrophes, +Melting Epiphonemas_; and in a word; by the Helps of _Natural +Rhetorick_, without _Need_, of either _Sense_, or _Syllables_. + +_Trim._ They _Preach_, and _Pray_, without _Speaking_ then. + +_Obs._ No No. They do Talk for _Fashion_-sake: But Observe it while you +will; They move the _Passions_ of their _Auditory_, in the _Belfry_, or +the _Church-Porch, Forty times more_ then Directly under the _Pulpit_: +For the _Emphasis_ of an _Action_; a _Motion, Tone_, or _Countenance_, +makes a much Deeper _Impression_, than that of a _Naked, Empty, Sound_: +And for _My Part_, I fancy, it might do as well for 'em to Whistle their +_Preachments_ as to Articulate them: For the _Masterpiece_, or the All +in All of it, lies Mainly, in _Hitting_ the _Tune_. + +_Trim._ D'ye call this Reasoning, or Ridiculing? + +_Obs._ 'Tis _Both_ in _One_: For it is the _Ridiculous Truth_, and the +_Just Reason, Method_, and _State_ of the _Matter_: And when People are +once _Juggled_ Out _of their Wits_, they must be _Fool'd_ Into _'em +again_. Now there needs no more to the doing of _That Work_, then the +bare _Drawing_ of the _Curtain_, and letting People into the +_Tyring-Room_. For the _Cause_, is all over, _Theatrical_: The _Actors_ +are _Hypocrites_, in their _Manners_, as well as in the _Etymon_; and +the whole _Manage_, fitter for a _Stage_, then a _Pulpit_. So that the +most _Certain Way_ in _Nature_, for the making of the _Practice, +Odious_; and the _Disabusing_ of the _Undiscerning Multitude_, is to +_lay Open_ their _False Colours, Shapes_, & _Disguises_; and _Expose_ +Every thing in its _Naked Simplicity_ to the _Light_. + +_Trim._ And what if a man should Allow This sort of People now, to be +the most _Uncouth, Hideous Monsters_ of the _Creation_? To have the +_Teeth_, the _Nails_, the _Fierceness_, the _Strength_, & the _Appetite_ +of the most _Ravenous_ of _Wild Beasts_? This Discourse, of _Caution_, +and _Description_, might do well enough in the _Countrys_ of _Lyons_, +and _Tygers_: But what's All This, to _his Majesties Dominions_, where +there are either _None_ of These Creatures, _at all_, or No _Other_, at +least, then such as have their _Nails Par'd_, and their _Chops Muzzled_: +And no more _Danger_ of them, at present, then of our _Beeves_, and +_Muttons_. + +_Obs._ Dost not thou know that there are _Several_ Sorts, & Degrees of +_Danger_? A man may be Wheedled into a _Precipice_, as well as Thrown +into't: A man may be Hugg'd or Suck'd to _Death_, without any Biting, or +Scratching in the Case: A man may be Poyson'd in his _Porridge_, as well +as Strangl'd in his _Bed_: A man may have False Opinions _Impos'd_ upon +him by a _Fallacy_, or _Fraud_ in _Argument_, as well as Extorted from +him, by the Force of _Menace_, and _Torment_. And his Bus'ness, at last, +is _done_, as Dead, _One way_ as _T'other_: And so for the Degrees of +_Danger_; There's _Danger at Hand_; there's _Danger_ at a _Distance_; +_Danger_ in _Design_, and _Danger_ in _Practice_; And _Danger_, in fine, +through All the _Preparatory_, and _Mediate Tendencies_ to _Mischief_, +to the _Last Effect_ that _Pushes_ it self forth to _Execution_. + +_Trim._ Very Good! And what are All These _Sorts_, and _Degrees_ of +_Danger_ to the _Instances_ we have now _Before_ us? + +_Obs._ 'Tis true; The _Faction_ is not in Condition to _Attacque_ the +_Government_ by _Force_: Their _Armies_ are _Scatter'd_, and their +_Squadrons Defeated_; the _Whole Party_ put to their _Shifts_; and the +very _Best_ of 'em, has enough to do to _save his Own Bacon_. Their +_Teeth_ are _Drawn_, I'le Allow ye, All but here and there a _Stump_; +And yet they'l _Pinch, Plaguily_, though they cannot _Worry_, and +_Tear_: And with _Time_, and _Good Discipline_, they'l come to _Grow +again_. They have the _Same Principles_ to friend, that _ever_ they had: +Only they must be _Manag'd Another Way_: And there can never Want +_Matter_, for _Artificial Flattery, Wheedling, Imposture_ and +_Hypocrisy_, to _Work_ upon. They are not in Condition to _Advance_, at +this time of the Day, in the face of the _Sun_, and of the _Government_, +with their _Petticoats Flying_, under the _Auspicious Direction_ of +their _Tutelary Angel, Ferguson_; and [Fear Nothing but God] for their +_Motto_. But they must Supply want of _Strength_, by _Stratagem_; and +_Carry-on_ their _Approches_, out of sight. 'Tis only a little more +_Patience_, and the _Work_ will be brought about, as sure at the +_Long-Run_, by a _Mine_, as by a _Battery_: And the _Certifying_ of _a +Hundred and Fifty Perrots_ into the _Service_, and _Protection_ Of the +_Government_, will be of Greater _Effect_, then the _Drawing-up_ of _Ten +Thousand men in Arms_, Against it. Now _These Methods_ lye All _Open_ +still, only they are somewhat more _About_. Now as to _Dangers Remote_, +or _Nearer hand; Dangers_ of _Design_, or _Dangers_ of _Practice_: All +the _Preparatories_, & _Dispositions_ to _Mischief_, in their _Secret +Impulses_, and _Causes_, are as _Vigorous_ Now, as Ever they were, that +is to say, within Two or Three Motions of a _Publique Violence_: Only +This Difference in the Case, that we have _Hitherto_, been in the +_Greatest Danger_ of our _Profess'd_, & _Open Enemies_: And _Now_, God +bless us from our _Pretending Friends_: For all on a Sudden, the +_Trimmers_ are come-up to be _Stark Church-of-England-men_; And the +_Phanatiques_, gotten a _Form Higher_, into the _Seat_ or _Classes_ of +the _Trimmers_. + +_Trim._ Thou art _Well, neither Full nor Fasting_. Neither _Fanatique_, +nor _Trimmer_, nor _Church-of-England-man_ I perceive, will please ye; +The _Controversy_ of a New King; or a Common-Wealth, is _Out of Doors_; +The Question of Liberty of Conscience; The _Privilege_ of _Private +Meetings_ for Religous Worship; And a _Challenge_ of _Dispensation_ from +the _Rites, Ceremonies, and_ Discipline _of the Church, are_ All layd +aside. And All This will not serve the _Turn_ yet. Now if Men go to +_Church_; Take _Tests_, make _Declarations_; And _Do_ and _Perform_ All +that the _Law Requires_ of'em; where's the _Danger_ of These People I +beseech ye? + +_Obs._ Not in their _coming over_ with their _Bodies_, but in _Staying +behind_, in their _Good Wills_, and _Affections_: Nay, and in their +_Communicating_ with the _Church_ in the _Morning_, and in the +_Afternoon_, with the _Schism_: And pray will you Note in them, One +Thing _More_ too. 'Tis worth the while, when they _Ramble_ from their +_Own Parish_, to _Observe_ whither they go: For I have known the very +_Streets Throng'd_, out of Distance of _Hearing One Word_ that the +_Minister says_, with the _Same Superstition_, that the _Quakers Flock_ +to the _Door_, when they are _Lock'd-out_ of the _Meeting-House_: In +which Case, It has yet the _Semblance_ of a _Private Meeting_; And in +Truth, looks liker a _Political Muster_, then a _Religious Exercise_: +But Heark ye for One Word, before we go any further; Suppose a Man +should have sayd about the _Beginning_ of _July Last_, in a _Brisk +Reply_ to a _Reflexion_ made upon the _Western-Rebells_; (at that time +in their _Pride_ and _Glory_) [The King has as Loyal Subjects in That +Army as Any are in T'other.] Wouldst thou have me, in Construction of +_Common Sense_, and _Honesty_, look upon _That Person_, to be, +Effectually Come over, and in the _State_ of _a True +Church-of-England-man_; only for _Keeping_ the _Law_, with his _Heels_, +when he _Breaks_ it, with his _Tongue_, and _Doctrine_? Now this is more +then I Owe ye, upon the Matter in hand: For you have Carry'd the +_Question_ quite _back_ again, from the _Non-Con-Ministers_, to the +_Generality_, and the _Multitude_ of the _Dissenters_: which is a Point +Wholly _Excepted_, and out of the _Limits_ of _Our Debate_: For All +their _Conventicles_ without a _Mouth_, are _Monsters_; Meer +_Nullities_, & _Bilks_, without a _Teacher_: So that I have _Restrain'd_ +my _Applications_, Singly, to the _Rabbi's_ of the _Faction_, as +_Including_, and _Implying_ the _Sense_, and the _Intent_ of their +_Disciples_: Nay and _so far Including_ it, that they are _Barely_, the +_Passive Instruments_ of their _Leaders_. Now These _Heads_ of the +_Divided Parties_, are a sort of People, that do not, by any Means, fall +within the _Charitable Prospect_ of _Your Qualifications_: For they +_Stand-off_, in _Contempt_, and _Defyance_ of the _Orders_, & _Censures_ +of the _Church_, and of the _Law_, as much at _This Instant_, as _ever_ +they did. Their _Followers Maintain_, and _Support_ them in That +_Stubbornness_ of _Disobedience_; And so the _Opposition_ stands yet +_Firm_, in _Effect_, though with _Less Noise_ of _Menace_, and _Tumult_. +The _Branches_, 'tis True, are _Lopt_; but the _Root_, not so much as +_Touch'd_; Nay, and in such a Condition of _Vegetative Virtue_, and +_Vigour_, that it wants nothing but _Time_, and a _Favourable Season_ to +make it _Sprout_ again. And This you may Assure your self of, that +Nothing less then an _Utter_, an _Open_, a _Solemn_, and an _Irrevocable +Divorce_, betwixt _These Libertine-Seducers_, and Those that have been +_Trepann'd_, and _Inveigled_, out of the _Bosom_ of the _Church_, into +the _Arms_ of the _Schism_: Nothing I say, less then Some such +_Unalterable Act_, or _Decree_ of _Separation_, can ever _Secure_, +either the _Church_, or the _State_ from the _Pernicious Consequences_ +of this _Intelligence_: For betwixt _Blind Pity_, and _Foolish Zeal_, on +the _One_ hand, and all the _Arts_, of _Moving_, and _Provoking_ Those +_Passions_, and _Affections_, on the _Other_, there is _kept-up_, and +_Cherish'd_, a _Communication_ of _Reciprocal Kindness_, between them, +that keeps the _Fire alive_ still in the _Embers_, 'till by _Degrees_, +it _Blows-up_ All at last into a _Common Flame_. Now take away _These +Bellows_, and _T'other Sparks_, and a man may _Sleep_ in his _Bed_, +without _Dreaming_ of _Conflagrations_, or the _Dread_ of Rising with +his Throat Cut. + +_Trim._ I will not Excuse some _Hot-Headed Blades_, that let their +_Tongues_ run before their _Wits_; And make it a Point of _Honour_, to +_Brave_ All the _Terrors_ of _Death_, and _Dungeons_, in defence of the +_Cause_ that they have _Undertaken_. The _Less said_, the _Better_; +Though a Body cannot, in _Generosity_, but have some sort of +_Compassion_, for a Man that Suffers _Death_, with _Constancy of Mind_, +Even in a Mistaken Cause, if it be according to his _Conscience_. + +_Obs._ If these _Impressions_ were _Inbred_, and the _Errors_ purely +their _Own_, it would be a _Point_, not only of _Good Nature_, but of +_Common Justice_, and _Humanity_, to have a _Tenderness_ for _People_ +under an _Invincible Mistake_: But you have Started the _Strongest +Argument_ in the World, against your _self_ here, by _Enforcing_ the +_Necessity_ of Clearing the _Stage_ of the _Seditious Oracles_, that +_Inspire These Desperate Resolutions_. + +_Trim._ Why All matter of _Violence, Heat_ of _Dispute_, and _Clamour_ +of _Argument_, is at an _End_. You hear no more of your _Scottish_, and +_Western Declarations_; No more _Competitors_ for the _Crown_; or +_Confederates_ for a _Republique_: And therefore prethee, _let_ us be at +_Peace_ while we _May_ be at _Peace_; and do not stand _Puzzling_ the +_People_ with _Danger_, where _No Danger is_. + +_Obs._ Soft and Fair, _Trimmer_; those _Declarations, Practices_, and +_Attempts_, are not to be _Repeated_ again in the _same Age_: But there +are _more ways to the Wood then One_: And 'tis All a case, to a man +that's _Robb'd_, whether the _Thieves_ came in at the _Door_, or at the +_Window_. 'Tis very Right, That, since the Breaking of the _Rebellion_, +the _Non-Cons_ lay their _Fingers_ upon their _Mouths_; and not _One +Word_ of _Late_, upon the Subject of _Liberties_, and _Properties_; or +of the Danger of _Tyranny_, and of _Arbitrary Power_: But All other +_Grievances_ are Now _Swallow'd-up_ in _One_: They are All in _Tears_ +for fear of the _Protestant Religion_; and _That's the Topique that's +now Carry'd-on, through All Shapes, Figures, and Disguises_. + +_Trim._ We shall have fine Work, Next Bout! + +_London_, Printed for _Charles Brome_, at the Gun in St. _Paul's_ +Church-yard. + + + + + Vol. 3. =Numb. 202= + +THE OBSERVATOR. + +_The way of Promoting_ Fears, _and_ Jelousies. _The_ People _meerly_ +Passive _in the Bus'ness. Both Parts seem to_ Contend _for the_ Same +Common Principles. _The_ Rise of Jelousies. + +=Saturday=, August 21. 1686. + + +_TRIMMER._ The _Accommodating_ of Words, Phrases, and Texts to the +Matter in hand, with the Interjecting, here and there, of Certain +_Emphatical Winks_, and _Innuendo's_, to the _Common People_, will do +the Bus'ness of _Fears and Jelousies_, you need never _Doubt_ it, +without any more Ceremony. + +_OBSERVATOR._ I do no more _Doubt_ it, then I do, that a Proper Remedy; +Rightly Prepar'd; and Administer'd in the _Due_ Time and Proportion, +will _Work_ such or such an _Effect_. But the _Skill_ lyes, in the +Judgment of the Distemper; The Constitution of the Patient; The Choice +of the Physick; The Prescription of the Composition, the Preparation, +and the Dos. Now _Your_ way of _Operating_, is only the Mechanicall +_Part of the Bus'ness_; and no more, then the giving of a _Box_, a +_Gally-pot_, or a _Glass_, with a Note of _Directions_, out of _One_ +hand into _Another_: which Any _Porter_ that Plyes at the _Next Corner_, +would do as _Dext'rously_, as ever a _Doctor_ of the _College_. The +_Difficulty_, and the _Mystery_, is Over, before _You_ have any thing to +_Do_ with it: The _Poysonous_, and _Intoxicating Draught_, Prepar'd; The +_Multitude_ set a-Gaping for't, and Your _Office_, is only at last, to +_Pour it down their Throats_. There's Matter of _History_, and _Fact_, +enough, 'tis true, to _Satisfy any man_, that People may be made as +_Mad_ with _Cant_, and _Gibberish_, as if they had taken _Henbane_; and +that _the_ Sting _of_ Jelousy, will put them out of their _Wits_ as soon +as _the_ Biting _of a_ Mad-Dog: But we are in the _Dark_ all this while, +for the Rise, the Progress, and the Methods of Enflaming _Jelousies_, to +bring'em up to that _Pitch_. Prethee let me Understand a little of their +Birth, Growth, Discipline, and Education; How they are Fed, Nourish'd, +and Entertain'd? What's the End, and Use of them? What Language do they +_Speak_; or how comes it to pass, that the _Same_ Words, and Phrases, +without _Any Intelligence_ with _Grammar, Logique, Common Usage_, or +_Propriety_, should _Transport_ Some _Men_ into _Outrages, Palpitations +of the Heart, Horrors_, and _Tremblings_, both of _Mind_, and of _Body_; +and yet Work no more upon Others, then they _did_, before the very +Letters of'em were taken out of the _Alphabet_? I do not call ye to a +_Strict Shrift_ upon _Every Point_, but I Expect you shall say +something to the _Whole Matter_; for a _Few Words_, in Order, will give +a man more _Light_ to the _Reason_ of a Thing, then as many _Volumes_, +in Confusion. + +_Trim._ You are in the _Right_; that the _Craft_ lies in the Project, +and the Preparatory _Manage_ of this Affair, and that the _Danger_ is +gone too _Far_, when the _Mine_ is already _Wrought_; the _Powder +Dispos'd_, and nothing wanting to the _Final Execution_ of the +_Mischief_, but the _Lighting_ of the _Match_, and the Applying of the +_Coal_ to the _Train_. You have _Well_ and _Truly_ enough _Observed_, +the _Wonderfull Force_, that _Some Certain_ Words, and Phrases have; +upon the _Affections_ of the _Multitude_; without the Least _Shadow_ of +any Logical, Grammatical, or Philosophical _Reason_ for the _Operation_ +of them. Now you must know, that _These_ Words, and Phrases, are made +_Use_ of, and _Understood_, in the way of a Cypher, or a Jargon, and not +according to the _Ordinary Acceptation_ of them, in a _Regular_ way of +_Writing_, or of _Speaking_; So that, Effectually, the _Efficacy_ of +such _Words_, and _Phrases_, is given for _Granted_; and how they come +to _Obtain that Force_, remains the _Single Question_. + +Now towards the _Understanding_ of this Matter, you must Consider, that +no _State_ can be _Supplanted_, but by _Turning_ the _Peoples Hearts_, +against the _Persons_, & the _Actions_ of their _Superiors_: So that in +_All Conspiracies_ to _Destroy_ a _Government_, Fears & Jelousies, are +_the_ Corner Stone _of the Babel_. Their Hearts are no sooner _Lost_, +but they withdraw their Bodies too, and so, by _Degrees, Erect_ Laws, +and Religions of their Own; and look upon themselves, by This time, as +in _Another Commonwealth_. + +_Obs._ 'Tis most _Certainly True_; and that in this _Separation_, they +set-up an _Interest_ of _Direct_ Spite, as well as Opposition, to That +of the _Church_, and of the _State_. + +_Trim._ This is the very Course, and Progress of a _Popular Jelousy_: +But pray take Notice as we go, that the _People_, are thus far, _Meerly_ +Passive; and _Contribute No Otherwise_, to the _Ruine_ of the +_Publique_, then _a_ Snapping Sea does, to the _Sinking_ of a _Vessell_, +when the _Billows_ are _Hurry'd-on_ by the _Violence_ of an +Irresistible Tempest: if the _Winds_ would but let the _Waves alone_, +they'd be _Quiet_. When they come once to Gather into [Private +Meetings,] (or as you call them, Conventicles) you may _Then_ accompt +upon it, that they are as good as put to _School_, to _Learn_ the +Mystery of their _Profession_. For there are Canting-Schools, as well as +Reading-Schools: and under This _Discipline_, they come by _Insensible +Degrees_, to part with their _English_ Tongue, as well as with their +_English_ Principles, and Manners. Nay, and Effectually, to take up such +_Uncouth, Novel_, and _Strange_ Thoughts, Opinions, and Practices, that +it looks, as if the English-Man, the Christian, and the Subject, were +all lost in a Disguise. They are now, you must know, under New Lords, +and Consequently, under New Laws; where they are _Train'd-up_ to _New +Ways_ of Understanding Things, and to a _New Idiome_ of Expressing them. +Religion, Law, Government, Conscience, Good Manners, are so _Sacred_ in +Themselves, that the _Worst_ of Men cannot but _Pretend_ a _Veneration_ +for them; but how to _Baffle_, or to _Elude_ the _Force_, the +_Obligation_, and the _Authority_ of them; and, at the Same Time, to +set-up for the _Asserters_, and _Supporters_ of _These Publique Rights, +Privileges_, and _Duties, There_ lies the _Difficulty_ of the +_Undertaking_. + +_Obs._ That is to say, how to _Resolve_ Religion, into an _Empty_ +Notion: To Talk Christianity into a Paradox; and, with Christ in our +_Mouths_, at _London_, to _fall down_, and _Worship_ Mahomet, in _Buda_: +How to _Confound_ Gods, and the Governments Friends and Enemies, so as +to make the _Common People_ take _One_ for _T'other_. Now This can be no +way done, but by setting-up the Counterfeit of Religion, Law, and +Conscience, against the _Genuine_, and _Authentique_ Original; and by +making Evil, to be Good, and Good, to be Evil. + +_Trim._ You must _Note_, further, that in This _Opposition_, the Main +Cause appears to be the _very Same_, on _Both sides_; and _Both Parts_ +seem to _Contend_, for the Same Common Principles, of _Divine Worship_, +and of _Civil Obedience_. + +_Obs._ Only the _One_ Flies to the _Invisible Lights_ and _Dictates_ of +the _Spirit_, in Matter of Religion; (taking Fancy for Revelation) and, +in the Matter of Government, has Recourse to Certain _Unaccountable +Whimsies_, of [Powers Reserv'd,] where there _never was any Power at +all_; & _These Fooleries_, they _Trump_ upon the _Little People_, under +the _Pompous Name_ of [_FUNDAMETALS_;] while the _Rulers_, on the +_Other_ hand, Stick to the Law, to the Text, and to the _Approved Sense_ +of the Best Interpreters of Both, for their _Guide_. + +_Trim._ Very Good! And after they have _Departed_ from the Common Rule, +and _Divided_ themselves from the Common Interest; it is but Reasonable +to _Expect_, that they will Set-up Another Interest, and Another Rule to +_Themselves_. + +_Obs._ Well! But how do they _Manage That Province_ all this while, as +to the _Subject_, I mean, that we were _Speaking_ of? + +_Trim._ Why their way is, only to put _Religion_, and _Government_ in +_Another Dress_; but under the Name, of [Religion,] and [_Government_,] +_Still_; and then to lay on a _Superstructure_, Answerable to the +_Foundation_; I speak of the Leaders only; for their Disciples are +_Blanck Paper_; and ready for _any Impression_. They _Talk_, to the +Ears, and to the Passions of their _Hearers_, not to their +Understandings: and their _Auditors_ gather more of their _Meaning_, +from their _Gestures, Actions, Countenances_, and from _Pathetical +Tones_, then from the _Words Themselves_. As for _Sense_, or _No Sense_, +'tis _all a Case_; for 'tis the _Jingle_, not the _Matter_, that does +_Their Bus'ness_. The _Less_ the People Understand, the _More_ they are +Edify'd; for they take the _Congruities_ of Carnal Reason, for Vain +Philosophy; and Incomprehensible Nonsense, passes for _the Work of the_ +Light Within. Their _Religion_ lies alltogether in Groan, and Rapture: +_They Sacrifice to the_ Unknown God; and in One Word; They _Supply_ the +_Want_ of Knowledge, with an _Excess_ of Zeal; and when they cannot +_Understand_ the Plain English of a _Discourse_, they Wrap Themselves up +in the Mystery. The making of a _Party_, & the Saving of their own +_Skins_, are the _Two Main Points_ of the _Leaders_; and therefore, they +_Cover_ themselves under Ambiguity, & Riddle; & Compass those Matters, +by _Theatrical Gesticulations_, & _Actions_, which they dare not +_Venture_ upon, in _Words_ at _Length_, or by the _Dint_ of _Argument_; +for there is no _Law_ against _making of_ Faces, _and Dusting of_ +Cushions, They are told _Mightily_, and _Plainly_, of _Heaven_, and +_Hell_; but in such a _Manner_, that they will _Never Allow_ God, and +the Government to be _Both of a side. Schism_ is Dignified with the +_Name_ of Conscience; the Story of their _Grievances_, is the +_Bitterest_ of Satyrs; Their very Petitions have the force of +_Invectives_; and the _Smoother_, the _Softer_, you find the _Surface_ +of them, the _Falser_, and the more _Dangerous_ they are at the +_Bottom_: For betwixt the Persecution that is _Insinuated_, on the part +of the _Government_, & the Innocence, the Piety, and the Modesty, on +that of the Sufferers, Nothing can more Provoke, a _Horror_, and +_Indignation_ for the _One_, or a _Tenderness_, & _Compassion_, for the +_Other_. + +_Obs._ That is to say, among Those that are not _Well Enform'd_, in the +_Reason_, and _Equity of the Cause in Question_. + +_Trim._ Come Come. I tell ye _Nakedly_ how things Are, and not how they +Ought to be: and I speak of _Those Men_ too, that neither Do, nor Will, +nor Can make a _Right Judgment_ upon the Matter in _Issue_. They do not +take down _Reasons_ in Connexion; neither do their _Teachers_ so much as +Offer at'em; But _their Work_ is, only to _Feed_ Itching Ears, and +Humours, with _New-Quoyn'd Words, Affectate Phrases_: And briefly, to +_Instruct_ their _Disciples_, by _Signs_ and _Tokens_, like so many +_Dancing Horses_ to fall Lame upon all Four, for the _Pope_; to +come-over, for the _Grand Vizier_; and at the very _Sound_ of Babylon, +Anti-Christ, or Absolute Power, to Snort, and Boggle, as if they _Smelt +Fire_. If I may tell ye the _Arrant Truth_, and _Simplicity_ of my +_Heart_; This is the very Train of a Popular Institution. They are +Tutor'd, and Inur'd, to the Assuming of such and such _Passions_, upon +such and such _Occasions_; and they do All their _Ayres_, and _Tricks_, +by the Direction of the _Hand_, or _Eye. They Dance_ to _Sounds, Hints, +Nodds, Forms_, and _Syllables_; not to the force of _Fair Reasonings_, +and _Natural Conclusions_; Nay, they are Taught, when to be _Angry_; +when to be _Pleas'd_; and their very _Inclinations_, and _Aversions_, +are none of their _Own, Neither_: The _Whole Bus'ness_, in short, is +Artifice, Manage, and Practice; for _All their_ Mistakes, _and_ +Mis-understandings, _take the_ Same Biass. + +_Obs._ I do _Observe_, indeed, that they Shelter themselves under the +_Dark Prophets_, and the _Revelation_. The _Number of the Beast_, they +have all at their _Fingers Ends_; the _Geneva-Bibles_ are _Thumm'd_ over +and over, at the _Same Texts_: As upon the Subject of the _Groves_, & +the _High Places, Christian Liberty, Will-Worship, Humane Inventions, +Idolatry, Superstition_, &c. There's not a _Verse_ in the whole _Bible_, +against _Persecution_, but makes them Shake their Heads at the +_Government_. Popery by _Interpretation_, is Episcopacy: The _Liberty_ +of the Subject, has an _Aking Tooth_ at the _Prerogative_ of the Prince: +But finally; such and such Terms, and Forms of Speaking, are, by Common +Consent, to pass for _Current_, under such or such a Sense, and +Meaning, how _Contrary_ soever, to their _Proper_, and _Genuine +Signification_, or _Import_. But this speaks only to the Propagating of +_Jelousies_, not to the Rise of them. + +_Trim._ If you Ask me the [Rise] of _Jelousies_, I must _Answer_ ye, +that they are _Begotten_ betwixt Ambition, Avarice, Hypocrisy, Craft, +Malice, and Disloyalty, on the _One_ side; and Ignorance, Obstinacy, +Blind Zeal, and an Impetuous Temerity, on the _Other_. + +_London_, Printed for _Charles Brome_, at the Gun in St. _Paul's_ +Church-yard. + + + + +WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + +MEMORIAL LIBRARY + +UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + + * * * * * + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). + +18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_ (1720). + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Prepace to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Church-yard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). + + +1963-1964 + +104. Thomas D'Urfey, _Wonders in the Sun; or, The Kingdom of the Birds_ +(1706). + + +1964-1965 + +110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700). + +111. Anonymous, _Political Justice_ (1736). + +112. Robert Dodsley, _An Essay on Fable_ (1764). + +113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_ (1698). + +114. _Two Poems Against Pope_: Leonard Welsted, _One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope_ (1730), and Anonymous, _The Blatant Beast_ (1742). + + +1965-1966 + +115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal_. + +116. Charles Macklin, _The Covent Garden Theatre_ (1752). + +117. Sir George L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). + +118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662). + +119. Thomas Traherne, _Meditations on the Six Days of the Creation_ +(1717). + +120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress'd or a Collection of Fables_ +(1704). + + +1966-1967 + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to Mr. +Thomas Rowley_ (1782). + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). + + +1967-1968 + +129. Lawrence Echard, Prefaces to _Terence's Comedies_ (1694) and +_Plautus's Comedies_ (1694). + +130. Henry More, _Democritus Platonissans_ (1646). + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). + + +1968-1969 + +133. John Courtenay, _A Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral +Character of the Late Samuel Johnson_ (1786). + +134. John Downes, _Roscius Anglicanus_ (1708). + +135. Sir John Hill, _Hypochondriasis, a Practical Treatise_ (1766). + +136. Thomas Sheridan, _Discourse ... Being Introductory to His Course of +Lectures on Elocution and the English Language_ (1759). + +137. Arthur Murphy, _The Englishman From Paris_ (1736). + +138. [Catherine Trotter], _Olinda's Adventures_ (1718). + +Publications of the first fifteen years of the Society (numbers 1-90) +are available in paperbound units of six issues at $16.00 per unit, from +the Kraus Reprint Company, 16 East 46th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. 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Bloom and Lillian D. Bloom. + +143. _A Letter from a clergyman to his friend, with an account of the +travels of Captain Lemuel Gulliver_ (1726). Introduction by Martin +Kallich. + +144. _The Art of Architecture, a poem. In imitation of Horace's Art of +poetry_ (1742). Introduction by William A. Gibson. + + + + +SPECIAL PUBLICATION FOR 1969-1970 + +Gerard Langbaine, _An Account of the English Dramatick Poets_ (1691), +Introduction by John Loftis. 2 Volumes. Approximately 600 pages. Price +to members of the Society, $7.00 for the first copy (both volumes), and +$8.50 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $10.00. + + * * * * * + +Already published in this series: + +1. John Ogilby, _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras'd in Verse_ (1668), with +an Introduction by Earl Miner. 228 pages. + +2. John Gay, _Fables_ (1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. +Dearing. 366 pages. + +3. _The Empress of Morocco and Its Critics_ (Elkanah Settle, _The +Empress of Morocco_ [1673] with five plates; _Notes and Observations on +the Empress of Morocco_ [1674] by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas +Snadwell; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ +[1674] by Elkanah Settle; and _The Empress of Morocco. A Farce_ [1674] +by Thomas Duffett), with an Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. 348 +pages. + +4. _After THE TEMPEST_ (the Dryden-Davenant version of _The Tempest_ +[1670]; the "operatic" _Tempest_ [1674]; Thomas Duffett's _Mock-Tempest_ +[1675]; and the "Garrick" _Tempest_ [1756]), with an Introduction by +George Robert Guffey. 332 pages. + +Price to members of the Society, $3.50 for the first copy of each title, +and $4.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $5.00. Standing +orders for this continuing series of Special Publications will be +accepted. British and European orders should be addressed to B. H. +Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +The closing square brackets have been removed from the end of the +following as no opening bracket was found in the text. + +1. Page 13 - _Some People at_ Norwich, _are playing +the_ Devil _for_ Godsake: _several honest, peaceable_, Protestant +Dissenters, _having been troubled for not coming to_ Church, _or having +been Present at_ Religious Meetings &c.] + +2. Page 14 - _Smith_ (in his _Vox Populi, P._ 13.) saith, that _the King is +oblig'd to pass or Confirm those Laws his People shall Chuse_.] + +On Page 14 the fullstop after Chuse has been changed to a comma. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Selections from the Observator +(1681-1687), by Roger L'Estrange + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40339 *** |