Page:A Letter from a Person of Quality, to His Friend in the Country (1675).pdf/14

 at all, for the whole advantage was to the dissenting Protestants, which were the only Men disturb'd before; and yet he confest to me, that it was his opinion, and always had been, that the Papists ought to have no other pressure laid upon them, but to be made uncapable of Office, Court, or Armes, and to pay so much as might bring them at least to a ballance with the Protestants, for those chargable Offices they are lyable unto; and concluded with this that he desired me seriously to weigh, whether Liberty and Propriety were likely to be maintained long in a Countrey like Ours, where Trade is so absolutely necessary to the very being, as well as prosperity of it, and in this Age of the World, if Articles of Faith and Matters of Religion should become the only accessible ways to our Civil Rights.

Thus Sir, You have perhaps a better account of the Declaration, then you can receive from any other hand, and I could have wisht it a longer continuance, and better Reception then it had: for the Bishops took so great Offence at it, that they gave the Alarum of Popery through the whole Nation, and by their Emissaries the Clergy (who by the Connexture and Subordination of their Government, and their being posted in every Parish, have the Advantage of a quick dispersing their Orders, and a sudden and universal Insinuation of whatever they please) raised such a cry, that those good and sober Men, who had really long feared the Encrease and continuance of Popery, had hitherto received, began to believe the Bishops were in earnest; their Eyes opened, though late, and therefore joyned in heartily with them; so that at the next meeting of Parliament, the Protestants Interest was run so high, as an Act came up from the Commons to the H. of Lords in favor of the dissenting Protestants, and had passed the Lords, but for want of time, Besides, another excellent Act passed the Royal Assent for the Excluding all Papists from Office, in the Opposition of which, the L. Treasurer Clifford fell, and yet to prevent his ruine, this Sessions had the speedier End. Notwithstanding, the Bishops attain'd their Ends fully, the Declaration being Cancelled, and the great Seal being broken off from it, The Parliament having passed an Act in favor of the Dissenters, and yet the sense of both Houses sufficiently declared against all Indulgence but by Act of Parliament: Having got this Point, they used it at first with seeming Moderation, there were no general Directions given for prosecuting the Non-conformists, but here and there some of the most Confiding Justices, were made use of to try how they could receive the Old Persecution; for as yet the Zeal raised against the Papists, was so great, that the worthyest, and soberest, of the Episcopal party, thought it necessary to unite with the dissenting Protestants, and not to divide their Party, when all their Forces were little enough; In this posture Rh