void fpace was left for a fixth, which was to have been the QUEEN, to whom they intended that honour; but her majefty having fince fallen under their displeasure, they have made a fhift to croud in two better friends in her place, which makes it a complete heptarchy *. This piece is now in the country, referved until better times; and hangs in a hall among the pictures of Cromwell, Bradshaw, Ireton, and fome other predeceffors.

I must now defire leave to fay fomething to a gentleman who has been pleased to publish a difcourse against a paper of mine, relating to the con vocation. He promises to fet me right without any undue reflections, or indecent language. I fuppofe he means, in comparison with others who pretend to answer the Examiner. So far he is right; but, if he thinks he has behaved himself as becomes a candid antagonist, I believe he is miftaken. He fays in his title page, my reprefentations are unfair, and my reflexions unjuft: and his conclufion is yet more fevere; where he doubts I and my friends are enraged against the Dutch, becaufe they preferved us from popery and arbitrary power at the Revolution; and fince that time from being over-run by the exorbitant power of France, and becoming a prey to the pretender. Because this author feems in general to write with an honeft meaning, I would seriously put to

This heptarchy was the ferpent with feven heads, mersioned in N°

21, 22.

VOL. III.

I

him

him the question, whether he thinks, I and my friends are for popery, arbitrary power, France, and the pretender? I omit other inftances of fmaller moment, which however do not fuit in my opinion with due reflection, or decent language. The fact relating to the convocation came from a good hand; and I do not find this author differs from me in any material circumftance about it. My reflections were no more than what might be obvious to any other gentleman, who had heard of their late proceedings. If the notion be right, which this author gives us of a lower house of convocation, it is a very melancholy one; and to me feems utterly inconfiftent with that of a body of men, whom he owns to have a negative: and therefore, fince a great majority of the clergy differs from him in feveral points he advances, I fhall rather choose to be of their opinion than his. I fancy when the whole fynod met in one houfe, as this writer affirms, they were upon a better foot with their bishops; and therefore, whether this treatment, fo extremely de haut en bas, fince their exclufion, be fuitable to primitive cuftom or primitive humility towards brethren, is not my business to enquire. One may allow the divine or apoftolic right of epifcopacy, and its great fuperiority over prefbyters; and yet difpute the methods of exercifing the latter, which, being of human inftitution, are subject to encroachments and ufurpations. I know, every clergyman in a diocefe has a great deal of dependence upon his bifhop, and owes him canonical obedience: but

I was apt to think, that when the whole representative of the clergy met in a fynod, they were confidered in another light; at leaft fince they are allowed to have a negative. If I am mistaken, I defire to be excused, as talking out of my trade; only there is one thing, wherein I entirely differ from this author: fince, in the difputes about privileges, one fide must recede; where fo very few privileges remain, it is a hundred to one odds, that the encroachments are not on the inferior clergy's fide; and no man can blame them for infifting on the fmall number that is left. There is one fact, wherein 1 must take occasion to set this author right: that the perfon *, who first moved the QUEEN to remit the firft-fruits and tenths to the clergy, was an eminent inftrument in the late turn of affairs; and, I am told, has lately prevailed to have the fame favour granted for the clergy of Ireland +.

But I must beg leave to inform this author, that my paper is not intended for the management of controverfy; which would be of very little import to most readers, and only mis-fpend time, that [ would gladly employ to better purposes. For where it is a man's business to entertain a whole room-full, it is unmannerly to apply himself to a particular perfon, and turn his back upon the reft of the company.

Farl of Oxford, lord treasurer.

This was done by the author's follcitation. See his letters to archbishop King,

NUMBER XXVI.

Thursday, February 1, 1710-11.

Ea autem eft gloria, laus recte faclorum, magnorumque in rem publicam meritorum: quae cum optimi cujufque, tum etiam multitudinis, teftimonio comprobatur.

That is real honour and true praise for glorious actions to a meritorious state, when they gain the commendation and esteem of the great, and, at the fame time, the love and approbation of the common people.

IA

I

AM thinking what a mighty advantage it is to be entertained as a writer to a ruined caufe. remember a fanatic preacher, who was inclined to come into the church, and take orders; but, upon mature thoughts, was diverted from that defign, when he confidered, that the collections of the godly were a much heartier and readier penny, than he could get by wrangling for tithes. He certainly had reafon; and the two cafes are parallel. If vou write in defence of a fallen party, you are maintained by contribution, as a neceffary perfon: you have little more to do than to carp and cavil at those who hold the pen on the other fide; you are sure to be celebrated and careffed by all your party, to a man: you may affirm and de ny what you please without truth or probability, fince it is but lofs of time to contradict you. Befides, commiferation is often on your fide; and you have a pretence to be thought honeft and difin

terefted

terested for adhering to friends in distress: after which, if your friends ever happen to turn up again, you have a strong fund of merit towards making your fortune. Then, you never fail to be well furnished with materials, every one bringing in his quota, and falfhood being naturally more plentiful than truth: not to mention the wonderful delight of libelling men in power, and hugging yourself in a corner with mighty fatisfaction for what you have done.

It is quite otherwife with us, who engage as volunteers in the fervice of a flourishing miniftry, in full credit with the QUEEN, and beloved by the people; because they have no finifter ends or dangerous defigns; but pursue with steadiness and refolution the true intereft of both. Upon which account they little want, or defire our affiftance; and we may write till the world is weary of reading, without having our pretences allowed, either to a place or a penfion befides, we are refused the common benefit of the party, to have our works cried up of courfe: the readers of our own fide being as ungentle, and hard to please, as if we writ against them; and our papers never make their way in the world, but barely in proportion to their merit. The defign of their labours who write on the conquered fide, is likewife of greater importance than ours they are like cordials for dying men, which must he repeated; whereas ours are, in the Scripture phrafe, but meat for babes: at least, all I can pretend, is to undeceive the ignorant, and

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thofe