Faction Display'd/Preface to Faction Display'd
PREFACE.
TIS the Criticks Objection to Lucan, that his Poem is too Historical; but it must be said in his Defence, that tho' for that Reason he may perhaps delight less; yet he certainly Instructs more, which is the better End of Poetry. We have a more distinct Idea of the Characters of Cæsar, Pompey, Cato, and Brutus, in him, than we have of Augustus (under the Person of Æneas) in Virgil. We have Truth and Nakedness in one; Fiction and Embellishment in the other. The same Fault (I beg Pardon for the Allusion) will probably be found with this Paper of Verses: But I have this to say for my self, that tho' I may fall as far short of some of the Whig Writers in Poetry, as Lucan does of Virgil, yet I have outdone them as much in Sincerity. For I have not form'd an Imaginary Poetical Design, but Described a real one: Such a one as is now actually carrying on by a Cabal of restless and turbulent Men, even in the very place where I have laid the Scence.
If then what I have said be true, and the Sense of the honest Part of the Kingdom, the Reader cannot think, any Liberty I have taken Reflecting or Scandalous; for Truth is never so, tho' it may be sometimes Unseasonable. But he must own that I have acquitted the Duty of a good Subject in endeavouring to lay the Enemies of our Constitution. A Constitution whose Government is Projected upon a more refined Policy, and experienced Wisdom, than any in the World. Other Countries labour under the Bondage of Arbitrary Princes, or more Arbitrary Commonwealths. But here the Prerogative of the King and the Liberty of the Subject are a mutual Barrier to each other; and it is not the Fault of our Constitution, that we are not the Envy, as well as the Terror of our Neighbour Nations. But Faction is of the growth of our Soil; and what some Philosophers have affirmed of the Frame of the Universe, that it subsists by the constant Jarring of the Elements, and that there is a perpetual Warfare in Nature, may properly be said of the present State of England. For it is Compounded of so many obstinate Sectaries and inveterate Parties, that they are no more to be Reconciled than the differing Principles in Nature, and are like to carry on their Disputes too the End of the World.
Nothing contributes more to the Fomenting these Civil Embroilments, than a Set of Mercenary Writers, who, like Swiss-Soldiers, are always ready to fight on the side that pays best. And as none has labour'd more, so none is more Scandalous, than a certain Doctor, who after having Scribled himself, and that simple Wretch his Son, into Preferment, has lately appear'd in his proper Colours, and unsaid what he formerly urg'd with so much Vehemence and pretended Zeal for his Country's Good. Trimming was then an Abomination to him, and one would hardly have thought that Tom Double had been his own Character: But we now plainly see what his Aim was. This Cerberus resolved to continue Barking, till his Mouth was stopped with some Delicious Morsel, which has at last happily compos'd his Fury into Peace and Moderation. We are like to be well instructed indeed, when such Men as these pretend to give us Schemes of Morality and Government, when they undertake to direct our Principles, and guide our Consciences. Sure he has a very contemptible Opinion of Mankind, or a very great one of himself, to imagine, that because he was Read with Pleasure, when he fell in with the Peoples just Resentments of the Proceedings of a devouring Ministry; that he can therefore impose his own shuffling, inconsistent, unintelligible Politicks upon them. What was Reason and Justice then, will he so still in spight of all the poor Arguments he can bring to the contrary; and if he had the least degree of Modesty, he would either have pursued his former Notions, or, have been silent.
But such a Cause could expect no better an Advocate, and those who imploy'd him to propose and recommend their Trimming-Measures (which always proceed from Cowardize, or Self-interest) have the Mortification to see him receiv'd with that Contempt he deserves from all Parties.
I wish the Promoters of this new Doctrine of Moderation have not already put it out of their Power to Crush the Faction, which they have hitherto so imprudently Cherished, and which at last (if I have not Display'd it in very false Colours) will certaily Tear and Destroy the Government.
Hence it is, that the Crown of England seldom sits easy on the Heads of our Princes, it being almost impossible for them to give Universal Satisfaction to their Subjects. The Scepter is too ponderous to be wielded by every Hand, and there is required more depth and penetration to Reign here, than in other Nations. But that King seems to Act upon the most rational Principles, and must be allowed to acquit himself with Honour and Justice, who as he attempts not to stretch the Prerogative into Tyranny, so he firmly adheres to all its just Rights and Priviledges; who maintains a good Correspondence with his Parliaments, especially such as give distinguishing Proofs of their Loyalty, in settling large Revenues, in raising quick and satisfactory Supplies, in supporting the Interest of his Kingdoms, and the cause of his Crown; who as the Head of the Established Church constantly Defends and Protects it, and tho' he may Tolerate Dissenters, yet will not indulge them in their scandalous Occasional Conformity; who can never be so wretchedly imposed upon, as wholly to neglect his Friends, and to advance the Enemies of his Person and Government; who never suffers his Royal bounty to be ingrossed by Sordid and Covetous Favourites; who imploys and prefers Men of large Hearts and open Hands, men that are above the thoughts of heaping up Riches, and intend only the Publick Good; who sees the Miscarriages of former Reigns and avoids them; who is Steady and Uniform in his Councils, and constant to his word; who, in short, would rather choose to hazard all, as our late glorious Martyr did, than to betray the Constitution.
If this be not the Character of a consummate Prince, it gives at least at Idea of one, that would Govern with fewer Faults than any in Europe now does, except only our most Excellent and Unparalleld QUEEN.