thoughts of the pretender[1] reigning over us, much more than himself. But this is the spittle of the bishop of Sarum[2], which our author licks up, and swallows, and then coughs out again with an addition of his own phlegm. I would fain suppose the body of the clergy were to return an answer, by one of their members, to these worthy counsellors. I conceive it might be in the following terms:
"My Lord and Gentleman,
"The clergy command me to give you thanks for your advice; and if they knew any crimes, from which either of you were as free, as they are from those which you so earnestly exhort them to avoid, they would return your favour as near as possible, in the same style and manner. However, that your advice may not be wholly lost, particularly that part of it which relates to the pretender, they desire you would apply it to more proper persons. Look among your own leaders; examine which of them engaged in a plot to restore the late king James, and received pardons under his seal; examine which of them have been since tampering with his pretended son, and to gratify their ambition, their avarice, their malice and revenge, are now willing to restore him, at the expense of the religion and liberty of their country. Retire, good my lord, with your pupil, and let us hear no more of these hyprocritical insinuations, lest the queen and ministers, who have been hitherto con-
- ↑ It should be of the pretender's reigning over us, not pretender reigning, &c. As we should write of his reigning over us, not of him reigning, &c.
- ↑ Dr. Gilbert Burnet.
