Excerpt from A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors From the Earliest Period to the Year 1738, Vol. 11 of 21: With Notes and Other Illustrations; 32 Charles II to 4 James II, 1680-1688<br><br>To a ly this to our present commotions though nnnnot positively charge those who are at the helm, of any underhand contrivanee, or certainly conclude the same from the out. Ward appearance of their actings, it being pos sible that such important suddenties, as have now fallen out, may prompt them to over reach themselves in their commands, as well as us in our, may be more zealous and forward, than. Well advised and really dutiful obedience: but, as long ago it was told me, by a witness of a certain great man's behaviour at the engage ment, Anno 1648, that he would not say, for all the world, that he had betrayed them, yet he could justly say, that if he had ot a house full of gold to betray them, be cool have done no more; so I will not assert, with the church 'or state fanatics of this time, that our coun sallora are really designing to introduce upon us, Pepe and arbitrary government, and are catchingrtiie advantage of the present confu sions in prosecution thereof; but in reason I may say, that had they the most real and for ward intention of so doing? They could hard] have fallen upon more li ely and favourab e courses, for that end, than some ot'those they are taking.<br><br>There is much talking of a Popish Plot, and if therebevtnch a design of arbitrary power, it being also a work of darkness, that dares not as sault us with: open face, and meet to go in hands with the other, I may call it another Plot, which must work, underboard until hell he prepared to defend it. And these two pro~ clamatmns, the one for volunteers, whereby all the Papists in the kingdom are armed, and called out to the fields and the other charging, under highest pains, the whole nobility, gen and heritors to attend the army, under t e command of omeara appointed by the council, are like twomines sprung upon the chief bas tions of our liberties and religion, and we, hit? Fools, hear the noise, and gaze upon the smoke, but discern not, nor consider what it hath ear~ ried away with it.<br><br>About the Publisher<br><br>Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com<br><br>This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.