OCR Text |
Show (H) find their Eflater taken from them; their ~a/ac es, f ome of whicl1 ex ceed in Magnificence moff mEn~Jand, ht tv J'oopkeepcrs for Warehoufcs, and thezr .Birth ancl Q_uality aefpis'd to that degree, that every Officer hM J>rccedenre before tbc Nob/eff Peer that u not dignify'd with a Mtlztary Employment. And did thcfc Gentlemen know that thofe Noble Strangers were as Great, Rich, and Happy as tbemfclvcs, before the DoCtrine of PaJ]ive Obe· diencc and the J( ing' s being accountable to none but God, was fet up in their Coun~ry ;_ I fancy the Promoter of the fame OoCl:nnc 10 Great Britain, would not have had many N~ble Lords afraid of infliCting too fevere a Pumlh-ment upon fuch a Criminal. • • , I fhould be pleas'd if thofe Ladtes who h~e tn the f!,reateft State and Glory, had feen.L~d!esof the firfl: Rank, who not long Iince lhtn d m_all the Brocades of France, and had as large SUites of Admirers as the -Brighteff Toajls amongft us, as the fam'd Sacharilfa confefs'd, but are now phmder'd of all their nice Ornaments, _fump· tuous Orefres, and far-fetch'd Furmture : Had they but feen a _countefs, who had P~ges and Liveries almoft wtthout number, Bathmg· Velfcls all of malfy Plate, ami Jewels of an inefl:imable v alue; had they fe~n her Houfe clear'd even of Beds and Chaus, and the L ady berfe lf Jlript of the Clotlm Jl:e ,wore, and one of' her Ears pull'd off by the Kmg t·~uards, who did not underflm1d how her Lady/htp s large .Bri[Jant Ear-Rings were fix' d on; I cannot think· that there would have been fo man~ co· h and Tears and panting Hearts, all the w,.tgh ilse' an Apoftate ' Wretch ftood accu~' d . fio r en. • dcavouring to promo!~ ~~~fe ~!~~tpl~she1Ce ( 2. 31 thefe poor tender-hearted Creatures Country, which gave occafion to all this Mifery. I wilh that Gentlemen who have ample Efl:ates, and all that's requifite for their Pleafures, had feen Perfons of the like Condition, who in the Memory of fome that are not very old, liv'd as much at their eafe as tbefe do now ; but at prefent are driven from the Seats of their Anceftors, and their Lands par-. cel'd out amongff fucb and fuch Regiments of Horfe and Foot. And if you fhould enquire for the Lord of the Mannor, 'tis probable you might find his Worfhip at the next Market· Town, diftinguilh'd with the pretty Title of Mr. Commiffary or Mr. Affiffor, and half the Salary 4 an Engl,ilh Excife·Man, in exchange for 2 or 3 000 l. a year • . Had they feeo all t h i~, I believe we fhould fcarce have had fuch Rioting, Drunkening, Cavalcading, and Rattling of Bells this Summer, amongft our fhort .jighted Efq"uires, upon the account of a Traytor to his Country. I wilh that thofe Citi%-ens who find the Advantages pf a great Trade and free Commerce, had feen a City which not long Iince had feveral cpnfiderable Merchants and rich Burghers, who are now reduc'd to trade under the Protection and Countenance of fome Courtier, to whom they mu!l: be accountable for one half of theiF Profits, whilft the Kil~,g takes t'other half, and not feldom a large !hare of the Principal : I fiincy they would have rais'd few Mob1 afcerwards .in favour pf 'i1 publick Incendiary. But Y{hat I wilh the moil: of al!, is, that the inferiour Order of G mtlemen and the Common People, who enjoy great Privileges, have their Properties fecur'd to them by good Laws, andhave Plenty of aU that's necelfaty, - · · - had |