Rose. Ah! Mr. Overall! Your worthy Father would not have been so liberal of his Epithets to Papists.
Over. Mr. Roseband, my Father loved and rever’d Virtue wherever he found it. And he blush’d not any more than I should, to own that our Popish Ancestors had the true Spirit of Patriotism, and that they left us more valuable Blessings than we are like to leave Posterity.
Smooth. How, my Politician! Sha’n’t we and Posterity too bask in Plenty, if we do as you say our honester popish Ancestors did? ha, ha!
Rose. Pray, Mr. Overall, What are we to do in imitation of our braver Ancestors? ha, ha!
Over. To curse the Ambitious and Corrupt.
Rose. Curse, Mr. Overall! Is it for Christians to curse?
Over. Is it for Englishmen to be bribed out of their Virtue? What are the Curses you pronounce on Ashwednesdays?
Sir John. Mr. Overall means, I suppose, the Anathema solemnly denounced in the Reign of Henry III. by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Head of the Barons and other great Men of the Nation, against all such as should directly or indirectly oppose the Observance of the two Charters, and those who should violate, diminish, or alter in any Manner whatever the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom.
Over. I do, Sir John; and the Method I would propose should be, that the Members of the Legislature, not excepting the pious Lords the B—ps, on the Expiration of the present Parliament, would meet in Westminster Abbey, and there solemnly denounce, by the Mouth of the Archbishop, or, if some squeamish Puritans should object to the Surplice, by the Mouths of the Lord C—r and Sp—r, the bitterest Curses against all who shall offer or accept a Bribe at a new Election, directly or indirectly.
Blunt. Or who shall accept of a Place or Pension after he is elected, in order to support the Measures of Evil Ministers, or screen them.