Bum. This is a crotchet, Citt, that did not fall under my Night-Cap.
The scope of that Agreement.
Citt. Be enlighten'd then. It is not the Destruction of those that are Really Papists, that will do our Work; for there's nothing to be got by't. But it must be our business to make those people pass for Papists, that are not so, but only have Places to Lose: such as we our selves, by the removal of them, may be the better for; and This, Bumpkin must be our Master-piece.
Bum. I had this very phansy my self, Citt; but it stuck betwixt my Teeth, and would not out.
Citt. You hear now in General, what is to be done; You must be next instructed in the Acts of Raising, Cherishing, and Fomenting such Opinions; in what Cases to Improve them, and where to apply them.
Who are Popishly affected in the first place.
Bum. I'm perswaded my Masters Brother had this very thing in his Head, though he never made any words on't to me, He had got a List of all the considerable Offices and Employments in the Kingdom: And I remember he was us'd to say, that most of the respective Officers were either Corrupt, or Popishly affected. If they were Publick Ministers; either the Kings Councells were betray'd, or they put him upon Governing in an Arbitrary way, and without Parliaments: As for the Judges there was either Bribery, Absolute Power, or Oppression laid to their Charge; and so all the rest were branded for Frauds, Imbezilments, and the like, according to the Quality of their businesse: All the Governours of Towns, Castles, and Forts, were Popishly Inclin'd; and not to be Trusted. And then all Ecclesiasticall Officers, whatsoever, within four or five, were half way at Rome already.
Citt. This is well remembred, Bumpkin; Now 'tis worth a bodies while to make these Blades passe for Papists, and Traitors, that leave Good Offices behinde 'um. Nay, we must not suffer so much as any man, either of Brains, or Fortune (that does not joyn with Us) to passe untainted.
Bum. Thou say'st Right, Citt; for whosoever is not With us, is Against us.
Citt. Thou hast spoken patt to This point, Bumpkin, but yet thou begin'st at the wrong End; For you must first get the skill of Raising, and Improving a Report, before ye come to the Fixing of it: For that's a Nicety not to be medled with, till we come to the taking out of the very Pins, and the Unhinging of the Government; So that the First Clamour must be Level'd point-blank at some Known, and Eminent Papists.