Bumpkins account of himself.
Bum. Not so simple neither, it may be, as you take me for. I was a Justices Clerk in the Countrey, till the bus'nesse of the Petitions; and my Master was an Honest Gentleman too, though he's now put out of Commission: And to shew ye that I am none of your simple Fellows (do ye mark) if ye have a minde to dispute upon Three Points, I'm for you. First, the King is One of the Three Estates; Secondly, the Sovereign Power is in the People. And Thirdly, 'Tis better to Obey God then Man.
Citt. Always provided, Bumpkin, that the Gentleman take no advantage of what's spoken in Discourse.
True. No, there's my hand I will not; and now let's fall to work. If the King of England be One of the Three Estates, then the Lords and Commons are two Thirds of the King of England.
Bumpkin's way of Argument.
Bum. Oh pox, you've a minde to put a sham upon the Plot, I perceive.
True. Nay, if y'are thereabouts:—Well; If the Soveraignty be in the People, why does not the Law run In the Name of our Sovereign Lords the People?
Bum. This is a meer Jesuitical Trick, to disparage the Kings Witnesses; for They are part of the People. Now do you take up the Cudgels, Citt.
True. Do so, and we'l make it a short business, and let's have no shifting.
The Composition of the Committees.