This was written by Thomas Stringer, who appears to have been Secretary or Steward to the Earl of Shaftesbury; and for writing the same, a prosecution was instituted against him. The following is a copy of the indictment:—
Londonia. Juratores pro domino rege super sacramentum suum præsentant quod Thomas Stringer nuper de Londonia generosus machinans et intendens serenissimum dominum nostrum Carolum Secundum Dei gratia Angliæ Scotiæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regem Fidei Defensorem &c., et regimen suum in odium et infamiam inter subditos suas inferre, et pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ molestare et perturbare, et diversas differentias inter eosdem subditos excitare et procurare vicesimo die Junii anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc tricesimo quarto apud Londoniam videlicet in parochia Sancti Botulphi extra Aldersgate in Warda de Aldersgate Londoniæ prædicta vi et armis &c. falso seditiose et malitiose scripsit et publicavit et scribi imprimi et publicari causavit quendam scandalosum libellum intitulatum, A Second letter from a person of quality to his friend about abhorrers and addressors, &c. in quoquidem libello continentur hæc falsa ficta et scandalosa verba sequentia videlicet Tis plain these men (ligeos et subditos dicti domini regis nunc innuendo) mean and intend by this abhorrence (quandam detestationem versus associationem in papiris scriptam prætensam fore inventam inter quosdam papiros Anthonii Comitis Shaftesbury innuendo) and under this notion to create an association for all the Tories to maintain a Popish Successor and to introduce arbitrary power. And whosoever joins with or doth not vigorously oppose such practices is guilty of these designs. Et in altera parte ejusdem libelli continentur hæc falsa et scandalosa verba sequentia videlicet, That which concerns the mercenary forces is no more than every man's duty as much as in him lies (which means as lawfully he may) to endeavour entirely to disband all such mercenary forces as we have reason to believe are raised to advance arbitrary power. In malum et perniciosissimum exemplum omnium aliorum in consimili casu delinquentium ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[224]
270.
The Addresses importing an abhorrence of an Association pretended to have been seized in the Earl of Shaftesbury's closet, laid open and detected. In a letter to a friend. 1682.
This was the production of Mr. Robert Ferguson, and for writing, printing, and publishing the same he was prosecuted. The following is a copy of the indictment:
Juratores pro domino Rege super sacramentum suum præsentant quod Robertus Ferguson nuper de Londonia generosus, Deum præ oculis suis non habens sed instigatione diabolica motus et seductus, machinansque et intendens serenissimum dominum nostrum Carolum Secundum Dei gratia Angliæ Scotiæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regem Fidei Defensorem, et regimen suum in odium et infamiam inter subditos suos inferre ac pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare et diversas differentias inter eosdem subditos procurare vicesimo die Junii anno regni dicti domini regis nunc tricesimo quarto apud Londoniam videlicet in parochia Sancti Martini Ludgate in warda de Farringdon extra Londoniam prædicta vi et armis &c. falso seditiose et malitiose scripsit, impressit, et publicavit et scribi, imprimi et publicari causavit quondam scandalosum libellum intitulatum, The Addresses importing an abhorrence of an association pretended to have been seized in the Earl of Shaftesbury's closet, laid open and detected. In a letter to a friend. In quoquidem libello continentur hæc falsa ficta et scandalosa verba sequentia, And as all Addresses of this nature tend to render the King, who ought to reign in the hearts of all his people, the Head meerly of one party and that a very inconsiderable one if compared with the bulk of the Nation; so they only serve to publish to all the world the distractions of the Kingdom, and to proclaim in the face of the Sun the weakness of the Government. What do the foreigners say upon the perusal of our Gazets, but that either things are not managed in England according to the Laws of the Constitution, or that his Majesty of Great Britain reigns precariously, seeing his Ministers seek to support the Transactions of State, by courting the applause of a few little folk here and there through the Kingdom? In malum et perniciosissimum exemplum omnium aliorum in consimili casu delinquentium ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[225]
A copy of this publication is in the British Museum Library. It is in folio and occupies four pages.
271.
An Historical and Political Discourse of the Laws and Government of England, from the first times to the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. With a vindication of the ancient way of Parliaments in England. Collected from some manuscript notes of John Selden, Esq.; by Nathaniel Bacon, of Gray's Inn, Esquire. London. 1682.
This is one of the reprints of the original edition of 1651. For publishing this reprint, a prosecution was instituted against John Starkey. The following is a copy of the indictment against him:—