 entirely political. For my own
Part, I had been for some Time very seriously affected with the Danger to which
the Protestant Religion was so visibly exposed, under a Popish Prince; and
thought the Apprehension of it alone sufficient to justify that Insurrection:
For no real Security can ever be found against the persecuting Spirit of Popery,
when armed with Power, except the depriving it of that Power, as woeful
Experience presently shewed. You know how King James behaved after getting the
better of this Attempt; how little he valued either his Royal Word, or
Coronation-Oath, or the Liberties and Rights of his People. But all had not the
Sense to foresee this at first; and therefore the Duke of Monmouth was weakly
supported; yet all could feel when the Evil came upon them; and therefore all
united, at last, to drive out that King, against whose Exclusion a great Party
among us had so warmly contended, during the Reign of his Brother, and for whom
they now fought with such Zeal and Affection.«
    »What you say,« interrupted Jones, »is very true; and it has often struck
me, as the most wonderful thing I ever read of in History, that so soon after
this convincing Experience, which brought our whole Nation to join so
unanimously in expelling King James, for the Preservation of our Religion and
Liberties, there should be a Party among us mad enough to desire the placing his
Family again on the Throne.« »You are not in Earnest!« answered the old Man;
»there can be no such Party. As bad an Opinion as I have of Mankind, I cannot
believe them infatuated to such a Degree! There may be some hot-headed Papists
led by their Priests to engage in this desperate Cause, and think it a Holy War;
but that Protestants, that Members of the Church of England should be such
Apostates, such Felos de se, I cannot believe it; no, no, young Man,
unacquainted as I am with what has past in the World for these last thirty
Years, I cannot be so imposed upon as to credit so foolish a Tale: But I see you
have a Mind to sport with my Ignorance.« »Can it be possible,« replied Jones,
»that you have lived so much out of the World as not to know, that during that
Time there have been two Rebellions in favour of the Son of King James, one of
which is now actually raging in the very Heart of this Kingdom?« At these Words
the old Gentleman started up, and,
