TESTIMONY OF PRINCIPAL CARSTARES.

169

the example of King William, when so many value themselves upon ill-treating him." In adding his own testimony, he says, "As to his actions in the field, or on the throne, they are far from wanting my pen to defend them; but as to his personal piety, I take the freedom to affirm, from unquestionable authority, and some little positive knowledge, he was a prince of the greatest piety, sincerity, and unfeigned religion, as either history relates, or memory informs of, in the world."

In the life of Principal Carstares, who was confidential secretary to King William, and attended him in his campaigns, the writer says, "That monarch, amidst all the hurry of secular affairs in which he was involved, found leisure for performing the duties of piety and devotion, at which Mr. Carstares frequently assisted him. Upon the day of battle, he always accompanied him in his chariot to the field. He had thus many opportunities of studying the character of that great man in the most trying circumstances, and of admiring his tranquillity and composure immediately before action, as well as his absolute contempt of danger in the field. Mr. Carstares ascribed both the one and the other to the influence of religious principles, no less than to constitutional courage.*"

During the paper war that was now carried on between opposing parties, the high-church writers complained bitterly of the abuses that resulted from the unrestrained liberty of the press. Looking back to former days, when they had it so far wholly in their own hands, that nothing could proceed from their adversaries that had not passed through the ordeal of a state-licenser, who was usually one of their own party, they could not endure with patience the competition for hard words to which they had been so long unaccustomed.

Carstares' State Papers, p. 38, n.

170 PROJECT FOR RESTRAINING THE PRESS.

Although, upon a comparison of their writings, they had the manifest advantage in the license they allowed themselves in speaking of their opponents, yet men of their high and arbitrary principles, who had been used to the chair of authority, could not brook opposition, especially when conveyed in the form of satire, or directed against opinions that had long been deemed sacred. Unable to comprehend the sublime maxim, "That truth has nothing to fear from inquiry," and unwilling to admit the possibility of their being mistaken, they abhorred the thought of submitting established opinions to so fearful a hazard. But there was also much craft at the bottom; for they could not but foresee that the free discussion of topics so important as the principles of government, and the claims of the priesthood, would awaken the people to a knowledge of their own rights, and undermine the system of despotism, which the clergy were so anxious to establish, both in church and state. There is, therefore, little room for surprise at the outcry against the liberty of the press, which, when it attacked their favourite dogmas, was immediately pronounced to be licentiousness; not considering how much more obnoxious they were to the charge, by the intemperance of their language, and their own want of forbearance. As the politics of these men were patronized by the government, and the clergy took great pains to instil them into the people, there was great reason to apprehend some vindictive measure against the freedom of the press, which had been thrown open to all parties by the Revolution. This notion was further strengthened by the proceedings in convocation. There, the inferior clergy, true to the principles that have always actuated such assemblies, openly avowed themselves unfriendly to any discussion that affected the dogmas, or the exterior worship of their church, which they modestly construed into an attack upon Religion. In representing their complaints to the Upper House, "they reminded their lordships of the daring licentiousness of the

DE FOE'S ESSAY UPON ITS REGULATION.

171

press, through which, for some years past, several books had been printed, published, and dispersed, in which not only the worship and discipline of the church, but the known fundamentals of our holy religion had been impugned: They therefore desired their lordships to take the matter into their serious consideration; not doubting but that through their interest with those in power, they would be able to provide a speedy and effectual remedy for the growing evil."* They also requested them to use their interest in parliament. for a bill to repress the licentiousness of the press.

From so formidable a phalanx, the friends of liberty had every thing to dread. Reason has little chance in a contest with power, which is always dangerous when wielded by incorporated bodies of the clergy; and it would in all probability have been brought to their assistance upon this occasion, had not political circumstances interfered to prevent it. Arguments, however, were not wanting. It was to meet this gathering storm, that De Foe now published "his Essay upon the Regulation of the Press. London: 1704." 4to. Not having been able to procure the pamphlet, the present writer is unable to state his argument; but when the subject was revived some years afterwards, De Foe wrote upon it in his Review, as will be seen, when we come to detail that period of his history. In the mean time, it may be observed, that he was not insensible to the abuses of the press, particularly the practice of pirating popular works; which he would have been glad to see corrected, provided it could be done without any intrenchment upon its liberty. But he deprecated, above all things, the revival of a statelicencer, which would throw the press into the hands of one party, and place it at the mercy of a hireling, who would be the creature of those who paid him. In proposing a remedy for the mischief, De Foe says, "The road is as plain as, that

* Calamy's Life of Baxter, i. 654, &c.

172 TINDAL'S TRACT UPON THE SAME SUBJECT.

a conjunction of parts makes an addition of quantity. Two short clauses would heal all these evils; would prevent seditious pamphlets, lampoons, and invectives against the government, or at least prevent their going unpunished, and preserve to every man the fruit of his own labour and industry. FirstThat every author set his name to what he writes; and that every printer or publisher that prints or publishes a book without it, shall be deemed the author, and answerable for the contents. Secondly-That no man shall print another man's copy; or in English, that no printer or bookseller shall rob another man's house; for it really is no better; nor is it any slander, notwithstanding any pretence, to call it by that title."*

The subject was well handled at this time, in a short tract, intitled, "Reasons against restraining the Press. Lond. 1704." It was reprinted in Lord Somers's Tracts, and again by Mr. Baron, in his "Pillars of Priestcraft." The last mentioned editor had a copy of it that formerly belonged to Anthony Collins, in which it was ascribed to Dr. Tindal, who, there can be no doubt, was the real author. It is an able defence of free inquiry, and contains many unanswerable arguments to shew that there can be no rational freedom in any state, but where the liberty of the press is maintained..

* Preface to the second vol. of his Writings.

CHAPTER IX.

The Establishment of the Reformation in Scotland.—Where it assumes the Presbyterian Form.-And takes Root in the Nation.-The Stuarts become Converts to Prelacy.—And Persecute their Scottish Subjects.-Their horrible Cruelties.-De Foe's Vindication of the Sufferers.—Re-establishment of their Church at the Revolution.-Confirmed by various Acts of Parliament.-Contests between the Presbyterians and the Prelatists.-The latter take courage from the Accession of the Queen.-They correspond with the English Bishops.-Petition for a Toleration.-Their Encroachments upon the Church of Scotland.-Forbearance of the Presbyterians.— Base Conduct of Paterson, a deprived Bishop.-Bigotry of both Parties.De Foe discusses the Claims of the Scotch Dissenters in a Pamphlet.— State of Religion in Ireland.—Ascendancy of the Catholics.-Good Conduct of the Presbyterians at the Revolution.-They are rewarded by King William.-His Bounty revoked by Queen Anne.—The Union of Protestants broken by her Ministers.-Bill for Preventing the Growth of Popery.— Dishonourable Conduct of the Government.-Ludicrous Character of HighChurch Politics.-De Foe writes against the Bill.—And Addresses his Pamphlet to the Queen.- He discusses the Principles of the Measure.— And its Effect upon Ireland.-His Satire upon Church-Politics.

1704.

WHILST De Foe was engaged in the praiseworthy, but arduous employment of attempting to reconcile the differences of his own countrymen, he was not inattentive to what was transacting in other parts of the British empire; and his attention was directed first of all to North Britain.

When the Reformation was established in Scotland under, the superintendency of John Knox, it extended not merely to doctrines and ceremonies, but to the whole frame of the Popish hierarchy. In the room of that lordly edifice which