As for the Dutchess of M. either she is a very sincere lover of downright idleness, or she has cousen’d all parts of Christendom, where she has wandred for these last Ten years.  I hope our solid Author will pardon me this digression; but now we have had our dance, let us to our serious business.

While these, and their Creatures are at the Helm, what can we expect for the security of the Protestant Religion, or what opposition to the ambitious designs of France?

I suppose more reasonably on the other side, that no such persons are at the Helm, and that what he has assum’d is but precarious.  But I retort upon him, that if some of his Party were the Ministers, the Protestant Religion would receive but very cold assistance from them, who have none at all themselves.  And for the growth of the French Monarchy, I have already told you, to whose Counsels we are beholden for it.

He goes on; you will tell me that the supplyes so given may be appropriated, to these particular ends of supporting our Alliances, and the relief of Tangier:  And it may be so limited by Act of Parliament, that it cannot be diverted to other uses.  But he answers that Objection by a Story of Monsieur de Sully’s telling of H. 4th of France:  let the States raise the Money, and tye it as they please; when they are dissolved, you may dispose of it as you please.

All this is to confirm his first unalterable principle, that the King must be sure to finger nothing; but be us’d as Fishers do their Cormorant, have his mouth left open, to swallow the prey for them, but his throat gagg’d that nothing may go down.  Let them bring this to pass, and afterwards they will not need to take away his Prerogative of making War:  He must do that at his own peril, and be sent to fight his Enemies with his hands bound behind him.  But what if he thinks not their Party fit to be intrusted, least they should employ it against his Person? why then, as he told you they will give him nothing.  Now whose will be the fault in common reason, if the Allyances be not supported, and Tangier not relieved?  If they will give him nothing, before they bring him to a necessity of taking it upon their terms, asmuch as in them lyes they dissolve the Government:  and the Interest of the Nation abroad must be left in the Suds, till they have destroy’d the Monarchy at home.  But since God, and the Laws have put the disposing of the Treasury into his Majesties hands, it may satisfie any reasonable Englishman, that the same Laws have provided for the mispending of the Treasury, by calling the publick Officers into question for it before the Parliament.  For God be thanked we have a House of Commons, who will be sure, never to forgoe the least tittle of their Priviledges, and not be so meal-mouth’d as the States of France, of whom neither Monsieur Sully, nor any of his Successors, have never had any cause