The next thing our Author would establish, is, That there is nothing in Nature or in Story so ridiculous, as the management of the Ministers, in the Examination of the Popish Plot.  Which being prov’d by Coleman’s and others Letters, and by both Houses by declaring the King’s Life to be in danger, &c. Yet they have persuaded the King to believe nothing of this danger; but to apprehend the Plot to be extreamly improv’d, if not wholly contriv’d by the Presbyterians.  And to think it more his concernment to have an end of all; then to have it search’d to the bottom:  and that this was the true reason, why four Parliaments, during the Examination of the Plot have been dissolv’d:

Reasonable People will conclude, that his Majesty and his Ministers have proceeded, not ridiculously, but with all that caution which became them.  For in the first heat and vehemence of the Plot, the Avenues of White-Hall were more strictly Guarded:  His Majesty abstaining from Places of publick Entertainment, and the Ministers taking all necessary Care in Council, both to discover Conspiracies and to prevent them.  So, that simply considered, the Popish Plot has nothing to do with the Dissolution of Four Parliaments.  But the Use which has been made of it by the House of Commons to Dis-inherit the Duke, to deny the King Supplies, and to make some Votes, which the King declares to be illegal, are the real and plain occasions of dissolving those Parliaments.  ’Tis only affirm’d, but never will be prov’d by this Author, that the King or his Ministers have ever been desirous to stifle the Plot, and not to have it search’d into the bottom.  For to what end has his Majesty so often offer’d the Popish Lords to be brought to their Trial, but that their innocence or guilt, and consequently, that of the whole party might be made manifest?  Or why, after the execution of the Lord Stafford, did the House of Commons stop at the other Lords, and not proceed to try them in their turns?  Did his Majesty stifle the Plot when he offered them, or did they refuse to sound the depth of it, when they would not touch upon them?  If it were for want of Witnesses, which is all that can be said, the case is deplorable on the part of the accused; who can neither be bail’d, because impeach’d in Parliament, nor admitted to be tryed, for fear they should be acquitted for want of evidence.  I do not doubt but his Majesty, after having done what in him lies for the utmost discovery of the Plot, both by frequent Proclamations of Indemnity, and Reward, to such as would come in, and discover more, and by several others too long to repeat, is desirous (for what good man is not?) that his care and trouble might be over.  But I am much deceiv’d, if the Antimonarchical Party be of the same opinion; or that they desire the Plot should be either wholly discover’d, or fully ended.  For ’tis evidently their Interest to keep it on foot, as long as possibly they can; and to give it hot water, as