judgment and persuasion, concerning the duty and Oath of Allegiance, I cannot blame those that so understand the words of the Engagement, if they abominate the very thought of taking it.

But there wanteth not great probability of reason on the other side, to induce us to believe that the latter and lower sense is rather to be deemed the immediate and declared intent of the Imposers. Although from the ground of the persuasion now last alleged it cannot be much doubted, but that it was in their Vote and Design, and consequently more agreeable to their secret, reserved, and ultimate intent; between which two whatsoever difference there is, † the Engager is not concerned in it, or not yet: the Equivocation, whatsoever it be, lieth on the Imposer's part, and therefore ought not to be put on the Promiser's score. That therefore the words of the Engagement according to the declared intent of the Imposers are to be understood in the lowest or at least in the middle sense, there are, amongst other, these Probabilities. §

1. That many prudent and conscientious men of the Royal Party, as well Divines and Lawyers as others, have thus understood it, who, we presume, would not for any outward respect in the world have taken it, if they conceived any more to have been intended in it.

2. That it hath been often || affirmed, both publicly and privately in several parts of the Kingdom, if we may believe either common fame or the reports of sundry credible particular persons, by those that have persuaded or pressed others to subscribe, that the same is the very true intent and meaning of it, and no other.

3. That if the Imposers had been minded to have declared

6

*Although from the ground' &c. So corrected by Sanderson from the original form given in previous Editions of the Imposers, whatsoever cause of suspicion there may be that the former meaning may be more agreeable' &c.

f 'whatsoever difference there is.' In the first instance this was written as it appears in previous Editions: 'between which two if there be any difference, (as it is not impossible but there may be,) the Engager' &c.

'the Equivocation,' &c. In the first instance, as in previous Edd., the Equivocation, if there be any in that, must be put upon the Imposer's, not on the Promiser's score.'

§ That therefore-these Probabilities.' Originally written, as given in previous Edd., For thus believing there are amongst other these Probabilities.'

|| 'been often.' In previous Edd. often been.'

an intent of binding to More, it had been the easiest thing in the world for them to have framed* the words so as not to be capable of a construction binding to Less.

4. That, as is also credibly reported, whilst the form of words was under debate, the opinion of those that would have had it set higher, (viz. 'I promise to be faithful to the Commonwealth of England, and to maintain the same as it is now established against King and Lords,')† was not followed, as held unseasonable; and the vote carried, for the more moderate expression wherein it now standeth.

5. That the Imposers, intending by the Engagement to secure themselves at the most but against the designs and attempts of those men, who they knew well enough hold them for no other than Usurpers, must be in reason supposed to require no more assurance of them by the Engagement, than such as may and is usually given to Usurpers; which is, not an acknowledgment of their title, and a promise of Allegiance, but merely and at the most§ a promise of living quietly, so long as they are under their power, and enjoy their protection.

6. That it is a received Maxim of Political Prudence, for all new Governors, (especially those that either|| introduce a new form of Government, or come in upon a questionable Title,) to abstain from all harsh proceedings, even against those whom they know to be evil affected to their power, and not so much as to exasperate them, (though it be in the power of their hands to destroy them,) especially in the beginning of their Government, but rather to sweeten them into a better opinion of their persons, and to win upon them by Acts of Grace and Oblivion; for Remissius imperanti melius paretur. So as they may have but any tolerable kind of assurance from them in the mean time, of living quietly and peaceably under them. We have no reason therefore to believe that the Imposers of this Engagement, who have acted the parts of the greatest at the most but.' In previous Edd. especially.'

* it had been-framed.' Originally written, as given in previous Edd., they might easily have framed.'

The words within this parenthesis were added by Sanderson in the margin. They do not appear in previous Editions.

SANDERSON, VOL. V.

1

*

Politicians so perfectly and successfully hitherto, as to possess themselves so fully of the Supreme Power of so great and flourishing a Kingdom in so few years, would be so impolitic as not to proceed by the same rules, that all wise and successful persons have ever practised in the managing and for the establishing of an Acquired Power.

VI. Out of all these Premisses together, waiving any positive Conclusion, either Affirmative or Negative, touching the Lawfulness or Unlawfulness of subscribing in universali, I shall declare my opinion only in these few following particulars.

1. That it is not lawful for any man to take the Engagement with a resolution to break it.

2. That therefore, whosoever thinketh the words of the Engagement do contain a promise of any thing which is not lawful for him to perform, cannot take it with a good Conscience.

3. That whosoever so understandeth the words of the Engagement, as if they did oblige him to any thing contrary to his Allegiance, or render him unable to act according thereunto, upon any seasonable emerging occasion, cannot with a good Conscience take it.

4. That if any man for any temporal benefit, or avoiding of any temporal damage, shall take the Engagement with a doubting Conscience, that is, before he be persuaded in his judgment, upon some probable ground of reason, that it is lawful for him so to do, he sinneth therein.

5. That if any man, after a serious desire and moral endeavour § of informing himself as rightly and impartially || as he can, what are the duties and obligations of his Allegiance on the one side, and what is most probably the meaning intended by the words of the Engagement on the other side, shall find himself well satisfied in this persuasion, that the performance

*flourishing.' Originally written 'famous.'

† 'would.' Originally written 'should.'

'waiving.' In the Original 'wayving.' Previous Edd. ' weighing.'

§ and moral endeavour.' Not in previous Edd.

|| 'and impartially.' Not in previous Edd.

6

¶ and obligations.' Not in previous Edd.

in the mean time of what is required by the Engagement, so understood as he apprehendeth it ought to be,* is no way contrary (for any thing he can discern for the present) to his bounden Allegiance, so long as he is under such a force, as that he cannot exercise it; and likewise, that whensoever that force is so removed from him, or he from under it, as that he hath power to act according to his Allegiance, the Obligation of the Engagement of itself determineth and expireth; and out of these considerations, rather than suffer extreme† prejudice in his Person, Estate, or necessary Relations, shall subscribe the Engagement; since his own heart condemneth him not, neither will I.

SIR,

I HAVE now two requests to you, which I doubt not but you will think reasonable. The one, that whatsoever use you shall please to make of these papers, or any thing therein contained, for your own, or any friend's satisfaction, yet you would not deliver any copies abroad, lest they should come to be printed, as some other papers of mine, written in this manner, have been without my knowledge. This I desire, both in respect of the danger I might incur from the displeasure of the Potent Party, if any such thing should come abroad; as also lest upon the consideration of some things here hinted, they might think the words of the Engagement too light, and might thence take occasion to lay some heavier Obligation upon us, in words that should oblige to More. The other request is, that since I have not another perfect copy of what I now § send you, you would procure it to be transcribed for me; and either the copy so transcribed, or these very papers rather, when you have transcribed them, transmit inclosed in a Letter, or by some Friend that will be sure to deliver them safe, with his own hands, to

** 6 as he apprehendeth it ought to be.' Not in previous Edd.

+'suffer extreme,' &c. Sanderson wrote in the first instance: 'than suffer himself to be undone.'

another.' In previous Edd.

any other.'

§ 'I now.' now I.'

|| 'procure.' 'command.'

In previous Edd.

In previous Edd.

my son Robert Sanderson, an Apprentice at the Nag's Head in Pater Noster Row, to whom I shall write shortly that he may expect them.

Sir, I desire that my best respects may be heartily † presented to the good Gentlewoman, ‡ Mrs. Fell, to whom and all hers I wish much comfort and happiness. The like to you and yours, desiring your prayers. God endue us all with Grace and Wisdom fit for these evil times; to whose Mercy and Blessing commend us all. I rest,