The great occasion of our meeting here is, for Preservation of the Peace in matters Ecclesiastical as well as Civil: By matters Ecclesiastical is meant matters of the Church, and by the Church is meant the Church of England as ‘tis by Law Established in this Kingdom, the Constitutions of which are undoubtedly the best of any now in practice in any other part of the Christian World, as coming nearest to that Forme of divine Worship which was taught by our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles, and which indeed is a Member of that very Church which was at Unity with it self for some Centuries after Christ's Ascension, as making the whole Scriptures the Rule of our Faith; as believing and acknowledging for Orthodox, the Doctrines of the prime Primitive Fathers, and the Four first General Councils.

THIS IS now principally Addressed to you, because I know you will read, not with biass'd Understanding, nor Minds preposs'd or warpt, but with unprejudiced Candour and Fairness; and will put that natural and genuine Construction on this most Noble Author's Speech, which, considering the sincerity of his Intentions, it ought to receive; which were (when it was spoken, and continues the same now it is Printed) no other than to support and justifie the Legal proceedings of the late Convention and Parliament, in the placing Their present Majesties on the Throne of their Ancestors, That being (Ultimum necessitatis Praesidium, as Grotius's words are, i.e. *) the last Refuge in that extream Necessity the Government was then brought to, by Those Evil Councellors, Judges and Ministers, who had been imployed by the Late King, to subvert and extirpate the Protestant Religion, and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, in ways so open and violent, that (as Suetonius saith) vix referri, audirive, nedum credi fas est, it is scarce allowable either to be related, or heard, and much less to be believed.

Being desired by the Grand-Jury, several of the Justices of the Peace and Gentlemen of the County of Essex, to print the Charge I delivered at the General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, held at Chelmsford the 10th of July 1705, I rather chose to expose my self to the Censure of some People than refuse their Request, and have accordingly printed the same, and set my Name to it; which is as follows.

The Court of Sessions of ye peace is appointed by our Constitution for ye better Securing of ye persons & properly of ye Subjects from Violence & Wrong, & for ye maintaining of publick order within ye Compass of its Juridiction. It is ye happiness of this Nation to have Justice as it were brought to our doors by ye many Settled Courts yt are all over ye Kingdom & by ye Itinerant Jurisdiction of ye Judges in their Circuits. That Justice is near at hand to us & ye Course of it cannot be obstructed even by our Princes, for if ye Sovereign should send any illegal message to ye Judges to stop their proceedings, it is their duty to go on in their business without having regard to ye same. In this manner has our wise & Excellent Government secured ye Subjects from abuses from one another & from Tyranny in ye Prince. But for an age past this happy State of things amongst us has been attempted to be overturned by too many persons racking their brains for inventions to discharge our princes from all humane obligations of doing right to their people. And tho ye notions for this purpose have been chiefly advanced by such as have had their particular View in making their Court to their prince in this manner, yet many well meaning persons have given into them & been so far imposed upon therein, as to make it a point of Conscience to be slaves, when God & ye Laws of ye Land Suffer them to be free. Upon this account it may be a piece of good Service to our dear Country to endeavour to rectifie these mistakes about Civil Government wch are so dangerous to ye publick liberty. And this it may be no hard matter to do, if we consider ye Original & End of Government. As to ye Original of it, since by nature men are equal, Sovereignty could not be introduced, but by ye appointment of God, or ye Consent of Men Express or Implied. (For as to Conquest, in Such a case ye people may be called prisoners or slaves, but not properly Subjects till their wills be brought to Submit to ye Government. So ye Conquest may make way for a Governmt but cannot institute it.)

Her Majesty having been pleased to appoint us Judges for this Circuit, to put the Laws of this Nation in Execution, and being ready to proceed thereon, I cannot omit laying before you the Excellency of our Laws, compared with those Abroad. Laws, which do not authorize, but check and oppose Sword, Fire, Persecution, Oppression, and Inquisition. They preserve every Man's Liberty and Property, and are made for the Support of the good Government, as establish'd and settled by them. Her Majesty knowing that the best Foundation is in Religion, builds on that Rock, and I can assure you, [4] has taken an unalterable Resolution, to prefer none to any Dignities in Church or State (which are in her Donation) but such as are Men of conspicuous Virtue, Piety, Morality, and Temper.

I am commanded by the King's Proclamation, to enforce and recommend to you the indispensable Obligations you lye under, of becoming a sober and religious People. It is the Interest of Princes, to make their Subjects virtuous; for by the means the End of all Laws may be answer'd, with- [A 2–4] out having recourse to severities. The Design of all human Laws is, To secure Property, to oblige Men out of fear of Penalties, to live honestly and justly, and to honour and obey their Superiors. But these can restrain no further, than the Fear and Danger of being discovered can make Impressions upon us; whereas if Men were really virtuous and good, there would be no occasion for Penalties to awe them; for no Privacy or Security whatsoever can tempt a good Man to do the least Injustice to any one, much less Acts of Violence and Oppression. As for what concerns a future State, that being properly the business of the Clergy, I will not invade their Province. But since so many of them are graciously pleased to honour this Court, and are ready upon all occasions to assist us; I will beg leave for once to take a Text out of the Bible, to be the Foundation of my following Discourse. When thou takest any matter in hand, consider the End thereof, and thou shalt never do amiss. Though upon Second Thoughts I find I had no Occasion to ask this Favour, since we have the Remark of an old Lawyer much to the same Purpose: That a wise Man begins all his Actions from the End. To illustrate this by Example. Did but Men consider the unhealthfulness, Poverty, and other ill Consequences that necessarily attend Drunkenness, they wou'd [5] not so often put their Hands with full Glasses to their Mouths. The Stat. of King James the First against this detestable Sin of Drunkenness, is very properly for your Perusal.

Ad General' Quarterial' Session' Pacis Domini Regis, tent' pro Com' Middlesex' prædict' Die Lunæ in Septimano proximo post clausum Paschæ scil' uicesimo primo Die Aprilis, quarto Anno Regni Domini Georgij nunc Regis Magn' Britan'. & c.

His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, Assembled at this present General Quarter-Sessions, being of Opinion, that the Charge this Day given, by Whitlocke Bulstrode, Esq; the Chair-Man, to the several Juries now Assembled, is a very Learned and Useful Charge, and highly tending to the Service of His Majesty and His Government, do, on their Behalfs, and also at the Request of the said several Juries, desire, that the said Mr. Busltrode would be pleased to cause his said CHARGE to be Printed.

In the SAVOY.

Printed by Eliz. Nutt and R. Gosling, (Assigns of Edward Sayer, Esq;) for R. Gosling at the Mitre and Crown in Fleetstreet, 1718.

A 2–i

To the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Parker, Baron of Macclesfield, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, &c.

My Lord,

The great Humanity, with which your Lordship treats all Mankind, and the great Goodness with which your Lordship receives Men of Distinction, cannot but render you dear to the whole Nation.

You that are Sworn to serve upon the Grand Inquest, for the Body of this City and Liberty!

The Laws of England are, undoubtedly, as the great Oracle of them, my Lord Coke, remarks, in the best, [6] most exquisite, and peculiar manner that could have been, framed and adapted for the Government of this Realm; and the frequent Occasions they give us, of Meeting, as now we do, are none of the least Proofs of the Excellency of them; the Reason thereof being for the quick and ready Distribution of Justice, which is the Soul of it, and without which it loses its very Nature.

To love the Publick, to study Universal Good, and to promote the Interest of the whole World, as far as lies within our power; is surely the Height of Goodness, and makes that Temper which we call Divine. Ld Shaftesbury's Characteristicks, vol. I. p. 37.

LONDON: Printed for R. Mountagu at the Bible in Shear-Lane near Temple-Bar, and sold by Mr. Graves in St-James's Street, Mr. Bettesworth in Paternoster Row, Mr. Meadows and Mr. Brotherton in Cornhill, and Mr. Stagg in Westminster-Hall. 1720. (Price One Shilling.)

Chairman of the Quarter-Sessions held at the Devizes the 26th Day of April A.D. 1720.

We the Grand Jury, sworn to serve on the behalf of our Sovereign Lord the King for the Body of this County, for the present Sessions; do take the liberty to return our hearty Thanks, for your Excellent Charge: wherein you have so fully instructed [4] us, in our Duty to God, our King and Country.

Printed at the Desire of the Justices of the Peace for the County, and the High-Constables and Petty-Constables Juries.

—Quid Demens manifestat negas? en Pectus inustœ

Deformant maculœ; vitiisque indevit imago

—Aduletra mens est. Claud.

LONDON, Printed for D. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar, and R. Gosling at the Midde-Temple-Gate, Fleet-Street. 1723.

T O Whitlocke Bulstrode, Esq;

We the High Constables and Petty Constables within the several Hundreds of the County of Middlesex, being duly sensible of the great growth of Immorality and Profafehess within our several Districts or Divisions; And knowing that, with the Divine Assistance, nothing can put a Stop to the further Progress thereof more, than the Zeal and Vigilance of the Worthy magistrates and other Inferiour Officers, in putting the Laws in execution agaisnt such Offenders; Do make it our humble Request to Your Worship, That you would be pleas'd to cause the Excellent CHARGE, given us this Day, to be Printed: Which [* 1] we hope may tend to the Encouragement of Inferiour Officers to do their Duty, and be a great Means to prevent growing Impiety.

The great Infirmities of my Body forced me for some Years last past to decline all Publick Business: and tho' I am now very little better, nor indeed will my Age give me leave to expect much Amendment; yet the Desires, or rather the Commands of the Gentlemen and Freeholders, to whom I am so much in-[4] debted, are of more force than, and superiour to, my own Inclinations, and just Excuses. I am therefore once more come amongst you, and I cannot but think it probable, that in this Juncture of Affairs, you will expect and require from me some account of our present Circumstances. Give me leave therefore to look a little back: And from that Reflection I must observe to you, that out of Gratitude as well as Duty, we ought to be the most sober and religious People in the World; for there is no Nation under Heaven, that can shew so many signal, wonderful, and miraculous Preservations from the visible and immediate Hand of Providence.

THE short notice I had of the Honour designed me on this Occasion, together with the Misfortune of a Mind weakened and impaired by a long Infirmity of Body, might in reason have excused me from the Task I am now undertaking: But when I consider the Oath ye have taken, to present all such Matters as shall be given ye in Charge; it seems to me to imply an Obligation on the Court to give ye matters in Charge: and therefore I shall endeavour to [6] acquit my self of that Duty in the best manner that, under such disadvantages, I am able: And that ye may the better retain what I deliver, will (by way of Method) reduced the Matters which I shall recommend to your Enquiry, to three heads.

Missdx. Ss Ad General' Quarterial' Session' Pacis Domini Regis tent' pro Com. Middlesex' apud Hick'-s Hall in St John-Street, in Com. praedict. per. adjorn. Die Mercur. scilicet decimi terita Die Octobris, Anno Regni Domini Georgii nunc Regis Magnae Britanniae, &c dudecimo.

This Court being sensible that the Charge, Given by Sir Daniel Dolins, Kt. Chairman of this present Sessions, on Thursday last, being the first Day of this Sessions then begun and holden for this County at Westminster-Hall, to the Grand-Jury, and other Juries, then and there assembled, Is a Pious, Loyal, and Learned Charge, very much tending to promote a Dutiful Zeal and Affection for His Majesties Person, Royal Family, Administration, and Government: The Suppression of Vice, and all Kinds of Corruption; and well suited and fitted for the Encouragement, Encrease, and Propagation of Virtue; and a Faithful, Diligent Discharge of every Office and Trust: Doth Order, that the Thanks of this Court be, and they are thereby Given to the said Sir Daniel Dolins for His said Charge; And this Court doth Desire, that for the Benefit of the Publick, the said Sir Daniel Dolins will be pleased to Cause his said Charge to be printed.

Civitas, Burgas & Villa Westm. in Com. Middx. {ss. Ad Generalem Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Domini Regis ten' apud Westm. pro Libertate' Decani & Capituli Ecclesiae Collegiat. beati Petri Westm. Civil. Burgi. & Villae Westm. in Comital. Middlesexiae, &c. primo.

His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this City and Liberty of Westminster, now assembled at this General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held for the said City and Liberty, being of the Opinion that the Charge this Day given by Sirjohn Gonson the Chairman, (in the Absence of the Right Honourable John Lord Delawar, the present Chairman of this Session) to the Grand Jury, sworn to enquire for our Soveraign Lord the King, for the Body of this City and Liberty; and to the High and Petty Constables of the same, is a very Loyal, Learned, Ingenious, Excellent, and Useful Charge, highly tending to the Service of His Majesty, and his Administration and Government. Have unanimously agreed and resolved, That the Thanks of this Court be, and the same are hereby given, to the said Sir John Gonson, for his said Charge; And desire that he will be pleased to cause the same to be Printed and Published, for the better Information of the Inhabitants, and publick Officers of this City and Liberty, in the Performance of their respective Duties.

To the Gentlemen of the Grand Jury of the City of Bristol and County of the same City.

GENTLEMEN,

Could I with any Decency have excused my self from printing the following Speech after your Commands to publish it, the same, being no more intended for the Press than it is fit for it, had never thus appear'd abroad. The only Recommendation of this Charge to your least Notice, were those slight Touches in it relating to our happy Establishment: And your View in having it thus come into the World, I look upon as kindly giving me a proper Opportunity to clear my self from the Aspersion mention'd in your Presentment, which I hope the following Pages will effectually do. I am,

Gentlemen,

Your Most Obedient and

Most Humble Servant,

William Cann.

Printed at the Desire of the Justices of the Peaces for the said Royalty, and of the Grand Jury.

LONDON: Printed by Charles Ackers, in Great-Swan-Alley, St. John's -Street. MDCCXXVIII.

Turr & Libertat. Turr. London. } ss. Ad Generalem Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Domini Regis tent' apud le Court-house super Towerhill magna infra Libertat' Turr' dicti Domini Regis London. Praedict' in & pro Libertat' Praedict' & Praecinct' ejusdem, Die Martis (scilicet Decimo Sexto Die Julii, Anno Regni Domini Georgii Secundi, nunc Regis Magnae Britanniae, &c. Secundo.

Whereas Sir John Gonson Knight, Chairman at this General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, held for the Tower of London Liberties, and Precincts thereof, having this Day given to the Grand Jury, sworn at this present Sessions of the Peace, held for the said Liberty, a Loyal, Learned and Ingenious Charge, and tending much to the Promoting of Virtue and Religion; it is unanimously Agreed and Ordered by this Court, That the Thanks of this Court be, and the same are hereby given, to the said Sir John Gonson for such his Charge. And further, the Court desires, that he would be pleased to cause the same to be Printed.

Printed at the Desire of the Justices of the Peace in both the said Commissions, and of the respective Grand Juries.

LONDON:

Printed by Charles Ackers, in Great-Swan-Alley, St. John's -Street. MDCCXXVIII

Civitas, Burgus, & Villa Westm. in Com. Middx. { ss. Ad Generalem Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Domini Regis tent' apud Westm. pro Liberta' Decani & Capituli Ecclesiae Collegial, beati Petri Westm. Civit', Burgi, & Villae Westm. in Comital. Midx & Sancti Martini le Grand, London' die Jovis scilicet undecimo die Julii, Anno Regni Domini Georgii Secundi, Dei Gratia nunc Regis Magna Britanniae, &c secundo.