The Names of _Whig_ and _Tory_ will, I am afraid, last as long among us, as those of _Guelf_ and _Ghibelline_ did in _Italy_. I am sorry for it: but to some they become necessary for Distinction Sake; not so much for the Principles formerly adapted to each Name, as for particular and worse Reasons. For there has been such chopping and changing both of Names and Principles, that we scarce know who is who. I think it therefore necessary, in order to appear in my own Colours, to make a publick Profession of my _Political Faith_; not doubting but it may agree in several Particulars with that of many worthy Persons, who are as undeservedly aspers'd as I am. My Notion of a _Whig_, I mean of a real _Whig_ (for the Nominal are worse than any Sort of Men) is, That he is one who is exactly for keeping up to the Strictness of the true old _Gothick Constitution_, under the _Three Estates_ of _King_ (or _Queen_) _Lords_ and _Commons_; the _Legislature_ being seated in all Three together, the _Executive_ entrusted with the first, but accountable to the whole Body of the People, in Case of Male Administration. A true _Whig_ is of Opinion, that the Executive Power has as just a Title to the _Allegiance_ and Obedience of the Subject, according to the _Rules of known Laws enacted by the Legislative_, as the _Subject_ has to _Protection, Liberty_ and _Property_: And so on the contrary. A true _Whig_ is not afraid of the Name of a _Commonwealthsman_, because so many foolish People, who know not what it means, run it down: The _Anarchy_ and _Confusion_ which these Nations fell into near Sixty Years ago, and which was _falsly_ called a _Commonwealth_, frightning them out of the true Construction of the Word. But Queen _Elizabeth_, and many other of our best Princes, were not scrupulous of calling our Government a _Commonwealth_, even in their solemn Speeches to _Parliament_. And indeed if it be not one, I cannot tell by what Name properly to call it: For where in the very _Frame_ of the _Constitution_, the Good of the _Whole_ is taken care of by the _Whole_ (as 'tis in our Case) the having a _King_ or _Queen_ at the Head of it, alters not the Case; and the softning of it by calling it a _Limited Monarchy_, seems a Kind of Contradiction in Terms, invented to please some weak and doubting Persons. And because some of our _Princes_ in this last Age, did their utmost Endeavour to destroy this Union and Harmony of the _Three Estates_, and to be _arbitrary_ or _independent, they_ ought to be looked upon as the _Aggressors_ upon our Constitution. This drove the other _Two Estates_ (for the Sake of the publick Preservation) into the fatal Necessity of providing for themselves; and when once the Wheel was set a running, 'twas not in the Power of Man to stop it just where it ought to have stopp'd. This is so ordinary in all violent Motions, whether mechanick or political, that no body can wonder at it.