shortest way shortest way proposals establishment church pamphlet published prompted write pamphlet increased hostility wake accession throne written style publications attacked assumed people genuine view pamphlet raised embarrassing questions handling issue ministry led arrest libel imprisonment fell bankruptcy lasting influence subsequent writings years release published pamphlets attempted explain purpose views background king died succeeded england scotland ireland markedly tolerant william device known occasional qualify members church_of_england hold public office attending church service year supportive religious freedom critical device considered written pamphlet entitled occasional way concern year hostility increased bill occasional passed house_of_commons debated lords figures high church clergyman warned assuming positions political power lead followed press published number pamphlets making similar arguments december published pamphlet shortest way assuming stylistic conventions publications synopsis shortest way pamphlet consisting pages opens horses lacking perch stable forced rest ground fear horses moving stepping advises pray let stand fear speaker applies contemporary situation representing section accuses involvement notorious events past century including english civil war rebellion accusations increasingly sinister points speaker directly addresses king deposed king mock king brief history given past monarchs james treated opinion speaker major section comprises series arguments treated favourably numerous time war speaker turn offers counter arguments gradually escalating severity vision given happen church_of_england defended pamphlet ends rallying action defence church let thieves genre style shortest way traditionally classified satire disputed scholars suggested instead form hoax use features necessary considered true satire describes critical tradition surrounding work asking mainly inadequate irony satire suggests shortest way best understood ironic intentional fake meant difficulty contemporaries assessing work ironic proximity speaker voice high views ridiculed pamphlet mixes real observation assumes style target uses language metaphor particularly speaker comparison shortest way parody genre anglican sermon deploy structures initial horses expanded way parallels use biblical quotation initiate sermon reception legacy publication shortest way provoked immediate passionate reactions sides debate use genuine anti opinion speculation later occurred ironic pamphlet generated great deal publicity handling issue ministry resulted issuing warrant high secretary state earl nottingham arrest charge libel order given strict search having found seize papers high crime bring finally imprisoned avoiding summons capture fined stand occasions remained prison till november meantime business affairs sank ruin affair left lasting impression felt writings years following arrest release attempts explain shortest way viewpoint series explanatory pamphlets explanation late pamphlet shortest way dialogue suspected involvement speaker house obtaining release credited beginning professional relationship worked succeeded nottingham secretary state modern scholarly reception considered shortest way negative terms failed satire irony slight conclusion cites contemporary reaction work failed deliver objectives caused author problems critics offered praise extent managed style subjects indistinguishable shortest way frequently contrasted work irony eighteenth century considered succeeded use device modest proposal
The Shortest Way with the Dissenters