had power to remit or recede from any of these particulars and further what they had to propound concerning his affairs in England To which the Commissioners replied That they had acquainted him with their full power according to the instructions they had received from the Committees of Estates and Kirk in Scotland Upon which his Majesty made Answers That he would consider of their Propositions and doubted not but to return them such an Answer as might give his Kingdome of Scotland satisfaction and so dismissed them for the present But let us thus leave his Majesty and Council debating about the Scotch Commissioners propositions and discourse a little about his affairs under the conduct of the thrice noble and Illustrious Marquesse of Montross who having notwithstanding the opposition which Hamilton gave to the design obtained Commissioners from his Majesty to levy what force he could on that side the sea endeavoured to the utmost of his power to effect it but chiefly among the Princes of the German Empire where he found large and fair promises but very little real assistance onely the Duke of Holstein suppled him with four ships well arm'd and mann'd though these were likewise by some strange neglect delayed a long time at Amsterdam which much retarded the service Colonel Cochran likewise who had been sent Agent into Poland to the Scottish Merchants there for assistance of men and money having received a considerable quantity of money and good supply of corn disposed of the first to his own use sold the other and himself revolted from the service General King who was expected out of Sweden with a party of Horse came not all so many crosses there were in the beginning of the businesse as bad Omens to it's future ill successe But at length the Marquesse fearing least if the King should conclude with the Scots before he had attempted any thing his Commissions would be recalled fatally resolved to depart Scotland as he was so with four ships indifferently well armed but with not above six or seven hundred men and those most strangers besides a small Frigat of sixteen Guns and one thousand five hundred good Armes given him by the Queen of Sweden he set sail and this was all the strength he carried with him from Hamburgh to assault that potent Kingdome Two of these ships and those the biggest were sent before and directed to steer their course for the Orcades but these unfortunately met with a storm and were amongst those rocky Islands their men armes and ammunition cast away so that a third part of the force raised for this expedition was lost But notwithstanding these fatal disasters the sad presages of his ruine the noble Marquess proceeds and with the small number that was left him lands amongst the Islands where he gets together a pretty considerable number which had almost the face of an Army but was for the most part composed of raw and unskilfull fellows a party of these he sends out who without resistance enter the Isle of Orkney there being no Garrison there from thence he dispatches Commissions to Scotland and the Islands adjacent for the levying of Horse and Foot which because the inhabitants of those places to which they were sent could not resist obeyed and not long after the sending of those Commissions Montrosse himself with those forces he had and those Gentlemen resolved to engage in partaking of his fortune landed in Scotland at the point of Cathanes the very farthest land to the Northwest of that Kingdome The people here whom he expected to have joyned with him were so sensible of the miseries of the former war and now more terrified with the name of Foreigners deserted their dwellings and fled away some never stopping till they came to Edenburgh The Parliament of Scotland who were now assembled though they had former advice of the Marquesses designs yet could not tell the place of his landing but now alarm'd by the flying Countrey David Lesley is commanded with the body of the Army to march directly towards them for fear Montrosse should grow too numerous and Colonell Straughan whose valour the States highly approved is ordered with a party of select Horse to advance before to hinder the Marquesses levyes and if he saw opportunity to fight him Montrosse in the mean time to satisfie the World and because the people should not be startled at his invasion whilst the King was upon Treaty publishes a very patheticall Declaration declaring the justnesse of his cause and to clear himself from the aspersion of sinister ends and that his intention was onely against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdome raised and maintained a war against his Majesties father and did now by their wiles and subtile practices endeavour to destroy the son also and therefore exhorting all Subjects of that Nation to endeavour to free themselves from the tyranny of those who then by an usurped power ruled over them But notwithstanding this Declaration the Countrey came very slowly in Straughan in the mean time advances with all possible speed towards the Royal party whilest Montrosse had not for indeed he could not effect any thing Material besides the fortifying of Dunbath Castle but the Marquess hearing of the Enemies approach made his whole Forces march at a great rate to recover a passe yet neverthelesse before they could come at it the front of the Army discovered Straughan's forlorn hope who marching with hast upon the Marquesses Army found them both almost tired and out of breath and Order however a forlorn hope of 100. Foot are drawn out to meet them who giving them a resolute Charge forced them to no Orderly Retreat but being seconded by Straughan's whole body of Horse they again maintained their ground resolutely Charging upon the Marquesses main Body the Islanders immediately threw down their arms and cryed for quarter but the Holsteiners and Hamburgers made an Orderly retreat for the present into some bushes which having a short time defended they were at last enforced to yield This was a sad blow to his Majesties affairs in Scotland there being great hopes that had Montrosse succeeded and kept them in play both Kirk and State would have come to milder Conditions with him Yet the Marquess himself escaped for the present out of this Battel Though there were near two hundred slain and twelve hundred taken in the field for the Country coming in upon them few Escaped Amongst the Prisoners of Note there were taken Col. Hurry the Lord Frenderick Sir Francis Hay of Dalgettey Col. Hay of Noughton Col. Grey and several other Officers together with the Kings standard which contained this Emphatical Motto IVDGE AND REVENGE MY CAVSE O LORD and whereon was pourtrayed to the life the Effigies of his Majesties Father beheaded But long it was not ere this thrice Heroick Marquess fell into the hands of these his cruel Obdurate and inveterate enemies for though when he saw the battel at a
of State which the Cardinal defends and the King also enclines to his side by the instigation of the Queen his Mother yet nothing but the Cardinal's banishment will satisfie the Princes who join the Duke of Lorain to them then in the service of the Spaniard with an Army of ten thousand men so that they intend with his assistance if they could not obtain their desires by fair means to have forc't it Thus these differences were arrived at such a height that nothing but a Civil War was like to ensue which made his Sacred Majesty of England use his utmost endeavours to compose and stay this breach before it came to an utter overflow to which effect he daylie went to and fro betwixt the King the Princes endeavouring to bring them to a reconciliation urging by his own example the miseries and calamities that must necessarily fall upon every man's head by a Civil War telling the King that the late Example of his Royal Father of happy memory might be an inducement to him to be at peace with his Subjects rather then embroil his Kingdoms in a bloody War by which though he might for the present gain the better yet in the end he would still be sure to have the worse Yet these Arguments and his Majesty's earnest endeavours for peace and reconciliation produced nothing but only contract an unjust odium upon him from both parties for his good will the Princes believing that he counselled the King against them and the Cardinal again him So that he lost the love of both by endeavouring to make them love one another yet notwithstanding the ill successe he had this Noble Prince stil pursues his pacifick intentions til such time as he gains a conference between the King Cardinal and Princes but this proves ineffectual for the Princes heightened with the aid they expected from the Duke of Lorain instead of coming to an accord onely exasperate differences Yet his sacred Majesty ceases not but indeavours to bring them yet to a peaceable compliance and in order thereunto procures another conference where he himself would be Moderatour but this proves as ineffectual as the former For the Prince of Conde was above all others outragious and would come to no agreement except Mazarine were first banished France and the French King as violently persisted in his resolution against it alledging That he had approved himself both a faithfull servant and an able Minister of State So instead of agreement both sides prepare for Warre yet are both sides equally angry and exasperated against his sacred Majesty for his good will towards them and the nation the one and other party imagining that both he and his Mother had given counsels opposite to their designs But that which above all exasperated the Princes against his Majesty of England was the sudden luke-warmness of the Duke of Lorain in the businesse For though he had drawn off his Army as though he had complied with their resolutions to come to a battel yet being sent for by the Princes to advance towards Paris he refused to come which made the Princes believe there had been some underhand-dealing with him and that which most of all increased their jealousies that King Charles had a hand in it was this The Duke of Beaufort coming to the Camp of Lorain to desire him in the name of the Princes to come up and fight found there his Mâ—jesty his Brother the Duke of York in private conference with Lorain who withdrawing when Beaufort appeared Beaufort finding the Duke's aversness to the enterprize confirmed him and he confirmed the Princes of the King of England's endeavours whereby he had withdrawn Lorain from their party This coming to the peoples ears who were absolute favourers of the Princes and invetrate enemies to Mazarine so extremely incensed them against the English Princes that they threaten violence and indignities to their persons and are not afraid to affront the Queen their Mother in her Coach which made his Majesty to avoid the popular fury retire himself from the Lovure to St. Germane Nor is the Cardinal less incensed though under a more politick vail For though both Princes People might imagine and believe that his Majesty had counsel'd things opposite to their intentions yet the Cardinal very wel knew that he had advised the King as the best course to consent to his departure out of the Kingdom and that if he had endeavoured to draw Lorain from their party 't was only out of a desire he had to expedite their agreement he therefore resolves to thwart him in all his designs And so he did to the utmost of his endeavours For his Majesty though suspected by the Princes in his several conferences with Lorain to have endeavoured to divert him from them was onely transfacting with him for the recovery of his Kingdome of Ireland out of the hands of the English Republick to which effect several Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorain and the Lord Taaf two of which were 1. That the Duke of Loraine should transport an Army of 10000. men at his own charges into Ireland there to join with such as should be found Loyal for the Recovery of his Majesties Rights in that Kingdom 2. That the Duke of Lorain should by his Majesty be invested with the Power and Title of Protector Royal of Ireland These Articles though drawn up never came to be signed the cause of which some have imagined to be the disability of the Duke to perform the Enterprize without the Aid of some other Prince but we may in more reason guesse it proceeded from the strenuous endeavours of Mazarine his Majesty 's so lately made-made-enemy to divert the Duke's Army then from any other cause Many in England upon hearing of these Propositions made to the Duke of Lorain which I must confess some believe to have never proceeded any farther then Discourse of the Dukes feared his Majesties too great inclination to the Romish Religion which fear his after-retirement at St. Germain's convinced there was no need of For here he spent his time wholly in Piety and Devotions according to the best Worship of the Church of England never forgetting to pray for those his Enemies who were not only content to have deprived him of his Kingdomes but continually belched forth both slanders and maledictions against him His Majesty having staid at S. Germaines till such time as the heat of the popular fury was over which decreased still towards him as they found Mazarine more averse to him returned again to the Lovure where during his abode his brother the Duke of Glocester who had a long time been detained by the Iuncte of England in the Isle of Wight and was lately permitted by them to go to his Sister the Princess Royall in Holland came to him accompanied from the Hague by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile he was at his arrivall at Paris honourably received by the
strangely taken names of Religion and Liberty as hereafter will appear And these passages I shall the more fully insert as tending so much to his Majesties Interest here to the undeceiving of his good subjects who are not blinded with Interest which the Usurpers had endeavoured to make the most potent men in the Mation i. e. such as had the greatest sums of money by selling such cheap penny worths of the Kings Queens Bishops Deans and Chapters lands which together with the purchases of the Estates of such loyall subjects to his Majesty as those in power were pleased to stile Delinquents had near infatuated a good part of the Nation But to proceed let us now begin with these distractions 'T is an old Proverb in English When thieves fall out then honest men come by their Goods may it now prove as true as old which God be praised we have some reason to hope Oliver Cromwell the greatest though most heroick enemy of his King and Countrey being dead his son Richard was proclaimed Protector and for some times seemingly complyed with but Lambert's ambition which had long lain hid begins now to appear and something he whispers into the ears of the Army which mixt with the great love they had formerly for him easily creates a dislike of Richard's Government which afterwards grows to such a height that by a joynt-Conspiracy the Protectorship is disjoynted and Richurd deprived of his Government the taking away of which he as willingly consents to as they are ready to deprive him of it This was the first jarring which this Generation had amongst themselves which notwithstanding was composed by the Protector's easie consent without the shedding of one drop of blood But there yet remained to his Deposers the greatest task since they were sufficiently sensible that though they had pull'd down one civil Government they must be inforc't though never so unwillingly to set up another For they very well knew that they had already so much gull'd the Nation that they could not but now be sensible of their many abuses yet they fly to their old pretences of Religion and Liberty and under that pretence since they must at least establish the face of a civill Government they call again Resolving to have one like themselves that Iuncto which was formerly dissolved by Oliver those that murdered their King and had for some years enslaved their Native Countrey Yet I cannot tell whether it were their inclinations in the Generall or Lambert's particular perswasions which called these men even out of the grave of infamy to sit again in the House and rule as Lords Paramount over these Nations though I have a great deal of reason to believe ir was the latter since Lambert's ambition might rather prompt him to begin with those men and con over an old one experimentally taught him by his old Master Oliver then hazard the venture of a new lesson But this Iuncto being thus recall'd to their seats in the House and the exercise of their former Arbitrary power and authority by their Quondam servants of the Army accept of the invitation and accordingly met in the Parliament House whether likewise there assembled severall of those Members which had formerly been secludec and debar'd sitting in 1648. These demand now an equall right with the others either to Consult or Vote but as they had been formerly violently thrust out so they are now forceably kept out by the Officers of the Army This causes another as great distraction of their affairs For these secluded Members do not only dispute their right by Law and Reason which could nothing prevail with sword-men but Sir George Booth and some others levy Armes now more truly in defence of Parliamentary priviledges then those raised in 1642. This small Army rtised in Cheshire gave Lambert as fair an opportunity to put in execution his ambitious designes as possibly could be for he being sent with the greatest force of the Army against Sir George easily overcomes him takes him prisoner and retakes those Holds which he had possest himself of and so returns victorious This fortunate successe revived his antient credit with the Army and now he begins to practise the ruin of those which he had so lately set up that he might give full scope to his own Ambition They found out his designes but yet not being able to hinder them are forced shortly after to submit to a dissolution Thus was this Nation hurried into changes of Government and Anarchicall confusions by persons who endeavoured only to promote their own ends and self-interest yet by these strange endeavours of their own they only lost themselves for the people beginning now to discover their juggles do as much detest them and though they might for the present force the people to a submission by sword-law yet could no Government whatsoever by them establisht be firm or durable since it must be settled contrary to the Genius of the people For even those who were formerly such strong enemies and opposers of Monarchy or Kingly Government undeceived by those many delusions which they see put upon the Nation by those who pretended so much to Religion and Liberty and the settling of a Free State or Commonwealth whilst they intended onely their own ends are now as much affected as they were formerly disaffected with Monarchicall Government finding that those who adventure to change a settled Government before they have determined of another in its stead run into fancies and Chymara's and vainly endeavour to build castles in the air but to proceed This party being thus divided among themselves there were great hopes and certainly greater wishes that that power wherewith they had for some years past arbitrarily governed the Nation by turns might at lenght come to a period which by the eye of reason was now in greater proability then ever they by their intestine divisions running headlong to their own ruine Fleetwood Lambert and the rest of the Officers of the Army have now the sole Authority and having the longest sword make their wills a law yet somewhat to satisfie the people and to make at least the face of a civil government they set up a new kind of a thing which they composed of themselves and some other choice persons which they call a Committee of Safety and to these they give full Authority over these three Nations without ever asking the peoples consent This Government is far more the scorn and derision of the people then the other yet notwithstanding their spirits are by constant use so subjected to slavery that their assinine backs are forced to endure this as well as other more intolerable burthens they not daring all this while to adventure the regaining of their Liberties nor indeed do other then by their tongues expresse their hate and anger But all this while those divisions of theirs and the peoples being weary of them and extremely for his Majestie's interest it being a rule in Politicks that
to encourage his souldiers whom he found both encreasing in their numbers and much reioiced at his presence The Parliament of Scotland which had adiourned to give time for his Majesties Coronation being met again there were strong endeavors of the Kings that several Lords of the Royal party should be admitted to their seats in Parliament but the Assemblies of the Kirk at Sterling and Aberdeen as strongly oppose it and shew themselves discontented both at this proposal likewise at the new Levies in regard they were there admitted to commands in the Army as they now desired to have place in Parliament yet notwithstanding these murmurings they were upon their reconciliation to the church and passing the Stool of Repentance re-admitted to their places in Parliament such were Duke Hamilton the Marquesse of Huntley the Earls of Calender Crawford and others But stil not only many of the Ministers notwithstanding there was a select Committee appointed to examine and punish such persons who any way confronted and murmured against any designs or acts of State raile against these proceedings but some of the Nobles too are discontented insomuch that the Earle of Sutherland utterly refused to concur with them and if he could possibly would have opposed them by force And indeed very many or most of the Presbyterians were discontented For the Royal party by the admission of those Lords and others was grown stronger then the Kirk's and now bore all the sway which made the proud Marquess of Argyle and other Covenantier Lords murmur at being afraid lest in time they should wholly be laid aside they having already seen one of their party begun with for the Earl of Louden who customarily had the Lord Chancellorship of the Kingdome was removed from his place the Lord Burleigh constituted Chancellor in his stead Yet on the Covenanters side there wanted not some Ministers such were Mr. Robert Douglass and Mr. David Dicks who endeavoured to beget a right understanding in both parties that these sparks of discontent might not at last burst out into a flame as 't was very much feared they would but rather that in this time of danger they might lay aside all animosities and unite together against the common Eenemy who else would be the ruine of them both And now his Majesty to keepe a correspondency abroad sends the Earl of Dumferling Ambassador to the States of Holland he had likewise at the same time several other Ambassadors or Agents abroad in the Courts of several Princes to require aid but never found more then what fair and sugared promises produced And about this time Sir Henry Hide being sent over to England from Constantinople whither he had bin sent as Ambassador from his Majesty to the Grand Signior by Sir Thomas Bendysh his means who was then Ambassador for the Republick of England but yet deem'd a person of more loyalty to his Prince then to have sent his Ambassador to be murder'd if he could have avoided it after somewhat a formal trial suffered death on a Scaffold before the Royal Exchange in London for having taken Commissions from his Soveraign And not long after him Captain Brown Bushel who though he had formerly been an enemy to his Maiesties father yet now suffer'd death upon the Tower-hill London for having done some signal services by sea for his present Majesty But to return to the Kings affairs in Scotland where the special businesses in hand were the compleating the levies to 15000. foot and 6000. horse which went on apace and the fortifying the towne of Sterling which his Majesty intended for the place of his chief residence to the hastening of the which his Majesty went often in Progress to view the Works and encourage the pioniers And time it was to hasten those Works for the English drew every day nigher nigher towards them having already taken the Fort of Blackness which lay between Sterling and Edenburgh which was nevertheless not accounted so great a loss as the surprizal of the Earle of Eglington and one of his sons by a party of English horse at Dumbarton for this Earl was a person of a great deal of power in that Nation and his taking very much obstructed the going forward of the Levies But Sterling being almost fortified sufficiently his Majesty removed his Court hither where whilest he was his Birth-day being the 29. of May was kept through Scotland with all such tokens of joy as are usual upon such occasions but the town of Dundee exceded all the rest for besides their equal expressions of Joy they presented his Maiesty with a rich Tent six pieces of Field Ordinance and set out a Regiment of horse towards his assistance at their own charge At Sterling likewise were the head-Quarters kept most of the Scotch Army Quartering about it whither Middleton's leavies from the North being come and amounting to about 8000. men it came to be a dispute whether these should be a distinct Army by themselves or be joined with Lesley's Southern Levies but at length it was thought most convenient to joyne them and his Majesty to prevent those animosities which might arise between Middleton and Lesley for the Generalship took upon himself the Command of the whole From hence his Majesty sent a messenger to the Parliament still sitting at S. Johnston's with these demands 1. That the Act about the Classis of malignants should be revoked and disannulled and that an Act pass for its repeal 2. That there might be no more any mention of the name of malignants amongst them 3. That Duke Hamilton the Earls of Seaforth and Callender c. might have as full command in the Army as any others The demands were strongly debated vro con in the Parliament the Marquess of Argile and others of the covenanted strain endeavouring by all means possible to oppose them yet at length though with much difficulty they were carried in the affirmative it being urged by the more moderate sort too that the granting of these would be the only way to take away all animosities between those parties which they intended to unite The Parliament having granted these things to his Maiesty and given large Commissions and Instructions for the compleating of the levies about the beginning of June dissolved leaving all things in relation to civil and intestine distempers in a calm and quiet all parties seeming to be pleased and their actions united towards the opposing of their common Enemy Cromwell Whilest these things were thus transacted in Scotland a great and terrible plot was discovered against the Juncto then ruling in England their government in assistance of his Majesty to his just Rights This design was chiefly laid by those Presbyterians who had been such dire Opponents of his Majesty's blessed father of happy yet unhappy memory viz. the greatest part Presbyterian Ministers who had most of them formerly belcht out such firebrands from their Pulpits as had set both Church and State in a combustion
but now whether out of a real sence of their errour which I have the charity to believe it was they had a desire to return to their Allegiance to his son their lawful and native Soveraign or out of an ambition by joining with their Scottish brethren which I am loath to judge to get the power again into their hands which was snatched from them by the Independent English Army and the Iuncto of Sectaries in England they had laid a design to raise both a contribution of money and levy men for his Majestie's assistance here but their plot was betrayed by the intercepting of letters in a ship forced by foul weather into Ayre in Scotland but bound with provisions for the Isle of Man whereupon the chief undertakers in London were apprehended viz. Mr. Cook Mr. Gibbons Mr. Christopher Love Mr. Jenkins Dr. Drake and others of which two viz. Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love were condemned by a High Court of Justice and suffered Death on the Tower Hill for that cause against which they had once so strongly declared But to return again to the chiefe Scene in Scotland The English Army had long had a desire to bring the Scots to a field-battel which his Majesty upon sundry good reasons and serious advice declined So Cromwel endeavoured to the utmost of his power to force them to it therefore several times fac'd his Majesty's Army which lay encamped at Torwood within three miles of Sterling but could not yet draw them out of their trenches the chief reason being imagin'd to proceed from their stay for Argile Huntly and Seaforth who were gone into their several Territories to compleat the King's Levies Cromwel perceiving that he could not draw the Scots to a Field-battle upon a sudden draws off his Army and transports sixteen hundred Foot and four Troopes of Horse over unto Fife on such a suddain that it startled his majesties whole Army and Cromwell with an unparallel'd expedition faced again the royal Army with a resolution to fall upon their Rear if they should attempt a motion thitherwards but they offered not to stir for already order had been given to Sir John Brown Governour of Sterling to march with four thousand Horse foot to drive out that party of Cromwell's which were already landed in Fife of which intelligence being brought Lambert and Okey with two Regiments of Horse and two of foot are with all possible hast wafted over to reinforce the party already there with which additional supply of men they routed Sir John Brown who expected none but the first landed party taking himself several other Officers of quality prisoners killing two thousand upon the place and taking near 1200. prisoners and shortly after Cromwell transports most of his Army over the Fife and resolving to stop the passage which the Scots had over by Sterling marches to S. Iohnstone's and takes it almost upon summons His Majesty seeing the English Army was advanced so far Northward thought it in vain to attempt the forcing them back and knowing that the Scots naturally fight better in anothers then in their own Countrey resolves to advance with all possible speed into England where he yet hoped notwithstanding the discovery of the late design to find some loyal souls to joyn with him for the Recovery of his Right and Kingdomes Many were there who opposed this intention of his Majesty and among those Dvke Hamilton was one of the chiefest whose dislike may sufficiently appear by his Letter to Mr. Crofts after their Advance to this effect We are now laughing sayes he at the ridiculousnesse of our present state we have quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it and yet we graspe at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to loose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout Argument Despair for we must now either stoutly fight or die all the Rogues have left us I shall not say whether out of fear or disloyalty but all now with his Majesty are such as will not dispute his Commands But notwithstanding his dislike and his and others oppositions yet the Kings resolve takes place and on Iuly the 31. 1651. his Majesties Army began to advance from Torwood near Sterling steering their course directly for England which they entred six dayes after by way of Carlisle This march of the Royal Army made Cromvvell with the greatest part of his forces immediately recrosse the Frith and forthwith send Major General Lambert with a select party of Horse and Dragoons to fall upon the Rear of his Majesties Army whilest they hoped that Major General Harrison who then lay near the borders with about three thousand Horse and Dragoons would attach them in the Front shortly after Himself followed with the rest of the Army which could be spared amounting to about eight compleat Regiaments of Foot and two of Horse But then this greater preparation is made against him in England for the Iuncto then sitting at Westminster not only interdicted all aid or assistance either of men or monyes to be given to his Majesty under the penalty of High Treason but also in all or most of the Countries had caused a numerous force to be raised the Church-Militia of the City of London being likewise sent out against him and for the present impeading of his march two thousand of the Countrey-Militia of Staffordshire and four thousand out of Lancashire and Cheshire under the command of Collonel Birch had joyned with Harrison But besides all this many of the Royal Army had in their march deserted their Colours and near a fourth part of the Army was wanting but these were most of them such as were not very well affected to the businesse nor cause they went about and therefore there was but little misse of them for the rest of the Army marched on chearefully and continued to the utmost push stedfast and loyal and were so contentedly obedient to all Military Discipline that 't is believed that in all their march through all that in part of England they hardly took the value of sixpence forcibly But notwithstanding this unwonted civility of the Scotish Army and his Majestie's earnest invitations the Countrey came very slowly in whether besotted dulled and contented with that slavery they then lay under or over-awed by an armed power I cannot well tell but such was their backwardness that few or none besides the Lord Howard of Estrich his son with a Troop of Horse came in to him during his long tedious march through England Nor did his Majesty with his Army take that course which was expected by most he should for the great fear of his Enemies and greatest hopes of his friends were that he would march directly for London but he contrary to their expectations being coming into Lancashire struck off at Warrington either doubting the enterprize for London too hazardous or out of the hopes had of the forces
blandishents then force He knows that whilst he kills a Subject he weakens his kingdom Rebels themselves may be found usefull and though justice can not yet his Majesties clemency will admit their pardon but if they resist to the utmost their blood is on their own heads What man is not willing to destroy him who he knows would be his murderer Thus is his justice and his clemency mixt together he would not kill where he might with safety save â—â—r does his unspotted innocency raise fancies or fears in him As he is guilty of nothing so ther 's nothing hee fears Whilst he endeavours to be true to his subjects those endeavours force a belief in him that his subjects will be true to him His very nature enclines him to a compassion He pitties those that will not pitty themselves and whilst they are conspiring his destruction his prayers procure their safety Nor can the utmost of their injuries provoke him to a retalliation He hath learned not only of God but of the King his father to forgive his enemies Nor is it his desire to obtain his Kingdomes that makes him willing to forgive his enemies but his desire to forgive his enemies that makes him willing to obtain his Kingdoms he counts the possession of his Royalties but as a transitory dignity the pardon of his enemies a Divine and lasting one Neither is his piety lesse then his justice they are both in the Superlative degree he hates wickednesse not because the world should see him glory that would make him an Hypocrite but because God abhors it t is Love not Fear makes him Religious he Fears God only because he Loves him He hates not the Vicious but abhominates their Vices his hatred extends not to persons but to things He dislikes not the Swearer t is his Oaths he abhors he hates not the Drunkard but his Drunkennesse Yet does his mercy extend beyond their sins as he is a King so he is a God he is gracious to pardon as well as just to punish nor can a submission or reformation but overtake his remission His constant service of God excites others to live by his example he sleeps not without invoking the blessing of the Almighty nor do his eyes open without a returned thanks He knows 't is God alone which can restore and protect him nor can the wickednesse of man prevail against Him Nor does his publick devotion shew him less zealous then his private the one demonstrates him full of Zeal the other void of Hypocrisie he would have others holy as well as himself he knows that saying concerns him being a King above all private Men Non nobis solis nati sumus Private persons are not alone born for theÌ„selves muchless Kings the publique concern is their duty 't is not enough for the Master of the house that he be godly whilst his Family is wicked There must be Precept as well as Example and if need be correction as well as instruction This makes his Majestie deservedly famous he counts it as great a fault to suffer a sin in another whilst he hath power to correct it as to commit it himself he knows that what crimes soever a Magistrate suffers willingly to be committed he brings upon his own head He is therefore above all things carefull not to father vice lest he should be accounted vicious he detests that in another which did he commit he knows he might justly detest himself for and endeavours by Example to reforme that in others which he knows were it in him would seem odious to them He abhors vice as well because it is so as because God abhors it His nature inclines him to vertue and as he cannot admit ' its contrary in himselfe so he cannot endure it in another His constancy in Religion is no less conspicuous then his piety His discerning judgement knows what is truth and that truth is followed by his setled will Yet he hates not the Popish Religion but their Idolatry he abhors not them but their false worship He loves all that know Christ at all but wishes that they might know him more His stedfastnesse in Religion proceeds not from self-interest he sticks not so much to the true Protestants because he knows the English to be addicted to that Religion because hee thinks it for his benefit because he imagines that it would prove very difficill to obtaine his Crown and leave it But because he knows it to be true He knows the Prince is born for the people as well as the people for the Prince He knows their interests to be inter woven He knows that without them he cannot stand yet will he sooner loose them then relinquish verity He is the perfect pattern of Piety but more of Patience his afflictions have not made him repine he knows God to be just he believes that as God restored Iob twofold so will he likewise restore unto him his Kingdomes Yet he thinks it just in God to suffer them to be detained from him He laments more his Subject slavery then his own Exile he grives that they have been so long blind yet rejoyces for their sakes that they have now a Glimmering he constantly prays for the restoring of their fight not so much because they should restore his as their own Rights and Priviledges He is inwardly troubled and perplexed at the many Schisms Sects and Heresies that are raised in the Church of England he is sorry that their rise is from some mens envy towards him he pities and his pitty produces his prayers for them He is willing that though they will not obey him yet that they may serve God He was never heard to curse his Enemies many times to pray for them and desire God to forgive even his Fathers Murtherers his good will surpasses their cruelty And whilst they are conspiring his Destruction he is praying for their Salvation He is a perfect Enemy to all Debauchedness he is sorry those who pretend themselves his friends in England are so great a scandal to him He wishes that they would so carry themselves that he might adventure to own them as his Friends for he understands not the good will of those who drink his Health for the liquors sake nor wishes for their help who over their Sack only swear they will Fight for Him He is no greater a hater of vice then a Cherisher of vertuous Actions he loves them in his very Enemies and often grives when he finds occasion to think that many of them will rise up in Judgment against his most pretended Friends He is most exactly just in all his Commands and faithful in performance of all his Promises Take the Character given him by the dying Marquesse of Montrose For his Majesty now Living saith he Never People I believe may be more happy in a King his commands to me were most Iust in nothing that he promiseth will be fail He deals justly with all Men c. So punctual is he