take a prospect of all Generations that have been upon Earth before them They seem to give Eternity to themselves à Parte ante and to live as many years as they have read in Chronicles And by this knowledge of the time past they judge of the present and proceed to the fore-sight of the future For the best Astrology in the World is to be deriv'd from History and from the Consideration of those Luminaries that have mov'd in a Sphere above us either in point of Time or of Place Which since we see to be the Proper ends and uses of History without doubt that History is highly to be esteem'd which does not consist so much of Magnificent and Pompous things as the Description of Wars of Great Buildings and such matters as only bring an empty pleasure to the Reader but which does exhibit things useful and worthy his Imitation and that will fill up his mind Vpon this account the Lives of Eminent Men writ with fidelity and truth have certainly the greatest use since from thence we learn how to live well to moderate our passions and govern our selves in the various Circumstances of Life But whereas we cannot live well unlesâ— we live in Society and all Societies must have Rulers and Governors over them or else we must all disband and turn Barabbas's there is 〈◊〉 one Higher Degree of History whith we may looâ— upon as the most compleat for Estimation Proâ—â— and Vse And that is a Narration of the Liveâ— of Princes representing withal every action bearing a Relation and Analogy thereunto And his kind cannot stand without the fore-mention'd Additionals as I may Stile them and not Essentials of History as Arms and Fortifications and the like matters Which though they do concern no man in himself as to point of Happiness yet together with the great Delight they bring along with them they are mainly conducive to the well-fare of mankind in general and the Knowledge of 'em is requisite to many particular men as immediately ingag'd in them and is likewise universally Ornamental Which things being well weigh'd I think I have got under my Pen one of the most profitable as well as diverting Histories the Sun ever yet saw acted It being the Life of a Prince which may be an Example not only to publick but private men For it affords us the knowledge of Heaven and reads us a Lecture of Piety Justice Patience Fortitude and Clemency Which being virtues in a Prince have a singular Grace with ' em It is not an account of the Robberies of an Alexander but a Register of Providential Bounties and Appointments beautified with the various Scenes and Landskips of Humane Life to instruct our Judgments and amuse our Imagination It teaches us the Arts of Vnity and Concord and draws out the true lines of the English Government It cures those diseases of the mind Insolence self-conceit and Ambition and shews that it is the Subjects Interest as well as Duty to obey These are all things but of Yesterdays standing and very well known and remembred So that before hand I need not make any Professions here of my truth and sincerity in the following Relation it being not so easy to deceive as to be refell'd in things not in the least remote from our knowledge This indeed is all I have the vanity to fear that if this Book should happen to descend to Posterity they will rather think it the Panegyrick than History of our late admirable Prince because when I report nothing of him but what was landable they may ghess that I have pretermitted what was worthy reprehension The most renowned and mighty Monarch CHARLES the Second late King of England was in greatness of his Royal Descent Superiour to all the Princes in Europe being descended from our Royal Martyr Charles the good and great and Henrietta de Bourbon Daughter to Henry the Great the Fourth of that name of France By descending from which two Royal Persons he was related to all the Princes in Europe had some of all the Bloud-Royal of the Christian World concenter'd in his Princely Veins By his Father he deriv'd in a lineal descent from all the Brittish Saxon Danish Norman and Scottish Kings of Great Britain and by his Mother from the Bourbons of France the Austrians of Spain the Mediâ—es of Florence c. Being also allied to all or most of them by his own the Marriages of his Royal Brother our present most Glorious Monarch his Aunt his Sisters and his two Nieces their Royal Highness Mary Princess of Orange and the Princess Ann of Denmark He was born at St. James's May the 29th 1630 it being the Birth-day of St. Augustine who was sent by Gregory the great to our Ancestors the Saxons and was the first founder of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury At which time a new Star appeared over the Palaâ—â— where he was born which seemed from Heaven to congratulate his Birth by darting its promising Influence upon the place of it and displaying is officious Beams in the midst of that Air wherein he first drew breath notwithstanding the strenuous opposition of the shining Sun which thing was generally lookt upon as an Emblem of his future greatness and glory The Sun likewise soon after suffered an Eclipse which was a sad presage as some even then divined that his Glory should be for some time eclipsed His Royal Father having in him obtained that blessing which he desired above all things in the World went to St. Pauls and there in a publique and solemn manner gave thanks to Almighty God from whose bounty he received him He was baptized in the 27th of the following June by Dr. Laud Bishop of London Abbot who was then Archbishop of Canterbury being under an Irregularity according to the decent and laudible Custom of the Church of England whereof he was then made a Son that so â—he might hereafter be her Supream Head and Mediator His Godfathers were his two Uncles Lewis 13. King of France and Frederick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine represented by the Dukes of Hamilton and Richmond who were then the two first Peers of the Realm and his Godmother was the Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond He was committed in his Infancy to the indulgent Care and pious Tuition of the Countess of Dorset and when his growing parts rendred him too masculine for a Feminine Conduct he was delivered to the Earl of Newcastle under whose Direction and Government he imbib'd those Principles of Virtue and desire of Learning which serv'd as an Introduction to fit and prepare him for his farther and more liberal Education under the Learned Dr. Duppa Dean of Christ-Church and Bishop of Chichester by whose extraordinary Pains and Industry his Great Soul was first seasoned with those Rudiments of Knowledge and Learning which afterward by his own observation and experience received so vast an increase and rendred him that sagacious and politick
Montross his deplorable Fate ibid. The Kings Letter to the Scots 75 His shrewd Treaty with their Commissioners 76 The English Juncto sit uneasie alarm'd with the Scots Proceedings ibid. Cromwel call'd out of Ireland and made General 81 The King Lands at the Spey in Scotland 82 1650. Cromwel Marches Northwards ibid. The Scots at difference before among themselves thereupon Unite 83 The King most Solemnly Crown'd at Schone 84 Raises an Army himself Personal Valour 162 The Kings promotes a Peace between France and Spain 165 Goes Incognito to the place of Treaty 166 The Duke of York offer'd the Constableship of Castile 169 1659. The King gives forth new Commissions 171 Sir George Booth Rises 172 Is unfortunately defeated 174 And taken Prisoner 175 The King at St. Malloes 176 An Overture to try Monk 177 Monks Brother sent into Scotland to him 178 Monk undertakes the Kings Restauration 182 Sends his Brother to the Parliament 184 A Prophetick Speech 185 Monk prepares for England 187 Whence Dr. Clergies comes to him 189 Lambert sends Morgan into Scotland 192 A Convention at Edenborough ibid. Monks Commissioners sign an Agreement 193 The Rump sits again 194 Invite Monk to London but distrust him 195 The People address to him 196 He desires the Parliament to remove their Guards 197 Was to have been sent to the Tower 198 But goes to the Parliament ibid. Made one of the Council of State 199 Pulls down the City-Gates 201 Sends a Letter to the Rump 202 Marches into the City 203 The Rump dissemble their Indignation 204 Employ their Adjutators 205 A Conference about the secluded Members 206 Who are readmitted 207 Monk made General ibid. They discharge Booth ibid. Dissolve themselves and call a free Parliment 208 Appoint a Council of State ibid. 1660. Greenvile introduc'd to the General by Morris 210 Delivers him a Letter from the King 211 The General commends his Secrecy 212 Desires him to acquaint the King with his Resolution to Restore him 213 Which was accordingly done at Brussels 214 Monk leaves his Reward to the Kings pleasure 215 The King gives Greenvile a Warrant for an Earldom 216 Signs a Commission for Monks being General 217 Removes privately to Breda ibid. Lambert escapes from the Tower but is retaken by Ingolsby 218 The free Parliament meets 219 Greenvile delivers the Kings Letter to the General 220 And his Letters and Declaration to the two Houses 221 The Reverence exprest by the Commons at reading them with Resolves thereupon 222 The Kings Letter delivered to General Mountague and the Joy it occasioned in the Fleet. 224 The Parliament Invites the King 〈◊〉 225 The Commissioners arrive at Breda ibid. The King Proclaim'd 226 The King prepares for his Return 228 Treated and presented by the Dutch ibid. The Sâ—ates Speech to him â—â—at parting 229 He leaves Holland with a glorious Fleet. 232 And Arrives at Dover 234 The General meets him there ibid. He goes to Canterbury 235 To Chattham 230 Is presented with an Address ibid. Views the Army ibid. Comes to London 237 Rides in Triumph through London ibid. Is received by the Parliament 240 He thanks them for their Loyalty ibid. He goes to the Parliament house 241 Chooses his Privy-Council 242 The Act of Oblivion 243 The General madâ— Duke of Albemarle c. 245 Several others advanc'd ibid Resignation of Purchases 246 Embassadors congratulate his Restauration ibid. The Oblivion-Act comprehensive 247 29th of May Annisary ibid. The Army Disbanded ibid. The Kings Speech at the Adjournment 248 Duke of Glocester dies 349 The Kings care to settle the Church ibid. Regicides brought to Tryalâ— 251 The Queen Mother comes into England 252 Argile sent back to Scotland 253 Princess of Orange dies 254 The healing Parliament dissolv'd ibid. Cromwels Carkass upon the Gallows 255 The Fifth-Monarchy mens Adventure 256 Preparations for the Kings Coronation 260 1661. Four Triumphal Arches erected by the City 261 The Order of his Cavalcade through the City 268 The manner of his Crowning 273 The Thunder that day the Censures thereon 279 He calls a fresh Parliament 280 The Presbyterians stickle in Elections 282 He Rides in State to the Parliament which he acquaints with his design of Marrying the Infanta of Portugal 283 A Convocation of the Clergy 284 The Act of Oblivion confirmed by that Parliament 285 The Act for Regulating Corporations ibid. Pryn censur'd by the Parliament 286 The Bishops restored to their Peerage ibid. The Lord Munson and others censured 287 Parliament adjourn'd by the King ibid. The Duke of York Captain of the Artillery Company 288 Barbone and others secured 289 The Kings Piety to the memory of his Friends 290 The Quarrel between the French and Spanish Embassadors 291 Harry Martyn no humble Servant to Proclamations ibid. The Duke of Ormond made Deputy of Ireland ibid. Episcopacy restored in Scotland 293 1662. A Fleet sent for the Queen and a Garrison to Tangier ibid. The Agreeableness of the King and Queens Fortunes 294 Her arrival at Portsmouth ibid. Queen of Bohemia dies 295 The King married at Portsmouth 296 The African Potentates allarmed 297 Tangier made a free Port. 298 The dreadful St. Bartholomew 299 Several Cities and Towns dismantl'd ibid. Dunkirk return'd to the French 300 Philips and others excuted for Plotting 301 An Embassy out of Russia ibid. 1663. The Kings Progress into the West 303 Oates and others executed 304 1664. The Parliament for War with the Dutch ibid. The King fits out two Fleets 306 His Personal care and industry 307 The Plague begins in London ibid. Prince Rupert at the Spithead 310 The Dutch afraid to put to Sea ibid. An Embargo on Dutch Ships 311 The Act for a Royal Aid 312 War Proclaimed against Holland 313 1665. A General Fast enjoyned 314 His Royal Highness Lord High Admiral ibid The Dutch allarm'd 315 Are Beaten 316 The Sickness increasing in London 317 The King and Parliament at Oxford 318 The Duke of Albemarl left in London 320 A Fast kept on every Wednesday ibid. The English Fleet upon the Coast of Holland 321 The Earl of Sandwich Attacques the Dutch in Berghen ibid. France takes part with Holland 322 A Plot discover'd ibid. 1666. Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle Admirals 324 They fight the Dutch 325 London in Ashes 327 The Kings great compassion in that distress 330 Various Opinions about that Fire ibid. The Kings Prudence and Care in its Rebuilding 331 The first Invention of Ensuring houses from Fire 332 An Act of Parliament for the Rebuilding of London ibid His Pious care for Rebuilding the Churches 335 Sir Jonas More the first Rebuilder 336 A Prodigious Storm 337 A Commotion in Scotland ibid. War with Denmark 338 A Treaty at Breda 339 The Dutch spend a Summer in needless Preparations ibid. They come to Chattham 340 Peace concluded with Holland 341 1667. The Earl of Clarendon in disgrace 342 1669 Earl of Carlisle Embassador to Sweden 343 Queenmother dies 344 The Duke of Albemarle
have you begin the best Government you can attain to is to be subject to his Word and Spirit swaying in your heart Your Glory will be the advancement of God's Glory in the maintenance of true Religion and of the Churches good and in the dispensation of Civil Justice and Honour for the publick good Piety will make you prosperous or at least not miserable whereby in the loss of all you save a Soul to which as to a Creature I see all these black Lines of Affliction drawn This Cup we tast is God's Physick having that in healthfulness in wants and pleasure I would have you above all well grounded in your Religion according to the best Profession of the Church of England which I wish may be judiciously your Religion sealed by your Judgment and Reason persevering iâ— it as the nearest to the Word of Goâ— for Doctrine and the Primitive Examples for Government with such amendment as I elsewhere expressed and often offered but in vain A fixation for Relâ—gion is necessary for your Souls and Kingdoms Peace The Devil of Rebellion can turn himself into such an Angel of Reformation and the Old Serpent can pretend such New Lights that when some mens Consciences accuse them for Sedition and Faction they stop their mouth with the name and noise of Religion When Piety pleads for Peace and Patience they cry out Zeal so that you must be settled or you shall never want Temptations to destroy you and yours Men are so good at putting the best of Princes for the worst of Designs especially when Novelty prevails much attended with Zeal for Religion and 't is a good way to hide their own Deformities by severe censures upon other mens Opinions and Actions Abet no publick Faction against your own and the Churches settled judgment least the advantage you gain in some Mens Hearts who are prone to be of their Kings Religion be lost in others who think themselves and their professions first dispised and then Persecuted by you Either calmly remove the seeming differences and offences by impartiality or order it so in point of power that you need not fear or flatter any else you are undone so quickly will the Serpent devour the Dove There is less Loyalty Justice or Humanity in none than in Religious Rebels whose Ambitious Policies march under the Colours of Piety with security and applause You may hear from them Jacobs Voice but you shall feel they have Esaus Hands The Presbyterian Faction in England while compliant with publick order was inconsiderable in Church and Sâ—ate When discontents drove Men to sideing as ill humors fall to the disaffected part so did all that affected Novelty adhere to that side as the most remarkable note of difference then in point of Religion all lesser Factions until time and success had discovered to them their several advantages being officious Servants to Presbytery What may seem at first but an hand-breadth in Religion by Seditious Spirits as by strong Winds are soon made to cover and darken the whole Heavens and therefore must be suppressed or reformed Next to your care for Religion take care for Justice according to the settled Laws of these Kingdoms which by an admirable temperament give very much to the Subject and yet reserve enough for any King who owns his People as Subjects and not as Slaves Never charge your Head with such a Crown as may oppress the whole Body that it cannot return any strength honour or safety to the head Your Prerogative is best exercised in remitting rather than exacting the just Vigour of the Laws I hope you will never think it safe for a King to gratify any Faction with the perturbation of the Laws in which is wrapt up the publick interest and the good of the Community My Counsel and charge to you is that if it please God to restore you you seriously consider the former real or objected miscarriages which might occasion my troubles that you may avoid them Never repose so much upon any Mans single fidelity and distraction in managing affairs of Religion and Justice as to create in your self or others a diffidence of your own judgment which will prove more faithful to your own and the Kingdoms interest than any Mans. Exasperate no Faction by the asperity of any Mans Passions or humors employed by you about differences in lesser matters wherein a charitable toleration dissipates that strength whom rougher opposition fortifieth provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of Laws and Governments our Religion Established as to the essentials of them Always keep up solid Piety and those fundamental Truths which mend both the hearts and lives of men with impartial Favour and Justice Take heed that outward Circumstances of Religion devour not all the Encouragements of Learning Industry and Piety but with an equal Eye and impartial Hand distribute Favours and Rewards to all men as you find for their real goodness both in abilities and fidelity worthy or capable of them This will give you the hearts of the best and most too who though they be not good themselves yet are glad to see the severer ways of Virtue at any time sweetned with Temporal Rewards Time will dissipate all Faction when the roughâ— Designs of some men shall discover themselves which were at first wrapt up under the smooth pretences of Religion Reformation and Liberty For as the Wolf is not less cruel so he will be more justly hated when he shall appear no better than a Wolf under Sheeps clothing And as for the secluded Train of the vulgar who in their simplicity follow those disguises my charge and counsel to you is That as you need no palliations for any Designs so you study really to exceed in true and constant demonstrations of Goodness Piety and Virtue toward the People even those men that make the greatest noise and ostentation of Religion So you shall neither fear any detection as they do who have but the face and mask of goodness nor shall you frustrate the just expectation of your People who cannot in reason promise themselves so much good from any Subjects Novelty as from the goodness of their King And when Factions are by God's Mercy and your Virtue dissipated the abused vulgar will then learn that none are greater Oppressors of their Estates Liberties and Consciences than those men that entitle themselves the Patrons and Vindicators of them only under that pretence to usurp Power over them Let no passion therefore betray you to any study of revenge upon those whose own sense and folly will sufficiently punish in due time But as soon as the Forked Arrows of Factious Emulations is drawn out use all Princely Arts and Clemency to heal the Wounds that the smart of the Cure may not equal the smart of the Heart Where-ever it shall be desired and accepted offer Indempnity to so great a latitude as may include all that can but suspect themselves to be any way
obnoxious to the Laws as to remove all Jealousies not out of strict Policy or Necessity but out of Christian Charity and Choice For be confident as I am that the most of all sides that have done amiss have done so not out of malice but through a misapprehension of things And that therefore none will be more Loyal to you than those who sensible of their Errours and our Injuries will feel in their Souls most vehement motives of Repentance and earnest desires to make some reparations for their former defects As Your Quality sets you above any Duel with a Subject so the Nobleness of your Mind must raise you above the meditation of any Revenge upon the many that have offended you The more conscious you shall be to your own Merits upon your People the more prone you will be to expect all Love and Loyalty from them and by inflicting no punishment for former miscarriages you will find more inward complacency in pardoning of one than in punishing a thousand This I write to you not despairing of God's mercy and my Subjects affections towards you both which I hope you will study to deserve yet we cannot merit of God but by his own Mercy If God should see fit to restore me and you after me to those Enjoyments which the Laws should have assigned to us and no Subject without high degree of guilt can divest us of then may I have better opportunity when I shall see you in Peace to let you freely understand the things that belong to God's Glory your own Honour and the Kingdom 's Peace But if you never see my face again and God will have me buried in such a barbarous Imprisonment and Obscurity which the perfecting some mens Designs require where in few mens hearts that love me are permitted to exchange a word or look with me I do require and intreat you as your Father and your King that you never suffer your heart to receive the least check against or dissatisfaction from the true Religion establisht in the Church of England which upon trial I find to be the best as Christian and Reformed keeping the middle way between the pompous Superstition of Tyranny and the meaness of Phanatick Anarchy Not but that the draught being excellent as to the main both for Doctrine and Discipline some Lines as in very good Figures do peradventure need some sweetning and polishing which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude alterations as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and proportion of the whole The Scandal of the late Troubles which some may object and urge to you against the Protestant Religion establisht in England is easily answered to them or your own thoughts Duel with a Subject so the Nobleness of your Mind must raise you above the meditation of any Revenge upon the many that have offended you The more conscious you shall be to your own Merits upon your People the more prone you will be to expect all Love and Loyalty from them and by inflicting no punishment for former miscarriages you will find more inward complacency in pardoning of one than in punishing a thousand This I write to you not despairing of God's mercy and my Subjects affections towards you both which I hope you will study to deserve yet we cannot merit of God but by his own Mercy If God should see fit to restore me and you after me to those Enjoyments which the Laws should have assigned to us and no Subject without high degree of guilt can divest us of then may I have better opportunity when I shall see you in Peace to let you freely understand the things that belong to God's Glory your own Honour and the Kingdom 's Peace But if you never see my face again and God will have me buried in such a barbarous Imprisonment and Obscurity which the perfecting some mens Designs require where in few mens hearts that love me are permitted to exchange a word or look with me I do require and intreat you as your Father and your King that you never suffer your heart to receive the least check against or dissatisfaction from the true Religion establisht in the Church of England which upon trial I find to be the best as Christian and Reformed keeping the middle way between the pompous Superstition of Tyranny and the meaness of Phanatick Anarchy Not but that the draught being excellent as to the main both for Doctrine and Discipline some Lines as in very good Figures do peradventure need some sweetning and polishing which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude alterations as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and proportion of the whole The Scandal of the late Troubles which some may object and urge to you against the Protestant Religion establisht in England is easily answered to them or your own thoughts in this that scarce any one who has been a beginner or an active prosecutor of this late War against the Church the Laws and me either was or is a true lover embracer or practicer of the Protestant Religion establisht in England which neither gives such Rules nor ever before gave such Examples It 's true some heretofore have had the boldness to present threatning Petitions to their Princes and Parliaments which others of the same Faction but worse Spirits have now put in execution But let no counterfeit and disorderly Zeal abate your value and esteem of true Piety both of them are to be known by their Fruits The sweetness of the Vine and Figg-tree is not to be despised though the Brambles and Thorns should pretend to bear Figgs and Grapes thereby to promote their Rule over the Trees Nor would I have you to entertain any aversation or dislike of Parliaments which in their right Constitution with Freedom and Honour will never injure or diminish your greatness but rather be as the interchanging of Love Loyalty and Confidence between the Prince and his People The sad Effects of the Insolence of popular Dictates and tumultuary Impressions in this Black Parliament will make all Parliaments after this more cautious to preserve that Freedom and Honour which belongs to such Assemblies when they have once shaken off that Yoke of vulgar Encouragement since the Publick Interest consists in the common good of Prince and People Nothing can be more happy for all than in fair grave and honourable ways to contribute their counsels in common enacting all things by publick consent without either Tyranny or Tumults And we must not starve our selves because some men have surfeited of wholsom food If neither I nor you be ever restored to our Rights but God in his severest Justice will punish my Subjects with continuance in their sin and suffer them to be deluded by the prosperity of their wickedness I hope God will give me and
you that grace which will teach and enable us to want as well as to wear a Crown which is not worth the taking up or enjoying upon sordid dishonourable or irreligious terms Do you always keep firm to the true Principles of Piety Virtue and Honour and you shall never want a Kingdom It will be your honour to afford all respect love and protection to your Mother who hath many ways deserved well of me especially in being a means to bless me with so many hopeful Children and being content with incomparable magnanimity to suffer with me and them May you be an Anchor of hope to these weather-beaten Kingdoms your Wisdom Justice Piety and Valour a repairer of what the folly and wickedness of some men have so far ruined as to leave nothing intire to the Crown Nobility Clergy or Commons of Laws Liberties Estates Order Honour Conscience or Lives Let those that love me find me when I am gone in your presence and vertues What good I intended do you perform when God shall put it into your power I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdom in Righteousness your Soul in true Religion and your Honour in the Love of God and your People Farewel till we meet if not on Earth yet in Heaven The good King having thus resigned himself and all his Affairs into the hand of God patiently submitted to his Cross and in a way of renunciation as it were and self-disposition of his Government transferred and bequeathed the Scepter together with his Advice and Direction for his wielding of it He applied himself wholly to the making preparation for his departing from an earthly to a heavenly Kingdom being assisted in his Piety and Devotion by Dr. Juxon Bishop of London And being upon the fatal 30th of January brought upon a Scaffold erected before his own Palace of Whitehall where he was barbarously murdered by his own Rebellious Subjects he delivered himself in the following Speech Being not likely to be much heard I could be silent did not silence intimate a submission to the guilt as well as to the punishment charged upon me But in my duty to my God and Country to clear my self an Honest Man a good King and a good Christian I protest before God to whom I must instantly give an account that as may appear from the date of their Commissions and mine I begun not the War against the Parliament nor intended I any incroachment upon their Priviledges they began with me and the Militia which they confest was mine but thought it fit to have it from me yet I charge not the guilt of these unhappy troubles upon the two Houses for I believe ill instruments betwixt us was the cause of all this Bloodshed however this Sentence is just upon me for an unjust Sentence permitted by me What Christian I am this good Man pointing to Dr. Juxon and others that have been inwardly familiar with me and know me as well as my self may bear witness I die in Communion with the Professors of the Reformed Religion that hath been Establisht in the Church of England in Queen Eliz. and my Fathers time of Blessed Memory and in Charity with all the World forgiving the worst of mine Enemies and praying God that this be not laid to their Charge As a good King I advise my Subjects not to ground your selves in Conquests without a good cause that you would give God the King and the People their dues You may give God his due by the advice of a national Synod freely chosen and freely debating among themselves How you may give the King his due the Law will instruct you and the People have their due when they have that Government and those Laws whereby their Lives and Goods are most their own I have delivered my Conscience I pray God you take those courses that may be for the Kingdoms and your own good Having finisht this Speech and poured forth his Divine Soul to God in Prayer it was sent by death to him that gave it where the great Assembly in Heaven joyfully welcomed that Martyred King and made room for Charles of Great Brittain The Life and Reign of Charles the first being thus determined by this untimely and fatal stroak his Eldest Son who likewise bore his Name immediately Succeeded him by the Title of Charles the Second Who was the Lawful and undoubted Heir not only of all his Dominions but also of his admirable and Heavenly Vertues being endowed with all those Qualifications which are requisite to or could possibly be desired in a Prince and under the influence of whose happy Reign these Nations might have enjoyed as much happiness and felicity as their Hearts would wish had not their own folly and madness for a time prevented it For no sooner had the Fatal Ax severed England and her Liberties by cutting off the Head of her King but the Parliament as the Juncto still presumed to call themselves the better to crush Monarchy and maintain what they had now so far prosecuted issued forth a Proclamation that none under penalty of being deemed guilty of High Treason should presume to Proclaim declare publish or any way promote the Prince of Wales Son to the late King or any other Person whatsoever to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or of any part of the Dominions or any part thereof by Colour of Inheritance Succession or Election or any other claim or pretence whatsoever without the free consent of the People in Parliament and which Proclamation altho not publisht till the 2 of February yet was in part Proclaimed on the very day of the Kings Murder And for the more ensuring and the better carrying on their Government with the more plausibility they publish an Act of State for the alteration of Writs wherein instead of King the Name Stile and Test and Custodes Libertatis Angliae Anthoritate Parliamenti should be used and no other All Writs being ordered to run so and those concerned in the Law required to take notice thereof yet they provided that all Patents granted by the late King should still stand in full force and vertue And having cast off the chief of those three Estates by which the Nation had been so long Governed they think likewise of abolishing the second that so they might usurp the whole power into their own hands in order whereunto having first Voted that they would make no farther Addresses to them nor receive any from them they made an Ordinance for abolishing the House of Lords as dangerous and useless And then having abolished the Ancient Governments of this Kingdom they proceeded to the consideration of Establishing another but found it a work of so much intricacy that they could come to no resolution but only agreed in a Negative Voice that there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords and thereupon ordered the old Great Seal to be broken and a new one to
Rebels whereupon the Lords with their followers faced about and repelled them But when they were got a little beyond Newport some of Lilburn's Regiment meeting them in the Front and other Rebels from Worcester pursuing them in the Rear themselves and Horses being very much beaten out and tired Darby Lauderdale Gifford and some others were taken and carried Prisoners first to Whit-Church and then to an Inn in Banbury from whence Gifford found means to escape But Darby was conveyed to Westchester and there tryed by a pretended Court Marshal held by a Commission from Cromwel grounded on an execrable Rump Act which traiterously pretended to prohibit all correspondence with Charles Stuart under penalty of High-Treason loss of Life and Estate by which he was condemned to lose his Life notwithstanding his just Plea that he had Quarter granted him by Captain Edge who took him Prisoner and was shortly after Executed at Bolton in Lancashire in a most Barbarous and unhuman manner Lauderdale and others were conveyed first to the Tower and afterward to Windsor Castle where they continued divers years But whilst the Rebels were plundering those Noble Persons whom they had taken Prisoners the Duke with Leviston Blague Darcey May and others forsook the Road and betaking themselves to a by-way got into Cessardine Woods not far from Newport where they received some refreshment at a little obscure House and afterward by two honest Labourers whom they met withal in an adjoyning Wood and to whom they communicated the misery and distress which the fortune of War had reduced them to were directed to places of safety The Duke in imitation of his Royal Master quitting his Horse and delivering his George which was given him by the Queen Mother to Mr. May who having preserved it in several eminent dangers restored it to him again in Holland and changing habit with one of the Workmen he was in that disguise conveyed to the House of one Mr. Haley at Bistrop in Nottinghamshire Leviston and the rest all quitted their Horses likewise and severally shifted for themselves The King being safely Landed in Normandy he went forthwith to Diepe where he provided himself with such necessaries as might serve him until he came to his Mother in the French Court who so soon as they heard of his safe arrival sent several Persons of Quality to meet him with great Pomp as became his Person who received him with much gladness and very much rejoyced at his safety conveying him to Paris in the Duke of Orleans his own Coach where he found such a welcom as his Person and Worth deserved and as great as that Court could express for the safety of their best Allie and by his Mother and the two Dukes with as great a joy as became them upon the receiving of him whom they once thought had been lost and perished These Complements being once over he pursued his interest in Holland by the mediation of his Sister the Princess of Orange and his Aunt the Queen of Bohemia indeavouring to prevail with them according to their former promises to undertake a War against the English Parliament which they accordingly did but being not able to cope with the Valour of the English nor prevail against that success which seemed to be entailed to the Rump in all their undertakings they were unsuccessful therein and it contributed very little toward the promoting of his designs The King being once again excluded out of all his Dominions they quickly after reduced Corn-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey the Isle of Man and all other places both in England Scotland and Ireland which stood out for him Which was no sooner done but there happened a strange alteration in the Scene of affairs in England for Cromwel whose ambition was now ripe knowing that he could not expect a fairer opportunity to Usurp that supreme Power which he had so long been aspiring too in regard every one began now to grow weary of the base actions of the Rump whose dilatory proceedings and apparent intentions of perpetuating themselves rendred them hateful to all Mankind he entred into their House attended by some of his principal Officers where having delivered divers reasons why he thought that Parliament ought to be Dissolved and a period put to its sitting He commanded them notwithstanding they were his Masters and from whom he derived his Commission immediately to depart which was done accordingly for how unwilling soever they were to obey yet it was now out of their Power to dispute his Authority so that those who had murthered one King and refused to restore a second were turned out of door and deprived of all Authority and Power by their own Servant Whereat the whole Nation rejoyced and scarce a Man grieved for their Dissolution but themselves every one believing that though the Nation might not peradventure be bettered by that change yet it was almost impossible it should be worse but however Cromwel fearing that some might be discontented with his Proceedings Published a large and specious Declaration shewing his Reasons for his Dissolving of them But his design being only to make himself great he did not intend to give relief by taking away the tyranny but by changing of it only and therefore instead of that Juncto which he pulled down set up another of his own arbitrary election who knowing before-hand what they had to do after having sate a while resigned up their power to him who resolving to make the best of that resignation pretended that the whole Supream Power and Authority of the three Kingdoms both Civil and Military was thereby in course devolved upon him and thereupon calling a Councel of Officers to consult about setling the Government they resolved after several debates to have a Common-wealth in a single person and that person should be Oliver Cromwel by the name and style of Lord Protector c. He at first seemingly refused the Dignity altho' it was the only thing he aimed at but being press'd by the Officers of the Army he consented to accept of it and was install'd with great pomp in the Chancery-Court at Westminster-hall and shortly after concluded a Peace with the Dutch He was afterward importuned by his Parliament to exchange his Title of Lord Protector for that of King which he refused and chose rather to continue the old The King when he came into France found that Court very much embroil'd on the account of some mis-understandings between the Prince of Conde and other Princes of the Blood and the Cardinal Mazarine which he undertook to compose urging his own danger to the King and advising him to beware how he provok'd his Subjects and urging the King's power to the Princes of the Blood whereby he unhappily drew upon himself the jealousies of both parties being suspected by the Cardinal to be for the Princes and by them to take part with him against their interest which they were the more induced to believe because he withdrew the
Lorrain Forces from their Service and imployed them to reduce Ireland knowing that the winning that was the most probable way for the obtaining of England and promising in recompence to make that Duke Duke of Ireland but they thought he only aimed at their disappointment upon the account of which misinterpretations of his peaceable design in his endeavours to reconcile them he was forced to retire for some time to St. Germans his Mother being scarce able to stay at the Louvre for the unreasonable and causless clamours of the mistaken multitude but when their heat and fury was over he returned thither again where he staid for some time longer in great esteem with that Court until the subtle Cardinal began under-hand to make a Peace with Cromwel and when he could not by all the means he used prevent its taking effect he retired toward Germany knowing that the issue of it would be a fair complementing of him out of their Dominions and banishing of him out of his very exile Upon his arrival in Germany he is entertained by the Elector of Cologn and during his stay in that Court he had an interview with the Queen of Sweden whom as the Report went he was to have married had he not disliked her light and Frenchified Deportment In the interview he thank'd her for all those civilities which she had for his sake shewed to any of his Friends and particularly to Montross to which she replied their own and his worth deserved no less There was present at this interview the King 's two Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester the latter whereof was sent for by him from Paris upon information that his Mother had a design to put him into the Jesuits Colledge and breed him up in the Popish Religion to which he was always an irreconcileable Enemy and therefore would not permit his Brother to be brought up in it And so pregnant an instance of his intire love to and resolution to defend the Protestant Religion profess'd in the Church of England was his proceedings in this Affair even in those days when there was so little hopes to see it ever restored again that I think it worthy of a perpetual remembrance and therefore shall here insert the chief circumstances relating to it Having designed to take the Duke of Glocester with him into Germany he was prevail'd upon by the Queen to leave him with her at Paris promising that she would not permit any force to be put upon him for the prevailing with him to change his Religion but that he should be attended by those Protestant Servants which himself had placed about him and have free liberty to resort to the Publick Service of the Church of England at the King's Chappel which was then at Sir Richard Brown's house whom he left as his Resident in Paris But not long after his departure the Duke under pretence of weaning him from the company of some young French Gallants who being in the same Academy were grown into a more familiar conversation with him than was thought convenient was removed to Abbot Mountague's house at his Abby near Pontoise and after he had been there a few days Mr. Lovel who was his Tutor going to Paris for one day only upon business designedly contrived as was suspected by the Abbot during his absence he was vehemently press'd by the Abbot with all the strongest Motives Spiritual or Temporal that he thought might prevail upon him to turn Roman Catholick and having no Protestant near him at that time to advise withal but Mr. Griffin of his Bed-Chamber a Gentleman about his own age both of them not being able to make much more than Thirty he doubted not but to prevail But notwithstanding the greenness of his years such was his zeal for his Religion that after having made ingenious Replies to all the Abbots Arguments he told him that he very much admired how he durst make that attempt upon him knowing that the Queen had engaged her word to the King that no change of his Religion should be endeavoured And telling him that for his own part he was resolved not to incurr the King's displeasure by neglecting to observe his Royal Command whereby he expresly forbid him to listen to any Arguments which should be used with him for the change of his Religion And that as to the specious Pretences of making him a Cardinal or procuring of him to be advanced to the English Throne he did with indignation and contempt deride and reject them complaining withal of his being disingeniously dealt with by his being thus assaulted in the absence of his Tutor whom the King had placed over him and who he believed could easily refute the strongest of his Arguments Which upon his return he did so fully that it was thought convenient to remove the Duke back again to Paris where he was permitted to resort to the King's Chappel and enjoy the free exercise of his Religion for the present though it was not long that he did so for after some little time the Queen own'd the attempt done on him to be with her own approbation declaring that she could not but endeavour notwithstanding her Promise to the King that he should not be forced to have her Son shewed the right way to Heaven and to have that way proposed to him which she thought most requisite for the guiding him thereunto And that she might notwithstanding that repulse prevail upon him by degrees his Protestant Tutor was put from him and himself hurried out of Paris in great hast thereby to deprive him of the assistance of any Protestant and conveyed to Mr. Croft's house but under the care of Abbot Mountague none of his Servants but Griffin being permitted to attend him The News whereof did deeply affect all the Loyal Protestant Exiles then in Paris but especially the Lord Hatton who understanding how violently that young Prince was persecuted for his Religion he consulted with that famous Confessor for the Church of England Dr. Cousins then Dean of Peterborough and Chaplain to his Majesty and since the King's Restauration Bishop of Durham who thereupon drew up what Arguments and Instructions he thought convenient to fortifie the Duke in that violent assault And knowing how strictly he was guarded from the access of any Protestant he being by his Lady related to the Abbot went to give him a visit but his design was soon guessed at and tho' he obtain'd for that time access to the Duke yet he was so carefully watch'd that it was not without much difficulty that he unperceived conveyed to him the Instructions that he had prepared for him and was forced for the future to vary his stratagems to procure farther Advices to be from time to time delivered to him And so narrowly was the Duke eyed by the Popish Spies set over him and the Priests who were uncessantly torturing of him with their pressures to change his Religion that he had no opportunity to peruse any of
them that no man had long'd with more impatience to have those Bills past than he had done to pass them in regard he look't upon them as the Foundation of the Nations Peace and Security and that he did very willingly pardon all that were pardoned in the Act of Indempnity but assuring them withal that for the time to come the same discretion and conscience which had disposed him to the clemency that he had therein exprest and was most agreeable to his nature would oblige him to all Rigour and Severity how contrary soever it were to his Disposition towards those who should not now acquiesce but continue to manifest their Sedition and dislike of the Government not knowing any more probable way to assure himself of his peoples affections than by rendring himself just as well as kind to all The confluence of his felicities were about this time somewhat abated and the Joy of his Restauration somewhat allay'd by the immature and much lamented Death of his younger Brother Henry Duke of Gloucester a Prince of such extraordinary hopes that my silence will be his best Commendation since his vertues far transcend the highest expressions of my Pen. He dyed of the small-Pox and was privately buryed in Henry the 7th's Chappel The Princess of Orange soon after dispelling the grief which had been conceiv'd upon the account of his death by her Arrival from Holland to Joy and Felicitate her Brothers in the Recovery of their Rights About this time the King knowing that the Common wealth never thrives so well as when the Church and State are equally Interested in the Princes care applied himself to settle the Miter as wel as the Crown and provide for the wel ordering of Ecclesiastical affairs as well as he had done for the Civil by reestablishing Episcopcay and restoring the Bishops to their ancient Rights and Priviledges So that the Ecclesiastical Regiment by Bishops recover'd its self by the Kings piety and prudence near as soon and in almost as Triumphant a manner as Monarchy it self appointing Dr. Juxon that ancient and excellent Prelate that had been in his Fathers Reign Bishop of London and had assisted him at the time of his death on the Scaffold to the Arch-Bishopprick of Canterbury whose Translation was perform'd with great Solemnity And not long after several new Bishops chosen from among the eminent and valiant asserters of the Church and Lawâ— of England were consecrated in the Abby at Westminster and all the Vacant Diocesses fill'd up with men of the greatest Learning and Piety And now divine vengeance having with a sure though a slow foot trac'd the Murderers of the Royal Martyr through several Mazes at last overtake them For the Parliament having in detestation of their Crime and to wipe away the stain of that most accursed Pollution giv'n them up as Sacrifices to the Law and the Honour of their Country the King order'd their Tryal by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to begin on the Ninth of October that so his Justice might appear equally as Respondent in the punishment of their Parricide as his Clemency had done in the pardon of all other Crimes They were all of them convicted according to Law the full benefit whereof was allow'd them being tryed by a Jury of their Peers against whom they had the liberty of excepting and Condemn'd to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd and Harrison Carew Scot Clement Scrope Jones Peters Hacker Axtell and Cook were Executed accordingly The last of whom acknowledg'd that the Person of the Prince they had Murder'd was beyond any Parallel being most Virtuous most Innocent most Religious and that his Judges were for the most part mean and desparate Persons whose Hands were lifted up by Ambition Sacriledge Covetousness and success against the Life of that incomparable Prince whose lamented and barbarous death God would not suffer to go unrevenged Their quarters were dispos'd of to the several Gates and most of their Heads set on Poles upon the Bridge but the rest of the Prisoners that had surrendred themselves on Proclamation were respited from Execution till the farther pleasure of the Parliament was known and after Sentence past upon them remanded to the Tower from whence they came And having now in some measure reveng'd his Fathers Death his next respects were due to his Mother who being about that time come over from France he could not better welcome her to his Kingdoms than by rendring his Entertainments of her Innocent and free from that horrible guilt which had Divorc'd her from her Husband and for so long a Tract of time estrang'd her from his People since he could neither with Justice nor civility have receiv'd her here without satisfaction and expectation of those Crimes which had so rudely driven her to seek her safety abroad He brought her back to his Pallace at Whitehall on the Second of November after she had been nineteen Years absent from them together with his Sister the Princess Henretta who had not been suffered to breath in English Air above two years after her Birth This meeting after so tedious and desperate an absence was very joyous and the Entertainment highly Magnificent The Marquess of Argile upon the Kings Restauration had the confidence notwithstanding all the base Treasons he had covertly acted in that Kingdom since the Kings departure thence to come up from Scotland in hopes by his fair and specious pretences to obtain his pardon and that the King according to his Gracious Inclination would have past by those many undutiful and Irreverend usages he had receiv'd from him and the rest of his Associates whilst he was there amongst them But such was the general hatred and detestation of that People and especially the Nobility against him that he was committed to the Tower and from thence by Sea convey'd to Edenborough where his process was making ready The Earl of Middleton the Kings great Commissioner for that Kingdom following him thither about the end of December in order to his Tryal where he was convicted and Executed for those many Treasons he had perpetrated against both Kings Death having tasted of the Bloud-Royal by cutting off the Duke of Glocester as though there were a circulation of the very same in every individual and it naturally ran in the same distemper through a whole Family the Infection by a kind of Sympathy in the same disease of the Small-Pox seized the vitals of the Princess of Orange and in spite of all art and remedy hurried her to the grave leaving her Brother and the whole Court fill'd with grief and sadness and her Son the young Prince not above ten years and a month old she was privately buried by her Brother in Henry the 7thâ— Chappel And now the happy Parliament which rendred it self deservedly Famous by rebuilding the glorious structure of the English Ancient and Renowned Government and assured the Foundation thereof in the establishing the Throne of their rightful Soveraign came to its
observing the Orders sent him At which Proceedings of the States the King being â—ustly enraged resolved to trifle with them no longer but make them feel the effects of his Indignation And knowing that whilst he had Wars abroad it was necessary to have Peace and Union at home he put forth a Declaration of Indulgence to all Dissenting Persons promising notwithstanding that Indulgence to maintain the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England as it was then established Sir Robert Holmes Cruising with five of the King's Frigots near the Isle of Wight about the middle of March met with the Dutch Smyrna and Streight Fleet Convoyed by six of their men of War and standing with them gave them a Gun to strike and lower their Flag which they refusing he poured a Broad-side upon them whereupon their Convoy coming up the Fight began about two in the afternoon and continued until night and the next morning was again renewed five of their richest Merchant-men being taken their Reer-Admiral sunk and the rest made their escape for want of more assistance The first blow being thus given the King denounced open War against them by Publishing his Declaration wherein he gave the World an account of the Grounds and Reasons of his Quarrel with them which together with the French Kings preparations and proceedings towards them in laying great Impositions upon their Manufacture which they foresaw tended to a rupture with them they fortifiing themselves with all imaginable speed and diligence endeavoured to procure Allies abroad and made the Prince of Orange their Captain-General at Land and Admiral at Sea And looking upon Maestricht as the first place that would in all probability be attacked by the French King they repaired the Fortifications thereof and re-inforced that City with Men and Provisions The King resolving to prosecute the War with all imaginable resolution and vigour provided for the security of his own Subjects by allowing them sufficient Convoys and giving them liberty to make use of what Foreign Mariners they could procure And his Fleet being now ready to put to Sea he went to Rye to see them joyn with a Squadron of French Ships which that King according to agreement was to furnish him with under the Command of the Count d' Estree Vice-Admiral of France And so soon as he was returned the two Fleets being now joyned stood over for the Coast of Holland Commanded by His present Majesty then Duke of York whose very name was terrible to the Dutch And on the twenty eighth of May meeting with the Enemies Fleet about five Leagues off the Wheelings there ensued a very fierce and bloody Engagement both sides being emulous for Honour and desirous of Victory fighting with extraordinary eagerness But the night coming on and the Dutch finding themselves unable to bear up against the Valour of the English stood towards their own Coasts and were pursued by the Duke who resolved to have renewed the Engagement the next morning had not a Fog prevented and favoured their securing themselves in their Shallows The loss on the Dutch side was very great both as to Men and Ships but on the part of the English there was little Dammage beside the loss of the Earl of Sandwich and the Royal James This loss at Sea was attended with many more on Land the French King having taken several of their Frontier Towns which possessed them with such a Consternation that many of the wealthy Inhabitants forsook their Habitations resolving not to hazard their Persons and Estates in a Countrey falling into the hands of a Victorious Foreigner And the States not thinking themselves secure enough at the Hague removed to Amsterdam and to impede the French King's approach causeâ— the Sluces to be opened and the Country be put under Water to the incredible Prejudice and Dammage of the miserable Inhabitants Which Distraction of theirs the King of England wisely improved to the strengthening himself and the weakening of them by putting forth a seasonable Declaration wherein he promised That if any of their Subjects out of affection to him or his Government or to avoid the oppression they met with at home would take refuge in his Kingdom they should be protected in their Persons and Estates and have an Act pass for their Naturalization and that such Ships as they brought with them should be accounted as English Built and enjoy the same Priviledges and Immunities as to Trade Navigation and Customs as those of his own Subjects Yet commiserating the deplorable condition into which the States were reduced and supposing their misfortunes had rendred them more humble he sent the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington to try if they would at length offer any reasonable terms of Peace who were received by the Common People with great joy and satisfaction crying out God bless the King of England and God bless the Prince of Orange but the Devil take the States But their Pride being not sufficiently abated the Embassadors returned without bringing them to any Conclusion which together with the French King's taking Nimeguen and the English Fleets appearing upon their Coasts so enraged the People that they brake out into tumultuous Insurrections and there was scarce a Town in Holland where they were not masterless And therefore the States that they might appease them commanded their Fleet to go out and beat the English from their Harbours which De Ruyter attempted with all the force that Courage and Resolution could inspire him with but finding himself overmatched was forced to retire with considerable loss The Fleets having both repaired the Dammages of this Fight hastened to try their fortune in a second Engagement which being as unsuccessful to the Dutch as the former De Ruyter stole away in the night But having increased his Fleet was not long before he got to Sea again and meeting about the middle of August with the English Fleet endeavoured to get the Wind of them which then blew North-East resolving if possible to redeem his lost reputation but night coming on both Fleets came to an Anchor The next day the Fight began with the morning wherein the Dutch sustained a very great loss and the greatest part of their Fleet had in all probability been destroy'd and the contest about the Dominion of the Narrow-Seas ended had not the Cowardly French who were then Masters of the Wind behaved themselves as though they had been sent thither only to be spectators of the Bravery and Valour of the English Whereupon the States-General finding they could no longer withstand the successful Arms of that fortunate King sued for Peace by their Embassador and had it granted as well out of Pity to them as Jealousie of the French King's too growing greatness whose Progress they were now at leisure to oppose The King having now consented to admit the Hollanders to terms of Peace became a Mediator for the like accommodation between the Crown of France and Spain endeavouring by his
was altogether uncertain and knowing that by his late Preparations and Alliances he had provoked a mighty and a warlike King he thought it convenient to provide for his own security if the worst should happen by keeping up his Army and continuing his Fleet at Sea especially since that was the most probable means to make the French King account it his interest to hasten the Peace and procure to himself the more advantagious Terms therein telling his Parliament which met soon after That although they would peradventure account the Peace he was endeavouring to procure as ill a bargain as War because it cost them Money yet if they seriously considered that Flanders might have perhaps been lost by that time he believed they would give much greater Sums than all the Charge he he had been at amounted to rather than the single Town of Ostend should be in the French King's hands and Forty or Fifty of his Ships of War in so good a Haven over against the Rivers mouth adding That he could not but be very well pleased to understand the Reputation he had gained abroad by having in so short a time rais'd so great an Army and fitted out so brave a Fleet and hoped that they were so too since it so much redounded to the Honour of the English Nation desiring them therefore if they had any respect to their own Welfare and the Peace of Europe or were willing he should pass any part of his Life in quiet and all the rest in confidence and quietness with them and other future Parliaments to take care for the maintaining Peace and Union at home and the setling the same Revenue he had the Christmass before some of it being then fallen off upon him for Life and add 300000 l. per Annum thereunto to enable him to maintain the Navy and Ord'nance and keep his Word with the Prince of Orange in the payment of 40000 l. as his Nieces Portion the first Payment whereof was then become due and demanded by that Prince But the French King notwithstanding the Cessation of Arms endeavouring to enlarge his Conquests and possess himself of several considerable Towns he resolved to prevent him and therefore commanded the Duke of Monmouth who was at that time General of all his Land Forces and the Earl of Ossery to joyn the Prince of Orange and attempt the beating of him from the Siege of Mons which was then very much straitned by him and would in all probability have been lost within a few days The French who lay encamp'd between two Woods the right Wing posted at St. Dennis and their left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage that besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them which made them almost inaccessable thought themselves secure but the Cannon playing briskly upon St. Dennis and the valiant English commanded by the Earl of Ossery falâ—ing on with their accustomed Courage and Fury soon forced the Abbey and compell'd the French posted there to fly in great disorder to their main body many of them being slain in the dispute which was very hot And the Duke of Luxenburgh who was Commander there as the French King's General notwithstanding he had upon their first approach on a presumption that he lay encamp'd in a place which was impregnable laught at and derided the vain Attempt as he imagined of forcing his Camp finding he had now to do with the resolute English and not the timerous Spaniards or wary Germans dislodg'd in great confusion leaving his slain and many wounded Men behind and the Tents standing as they were to the Plunder of his victorious Enemies whereby the relieving of Mons a work thought little less then impossible was easily performed and the French King disappointed of his hopes And had that succeess been followed and improv'd the French King would in all probability have been reduced to great extremities and have been glad to have accepted of Peace upon any Conditions he could have gotten but the Peace which he had upon the march of the English hastily concluded a few days before at Nemeguen put a stop to all farther hostilities Things being brought to this happy conclusion abroad new Stirs and Commotions begin to appear at home For one Titus Oates who had receiv'd Education Orders in the Church of England and was afterward seemingly or God knows how reconcil'd to the Church of Rome going first into Flanders and then into Spain ingratiated himself with the Jesuits and Priests in those parts with a design as he afterward pretended to discover what they were plotting against England returning about this time inform'd the King of a Plot carried on by the Jesuits and others of the Roman Catholick Religion against his Person and Life the Protestant Religion and the Government of the Kingdom And that his Information might appear the more plausible and be the more readily believed he named divers Persons of Quality engaged in the Design and what Instruments had been provided for his Assassination affirming that when he was once taken off the remaining part of the Work was to have been carried on by Arms Foreign Assistance and such other Expedients as they should have judged necessary for the success of their Enterprise Whether there was any truth at all in this Relation or how much there was or whether the King at all believed it is none of my business to determine since I design as an Historian only to relate matter of Fact but certain it is that many Troubles and Combustions were occasioned thereby and several great and threatning Mischiefs have since fallen so thick upon these Kingdoms that one hath ever trod upon the heels of another Upon this Information the Privy-Councel sate twice a day to consider and examin that Plot and Sir George Wakeman one of the Queen's Physicians Mr. Coleman the Dutchess of York's Secretary Mr. Langhorn of the Temple and several others were committed close Prisoners and the Lords Bellassis Powis Peters Arundel of Warder Castlemain and Stafford were secured in the Tower And the Parliament sitting soon after the King told them in his Speech That he had been informed of a Design against his Person carried on by the Papists whereof he should forbear to give his opinion lest he should seem to say too much or too little but would leave the matter wholly to the decision of the Law without prejudging the persons accused But the strict inquiry into that Matter having discovered many unwarrantable Practices of theirs he thought he had reason to look to ' em Altho' this Plot in all the parts of it was a complication of Mysteries yet the greatest mystery of all seems to be the business of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey who being a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and a severe enemy to the Papists as was generally supposed took the Depositions of Oates and Tongue and was soon after found dead in a Ditch not far from Hampsted with his Sword run through
spoiled but left her Wealthy and Rich. Her Prelates He restored to their Ancient Rights and Dignities and filled Her Converts with Joy and Gladness His Religion and Piety He did not like most Princes make Religion an Artifice of State only but accounted it the Glory and Comfort of his Life His Soul in His private Devotion soared so high that he seemed to be wholly swallowed up with the Contemplation of the Holiness and Majesty of the God whom he adored and with whom he would plead in Prayer so earnestly and with such Affection as tho he were resolved to take no denial And one of the Presbyterian Ministers who attended the Commissioners sent over by the Parliament at Breda passing accidentally by when he was private in his Closet he was so astonished at the Ardency and Zeal wherewith he offered up his Sacrifices of Prayer and Praises to Almighty God that he suddenly clapt his hand upon his Heart and with a kind of Emotion of Spirit cried out to those that were with him We are not worthy of such a King And that which was the perfection of all his piety and zeal proceeded not so much from a desire to seem Religious as from a solemn Dedication of his great Soul to the Honour and Glory of his God by whom alone he knew Kings reign and Princes decree Justice Accounting himself like Theodosius the Emperor more happy in being a servant of Christ than in his being King of great Brittain and Ireland He was from his Infancy Eduducated in the Protestant Religion and Instructed by the Royal Martyr in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England And yet he was not a Protestant so much by Education as Choice as appeared by his constant adhering to the Church of England in the time of his unhappy Exile when he was absolutely free to have profess'd what Religion he pleased and had so many Temptations from the baseness and villany of his own Subjects and the kindness of those Popish Princes by whom he was entertained and from whose Assistance he expected relief against the unjust Oppression of those that had Vsurp'd his Throne to embrace the Doctrine of the Church of Rome And the reason why he so strenuously endeavoured to promote and maintain an Vniformity in Religion through all his Dominions was not so much to Justifie his own Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Causes as thereby to strengthen the Protestant Interest knowing that the safety of England consisted chiefly in the Vnion of her Inhabitants So that his knowledg in the sacred Mysteries of Religion was the Crown and Glory of all his other Perfections and the great end and design whereat He aimed in all his other Studies was the improving them to the Glory of God and the increasing in Himself the knowledg of more sublime and heavenly things wherein He so much excelled that He might have said with King David I am wiser than all my Teachers Knowing likewise that nothing obstructed the growth of Piety and the power of Godliness more than the wasting those parts and spending that time in disputing about Forms which ought wholly to be employed in promoting Holiness of Life and Sincerity of Heart He had during his Exile visited the Courts and Travelled through the Countrys of the three greatest and most Potent Monarchs of Christendom His Travels viz. Germany France and Spain and had by his Observation made himself Master of what was excellent and worth learning in their Forms and Methods of Government and exactly inform'd himself what were the Excellencies and what the defects of each of them And to the Admiration of those who had the Happiness to converse with him had by that means obtained an universal insight into all the great and weighty Affairs of Europe and understood by what Principles they were first moved and by what Counsels and to what ends they vvere aftervvards carried on vvhich tho he chiefly learned from themselves yet vvhat he gathered from them all in General vvas strange and surprizing to every one of them in particular who greatly wondred at the Comprehensiveness of his Knowledg So that as he had by right of Nature a Power of Empire over the Bodies of one Part of Europe He might seem by a Natural and acquired right to claim an Vniversal Monarchy over the Intellectual Powers the Minds and Wills of Mankind in all the Parts of it besides He understood Spanish and Italian and spake and wrote French correctedly was well versed in Ancient and Modern History and had read the choicest Pieces of Politicks and Divinity and understood the fundamental Laws of England so well His skill in Arts and Sciences that he could readily answer the most difficult Queries and resolve the greatest Mysteries and Critical Niceties that were at any time started about them and had his mind so well furnished with the knowledg of Nature and the Reasons of Things that He comprehended almost all kind of Arts which contributed any Thing either to the Delight or Service of Mankind He understood the truest and best Method for Building of Ships and could better than those who pretended themselves the greatest Crafts-masters therein direct the making them far more useful both for Strength and Sailing than any which had been formerly built and was as well acquainted with Rigging and Fitting forth a Fleet for Sea He had great Skill in Guns knew all that belonged to their casting and could tell upon first view whether they were mounted to do Execution or not He was a great Lover of stately Buildings and several Curious Edifices were either built or repaired by Him But his greatest Cost and Care in that kind was laid out in Windsor-Castle which he took more delight in than in any other of His Palaces Nor were His Buildings all for Pomp but some for Charity witness that Curious and Stately Fabrick of Chelsey-Colledg for the Entertainment of decayed Soldiers He understood Navigation Astronomy and all the parts of the Mathematicks to such a Degree that he is supposed to have attained a greater Perfection therein than any Prince ever did before Him and took so much delight in those Pleasant and Useful Studies that he endeavoured as much as possible the promoting them in others Witness His Worthy Gift to the Hospital of Christ-Church for the Annual breeding up a certain Number of the most Ingenuous of their Children in the Mathematical Studies and the Liberal Rewards which were frequently bestowed by Him upon Ingenious Men that had any way contributed toward the making those Studies more easie and delightful or had been imployed by him in any thing relating thereunto His Recreations for the most part were very stirring and such as tended to the making his Body more Robust and strong His Recreations and maintaining it in Health which he enjoyed to as great a degree as any Prince in the World ever did such as Riding Hunting Fishing Tennis and the like He loved Walking extreamly