security to all interests to perswade a re-admission of the Lord Richard to his Protectorship which was well answered by a stout Officer telling them their onely end in that was to set up one again whom they themselves had already learn'd to pull down that they were under command and knew it their duty not to dispute but to submit to what orders they received from their superiours which they likewise wished them to doe The dispute being ended they prepare for action but Col. Alureds Troop deserting them Lambert seeing himself forsaken seeks to fly but providence had so ordered it that notwithstanding he was mounted on a Barbery which might have hastned him in his flight yet being on ploughed land his Horse was of little advantage to him And now he who before had gained the name of stout and valiant in many battles when he saw Col. Ingoldsby ride up to him and demand him prisoner was presently taken without drawing his sword and driven to that pittyfull shift to cry out Pray my Lord let me Escape Pray my Lord let me Escape There were taken with him Colonel Cobbet Major Creed Lieutenant Colonel Young Captain Timothy Clare Captain Gregory and Captain Spinage and some other private souldiers Colonel Okey Colonel Axtel and Captain Cleer Okeys son in law escaped though pursued four miles April the 24. the day before the Parliament sitting they were brought up prisoners to the Council who after examination committed Lambert Cobbet and Creed close prisoners to the Tower The same day the Militia forces of the City Trained Bands and Auxiliaries according to an Order of the Council marched into Hide Park the Mayor in his Coller of S's with the Mace Sword and Cap of Maintenance the Aldermen in Scarlet and the Commissioners of the Militia in handsome equipage going before them to a place erected for their entertainment Each Col. had his Tent and their Regiments very full severall of the Nobility and Gentry of great quality going as Voluntiers in Alderman Robinsons Regiment were 250. in the rest very many The Regiments were all so gallantly accountered as did sufficiently speak both the riches and strength of the City there being little visible difference betwixt the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries but onely in their age This certainly was an happy Omen of our future settlement that the day before the sitting of the Parliament there should not onely appear so gallant a Body of able Citizens to defend them but the Chief of that faction that endeavoured the disturbance of the Nation should be delivered into their hands and the rest of his Accomplices timely discovered and dispersed April 25. both Houses of Parliament met at Saint Margarets Church in Westminster where Doctor Reynolds preached before them taking his Text out of Mal. 4. ver 2. The Sermon ended they repaired to their Houses The Lords made choice of the Earl of Manchester for their Speaker the House of Commons of Sir Harbotle Grimstone This was a great joy to the whole Nation to see our Grand Council restored again to their former priveledges a large step to our ancient freedome yet not comparable to what the first of May produced when both Houses of Parliament and Generall Monck received each of them a Letter from his most Sacred Majesty King Charles the second with a gracious Declaration to all his Loving Subjects brought by Sir John Greenvil since made Earl of Bath His Letters speake his piety and unwearied care for his Subjects prosperity desiring rather to prepare and improve the affections of his Subjects at home for his restauration then to procure assistance from abroad though then propounded to him to invade either of his kingdomes Our intended brevity will not permit us to give you the exact draught of his Letters though deserving to be Registred in Letters of Gold take a view of his gracious expressions of piety goodness and love to the Nation in this his following Declaration CHARLES R. CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all our Loving Subjects of what degree or quality soever greeting If the generall distraction and confusion which is spread over the whole kingdome doth not awaken all men to a desire and longing that those wounds which have so many years together been kept bleeding may be bound up all we can say will be to no purpose However after this long silence We have thought it Our duty to declare how much We desire to contribute thereunto And that as We can never give over the hope in good time to obtain the possession of that Right which God and Nature hath made our due so we doe make it our daily suit to the Divine Providence that he will in compassion to Us and Our Subjects after so long misery and suffering remit and put Us into a quiet and peaceable possession of that Our right with as little blood and damage to Our people as is possible Nor doe we desire more to enjoy what is Ours then that all Our Subjects may enjoy what by Law is theirs by a full and entire Administration of Justice throughout the Land and by extending Our mercy where it is wanted and deserved And to the end that the fear of punishment may not engage any Conscious to themselves of what is passed to a perseverance in guilt for the future by opposing the quiet and happinesse of their Country in the restauration both of King Peers and People to their Just Ancient and Fundamentall Rights We do by these presents declare That We doe grant a free and generall pardon which We are ready upon demand to passe under Our Great Seal of England to all Our Subjects of what degree or quality soever who within fourty days after the publishing hereof shall lay hold upon this Our grace and favour and shall by any publick Act declare their doing so And that they return to the Loyalty and Obedience of good Subjects excepting onely such persons as shall hereafter be excepted by Parliament Those only excepted let all Our Loving Subjects how faulty soever relie upon the word of a King solemnly given by this present Declaration That no Crime whatsoever committed against Us or Our Royall Father before the Publication of this shall ever rise in Judgment or be brought in Question against any of them to the least endamagement of them either in their Lives Liberties or Estates or as far forth as lies in Our power so much as to the prejudice of their Reâ—utations by any Reproach or term of distinction from the rest of Our best Subjects We Desiring and Ordaining that hence forward all Notes of Discord separation and difference of parties be utterly abolished among all Our Subjects whom We invite and conjure to a perfect Union among themselves under Our Protection for the Re-settlement of Our Just Rights and theirs in a free Parliament By which upon the word of a King We will be advised And
consisting of about 220. their colors sky f inged with silver Another of gray Liveries 6. Trumpets colors sky and silver of about 105. Gentlemen Another Troop of 70. Gentlemen 5. Trumpets colors sky and silver Another Troop led by the Lord Cleveland of about 300. Noblemen and Gentlemen colors blew fringed with gold Then another Troop of about 100. having black colors fringed with gold After them another Troop of about 300. After these came two Trumpets with His Majesties Armes the Sheriffs men in red cloakes and silver lace with half pikes 79. in number then followed the several Companies of London with their several Streamers all in black velvet coats with gold chains every Company having their footmen of their several Liveries some red and white some pink and white some blew and yellow c. Three Trumpets in Liveries richly laced and cloth of silversleeves went before the Company of the Mercers After all these came a kettle-drum 5. Trumpets and 3. streamers having very rich red Liveries with silver lace The number of the Citizens were about 600. After these 12. ministers another kettle-drum 4. Trumpets then His Majesties Life-guard led by the Lord Gerard another party led by Sir Gilbert Gerard and Major Rosecarron and the third division by Colonel Pragurs Then 3. Trumpets in rich coats and sattin doublets The City Marshall with 8. footmen in French-green trimed with crimson and white the City waites the City Officers in order Then Dr. Warmstry the two Sheriffs and all the Aldermen of London in their scarlet gowns and rich trappings with footmen in Liveries red coats laced with silver and cloth of gold The Heralds and Maces in their rich coats The Lord Mayor bare carrying the sword his Excellency and the Duke of Buckingham bare Then the glory of all His Sacred Majesty rode between the Dukes of York and Glocester afterwards followed a Troop bare with white colors then the Generalls Life-guard after which another company of Gentry having sky colors fringed with gold after which 5. Regiments of the Army-Horse led by Col. Knight viz. His Excellencies Regiment Col. Knights Col. Cloberrâ—â—s Lord Fauconbergs Lord Howards Last of all came two Troops of Nobility and Gentlemen with red colors fringed with gold Never did Hiperion the worlds bright eye behold a more gallant sight of Nobility and Gentlemen then marched then brandishing their swords all along Soon after His Majesty was passed all the musquetires that had lined the streets gave many volleys of shot Thus was His Majesty conducted to his Royal Pallace at White-hall where after the Lord Mayor had taken his leave His Majesty went unto the Lords to whom the Earl of Manchester their Speaker addressed himself in these words That this day may prove happy to Your Majesty is the hope and Expectation and the earnest desire of my Lords the Peeres whose Commands are upon me to make this humble tender to Your Majesty of their Loyall joy for Your Majesties safe Return to Your Native Kingdome and for this happy Restoration of Your Majesty to Your Crown and Dignity after so long and so severe a suppression of Your just Right and Title I shall not reflect upon Your Majesties sufferings which have been Your peoples miseries yet I cannot omit to say That as the Nation in generall so the Peeres with a more personall and particular sense have felt the stroke that cut the Gordian knot which fastned Your Majesty to Your kingdome and Your kingdome to Your Majesty For since those strange and various fluctuations and Discomposures in Government since those horrid and unparallel'd Violations of all Order and Justice Strangers have ruled over us even with a Rod of Iron But now with satisfaction of Heart we own and see Your Majesty our Native King a son of the wise a son of the ancient kings whose hands hold forth a golden Scepter Great King Give me leave to speake the Confidence as well as the desires of the Peers of England Be you the powerfull defender of the true Protestant faith the just assertor and maintainer of the Laws and Liberties of Your Subjects so shall Judgement run down like a River and Justice like a mighty streame and God the God of Your Mercy who hath so miraculously preserved You will establish Your Throne in Righteousness and in Peace Dread Soveraign I offer no flattering Titles but speak the words of truth you are the desire of Three kingdomes the strength and the stay of the Tribes of the people for the moderating of Extremities the reconciling of Differences the satisfying of all Interests and for the Restoring of the collapsed Honour of these Nations Their Eyes are toward Your Majesty their Tongues with loud Acclamations of Joy speak the thoughts and Loyall intentions of their Hearts their Hands are lift up to Heaven with Prayers and Praises and what Oral Triumph can equall this Your Pomp and Glory Long may Your Majesty live and raign a support to Your Friends a terror to Enemies and Honour to the Nation and an Example to Kings of Piety Justice Prudence and Power that this Prophetick Expression may be verified in Your Majesty King CHARLES the second shall be greater then ever was the greatest of that name His Majesty having returned a gracious answer to the Lords went from thence unto the Banqueting House where Sir Harbotle Grimston Speaker to the House of Commons delivered himself in this speech to His Majesty the Members of that House being there present Most gracious and dread Soveraign If all the Reason and Eloquence that is dispersed in so many severall heads and tongues as are in the whole world were conveyed into my Braine and united in my tongue yet I should want sufficiency to discharge that great task I am now enjoyned The restitution of Your Majesty to the exercise of Your just and most indubitable Native Right of Soveraignty and the deliverance of Your people from bondage and slavery hath been wrought out and brought to passe by a miraculous way of Divine Providence beyond and above the reach and comprehension of our understandings and therefore to be admired impossible to be expressed God hath been pleased to train Your Majesty up in the School of affliction where You have learned that excellent lesson of patience so well and improved it so much for the good of the people that we have all just cause for ever to Bless God for it and we doubt not but Your Name is Registred in the Records of Heaven to have a place in the highest from amongst those glorious Martyrs of whom it is reported that through faith in Christ and patience in their sufferings they converted their very Tormentors and conquered those Barbarous bloody Tyrants under whom they then suffered insomuch as they themselves were many times inforced to confesse and cry out Sat est vicisti Galilaeus they had their vicisti and that deservedly but Your Majesty must have a treble vicisti for with the same weapon Faith
Waller Mr. Meir Col. Waite Col. Temple Tichborn Fleetwood Col. John Temple and some few others Nor could His Majesty want employment having enough to doe to receive all these addresses which were made to him from all the Shires and Towns of England which though they throng'd in so fast yet His Majesty was still ready to entertain them with so much grace and favour that he gave satisfaction to all Nor was this joy confin'd within the limits of England other Countries partaking thereof and making themselves concern'd in our great alterations particularly at Heidelburgh Frankendale Wormes and Herldbron in all which places was a day of publick prayers and thanksgiving for the restoration of His Sacred Majesty of Great Brittain The King of Portugall also when he heard the news thereof presently gave order that the same night all the great guns of the Castle and Forts of the Town and Harbour should be fired The whole City was adorn'd with lights and in every window of the Kings Palace were set two great Torches of white wax besides Bonfires and Fireworks in the streets the King and Queen next morning with the Infanta and Nobility went forth in solemn manner to the Church of St. Anthony's of the Capuchins all the bells in the Town ringing the while By which it was plainlyseen with what reall joy and satisfaction the people of this Court and Nation receiv'd the welcome tydings of so happy a change And now we are beyond sea it may not be from the purpose to relate something of the great Marriage between the King of France and the Infanta of Spaine which happened much about this time especially the King of France being a Prince so nearly related to the Crown of England The King of Spaine being now after a tedious journey arrived at Fintarabia the Ceremonies of the Marriage being the same with the Ceremonies of ordinary marriages but more pompous were celebrated and performed by the Bishop of Pamplona with the assistance of the Patriarch of the Indies in the Church of said Town Before the performance the Infanta kneel'd twice before the King her Father first to ask him blessing and secondly before she gave her consent to the Marriage The Ceremony being ended the King of Spaine gave her all the respect due to so great a Queen giving her the right hand both in his going out of the Church and as they rode together in the Coach He likewise gave her his own lodgings and took hers where though she had not been seen before she then did ride in publick within a day or two after the two Kings had an interview where both Kings were uncovered that the grandees of Spaine might not take an occasion to be cover'd Then the King of Spaine having deliver'd his daughter into the hands of the King of France the Queen Mother took her away in her Coach which done the two Kings parted with all demonstration of amity and affection Afterwards the young Queen was presented with severall presents from her Father and Monsieur the Kings Brother and Cardinall which were so rich and so magnificent that never were more Royall presents seen In the mean time the Parliament to shew the value of that pardon from the benefit of which they were excepting so many persons came to His Majesty and in the name of themselves and the Commons of England laid hold on His Majesties gracious pardon mentioned in his Declaration from Breda wherefore on Munday being the 25. of June His Majesty publish'd a Proclamation in pursuance of his former Declaration declaring that His Majesty did graciously accept of the address of the House of Commons After this the House proceed upon the Act of Indempnity and having resolved that those persons before mentioned should be excepted from life they agree upon 20. more which though yet excluded from death should suffer all penalties and forfeitures excepting life concerning which business after they had had many debates they conclude at last upon these persons following William Lenthall Sir Hen. Vane Sir Arthur Haslerig Col. Sydenham Col. Disborough Ald. Ireton Col. Axtell Mr. Keeble Capt. Blackwell Major Creed Charles Fleetwood Alderman Pack Col. Pine Col. Cobbet Capt. Dean Oliver St. John Will. Nye Ministers John Goodwin Ministers But as the King saw them quick in their justice so he thought them too slow in their mercy and therefore having often press'd them to perfect the Act of Indempnity and nothing yet finish'd he goes himself to the House to hasten them telling them with what impatience he did expect that Act to be presented to him for his assent as the most reasonable and solid foundation of peace and security That he thought the House of Commons too long about it thanking God that he had the same intentions and resolutions which he had at Breda and then reading what he had then writ to them he added afterwards that if they did not then joyn with him in extinguishing the fear which keeps the hearts of men awake and apprehensive of safety and security they would keep him from performing his promise He then thank'd them for their justice to those who had been the immediate murderers of his Father and assured them he never thought of excepting any other and at length conjur'd them that setting all animosities aside to pass that Act without further delay His Majesty having thus put them in mind of their clemency was not forgetfull himself of that gratitude which he thought due to those who had serv'd him with a meritorious loyalty and there casting an eye of grace upon his Excellency the Lord Generall Monck for his faithfull service he was graciously pleas'd to create him Duke of Albemarly Earl of Finington Baron of Potheridge Beaucham and Teyes Captain Generall and Commander in chief of all His Majesties forces both in England Scotland and Ireland Master of His Majesties Horse Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of His Majesties most honourable privy Councill Whereupon accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham and other personages of high quality he took his leave of the House of Commons and went to take his place in the House of Peers Gen. Mountague also created Earl of Sandwich Viscount Hinchimbrook Baron of St. Needs Master of the Wardrobe one of the Commanders of the treasurie and Knight of the Garter not long after took his place in the House of Peers Sir John Greenvile who adventur'd first to bring His Majesties Letters over to the Houses and the Lord Generall His Majesty was pleas'd to create Earl of Bath Nor was His Majesty unmindfull of Col. Carles to whom with a small alteration of his name he gave a new coat of Armes which will always be a significant record of that service wherein his Loyalty was so usefull Nor did the Penderils His Majesties faithfull servants in his shelter at Boscobel goe unrewarded of one of whom named William it is reported that being in the Park of St. James's and
it was His Majesty for it seems he had seen Him oft before he was a little daunted But afterwards recollecting himself he said he was resolved to Venture hanging for His Majesty to which His Majesty replyed that he need not put himself upon that Venture for that he might go along with Him where he should not want as long as He was able to provide for him thus setting Sale from Shoreham they in a small time came to Land near Havre de Grace in Normandy But to look a little back great was the List of prisoners taken at Woreester and many taken in the pursuit insomuch that the gleanings were almost answerable to the Harvest but more considerable to them who were publickly suffered to make a gain of by felling them beyondsea to perpetuall slavery this made the Sectarian party Cock a hoop and to make it the greater publike days of Thanksgiving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their Villanies Murders Tyrannies and Treasons And now say they were not people blind they might see God himself owning our cause in those wonderfull successes he bestowes upon us an argument scarcely worth the answering yet of great weight amongst their filly Proselites Then might the Turk boast of the purity of his Religion from the largenesse of his Territories and his severall victories over Christian Princes Ovid though a Heathen could have taught them better Divinity then so Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat May he never speed Who from th' event makes measure of the deed Not long after the Juncto had knowledge how the king escaped whereupon they vowed to make Mrs. Lane exemplary Oh the grievous crime of Loyalty But she having notice of their intentions puts her self into the habit of a Country-maid and so crosses the Country on foot to Yarmouth where she got shipping which conneyed her safe into France His Majesty having notice of her arrivall sent some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris Himself with the Queen His Mother and the Dukes of York and Glocester going some part of the way to meet her entertaining her with this gratefull expression Welcome my Life And so taking her into His own Coach conducted her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause and wonder of the whole Court The Juncto in the mean time had sent Souldiers to search after her but missing their prey they in revenge burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where His Majesty first took shelter after His escape from Worcester Yet one Note more may I conceive be thought not unworthy of our Story Many there were who had got rich prizes in the plunder of the City of Worcester by which they imagined themselves enriched all the dayes of their lifes but this wealth was to them Aurum Tholosanum being not only consumed in a few days but wasted with it the rest of their Estates And for the City it self she quickly exalted her self again and is said to be now in a better condition then she was before But let us at last proceed from the battle to the effects which it produced Cromwell heightned with these successes began to think of putting his ambitious designes in practice and first he turns the Juncto out of doors a thing he knew would be very acceptable to the people as being the originall of all our Calamities but his ambition was to make himself great not to give relief and take away the tyranny therefore in stead of those he puld down he sets up another of his own arbitrary Election who knew what they had to do before they met for having sat a while without doing of any thing considerable they resign up their power to him and by the help of the Officers of the Army and Lamberts instrument make him the Lord protect us Lord Protector The Common-wealth being in its Infancy yet in this were we happy that in his Reign one Tyrant only Lorded it over us but in the Long Parliament many Now though Oliver had often sworn against the government by a single person he could easily dispence with such triviall things as oaths and thought them binding no further then conducible to his own interest and because he could not crave a blessing from God upon such wicked practises he seeks to establish himself by humane policy Being of no Religion he gives a toleration to all so that what was once said of Amsterdam that if a man had lost his Religion there he might find it might now as fitly be applyed to England here being Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists Quakers Ranters Adamites Fift Monarchy men and such a Rabble more that I want a Dictionary to find out their names The two first indeed having not much fault besides their Pride and Ambition of which one writes of them That Pope John in his Chair never thought himself so big as a Cynicall Presbyter amongst his Lay-Elders or as an Independent in a Committee of Tryers c. Neither did Pope Joan in her State over think so well of her self as a sanctified Presbyterians wife drest up in her best attire The Anabaptists are a bloudy people fatall both to Kingdomes and Common-wealths and although England felt not much of their Cruelties being timely prevented by the Divine Providence yet wofull Germany was a long time a Stage for their Tragedies being died red with many horrible murthers and massacres The Quakers are of a sowre Generation who defie all Learning of a crabbed disposition looking rather like Fantasms or furies sent from Hell to deceive the world then Christians Yet grew they extreame potent boasting in their Schismaticall opinions and seducing many poor and ignorant people to their own damnation But should I give you an account of every particular Sect 't would take up an age to describe them No day but produced its Schisme or Heresie no Cobler but would presume to make himself the head of a Sect or Faction glorying in thundring the holy word of God out of his prophane lips to his she-Auditors for so for the most part they were who listen to him as to an Oracle and he presuming his confidence to be knowledge carries himself as proudly as if he were their Ghostly father But to proceed He knew that what was acquested by force must be maintained by violence and therefore he had a care in raising such indigent persons to preferment as might if not for love to him their Governour yet for the preservation of their own interests spend their bloud in opposing any that might make resistance And as he raised vallies so he leveld mountains Great men being like metled Horses if not well look'd to may chance to cast those yong Riders who are scarce setled in the sadle Those who would not acknowledge him to be their Head he made no more to do but cut their heads off to recite all those who suffer'd under him would make a fourth volume to
because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced severall opinions in Religion by which men are engaged in parties and animosities against each other which when they shall hereafter unite in a freedome of Conversation will be compossed or better understood We doe Declare a liberty to tender Consciences and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matter of Religion which do not disturbe the Peace of the Kingdome And that We shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament as upon Mature Deliberation shall be offered to Us for the full granting that Indulgence And because in the continued distractions of so many years and so many and great Revolutions many Grants and Purchases of Estates have been made to and by many Officers Souldiers and others who are now possessed of the same and who may be liable to Actions at Law uâ—on severall Titles We are likewise willing that all such differences and all things relating to such Grants Sales and Purchases shall be determined in Parliament which can best provide for the just satisfaction of all men who are concerned And We do further declare that We will be ready to consent to any Act or Acts of Parliament to the purposes aforesaid and for the full satisfaction of all Arrears due to the Officers and Souldiers of the Army under the Command of Generall Monck and that they shall be received into Our service upon as good Pay and Condions as they now injoy Given under Our sign Manual and privy Sgnet At Our Court at Breda this 4 14 day of April 1660. In the twelfth year of Our Reign Never was Letter from absent Lover received with more unfeigned affection then these never was message entertain'd with a more generall consent nor did the House ever more truely appear the peoples full Representatives then at this present The Letters being read with that accustomed Ceremony and Reverence due to Majesty produced these Resolves Nemine contradicente Resolved by the House of Lords That they doe own and declare that according to the Ancient and Fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons Resolved that a Committee of eight Lords do joyn with a Committee of the House of Commons to consider of an answer to His Majesties Gracious Letter and Declaration Resolved by the House of Commons That a Committee be appointed to prepare an answer to His Majesties Letter expressing the great and joyfull sence of this House of His gracious offers and their Humble and Hearty Thanks to His Majesty for the same and with professions of their Loyalty and Duty to His Majesty and that this House will give a speedy answer to His Majesties gracious Proposalls Resolved that the summe of 50000 l. be presented to His Majesty from this House Ordered that the Letter from His Majesty to the House and His Declcration be entred at large in the Journall Book as also that to the Generall to be kept amongst the Records of this House for His Honour This compliance of the Parliament with His Sacred Majesty surcharged the Citizens hearts with joy those beams of Majesty which enliven Trading having been long absent from the City the presence of the Prince being one principall cause of a Cities greatness The Bells and Bonfires made outward expression of those indelible Characters of Loyalty written in their hearts the great guns from the Tower thundred forth Vive le Roys whilst each County in England strived to out-vie one another in expressions of Loyalty The Souldiery who had hitherto made Clubs trump resolve now to enthrone the King of Hearts in their affection expressing their Loyalty to His Sacred Majesty in this following addresse presented to his Excellency the Lord Generall Monck Although we cannot doubt of your Excellencies confidence in our affections and our faithfulness to your Excellency and that discipline which by your good and prudent conduct hath been exercised over us whereby we are instructed to an entire obedience to your Excellency and that Authority which the Lord shall place over us which we hope we have manifested in our last actings under your Excellency against all persons whatsoever in any ways disturbing the peace and settlement of the Nation although some of thom have been our Brethren formerly engaged in the same cause with us as also in our last Remonstrance and addresse to your Excellency wherein as it becomes us in daty we have solemnly declar'd to acquiesce in what the Lord shall bring forth from the consultations of this present Parliament Yet in regard your Excellency hath been pleased to communicate a Letter and a Leclaration from the Kings Majesty full of Gracious expressions we cannot but acknowledge that the matter of it gives a great measure of quiet to our minds and more then ordinary expectations of the enjoyment of much tranquility and happiness under His Majesties government The free and generall Indemnity offered by His Majesty with a liberty to tender Consciences satisfaction of Arrears and his readiness to consent to a confirmation of Sales and other Grants and Purchases of Estates to all persons now in possession of the same is that of which as we cannot doubt of the reall performance being left by His Majesty to the Parliaments determination so we be-believe it is the most probable way to bring the Nations to their desired settlement And we hope to evince to His Majesty and all the world that we and all those that have been engaged in the Parliaments cause are His Majesties best and most reall Subjects and that your Excellency and the Armies under your Command have comply'd with the obligations for which they were first raised for the preservation of the true Protestant Religion the Honour and Dignity of the King the priviledges of Parliament the liberty and property of the Subject and the fundamentall Laws of the Land Sir John Greenvile who brought His Majesties Letters had the thanks of both Houses given him for the same and 500 l. given him as a testimony of their respects to him the Speaker of the House of Commons delivering himself in these pathericall expressions Sir John Greenvile I need not tell you with what gratefull and thankfull hearts the Commons now assembled in Parliament have received His Majesties Gracious Letter Res ipsa loquitur you your self have been Auricularis ocularis testis de rei veritaâ—e Our Bells and our Bonfires have already begun the Proclamation of His Majesties goodnesse and of our joys We have told the people that our King the glory of England is coming home again and they have resounded it back again in our ears that they are ready and their hearts are open to receive him both Parliament and people have cryed aâ—oud in their prayers to the King of Kings Long live King CHARLES the second I am likewise to tell you that the House doth not think fit that you
should return to our Royall Soveraign without some Testimony of their respects to your self They have therefore ordered and appointed that 500 l. shall be delivered unto you to buy a Jewell as a Badge of that Honour which is due to a person whom the King hath Honoured to be the messenger of so Gracious a Message and I am commanded in the name of the House to return you their very hearty thanks And as at land such was the affections of the Seamen where Generall Mountague having received two Letters the one from His Ma esty the other from the most Illustrious Duke of Yorke as also those others sent to the House of Commons and his Excellency together with His Majesties Gracious Declaration he immediately caused a great gun to be shot off the usuall summons to call his Officers together who coming aboard he communicated His Majesties Letters unto them which being read with anunamimous consent they declared themselves for His Majesty professing their exact Loyalty to live and die in his defence deâ—â—ring the Generalls of the Fleet humbly to present the lame to His Majesty But no sooner did the under Sea-men hear thereof but their over-joy'd hearts burst forth into loud acclamations of joy this news was more welcome to them then had they taken the wealth of the West Indies for prize And now to expresse their Loyalty the Generall himself fired a great Gun crying God blesse His Majesty Then might you see the Fleet in her pride with Pendants loose Guns roaring Caps flying and loud Vive le Roys ecchoed from one ships Company to another which were answered with the great Guns from Deal and Sandwich Castles The Noble Generall gave two pipes of Canary to the Commanders and Gentlemen in his ship And as at sea so in Ireland was seen the same complyance for the Convention there hearing what was done in England send a Declaration hither wherein they first expresse their disclaime of the sinfull and exemplary force put upon the House iâ— 1648. and whereas also the said persons did presume to erect a high Court of Justice and by an ugly and execrable sentence condemn the King to death they do declare their detestation of the fact and protest against those inhuman unparallell'd and barbaâ—ous actions as being the foulest and highest assassination that ever prot hane or sacred History ever recorded May the 8. 1660. His Majesty was solemnly Proclaimed by the Loâ—ds and Commons the Lord Mayor c. in the Cities of London and Westminster with an universall testification of Loyalty from all degrees of people The manner whereof being so remarkable each â—erson in his proper Sphear contending to out-vy each other in expressions of obedience to His Sacred Majesty take as followeth Between one and two of the Clock the Lords met in the Painted Chamber where they continued till they were placed in order the Earl of Manchester Speaker first then the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Oxford c. Thus they walked all along with the Heralds before them through the Court of Requests and Westminster-Hall to the Pallace where they staid befoâ—e the Hall gate whither also presently after came the House of Commons Being placed in order both Lords and Coâ—mons stood bare whilest Mr. Bish dictated and Mr. Râ—ley king at Armes with a loud voice Proclaimed Charles the second in these words The Proclamation Although it can no may be doubted but that His Majesties Right and Title to His Crown and Kingâ—omes is and was eâ—ery way compleated by the death of his most Royall father of glorious memory without the Ceremony or solemnity of a Proclamation yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used to the end that all good subjects might upon this occasion testify their duty and respect And since the armed violence and other the Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any such opportunity whereby we might express our Loyalty and allegiance to His Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London and other freemen of this kingdome now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and unaminously acknowledge and proclaime That immediately upon the decease of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles the Imperial Crown of the Realme of England and of all the Kingdomes Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by inherent Birth right and lawfull undoubted succession descend and come to His most Excellent Majesty Charles the second as being lineally justly and lawfully next Heir of the Bloud Royal of this Realme and that by the goodness and providence of Almighty God He is of England Scotland France and Ireland the most potent mighty and undoubted King And thereunto we most Humbly and Faithfully do submit and obliege our selves our Heires and Posterity for ever God save the King The Proclamation being ended the Lords and Commons took their Coaches proceeding to the further solemnity of proclaiming His Sacred Majesty as followeth First the Head Bayliffe of Westminster and his Servants riding with White staves to prepare the way then followed a gallant Troop of Officers of the Army and other Gentlemen with Trumpets before them then the Life-guard very stately mounted and richly clothed after them a Class of six Trumpets and three Heralds then a Herald between the Serjeant to the Commons and the Mace of the Council next Mr. Ryley king at Armes in his rich coat of the Kings Armes between Serjeant Norfolk and Serjeant Middleton after whom came the Usher of the Black Rod and Mr. Bish together These ushering the way in the next place came the Earl of Manchester Speaker to the House of Lords in his Coach and six Horses then the Speaker of the House of Commons in his then his Excellency the Lord Generall in his after which followed both Houses of Lords and Commons in their Coaches and last of all a Troop of Horse In this manner they came to White-hall where they Proclaim'd His Majesty a second time and then in like order proceeded Being come to Arundell-House they made a stand where Mr. Ryley king at Armes taking one of the Heralds and six Trumpets with him advanced forward toward Temple-Bar which according tâ— agreement being shut he came to the gate knocked â—nd demanded entrance being asked who it was that knocked he replyed that if my Lord Mayor would come to the gate he would deliver his Message to him who accordingly coming the Trumpets sounded after which silence being made it was demanded of the king of Armes Who he was and what was his message to which he answered We are the Heralds at Armes Appointed and Commanded by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled to demand entrance into the famous City of London to proclaime Charles the second King of England Scotland and Ireland and we expect your speedy answer to this demand to this they answered