are approved by the general Assemblies of this Kirk Parliament of this Kingdome and that I shall give my Royal assent to Acts and Ordinances of this Parliament passed or to be passed injoining the same in my other Dominions And that I shall observe these in mine own practice and Family and shall never make opposition to any of those or endeavour any change thereof The King having thus solemnly sworn the National covenant the solemn League and Covenant with the Oath subjoined was by him underwritten in the presence of them all which done the King ascended the other Stage and sate down in the Throne Then the Lords great Constable and marshal went to the four corners of the Stage Lyon king at Arms going before them who spoke these words to the people Sirs I do present unto you the King CHARLES the Rightful and undoubted heir of the Crown and Dignity of this Realm this day is by the Parliament of this Kingdom appointed for his Coronation And are you not willing to have him for your King and become subject to his commandments At this action the king stood up and shewed himself to the people round about who expressed their consent by their joiful acclamations crying God save King CHARLES the Second Then his majesty descended from his Throne into the chaire where he sate to hear the Sermon of whom the minister accompanied with som others of his Tribe demanded if he were willing to take the Cornonation Oath according as it was contained in the eighth Act of the first Parliament of King James the VI his Royal grandfather The King answered he was most willing Then was the oath read aloud by the Lyon King at Arms in these words Because that the encrease of Virtue and suppressing Idolatry craveth that the Prince and People be of one perfect Religion which of God's mercy is now presently professed within this Realm Therefore it is statuted and ordained by our Soveraigne Lord my Lord Regent and three Estates of this present Parliament That all Kings Princes and Magistrates whatsoever holding their place which hereafter at any time shall happen to reigne and beare rule over this Realm at the time of their Coronation and receit of their Princely Authority make their faithful promise in the presence of the Eternal God That enduring the whole course of their lives they shall serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of their power according as he hath required in his most holy Word revealed and contained in the New and Old Testaments and according to the same words shall maintaine the true Religion of Christ Jesus the preaching of his holy Word and the due and right ministration of the sacraments now received preached within this Realm and shall abolish and gain-stand all false Religions contrary to the same shall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid Word and according to the laudable Laws and Constitutions received in this Realm no waies repugnant to the said Word of the Eternal God and shall procure to the utmost of their power to the Kirk of God and whole christian people true and perfect peace in time coming The rights and rents with all just priviledges of the crown of Scotland to pre serve and keep inviolated neither shall they transfer or alienate the same They shall forbid and repress all in all Estates and Degrees Leases Oppression and all kinde of Wrong in all Judgement They shall command and procure that Justice and Equity be kept to all creatures without exception as the Lord and Father of mercies be merciful unto them And out of their Lands and Empire they shall be careful to root out all Hereticks and enemies to the true Worship of God that shall be convict by the true Kirk of God of the aforesaid crimes and that he shall faithfully affirm the things above written by the solemn Oath The Oath thus read the Minister tendered it to the King who kneeling and holding up his right hand sware thus By the Eternal Almighty GOD who liveth reigneth for ever I shall observe and keep all that is contained in this Oath Then was the King disrobed by the Lord Chamberlain of the Princely Robe with which he entred the church and vested with his Royal Robes so supported as before he removed to the chair placed on the North side of the Kirk whither the sword was first brought from the table by Sir William Cockburn of Langtown Gentleman usher who delivers it to the great Chamberlain and he making a short speech delivers it to his Majesty by whom it was given into the great Constable's hands and by him girt to the King's side Then his Majesty sitting down in the Chair the spurs are put on him by the Earlâ—marshal After which Archibald Marquesse of Argyle takes the Crown into his hands and after a short Prayer made by the minister puts it upon his Majesties head Which done the Lion King of Arms the great Constable standing by him called the Nobility one by one who came all and kneeling and touching the Crown upon the King's head with their right hand swore thus By the Eternal and Almighty God who liveth and reigneth for ever I shall support thee to the uttermost The obligatory Oath was likewise read to the people they holding up their hands Lastly after the Earls of Craford and Lindesay had delivered his majesty the Scepter he returned again to the Stage where he was installed in the Throne by the Marquess of Argyle and after a short exhortation of Master Robert Douglasses returned to his Pallace with the Crown upon his head in the same manner as he came This is a full relation of the ceremonies performed at his Majesties Coâ—â—â—â—â—ion at Scoone on the first of January 1650. which I the rather fully insert because the World may take notice of those hard Covenant Pills which the Kirkmen made him swallow Presently after the coronation the King and Nobles returned in a most solemn manner to S. Johns town the Kings Majesty having a guard to attend him consisting of most Lords and Gentlemen's sons and the Lord Lorne son to the Marquess of Argyle was made Captain of it And now his majesty intends with all possible speed the raising of an Army for the Scots having had all this while no Army on the other side the Fife to oppose the English proceedings they had reduc'd all places there under their force even Edenburgh Castle it self to which effect he orders his Standard to be set up at Aberdeen himself nobly resolving to be Generalissimâ—â—â—â— his Army the other general commands were now given as well to the Royalists as Presbyterians for Duke Hamilton was made Liev. General of the Army and Middleton Lieu. General of the Horse The levies came in apace to the general Rendezvouse which was appointed on the East part of Fife whither his Majesty in person went
it safer for his Person to depart from thence to his Sister at the Hague till the Royall affairs in England might gain a better posture which he did and there found a reception answerable to his birth Not long after the King his Royall Father being in danger to be inclosed in Oxford by Generall Fairfax who returning out of the West had designed to block it up took care for his safety and attended only by Mr. Ashburnham or as some say attending on him went privily out thence and threw himself upon the Scotch Army then at Newark who shortly after notwithstanding his confidence of them for a summe of money delivered him up most perfidiously and traiterously to his implacable Enemies the English Army These after many pretences of Treaties and seeming willingnesse to come to an accord with him on that black day the 30. of Ianuary 1648. most villanously and trayterously beyond the imagination of the World murder'd him Thus far is a short view of those hardships and afflictions undergone by this noble Prince during his fathers life and raign we will now proceed to those he hath since ran through which we may more properly particularly call his Own Among which the Chief and greatest and from whence all his other miseries flowed as from their spring head was the deprivation of his Kingdome and Royalties For that part of the Parliament of England which had usurped the whole power or more were not onely content to take away his Fathers life but by their Proclamation deprive him of all right in the Government of those three Kingdomes which they take upon themselves contrary both to the Word of God the Fundamental Lawes of the Nation and his own undoubted right by birth he being lineally descended from that Family which had successively governed England for above three hundred yeares He was at the time of his Fathers death at the Court of his Sister the Royall Princesse of Orange in the Hague in expectation to hear rather of the Conclusion of a Treaty then of his Murder to which effect he writ by the Lord Seymour the following Letter to him some short time before his Death For the King SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties present Condition but such as I receive from the prints or which is as uncertain reports I have sent thts bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majesty and to bring mean account of it that I may withall assure your Majesty I doe not onely pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwaies be ready to do all which shall be in my power to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majesties Most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Jan. 23. 1648. And here he staid till he heard the heart-breaking newes of his Fathers Murther when shortly after he took his Iourney to the Queen his mother in France hoping there to get aid but found none which might render him in a Capacitie to revenge his Father's Death or demand his own Right by force and in vain it was to think of any fair means to attain it Yet there wanted not some friends of his in England who willing to demonstrate how ready they were to adventure themselves for him and his right as far as their weak abilities would stretch caused under hand a Proclamation to be printed proclaiming him King of England Scotland France and Ireland and advising all his good Subjects to give all due Allegiance to him but the low condition of the Royallists then in England and the great strength and potency of the Parliaments Army made this Proclamation unvalid and those who at a fit opportunity would willingly have complied with it were forced to direct their Obedience to the contrary Goal But though England prov'd thus defective to his Interest not so much I dare say in Allegiance as power Yet Ireland is at his Devotion for the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchequin having made a peace with the Quondam Rebels he is by joynt consent both of Papists and Protestants proclaimed King in most towns of that Nation Dublin and London Derry only excepted which were kept from their Allegiance the one by the Lieu. General Iones the other by Sir Charles Coot who jointly strove to justifie the Parliament of England's late ctions He being thus proclaimed there is solemnly invited to come over to them to which invitation his Mother earnestly adds her desires but the best of his friends and Counsellours as earnestly disswaded him upon reasons drawn both from prudence and Policy since in probability the design not succeeding it would utterly ruine his hopes with all the Protestant party then stedfast to him both in Scotland England or that if he would needs venture himself with this party they desired him at least to attend whether by any good event of theirs there might be any probability of successe 'T is supposed that this Council swaied with him more out of his real affection to the Protestant Religion then any other Politick reason Yet he immediately after took a journey to the Isle of Iersey which startled some as though he had intended to have proceeded thence for Ireland but that suspition proved unnecessary he was accompanied hither by his Brother the Duke of York who was lately come to him out of Holland and many other Nobles and Gentlemen the Islanders immediately upon his arrival most joyfully proclaimed him King and the Lord Iermyn Earl of Yarmouth was made Governour of that Island who constituted Sir George Carteret his Deputy Governour The King sends from hence his Royal Command to the Governour of Gernsey Island which was then wholly subjected Cornet Castle only excepted to the Parliaments force requiring him to surrender the said Island to him and that his good Subjects there might have liberty to return to their due obedience but his Command proved ineffectual Many affirm but how true I know not that the Reason of the Kings removal to this Island was out of design to surprize Dartmouth and some other places in the West by the Levellers help who having then made a defection from the Parliaments Army in England were say they to have joyned with the Royallists for the intents and purposes aforesaid but whether so or no I cannot affirm though I can certainly tell this that were it so it proved uneffectual for the Levellers were soon overpowered and quell'd Whilest King Charles was here expecting a Messenger from the States of Scotland came new's of the unfortunate overthrow of the Marquess of Ormond his Army by Lieu. General Iones before Dublin which caused a general sorrow among all his followers for there had been great hopes and expectations of that Army it amounting to no lesse then twenty two thousand men and was esteemed able not onely to have taken Dublin but likewise to have resisted Cromwell's then new comming Army in the field yet whether
by the carelessness of the Commanders or security of the Souldiers I am loath to judge this mighty Army then beleaguring Dublin was beat from before it by the besieged and utterly routed by the third part of it's Number This overthrow the repulse of Sir Robert Stuart and Col. Mervin from London-Derry by Sir Charles Coot and Cromwell's suddain landing in Ireland whose motion now there was no field Army either to attend or oppose made his Majesties affairs grow almost as desperate in Ireland as they were before in England But the Scots Kirk who had sold their King into the hands of the Independent English Army after they heard that they had condemned him to death repent them of their Wicednesse wash their hands from any guilt in his bloud Expostulate with the English sitting in Parliament about their so severe proceedings and protest against having any hand in his Murder and to make the world believe they had yet some touch of loyalty within them they had just after his death proclaimed Charles Prince of VVales eldest Son to the late murthered King Charles the first and his lawfull and undoubted Heir King of Great Britain France and Ireland and had immediately resolved in the Committee of Estates then sitting to send some sitting persons to treat with his Majestie about sundry Articles before his reception to the Crown but long Debates and demurrs there were in the businesse before they could resolve what and whom to send For some there were in this Grand Committee of Estates who fee'd or seduced by the Sectaries in England impeaded to the utmost of their power and endeavours all proceedings in the businesse so that once instead of debating what or whom they should send to his Majestie it came to be a debate whether they should send or no but at length a letter and propositions was by the prevailing part concluded on and Mr. Windram Laird of Libberton appointed to be the Messenger who on the 25. of September 1649. received his dispatches and some time after arrived before his Majestie at Iersey The chief of their desires was to this effect 1. That his Majesty would graciously be pleased himself to sign the solemn League and Covenant and that he would passe an Act in Parliament that every person in that Kingdome might take it 2. That he would passe divers Acts of the Parliament of Scotland which was concluded on the two last Sessions 1. For approving of their disclaiming Duke Hamilton's last return 2. For receiving severall Acts made by English for the Militia 3. That the Kings of Scotland may have no negative voice 3. That his Majestie would recall the late Commissions given to Montrosse 4. That he would put away all Papists from about him 5. That he would appoint some place about Holland to treat with their Commissioners An honour able Company of the most noble Lords in Scotland being to be appointed to attend his Majesty to whom likewise they would send a sufficient provision to maintain him a train suitable to his birth and deserved Greatnesse 6. That he would be graciously pleased to give a speedy answer to their desires These Propositions were very stifly debated Pro and Con some were so fierce that they would have his Majesty utterly reject the Scâ—â—s Propositions as dishonourable and disadvantageous to his affairs Others were of opinion that it would more conduce to the Kings Interest to accept of such Conditions as he could agree with the Scotch Commissioners which would be a readier way to attain the Crown then by Montrosses his designs who had lately received Commissions from the King to assault the North of Scotland with what force he could raise however the businesse was still demurred and delayed and no answer for a good while given to the Lord Libberton who earnestly prest it till such time as answer could come from Montrosse then in Holland and out of France touching their opinions concerning these Propositions concerning which Montrosse teturned answer to his Majesty desiring him to hear ken to the Scots Commissioners whilst they would propose and agree to any thing which might stand with his Majesties honour for the restoring him to his Rights and Dignities That for himself he should rather be content to endure banishment from his Highnesse sight and person then in the least prejudice his affairs Thus this faithfull and loyall servant courted Banishment as the late famous Earle of Strafford had done death for his Master 's good and service but too generous was he and had too great a sense of goodness and gratitude to grant his request but returned him this answer That he had so high a sense of his fidelity and loyalty all along and that he had performed so many signall services both for his father and himself that he could not in honour leave him and therefore desired him to presse him no farther The Queen Mother likewise earnestly presses her son to the acceptance of the Scotch Propositions for a Treaty as the onely and readiest way for the establishing of him in his Kingdomes These resolves of his Mother and the Marquess of Montrosse wrought strongly with his Majesty yet not withstanding they are as stoutly opposed by the Lord Cleveland Byron Gerard and others whose chief opposition proceeded from the alledged Treachery of the Scots to his father That they were Scots still and might practice the same upon him But the majority of voices carrying it for a Treaty it was resolved on yet in regard it would require some time to frame an answer Sir William Flemming was sent Agent to the Committee of Estates in Scotland till such time as the Laird Libberton could be dispatch't Short time after Mr. Windram returned into Scotland with a Letter instructions by word of mouth whereby he gave the Committee of Estates who having long expected were therefore more desirous to hear what he now brought an account how much he found his Majesty compliant to their Propositions viz. That as to what acted in the two last Sessions of Parliament he was content a General Act of Oblivion should be passed but could not approve it That neither those of Montrosses nor Duke Hamilton's party in his last engagement should bear Office in State without consent of Parliament That he had appointed Breda in Holland for the place of a solemn Treaty for the making of a full accommodation and agreement between him and his loving Subjects of Scotland The Contents of his Letter were as followeth For the Committee of Estates of Scotland CHARLES R. WE have received your Letters lately presented to us by Mr. Windram of Libberton and we accept graciously all the expressions of affection and fidelity therein contained towards us with your tender resentment of our present Condition and the just indignation which you professe to have against the execrable Murther of our Father And we believe that your intentions are full of Candor towards us as we are and alwayes really have been
Hay Col. Sibbalds two most accomplished persons though they had all the favour to be beheaded There was like wise one Captain Charters who being put in hopes of life by the perfidious Kirk upon his recantation made a long Speech upon the Scaffold acknowledging his Apostacy from the Covenant and desiring to be reconciled to the Kirk but had notwithstanding his head struck off This was the fatal and Tragical Event of his Majesties affairs in Scotland under Montrosse's Conduct let us now turn to see how the Treaty at Breda went on in the mean time But before I proceed any farther give me leave to speak a word or two concerning the Magnanimous Col. VVil Sibbalds who say some confessed himself guilty of the Murder of D. Dorislaus the English Agent at the Hague which I must ingeniously confesse I believe upon good grounds to be only a Calumnie and Scannal raised from the so far extended Malice of his Enemies for I can find nothing either in his Speech at death or in any Records of credit tending to such a Confession though much against any likelyhood of it nor can I imagine that any man could with so much resolution as he dyed with part from this World and have so great a load and blot upon Conscience But to proceed Great debates there were in the mean time between his Majesty and the Scotch Commissioners concerning the Treaty and great demurres there were upon it for besides the striving of some Lords who had a kind of a serious Antipathy to the Scots perfidiousnesse and endeavoured to perswade his Majesty not to trust them who had betrayed his Father The King himself stuck highly as he had reason about the business of Taking the Covenant For 1. There was no reason why he should be enforced to relinquish the Religion of his Fathers and whilest he permitted to his Subjects Liberty of Conscience it would be very inconsistent with their so earnestly pretended desires of a peace and agreement to deny him the same priviledge which he gave them 2. That Covenant tendred and so earnestly prest upon him by them was an Obligatory Covenant to bind the Subjects to him and not for him to swear to and therefore he judged it sufficiently satisfactory to passe an Act for the peoples taking it Whilest these demurres and delayes were in the Treaty the Scotch Commissioners give a visit to the Illustrious Prince of Orange whom they intreat to be a Mediator between them and their King His Majesty like wise withdraw's himself for some time from Breda to the Hague there to advise with his Aunt the Queen of Bohemia the Prince of Orange and other friends about what he were best to resolve on or determine But the Estates of Scotland though their proposed Conditions were already unreasonable yet resolve to adde more weight to the Scale the Earl of Carnwarth and Mr. Murrey are sent over to the Commissioners at Breda with new instructions and propositions as 1. That his Majesty should confirm all Acts done in some late Sessions of Parliament without any exception 2. That neither Montross nor any of his Adherents be admitted to come into the Kingdome of Scotland But notwithstanding the harshnesse of the Conditions the King is earnestly pressed to come to a full Conclusion with the Scots Though many Lords of the contrary faction pleaded for an utter rejectment of their propositions alledging to his Majesty That the Covenanters horrid perfidiousnesse to his Father might be a sufficient motive and inducement for him not to trust them That the more willing he was to condescend to their propositions the more impudent they were still in proposing things most unreasonable That should he accept of their Conditions they would so tye up his hands that he would be then but a King onely in Title which he was without them On the other side the Earl of Lauderdale the Lords Wilmot Piercy and others of his Majesties Council who stood for an accommodation with the Scots urged That his Majesties affairs both in Ireland under the Marquess of Montross and in the Navy under Prince Rupert were in so weak and tottering a Condition that no help could be expected from them That all the Princes in Europe were so imbroyled in warrs of their own that it was in vain to crave any foreign aid And that therefore there was no way left for his Majesty to regain his lost Rights and Kingdomes but by complying with his Subjects of Scotland and though it were upon such Conditions as would at first seem harsh those Curbs might in time possession once got be thrown off by degrees these reasons swayed with his Majesty and the Treaty went on with a clearer face then formerly But now there happens a strong demurre or as most supposed a businesse that would wholly break off the Treaty for the newes of Montrosse's ignominious death being come to Breda extremely incensed the whole Court and those who were against the Treaty bestirred themselves strongly still endeavouring to avert the King wholly from it by telling him That they had by thus Murdering his Lieutenant Demonstrated to the World what they would do to him if they had him in their power That it was an act of rashnesse and desperation to trust them or to have any more to do with such a perfidious generation That they only cunningly and subtilly endeavoured to entrap him that they might destroy him But not withstanding their heat his Majesty conceals his anger which doubtless could not but be great for the death and the so ignominious death of so good and loyal a Subject and Servant and that too in his quarrel and for obeying his just commands only he expresses his resentment of their so strange proceedings to the Committee of Estates by a Message sent by Mr. Murrey to this effect That it could not but grieve and perplex him to hear that whilst they pretended to conclude a peace they proceeded in the way of War and that whilst they treated of an Accord with him they shed the bloud of his best Subjects and that in such a manner that if true as reported they could not imagine but it must extremely incense him he therefore desired them to give him an account of their businesse To this they return Answer That their affections were still reall to him and that it rejoyced their very soules to hear that he would be willing to concurre with them in a peace and agreement That as for the Death of Montross They desired it might be no obstacle in the way for that they did nothing in it but with a reall intention to promote his interest Thus they endeavoured to excuse themselves but it was not their excuse nor their so many reiterated Protestations of fidelity but the necessity of the Kings affaires which drew him not long after to conclude the Treaty at Breda notwithstanding the violent opposers of it by condescending to most of their desires The conclusion of the
under But let him that shall look upon the several passages of his read them over and over consider the several difficulties he passed the many dangers he was in to be betrayed the countrey being up round about the summe of money set upon his head for which many hundreds out of covetousness made it their business to search for him and they wil confess ingenuously that God was never so merciful to any people as to us in delivering his sacred Majesty so wonderfully out of the hands of his Enemies who breathed out no thing but his death and destruction that we may yet have hopes to be a happy Nation But let us now return to give a ful account of this dismal loss at Worcester in which most of his Maiesty's foot were either made a prise or a sacrifice to their enemies swords of the horse there escaped 3000. out of the field but were most afterwards either taken or knockt on the head by the Countrey in their flight three thousand were judged flain in the Field and about seven thousand taken prisoners whereof the chiefe were the Earls Derby Lauderdale Cleaveland Shrewsburgh and the Lord Wentworth and many other noble persons taken in the pursuit And the chief of those taken in the battel were the Earls of Carnwarth and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir Iohn Packington the Maior Generals Montgomery and Piscotty and the Virgil of this Age that thrice worthy Mr. Richard Fanshaw Translatour of the renowned Pastor Fido and Secretary to his Majesty As for the thrice noble Duke Hamilton he was taken but not overcome over-powred but not vanquish't For after having made a most Heroick resistance he was reduced under his enemies power more for want of strength then valour but death entring in at those wounds which he so gallantly received in defence of his Soveraign soon after released him Major General Massey though he escaped the field yet his wounds being desperate he was forced to surrender himself to the Countesse of Stamford and was by her son the Lord Grey of Groby after the recovery of his wounds sent up prisoner to the Parliament and by them committed to the Tower from whence he not long after escaped and went to his Majesty beyond sea This strange and wonderful Victory as the Juncto at Westminster gave it out to be though they had six to one in the field made that sectarian party cock-a-hoop and to make it the greater publick days of Thanks-giving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their villanies murders tyrannies and treasons and now they boast in all their discourses how clearly it might appear that God owned their cause and disowned their adversaries I think a modern Writer hath sufficiently confuted that commonly received tenent of Polititians * That success denotes actions to be either just or unjust I shall therefore leave the sober Reader here to satisfie himself and refer it to him whether such do not justly deserve Ovid's wish Careat succèssibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Let him for ever in success be poor That thinks it justifies his cause the more But this Nation is so highly sensible of the injustice put upon them by those who pretend so much right in their Cause that there 's no Loyal Subject but will think according to reason that it was not the justice of their cause but our own and the Nation's sinnes which caused God to raise up these men as scourges both to Prince and people and to the Prince onely for the Peoples sake Some I have heard which out of a spirit which I cannot well define have endeavoured to brand his Royal Majesty with Cowardize in this battel which from whence it could proceed unlesse from their own coward nature which would insimulate another in that of which themselves are guilty I cannot imagine since Cromwell the greatest of his Enemies because the most desirous of his Kingdoms yet had so much of truth in him as to give a high and noble Character of his Valour But to proceed We have now said enough of this fatal battel the seeming ruine of the Royal Interest in England unless God of his mercy be pleased to restore it for the good peace and quiet of these Nations since without it we cannot hope to enjoy any His sacred Majesty being landed in France near Havre de Grace from thence with a Noble Lord in his Company posted directly for Roan where they stayed to alter their disguises and furnish them with habits answerable to their Qualities his Majesty from thence having dispatch't Letters to the French Court to acquaint his friends there of his safe arrival which doubtlesse caused no little joy in those who were real to him and almost despaired ever again to have seen him The Duke of Orleans sends his own Coach to fetch him several persons of quality go to meet him by whom he was attended to Paris and there received with all possible expressions of joy lodgings and attendants being forthwith provided for him in the Lâ—uure where at his first arrival he was visited by the Queen his Mother the Duke of Orleans who of all persons in the Kingdome exprest himself the most ready to do him service and the next day visits him again accompanied with his Daughter Madamoiselle He is likewise courted by the Dukes of Beaufort Longueville Guize the Marshal Thurine and many other Peers and Nobles of France who all congratulate his safe deliverance And now his Majesty having lost all hopes of any further means of attaining his Dominions by force leads here a retired life yet living in regard of his high alliance extraction in great esteem with all the French Nobility Insomuch that notwithstanding his present low condition there was very great talk of a match to be made up between him and the Madamoiselle de Orleans the richest Princes in Christendom yet by some means or other it came to no effect though the Queen of England his Mother was an earnest promoter of it and also of the Duke of York to Longneville's daughter Whilest these things were transacting hapned that lately reconciled Fracture between the Prince of Conde Cardinal Mazarine most of the Princes of the Blood siding with the first the King of France who was newly declared of age to sway the Scepter himself with the last The cause of the quarrel was that extravagant power which Mazarine a stranger had usurped in the government of the Kingdome both depriving the Princes of the Blood of their Right and oppressing the people whose daily murmurings more encouraged the Princes against him This power he had got into his hands in the Regency of the Queen Mother whose grand favourite he only was The Princes therefore though they could not during her Regency who so much loved him yet hoped they might effect something now the King himself is come to govern to which intent they charge him with several miscarriages
King of France and Queen Mother and courted according to his birth by the rest of the Grandees and Peers of the Kingdome Likewise during his Majesties abode here arrived his Quondam Preserver Mrs. Iane Lane who after she had taken leave of his Majesty at Bristow returned home and lived for some space in a great deal of security not doubting she could be betrayed Yet at length by what means I know not though indeed I have heard of many relations that I dare not relate any it came to light yet she had some timely notice of it whereupon she who had formerly disguised his Majesty in a Serving-mans habit now disguises her self in that of a Country wench and that trots on foot to save her life which she was like to loose for having formerly saved his sacred Majesties quite crosse the Countrey to Zarmouth where she found shipping which convey'd her safe into France great search after her departure there was made for her but in vain which so incensed the Souldiers that they burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where his Majesty first took shelter after his Escape from Worcester She being arrived in France sends a Letter to the Court whereupon his Majesty almost overjoyed at her Escape who had been the cause of his immediately sends some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris whither being near come himself with the Queen his Mother the Duke of York Glocester went out to meet this Preserver of the life of their Son Sovereign and Brother the Coaches meeting and she being descended from her Coach his Majesty likewise descends and taking her by the hand salutes her with this gratefull expression Welcome my life and so putting her into his own Coach conducts her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause wonder of the whole Court she could indeed deserve no less for I believe neither past or future ages can or will ever parallell so great a pattern of female Loyalty and Generosity Whilst his Majesty was thus passing away his time in France more in contemplation then action Oliver Cromwel made General of all the Iuncto's forces in England Scotland and Ireland finding now a fit opportunity to put his long-laid ambitious designs in execution had dissolved that Iuncto which had usurped the Kingly power or more over England and taken upon himself though not the title yet the Royall power authority over these Nations which the people though unwilling yet were forced to submit to and though he had not at first any basis whereon to ground his new usurped Regality yet in stead of one Iuncto he pluckt down he easily sets up another which I may the more justly call so in regard there was not one of them chosen by the free Votes of the people but by his own Arbitray Election those such persons who knew well enough what they had to doe before they met these after a short time of sitting without doing any thing besides the making of some impertinent laws which were forceably imposed on the people surrender their power as dying men do their souls to God into his hands that gave it who by the help of the Officers of the army Lamberts instrument makes himself immediatly King of England Scotland Irelaand which government he had often swore against though under the title of Protector This I must needs say Noble Tyrant having got the Dominion of three such Kingdomes into his possession made it now as much his study to preserve himself safe in his Estate and Grandezza as he did before to acquire it to which purpose he thought it most suitable to that design to make some remarkable disturbance amongst the neighbouring Princes then to contine that War begun by the Iuncto of Parliament with the Dutch to which purpose several motions of a Treaty passed His sacred Majesty though he had sundry times before solicited the assistance of those United Provinces for the regaining of his Right in his Kingdomes now more earnestly upon secret intelligence of the first motions of this Treaty sends the Lord Gerard his Embassadour to the United States more earnestly intreating them to own his Interest then before proffering that if they would vest out a squadron of good Ships under his Flag he would command them himself in person His Sister the Princess of Orange and other of his friends in the Low Countries addicted to his Interest earnestly prosecutes his desires and use their utmost influence on the States of the United Provinces for the performance of his propositions Nor are there five of these Provinces nor Van Trump himself their Admiral unwiling to comply with him Only the Province of Holland the most potent at sea stands out chiefly out of the disgust they had lately taken to the family of Orange whose Interest and command they were fearfull might be restored should his Majesty who was Uncle to the young Prince be invested in his Territories His Majesty likewise to advance his hopes of their assistance when Monsieur Bortell came from those United States to negotiate a League with the King of France used his utmost Interest to promote the Treaty and in fine brought it to a desired period notwithstanding the United States sent no other answer to his Embassy then a cold Letter of Complements His designs thus failing him here he directed himself to a more hopefull course by interposing himself a Mediator with the Pope other Catholick Princes for an accord and peace between the two mighty Crowns of France and Spain And indeed two such potent Monarchs had been in better capacity with their joynt forces to have assisted him had the peace went forward as there was great hopes then the United States of the Netherlands but Cardinall Mazarine by a piece of secret State-policy endeavoured to obstruct all proceedings which might tend to a Treaty or accord Nor was this Cardinal's Spleen to his Royall Majesty yet allayed for his supposed Council against him in the forementioned difference between the King and Princes but farther to prejudice him his affairs he endeavours the promotion of a peace betwixt the Protector of England the French King his Master which though opposed by all the force Interest that either himself or the Queen his Mother had in the French Court yet was by the Cardinal whose will was a law all other government in that Kingdome being but a meer shadow vigorously carried on and an Ambassadour sent over to treat of an accord where having been sometime in England his Majesty was by secret intelligence informed that the chief Article insisted upon in the Treaty by the Protector of England was the excluding himself relations and followers out of the Kingdome of France and it 's Territories wherefore least the treaty should be suddenly concluded upon those terms and he ceremoniously excluded he thought it more honourable himself to leave that Kingdome of his on accord and having