SIR will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the people of England the Laws and Customes to them granted by the Kings of England your lawful and religious predecessors and namely the Laws Customes Franchises granted to the Clergy by the glorious KING St. Edward your predecessour according to the Laws of God the true profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdome and agreeing to the prerogative of the Kings thereof and the ancient customes of this Realm The King Igrant and promise to keep them Lord Bishop Sir will you keep peace and Godly agreement entirely according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergy and the people King I will keep it L. Bishop Sir will you to your power cause law and justice and discretion in mercy and truth to be executed in all your judgements King I will L. Bishop Sir will you grant to hold and keep the rightful Customes which the commonalty of this your Kingdome have will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lyeth King Igrant and promise so to do The Petition of the L. Bishops read by the L. Bishop of ROCHESTER O Lord our King we beseech you to grant and preserve unto us and the Churches committed to our charge all Canonical priviledges and due Law and Iustice and that you would protect and defend us as every good King in his Kingdome ought to be a Protector and defender of the Bishops and Churches under their Government The King answered With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical priviledges and due law and justice and that I will be your Protector and Defendor to my power by the assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdome ought in right protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their Government Then the King went to the Altar where laying his hand upon the Evangelists he took the Oath following The things which I have here before promised I shall perform keep so God me help and by the contents of this Book and so kissed the Book The Homage of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for himself and all the Bishops he kneeling down and all the Bishops behind him said I William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury shall be faithful true Faith Truth shall bear unto you our Soveraign Lord and your Heirs Kings of England and I shall do and truly acknowledge the service of the Lands which I claim to hold of you as in right of the Church So God me help Then he arose and kissed the Kings left cheek as did the rest of the Bishops The Homage of the Nobility I James Duke of York become your Leigeman of life and limb and of earthly worship and Faith and Truth I shall bear unto you to live and dye against all manner of folk So God me help The Oath of a Lord Chancelour YOu shall swear that well and truly you shall serve our Soveraign Lord the King and his people in the office of Chancelour and you shall do right to all manner of people poor and rich after the laws and usages of this Realm and truly you shall counsel the King and his Counsel you shall layne and keep and you shall not know nor suffer the hurt or disheriting of the King or that the rights of the Crown be deceased by any means as far forth as you may let it and if you may not let it you shall make it cleerly and expresly to be known unto the King with your true advice and councel and that you shall do and purchase the Kings profit in all that you reasonably may As God you help and by the contents of this book The Oath of a privy Counceller YOu shall swear to be a true and faithful servant unto the Kings Majestie as one of his privy counsel you shall not know or understand any manner of thing to be attempted done or spoken against his Majesties Person Honour Crown or Dignity Royal but you shall let and withstand the same to the utmost of your power and either cause it to be revealed to his Majestie himself or to such of his privie Councel as shall advertise his Highness of the same You shall in all things to be moved treated and debated in Councel faithfully and truly declare your mind and opinion according to your heart and conscience and shall keep secret all matters committed and revealed unto you or shall be treated off secretly in Counsel and if any of the same Treaties or Counsels shall touch any of the Councellers you shall not reveale it unto him but shall keep the same until such time as by the consent of his Majesty or of the Councel publication shall be made thereof You shall to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the Kings Majestie his Heirs and lawful successours and shall assist and defend all jurisdictions preheminences and authorities granted to his Majestie and annexed to his Crown against all forraign Princes Persons Prelates and Potentates by act of Parliament or otherwise And generally in all things you shall do as a faithful and true servant and Subject ought to do to his Majestie So help you God and by the holy contents of this book The Oath of a Secretary of State YOu shal swear to be a true faithfull Servant unto the Kings Majestie as one of the Principal Secretaries of State to his Majestie you shall not know or understand of any manner of thing to be attempted done or spoken against his Majesties person Honour Crown or Dignity-royal but you shall let and withstand the same to the uttermost of your power and either do or cause it to be revealed either to his Majestie himself or to his privie Counsel you shall keep secret all matters revealed and committed unto you or that shall be secretly treated in Counsel and if any of the said treaties or Counsels shall touch any of the Councellors you shall not reveal the same unto him but shall keep the same until such time as by the consent of his Majestie or the Connsel publication shall be made thereof you shall to your uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance to the Kings Majestie his heirs and lawful successours and shall assist and defende all jurisdictions preheminences and authorities granted to his Majestie and annexed to his Crown against all forraign Princes Persons Prelats or Potentates c. By act of Parliament or otherwise Generally in all things you shall do as a true and faithful servant and subject ought to do to his Majestie So help you God and by the holy contents of this book Subscription of such as are to be made Ministers according to the 37 canon and constitution Anno Dom. 1603. and in the reign of our Soveraign Lord Iames by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland
or alteration though from a discontented party or reconciled enemy in policy was not to be refused or unacceptable for though it might not much strengthen the King yet in some proportion it did debilitate and weaken the enemy and it might be probably hoped that as some branches had fallen from the Rebellious body others might follow their example or at least learn from them that an Army or party like a house or Kingdome divided within it self hath no long duration and cannot stand this declension from evil principles as it was an external testimony of repentance and grace so it must be acknowledged to be good service and a fair praeludium to future good effects but duty and endeavour of this Nature may rather and more fitly be reputed expiations for former crimes then pretensions to reward and merit which ever as the acute School men testify i Moritum importat aqualitatem justitiae Aquin. 3. quas 19. implyeth and importeth an equality of justice and right and justice doth not beg but boldly plead for desert and merit and to have and receive its rights not out of bounty or favour but as its due and debt a soveraign Throne cannot endure such petulant and bold pleaders This temper were rather tolerable in equals and Kings know none then inferiours and might better sute with commanders and soveraign Kings acknowledge none but God Rex a Deo primus nulli secundus then with those who have been offenders and in the highest priviledges ought to attend as humble petitioners So then though the service be never so infinite yet rising from the art and power of those who have so deeply offended there can be no pretences to merit which in a second reveiw is not to be granted or admitted without a lessoning diminution to the prerogatives of soveraignty which is so absolute that it cannot endure any intimation of command k Meritum est actio qua justum est ut agenti aliquiddetur Aquin. 3.49 c. 6. Now merit as the Schools teach is an action whereby it is not only might but necessary that reward and recompence be payed as a debt to him who hath acted now when the Actions and prevarications of those who have so highy injured and deeply wounded soveraignty and disturbed the peace and prosperity of three Kingdomes are ballanced and put into the Scales with their good works of loyalty though never so weighty they will be found utterly too light for reward or merit and rather justly prove objects of their Princes grace and clemency and in case their soveraign like Ahasuerus have inclined his royal Scepter towards them and thereby testified his bounty and goodnesse and so capacitated them with royal favour trust and honour these obligations as they magnifie the virtue of the Prince so they are as so many stronger chains to bind those who are obliged by them to greater perfection of loyalty and more exact and vigilant performances of their duty or else those favours will prove as so many witnesses to evidence against them and to accuse them of odious and monstruous ingratitude Meritum congrui condigni Aquin. l. 2. q. I 14. c. 6. And as to the medium or modification of the School distinction of condignity or is not to be admitted in this case for that of condignity or adequate merit is absolutely taken away and that of congruity or rather conveniency is totally and intirely to be recommended to the Princes Will Grace Wisdome and Iudgement who as he pleaseth may promote or punish as well as pardon by act of indemnity or amnesty as to royal pleasure shall seem expedient Apologies and excuses in delinquents thus exploded and all pretences to merit in those who have legally forfeited their lives liberties and estates by the laws of the land utterly abrogated what refuge can such offenders fly and address to as cordials to preserve their honour or their consciences perhaps some may plead their promise their vow their protestation their engagement or the covenant or their abjuration these were if righty judged exammined cunning subtile and sinful designs in the projectors and contrivers who framed them were Trumpets of Rebellion Sedition and faction sounded and blown up by those who promoted them and proved as snares to their Souls who either weakly submitted or with temporizing appetites did greedily swallow them and these cobweb lines spun out of the body womb of a venimous spider are not strong enough to hold a subjects hand or heart from his duty of faith allegiance towards his Soveraign and each one of these feeble and subsequent obligations being sifted by truth and reason as well as laws and justice will crumble to nothing before the oathes of allegiance and supremacy and the light of that duty that by municipal decrees by the laws of nature birth-right every subject oweth to his Prince being born under his prerogative and power in any of his Kingdomes or Dominions First as to promises l Promissio est actus iationis quia est enuntiatio ordinatio alicujus T. Aquin. 22. quae 88. a. 1. which are the suddain and usually most transient verbal obligations and ought to be effected of all persons of understanding Religion and Honour they ought ever to be acts of sound reason and judgement raised on good foundations and duly considered before they come to be published and proclaimed by the tongue or signed by the hand and even the strictest promises or paroles do not oblige the Faith or Honour of him that m Promissa non debent securari si estillicitum quod promittiur vel si sint mutatae conditionis personarum vel negotiorum Ad hoc ergo quod homo debeat servare quod promiserat oportet ut sit licitum quod promittitur quod omnia immutata permaneant Aquin. 22 ae quest 110. a. 35. promiseth if what be promised be illicit or unlawful or if the conditions of Persons or affairs be changed and altered These essentials rightly considered what ever promises have been made by subjects against the soveraignty of their Princes liberties of their Country laws of the land do fall to the Ground dissolve of themselves because of their illicit ununlawful foundation And as to the mutation of persons or affaires subjects are not to make new promises of combination or conspiracy against the true old principles of faith and true allegiance to their Kings for whether they sit gloriously and puissantly on their thrones or by any black misfortune are reduced to a low degree their character is indelible and being Gods vice-gerent in all conditions their subjects owe them reverence and true allegiance The first scruple thus easily blown over the second may prove of lesser difficulty some more zealous then judicious proceed further and plead they have not only promised but vowed now a vow seems to be a cord of stronger twisting the rather because an act of more
or truth Yet in a Thrasonical humour or Pharisaical pride they cry up and justifie all their own proceedings with all the circumstances of their dictates and designes and at the same time are ready to decry and detract from others though never so square in their actions and sincere and candid in all their resolutions Seeing then that Philautia self love and adulation so easily suddenly and pleasingly surpriseth mens phansies corrupteth their judgements captivateth reason and in fine enslaveth the soul it may well become all who are truely enamored with virtue honour justice and the hopes of a good report or to mount a step higher to love the peace and tranquility of a calm and unspotted conscience in this nice point carefully to submit there senses to reason and the strength of reason to the force and power of godlinesse which is the best preservative of the soul in all trials and more refined probations And it is Piety that is the touchstone that discovereth the mettall whether it be true or false It is the scale that ballanceth every word and action and determineth them either weighty or light This as the rudder of the Ship governeth as the anchor it holdeth as the Pilot it directeth and as the keile swimming in the bottom of the angry waves it secureth and supporteth all the superstructure of the floating artificial Castle that overglideth and surmounteth the lofty billowes of the Ocean Conscience is the daughter of Piety which grounded on the principles of truth and a good cause encourageth men to be divinely affected towards God and loyally resolved towards their Prince It is probable in this great revolution and stupendious vicissitude of government the streames of the subjects affections returning passionately to their King and to monarchy that all or at least the greatest number of the people of the three Kingdomes may pleade a co-operation or a concurrency in this miraculous change And as the labourers in the vineyard to boast and proclaim that they have not only suffered and sweat but even born the brunt and bickerment of the day others may perhaps challenge to themselves the merit not only of pardon and amnesty but of thanks grace and favour because they appeared serviceable at the last hour and doubtless royal bounty will not deny them the wages of their loyalty if their return to their Prince be cordial and sincere But the case of Hushai the Archite stated rightly may like a bright Beacon set on fire and flaming on some high Mountain give an Alarum and luster to the amazement of all spectators In this president of Hushai a loyal subject may see the warrant the reasons the matter the manner and the truths of his duty being such an example in the King who imployed him in the person who was commanded and trusted and for the eminency and concernment of the service wherein he was employed that hardly and humain or holy history can parallel the like and all these circumstances conduce much to guide the Prince to his royal care whom to trust or employ and as equally concerns the the subjects and people how to dispose of themselves even in their greatest dangers of their lives and fortunes towards their King and Soveraign This hath been the condition of many gallant and loyal soules who not only in their personal valour but in all their contrivances and councels have made it their choicest interest as equally near as the saving of their soules to hold up the honour of the crown withall its just rites and prerogatives ever since the first commotions and troubles of the late war or that the late formidable rebellion had so intoxicated and bewitched the giddy humours of the People of his Majesties three kingdomes and as persons of these affections resolutions and principles were led and fixed to their Prince so a zealous duty to the Church of England their mother wrought their perswasions to a careful preservation of that truth and religion which the most learned and most judicious sober Christians hold fourth for both doctrine and discipline to be the purest profession the best form of serving God and to come nearest to the pious practise of the primitive Christians and though in the three Kingdomes it was forced like a Dove to the clefts of the Rocks to fly into upper chambers private Closets or secret corners yet the honour of God the saving of Soules the beauty of Sion was ever during the violence of the persecution so precious that the Church of England found dutiful children and couragious Sons and Daughters in her blackest Afflictions And as the Ark had the protection of a Royal Patron and nursing Father abroad for many years K. Charles the 2. so it was supported and preserved by the dutiful hands and hearts of many thousands of the three Kingdomes whose very soules did pray and long for nothing more then his Majesties joyful Restoration and that the Ark might return happily with him And now not to loose the argument a review may be more Genuinely taken and a stricter examination made in Hushai the Archites great and wise undertakings and his happy and high performances and successes both to the Church the Crown and the Kingdome of Judah and Israel for all who made bonefires caused Bells to ring and with other external circumstances made Heaven and Earth to rejoice with chearful and loud acclamations were not Israelites indeed like Nathaniel or wise and couragious and loyal Hushai it may be believed that many who had wide throats and made loud vociferations at his Majesties return had but narrow affections and t is possible that guilt or fear or danger may force a compliancy where the stream was so strangely turned and ran as a mighty Tide or torrent with such irresistable violence Therefore Hushai's wisdome and loyalty and the conduct of his affaires in so dangerous a Crysis and juncture of extremities may prove a more happy Patern for all ages and like Ariadnes clue of Silk direct all worthy subjects like Theseus more prosperously to encounter the minotaure or monster of Rebellion and having slain that bloudy and savage beast more securely to return out of the labyrinth and interrigues of such Hellish delusion in the company of true honour triumph and victory It is not to be doubted but many pretend to this noble Israelites worth and merits who if rightly reflected on know well as conscious to themselves that either they have forfeited their Faith and Allegiance ever since the original commencement of the late civil warrs or in an over activity in their Rebellious endeavours have done most horrid injuries to their King and Country or in a tepid fit of Newtrality have been luke-warm and basely complacent to both parties or else in a degree yet more ignoble and fordid having animas venales vendible and mercenary spirits have entertained the wages of iniquity and under the guise and pretence of loyal subjects and faithful Patriots have betrayed and
the first and of Scotland the 37. in the Synod begun at London No person shall hereafter be received into the Ministry nor either by institution or collation admitted to any Ecclesiastical living or by the Arch-Bishop or Bishop of the Diocess except he shall first subscribe to these three Articles in such sort and manner as we have here appointed Article I. That the Kings Majestie under God is the only supream Governour of this Realm and of all other his Highness Dominions and Countries as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things or causes as temporal and that noforrain Prince Person Prelat or Potentate have or ought to have any jurisdiction power superiority preheminence or authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within his Majesties said Realmes Dominions and Countries Article II. That the book of Common-prayer and of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth nothing in it contrary to the word of God and that it may lawfully be used and that he himself will use the form in the said book prescribed in publick prayer and administration of the Sacraments and none other Article III. That he alloweth the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the convocation held at London in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred sixty and two and that he acknowledgeth all and every the Articles therein contained being in number nine an thirty besides the Ratification to be agreable to the word of God The form of words to avoid all ambiguities followeth viz. Setting down his Christian and Surname I N. N. do willingly and ex Animo subscribe to these three Articles above mentioned and to all things contained in them An Oath against Symony at institution into Benifices I N. N. do swear that I have made no symonical payment Can. 40. contract or promise directly or indirectly by my self or any other to my knowledge or with my consent to any person or persons whatsoever for concerning and obtaining this ecclefiastical dignity place preferment office or living respectively and particularly naming the same whereunto he is to be admitted instituted collated installed or confirmed nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfie any such kind of payment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledg or consent So help me God through Iesus Christ And as the Clergy are obliged to subscribe ex Animo to the three Articles contained in the 37 canon so are they when they receive holy orders and are made Deacons or Priests at their ordination or when they receive institution to any Ecclesiastical Living or Promotion and Installation to any Dignity in the Church obliged to canonical obedience to their respective Diocesans and the Bishops likewise are at their consecrations obliged to promise Canonical obedience to their Metropolitans and the respective Arch-Bishops of either Provinces and Sees of Canterbury and York and the Arch-Bishops likewise promise and vow the dutyes of Faith and true Allegiance to the King when at their homage kneeling before the King they take an Oath of Fealty and Obedience to the King and his lawful heirs and successors These are most holy and sacred d d Iuramentum est confirmatio verbi dequo juratur Orig. bonds more fit for all the Sonnes of Aaron and the Tribe of Levy and These do breed keep and cherish Peace unity in the Church e e Quid est jurare per Deum nifi testis est Deus D. August de verbis Apostoli sermn 28. oblige the inferiour orders to their superiours in fine unite all ecclesiastick subjects in true Allegiance to their King And though the Anabaptists and some squemish Phanaticks cunningly instructed or factiously engaged are shy of such sacred oaths and obligations yet it is warranted from the holy Scripture Thus Abimelech and Phicol required an Oath from Abraham Gen. 21.23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsly with me nor with my Son nor with my Sonns Son Thus Moses directeth Israel f f Deut. 6.13.10.12.13.4 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and swear by his name Thus g g Ezra 10.5 Ezra arose and made the cheif Priests the Levites and all Israel to swear that they should do according to this word and they sware And if yet any deluded or factious Curiosity be not satisfied but will object evangelical strict Commands against lawful Oathes because Christ hath preached h h Matt. 5.34 1 Iam. 5.12 Swear not at all and St. Iames advised k k Hanc elimenta jurandi pessimam consuetudinem habere Iudaeinoscuntur D. Hiero. in 5. Mat. above all things my brethren swear not Yet these sacred Cautions and Commands were not to take away the lawful and holy but the unlawful and profane use and custome of Oathes Thus St. Hierom commenteth Our Saviour doth not utterly forbid an Oath sed per coelum terram jurare St. Augustine seems more full and plain saying that Counsel was given to prevent an idle and sinful habit of swearing which from a profane facility might quickly run into custome and so fall into perjury or that no persons should be affected with customary Oathes or swearing k k Dico vobis non jurare omnino ne scil jurando ad facilitatem jurandi Porventatur en facultate jurandi ad conseitudinem à consuetudine in Perjurium decidatur D. August de mendacio cap. 15. or greedily with delight and delectation to seek and hunt after Oathes which on good grounds may be lawful and for a good end and purpose to discern truth and to end all Controversies And thus St. Paul on several occasions hath presented himself an Apostolical exemplar to Gods Church And to all that hath been said it may be further added That it is a Theological determination of the Church of England l l Articles of Religion 39. Article to which every true sonne hath or ought to subscribe and submit That as vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and Iames his Apoctle so we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity So it be done according to the Prophets teaching in Iustice Iudgement and Truth The Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy enjoined by order of Parliament The Oath of Allegiance I A. B. Do truly and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world that our Soveraign Lord King Charles is lawful and rightful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any power or authority to depose the King or to dispose any of his Majesties
they will tell me what confidence can you have in those who had no regard to their lawfull Sovereign They pretend much to desire your presence but their fears exceed their desires And it is rather to secure your person then to advance your Scepter that though you are this day recalled yet as long as your youth continu'd they suffer'd you to live in exile obeyed Robert but he being dead at present and they seeing that you were in a condition to obtain by force that which they now offer they seem to repent not so much regarding your loss as themselves Behold the reasons which have here contested with my resolution which seeing they are not without some rational ground I have not desisted to perswade my self and that in double choice whether to make a War with you or confide in you I have chose the latter as more glorious and I love rather to hazard my person then the destruction of all my Kingdoms Those who taught me the art to Reign have well fore-seen the Exigencies to which I am now reduced and therefore without doubt they took so much care to advise me what to do in justice and what I might be allowed to doe in Clemencie These two Virtues appear as contraries but are not they accord easily in the heart of a Prince They mutually give place each one to the other in the Empire of his Soul according to the divers occasions which are presented for he ought alwayes to abound in Clemencie and he ought not likewise to be ever too severe with the strict measure of justice Mercy and justice are two excellent Virtues but Prudence ought to imploy them both And the Princes sole Will ought to be the only rule to guide them Having then conjured you to an equal confidence in me as I have in you let an Act of Oblivion pass and let us remember no more former crimes unless it be to prevent relapses Let us not look on the Tomb of Charles but meerly to bedew it with the tears of tender Repentance Not to make it an Altar whereupon to sacrifice his Enemies let us Raze to the ground those horrid Cells which served for his Imprisonments thereby if possible to destroy the memory and not to leave a mark or point to posterity of those black crimes let us ascend the Throne with as much splendor as if it had never been prophaned and let us Reign if possible with more honour King my Soveraign did But do not think I shall be able to effect it without the aid and succours of my Subjects deceive not your selves the valour and prudence of the Prince are not sufficient of themselves to make a Kingdom happy The Subjects ought to contribute their proportions The Nobles are to offer their loyal Obedience and the people to follow their good example and both degrees ought to be united in virtue for otherwise he who giveth Victory and Masters Fortune will approve the virtue of the Prince in punishing the vice of the Subjects Those who are valiant do not alwayes gain the Battail and those who are wise are not alwayes fortunate However let us place our selves in such a capacity that we may be successfull though we cannot merit it See here what your Prince hath said unto you who in Lieu of punishing you hath pardoned you instead of fighting with you prepares to defend you instead of being your Enemy becomes your Conservator and who by his own birth and your choice is now your Lord your Master and your King These two qualities permit me not to Capitulate farther with you It sufficeth that I onely adde this That I admit you to hope for clemencie whilest I Reign as I wish you to fear alwayes my justice and beware that you put not your selves in a condition to make tryal of the second or of loosing the former FINIS The Censure on King LEWIS the IV. of FRANCE C Iulius Caesar did in his youth a C. Iulius Caesar quam Syllam fugeret etiamnum adolescens incidit in Piratas Cilices derisit praedones vilut quē ignaros cepissent seque duplum dare pollicitus est imperavit illis ut silerent nec sibi dormienti ob streperent Stupidos ac barbaros appellabat cumque risu minitabatur se illos acturum in crucem quod perfecit sparkle and radiat forth the beams of Majesty who avoiding the rage of Sylla and then falling into the hands of the Cilician Pyrats contemn'd those barbarous Sea-Rovers who asking a poor sum for Caesars Ransome francly promised twice as much as they demanded and being detained until his Ransome was paid boldly commanded the slaves to silence and not to dare to interrupt their Prisoners rest with noise When they vilifyed verses and orations of Caesars own Composure he called them dull and stupid barbarians and was so incensed highly displeased that he did threaten the villains with the Gallows which decree and resolution was in a short time most puissantly effected And as Caesar so Alexander did suffer no thought to rise from his magnanimous soul but what was truly Great and Noble b Plutarch An non hie statimagnescis indolem Alexandri Magni cui nihil mediocre satis esse posset idem in vitâ It is from the stemm and Root of Royalty that Princely Actions bud and Germinate and such an action and endeavour became Lewis at this juncture and glorious opportunity which did carry with it much of generosity as well as prudence and did not so much savour of fierceness and the impetuosity of youth as of the sage and noble Conduct of a truly Generous and magnanimous Prince Yet some may object and politickly urge what state prudence counselled this young Monarch to speak to his Subjects so high when he was so low and having scarce got well on horsback thus to salute his Subjects who had there Arms in their hands Rebels Subjects who had lately tumbled his Father from the Throne who had torn the Crown from of his Sacred Head changed his Scepter into chains and his Pallace into a prison might not this bold entrance to the Throne have rather provoked them to desperation then obedience and raised a new tempest which could not be appeased without much difficulty might not this noise have served to awaken them to fresh jealousies and fears which their own prudence should have taught them Certainly this objection at the first view seems invincible that Lewis did not appear so discreet and judicious as his condition required notwithstanding he failed not in his kingly craft for whosoever shall examine this great Action from the bottom and weigh the arguments maturely will be convinced of this opinion and neither condemn the Generosity nor the resolution of Lewis in this eminent action The Counsels of prudence prove different according to several conjunctures of occasions and ought to change their countenances according to the present diversities and important alterations of affairs And