Lambert's Soulders deserting him and Generall Monck according to their orders marching up his Army quite through England Yet the Nation had so great hopes of the Noble General that in all his passage through England he is courted with Addresses from the Gentry of every County remonstrating the distractions they long had and were still like to lye under and intreating that he would be as they hoped hee 'd prove the Deliverer and saver of his Countrey that to settle them in some way of Government a Parliament might be called by the Free Votes of the people that they might no longer be Govern'd by such Wolves as only made a Prey of them nor their Governours be subjected to the awe force of an Exorbitant Army To all these desires he returned answers promising such things as might be for the good of the Nation But being come to London where he was received with a great deal of joy he put the people almost quite out of hopes of him nay rather into a fear that in stead of proving their deliverer he would be the means to enslave them for by the cōmandment of the Rump he enters the City with his whole Army imprisons many of their Common Council digs up their Posts and breakes down their Gates whilst the stupifi'd Citizens having now fear added to their slavery durst hardly murmur at it but with sighs nods bid adieu to their Liberty Yet notwithstanding this violence the Noble Generall revives their hopes retiring himself into the City refusing to be subject to the Juncto's command shortly after he admitts those Members of the House of Commons which were in 1648. forceably excluded by the Army for having given their Votes that the Kings Concessions at the Isle of Wight Treaty were sufficient grounds for a Peace and settlement who having taken their places in the House we had now got a step towards our ancient happiness one of the three Estates of the Kingdom viz. the House of Commons being permitted to sit freely a thing not known to us in twelve precedent yeares God of heaven of his mercy to these Nations grant that the other two may in his due time be admitted to the discharge of their power and trust that these Nations once so famous under that Government may no longer continue to be the scorne and derision of foraign Countries And great hopes there is now that these Kingdomes may again return to be happy since disloyalty the first cause of their miseries and distractions begins blessed be God every day to be depressed and loyalty to flourish many of those who formerly with a zealous fury broak their oath of Allegiance to their King wishing now that they had a King to shew allegiance to perceiving that al innovations of Government are not what some would have them seem to be viz. ways to liberty freedom but meer baits of ambitious self-minded men to hook in the people to slavery But to return to his Majesty in Flanders of whose jtenary life we have already given you a particular account it will not be impertinent to say somwhat of his sedentary retired Living that by his Aeconomy we may judge of his Monarchy and of the Government of those few subjects in his Family of that of his three Kingdoms His Majesty hath spent most of his time wherein he hath been out of his Dominions in Flanders under the protection of the Catholick King of Spain nor had he ever any where else so settled a Court and Habitation as here where his chief Attendants are the Lord Chancellour Hide the Marquess of Ormond the Earl of Norwich the Lord Wentworth the Lord Digby and many other Nobles and Gentlemen whose loyalty to his sacred Majesty his Royall Father hath made exiles to their Country a particular number of which he makes use of for his Councill doing nothing without serious mature advice and yet being of so sagatious a judgement that whatever he sayes is seldome contradicted by the most Judicious of his Councellours not out of fear or flattery but out of a reall assent to and concurrence with his judgement And indeed those great opportunities which he hath had by his so long being abroad of diving into the great Councels of Forraign Princes and States must necessarily make him a person of a very perspicuous understanding endow him with all those qualities which may deservedly attain the name of Great and render him as well an able Statist as a King he having during his expulsion travelled through lived in the Countries of three the most potent Princes in Christendome viz. the Emperour 's of Germany and the Kings of Spain and France and so to the Germain resolution added the Spaniards prudence and the Frenchmans expedition To these extraordinary helps which never a Prince in Christendome can boast of we may yet add those more then ordinary gifts wherewith nature hath been pleased to endow him which being so extreamly improved we can hardly now discern but that it may be known what they were take the character of an Honourable Lord upon his death Bed who speaking of him when about fiteen or sixteen Years of Age hath these words Truly I never saw greater hopes of vertue in any young Person then in him Great Judgement great understanding strong apprehension much of honour in his nature a very perfect Englishman in his inclinations So that both nature industry have seemed to use their utmost endeavours to make him a perfect Prince his very affliction turning in this to his benefit and making him in knowledge and sufferings the Refiner of knowledge unparalleld Some forreign Princes as well envying as pitying his expulsion This perfect knowledge of his he hath indeed had but small occasion to practise except a little in Scotland where I think he demonstrated himself a person so prudent and careful in his affairs that is beyond my Pen's expression His Subjects good was his only care nor did he ever act any thing but what might tend more to theirs then his own interest still consulting whether it might benefit them not himself His Letter to Col. Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury sufficiently demonstrates his affection to his very Enemies he would win not Conquer the Hearts of those who though they have broke their Allegiance to him yet he would esteem still his subjects He would not conquer with bloud lest he should be thought a Tyrant He endeavours by fair means to attain the love of his Subjects that what ever his very enemies think of him he may approve himself to be a just Prince And did Fortune give him power yet would he rather attempt Curtesie then Force He knows that whilst he kills a Subject he weakens his Kingdom Rebels themselves may be found usefull and though justice cannot yet his Majesties Clemency will admit their pardon but if they resist to the utmost their bloud is on their own heads what man is not willing to
Kingdome of Scotland which may be an assured foundation of their happiness and peace for the time to come and an effectual means to root out all the seeds of animosity divisions caused by these late troubles and also to unite the hearts and affections of our Subjects one to another and of them all to us their King and lawfull Soveraign to the end that by their Obedience to our Royal and just Authority we may be put in a condition to maintain them in peace and prosperity to protect them in their Religion Liberty as it appartains to us according to our charge office of a King And as we have alwayes resolved to contribute whatever is to be done by us to obtain these good effects for the just satisfaction of all our Subjects in this Kingdome We have now thought fit upon the Return of Mr. Windram to command desire you to send unto us Commissioners sufficiently authorized to treat agree with us both in relation to the Interest just satisfaction of our Subjects there as also concerning the aid assistance which in all reason we may expect from them to bring and reduce the murtherers of our late most dear Father of happy memory to condign punishment to recover our just rights in all our Kingdomes And we will that they attend us on the fifteenth of March at the Town of Breda where we intend to be in Order thereunto And in confidence of a Treaty as also to make known to you all the World that we sincerely desire to be agreed We have resolved to Addresse these unto you under the Name Title of a Committee of Estates of our Kingdome of Scotland and will and expect that you use this grace no otherwayes for any advantage to the prejudice of us or our Affairs beyond what we have given this Qualification and Title for namely for the Treaty and in order to it Although we have considerations sufficient and very important to disswade and oblige us to doe nothing in this kind antecedently at this time Also we hope the confidence which we declare to have in your clear and candid intentions towards us will furnish you with strong Arguments to form in your selves a mutual confidence in us which by the blessing of God Almighty by your just prudent moderation and by that great desire we have to oblige all our Subjects of that Kingdome and by the means of the Treaty which we attend hope for may be a good foundation of a full and happy peace and an assured security to this Nation for the time to come which we assure you is wished of us with passion and which we shall endeavour by all means in our power to effect This is the full of his Majesties Letter to the Cōmittee of Estates in Scotland much to this effect was there another writ by him to the Committee of the Kirk But this I the rather fully insert in regard of the many Calumnies cast upon it and by it upon his Majesty His enemies here by taking occasion to carp at him by pretending his inveterate desire of revenge which was so contrary to the last precepts given him by his dying father I think I need not answer his enemies objection they by those carps only condemning themselves of a self-guiltinesse but to the more sober sort of people I shall refer it and let them seriously consider whether the begining progresse and end of the Latter demonstrate him not a man more addicted to peace quietnesse then to revenge and destruction The principall Objection which his enemies have against him is that he desires the aid of his Scotch Subjects to bring the Murderers of his Father to condigne punishment does this shew him a lover of Revenge or of Justice I would fain know which of his enemies or of his Fathers Murderers would not should I have done the same to any of their so near Relations have endeavoured to have brought me under the utmost censure of the Law But to proceed these Letters are seriously debated both in the Committee of Estates and Kirk the first order its consideration to a select sub Committee of their own consisting of nine Lords and others who present their opinions upon it to the grand Committee and these provide ready a state of the Case to be presented to the Parliament of Scotland which was shortly after to assemble But mean while a select number of the Kirk and State made up a Committee who by common consent were to consider what was to be done about sending Commissioners and Propositions to his Majesty these had strong and serious debates for the arrogant Kirkmen would not have his Majesty admitted into Scotland but upon Conditions which should make him wholly subservient to their commands but the State would have such tart Conditions wholly waved and though their own were rough enough yet at length a mediation is concluded on between theirs and the Kirk And the Earl of Castles the Lord Louthian Burley Libberton Sir Iohn Smith and Mr. Jeoffreys for the Estates Mr. Broady Lawson and Wood are appointed Commissioners for the Kirk These having received their Commissions and Instructions took their journy for Holland and arrived at Breda some few dayes before his Majesty got thither On the 16. March 1649. he also arrived there and on the 19. the Lord Wentworth Master of the Ceremonies conducted them to Audience being come before his Majesty who in a large Chamber purposely provided expected them The Lord Castles in behalfe of the Estates and Mr. Lawson in behalf of the Kirk having made their Speeches declared the occasiō of their coming and shewing their Commissions they delivered the ensuing Propositions in the behalfe both of the Kirk State of Scotland 1. That all those who had been excommunicated by the Church and still continued so should be forbid accesse to the Court. 2. That all Acts of the Parliament of Scotland should be by him ratified and approved of That the solemn League and Covenant the Presbyterian Church-government The Directory Confession and Catechism should be enjoyned in Scotland and the same used and practised in his family and an Oath to be taken by him that he would never oppose it or endeavour to alter it 3. That he would by solemne Oath under his hand seal declare and acknowledge his allowance of the solemne League and Covenant the National Covenant of Scotland 4. That he would consent and agree that all civil matters might be determined by subsequent Parliaments in Scotland and all Ecclesiastical matters by the General Kirk assembly as was formerly granted by his Royal father To these Propositions his Majesty demanded Whether this were fully and wholly all that the Committee of Estates and Kirk in Scotland had to desire or propound whether these Commissioners had power to remit or recede from any of these particulars and further what they had to propound
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 General 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 attended on him went privily our thence and threw himselfe upon the Scotch Army then at Newark who shortly after notwithstanding his confidence of them for a sum of money delivered him up most perfidiously and traiterously to his implacable Enemies the English Army These after many pretences of Treaties and seeming willingness to come to an accord with him on that black day the 30. of January 1648. most villaniously 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 Reign we will now proceed to those he hath since ran through which we may more properly and 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 Royalties For that part of the Parliament of England which had usurped the whole power or more were not onely content to take a way 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 Laws of the Nation and his own undoubted right by birth he being lineally desended from that Family which had successively governed England for above three hundred years He was at that time of his Fathers death at the Court of his Sister the Royal 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 Press or which is as uncertain reports I have sent this bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majesty and to bring me an account of it that I may withall assure your Majesty I doe not onely pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwayes be ready to doe 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 news of his Fathers Murther then 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 capacity 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 his right as far as their weak abilities would strech 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 Royalists 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 Jreland is at his Devotion for the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchiquin 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 Coote who joyntly strove to justifie the Parliament of Englands late actions 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 and England or that if he would needs venture himselfe 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 Gentlemen the Islanders immediately upon his arrival most joyfully proclaimed him King and the Lord Iermyn Earle of Yarmouth was made Governour of that Island who constituted Sir George Cartwright 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 sorces 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 Royalists for the intents and purposes a foresaid 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 overpowred and quell'd Whilst King Charles was hear expecting a Messenger from the States of Scotland came news of the unfortunate overthrow of the Marquess of Ormond his Army by Lieu. General Iones before Dublin which caused a generall sorrow among all his followers for there had been great hopes expectations of that Army it amounting to no lesse then twenty two thousand men 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 carlessness of the Commanders or security of the
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 fatall and Tragicall 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 further give me leave to speak a word or two concerning the Magnanimous Col. Will. Sibbalds who say some confessed himselfe guilty of the Murther of D. Dorislaus the English Agent at the Hague which I must ingeniously confesse I believe upon good ground to be only a Calumny and scandal raised from the so far extended Marice 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 demurs there were upon it for besides the striving of some Lords who had a kind of a serious Antipathy to the Scots perfidiousness and endeavoured to perswade his Majesty not to trust them who had betrayed his Father The King himselfe stuck highly as he had reason about the business of of taking the Covenant For 1. There was no reason why he should be enforced to relinquish the Religion of his Fathers and whilst 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 tendered 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 pass an act for the peoples taking it Whilst these demurs 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 likewise withdrawes himselfe 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 add more weight to the scale the Earl of Carnworth and Mr. Murrey are sent over to the Commissioners at Breda with new instructions and propositions As 1. That his Maiesty 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 harshness 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 rejection of their propositions alleadging to his Majesty That the Covenanters horid perfidousness to his Father might be a sufficient motive and inducement for him not to trust them That the more willing he was to condiscend to their Propositiōs 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 only in Title which he was without them On the other side the Earl of Lauderdale the Lord Wilmot Piercy and others of his Majesties Council who stood for an accomodation with the Scots urged That his Majesties affairs both in Ireland under the Marquess of Montross and in the Navy under Prince Pupert were in so weak and tottering a Condition that no helpe could be expected from them That all the Princes in Europe were so imbroyled in Wars of their own that it was in vain to crave any Forreign aid that therefore there was no way left for his Majesty to regain his lost Rights and Kingdoms 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 got be thrown off by degrees these reasons swayed with his Majesty the Treay went on with a clearer face then formerly But now there happens a strong demur or as most supposed a business that would wholly break off the Treaty for the newes of Montrosse's ignominious death being come to Breda extreamly 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 murthering his Leiutennant 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 notwithstanding 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 extreamly 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 that it rejoyced their very soules to hear that he would be willing to concur 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 them selves but it was not their excuse nor their so many reiterated Protestations of fidelity but the necessity of the Kings affairs 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 Treaty was soon carried to Edenbrough where the Parliament being met it was yet by some of those who favoured the Secterian party in England
of the Spaniard with an Army of ten thousand men so that they intend with his assistance if they could not obtain their desires by fair means to have forc't it Thus these differences were arrived to such a height that nothing but a Civil war was like to ensue which made his Sacred Majesty of England use his utmost endeavours to compose stay this breach before it came to an utter overflow to which effect he dayly went to fro be twixt the King the Princes endeavouring to bring them to a reconciliatiō urging by his own example the miseries and calamities that must necessarily fall upon every mans head by a Civil War telling the King that the late example of his Royall Father of happy memory might be an inducement to him to be at peace with his Subjects rather then embroil his Kingdomes in a bloudywar by which though he might for the present gaine the better yet in the end he would stil be sure to have the worse Yet these Arguments and his Majesties earnest endeavours for peace and reconciliatiō produced nothing but only contracted an unjust odium upon him from both parties for his good will the Princes believing that he counselled the King against them and the Cardinal against him So that he lost the love of both by endeavouring to mak them love one another yet notwithstanding the ill successe he had this Noble Prince still pursues his pacifick intentions til such time as he gains a conference between the King Cardinall Princes but this proves ineffectuall For the Princes heightned with the aid they expected from the Duke of Lorain instead of coming to an accord only exasperate differences Yet his Sacred Majesty ceases not but endeavours to bring them yet to a peaceable compliance in order threunto procures another Conference where he himself would be Moderatour but this proves as ineffectuall as the former For the Prince of Conde was above all others outragious and would come to no agreement except Mazarine were first banished France and the French King as violently persisted in his resolution against it alledging That he had approved himself both a faithfull servant and an able Minister of State So in stead of agreement both sides prepare for War yet are both sides equally angry exasperated against his sacred Majesty for his good will toward them and the Nation the one and other party imagining that both he and his Mother had given counsels opposite to their designes But that which above all exasperated the Princes against his Majesty of England was the sudden luke-warmness of the Duke of Lorain in the business For though he had drawn off his Army as though he had complied with their resolutions to come to a battel yet being sent for by the Princes to advance towards Paris he refused to come which made the Princes believe there had been some underhand dealing with him and that which most of all encreased their jealousies that King Charles had a hand in it was this The Duke of Beaufort coming to the Camp of Lorain to desire him in the name of the Princes to come up and fight found there his Majesty his brother the Duke of York in private conference with Lorain who withdrawing when Beaufort appeared Beaufort finding the Duke's aversness to the enterprize confirmed him and he confirmed the Princes of the King of England's endeavours whereby he had withdrawn Lorain from their party This coming to the peoples ears who were absolute favourers of the Princes and inveterate enemies to Mazarine so extreamly incensed them against the English Princes that they threaten violence and indignities to their persons are not afraid to affront the Queen their Mother in her Coach which made his Majesty to avoid the popular fury retire himself from the Lovure to St. Germane Nor is the Cardinal less incensed though under a more politick vail For though both Princes and People might imagine believe that his Majesty had counsel'd things opposite to their intentions yet the Cardinal very well knew that he had advised the King as the best course to consent to his departure out of the Kingdome and that if he had endeavoured to draw Lorain from their party 't was only out of a desire he had to expedite their agreement he therefore resolves to thwart him in all his designs And so he did to the utmost of his endeavours For his Majesty though suspected by the Prince in his several conferences with Lorain to have endeavoured to divert him from them was only transacting with him for the recovery of his Kingdome of Ireland out of the hands of the English Republick to which effect several Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorain and the Lord Taaff two of which were 1. That the Duke of Lorain should transport an Army of 10000. men at his own charge into Ireland there to joyn with such as should be found Loyal for the Recovery of his Majesties Rights in that Kingdom 2. That the Duke of Lorain should by his Majesty be invested with the power and Title of Protector Royall of Ireland These Articles though drawn up never came to be signed the cause of which some have imagined to be the disability of the Duke to performe the Enterprise without the Aid of some other Prince but we may in more reason guess it proceeded from the strenuous endeavours of Mazarine his Majesties so lately made-enemy to divert the Duke's Army then from any other cause Many in England upon hearing of these Propositions made to the Duke of Lorain which I must confess some believe to have never proceeded any farther then discourse of the Duks feared his Majesties too great inclination to the Romish Religion which fear his after retirement at St. Germain's convinced there was no need of For here he spent his time wholly in Piety and Devotions according to the best worship of the Church of England never forgeting to pray for those his Enemies who were not only content to have deprived him of his Kingdoms but continually belched forth both slanders and maledictions against him His Majesty having staid at S. Germains till such time as the heate of the popular fury was over which decreased still towards them as they found Mazarine more averse to him returned again to the Lovure where during his abode his brother the Duke of Gloucester who had a long time been detained by the Juncto of England in the Isle of Wight and was lately permitted by them to go to his Sister the Princess Royal in Holland came to him accompanied from the Hague by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile he was at his arrivall at Paris honourably received by the 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. Jane Lane who after she had taken leave of
scorne and derision of the world by selling them to those Plantations a punishment inflicted usually on none but thieves and vagabonds Yet I hope those Noble soules who were thus dealt withall account those miseries and hardships they have endured but little in respect of the cause for which they suffered them But to return to our Princes abroad The Duke of Glocester in his journy from Paris with the Marquess of Ormond touched at the Hague where he found his Sister newly returned from her journey with his Majesty and having staid with her some time there she accompanied him to visit their Brother the King again at Colen with whom she staid till after the fair at Frankford whither his Majesty accompanied with his Royal Sister the Duke of Glocester the Marquess of Ormond the Earle of Norwich the Lord Newburg and several Ladies and persons of Quality went in progress part of the way they went by Land and the other part by water being complemented in all Princes countries through which they passed by their chief Ministers of State and saluted with the great Guns from their Towns Castles but particularly being come into the Territories of the Elector of Mentz they were saluted by his grand Marshall who in the name of his Master the Elector invited his Majesty the Princess Royall the Duke of Glocester to his Court but in regard that the intent of their progress was to see that renowned Fair at Franckford which now drew nigh his Majesty sent the Lord Newburgh back with the grand Marshal returning thanks to the Elector for his civilities but desiring to be excused till their return when his Majesty with his Royal Sister Brother would not Faile to come and give him thanks in person and so his Majesty with his Noble company continued their journy Being arrived at Frankford advice was brought to his Majesty that the Queen of Swethland who had some time before Voluntarily surrendered her Kingdom into the hands of Carolus Gustavus her Kinsman was passing that way in her intended Journey for Italy whereupon his Majesty sent a Noble Lord to acquaint her Royall Highness the Queen Christina that he was ready to wait upon her at what place soever she should be pleased to appoint for an interview her Majesty received the message with a great deal of affection telling the Messenger That she was highly obliged to his Majesty of England for so great an honour and that if he pleased she would not fail to meet him at Conningstein a village not far from Frankford where his Majesty for the time resided And accordingly there these two Potentates both equally deprived of their Kingdomes only with this distinction the one Voluntary the other by force and Tyranny met the Queen of Sweden being there first attended his Majesty he being come was immediately admitted in a room there purposely provided and having had neer halfe an hours private discourse with her the Duke of Glocester was admitted and presently after the Lords that attended his Majesty there passing between their two Majesties many ceremonious complements so after a little longer discourse they took their leaves The Princesse Royal being a little indisposed went not to this interview His Majesty having tarried at Franckford as long as seem'd convenient to that Royall Company in his departure thence according to the promise he had before made by the Lord Newburgh passed through the Elector of Mentz his Country resolving to give him a visit but that Noble Prince had so much of honour in him that he met his Majesty a great part of the way and conducted him with his Royall Company to a Pallace of his where he sumptuously entertained them for three or four dayes and then himself in person accompanied them a good part of their way to Colen from whence shortly after his Majesties arrival there the Princess Royal departed for Holland In the mean time the Protector of England having made a peace with the Hollander fearing that the Nation should grow rebellious to him if they lay free from wars which would fill their purses resolves to keep them low at a diet to which effect he begins a war with Spain at first in his Western Territories but soon after that business not succeeding in his Europaean Quarters which made Mazarine with all hast possible endeavour the concluding the Leageu Offensive and Defensive with the Protector which being by him considered to be as beneficiall for his own interest as for the French was easily and willingly assented to but the chief Articles of this Peace was that his Majesty the Duke of York and Glocester with all their relations and friends should be expelled out of and no more admitted into the Kingdom of France Certainly had the French King had but the least touch or sense of honour he would have counted this the hardest condition in the world or indeed he would never at all have treated with the protector but that he should yeild to such a condition as to banish out of his Kingdome those who came to him for succour and relief in the utmost extreamity that ever Princes were put too and these too his nearest relations being Brothers Sisters children And this to make a league offensive with him who had murdered their Father expelled them out of their Dominions What was this but the owning of that murder and aggravating their oppressions instead of relieving them But neither honour nor relation can stand in competition with self-Interest His Maiesty had before fore-saw what the event of this treaty would be and had therefore wisely wihdrawn himselfe from France to prevent a complemental expulsion But the Duke of York who in regard of the great command which he had in the Army had staid there til the conclusion of the League was now warned to depart with al his retinnue consisting of a gallant number of young English gentlemen bred up under his valour conduct notwithstanding those many great services which he had performed for that Kingdom in requitall of which he had only a complemental Apology made him for the necessity of his departure and a small time respited for his stay during which he was visited by the Duke of Modena then in France and other French Grandees but more espetially by the Marshal of Turine who extreamly loved him and above all others expressed a sorrow for his dismisment but at length the day perfixed being come his grace having solemnly taken his leave of the King of France the Queen his Mother the rest of his Friends at the French Court he takes his journey towards Flanders accompanied by the Earl of Yarmouth severall other English Lords For upon the rupture of the Peace between Oliver Cromwell and the King of Spain Don John de Austria Governour Royall of the Low Countries for his Catholick Majesty commiserating our Kings unfortunate Condition now that his Interest might stand them in some stead had sent the
Vice The strictest rewarder of Virtue The constantest preserver of Religion And the truest lover of his Subjects This is a short Character of his illustrious Majesty which I feare those that know him will rather think to come short of then reach his due praise so sweetly vertuous is he in all his Carriages so affable in his discourse so void of passion anger that he was never yet heard or seen in Choller the utmost extent of any passion that ever was discerned in him being towards one of his Meniall Servants who justifying himselfe in what he had done amisse his Majesty with some motion told him that he was an insolent fellow Yet this is that Prince whose vertues we have given leave to Forraign Nations to admire whilst we our selves have rested as well ignorant of his deserts as destitute of our own Liberty whilst either infatuated or blinded by those who have Tyrannically usurp'd Governments over us we have been contented to sit still see him Expulsed and exil'd from his due Rights Royalties and our selves from our Freedom Priviledges Nor hath God alone been merciful to us in endowing his sacred Majesty with such Heroick Vertues but he hath given us a stock of Noble Princes who seem to Emulate Virtues in one another and growe up like Royal Oaks to maintain the Honour and Glory of this Nation but are yet and have a long time been the disgrace of it all the Nations in Europe laughing at the English folly who slight that happinesse which they might enjoy As for the illustrious Duke of York his Fame is spread so far over the World that my selfe have heard the very Turks commend and applaud his Vallour which was so esteemed among the French that before he arrived at twenty one years of Age he was by that King thought worthy the Command of Liu. General of his Armies which he managed with such care prudence that seldom any affairs he took in hand produced not its desired successe since his being in requital of his services complemented out of that Kingdome of France though he hath not had such eminent commands confer'd on him by the Spaniard yet have they alwaies thought him worthy the highest imployment and respect As for the Duke of Glocester he is esteemed by most to be fitter for a Councellour then a Souldier His Carriage is grave somwhat severe of a Sagace Genious and understanding and very much prying into State Affairs which have made most judge him the fitter for a Councill board These three Princes are like three Diamonds or Pearls which we have ignorantly cast away not come to know the worth of them till we come to want them Their vertues having made them resplendent throughout all the World and rendred them if we justly consider it the only means whereby we can attain to happiness for what Nation can be more blessed then that which hath for her Prince a just King to Govern a Valiant Duke to Defend and a Wise Counsellour to Advise May the God of Heaven then open our Eyes and let us at length see our Errour and heartily repent of it by calling our Native Soveraign to the possession of his due Rights which the Divine Majesty I hope will be Gratiously pleased to Grant Thus far the History March 1660. POST-SCRIPT WHen this admirable miraculous foregoing History came first out which contayns so great wonders that noe former age can parralel or future believe it may well without derogation from the author be owned by a person of Quality for so questionlesse he was and a person of Honour and loyall confidence that at that time before the dawning of our day of Liberty or the arising of our long set Sun which by its appearing inlightens comforts and refreshes these our Kingdoms of England Scotland Ireland CHARLES the second defender of the faith c. I say much may well be attributed to his confident bouldnes at that time to publish it when to speak truth reason or loyaltie was accounted Error Treason dangerous And although it be not so full as it might be either for manner or Matter in setting forth the worthy deserved Praise of our most gratious Soveraign whose perfections whosoever shall undertake to describe must needs fall short and of his Miraculous escape but that it may well be said of it as the Queen of Sheba said of the Wisdom of Solomon c. behold the halfe was not tould of what she found though reported by fame which seldome looses in the Progresse nor of the wonderfull signall mercy to his Kingdoms and Subjects thereby as is well exprest in the 107. psalme and the 43. Who so is wise may may understand these things and such shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. And truly I think never people had more cause chearfully thankfully to acknowledge the goodnes of God herein and expresse it by their duty and obedience The wisemans advice its wisdome to take Pro. 24. 21.22 My Sonfear God and the King medle not with them that be seditious and desirous of change c. Have we not been ever since the sad Sacrifice of his sacred Majesty who God has made a Saint and they a Martyr of most pretious and blessed memory who was Murthered by the pretended sword of Justce to say noe more of it was as horrid a crime as ever the Sun beheld oppresed by high Courts of Injustice and other arbitrary impositions more then ever was done by coular of authority in the raigns of all the KINGS since the CONQVEST Did not the want of our King bring on us Vsurpation Tirrany Enmity Animositie Poverty and all Misery All which will be remov'd and to our comfort if our sinnes and disobedience hinders not we shall assuredly enjoy a Settlement of Religion Law Liberty Property Peace Penty Honour and Safety Has not his singular wisdom discovered and directed a way not only for discharging those large arrears which before daily increased on us to the Army and otherwise which is in a short time done but also for their disbanding in England to free us thereby for the future from those insupportable burthens Read but his gratious General pardon before which who could justly say he was free and see his unparaleld clemency who to us Ariseth like the Sun of Righteousnes with healing under his wings Mal. 4.2 And if ingratitude be the worst of crimes as I think was never yet questioned how inexcusable then in the Eyes of all the world shall such be that after so great favour shall either in thought word or deed think speak or act any thing against him Read but his Declaration concerning Ecclesiasticall affaires with what Religious care caution has he fram'd it to the Satisfaction of all interests that pretend to Religion Reason or Civility Provided they quietly conforme to the Establisht Laws and make not Religion as some formerly did a Match to give fire
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 its 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 Independant English Army after they heard that they had condemned him to death repent them of their Wickedness wash their hands from any guilt in his bloud Expostulate with the English siting in Parliament about their so severe proceedings and protest against having any hand in his Murther 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 Wales 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 fitting persons to treat with his Majesty about sundry Articles before his reception to the Crown but long debates and demurs there were in the businesse before they could resolve what 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 in stead of debating what or whom they should send to his Majesty 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 Majesty at Iersey The chief of their desires was to this effect That his Majesty would gratiously be pleased himselfe to sign the Solemn League Covenant and that he would passe an Act in Parliament that every person in that Kingdome might takeit 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 Majesty 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 honourable 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 sutable to his birth and deserved greatnesse 6. That he would be gratiously pleased to give a speedy answer to their desires These Propositions were very stifly debated Pro and Con some were so firce that they would have his Majesty utterly reject the Scots Propositions as dishonourable disadvantagious to his affaires 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 Montrosse his designs who had lately received Commissions from the King to assault the North of Scotland with what force he could raise however the business 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 Montross then in Holland and out of France touching their opinions concerning these Propositions concerning which Montross returned answer to his Majesty desiring him to harken to the Scotch Commissioners whilst they would propose agree to any thing which might stand with his Majesties honour for the restoring him to his Rights and Dignities That for himselfe he should rather be content to endure banishment from his highnesse sight and person then in the least prejudice his affaires Thus this faithfull and loyall servant courted banishment as the late famous Earle of Strafford had done death for his Masters good service but too generous was he and had too great a sence of goodnesse gratitude to grant his request but returned him this answer That he had so high a sence of his fidelity and loyalty all along and that he had performed so many signal services both for his Father and himselfe that he could not in honour leave him and therefore desired him to press 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 him in his Kingdoms These resolves of his Mother and the Marquess of Montross wrought strongly with his Majesty yet notwithstanding they are as stoutly opposed by the Lord. Cleveland Byron Gerard 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 fora Treaty it was resolved on yet in regard it would require some time to frame an answer Sir William Fleming was sent Agent to the Committee of Estates in Scotland 'till such time as the Laird Libberton could be dispatc't Short time after Mr. Windram returned into Scotland with a Letter and 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 to the two last Sessions of Parliament he was content a Generall 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 a full accomodation 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. VVE have received your Letters lately presented to us by Mr. Windram of Libberton and we accept gratiously 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 profess 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 always really have been desirous to settle a clear and right intelligence between us and our Subjects of our ancient