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
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
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
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
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
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
mony set upon his head for which many hundreds out of covetousnes made it their business to search for him they will confess ingeniously 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 nothing but his death and destruction that we may yet have hopes to be a happy Nation But let us now returne to give a full account of this dismal loss at Worcester in which most of his Majesties foot were either made a prize or a sacrifice to their enemies swords of the horse there escaped 300. out of the field but were most afterwards either taken or kil'd by the country people in their flight three thousand were judged slain in the Field and about seaven thousand taken prisoners whereof the chief were the Earles Derby Lauderdale Cleveland Shrewsburge the Lord Wentworth and many other noble persons taken in the pursuit And the chief of those taken in the battel were the Earles of Carnworth and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir John Packington the Major Generals montgomery and Piscotty and the Virgil of this Age that thrice worthy Mr. Richard Fanshaw Translator of the renowned Paster Fido and Secretary to his Majesty As for the thrice noble Duke Hamilton he was taken but not overcome overpowred but not vanquisht 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 Countess of Stamford was by her Son the Lord Grey of Grooby 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 wonderfull 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 to make it the greater publick days of Thanksgiving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their villanies murders tyrannyes 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 Politicians * See Modern Policy That successe denotes actions to be either just or unjust I shall therefore leave the sober Reader here to satisfie himself refer it to him whether such do not justly deserve Ovid's wish Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Let him for ever in successe 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 thinke according to reason that it was not the justice of their cause but our own and the Nations sinnes which caused God to raise up these men as scourges both to Prince People to the prince only 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 unless 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 Kingdomes 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 fatall 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 dispach't Letters to the French Court to acquaint his friends there of his safe Arrival which doubtless 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 and 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 Louure 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 himselfe 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 Langueville Guize the Marshall Thurine and many other Peers Nobles of France who all congratulate his safe deliverance And now his Majesty having lost all hopes of any furthermeans of attaining his Dominions by force leads here a retired life yet living in regard of his high alliance and 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 the Madamoiselle de Orlians the richest princess in Christendome 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 the Duke of York to Longuevelle's Daughter Whilst these things were transacting hapned that lately reconciled Fracture between the Prince of Conde and Cardinal Mazarine most of the Prince of the Bloud siding with the first the King of France who was newly declared of age to sway the Scpter himselfe 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 bloud 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 dureing her Regency who so much loved him yet hoped they might effect somthing now the King himselfe is come to govern to which intent they charge him with several miscarriages of State which the Cardinal defends the King also enclines to his side by the instigation of the Queen his Mother yet nothing but the Cardinals banishment will satisfie the Princes who join the Duke of Lorain to them then in the service
destroy him who he knows would be his murderer This is his justice and his Clemency mixt together he would not Kill where he might with safety save Nor does his unspotted innocency raise fancies or fears in him As he is guilty of nothing so ther 's nothing he fears Whilst he endeavours to be true to his subjects those endeavours force a belief in him that his subjects will be true to him His very nature enclins him to a compassion He pitties those that will not pitty themselves and whilst they are conspiring his destruction his prayers procure their safety Nor can the utmost of their injuries provoke him to a retaliation He hath learned not only of God but of the King his father to forgive his Enemies Nor is it his desire to obtain his Kingdomes that makes him willing to forgive his Enemies but his desire to forgive his Enemies that makes him willing to obtain his Kingdomes he counts the possession of his Royalties but as a transitory dignity the pardon of his Enemies a Divine and lasting one Neither is his piety less then his Justice they are both in the Superlative degree he hates wickedness not because the world should see him glory that would make him an Hipocrite but because God abhors it 't is Love not Fear makes him Religious he Fears God only because he Loves him He hates not the Vicious but abominates their Vices his hatred extends not to persons but to things He dislikes not the Swearer 't is the Oaths he abhors he hates not the Drunkard but his Drunkennesse Yet does his mercy extend beyond their sins as he is a King so he is a God he is gratious to pardon as well as just to punnish nor can a remission or reformation but over take his remission His constant service of God excites others to live by his example he sleeps not without invoking the blessing of the Almighty nor does his Eyes open without a returned thanks he knows 't is God alone which can restore protect him nor can the wickednesse of Man preval against him Nor does his publick devotion shew him lesse Zealous then his private the one demonstrates him full of Zeal the other void of Hypocrisie he would have others holy as well as himself he knows that saying concerns him being a King above all private Men Non nobis solis nati sumus Private persons are not alone born for themselves much lesse Kings the publick concern is their duty 't is not enough for the Master of the house that he be Godly whilst his family is wicked There must be Precept as well as Example and if need be correction as well as instruction This makes his Majesty deservedly famous he counts it as great a fault to suffer a sin in another whilst he hath power to correct it as to commit it himself he knows that what crime soever a Magistrate suffers willingly to be committed he brings upon his own head He is therefore above all things careful not to father vice least he should be accounted vitious he detests that in another which did he commit he knows he might justly detest himselfe for and endeavours by Example to reform that in others which he knows were it in him would seem odious to him He abhors vice as well because it is so as because God abhors it His nature inclines him to vertue and as he cannot admit its contrary in himself so he cannot indure it in another His constancy in Religon is no lesse conspicuous then his piety His discerning judgement knows what is truth and that truth is followed by his settled will Yet he hates not the Popish Religion but their Idolatry he abhors not them but their false worship He loves all that knows Christ at all but wishes that they all might know him more His steadfastnesse in Religion proceeds not from self-interest he sticks not so much to be true to Protestants because he knows the English to be addicted to that Religion nor because he thinks it for his benefit because he imagines that it would prove very difficill to obtain his Crown leave it But because he knows it to be true He knows the Prince is born for the people as well as the people for the Prince He knows their interests to be interwoven He knows that without them he cannot stand yet will he sooner loose them then relinquish verity He is the perfect pattern of Piety but more of Patience his Afflictions have not made him repine he knows God to be just he believes that as God restored Job twofold so will he likewise restore him his Kingdomes Yet he thinkes it just in God to suffer them to be detained from him He Laments more his Subjects slavery then his own Exile he grievs that they have been so long blind yet rejoyses for their sakes that they have now a Glimmering he constantly prayes for the restoring of their sight not so much because they should restore his as their own Rights and Priviledges He is inwardly troubled and perplexed at the many Schisms Sects Heresies that are raised in the Church of England he is sory that their rise is from some mens envy towards him he pitties and his pitty produces his prayers for them He is willing that though they will not obey him yet that they may serve God He was never heard to curse his Enemies many times to pray for them and desire God to forgive even his Fathers Murtherers his good will surpasses their cruelty And whilst they are conspiring his Destruction he is praying for their Salvation He is a perfect Enemy to all Debauchednesse he is sorry those who pretend themselves his friends in England are so great a scandal to him He wishes that they would so carry themselves that he might adventure to own them as Friends for he understands not the good will of those who drink his Health for the liquors sake nor wishes for their helpe who over their Sack only swear they will fight for him He is noe greater a hater of vice then a cherisher of vertuous Actions he loves them in his very Enemies often grieves when he findes occasion to think that many of them will rise up in judgement against his most pretended Friends He is most exactly just in all his Commands and faithfull in performance of all his promises Take the Character given him by the dying Marquess of Montrose For his Majesty now living saith he Never people I believe may be more happy in a King his Commands to me were most just in nothing that he promiseth will he fail He deals justly with all men c. So punctuall is he that when a word is once gon out of his Mouth he will rather suffer by it then break it To conclude he is the pattern of Patience and Piety the most Righteous and Justest of Kings The most knowing experienced of Princes The Holiest and the best of Men. The severest punisher of
us health You as the Angel did our Waters stir And from that motion we derive our Cure The highest Blessing God to You does yield He His Anoynted as His Church does build Nothing of noise did to perfection bring The greatest Temple and the greatest King Alike he builded both that all mght see Your Kingdom like his Church shall endless be As when Great Nature's Fabrick was begun Expanded Light made day and not the Sun But Light diffus'd was to perfection grown When from one Planet it contracted shone So when our Government was form'd to last But till the race of a few dayes was past With Ruling Gifts GOD many did endue But now 't is fix'd all those are plac'd in you Your Banishment which your Foes did designe To cloud your virtues made them brighter shine Thus Persecution did but more dispence Throughout the World the Gospells influence Princes who saw Your Sufferings did esteem 'T was greater to subdue those griefs then them And in that conquest found how they should fare If they provok'd your Justice to a War By Your Return and by Your Foes pursuit Europe Your Blossomes had but we your Fruit. Our Senate does not for Conditions sue We know we have our All in having You Your Mercy with our Crimes does nobly strive And e're we aske forgivness you forgive Your Subjects thus doubly you now subdue Both in the Manner and the Action too Your great Reception in our neighb'ring State Proves that on you depends their Countries fate Your dreadful Fleet does on their Coast appear Yet to their Joy they yeild up all their Fear For knowing you they know Heav'n has resign'd A Power unbounded to a bounded Mind Triumphant Navy Formerly your Fraight Consisting but of Lawrel or of Plate But to your happy Country now you bring More then both Indies in our Matchless KING Twice has the World been trusted in a Barque The New the Charles contain'd the Old the Ark This bore but those who did the World re-build But that bore you to whom that world must yeild The spacious sea which does the Earth embrace Ne're held so many Princes in one place Princes whose Father still the Trident bore As shall their Sons till time shall be no more Now whilst the Sea your greatest subject moves Slowly as loath to part with what he loves And whilst your Sails the calmed Air subdue For wch he chides the winds thanks them too I might present you with a Prospect here Of that vast Empire to which now you Steere But on that Theam my Numbers cannot stay Copies to their Originals give way For now your Fleet sees land which many a peal Of thund'ring Cannon to the Shore does tell And now your ravish'd Subjects see your Fleet Wch they with shouts louder then Cannon greet Two Suns at once our sights now etertain One shines from Heav'n the other from the Main All Loyal Eyes are fixed on the East For you more welcome then that daily Guest While on the shore your longing Subjects stand Subjects as numberless as is the Sand Subjects sufficient if but led by You All Countries you have liv'd in to subdue In Raptures now we our great Gen'ral see Move faster to meet you then Victorie He at your Feet himself does prostrate now To whom vast Fleets and Armies us'd to bow And greater Satisfaction does express In This Submission then in That Success Your Royal Armes inwreath him wch he more Does prize then al those lawrel wreaths he wore Now all for his Victorious Troops make room Which never but by Joy were overcome Loud shouts to heav'n for your Return they send Whilst low as earth their dreaded Ensigns bend He leads them still to what exalts their Name Now to their Duty as before to Fame Their Mis-led Courage in a fatal Time Had been too long their Glory and their Crime Now they are truly Great now truly live Since this you Praise and that you do forgive Those who so long could keep you from your due What can resist now they are led by you Your Great Example will their Model prove Perswading soon and willingly as love Such Fleets Armies our Charles their head Are things which all the Universe may dread And now you move and now in all the Waies Thick clouds of Subjects clouds of dust do raise Through which the worlds chief city now you see Great in Extent greater in Loyalty Their Cannon speak their Streets the Souldiers line And brightest beauties frō their windows shine Your Subjects Earthly Jove you now are grown Thunder light'ning guard you to your Throne Thus you triumph whilst at your Palace Gates The highest earthly Senate for you waits One Roof contains those which our laws do make And him from whō the world their laws must take Their knees doe homage whilst their Tongues confess They in their duty find their happness And Fame aloud through ev'ry Region sings They are the best of Subjects you of Kings The Royal throne so fully you Adorn That now all praise what some before did scorn A throne which now the envious do confess Our Safety urg'd your Merit to Possess Where Caesar could no further Glory win There is the Scene where yours does but begin By which indulgent Fate would have it known Though his Success had end Yours should have none Or else that nothing worthy was of you But what Great Julius wanted Pow'r to do Our fierce divisions made our Courage known But more your wisdom shins that makes us one Which has so fram'd your Empire to endure We need but prudent Foes to be secure You might possess by Armies and by Fleets All where the Sun doth rise or where he sets But you a nobler Conquest have design'd The placing Limits to your Greater Mind And may those highest titles never cease A King of Greatest Pow'r and Greatest Peace Of sufferings past let us no more Complain Since you by them with greater Glory Raign Till that we saw your Subjects could not guess Heav'n had for them a Blessing above Peace Nor can we tell which most in you to own Either your Virtues or Extraction Though never any was so Great and Good It springs from Martyrs as from Royall Bloud But your own Glories do so brightly shine You need not borrow Luster from your Line Yet we must say since justly but your due Though you our glories raise they raisenot you Like to the Royal Bird that climbs the Skies You lesser seem still as you higher rise Your self you limit to a triple Throne And all mens Wonder are except your own Now Sacred Peace Justice cease to mourn And both in you again to us return Religion now shall flourish with your Crown And the fierce sword yeild to the peaceful gown The Muses too so highly You esteem That you are both their Influence their Theam FINIS