Their Address against Papists His Majesty's Proclamation on that Head The Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters Declaration of War against Denmark The Insurrection in Scotland in 1666. The burning of his Majesty's Ships at Chattam by the Dutch c. p. 119. XLII On the murmuring of the People at the Consumption of the Treasure His Majesty's granting leave to the Parliament's Commissioners to take the Publick Accounts His raising an Army of 30000 Men and disbanding them On the Parliament's being displeased with it The Sessions of Parliament in July October and February 1667. His Majesty's Speeches to them Proclamation against Papists Displacing of Chancellor Hide and League with the Dutch c. p. 124. XLIII On the Proclamation against Dissenters in 1669. Inviting the Dutch and Swedes into a League with us proposing a nearer Alliance with the Dutch and forcing the Treaty of Aix La Chappelle upon the Spaniards and the French p. 128. XLIV On the Interview betwixt his Majesty and his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans at Dover and her Advice to him to break the Triple League and concur with the French King to destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religion and render himself absolute in England Her leaving one of her Maids of Honour created afterwards Dutchess of Portsmouth behind her and her own Death speedily after her Return into France p. 131. XLV On Colonel Blood ' s Attempt to steal the Crown A Proclamation against Papists to please the Parliament The second War with the Dutch The shutting up of the Exchequer The falling upon the Dutch Smyrna Fleet before War was declared and the Declaration of War thereupon p. 141. XLVI On the Dutch's surprizing our Fleet in Southwold-bay the Duke of York being Admiral His Majesty's Declaration to the Dutch The Progress of the French in the Vnited Provinces His Majesty's and the French King's Proposals to the Dutch and their rejecting them and making the Prince of Orange Stadtholder p. 148. XLVII On his Majesty's suffering the Parliament to meet Novemb. 1673. His Speech to them concerning the Indulgence and the Dispensing Power and the Necessity of raising more Forces for carrying on the Dutch War Several unsuccessful Fights with the Hollanders The Letter from the Dutch to influence the Parliament who addressed against the Match betwixt the Duke of York and Dutchess of Modena The Prorogation which ensued thereupon A Proclamation against Papists and the Consummation of the Marriage p. 154. XLVIII On his Majesty's Speech to the House of Lords upon the Address of the Commons against his Declaration of Indulgence The Answer of the Lords thereunto The Vote of the Commons for Ease to Protestant Dissenters and that part of their Address which desired that all in Places of Power and Trust should take the Sacrament according to the Church of England p. 163. XLIX Vpon the Complaints of the Commons that Ireland was like to be over-run with Popery because of his Majesty's Proclamation allowing Papists to live in Corporations and giving them equal Liberties to the English Their Address concerning the Danger of the Protestant Interest there and that Mr. Richard Talbot should be remov'd from all Publick Imployment and denied Access to Court And their Address concerning English Grievances with Reflections on the Miscarriages of his Majesty's former Designs of being impower'd to raise Money without Parliament on extraordinary Occasions and having an Vniversal Excise settled on the Crown p. 166. L. On his Majesty's making Application to the Parliament of Scotland upon his failing of Money from the Parliament of England the Scots insisting first upon the Redress of their Grievances and sending Duke Hamilton and others to London for that end p. 172. LI. On the Spanish Ambassador's Proposals for an Vnion betwixt England and Holland and declaring that they must break with England if the same were not accepted The Manifesto of the Dutch to the Parliament of England wherein they appeal to them for the Righteousness of their Cause The Parliament's Endeavours thereupon for a Peace and his Majesty's agreeing to it without including the French King p. 178. LII On his Majesty's proroguing the Parliament because of their impeaching his Ministers forming Bills against Popery and for the marrying of those of the Royal Family with Protestants and educating their Children in that Religion Clamours rais'd in the Nation that we were running back to 41. The Court's mediating a Peace betwixt France and Holland and sending 10000 of their own Subjects into the French King's Service p. 185. LIII On the meeting of the Parliament again April 1675. Their falling upon Bills for the Benefit of the Nation and being diverted by the sudden bringing in of a Test into the House of Lords to be imposed upon all in Places of Power or Trust Civil Military or Ecclesiastical obliging them to declare their Abhorrence of taking up Arms against the King or any commissionated by him and to swear that they would not at any time endeavour the Alteration of the Government either in Church or State p. 190. LIV. On the Debate betwixt the Lords and Commons about the Lords hearing of Appeals from any Court of Equity with the Behaviour of the Bishops in that Affair and the Opposition which they met with from the Earl of Shaftsbury c. p. 199. LV. On the meeting of the Parliament after the Prorogation His Majesty's Demand of Money to build Ships The Commons insisting upon the Bill for a Habeas Corpus Against sending Men Prisoners beyond Sea Raising Money without Consent of Parliament Against Papists sitting in either House For the speedier convicting of Papists and recalling his Majesty's Subjects from the French Service and the Duke of Buckingham ' s Speech for Indulgence to Dissenters p. 202. LVI On the Motion for an Address by the House of Lords for dissolving the Parliament The Address's being cast out by the Majority and the Protestation of the Country Lords thereupon p. 205. LVII On the filling of the Benches with durante beneplacito Judges The publishing of some Books in favour of the Papists and Prerogative The French King 's letting loose his Privateers amongst the English Merchants And the sending of Ammunition from his Majesty's Stores to the French King p. 211. LVIII On the meeting of the Parliament after the long Prorogation Febr. 1676. His Majesty's Demand of Money recommending a good Correspondence to the two Houses The Question whether the Parliament was not dissolv'd by that unprecedented Prorogation Sending some Lords to the Tower for insisting on it The granting of Money by the Commons p. 218. LIX On the Commons throwing out the Bill intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion and another for the more effectual Convicting and Prosecution of Popish Recusants p. 224. LX. On the Address of the Commons concerning the Danger from the Power of France and their Progress in the Netherlands His Majesty's Answer It s not being thought satisfactory by the Commons who presented a second to which his
St. James's or Foreign Ambassadors but those who belong to my Mother the Queen Consort and the Ambassador's own Families though at the same time I shall take care that they suffer no Damage for contraveening it And to pluck up their Jealousies by the very Roots that I may give them the more surprizing Blow I will make a defensive Alliance with the Dutch and Swedes which will remove all their Fears as to the head of Religion And another for an effectual Mediation of Peace betwixt France and Spain which will look with a favourable Aspect towards their Civil Rights but in the mean time I shall connive at the Progress of the French Arms in the Spanish Netherlands the better to make way for our Designs upon Holland The Parliament being thus sweetned I will move for Money to rig out another Fleet which as soon as I obtain they shall be adjourned and prorogued so as they may not trouble me with their Importunities to assist the Netherlands for I know they will be unwilling of the French King's Neighbourhood though the same will be convenient for me to accomplish my Designs for in that case they will be prevail'd upon by their Fear to allow me a standing Army that I may always be provided against such a potent Enemy and then in a little time I shall rule by the Sword and command their Money to spend upon my Pleasures CHAP. XLIII On the Proclamation against Dissenters in 1669. Inviting the Dutch and Swedes into a League with us proposing a nearer Alliance with the Dutch and forcing the Treaty of Aix La Chappelle upon the Spaniards and the French IF I cannot ruine the Interest of the Hereticks in General yet I can keep those under who are obnoxious to the Laws which were happily procured during the Height of the Church of England's Zeal and Loyalty And seeing all my other Measures fail me I am resolv'd to drive the Nail that will go That Phanatical Crew are my greatest Enemies and therefore I have reason to deal with them as such Their Rigidity of Principles and Austerity of Practice render them odious to all Men who love their Pleasures and they are no less hateful to me because of their Politicks as having an inveterate Prejudice against the Prerogative and being great Patrons of the Privileges of Parliament so that from those of their Kidney I meet with the greatest Obstructions for which I have sworn and will take a Revenge It being moreover my Interest to nourish mutual Animosities amongst my Protestant Subjects and make the two Factions irreconcileable that so I may keep them from uniting against me in defence of their Common Religion and Liberties By this Method I have humbled the Kingdom of Scotland and I doubt not but it will have the same effect in England It 's necessary however for the concealing of my Design to invite the Dutch and Swedes to a League who both of them being Protestant States it will possess the common People that I have still a Zeal for that Religion but in reality I shall hereby ensnare the Dutch and render them more liable to the Fury of France My being divided from them by the Sea will furnish me with Excuses for delaying to give them Assistance or if I send them any Forces I can prevent their being serviceable make use of them as I find Opportunity to seize some of their Towns or find occasion of Quarrel and join the French However this Triple League will please my Parliament and to impose further upon them I will propound a nearer Alliance with the Dutch and bring the French and the Spaniards to a Treaty of Peace which my Subjects will look upon as the securing of themselves but at the same time I will take care to maintain the French Interest and secure them some considerable Posts upon the Frontiers that so the Door may be open for a new Invasion whenever he sees his time However I must not be wanting to have my Conduct in this Point applauded to the height as also my Care for the Honour Safety and Commerce of my Subjects in this Affair magnified the better to obtain a Subsidy from the Parliament The Spaniards I know are dissatisfied at this Treaty because it obliges them to a Surrender of a great part of their Country and the French are not well pleased to be stopp'd in their Career but I must prefer my own Interest to both It 's for my Reputation to be successful in so weighty an Affair and it will make me the more valued at home when they see that I have so much Influence abroad CHAP. XLIV On the Interview betwixt his Majesty and his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans at Dover and her Advice to him to break the Triple League and concur with the French King to destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religion and render himself absolute in England Her leaving one of her Maids of Honour created afterwards Dutchess of Portsmouth behind her and her own Death speedily after her Return into France THE Messenger is enough to procure Acceptance to the Message for who can deny the Request of such a beautiful Princess though she were not my Sister The Message of it self is very acceptable though infinitely full of hazardous Intrigue It will reflect upon my Honour to break that League of which I was in a manner the Author and invited all the Princes of Europe to join in it It 's true I am pretty well accustomed to breaking of Compacts so that this will not be my first Essay and though others may not only hate but contemn me for it yet this Satisfaction I shall certainly reap from it that thereby I outwit so many Sovereign Princes whereas hitherto I have only deceived my own Subjects Though this League be made with more honourable Persons yet it was far from being so solemn as the Scots League and Covenant so that as to what concerns Conscience I may as well do the less as the greater and in this I have an Advantage which I wanted in that as having Lewis the XIVth for a Partner in the Crime if it be one and it 's pretty manifest to all that know us that we never intended to be Slaves to our Word To destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religion and render my self absolute in England are all Glorious Designs but not so easy to be practis'd as propos'd For my Concurrence in the first I can form plausible Pretexts enough and if that were once accomplish'd the other will be the more easily effected Great Designs ought to be deeply weighed and therefore I must give a cautious Answer but not engage in a positive Promise yet something I must say to please the Messenger in order to obtain my Desires of her which I must confess Nature seems to abhor but my heightned Passion will neither admit any Limits nor Denial How happy are they in those Parts of the World where they know no such
to have it introduc'd here and therefore concur with the Phanatical Members to oppose the keeping up of a Standing Army and as they have excluded their Brethren the Dissenters they are also unwilling that the Roman Catholicks should be Sharers with them in Places of Power and Trust so that my Episcopal Subjects are indeed very Loyal but it 's on this Condition that they alone may enjoy the Bag and if either I or any of my Successors shall put out our hands and touch them in their Property I make no doubt of it but they will curse us to our Face and therefore I must take care to drive on cunningly but not furiously so that when I have a mind to be reveng'd on any of my Enemies I must represent them as Fanaticks and Commonwealths-Men then shall I be sure to have them baited from the Pulpits nor shall they find any more favourable Treatment when they come before the Benches CHAP. L. On his Majesty's making Application to the Parliament of Scotland upon his failing of Money from the Parliament of England the Scots insisting first upon the Redress of their Grievances and sending Duke Hamilton and others to London for that End MY Case is very desperate when I must have recourse to the Poorest of my Subjects for Money and that the Richest refuse it My Father and Grandfather took such Measures as tended to the keeping of Scotland low so that it 's no wonder that that Nation should have fail'd them in their Distress They were obliged by their Coronation-Oaths to live some part of their time there lest the Substance of the Kingdom should be spent in England by the Nobilities being obliged to frequent the Court but Reasons of State induc'd them to do otherwise for the Scots being a People tenacious of their Privileges and zealous for their Religion did oppose their Measures for advancing the Prerogative whence it became necessary to humble them lest their Example should have had bad Influence on the two other Kingdoms My Father it 's true would have proceeded further and design'd to have chastis'd their Contumacy with the Sword but how unsuccessful it proved in the Event is too late and recent to be forgotten their Kindness to me was truly remarkable in declaring me their King immediately upon his Murder but I am afraid that my treatment of them since hath effac'd those good Impressions which they had of me then seeing I have not only overturn'd the Presbyterians who were at that time my greatest Friends but cut off the Chief of their Patrons and brought the whole Party under the lash Cursed be the Necessity which occasions my application to them and may those Disciples of Passive Obedience the Church-of England-Men be dealt with in the same manner as they have dealt with me They pretended to receive me without any previous Terms and to own the Divine Right of my Succession to the Throne but now when I have settled the Discipline of their Church and brought the Dissenters under their feet they are also for disputing my Commands and confining my Prerogative within narrower Limits I must now try whether their Brethren the Episcopal Party in Scotland will be any thing more ingenuous and if they can really perform what they have so solemnly promised they have undertaken to assist me with 22000 Horse and Foot where-ever I shall have occasion then surely they may let me have the Money and save their Men which would do my business in an effectual Manner and that no means may be left unattempted I will send the Earl of Lauderdale their great Patron to perswade them to it But my cursed Fate continues inauspicious and I find that the Party in Scotland are very insignificant being not so much as able to grant me one Subsidy but instead of that I am presented with an Address of their Grievances and a smart Remonstrance against Lauderdale's Ministry back'd by the greatest of the Peers of Scotland whose Noise and Complaints have reach'd me in England and until those be redressed they won't so much as hear of any Overtures for Money I was made to believe that an unbounded Loyalty had been so universally diffused through that Kingdom that the Episcopal Party ador'd and the Presbyterians fear'd me but Experience teaches the contrary else what means this bleating of the Sheep and lowing of the Oxen the Episcopal Party though they alone are capable of being admitted to Parliament either cannot or will not give me Money and their Libel of Grievances are but an old Presbyterian Remonstrance newly vamp'd being an Impeachment of my Administration both in Church and State and including Desires in favour of the Dissenters They complain of the Monopoly of Salt which hath increased the price of it so much that what was formerly had for 4 cannot now be bought for 20s though the Inconvenience of this Monopoly was represented to me They do also murmur against the Impositions on Brandy and Tobacco and that the Lords of the Articles who were originally no more than a Committee of the Parliament's appointment are now advanc'd above Parliaments themselves That the Mint and Coinage are corrupted Persons ignorant and insufficient created Judges That the Bishop of Edinburgh and others of the Clergy are countenanc'd in preaching reflectingly upon the Parliament That Magistrates are illegally imposed upon the City of Edinburgh That eminent Offices are accumulated upon single Persons and conclude this Point with the Male-administration of my Revenue and the Earl of Lauderdale's excessive Greatness In the next place they complain of the Severity of the Laws against the Presbyterians and that my own Power is too great in Church-Affairs so that the Nations seem resolved to join Complaints against my Government and how fatal the Issue of that may be I can easily conjecture from by-past times therefore I must dismiss Duke Hamilton with a favourable Answer and promise a Redress of Grievances in Parliament that so I may allay their present Heat 'T is happy for me that I have two other Kingdoms by which I can overawe them or else their Address had been back'd by the Sword and they would probably have brought me on my Knees before their Parliament as they have done several of my Predecessors or have cut off my Head but I shall henceforth endeavour to put them out of a Capacity to deal so by me or any of my Successors And whereas the Presbyterians do tenaciously adhere to the pretended Liberties of their Fore-fathers instead of Rods by which they were chastis'd by my Father I shall henceforth order it so that they shall be punish'd with Scorpions that they may be rendred altogether unable to raise any Rebellion at home or assist the Parliament of England and the Protestants of Ireland abroad I will take such effectual Course to render them contemptible that they shall not henceforth have the Vanity as in my Father's time to think that the Representation of their Pressures can find
time so that according to this Doctrine there is no other Church nor Interpreter of Scripture but that which lies in every Man 's giddy Brain I desire to know therefore of every serious Considerer of these things whether the great Work of our Salvation ought to depend upon such a Sandy Foundation as this Did Christ ever say to the Civil Magistrate much less to the People that he would be with them to the End of the World Or did he give them the Power to forgive Sins St. Paul tells the Corinthians Ye are God's Husbandry ye are God's Building we are Labourers with God This shews who are the Labourers and who are the Husbandry and Building And in this whole Chapter and in the preceeding one St. Paul takes great pains to set forth that they the Clergy have the Spirit of God without which no Man searcheth the deep things of God and he concludeth the Chapter with this Verse For who hath known the Mind of the Lord that he may instruct him But we have the Mind of Christ Now if we do but consider in humane Probability and Reason the Powers Christ leaves to his Church in the Gospel and St. Paul explains so distinctly afterwards we cannot think that our Saviour said all these things to no purpose And pray consider on the other side that those who resist the Truth and will not submit to his Church draw their Arguments from Implications and far-fetch'd Interpretations at the same time that they deny plain and positive Words which is so great a Disingenuity that 't is not almost to be thought that they can believe themselves Is there any other Foundation of the Protestant Church but that if the Civil Magistrate please he may call such of the Clergy as he thinks fit for his turn at that time and turn the Church either to Presbytery Independency or indeed what he pleases This was the way of our pretended Reformation here in England and by the same Rule and Authority it may be altered into as many more Shapes and Forms as there are Fancies in Mens Heads A Brief Account of Particulars occurring at the happy Death of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles II. in regard to Religion faithfully related by his then Assistant Mr. Jo Hudleston UPON Thursday the Fifth of February 1685. between seven and eight a Clock in the Evening I was sent for in haste to the Queen's Back-stairs at Whitehall and desired to bring with me all things necessary for a dying Person Accordingly I came and was order'd not to stir from thence till farther notice being thus obliged to wait and not having had time to bring along with me the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar I was in some Anxiety how to procure it In this conjuncture the Divine Providence so disposing Father Bento de Lemos a Portugez came thither and understanding the Circumstance I was in readily proffer'd himself to go to St. James's and bring the most Holy Sacrament along with him Soon after his Departure I was call'd into the King's Bed-chamber where approaching to the Bed-side and kneeling down I in brief presented his Majesty with what Service I could perform for God's Honour and the Happiness of his Soul at this last Moment on which Eternity depends The King then declared himself That he desired to die in the Faith and Communion of the Holy Roman Catholick Church That he was most heartily sorry for all the Sins of his Life past and particularly for that he had deferred his Reconciliation so long That through the Merits of Christ's Passion he hoped for Salvation That he was in Charity with all the World That with all his Heart he pardon'd his Enemies and desired Pardon of all those whom he had any wise offended and that if it pleased God to spare him longer Life he would amend it detesting all Sin I then advertis'd his Majesty of the Benefit and Necessity of the Sacrament of Penance which Advertisement the King most willingly embracing made an exact Confession of his whole Life with exceeding Compunction and Tenderness of Heart which ended I desired him in farther sign of Repentance and true Sorrow for his Sins to say with me this little short Act of Contrition O my Lord God! with my whole Heart and Soul I detest all the Sins of my Life past for the Love of Thee whom I love above all things and I firmly purpose by thy Holy Grace never to offend Thee more Amen Sweet Jesus Amen Into thy Hands Sweet Jesus I commend my Soul Mercy Sweet Jesus Mercy This he pronounced with a clear and audible Voice which done and his Sacramental Penance admitted I gave him Absolution After some time thus spent I asked his Majesty if he did not also desire to have the other Sacraments of the Holy Church administred unto him He reply'd By all means I desire to be Partaker of all the Helps and Succours necessary and expedient for a Catholick Christian in my Condition I added And doth not your Majesty also desire to receive the precious Body and Blood of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist His Answer was this If I am worthy pray fail not to let me have it I then told him it would be brought to him very speedily and desired his Majesty that in the Interim he would give me leave to proceed to the Sacrament of Extreme Unction he replied With all my Heart I then anointed him which as soon as perform'd I was call'd to the Door whither the Blessed Sacrament was now brought and delivered to me Then returning to the King I entreated his Majesty that he would prepare and dispose himself to receive At which the King raising up himself said Let me meet my Heavenly Lord in a better Posture than in my Bed But I humbly begg'd his Majesty to repose himself God Almighty who saw his Heart would accept of his good Intention The King then having again recited the forementioned Act of Contrition with me he received the most Holy Sacrament for his Viaticum with all the Symptoms of Devotion imaginable The Communion being ended I read the usual Prayers termed the Recommendation of the Soul appointed by the Church for Catholicks in his Condition After which the King desired the Act of Contrition O my Lord God c. to be repeated This done for his last spiritual Encouragement I said Your Majesty hath now received the Comfort and Benefit of all the Sacraments that a good Christian ready to depart out of this World can have or desire Now it rests only that you think upon the Death and Passion of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ of which I present unto you this Figure shewing him a Crucifix lift up therefore the Eyes of your Soul and represent to your self your sweet Saviour here crucified bowing down his Head to kiss you his Arms stretched out to imbrace you his Body and Members all bloody and pale with Death to redeem you and as you see him dead and fixed upon the Cross for your Redemption so have his Remembrance fixed and fresh in your Heart Beseech him with all Humility that his most precious Blood may not be shed in vain for you and that it will please him by the Merits of his bitter Death and Passion to pardon and forgive you all your Offences And finally to receive your Soul into his blessed Hands and when it shall please him to take it out of this transitory World to grant you a joyful Resurrection and an Eternal Crown of Glory in the next In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen So recommending his Majesty on my Knees with all the Transport of Devotion I was able to the Divine Mercy and Protection I withdrew out of the Chamber In Testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my Name JO. HVDLESTON ERRATA PAge 105. line 2. read happier Ibid. l. 3. after Restraint supply than the Brutes
and injur'd Prince might afford me a safe Retreat in this Kingdom yet I find that I cannot be safe from Insults because I advis'd that the Cardinal should be remov'd On the Consummation of the Marriage and the young Prince's Birth Hymen I have found exorable but Mars continues obstinate I have been successful in my Love though not by my Sword My next great Care must be to keep the thing secret else it will rejoice my Enemies and disgust my Friends the former that I have so much degraded my self and rid them from the Fear of my Foreign Allies and the latter that I have thus put my self out of a Condition of relieving them from the Yoak of a tyrannous Usurper so that the Sweets which I enjoy are mix'd with sowr and my Stars have still a malign Influence The same Precautions must be us'd as to my Brother and we must weather this Point as well as we can As my Comforts increase so do my Cares I have a Queen and a Prince but cannot provide for them as I ought However there 's Vengeance entail'd upon my Enemies for here 's one more of the Line to revenge his Grandfather's Blood CHAP. XX. On the French King 's concluding a Treaty with Oliver by which his Majesty and the Royal Family were to be excluded France and his going thereupon into the Low-Countries SInce the Kingdoms to which I have a natural and hereditary Right would not entertain me it 's no wonder that this to which I have only a Title should refuse it so that my unlucky Fate hath now stripp'd me of all my Possessions both Real and Titular I have no reason to complain of France's dealing thus with Princes of the Blood when Britain and Ireland have done so by their natural Soveraign Bless me how strange a thing is it that the Arms of a traiterous Subject should be able not only to expel me from my own Dominions but disturb my Repose in those of others and how dishonourable and unnatural is it for one Monarch to countenance Rebellion against another But why should I say thus it is just with Princes as it is with the Pope he would impose his Infallibility upon others when he does not believe one word of it himself So we would have our own Subjects to obey us without Reserve as being obliged by God so to do and yet we countenance the Rebellions of one another's Subjects Thus did my Father make a shew at least of countenancing the French Hugonots against their natural Soveraign My Grandfather King James though a great Admirer of Kingcraft did in some sort espouse the Elector Palatine's Quarrel against his Soveraign the Emperor And my Predecessor Queen Elizabeth supported the Netherlands in their Rebellion against the King of Spain So that in short my Church-of England-Subjects may boast of their Loyalty what they please but I think they have very small Reason for they that make no Scruple to countenance the Rebellion of others will make no Conscience of rebelling themselves if ever they have occasion And thus if there be any thing like Divine Justice I am punished for the Sin of my Forefathers and as they countenanc'd the Rebellions of other Princes Subjects against them now others countenance the Rebellion of mine against me so that amongst us we shall expose the Dignity of Monarchy and make all our Pretensions be look'd upon as a Cheat. But it 's in vain to dispute the Fates have decreed it and I must obey so that rather than be sent from this Kingdom with Disgrace or any publick Remark I 'l abandon it willingly of my own Accord and save my Honour as much as I can CHAP. XXI On his Majesty's travelling into Germany and the Low Countries The Duke of Glocester's being importun'd and threatned by his Mother to turn Roman Catholick and the Duke of York's being charg'd to depart France INstead of being a Monarch of three potent Kingdoms I am now become a Citizen of the World and must be content to reside where I can find Reception It 's hard that Lewis XIV should have dealt thus with me and that the Advice of a Priest should take place to the Disadvantage of a Prince of the Blood Royal of France that he who covets the Title of the most Christian King should not be more hospitable to a Prince who suffers for the most Christian Cause that France should make a League with the Murderers of my Father and yet erect a Monument to render the Jesuits eternally infamous for stabbing of Henry IV my Grandfather that the French King who pretends to be Absolute himself should so far approve of my Subjects Rebellion against me appears with a very bad Aspect He 's not so much afraid of the Influence of the bad Example as willing to keep the King of Great Britain humble for fear I should pursue my Title to France and knowing that Republicks are unfit for Conquest he is rather inclinable to favour the New Commonwealth and prefer his Interest to his Reputation Nor is it the French King alone who opposes my Designs but my Mother I perceive has a hand in the pie though I suppose she is misled by an Overcharge of Zeal It 's not my Interest that any of my Brethren should openly profess the Romish Religion for that were a way to obstruct our Return and yet she not only sollicites but threatens my youngest Brother if he do not openly profess himself of that Church an Evidence that she had but little regard to my Father while alive when she tramples so avowedly upon his Commands now that he 's dead if the Εικον Βασιλικε was truly his wherein he not only advises me against any Change of my Religion but all the rest of his Children and though it 's true that I have changed mine in Obedience to a higher Command viz. that of Christ's Successor upon Earth and for the advancing of my own Interest yet it is not publickly known and by Consequence is not scandalous but for my Mother thus openly to scandalize the World by influencing my Brother to an avowed Breach of my Father's Commands is no sutable Return for that last Message which he sent her that his Thoughts had never strayed from her So that either she must not believe that Book to be his or is very impolitick to take such Measures However I will make the best Improvement of it I can and send for him away from under her Conduct which will be a good Argument for my Friends in England to prove that I am firm in my Religion and I will endeavour to perswade her that I do it out of Policy because I would not come to a Rupture with her My Brother James's being commanded out of France does justify the Policy of my former Conduct in not staying till I was sent away which though disgraceful enough to him would have been much more so to me Having had such slender Entertainment amongst Papists it
my Friends who will be glad of such a Revenge upon the Presbyterians I have weather'd the Point in other things of as great Consequence so that I need not despair of succeeding in this Let the Scots Phanaticks upbraid me with the Breach of Covenant and the English Roundheads with my Declaration from Breda I am not concern'd to regard such Trifles The former was tyrannically impos'd both upon me and my Subjects and the latter was only an Essay of Policy When I was under Restraint I might abate of my Prerogative but now that I am at Liberty I may as lawfully regain it for I can never be divested of my native Right They both say that I am God's Vice-gerent and therefore if I part with my own Prerogative I part with his but if I must follow my own Inclination I had rather say with the noble Pharaoh Who is the Lord that I should obey him And if the Puritans call themselves Israelites I 'm resolv'd to keep them in Bondage and though I don't allow them Straw will exact the Tale of the Brick I shall expect as much Loyalty and Obedience from them as from those who have my Favour and if I find them come short they shall be sure to smart for it They are a Company of idle Enthusiasts and therefore say Let us go serve the Lord but they shall serve him in my way or not at all I have already overturned their Babel in Scotland or have rather indeed kept it under as I found it for Oliver had pretty well humbled them to my hand and instead of an Indulgence there shall be a strict Uniformity in England which will set the Episcopal Party and the Presbyterians together by the Ears and then the Catholicks may take their Advantages to promote their Religion and I shall improve the Opportunity to advance my Prerogative When the Pulpits are once emptied of the Presbyterian Parsons who preach up such rigid Morals I 'll take care that the Bishops shall not imploy Precisians but Men of a more courtly and complaisant Temper who will allow a greater Latitude both in Doctrine and Example that the Church may have no reason to upbraid the Loosness of the Court Nor shall I value the moross Reflections of Fanaticks upon my Principles and Practice but contemn them as unworthy of a Monarch's Regard I am happy in the Model of this present Parliament for they have given me as much as I can at present desire they have made me an Offering of the Peoples Purses Privileges and Lives have enacted such Laws as will make one Protestant devour another and do every thing according to my own Mind How great is the Change betwixt mine and my Father's Days when the Parliament thought they could never restrain him enough and my Parliament think every thing too little for me Thus the Triennial Act which secur'd the Peoples Properties and was with so much Struggling obtain'd from my Father is now made a Sacrifice to my Prerogative so that their chiefest Fortress is surrendred at once They have not only provided for my living in Slpendor but also taken care of my Reputation And lest some sharp-sighted Fellows should perceive my Design of introducing Popery they have forbid it to be spoken of on pain of Praemunire though at the same time I be in actual Correspondence with the Pope so that I find my Pensions are well laid out and though at present they be expensive yet they are but like the putting of a small Quantity of Water into a Pump to draw out an hundred times more CHAP. XXX On the Presbyterian Plots set on foot Novemb. 1661. Sir J. P's forging treasonable Letters to that effect His Majesty's appointing a Conference at the Savoy betwixt the Conformists and Nonconformists and influencing the House of Commons to offer Reasons against any Toleration DIvide and Command was Machiavel's Maxim and I find it very necessary for me to put in practice that my Subjects may not unite against me as formerly against my Father That I may the better revenge my Father's Death and my own Injury upon the Puritans I must find a way to make them be thought guilty of Plots against the Government which will be readily believ'd because they join'd with the Parliament against my Father and look upon themselves as oppress'd and betray'd by me and I need not doubt of its being believ'd by those of the Church of England who are their irreconcileable Enemies for when the one is up the other must go down and then I shall reap this Advantage from it that the Pulpits will thunder Invectives against them and bring the general Odium of the Nation upon them by which some of them will be obliged to comply which will create Divisions amongst their own Party And some of the moderate Churchmen will be displeased at the Severities used against the Presbyterians and by this Means I shall break all the Protestants to pieces amongst themselves To give my Accusation the Face at least of Probability I must take care to have treasonable Letters lodged with their chief Patrons for which Sir J. P. is a very fit Instrument It will also be a very proper Method to suborn Fellows to talk of treasonable Designs amongst such of them as are unwary and if they cannot be indicted for High Treason they may very well be pursued for Misprision of Treason and if they themselves be brought to confess that they heard of such Designs others will believe that they had actually a hand in contriving them and when once some of them are convicted by Publick Justice and executed accordingly it will confirm the Belief of a Plot and strike a Terror into the rest But that the State may not bear all the blame I must bring in the Church for a share and though I appoint them by Commission to confer with the Nonconformists about Methods for a Comprehension yet they shall have private Instructions not to comply And that they may not at first perceive my Design I shall take care to insinuate that their conceding in one thing will occasion all the rest to be call'd in question and then by the Influence of the Bishops in the House of Lords and of the Members of the Clergy's Choice in the House of Commons I shall bring it to pass that the Phanaticks shall fall into a general Disgrace and be reputed not only such in Name but in Deed and not at all worthy of a Toleration which I reckon the best Politicks that I can put in practice to ruine the most zealous Professors of the Protestant Religion first and then the rest will quickly be brought to comply with my Designs and abandon that Religion of which they have little or nothing but the Name or at least render it odious and of small Esteem by walking unanswerably to its Principles And if any cunning Fellow shall smell out my Design I have provided against his daring to speak of it by the Act
the Populace the several Companies must be influenc'd to make Complaints on that Head against them or if they won't yet I can assert it boldly in my Declaration It 's true that the Phanatical Part of my Subjects perceive my Design and mutter it where they dare do it with Safety but a Royal Declaration will be sufficient to weigh down the Clamours of such And though they complain of the Injuries done to my Subjects in the Foreign Plantations by the French yet all these must be buried in Oblivion so that I shall order such Complaints to be received but the Grievances shall never be redressed I must also represent the Dishonour done to the Nation by the Dutch's refusing to strike to the English Flag and the Affronts put upon my self by scandalous Medals and Pictures which my Pensioners and Friends in the House of Commons will take care to aggravate to the Height It will be a meritorious piece of Service at this time to find occasion of Quarrel with the Dutch now when they are out in pursuance of the Triple League to prevent the Progress of the French in the Netherlands It is not to be supposed that they will be guilty of such a manifest Breach as to refuse to strike to my Fleet or any of my Men of War in my own Seas and therefore I will order a small Yatch to sail through their Navy on their own Coast and upon their not striking as in such a case they will scarcely think themselves oblig'd to do I shall have Ground enough to found a Quarrel My next Care must be to prevent the Dutch's coming to a Treaty or offering Satisfaction and to declare War when they come near a Conclusion that so the French may have Opportunity of over-running their Country and they and I shall divide the Spoil But this being a Design of great Importance I must take care to keep it secret and therefore it 's fit that I should put out of the Council all those that are disaffected to the Intrigue on the pretence of its being contrary to the Interest of England and the Protestant Religion A War with the Dutch being resolved on my next Care must be to provide Money which are its Sinews The pursuit of my Pleasures which are the chiefest Good that my Soul desires have drain'd my Treasury so that I must think of some Method to fill it again My Subjects are averse to this War against their Fellow-Protestants and will not easily be brought to contribute for carrying it on but having decoyed abundance of the wealthiest of them to bring their Money into the Exchequer upon hopes of great Gain I am resolv'd to shut it up and apply the Money found there to the Use of the War This will be an effectual Means to drain the Purses of my Heretical Subjects and if they murmur I shall make use of their own Money to chastise them but I am in no hazard of a Rebellion upon this account for although the Loss will affect the whole Nation yet immediately it reaches only to few None put in Money into the Exchequer but those who have enough left behind and for such they 'l be loth to hazard the Loss of the rest by any Tumult or Sedition especially when Passive Obedience is preach'd to them daily from the Pulpits that their Lives and Fortunes ought all to be at the Service of their Prince who has Power to make use of them as he thinks fit according to the several Exigencies of State This being one certain Method of procuring Money to carry on the War at the Charge of my Heretical Subjects I have another in view to make the Dutch contribute toward it themselves and that is by seizing their Smyrna Fleet before War be declared This it 's true will look ill but the Catholick Maxim that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks absolves me from all Guilt and if I be successful in the War as I have very great Reason to hope then I can justify the Action by the Event as I did formerly when I fell upon their Fleet before Cadiz and yet I have weather'd out all the Storms of Reproach which were impending over me upon that Account To blind my Subjects still further I must pretend that nothing but unavoidable Necessity could have prevail'd with me to have shut up the Exchequer but that the Welfare and Advantage of particular Persons must always give way to that of the Publick that it 's better to seize the Money of a few to make use of it in Defence of the whole than suffer Foreigners to invade us and hazard our All that seeing all my Neighbours are preparing for War it 's not fit that I should lay my self open to Surprize and my Treasure being spent and my Revenues anticipated it 's but reasonable that I should take the first Money that comes to hand for defence of the Publick Then as to my attacking the Dutch I must justify it by charging them with Ingratitude to this Nation notwithstanding of the many Favours conferred upon them by my self and Predecessors and I am sure of having the Clergy on my side because of the Hatred which they have against the Dutch both upon the account of their Government in Church and State and they together with the Court-Party will raise a Clamour sufficient to drown the Murmurs of the Phanaticks whom I have also endeavoured to take off by dispensing with the Laws which are in being against them CHAP. XLVI On the Dutch's surprizing our Fleet in Southwold-bay the Duke of York being Admiral His Majesty's Declaration to the Dutch The Progress of the French in the Vnited Provinces His Majesty's and the French King's Proposals to the Dutch and their rejecting them and making the Prince of Orange Stadtholder THE Dutch by their Diligence have ballanced my Dissimulation and surprized me instead of my surprizing of them This is a remarkable Disgrace to my Brother and me and will strengthen the former Reflections that have been made on our Conduct confirm the World in the belief of the Unsuccessfulness of our Arms and make my Subjects curse our Amours as the fatal Causes of all their Ruine It 's true that his Carriage in this Affair is highly to be blamed that he should be so intent on the satisfying of his Passion for a Woman when his chief Passion ought to have been the acquiring of immortal Honour for me and himself by executing Vengeance on the Heretical Dutch But why should I upbraid him with it seeing this Temper is hereditary to him and me both I must excuse it to the People as the Fortune of War and in the mean time comfort my self with the Success of my Allies the French who have well nigh over-run them by Land though they have had the better of me by Sea and that Element does now triumph over their Country upon which they so lately triumph'd over me they being under a necessity of drowning
the Purles of his Subjects at command for him to be obliged to use Intreaties to his People who ought to receive his Dictates without Controul But Necessity has no Law the Constitution of this Government being such that English Kings are but a sort of Royal Beggars I must try if my Parliament will let me have Money now that I am disappointed as to my Hopes of seizing the Dutch Smyrna and Spanish Plate Fleets and that my Supplies from France come but slowly in I know that they are jealous of their Privileges have an envious Eye at my Prerogative and are particularly startled at the Dispensing Power therefore I must sweeten them by my Speech and indeavour to possess them with an Opinion that my Design therein was only to secure my self from Tumults and Insurrections at home while I was engaged in a War abroad which cannot be thought an unreasonable Fear by any thinking Man considering the Troubles which the Puritanical Party gave to my Father And as to their Objection that more Favour has been shewn to Papists than Dissenters I can easily answer it that the latter are abundantly more Loyal than the former and have been fast Friends both to my Father and my self and yet they were only allowed their Worship in private whereas the other Party had theirs in publick but as for dispensing with the Executive Part of the Law I am resolv'd to hold it as long as I can Their Fears that I shall make use of the Forces which I raise to subvert their Liberty and Property I must endeavour to dispel by fair Promises and the Interest of my Clergy and Pensioners and at the same time possess them with a Necessity of my raising more Forces for the Honour and Defence of the Nation that we may not be insulted over by the ungrateful Dutch whom my Predecessor Queen Elizabeth did raise from the Dust I have cull'd out the Earl of Shaftsbury for Lord Chancellor who may do me very great Service because a Popular Man so that I shall make use of his Influence and Eloquence both to palliate my having shut up the Exchequer and to demonstrate the Necessity of a War with the Dutch and at the same time of granting an Indulgence to the Papists I perceive that the bad Influences of my Stars are not yet exhausted for though I lay my Designs with all imaginable Policy they do often miscarry Who would have thought that so many fair Promises back'd with the Earl of Shaftsbury's Eloquence and the Interest and Influence of my Pensioners should have miscarried in Parliament and yet to my great Regret I do find that it has so that nothing will serve but a renouncing of my Dispensing Power and fresh Assurances that never any thing of that Nature shall be attempted again which rather than want Money I am resolv'd to comply with for if I could but once get a Standing Army on foot I should soon be able to retrieve it And in the mean time I shall take care to have all this Clamour against the Dispensing Power and Standing Army imputed to the Jealousies and envious Surmises of the Phanaticks and Republicans And from this Obligation laid upon me to recal my Act of Indulgence I shall at least reap this Advantage that it will heighten the Animosities betwixt the Dissenters and Church-men for I can easily bring it about to have the Refusal of it wholly imputed to the latter And though I have no reason to be well satisfy'd at the Check which is hereby put upon my Prerogative yet it hath thus much of a Cordial in it that I perceive the Episcopal Party wholly irreconcileable to the Presbyterians which at some time or other will very much forward my grand Design and at present it has had so much Influence as to procure me a considerable Sum though to avoid the Reproaches of the Phanatical Party the Parliament won't own that it is for carrying on the War against the Dutch but to supply my extraordinary Occasions If it were not that I question the Being of a Deity I should be apt to conclude that God fights for the Hollanders who have obtain'd some fresh Advantages against me at Sea and though they labour under the greatest of Pressures that can be they do also make good their Cause against the Power of France by Land And those pernicious Hereticks being sensible of the Apprehensions which my Parliament have that the Consequences of this War may be fatal to the Protestant Interest they have taken the most effectual Method that can be to possess that Heretical Divan that the French King and my self aim at nothing less than the Subversion of their Religion and the Liberties of their State with that of the Spanish Netherlands Nor have I any other way to save my self from the Influences of this Accusation than by insisting on the necessity of destroying those States to preserve our own Trade and to prevent the Incouragement which they give to those who are Enemies to the establish'd Discipline of our Church There is but too much Truth in the common Proverb That after one Mischief comes another for so I find it by sad Experience Though the Dutch and the Phanatical Party be both of them hated by the Church of England yet they have Influence enough to foment Jealousies in the Parliament that their Religion and Liberty are both in danger And hence comes the Address of the Commons against my Brother's Match with the Dutchess of Modena because a Catholick Princess and proposed by the French King 'T is true that this may indeed seem inconsistent with my reiterated Protestations of taking all imaginable Care to secure the Protestant Religion and the Peoples Liberties but amongst so many Concessions I may certainly venture on one Dram of Prerogative and tell them that the Marriage is concluded by my Authority that in Honour I cannot be worse than my Word and if this will not satisfy them I 'll cool them by a Prorogation What ill Fate is this that attends all my Measures I did reasonably hope that this Prorogation would have diverted the Commons from insisting on their Address against my Brother's Match but it seems that the Jealousy which they have conceiv'd has taken deeper Root than to be pull'd up so soon and therefore I find my self under a necessity to prorogue them again seeing they press me so hard to dissolve the Match because hitherto only concluded by Proxy They are become very sagacious and discern that this Marriage will engage me in new Alliances which may be dangerous to the Protestant Religion and that the Princess having so many Relations in the Court of Rome the Secrets of my Court must needs be open to them and therefore they are about to render Catholicks uncapable of sitting in either House of Parliament but this is too much for me to concede and if granted would ruine my Design intirely and therefore I must find out some Method to
to resist my self or any having my Commission though I should command them to do things contrary to the standing Laws as levying of Money without Consent of Parliament c. Or though I should either deliver my self up to the French King or by Fortune of War fall into his Hands and either willingly or by constraint command my Subjects to do such things as are contrary to my Royal Dignity Or in case that a Popish Successor should by Force of Arms endeavour to establish the Catholick Religion So that I find the Doctrine of Passive Obedience though inculcated from the Pulpit as a necessary Article of Faith on pain of Hell and Damnation hath not obtain'd universal Belief amongst the Church-of England-Laity whatever it hath done amongst their Clergy and consequently that the latter are not fit for me to rely upon as not being able enough to defend me against that Party who prov'd too strong for them and my Father both for I am now fully satisfied that such of the Church of England as agree with the Dissenters in Politicks would also quickly unite with them in Ecclesiasticks if they would but allow them a sufficient Latitude of Practice So that hence I have ground enough to perswade the Clergy to declare against all such as Presbyterians in Masquerade and secret Enemies to their Church-Government which they do not believe to be jure divino else they would never boggle at swearing not to alter it I have also this to comfort me that I am not suspected alone by those Peers but the Bishops do now come in for a share it being plainly perceiv'd by the contrary Party that though they took care for their Discipline they took none for their Doctrine that they might be as good as their Promise to the Popish Lords that the Oath should be so form'd as not to bear hard on them which is still an Encouragement to me to think better of the Catholick Religion than the Reformed for the Catholick Clergy I find much truer to their Interest than those of the Church of England If the English Bishops did believe the Truth of their own Religion they would certainly be more concerned for its Doctrine than Discipline and not more sollicitous to secure the latter against Dissenters than the former against Catholicks or if they were Men who made conscience of Oaths themselves they would never be for imposing such Oaths upon others as are contrary to their own Practice for if they thought it unlawful to endeavour any Alteration in their Church they would never make choice of such Men for Preferments as Preach and Write against her Doctrine of Predestination Those Prelates do exactly resemble the Pharisees who bound heavy Burdens upon the Shoulders of their Disciples while they would not touch them themselves with one of their Fingers and so though there have been several Alterations made in the Prayers and Rites of the Church since the Reformation by them and their Predecessors yet they would oblige others by Oath never to endeavour the like but to maintain their Church as now established by Law which swears them to maintain the old Popish Canons revived by the First of Elizabeth which is indeed of a piece with the last Act of Uniformity that makes Popish Priests capable of Benefices without Re-ordination if they turn Protestants and yet unchurches all their Reform'd Brethren abroad and declares their Ordination invalid It 's true that all this is for my Interest and contributes exceedingly to the advancement of my Designs but at the same time though I love the Treason I hate the Traitor and can put no Confidence in those Men who being false to that which they call their own Interest can never be true to mine and hence I perceive that though they profess otherwise their Religion is the same with my own for as I pursue my Pleasures they pursue their Profits as their summum bonum and if they may but acquire it they care not by what Methods Who then can blame me for disbelieving that Religion which they who are the Fathers of the Church do manifestly disbelieve themselves or how can I be blamed for favouring Popery as best suited to my Designs when Protestant Bishops approve of their Ordination Canons Ceremonies and Government and by the choice which they make of Ecclesiasticks for Preferments and the Tenderness which they have shew'd to the Catholicks in the management of this Test it 's evident enough that they have no dislike to their Doctrines However I am in a great measure obliged to them for standing by me in this Point though I perceive their principal Motive was to have their own Government rendred as Absolute as my own and that it should be equally if not more dangerous for any Man to mutter against the Church as it is to speak Treason against the State However if this Oath could be pass'd I should be happy in my Government and rendred abundantly more Absolute than now I can pretend to be the present Oath of Allegiance and the Laws not being comprehensive enough but loaded with ungrateful Restrictions And as for the Bishops I know how to deal with them if ever they should happen to grow uneasy the Wounds of my Sword will be sooner felt than those of their Pastoral Staff and having rendred themselves unacceptable to the Nation by concurring so much with the Court and being so violent against Dissenters they cannot well recover their Interest there and so must be forc'd to comply with me by which means I can easily protect the Crown against the Efforts of the Mitre CHAP. LIV. On the Debate betwixt the Lords and Commons about the Lords hearing of Appeals from any Court of Equity with the Behaviour of the Bishops in that Affair and the Opposition which they met with from the Earl of Shaftsbury c. THE Lords having made so much opposition to my Designs it 's my Interest now to gain the Commons and own their Pretensions against the Privileges of the Peers for if by this means I could render the Upper House useless I should be the better able to deal with the Lower or if both of them fall by their mutual Heats I shall be a certain Gainer by their Destruction or if the Commons once find that I am for them it may further their passing the Test with more ease The Bishops I am sure of in the House of Lords and of my Pensioners high Churchmen in the House of Commons who I 'm sure will vote according to the Direction of the Court The Cavalier's Conscience is govern'd by the Bishop and the indigent Courtier must live by the Crown so that both their Votes I may depend upon The Phanatick I can take off by hopes of Liberty so that I shall only have the staunch Country-man to oppose me and it 's hard if I be not able to weather the Point against him But my Designs are still very apt to miscarry and the Earl