Powerful O Eternal God to whom nothing is so Great that it may resist or so Small that it is contemn'd look upon my Misery with thine Eye of Mercy and let thine Infinite Power vouchsafe to limit out some proportion of Deliverance unto me as to thee shall seem most Convenient Let not Injury O Lord Triumph ever me and let my O All seeing Light and Eternal Life of all things to whom nothing is either so Great that it may resist or so Small that it is contemn'd look upon my Misery with thine Eye of Mercy and let thine Infinite Power vouchsafe to limit out some proporrion of Deliverance unto me as to thee shall seem most Convenient Let not Injury O Lord Triumph over me and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faults by thy hand be Corrected and make not mine unjust Enemies the Minister of thy Justice But yet my God if in thy Wisdom this be the aptest Chastisment for my unexcusable Folly if this low Bondage be fittest for my over high Desire if the Pride of my not enough humble heart be thus to be broken O Lord I yield unto thy Will and joyfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer only thus much let me crave of thee let my craving O Lord be accepted of thee since even that proceeds from thee let me crave even by the Noblest Title which in my greatest Affliction I may give my self that I am thy Creature and by thy goodness which is thy self that thou wilt suffer some Beam of thy Majesty to shine into my mind that it may still depend confidently on thee let Calamity be the Exercise but not the overthrow of my vertue let their Power prevail but prevail not to Destruction let my Greatness be their Prey let my pain be Faults by thy Hand be Corrected and make not my unjust Enemies the Ministers of thy Iustice. But yet my God if in thy Wisdom this be the aptest Chastisment for my unexcusable Transgression if this ungrateful Bondage be fittest for my over high Desires if the Pride of my not enough humble heart be thus to be broken O Lord I yield unto thy Will and chearfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer only thus much let me crave of thee let my craving O Lord be accepted of since it even proceeds from thee that by thy goodness which is thy self thou wilt suffer some Beam of thy Majesty so to shine in my mind that I who in my greatest Affliction acknowledge it my Noblest Title to be thy Creature may still depend confidently on thee let Calamity be the Exercise but not the overthrow of my Vertue O let not their prevailing Power be to my Destruction and if it be thy Will that they more and more vex me with Punishment yet O Lord never let their wickedness have such a hand but that I may still carry a pure mind and stedfast Resolution ever to serve thee without fear or Presumption yet with that humble confidence which may best please thee so that at last I may come to thy Eternal Kingdom through the Merits of thy Son our alone Saviour Iesus Christ. Amen the sweetness of their Revenge let them if so it seem good unto thee vex me with more and more Punishment but O Lord let never their Wickedness have such a hand but that I may carry a pure mind in a pure Body and pausing a while O most gracious Lord said she whatever becomes of me preserve the vertuous Mu idorus Having now given an Account of the design of Publishing this special Book and also what it is composed of I shall now produce divers Reasons enough I think to convince any rational Man that will not be willfully blind And first I shall give you the Noble Earl of Anglesey's Memorandum perfixt before the Book reputed to be King Charles I's called Icon Basilice and found by Edward Millington who sold the said Earl's Library all Written with the Earl's own Hand in these Words King Charles the Second and Duke of York did both in the last Session of Parliament 1675. when I shew'd Them in the Lord's House the Written Copy of this Book wherein are some Corrections and Alterations written with the late King Charles I's own Hand Assure me That this was none of the said King 's Compiling but made by Dr. Gauden Bishop of Exeter which I here incert for the undeceiving others in this Point by attesting so much under my Hand ANGLESEY This Noble Earl's Advertisement or Memorandum must have the greater Weight for that he concealed it for ought I can hear from the Publick which doubtless he would not have done if he had had any design to carry it on by making it Publick This Memorandum being true the World has the Words of two Kings that Bishop Gauden and not King Charles Composed this lying Book For further proof that Dr. Gauden writ this Book take a Summary Account of some Papers relating Eicon Basilice now or lately in the Hands of Mr. North Merchant living on Tower Hill London whereby it appears that Dr. Gauden late Bishop of Exeter and afterwards of Worcester was the Author of that Book and not King Charles I. as the World hath for above Forty Years been imposed upon to believe Mr. North is a worthy Person and a Member of the Church of England he and Mr. Charles Gauden the Bishop's Son married two Sisters and Mr. Gauden dying about Ten Years since all his Papers were left with his Widow and Mr. North having occasion to look them over for some relating to his Sister-in-laws affairs found these relating to the Eicon Basilice carefully tied up together Mr. North by reason of his Marriage had many years acquaintance with Bishop Gauden's Family and knows that the Bishop's Widow at first gave them to her Darling Son John Gauden and upon his Death they came to Mr. Charles Gauden And further that in his many years knowledge of that Family it hath constantly and without any manner of doubt been declared that the Bishop was the Author of the Book There are several Letters and Papers I shall briefly give the Contents of them for the truth of which I shall refer to the Original Papers and to those many reverend and worthy Persons who have Read or been at the Reading of them Bishop Gauden at the time of King Charles the Second's Restauration was incumbent of Bocking in Essex and from that fat Parsonage was promoted to the Lean Bishoprick of Exeter which he complain'd was not sufficient to keep up the Port of a Bishop and thought that by his Merits he might lay claim to a better and the Death of Dr. Duppa Bishop of Winchester being daily expected he apply'd himself to the King with great Importunity to be translated thither pleading his Desert which as is evident from the Papers I mention could be no other than that of having written a Book which did such great Service to the Royal Family that King Charles the 2d
thought himself oblig'd to promise him that Bishoprick tho' when it became Void gave it to an other 1. There is Letter from Sir Edward Nicholas Secretary of State to Dr. Gauden dated January 1660 wrote by the King's Command intimating the King had received his Letter and that he should not have Cause to complain of his removal from Bocking 2. In the Bishops Letter to Chancellor Hide dated 28. December 1661 and his Petition to the King the Bishop sets forth That he had an high Rack The Bishoprick of Exeter but Empty Manger and declares what hazards he had run of Life and Estate and what great Advantage had accrued to the Crown by his Service That what he had done was for Comforting and incouraging of the King's Friends Exposing his Enemies and converting c. He pleads that what was done like a King should have a King-like Retribution and Instances in the Cases of Joseph Mordecai and Daniel who were Honoured and Rewarded for the Service they did to the Respective Princes tho' as he observes they were Captives in a strange Land 3. The Bishops Letter to the Duke of York dated the 17th of January 1661 Strongly urges the great Services he had done and Importunately Begs his Royal Highness to intercede for him with the King 4. There is an Original Letter from the Lord Chancellor Hide all of his own hand writing to the Bishop of Exeter dated 13th of March 1661 importing that the Chancellor had received several Letters from him That he was uneasy under the Bishop's Importunity excuses his not being yet able to serve him Speaks of annexing a Commendum to his Bishoprick and towards the close it hath this remarkable Expression The Particular you mention has indeed been imparted to me as a Secret I am sorry I ever knew it and When it ceases to be a Secret it will please none but Mr. Milton This is Subscribed Edw. Hide C. 5. Mrs. Gauden after the Death of the Bishop writes to her Son Mr. John Gauden That she had sent him an Hogshead of Cyder and Orders some Pictures to be sent her by the same Man In this Letter she speaks of the Book commonly call'd the Kings she calls it the Jewel and tells her Son that her Husband hoped to make a Fortune by it and wonders it should be doubted whether her Husband wrote it but says She has a Letter of a very Great Man 's that will clear it up 6. There is also a long Narrative of Mrs. Gauden's Hand-writing shewing that her Husband wrote the Book This she sent to her Son with the Letter wherein she said She had sent it that she might be a Clavis to him The Narrative sets forth That after her Husband had wrote the Book He shewed it to the Lord Capel who approved it and was for the printing of it but wished the King might have a Sight of it That an Opportunity was taken to Convey it to his Majesty by the Lord Marquiss of Hertford when He went to the Treaty at the Isle of Wight That the Marquiss after his Return from thence told her Husband that he gave the Book to the King and his Majesty did not like it but was for putting it out not as his own but another's But it being Urged That CROMWEL and others of the Army having got a great Reputation with the People for Parts and Piety it would do best to be in the King's Name His Majesty took time to consider of it That the Marquiss told her Husband He knew not what was become of the Papers and said God knows what will become of the King That her Husband not hearing the King's pleasure about it and finding Danger hastening on him he having kept a Copy by him sent it by one Mr. Symmonds a persecuted Minister to the Press together with a Letter That Mr. Royston was the Painter but did not know but the King wrote it That part of it was seized in the Press together with her Husband's Letter and Mr. Symmonds was taken Nevertherless the Work was carried on and finished a few days after his Majesty's death That when it was published the Parliament was Enraged and her Husband conceiving his Life and Estate to be in danger fled to Sir John Wennworth's near Yarmouth intending thence to pass the Seas But Mr. Symmonds falling sick and dying soon after not having been Examin'd and it not being discovered that her Husband was concern'd in it the Letter which had been taken having no Name to it he altered his purpose and returned home That there was an Epistle at first intended That the first Title was Suspisia Regalia but changed to Eicon Basilice and that there were two Chapters added That the Marquiss of Hertford the Lord Capel Bishop Duppa and Bishop Morley were at first the only Persons privy to it That after the King's Restoration Dr. Morley told her Husband That his Merit was such that he could Ask nothing but he could receive it That Duppa Bishop of Winchester being very sick her Husband went to the King and acquainted him that He was the Author of the Book and for the Truth thereof appealed to Bishop Duppa his Majesty's Tutor who was yet living and made an Apology for printing it without his Majesty's Father's Order or his but pleaded the Circumstances of Time and the King's danger That His Majesty told her Husband That till then He never knew that he wrote it but thought it was his Father's yet wondred how he could have time And observed That it was wrote like a Scholar as well as like a King and said that if it had been published sooner it might have saved his Fathers Life That at the same time the King gave him a Promise of the Bishoprick of Winchester That when he afterwards acquainted the Duke of York That he was the Author of that Book yet went under his Father's Name the Duke answered He thought his Father Wrote it That her Husband then told his Highness that the King had promised him the Bishoprick of Winchester and that his Highness assured him of his Favour That Bishop Duppa dying her Husband apply'd to the King upon his Promise but Dr. Morley who had told her Husband that he might have what he would ask got it and her Husband was made Bishop of Worcester but having enjoy'd it but about half a Year fell Sick and Dyed That She Petitioned the King setting forth That her Husband left her a Widdow with four Sons and a Daughter That it cost her Husband 200 l. to remove from Exeter to Worcester and pray'd his Majesty to bestow the half Years Rents upon her which he denied and gave them to another Reader take Notice This is the Substance tho' not perhaps the Express Words of Mrs. Gaudens Papers and it could be wished that the Papers themselves were made Publick then this short account would be fully justified I cannot dismish this matter without admiring the remarkable Providence of God
in the several steps towards the Discovery thereof which was the interest of so great a number of Men to have for ever Concealed and Buried And 1. Had not Dr. Gauden been disappointed of the Bishoprick of Winchester we should never have heard of his compiling the Icon Basilice nor would he ever have bragg'd That he had done like a King if he had had a King-like Retribution 2. Had Mrs. Gauden but been made Bishop of Worcester for half an Year she would probably have robb'd her Husband of the Glory of this Book and suffered it to have been for ever a Jewel of the Crown That the World may have a further satisfaction in this matter I shall give a short account of what the Reverend and Pious Dr. Walker lately Rector of Feyfield in Essex hath Written and Published a short time before he died in Answer to the Ignorance and lying Impertinence of Dr. Hollingworth Dr. Anthony Walker in this Book call'd the True Account of the Author of a Book Entitled Icon Basilice c. gives the Reason of his Writing on this Subject It was occasion'd by Dr. Hollingworth's Reproachful Charge on him for declaring That King Charles I. was not the Author of that Book He secondly solemnly appeals to the Searcher of Hearts Avenger of Falshood and Revealer of Secrets that he will write nothing for Truth that he was not thoroughly perswaded of and that by as full Evidence as he judged such a matter of Fact wanted and at such distance of Time is capable of Thirdly that he will with undisguised openness produce the means of his Knowledge the reasons of his Belief and the probable Arguments upon which his opinion is Grounded His Word are these Fol. 3. Sect. 11. I know and believe the Book whose Author is enquired after was Written by Dr. Gauden except two Chapters Writ by Bishop Duppa so far as the subjoined means may produce such Knowledge and the Reasons may induce such Belief First Dr. Gauden sometime before the Whole was finished was pleased to acquaint me with his Design and shewed me the Heads of divers Chapters and some of the Discourses written of them and after some time spent in persual he vouchsaft to ask my Opinion concerning it and after some consideration I told him I supposed it would be much for the King's Reputation Honour and Safety But I expresly added I stuck at the lawfulness of it and modestly asked him how he satisfyed himself so to impose upon the World To which he so readily replied that I concluded he had thought on it before viz. look on the Title 't is the Portraicture c. and no Man draws his own Picture which satisfyed himself and that he perfectly remembers that in the 2 Chapter of the Earl of Strafford in the first Edition p. 8. l. 18 19 20. he explain'd that he meant Dr. Juxton then Bishop of London in the following passage viz. He only hath been least vext by them who counsel'd me not to consent against the Vote of my own Conscience Secondly That some good time after what had passed as now related we being both in London and having dined together Dr. Gauden in the Afternoon desired me to walk with him to a Friend when we were gone part of the way he told me he was going to the Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Duppa whom he had acquainted with his design to fetch what he had left with his Lordship to be perused or to shew him what he had further Written desired me after a little Conversation to with-draw and leave them two alone which I did and after they had been some considerable time together Dr. Gauden returned and in the street gave me this Account of their Conference My Lord of Salisbury told me there were two subjects more he wished I had thought on and propounded them to me viz. The Ordinance against the Common Prayer Book and the denying His Majesty the Attendance of his Chaplains which are now the 16th and 24th Chapters in the Printed Book and desired me to Write two Chapters upon them which I promised I would But before we parted he recalled that request and said I pray go you on to finish what remains and leave these two to me I will perpare two Chapters upon them which accordingly he did as Dr. Gauden owned to me and others whom he had made privy to the whole and never pretended to have Written these as he did to have done all the rest Thirdly Sometime after the King was Beheaded I asked Dr. Gauden whether the King had ever seen the Book he gave me this Answer I know it certainly no more then you but I used my best endeavours he might for I delivered a Copy of it to the Marquess of Hartford when he went to the Treaty at the Isle of Wight and intreated his Lordship if he could obtain any private opportunity he would deliver it to His Majesty and humbly desire to know His Pleasure concerning it But matters running then high against the King he had no answer by that Lord. Fourthly After he was Lord Bishop of Worcester Elect I asked him in private whether that King Charles II. knew that he wrote it He gave me this Answer I cannot possitively and certainly say he doth because he was never pleased to take express notice of it to me But I take it for granted he doth for I am sure the Duke of York doth for he hath spoken of it to me and own'd it as a seasonable and acceptable service and he knowing it I question not but the King also doth Fifthly Mrs. Gauden his Wife Mr. Gifford who if I am not mistaken Transcribed that Copy that was sent to the Isle of Wight and my self believed it as much as we could any thing and when we spake of it in his Presence or Absence did it without the least Doubt of his having Writ it and we should be imposed upon to the highest degree imaginable if Dr. Gauden wrote it not Sixthly Dr. Gauden delivered to me with his own hand what was last sent up after part was Printed or at least in Mr. Royston's hand to be Printed and after he had shew'd it me and sealed it up gave me strict caution with what wariness to carry and deliver it and according to his Direction I delivered it Saturday December 23d 1648. in the Evening to one Peacock Brother to Dr. Gauden ' s Steward or Bayliff who was instructed by what hands he should transmit it to Mr. Royston and in the same method a few days after the Impression was finished I received six Books by the hand of Mr. Peacock as an acknowledgment of that little I contributed to that Service one of which I have still by me and to justifie this matter against the ignorant impudence of Dr. Hollingsworth he Declares Fol. 15. That he is ready to confirm his Knowledge and Belief herein with a Solemn Oath Mrs. Gauden Widow residing at Gloucester and often Declaring
that her Husband had writ that call'd the King's Book it coming at last to the knowledge of Dr. Nicholson then Bishop of Gloucester who desiring to be fully satisfied in that point did put the Question to her upon her receiving the Sacrament and she then affirmed that it was wrote by her Husband This Persons of undoubted credit now living in Gloucester can affirm for a Truth and it is not question'd but the present Bishop of Gloucester will acknowledge that those Persons have related this matter to him that it is well known to Mrs. Gauden's Brother and several of her Relations that Mrs. Gauden constantly in her Conversation Declared That her Husband was the Author of this Book I could if necessity requird produce a great many Arguments more out of Doctor Walkers or other Writings to prove the Truth of this matter but shall conclude it with this one of the Doctors in reference to the Providence of this Discovery Though God had many Holy Righteous and Gracious ends to serve his Providence by in the Publication of this Book yet as I find it expressed in this very Book Chap. the last p. 262. of the first Edition God's wise Providence we know oft permits many Events which his revealed Word in no sort approves And I confess I have many cogent reasons to persuade me that God was not well pleased with Dr. Gauden others or my self for what we contributed to it And though for the aforesaid ends he suffered it to succeed yet I know not but he may have other ends now to serve by suffering this Discovery to be Wrung and rested from me I had almost said by some Bodies viz. Hollingworths Impertinent Affectation to meddle with what he understands not Thus spake that good Man I had not enlarged so much on this 21st Article but that I was desirous of giving full satisfaction to the World of the Real Author of Eicon Basilice That Posterity might not be deceived by the many Impudent Ignorant False and Scandalous Assertions of most of the Clergy and too many of the Laity who to their Eternal Shame have taken more care and pains to defend that Book and its pretended Author King Charles I. than they done to Vindicate the Holy Bible and the Truth of the Christian Religion 22. That caused the Star-Chamber and High-Commission-Courts to be made Use of to the general Grievance of the People of England and was unwilling to part with them till he found these Courts were highly offensive to the Parliament and that it was not Seasonable to displease the Kingdom at that time for which Reasons at last he pass'd the Bills to take them away And indeed there were many and great Reasons why those abominable oppressive Courts should be pull'd down and taken away For that Old Serpent Arch-Bishop Laud and divers of his Brethren had cast off all Humanity and were metamorphosed into Ravenous Wolves and these Courts were under their Management The Star-Chamber had abounded in Extravagant Censures whereby the Subjects were oppress'd by Grievious Fines Imprisonments Stigmatizings Mutilations Whippings Pillories Gags Banishments c. And the High Commission Court was grown to such Excess of Sharpness and Severity as was not much less than the Spanish Inquisition To repeat two or three of the many Instances of the Horrid Oppressions and barbarous Cruelty exercised in these Tyrannical Courts Upon the 17th of February 1629. Dr. Leighton coming out of Black Fryers Church it seems then he was no Conventicler was seized by a Warrant from the High Commission Court and dragged to Bishop Laud's House from thence without any Examination he was carried to New-gate and there clapt into Irons and thrust into a Nasty Hole where he continued from Tuesday Night till Thursday Noon without Meat or Drink They kept him in that loathsome Place where Snow and Rain beat in upon him Fifteen Weeks not permitting his Wife or any Friend to come near him and denyed to give him a Copy of his Commitment then they brought him into the Star-Chamber Court where an Information was Exhibited against him for Publishing a Book call'd Lyon's Plea against the Pâ—lates Dr. Leighton confess'd that in 1628. He drew up the Heads of that Book and having the approbation of five hundred Persons under their hands some whereof were Parliament Men. He went into Holland and got between five and six hundred Printed for the use of the Parliament but they being Dissolved he returned home not bringing any of them into the Land but made it his special care to suppress them In the same information the Doctor was charged with these Words in the said Book He do not read of greater Persecutions of God's People in any Nation professing the Gospel then in this our Island especially since the Death of Queen Elizabeth He confessed the Words and Answered That the thing was too true as appeared by the Prelates taking away Life and Livelihood from many Ministers and private Men of whom many were pined to Death in Prison and many wandred up and down their Families being left desolate and helpless That besides this the Blood of Souls had been endanger'd by the Removal of the Faithful Shepheards from the Flock this was a cutting Truth And Wicked Laud being enraged Desired the Court to put the highest Censure that could be put upon him which they did to his Content Condemning him to have his Ears cut his Nose slit to be Branded in the Face Whipped at a Post to stand on a Pillory to pay Ten Thousand Pound fine tho' they knew he was not worth so much and to be perpetually Imprisoned This Hellish Sentence being past that vile Wretch Laud was so well pleased with it that he pull'd of his Cap and holding up his Hands gave thanks to God who had given him Victory over his Enemies This Sentence being so miserably severe the Execution thereof was little expected But Laud had his design for upon the 26th of November 1630. The Censure was Executed in a most cruel manner His Ears were cut his Nose slit his Face Branded with burning Irons he was tyed to a Post and Whipped with a treble Cord to that cruel Degree that he himself Writing the History thereof Ten Years after affirmed that every lash brought away the Flesh and that he should feel it to his dying day He was lastly put into the Pillory and kept there near two hours in Frost and Snow and then after this most barbarous Usage not permitted to return to his Quarters in the Fleet Prison in a Coach provided to carry him but compelled in that sad Condition and severe Season to go by Water After this was kept Ten Weeks in Dirt and Mire not being sheltered from Rain and Snow They shut him up most closely Twenty Two Months and he remain'd a Prisoner Ten or Eleven Years not suffered to breath in the open Air until that Noble Parliament of November 1640. most happily delivered him When he came abroad to