the Evil small pieces of Silver was his gift for alas he could not arrive to others 't was not the golden Age with him I shall rehearse a Story and a very true one not long before he Acted his last on that horrid and execrable Theatre A Great Anti-Royalist and Committee-man had one only Child a Daughter about ten years of Age which was so blind for a year and a half together with her Fathers Evil I may rather tearm it then any one 's else that she could not see at all non minus morborum quà m possessionum haeredes Naturae sequitur semina quisque suae She was brought to Kings-Hatfield in Hertford-shire to the Right Honourable the Earl of Salisburie's house where His Majesty then was and desired a Touch from His Sacred hand which was done by Special Grace and Favour in one of the Gardens towards the Evening the next morning she began to perceive a glimmering of light that could not before distinguish the day from the night but was constrained to be led constantly about the house by a Maid Servant The Father finding so much benefit and seeing relief at hand became an earnest Petitioner for another Touch which His Majesty that he might complete the Miracle presently vouchsafed by the next morning she was restored to her perfect sight The Good man I give him now that Epithete her Father because he proved so after finding so much efficacy so much of God in His Anointed he forthwith began to burst out into tears and accurse himself and own him that he had disowned so long The truth of all which is to be made out by persons of quality with divers of inferiour degree which ought to be credited being of good Life and Conversation One remarkable story more I shall trespass upon your patience to repeat being more concise then the last A Child of a Gentlewomans of no mean worth about Seven years old being very infirm and evilly dispos'd having received a Touch in the morning in the Afternoon one of the Serjeant Chyrurgeons having a Regard for the Mother came to give it a Visit The Child he found leaning against a Couch in the Room casually taking a few Pease out of his Pocket which he used to employ in Fontanels he troll'd them along the Floor whereupon the Child taking them to be Plums immediately made a shift to go after them and took them up which for some years before was seldome out of Arms and in a very short time grew a great Commander of his Legs This I aver and from as good hands as the former And should I go to perticulars and summe up all those Miracles for I dare not call them lesse that have been wrought by that Pattern of true Piety A Prince whereof the World was not worthy the best of all Christian Kings now undoubtedly in Heaven their number would be as admirable as their nature But alas Envy too oft attends upon a shining merit yet virtue will still be virtue in despite of Fate though they surreptitiously took away his earthly emoluments and his Life into the bargain they could not take the honour of this from him that gave it nor the right thereof from him that received it the Heavens would not so much blaspheme their Maker As the Fire of their wrath was too severe so that of their Zeal was much more They were Divels certainly that breathed in no other Element then that of unheard of and barbarous Immanities they ran headlong in a gracelesse method their Union was nought but Conspiracy their Strength Outrage their Hearts were too obdurate forgetting all Pity and Justice too He became a Martyr for the Peoples offences having few of his own which he was not so much guilty of as his Nature Here fell a matchless peice of Innocency meerly crucified to the transgression of the times we were too remiss in our duties to Him for which we have as much cause to request God's Pardon as now his Son 's our Dread and Dear Soveraign Lord the King 't is far better to be subject to our true born Prince rather than to Tyranny and Oppression God be blessed for it he is Rex hominum His People will I hope obey him in any reasonable moderation being sufficiently convinced that he will not require that at their hands but what may become the Spirit of amost Excellent Prince to demand and Loyal Subjects to grant may we be readier to give than He is to ask at least to yeild due Allegiance to Him whereby to gratifie the Candour and Goodness of a too too much injur'd Patience This Treatise is writ with an Intention to undeceive the World and that Wise men may decline those vulgar Errours not follow after meer shadowes and lose the Substance those stroaking Undertakers being warranted neither by Holy Writ nor awful Authority of Antiquity or Probability of Reason they are in the Judgment of the World like our New lights which like an Ignis fatuus or Will with a Wisp makes men run into such a Labyrinth that they run themselves both out of what they have and their Wits to boot Truth does not alwayes receive a just tryal by casual Events Hap is a meer Paralogisme a Fallacy and grand Delusion taking that for a true Cause which is no cause indeed Ease may sometimes be given and the credit of it to those that do not deserve it Opinion weighs much 't is true and Kings are great Rarities Seventh Sons are not That which God doth bestow upon Kings should be that which both for the Rarenesse and Singularity of the Priviledge might more manifest his Glory which would not be if he should attribute the same thing and that by right of birth to any other But to deal candidly and ingenuously with you 't is thus This Disease of the Evil is more proper to children than any other which by succession of years by reason of heat is many times dissipated and hereupon islues a spontaneous ceslation thereof which is usual with many of those that are incident to Children and if thus it is effected 't is not to be attributed to the uncertain virtue and power of those kind of men that Touch who have no Religion at all in them yet entitle themselves to it But to Nature it self whom Hippocrates styles Morborum Medicatrix The Lady Physician of all Diseases Me thinks true Loyalists should set a considerable estimate upon the Bequest of a dead Soveraign Let not a Jewel of so much worth be bangled away should we 't would be an evident signe we want that love for him which we truly ought to have and that we cast an Eye of Contempt as well upon him as his Gift 'T is a Talent intrusted with our now Soveraign for an Improvement such reputation were his virtues of even in forein parts and amongst those with whom he was by some deemed as I may say I hope without offence an Heretick that Strangers could not
enough admire Him His very Gesture was a Net to catch their Good Wills Exegit ibi monumentum aere perennius quod nec imber edax nec Aquilo possit diruere To whose everlasting Honour be it spoken notwithstanding all the Exigencies that God had brought him under all the Stratagems Politicks and Fetches laid to ensnare Him He still withstood them and continued steadfast being Resident some years where a contrary Religion was openly professed and maintained Home-bred Incendiaries there were too many but eternal praises be given to the King of Kings ours was out of their reach as to offer the least violence to Him and therefore made it their work to reach him with their Tongues and if possible murther Him that way persuading the People that He was warping towards Popery To their shame never to be wip'd off be it retorted and our Churches Glory asserted He has been the same Defender of the Faith and Protestant Cause in the midst of the greatest Temptations and strongest Adversaries His Title was our Fame the Truth of it our happiness and will be His for which very cause as a reward of a pious Constancy against all Extremities God wrought this for Him the greatest of Miracles and yet the highest of Benefits to him and to this Nation His Restauration which has fill'd the World with astonishment as our Hearts with exceeding great Joy and indeed 't was impossible it should be otherwise so much stability and Divine qualities as He is truly endow'd with Heaven must needs be fore'd to do some more than ordinary miraculous Act for a Person on whom it had bestowed so many Bonus Princeps à Domino datur God was His Guide abroad the Blessed Star that directed Him and the Shield that protected Him and at last gave Him to us let us blesse Him for Him Have but a Retrospect to His Princely Christian Patience know that he might have had Forein Aid but se malle vinci suis Armis quà m Alienis victorem esse he rather sat down peaceably conquer'd with His own men then to be Conquerour with an Army of others These were Endearments great Love on His part if there be not a Return on ours we are worse than the vilest sort of men God you see destin'd his Twelve years Exile that He might appear to us in greater Lustre and Transcendency His Regress brought forth our Sun which moving in His own Sphere shines most gloriously and rises only to do us good with healing in His Wings Plots we have had without number laid and discovered by the first Contrivers of them but this of His Majesties Return was a just and a real plot upon those Regicides to bring them to condigne punishment to whom I durst once have appealed and to their own Consciences if they did not more repent them of what they fail'd to do than what they did They boasted themselves Cods Children Saints and what not But alas they were the Sons of men and wicked men too un-sanctified Saints their Actions spoke them They should have born a filial duty to their Lord and King 'T is labour in vain to endevour to dis-joyn where God has made a firm Concatenation tied a knot not to be untied by frail mortality many a good turn he has pleas'd to do us but after His Return to us being none of the meanest Blessings we ought to Return to God Almighty all sorts of Devoirs otherwise we don't deserve it 'T was not the Healing Convention that did it but the great and sacred Councels of Heaven Let us not make our selves wiser than our Maker study not to withstand or oppose what he has appear'd so miraculous in Undoubtedly Monarchy is the most secure and most preserving form of Government upon Earth Submit your Wills to Providence no Oracle you can better rely upon she knows what is best for you yeild to it and your reward followes you He that rebels against his lawful Prince rebels against his God questionless he that would destroy his Soveraign would also destroy his God standing in his way so united are the Affairs of God and a King he is in his Office like to Him and subordinate to Him You see that Serpentine Egg of Conspiracy is no sooner laid but 't is addled he that is omniscient is not to learn which way ye intend to steer your Stratagem but he prevents ye in it The Divel he sets his Emissaries to work and sits as Chair-man in your Magical Conventions to render Kings contemptible and bring them into disgrace The Plot 's no sooner over but the old Serpent he gives them over too you see they are no sooner arrested by the Magistrate but his power immediately ceases in not being able to hinder the Justice of the Almighty his force is broke he cannot rescue them from it They sin against God in Heaven and his Church on Earth and therefore 't is thought meet that they should hang betwixt both as being unworthy to enter the one or tread longer upon the other These confident sons of Mars melted away like Snow before our Sun such is the difference betwixt prosperous wickedness and persecuted Innocency They much mistake that think Divine Justice sleeps when it does but wink a while at such Offenders Those Sons of Belial some of them have felt Gods Justice here and I have that charity for them may they find mercy in Heaven Machiavel reports in his Questions upon Livy that the French had once their Kings in such Esteem and Reverence that they thought every thing did become them that they did and that nothing could be more disgraceful to them than to give any intimation that such or such a thing was not well done by their King being absolutely possess'd they could not do a-miss I would to God this so excellent a virtue had been first wafted over into England with their fashions and that 't were now A la mode 'T is a capital Crime and not venial to Touch but Gods Anointed Davids heart smote him that he cut off but the hem of Sauls Garment The Romanes would have Rebellion to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maximum crimen and though a King hath not sanc̄titatem vitae yet if he have sinctitatem unctionis we are to honour him he may erre and have his failings 't is true yet in such a case we are not to take up Gladium vindictae but Scutum Patientiae we must help our selves not by a violence against him but by a holy violence the force of prayer with God we must be in charity with him would we be entertain'd by him whose Title it is to be the Prince of Peace we must live peaceably with him we have all the reason in the world so to do Il ne parle pas au Roy qui veut sayes the Monsieur Not every one that would may speak to Kings but such is the great affability and condiscention of ours he desires that the most despicable the
came from heaven and behave our selves towards him with due observance and not upon any pretence of infirmity whatsoever contemn him God has most miraculously own'd him amongst the storms of State and War he has sail'd through a boundless Sea of bliss Si insuperabilis inseperabilis Division is like Fire from above infinite destructive mens constitutions and their spirits were volatile but now I hope God has fix'd them and will keep those qualities in a right temper and just Symmetry amongst themselves A true Princely disposition moderated with so many inward qualifications as meekness sobriety and indeed what not merits the whole Trump and sound commendation and applause above all other He is one whom I could dwell upon to admire and lose my self in the Maze Yet Tantus quisque est quantus est apud Deum Every one is so great as he is in Gods account but to be Good and Great is admirable Let it not be made a crime to do good Charity may legally be Acted without purchasing Licence ad practicandum You may see we have more Gifts than one from him we had a common deed of Gift of General Pardon of which we are most unworthy if we do not every day grow better and better if we are not the better for mercies we must be the worse A good Christian must inevitably be a good Subject I must confess I have one quality in me for which I have been blamed by many though in my own apprehension I conceive it none of the worst which is that I cannot be in good earnest in Charity with any that ever went out but to fight against their King some to this day are so obstinate that they will use Arguments to palliate as if 't were possible to extenuate that great and crying abomination that horrid Murther of their King so notoriously committed publick acknowledgement with Godly sorrow for it were the only balm to expiate when 't is urg'd against them they have this Plea in a readiness to retort That they went not out to fight against him but to draw him from his evil Councel They knew their King was forced to open hostility and to set up his Royal Standard Se defendendo and try his Title Alas will some say we broke off in good time They had so indeed had they not first broke the Ice the more Capital their crime and then broke out into open Rebellion Would they have acquitted themselves fairly Why did they not then when they heard their King and such a Lord and Master was in the Feild but that they intended as plainly since has appeared to be His Why did they not then I say throw down their Arms and themselves at His Majesties feet and pay their Allegiance to him that he might graciously have received them into His They had just cause to do it Those that adventur'd at the beginning of the Rebellion their lives and fortunes to preserve their King his Heirs and Successors in their just Rights those were the men those were those that were right and true Subjects too many of them have been since sufferers indeed and only upon the score of Loyalty for whom I have a very particular regard because I see them by some so little regarded His Majesty is so gracious of himself that he has own'd many of them and would more were there not those that interpose too much betwixt the beams of that favour and grace which probably have not themselves deserv'd it some have been and are countenanced too much few as they ought so that in the opinion of those they are like old Almanacks out of date or stand for Ciphers I must confess as 't is well known I have been zealous for the poor cast-away Chavalry for which I have received often reproof and checks and meerly for speaking but my conscience in their behalf and have had it retorted upon me with the greatest wonder that one that was never in Arms for His Majesty should be so earnest to gratifie men that would never be satisfied But I cannot be of that persuasion 'T is true I was not in Arms for him yet I bless God for it tâ—â—â— and for nothing almost more than that I never was against him yet 't is probable I have done him no less service then some that were with him the truth of all which others enough can assert and I have retained within me without the least stain that principle becoming both an honest man and a good Subject Loyalty to my now Soveraign and his Father of ever blessed Memory before him and in the worst of times durst maintain their Prerogatives and I suppose such are none of the worst Subjects My aid God willing shall never be wanting to cast a mite into his Treasury and without Ostentation I speak it and upon Review it will appear that I have upon all occasions contributed beyond indeed what I have and have exceeded many that have far exceeded me in estate Thus I have done with as sincere Devoires as any Hee that His Majesty is pleased to have the best thoughts of I have done but my Duty in it and I shall not forget to do that still unless a Lethargie possess my Brain All I have as I do in good earnest own from his Sacred Majesty so I shall chearfully be ready to prostrate it at his feet with my life into the bargain for Him or His whom I esteem your Royal Highness Scrue up all his Majesties Actions and you will find them miracles celebrate his praises beyond what those of men might or ought to aspire to and though he Touch the Evil may no Evil touch him Let not the gates of Hell prevail against him My unfeigned and uncessant Prayers shall ever God willing attend him and my curses those that wish him worse than their own souls Those that will not say Amen to it deserve to be hang'd I pray God they be not damn'd And may there never want one from that Royal Stem to govern us and Sway the Scepter to the end of the world And now Royal Sir may all your Atchievements be crown'd with Victory May you have more Friends than Flatterers The greatest hope I have of success in this grand affair lyes in the justness of our Cause the provident and abundant care of his Majesty for our preservation the prudence and courage of your Highness That benevolent aspect which hath raised the general love of all to you doth in this occurrence incline the great ones the Nobility and Chivalry of the whole Nation to wait upon you those hearts your Highness lately carried away with you were not at such a loss as we were then for your absence nor expected you with more impatience At such a season the stoutest might well have been weary of such Service Fortitude in a Prince is a vertue true but dangerous should you miscarry we are at a loss irreparable Great Sir we have fraught this our little Vessel with Commodities of no small price If these notions hold water as I hope they will there will be no great fear of Leaking The more fit and seasonable the Present to present such an Admiral Such a one it is as may do wonders the greatest conquest is that of hearts and affections These take as Plots upon all the forces both by Sea and Land to re-inforce them if possible to that which has been too long at too low an Ebbe In this case to promote Love is an Art very lawful and justifiable both before God and Man This Tract is calculated exactly to this Meridian and design'd on purpose as a Specifique and Soveraign Antidote defensive furniture against the sudden incursions upon the Palace-Royal and that never-enough to be detested Sin which fretteth like a Gangreen and menaceth to eat out the Life and Soul of Monarchy and Religion Rebellion Undoubtedly to effect this is none of the worst piece of Service but a very good piece and if so I shall think my pains well spent and have the less regard to Censure No times have ever yet vouchsafed to the worthiest of Personages an immunity from malignant Tongues 't were Vanity therefore in me to expect it To endevour but a publique good ever yet merited a Commendum though not so well perform'd as really intended and this give me leave to say He must needs have a strange vitiated Palate to whom none of these will Relish This Tract is but of yesterday as 't is short so 't is sweet breathing forth odoriferous and most fragrant vapours into the Nostrils of all that are truly Loyal and I wish 't were like the Manna in the Wilderness which adapts it self to every Man's Gusto Having touch'd long upon a Golden Subject the Metal being tryed by the Touchstone of your Highnesse's most Gracious Acceptance I have abundantly my Reward and for attempting to deserve your favour I hope I shall not disserve my Prince to whom I am not more by Conscience bound than I shall through all the Actions of my Life ever own a particular Inclination to express my humble duty Having trespassed thus much upon your Highnesse's Patience 't is high time to turn my Sailes towards the Shore and cast Anchor for the Present Eadem magnanimitate quâ magna munera donas parva munuscula accipe it hath been a Grace for Greatness at mean men's hands to accept of small Gifts If this chance to have the Honor to kiss His Majesty's most Sacred Hand 't is more than the Authour has yet had himself if it arrives to that he has his end and the Errata's and Evil in it will admit of a perfect Cure THE END