THE HISTORY OF His Sacred Majesty CHARLES the II. Third MONARCH of GREAT BRITAIN Crowned KING of SCOTLAND At SCOONE the first of Ianuary 1650. Begun from the Death of his Royall Father of Happy Memory and continued to the present year 1660. By a Person of Quality Bona agere mala pati Regium est LONDON Printed for Iames Davies and are to be sold at the Greyhound in Saint Paul's Church-yard 1660. To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord Marquess of DORCHESTER Earl of Kingston Viscount Newark Lord Pierrepoint and Manvers c. Right Honourable IT was not upon long Considerations but easie resolutions that I pitched upon your Lordship and determined to presume upon your patronage of this small review of the actions of his SACRED MAJESTY whose hard fortunes may now demand a Subjects protection since I could no where else find a person who bears so great a â—ame of true honour Generosity nor one whose assured loyalty will make him lesse ashamed or afraid to own his Prince And indeed my Lord when I looked upon these Nations once I may say almost peopled with Nobles and now in a great measure deprived both of her nobility and gentry 't was easie for me to find out the Prime of those remaining which a small search told me was your Lordship who though you have been no whit behind the foremost in Loyalty yet God hath been pleased to make others drink deeper in the Cup of affliction then your self But all those miseries which either your Lordship or other loyal persons have suffered cannot come in competition with those undergone by his SACRED MAJESTY who hath drunk up the very dregs of the Cup and suffered more then can be well spoken yet all with so incomparable a patience as worthily deserves our wonder My Lord you are amongst the Prime of the Nobility which God hath yet been pleased to spare this miserable Nation and as you are so I could not think any person fitter for the patronage of this small piece since both your loyalty may make you willing and your power able to protect it If I have soar'd too high either in the subject or dedication I shall humbly crave your Lordships pardon and answer to the first That I was willing to vindicate my Sovereign as far as in me lay from those many reproaches and calumnies cast upon him by his back-biting enemies by giving the best account that either my own knowledge or the surest intelligence I could get might enable me to of all his actions that he might appear the contrary of what he is represented and dirt be cast in the faces of his accusers To the second I wholly cast my self on your Lordship either to pardon or condemn But if my love to his Majesty may in the judgements of some have strained my pen too much in his favour I desire it may be imputed not to my intent but passion for the unworthy sufferings of so worthy a Prince would irritate any loyal Subject My Lord whilst your Lordship shall be graciously pleased to Patronize this small work that GOD would be pleased to restore his Majesty to be Patron of his Kingdomes people blesse your Lordship with all imaginary blessings shall be the daily prayer of Your Lordships most humble Servant I. D. To the Right Honourable Major General Richard Brown Colonel of the Regiment of horse of the City of London Alderman Iohn Robinson Colonel of the Green Regiment of the Cities Trained Bands Ald. Anthony Bateman Col. of the Red Ald. William Wale Col. of the White Mr. William Vincent Col. of the Blew Mr. Thomas Bludworth of the Orange and Mr. Lawrence Bromfield of the Yellow Right Honourable MAlice and error are the Epidemical diseases of our time and land so that whoever as a friend to his Countrey shall presume to discover any thing of a spirit of Love or Truth is likely to exasperate not a few That I trust both the Author and my self the Stationer have endeavoured to do and therefore must expect to meet with the hard censures and Calumnies of many yea even of such of whom we have no worse thoughts then that they suffer themselves to be abused with popular mistakes and unnecessary jealousies concerning that most Christian and Illustrious though now clouded Prince the subject of the following Book Whose eares according to the Ephesians Hieroglyphick of Calumny have been opened too wide to the malevolent aspersions of ignorant ill-interested persons and are therefore prejudiced against every relation that may represent him to the World as lovely and desirable We know Themistocles had the unhappy fate to be rendred odious to the people by Aristides gallant persons both but the latter under a mistake These we pity rather then be angry at them and desire to cure them of their beloved distemper by presenting them with this succinct and faithfull History But yet that I may not be altogether unprovided of a shelter if the storm of their zealous frenzy should chance to fall upon me besides a recourse to my own integrity which Ianus-like will make me Tanto frontosior quanto innocentior I humbly crave a room under the shadow of your wings where I question not but to lye safe Your honours have taken a charge upon you which obliges you to maintain the publick and common good interest of this Land and City where Res est publica Caefar Et de communi pars quoque nostra bono est Therefore to patronize the recommendation of his virtues for imitation and of his sufferings for commiseration cannot be unworthy your honours which is the humble desire of Your Humble and Obedient Servant JAMES DAVIES To all loyal Englishmen Gentlemen and fellow-Subjects I Here present you an History which though now you may confident I am you very lately could not in reason expect such was the perversnesse and crookedness of these times that no loyal subject might without danger attempt to write nay hardly to speak the truth of his Soveraign for a sort of men there were who having by violence usurped his Dominions thought that they had no surer ground to maintain their unjust possession then by scandalizing his most SACRED MAIESTY and deceiving of his Subjects many of whom had not but by such deceits converted their loyalty into Treason Yet God I hope will now be pleased to return them to their Allegiance and give encouragement to those who have constantly continued loyal that they may at length once more enjoy happinesse and every man sit under his own Vine and under his own fig-tree which the GOD of HEAVEN be praised we have now greater hopes of then ever If I have in this History-offended any loyal person I am heartily grieved I have impartially endeavoured the truth and if I be found in the contrary reason will easily convince me and I shall be sorry that neither my knowledge or intelligence extended to a more narrow search I think I have
under the Command of Huntley Atholl Seaforth c. who declared purely for the Kingly Authority disclaiming and disowning all power or order of the Kirk Parliament or Committee of Estates These having gotten together a considerable party it was supposed by the Committee of Estates that his Majesty was gon to them whereupon to quiet and allay them if possible an Act of Indemnity was passed by Parliament for what they had done but they sleighted it fell upon Sir Iohn Brown's Regiment slew and took prisoners many of his men Whereupon Lieu. General David Lesley was sent against but the whole businesse after the King's return to S. Iohnstonâ—s ended in a Treatie The third and greatest party were the Parliament and Committee of Estates Kirk who were equally for King and Kirk these were highly perplexed and discontented at the King's going away from S. Iohnston's and the more because they feared he was gon to the Atholmen many controversies and consultations were had about it some were so rigid as to propose that since he had diserted them they should look no more after him but let him take his own wayes Others were more mild and would yet have him understand their resentment for his leaving them nor wanted there some sticklers for his Majesty at length it was concluded that Major General Montgomery should speedily march after him and earnestly intreat him to return to S. Iohnston's Montgomery according to his order went and having had secret information that his Majesty was at the Lord Dedup's house in the North confines of Fife he first surrounds the house and then sends in a Messenger to acquaint the King with the earnest desires of the Committee of Estates that he would graciously be pleased to return with him to Saint Iohnston's but his Majesty at first absolutely refused as scorning to endure that slavery which they had subjected him to he was in the mean time earnestly solicited by Huntley and the Gordons to adhere solely to them which he so much seemed to incline to that he had almost made the breach implacable between that party and the Kirk but at length upon several propositions granted him he returned with Montgomery to S. Iohnston's The King being thus returned and Huntley's party come in by admitting those with him to bear publick Offices a general Meeting was resolved on to be held at Saint Iohnston's which should consist of King Lords Barons Burgesses and the Assembly of Ministers whereupon the Committee of the Kirk are summoned to meet but stand off alledging that Sterling was the more convenient place to meet in To which the States answered that they esteemed S. Iohnston's the fitter that if they would not meet they should consult for their own securities but at length they consent The grand Assembly meets and all parties seem now agreed Several Lords formerly in disfavour with the Kirk are received into Command in the Army or have liberty to sit in Parliament such as Hamilton Lauderdale Leith Bucheim Dedup and Crawford Major General Massey of the Englâ—sh was admitted to a Command in the Army Thus did their divisions begin to be Cemented which else must necessarily have hastened their Ruine About this time the King received the sad newes of the Death of the thrice Illustrious Prince of Orange Brother-in-law to his Majesty and who had demonstrated himself a true and faithfull friend to him in his necessities his Lady the Royal Princesse Mary was by him left great with Child and soon after his death delivered of a Posthume son And now on the first of Ianuary the day appointed by the grand Convention at S. Iohnston's the solemnity having been removed to Scone the usual place for the Coronation of the Kings of Scotland First his Majesty in a Princes Robe was conducted from his Bed-chamber by the Constable and Marshal to the Chamber of presence where he was by the Lord Angus Chamberlain placed in a chair under a cloth of Estate Then the Nobles and Commissioners of Barons and Burroughs entred the Room and having shown themselves to his Majesty the Chancellor spake to this effect Sir your good Subjects desire you may be crowned as righteous and lawfull heir of the Crown of this Kingdome that you would maintain the present professed Religion the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant That you would graciously be pleased to receive them under your protection to govern them according to law to defend them in their rights and priviledges by your Royal power they offering themselves in humble manner to your Majesty with their vowes to bestow land life and what else is in their power for the maintenance of Religion for the safety of your Majesties sacred person and maintenance of your Crown which they entreat your Majesty to accept and pray Almighty God that for many years you may enioy the same The King to this made Answer I do esteem the affections of my good people more then the Crowns of many kingdoms and shall be ready by Gods assistance to bestow my life in their defence wishing to live no longer then I may see Religion and the kingdom flourish in all happiness This ceremony performed the Nobles and Commissioners of Barons and Burroughs accompanied his Maiesty to the church of Scoone the spurres being carried before him by the Earl of Eglinton the sword by the Earl Rothes the sceptet by the Earls of Craford and Lindsay the Crown by the Marquess of Argyle â—mmediately before the Kings Maâ—esty who followed supported by the Constable and Marshal his train â—orn up by the Lords Montgomory Ereskine Newbottle and Machelene under a Canopy of crimson velvet supported by the Lords Drummond Garnegie Ramsey Iohnston Brechin and Yâ—ter which six were supported by six Noblemen's sons Thus they went to the Church which being fitted for the purpose the Honors were laid upon a Table provided for them and his Majesty ascâ—nded on a stage 24. foot square and seated himself in a chair to hear the sermon upon this stage there was another smaller stage erected wheron the Throne stood His Majesty being seated on the Chair a sermon was preached by Robert Douglas Moderator of the Commission of the General Assembly Sermon being ended the National Covenant of Scotland the solemn League and Covenant were distinctly read which done the Oath was ministred in these words I Charles King of great Britain France and Ireland do assure and declare by my solemn Oath in the presence of Almight God the searcher of all hearts my allowance and approbation of the National Covenant of the solemn League and Covenant and faithfully oblige my self to prosecute the ends thereof in my station and calling and that I for my self and successors shall consent and agree to all Acts of Parliament enjoyning the National Covenant and the solemne League and Covenant and fully establish Presbyterian Government the Directory of Worship Confession of Faith and Catechisms in the Kingdome of Scotland as they
of the Army from Lambert that by their help they return take their seats in the House and dissolve his Committee of Safety command the Soldiers of his Army to repair to their appointed Quarters and Order Generall Monck to bring up his Army to London in all which they are punctually obeyed Lambert's Souldiers deserting him and Generall Monck according to their orders marching up his Army quite through England Yet the Nation had so great hopes of the Noble General that in all his passage through England â—he is courted with addresses from the Gentry of every County remonstrating the distractions they long had and were still like to lye under and inteating that they would be as they hoped hee 'd prove the Deliverer and saver of his Countrey that to settle them in some way of Government a Parliament might be called by the free Votes of the people that they might no longer be Governed by such Wolves as onely made a Prey of them nor their Governours be subjected to the awe and force of an exorbitant Army To all these desires he returned answers promising such things as might be for the good of the Nation But being come to London where he was received with a great deal of joy he put the people almost quite out of hopes of him nay rather into a fear that instead of proving their deliverer he would be the means to enslave them for by the commandment of the Rump he enters the City with his whole Army imprisons many of their Common Council digs up their Posts and breakes down their Gates whilst the stupifi'd Citizens having now fear added to their slavery durst hardly murmur at but with sighs and nods bid adieu to their Liberty Yet notwithstanding this violence the Noble Generall revives their hopes and retiring himself into the City refusing to be subject to the Iuncto's command Shortly after he admits those Members of the House of Commons which were in 1648. forceably excluded by the Army for having given their Votes that the Rings Concessions at the Isle of Wight Treaty were sufficient grounds for a peace and settlement who having taken their places in the House we had now got a step towards our ancient happinesse one of the three Estates of the Kingdom viz. the House of Commons being permitted to sit freely a thing not known so us in twelve precedent years God of Heaven of his mercy to these Nations grant that the other two may in his due time admitted to the discharge of their power and trust that these Nations once so famous under that Government may no longer continue to be the scorn and derision of foreign Countries And great hopes there is now that these Kingdomes may again return to be happy since disloyalty the first cause of their miseries and distractions begins blessed be God every day to be depressed and loyalty to flourish many of those who formely with a zealous fury broak their oath of Allegiance to their King wishing now that they had a King to shew allegiance to perceiving that all innovations of Government are not whatsome would have themseem to be viz. ways to liberty freedom but meer baits of ambitions self-minded men to hook in the people to slavery But to return to his Majesty in Flanders of whose itenary life we have already given you a particular account it will not be impertiment to say somewhat of his sedentary and retired living that by his oeconomy we may judge of his Monarchy and of the government of those few subjects in his Family of that of his three Kingdoms His Majesty hath spent most of his time wherein he hath been out of his Dominions in Flanders under the protection of the Catholique King of Spaine nor had he ever anywhere else so setled a Court and habitation as here where his chiefe attendants are the Lord Chancellor Hide the Marquis of Ormond the Earle of Norwich the Lord Wentworth the Lord Digby and many others Nobles and Gentlemen whose loyalty to his sacred Majesty and his Royall Father hath made exiles to their Country a particular number of which he makes use of for his Councell doing nothing without serious and mature advice and yet being of so stagacious a judgement that whatever he sayes is seldome contradicted by the most judicious of his Councellors not out of feare or flattery but out of a reall assent to and concurrence with his judgement And indeed those great opportunities which he hath had by his so long being abroad of diving into the great Councels of Forrein Princes and States must necessarily make him a person of a very perspicuous understanding endow him with all those qualities which may deservedly attain the name of Great and render him as well an able Statist as a King he having during his expulsion travelled through and lived in the Countries of three the most potent Princes in Christendome viz. the Emperour 's of Germany and the Kings of Spaine and France and so to the Germain resolution added the Spaniards prudence and the Frenchmans expedition To these extraordinary helps which never a Prince in Christendome can boast of we may yet adde those more then ordinary gifts wherewith nature hath been pleased to endow him which being so extreamly improved we can hardly now discern but that it may be known what they were take the character of an Honourable Lord upon his death bed who speaking of him when about fifteen or sixteen yeers of age hath these words Truly I never saw greater hopes of vertue in any young person then in him Great judgement great understanding strong apprehension much of honour in his nature and a very perfect Englishman in his inclinations So that both nature and industry have seemed to use their utmost endeavours to make him a perfect Prince his very affliction turning in this to his benefit and making him in knowledge and sufferings the Refiner of knowledge unparraleld Some forreign Princes as well envying as pittying hiâ— expulsion This perfect knowledge of his he hath indeed had but small occasion to practice except a little in Scotland where I think hee demonstrated himselfe a person so prudent and carefull in his affairs that it is beyond my pens expression His Subjects good was his only care nor did he ever act any thing but what might tend more to theirs then his own interest still consulting whether it might benefit them not himself His Letter to Col. Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury sufficiently demonstrates his affection to his very enemies he would win not conquer the hearts of those who though they have broke their Allegiance to him yet hee would esteem still his Subjects He would not conquer with blood lest he should be thought a Tyrant He endeavours by faire means to attain the love of his Subjects that what ever his very enemies think of him he may approve himself to be a just Prince And did fortune give him power yet would he rather attempt