by the carelessness of the Commanders or security of the Souldiers I am loath to judge this mighty Army then beleaguring Dublin was beat from before it by the besieged and utterly routed by the third part of it's Number This overthrow the repulse of Sir Robert Stuart and Col. Mervin from London-Derry by Sir Charles Coot and Cromwell's suddain landing in Ireland whose motion now there was no field Army either to attend or oppose made his Majesties affairs grow almost as desperate in Ireland as they were before in England But the Scots Kirk who had sold their King into the hands of the Independent English Army after they heard that they had condemned him to death repent them of their Wicednesse wash their hands from any guilt in his bloud Expostulate with the English sitting in Parliament about their so severe proceedings and protest against having any hand in his Murder and to make the world believe they had yet some touch of loyalty within them they had just after his death proclaimed Charles Prince of VVales eldest Son to the late murthered King Charles the first and his lawfull and undoubted Heir King of Great Britain France and Ireland and had immediately resolved in the Committee of Estates then sitting to send some sitting persons to treat with his Majestie about sundry Articles before his reception to the Crown but long Debates and demurrs there were in the businesse before they could resolve what and whom to send For some there were in this Grand Committee of Estates who fee'd or seduced by the Sectaries in England impeaded to the utmost of their power and endeavours all proceedings in the businesse so that once instead of debating what or whom they should send to his Majestie it came to be a debate whether they should send or no but at length a letter and propositions was by the prevailing part concluded on and Mr. Windram Laird of Libberton appointed to be the Messenger who on the 25. of September 1649. received his dispatches and some time after arrived before his Majestie at Iersey The chief of their desires was to this effect 1. That his Majesty would graciously be pleased himself to sign the solemn League and Covenant and that he would passe an Act in Parliament that every person in that Kingdome might take it 2. That he would passe divers Acts of the Parliament of Scotland which was concluded on the two last Sessions 1. For approving of their disclaiming Duke Hamilton's last return 2. For receiving severall Acts made by English for the Militia 3. That the Kings of Scotland may have no negative voice 3. That his Majestie would recall the late Commissions given to Montrosse 4. That he would put away all Papists from about him 5. That he would appoint some place about Holland to treat with their Commissioners An honour able Company of the most noble Lords in Scotland being to be appointed to attend his Majesty to whom likewise they would send a sufficient provision to maintain him a train suitable to his birth and deserved Greatnesse 6. That he would be graciously pleased to give a speedy answer to their desires These Propositions were very stifly debated Pro and Con some were so fierce that they would have his Majesty utterly reject the Scâ—â—s Propositions as dishonourable and disadvantageous to his affairs Others were of opinion that it would more conduce to the Kings Interest to accept of such Conditions as he could agree with the Scotch Commissioners which would be a readier way to attain the Crown then by Montrosses his designs who had lately received Commissions from the King to assault the North of Scotland with what force he could raise however the businesse was still demurred and delayed and no answer for a good while given to the Lord Libberton who earnestly prest it till such time as answer could come from Montrosse then in Holland and out of France touching their opinions concerning these Propositions concerning which Montrosse teturned answer to his Majesty desiring him to hear ken to the Scots Commissioners whilst they would propose and agree to any thing which might stand with his Majesties honour for the restoring him to his Rights and Dignities That for himself he should rather be content to endure banishment from his Highnesse sight and person then in the least prejudice his affairs Thus this faithfull and loyall servant courted Banishment as the late famous Earle of Strafford had done death for his Master 's good and service but too generous was he and had too great a sense of goodness and gratitude to grant his request but returned him this answer That he had so high a sense of his fidelity and loyalty all along and that he had performed so many signall services both for his father and himself that he could not in honour leave him and therefore desired him to presse him no farther The Queen Mother likewise earnestly presses her son to the acceptance of the Scotch Propositions for a Treaty as the onely and readiest way for the establishing of him in his Kingdomes These resolves of his Mother and the Marquess of Montrosse wrought strongly with his Majesty yet not withstanding they are as stoutly opposed by the Lord Cleveland Byron Gerard and others whose chief opposition proceeded from the alledged Treachery of the Scots to his father That they were Scots still and might practice the same upon him But the majority of voices carrying it for a Treaty it was resolved on yet in regard it would require some time to frame an answer Sir William Flemming was sent Agent to the Committee of Estates in Scotland till such time as the Laird Libberton could be dispatch't Short time after Mr. Windram returned into Scotland with a Letter instructions by word of mouth whereby he gave the Committee of Estates who having long expected were therefore more desirous to hear what he now brought an account how much he found his Majesty compliant to their Propositions viz. That as to what acted in the two last Sessions of Parliament he was content a General Act of Oblivion should be passed but could not approve it That neither those of Montrosses nor Duke Hamilton's party in his last engagement should bear Office in State without consent of Parliament That he had appointed Breda in Holland for the place of a solemn Treaty for the making of a full accommodation and agreement between him and his loving Subjects of Scotland The Contents of his Letter were as followeth For the Committee of Estates of Scotland CHARLES R. WE have received your Letters lately presented to us by Mr. Windram of Libberton and we accept graciously all the expressions of affection and fidelity therein contained towards us with your tender resentment of our present Condition and the just indignation which you professe to have against the execrable Murther of our Father And we believe that your intentions are full of Candor towards us as we are and alwayes really have been
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
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
Treaty was soon carried to Edenburgh where the Parliament being met it was yet by some of those who favoured the Sectarian party in England made a debate whether they should make any more addresses to the King So impudent were they even after the Treaty was concluded with him but there were found but thirty of these malevolent persons so to the major part of the Votes carrying it in the affirmative it was Resolved that another message should be sent unto him to invite him to make all possible speed to his Kingdome of Scotland protesting that they would venture lives and fortunes in assisting him to regain his Right and Kingdomes but they not onely debarre him from having those whom he chiefly favoured to wait upon him but likewise prohibit the Duke Hamilton the Earles of Lauderdale and Seaforth and many other persons of quality's return to Scotland and they nominate such persons as they thought fit out of their own gang to be officers of his houshold there The Iuncto then sitting and governing in England had certain intelligence all along of the proceeds of the Treaty between his Majestie and the Scots together with their Protestations to assist him in the recovery of his Rights in England by some who sat in the Parliament of Scotland betrayed their counsels and earnestly solicited the English to assault Scotland before they were themselves assaulted and invaded to which effect they prepare an Army without any just pretence which they give to Oliver Cromwell to command making him Generalissimo of all the Forces of that Commonwealth in the room of Sir Thomas Fairfax whose Commission was between taken away and laid down Some time before his Majestie's departure from Holland into Scotland news was brought of the unfortunate losse of all Prince Rupert's Fleet most of his ships being either taken sunk or burnt by General Blake Admiral to the English Navy so though the Treaty was concluded with Scotland his Majestie's affairs went every where else to wrack At length all things being in a readinesse his Majesty about the beginning of Iune 1650. took shipping at Scheveleng in Holland and after a tedious storm and narrow scape of some English Vessels which lay in wait for him arrived at Spey in the North of Scotland Some Lords are sent down to receive him to accompany him to Edenburgh where two stately houses are richly provided and furnish't to entertain him He was all along the Countrey entertained with the general joy of all the people several presents being given to him by the Towns as he came along Aberdeen presented him with 1500. l. but the Committee of Estates Kirk fearing that such diet would make too unweildy to their pleasures sent an injunction to severall places requiring them that whatever moneys they had to bestow they should bring it unto such Treasuries as should be appointed by them Thus they permit not the Subjects to shew their good will to their Sovereign nor him to receive it Nor were the States and Kirk as yet content with those hard conditions but they send him new Propositions to Dundee to sign which after some reluctancy he performed for indeed he could do no otherwise being now in their clutches The Parliament and Committee of Estates in Scotland had while they expected his Majestie's arrivall been consulting about the framing of an Army every fourth man in the Kingdome is ordered to be trained and sixteen thousand foot and six thousand horse to be raised for his Majestie's present service Of this Army the Earle of Leven is made General of the Foot and Holborne Major General David Lesley Lieutenant General of the Horse and Montgomery Major General the place of Generalissimo was reserved for the King though he never went into the field with his Army His Majesty being come to Edenburgh is received by the Parliament and Committee of Estates and Kirk with infinite complements and expressions of fidelity and affection and with great acclamations of joy from the people and on the 15. of Iuly is again solemnly proclaimed King at Edenburgh-Crosse but his coronation yet deferred by reason of the then troubles For the English Army notwithstanding the Scots had expostulaled them the unjustnesse of invading their Countrey was advanced upon the borders and at Muscleborough the Scots under Montgomery with a small party set upon the English Army but were worsted and so the two Armies moved at a distance one from the other till they came as far as Dunbar where the Scots had got a considerable advantage by reason of a passe and bragg'd they had got the English in a pound but whether by their own carelessenesse and oversecurity or the over reaching courage and valour of the English I cannot tell a total loss they had there the passe gain'd from them and themselves wholly routed and dispersed I am the shorter in relating the passages between these two Armies in regard that though the King was made Generalisssimo yet he had no influence upon the Army which might rather be called the States or Kirks then the Kings for though he was there present and bore the title of King yet they had the whole powes and made and revoked Laws and Orders The King was then with the States at Saint Iohnstones when the news of this losse and that of the Death of his Sister the Princesse Elizabeth arrived much about the same time and some have been bold to affirm that the latter grieved him more then the former in regard of the imperiousnesse which 't was probable the States of Scotland would have usurped had the successe answered their minds And sufficiently imperious were both they and the Kirk already notwithstanding the ill fortune of their affairs for so great was their insolency towards his Majesty in their earnestnesse to purge his house in extorting Declarations from him against his own party and proceedings and in usurping the whole government of affairs to themselves in placing guards of their own creatures upon his Person c. That his sacred Majesty no longer able to suffer such intolerable affronts and abuses went secretly away accompanied onely with four horse towards the North of Scotland where the Marquess of Huntley the Ealres of Seaforth and Atholl the Lords Ogilby and Newburgh with the Gourdons were ready to appear for him with a considerable party Scotland was not at this time only perplexed with a foreign enemy in her bowels but with civil distempers and divisions for in the West there was a party under the command of Straughan and Kerr who declared against the actions of the Committee of Estates for their too much hast and precipitation in the Treaty with the King for their receiving him before he had given any evidence of a real change That they believed his profession of the cause and Covenant was counterfeit therefore refused to submit to his power These men were purely for the Kirk against the King's Authority Another Party there was in the North
under But let him that shall look upon the several passages of his read them over and over consider the several difficulties he passed the many dangers he was in to be betrayed the countrey being up round about the summe of money set upon his head for which many hundreds out of covetousness made it their business to search for him and they wil confess ingenuously that God was never so merciful to any people as to us in delivering his sacred Majesty so wonderfully out of the hands of his Enemies who breathed out no thing but his death and destruction that we may yet have hopes to be a happy Nation But let us now return to give a ful account of this dismal loss at Worcester in which most of his Maiesty's foot were either made a prise or a sacrifice to their enemies swords of the horse there escaped 3000. out of the field but were most afterwards either taken or knockt on the head by the Countrey in their flight three thousand were judged flain in the Field and about seven thousand taken prisoners whereof the chiefe were the Earls Derby Lauderdale Cleaveland Shrewsburgh and the Lord Wentworth and many other noble persons taken in the pursuit And the chief of those taken in the battel were the Earls of Carnwarth and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir Iohn Packington the Maior Generals Montgomery and Piscotty and the Virgil of this Age that thrice worthy Mr. Richard Fanshaw Translatour of the renowned Pastor Fido and Secretary to his Majesty As for the thrice noble Duke Hamilton he was taken but not overcome over-powred but not vanquish't For after having made a most Heroick resistance he was reduced under his enemies power more for want of strength then valour but death entring in at those wounds which he so gallantly received in defence of his Soveraign soon after released him Major General Massey though he escaped the field yet his wounds being desperate he was forced to surrender himself to the Countesse of Stamford and was by her son the Lord Grey of Groby after the recovery of his wounds sent up prisoner to the Parliament and by them committed to the Tower from whence he not long after escaped and went to his Majesty beyond sea This strange and wonderful Victory as the Juncto at Westminster gave it out to be though they had six to one in the field made that sectarian party cock-a-hoop and to make it the greater publick days of Thanks-giving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their villanies murders tyrannies and treasons and now they boast in all their discourses how clearly it might appear that God owned their cause and disowned their adversaries I think a modern Writer hath sufficiently confuted that commonly received tenent of Polititians * That success denotes actions to be either just or unjust I shall therefore leave the sober Reader here to satisfie himself and refer it to him whether such do not justly deserve Ovid's wish Careat succèssibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Let him for ever in success be poor That thinks it justifies his cause the more But this Nation is so highly sensible of the injustice put upon them by those who pretend so much right in their Cause that there 's no Loyal Subject but will think according to reason that it was not the justice of their cause but our own and the Nation's sinnes which caused God to raise up these men as scourges both to Prince and people and to the Prince onely for the Peoples sake Some I have heard which out of a spirit which I cannot well define have endeavoured to brand his Royal Majesty with Cowardize in this battel which from whence it could proceed unlesse from their own coward nature which would insimulate another in that of which themselves are guilty I cannot imagine since Cromwell the greatest of his Enemies because the most desirous of his Kingdoms yet had so much of truth in him as to give a high and noble Character of his Valour But to proceed We have now said enough of this fatal battel the seeming ruine of the Royal Interest in England unless God of his mercy be pleased to restore it for the good peace and quiet of these Nations since without it we cannot hope to enjoy any His sacred Majesty being landed in France near Havre de Grace from thence with a Noble Lord in his Company posted directly for Roan where they stayed to alter their disguises and furnish them with habits answerable to their Qualities his Majesty from thence having dispatch't Letters to the French Court to acquaint his friends there of his safe arrival which doubtlesse caused no little joy in those who were real to him and almost despaired ever again to have seen him The Duke of Orleans sends his own Coach to fetch him several persons of quality go to meet him by whom he was attended to Paris and there received with all possible expressions of joy lodgings and attendants being forthwith provided for him in the Lâ—uure where at his first arrival he was visited by the Queen his Mother the Duke of Orleans who of all persons in the Kingdome exprest himself the most ready to do him service and the next day visits him again accompanied with his Daughter Madamoiselle He is likewise courted by the Dukes of Beaufort Longueville Guize the Marshal Thurine and many other Peers and Nobles of France who all congratulate his safe deliverance And now his Majesty having lost all hopes of any further means of attaining his Dominions by force leads here a retired life yet living in regard of his high alliance extraction in great esteem with all the French Nobility Insomuch that notwithstanding his present low condition there was very great talk of a match to be made up between him and the Madamoiselle de Orleans the richest Princes in Christendom yet by some means or other it came to no effect though the Queen of England his Mother was an earnest promoter of it and also of the Duke of York to Longneville's daughter Whilest these things were transacting hapned that lately reconciled Fracture between the Prince of Conde Cardinal Mazarine most of the Princes of the Blood siding with the first the King of France who was newly declared of age to sway the Scepter himself with the last The cause of the quarrel was that extravagant power which Mazarine a stranger had usurped in the government of the Kingdome both depriving the Princes of the Blood of their Right and oppressing the people whose daily murmurings more encouraged the Princes against him This power he had got into his hands in the Regency of the Queen Mother whose grand favourite he only was The Princes therefore though they could not during her Regency who so much loved him yet hoped they might effect something now the King himself is come to govern to which intent they charge him with several miscarriages