valour subdued Babylon and delivered the City to his own Master and Lord for which signal service Darius was wont to say familiarly that he did owe so much true honour and respect to his dear Zophyrus that he would rather have received him from Babylon without any blemish or mutilation then to have twenty Cities such as Babylon subdued to his imperial Scepter Menelaus Agamemnon and Vlisses had great service effected by the fidelity ingenuity and courage of Sinon †Virgil 2. Aeneidos who like a stout daring and subtil Greek insinuated and insnared the Trojans to their ruine and so effected a happy successe attended with much honour and renown to the Greeks in their long siege to Troy Marcus Antonius was a true faithful and loyal friend to Caesar and when he could do him no longer service in the Imperours life being slain by the conspirators he took his royal Robe stained with blood stabbed cut and mangled and making his funeral Orations to the people fill'd their eyes with tears their souls with sorrow and by degrees drew them to vindicative resolutions to revenge Caesars death Plutarch ' in vita Bruti which caused Cymber and Brutus and the chief conspirators to fly for fear of popular insurrection fury against the Traitors the light of these Pagan Heathen examples is not so dim but that it may serve to guide this present age into the paths of virtue resolutions of loyalty nay it may serve as a help to detect and discover the falshood treachery cowardise and ignoble disloyalty of many whom neither the laws of God nor of the Land have been strong enough to oblige them to the duty and Allegiance they owe and ought ever to pay to their Soveraign But these and all other morall examples of this kind come infinitely short of that transcendent worth that appeared so glorious in this noble Israelite for their grounds were at best but Honour Emulation or Interest and though founded on the basis of virtue friendship or fortitude yet their chiefest Actions and endeavours were accompnied with vain-glory and arrogancy if not tainte and stained with revenge proud ambition or sordid avarice But Hushai was led to his duty by the light of grace by the gratitude of a noble mind by the laws of God which commandeth * Psal 105. Touchnott mine Anointed because as the wiseman e Wis 6.3 Data est à Domino potestas regibus virtus ab altissimo assureth power is given to Kings from the Lord and Soveraignty from the Highest St. Paul therefore writing to the Roman Christians directs in the Apostolical Canon f Rom. 13.1 Rom. 13.4 Non tantum summo magistratui sed infimis quibusvis magistratus potestate fuugentibus debetur obedientia Theod. Beza Annota Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers And this is backt with many reasons because Kings receive their sword from God because they are his ministers because they are impowered to protect and punish and from this principle and fountain of evangelical truth it Naturally flows and follows that Kings in their persons and in their lawful heirs and successours and in all their just rights and commands are to be observed and obeyed Hence it is that Iews and Christians Greeks and Barbarians all persons of all sorts are commanded to render to every man what is due whether it be Tribute fear or honour and that duty is to be performed not only for wrath but for conscience sake non propter iram sed propter conscientiam Rom. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 13.2 The rule seemes positive and infallible that whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation St. Peter was as highly concern'd in this point with the Iews as St. Paul with the Gentiles and therefore they are directed and taught to submit themselves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 p. 17. whether it be to King as supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him this command is redoubled again by the same Apostle Fear God honour the King So then the duty of loyalty and allegiance to Princes is not only grounded on legal but evangelical principles and hath not only Prophetical but Apostolical foundations to warrant and support this truth and as the primitive and best Christians both in their active and passive obedience gave testimony of this truth even to Heathen and Pagan Princes and Emperours so Christ who is the way the truth and the life preached this doctrine and commanded to give unto Caesar what was Caesars to God what was Gods This day spring from an high probably did influence and enlighten Hushai the Archites noble and loyal Soul who seasonably and succesfully encountred the greatest danger disappointed the deepest policy and dissolved and dispersed the most unnatural Treason that the age had hatched or produced wherein King David lived and it is a just obligation that lyeth strictly on the resolution and affections of all subjects to the utmost of their reason and power to imitate if not exceed the great worth and virtue of this noble Archite in their duty and devoirs towards their Soveraign who being a Christian Monarch of a lawful Royal line for the succession of many hundred years may expect and require most justly the most exact performance of loyalty and true Allegiance and that not only because prescription custom reason laws but sacred oaths which are the highest bonds and call God himself to witnesse oblige and conjure the subjects to their fidelity and duty and this was performed punctually and compleatly by Hushai to King David who being one of the sons of Iesse was the first of his family who sate on the throne and succeeded with as much conflict as honour his unhappy predecessor Saul yet this noble person though the Monarchy was but a later foundation translated from the house of Saul to the house of David yet he did neither boggle nor startle though Absalon by his flattery of reformation insnared and infatuated the popular multitudes pretending justice when he traiterously invaded the person of the King and the prerogatives of the Crown yet none of these circumstances nor that the head-piece and politician Achitophel was in the conspiracy could deter Hushai from his duty but that he would adventure his life fortune and all that was dear to him in the Kings cause and so just a necessity he resolved that his courage his wisdome and his fidelity could never be more serviceable and therefore this loyal subject is more active and diligent to preserve King Davids rights and to immortallize his own honour in this unfortunate juncture of extremities many thousands loyal subjects of his Majesties three Kingdomes had Hushaies resolutions and affections in the late barbarous and unnatural wars some royalists by virtue of their Soveraignes commission raised troops
or alteration though from a discontented party or reconciled enemy in policy was not to be refused or unacceptable for though it might not much strengthen the King yet in some proportion it did debilitate and weaken the enemy and it might be probably hoped that as some branches had fallen from the Rebellious body others might follow their example or at least learn from them that an Army or party like a house or Kingdome divided within it self hath no long duration and cannot stand this declension from evil principles as it was an external testimony of repentance and grace so it must be acknowledged to be good service and a fair praeludium to future good effects but duty and endeavour of this Nature may rather and more fitly be reputed expiations for former crimes then pretensions to reward and merit which ever as the acute School men testify i Moritum importat aqualitatem justitiae Aquin. 3. quas 19. implyeth and importeth an equality of justice and right and justice doth not beg but boldly plead for desert and merit and to have and receive its rights not out of bounty or favour but as its due and debt a soveraign Throne cannot endure such petulant and bold pleaders This temper were rather tolerable in equals and Kings know none then inferiours and might better sute with commanders and soveraign Kings acknowledge none but God Rex a Deo primus nulli secundus then with those who have been offenders and in the highest priviledges ought to attend as humble petitioners So then though the service be never so infinite yet rising from the art and power of those who have so deeply offended there can be no pretences to merit which in a second reveiw is not to be granted or admitted without a lessoning diminution to the prerogatives of soveraignty which is so absolute that it cannot endure any intimation of command k Meritum est actio qua justum est ut agenti aliquiddetur Aquin. 3.49 c. 6. Now merit as the Schools teach is an action whereby it is not only might but necessary that reward and recompence be payed as a debt to him who hath acted now when the Actions and prevarications of those who have so highy injured and deeply wounded soveraignty and disturbed the peace and prosperity of three Kingdomes are ballanced and put into the Scales with their good works of loyalty though never so weighty they will be found utterly too light for reward or merit and rather justly prove objects of their Princes grace and clemency and in case their soveraign like Ahasuerus have inclined his royal Scepter towards them and thereby testified his bounty and goodnesse and so capacitated them with royal favour trust and honour these obligations as they magnifie the virtue of the Prince so they are as so many stronger chains to bind those who are obliged by them to greater perfection of loyalty and more exact and vigilant performances of their duty or else those favours will prove as so many witnesses to evidence against them and to accuse them of odious and monstruous ingratitude Meritum congrui condigni Aquin. l. 2. q. I 14. c. 6. And as to the medium or modification of the School distinction of condignity or is not to be admitted in this case for that of condignity or adequate merit is absolutely taken away and that of congruity or rather conveniency is totally and intirely to be recommended to the Princes Will Grace Wisdome and Iudgement who as he pleaseth may promote or punish as well as pardon by act of indemnity or amnesty as to royal pleasure shall seem expedient Apologies and excuses in delinquents thus exploded and all pretences to merit in those who have legally forfeited their lives liberties and estates by the laws of the land utterly abrogated what refuge can such offenders fly and address to as cordials to preserve their honour or their consciences perhaps some may plead their promise their vow their protestation their engagement or the covenant or their abjuration these were if righty judged exammined cunning subtile and sinful designs in the projectors and contrivers who framed them were Trumpets of Rebellion Sedition and faction sounded and blown up by those who promoted them and proved as snares to their Souls who either weakly submitted or with temporizing appetites did greedily swallow them and these cobweb lines spun out of the body womb of a venimous spider are not strong enough to hold a subjects hand or heart from his duty of faith allegiance towards his Soveraign and each one of these feeble and subsequent obligations being sifted by truth and reason as well as laws and justice will crumble to nothing before the oathes of allegiance and supremacy and the light of that duty that by municipal decrees by the laws of nature birth-right every subject oweth to his Prince being born under his prerogative and power in any of his Kingdomes or Dominions First as to promises l Promissio est actus iationis quia est enuntiatio ordinatio alicujus T. Aquin. 22. quae 88. a. 1. which are the suddain and usually most transient verbal obligations and ought to be effected of all persons of understanding Religion and Honour they ought ever to be acts of sound reason and judgement raised on good foundations and duly considered before they come to be published and proclaimed by the tongue or signed by the hand and even the strictest promises or paroles do not oblige the Faith or Honour of him that m Promissa non debent securari si estillicitum quod promittiur vel si sint mutatae conditionis personarum vel negotiorum Ad hoc ergo quod homo debeat servare quod promiserat oportet ut sit licitum quod promittitur quod omnia immutata permaneant Aquin. 22 ae quest 110. a. 35. promiseth if what be promised be illicit or unlawful or if the conditions of Persons or affairs be changed and altered These essentials rightly considered what ever promises have been made by subjects against the soveraignty of their Princes liberties of their Country laws of the land do fall to the Ground dissolve of themselves because of their illicit ununlawful foundation And as to the mutation of persons or affaires subjects are not to make new promises of combination or conspiracy against the true old principles of faith and true allegiance to their Kings for whether they sit gloriously and puissantly on their thrones or by any black misfortune are reduced to a low degree their character is indelible and being Gods vice-gerent in all conditions their subjects owe them reverence and true allegiance The first scruple thus easily blown over the second may prove of lesser difficulty some more zealous then judicious proceed further and plead they have not only promised but vowed now a vow seems to be a cord of stronger twisting the rather because an act of more
2 Sam 15 vers the 32 Behold Hushai the Archite came to meet the King with his coat rent and earth upon his head Loyalty amongst REBELS The True ROYALIST Or HUSHAY the Archite A happy Counsellour in King's DAVID'S Greatest Danger Say unto Absalon I will be thy servant O King 2 Sam. 15.34 I Counsel thee to keep the Kings Commandement and that in Regard of the Oath of God Eccles 8.2 Written by EDWARD WOLLEY D.D. and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Sacred Majesty King CHARLES the II. LONDON Printed for Iohn Williams at the signe of the Crown in S. Paul's Churchyard 1662. To the Right Honourable JOHN Baron Grenvil of Kilkhampton and Biddiford Viscount Grenvil of Lands-Down and Earle of Bathe Groome of the Stool and first Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber Lord Warden of the Stanneryes Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall and High Steward of the Dutchy and Governour of his Majesties Town Island Fort and Castle of the Garrison of Plimouth MY LORD I Have had the honour and happines to know you from your tender years and have discerned your cordial affections and endeavours to serve the Church as an obedient Sonne your Prince as a most Loyal Subject your Countrey as a most faithful Patriot And as Pompey when but a youth to experience your Fortitude fidelity to the Crown and without injury or flattery it may in some degree be said of you as Plutarch writes of that Noble Roman Is etiamnum adolescens totum se factioni Syllanae addixit cumque nec Magistratus nec Senator esset magnum ex Italiâ contraxit exercitum That you were a very early Commander in your youth and those four terrible wounds which you received in the fight at Newberry three in your head and one in your arm Continue those marks and cicatrices which as honourable badges of loyalty will bear you company to your Grave It was a question once started about Ascanius by Andromache whether he was like his Father Aeneas or his Vncle Hector Ecquid in antiquam virtutem animosque viriles Et Pater Aeneas a vunculus excitat Hector Andromache in Virgil Aeneid de Ascanio But there is not any need of such a question concerning your Lordship in whom the varietie of your Noble Ancestors seem to concenter So that the pietie of Richardus de Granâ Villâ who founded the Abbey of Neath in Glamorgan-shire in the fourth year of the raigne of King William Rufus liveth in you The courage of Sir Richard Grenvil your great Grandfather who commanded the Rear-Admiral a Ship called the Revenge wherein he so gallantly behaved himself that in a desperate fight at Sea with the Spaniards he sunk destroyed infinite numbers of Qu. Elizabeths enemies when others made all the sail they could to avoid the danger And the loyalty and great worth of Sir Bevill Grenvill seem as thriving seeds to grow up and flourish in you And it will be an honour and happiness to your Lordship to be not onely a Son and Heire of his Name loynes but of his virtues who so loved the Church of England that in person he guarded the late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury against the fury of the tumultuous Rabbles in all commotions and Rebellions either of England and Scotland in the late blessed Kings Raign he manifested the dutie of a Loyal Subject and of a noble Commander at the fight at Stratton he was successful against the enemie with a handful of men And at the fight at Lands-downe like another Epaminondas though he lost his life he got the Victory Et cum sentiret vulnus esse lethale non prius ferrum eduxit quam audisset Thebanos vicisse tum satis inquit vixi invictus enim morior To encourage his Souldiers he fought with bleeding wounds and finding that his countrey men like Gallant Thebans won the day animam efflavit he fell gloriously into the bosome of true honour renown These exemplars of virtue have doubtless attracted your Resolutions to imitation of your Ancestors and have enflamed your affections with true and right principles of Nobleness and honour But that which renders you most lovely to all who know your Lordship is that incomparable service which by your prudence fidelity secrecy and courage was transacted effected together with the Duke of Albemarle and his brother the Lord Bishop of Hereford in order to his Majesties Restauration which maketh three Kingdomes happy This is the chiefest loadstone motive that makes me address to your Lordship for patronage and protection in this argument wherein I endeavour to prove that truth may be in company with Traitors and Loyalty amongst Rebels as Hushai the Archite who was King Davids best friend and most faithful subject in his greatest danger It is true many worthyes did attend his Majesties Person in pinching extremityes abroad for many years and many thousand loyal Subjects of the three Kingdomes indured insupportable miseries from usurping bloody Wolves at home and the stings of a sort of Trepanning creeping Serpants as equally venemous as dangerous hardly to be avoided These true Royalists were on all occasions active in their persons in their counsels in their relations their friends in their purses and their prayers and by all wayes and interests to promote his Majesties Restauration But your Lordship as a more signal instrument of much happiness hath received gracious markes of Noble trust honour and favour from his Majesty the thanks of all England in the Kingdomes Representative the Parliament which will prove a happy record of your honour to posterity and blessed for ever be those hands and hearts who have contributed much or cast in if but a mite to that blessed work There is another small tender branch which budded seasonably about seven years since and appeared in the Kingdom under the complexion and colour of a Translation in the case and Parallel of Lewis the fourth the French King This first went abroad to keep alive those loyal sparks which lay-under the ashes of Cruelty and Persecution in the year 1654. meeting with curteous tinder it took fire and inflamed many affections towards the King This small piece was reprinted eight moneths before his Majesties return to England and it proved so prosperous that some thousand copies were dispersed vented in fourty houres And then it grew suddenly a publick discourse in the City and Countrey videlicet the Kings Case in the Parallel of Lewis the fourth of France This Branch leans on your Lordships Patronage and favour is added to this discourse to perpetuate all Subjects resolutions in their allegiance to their Princes and as a part of justice and merit that his endeavours nay be discerned who gave it life first fixed and planted it in England and so not to be any longer fathered on adopted authors * Tulit alter honores Virgil. My Lord I shall not afflict your Lordship with any further present trouble but wishing
destroyed the Prince and his People or if there can be any thing worse there is a brood and generation of pretenders to the best and most loyal services because they attended in the Navie that wafted refluctuated the King into England that they had adventured to Breda to Brussels to Holland to France to Germany that they had been active at home and dutiful abroad and had contrived and contributed most both in their persons and purses towards his Majesties Restauration And it were an unkindnesse if not a crime to derogate from such pretensive merits but the sting that causeth a sore swelling is that these new brooms returned to loyalty sweep all so clean that they leave no work not the least Atome of honour in this high concern to those nobler spirits who never forfeited their fidelity to their King but as Hushai ever walked by the influence of his Majesties commission or commands and in all conditions whether active or passive in the concerns of their Faith and Allegiance never swerved nor so much as warped from their Native obedience or from the rules and dictates of Honour and a good Conscience This great Hero and exemplar of his fidelity to his Prince is recorded in the Sacred book of God and thence recommended to all subjects of all ages of all Kingdomes as a lively pattern to direct them in their duty and service towards their Soveraign and in many excellencies he is hardly imitable for the holy Historian tells the world 2 Sam. 15. that this loyal Israelite unsummon'd unsent for no sooner heard the news of the Kings sad condition that Absolon was unnaturally turn'd Traitor against his Father and the people in Rebellion against their King but instantly this great worthy marcheth after his Prince and finding him on the top of the Mount where he worshiped God he attended his Soveraign Lord with diligence and haste though his sad posture presented the Affliction and sorrow of his soul for his coat was rent and his head was covered with earth and what posture could better become a loyal heart then what cleerly expressed grief or indignation to see or hear of a disobedient Son persecuting a loving Father or a stubborn deluded people infatuated into a high and horrid Rebellion but Hushai was neither startled at his Princes dangerous condition nor consulted for his own safety nor was catched with flattery and the large promises of the Traitors oyle and smooth tongue nor did he dread or stand amazed at the oraculous Counsells of Achitophel the grand politician but his Native duty conducts him speedily to wait on his Prince and true and unspoted loyallty allegiance directing him in his march without any doubts or disputes laying his life at his Masters feet he in an instant bespeaks himself a perfect Royalist and so with his life friends and fortune ready to obey whatever commands the King thinks fit to impose upon him Some noble Heathens have left to the world famous examples of their love and loyalty to their Princes and to the shame and dishonour of many infamous Christians have exceeded them for their fidelity and true allegiance Plutarch * Hephaestion unut ex Alex. magni ducibus quem ille cum Cratero ita conterebaiut hunc quidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hephastionem vero 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellaret Plutarch in vita Alexandri hath recorded Hephaestion to the memory of his immortal honour that he passionately loved and esteemed the person of Alexander the great and in his discourse with Craterus the Conquerour told him that Hephaestion did not only love him as a King but did most affectionately honour him as Alexander And it was a royal mark and distinction of Alexanders own creating to stile Craterus a lover of the King but Hephaeston a lover and admirer of Alexander and it seems his duty to his Prince as it received bounty from his Soveraign whiles he lived was rewarded with high honour when he was dead for the same Author affirmes that this noble Emperour in a grateful memory to so faithful a subject and so couragious a commander magnificently expended more then twelve thousand Talents upon his exequies and Funerals There is such another passage of Clitus * Clitus inter pracipuos Alexan. Maced familiares eidemque charissimus quod filius essetnutricis illi us tum quod ab illo in vitae discrimine fuisset servatus hunc in convivio liberius in Persicos mores invectum Rex temulentus spiculo trajecit cujus facti postridie tanta cepit paenitentia discussa jam ebrietate ut totum triduum à cibo abstinuerit decreveritque omuino inedia sibi mortem concissere ac amicum optime de se meritum ad inferos persequi sumptuoso cumfunere sepelivit Plutarc in vita Alexandri who having been Alexanders nurcesson and in his person and Relations most serviceable to the King in many of his greatest dangers The Emperour advanced him to great favours and enriched him with Princely munificency and when a Persian intemperate excesse and debauchery had drown'd the Kings reason and had raised a tempest in his passions so that in his fury with a javelin he had slain his favourite yet this sad accident so deeply affected the Emperour when he had recovered his confounded reason that he appeared to be overwhelmed in a gulf of shame and sorrow and so giving rules for his own pennance obliged himself to a hard duty hence determining and decreeing that his intemperance should be rewarded with penury and that he who had so ignobly abused plenty and in such extravagant luxury slain his friend should justly dye and perish for want of food hereby the King proposed a more speedy death to himself that he might more suddenly follow the Ghost of Clytus to the imagined shades below Such a character of true worth and loyalty Darius gave of his dear Zophyrus who waging warr and besieging the vast City of Babylon but without successe or victory trusted the possibilities of the effecting of that design to the fidelity courage and wisdome of faithfull Zophyrus who the better to disguise himself and to accomplish the conquest with greater safety to his person and more secure successe to his Soveraign disfigured his face to a high deformity and having permitted his ears his †Nobilis Persa ipse sibi nasum aures labia amputavit ita Babylonas quasi transfuga se contulit conquerens de crudelitate sui Regis receptus egitur a Babyloniis dux belli constitutus urbem Dario tradidit unde Darius solebat dicere se Zophyrum malle integrum quam viginti capere Babylonas Herod lib. 4. lips and his nose to be cut off as pretended by a Persian barbarous cruelty in this posture he adressed to the Babylonians as an abused and tortured Persian fugitive where being received and advanced to great trust and command as a General of their Army by his prudence and
of Horse and foot fortyfied Townes and Castles equipped ships and using the utmost of their endeavours hazarded their lives relations and fortunes and to render a full assurance of their loyalty to their Prince were not daunted with fire or sword nor discouraged with imprisonment banishment or any degree of the most tormenting crucruelties nay death in so just a cause leading and laying them in a bed of honour they feared neither the losse of limbs or lives in their service of their King and Country and when after many tedious years their forces subdued by excessive power or betrayed by cunning Treachery did fail the Kings party cherished loyalty in their hearts and though they were plundred unmercifully sequestred and decimated illegally and forced to slavish compositions and harased with cruel asperities and ignominies as bitter as death yet assoon as their Hair as Sampsons did begin to spring after so many sharp raisors and shavings and their strength began to come to them they were active in their designs and in their contrivances ever attempting some noble enterprise that might recover their King to his Throne and themselves to the liberty and priviledge of free born subjects some in their capacities attended his Majestie and the royal branches in their perigrination abroad others as laborious Bees toiled and worked if the day was fair and secure in their several stations or circuits of their interests in their own Countryes And upon occasion saluting or tasting the inclination of every flour they met with they make it their only business to convey the thyme and hony of true loyalty to the Royal Hive some are very active in their purses others turned the cock to the streams of other mens plenty others in their prayers some did use their most refined abilities to distract the Counsels of the many headed monster the long at last Rumping Parliament some noble spirits who dearly paid for their Testimony of Loyalty designed the death of the grand Imposture and Usurper Cromwel whose Son like an Ignis Fatuus quickly vanished some gave with daring ingenuity and occasion of great distraction in the Army and rais'd jealousies and distrust amongst the Officers and soldiers some for many years discreetly acted their parts and very prosperously amongst the Aldermen Common Councel and more Eminent stickling Citizens who being easily perswaded that Trade generally decayed that their ships were taken dayly by the men of war at sea and that a pinching Poverty was ready to seaze on them armed themselves privately and as some of the gallant Senators stoutly on several occasions told the Relicks of the long Parliament the Committy of Safety and Officers of the Army that The Treasure of the City was exhausted trade utterly lost and many thousand families impoverished So neither could nor would they advance any monies any further to maintain that disorderly and illegal rabble of Ianizaries and Soldiers who as they had a long time inter rupted the prosperity and commerce in the Citty and over the whole land So they now resolved to defend their Liberties Rights and Properties as carefully as their lives and being threatned with terrour and menaces of Plundering imprisonment and other hostile and horrid injuries by fire and sword they very gallantly replyed that they would unanimously stand on their guards to defend themselves maugre all opposition as they had prosperously in such cases of danger when they suspected a tumultuary rising of the rabble in the reigns of King Richard the third when he marched against Henry the seventh to the battaile at Bosworth-field as they had in King Henry the eights reign when he went to Bullen in France as they had equipaged themselves in Queen Elizabeths reign An. Dom. 1588. And according to several presidents of this kind for which services the City received solemn thanks from the Crown for their great care of themselves and the Royal City as it appears in their City records and transactions of their political affaires they then thus provoked thus disposed quickly resolved to hold fast their purses though they could neither their tongues nor their hands monyes the nerves of the monstruous body suddenly shrinking the Officers of the Army fell into distraction and the private souldiers wanting pay quickly began to raile and revile to kick and to cut and to scorne cashiere their Officers in a few dayes both became as odious as ridiculous to the generality of the people of the three Kingdomes who resolving to shake of their Iron yoke of vassalage comforted themselves in their hopefull possibilities And as lines running most naturally to the center began to fix their thoughts and hopes in their Soveraignes Restauration The hearts of men waxing warm with these desires and possibilities they began to talk freely and plainly that neither City nor Country could be happy until the King should be restored that the whole Land was in a sad confusion and horrid distress and the City and Common Councel discerning a happy conjunction of affection and assistance from all parts sent stout answers on several occasions to the tedious long Parliament to the Officers of the Army to Fleet wood and his Walling for dians at the Committee of safety that the City was for want of Trade and through the losse of many hundred ships so impoverished and reduced to such extremities that they neither could nor would advance any further summers of monyes These unexpecte Resolutions and assurances caused the Enemies of Monarchy First to shiver and splinter into distraction and then to fall into despaire and each Brother growing jealous of his Fellow Traitor guilt of horrid Crimes in securing their condition the better to avoide popular fury they think of addresses to the clemency of their Prince which in such high offences is ever the happiest refuge and Asylum whiles the simptomes of the new modeld Anarchy thus fully appeare And the frame of the monstrous and tottering Government was thus shaken many noble Hushaies and true Royallists The Duke of Albemarle the Earl of Bath took fast hold on these encouraging opportunities and most successfully proved most wise conducters of Affairs mightily tending to the Restauration of the King and with his Majesty The Lord Bishop of Hereford the recovery of our Religion liberties and laws which without his presence and protection seemed much like to a consumptive dying patient ready at the last gasp to give up the Ghost But whiles these unspotted Royallists for almost twenty years continuance in a confused Government and the outrages of a Civil war were constantly Active or Passive in their duty for the Crown Another party either conscious of their errour or convinced in their judgement or at least concerned in their respective interest shewed themselves like brothers of the half bloud to have a deep resentment of the great injuries perpetrated against an imperial Crown and to own their fellow subjects for Auxiliaries and Coadjutors in the publick concernment of their King and Country
serious consultation and of more sacred restriction n Votum à voluntate dictum quasi deliberatione propositio profectum Buca instit Theo. l. 45. promises are commonly made to men but o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sic Eustath Vowes seem to mount a step higher and being offered to the Deity are observed with a more divine and dreadfull attestation of God and to violate vowes is much more dangerous the votaries may plead but in this point it will appear that an unlawful vow is as easily and justly to be broken as a rash and undiscreet or disloyal promise the rather because a vow properly is an p Votum est actus latriae Religionis Tho. Aqui. 22 ae q 88. a 5. Votum promissio Deo facta de meliori bono idem Votum testificatio quaedam promissionis spontanea qua debet fieri Deo de iis quae Dei sunt Aqui. 22ae quest 88. Ad Votum tria requirunt deliberatio Propositum promissio idem act of religious worship It is a promise to God of the intention resolution to some better good because it is a solemn testification of a deliberated voluntary promise made and offered unto God to perfect and compleat which are a resolute purpose and a certain or constant promise Now these circumstances and requisites are such as the votary need nor err unless he will be affectely ignorant or rashly and willfully sinful Now for a subject to vow to that which is unlawful to signe to that which is sinful to offer such a sacrifice to God which is odious and unacceptable is an aggravation of the crime and therefore not to be kept but to be broken off with more bitter repenrance and more zealous detestation q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Votum temerarium illegitimum quod de rebus illcitis malo fine ae personis etiam non ui juris suscipitur Bucan The. Instit I. 45. quest 4. And if every perty sin be offensive before the eternal God how abominable must those sins appear which like scarlet and crimson are of a double dye aggravated with sollemn vows and promisses and yet so much the more sinful because attempted and perpetrated by those who in the case of loyalty as subjects cannot be absolved from their oaths of allegiance to their King and so not being sui juris at liberty have no power to make illicit vows of this kind and are not to give so much as consent to their illegallity The subjects in This case of allegiance being as strictly restrained and durifully obliged to their Prince in his power and pleasure and the justnesse of the laws as children under the power of their Parents as a Wife during the life of her Husband as servants are obliged to their Masters until they are at liberty r Num 30.4.5.7 Votum animae vinculum Vota eorum infringi poterant If a vow though lawful were by Gods word thus stated in the power of the Parent the Husband the Master a minore ad majus much more are illicit vows to be abrogated and broken in subjects vowing not only against their Princes consent but against the houour and safety of their sacred persons and their royal Crown and dignity by these arguments it plainly appears that neither rash and unvised advised promises nor serious sinful and deliberated vows are to be kept or observed no more then that Anathema under which some desperate zealous bloudy Iews bound themselves neither to eat nor drink till they had slain St. Paul ſ Act. 23.12.14 Stulto zelo correpti mentiri occidere quidvis denique tibi licere arbitrabantur T. Beza in loc There is a third bond or obligation that some tender curiosities lay hold on The 3. protestation and that is the protestation which though never formed nor forced into the nature of a municipal and binding law yet was cunningly devised by some state politicians and sent and dispersed over the Kingdomes to taste the inclinations of the people or at least as Shiboleth to distinguish who were really and truly Royalists and who were not which form of obliging a party very probably took its example from Germany where the Lutherans solemnly protested against some doctrinal and practical proceeding of the Church of Rome And from this root sprang the distraction that those reformed Christians who deserted the communion of the Roman Church were commonly called Protestants but the protestation of a later and parliamentary conception and birth was not so much to distinguish Christians of several Churches as to discern persons how they stood affected to the King or to his great Councel whether they would as loyal subjects adhere to the Soveraignty of their Prince or in case his Majesty dissented from his two houses whether they would adventure all and to live and dye with a Parliamentary party of their fellow subjects and be subservient to their ends and interests this protestation was an early cunning bait and like Manna it pleased most pallats because it contained in it a variety of lawful good things and what could be more acceptable to a true Son of the Church of England then to defend her doctrine what duty more agreeable to a subject then to defend the prerogatives of his Soveraigns crown and what endeavour more honourable then to preserve the priviledges of Parliament and the laws of the land These four dishes seasonably served might relish well and find a good digestion being duties in themselves rightly understood fit for a good resolutition in any subject who honoured his King loved his Country or had a care of his soul yet the branches of that protestation did spread into so great a latitude in respect of the variety of the definitive points of the doctrine of the Church the unlimitted prerogatives of the Crown undetermined priviledges of Parliament and the difficulty of understanding the multitude and body of the learned laws that after the protestation was licked into a form as a golden pill quickly swallowed by about t weny members of the Commons House The pill being tasted by a more judicious pallate was disrelished and had stopt there if these words viz. as far as lawfully I may had not as a more safe ingredient been added to it there as if a warrantable dispensation had been given to every mans conscience sense and reason it was clearly swallowed without chawing or the least dispute The protestation then was at most but a conditional asseveration stuffed with great variety of dificulties and obscurityes And though the doctrine of the Church of England the Kings prerogative and the laws of the land had elbow-room in those few lines yet the priviledges of that Parliament which in time destroyed the King the Church and the laws under a specious name deluded the bewitched people into a horrid rebellion which caused great misery devastation to three flourishing Kingdomes now when those who took the
prodigiously to destroy the roots and branches of the royal stemm and though it was hatcht and contriv'd by a cunning hypocritical Crocodile and his bloudy Sycophants Cromwel yet as if Heaven and Earth God and man did abhor such an odious oath and combination how suddenly did it please God that his arme of providence should appear and incline the hearts not only of his loyal subjects but even of those who had been bitter Enemies to the royal throne to endeavour and cooperate for his Majesties restauration And now all these Withes and new Cords being broken by a Samsonian strength and influence from true Soveraignty are untwisted and unravel'd to an odium and a scorn And the Parliament hath judiciously and nobly determined and damn'd the covenant the Engagement and the oath of Abjuration to be illegal factious and seditious papers and all rational subjects may securely acquiess in their judgement and determination u Malum quod juramus facere non debemus implâ—â—â— D. Ber. de perjur ser 32. If this Collyrium clear not the eyes of all Protesters Covenanters Engagers and abjurators nor all these reasons reduce the phanatically deluded to their fidelity and allegiance to their King let them beware least the judgement as well as the sins of detestable perjury follow or fall upon them This is a horrid crime which the Schoolmen lay open to the world in this dress that x Perjurium est mondacium juramento firmatum Aurey Thes Eccles lib. 4. dist 39. perjury is a ly confirm'd and ratified by an oath and this is a most fearful aggravation And it is St. Hieroms resolution y Ius jurandum tres habet comites veritatem judicium justitiam Hieron super Hieremi 22. q. 2. that no oath is lawful unless it be attended with three indispensable concomitants viz. Truth Iudgement and Righteousnesse and where all or any of these three faile an oath is perjury St. Austin is more strict claring plainly z Cum sit vel putat falsum esse tamen pro vero jurat D. Aug. de ver Apost ser 28. that he is perjured that sweareth voluntarily what he knoweth to be false with a deceitful design or if he perfectly know it not thinketh it to be false The Fathers make an out-cry and declaim severely against this crime and call it Bellua detestanda a most detestable beast and filthy sin The schoolmen seem yet more severe then the Fathers a Iurans rerum quod putat esse falsum vel jurans falsum quod putat esse verum est perjurus T. Aquin. 22. ae q. 98 1.3 Aquinas determins that he who sweareth the truth which he thinketh to be false or swearing that which is false thinketh it to be truth is a perjured person Where the sin is so notorious the infamy and obloquies so odious and the judgements of the Eternal revenger so terrible and dangerous against perjured persons how careful should subjects be to recover themselves to the duty of loyalty and thereby to repair their credit and to vindicate themselves from eternal plagues and infamy The clouds thus dispersed by the beams of truth and rational arguments It is most evident that those subjects who started from their allegiance loyalty can neither plead excuse or merit for their tergiversation Apostacy as to any unlawful oaths wherewith their soules were insnared or intangled they are by the supream laws of God the laws of men discharghed absolved from them unless hardned with obstinacy they will as 't is in the Greek proverb b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. malum malo meditatur sophocles Aeneas Platonicus ad sin unto sin force one nail with driving another and to perjury adde wilful impenitency but better things may be hoped from all subjects who as men look on themselves as born for rational society or as Christians professing the truths of sacred religion and not longer adhering to self opinion or seditious faction be perfectly converted to be true cordial royalists remembring the caution and counsel the late royal c Εικον Βασιλικε cont 19. pag. 174. Martyr gave not to pretend a reformation and to force a rebellion nor to hearken or give credit to those parasitick preachers who dared to call those Martyrs who dyed fighting against their King the laws their oathes and the religion established But sober Christians know that glorious title of Martyrs can with truth be applied to those who sincerely preferred Gods truth and their duty in all particulars before their lives and all that was dear to them in this world who where religiously sensible of those tyes to God the Church and the King which lay on their souls both for obedience and just assistance By this time apostatiz'd and deluded subjects their eyes being as well opened with sad experience as bright beames of reason and truth may cleerly see their errours and more securely avoid their dangers But least as those who behold their faces in a glass they may upon aremoval utterly forget their features or complexions It may not prove improper to set before us those pure Christals of Piety Wisdome Religion Honour and Government which the customes and laws of former ages have conveyed to this present generation engaging both the King and people to their respective dutyes whereby the soveraign and all his subjects are comprehended under â—â—mental obligationds d Fidelis sermo retinet locum sacramenti Iuramento non egit veritas D. Ber. Serm. 32. This difference and distinction only admitted that glorious Princes of the imperial Crown of England have in their royal grace and voluntary condescention accustomed themselves to solemn oathes at their coronation but the Kings subjects are obliged by oaths setled formed and confirmed by laws to exhibit and perform their homage Fealty allegiance and Fidelity to their Kings as Gods annointed and in these high priviledges and prerogatives the Kings of England seem to have a more legal tye and soveraignty over their subjects then either the Crown of France or Spain whose subjects are commanded in greater vassalage and as brighter and leading stars that sacred oathes obligations are here presented which pious Kings and Queens have accustomed to take at their coronation when they sealed to their sacred vows in the communion and sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and then as better fitted have laid their hands on the blessed Evangelists bowing their heads have kissed the book the best eternal evidence of the affection of the heart and thus prepared they have usually received the Imperial Crown and Scepter with other Regalia and Emblems of royal Majestie from Gods altar as holding all their power and soveraignty from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that God Angels and Men Heaven and Earth and the whole world and all ages to come may behold the pious integrity of Sacred Princes The Kings Oath at his Coronation L. Bishop of London
of twenty thousand men and Absolon as neither worthy of favour from Heaven or Earth riding on a mule his head was caught hold on by the thick boughes of the Oak and the Mule the very beast whereon he rode forsook him and went away and left him to be pierced through with the darts of vengance and the weapons of death The Traitors thus dispersed and routed good news of a happy victory 2 Sam. 18.31 and tidings of Salvation was posted to King David in the mouth of Chushi n so the Prophet Samuel relates that Chushi came and Chushi said tidings my Lord the King for the Lord hath avenged thee this day on all those that rose up against thee The Enemies discomfited and the victory proclaimed Israel as well as Iudah fell into a zealous emulation and contention for loyalty and King Davids Enemies strive to manifest themselves chearsul and obedient subjects this is evident in the sacred passages of this royal story Israel fled every man to his tent and as at an instant in the next verse saith the Prophet and all the people were at strife through all the tribes of Israel saying The King saved us out of the hands of our Enemies 2 Sam. 19.6 and he delivered us out of the Philistines and now he is fled out of the Land for Absolon and Absolon whom we have anointed over us is dead in battel Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back Thus the Kings greatest Enemies in his suddain prosperity became his friends but as for Iudah his loyal party the King returning towards Hierusalem in triumph had an eye principally on them And King David sent to Zadock and to Abiathar saying speak unto the Elders of Judah saying why are ye the last to bring back the King to his house 2 Sam. 19.10.11 seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the King even to his house ye are my brethren ye are my bones and ye are my flesh wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the King Thus at King Davids return and restauration towards Hierusalem Iudah and Israel 2 Sam. 19.15 friends and foes all being King Davids subjects 1 Vnanimi consensu Tremel in loc united their acclamations in this happy occasion of solemn joy 2 Sam 19.41.42 43. and as rivals seemed to contend whether Tribes should appear more absolute and perfect royalists the Prophets expressions are most emphatical And behold all the men of Israel came to the King Tribules Iehudae qui pro Davide militarant quibus copiis freti audaciores erant in sua responsione Iunius and said unto the King why have our brethren the men of Iudah stolen thee away and brought the King and his houshould all Davids men with him over Jordan And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel because the King is near of kin to us Wherefore then be ye angry for this matter have we eaten at all of the Kings cost Refellendo rationes Israelitarū ludifican do co insolentius adhuc locuti sunt quam Israelitae Tremel in loc or hath he given us any gift And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said we have ten parts in the King we have also more right in David then ye why then did ye despise us that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our King and the words of the men of Judath were fiercer then the words of the men of Israel as justly despising their pretences to merits and thanks who had so lately co-assisted in such a bloody rebellion The storm thus over of King Davids troubles and the confusions so calmed and allayed by the Kings incomparable wisdome his Generals courage and conduct in the Army and the unparaleld counsel and fidelity of Hushai the King was gloriously restored to his throne the Priests admitted peaceably to attend at the Altar and all the subjects both Iudah and Israel contended for more exact precedency in the duty of loyalty and allegiance These were the effects of these noble endeavours conferring much advantage to the King and Kingdomes happinesse these examples of Fidelity and Loyalty may direct all subjects of future ages to intimate to their utmost power the sincere and faithful Israelite and that none may over admire or too much flatter themselves or services Observations on Hnshai Obs I it may prove pertinent and to the purpose to remember that Hushai was first passionately afflicted when he heard of the Kings distresse and danger and dutifully attended his royal person and commands secondly he sturred not from the King until David commanded him Ob. II thirdly Ob. III that he waited on Absolon in his counsels but not without the Kings privity and instruction fourthly Ob. IV that he exceeded not his commission but from point to point obeyed the Kings pleasure fiftly Ob. V that his confidence and the persons to whom he was recommended for the more happy transactions of the great trust reposed in him were Zadock and Abiathar the Priests and their two sons Ionathan and Ahimaaz men of piety fidelity and sobernesse sixtly Ob. VI that Hushai was so high in esteem with King David that he was both by the King and his Enemies owned as King Davids friend seventhly Ob. VII that the hand of God did signally appear at this time in the Kings great deliverance and readvancement to his Throne for God had appointed and Commanded it should be so These circumstances premised It will be the safest way and most honourable for all subjects who as deluded Israelites have offended their Soveraign and yielded either to Absolons flattery or Achitophels Counsels and so defiled their souls with Treason and Rebellion to become cordial and true converts to their Prince and laying fast hold on his mercy and clemency to repent them truly for their crimes and errours For this is the plain Path to true Content and high way and passage to Heaven The Parallel betwixt King CHARLES the II. King of ENGLAND And LEWIS the IV. the FRENCH King THe Father of King Lewis the fourth of France was deposed and dead in Prison his Subjects in Rebellion and at the same time he an Exile in England but the success of time changed the face of all affairs and strook a deep sence into the Rebels thoughts so that they who so evil entreated the Father recalled the Son to elevate him to the Royal Throne Behold here that Gallant young Prince at the Sea-side and in the view of those Vessels wherein he sailed from Dover to Calis Thus Congratulating his Subjects before he accepted the present of his Scepter Published first 1654. Reprinted again 1659. LEWIS the IV. To his Revolted Subjects BEfore I shall receive your Oath of Fidelity which I may justly demand and you ought dutifully to take I shall let you know you have recalled this day a Prince who during his Exile had
pleasure In a word I find it far more glorious to be a loyal Subject then to be a King disobeyed Prepare then your selves to render me all that obedience which you owe me and without farther informing you whether you are to hope more for Clemency or Iustice resolve your selves to an absolute submission I know well some peevish Polititians will censure that I act not as I ought in this conjuncture and that I should reflect on former passages with some sweetness and gratifie you with Presents to encourage you with future hopes but I presume my Policy is more generous and more secure then theirs for if I had so perswaded you perhaps you would have believed me to have been more fit to wear my Fathers Irons then his Crown and would have more suspected me of weakness and dissimulation this excessive indulgence would give you more of fear and me less of honour and estimation I being then so far from following such Maximes tell you once more that I declare my self to be your King And without farther capitulation with you I ascend the Throne by the steps of mine own Authority as Soveraignly as if not recalled by you at all Hitherto I have let you know I am not ignorant how far the duty of Subjects ought to bend But moreover I judge it fit to acquaint you to what degree Soveraign Clemency may extend it self to this end that by that resentment you may reasonably know what to fear and what to hope Know then that although a Prince may justly punish Traytors he may likewise pardon penitent offenders principally then when he discerns his pardon shall reclaim insolency to obedience and fidelity For seeing Kings are the Fathers of the people they ought not alwayes to be too severe in justice and seeing that a Prince may afford grace and pardon to his enemies he may without doubt shew pity and mercy to his own Subjects He cannot well punish them all but must in part enfeeble himself nor sluce out their blood without emptying his own veins wherefore he ought to spare as far as Reason and Iustice can make the way passable When then a particular accident grows up against a Prince or State it may suffice that the heads of some chief offendors be sacrificed to a reparation and that by some severe examples others may be instructed with exemplary terrour But seeing that the number of the offendors may prove infinite and if all should be punish't a desolation of entire Provinces might succeed and consequently more men be lost then 15. main Battails could devour so that the piles of dead corps should make mountains and severe execution of revenge cause Rivers of bloud in such considerations I say It may be better to use a great example of Clemencie then of Iustice and hazard something rather then to loose the lives of so many miserable souls and there cannot be a greater Victory then to vanquish ones own passion in such dangerous conjunctures Fear not then that I shall abuse my Authority since if I should punish all who have offended I should reduce my Kingdom to a forlorn Desart For who is there among you that hath not failed of his duty Some have done mischief others have desired it or at least permitted it to be acted some have assisted Robert others have directly fought against their King some have most perfidiously laid their hands upon their Anointed Lord committed a sâcred person into prison and others have at least forsaken him The publick good is pretext of all things but Rebellion alone is the mother of that horrid Monster The Nobles agitated as they did for their own interest and the people by their madness and unavisedness seconded their fury and put in execution the intention of the Parricides Your wives and your children are not exempt from these crimes seeing without doubt they made vowes for their Parents offending and prayers against their Prince Whereas then I cannot punish you all but that I must utterly exterminate you it resteth at my choice whether I would become a King without Subjects or to pardon you out of pure grace and bounty and not by Obligations It may be that during your lives you may repent you of your ancient crimes and become as faithful as you have been disobedient But perhaps you will tell me as to our selves we have repented formerly before we sent to you to come and receive the Scepter which belongs to you 'T is true it may be as you have said and that I have considered your Addresses to me were to make reparation of what formerly passed and that with those hands you would advance to the Throne his Son whose Father you had barbarously removed But after all whosoever can abandon the path of Virtue to make choice of that Vice can again embrace that occasion if presented Wherefore you owe greater obligation to me then I can confidence to you for had I not resolved to shew Grace and Pardon the great number of Nobles which the King of England my Uncle hath presented to me to attend my person had not come without Souldiers each one of these who incircle me have troops at their command and I would not have received my Fathers Crown but in the head of a victorious Army in the midst of a Field covered with dead and dying men bedewed with the blood of ten thousand Rebels I would have been the Conquerour of my Kingdom and not have mounted unto the Throne supported by the same hands who snatcht it from my Fathers head But I call to mind I am your King as you are also my Subjects and in this relation I can love you yet as guilty as you are I can have pitty for your errors and kindness for your obstinacy and I will not put my self into a condition of sadness after the Victory I am then come to you without an Army to receive what is mine This Action without doubt is hardy bold and well deserveth glory and is sufficiently obliging to demerit your acknowledgement in all degrees of fidelity Before that you were criminous the Divine humane right conjured you notto forsake your Prince but this day a new obligation chaineth you to more strict obedience It is not enough alone to be faithful so to satisfie your dutie but it is your part to blot out the memorie of what is past and to justifie what is present you ought not to look on me meerly as your King but as a King of your own choice as a King who hath pardoned you as a King who confideth in you who now is commending his person into your hands and commits the very care of his life to your protection next to Heaven Studie then to gratifie such pressing endearments and provoke not the wrath of Heaven uppon your heads by new rebellions Those who have examined your by past actions approve not doubtless that resolution that I have taken to return into France as I have done for
as hardy and bold resolutions are not alwayes seasonable so neither are timorous and fearfull proceedings ever wise and safe that Polititian who trembles and is not confident who dares do nothing generously and stoutly for fear he may prove too rash and inconsiderate shall be seldome fortunate he is too speculative a Contemplator and proves rarely quick and active And whiles he amuseth himself with curious Considerations whether he should or should not undertake the enterprise whether he should speak or be silent be an industrious actor or a dull flegmatick spectator the opportunity by this time may be well lost the stars change their situations Aspects alter so the fatal moment whereon depended the good or ill success of a grand design slip clean away without advantage The Philosopher whom some censured over-wise found that his tedious doating on too much consideration brought forth no fruit but folly and that his most subtile conclusions were no better then fancies and dreams of one newly awaked out of sleep The Augurs telling an old Captain that the pullets would not eat he quickly discern'd the mystery and answered if they would not eat except they drank they should have their fill and so caused them to be flung into the Sea at which summons he gave battail to his enemies and gain'd the day An old souldier told his General that their enemies were twenty times more then they but he replyed gallantly and for how many then dost thou account me Another told his General that the enemies darted Arrowes like showres of hail he replyed instantly 't is so much the better for us we shall fight against empty quivers and but shadows of men The Policy c Caesar quum maximi Pontificis ambiret dignitatem competitore Qu. Catislo ô mater aut inquit Pontificenâ—â— habebis filium aut exulem excelsa indoles omnis que repulse impatiens Erasmus Apo de Casare Plutarch in vita I. Caesar of high born Heroes and low-hearted peasants is not the same The mariners dispute in one fashion aboard their ships and the Commanders and souldiers after another in their Trenches And as these persons are very distinct and different in their qualities so are they in their Counsels and agitations Those who walk in dangerous precipices ought to march boldly if they intend to pass securely And in those attempts he who stayes to measure the depth of peril in his way either will prove so fearful as not to adventure or else will be in great danger of a ruinous fall To judge then of the Action of Lewis the fourth a man ought to consider what this Prince preponderated how his Fathers gentleness and civility was his ruine that he spoke to the same Rebels who had ravisht his Fathers Crown from his head and deptiv'd his person of his liberty And that by the same capricious humour they recall'd the Son who had destroyed the father and lest that sore might ranckle and swell again and so infect and destroy the Son as it had the Father it concerned him to let them know that he came now to inherit his Fathers Kingdom and not his infirmities That though first impressions may exchange or obliterate ill humours yet it is with great hazard and difficulty Wherefore it was more important to his purpose to strike deeper at the root at first to gain advantages If Lewis his feet had been seen to tremble when he was to ascend the Throne he must have then discovered a capacity to fall again If he had received the Crown with a dull and phlegmatick deportment he had been rather made a King by his Lords and Masters then his Subjects and he would have unfolded to his people the passion of cowardly fear rather then have procured due regard from them We may conclude then that this Prince was wise in being stout and Gallant in this occasion that his Policy was not indiscreet and coping with souldiers and men of armes and valour his discourse was not improper as containing nothing that might give the shock to Soveraign prudence but rather on the contrary what well became the Grandeur and Majesty of a King FINIS The CONTENTS I. SOveraignty the highest trust Pag. 1 II. The duty of Subjects p. 3 III. Of Hushai and his undertakings p. 14 IV. Converted Royalists duty p. 41 V. No excuse Apology or merit to be pleaded for by Rebels p. 45 VI. Of a Promise p. 53 VII Of a Vow p. 54 VIII Of the Protestation p. 58 IX Of the Covenant p. 62 X. Of the Engagement p. 66 XI Of the Oath of Abjuration p. 69 XII The Kings Oath at his Coronation p. 77 XIII The Arch-Bishops Homage p. 82 XV. The Oath of a Chancellour p. 83 XVI The Oath of a privy Councellor p. 84 XVII The Oath of a Secretary of State p. 85 XVIII The Clergies subscription p. 88 XIX The Oath agaist Symony p. 91 XX. The Oath of Allegiance p. 97. XXI The Oath of Supremacy p. 99 XXII The nine marks of Traytors p. 110 XXIII The nine Characters of true Royalists p. 116 XXIV The Parallel betwixt King CHARLES the second and King LEWIS the fourth of France p. 143 XXV The Censure on King Lewis the fourth of France p. 172 Errata Emendata Pag. 1. lin 2. read Soveraignty is p. 5. l. 19. r. Scrutiny p. 8. l. 25. r. decry p. 19. l. 20. r. oylie p. 31. l. 26. r. nor death p. 49. l. 15. r. can p. 51. l. 6. r. or congruity p. 55. Greek Cota 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 56. l. 4. r. not l. 20. r. sui p. 58. margent p. 59. l. 2. r. distinction p. 61. l. 8. r. then p. 66. l. 24. r. vicious p. 75. l. 13 r. juramental p. 76. l. 10. r those p. 76. l. 20. r. external p. 95. marg hanc enim per elimenta p. 112. l. 6. r. Puls p. 138. l. 17. r. Confidents Evist Dedicat. Rear-Admiral for Vice Admiral Creeping servants for creeping serpents