the fire of the Almighties wrath All the world knows King Charles protested before that were present when he renderd his soul to God that he dyed of the Religion authoriz'd by the laws of England nor is there any one dares deny a truth so universally attested But such ridiculous miscreants there are who have impudence to say this protestation was but a fiction and suggested by the emissaries of the Pope That 't was done for policy and that the Popes Indulgencies allow so far But these impertinents tell not what was the politick end the Partizans of the Pope aym'd at nor what advantage could redound to their religion that the King of England even dying should openly and firmly protest he was a protestant But admit such an odde dissimulation was maintaind for some reasons to us unknown who is it these people can perswade that this Prince who during his life had ever given testimony of his singular piety should take pleasure to damne himself by counterfeiting before God man to favour the Interests of the Roman Religion I do not know that the Pope ever gave indulgence for sinnes to be committed Every one neverthelesse knowes the History of the great Bullisle Texel the first that publish'd such sophisticated stuff in Germany But I perswade my self there is no one can authorize future Hypocrisie and false Oathes when we stand so near the Throne of God before whom we go to appear And though Rome should grant things of this nature which I believe it do's not is it credible he would confide and rely more upon the Pope who calls Bad Good and justifies so prophane an hypocrisie than on God who assignes the portion of them who take his name in vain and of Lyars and Hypocrites to be in the lake of fire and Brimstone Sir 'T is then most evident the King of England lived and dyed a Protestant and by consequence the allegation is most impudent to say he imbu'd the King his sonne in the Roman Faith The second objection they make to the Religion of this Prince is that while he was at Paris he frequented not the Sermons If they could say while he was there he made no profession of his Religion the accusation were of force and considerable but that no man dares pretend for 't is well known the King of England had the exercises of his Religion which is ours in his Palace and there had the Word of God preached and the Sacraments administred after the manner of Charenton I should certainly have been glad he had been there and 't is to be wished those who were then about him had brought him thither So great an example had brought joy and consolation to our Churches and confusion to our enemies who thereby had been depriv'd of their most specious pretext to abuse the Religion of this Prince But there is no honest man excuses not this failing permit me so to call it for so in effect I judge it and I believe the edification might have been given to the Church of God ought to have carried him beyond all reasons could be alledged for doing as they did if they consider the many untoward conjunctures that hindered those who attended the Prince from giving him the advice I speak of which certainly was and the most sure and safe It proceeded Sir from this They who were next his person after his disasters were of different humours There were many who though they favoured the Hierarchy setled in England under the raigns of Edward Elizabeth and the two Kings who succeeded thought neverthelesse that this distinction of degrees in Ecclesiasticall functions was a government so necessary to the Church of England that it might not be omitted or chang'd into that they call the Presbyterian judging that this distinction of degrees in Ecclesiasticall functions is grounded onely upon a positive Law These are peaceable people that heartily joyne with forraign Churches who though they live not after the same discipline as they yet agree in all other doctrine and I know divers Bishops whom their books and repute testifie to be of this temper and they who were the more rationall and more knowing could have been content the King should have been at Charenton But there were others near him more passionate and rigid for the Hierarchicall Order who though they justify'd our Religion as to the Doctrine could not allow of the Order This sort of people are Antipodes to the Presbyterians both of England and Scotland Who hold they must absolutely break with the Churches that consent to Hierarchical Order and who are governed by Bishops and discover in this government something of pomp which they hold incompatible with the simplicity of the Christian Church The others on the contrary hold the Hierarchicall Order so necessary to the Church especially to that of England they can endure no government but that and have difficulty to communicate in our Churches though in matter of Doctrine they acknowledge them Orthodox Now of these was the greater number about the Prince who prevailed upon his spirit and hinder'd his coming to the preachings at Charenton to which I have been told he had a great inclination But you may observe if you please two occasions whereof these Hierarchicall Gentlemen made use to divert the intention of the King the one was that after this horrid revolution of the affairs in England both in Church and State and that Cromwell had invested himself in the Soveraign Authority whereof he had despoyl'd his Master the Agents of this Usurper possessed at Charenton the Seat of the Embassadours of the Kings of England And you will judge that since the King our Soveraign admitted them in the function of their Commission near his person 't was not for the Consistory or any Protestant to dispute with these people concerning the Seat they possessed at Charenton Now the party I speak of fayl'd not to take hold on this occasion and told the Prince 't were imprudence to go where he should have the grief to see his enemies in the place due to his Embassadours This reason touch'd the young King and he was easily perswaded I believe many others were guided by the same resentment But howsoever it appears the reason he came not to Charenton was not any aversion to the Doctrine preach'd there but because he could not resolve himself against an object so provoking and horrid and which he judged so injurious to his Majesty The other occasion these Hierarchical Gent made use of to divert the Kings inclination from his designe of giving testimony to our Churches of his spiritual communion with us was that the Pastours of the Church at Paris who assembled at Charenton went not to visit him whereupon they sayl'd not to intimate to this Prince that this was an evident proof of the aversion of those Churches both to him and his interests since those of Paris who make the most considerable part gave no testimony of any share in
A LETTER Farther and more fully Evidencing the Kings stedfastnesse in THE Protestant Religion Written by Mounsier de l'Angle Minister of the Protestant Church at Roven in FRANCE to a Friend of his in LONDON London Printed by A.W. for Joshua Kirton at the Queens Arms in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1660. THe reverend Author judgeing it fit and to good purpose to publish this Letter of his in France both for the comforts and undeceiving of the Protestants of that Nation in that great scandal cast on the King of England as inclining to the Church of Rome which scandal though it be now fully cleared and made evident as our Author saith that it came from Hell so that it might seem to no purpose to publish any farther vindication of his Majesty herein Yet the same reasons mentioned before for publishing of the original together with the gravity of the Author who is one of the ancientest Preachers in France and the fulness of the Letter wherein are many things not commonly known were strong inducements for publishing this translation whereby all true English men and Protestants may also receive much comfort and all prejudice removed from their hearts who in the least doubt of the sincerity of the King concerning the Religion he professeth A Letter of M. de l'Angle Divine to a friend concerning the Religion of the Serene King of England SIR TOgether with all known good men I praysed God when I understood the proceedings in Engl. tended to the re-establishment of your King and again I glorify'd him for the evidence appears that he will have compassion on that miserable Kingdom long known to me and whereas you well know I did for some years preach the Gospel to a people that lov'd me and in whom I observ'd much of piety 'T is true the people whereof the state at present is compos'd make up a various coloured garment which God in his Law allows not of And this prodigious compound of Frogs and Grashoppers that is the Sectaries which cover allmost all England made me feare the wrath of God would not long forbear this desolate Nation But God who is rich in mercy who for the sake of ten righteous would have pardoned Sodom hath yet more inclination to pardon his Hierusalem for the pious multitude in the mid'st of it who sincerely love God and by whom his holy name is called on especially I had a confidence that first or last the Presbyterians those who at present make the strongest party in great Britain would by examples of loyalty when God should afford them opportunity clear themselves of the infamy they are blasted wiâ—h for being complices in the death of King Charles of blessed and glorious memory And that to those of our Religion would be restored the glory Cardinal Ossat in one of his Epistles ingeniously acknowledgeth our due that is never to have attempted the life of our Soveraignes how cruel so ever they have been to us and notwithstanding the massacres upon those of our Religion by their orders these or such like are the Cardinals own words Whereupon Sir I shall tell you that discoursing some dayes since with a person of Judgement and one fearing God of the state of your affairs and particularly of those affairs in this conjuncture so cross for the King that seem to obstruct his re-establishment we concluded that amongst others two grand Obstacles concurr'd to hinder it which would infallibly succeed could they be taken away The first is the apprehension that the Presbyterians who only are capable to bring this about in behalf of the Church and State may have that the King distastes them holding them guilty of the parricide of the King his Father as some have endeavoured to perswade him some out of malice to foment an irreconcilible misunderstanding betwixt the King and his best Subjects and so to order it that they may never hereafter have confidence in each other Others out of unadvisedness being misinform'd in the reality of that said story as the late Salmasius in his Apologie for the King of England where this great person exasperates himself with a false generosity when he declares he was not born for compliance whereof no man ever suspected him and that he spares neither brother nor best friend where he finds them deviated from their duty The other obstacle we judged to withstand the Kings re-establishment is a perswasion that the enemies of Protestant Religion and the King of England have sowed amongst many that the King is not of the Religion he professeth but that he concurs with Rome wherewith he hath private engagements in a word that he is a Papist To take away the first obstacle I shew'd this good man a letter I sometime wrote to Salmaslus of whom I spake concerning his Apologie which he did me the honour to send me In this letter where I shew'd him that as Jacob said to Reuben his first-born Gen 49. he was unstable as water and should not excel I have so evidently clear'd the Presbyterians of the injury he did them and with reasons so considerable that the person to whom I communicated them thought it fit the letter should be published whereto I willingly consented judging the Letter would come forth to purpose and in season But the posture wherein at present I view them and the affection they testifie to their Prince justifies them above all the reasons I alleadg'd and if their great and glorious designe succeeds as the reformed Churches in all parts of the Wrold evidently pray like Moses lifting up their hands till God makes this happy day shine from above their innocense will appear so manifest that Calumny it self will not dare to attempt it For what man of reason sees not that if their hearts condemn'd them and that they were conscious of this crying sin they would not be cautious of procuring the Kings return since they must needs have cause to fear he should retain an immortal resentment and though for a time finding their party as the sons of Zerviah too strong and potent for him he dissembles the indignation conceiv'd in his heart they must alwaies think he would make them feel the effects when time should favour him And this argument is confirmed by the example of the Sectaries who fearing their hands should be found stain'd with the blood that cries so loud apprehend the Kings re-establishment as a sad day for them when this Prince may treat them in such termes as he of whom the Scripture tells us did those who revolted from their obedience and that in his just resentments he saith not Bring me hither these my enemies which would not that I should raign over them Though to deale ingeniously I believe their fear will be their only punishment and I am confident he is a Prince who will do by his subjects as Joseph did by his bretheren and as he had respect to the desires of his dying father Jacob to pardon his bretheren and not
and was assur'd the Church of God would ackowledge him and the time should come she would hold him her most precious Ornament 'T is true this Gentleman hath his soul transfixt with the love of his King but I am certain he hath a greater love to Truth and would not affirm a falshood so constantly with such affeveration for all the Crowns on earth I know likewise what he appear'd in this Town which was one of his first retreats after his defeat at Worcester and that all his discourse with those who had the honour to converse with him came from a heart sanctifi'd with the truth of the Gospel He spoke the very Language of Canaan he reprov'd such as murmur'd with David he conceal'd his deplorable condition Because 't was God that did it To some pious persons friends of mine he shew'd divers excellent prayers for his divine entertainments accommodated to the present estate he was reduc'd to All his discourses were season'd with nothing but faith humility patience and absolute resignation to the will of God who thrones and dethrones Kings as it pleases him who girds them with the sword but when he pleases to manifest his judgements cryes over their Crowne Subversion Subversion But by these discourses it appears that he gather'd great hopes of unexpected recovery in the mercies of God who when he will can raise with as great celerity as throw down and when he pleases changes our Desarts into Carmel In a word all that came near him observ'd a great soul not to be dejected by affliction who with a spirit perfectly noble Christian fustain'd himself in God to whom he resign'd his person and all his interests and who with the same devotion kiss'd the hand of God that came to take off his Crown with his Fathers head as hereafter he will kisse it again when he shall please to restore it Now Sir 't is not unknown to you that none but the true Religion gives this temper and none but the pure Gold stands the tryal of this teste And as in Daniel he who walked in the midst of the Furnace was known by his gate to be the sonne of God certainly he hath little skill in men that could not observe his carriage in these times of tryal to be the carriage of a true child of God and say of him Thou art a Galilean for thy language shews it Afterwards I am assur'd he testified great affection to such Pastors as had the honour to salute him in France and by the Lady Isabella daughter to the Earle of Holland when she took her leave of him at Amiens he sent to me to remember him in my prayers which must not be attributed to any converse I have had with this Prince for I protest before God I never had any that I never saw nor spake to him and that I have no engagement with him neither real nor verbal nor of personal hope and though I wish him all happenesse imaginable I neverthelesse expect not any thing from him But I believe some accidental occasion brought may name to his eare and hearing I was Pastor of a populous Church he was pleased to testifie by this obliging request he was of the same Communion with me Again I know him to be as you and I wish him out of the attests of his own Ministers Doctor Cosins amongst the rest a person venerable both for Doctrine and Piety And by the testimony of the Messieurs Breuins and Durel both eminent Pastours really native subjects of the King of England and who are honour'd with a share in his favours But I have so thorough a knowledge of them and so well know the candour and love they bear the Truth which they teach with such happy successe one with the Prince of Turenne the other with the Duke De la Force that I admire with as great acquiescence as a thing I had seen with my eyes or touch'd with my hands what they have oftentimes affirm'd to me that the King of England is a Protestant and of the best sort and that 't is not meerly secular interests engage him on this party but that he is so at the heart and that he makes the Religion he professes his Treasure of which they could not well be ignorant having attentively observed his wayes and carriage from his Infancy I suppose 't will not be amisse to tell you that of these two Gentlemen Breuins and Durel the King hath chosen the first for one of his Chaplains that is his Ministers in ordinary by reason this choyce confirmes the proof we endeavour to make of the Kings Religion and since he made election of one of the most zealous Professours of the Protestant Religion most capable to defend it and shew the beauty of it for one of the Directors of his conscience 't is an evident testimony he consents with him in Religion and will persevere under his example and conduct Which is likewise confirm'd by what I learn from all parts that he frequented oâ—r Sermons at Rochelie and other parts of France but particularly at this Town where with the Marquesse of Ormond who attended him without sitting down he heard the Sermon of Mounsieur Jansse my Colleague and told one to whom he discovered himself he had received greated fication And 't is observable he came incognito to these Assemblies and by consequence for no other reason then Devotion If he had been known to every one and had come in a publick way out of the violent inclination of his enemies to a sinister interpretation of this unfortunate Princes actions they would have said this was but a designe and he did it to regain credit with his people but since he was concealed 't is an assured testimony he had no other aime than his particular benefit Then the testimony of a Noble-man of note of the reformed Religion that is the Count of Suze is very considerable to me I saw him lately and intreated him seriously to tell me what he thought of the King of Englands Religion I address'd my self to him for satisfaction herein because he was diverse years at Bruxels with Monsieur the Prince whose cause he had espous'd and I knew moreover that the King of England was often with the Prince and that there was a great familiarity betwixt them The answer he made me was but what I knew before that the King of England while he was at Bruxels made high profession of our Religion and that every Sunday he diligently was very carefull to celebrate the duties thereof in his lodgings that to his knowledge his pulse had been often felt but he had made them understand he was not that way to be taken and that he knew in whom he believed and that his conscience was not like lands unknown at the mercy of the first comer I acknowledge I make great account of this testimony because I know he that gave it is a person of integrity that he was ever
present at the divertisements of these two great Princes and in familiar conversations one may best discover a man and know his waies I know again with what indignation he receiv'd the Earle of Bristol not long after his revolt This Lord is a person of a great wit and high courage but I leave it to himself to decide if his conscience hath walk'd in as gracefull a posture as the other two faculties whether he finde it very tender in matters of Religion I will think the best I may and will not despair but God may recal him and grant him mercy but I should make a very sinister Judgement if he were such as he is character'd for I have been told he is a man can change Religion as his clothes not alwaies for the better but the more necessary and convenient Howsoever it is I understood when he went hence he address'd himself to the King after his usual manner but was much amaz'd when the King sharply reprehended him for the scandal he had given and gave him to understand he was not pleas'd to see him in his traine or family since he was not a domestick of the Faith I had almost forgotten one passage that may assure you the King is sensible of this Article of Religion and that he is not satisfied to believe to righteousnesse in his heart but he will have the world to know him for what he is and that he will make Confession with the mouth to Salvation You are not unacquainted with la Milletiere and the vanities of that person some yeares since he had the boldnesse to addresse one of his works to the King of England wherein he discours'd with this Prince as if there had been some great intelligence betwixt them and as if he had been upon the point to revolt But the King in indignation shew'd him the boldnesse of his enterprize the vanity of his hopes and the impertinency of his reasons by a learned Treatise he caused the Bishop of London-Derry to compose since translated into French by one of ours But Sir after the History of the Duke of Gloucester I suppose there can remain no suspicion of this Prince his Religion it may be you know the particulars as well as I but truely I had the relation from the mouth of Monsieur Durel who had it from the Governour of that little Prince Here then I shall deliver what I know The Jesuits had a designe to gain this Prince for which purpose they sound a way to have his Governour discharged In pursuance whereof they made many assaults upon his Religion they shew'd him a thousand glorious hopes they promised him the most important dignities of the Church should court him assured him the Abbey of S. Dennis the Archbishoprick of Rheims and a Cardinal's cap. Briefly these Gentlemen assured him he should be so rich he should be able to restore the King his brother to his throne but God assisted this Prince in an extraordinary manner and for the reproach of Christ whom he took for his portion he generously despis'd the treasures of Egypt Wherefore the Jesuits carried him from place to place as the Devil heretofore did our Lord to tempt him First to Pontoise to a seminary of Jesuites where God gave him grace to withstand strong assaults and by the strength of his spirit wherewith he ever assisted this excellent Prince who was not then above ten or twelve years of age he remained victorious over his potent enemies who now resolv'd to bring him back to Paris like Balaam that view'd the people of God on all sides to finde a prize for his charmes But all this succeeded not God every where protected this illustrious Infant and God gave him that wisdom from above which the World cannot resist and God that permits not his to be tempted beyond their strength delivered him from temptation for the King of England understanding by the banished Governour his brothers condition sent Marquiss Ormond speedily to his relief who took him out of this dangerous way by the Queens orders who had the goodness to give way to the pleasure of the King of England her son and caused the Duke of Glocester to be remitted into the hands of the Marquiss who brought him back to the King since which time he hath taken care for his education and confirm'd him in the knowledge of the truth Can there Sir be any thing more strong and evident to assure you the King is not only a Protestant by profession but that he professes it with zeale and that he beleeveth it the only way to salvation since he was so tenderly touch'd when he was inform'd they would pervert his brother And if the Religion of the King of England had been no more then formality and countenance the advantage he might have hop'd for in his brothers change might have brought him to consent since he might have pretended he had no hand in it and have say'd that being so many leagues distant though Kings have long armes he could not if he would stretch his so far to hinder his brothers fall But we are to make answer to what his enemies alleadg to prove the King of England of the Roman Religion 1. He was say they brought up with Charles the late King his father who gave him the first seasoning 2. While he was at Paris he never came to a Sermon at Charenton 3. He was seen in the Jesuits house at Antwerp At Paris and in other places he was seen at Vespers 4. Then they make a great noise of this that they of the Roman Church conceive great hopes in the reestablishment of this Prince and that the Jesuites and Monkes boast alowd they shall see the Popes authority flourish again and Masse in more credit in England then ever But Sir I suppose you beleive that none but the weak and malicious will give credit to such feeble reasons whereof some are altogether false and blasphemous others conclude nothing they undertake and the rest conclude contrary to the intention of the alleadgers The first of these wicked Arguments which is the education of this Prince in the Roman Religion by the late King his father is the most notorious calumny that ever was which to falshood couples Blasphemy against the Powers St. Jude and to falshood and blasphemy barbarousnesse and cruelty beyond example For was there ever greater cruelty then not to be satisfy'd to have made King Charles the most unfortunate Prince the earth ever bore having taken from him by wayes unheard of and such as good people cannot think on without trembling and horrour his Crown and life but more to traduce him as the most deprav'd and artificiall hypocrite that ever liv'd For they make him wear a vizard all his life to the houre of this death inclusively which is notwithstanding an hour when conscience makes the man speak truth in spight of himself nor is there paint which melts not when conscience approaches
his affliction 'T is true Sir the Parisians did so and possibly carryed themselves in this affair quite after another manner than the other Churches of the Kingdom would have done I am nevertheless far from condemning them they are persons that fear God and which honour the King and all those that bear the same character with the King of England but they are both wise and prudent and know there are eyes upon them and must therefore live with circumspect onâ— they had doubtless good reasons that made them think it best â—o forbear this duty Other Churches would have thought to have as strong grounds to have done in this business quite otherwise than they did at Paris Nevertheless I am well assur'd that amongst their reasons there was neither neglect nor indifferency nor any hardness of heart to partake in his distaster much less any inclination for his enemies whose way with our other Churches they ever detested as outragious and tyrannical But to come back to our Subject you may well perceive if the King of England were not at the Church of Charenton 't was not that he disclaimed our communion nor any dislike of the Doctrine taught there but because there were those had incens'd him against the Governours of that Church The third reason scarce deserves to be spoken of they object who was seen with the Jesuits at Antwerp and at Vespers at Paris and it may be at other places also and therefore a Roman-Catholick Once his enemies said he was seen at Mass but that they had not the impudence to speak again If that were true there were more colour for the consequence but yet no necessity neither he might for curiosity be there to see the diverse mysterious Ceremonies of the Masse and hear the Musick us'd at certain solemnities whereof there is so much talke I have known many strangers that have been present without bending knee and far enough from approving of it and would have taken it for a very great injury to have been concluded Papists because they were at Masse but they find more favour than the King of Engl. for against him they have nothing but that he was at the Jesuits house at Antwerp to have heard the Musick at Vespers yet neverthelesse they infer he is a Papist As much as to say that which passes for indifferent with other men is a qualifyed crime in the Prince For all this I do not approve the frequenting places of such devotions For to omit the visit of the Jesuites house at Antwerp one of the most sump uous structures of Europe which in effect was but an innocent curiosity and without the least appearance of evill I much blame those that assist at Vespers for they are defil'd with Superstition and there they sing hymns in honour of the Virgin Mary which I hold is to rest upon the Border of the Couch of the strange woman and to lead himselfe into temptation I do not certainly know if the King of England were there but if 't were so I cannot justifie the action The Prince had done more like a Christian if he had not been there at all and he ought not at all to apply his eyes and eares to such Gauderies of Ornaments and Musick as they honour their Images with least he should apply his heart which I well know he Religiously reserves for God But again far be it from me to conclude cruelly with his Enemies that he is a Papist because he was at Vespers and I suppose you will judge it as unreasonable as I. Lastly they object that the whole world believes him to be a Roman Catholick and that the Jesuites promise themselves to be in London in the same credit and freedom as they are now in Flanders the Apogie of their domination I am acquainted with one Father Talbot a Jesuit that not long since made bonfires in his heart for the great prosperities he presag'd for he is an Astrologer the re-establishment of the King of England should bring to the Roman Catholick Church But is there any thing more frivolous then to square ones opinion and belief by the discourse of people that please themselves with these Idea's and make their desires passe for Prophesies and receive whatsoever the Jesuites affirm and professe to believe for sincere verities Every one knows the tongue is not of the same use with them as with other men that they keep it not to declare what they think but to manage cloak their designes who often ayme at the marke they seem to turn their back to And in effect Sir I infer this in my judgment as a demonstration because the Jesuits say the King of England is a Roman Catholick therefore he is none For did they believe him such they would without doubt passionately wish the rains of the state might be put into his hands that they might reap what they suppose they have sowen in this agreeable government and would be cautious of doing or saying any thing might obstruct his re-establishment Now the world knows there is nothing can so much deprave the affections of the better part of the English nor nothing so capable to ruine their design of re inthrowning him as the opinion they give them that he is a Papist which neverthelesse the Jesuites do If the Kings re-establishment were to be wrought by a forraine strength of neighbour-Princes to make an invasion on his dominions and become Master by force the Jesuites discourse might passe for a reall rejoycing for the advantage they might hope should come to their Religion and their Society in particular But since they know 't is the People who of themselves must call him back if they had so great a desire the businesse should succeed they would be cautious how they broach'd any thing might pervert the affection of the people into an aversion against their Prince Let us conclude Sir this Prince is no such person as the Jesuites report him That his reestablishment is not a thing they hope but fear as a thunderbolt because they know if he be once restored he will rectify those disorders they have fomented which push on their designes and help them to fish in troubled waters as they have done hitherto and that 't will arrive what the wise man observes that a King that sitteth in the throne of judgment seattereth away all evil with his eyes and by consequence their ways and all they shall endeavour to introduce in his Kingdome And to set a period to this long discourse as we conclude the King of England is no Roman Catholick because the Jesuits feare his re-establishment being to their design what ever countenance they put on conclude likewise with me that 't is an irrefutable argument his is a reall Protestant since all the Ministers of the Protestant Religion in all parts of Europe who are persons ignorant in the practice of equivocations and speak as they think pray for his re-establishment with so much instance because they look upon it as an act of soveraign Justice and a bud of infinite future benedictions like the olive branch brought by the Dove as a token the deluge was passed and God no longer angry with his people I professe Sir I am one of these not for any consideration of temporall prosperity may redound to the Church of God for God courts us not with any such hope our great reward being with him in heaven and were it to be hoped for on earth I am now become like Bazillag the Gileadite I am to old to taste it I beseech God to continue in me still the delight to taste How good the Lord is to me and the consolation of the portion he hath bestowed upon me Amen Continue to love him that is YOURS c. FINIS
regard the evil they had done him that so the King by the example of the sonne of God by whom he shall raigne God assisting may make grace abound where sinne abounds and in observance of the King his Fathers sage and Christian advice brought him by some that attended at his death which were to pardon his people and with a general Oblivion prevent their cries and lamentations But the other Obstacle stands yet and is of more importance that is the Calumny taken upon trust from hand to hand that the King is of the Roman Religion and will soon make it appear when he gets the raines of the Realme in his hands Sir Upon this point I must tell you that some yeares since this slander sprung from Hell I have made it my work to know the truth have us'd all sorts of means to discover what his heart was as towards God and if he were such as he was represented to me For this cause I followed him with a vigilant eye all the time he stayed in France after the battel he lost against Cromwell and again after he retired to Bruxells And that which drew me to this curiosity was not the tenents of those who hold that if the King prove not of the Protestant Religion we are not onely to abandon his Interests but with our power to oppose his return to the Crown for I have not so learned Christ nor can I be perswaded that because a man is not of our opinion in matter of Religion it is a sufficient title to deprive him of his Right and I willingly leave those deformed opinions that overturn the foundations of States and render Chhristian Religion incompatable with all the Polices of the Universe to such extravagant brains as hold the earth belongs properly to the Saints such as they take themselves to be and that the portion which every one who is not of the fraternity of these fanatick spirits enjoys is detain'd by injustice and absolute usurpation And by Consequence I cannot imagine the people of England were well principalled to cast their naturall Prince out of his Kingdom under colour that he was of a religion contrary to theirs For I know amongst the people of God there was never any such practice And that under all the legall dispensation since the state of the Jewes was devolv'd into the hands of Kings the people never rose against their Prince for his Idolatry but when oblig'd by expresse command from God As that given to Jehu And since Jesus Christ came upon earth the Christians that first embrac'd his Doctrine never esteem'd Idolatry wherewith their Soveraigns were infected sufficient to discharge them from their obedience The example of Julian the Apostate is in this decisive who revolting from Christianisme and becoming an Apostate and plunng'd in Pagan Idolatries and by this means had return'd the Empire which by a singular providence of God was fallen into the hands of Christians to the enemies of Christ an Religion yet receiv'd still homage from the Christians of those times who bore their yoke with humility because 't was God that laid it on them And it clearly appear'd this submission of the Church was acceptable to God by his timely releasing them from the persecution of this powerfull and malicious enemy for this change was but like a storm that soon is over and as a cloud as an Ancient calls it which for a time ecclips'd the glory of the Christian Church but by the good providence of God was dispersed in the turning of a hand and the Empire restor'd to Christian Princes who set the Church in her luster again 'T is true that in our age that unfortunate faction call'd the League stirred up by that spirit well known to all insolently publish'd that pernicious heresy that a Prince no sooner with Rome but he loses his Rights to his Crown and that the greater part of France poyson'd with this pernicious beleif us'd their utmost endeavours to have hinder'd Henry the great from ascending the Throne which he and his Posterity have since so gloriously enjoy'd But this doctrine went against the haire with all the good people of those times both of the one and the other Religion and numbers of honest men set their tongues their pens and their swords to work to maintain the Justice of that glorious Monarch and beat back this dangerous Maxime down to Hell where doubtlesse 't was first contriv'd 'T was not then Sir for that I had the least thought the Re-establishment of the King of England in his Paternall inheritance ought to depend on his Religion and that if I found he were imbu'd with the errours of the Roman Church I should have judg'd him incapable of that high dignity but for satisfaction of my self and all good people to the end that if according to the forejudgment I had allready in favour of his Religion which he deriv'd by tradition from his father of blessed memory to the constant profession whereof he exhorted him at his death I found him according to my hopes my joy might be accomplisht and I might spread the rumour every way where I thought the welcom news might conduce to the procuring Justice for the best cause on earth and that if amongst his subjects that differ in this poynt from the common sense of our Churches which allmost unanimously will have us give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar to Caesar I say as to Caesar only and not for that he is a Protestant Caesar they may learn that their King is doubly the Annoynted of the Lord and persectly of the quality they wish him and so there is nothing why they should not joyn with all other good subjects in the designe they appear to have of rein-throning him since not only there is no reason to oppose it but more there is not any pretence for it with the least colour of Justice To proceed I learn for certain he adher'd in his heart to the Protestant Religion for as much as man can judge of the profundity of that part I had it from such as have the honour to be near his person I am assur'd of it by the testimony of Mr. Long who had a share in the weighty affayres of the late Charles the first and of this likewise and who was one of those attended him in his voyage to Scotland A gentleman of an Excellent spirit not easily to be tax'd with any thing but a person of great integrity and who for those many yeares he liv'd amongst us was an exceeding help to our Church by his constant frequenting of Sermons and all acts of Piety can be required of a man fearing God and who for my particular highly oblig'd me not thinking me unworthy of his conversation nor the honour of his friendship He in the privacy of our most intimate communications hath a hundred times protested to me that the King of England in the bottom of his heart is of our Religion