ΕΙΚΩ'ΠΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ ' ΔΕΥ'ΤΕΡΑ THE POURTRAICTURE OF HIS SACRED MAJESTY King Charles II. With his Reasons for turning Roman Catholick published by K. James Found in the Strong Box. Printed in the Year MDCXCIV The CONTENTS I. ON his Majesty's being converted into the Catholick Church Page 1. II. On his Majesty's accepting of the Scots Proposals and taking the Solemn League and Covenant in Scotland p. 6. III. On his Majesty's Coronation in Scotland upon taking the Covenant and other Oaths to govern according to the Laws of that Kingdom p. 15. IV. On the Divisions amongst the Scots Presbyterians upon his Majesty's bringing his Father 's old Friends into Places of Power and Trust about him p. 18. V. On his Majesty's Defeat at Dumbar p. 20. VI. On the Defeat of his Majesty's Forces at Innerkeithing c. and his raising another Army to march into England p. 22. VII On his Majesty's Defeat at Worcester p. 24. VIII On his Majesty's Escape to Whiteladies from thence to Spring-Coppice and then to Boscobel house where he was conceal'd some time by the Penderels after he left the Royal Oak p. 28. IX On his Majesty's being in the Royal Oak p. 31. X. On his Majesty's being conceal'd at Boscobel house Entertainment there by the Penderels and Journey thence to Mr. Huddleston ' s. p. 34. XI On the Proclamation against entertaining his Majesty and offering 1000 l. to any that would discover him p. 38. XII On his Majesty's leaving Mr. Huddleston ' s and riding before Mrs. Jane Lane to Bristol c. in order to his embarquing for France p. 40. XIII On his Majesty's Journey to Trent and parting with Mrs. Lane there in order to his embarquing at Charmouth a small Village near Lime and his Disappointment by the Skipper's Wife who lock'd her Husband up that he should not carry him p. 45. XIV On his Majesty's Return to Trent and lodging at an Inn in Broad-Windsor in his way amongst Rebel-Souldiers where one of their Women were brought to bed and his Concealment in a Place at Trent where Recusants used to retire p. 47. XV. On his Majesty's imploying my Lord Wilmot to procure Money for his Transportation his hiring a Ship being known by one Smith an Inn-keeper and his Arrival near Havre de Grace in France p. 49. XVI On his Majesty's being conducted to Paris met by his Brother the Duke of York and entertained at the French Court p. 51. XVII On his Majesty's offering his Mediation betwixt the Prince of Conde ' s Faction and that of Cardinal Mazarin supported by the French King and the Odium which he thereby brought upon himself from both Parties p. 53. XVIII On Mrs. Lane ' s Arrival in France His Majesty's being disappointed of Mademoiselled ' Orleans and treating with the Duke of Lorrain for the recovering of Ireland p. 55. XIX On his Majesty's falling in love with one of his own Subjects in France his marrying her and having a young Prince by her who was afterwards created Duke of Monmouth p. 59. XX. On the French King 's concluding a Treaty with Oliver by which his Majesty and the Royal Family were to be excluded France and his going thereupon into the Low-Countries p. 62. XXI On his Majesty's travelling into Germany and the Low-Countries The Duke of Glocester ' s being importun'd and threatned by his Mother to turn Roman Catholick and the Duke of York's being charg'd to depart France p. 64. XXII On his Majesty's being invited into the Spanish Netherlands by Don John of Austria in name of his Catholick Majesty upon the Rupture betwixt Spain and France p. 68. XXIII On the Defeat of the Spanish Army and the Surrender of Dunkirk to the English p. 70. XXIV On Oliver ' s Death Richard ' s being declar'd Protector outed by Lambert and the Army c. p. 72. XXV On his Majesty's being invited to a Treaty on the Frontiers of Spain betwixt the French and Spanish Ministers about a Peace betwixt those Crowns Sir George Booth ' s Defeat The Confusions which the Nations were cast into by Lambert and General Monk ' s carrying on the Designs of restoring his Majesty p. 74. XXVI On General Monk's having brought the Design of his Majesty's Restoration to Perfection His Majesty's Declaration from Breda and Entertainment of the Presbyterian Ministers there who were sent over to him p. 76. XXVII On his Majesty's being proclaim'd by the Parliament His magnificent Entrance into London and injoying the Countess of Castlemain the first Night p. 80. XXVIII On the Parliament's condemning the Regicides and appointing an Anniversary Humiliation on the Day of King Charles I' s Murder p. 83. XXIX On his Majesty's dissolving the Parliament which called him in and summoning another p. 85. XXX On the Presbyterian Plots set on foot Novemb. 1661. Sir J. P' s forging treasonable Letters to that effect His Majesty's appointing a Conference at the Savoy betwixt the Conformists and Nonconformists and influencing the House of Commons to offer Reasons against any Toleration p. 89. XXXI On his Majesty's selling of Dunkirk to the French King for 500000 l. p. 92. XXXII On the Parliament's beginning to grow sensible of the Incouragement given to the Catholick Religion by his Majesty's Declaration Decemb. 1662. Their Petition on that head and his Majesty's publishing a Proclamation against Papists thereupon p. 94. XXXIII On the News of some more Plots by the Phanaticks against his Majesty both in England Scotland and Ireland The Execution of the Earl of Argyle Lord Wariston c. in Scotland and some of those concerned in the Plots in England and Ireland p. 96. XXXIV On his Majesty's making War upon the Dutch Anno 1664. p. 99. XXXV On the Parliament's voting to stand by his Majesty till he had a Redress for the Injuries done to his Subjects by the Dutch The King 's great Care to have his Fleet ready before theirs putting them off by fair Promises seizing their Bourdeaux Fleet without declaring War c. p. 101. XXXVI On the French King 's making Peace with the States Several Skirmishes with various Success The Victory at Sea by the Duke of York and the Plague which broke out in London in 1665. p. 103. XXXVII On the meeting of the Parliament at Oxford because of the Plague at London The King's Speech to them about the Dutch War and Supplies The Chancellor's Enlargement on it The Act for banishing Nonconformists five Miles from Corporations p. 107. XXXVIII On the Dutch's recalling their Ambassador from England The King's Letter by him to the States and the French King and his Majesty's Declarations of War against each other p. 111. XXXIX Vpon the Sea-fights with the Dutch May and July 1666. both sides pretending to the Victory And the French's lying by though they came as if they design'd to assist the Dutch p. 113. XL. On the firing of London p. 114. XLI On the Parliament's meeting at Westminster after the Fire His Majesty's Demand of more Money
Their Address against Papists His Majesty's Proclamation on that Head The Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters Declaration of War against Denmark The Insurrection in Scotland in 1666. The burning of his Majesty's Ships at Chattam by the Dutch c. p. 119. XLII On the murmuring of the People at the Consumption of the Treasure His Majesty's granting leave to the Parliament's Commissioners to take the Publick Accounts His raising an Army of 30000 Men and disbanding them On the Parliament's being displeased with it The Sessions of Parliament in July October and February 1667. His Majesty's Speeches to them Proclamation against Papists Displacing of Chancellor Hide and League with the Dutch c. p. 124. XLIII On the Proclamation against Dissenters in 1669. Inviting the Dutch and Swedes into a League with us proposing a nearer Alliance with the Dutch and forcing the Treaty of Aix La Chappelle upon the Spaniards and the French p. 128. XLIV On the Interview betwixt his Majesty and his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans at Dover and her Advice to him to break the Triple League and concur with the French King to destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religion and render himself absolute in England Her leaving one of her Maids of Honour created afterwards Dutchess of Portsmouth behind her and her own Death speedily after her Return into France p. 131. XLV On Colonel Blood ' s Attempt to steal the Crown A Proclamation against Papists to please the Parliament The second War with the Dutch The shutting up of the Exchequer The falling upon the Dutch Smyrna Fleet before War was declared and the Declaration of War thereupon p. 141. XLVI On the Dutch's surprizing our Fleet in Southwold-bay the Duke of York being Admiral His Majesty's Declaration to the Dutch The Progress of the French in the Vnited Provinces His Majesty's and the French King's Proposals to the Dutch and their rejecting them and making the Prince of Orange Stadtholder p. 148. XLVII On his Majesty's suffering the Parliament to meet Novemb. 1673. His Speech to them concerning the Indulgence and the Dispensing Power and the Necessity of raising more Forces for carrying on the Dutch War Several unsuccessful Fights with the Hollanders The Letter from the Dutch to influence the Parliament who addressed against the Match betwixt the Duke of York and Dutchess of Modena The Prorogation which ensued thereupon A Proclamation against Papists and the Consummation of the Marriage p. 154. XLVIII On his Majesty's Speech to the House of Lords upon the Address of the Commons against his Declaration of Indulgence The Answer of the Lords thereunto The Vote of the Commons for Ease to Protestant Dissenters and that part of their Address which desired that all in Places of Power and Trust should take the Sacrament according to the Church of England p. 163. XLIX Vpon the Complaints of the Commons that Ireland was like to be over-run with Popery because of his Majesty's Proclamation allowing Papists to live in Corporations and giving them equal Liberties to the English Their Address concerning the Danger of the Protestant Interest there and that Mr. Richard Talbot should be remov'd from all Publick Imployment and denied Access to Court And their Address concerning English Grievances with Reflections on the Miscarriages of his Majesty's former Designs of being impower'd to raise Money without Parliament on extraordinary Occasions and having an Vniversal Excise settled on the Crown p. 166. L. On his Majesty's making Application to the Parliament of Scotland upon his failing of Money from the Parliament of England the Scots insisting first upon the Redress of their Grievances and sending Duke Hamilton and others to London for that end p. 172. LI. On the Spanish Ambassador's Proposals for an Vnion betwixt England and Holland and declaring that they must break with England if the same were not accepted The Manifesto of the Dutch to the Parliament of England wherein they appeal to them for the Righteousness of their Cause The Parliament's Endeavours thereupon for a Peace and his Majesty's agreeing to it without including the French King p. 178. LII On his Majesty's proroguing the Parliament because of their impeaching his Ministers forming Bills against Popery and for the marrying of those of the Royal Family with Protestants and educating their Children in that Religion Clamours rais'd in the Nation that we were running back to 41. The Court's mediating a Peace betwixt France and Holland and sending 10000 of their own Subjects into the French King's Service p. 185. LIII On the meeting of the Parliament again April 1675. Their falling upon Bills for the Benefit of the Nation and being diverted by the sudden bringing in of a Test into the House of Lords to be imposed upon all in Places of Power or Trust Civil Military or Ecclesiastical obliging them to declare their Abhorrence of taking up Arms against the King or any commissionated by him and to swear that they would not at any time endeavour the Alteration of the Government either in Church or State p. 190. LIV. On the Debate betwixt the Lords and Commons about the Lords hearing of Appeals from any Court of Equity with the Behaviour of the Bishops in that Affair and the Opposition which they met with from the Earl of Shaftsbury c. p. 199. LV. On the meeting of the Parliament after the Prorogation His Majesty's Demand of Money to build Ships The Commons insisting upon the Bill for a Habeas Corpus Against sending Men Prisoners beyond Sea Raising Money without Consent of Parliament Against Papists sitting in either House For the speedier convicting of Papists and recalling his Majesty's Subjects from the French Service and the Duke of Buckingham ' s Speech for Indulgence to Dissenters p. 202. LVI On the Motion for an Address by the House of Lords for dissolving the Parliament The Address's being cast out by the Majority and the Protestation of the Country Lords thereupon p. 205. LVII On the filling of the Benches with durante beneplacito Judges The publishing of some Books in favour of the Papists and Prerogative The French King 's letting loose his Privateers amongst the English Merchants And the sending of Ammunition from his Majesty's Stores to the French King p. 211. LVIII On the meeting of the Parliament after the long Prorogation Febr. 1676. His Majesty's Demand of Money recommending a good Correspondence to the two Houses The Question whether the Parliament was not dissolv'd by that unprecedented Prorogation Sending some Lords to the Tower for insisting on it The granting of Money by the Commons p. 218. LIX On the Commons throwing out the Bill intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion and another for the more effectual Convicting and Prosecution of Popish Recusants p. 224. LX. On the Address of the Commons concerning the Danger from the Power of France and their Progress in the Netherlands His Majesty's Answer It s not being thought satisfactory by the Commons who presented a second to which his
Means I shall not now be pestered with Returns of Precisians and Republicans for Members of Parliament nor can they have any share in the managing of the Government And as for the other Party they are so much taken up with the Discipline and Rituals of their Church that they are not very sollicitous what Innovations be made in her Doctrine And I have always found that their Harmony with the Church of Rome in the outward part hath engendred in them a better Opinion of the Papists than Presbyterians And thus at once I strike at the Protestant Interest at home and abroad It 's true that the delivering up of that French Gentleman and our placing the French Ambassador behind the Curtain to hear his Complaints and Proposals for Redress may seem inglorious and a thing below a Crowned Head But as it will confirm my Friends the Papists in their good Opinion of me it must needs be an Engagement upon the French King though I am but little obliged to his Care of my Reputation that suffered the Criminal to be examin'd as to his Converse with me while they were breaking him upon the Wheel but I perceive he thinks it his Interest to keep me low in the good Opinion of my Subjects lest I should put a stop to the Career of his Ambition which is his Predominant as Sensuality is mine but he is mistaken in his Measures I am as zealous for promoting of the Catholick Religion as he can be nor do I care how or by what Methods it is effected so it be but accomplished But I shall not trouble my self neither to enlarge my own nor stop the Course of his Conquests for I am as much concern'd to gratify my predominant Passion which requires Ease as he is to gratify his which is constantly attended with Hurry and Trouble CHAP. XXXVIII On the Dutch's recalling their Ambassador from England The King's Letter by him to the States and the French King and his Majesty's Declarations of War against each other THE Dutch having recall'd their Ambassador imports that they have no Hopes of obtaining a Peace however to dazle the Eyes of the World a little further I 'll send a Letter by him with an Offer of Proposals to the States wherein I will charge them as the Beginners of the War and testify my own Inclination to bring it to an end which though it is plain will never obtain Belief yet will serve for a Pretence that the Continuance of the War is not my choice and consequently free me a little from the Odium of the Havock which the Bishop of Munster with his Popish Forces makes in a Protestant Country and furnish Arguments to my Friends of the Church of England against those who suggest that my Design at bottom is to promote a Popish Interest The mutual Declarations of War by my self and the French King against each other will very much contribute to a Concealment of our Designs and give us an opportunity of destroying the Dutch more advantagiously for I am very well assured that the French Troops which march to the Assistance of the Hollanders will annoy them as much as those of their Enemies and make them quickly repent the calling in of such Auxiliaries but however there is this which will be gain'd by it that it cannot well be thought that my Design is against the Protestant Religion when a Monarch who is a professed Papist and the eldest Son of the Church of Rome does seemingly oppose me though by the Message which he lately sent to my Mother he hath sufficiently inform'd me as to his secret Intensions so that betwixt us I doubt not but we shall ruine that Knot of Hereticks And as I have brought their Friends here in England under the Lash of the Law I will take care to undo their Brethren in Scotland where by the Concurrence of their new Bishops and the Zeal of my Privy Council I can do what I please seeing all the Presbyterians are excluded the Government And thus while I set one Party of Protestants against another at home and dash the Protestants of England against those of Holland abroad I shall advance the Church of Rome and my own Prerogative apace CHAP. XXXIX Vpon the Sea-fights with the Dutch May and July 1666. both sides pretending to the Victory And the French's lying by though they came as if they design'd to assist the Dutch I Cannot always chain Success to the Wheels of my Chariot nor promise my self Happiness in every Undertaking I obtain'd one Victory over the Dutch and therefore may the better bear with my present Loss though at the same time I must conceal it to prevent the Grumblings of the People and order all the publick Tokens of Joy for a Victory How true were the French to their Promise of deceiving the Dutch and making them rely on their Assistance yet afforded them none so that though I have not obtain'd a Victory by this Procedure of theirs yet it hath considerably diminish'd my Loss for if the Dutch had not been deceiv'd by relying on the French they would have been better provided of themselves and in a Capacity to pursue the Blow further home And in truth I must needs applaud the French King's Conduct in letting the English and Dutch Hereticks fight it out and save his Catholick Subjects for a better Time and Service From their lying by I shall also reap this Advantage that though the Dutch proclaim their Victory it will be the less credible and my Pretensions to the same will be the better believed but the Mischief on 't is that their appearing so speedily at Sea after the Noise of my pretended Victories gives the People occasion to suspect my Veracity CHAP. XL. On the Firing of London THE Sword Pestilence and Fire are three of the heaviest Plagues that can befal a People and of late I and mine have had our Shares of them This dreadful Conflagration would be as pleasant to me as that of Rome was to Nero when he took his Harp in hand and triumph'd over its Flames if it were not that I am liable to the Suspicion of favouring it because my Brother and my Guards are so foolish and imprudent as to rescue those who are taken in the Fact and that some Catholicks who are not fit to be intrusted with Secrets have talk'd too openly of the Design a great while before it was put in Execution However this is a good Expedient to clear both the City and the Air about it from all manner of contagious Infection for that I could not set any Bounds unto but this I can limit That was the Hand of God This the Hand of Man That did promiscuously cut off my Friends and Foes but This I can order so as to make it fall upon the latter and after all if I cannot as Nero did with the Christians fasten the Plot of firing the City upon the Dissenters which the Jesuits have strenuously endeavoured
any Acceptance with their ancient Allies of France to whom they recommended themselves formerly by their Military Services so that at once I shall revenge upon them the Blood of all my Predecessors whom they have murdered and turn the best of their Country into a Hunting Field And herein I doubt not of the Concurrence or at least Connivance of the English Nation because of the ancient Enmity betwixt the two Kingdoms and if once the Scots be subjected I shall with the more Ease bring England under the Yoke CHAP. LI. On the Spanish Ambassador's Proposals for an Vnion betwixt England and Holland and declaring that they must break with England if the same were not accepted The Manifesto of the Dutch to the Parliament of England wherein they appeal to them for the Righteousness of their Cause The Parliament's Endeavours thereupon for a Peace and his Majesty's agreeing to it without including the French King MY Stars seem to threaten me with a Series of bad Influences I can neither have Money from my Subjects of Scotland nor England nor yet the wonted Supplies from France and now the Spaniards are not only become Mediators but threaten me if I continue the War with the Dutch What a mighty Change is this that they who did formerly seek their Destruction should now interpose for their Preservation and treat their formerly Rebel-Subjects with that Respect which is due to the best of their Allies And that his Catholick Majesty whose Predecessors were the greatest Champions for Popery and Absolute Monarchy should now become the Patron of Hereticks and Republicans I may hence observe that Princes pursue different Measures according to their different Interests and support those at one time whom at another they seek to destroy The Spaniard though esteem'd the most bigotted Papist yet prefers his Interest to his Religion and thinks it better to save the Heretical Dutch than to perish with them and to preserve their Commonwealth rather than to lose a Limb of his own Monarchy And seeing all the Neighbouring Monarchs pursue what they think their different Interests and summum bonum by such Methods as they themselves think best I may certainly be allowed to pursue my Pleasures which I reckon my chief Happiness by such Methods as I my self think convenient The Dutch take advantage from the Discontents of my Subjects and labour to foment Jealousies betwixt them and me and according to their Republican Humour would make the Parliament judg of my Actions whereby they would insinuate themselves into my Peoples Favour and blacken my Designs as much as they can Accordingly I do find that they have their Aim and the Commons have declared their Sentiments for a Peace so unhappy a thing it is when the Head and the Members don't agree and that Soveraign and Subjects drive different Designs I must try what Influence a Speech will have upon the Commons when larded with Promises of securing their Religion and Property and tell them that our Enemies place their greatest Hopes in our Divisions and seeing they prepare for a War it will be very dishonourable for the English Nation to be threatned into a Peace especially seeing the best way to procure an honourable Peace is to treat with the Sword in hand and to have a good Fleet ready to oppose them which cannot be effected without a large Supply I have also taken care to inform the House as to my Treaties with France of which they have had hitherto very frightful Representations but cannot prevail with them to believe what I say so far have their Jealousies got the Ascendant over them that Popery and Arbitrary Government are ready to break in upon them wherein the Earl of Shaftsbury proves a very ill Instrument and foments their Jealousies by discovering my Intrigues so mischievous a thing is it when great Courtiers fall off from their Duty so that now the Commons will listen to nothing without a firm Security for their Religion and Property and the better to insinuate to the People the greatness of their Danger they have made application to me to appoint a Fast desire that the Trainbands of London may be raised to suppress the tumultuous Meetings of the Papists and accuse my chief Ministers of Designs against the Nation for which they would have them banish'd my Presence for ever These are woful Circumstances to which I am reduc'd and afford me but a melancholy Subject of Meditation when I consider what Pains and Expence I have been at to deliver the Nations from the Bigotry of Religion by testifying how little I value it in my own Practice and how careful I have been to discourage it in others that now when my Parliament hath concurr'd with me for so many Years to ruine their dissenting Brethren at home and Protestant Neighbours abroad they should at last become refractory and obstinate and from an over-heated Zeal for Religion pursue the same Measures themselves which they have condemned in others I reckon'd that the indulging of a Licentiousness in Practice would at last have extinguish'd all Sense of that which they call Religion but the Event shews that I am mistaken The Phanaticks whom I have prosecuted will say that the Judgment of God hath pursu'd me and created a Difference betwixt me and my Parliament who did so unanimously concur to promote their Ruine and this Cant they will buz and spread about the Nation and value themselves upon their Foresight as having so long ago foretold what is now come to pass and by this Means work upon the present Fears and Ferment of the Nation but I shall fall upon a Method to be even with them afterwards and infallibly turn the Tables upon them In the mean time I must make the best Improvement of my present Circumstances that I can and seeing there is no avoiding of a Peace with the Dutch I must seek for a Pretence to come off with Honour for which the Marquiss de Fresno's Proposals in name of his Catholick Majesty come very opportunely for seeing they are new Proposals I can easily give out that they are more advantagious than the former and by seeming to advise with the Commons whether it be meet for me to accept of them or not I shall both please them and salve my own Reputation for my Allies the French will by this Means see that my concluding of Peace is the Effect of Constraint and not of Choice seeing I can neither have Money nor the Parliament's Consent to carry on the War and if the French King should complain that I act dishonourably in concluding a Peace without him it will be a plausible Answer that I am not Absolute as he is So that having neither Men nor Money at Command without my Parliament's Concurrence I am under a Necessity of discontinuing a War which they are against And seeing he hath fail'd me in his promised Supplies he cannot be angry that I seek for them elsewhere it being every whit as
popular Men and testify'd their Dissatisfaction at my Father's Murder Prosper my Designs O thou Almighty for the Advancement of the Catholick Church the Restitution of the pious Order of Episcopacy and the Holy Liturgy Thy true Worshippers those of the Roman Communion having found Healing under the Wings of the former and no small Security in times of Difficulty by being able to comply with the latter my Predecessor Edward VI. having own'd that it was the Mass-Book translated into English And my Father of blessed Memory having gain'd it the Approbation of the Spanish Clergy when he ordered it to be translated into Spanish Blessed Virgin who sittest as Queen in Heaven favour my Design command thy Son to assist me in it And O all ye Saints be propitious to my Endeavours interceed for me at the Throne of Heaven that I may recover those Thrones from which I am unjustly with-held and I make a Vow when I am restored that I shall re-establish Bishops and the Liturgy in order to the Introduction of the Catholick Religion CHAP. VII On his Majesty's Defeat at Worcester HOW changeable are all humane Affairs and how little is Grandeur and Strength to be relied on I who not long ago was crown'd with extraordinary Pomp am now in a worse Condition than the meanest Peasant The other Day I was at the Head of a gallant Army and now there 's not a Man dare be seen to follow me I was lately guarded by a Forest of Spears and now I am glad to sculk in a Forest of Trees O! how does this Disaster wound my Soul that I who was lately a King over Men am now exposed to wander among Beasts and in so much a worse Condition than they that I cannot so well provide for my self How do my Enemies now triumph and what a dreadful Slaughter have they made of my Friends I was proud of having an Army modelled to my mind and to be at the Head of so many Cavaliers How will the Scots Remonstrators to whose ill Conduct I ascrib'd my former Defeats reproach me now with the Conduct of my own so many of whom are killed in the and others will be butcher'd like Beasts in the Shambles Alas this Defeat is more fatal to me than those at Dumbar and Innerkeithing The Presbyterians whose Loss I did not regard will now say that Justice has found me out by cutting off those who were the Pillars of my Hope How often shall I be upbraided with it that I am disappointed by those whom I preferred to them Alas what can I answer That I had scarce so many hundreds of my Subjects of England as I had thousands of those from Scotland That they should have march'd so far into this Kingdom and be joined by such an inconsiderable Handful That so many thousands of Covenanters should follow me into this Nation where the Churchmen are strongest and yet so few of the Churchmen did join me so that I came to my own and they received me not In truth this Presbyterian Reflection has something in it that the Churchmen do follow their Kings for the Loaves and always worship the Rising Sun Poor Souls how many of the Covenanters have their Garments roll'd in Blood for espousing my Cause though their whole Party suspects me And how few of my English Episcopal Friends have either assisted me with Men or Money How do the Sectaries revile the Presbyterians as Friends to me because Haters of their Anarchy And yet how little do I hear of the Zeal of the Churchmen who formerly pretended to adore the Monarchy How true have I found it that their Loyalty to the Crown was measur'd by its Ability to protect the Mitre No wonder that they followed and stood by my Father who undertook the War in Defence of them but now that I must not declare for their Hierarchy I perceive a Declension in their Zeal for the Monarchy but if ever I happen to recover my Crown then I shall be sure to have their Friendship And of the ten thousand Ecclesiasticks that are said to be in England the far greater part will still keep their Churches as well as the Majority do now comply Deliver me O thou Almighty from my imminent Dangers Thou who art King of Kings defend me from those Blood-thirsty Men who have murdered one King and hunt after the Life of another Against thee thee only have I sinned then why should they call me to an account Deliver me from their Hands and vindicate thy own Prerogative from those who have usurped thine as well as mine When my pretended Friends forsake me yet do thou espouse my Cause And as thou hast covered my Head in the Day of Battel deliver me from those who thirst for my Blood ✚ Kyrie Eleyson Christe Eleyson Ave Maria Gratia plena CHAP. VIII On his Majesty's Escape to Whiteladies from thence to Spring Coppice and then to Boscobel-house where he was conceal'd some time by the Penderels after he left the Royal Oak HEavens be bless'd that I have hitherto escap'd from the Cruelty of those who seek after my Life that my first Sanctuary should have been a quondam Nunnery foretold what Party were to be the Instruments of my Preservation But alas at Whiteladies I parted with the choicest of my Friends and God knows whether ever we shall meet again The Noble Earl of Derby I hear is taken and will quickly be sacrific'd to the Fury of the Rebels but there is no Remedy against such Disasters he dies for his Loyalty which is his unquestionable Duty And though I be not now able to protect him yet Heaven is able to reward him How changeable is the Scene of humane Affairs since Crowns are also liable to the Cross The Court which did formerly set forth my Glory I was lately obliged to abandon with Terror lest they who at another time would have guarded my Person should now have been the Cause of a fatal Discovery I who was lately in Royal Apparel am glad to exchange it with the Garb of a Peasant my Countenance which did lately enlighten the Court is now eclipsed with a Vail of Soot and my Hands the Dispensers of Royal Bounty are instead of Jewels embellish'd with the Smoak of the Chimney In room of a Palace I am glad of a Coppice and my Lodging is common with the Beasts of the Field so that like Nebuchadnezzar I am driven from amongst Men and for ought I can see shall be forc'd to eat Grass like him till such time as I am made to know that the most High ruleth over the Kingdoms of the Earth and giveth them to whomsoever he will God will be known by the Judgments which he executes let my Tutor Hobbs pretend what he pleases Did not I the other day say to my self Is not this the Army which I have rais'd for the Defence of my Crown and the Glory of my Power And lo how they are all consum'd like Wax without
so in Merit else they can hardly escape being undiscovered in their Adversity It 's almost as hard for a Prince to be concealed in a Disguise as for the Sun to be hid with a transparent Cloud I was not long ago at the Mercy of a Butler and must now be obliged to the Fidelity of an Inn-keeper and how dangerous is it to trust to those who must live by Gain when then they might have 1000 l. to discover my Person The tumbling of the Waves resembles the Instability of the Mob who cry Hosanna to day and crucify to morrow When the Sky is serene the Surface is smooth but when Storms arise they threaten both Heaven and Hell What Mountains of Water seem ready to invade the Skies and how do the bottomless Gulphs seem ready to disgorge upon Hell yet had I rather be here than amongst my rebellious Subjects who are swoln by the Winds of Error and Sedition But Thanks to my Guardian Angel I am within sight of Land and almost out of the Limits of my cursed Dominions Now am I arrived in a most Christian Country and under the Protection of the most Christian King This Place though it had not been called so before doth now deserve the Name of Havre du Grace as having indeed afforded a safe Haven to a Monarch who has been tossed by a Tempest of Rebellion Ave Regina Coelorum Ave Domina Angelorum Salve radix salve porta Ex qua mundo lux est orta Gaude Virgo gloriosa Super omnes speciosa Vale O valde decora Et pro nobis Christum exora CHAP. XVI On his Majesty's being conducted to Paris met by his Brother the Duke of York and entertained at the French Court. IT 's true I am now safe from the Fury of my rebellious Subjects but alas I am a King without a People and like a new married Husband deprived of his beloved Bride I had scarcely tasted the Sweets of the Throne when I was deprived of my Soveraignty per Force and instead of giving Laws to my own Subjects am now constrain'd to wander amongst Strangers I had not near obtain'd a plenary Possession when the Sword of an Usurper did serve me with an Ejection and instead of going to Paris in Triumph as did some of my Predecessors I am glad to go thither as a Supplicant and Fugitive And whereas my Ancestors did wear the Crown of France I must now be obliged to that Monarch to preserve me for the Crown of England and court his Endeavours for my Restitution Where my Fore-fathers us'd to command I must obey and am glad to be entertain'd as a Subject where I ought to be a Soveraign The Kings of France have been Prisoners in England and now the Monarch of Great Britain is a Fugitive in France So great is the Difference betwixt a King of England belov'd of his Subjects and one who is at Variance and War with his People for they who would have enabled me to come hither as a Conqueror have now constrain'd me to become a Petitioner But more than enough of this melancholy Theme I must strive to make the best of my present Condition in order to establish my future Repose Here I am safe from the Rage of Rebellion and injoy the Society of my Royal Relations Here I have a Palace instead of a Wood and the Society of Princes in lieu of Clowns I hold not my Life from the Courtesy of Peasants nor am I in hazard of Discovery by tatling Females Here I can despise the Proclamation of the Rebels and am neither in hazard by their Flattery nor Force It behoves me now to re-assume my Spirits and represent my Case to other crown'd Heads and solicite them vigorously to espouse my Cause lest the bad Example should reach themselves I must declaim warmly against all Commonwealths as mortal Enemies to the Name of Kings I must also alarm the Church of Rome and make the Pope understand the Danger of his Tiara and that my Republican Subjects have not only sworn the Destruction of all Crowns but will involve the Mitres in the same Fate CHAP. XVII On his Majesty's offering his Mediation betwixt the Prince of Conde's Faction and that of Cardinal Mazarin supported by the French King and the Odium which he thereby brought upon himself from both Parties MY Friends if divided can't give me that Assistance which I am sure they might do if they were united and therefore it 's my Interest to have that effected Circumstances do specify Actions of which this is a remarkable Instance If I were upon my Throne and in full Prosperity it would be my Advantage to pour Oil into the Flames that by their mutual Divisions I might triumph over both and make good my Title to the Crown of France but now that their Help is my only Refuge I must endeavour an Accommodation But of this I am resolved to take special Care that as much as I can I will side with the Crown which is the common Interest of all Monarchs On his Majesty's being suspected by both Parties The Office of Mediator I find very ungrateful and he that parts Quarrellers must have Blows for his Pains Of all Men alive I am the least obliged to my Stars for their malign Influence blasts all my Designs so that I can neither be in Peace at home nor abroad My direful Fate pursues me every where and not only involves my self but all my Relations in Ruine I thought that Monarchy had been sacred in France and the Persons of Princes not to be approached without Fear I thought that their Monarchs had been successful in making themselves to be look'd upon as Gods on Earth by keeping the greatest part of their Subjects in Ignorance that there was a God in Heaven but now I find that the Contagion of Rebellion hath spread every where and that my Mother though a Princess of the Blood is not secure in France and that that Deference is not paid to the Royal Family in her own Country which she would have extorted from the Subjects in mine O ye Saints if ye have Ears to hear or Hearts to consider have Compassion on a forlorn distressed Prince who can neither be safe at home nor abroad restore me to my Crown that I may restore your Worship or if I cannot restore it that I may at least connive at it If the Catholick Church have any of your Merits in her Treasure let them be made use of to my Advantage Ave Maria. CHAP. XVIII On Mrs. Lane's Arrival in France His Majesty's being disappointed of Mademoiselle d' Orleans and treating with the Duke of Lorrain for the recovering of Ireland HOW inveterate is the Malice of my natural Subjects that not only pursue my self but those who entertain'd me and vent their Rage against a poor Gentlewoman who befriended me I am not in a Capacity of giving her a Royal Reward but shall entertain her with Royal Honour and
as she provided for my Safety I will take care of hers and repay her with Publick Respect for her Private Service My Predecessors of England have match'd with the Imperial Family and must the King of Great Britain and Ireland be thought too low for a Dutchess My Father thought it a Condescension to take a Daughter of France but I am not thought worthy of a remoter Princess What vain things are Titles and Honour without the Substance of Riches and Power But if I be unsuccessful in Royal Amours I have not been so in those which are meaner and can satisfy Nature though not my Grandeur My Loyal Subjects being unable to defend me and the French King though my Kinsman unwilling to sustain me I must now have recourse to inferiour Princes whom if I had my Right I should be able to command but now must be obliged to court their Assistance and quit part of my own Title for a Reward How hard is my Condition that I should be reduced to call other Princes the Protector of my Subjects and with the Addition of Royal which would denote their Independance But why may not they protect them as well as me and injoy the Name as well as perform the Thing It 's true my rebellious Subjects will say that my making Application to Catholick Princes and not to Protestants is a shrewd Cause to suspect my Religion but I must consult my own Interest and not their Humours Those of them who are the firmest Protestants are already either jealous of me or have avowedly declar'd against me and for the Pillars of those who call themselves by the Name of the Church of England they are already privy to my Reconciliation to the Church of Rome which they don't much disapprove because I feed them with Hopes of bringing the Church of Rome to an Accommodation with them and she will certainly do it that she may the better animate them against the Puritans who being the most obstinate of all the Hereticks if they were once out of the way the rest will the more easily be brought to comply for I perceive my Episcopal Friends do still believe the Church of Rome to be a true Church and the other Party to be none and therefore a Reconciliation will be more easy with the former than the latter especially considering how near they approach in Discipline and Ceremonies to the Church of Rome The Advances which Bishop Laud's Party made towards their Mother-Church also in Doctrine will be a great step towards the desired Union but that which will chiefly contribute thereunto is the implacable Hatred which my Grandfather and Father did always take care to nourish in those of the Church of England against the Puritans which is now increas'd by the late overturning of their Hierarchy so that if ever I be restor'd the one will infallibly assist me to destroy the other and when the Destruction of the Round-heads is effected and my Father's Blood at the same time sufficiently reveng'd I shall next take the other Party to task and seeing it is not Principle but Interest which keeps them from complying with the Church of Rome I 'l use my Endeavours to have it accomplished or by the Church or at least the hottest of them shall smart for it and thus I shall revenge my self on them too for playing the Poltroon and sotting in Taverns while my Father was led to Execution and declining to join my self when I entred England But as to my Treaty with the Duke of Lorrain I shall reap these Advantages from it If he once be possessed of Ireland he will be assisted by the Spaniards to whom the Irish have a natural Inclination and with his Help from thence I shall keep my rebellious Subjects in the other two Nations in perpetual Vexation both with Incursions on that side and from Flanders Or if this don't take effect the very Apprehensions of it will alarm the French and move them rather to assist me themselves than venture to give the Spaniards such an Advantage for they may not only join the Duke of Lorrain's own Subjects from the Netherlands but when the Duke has footing in Ireland he may easily join the Spaniards in their own Dominions and invade France CHAP. XIX On his Majesty's falling in love with one of his own Subjects in France his marrying her and having a young Prince by her who was afterwards created Duke of Monmouth HOW hard is my Fate that I am still design'd to be a Conquest and that also to my own Subjects first by the Arms of their Men and then by the Amours of their Women One might have reasonably thought that I had received so many Affronts from my own People that I should never have been enamour'd on any of them but to my sad Experience I find it otherwise and that Cupid tyrannizes over Kings as well as others and commands us as imperiously as we command them with a sic volo sic jubeo Alas that Love is Proof against all Cures and that I cannot oblige it to withdraw at my Commands which I find it entertains with as much Disdain as the Waves of the Sea did those of my Predecessor who smote them with his Scepter and forbad them to approach his Chair Thus I who might be courted by the greatest of Foreigners must languish in love for one of my Subjects as if the Fates had decreed both Sexes of them an absolute Conquest over me If I marry her I am sure to lose my Interest and if I do it not I must sacrifice my Content for her Vertue I find altogether insuperable I must therefore comply with my Brother James's Advice and marry her privately before him and a Priest and thus I may consult my present Repose and take my measures in time to come by future Contingents Nor am I like to be less unfortunate in the Quality of my own Match than also in my Allies by that of my Brother who is catch'd in the like Snare but who can resist the Charms of Love We must needs deplore the Hardness of our Destiny to have Mars and Venus triumph over us at once and each of them force us to an unequal Surrender Our Father was reputed a Man of Chastity but it 's strange that Incontinence should be our Inheritance I wish that it may not be hereditary from our Mother of whose Honour I ought not to be suspicious but the Current of Fame and our own Constitution may justify at least this passing Reflection which if it should be true makes me but Neighbour-like for my Cousin the French King lies under a more publick Scandal and that not without ground that he 's the Spawn of a Priest For whatever is the Cause this I find by Experience that Cardinal Mazarin has more Influence upon him than all the Peers and Grandees of his Kingdom and though the Laws of Nations which forbid the Violation of Hospitality especially to a neighbouring
against those who shall declare me a Papist or that I have a Design to introduce Popery And though those who are sharp-sighted may laugh at such a Provision as rather giving than taking away Cause of Suspicion yet when it dare not be openly talk'd of amongst the Vulgar it will not obtain a common Belief And the Church of England whom I support against the Phanaticks will certainly support me against their Censures And thus when I have made one Party of Protestants to bait the other sufficiently if the Church of England prove refractory afterwards to my Designs then I shall endeavour by remitting the Rigour of the Law to ingage the Dissenters on my side to favour an universal Toleration by which my Friends the Papists may have ease if the Episcopal Party begin to grudg at my Favours towards them or to fear that at last they may dispossess themselves CHAP. XXXI On his Majesty's selling of Dunkirk to the French King for 500000 l. THis I know will be censured as an impolitick Action and the shutting my self out of the Continent whereunto this Town opened a Door by which I might have invaded France and the Netherlands when I pleased It 's true that it was a Monument of England's Glory but such an one as being erected under the Conduct of an Usurper is not for the Credit of me nor my Family and therefore lest it should be an Allurement to re-intice my People to a Commonwealth I will make it a Sacrifice to my Cousin the French King Not that I owe so much to his Kindness but that he may supply my present Necessities with his Money And to testify my farther Resentments of that impious Rebellion the Citadels which Oliver built shall be raz'd throughout my Dominions and the Towns which held out against my Father dismantled and if it were not that the Consequence would be fatal to my self every one of them should be sowed with Salt their Inhabitants made to pass under Saws of Iron and have their Flesh torn with the Briars and Thorns of the Wilderness But I must pretend other Causes to the People lest they should be enraged as that I won't keep up Garisons amongst them when there is no need to disturb their Commerce nor leave it in the Power of other Kings to do it when the Places which are capable of being garison'd are dismantled though in reality it is to prevent the Rebels from nestling there or having recourse to them to favour their Rebellion the best way to be rid of the Harpies being to destroy their Nests And that I may free my self at once as much as is possible from that viperous Brood as I have already disbanded the Army under pretence that I would not keep up one in time of Peace but in reality because I would not have such a Body of well-disciplin'd Troops of their Principles together lest at any time they should make head against me as against their former Masters the Parliament Richard c. So now I 'll forbid their old Officers to stay within 20 Miles of London and the Remainders of the Troops I 'll send to fight against the Spaniards in my Wife's Quarrel and if they never return as I hope few of them will I can very well bear the Loss CHAP. XXXII On the Parliament's beginning to grow sensible of the Incouragement given to the Catholick Religion by his Majesty's Declaration Decemb 1662. Their Petition on that head and his Majesty's publishing a Proclamation against Papists thereupon IT 's a mischievous thing for a Soveraign to be limited and to be obliged to act the King only by halves How happy is my Brother of France who is not troubled with such Fetters but his Will does pass for an uncontroulable Law I abhor those Parliaments for they are nothing else but Spies upon Kings and dive into their most reserved and hidden Intrigues I find they begin to suspect my Religion and grudg at the Favours which I show to the Papists and therefore I must proceed slowly and surely Their Zeal to my Prerogative is regulated by their own Interest which makes them oppose my Dispensing Power So that I find I am only absolute against Phanaticks and Republicans but when I come to meddle with the Church of England my Power is limited and the Parliament must then be Sharers of the Soveraignty Their Petitions against my Administration may issue in Remonstrances against my Government as it happened in my Father's time and therefore it is my Interest to flatter them a little and by a Proclamation against the Papists to create an Opinion of my Firmness to the Protestant Religion in the Publick draw Money from the Purses of the Commons and so to recoil to give the stronger and heavier Blow CHAP. XXXIII On the News of some more Plots by the Phanaticks against his Majesty both in England Scotland and Ireland The Execution of the Earl of Argyle Lord Wariston c. in Scotland and some of those concerned in the Plots in England and Ireland I Find that I shall bring my Designs about by Degrees and under the Notion of Plotters execute Vengeance upon mine Enemies without incurring the Censure of being bloody or cruel It 's true that it may seem hard that I should take the Earl of Argyle's Head who was the Person that set the Crown upon my own But during this Extacy of Loyalty in which the Nations are at present the Method of such Proceedings will be the less taken notice of and it 's absolutely necessary for my purpose that the Earl of Argyle should be taken out of the way the Greatness of his Power and his Zeal for his Religion may otherwise prove great Impediments to my Designs I have Pretences enough against him because of his Activity in the Parliament's Rebellion and his Death will be acceptable to the Church of England because he was Head of the Presbyterians and the Friends of the late Marquiss of Montrosse and all the Cavaliers will concur with my Design against him and though there is no doubt but that he will profess his Innocence on the Scaffold yet the Authority of a publick Sentence will be of greater Weight or at least restrain the People from open Murmurings By his Death I shall have also this farther Advantage that the Power of his Clan will be thereby reduced and neither be formidable to my self nor Successors it being the Interest of all Crowns to guard against too potent Subjects As to Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston though he be not so great in Power yet he is nothing inferiour to the other in Policy but indeed far above him and as the Trojans ow'd their Destruction more to Vlysses's Counsels than Achilles's Arms it 's my Interest to rid my self of a Politician who is my Enemy as soon as of one who is greater in Power and Quality And though it be reckon'd no great Policy for a Monarch newly re-establish'd to cement his Throne with
the Purles of his Subjects at command for him to be obliged to use Intreaties to his People who ought to receive his Dictates without Controul But Necessity has no Law the Constitution of this Government being such that English Kings are but a sort of Royal Beggars I must try if my Parliament will let me have Money now that I am disappointed as to my Hopes of seizing the Dutch Smyrna and Spanish Plate Fleets and that my Supplies from France come but slowly in I know that they are jealous of their Privileges have an envious Eye at my Prerogative and are particularly startled at the Dispensing Power therefore I must sweeten them by my Speech and indeavour to possess them with an Opinion that my Design therein was only to secure my self from Tumults and Insurrections at home while I was engaged in a War abroad which cannot be thought an unreasonable Fear by any thinking Man considering the Troubles which the Puritanical Party gave to my Father And as to their Objection that more Favour has been shewn to Papists than Dissenters I can easily answer it that the latter are abundantly more Loyal than the former and have been fast Friends both to my Father and my self and yet they were only allowed their Worship in private whereas the other Party had theirs in publick but as for dispensing with the Executive Part of the Law I am resolv'd to hold it as long as I can Their Fears that I shall make use of the Forces which I raise to subvert their Liberty and Property I must endeavour to dispel by fair Promises and the Interest of my Clergy and Pensioners and at the same time possess them with a Necessity of my raising more Forces for the Honour and Defence of the Nation that we may not be insulted over by the ungrateful Dutch whom my Predecessor Queen Elizabeth did raise from the Dust I have cull'd out the Earl of Shaftsbury for Lord Chancellor who may do me very great Service because a Popular Man so that I shall make use of his Influence and Eloquence both to palliate my having shut up the Exchequer and to demonstrate the Necessity of a War with the Dutch and at the same time of granting an Indulgence to the Papists I perceive that the bad Influences of my Stars are not yet exhausted for though I lay my Designs with all imaginable Policy they do often miscarry Who would have thought that so many fair Promises back'd with the Earl of Shaftsbury's Eloquence and the Interest and Influence of my Pensioners should have miscarried in Parliament and yet to my great Regret I do find that it has so that nothing will serve but a renouncing of my Dispensing Power and fresh Assurances that never any thing of that Nature shall be attempted again which rather than want Money I am resolv'd to comply with for if I could but once get a Standing Army on foot I should soon be able to retrieve it And in the mean time I shall take care to have all this Clamour against the Dispensing Power and Standing Army imputed to the Jealousies and envious Surmises of the Phanaticks and Republicans And from this Obligation laid upon me to recal my Act of Indulgence I shall at least reap this Advantage that it will heighten the Animosities betwixt the Dissenters and Church-men for I can easily bring it about to have the Refusal of it wholly imputed to the latter And though I have no reason to be well satisfy'd at the Check which is hereby put upon my Prerogative yet it hath thus much of a Cordial in it that I perceive the Episcopal Party wholly irreconcileable to the Presbyterians which at some time or other will very much forward my grand Design and at present it has had so much Influence as to procure me a considerable Sum though to avoid the Reproaches of the Phanatical Party the Parliament won't own that it is for carrying on the War against the Dutch but to supply my extraordinary Occasions If it were not that I question the Being of a Deity I should be apt to conclude that God fights for the Hollanders who have obtain'd some fresh Advantages against me at Sea and though they labour under the greatest of Pressures that can be they do also make good their Cause against the Power of France by Land And those pernicious Hereticks being sensible of the Apprehensions which my Parliament have that the Consequences of this War may be fatal to the Protestant Interest they have taken the most effectual Method that can be to possess that Heretical Divan that the French King and my self aim at nothing less than the Subversion of their Religion and the Liberties of their State with that of the Spanish Netherlands Nor have I any other way to save my self from the Influences of this Accusation than by insisting on the necessity of destroying those States to preserve our own Trade and to prevent the Incouragement which they give to those who are Enemies to the establish'd Discipline of our Church There is but too much Truth in the common Proverb That after one Mischief comes another for so I find it by sad Experience Though the Dutch and the Phanatical Party be both of them hated by the Church of England yet they have Influence enough to foment Jealousies in the Parliament that their Religion and Liberty are both in danger And hence comes the Address of the Commons against my Brother's Match with the Dutchess of Modena because a Catholick Princess and proposed by the French King 'T is true that this may indeed seem inconsistent with my reiterated Protestations of taking all imaginable Care to secure the Protestant Religion and the Peoples Liberties but amongst so many Concessions I may certainly venture on one Dram of Prerogative and tell them that the Marriage is concluded by my Authority that in Honour I cannot be worse than my Word and if this will not satisfy them I 'll cool them by a Prorogation What ill Fate is this that attends all my Measures I did reasonably hope that this Prorogation would have diverted the Commons from insisting on their Address against my Brother's Match but it seems that the Jealousy which they have conceiv'd has taken deeper Root than to be pull'd up so soon and therefore I find my self under a necessity to prorogue them again seeing they press me so hard to dissolve the Match because hitherto only concluded by Proxy They are become very sagacious and discern that this Marriage will engage me in new Alliances which may be dangerous to the Protestant Religion and that the Princess having so many Relations in the Court of Rome the Secrets of my Court must needs be open to them and therefore they are about to render Catholicks uncapable of sitting in either House of Parliament but this is too much for me to concede and if granted would ruine my Design intirely and therefore I must find out some Method to
of the Commons that Ireland was like to be over-run with Popery because of his Majesty's Proclamation allowing Papists to live in Corporations and giving them equal Liberties to the English Their Address concerning the Danger of the Protestant Interest there and that Mr. Richard Talbot should be remov'd from all Publick Imployment and denied Access to Court And their Address concerning English Grievances with Reflections on the Miscarriages of his Majesty's former Designs of being impower'd to raise Money without Parliament on extraordinary Occasions and having an Vniversal Excise settled on the Crown WHat mighty Clamours do continually sound in my Ears as to the Dangers which threaten the Protestant Religion and now that I have given them the most solemn Promises that can be for my Care and Endeavours to preserve the same in England they exhibite an Address of their Fears as to Ireland where they strike at once both against my Designs in Church and State and fall foul upon my Proclamation granting the Irish Papists the same Liberty with the English Protestants so that they are resolved to quarrel with my Prerogative in every Particular and will allow me to be Absolute in nothing but in quelling Dissenters so little Sense have they of that Religion which they profess by the Laws of which they are enjoin'd to love their Neighbours as themselves but I perceive that they are firmly resolv'd that none shall have the Privilege to buy nor sell but such as conform to the Church of England The imprudent Zeal of Mr. Richard Talbot who glories in being Agent to the Roman Catholicks in Ireland hath animated them not only to address against him but against imploying any Catholicks in Ireland either as Officers or Souldiers Nor do they stop there but desire that I should recal my Commission of Inquiry into Irish Affairs as tending to the Overthrow of the Act of Settlement and the like as to my Letter forbidding the Prosecution of the Irish for any Injuries they committed in the late Rebellion and urge me to banish their Titular Bishops and Archbishops and to suppress their Seminaries and publick Schools and yet at the same time pretend to be the Patrons and Disciples of the Doctrine of Passive Obedience while they prescribe Laws to their Monarchs I thought it the best Policy to begin to exert my Prerogative in Ireland by extending Favour to the Catholicks there who did so cordially espouse my Father's Quarrel against the Puritanical Rebels both in England and Scotland concluding as I thought with Reason that the Church-of England-men would have been willing that the Irish Catholicks who were their Fellow-Sufferers in Affliction should also be Fellow-Sharers with them in their Prosperity after my Restoration and that those who had no Scruple of Conscience to join with them in Arms against their common Enemies the Presbyterians even after they were accounted barbarous for massacring the Protestants should have had no Disquiet at seeing them Copartners with themselves in my Royal Bounty but I find that I am mistaken and that the Doctrine of Passive Obedience is only calculated to the Church of England's Interest but has no place when that is not the Monarch's chief Aim for they not only take upon them to quarrel with my Proclamations and Letters about the Affairs of Ireland but pretend to order who shall have Access to my Court and who not as if the King of Great Britain was to be confin'd to as narrow Limits as the Doge of Venice so ill founded are those Peoples Complaints against the Scots Presbyterians for imposing Conditions upon me before my Coronation that they themselves who admitted me almost without any are now for intrenching upon my Prerogative when I am in plenary Possession And yet because of this pretended Constraint upon me the Episcopal Party justify my Breach of Covenant with the Scots so that according to their own Doctrine I may as well break with themselves when I find an Opportunity because they now take the Advantage of my Circumstances and want of Money to bring me to their own Terms which is still more palpable from their other Address concerning their own Grievances viz. my imposing of 12 d. per Chaldron upon Coals for providing of Convoys the exempting of my Souldiers from ordinary Justice the quartering of them on private Houses the pressing of Men for Land-Service c. So that notwithstanding of the Divine Right of Succession my not being accountable to any but God and the Height to which their Divines have preach'd up my Prerogative they would still reduce me to a King of Clouts These things being so inconsistent with the Church of England's pretended Principles I must take care to possess the Clergy of the Danger they are in if such Incroachments upon the Crown be suffered to pass without Animadversion for as they value themselves upon the Maxim of No Bishop no King as if where Episcopacy is not the Government of the Church Monarchy can never be that of the State I am sure that the converted Proposition No King no Bishop will hold much truer And if once there be an Incroachment made upon the Crown the Privileges of the Mitre will never be lasting and therefore it 's their Interest to disown the Maintainers of such Principles for true Sons of the Church as I can never own them for good Subjects to the State and so we shall brand them with a Note of Ignominy But in the mean time I must put the Commons off with a smooth Answer both my Father and I having sufficiently smarted by provoking Parliaments though at the same time I shall be sure to prorogue them that so all their Designs of Ease to Dissenters and to oppose my Brother's Match may fall to the ground and this I esteem a much safer way of dealing than to withdraw from them and set up my Standard as my Father did who seems to have entail'd his Misfortune in War on all his Posterity for I find that the Minds of those who depend intirely upon me are mutable and therefore I have less Reason to put Confidence in the Body of the Nation who brag of their Privileges as a free People The Church-men notwithstanding of their former Flights of Zeal for the Prerogative do many of them join with those who are for encroaching upon it and my very Pensioners who liv'd by my Bounty withstood my Designs of having a Power to levy Money upon extraordinary Occasions and getting an universal Excise settled upon the Crown because they found that if these things were but once obtain'd there would be no need of Pensioners and consequently an End put to their Salaries and Subsistence Nor are even the highest of the Clergy who bind Passive Obedience upon the Consciences of their Hearers on pain of Damnation willing to have an Arbitrary Power put in exercise over themselves and the most obsequious of their Hearers though they applaud the French King and his Government are very unwilling
Crown and not be charg'd on my aspiring Humour or Ambition And I know that a Parliament of such a Constitution will rather do any thing than hazard my Displeasure and not dare to impeach any Man because they know their own Guilt and so those who are my Tools for promoting the Catholick Religion and Arbitrary Government shall pass unpunished But that the Nation may not perceive my Intrigue and thereupon grow tumultuous the Commons shall have leave now and then to talk of Grievances and also to name those who are the Instruments of them but if they exceed their Bounds they shall be kick'd from one Adjournment to another chastised by Prorogations and Abatements of their Pensions and kept in obedience by Threatnings of Dissolution I have already some Experience of the good Effects of these Methods for now they have voted me double that Sum for building of Ships that they thought sufficient last Sessions and continued the double Excise upon Beer and Ale and have taken care to make the Nation have a good Opinion of their being still a legal Parliament when so great a Number of the Gentry of the Nation are appointed Collectors of the Money which they have given CHAP. LIX On the Commons throwing out the Bill intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion and another for the more effectual Convicting and Prosecution of Popish Recusants BY committing the factious Lords to the Tower my Designs run on more smoothly in the Upper House insomuch that those Bills pass'd them without any Opposition but they have not had the same Acceptation amongst the Commons who have thrown out the first after once reading and the second in the same manner with a Note of Disgrace as being contradictory to its own Title I perceive that the Commons though they don't love their Religion for Religion sake yet they have no mind to part with it because of their Interest for if Popery were introduced Arbitrary Government would find its way more easy and then they could neither be assur'd of their Places nor Pensions so that I must contrive some new Method But were I as happy in the Church-of England-Laity as I am in their Clergy there would be no need of such Precaution which makes me smile at the Apology of the Commons who are so very careful about the Credit of their Bishops tho they don't look upon their Concurrence with those Bills to be any way hurtful to their Reputation By this Method they diminish the Authority of their Church and exalt their own Wisdom above that of their spiritual Fathers whom they believe to be appointed by Divine Right to oversee and take care of the Affairs of the Church Nor can the Weakness of their Apology pass without a Remark that they should think it worth while to excuse them as not being the Contrivers and Promoters and yet own that they did not oppose those Bills nay they plainly confess that some of the Bishops were of the Cabal that hatch'd them Certainly it can never be safe to intrust one's self in that Church which owns that her Guides are blind or to commit one's Conscience to the Direction of such as don't know how to direct their own But if the Commons had hit upon the true Reason of the Concurrence of their Bishops they would find it to have been because the Mitres and Ceremonies which is all that they mean by their Church would be sufficiently secur'd though Popery were established and they being in present Possession might merit a Continuance by promoting the Catholick Interest under-hand Nor can I believe that the Commons don't perceive this seeing the Bishops advance such Clergy-men daily who incline mightily to the Church of Rome in the Doctrine of Justification which Luther their great Patron own'd to be Articulus stantis cadentis Ecclesiae and yet they won't admit of one Man to enjoy a Benefice who does not accept of Episcopal Ordination and conforms to the Ceremonies whence it 's manifest and apparent that by these they understand the Church And the Commons themselves though they seem now to differ a little from the Bishops yet make use of this Distinction to keep all but those of their own Communion out of any Publick Imployments And I am apt to think that could they but secure their own Interest in a Change as well as the Bishops can do theirs they would never make so much to do in opposing Popery which I am convinc'd by my own Experience is a Religion best suted of any to such as would live in those Enjoyments which Precisians call carnal Delights and that the greatest part of the Members are such I have reason to know for I am sure it has and does daily cost me Money And hence I conclude that it does not proceed from any Religious Principle that the present House of Commons do seem more opposite to have a Popish King than the Bishops CHAP. LX. On the Address of the Commons concerning the Danger from the Power of France and their Progress in the Netherlands His Majesty's Answer It s not being thought satisfactory by the Commons who presented a second to which his Majesty delay'd giving Answer and the Cause why His demanding of Money when he did answer Their giving 200000 l. and Adjournment with the Cause of it MY Subjects are now upon another Scent and from the Affairs of their Religion and Property at home are come to consider of the State of Affairs abroad I could be very glad that they should have forborn any such Motion but shall take proper Methods to render it ineffectual The Phanaticks and Commonwealth's-men do still foment Jealousies and having put Checks upon my Designs at home they are now for curbing my Allies beyond Sea and putting a stop to the French Conquests The Netherlands being look'd upon as the natural Barrier of England I must not positively refuse to assist them but shall form such plausible Pretexts as will excuse my Delay And in the mean time though I cannot go on with my part of the Design the French King may go on with his However I have promised them to use all Means in my Power for the Safety of my Kingdoms but that does not satisfy and therefore they presented me with another Address wherein they not only petition as becomes Subjects but boldly direct as if they were Masters by which they do manifestly entrench upon my Power of making Peace and War By proffering to assist me to the uttermost against France no doubt they think they have acquitted themselves bravely though it is no more than what in Duty they are bound to do let me be engaged in what War I please But seeing they press so much for my making of Alliances with the Dutch c. and to make an actual War with France I must give my Friends Instructions to argue against it in the House from the Inconveniences which may attend it as the seizing of our Ships and
got so much the Ascendant of this which was once a Loyal Parliament or that my Pensioners and Friends should come so far short of their wonted Devoirs Perhaps the late Checks which they have met with by my Speech and Adjournments have given them some Umbrage to suspect that they are not long-liv'd and therefore they would now endeavour to recover their Credit with the Country They discovered before by the Motions which some of my Friends made of impowering me to raise what Money I pleas'd upon extraordinary Occasions that I was grown weary of Parliaments themselves and that my Bounty to them would cease with their Usefulness to me and therefore are taking care to make their Fortunes another way and so run out violently for a War with France I must humour them a little to further my own Ends and pretend to be for such a War that I may once get their Money and then I can lay it out which way I please I shall also make an Advantage of it another way by obliging the French King to open his Coffers on pretence that I must otherwise comply with my Parliament And by this Means I shall be sure to have Money one way or other If the Commons must be gratified with a War on France it 's but reasonable that it should be carried on at their Expence and therefore I will demand no less than a Million I know that my PRetences of Alliances with the Dutch and Agreement to the Prohibition of a Trade with France will be irresistible Arguments to carry my Demand and those I am resolv'd to improve to the utmost CHAP. LXIII On the raising of an Army on pretence of a War with France The modelling of them The sending of Duke Lauderdale to Scotland to bring down an Highland-Army upon those Parts of the Low-lands which were most Presbyterian The private Treaty with France The Discovery of it by the Commons Their Address to his Majesty to dismiss the French Ambassador Their Vote in May 1678. That the King be desired to enter into Alliance with the Emperor King of Spain and Princes of Germany His Majesty's Answer Their second Address against Duke Lauderdale and other Ministers and Vote to give no Money till they were secured from Popery and Arbitrary Government The Treaty of Nimeguen and the Behaviour of his Majesty's Plenipotentiaries there THE Parliament having given Money it remains for me to improve it and that they may be induc'd to believe that it shall be applied to the Ends for which it was given an Army shall be rais'd but such as I hope will put me in a Condition that I shall stand in no more need of Parliamentary Supplies The principal Posts in Church and State are already so well fill'd with Persons suted to my Designs that I can scarcely have better And now I must take care to model the Army to have most of the Souldiers if possible composed of such Men as are either Catholicks or but Protestants in Name and the Officers in like manner either altogether Catholicks or such who by taking the Test to qualify them for their Office may nevertheless advance the Catholick Cause for which Reason I am happy in the Constitution of the Church of England it being so framed that moderate Catholicks may easily comply with it The Army being form'd my next Care must be how to get them paid for the Money granted by the Parliament will quickly be consum'd upon them and my necessary Pleasures and therefore seeing the French King and Catholicks press me to the furtherance of their respective Designs it 's highly reasonable that the same should be carried on with their own Money I having done my part in being at the Expence of raising an Army they are obliged to maintain them and if to the 300000 l. per annum which the French King is obliged to pay towards it the Conclave of Rome and the Catholicks in England will contribute their Shares the Work will be done and I shall no more stand in need of such tumultuous Divans as Parliaments who instead of granting me Money which is their only Province do dive into my Counsels and obstruct my Measures It will render me obnoxious to Discovery and Censure to keep a Correspondence with France and Rome in my own Person and therefore I think it adviseable to do it by my Brother who can better keep the Pope and Cardinal Howard to their Promise than I can do and if the Business should happen to be perceiv'd he being a Subject can easily make his Escape and retire a while till I weather out the Storm That I may prevent as much as in me lies all Impediments of what Nature soever I have also taken care to put Scotland out of a Condition to oppose me as remembring very well that the Presbyterians of that Nation were the first who made head against my Father and therefore I have consum'd the Substance of the richest and most phanatical part of the Kingdom by bringing down an Army of Popish Highlanders to take Free Quarter upon them for which the frequent and numerous Meetings of the Presbyterians hath furnish'd me with a Pretence I having taken such Methods that either they should have no Meetings at all for hearing Sermons by their own Ministers or be obliged to meet in the Fields and not in Safety there neither except they put themselves in a Posture of Defence and if they do that I carry my Point and have a fair Opportunity of charging them with Rebellion and taking my Measures against them accordingly I am also secure as to the meeting with any Obstruction from Ireland having indulged the Papists in that Kingdom so far as they have got the Ascendant and put such Men in all Places of Power and Trust as are sincere and cordial for my Designs so that I had no Reason to despair of bringing things to a good Issue if the Influences of my Stars which are always malignant had not discovered my private Treaty with France and rais'd a new Ferment of Jealousy amongst the Commons who upbraid the Court for want of Sincerity that at the very time when they talk of an actual War they should enter into secret Treaties with their Enemies And hence I am importun'd by another seditious Address that I should immediately proclaim and declare War against the French King recal my Ambassador from his Court and dismiss his from mine So that notwithstanding of the severe Check which I gave them by my Speech the last time that they presum'd to give me such Directions they persist still in the same Method And to expose me to my Subjects in revenge of my having expos'd them formerly in the Gazette for their Disobedience they have publickly declar'd that they have a Bill ready to assist me with Money if once I declare War which they solicite me to undertake that the French King may be so reduced as to be no longer terrible to my
time so that according to this Doctrine there is no other Church nor Interpreter of Scripture but that which lies in every Man 's giddy Brain I desire to know therefore of every serious Considerer of these things whether the great Work of our Salvation ought to depend upon such a Sandy Foundation as this Did Christ ever say to the Civil Magistrate much less to the People that he would be with them to the End of the World Or did he give them the Power to forgive Sins St. Paul tells the Corinthians Ye are God's Husbandry ye are God's Building we are Labourers with God This shews who are the Labourers and who are the Husbandry and Building And in this whole Chapter and in the preceeding one St. Paul takes great pains to set forth that they the Clergy have the Spirit of God without which no Man searcheth the deep things of God and he concludeth the Chapter with this Verse For who hath known the Mind of the Lord that he may instruct him But we have the Mind of Christ Now if we do but consider in humane Probability and Reason the Powers Christ leaves to his Church in the Gospel and St. Paul explains so distinctly afterwards we cannot think that our Saviour said all these things to no purpose And pray consider on the other side that those who resist the Truth and will not submit to his Church draw their Arguments from Implications and far-fetch'd Interpretations at the same time that they deny plain and positive Words which is so great a Disingenuity that 't is not almost to be thought that they can believe themselves Is there any other Foundation of the Protestant Church but that if the Civil Magistrate please he may call such of the Clergy as he thinks fit for his turn at that time and turn the Church either to Presbytery Independency or indeed what he pleases This was the way of our pretended Reformation here in England and by the same Rule and Authority it may be altered into as many more Shapes and Forms as there are Fancies in Mens Heads A Brief Account of Particulars occurring at the happy Death of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles II. in regard to Religion faithfully related by his then Assistant Mr. Jo Hudleston UPON Thursday the Fifth of February 1685. between seven and eight a Clock in the Evening I was sent for in haste to the Queen's Back-stairs at Whitehall and desired to bring with me all things necessary for a dying Person Accordingly I came and was order'd not to stir from thence till farther notice being thus obliged to wait and not having had time to bring along with me the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar I was in some Anxiety how to procure it In this conjuncture the Divine Providence so disposing Father Bento de Lemos a Portugez came thither and understanding the Circumstance I was in readily proffer'd himself to go to St. James's and bring the most Holy Sacrament along with him Soon after his Departure I was call'd into the King's Bed-chamber where approaching to the Bed-side and kneeling down I in brief presented his Majesty with what Service I could perform for God's Honour and the Happiness of his Soul at this last Moment on which Eternity depends The King then declared himself That he desired to die in the Faith and Communion of the Holy Roman Catholick Church That he was most heartily sorry for all the Sins of his Life past and particularly for that he had deferred his Reconciliation so long That through the Merits of Christ's Passion he hoped for Salvation That he was in Charity with all the World That with all his Heart he pardon'd his Enemies and desired Pardon of all those whom he had any wise offended and that if it pleased God to spare him longer Life he would amend it detesting all Sin I then advertis'd his Majesty of the Benefit and Necessity of the Sacrament of Penance which Advertisement the King most willingly embracing made an exact Confession of his whole Life with exceeding Compunction and Tenderness of Heart which ended I desired him in farther sign of Repentance and true Sorrow for his Sins to say with me this little short Act of Contrition O my Lord God! with my whole Heart and Soul I detest all the Sins of my Life past for the Love of Thee whom I love above all things and I firmly purpose by thy Holy Grace never to offend Thee more Amen Sweet Jesus Amen Into thy Hands Sweet Jesus I commend my Soul Mercy Sweet Jesus Mercy This he pronounced with a clear and audible Voice which done and his Sacramental Penance admitted I gave him Absolution After some time thus spent I asked his Majesty if he did not also desire to have the other Sacraments of the Holy Church administred unto him He reply'd By all means I desire to be Partaker of all the Helps and Succours necessary and expedient for a Catholick Christian in my Condition I added And doth not your Majesty also desire to receive the precious Body and Blood of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist His Answer was this If I am worthy pray fail not to let me have it I then told him it would be brought to him very speedily and desired his Majesty that in the Interim he would give me leave to proceed to the Sacrament of Extreme Unction he replied With all my Heart I then anointed him which as soon as perform'd I was call'd to the Door whither the Blessed Sacrament was now brought and delivered to me Then returning to the King I entreated his Majesty that he would prepare and dispose himself to receive At which the King raising up himself said Let me meet my Heavenly Lord in a better Posture than in my Bed But I humbly begg'd his Majesty to repose himself God Almighty who saw his Heart would accept of his good Intention The King then having again recited the forementioned Act of Contrition with me he received the most Holy Sacrament for his Viaticum with all the Symptoms of Devotion imaginable The Communion being ended I read the usual Prayers termed the Recommendation of the Soul appointed by the Church for Catholicks in his Condition After which the King desired the Act of Contrition O my Lord God c. to be repeated This done for his last spiritual Encouragement I said Your Majesty hath now received the Comfort and Benefit of all the Sacraments that a good Christian ready to depart out of this World can have or desire Now it rests only that you think upon the Death and Passion of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ of which I present unto you this Figure shewing him a Crucifix lift up therefore the Eyes of your Soul and represent to your self your sweet Saviour here crucified bowing down his Head to kiss you his Arms stretched out to imbrace you his Body and Members all bloody and pale with Death to redeem you and as you see him dead and fixed upon the Cross for your Redemption so have his Remembrance fixed and fresh in your Heart Beseech him with all Humility that his most precious Blood may not be shed in vain for you and that it will please him by the Merits of his bitter Death and Passion to pardon and forgive you all your Offences And finally to receive your Soul into his blessed Hands and when it shall please him to take it out of this transitory World to grant you a joyful Resurrection and an Eternal Crown of Glory in the next In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen So recommending his Majesty on my Knees with all the Transport of Devotion I was able to the Divine Mercy and Protection I withdrew out of the Chamber In Testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my Name JO. HVDLESTON ERRATA PAge 105. line 2. read happier Ibid. l. 3. after Restraint supply than the Brutes