adjourned to give time for his Majesties nation being met again there were strong endeavors of the King that several Lords of the Royal party should be admitted to their seats in Parliament but the assemblies of the Kirk at Sterling Aberdeen as strongly oppose it and shew themselves discontented both at this proposal and likewise at the new levies in regard they were there admitted to commands in the Army as they now desired to have place in Parliament yet notwithstanding these murmurings they were upon their reconciliation to the Church and passing the stool of Repentance re-admitted to their places in Parliament such were Duke Hamilton the Marquess of Huntley the Earls of Calendare Crawford others But stil not only many of the Ministers notwithstanding there was a select Committee appointed to examine and punnish such persons who any way confronted and murmured against any designs or acts of State rail against these proceedings but some of the Nobles too are discontented insomuch that the Earl of Sutherland utterly refused to concur with them and if he could possibly would have opposed them by force And indeed very many or most of the Presbyterians were discontented For the Royal party by the Admission of those Lords and others was grown stronger then the Kirk's and now bore all the sway which made the proud Marquesse Argyle and other Covenantier Lords murmur at being afraid least in time they should wholly be laid aside they having already seen one of their party begun with for the Earl of Louden who customarily had the Lord Chancellorship of the Kingdome was removed from his place and the Lord Burleigh constituted Chancellor in his stead Yet on the Covenanters side there wanted not some Ministers such were Mr. RoBert Douglass and Mr. David Dicks who endeavoured to beget a right understanding in both parties that these sparks of discontent might not at last burst out into a flame as 't was very much feared they would but rather that in this time of danger they might lay a side all animosities and unite together against the Common Enemy who else would be the Ruine of them both And now his Maiesty to keep a corespondency abroad sends the Earl of Dumferlin Ambassador to the States of Holland he had likewise at the same time several other Ambassadors oragents abroad in the courts of several Princes to require aid but never found more then what fair and sugar'd promises produced And about this time Sir Henry Hide being sent ouer to England from Constantinople whither he had been sent as Ambassador from his Majesty to the Grand Seignior by Sir Thomas Bendysh his means who was then Ambassador for the republick in England but yet deem'd a person of more loyalty to his Prince then to have sent his Ambassador to be murder'd if he could have avoided it after somewhat a formall tryall he suffered death on a Scaffold before the Royal Exchange in London for having taken Commissions from his Soveraign And not long after him Captain Brown-Bushell who though he had formerly been an enemy to his Majesties father yet now suffer'd death upon the Tower-hill London for having done some signal services by sea for his present Majesty But to return to the Kings affairs in Scotland where the special businesses in hand were the compleating the Levies to 15000 foot and 6000 horse which went on a pace and the fortifying the town of Sterling which his Majesty intended for the place of his chief residence to the hastening of the which his Majesty went often in Progress to view the Works encourage the Pioneers And time it was to hasten those Works for the English drew every day nigher and nigher towards them having already taken the Fort of Blackness which lay btween Sterling and Edenbrough which was never theless not accounted so great a loss as the surprizsal of the Earl of Eglinton and one of his Sons by a party of English horse at Dumbarton for this Earl was a person of a great deal of power in that Nation and his taking very much obstructed the going forward of the Levies But Sterling being almost fortified sufficiently his Majesty removed his Court hither where whilst he was his birth day being the 29 of May was kept through Scotland with such tokens of joy as are usuall upon such occasions but the town of Dundee exceeded all the rest for besides their equal expressions of joy they presented his Majesty with a rich Tent six pieces of Field Ordinance and set out a Regiment of horse towards his assistance at their own charge At Sterling likewise were the head Quarters kept most of the Scotch Army Quartering about it whither Middleton's levies from the North being come and amounting to about 8000 men it came to be a dispute whether these should be a distinct Army by themselves or be joined with Lesley's Southern levies but at length it was thought most conveniēt to joyn them and his Majesty to prevent those animosities which might arise between Middleton and Lesley for the General-ship tooke upon himselfe the Command of the whole From hence his Majesty sent a messenger to the Parliamet still sitting at S. Johnston's with these demands 1. That the Act about the Classis of malignants should be revok'd disannull'd and that an Act pass for its repeal 2. That there may be no more any mention of the name of malignants among them 3. That Duke Hamilton the Earls of Seaforth and Callendare c. might have as full commād in the Army as any others The demands were strongly debated pro con in the Parliament the Marquess of Argyle and others of the Covenanted strain endeavouring by all means possible to oppose them yet at length though with much difficulty they were carried in the affirmative it being urged by the more moderate sort too that the granting of these would be the only way to take away all animosities between those parties which they intended to unite The Parliament having granted these things to his Majesty given large commissions instructions for the compleating of the Levies about the begining of Iune dissolved leaving all things in relation to civil and intestine distempers in a calm quiet all parties seeming to be pleased and their actions united towards the opposing of their common Enemy Cromwell Whilst these things were thus transacted in Scotland a great and terrible plot was discovered against the Juncto then ruling in England and their government in assistance of his Majesty to his just Rights This design was chiefly laid by those Presbyterians who had been such dire Opponents of his Majesty's blessed father of happy yet unhappy memory viz the greatest part Presbyterian Ministers who had most of them formerly belcht out such fire-brands from their Pulpits as had set both Church and State in a combustion but now whether out of a reall sence of their Errour which I have the charity to believe it was they had a desire to return to
the Hague till the Royall affairs in England might gain a better posture which he did and there found a reception answerable to his Birth Not long after the King his Royall Father being in danger to be inclosed in Oxford by General Fairfax who returning out of the West had designed to block it up took care for his safety and attended only by Mr. Ashburnham or as some say attended on him went privily our thence and threw himselfe upon the Scotch Army then at Newark who shortly after notwithstanding his confidence of them for a sum of money delivered him up most perfidiously and traiterously to his implacable Enemies the English Army These after many pretences of Treaties and seeming willingness to come to an accord with him on that black day the 30. of January 1648. most villaniously and trayterously beyond the imagination of the World murder'd him Thus far is a short view of those hardships and afflictions undergone by this noble Prince during his Fathers Life Reign we will now proceed to those he hath since ran through which we may more properly and particularly call his Own Among which the Chief and greatest and from whence all his other miseries flowed as from their spring head was the deprivation of his Kingdome Royalties For that part of the Parliament of England which had usurped the whole power or more were not onely content to take a way his fathers life but by their Proclamation deprive him of all right in the Government of those three Kingdomes which they take upon themselves contrary both to the Word of God the Fundamental Laws of the Nation and his own undoubted right by birth he being lineally desended from that Family which had successively governed England for above three hundred years He was at that time of his Fathers death at the Court of his Sister the Royal Princesse of Orange in the Hague in expectation to hear rather of the Conclusion of a Treaty then of his murder to which effect he writ by the Lord Seymour the following Letter to him some short time before his Death For the King SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties present condition but such as I receive from the Press or which is as uncertain reports I have sent this bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majesty and to bring me an account of it that I may withall assure your Majesty I doe not onely pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwayes be ready to doe all which shall be in my power to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majesties Most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Jan. 23. 1648. And here he staid till he heard the heart breaking news of his Fathers Murther then shortly after he took his Iourney to the Queen his mother in France hoping there to get aid but found none which might render him in a capacity to revenge his Father's Death or demand his own right by force and in vain it was to think of any fair means to attain it Yet there wanted not some friends of his in England who willing to demonstrate how ready they were to adventure themselves for him his right as far as their weak abilities would strech caused under hand a Proclamation to be printed proclaiming him King of England Scotland France and Ireland and advising all his good Subjects to give all due Allegiance to him but the low condition of the Royalists then in England and the great strength and potency of the Parliaments Army made this Proclamation unvalid and those who at a fit opportunity would willingly have complied with it were forced to direct their Obedience to the contrary Goal But though England prov'd thus defective to his interest not so much I dare say in Allegiance as power Yet Jreland is at his Devotion for the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchiquin having made a peace with the Quondam Rebels he is by joynt consent both of Papists and Protestants proclaimed King in most towns of that Nation Dublin and London-Derry only excepted which were kept from their Allegiance the one by the Lieu. General Iones the other by Sir Charles Coote who joyntly strove to justifie the Parliament of Englands late actions He being thus proclaimed there is solemnly invited to come over to them to which invitation his Mother earnestly adds her desires but the best of his friends and Counsellours as earnestly disswaded him upon reasons drawn both from prudence and Policy since in probability the design not succeeding it would utterly ruine his hopes with all the Protestant party then stedfast to him both in Scotland and England or that if he would needs venture himselfe with this party they desired him at least to attend whether by any good event of theirs there might be any probability of successe 'T is supposed that this Council swaied with him more out of his real affection to the Protestant Religion then any other Politick reason Yet he immediately after took a journey to the Isle of Iersey which startled some as though he had intended to have proceeded thence for Ireland but that suspition proved unnecessary he was accompanied hither by his Brother the Duke of York who was lately come to him out of Holland and many other Nobles Gentlemen the Islanders immediately upon his arrival most joyfully proclaimed him King and the Lord Iermyn Earle of Yarmouth was made Governour of that Island who constituted Sir George Cartwright his deputy Governour The King sends from hence his Royal command to the Governour of Gernsey Island which was then wholly subjected Cornet Castle only excepted to the Parliaments sorces requiring him to surrender the said Island to him and that his good Subjects there might have liberty to return to their due obedience but his command proved ineffectual Many affirm but how true I know not that the reason of the Kings removal to this Island was out of design to surprize Dartmouth and some other places in the West by the Levellers help who having then made a defection from the Parliaments Army in England were say they to have joyned with the Royalists for the intents and purposes a foresaid but whether so or no I cannot affirm though I can certainly tell this that were it so it proved uneffectual for the Levellers were soon overpowred and quell'd Whilst King Charles was hear expecting a Messenger from the States of Scotland came news of the unfortunate overthrow of the Marquess of Ormond his Army by Lieu. General Iones before Dublin which caused a generall sorrow among all his followers for there had been great hopes expectations of that Army it amounting to no lesse then twenty two thousand men was esteemed able not onely to have taken Dublin but likewise to have resisted Cromwell's then new comming Army in the field yet whether by the carlessness of the Commanders or security of the
his Majesty at Bristol return'd home and lived for some space in a great deale of security not doubting she could be betray'd Yet at length by what means I know not though indeed I have heard of many relations that I dare not relate any it came to light yet she had some timely notice of it whereupon she who had formerly disguised his Majesty in a Serving-mans habit now disguises her self in that of a Country Wench and trots on foot to save her life which she was like to lose for having formerly saved his sacred Majesties quite crosse the Countrey to Yarmouth where she found shipping which conveyed her safe into France great search after her departure there was made for her but in vain which so incensed the Souldiers that they burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where his Majesty first took shelter after his escape from Worcester She being arrived in France sends a Letter to the Court whereupon his Majesty almost over-joy'd at her Escape who had been the cause of his immediatly sends some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris whither he being near come himself with the Queen his Mother the Duke of York Gloucester went out to meet this Preserver of the life of their Son Soveraign and Brother the Coaches meeting and she being descended from her Coach his Majesty likewise descends taking her by the hand salutes her with this gratefull expression Welcome my life so putting her into his own Coach conducts her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause and wonder of the whole Court and she could indeed deserve no less for I believe neither past or future Ages can or will ever parallell so great a pattern of female Loyalty and Generosity Whilst his Majesty was thus passing away his time in France more in contemtemplation then action Oliver Cromwell made General of all the Juncto's Forces in England Scotland and Jreland finding now a fit opportunity to put his long-laid ambitious designs in execution had dissolved that Juncto which had usurped the Kingly power or more over England and taken upon himself though not the title yet the Royall power and authority over these Nations which the people though unwilling yet were forced to submit to though he had not at first any basis whereon to ground his new usurped Regality yet in stead of one Juncto he pluckt down he easily sets up another which I may the more justly call so in regard there was not one of them chosen by the free Votes of the People but by his own arbitrary Election and those such persons who knew well enough what they had to doe before they met these after a short time sitting without doing any thing besides the making of some impertinent laws which were forceably imposed on the people surrender their power as dying men do their souls to God into his hands that gave it who by the help of the Officers of the Army and Lamberts instrument makes himself immediatly king of England Scotland and Ireland which government he had often sworn against though under the title of Protector This I must needs say Noble Tyrant having got the Dominion of three such Kingdoms into his possession made it now as much his study to preserve himself safe in his Estate and Grandure as he did before to acquire it to which purpose he thought it most suitable to that design to make some remarkable disturbance amongst the neighbouring Princes then to continue that War begun by the Juncto of Parliament with the Dutch to which purpose severall motions of a Treaty passed His sacred Majesty though he had sundry times before solicited the assistance of those United Provinces for the regaining of his Right in his Kingdoms now more earnestly upon secret intelligence of the first motions of this Treaty sends the Lord Gerard his Embassadour to the United States more earnestly intreating them to own his Interest then before proffering that if they would set out a good squadron of ships under his Flag he would command them himself in person His Sister the princess of Orange and other of his friends in the Low Countries addicted to his Interest earnestly prosecutes his desires and use their utmost influence on the States of the United provinces for the performance of his propositions Nor are there five of these Provinces nor Van Trump himself their Admiral unwilling to comply with him Only the Province of Holland the most potent at sea stands out chiefly out of the disgust they had lately taken to the family of Orange whose interest and command they were fearfull might bee restored should his Majesty who was Uncle to the young Prince be invested in his Territories His Majesty likewise to advance his hopes of their assistance when Monsieur Bortell came from those United States to negotiate a League with the King of France used his utmost Interest to promote the Treaty and in fine brought it to a desired period notwithstanding the United States sent no other answer to his Embassey then a cold Letter of Complements His designs thus failing him here he directed himself to a more hopefull course by interposing himself a Mediator with the Pope and other Catholick Princes for an accord and peace between the two mighty Crowns of France and Spain And indeed two such potent Monarchs had been in better capacity with their joynt forces to have assisted him had the peace gon forward as there was great hopes then the United States of the Netherlands but Cardinal Mazarine by a piece of secret state-policy endeavoured to obstruct all proceedings which might tend to a Treaty or accord Nor was this Cardinal's spleen to his Royall Majesty yet allayed for his supposed Council against him in the forementioned difference between the King Princes but farther to prejudice him and his affairs he endeavours the promotion of a peace between the Protector of England and the French King his Master which though opposed by all the force and Interest that either himselfe or the Queen his Mother had in the French Court yet was by the Cardinall whose will was a law all other Government in that Kingdome being but a meer shadow vigorously carried on and an Embassadour sent over to treat of an accord where having been sometime in England his Majesty was by secret intelligence informed that the chief Article insisted upon in the Treaty by the Protector of England was the excluding himself relations and followers out of the Kingdome of France and it's Territories wherefore least the treaty should be suddenly concluded upon those tearms he ceremoniously excluded he thought it more honourable himself to leave that Kingdome of his own accord and having taken his leave of the King of France and the rest of the Nobility accompanied with his Coufin Prince Rupert he departed for Germany where the Lord Wilmot had long been Embassadour for him to solicite aid and assistance Yet notwithstanding his Brothers the
THE HISTORY OF His SaCRed Majesty CHARLES the II. KING of England Scotland France Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Begun from the Murder of his Royall Father of Happy Memory continued to this present year 1660. By a Person of Quality Bona agere mala pati Regium est CORK Reprinted by William Smith Anno Dom 1660. To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord Marquess of DORCHESTER Earl of Kingston Viscount Newark Lord Pierrepoint and Manvers c. Right Honourable IT was not upon long Considerations but easie resolutions that I pitched upon your Lordship determined to presume upon your patronage of this small review of the actions of his SACRED MJESTY whose hard fortunes may now demand a Subjects protection since I could no where else find a person who bears so great a name of true Honour and Generosity nor one whose assured loyalty will make him lesse ashamed or afraid to owne his Prince And indeed my Lord when I looked upon these Nations once I may say almost peopled with Nobles and now in a great measure deprived both of her Nobility and Gentry 't was easie for me to find out the Prime of those remaining which a small search told me was your Lordship who though you have been no whit behind the foremost in Loyalty yet God hath been pleased to make others drinke deeper in the Cup of affliction then your selfe But all those miseries which either your Lordship or other loyal persons have suffered cannot come in competition with those undergon by his SACRED MAJESTY who hath drunk up the very dregs of the Cup and suffered more then can be well spoken yet all with so incomparable a patience as worthily deserves our wonder My Lord you are amongst the Prime of the Nobility which God hath yet been pleased to spare this miserable Nation as you are so I could not think any person fitter for the patronage of this small piece since both your loyalty may make you willing and your power able to protect it If I have soar'd too high either in the subject or dedication I shall humbly crave your Lordships pardon and answer to the first That I was willing to vindicate my Sovereign as far as in me lay from those many reproaches and calumnies cast upon him by his back-biting enemies by giving the best account that either my own knowledge or the surest intelligence I could get might enable me to of all his actions that he might appear the contrary of what he is represented dirt be cast in the faces of his Accusers To the second I wholly cast my selfe on your Lordship either to pardon or condemn But if my Love to his Majestie may in the judgements of some have strained my pen too much in his favour I desire it may be imputed not to my intent but passion for the unworthy sufferings of so worthy a Prince would irritate any loyall Subject My Lord whilst yotr Lordship shall be gratiously pleased to patronize this small worke that GOD would be pleased to restore his Majesty to be Patron of his Kingdoms and people and blesse your Lordship with all imaginary blessings shall be the daily prayers of Your Lordships most humble Servant I. D. To the Right Honourable Major General Richard Brown Colonel of the Regiment of horse of the City of London Alderman John Robinson Colonel of the Green Regiment of the Cities Trained Bands Ald. Anthony Bateman Col. of the Red. Ald. Will. Wale Col. of the White William Vincent Col. of the Blew Thomas Bludworth Col. of the Orange and Lawrance Bromfield Col. of the Yellow Right Honourable MAlice and error are the Epidemical diseases of our time and land so that whoever as a friend to his Country shall presume to discover any thing of a spirit of Love or truth is likely to exasperate not a few That I trust both the Author and my selfe the Stationer have endeavoured to do and therefore must expect to meet with the hard censures and Calumnies of many yea even of such of whom we have no worse thoughts then that they suffer themselves to be abused with popular mistakes and unnecessary jealousies concerning that most Christian and Illustrious though now clouded Prince the subject of the following Book Whose eares according to the Ephesians Hieroglyphick of Calumny have been opened too wide to the malevolent aspertions of ignorant and illinterested persons and are therefore prejudiced against every relation that may represent him to the World as lovely and desirable We know Themistocles had the unhappy sate to be rendred odious to the people by Aristides gallant persons both but the latter under a mistake These we pity rather then be angry at them and desire to cure them of their beloved distemper by presenting them with this succinct faithfull History But yet that I may not be altogether unprovided of a shelter if the storm of their zealous frenzie should chance to fall upon me besides a recourse to my own integrity which Ianus-like will make me Tanto frontosior quanto innocentior I humbly crave a room under the shadow of your wings where I question not but to lye safe Your honours have taken a charge upon you which obliges you to maintain the publick and common good interest of this Land and City where Res est publica Caesar Et de communi pars quoque nostra bono est Therefore to patronize the recommendation of his virtues for imitation and of his sufferings for commiseration cannot be unworthy your honours which is the humble desire of Your Humble and Obedient Servant JAMES DAVIES To all loyal Englishmen Gentlemen and fellow-Subjects I Here present you an History which though now you may confident I am you very lately could not in reason expect such was the perversnesse and crookedness of these times that no loyal subject might without danger attempt to write nay hardly to speak the truth of his Soveraign for a sort of men there were who having by violence usurped his Dominions though that they had no surer ground to maintain their unjust possession then by scandalizing his most SACRED MAIESTY and deceiving of his Subjects many of whom had not but by such deceites converted their loyalty into Treason Yet GOD I hope will now be pleased to return them to their Allegiance and give encourragement to those who have constantly continued loyal that they may at length once more enjoy hapinesse and every man sit under his own Vine and under his own fig-tree which the GOD of HEAVEN be praised we have now greater hopes of then ever If I have in this History offended any loyal person I am hartily grieved I have impartially endeavoured the truth and if I be found in the contrary reason will easily convince me and I shall be sory that neither my knowledge or intelligence extended to a more narrow search I think I have represented his Majesty no otherwise then any loyal person for this age requires
made a debate whether they should make any more addresses to the King So impudent were they even after the treaty was concluded with him but there were found but thirty of these malevolent persons so the major part of the Votes carrying it in the affirmative it was resolved that another message should be sent unto him to invite him to make all possible speed to his Kingdome of Scotland protesting that they would venture Lives and Fortunes in assisting him to regain his Rights Kingdoms but they not only debar him from having those whom he chiefly favoured to wait upon him but likewise prohibit the Duke Hamilton the Earls of Lauderdale Seaforth and many other persons of qualities return to Scotland and they nominate such persons as they thought fit out of their own Gang to be officers of his houshold there The Juncto then siting and Governing in England had certain intelligence all along of the proceeds of the Treaty between his Majesty and the Scots together with their Propositions to assist him in the recovery of his Rights in England by some who sate in the Parliament of Scotland betrayed their counsells and earnestly solicited the English to assault Scotland before they were themselves assaulted and invaded to which effect they prepare an Army without any just pretence which they give to Oliver Cromwell to command making him Generalissimo of all the Forces of that Commonwealth in the room of Sir Thomas Fairfax whose Commission was between taken away and laid down Some time before his Majestie 's departure from Holland into Scotland newes was brought of the unfortunate loss of all Prince Rupert's Fleet most of his ships being either taken sunk or burnt by General Blake Admiral to the English Navy so though the Treaty was concluded with Scotland his Majestie 's affairs went every where else to wrack At length all things being in a readiness his Majesty about the beginning of Iune 1650. took shipping at Sheveling in Holland and after a tedious storm and narrow escape of some English Vessels which lay in wait for him arrived at Spey in the North of Scotland Some Lords are sent down to receive him and to accompany him to Edenbrough where two stately houses are richly provided and furnish't to entertain him He was all along the Countrey entertained with the General joy of all the people severall presents being given him by the Towns as he came along Aberdeen presented him with 1500. l but the Committee of Estates and Kirk fearing that such diet would prove too unwieldy to their pleasures sent an injunction to several places requiring them that what ever moneys they had to bestow they should bring it to such treasuries as should be appointed by them Thus they permit not the Subjects to shew their good will to their Soveraign nor him to receive it Nor were the States Kirk as yet content with those hard conditions but they send him new propositions to Dundee to sign which after some reluctancy he performed for indeed he could do no otherwise being now in their clutches The Parliament and Committee of Estates in Scotland had while they expected his Majesties arrivall been consulting about the framing of an Army every fourth man in the Kingdome is ordered to be trained and sixteen thousand foot and six thousand horse to be raised for his Majesties present service Of this Army the Earle of Leven is made General of the Foot and Holborn Major General David Lesley Lieutenant General of the Horse and Montgomery Major General the place of Generalissimo was reserved for the King though he never went into the field with the Army His Majesty being come to Edenbrough is received by the Parliament and Committee of Estates Kirk with infinite complements and expressions of fidelity affection and with great acclamations of joy from the people and on the 15. of Iuly is again solemnly proclaimed King at Edenbrough Crosse but his coronation yet defer'd by reason of the then troubles For the English Army notwithstanding the Scots had expostulated them the unjustness of invading their Countrey was advanced upon the borders at Muscleborough the Scots under Montgomery with a small party set upon the English Army but were worsted and so the two Armies moved at a distance one from the other till they came as far as Dunbar where the Scots had got a considerable advantage by reason of a passe and brag'd they had got the English in a pound but whether by their own carelesnesse and over security or the over-reaching courage and valour of the English I cannot tell a totall losse they had there the passe gain'd from them themselves wholly routed and dispersed I am the shorter in relating the passages between these two Armies in regard that though the King was made Generalissimo yet he had no influence upon the Army which might rather be called the States or Kirks then the Kings for though he was there present and bore the title of King yet they had the whole power and made and revoked Lawes and Orders The King was then with the States at Saint Iohnstons when the newes of this losse and that of the Death of his Sister the Princesse Elizabeth arriv'd much about the same time and some have been bold to affirm that the latter grieved him more then the former in regard of the imperiousness which 't was probable the States of Scotland would have usurped had the successe answered their minds And sufficiently imperious were both they and the Kirk already notwithstanding the ill fortune of their affairs for so great was their insolency towards his Majesty in their earnestness to purge his house in extorting Declarations from him against his own party and proceedings in usurping the whole government of affairs to themselves in placing guards of their own creatures upon his Person c. That his sacred Majesty no longer able to suffer such intollerable affronts abuses went secretly away accompanied only with four horse towards the North of Scotland where the Marquess of Hunt ley the Earls of Seaforth and Atholl the Lords Ogilby and Newburgh with the Gourdons were ready to appear for him with a considerable party Scotland was at this time not only perplexed with a forreign enemy in her bowels but with civill distempers divisions for in the West there was a party under the cōmand of Straughan Kerr who declar'd against the actions of the Committee of Estates for their too much hast and precipitation in the Treaty with the King for their receiving him before he had given any evidence of a real change That they believed his profession of the cause and covenant was counterfeit and therefore refused to submit to his power These men were purely for the Kirk against the King's Authority Another party there was in the North under the Command of Huntley Atholl Seaforth c. who declared purely for the Kingly Authority disclaiming and disowning all power or order of
their Allegiance to his Son their lawfull and native Sovereign or out of an ambition by joining with their Scotish Brethren which I am loath to judge to get the Power again into their hands which was snatch'd from them by the Independant English Army and the Juncto of Sectaries in England they had laid a designe to raise both a contribution of money and levy men for his Majesty's assistance here but their Plot was betrayed by the intercepting of Letters in a ship forced by foul weather into Ayre in Scotland but bound with provisions for the Isle of Man whereupon the chief undertakers in London were apprehended viz. Mr. Cook Mr. Gibbons Mr. Christopher Love Mr. Jenkins D. Drake and others of which two viz. Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love was condemned by a high Court of Justice and suffered death on the Tower hill for that cause against which they had once so strongly declar'd But to return again to the cheif Scene in Scotland The English Army had long had a desire to bring the Scots to a field battel which his Majesty upon sundry good reasons serious advice declin'd so Cromwell endeavoured to the utmost of his power to force them to it therefore several times fac'd his Majesty's Army which lay encamped at Torwood within three miles of Sterling but could not yet draw them out of their trenches the chief reason being imagin'd to proceed from their stay for Argyle Huntley and Seaforth who were gon into their several Territories to compleat the King's Levies Cromwell perceiving that he could not draw the Scots to a field-battel upon a sudden draws off his Army and transports fixteen hundred Foot and foure Troopes of Horse over unto Fife on such a sudden that it startled his Majesties whole Army And Cromwell with an unparallel'd expedition faces again the Royal Army with a resolution to fall upon their rear if they should attempt a motion thetherwards but they offered not to stir for already order had been given to Sir Iohn Brown Governour of Sterling to march with four thousand Horse and Foot to drive out that party of Cromwell's which were already landed in Fife of which intelligence being brought Lambart and Okye with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot are with all possible haste wafted over to reinforce the party already there with which additionall supply of men they routed Sir Iohn Brown who expected none but the first landed party taking himself and several other officers of quality prisoners and killing two thousand upon the place and taking near 1200. prisoners and shortly after Cromwell transports most of his Army over the Fife and resolving to stop the passage which the Scots had over by Sterling marches to S. Iohnstons and takes it almost upon summons Hs Majesty seeing the English Army was advanced so far Northward thought it in vain to attempt the forcing them back knowing that the Scots naturally fights better in anothers then in their own Conntry resolves toadvanc with all possible speed into England where he yet hoped not withstāding the discovery of the design to find some Loyal souls to joyn with him for the Recovery of his right and Kingdomes Many were there who opposed this intention of his Majesty and among those Duke Hamilton was one of the chiefest whose dislike may sufficiently appear by his Letter to Mr. Crofts after their Advance to this effect We are now laughing sayes he at the rediculousness of our present State We have quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it and yet we grasp at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to lose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout argument Despair for we must now either stoutely fight or dye all the Rogues have left us I shall not say whether out of fear or disloyalty but all now with his Majesty are such as will not dispute his Commands But notwithstanding his dislike his other oppositiōs yet the Kings resove takes place and on July the 31. 1651. his Majesties Army began to advance from Terwood near Sterling steering their course dirirectly for England which they entred six dayes after by way of Carlisle This march of the Royall Army made Cromwell with the greatest part of his forces immediately recrosse the Frith and forth with send Major General Lambert with a select party of Horse and Dragoons to fall upon the Rear of his Majesties Army whilst they hop'd that Major General Harrison then lying neer the borders with about three thousand Horse and Dragoons would attach them in the Front shortly after himselfe followed with the rest of the Army which could be spar'd amounting to about eight compleat Regiments of Foot and two of Horse But then this greater preparation is made against him in England for the Juncto then fitting at Westminster not onely interdicted all aid or assistance either of men or moneys to be given to his Majesty under the penalty of High Treason but also in all or most of the Countrys had caused a numerous force to be raised the Church-Militia of the City of London being likewise sent out against him and for the present impeading of his march two thousand of the Country Militia of Staffordshire and four thousand out of Lancashire and Cheshire under the command of Col. Birch had joyned with Harrison But be sides all this many of the Royal Army had in their march deserted their colours neer a fourth part of the army was wanting but these were most of them such as were not very well affected to the business nor cause they went about and therefore there was but little miss of them for the rest of the Army marched on chearfully and continued to the utmost push stedfast and loyal were so contentedly obedient to all Military Discipline that 't is believ'd that in al their march through all that part of England they hardly took the value of six pence forcibly But notwithstanding this unwonted evility of the Scottsh Army and his Majesties earnest invitations the Country came very slowly in whether besotted dulled and contented with that slavery they then lay under or over-aw'd by an armed power I cannot tell but such was their backwardness that few or none besides the Lord Howard of Estriche's son with a Troop of Horse came to him during his long tedious march through England Nor did his Majesty with his Army take that course which was expected by most he should for the great fear of his Enemies and greatest hopes of his Friends were that he would march directly for London but he contrary to their expectations being come into Lancashire struck off at Warrington either doubting the enterprize for London too hazardous or out of the hopes had of the Forces it was expected Major General Massey might raise in Glostershire which was the then generally voagu'd reason But before his Majesty could pass over Warrington Bridge he had
Duke of York and Glocester staid still in France The first having under the Command of the Marshall of Turine against the Spaniards performed such eminent services as had made him deservedly esteemed a most valerous and prudent Prince in so much that notwithstanding his Youth he was made Lieu. Generall of the French Army and thought so well worthy that Command that when Turine the most esteemed Generall the French have for a long time had lay desperatly sick and it was expected that he should breath his last he was by the King of France sent to to desire him that seeing there were so little hopes of his life he would nominate such a Generall of his Army as he might judge fit to succeed him To which Turine answered that if his Majesty would have his affairs prosper he should make choice of a Noble Valorous and fortunate Generall which if he did he could make choice of no fitter person then the thrice Heroick Duke of York As for his Brother the Duke of Glocester he remained at the Palace Royall in Paris with the Queen his Mother who shortly after the departure of his Royall Majesty endeavoured by all the bonds of filiall obedience and the most prevailing Arguments could be used to perswade him to become Roman Catholick nor did she alone but the Queen Mother of France and the prime Nobility of that Kingdome attempt the same when the Retorique of the Court could not prevail the most eminent for learning set upon him with that depth of reason as long acquired study and their own interest could oblige them to use or furnish them withall nor were Arguments and Reasons only used but the highest temptations this world could present to a Prince in adversity such were a Cardinals Hatt and a Revenue suitable to his Dignity when these could not prevail the indignation of a Royal Mother was poured forth upon him which wrought him the deprivation of his Tutor his Servants and all Comforters in these temptations But that Noble Prince was so far indowed dureing this affliction with the Principles of the Religion of the Church of England besides that naturall piety and constancy flowing from his most religious Father of blessed Memory that by the depth of truth and Reason he defended himselfe against these attempts After this he is committed to the care of one Mr Walter Montague Abbot of Nantueil living at Pontoise who keeps him in very closely and works and persists still in endeavouring to pervert him using the Argument of Duty and Obedience to his Mothers Commands which she did enjoyn him to doe or never more to see her face which from that day to this he hath not seen This noble soul replyed with a sorrowfull heart That as the Queens Majesty was his Mother he ought her duty but as his Brother was his King and Soveraign he ought him duty and Allegiance which he could not dispute Whilst he is at Pontoise the most noble and religious Lord Hatton takes occasion to go wait upon the Duke according to private iustructions received from his Majesty who to his great sorrow had advise of these particulers he is admitted with much trouble to the presence of the Duke who embraces him as his Deliverer and with some difficulty urging the Commands of his Majesty his own arguments he is delivered to his care who conducts him with a spetiall respect and diligence to his house in Paris where he is entertained divers dayes with all honour and confirmed wih all diligence by that Learned Lord in his so well imbued Principles untill the arrivall of the Marquess of Ormond who by the Kings Command receivs and conducts him to his Majesties Court. His Majesty in his journy towards Germany came first to Catillon a Castle belonging to the Prince of Conde whither he was accompanied by his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins prince Rupert and Edward Palatines here Prince Edward the Duke of York left them the one going to Bourbon the other returning to the Army where he continued a good while after his Majesty Prince Rupert continued for some few daies their journy together 'till the Prince parted from him to go visit his Brother Frederick at Hidelberg his Majesty passing through Cambray and Leige to the Spaw where he tooke up the first place of his Residence in Germany whither his Sister the Royall Princess of Orange came to visit him and they no doubt during the time of their being there were as merry as two such afflicted Princes could But let us a little leave his Majesty at the Spaw and look into his Kingdomes where Cromwell that he might secure himself in his ill-gotten Estate endeavours by all means possible either to take away the lives or wholly impoverish disable his Majesties loyall Subjects who are continually charged with somthing which he by his usurped power takes hold of to destroy them severall persons are apprehended and charged with a design to have seized on the Tower and Proclaimed his Majesty King of those Kingdoms which by right were his for tryall of which persons a High Court of Justice a thing we now in England know very well was erected for the tryal of those persons Col. John Gerard Mr. Peter Vowell and Sommerset Fox were condemned to be hanged drawn quartered for no less then high Treason for-sooth though there were then no Act in being making it Treason to conspire against the power then in being in England but somwhat of the sentence was remitted Col. Gerard was beheaded Mr Vowell only Hanged Mr. Fox reprived I have alwayes observed that in all the tryals made by those high Courts of Justice for plots as they call them there hath still been some one person who though brought to tryal have either not been condemned though look't upon by the people as eminent in the business as any and though condemned yet have been reprived what others guess of it I will not determine I know what I do The truth is that his Majesty had alwaies the ill fortune to have such false servants about him as have for the Lucre of money either betrayed any enterprize of his for the gaining of his right the Protector especially being very prodigal in such expences his intelligence as most affirm standing him in no less then two hun dred thousād pound per annum or else those persons engag'd for him being many of them deboist fellows and who often ran upon designes uncommissioned have in a Tavern both lay'd and betray'd their own undertakings or else some here in England who have undertaken in such businesses have either for fear or gain betrayed both their Prince friends and Countrey Thus much for England let us now take a viwe of his Majesties affaires in Scotland which Kingdome was not yet wholly conquered for the Lords Seaforth Atholl Glencarne Kenmore and Glengary and severall others who had some of them been formerly followers of the noble Marquess of Montrosse
releast I may particularly take occasion here to commend the valour of the Duke of Yorks own Troop who indeed bore the brunt of the whole Battell though I cannot deny but they were seconded by some very noble Spirits of the Spaniards but the personall Valour of Mr. Henry Bendish son to Sir Thomas Bendish Embassadour for the English Nation in Turky who had the ill fortune to be taken prisoner must not be forgotten Let us now change the Scence a little to England where the Protector begins to die the Scaffold in as deep a purple as the Vest given him at his late installment bore that not only with the Bloud of those seculars that were loyal to their soveraign but having as he thought now secured to himselfe the Government his hand reaches to the sacred Clergy nor will he strike at a reed or a shrub amongst them but imitating the Ancient fable of the Jubitrian Thunder strikes at the Olympus the Atlas the mainest piller and support of the Protestant Religion for no lesse then the Reverend Doctor Hewet's Bloud will now satisfie his insatiate Cruelty a man whose vertues and piety as they were beyond expression so I think was the manner of his death beyond example This Doctor and Sir Henry Slingsby who had ever since the forementioned rising in Yorkshire lain prisoners in Hull Castle with many others are accused of a design to have seized on the Tower of London the Magazine at Hull both in one day the one by a Divine the other by a Prisoner but these persons must have severall others to be their assistants and that espetially in London who while the Doctor was securing the Tower must fire the City of London in severall places Those that make plots may as easily discover them and with as much ease prevent them the Protector could do both but to make some shew of a great deal of fear in the business Worthy Alderman Tichburn then Lord Mayor of London is immediately commanded to settle the Militia the Protector telling him as he easily might that there was a grand design in hand probably of his own contriving against his Government that the Marquess of Ormond had lately been in England transacting about it that the Common Enemy for so was his Sacred Majesty then styled lay ready with a potent Army ships hired to transport them on the Sea coasts of England and that therefore the Militia should be setled in confiding hands meaning such either whose interest or fear must render them faithfull to the Protector shortly after according to the common course the persons to be accused are apprehended the chief of which were Dr. Hewet Mr. John Mordant brother to the Earle of Peterborough Col. Ashton Capt. Henry Mallory Mr. Woodcock John Betteley Edmund Stacy Henry Fryer John Sumner Olliver Allen who were all accused to be complices of this grand design And because no English Law could take away these mens Lives the ordinary Tyrannicall way of a high Court of Justice must do it Sir Henry Slingsby who was brought prisoner from Hull Castle was the first who came before them and is accused for having endeavoured to draw the Governour of that Caste from his Alleigiance excellently good to the Protector and pleading not guilty yet was by two Witnesses found ready convicted and condemned Dr. Hewet being come before them according to the Example of his Royall Master King Charles the first refused to plead or to own the jurisdiction of the Court for which contempt as they were pleased to interpret it he had the same sentence pronounced against him and was afterwards together with Sir Henry Slingsby executed on Tower hill Mr. Mordant brother to the Earl of Peterborough disavowed likewise the Authority of the Court but at last being induced to plead was acquitted so was Mr. Woodcock Mallory Fryer Sumner Allen were sentenced but reprived Ashton Stacy and Bettely were hanged drawn and quartered in several places of London And here we must not forget the magnanimous death of John Betteley who having made a Speech clearing his Innocency and the justness of his Cause undauntedly leapt off the Ladder and died a worthy Sufferer for the Royall Interest His sacred Majesty during these strange Murders and Oppressions of his Subjects in England by a power which had usurpt the Regality is forced to sit still his urgent necessities not giving him leave either to revenge their deaths or redeem the surviving who heavily groaned under the yoke his only remedy now was his prayers to God which he pursues with an earnest devotion that he would be pleas'd in his good time to deliver his faithful Subjects from those miseries and burdens they then strugl'd under and without doubt God hath heard and will perform his pious defires As an introduction to which it pleased the DIVINE MAJESTY to take out of the world the grandest opposer of his Majesties Right OLIVER CROMWELL who from a mean beginning had raised himself by force to be the arbitrary Governour of these Nations who is by the Almighty called to give an account of his actions before the High Tribunall of Heaven where are neither false witnesses nor interesed Judges and that on the same day on which he had gained two such signall victories over his Majesties forces at Dunbar and Worcester viz. on the third day of September Yet he thought he had certainly secured the Government of these three Nations for himself and nominates his son Richard for his Successour a person to speak the truth as not at all endowed with his fathers courage so not at all inclined to his ambition one whom if fame lies not of him could have willingly been content to have surrendred his Protectorship to the King the lawfull heir and by law undoubted Successour of his royal Father But those Officers of the Army whose ambition though not in so high a degree had so engaged them as Complices to Oliver Cromwell in his high late designes against his King and Countrey had so great a load of guilt upon their consciences that they could not hear of much less agree to the admission of his Sacred Majesty Nor was it indeed only thus but some ambitious spirits there were and particularly Maj. General Lambert whose high-flown thoughts made him fancy Idea's in his brain forc't him to attempt the enterprising to make himself Commander of these three Nations as Oliver by his means had done before which designes of his in the sequell ruin'd him and discovered those grand cheats abuses which that parâ—â— had put upon the Nation endeavouring to enslave them to their own arbitrary power whilst they pretended those strangely mistaken names of Religion and Liberty as hereafter will appear And these passages I shall the more fully insert as tending so much to his Majesties interest here and to the undeceiving of his good Subjects who are not blinded with Interest which the Usurpers had endeavoured to make the most potent
Vice The strictest rewarder of Virtue The constantest preserver of Religion And the truest lover of his Subjects This is a short Character of his illustrious Majesty which I feare those that know him will rather think to come short of then reach his due praise so sweetly vertuous is he in all his Carriages so affable in his discourse so void of passion anger that he was never yet heard or seen in Choller the utmost extent of any passion that ever was discerned in him being towards one of his Meniall Servants who justifying himselfe in what he had done amisse his Majesty with some motion told him that he was an insolent fellow Yet this is that Prince whose vertues we have given leave to Forraign Nations to admire whilst we our selves have rested as well ignorant of his deserts as destitute of our own Liberty whilst either infatuated or blinded by those who have Tyrannically usurp'd Governments over us we have been contented to sit still see him Expulsed and exil'd from his due Rights Royalties and our selves from our Freedom Priviledges Nor hath God alone been merciful to us in endowing his sacred Majesty with such Heroick Vertues but he hath given us a stock of Noble Princes who seem to Emulate Virtues in one another and growe up like Royal Oaks to maintain the Honour and Glory of this Nation but are yet and have a long time been the disgrace of it all the Nations in Europe laughing at the English folly who slight that happinesse which they might enjoy As for the illustrious Duke of York his Fame is spread so far over the World that my selfe have heard the very Turks commend and applaud his Vallour which was so esteemed among the French that before he arrived at twenty one years of Age he was by that King thought worthy the Command of Liu. General of his Armies which he managed with such care prudence that seldom any affairs he took in hand produced not its desired successe since his being in requital of his services complemented out of that Kingdome of France though he hath not had such eminent commands confer'd on him by the Spaniard yet have they alwaies thought him worthy the highest imployment and respect As for the Duke of Glocester he is esteemed by most to be fitter for a Councellour then a Souldier His Carriage is grave somwhat severe of a Sagace Genious and understanding and very much prying into State Affairs which have made most judge him the fitter for a Councill board These three Princes are like three Diamonds or Pearls which we have ignorantly cast away not come to know the worth of them till we come to want them Their vertues having made them resplendent throughout all the World and rendred them if we justly consider it the only means whereby we can attain to happiness for what Nation can be more blessed then that which hath for her Prince a just King to Govern a Valiant Duke to Defend and a Wise Counsellour to Advise May the God of Heaven then open our Eyes and let us at length see our Errour and heartily repent of it by calling our Native Soveraign to the possession of his due Rights which the Divine Majesty I hope will be Gratiously pleased to Grant Thus far the History March 1660. POST-SCRIPT WHen this admirable miraculous foregoing History came first out which contayns so great wonders that noe former age can parralel or future believe it may well without derogation from the author be owned by a person of Quality for so questionlesse he was and a person of Honour and loyall confidence that at that time before the dawning of our day of Liberty or the arising of our long set Sun which by its appearing inlightens comforts and refreshes these our Kingdoms of England Scotland Ireland CHARLES the second defender of the faith c. I say much may well be attributed to his confident bouldnes at that time to publish it when to speak truth reason or loyaltie was accounted Error Treason dangerous And although it be not so full as it might be either for manner or Matter in setting forth the worthy deserved Praise of our most gratious Soveraign whose perfections whosoever shall undertake to describe must needs fall short and of his Miraculous escape but that it may well be said of it as the Queen of Sheba said of the Wisdom of Solomon c. behold the halfe was not tould of what she found though reported by fame which seldome looses in the Progresse nor of the wonderfull signall mercy to his Kingdoms and Subjects thereby as is well exprest in the 107. psalme and the 43. Who so is wise may may understand these things and such shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. And truly I think never people had more cause chearfully thankfully to acknowledge the goodnes of God herein and expresse it by their duty and obedience The wisemans advice its wisdome to take Pro. 24. 21.22 My Sonfear God and the King medle not with them that be seditious and desirous of change c. Have we not been ever since the sad Sacrifice of his sacred Majesty who God has made a Saint and they a Martyr of most pretious and blessed memory who was Murthered by the pretended sword of Justce to say noe more of it was as horrid a crime as ever the Sun beheld oppresed by high Courts of Injustice and other arbitrary impositions more then ever was done by coular of authority in the raigns of all the KINGS since the CONQVEST Did not the want of our King bring on us Vsurpation Tirrany Enmity Animositie Poverty and all Misery All which will be remov'd and to our comfort if our sinnes and disobedience hinders not we shall assuredly enjoy a Settlement of Religion Law Liberty Property Peace Penty Honour and Safety Has not his singular wisdom discovered and directed a way not only for discharging those large arrears which before daily increased on us to the Army and otherwise which is in a short time done but also for their disbanding in England to free us thereby for the future from those insupportable burthens Read but his gratious General pardon before which who could justly say he was free and see his unparaleld clemency who to us Ariseth like the Sun of Righteousnes with healing under his wings Mal. 4.2 And if ingratitude be the worst of crimes as I think was never yet questioned how inexcusable then in the Eyes of all the world shall such be that after so great favour shall either in thought word or deed think speak or act any thing against him Read but his Declaration concerning Ecclesiasticall affaires with what Religious care caution has he fram'd it to the Satisfaction of all interests that pretend to Religion Reason or Civility Provided they quietly conforme to the Establisht Laws and make not Religion as some formerly did a Match to give fire