own Person or promote it in another especially Charles the eldest Iames the second and Henry the third Sons of the late King After which they proceed as far as they could to abolish the very memory of his late Majesty his Arms are ordered to be defaced in all places throughout the Nations and his Statues broken all the regalia sold and imbezil'd the Crown Revenue to sale and all the goods of the Royal Family made prize on by those that had murdered and expell'd the Owners Neverthelesse there wanted not some in this sad consternation who shew'd themselves so resolute in asserting the Title of Prince Charles to the Crown of these Nations as to print and disperse this following Proclamation in several places of the City of London WE the Noblemen Iudges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Freeholders Merchants Citizens Yeo-men Sea-men and other Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these present Heartily Ioyfully and Vnanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the illustrious CHARLES Prince of Wales next Heir to his Father King Charles whose late wicked murder and all Consenters thereunto We from our hearts abominate to be by Hereditary Birth-right and lawfull Succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Britain France and Ireland And we will constantly and sincerely in our several places and callings defend and maintain his Royal Person Crown and Dignity with our estates and lives against all Opposers whom hereby we declare to be Enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes In Testimony whereof we have caused these to be Publish't throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm The first day of February in the first year of his Majestie 's Reign But the Royal Party was so totally supprest throughout this Nation that they wanted power to make good what their consciences assur'd them was just and right This endeavour testifi'd their Loyalty and withall their weaknesse For though the hearts of most of the Nation were as willing to promote the Son's succession as to withstand the Father's destruction yet were they as unable to advance the one as they had been to prevent the other Indeed Ireland was in a manner wholly for his Majesty in many places whereof he was by joynt consent both of Protestants and Papists proclaimed King The Lord Marquesse of Ormond the Lord Inchequin and other great persons had considerable Forces in the field for his interest and all the Garrisons of that Island held out for him excepting the two most important the Cities of Dublin and London-Derry which were kept from returning to their Allegiance the former by Lieutenant General Iones then Governour and the latter by Sir Charles Coot who maintain'd their cause and authority who had barbarously murder'd his Royal Father in England Besides the Islands of Iersey Guernsey Scilly and Man remain'd faithfull to him though they were of no other advantage then to serve as places of retreat for the small Fleet that was left after the greatest part of it had again revolted to the Parliaments Navy The Parliament of Scotland as I said had protested against the proceedings of the English against their common King But at this time that Nation was divided into four grand Factions or Parties 1. The first consisted of such as had confederated with the English Parliament during the Warres till they saw their accursed design of destroying the King and subverting the Government these were the prevailing party who sent Duke Hamilton with that numerous but unfortunate Army into England 1648. They were willing though upon certain conditions to own and declare Prince Charles for their King only in this they sided with the English Independent Iuncto That they endeavoured to the utmost to depresse and discountenance the Malignants as they called those who had adher'd to his late Majesty who make up the second party The third consisted of such as were so strictly devoted to the Kirk and Convenant that they only projected the advancement of them and car'd not for any other interest either of King or Free-State but strenuously oppos'd both of which Faction Colonel Sâ—â—aâ—ghern and Colonel Kerre were two great Sticklers The fourth and last and worst were such as by unparallel'd treachery to their Prince their Native Countrey and as it appear'd afterwards to themselves too held secret correspondence with the Sectarian power and Army of England This Division I have made will give much light to the understanding of the reasons of the Scottish actions and their consequences when we come to relate them At present it may suffice to intimate that this Discord among themselves retarded them from publickly proclaiming and owning their lawfull King In the mean time the King having been a while a close Mourner in Holland and receiv'd the condolements of the Lords States who also deputed an Oratour Dr. Lotius to represent their sad sence of the inhumane murder of his Royall Father which he performed in an elegant Latine Oration extant in Print he committed the management of his affairs there to the care of his Brother and Sister of Orange and took a journey to France both to visit his disconsolate and forlorne Mother and to desire the assistance which he might reasonably conceive that King oblig'd both in honour consideration of consanguinity and the generall concernment of all Monarchs to afford him He was receiv'd in the French Court with much respect and after a short stay at Paris took up his abode at St. Germains having his Royall Brother the Duke of York with him He had not been long here but contrary to the expectationâ— as well as hopes of himself and all his Loyall Subjects news is brought him of the defeat of the Army in Ireland under the Marquis of Ormond then which a gallanter richer had scarce been seen during all the late Warrs The Marquis had laid siege to Dublin on the 21. of Iune 1649. but that City being reinforc'd with a supply of 3000. Horse and Foot from England and encouraged with the expectation of more the Besieged made severall Sallies out upon them from time to time and at length in one suppris'd the Marquis's maine Army and totally defeated it himself not without much difficulty escaping by flight 'T is very true the Marquis had an Army of about 20000. men but the greatest part of them were Irish and so such as he dar'd not trust besides I have heard it creadibly reported He might have taken Dublin if he had pleas'd but forbore to doe it meerly in tendernesse to the numerous Protestants were in it whom the Irish would have without question unmercifully destroy'd if they had taken the place by assualt and as yet there was no other way to take it by reason the besieged had high expectation of succour from England This was the first blow receiv'd by the young King and a great one it was indeed and so important that it made way for the losse of all that Kingdome About the same time also Sir Ch. Coot
to passe that way to Italy whereupon he sent one of his Lords to her to signify his desire to wait upon her Majestie at what place she should be pleased to nominate To which message she return'd thanks for the honour his Majesty intended her and appointed Coningstein a village near Francfurt in the Electorate of Mentz for the place of Interview His Majesty was accordingly received there by her with many expressions of respect and had private conference with her alone for almost an hour after which the Duke of Glocester was admitted to her presence alone and then the Prince Elector Palatine and his Brother Prince Rupert who came thither on purpose and the refst of the great Lords that attended the King The Elector Palatine invited his Majesty to his Court but his Majesty waved his civility and after many complements between these Princes his Majesty returned to Francfurt the Prince Elector and his Brother to Heidleberg and the Queen of Sweden proceeded without stay in her journey to Italy At his Majestie 's returning from Francfurt which was by water the Elector of Mentz having provided magnificent entertainment for his reception came inperson a great part of the way to meet him and conducted him to one of his Palaces where he treated him for four dayes in a most sumptuous and splendid manner after which himself accompanied him for some part of the way to Collen in which City four Burgomasters were appointed by the Magistrate to wait upon his Majesty and the Princes and to testify the satisfaction they took in their return thither And thus we see what respect his Majesty found in a forreign Country and in his lowest fortune the greatnesse of his vertues causing him to be every where extremely valued not for what he injoy'd but for what he truly deserv'd Shortly after the Princesse Royal took leave of his Majesty and the Duke of Glocester and departed for Holland In the mean time in England Cromwel's feares or his malice were restlesse for about Iune most of the Gentry in all parts of the Nation were clapt up by his Major Generals not would any securiry be taken for them but rhey were kept in Inns such like places with guards of Souldiers at an excessive charge and in convenience for many months together Among others the Lord Falkland Lord Willoughby of Parham and the Lord Newport were committed to the Tower upon suspition of Treason but it seems it was rather his own guilt that induc'd him to do thus then any reasonable cause which could he have found no question they had paid their lives for his security There having been this year a barbarous Massacre committed upon the Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont by the Souldiers of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy the Protector testifi'd his resentment of it by appointing a solemn day of Humiliation to be observ'd and a large contribution to be gathered throughout the Nation for their relief The collections came to a vast sum but how well they were pay'd to those for whom they were pretended is not unknown to them that were employ'd about this affair into Savoy Also toward the latter end of this year Proposals were made to Cromwel by Manasseh Ben-Israel a Iew in behalf of the Iewish Nation for their free admission to trade and exercise of their Religion in England They had been excluded for the space of almost 400. hundred years yet Cremwel out of a sense of charity for their conversion and in consideration of 200000 l. was willing to listen to their reentertainment But the designe was so vehemently oppos'd by the Divines aâ—d Merchants that it took no effect In the beginning of the next year 1656. the King of Spain being sensible of Cromwel's perfidiousness solemnly proclaimed Warre against England Whereupon Cromwel enter'd into a strict league both Offensive and Defensive with the King of France who was then at Wars with the King of Spain both in Flanders Italy and Catalonia One of the chief Articles of the Confederacy was that his Majesty with the Dukes of York and Glocester and all his Relations and Adherents saving the Queen Mother should be excluded out of France In which it is to be wondred with what sense of honour that King could consent to so base and ignoble a proposall made by one that had murdered his Uncle and Usurped his Dominions and withall to banish such Princes as were so near of Blood to him and came to him for succour and relief But selt-interest not self-preservation for what could France fear from Cromwel when he was ingag'd with the King of Spain and jealous every day of the people he tyrannis'd over self-interest I say of not of the King of France at least of Cardinal Mazarine the Queen's creature prevail'd above all respects of honour justice and the sense of humane calamities The King wisely withdrew before and the Duke of Glocester not long after there remain'd onely the Duke of York who during his service in the French Army had acquir'd to himself a great renowne and a high command Neverthelesse he had some small time respited for his stay in which he was visited and honourably treated by Marshal Turenne who infinitely esteem'd and lov'd him for his extraordinary courage skill in Martial affairs others of the French Lords as also by the Duke of Modena who was then occasionally in that Kingdome And shortly after he took his leave of the King of France the Queen his Mother and the rest of the Court and departed into Flanders In the mean time the King of Spain partly out of a noble generosity and partly out of consideration that having engag'd in a Warre against Cromwel his Majestie 's interest might be of some advantage to him caused Don Iohn of Austria his Governour in the Low-Countries to invite his Majesty into his Territories which invitation was made by the Count of Fuensaldagne a great Commander and lately Governour of Milan His Majesty accepted of the offer and departed from Colen to Bruges in Flanders where he was received with great expressions of honour and respect Thither also the Duke of York went to his Majesty having taken Bruxels in his way and been extremely caress'd by Don Iohn and his Court who expressed much joy in having the most valiant Prince of his age in the world come to assist personaâ—ly in the war In England Cromwel being much necessitated for money and withall impatient to tarry longer for a confirmation by the people which although he could not obtain of the preceeding Parliament he hoped he might gain of another attempted once more to call a new Representative But remembring the carriage of some in the former he gave private intimation to certain persons in several Counties to obstruct if possible their Election again in the ensuing Session and writ Letters to some Sheriffs to the same purpose Neverthelesse though they were chosen after the new mode 10. in a County and 1. in
them comparing the old Tyrant to Moses and his Impe to Ioshua the Guides and conductors of Gods people out of Aegyptian thraldome The chosen Members assembled at VVestminster on Ian. 27. and so did the Other House Great debates were amongst them touching the recognition of the Government transacting with the Other House as Lords during which two Speakers successively dy'd till the young Protector being undermined by a Caball of Officers Fleetwood Desborough c. weakly yielded to the Dissolving of the Parliament on Friday April 22. shortly after which a Fast being solemniz'd the remainder of the Long Parliament who had been dissolved by Cromwel in April 20. 1653. were invited by Lambert to sit again which they did on the 7. of May excluding by violence such of their Fellow-members as they had before secluded in Decemb. 1648. though they were the greater number Richard was thereupon depriv'd of his Government so was his brother Harry in Ireland And now this old Iunto being advanc'd again and congratulated as other Governments had formerly been from Scotland Ireland and the Fleet begin to act like subtile Politicians And to the end the Army might be kept in obedience to them they made the Speaker of the House General cashir'd many Officers and caus'd new Commissions to be deliver'd by the Speaker in the House of Parliament to all the Commanders both of Land and Sea-Forces The affections of the people they did not much value so long as the Army would stand to them To gratifie whom they impos'd a whole years Tax at 35000. l. per mensem to be paid immediately After which about Iuly they pass'd an Act for settling the Militia of Counties in such hands as they pleased But Lambert and the other Officers who intended to have the whole guard of the Rump and aim'd at other designs not relishing this proceeding it was laid aside Nothing could have been more odious to the Nation then this re-establishment of the Rump-Parliament who taking these courses to secure the perpetuall continuance of their sitting and resolving never to encrease their number by admitting their fellow-members or new ones legally elected in their places awakened the spirits of most of the Gentry of the Nation to attempt something for their Countries liberty by restitution of the ancient Government A great inclination there was in most Counties to take up Armes and several Offers were made in divers places but none was so considerable as that in Cheshire Lancashire and the parts adjoyning under Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Middleton and other Gentlemen in those parts They declar'd for a full and free Parliament to be elected by the People Sir George Booth had taken Westchester and was reported to be very numerous Whereupon Lambert was sent out against him with an Army of six or seven thousand men and a train of Artillery moreover forces from all quarters were appointed to draw to him so that all meeting he had a very puissant Army The party under Sir George Booth had been in Armes a a good time before Lambert came against them in expectation that other Counties would have done the like but this hope failing upon Lambert's approach many of them withdrew from him The rest came to an encounter with Lambert at Northwich and were without much difficulty defeated The number of the slain was not many but the Prisoners were in great multitudes Sir George Booth himself was also within a few dayes after taken in a disguise in an Inne at Newport-Pagnel in Bedfordshire as he was coming up to London Persons of quality taken besides him were the Earle of Derby the Lord Kilmurrey Major General Ranulph Egerton Sir William Neile Sir Thomas Powel of Flintshire Col. Massey of Cheshire Major Peter Brook The Earle of Stamford and Sir Thomas Leventhorp were also imprison'd in other places with some hundreds of Gentlemen for designing to levy war against the Commonwealth The Rump overjoy'd with this successe presented Lambert with 1000. l. to buy him a jewel but he thought it more suitable to his designes to distribute it amongst his Army During these actions in England his Majesty privately withdrew from Bruxells together with the Duke of York it was imagin'd by many that they were come concealed into England in expectation of the event or at least lay upon the Sea-coasts ready to have transported some forces in a Fleet which rode upon the Coast of Flanders in case matters had succeeded prosperously But not long after the suppression of the Cheshire Insurrection they appeared again at Bruxells from whence his Majesty dispatcht an Embassadour to attend with certain Proposals at the Interview of Cardinal Mazarini for the French King and Don Lewis de Haro for the Spanish who met upon the confines to treat a Peace between the two Crowns and a Marriage between the King of France and the Infanta of Spain The Embassadour was entertain'd by the two grand Ministers with very high testimonies of honour and respect and promised to have his Master's Interest taken into consideration assoon as the concernments of their own would permit But in England the pretended Parliament fell eagerly to their old beloved Trade of Sequestration and determin'd to exercise the utmost of severity upon the actors in the late Insurrection And no doubt they they would have prosecuted their intentions had not Providence diverted their malice by a breach which fell out between them and the principal Officers of the Army Lambert whose ambition instigated to him to be so active in the late change of Government and so popular in the management of his late expedition together with other grand Officers thought the Parliament so oblig'd to them for restoring them to Power and preserving them in it that they conceiv'd none of their demands ought to be denyed Whereupon at their return to London a Petition was presented to the House by Desborough for a General The Iunto remembring how their former General had serv'd them not only denied this request but vacated the Commissions of Lambert Desborough and 7. others and voted the supreme command of the Army into the hands of seven Commissioners whereof two or three were Army-men the others Members of Parliament Lambert and his Companions were so incensed herewith that upon the 11. of Octob. Forces were drawn out on either side at VVestminster those for the Iunto commanded by Haselrig Morley and others those for the Army by Lambert himself Desborough Berry and other Colonels and had not the Council of State interpos'd they had charg'd one another Neverthelesse the Army-party prevail'd and turn'd the Rump out of doors Oct. 13. Which being done the great Officers being assembled in Council at Wallingford-house dispos'd of commands among themselves Fleetwood was made General Lambert Lieutenant General Desborough General of the Horse and that they might satisfy Gen. Monck too who govern'd Scotland they made him Major General of the Foot As for civil Affairs they erected a Committee of
Safety consisting chiefly of Army-Officers and some Members of the dissolved Iunto who cided with them as Vane Salwey c. The council of Officers also for satisfaction of the people put forth a Declaration concerning their late proceedings charging the Rump with high Crimes and making void their late pretended Acts. Moreover they appointed certain persons to frame a Model of Government which no question would have prov'd an excellent one when onely Sword-men and Tradesmen were to be the contrivers But that which check'd their contentment in these courses was the dissatisfaction of Gen. Monck in Scotland Letters of expostulation past to and fro between the General and Fleetwood but the English Army in the mean time prepar'd to march against him forthwith and was led towards the North by Lambert consisting of about 12000. men The General seeing them thus beforehand with him sent Commissioners to Westminster to treat yet with all march'd Southward with what Forces he could raise and fortifi'd Berwick upon Tweed The Commissioners going beyond their Instructions the General was not satisfi'd with the Treaty and therefore soon after desir'd another at New-Castle during which he call'd a Convention of Estates in Scotland who not only approved his undertaking but assisted him in it While things stood thus the City of London though they well enough lik'd the turning out of the Rump would by no means join with the Army But about the beginning of December the Apprentices and some others fram'd a Petition to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for a Free Parliament the Souldiers understanding it interpos'd and a great hurly burly thereupon arose in the City some being slain and others wounded Fleetwood was therefore desir'd to draw his Forces out of the City but instead of doing that he placed Garrisons in several parts of it threatning to fire it if the Citizens stir'd At the same time Haselrig Morley and some other Rumpers seis'd on Portsmouth and declar'd against the Army and part of the Navy under Vice-Admiral Lawson did the like and blockt up the Thames The City in this condition would declare neither for Parliament nor Army but still desired a free Parliament which at last was consented to upon divers enslaving qualifications and proclaim'd by the Committee of Safety to begin on Ian. 24. Upon the borders all this while nothing was done the Treaty took no effect neverthelesse Gen. Monck kept from engaging nor was it possible for Lambert to draw him to it whose Forces quartered in a cold barren Country unable to march by reason of the hardnesse of the weather At length Fleetwood having treated with Lawson to no effect and his souldiers being ready to mutiny for want of pay was forced out of apprehension of worser consequence to give over ruling and the Rump slipt into the House again on Decemb. 26. late in the evening by Torch-light Upon the news hereof Lambert's Army deserted him and General Monck enter'd into England with his about the 6. of Ian. Whilst affairs were thus turbulent in England his Majesty being at Diepe in Normandy receiv'd an invitation from Don Lewis de Haro the great Spanish Minister at the Frontier of Spain Which his Majesty accepting rid post incognito through France being accompanied onely with the Lord Marquis of Ormond and the Earl of Bristol Upon information of his approach to Bayonne the Spanish Favourite went forth with a splendid Traine to meet him and upon the first sight of him alighted from his Horse and notwithstanding the inconvenience of the place in a very humble posture embraced his Majestie 's knees from whence also he conducted him riding all the way bareheaded to the best lodgings the place afforded On the next day his Majestie was visited by Mazarini whom he entertain'd with that discreet warinesse that he let him know he sufficiently understood his projects The result of his Majestie 's consultations with Don Lewis was that the Favorite in his Masters name promised him all assistance both of men and mony assoon as the conclusion of the French peace permitted Whereupon his Majesty after high caresses and treatments returned privately by Post to Paris where staying with the Queen his Mother some few dayes he departed to his former residence at Brussels This private journey occasion'd so certain a belief in the Sectarians here in power that his Majesty and the Duke of York who lay at Calis were come over into England that many persons were apprehended for them and particularly one Mr. Colt was taken and imprison'd for the Duke of York and others also for his Majesty We left Gen. Monck upon his march out of Scotland all parties had their hopes fixt upon him the Rump presuming by his assistance to quell the refractory City and the Citizens that he would enforce the Rump either to call in the Members secluded in Dec. 1648. or to fill up the House with new Elections yet none knew certainly his intentions During his March he was address'd to by several Counties for the same things that the City desir'd who also sent their Swordbearer as far as New-Castle to congratulate his coming and tender the respects and affections of the City to him Yet he gave such answers as were not satisfactory to any The Rump also sent two of their Members Robinson and Scot to wait upon him but indeed rather as spies to watch and observe him At St. Albans some Aldermen and Common-Council men of London were sent to him from the City to court him but were return'd as all others only with thanks for their respects On Friday Feb. 3. he marched into London and was lodg'd at White-hall being much caress'd by the Rump and receiv'd their thanks in the House The City continuing still their refractoriness to the Rump and perceiving they so delay'd the filling up of the House as if they never intended it on VVednesday Feb. 8. pass'd a Vote in Common Council not to pay or levy any Taxes until such time as they might have a full free Parliament This so enrag'd the Rump that they order'd the General to march with his Army into the City pull up the Chains and Posts break down the Gates and Portcullis and imprison divers Aldermen and Commissioners Which was accordingly executed the next day to the great terror and amazement not onely of the City but of the whole Nation when they heard the report of it But this consternation did not last long for the General reflecting on the odious service the Rump had put him upon and apprehending their intentions to retrench his power which indeed his Commission being that day expir'd they did accordingly joyning him with some of their Members and Officers in the supreme command of the Army on Saturday Feb. 11. drew his Army into Finsbury fields and presently after upon some conference with the Lord Mayor and some chief Citizens writ a Letter to the Iunto as from VVhite-Hall subscribed by Himself and 14. of his chief Officers wherein he
THE LIFE and REIGNE OF Our SOVEREIGN LORD KING CHARLES the II In a compendious Chronicle relating both to his Majesties Person and Affairs With the chief Transactions of State in the Three Kingdomes from his Birth to this present By a Lover of his Prince and Countrey LONDON Printed by R. DANIEL for FRANCIS EGLESFIELD at the Marigold 〈◊〉 â—t Paul's Church-yard 1660. To the Happy Preserver of his Sacred Majesty the LADY JANE LANE MADAME THis smal Volume humbly Offered to your Hand contains part of the Life and Reigne of one of the Greatest Monarchs in the World The rest 't is hoped as it will be the imployment of a more elegant Pen so it will not be accomplisht till it afford a Chronicle of more years Prosperities in these Nations then this is of Miseries That I have presumed to dedicate it to your Ladiship if I incurre the censure of boldness I am confident every one will commend the fitnesse of my Choice Since nothing could be more proper then to intitle your Ladiship to the Relation of that Life which next under the Divine Providence you were chiefly instrumental to preserve To you Madame we owe all that can be ow'd from Christians Subjects or Men to any person upon Earth by whose dangerous but ever memorable Fidelity we are at length restor'd to whatever is dear to us in those three capacities and which is no small consideration to the liberty of publishing the impartiall truths as far as the best Relations afforded in this Book Nor is the present Age onely oblig'd to you but your glory shall live upon Record and your Name embalmea with praises be preserved in the memory of thankfull Posterity In all which respects I have thought it my duty both in testimony of my particular Loyalty Gratitude to present this Piece to your Ladiship as the Person that ha's the greatest right to it withall publickly to acknowledge my self MADAME Your Ladiships most devoted Servant and Eternal Honorer FR. EGLESFIELD A true and accurate Relation of the LIFE and REIGN Of our Soveraign Lord and KING CHARLES the II. KING Charles the first of that name having soon after his coming to the Crown married Henrietta Maria youngest daughter of Henry the fourth and sister of Lewis the thirteenth Kings of France was blessed with a Son on the twenty ninth day of May one thousand six hundred and thirty Upon whose birth as the King was going in solemn manner to the Church of S. Paul in London to present his gratefull devotions to God for his own and the Nations happinesse in receiving so eminent a Pledge of his favour there was observ'd a new Star appearing in the time of mid-day as if the Heavens seem'd by an extraordinary Production to aemulate the new splendor of the Earth The young Prince was baptised at S. Iames's on the twenty seventh of Iuly next ensuing by the hand of Dr. Laud then bishop of London Dr. Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury being rendred uncapable by an unhappy accident of shooting a man and received his Father's name Charles his Godfathers were his two Uncles Lewis the thirteenth King of France and Frederick King of Bohemia and Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine whose absence occasioning them to depute their substitutes the late Duke Hamilton represented his Majesty of France and the Duke of Richmond the King of Bohemia His Godmother was Marta de Medicis Queen dowager of France represented by the Dutchesse of Richmond It deserves our notice that he was born the greatest Prince that ever these Nations knew never any before him having been born heir apparent to the Crowns of England Scotland France and Ireland which was intimated in the Silver coynes made at the solemnity of his Baptism on the reverse side whereof were the Armes of those four Kingdomes with this Motto Hactenus Anglorum nulli On the fourth day of November one thousand six hundred thirty one it pleased the Divine Providence to enlarge the Royal Family by the birth of a Daughter the Lady Mary who was afterwards viz. 2. May 1641. married to VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange by whom she hath a posthume Son named VVilliam a Princess whose perfections qualifi'd her for the bed of the greatest Potentate in Christendome had not the interest of Religion been more consider'd in her match then amplitude of Territory or Title By the blessing of Heaven upon the Royal bed the King became father to another Son the most illustrious and renouned Iames Duke of York upon the thirteenth of October in the year One thousand six hundred thirty three he was solemnly baptised on S. Iames's day next following and within a few dayes after created Duke of York Title born by his Father during the life of Prince Henry his elder brother This Prince hath though yet in his youth so signalized himself by his valour in the Armies of the Kings of Spain and France that I think this Age nor perhaps any of old cannot afford his parallel His Majesty likewise had another Son brought forth to him by his Royal Consort upon the twentieth day of Iuly 1640. who was Christned Henry and created Duke of Glocester And a Daughter at Excester during the Warres upon the sixteenth of Iune 1644. named after her Royal mother Henrietta Maria. This is the surviving Issue of our late Soveraign of blessed memory And having thus briefly given an account of the Parentage and Birth of these Illustrious Princes I shall proceed to represent the Life of Him who is particularly the Argument of this Relation CHARLES Prince of Wales now our Soveraign Lord King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. The care of his Infancy was committed to the right honourable the Countess of Dorset wife to the last Earle 'till after some yeares having out-grown female conduct the present Marquess of Newcastle was chosen by the King as a fit person to imbue his Youth with all the accomplishments requisite to greatnesse and the Reverend Dr. Duppa Lord Bishop of Chichester and now of Salisbury as one able to form his tender mind to true Religion and Virtue Every year of his Childhood afforded new promises and hopes and even in that age which usually has not the advantage of discretion either totally to subdue or at least to dissemble the motions of passions he express'd on all occasions an extraordinary goodnesse and sweetness of nature seeming to have been born with that equal temper of mind which few men render themselves capable of by the help of Philosophy and Religion Nor were his inclinations to Virtue more remarkable then those he had to excellent and solâ—d Arts which the composednesse of his Genius render'd more acceptable to him then the levity of the most exquisite divertisements In the ninth year of his Age he hapned to break his arme and was very sickly falling first into a Feaver and shortly after into the Jaundies but by the favour of the divine providence he happily overcame
danger the Prince should make prize of their ships for that he had engaged to the States of the Low Countries to do no act prejudicial to Trade At last the debate was put off till the next day when the Speaker putting the House in mind of it again it was earnestly called upon by the younger Sir Iohn Evelin Scot VVeaver Hollond Boys and almost all the godly gang So the debate was resumed and VVeaver went very high to try the Temper of the House But the debate interminis That the Prince should be declared a Râ—bel a Traitor was soon laid by though violently press'd chiefly for these reasons 1. They had not the Originals of the Princes Letters and Declaration which the Common Council still kept but only Copies not so much as attested upon Oath by any authentick Clerk therefore no legall Proceedings could be upon them 2. It world argue no peaceable inclination in them the same day when they sent Messengers to invite the King his Father to a Treaty of Peace 3. It could not consist with the National Covenant 4. It is High Treason by the Stat. 25. Edw. 3. to endeavour the destruction of the Prince the King 's eldest Son but to declare him a Rebel and a Traytor was to endeavour to destroy him and therefore High Treason c. But what they could not do expresly they did implicitely by Voting all that should adhere to aid or assist the Prince Rebels and Traytors Hereby they put a tye upon the City not to redeem their ships by lending 20000. l. to the Prince and yet had a Pyrate taken them it had been lawfull to redeem them About this time also an Order passed the House of Commons for the Earl of VVarwick to fight the Prince at sea It was sent up to the Lords and passed that House too whereby it became an Ordinance yet some of the Lords entred a Protestation against it as the Earles of Lincoln Suffolk Lord North. The Prince continued still in the Downes with his Fleet in a good condition waiting for that supply of Land forces his Brother the Prince of Orange was very industriously raising for his service in Holland and in the interim was willing to do something for the relief of Deal Castle which was besieged by a party of Fairfax's Army left in Kent for that purpose In order to which he landed 500. men who at first charged handsomely but being overpowr'd by number were beaten several slain and taken and the rest got aboard again Failing of this attempt he was inclinable to hazard himself for the relief of Colchester which bravely held out against Fairfax's whole power but from this he was disswadeded as a businesse of too apparent danger Wherefore he continued expecting the event of Hamilton's expedition in the North who was sent into England by the Parliament of Scotland with an Army of 21000. upon the account of the Covenant viz. for a restitution of his Majesty with safety and honour and settlement of Presbyterie On the 15. day of Iuly the House of Commons without the Lords Vote the Scots that were come into England enemies and that they might covertly include the Prince the Question was put That all such English as had invited the Scots under Duke Hamilton to come in hostile manner into England should be declared Traitors and carried in the affirmative He that shall consider the House of Commons was still in a manner entire and consisted of the very same men that so often and by so many Votes Remonstrances Declarations Protestations Vowes and Oaths pretended the defence of the King's person and just authority settlement of these Nations in purity of Religion and preservation of the just Rights and Liberties of the Subject the very same things now petition'd for by several Counties declared for by the parties up in Kent Essex and Duke Hamilton in the North cannot but wonder they should vote them Traitors and endeavour their destruction with that of the Nations consequently who took up armes in the greatest sincerity possible for those honourable purposes themselves alledged to countenance their own against the King But the truth is the two Houses sate under a force ever since August 6. 1647. when Fairfax march't up with his Army in hostile manner against the City For from that time the lesser party of the House who together with some Officers of the Army had layd the blackest design that ever was hatcht by the instinct of the Devil siding with the Army over-aw'd all the Proceedings of Parliament and at the same time held the King and the major part of the House in suspence with unfaithfull Treaties and sent their forces against such as desir'd the same things they would be believ'd themselves intended The House of Lords too being strangely supine in not resenting the frequent sleighting and contempt of their Authority and not attempting any thing at all for the deliverance of their Soveraign the Vindication of their own Honour that of the Nation with it's rights priviledges and freedomes against the Usurpation of an Army and corrupt faction in that of the Commons An insolence which I am perswaded none of their great Ancestors we find in Histories under the same Titles but would have ventur'd both lives and fortunes to the utmost rather then have endured and certainly their posterity will wonder what they were doing all this while The Earle of Holland indeed though no Souldier yet dar'd well and out of a sense of Honour thought himself oblig'd to try his fortune in the Field if possible he might be an Instrument to avert the Destruction he saw threatned his Soveraign and the miseries of tyrannie impendent over this poor Nation by an armed power By commission from the Prince he assembles together about 500. Horse and Foot about Kingston heath Iuly 2. having with him the Duke of Buckingham and his Brother the L. Francis Villers and the Earle of Peterborough But he was soon routed by a stronger Party himself taken and afterwards put to death for his noble but unfortunate Attempt Such were the sinnes of this Nation and thus the good Providence of God was pleased to bring about the punishment of them by frustrating all meanes and courses taken to deliver it from the miseries of that threatned it For soon after viz. August 17. the great Army under Hamilton is defeated by Cromwell and Lambert at Preston in Lancashire and the Duke himself taken and afterwards beheaded by the English Parliament for this action This Defeat was followed by the surrender of Colchester which had indur'd a sharp starving Siege of three moneths upon hopes of relief from this Scottish Army Thus all the Princes Enterprises failing and his Fleet being in great need of provision he is forced to give over further Action and retires to the Hague in Holland to his Sister the Princesse of Orange in expectation and attendance upon Providence Shortly after many Counties of England soliciting the Parliament
extremely respected at all the places he came at in the Low-Countreys as at Dunkirk Antwerp the Hague Leyden c. And having been for some time entertain'd by his Royal Sister where he had the honour of the Garter sent him from the King he departed to the Court of France being attended by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile his Majesty himself the Duke of York Prince Rupert and others going two leagues out of Paris to meet him Towards the latter end of the year 1652. his Majestie 's hopes began to be something desperate concerning any considerable succour from France for that King in stead of uniting with the Prince's his subjects sent an Embassadour Mr. de Bordeanx Neufville to treat a Peace with England to which he was the rather induc'd for that Admiral Blake had not long before beaten and destroy'd the French ships under the Duke of Vendosme that were going to the relief of Dunkirk which defeat occasion'd the loss of that Town to the Spaniard Nor were his hopes likely to prove more successfull in the united Provinces for they were so weary of the War that they sent a Letter to England to cast about for an accommodation But before they effected any thing Cromwell finding his ambitious projects ripe being emboldned with former successes and backt with a strong Army on the 20. of April 1653. entred the Parliament House attended with some officers where he represented to them that their Dissolution was important to the publick good and welfare of the Nation with many reasons for it which none daring to oppose the Members departed the House To justify which Action He and his Council of Officers put forth a Declaration wherein it was pretended The Parliament was over-ruled by a corrupt Party who intended to perpetuate themselves deluding the Nation from time to time with hopes of a New Representative notwithstanding the Petitions of the Army and severall Counties That the Cause which God had so greatly blessed languisht in their hands and was in danger to be lost by their negligence of the publick and self-seeking with many more like crimes And thus fell this great Idol of the Nation this Parliamentum Infame which in a dozen yeares time had wrought more mischief to these Kingdomes then all the preceeding Parliaments had ever done good After this Cromwel with his Officers took the administration of Affairs into their own hands the Armies in Scotland and Ireland and the Fleet assenting to their proceedings But to gull the people a little longer and render Parliaments more contemptible to them Cromwel upon the 8. of Iune following sent out a summons in his own name to such persons as he pleas'd to meet at VVestminster on the 4. of Iuly Who accordingly appearing to the number of six score he impowred them by a writing under his Hand and Seal to be the Supreme Authority and Governours of the three Nations and that 40. of them should be a Quorum to dispatch business This Iunto of Sectaries and Officers of the Army going into the Parliament House in three dayes time gravely resolved that they would be called the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and that their Chairman Mr. Rous should be called Speaker and that they would have a Sergeant at Armes and a Mace Thus they began ridiculously and continued in all their Actions for four moneths in which they voted down the High-Court of Chancery made a silly Act for Marriages Births and Burials confirmed the unjust Bill for Sale of the Estate of Sir Iohn Stowell Knight of the Bath ordered Sale of the remainder of the Royall Revenue made a tax for 6. moneths at 120000 l. per mensem struck fiercely at Tythes and Universities and then being partly weary and partly asham'd of themselves some of Oliver's faction by underhand appointment repaired to Cromwel and resigned their power into his Hands who at first seeming unwilling and excusing his inability was prevail'd with by importunity to accept it which he did with the Title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland The rest of the Sectarian Convention who refus'd to break up the Parliament and doe as their fellowes had done Cromwel sent Souldiers to turn them out of the House which was accordingly done and the doors lockt against them Decemb. 2. 1653. And upon the 16. of the same moneth having by the advice of his Officers framed and published an Instrument of Government consisting of 42. Articles he sent for the Commissioners of the Great Seale the Major and Aldermen of London with the Iudges and the Officers of the Army and was by them solemnly installed in Westminster-Hall taking an Oath to rule according to his Instrument and the Lawes of the Land though nothing could be more repugnant to the Lawes then that Instrument In this last year notwithstanding the former offer of Accommodation severall encounters had been between the Ships of this Nation those of the United Provinces in which the Dutch suffer'd much so that the common people there were in a great consternation Two of the principal Battels were on the 3. of Iune and the 29. of Iuly In the former the English got a remarkable Victory though with the losse of one of their Generals Dean by a great shot taking above 1300. prisoners and 11. Ships of War besides 6. sunk In the latter being the greatest blow the Dutch ever received from us their Admiral Martin Harper van Trump one of the most expert and renowned Seamen in the world was slain with a Musket shot and 2000. men more 1000. Prisoners taken and 27. Ships of War sunk and fired Which losses quite broke the spirits of the Dutch who thereupon began seriously to think of peace This Summer also it pleased God to visit his Majesty with a Fever which held him for some time with violence so that the London Pamphlets publish'd it to be mortal But the Divine Providence intended better things to this Nation and about the latter end of August recovered him to perfect health After which he departed from the Court for some time to Chantilly not far distant from Paris for better aire being accompanied with Prince Rupert who after various fortunes at Sea and separation from his brother Prince Maurice by a Hericano who was never after heard off put in with his Ships at Nantes at Britany and resided with his Majesty for a long time at Paris in the Palace Royall This year the Lord Hopton who had commanded an Army for his late Majesty in the Rebellion of England dyed of a Fever after five dayes sicknesse at Bruges in Flanders a person of great learning piety temperance and valour In the beginning of the next year his Majestie 's hopes of doing any good upon the United States were absolutely extinguish'd He had us'd all possible means by the intercessions of his friends to avert them from reconcilement with England and to that purpose was very active upon
Majesty who stay'd not long there but removed to the Hague where himself and the English Gentry were splendidly entertain'd at the charge of the States who also presented him with gifts of great value From thence the Queen of Bohemia with the Princesse of Orange and the young Prince accompanied his Majesty and the two Dukes to the Sea-side where they were entertain'd in the Naseby with a magnificent collation and so his Majesty took leave of them and set sail for England At his landing at Dover he was met by the General who immediately kneel'd to kisse his Royal hand but his Majesty embraced him graciously and took him with his two Brothers into his Coach to Dover where after a Treatment by the Magistrates he rid to Canterbury where he was met by the Mayor and Citizens who presented him a golden Cup full of gold and the Ministers who presented him a Bible Having rested there on Sunday the next day he went to Cobham-House and on Tuesday May 29. being his Birth-day he came towards London attended by the Duke of Buckingham the Earles of Northhampton Norwich Shrewsbury Litchfield Cleaveland the Lord Mordant and Sir Iohn Robinson with their several Troops of the chiefest Nobles and gentry of the Kingdome and the General with ten Regiments of his best horse besides innumerable companies of people that flock'd from all the adjacent Counties On Blackheath near Greenwich he was met by Major Generâ—l Brown with a gallant Company of young Citizens and others c. and at Southwark he was met by the Lord Mayor Aldermen 300. Citizens in Velvet Coats and Gold Chaines representing the several Companies and entertain'd with a Collation in a Tent erected on purpose and from thence about 5. a clock in the afternoon he rode into the City between his two Brothers the streets being on one side beset with the several Companies in their Gownes and on the other with Souldiers the windowes adorn'd with Tapistry and other hangings the Conduits running with Wine and the people testifying their joy with incessant shoutings and Acclamations Arriving at White-Hall the Speakers of both Houses congratulated his return in two solemn Speeches to which his Majesty answer'd that the People's acclamation together with his journey though gratefull to him as demonstrations of affection had so disordered him that he could not give such an answer as he desir'd But they should find him a sincere Defender of the Lawes and Liberties of the people and the Parliament should not be more ready to ask his consent to any thing fitting to be done then he would be to grant it After which he retir'd out of the Banquetting House to his Lodgings Thus we have trac'd out all the principal actions of this great King's Life in his Infancy Youth and Manhood to this present as well in his own Territories as beyond the Seas and withall given an account of the most considerable events here in England during the Oligarchy of the late long Parliament and the Tyranny of Ol. Cromwel In all which we have endeavour'd to give an impartiall Relation with as much brevity as the smalness of this Volume containing more strange occurrences then have hapned in some Ages would permit May the God of Heaven who of his infinite and undeserved mercy towards these poor Nations hath restor'd his Majesty to his Dominions long preserve his Sacred Person for the good both of Church and Commonwealth and multiply the years of his Reign in Honour and Prosperity Glory be to God on High and on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men. FINIS ERRATA Pag. 118. l. 11. read greater honour Pag. 273. l. 8. for at Salisbury read at Exeter Pag. 320. l. 24. read Commoners