believe the King was the least Thing in him And Posterity shall know the happiness of England and this Age when it shall see we are not silent of a good Prince after his Decease for it is a sign that there is as good a One or a better on the Throne And this Task I the more willingly undertake MY LORDS First because it is impossible for any man to want or matter or words while he writes of him and 't is a Subject that even Dulness it self wou'd Treat of wittily And secondly because not only all Europe but the whole World and Posterity it self will joyn with me in his Praises For the Outmost Rounds of the Earth were acquainted with him and he establish'd our Commerce so universally that whatever Product was generated in any Country seem'd to be the Native of Ours and in every Season of the Year we had a perpetual Autumn Fruits arriving from every part of this Globe And as his Name will be laid up in the Libraries of Asia and men must hear his Praises by Interpreters so likewise our Posterity no doubt will help us in praising him who are at present too much over-loaden with one burthen that of Grief for His inexpressible loss to undertake such another as that of celebrating him I shall not seek to fetch Encomiums from comparing him with his Ancestors and so try by lessening them to amplifie his Greatness That is a trick I do not pretend to let his fame stand at the expence of no mans else For as all the Talents and Virtues of his Forefathers he in such wise united in himself as that not one of them was wanting while he lived and as it is common for a Prince to be better than his Predecessors but to be better than all his Predecessors belong'd to him alone so he that detracts from them detracts from him And for one instance who dare sacrilegiously invade the Majesty of CHARLES the 1st in hopes to diminish it who neither said nor did nor wrote nor begot any thing but what was Great So Divine a Prince none was thought worthy by Heav'n it self immediately to Succeed but he And therefore after that Nature had made several Tryals in Henry the Great 's Daughter for five Years space towards the Production of something perfect and absolute she at length made this acceptable Present to the World As soon as Born Heaven took notice of him and ey'd him with a Star appearing in defiance of the Sun at Noon-day either to note That his Life shou'd be continu'd with Miracles as it began with one or that his Glory shou'd shine like a Star or else to prove That if it be question'd whether Sovereigns be given us by chance or by the hand of the Almighty it is here manifest that this Prince came from Heav'n and that there is a World of difference put betwixt Kings supernaturally made by God and those electively made by Man In his Education afterwards he excell'd in all those corporal Exercises and that growth of Body for which Antiquity appointed the Sons of the Gods and Husbands of the Goddesses to be so Remarkable And as the shape of his Body so the form of his mind was truly and universally Imperial It had the command of whatever Notion or Thing was presented to it whether Divine or Humane without any foreign Explication and as it were by Intuition he saw the Ideas of all things in his own breast In his first Years he promis'd that Virtue which his Fathers and his own Miseries gave him an early and a large Field to shew to the World and which he kept entire and unshaken to the last his Mind being still more and more strengthned by difficulties And to speak a little freely MY LORDS when Ye remember him amid all his distresses and the most insupportable stroaks of Fortune unrepining and not letting the least complaint escape from him or the least fear seize upon him You must either fancy something in him above Man or that the gods themselves might learn of him one Virtue that of constancy and firmness of mind For Seneca shews us that Hercules himself the great and perfect Model of true Virtue and Valour in his last Agonies did complain ev'n to Desperation Adorn'd with such Virtues who cou'd not but love him Even Sea-Rebels as rough and boisterous as their own Element grow tender-hearted and set their Admiral on shore delivering themselves up to him and the Love of the Prince prevails more with them than the Piety of their King When in Exile as with his Fame he had before fill'd other Nations so now he bless'd 'em with his presence By barbarous Rebels he was forc'd to venture the Hospitality of Princes yet the King of France was not afraid of abiding in the French Kings Dominions But whatever jealousies he might conceive of his own safety whatever bad news he received from England how great soever were the Progresses made by Cromwel he thought this his greatest Unhappiness that he shou'd have so many Calamitous Friends both at home and abroad His Restoration I can compare to nothing better than that easie delicious and jocund Temper of the Elements of Heaven the Air and Sea after a violent and outragious Tempest or rather after the great Deluge of the World at which Time he prov'd himself the Noah's Dove that finding no Rest any where was receiv'd again into his own Ark and brought a peaceable Olive-Leaf in his Mouth Which Revolution was the alone work of Providence and the General For nothing but an Almighty Power hath Dominion over the minds of Men. He did not leap on Shore with his Sword in his Hand by way of Compulsion but he was saluted with the free and unanimous Voice of three great Nations As he had no other real Enemies but his own Country so in this he appeared more than Conqueror that he vanquish'd the very minds of his enemies Never was such a Triumph seen at Rome Others have rode on a Chariot with four white Horses or more arrogantly have been carri'd on Mens Shoulders but he was brought in by the hearts of Men. That Name which others get by conquer'd Natâ—ons he got by repenting ones and only by returning out of exile into his own Country which was exil'd when he was so he lookt in the Poets Language Like Mars returning from the Noble Chace Of flying Nations through the Plains of Thrace At one time never was so much Joy heap'd together in England It seem'd as if all the Melancholly of the former years was purposely designed to introduce and heighten the so extravagant gladness of that great Day that some were ready to wish for a Renovation of the Civil Wars that they might have that day repeated to them over again Every man thought that himself received the shouts he gave and every subject fancied himself a Monarch The sick imagine they are restored to health by seeing his God-like Person Some cry they
themselves for the security of the Protestant Religion which Address he answered by a message to the Commons wherein he let them know That he had received their Address with all the disposition they could wish to comply with their reasonable desires but upon perusal of it he was sorry to see their thoughts so fixt on the Bill of Exclusion as to determine all other Remedies for the suppressing of it to be ineffectual telling them That he was confirmed in his Opinion against the Bill by the Judgment of the Lords in their rejecting it advising them to consider of all other means for preservation of the Protestant Religion to which they should have no Reason to doubt his concurrence and urging them again to make some speedy provision for the preservation of Tangier Upon the consideration of which Speech they were so far from complying with his reasonable desires that they Resolved as the Opinion of the House That there was no security for the Protestant Religion the King's Life or the well Constituted and Established Government of this Kingdom without the Bill of Exclusion and that to rely upon any other Remedy were insufficient and dangerous That till such a Bill was past they could give the King no supply without danger to his Person hazard to the Protestant Religion and unfaithfulness to those by whom they were trusted And that all persons who advised him in that Message to insist upon an Opinion against the Exclusion-Bill had given him pernicious Counsel and were promoters of Popery and Enemies both to him and the Kingdom naming Hallifax Worcester Clarendon Feversham and Laurence Hide Esq against whom they Voted an Address to the King to remove them from all Offices of honour and profit and from his Councils and presence forever Voting moreover That whosoever shall Lend or cause to be Lent by way of Advance any Money upon the branches of the King's Revenue arising by Custom Excise or Hearth-Money should be adjudged to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and should be responsible for the same But their presumption running so high the King resolved by a Prorogation to give them time to cool themselves which he did on the Monday following being the 10th of July when he past Two Bills one about Irish Cattel and the other for burying in Woollen the latter whereof proved very advantageous to the Nation by the advance of Wool which is accounted the most staple Commodity of this Kingdom The Commons by some means or other were informed of the King's design of proroguing them and therefore so soon as they were set that morning the very first thing they did was to thunder out their Threatning Votes That whosoever advised the King to prorogue that Parliament to any other purpose than in order to the passing the Bill of Exclusion should be lookt upon as a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and the Kingdom of England a promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France And in a Common-Council assembled bout Two or Three days after in London a Petition was ordered to be drawn up and presented to the King wherein they set forth That the Parliaâ—â—â—t having convicted One of the Poâ—ish Lords and being about to convict the other Four and having impeacht the Chief Justice and being about to impeach other Judges and all in order to the preservation of his Life c. they were much surprised to see it prorogued in the height of their business and that their only hope was its being done with a design to bring such Affairs about again as were necessary to the setling the Nation Praying that they might therefore sit at the day appointed and so continue till they had effected the great Affairs before them But before the 20th of January arrived to which they had been prorogued the King declared them dissolved by Proclamation and intimated his pleasure to call another to sit on the 24th of March at Oxford After which a Petition was delivered him by Essex and some others of the popular Lords for the altering his Resolution for the Parliaments sitting at Oxford upon pretence That neither himself nor they could be in safety there but would be daily exposed to the Swords of the Papists and their Adherents whereby their Liberty of Speech would be destroyed and the Validity of their Acts and Proceedings left disputable Urging likewise the straitness of the place which they affirmed was altogether unfit for the entertaining such a concourse of persons as now followed every Parliament And that the Witnesses which were to give Evidence upon the Commons Impeachment were unable to bear the charges of that Journey and unwilling to trust themselves under the protection of a Parliament which was it self under the power of Guards and Soldiers praying it might therefore sit at Westminster The Parliament which met at Oxford was for the most part made up oâ— Old Members which were chosen again for the same places for which they had served before And contrary to the ancient custom of their Treating thâ— Country the Country now in many places Treated them or at least every man bore his own charges Abouâ— Eight days before their sitting the King having appointed certain Companies of Foot and several Troops of Horse to keep Guard in the Mews during his absence removed to Oxford where he was received and presented by the Mayor and Body of that City at the East-Gate and from thence attended with great Acclamations and all other demonstrations of Joy and was the next day waited on and complemented by the body of the University who presented him with a large Oxford-Bible and the Queen with the Cuts belonging to the History and Antiquity of the Vniversity both richly bound Most of the Members as well Commons as Lords went thither attended with a numerous Train of Friends At the opening of the Sessions the King told them That the unwarrantable proceedings of the last House of Commons was the only Reason why he had dissolved them And that â—s he would never use Arbitrary Government himself so he was Resolved never to suffer it in others That whosoever should calmly consider the proceedings in the last Parliament might perhaps wonder at his patience so long rather than that he grew weary at last That it was as much his interest and care as theirs to preserve the Liberty of the Subject since the Crown could not be safe when that was in danger And that neither Liberty nor Property could long subsist when the just Prerogatives of the Crown were invaded or the Honour of the Government brought low and into disreputation Assuring them That he had called them so soon to shew that the Irregularities of Parliaments should never make him out of love with them And that he thought the just care they ought to have of Religion should not be so managed and improved into unnecessary Fears as to be made a pretence for changing the Foundation of the Government and therefore hoped
ibid. 1670 Designs to unite England and Scotland 345 Prince of Tuscany in England ibid The Dutchess of Orleans at Dover 346 Sir Thomas Allen before Argeir 347 Sir Edward Spragg destroys three Men of War 348 1671 Bloud steals the Crown 349 The King takes a Sea-Progress 351 A stop upon the Exchequer 352 Sir George Downing committed to the Tower 353 A Declaration of Indulgence 354 Sir Robert Holms falls on the Dutch Smyrna Fleet ibid 1672 The King declares War against the Dutch 355 He views the English and French Fleet joyning ibid His Royal Highness's name terrible to the Dutch 356 The States remove to Amsterdam 357 The King Invites their Subjects into England ibid The Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington Embassadors 358 Nimeguen taken ibid 1673 the Dutch beaten 359 The King grants Peace to the Dutch 360 1677 Grows Jealous of the French Kings greatness 362 The Lady Mary marri'd to the Prince of Orange ibid The Kings Speech to the Parliament 363 France threatned with a War 365 The King endeavours a general Peace 366 But provides for the worst 367 His Speech to the Parliament ibid 1678 The Siege of Mons raised 359 A peace concluded at Nimeguen ibid A hugeous strange Plot of Black Bills and Spanish pilgrims discover'd by Titus Oates 371 The Lords Bellasis Powis Peters and Arundel sent to the Tower 3â—2 Godfrey found murthered 373 The King prevents the Parliament 375 His refusal to part with the Militia 376 Some try'd for the Plot ibid Some of the Parliament accuse each other 377 Sir Joseph Williamson released by the King 378 The Long Parliament dissolv'd ibid The Kings Letter to the Duke 379 The Duke goes into Flanders 380 The Kings Speech to the new Parliament ibid 1679 They begin with the Earl of Danby 384 Who surrenders him self ibid The Lords in the Tower Impeacht in Parliament 385 The King dissolves his Privy-Council and constitutes a new one ibid. Shaftsbury President 387 The Lords Answer to their Impeachments ibid. 1680 The Kings proposal to the Parliament 388 Their Address to the King 389 The Bill of Exclusion brought in ibid The two Houses differ about Danby's pardon and the Tryal of the Lords 390 The King Porogues them 392 The Bishop of St. Andrews most barbarous Muther forerunner of a Scotch Rebellion ibid. Whence the name of Whigs 393 The Parliament dissolv'd and a new one call'd 394 Sir G. Wakeman and others acquitted ibid. The King taken Sick at Windsor 395 Monmouth in disgrace 397 A Declaration about him 398 He is banished 402 Dangerfields discovery ibid The Duke of York goes into Scotl. 403 Sawcy Petitions for the Parliaments fitting 404 Forbidden by Proclamation ibid. Kings Speech to the Parliament 405 The Duke returns out of Scotland 406 Sir Lionel Jenkins made Secretary 407 Addresses of Abhorrence ibid. The Lord Shandios Embassador to Constantinople 408 A prodigious storm of Hail ibid The Parliament sits 409 Fall foul upon Sir Robt. Can and others ibid. Revive the Attempt of the Exclusion Bill which is bravely thrown out by the Lords 411 The Tryal of the Lord Stafford 412 The Blazing-star 413 The King presseth the Parliament for supplys ibid. The Address ibid. His Answer 414 Their Proceedings thereupon 415 They are Prorogu'd 416 Their lewdly extravagant Votes ibid. Petitions about the Oxford Parliament 417 The Country treats their Members 418 1681 The King goes to Oxford 419 His Speech to the Parliament there ibid. Wi. Williams Speaker 421 Fitz-Harris his story 422 25 26 27 28. The Oxford-Parliament dissolv'd 423 A Declaration touching it 424 Doct. Pluncket 427 The Lord Howard committed to the Tower 428 The Oxford-Plot 429 The Protestant Joyner ibid. His Royal Highness High Commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland 430 An Act past there about the Succession ibid. The King Favours the French Protestants 431 Shaftsbury sav'd by an Ignoramus 432 Esquire Thinn murther'd 433 1682 The Royal Passenger's miraculous deliverance 435 Sir John More Lord Mayor of London 436 A Riot in the City about Sheriffs 437 Prince Rupert dies 442 The Earl of Nottingham dies ibid Two remarkable and unusual Embassadors ibid. 1683 Bantham lost 444 An unpresidentable action ibid A Quo Warranto brought against the City Charter 447 A Petition in reference to it 447 The Kings gracious Condescention ibid Shaftsbury's Plot discover'd 449 The King to have been kill'd at the Rye 451 Sav'd by an accidental Fire ibid. Keeling the first discoverer 452 The Plotters taken ibid. Lord Gray Escapes 453 The Lord Russel and Coll. Sidney Beheaded and others executed at Tyburn ibid. Holloway and Armstrong executed 454 A Declaration of Thanksgiving ibid. The difference between the two Plots 455 The Lady Ann Married to Prince George ibid. Judgment enter'd against the Charter 456 Prichard Mayor by Commission ibid. The Factious Aldermen displac'd 457 Monmouth submits himself 458 The great Frost 459 The Kings Charity 460 Vienna besieged ibid Lord Landsdown ' Valour at its 〈…〉 46â— Tâ—ngâ—er demolish'â— ibid. Earl of Danby relievâ—d ibid. The rest of the Lords out of the Toweâ— 462 684. Commissioners for Ecclesiastical affairs ibid. A Scandalum Magnatum against Oates 463 His Royal Highnesses Patience 464 A Statue-peice of the King in the Royal Exchange ibâ—d A Muster on Putney Heath 466 Several tryed 467 The Sodom Doctor Indicted 468 Danvers his Libel 469 〈…〉 Scroop How receiv'd to favour 470 The King 〈…〉 Fit 471 The manner of his lingring Death 472 The Solemnity of his â—uneral 475 His Person 481 His Justice 483 His peaceable Inclination 486 His care of the Crown Prerogatives 488 His Prudence and Conduct 491 His great Piety and Devotion â—94 His Travels 499 His Learning â—01 His Recreations 504 His Conjugal Affectionâ— 506 Epigraphe 509 A Prayer for the King 511 An Essay of HISTORY ROYAL In the LIFE and REIGN OF HIS Late Sacred MAJESTY CHARLES the Second The Introduction HIstory in all Ages hath not undeservedly been accounted the great Light and Mistress of Humane Life as it both pleasurably instructs and most efficaciously persuades all Ranks and Degrees of men to their several respective and proper Offices For in laying the Foundation of a Good Mind Examples have a peculiar force to move men to Virtue and a much Greater than any bare Precepts whatsoever since they have this excellence in them that they prove what they recommend possible to be done and a Precept without an Example adjoyn'd to it looks like a good Law never put into Execution When men read of an Excellent Virtue they still carry away some Tincture from it whether they will or no as if they had been in Conversation with it's Possessor And when they read of any deformity and vice they have a natural aversion for it and will take care to avoid in themselves what looks so ugly in others Nor does History tend only to form men's manners in order to an happy Life but it also exalts and enlarges their minds while they
Lorrain Forces from their Service and imployed them to reduce Ireland knowing that the winning that was the most probable way for the obtaining of England and promising in recompence to make that Duke Duke of Ireland but they thought he only aimed at their disappointment upon the account of which misinterpretations of his peaceable design in his endeavours to reconcile them he was forced to retire for some time to St. Germans his Mother being scarce able to stay at the Louvre for the unreasonable and causless clamours of the mistaken multitude but when their heat and fury was over he returned thither again where he staid for some time longer in great esteem with that Court until the subtle Cardinal began under-hand to make a Peace with Cromwel and when he could not by all the means he used prevent its taking effect he retired toward Germany knowing that the issue of it would be a fair complementing of him out of their Dominions and banishing of him out of his very exile Upon his arrival in Germany he is entertained by the Elector of Cologn and during his stay in that Court he had an interview with the Queen of Sweden whom as the Report went he was to have married had he not disliked her light and Frenchified Deportment In the interview he thank'd her for all those civilities which she had for his sake shewed to any of his Friends and particularly to Montross to which she replied their own and his worth deserved no less There was present at this interview the King 's two Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester the latter whereof was sent for by him from Paris upon information that his Mother had a design to put him into the Jesuits Colledge and breed him up in the Popish Religion to which he was always an irreconcileable Enemy and therefore would not permit his Brother to be brought up in it And so pregnant an instance of his intire love to and resolution to defend the Protestant Religion profess'd in the Church of England was his proceedings in this Affair even in those days when there was so little hopes to see it ever restored again that I think it worthy of a perpetual remembrance and therefore shall here insert the chief circumstances relating to it Having designed to take the Duke of Glocester with him into Germany he was prevail'd upon by the Queen to leave him with her at Paris promising that she would not permit any force to be put upon him for the prevailing with him to change his Religion but that he should be attended by those Protestant Servants which himself had placed about him and have free liberty to resort to the Publick Service of the Church of England at the King's Chappel which was then at Sir Richard Brown's house whom he left as his Resident in Paris But not long after his departure the Duke under pretence of weaning him from the company of some young French Gallants who being in the same Academy were grown into a more familiar conversation with him than was thought convenient was removed to Abbot Mountague's house at his Abby near Pontoise and after he had been there a few days Mr. Lovel who was his Tutor going to Paris for one day only upon business designedly contrived as was suspected by the Abbot during his absence he was vehemently press'd by the Abbot with all the strongest Motives Spiritual or Temporal that he thought might prevail upon him to turn Roman Catholick and having no Protestant near him at that time to advise withal but Mr. Griffin of his Bed-Chamber a Gentleman about his own age both of them not being able to make much more than Thirty he doubted not but to prevail But notwithstanding the greenness of his years such was his zeal for his Religion that after having made ingenious Replies to all the Abbots Arguments he told him that he very much admired how he durst make that attempt upon him knowing that the Queen had engaged her word to the King that no change of his Religion should be endeavoured And telling him that for his own part he was resolved not to incurr the King's displeasure by neglecting to observe his Royal Command whereby he expresly forbid him to listen to any Arguments which should be used with him for the change of his Religion And that as to the specious Pretences of making him a Cardinal or procuring of him to be advanced to the English Throne he did with indignation and contempt deride and reject them complaining withal of his being disingeniously dealt with by his being thus assaulted in the absence of his Tutor whom the King had placed over him and who he believed could easily refute the strongest of his Arguments Which upon his return he did so fully that it was thought convenient to remove the Duke back again to Paris where he was permitted to resort to the King's Chappel and enjoy the free exercise of his Religion for the present though it was not long that he did so for after some little time the Queen own'd the attempt done on him to be with her own approbation declaring that she could not but endeavour notwithstanding her Promise to the King that he should not be forced to have her Son shewed the right way to Heaven and to have that way proposed to him which she thought most requisite for the guiding him thereunto And that she might notwithstanding that repulse prevail upon him by degrees his Protestant Tutor was put from him and himself hurried out of Paris in great hast thereby to deprive him of the assistance of any Protestant and conveyed to Mr. Croft's house but under the care of Abbot Mountague none of his Servants but Griffin being permitted to attend him The News whereof did deeply affect all the Loyal Protestant Exiles then in Paris but especially the Lord Hatton who understanding how violently that young Prince was persecuted for his Religion he consulted with that famous Confessor for the Church of England Dr. Cousins then Dean of Peterborough and Chaplain to his Majesty and since the King's Restauration Bishop of Durham who thereupon drew up what Arguments and Instructions he thought convenient to fortifie the Duke in that violent assault And knowing how strictly he was guarded from the access of any Protestant he being by his Lady related to the Abbot went to give him a visit but his design was soon guessed at and tho' he obtain'd for that time access to the Duke yet he was so carefully watch'd that it was not without much difficulty that he unperceived conveyed to him the Instructions that he had prepared for him and was forced for the future to vary his stratagems to procure farther Advices to be from time to time delivered to him And so narrowly was the Duke eyed by the Popish Spies set over him and the Priests who were uncessantly torturing of him with their pressures to change his Religion that he had no opportunity to peruse any of
thing â—one by them And although he expected 〈◊〉 should have an Army ready to good the agreement yet he intendeâ— they should prevail more by their Reasons than their Forces The managing of this Treaty between the two Kingdoms being a business that so much concerned him 〈◊〉 particular as well as Europe in generaâ— he condescended to negotiate thereâ—â— in his own person notwithstanding 〈◊〉 had Residents in most Christian Kingdoms And in order thereunto betooâ— himself first to one Court and then 〈◊〉 another the Duke of York accoâ—â—â— panying him incognito being sensibâ—â— of the danger which might accrue 〈◊〉 to his cause and Person upon the scrâ—ples of a solid interview it being genâ—rally observed the interviews of Priâ—ces are unhappy And by the way 〈◊〉 he passed through France he gave a 〈◊〉 sit to his Mother intending before 〈◊〉 had undertook the negotiation of 〈◊〉 publick reconciliation between 〈◊〉 two Kingdoms to practice a privaâ—â— one between himself and her who haâ— declar'd herself very much displeâ—â—â—â— with him upon the account of his prâ—ceedings in the business of the Duke 〈◊〉 Glocester which having accomplisheâ— and finding that that Court did 〈◊〉 give him the honour due to his Person nor an entertainment suitable to his expectations He return'd with his Brother to Diep in Normandy going thither by Post with such hast and privacy that some mens hopes and others fears imagin'd they were gone over into England an attempt at that time too dangerous for so wise and politick a Prince to adventure on From Diep he remov'd toward the Frontiers of Spain by the way of Roan where he was nobly treated by Mr. Scot an English Merchant and entertain'd with a Sermon suitable to his present condition and from thence he went by post to Bajonne accompany'd by the Marquess of Ormond and so towards the two Ministers of State that were negotiating the Peace between the two Crowns at St. Jon de Luz The news of this approach did no sooner reach Don Lewis's Lodgings but he prepares to meet him with as much splendour as if our Soveraign had been his Majesty of Spain or himself an English Subject for when he met him he immediately alighting from his Horse and kneeling though in a very dirty and inconvenient place embrac'd and kiss'd his Majesties Knees and walk'd before him bare-headed to the place he had order'd to be made ready for him which was the best Lodging the Town afforded where the next day he received a formal visit from that sly close and reserv'd Politician Cardinal Mazarine whom he entertain'd with such a discreet wariness as if he design'd to let him know and those that saw him understood well enough thereby that he understood the walking Cabala almost as well as he did himself Never were any of his great affairs so well carried on as that was which he manag'd himself for by the advantage of his own incomparable Prudence and sage Experience together with his powerful Majesty and Presence he so far prevail'd in his negotiations there that notwithstanding Lockharts close applications in behalf of his Masters he not only prevented any article that was offer'd and prest in favour of his rebellious adversaries of England but also procur'd himself to be included by Spain as the most honourable Ally in the intended Peace and obtain'd a promise from both those Favourites that they would in pursuance of their Masters friendship with him descended as soon as possible to treat of such particulars that might be proposed as the most sutable to the promoting of his Restauration and consult what Counsels ought to be taken what Men Money and other supplys their respective Masters should afford and how each should be employed for the greatest usefulness to his Service After which he was dismist with as much Respect and Honour as he was received Whilst this Treaty was managing by the two Favourites the Duke of York was in consideration of his great worth and the Service he had done for Spain offered the honour of being made Constable of Castile and Lord high Admiral of Spain which he handsomly refused that Prince having a peculiar way of denying requests as pleasantly to some as he grants them to others And indeed it was at that time prudence in him to wave any courtesie that might be proffered by Spain or any other Popish Court least it might somewhat have retarded his Brothers affairs in England by rendring him suspected of too near compliance with the Catholick Interest and have rendred the attempts of those who were there endeavouring to clear both his and the Kings Integrity and Constancy to the reformed Religion the better to prepare the way for their Re-establishment vain and fruitless especially since their â—mplacable Enemies made it their chief design and business to abuse the Credulous with false surmizings and unjust suspicions of their faithfulness to the Protestant Religion and Interest to which they had adhered with so much resolution and constancy that neither smiles nor frowns the prospect of the greatest enjoyments nor the fear of the heaviest sufferings the highest Favours from Rome nor the basest Affronts from England could tempt them to the least thought of disloyalty to it The King having finisht his negotiations at the Treaty of St. Jan de Luz to his great satisfaction returned with his Brother the Duke of York through France to Brussels only staying some short time at Carentia and Paris with the Queen his Mother And to make his advantage of these stirs and continual alterations in the Government of England sine the death of Cromwel which naturally tended towards the promoting his Restauration whereby the Nation could only be setled notwithstanding they were all design'd to prevent and hinder it he sent over diverse Commissions to diverse worthy and loyal Persons to raise Forces on his behalf and otherwise to act as they saw convenient for the promoting that grand design by virtue of which Commissions a general Plot was laid for the raising of Forces in all the Countyes in England to declare for him But some part of that business being intrusted to the management of the Lady Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire who though loyal enough yet being in regard of her Sex incapable of secrecy it was soon discovered and so London which was the main place secured and the most considerable Persons that were to have done any thing therein were disabled by imprisonment or otherwise several Troops of Horse likewise commanded into Kent and Surrey and the raisiâ—g the Militia hastned in every County so that no considerable party was able to appear any where except in Cheshire where most of the Nobility and Gentry of that County and Lancashire were up under the command of Sir George Booth with whom and General Monk from Scotland was to have joyned if they had not been so suddainly supprest And in North Wales were most of the Inhabitants assembled together under the command of Sir
about for some time upon pretence of entring into a League of Friendship with them but meeting of a sudden as he was ranging with his Horse who are accounted the swiftest in the World with some of our Forces who were forraging for Provisions and Horse-meat he surprized and defeated them their manner of Fighting being to take and leave as they find advantage which they do with very active and quick Force and Resolution but the English were not long before they requiâ—ed him and revenged the injury upon some of his adventurous Stragglers after which he freely entred into and finished a Treaty of Peace with them And the King not long after made it a free Port and indowed it with all the Priviledges of a Merchant City being very conveniently Scituated for Commerce and Trade especially in regard of the Security thereof The great discourse and expectation at this time was what the Presbyterians would do after the Act of Uniformity was past which provided that by St. Bartholomews day their Ministers should renounce the Covenant read Divine Service and Common-Prayer in Church Vestments as the Surplise which was the main thing they pretended to â—cruple or else forsake their Livâ—â—gs Many endeavours there had been â—â—ed before to prevail with the Parâ—â—ament for some Tolleration but â—ot being able to carry it there they afterward applyed themselves to the King and His Council but upon 〈◊〉 full Debate of their Petition and â—s full a hearing of what they had â—o say the business was laid aside â—n regard there was none present who could answer and dispute their pretences for the Superseding the express meaning of that Act. But the Bishop of London by his Prudence and foresight had provided Pious and able Ministers to succeed them in their Cures and for the better security of the publick Peace for times to come the Commissioners for regulating Corporations besides the displacing such Officers as were â—ill affected ordered the Walls of such Townes and Cities as had been the reception of and maintained the late Rebellion to be demolished as examples and security to succeeding Ages viz. Glocester Coventry Northampton Taunton and Leicester which was done accordingly And the Town of Dunkirk which was taken from the Spaniards by Cromwell and had ever since been kept at a vast charge was now also by the Advice of His Council in regard it had never been Annext by Act of Parliament to the Crown of England returned to the French King upon the valuable Consideration of Five Hundred Thousand Pounds And there having been great talk and long suspicion of a Plot secretly carryed on against the Government insomuch that the most part of that Summer the Trained-Bands had watcht every night the design now appeared being carryed on by Ludlow Danvers Lockyer Strange and others for the overthrowing of the Government in order whereunto they were to have seized the Tower Deal-Castle and other places of Strength and were â—o have had the word given them â—he night they were to have fallen â—n which was the last of October by George Phillips a Serjeant in the Colâ—onels Company of the White Regiment But being discovered by â—ne of their number they were â—any of them taken and by sufficient Witnesses Convicted of the Conspiracy four whereof viz. Philâ—ips Tongue Gibbs and Stubbs were Executed according to Sentence and â—he rest pardoned by the King who â—lwayes loved to mix Mercy with his Executions The Emperour of Russia about this â—ime sent hither a very Splendid Embassy by three of his Chief Princes one whereof came some time before the other and had Audience of the King in Private at Hampâ—on-Court they were received in greater State than any Ambassadors â—ad been that Arrived before them â—he whole Military Force of the City being in Arms and several of the Companies in their Liveries â—nd the Aldermen with their Gold Chaines riding before them They had about thirty Servants that rode on Horseback with Hawks on their fists as Presents And being Conducted on the New-Years-Day following to their Audience at White-Hall they delivered their Presents which were very rich consisting of Furs Beavers Ermins and the like together with Persian Carpets three Persian Horses Argâ—marick and other Commodities of that Country as Damasks Silks and Embroderies and a whole Ship load of Hemp there were likewise of the same nature sent from the Empress to the Queen and from the Prince of Russia all which were received with that affection and kindness which the King discovered upon all occasions toward that great and Potent Monarch The King having ordered the Earl of Rothes to succeed Middleton as Chief Commissioner in Scotland went in the Vacation time on Progress Westward from London to Bath and from thence through Glocester-Shire to Oxford being presented at Reading and Newbury with Purses of Gold and receiving where-ever he came very high and Splendid Entertainments At Oxford He was met half a Mile from the City by the Doctors and Schollars in their Formalities and upon His entring the Subburbs by the Militia of that City through which he passed to his Lodgings During his stay there he visited the Schollars and was Nobly Enrertained But not long after His return notwithstanding all those Provisions for peace he was informed of a Plot discovered in the North to involve his Subjects in a War again which was to have begun first in Ireland and so to have been brought into England and several of the Conspirators being taken he sent down a Commission to York in the midst of Winter to try them Fifteen whereof were found Guilty the Chief of them was Captain Oates and shortly after divers more were arraigned the chief whereof were Cotton Denham and Atkins some of them were executed at York some at Leeds and some at other places nor wanted they some in London to abett and favour their designes by Libels and such like Methods for which a Printer was Apprehended Tryed and Execued and others pilloryed and Fined The Dutch having notwithstanding all their great pretences of Love and Friendship to the King been guilty of many Injuries and depredations to the English Nation the King and Parliament in the following Spring took into their Consideration the many Complaints that were made against them and both Houses Petitioned the King to take a speedy and effectual course for the redressing thereof promising to assist him therein with their Lives and Fortunes But he alwayes preferring Peace before War when it may be had upon Honourable Conditions resolv'd to see what he could do with them by fair means before he let things come to extremity and therefore by his Agent there demanded satisfaction for the injuries done by them But that subtle people not willing to return a speedy answer resolved to send their own Embassadour into England which as it was a way of answering more Magnificent so it occasioned the greater delay of time which was the thing they chiefly aim'd at that so they might
observing the Orders sent him At which Proceedings of the States the King being â—ustly enraged resolved to trifle with them no longer but make them feel the effects of his Indignation And knowing that whilst he had Wars abroad it was necessary to have Peace and Union at home he put forth a Declaration of Indulgence to all Dissenting Persons promising notwithstanding that Indulgence to maintain the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England as it was then established Sir Robert Holmes Cruising with five of the King's Frigots near the Isle of Wight about the middle of March met with the Dutch Smyrna and Streight Fleet Convoyed by six of their men of War and standing with them gave them a Gun to strike and lower their Flag which they refusing he poured a Broad-side upon them whereupon their Convoy coming up the Fight began about two in the afternoon and continued until night and the next morning was again renewed five of their richest Merchant-men being taken their Reer-Admiral sunk and the rest made their escape for want of more assistance The first blow being thus given the King denounced open War against them by Publishing his Declaration wherein he gave the World an account of the Grounds and Reasons of his Quarrel with them which together with the French Kings preparations and proceedings towards them in laying great Impositions upon their Manufacture which they foresaw tended to a rupture with them they fortifiing themselves with all imaginable speed and diligence endeavoured to procure Allies abroad and made the Prince of Orange their Captain-General at Land and Admiral at Sea And looking upon Maestricht as the first place that would in all probability be attacked by the French King they repaired the Fortifications thereof and re-inforced that City with Men and Provisions The King resolving to prosecute the War with all imaginable resolution and vigour provided for the security of his own Subjects by allowing them sufficient Convoys and giving them liberty to make use of what Foreign Mariners they could procure And his Fleet being now ready to put to Sea he went to Rye to see them joyn with a Squadron of French Ships which that King according to agreement was to furnish him with under the Command of the Count d' Estree Vice-Admiral of France And so soon as he was returned the two Fleets being now joyned stood over for the Coast of Holland Commanded by His present Majesty then Duke of York whose very name was terrible to the Dutch And on the twenty eighth of May meeting with the Enemies Fleet about five Leagues off the Wheelings there ensued a very fierce and bloody Engagement both sides being emulous for Honour and desirous of Victory fighting with extraordinary eagerness But the night coming on and the Dutch finding themselves unable to bear up against the Valour of the English stood towards their own Coasts and were pursued by the Duke who resolved to have renewed the Engagement the next morning had not a Fog prevented and favoured their securing themselves in their Shallows The loss on the Dutch side was very great both as to Men and Ships but on the part of the English there was little Dammage beside the loss of the Earl of Sandwich and the Royal James This loss at Sea was attended with many more on Land the French King having taken several of their Frontier Towns which possessed them with such a Consternation that many of the wealthy Inhabitants forsook their Habitations resolving not to hazard their Persons and Estates in a Countrey falling into the hands of a Victorious Foreigner And the States not thinking themselves secure enough at the Hague removed to Amsterdam and to impede the French King's approach causeâ— the Sluces to be opened and the Country be put under Water to the incredible Prejudice and Dammage of the miserable Inhabitants Which Distraction of theirs the King of England wisely improved to the strengthening himself and the weakening of them by putting forth a seasonable Declaration wherein he promised That if any of their Subjects out of affection to him or his Government or to avoid the oppression they met with at home would take refuge in his Kingdom they should be protected in their Persons and Estates and have an Act pass for their Naturalization and that such Ships as they brought with them should be accounted as English Built and enjoy the same Priviledges and Immunities as to Trade Navigation and Customs as those of his own Subjects Yet commiserating the deplorable condition into which the States were reduced and supposing their misfortunes had rendred them more humble he sent the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington to try if they would at length offer any reasonable terms of Peace who were received by the Common People with great joy and satisfaction crying out God bless the King of England and God bless the Prince of Orange but the Devil take the States But their Pride being not sufficiently abated the Embassadors returned without bringing them to any Conclusion which together with the French King's taking Nimeguen and the English Fleets appearing upon their Coasts so enraged the People that they brake out into tumultuous Insurrections and there was scarce a Town in Holland where they were not masterless And therefore the States that they might appease them commanded their Fleet to go out and beat the English from their Harbours which De Ruyter attempted with all the force that Courage and Resolution could inspire him with but finding himself overmatched was forced to retire with considerable loss The Fleets having both repaired the Dammages of this Fight hastened to try their fortune in a second Engagement which being as unsuccessful to the Dutch as the former De Ruyter stole away in the night But having increased his Fleet was not long before he got to Sea again and meeting about the middle of August with the English Fleet endeavoured to get the Wind of them which then blew North-East resolving if possible to redeem his lost reputation but night coming on both Fleets came to an Anchor The next day the Fight began with the morning wherein the Dutch sustained a very great loss and the greatest part of their Fleet had in all probability been destroy'd and the contest about the Dominion of the Narrow-Seas ended had not the Cowardly French who were then Masters of the Wind behaved themselves as though they had been sent thither only to be spectators of the Bravery and Valour of the English Whereupon the States-General finding they could no longer withstand the successful Arms of that fortunate King sued for Peace by their Embassador and had it granted as well out of Pity to them as Jealousie of the French King's too growing greatness whose Progress they were now at leisure to oppose The King having now consented to admit the Hollanders to terms of Peace became a Mediator for the like accommodation between the Crown of France and Spain endeavouring by his
Montross his deplorable Fate ibid. The Kings Letter to the Scots 75 His shrewd Treaty with their Commissioners 76 The English Juncto sit uneasie alarm'd with the Scots Proceedings ibid. Cromwel call'd out of Ireland and made General 81 The King Lands at the Spey in Scotland 82 1650. Cromwel Marches Northwards ibid. The Scots at difference before among themselves thereupon Unite 83 The King most Solemnly Crown'd at Schone 84 Raises an Army himself Personal Valour 162 The Kings promotes a Peace between France and Spain 165 Goes Incognito to the place of Treaty 166 The Duke of York offer'd the Constableship of Castile 169 1659. The King gives forth new Commissions 171 Sir George Booth Rises 172 Is unfortunately defeated 174 And taken Prisoner 175 The King at St. Malloes 176 An Overture to try Monk 177 Monks Brother sent into Scotland to him 178 Monk undertakes the Kings Restauration 182 Sends his Brother to the Parliament 184 A Prophetick Speech 185 Monk prepares for England 187 Whence Dr. Clergies comes to him 189 Lambert sends Morgan into Scotland 192 A Convention at Edenborough ibid. Monks Commissioners sign an Agreement 193 The Rump sits again 194 Invite Monk to London but distrust him 195 The People address to him 196 He desires the Parliament to remove their Guards 197 Was to have been sent to the Tower 198 But goes to the Parliament ibid. Made one of the Council of State 199 Pulls down the City-Gates 201 Sends a Letter to the Rump 202 Marches into the City 203 The Rump dissemble their Indignation 204 Employ their Adjutators 205 A Conference about the secluded Members 206 Who are readmitted 207 Monk made General ibid. They discharge Booth ibid. Dissolve themselves and call a free Parliment 208 Appoint a Council of State ibid. 1660. Greenvile introduc'd to the General by Morris 210 Delivers him a Letter from the King 211 The General commends his Secrecy 212 Desires him to acquaint the King with his Resolution to Restore him 213 Which was accordingly done at Brussels 214 Monk leaves his Reward to the Kings pleasure 215 The King gives Greenvile a Warrant for an Earldom 216 Signs a Commission for Monks being General 217 Removes privately to Breda ibid. Lambert escapes from the Tower but is retaken by Ingolsby 218 The free Parliament meets 219 Greenvile delivers the Kings Letter to the General 220 And his Letters and Declaration to the two Houses 221 The Reverence exprest by the Commons at reading them with Resolves thereupon 222 The Kings Letter delivered to General Mountague and the Joy it occasioned in the Fleet. 224 The Parliament Invites the King 〈◊〉 225 The Commissioners arrive at Breda ibid. The King Proclaim'd 226 The King prepares for his Return 228 Treated and presented by the Dutch ibid. The Sâ—ates Speech to him â—â—at parting 229 He leaves Holland with a glorious Fleet. 232 And Arrives at Dover 234 The General meets him there ibid. He goes to Canterbury 235 To Chattham 230 Is presented with an Address ibid. Views the Army ibid. Comes to London 237 Rides in Triumph through London ibid. Is received by the Parliament 240 He thanks them for their Loyalty ibid. He goes to the Parliament house 241 Chooses his Privy-Council 242 The Act of Oblivion 243 The General madâ— Duke of Albemarle c. 245 Several others advanc'd ibid Resignation of Purchases 246 Embassadors congratulate his Restauration ibid. The Oblivion-Act comprehensive 247 29th of May Annisary ibid. The Army Disbanded ibid. The Kings Speech at the Adjournment 248 Duke of Glocester dies 349 The Kings care to settle the Church ibid. Regicides brought to Tryalâ— 251 The Queen Mother comes into England 252 Argile sent back to Scotland 253 Princess of Orange dies 254 The healing Parliament dissolv'd ibid. Cromwels Carkass upon the Gallows 255 The Fifth-Monarchy mens Adventure 256 Preparations for the Kings Coronation 260 1661. Four Triumphal Arches erected by the City 261 The Order of his Cavalcade through the City 268 The manner of his Crowning 273 The Thunder that day the Censures thereon 279 He calls a fresh Parliament 280 The Presbyterians stickle in Elections 282 He Rides in State to the Parliament which he acquaints with his design of Marrying the Infanta of Portugal 283 A Convocation of the Clergy 284 The Act of Oblivion confirmed by that Parliament 285 The Act for Regulating Corporations ibid. Pryn censur'd by the Parliament 286 The Bishops restored to their Peerage ibid. The Lord Munson and others censured 287 Parliament adjourn'd by the King ibid. The Duke of York Captain of the Artillery Company 288 Barbone and others secured 289 The Kings Piety to the memory of his Friends 290 The Quarrel between the French and Spanish Embassadors 291 Harry Martyn no humble Servant to Proclamations ibid. The Duke of Ormond made Deputy of Ireland ibid. Episcopacy restored in Scotland 293 1662. A Fleet sent for the Queen and a Garrison to Tangier ibid. The Agreeableness of the King and Queens Fortunes 294 Her arrival at Portsmouth ibid. Queen of Bohemia dies 295 The King married at Portsmouth 296 The African Potentates allarmed 297 Tangier made a free Port. 298 The dreadful St. Bartholomew 299 Several Cities and Towns dismantl'd ibid. Dunkirk return'd to the French 300 Philips and others excuted for Plotting 301 An Embassy out of Russia ibid. 1663. The Kings Progress into the West 303 Oates and others executed 304 1664. The Parliament for War with the Dutch ibid. The King fits out two Fleets 306 His Personal care and industry 307 The Plague begins in London ibid. Prince Rupert at the Spithead 310 The Dutch afraid to put to Sea ibid. An Embargo on Dutch Ships 311 The Act for a Royal Aid 312 War Proclaimed against Holland 313 1665. A General Fast enjoyned 314 His Royal Highness Lord High Admiral ibid The Dutch allarm'd 315 Are Beaten 316 The Sickness increasing in London 317 The King and Parliament at Oxford 318 The Duke of Albemarl left in London 320 A Fast kept on every Wednesday ibid. The English Fleet upon the Coast of Holland 321 The Earl of Sandwich Attacques the Dutch in Berghen ibid. France takes part with Holland 322 A Plot discover'd ibid. 1666. Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle Admirals 324 They fight the Dutch 325 London in Ashes 327 The Kings great compassion in that distress 330 Various Opinions about that Fire ibid. The Kings Prudence and Care in its Rebuilding 331 The first Invention of Ensuring houses from Fire 332 An Act of Parliament for the Rebuilding of London ibid His Pious care for Rebuilding the Churches 335 Sir Jonas More the first Rebuilder 336 A Prodigious Storm 337 A Commotion in Scotland ibid. War with Denmark 338 A Treaty at Breda 339 The Dutch spend a Summer in needless Preparations ibid. They come to Chattham 340 Peace concluded with Holland 341 1667. The Earl of Clarendon in disgrace 342 1669 Earl of Carlisle Embassador to Sweden 343 Queenmother dies 344 The Duke of Albemarle
take a prospect of all Generations that have been upon Earth before them They seem to give Eternity to themselves à Parte ante and to live as many years as they have read in Chronicles And by this knowledge of the time past they judge of the present and proceed to the fore-sight of the future For the best Astrology in the World is to be deriv'd from History and from the Consideration of those Luminaries that have mov'd in a Sphere above us either in point of Time or of Place Which since we see to be the Proper ends and uses of History without doubt that History is highly to be esteem'd which does not consist so much of Magnificent and Pompous things as the Description of Wars of Great Buildings and such matters as only bring an empty pleasure to the Reader but which does exhibit things useful and worthy his Imitation and that will fill up his mind Vpon this account the Lives of Eminent Men writ with fidelity and truth have certainly the greatest use since from thence we learn how to live well to moderate our passions and govern our selves in the various Circumstances of Life But whereas we cannot live well unlesâ— we live in Society and all Societies must have Rulers and Governors over them or else we must all disband and turn Barabbas's there is 〈◊〉 one Higher Degree of History whith we may looâ— upon as the most compleat for Estimation Proâ—â— and Vse And that is a Narration of the Liveâ— of Princes representing withal every action bearing a Relation and Analogy thereunto And his kind cannot stand without the fore-mention'd Additionals as I may Stile them and not Essentials of History as Arms and Fortifications and the like matters Which though they do concern no man in himself as to point of Happiness yet together with the great Delight they bring along with them they are mainly conducive to the well-fare of mankind in general and the Knowledge of 'em is requisite to many particular men as immediately ingag'd in them and is likewise universally Ornamental Which things being well weigh'd I think I have got under my Pen one of the most profitable as well as diverting Histories the Sun ever yet saw acted It being the Life of a Prince which may be an Example not only to publick but private men For it affords us the knowledge of Heaven and reads us a Lecture of Piety Justice Patience Fortitude and Clemency Which being virtues in a Prince have a singular Grace with ' em It is not an account of the Robberies of an Alexander but a Register of Providential Bounties and Appointments beautified with the various Scenes and Landskips of Humane Life to instruct our Judgments and amuse our Imagination It teaches us the Arts of Vnity and Concord and draws out the true lines of the English Government It cures those diseases of the mind Insolence self-conceit and Ambition and shews that it is the Subjects Interest as well as Duty to obey These are all things but of Yesterdays standing and very well known and remembred So that before hand I need not make any Professions here of my truth and sincerity in the following Relation it being not so easy to deceive as to be refell'd in things not in the least remote from our knowledge This indeed is all I have the vanity to fear that if this Book should happen to descend to Posterity they will rather think it the Panegyrick than History of our late admirable Prince because when I report nothing of him but what was landable they may ghess that I have pretermitted what was worthy reprehension The most renowned and mighty Monarch CHARLES the Second late King of England was in greatness of his Royal Descent Superiour to all the Princes in Europe being descended from our Royal Martyr Charles the good and great and Henrietta de Bourbon Daughter to Henry the Great the Fourth of that name of France By descending from which two Royal Persons he was related to all the Princes in Europe had some of all the Bloud-Royal of the Christian World concenter'd in his Princely Veins By his Father he deriv'd in a lineal descent from all the Brittish Saxon Danish Norman and Scottish Kings of Great Britain and by his Mother from the Bourbons of France the Austrians of Spain the Mediâ—es of Florence c. Being also allied to all or most of them by his own the Marriages of his Royal Brother our present most Glorious Monarch his Aunt his Sisters and his two Nieces their Royal Highness Mary Princess of Orange and the Princess Ann of Denmark He was born at St. James's May the 29th 1630 it being the Birth-day of St. Augustine who was sent by Gregory the great to our Ancestors the Saxons and was the first founder of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury At which time a new Star appeared over the Palaâ—â— where he was born which seemed from Heaven to congratulate his Birth by darting its promising Influence upon the place of it and displaying is officious Beams in the midst of that Air wherein he first drew breath notwithstanding the strenuous opposition of the shining Sun which thing was generally lookt upon as an Emblem of his future greatness and glory The Sun likewise soon after suffered an Eclipse which was a sad presage as some even then divined that his Glory should be for some time eclipsed His Royal Father having in him obtained that blessing which he desired above all things in the World went to St. Pauls and there in a publique and solemn manner gave thanks to Almighty God from whose bounty he received him He was baptized in the 27th of the following June by Dr. Laud Bishop of London Abbot who was then Archbishop of Canterbury being under an Irregularity according to the decent and laudible Custom of the Church of England whereof he was then made a Son that so â—he might hereafter be her Supream Head and Mediator His Godfathers were his two Uncles Lewis 13. King of France and Frederick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine represented by the Dukes of Hamilton and Richmond who were then the two first Peers of the Realm and his Godmother was the Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond He was committed in his Infancy to the indulgent Care and pious Tuition of the Countess of Dorset and when his growing parts rendred him too masculine for a Feminine Conduct he was delivered to the Earl of Newcastle under whose Direction and Government he imbib'd those Principles of Virtue and desire of Learning which serv'd as an Introduction to fit and prepare him for his farther and more liberal Education under the Learned Dr. Duppa Dean of Christ-Church and Bishop of Chichester by whose extraordinary Pains and Industry his Great Soul was first seasoned with those Rudiments of Knowledge and Learning which afterward by his own observation and experience received so vast an increase and rendred him that sagacious and politick
you that grace which will teach and enable us to want as well as to wear a Crown which is not worth the taking up or enjoying upon sordid dishonourable or irreligious terms Do you always keep firm to the true Principles of Piety Virtue and Honour and you shall never want a Kingdom It will be your honour to afford all respect love and protection to your Mother who hath many ways deserved well of me especially in being a means to bless me with so many hopeful Children and being content with incomparable magnanimity to suffer with me and them May you be an Anchor of hope to these weather-beaten Kingdoms your Wisdom Justice Piety and Valour a repairer of what the folly and wickedness of some men have so far ruined as to leave nothing intire to the Crown Nobility Clergy or Commons of Laws Liberties Estates Order Honour Conscience or Lives Let those that love me find me when I am gone in your presence and vertues What good I intended do you perform when God shall put it into your power I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdom in Righteousness your Soul in true Religion and your Honour in the Love of God and your People Farewel till we meet if not on Earth yet in Heaven The good King having thus resigned himself and all his Affairs into the hand of God patiently submitted to his Cross and in a way of renunciation as it were and self-disposition of his Government transferred and bequeathed the Scepter together with his Advice and Direction for his wielding of it He applied himself wholly to the making preparation for his departing from an earthly to a heavenly Kingdom being assisted in his Piety and Devotion by Dr. Juxon Bishop of London And being upon the fatal 30th of January brought upon a Scaffold erected before his own Palace of Whitehall where he was barbarously murdered by his own Rebellious Subjects he delivered himself in the following Speech Being not likely to be much heard I could be silent did not silence intimate a submission to the guilt as well as to the punishment charged upon me But in my duty to my God and Country to clear my self an Honest Man a good King and a good Christian I protest before God to whom I must instantly give an account that as may appear from the date of their Commissions and mine I begun not the War against the Parliament nor intended I any incroachment upon their Priviledges they began with me and the Militia which they confest was mine but thought it fit to have it from me yet I charge not the guilt of these unhappy troubles upon the two Houses for I believe ill instruments betwixt us was the cause of all this Bloodshed however this Sentence is just upon me for an unjust Sentence permitted by me What Christian I am this good Man pointing to Dr. Juxon and others that have been inwardly familiar with me and know me as well as my self may bear witness I die in Communion with the Professors of the Reformed Religion that hath been Establisht in the Church of England in Queen Eliz. and my Fathers time of Blessed Memory and in Charity with all the World forgiving the worst of mine Enemies and praying God that this be not laid to their Charge As a good King I advise my Subjects not to ground your selves in Conquests without a good cause that you would give God the King and the People their dues You may give God his due by the advice of a national Synod freely chosen and freely debating among themselves How you may give the King his due the Law will instruct you and the People have their due when they have that Government and those Laws whereby their Lives and Goods are most their own I have delivered my Conscience I pray God you take those courses that may be for the Kingdoms and your own good Having finisht this Speech and poured forth his Divine Soul to God in Prayer it was sent by death to him that gave it where the great Assembly in Heaven joyfully welcomed that Martyred King and made room for Charles of Great Brittain The Life and Reign of Charles the first being thus determined by this untimely and fatal stroak his Eldest Son who likewise bore his Name immediately Succeeded him by the Title of Charles the Second Who was the Lawful and undoubted Heir not only of all his Dominions but also of his admirable and Heavenly Vertues being endowed with all those Qualifications which are requisite to or could possibly be desired in a Prince and under the influence of whose happy Reign these Nations might have enjoyed as much happiness and felicity as their Hearts would wish had not their own folly and madness for a time prevented it For no sooner had the Fatal Ax severed England and her Liberties by cutting off the Head of her King but the Parliament as the Juncto still presumed to call themselves the better to crush Monarchy and maintain what they had now so far prosecuted issued forth a Proclamation that none under penalty of being deemed guilty of High Treason should presume to Proclaim declare publish or any way promote the Prince of Wales Son to the late King or any other Person whatsoever to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or of any part of the Dominions or any part thereof by Colour of Inheritance Succession or Election or any other claim or pretence whatsoever without the free consent of the People in Parliament and which Proclamation altho not publisht till the 2 of February yet was in part Proclaimed on the very day of the Kings Murder And for the more ensuring and the better carrying on their Government with the more plausibility they publish an Act of State for the alteration of Writs wherein instead of King the Name Stile and Test and Custodes Libertatis Angliae Anthoritate Parliamenti should be used and no other All Writs being ordered to run so and those concerned in the Law required to take notice thereof yet they provided that all Patents granted by the late King should still stand in full force and vertue And having cast off the chief of those three Estates by which the Nation had been so long Governed they think likewise of abolishing the second that so they might usurp the whole power into their own hands in order whereunto having first Voted that they would make no farther Addresses to them nor receive any from them they made an Ordinance for abolishing the House of Lords as dangerous and useless And then having abolished the Ancient Governments of this Kingdom they proceeded to the consideration of Establishing another but found it a work of so much intricacy that they could come to no resolution but only agreed in a Negative Voice that there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords and thereupon ordered the old Great Seal to be broken and a new one to
be made which was delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz Keeble Whitlock and Lisly and considered of new Oaths to be adminstred to the Judges who thereupon met and upon debate six of them were contented to continue in their Employments provided the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom were not altered For whose satisfaction the Juncto by their Declaration of the Ninth of February did assure them that they were fully resolved to maintain and would uphold preserve and keep the Fundamental Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the Laws Properties and Liberties of the People with all things incident thereunto They proceeded likewise to appoint such Persons as they thought would be most firm to their Interest to exercise the Offices of Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation and constituted a Council of State consisting of about forty in number whereof five might be Lords And finally to secure all whereas they had before onely repealed they now abolish and make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy But notwithstanding all their endeavours to render themselves secure and firm in their Government yet the People began now to be generally discontented And those who had formerly affected them growing sensible of the Inconveniencies that were like to ensue upon the cutting off of their Prince beginning to abhor their practices there was a general Plot carried on against them in all the Counties of England Which obliged them to send Forces into most parts to awe them and thereby the better to keep them in order Notwithstanding which Contrivances of theirs to bar up the way to that Imperial Throne which they had impudently invaded and parted into shares amongst themselves there were some who had Courage and Loyalty enough left them to assert the King's Right and their own Duty in a Printed Proclamation thrown about the Streets And to convince the Juncto at Westminster that all men would not be wheedled to run a gadding after their Calves at Bethel but that there were some still left who would tread in the old Path and beaten Tract of Government in the succession of Charles the Second to the Crown of England which Proclamation was as follows We the Noblemen Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Ministers Free-holders Merchants Citizens c. and other Freemen of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and proclaim the Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next Heir of the Blood Royal to his Father King Charles whose late wicked and traiterous Murder we do from our Souls abominate and all Parties and Consenters thereunto to be by hereditary Birthright and lawful Succession Rightful and undoubted King of Great Brittain France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging And that we will faithfully constantly and sincerely in our several places and callings defend and maintain His Royal Person Crown and Dignity with our Estates Lives and last drop of our Blood against all Opposers thereof whom we do hereby declare to be Traitors and Enemies to His Majesty and His Kingdoms In testimony whereof we have ordered and caused to be published and proclaimed throughout all Countrys and Corporations of this Realm the first day of February and the first year of His Majesties Reign God save King Charles the Second Which Proclamation although without any Solemnity or indeed open Appearance met with the same chearful Reception and inward Loyal Resolutions as if Vent had been given to a publick manifestation of Duty and Joy by His Majesties present ascending the Throne For it revived the hearts of his mourning and disconsolate Subjects to see the sure and certain Succession thereof asserted and continued in the same most beloved and darling Name the Eldest Branch and descended of their martyr'd Soveraign in whose Ruins the Regicides thought to have rak'd up and buried all Claims and Just Titles to the Imperial Diadem of these Kingdoms The said Out-cries and lamentable Groans sent forth by all Loyal Subjects at the Loss of their Head together with the Martyrs Instructions and his George which were according to his Fathers desire sent him by the Dutch Embassador found him at the Hague in Holland where he then kept his Court and was first saluted King and the horrour thereof so seized his great Soul with wonder and astonishment that it had certainly sunk under the weight of it had not the Religious Consideration that he ought not to sorrow as one without hope buoyed up his Spirit and Reason forbid him to cast away himself with grief who was then become the only hope of three Kingdoms Generous Rage prompting Princes to Revenge rather than Despair which was not to be accomplisht by weeping Eyes but by wise Counsels and valiant Performances Wherefore he bravely cheered up and reassumed his wonted Courage Comfort State and Majesty And for the better managing of his Affairs went soon after to Paris to solicit that Court to embrace his Interest and afford him some Assistance for the recovery of his Right and the redressing his Subjects miseries by discountenancing the English Rebels and furnishing him with that competency of Money Men Arms and Ammunition which might enable him not to Invade his Country but to encourage his own Subjects to rescue themselves from a forced Slavery But the French King being under Age and Cardinal Mazarine who then governed the great Affairs of that Kingdom being no Friend to this banisht and distressed King but holding a correspondence with his rebellious Subjects he was able to procure no Assistance from thence Whereupon he next applied himself to Spain whither he sent the Lord Cottington as his Embassador who upon his arrival there was confronted by a Competitor viz. Ascham who called himself an Embassador from the then New Majesties of England until he was dispatcht by some Switz After which Cottington was dismist with this Answer That were it any thing in the King of Spain's own Dominion which his Master of Great Brittain had desired it should have been no sooner requested than granted But being a Forreign Quarrel he could not interest himself therein in regard it was not reasonable he should busie himself in other mens matters who had so many Irons in the fire himself But in the mean time the Emperor the Princes of Germany the Kings of Denmark and Sweden being acquainted with the present circumstance of his Affairs by his several Embassadors sent to each of them they highly resented his deplorable condition and resolved his speedy assistance and supply And Holland upon his Account and the Interest of his Sister the Princess of Orange did upon terms agreed on between the late King and their Embassador two days before his death resolve not to vail to this younger Sisters State as they had been wont to do to the Kings of England but by the Forlorn of some private acts of Hostility begin that difference which soon after brake out into an open War Nor
Rights which none but such Monsters as themselves would unjustly detain from so great and so good a Prince Wherefore being deeply sensible of their danger they prepare for War but whether it should be Offensive or Defensive was yet a question among them But at last considering that if there must be a War it had ever been a Maxim among the greatest Politicians that it was most prudent to make the Enemies Country the Seat of it They resolved upon an Offensive War hoping that Scotland would quickly be weary of maintaining two Armies since it had so much ado to keep one And that since they were informed their Levies went on flowly they thought that their Forces which were already on Foot might easily go and surprize them before they lookt for them or were half ready to entertain them In order whereunto Cromwel being called out of Ireland was in great state made Captain General of all their Forces raised or to be raised in England Scotland and Ireland The Lord Fairfax who had in him some sparks of Loyalty waving at once that Employment and his own Commission not as some imagine to avoid the hazard of that Expedition for he was one that never turned his back upon danger but because he was unwilling any longer to be subservient to those base and vile Designs which he now began to abhor Whilst these preparations were making in England the King removed from the Hague to Diep in Normandy and from thence to Scheveling from whence after a dangerous Storm and narrow escape of some English Vessels which lay in wait for him he arrived safe at the Spey in the North of Scotland which the Parliament being informed of they sent some Lords to receive and attend him from thence to Edinburgh where he is received by the Parliament and Committee of Estates and Kirk with infinite expressions of Fidelity and Affection the common people like so many Echoes to their Superiors and the whole City sounding nothing but Vive le Roy. But Cromwel being advanced with his Army into Scotland and having been successful in some smaller Encounters and given them a total overthrow at Dunbar they found themselves in a sad and perplexed condition having not only the Enemy raging in the bowels of that Kingdom but being extreamly divided also amongst themselves wherefore they now thought it high time to unite among themselves In order whereunto a general meeting was appointed at St. Johnstons which should consist of King Lords and Commons and the Assembly of the Ministers in which Assembly several Lords formerly in favour with the Kirk were admitted to Commands in the Army and a Liberty to sit in Parliament as Hamilton Lauderdale and others And Major General Massey formerly Governour of Glocester for the Parliament but afterward reconciled to the King was admitted to a Command in the Army And as the perfection of all the Kings Coronation was there resolved upon so that now their wounds began to heal and their breaches to be made up again and it was generally hoped that these Clouds of Division being blown over a serene Sky would immediately follow and the Sun of Prosperity shine on their future proceedings The Parliament of Scotland in pursuance of those resolutions at St. Johnstons having dissolved themselves in order to the Kings Coronation it was performed on the first of January at Schone in as Solemn and Splendid manner as the exigency of the time could bear his Majesty with a great Train of his Nobles and others went first to the Kirk where a Sermon was Preacht by a Scotch Minister whose name was Duglass upon those words then they brought out the Kings Son and put upon him the Crown and gave him the Testimony and made him King and Jehojadah and his Son Anointed him saying God save the King 2 Chron. 23 11. Joined to these words and Jehojadah made a Covenant between all the People and between the King that they should be the Lords People v. 16. Which Sermon being ended he was conducted from his Chair of State which was placed in the Kirk to that erected for his Coronation by the Lord High Constable and the Earl Marshal where being placed he was Proclaimed King by Herald King at Arms and then clad with a Robe of State by the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward After which sitting he consented to the National Covenant the Solemn League Covenant Directory and the Catechisms and promised upon his Royal word to perform them so far as he understood them to be agreeable to the Word of God in his own Family in his Kingdom of Scotland and in all his other Dominions as soon as it should please God to restore him thereunto Which being done the Coronation Oath was next read which was Enacted in the first Parliament of King James and is as follows That His Majesty shall maintain that Religion Discipline and Worship that is most agreeable to the Word of God to the best Patrons of Reformation and is against all Heresy Schism Idolatry Superstition and Prophaneness that he should govern the Kingdom by Law and Equity and that he should maintain the just Rights of the Crown and Priviledges of the People After the reading of which Oath he declared with an audible Voice that he did promise in the name of the great God who Lives for ever that he would to the uttermost of his Power endeavour to do the things contained in that Oath Which done Herald King at Arms went to the four corners of the Stage and demanded of the People four times whether they were willing that Charles the Second Son and Heir of Charles the First should be King over them to which the People answered Long live King Charles God Save the King Then the Marquess of Argile Presented him with the Royal Scepter the Earl of Eglington put on the Spurs the Lord High Constable set the Crown upon his Head and the Earl Marshal having unsheathed the Sword put it into his hand to defend the Faith withal which having held a while he delivered it to the Earl of Glencarn to be carried before him Then the Nobility Gentry and Commons of the Kingdom did as in the presence of the Great God that Lives for ever swear Allegiance Fealty and Obedience to him as to their Liege and Soveraign Lord and the whole Ceremony was concluded by an Exhortation of the Minister to his Majesty to the Nobility to the Clergy and to the Commons the sum and substance whereof was in reference to the Covenant which they then lookt upon as the Center from which every Line both of Soveraignty and the Subjects Duty was to be drawn in their respective Circumstances And for a power to perform what he then exhorted them to the assistance of God is invoked by prayer who being Alpha and Omega they made him the first with whom they began and the last with whom they finished So soon as the Crown was set upon his Head he made a
John Owen and Sir Thomas Midleton who declared their just sence of the grievances of that Commonwealth whereof they were Members and their resolution to have the Laws Liberties and Properties of the People establisht by a free Parliament which was all that was intended at that time by those commissioned by his Majesty in regard designs were to be discover'd gradually and by peice meals only as occasion and opportunity should require Notwithstanding the Rump had prevented most of those designed insurrections yet that of Sir George Booth who was one of their secluded Members appeared very formidable wherefore they resolve with all imaginable Speed to suppress it and in order thereunto having first proclaimed Sir Thomas Booth Sir Thomas Middleton Coll. Warren and Major General Egerton and all the rest of their Adherents Traytors to the Commonwealth they commanded Lambert to march with three Regiments of Horse the like number of Foot and some Dragoons to reduce him and his Forces to their obedience ordering some militia Forces and some Regiments out of Ireland under Zaachy and Axtell to joyn with him for his assistance therein Coll. Desbrough being likewise sent by them with the same command and some Forces into the West to redeem Midleton and a Proclamation issued out against Mordant the Earl of Lichfield Major General Brown and William Compton Sir Thomas Levinthorp and Mr. Fensher the three last wherof surrendring themselves within the time prefixt therein the two first fled and the major General waiting another opportunity absconded himself at Stationers Hall where he was preserved by the faithful Secrecy of Captain Barrough And the Earl of Samford who was likewise engaged in that business was taken at his own house in Arms and carryed Prisoner to Lester which was at that time the condition of many other Loyal Gentlemen the Earle of Oxford being committed Prisoner to the Serjeant at Arms the Lords Faulkland and Dellaneer to the Tower whither not long after was brought the Lords Faulconbridge Bellasis Chesterfield Castleton and Howard Lambert in his march toward the confines of Chester made no very great haste being desirous to make a lasting war of it whereby he hoped to settle himself the better in the affections of the Soldiers and thereby tread the step that Cromwel had done before him however such methods were taken by his Masters that very few accessions of Strength came in to Sir George more then what were at first numbred who nevertheless bravely resolved to abide the fortune of battel and justifie the equity of their cause by the dint of Sword In order thereunto they drew up near Nantwich whether Lambert was advancing in the adjoyning meadows having the Rivers before them and the Bridges strongly guarded but Lamberts Horse and Foot resolutely faling on together at the Bridge the post was soon gained and the fight as quickly over the chief defence being made by Memorgan a loyal and valiant Gentleman who with some Horse of his Troop who presently died of his wounds There were in the flight about 3 hundred killed and five hundred taken prisoners among whom was most of the Gentlemen and Officers Lambert having obtained this victory presently advanced with his Army to Cheshire where Collonel Croxton still held out the Castle and had it presently delivered from whence he advanced to Liverpool which was yielded likewise by Coll Ireland and so was Chink and Harding Castles whereby that whole design perished and came to nothing Sir George himself had made his escape out of the Field and got away accompanied with four of his Servants only in disguise but being discovered at his Inn in Newport-pannel was taken and secured One Gibbons who immediately posted away to give the Rump an account of it was highly rewarded for that acceptable news and so were two or three others who were sent before from Lambert with the particulars of the Cheshire defeat when he was brought up to London Fleetwood was ordered to meet him with a guard at High-gate secure him to the Tower where he was the next day examined by Vane and Hazâ—erick as to his design and accomplices bâ—t such was his reservedness and resolution that notwithstanding their suspicion that the restoring of the King was at the bottom of it in regard Monk was said to be privately engaged with him in the same design Ormond being reported to have been seen about that time at his House at Dalkeith that they could get nothing out of him When this design was about to be put in execution the King withdrew himself privately from Brussels and lay privately upon the coast of Brittany about St. Malloes to take shipping for England upon the first good event of those loyal undertakings of his faithful Friends and Subjects Kent or Essex being designed for the place of his landing one Turene the French General having engaged to wait upon him if he would command it but the news of this unhappy defeat reaching his Royal Ears which had been too long accustomed to such unfortunate and unsuccesful stories he returned again to Brussels resolving for the present to give over the prosecuting of his Right by the sword and attend the good effects of the Treaty between France and Spain But being informed that affairs in England were as unsetled as before and that the Rump and the Army wholly applied themselves to undermine and subvert each other he would not wholly desist from attempting to carry on his interest there by the help and assistance of his Friends And therefore wisely considering that Monk who was then General in Scotland had formerly been in his Fathers Service wherein he was taken Prisoner and was thought to embrace the Parliament interest only because his Ransom was neglected and that during the whole time of his serving under them and the Protector he had not discovered any particular Spleen or Malice to his Person but had in all things carried himself as a Soldier of Fortune only who fought for his pay he conceived there might be some probable hopes of gaining him to his side if a dexterous application was made to him in regard he had not that guilt which others had contracted either by murdering of his Father or the malignity they had discovered against himself to render him jealous and suspicious of him And therefore resolving as near as possible to make use of the most peaceable and bloodless means to recover his lost Dominions he ordered Sir John Greenvile who was one of those Commissioners that resided at London for his service to find out some way to treat secretly with him But before Sir John would proceed therein he thought it convenient to inform him by whom and in what manner he had designed to do it which he did in a Letter written in Cyphers and directed to Sir Edward Hide at Brussels with whom only he was by the Kings order to correspond wherein he proposed the sending of Mr. Nicholas Monk who was Minister of his own Parrish
of Kelkhampton in Cornwell a living of about three hundred pound per Annum which he had freely bestowed on him without any other design therein than only to oblige him to serve his King and Country whenever he had occasion to employ him in any thing that might tend to both their Good having even then an eye to the General in Scotland to whom he was Brother which contrivance the King very well approved of and left the whole management of the business to his secresie and discretion Whereupon he sent for Monk out of Cornwelâ— and having first obliged him to secresie accquainted him with the Kings Commission to treat with his Brother the General and his design of sending him into Scotland to manage that treaty on the Kings behalf and gave him a Commission according to the Kings directions to offer his Brother in case he would undertake that commendable and glorious work of restoring the King to his Crown and Dignity leave to set down his own conditions and assure him that the King had promised upon his Royal word to perform them Monk being fraught with hopes and instructions willingly undertook the happy Embassy embarquing himself immediately for Scotland and having a prosperous gale arrived in a few days at Leith and from thence to Dulkeith where his Brother the General resided And that he might remove all suspition of the design of his coming from those about the General he pretended that the intent of his voyage was only to fetch away his Daughter Mary who at that time lived there in the Generals Family in order to the bestowing her in marriage to her advantage hoping that his Brother would make some conâ—iderable addition to her Fortune But the General being at his first arrival engaged in business could not entertain him himself and therefore sent him under the conduct of an highland Foot-Boy to his Chaplains Chamber which was Dr. Price who received him with that Courtesie that became him in regard of his relation to his Master and so soon as he had made him sit down began to enquire what news he had brought from England about Sir George Booth and the rest of those loyal Gentlemen that were engaged with him to whom Monk made such replies as were suitable to his several questions and then having been assured before he left England of the Dr's faithfulness and loyalty he adventured to acquaint him with the design of his coming thither at that time and desired his directions how he might to be with the greatest advantage to the Kings affairs break that business and open his message from Sir John to the General who thereupon told him that his Brother would expect to be satisfied of his Secresie as well as of his Fidelity before he would engage himself in such a hazardous affair as that was since it was necessary that a business of that importance should sleep in as few Breasts as possible and he might put himself the General and his whole negotiation into a very great hazard should he rely too much upon the Characters given him in England of the secret loyalty of any persons amongst them advising him therefore to make no more such rude and unadvised communications of his Embassy and to acquaint his Brother with his having related it to him assuring â—him for his encouragement that he verily believed that his Brother would willingly embrace any fair overture for the redeeming of his Country from the slavery of the Army His Wife who had always a great love and veneration for the King having prepared him to appear in his behalf when the first opportunity should offer it self and the Soldiers who troubled not their heads much about Religion and abbetting of parties but only fought for their pay having a general love and esteem for him as looking upon him to be a good Soldier and a discreet Commander under whom they might safely engage he might at any time make himself a good party amongst them when he should judge it fit and safe to apppear Mr. Monk having in the Evening an oppportunity to keep private with his Brother acquainted him with the end of his coming and the encouragement proposed by Sir John if he would undertake the work assuring him that he had seen the Kings Commission directed to Sir John for the impowring of him to make those offers wherein he promised upon the word of a King to perform them Which upon mature deliberation he highly approved of and the more because he understood that the Presbyterians and the Lord Fairfax would be engaged with him with whom he ever after maintained a private correspondence and therefore from that time took up a resolution to endeavour his Masters Restauration relying upon the Faith and Integrity of Sir John Greenvile and confiding in the Kings Word as much as if he had actually received a Commission from him for he soon after told his Chaplain that he was resolved to Commission the whole Scatch Nation against the English Parliament and Army rather than suffer himself to be taken or displaced by them although he had at time no other authority to do it by then that airy commission conveyed unto him by word of mouth from Sir John Greenvile who had it in writing from the King And the happy success of that resolution was a great demonstration of the Kings extraordinary prudence and discretion in pitching upon Monk as the fittest person to bring about that blessed and glorious revolution and the wisdom of Sir John Greenvile in employing his Brother rather than any other Person to manage that great and weighty Intreague And being informed that there was a supplication presented to the Rump by Lambert in the name of the Army under his command for the bringing those to punishment who had been actually engaged in or offered any assistance to Booth's Conspiracy and for appointing a General over all their Forces in the three Kingdoms which inquisition had it been made and a sequestration past upon it accrding to their expectation would have yielded them more Wealth then all the former sales of Crown and Church Lands He began to conclude with himself that he should have a fairer opportunity to put his resolutions in practice then he could have reasonably expected for he easily foresaw what was the design and intent of that supplication and was so well pleased with it that he pleasantly told his Chaplain that he perceived he should shortly have a better Game to play than he lookt for when he first engaged himself in the design and that he knew Lambert to be of such a restless and aspiring temper that he would not long suffer the Rump to sit in quiet at Westminster And therefore that he might the better make preparations for his future designs he immediately dispatcht away his Brother to London in character of an Envoy to assure the Rump of his faithfulness and fidelity to them and that he was resolved to stand firm to their Interest
where-ever he met with him Upon the Report whereof by Morrice he was infinitely pleased and therefore ordered Morrice to give him notice that he would meet him at his Chamber sometime in the Evening of the next day Greenvile according to appointment repaired to Morrice's Chamber whither the General upon intimation of his being there came likewise soon after To whom after some Complements Greenvile declared that he looked upon himself as infinitely obliged to his Excellency for giving him that opportunity of discharging himself of a Trust of great importance in relation to the King the General and the whole Kingdom which had been long deposited in his hands by his Soveraign adding that he thought himself more happy in having that good occasion of performing his duty in obeying the Commands and promoting the Interest of his Soveraign than in any occurrence of his whole Life presenting him at the same time with a Letter directed to him from the King and producing another sent to himseâ—f together with a Commission which he had received from the King to treat with him about the business of his Restauration Whereupon the General suddenly stepped back and holding the Paper in his hand with a kind of a forced frown hastily demanded of him how he durst mention a thing of that nature to him without considering the danger he thereby run himself upon Greenvile replied He had long since considered that matter and duly weighed the danger which attended an attempt of that nature but the hazard though great was not sufficient to deter him from the performance of his duty And that he was the more encouraged to adventure by the Message which he was pleased to send him by his Brother before he left Scotland Upon the mention thereof without making any reply he presently approached towards him with a more pleasing aspect and embracing him in his Arms said Dear Couzen I return you my hearty thanks for the Prudence Fidelity Care and Constancy wherewith you have managed this great Affair and your resolute Secrecy therein For could I have informed my self that you had ever revealed it to any person living since you first acquainted my Brother therewith I would never have consented to treat with you about it which now I shall most willingly do and with you rather than any other in regard you are so nearly related to me and I have received so many obligations both from you and your Family And then having read the King's Letter and the Commission he added that he hoped the King would forgive what was past according to the Contents of his gracious Letter assuring him that his heart was ever faithful to him although he had never been in a condition to serve him until then desiring Sir John that he would in his name assure His Majesty that he was now not only ready to obey his Commands but to sacrifice his Life and Fortune in his Service calling Morrice who stood without as Door-keeper to bear witness of that his solemn Protestation Sir John desired him to send some Confident of his own to the King to treat and advise with him what was fit to be done for the better carrying on their Design to which he â—asily consented but told him that that Confident must be himself for he would not as yet adventure to send any Letters to the King for fear of the worst And that without them the King had no reason to give any Credit to a Messenger sent from him but might very well believe one whom himself had employed wherefore at the next Conference he received Instructions with a Charge not to commit them to Writing till he came to the King at Brussels and there to communicate them to none but himself Greenvile managed this Negotiation with such Secrecy and his Journey to Brussels was so speedy and fortunate that few knew of it before his arrival there and those who did nay that went in companâ— with him thither had not so much as the leaâ—â— suspicion what Errand it was he went on The King having intimation of his Arrival went privately to his Lodgings to whom Greenvile related the Instructions he had received from Monk which were readily believed although he brought nothing under the General 's hand The News whereof was very acceptable and highly welcom to the King whose joy upon that account was so much the greater because the General required no Conditions of Restraint to his Royal Power and had left the Reward of his Service wholly to his goodness as appeared by what himself declared to Greenvile upon the receipt of a Letter sent him by some of his Friends in England to acquaint him with the great Service they had done His Majesty in prevailing with Monk notwithstanding his being so absolute a Common-wealths-man they knowing nothing of his being pre-engaged by the King not to oppose his Return upon his Fathers Concessions in the Isle of Wight which Terms though hard and consented to by his Father only in consideration of his necessity yet they beâ—ought His Majesty not to think hard of them now lest his refusal might exclude him longer from the Crown Little do they think in England said the King that the General and I are upon so good Terms and the truth is I could hardly believe it my self until your Arrival with the happy News The General 's resolution to restore me to my Crown and Kingdom without Conditions beyond our expectations here or the belief of all our Friends in England except your self who was employed in it The King having been informed by Greenvile that Monk had declared he would not tie him to any Terms of Reward affirming that he took more content in doing His Majesty and his Country Service than in the expectation of greatness pressed Greenvile to know what he should do for himself But he according to the General 's Example nobly refused all Proposals of Reward for that Service in which he had been so eminently successful till he should have the happiness to see him at his Palace of Whitehall But the King resolving nor to send him back without a mark of his Royal Favour secretly put into his Pocket a Warrant under his Hand and Seal for an English Earldom and the assurance of three thousand pounds per Annum to be settled upon him and his Heirs for ever to support that Honour with a promise moreover to pay those Debts which either he or his Father had contracted by engaging themselves in the Royal Cause The King upon his receiving this Message from Monk consulted with Sir Edward Hide whom he had then nominated for the Lord Chancellor the Marquess of Ormond Secretary Nichols and some others of his Confidents Greenvile likewise being present what return he should make thereunto In which Privy Council there was a Commission drawn up and signed by the King for the constituting Monk Captain General of all his Land-Forces in the three Kingdoms and Publick Diâ—patches framed and signed
according to those Directions Greenvile had brought from him But the King not thinking that place convenient for the Treaty removed with great speed and privacy to Breda a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange being complemented at his departure from Flanders by the Spanish Governour and honourably conveyed on his way way as far as Antwerp from whence his Publick Dispatches into England were dated Greenvile upon his return besides the Generals Commission to be Captain General of all the Forces then raised or to be raised brought him the King's Seals and Signet by which he was empowered to make a Secretary of State which Honour he conferred upon Morrice who was after the King's return Knighted and confirmed therein in consideration of the Service he had done in introducing Greenvile to the General 's presence And besides those Publick Letters which he was to reserve to be communicated in due time he brought a Private one directed to the General himself written with the King 's own Hand to which he returned an Answer by Mr. Bernard Greenvile in regard his Brother could not then be spared the Parliament being just ready to fit when he was to present to both the Houses the King's Letters and Declaration which Answer was very welcom to the King for that it brought him an assurance under the General 's own Hand of his Resolution to adhere to him against all opposition whatsoever About this time Lambert made his escape from the Tower and endeavoured to make Parties and draw Forces together to oppose his Loyal and Generous Designs which he being informed of acquainted the Council of State therewith and managed the business with so great Prudence that timely â—care was taken to suppress him and that Attempt which in it self threatned the contrary was made by his Wisdom to advance the King's Interest and hasten his happy Restauration For Coll. Ingoldsby being sent against him and his Forces which â—e had got together forsaking him upon the Collonels approach he betook himself to flight but being upon plowed Land his Horse failed him and notwithstanding he had by his valour in many former Battels obtained the name of Stout he presently yielded himself without drawing his Sword or making any other Defence than only crying out twice Pray my Lord let me escape for what good will my Life or perpetual Imprisonment do you The time being now come for the meeting of a new Parliament both Houses repaired to St. Margarets Church where Dr. Reynolds preached before them and after Sermon they repaired to their Houses The Lords making choice of the Earl of Manchester for their Speaker And the Commons of Sir Harbottle Grimstone And having settled their Committees and thereby prepared for their entrance upon business adjourned for some few days in the interim whereof Greenvile conâ—â—lted with the General at what time and in what manner he should deliver his Messages from the King to the several parties to whom they were directed That which was superscribed to the General himself to be communicated by him to the Army and Council of State he thought fit to have delivered to him at the Door of the Council Chamber In order whereunto Greenvile repaired thither when the Council were sitting and told Coll. Birch who was one of the Members that he desired to speak with the General who upon Birch's Intimation came to the Door and in the view of his Guards who attended there received the Letters from Greenvile without shewing any other respect either to his Person or his Business than only demanding of him if he would stay for an Answer and telling him otherwise his Guards should secure him And having commanded them to look to him went in to the Council and communicated to them the Letters whereupon Birch being examined whether he knew any thing of the matter protesting he was altogether ignorant both of the Gentleman and his Business Greenvile was sent for iâ— and examined by the President from whence those Letters came whose they were and how he came by them for they had not yet proceeded to open and read them he answered that â—he King His Master gave them to him with his own Hand at Breda Having â—hereby informed themselves whence â—he Letters came they deferred the openâ—ng of them until the Parliament sate â—gain and would have committed Greenâ—ile had not the General told them that 〈◊〉 knew him very well and would anâ—wer for his appearance before the Parâ—â—ament which were no sooner sate 〈◊〉 he delivered his Letters with incloâ—â—d Declarations to both Houses whereâ—â— the King expressed abundance of â—mpassion and tenderness to the Naâ—â—on which had been so long harassed 〈◊〉 a bloody and unnatural War and proâ—ised a free and general Pardon to all 〈◊〉 should in forty days after the pubâ—â—ation thereof lay hold upon that Grace â—less such whom the Parliament should â—ink fit to be excepted from the benefit â—â—ereof And that he would preserve 〈◊〉 to the uttermost of his power 〈◊〉 from all manner of Injuries in their â—â—es and Estates and grant Liberty for â—â—der Consciences for such as dissented 〈◊〉 the Established Religion provided â—â—ey did not disturb the Peace of the Nation That as to Sales and Purchases 〈◊〉 would refer himself in all matters to thâ— Determinations of Parliament and coâ—sent to any Act or Acts for the satisfyinâ— the Arrears of the Army and Navy which should thenceforward be receiveâ— into his Service upon as good Pay anâ— Conditions as they then enjoyed Thâ— like Letters and Declarations being 〈◊〉 sent by the King and delivered to Genâ—â—ral Monâ—ague to be by him communiâ—â—ted to the Fleet and to the Lord Mayâ— and Common Council of London The King's Letters and Declaratiâ—â— were received by the Parliament 〈◊〉 such an extraordinary Joy and Venâ—â—tion that I want words wherewith 〈◊〉 express it for as if some strange 〈◊〉 had suddenly seized upon their minâ— every man at the Speaker's naming 〈◊〉 King rose up and uncovering himâ—â—â—â— desired they might be immediately 〈◊〉 which was no sooner done but in anâ—â—tasie of joy they suddenly drew the â—â—â—tain and exposed the beautiful and â—â—rious Scene to the open view of â—â—â—longing Spectators wherein every 〈◊〉 might plainly behold the happy Issuâ— all those various Transactions which 〈◊〉 till then been Riddles too mysterious for vulgar understandings to unfold or once imagine to what they tended or where they would terminate By the House of Lords resolving that they did own and declare that according to the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of England the Government was and ought to be by Kings and that a Committee of eight Lords should forthwith joyn with a Committee of the Commons to consider of an Answer to the King's Letter and Declaration And by the House of Commons resolving likewise to appoint a Committee to prepare an Answer to the King's Letter and therein express their great and joyful sense of his gracious offers and to return him their humble
and hearty thanks for the same and to assure him of their Loyalty and Duty And that they would give him a speedy Answer to his gracious Proposals Resolving moreover that the sum of 50000 l. should be presented him from that House and 10000 l. to each of his Royal Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester Which Resolves were no sooner reported in London then the Citizens were extreamly transported with Joy The harmony of Bells and the flaming Piles which enlighted every Street surrounded with incredible Shouts and Acclamations being sufficient demonstrations of the infinite Pleasure and Satisfaction which every one took in that no less strange than happy Revolution And the several Countries taking Allarm from London contended which should outvy the other in expressions of Loyalty and Joy And General Mountague having communicated to the Fleet the Letters he received from the King and the Duke of York together with those directed to the Parliament they unanimously declared their Resolution to adhere to him and to live and die in his defence humbly desiring the Generals to present the same to the King whereupon Mountague himself immediately fired a Gun crying God bless His Majesty and the whole Fleet. Thereupon presently appeared in its pride and glory with Pendants loose Guns roaring Caps flying and Vive le Roys loudly ecchoing from one Ships Company to another which were answered by the great Guns from Dale and Sandwich Castles nor was this Joy confined to England but spread it self into Scotland and Ireland also And now the Parliament longing for the King's presence amongst them as the Israelites did for the return of King David drew up a Letter in answer to that which they had receiv'd from him superscribing it to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty wherein they requested his speedy return to the exercise of his Kingly Office appointing Commissioners to go over to Holland and attend him during his stay there and in his Voyage for England There being six appointed for the House of Lords and twelve for the House of Commons to which upon the Request of the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London was added twenty on the behalf of that City who having receiv'd their Instructions set sail for Holland with several Frigots appointed by the Parliament to attend them the whole Fleet being likewise committed to the King's pleasure the General whereof had Orders from the Parliament to obey such Orders and Directions as he should receive from His Majesty The Commissioners upon their arrival at Breda delivered their respective Messages with all imaginable reverence and veneration according to the Instructions they had received from their Principals beseeching His Majesty in the name of his Parliament and People to return to his Inheritance and re-assume his Crown and Scepter assuring him that he should be infinitely welcome to them without any Tearms which Invitation was gladly accepted and the Commissioners were received by him with a Grace and Port like himself and entertain'd with extraordinary Magnificence and Bounty The Parliament in the mean time proceeded to the Proclaiming of him which was perform'd with all that Joy Splendor and Magnificence that their Loyalty could inspire the Lord General attended by all the Peers the most Eminent of the Commons the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with the Trained Bands of London assisting at the Ceremony The Proclamation being as followeth viz. Although it can no way be doubted but that his Majesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the Death of his Most Royal Father of Glorious Memory without the Ceremony or Solemnity of a Proclamation yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used to the end that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testify their Duty and Respect and since the Armed violence and other Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and Unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim that immediately upon the Decease of our late Soveraign King Charles the First the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England and all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by Inherent Birth-right and Lawful undoubted Succession Descend and come to his Most Excellent Majesty King Charles the Second as being Lineally Justly and Lawfully next Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm And that by the Goodness and Providence of Almighty God he is of England Scotland and Ireland the Most Potent Mighty and Undoubted King and thereunto we Most Humbly and Faithfully do submit and oblige our selves our Heirs and Posterities for ever At the reading whereof the whole City rang with the Sound of God Save and God Bless King Charles the Second the Shouts and Acclamations of the crowding multitudes being so extraordinary that although all the Bells throughout the City and Suburbs were then Ringing their Noise was not to be heard The King having now by his extraordinary Wisdom and Conduct thus happily contriv'd his return to his Crown and Kingdom without the spilling of his Subjects Blood and having brought his Affairs to their desired Issue prepared to leave Holland and after so long and tedious an Exile returned to his Harass'd and almost ruined Realms being upon his departure Splendidly Treated by the Dutch for a Fortnight together with all the Pomp and Magnificence imaginable and presented with the Richest Bed and Furniture together with Tapestry for Hangings Embossed with Gold and Silver and adorned with Pictures that could be procured and Highly Complemented by all the Forreign Ministers then Resident there For these Noble Entertainments which together with the Present of the Dutch about one hundred Thousand Pounds he gave the States General and those of Holland his Hearty Thanks in their Publick Assemblies whither he went on Foot and having taken his leave of them and commended to them the interest of his Sister and his Nephew the Prince of Orange they delivered their sence of the present circumstance of Affairs and declared the greatness of that joy they conceived for his Miraculous Restauration in the following Speech If one may judge of the content which we have to see your Majesty depart from our Province by the satisfaction we had to possess you we shall have no great trouble to make it known to you your Majesty might have observed in the countenance of all our People the Joy they had in their Hearts to see a Prince cherished of God a Prince wholly miraculous and a Prince that is probable to make a part of their quietness and felicity your Majesty shall see presently all the Streets filled all the ways covered and all the Hills loaden with People which will
Judicial proceedings And then he return'd to White-Hall where he chose the Lords of his Privy Council amongst whom were several of the long Parliament that had given sufficient Testimony of their sincere repentance and their resolution to be Loyal for the future and he appointed Judges for the Benches and Courts of Judicature Several Addresses were likewise made to him from the Nobility and Gentry of all the Countreys in England wherein they congratulated his Restitution to his Crown and Kingdom assuring him of their exceeding Joy and willingness to maintain his Royal Person and Authority Divers persons that had been eminent for their service and affection to him were about that time also dignified with the honour of Knighthood And several men guilty of his Fathers murder having made their escape beyond-Sea a Proclamation was Issued forth wherein all those persons who had â—ate gave Judgment or any way assisted in that horrid and detestable fact were commanded to surrender themselves within fourteen days to the Speaker or Speakers of Parliament to the Lord Mayor of London or the Sheriff of that County wherein they then resided forbidding all persons to conceal or harbour them under misprision of Treason whereupon divers submitted themselves and were secur'd in the Tower The Commons in drawing up the Act of Oblivion order'd that some others besides those who had actually sate in Judgment upon the late King should be excepted out of it viz. Broughton Phelps Cook Dâ—nby and Hugh Peters which so affrighted others who had a hand in that execrable murder that Col. John Hutchinson a Member of that Parliament and Coll. Frâ— Lussels presented their Petition to them wherein they confest their guilt and declar'd the artifices which were us'd to draw them in by which submission they obtain'd pardon upon some small forfeitures only But Peters being shortly after taken in Southwark was clapt up into the Tower And the Parliament not looking upon themselves nor the people of England free from the guilt nor safe from the punishment which in those unhappy times they had contracted unless they laid hold of the Kings offer of Grace in his Declaration from Breda did therefore resolv'd in a full house that they did in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England lay hold on the gracious pardon mention'd in that Declaration with reference to the exclusion of such as should be excepted in an Act of Pardon and they order'd a Declaration that their Resolution should be drawn up which was done accordingly and presented to the King by Denzell afterward Lord Hollis some of the most eminent in Office under the late Usurpers having in the mean while to make sure of that Grace gotten their particular pardons exemplified under the great Seal of England To prevent which trouble the King was more than ordinary pressing for the speedy passing the Act of Oblivion taking care to express his grateful sentiments of the Loyalty and services of several Illustrious personages that were principally instrumental in accomplishing his Restauration by dignifying them with Places and Titles of honour And to shew how highly the Generals Loyalty had advanc'd him in his good Opinion he was dignifi'd by him with the Titles of Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington and Baron of Potheridge Beauchamp Teyes had his Temples deserv'dly incircl'd with a Ducal Coronet by the hand of his Majesty being thereby invested with the right of Peerage in all the three Kingdoms whose equal Felicity and Honour he had preferr'd before his own and therefore now most deservingly shar'd with them therein by his Investure in those Dignities which were compleated on the 13th of the following July by his taking his place in the House of Lords being attended by the Commons and introduc'd by the Duke of Buckingham Montague was made Earl of Sandwich Ormond Earl of Brecknock and Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain Manchester L. Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold Southhampton Lord High Treasurer Greenvile Earl of Bath and Groom of the Stole Sir Frederick Cornwallis Treasurer of the Kings Houshold by an old grant and Sir John Berkley Controller Divers rich Presents were now made to him from the several Cities and Burroughs of the Kingdom in Gold and Plate and the resignation of several Feefarm Rents which had been purchas'd from the Usurpers the City of London among the rest with a Complement of their good Stewardship rendred their grant of new Perk in Surrey and all the Rents accruing at Michaelmas Day were now secured from the late Purchasers of Crown and Church Laws to the utter disappointing of their unjust and covetous expectations from such base and unwarrantable Penny-worths A Peace was now made Proclaim'd between us and Spain and a Splendid Embassy dispatcht from Denmark to congratulate his happy Restauratian The Court of Soissons who had Married Cardinal Mazarines Neece being sent from the French King on the same Errand entring London with all the sumptuous and extraordinary Magnificence imaginable and there was no Prince nor State in Europe but what sent an Embassador thither to congratulate him upon that happy and wonderful occasion And the Parliament having after many debates and disputes alterations and insertions at last finish'd the long desir'd Act of Oblivion which was extraordinary comprehensive and indulgent even to the regret of many injur'd Loyalists who found no better Argument to perswade their acquiescing therein than their unchangeable Loyalty to the King whose special Act that was There were no more excepted out of it but only the Regicides and Murderers of the late King only Lambert Vane and twenty more were thereby reserv'd to such forfeitures as should be afterward declar'd by Parliament the principal whereof was Hazelrick St. John Lenthal the Speaker Philip Nye Burton of Tarmouth and some Sequestrators Officers and Major Generals of the Army among whom was Desbrough Pine Butler Ireton c. They likewise past an Act for the perpetual Anniversary Thanksgiving on the 29 of May which was the day both of his Birth and Restauration and therefore deserv'd a perpetual memorial and to be made by a Parliamentary Canonization the most auspicious in the English Kallender to both which he gave his Royal assent and shortly after at their adjournment to another for disbanding the Army and paying off the Navy which although they once threatned us with a perpetuating our slavery yet were now forc'd by the happy conjunction of his Fortune with his Wisdom and Goodness after many models to submit to its last desolation And the Commons having after the passing of their Bills acquainted him that they had nothing more to ask or offer at that time but that if his Majesties occasions would permit they might adjourn and go into their own Countries where they should endeavour to make his subjects sensible of their extraordinary happiness in having such a King to Rule and Govern them He consented to it telling
in the other being attended on by Confusion represented in a deformed shape having on a Garment of severall ill-matcht Colours put on the wrong way on her Head Ruines of Castles and torn Crowns and in her Hand broken and shattered Scepters On the South Pedestal was a Representation of Britains Monarchy supported by Loyalty with Women Monarchy arayed in a large Purple Robe adorned with Diadems and Scepters and over that a loose Mantle edged with blew and silver Fringe resembling Water the Mapp of Great Britain being drawn on it Upon her head was the City of London in her right hand Edenburgh in her left Dublin Loyalty was all in white with three Scepters in her right hand and three Crowns in her left The first Painting on the South side was a prospect of His Landing at Dover Ships at Sea great Guns going off one kneeling and kissing the Kings hand attended by many Souldiers both Horse and Foot and great numbers of People gazing above and beneath this Motto In Solido Rursus Fortuna Locavit alludeing to that of Virgil thus Rendred Fortune Reviving tho she tumbled down Sporting Restores again unto the Crown Above the Arch on the North and South-Sides stood the Statues of James and Charles the first and between them somewhat higher and just over the Arch that of the Restored King with this Inscription D. N. Carolo D. G. Britanniarum Imp. Opt. Max. ubique venerando Semper AUG Bretissimo ac piissimo Bono Reip. Nato De avita Britannia Et Omnium Hominum Genere Meritissimo P. P. Extinctori Tyrannidis Restitutori Libertatis Fundatori Quietis ob Felicem Reditum Ex Voto L. M. P. S. P. Q. L. The Second which was a Naval Representation was erected in Cornhill near the Royal-Exchange on the East side whereof two Stages were erected on each side of the Street one in that on the South side a person representing the River of Thames and on that on the North side which was made like the upper deck of a Ship were three Seamen whereof one was habited like a Boat-Swayn and upon the Shield or Table on the front of the Arch a Latine Inscription the first painting on the North side over the City Arms represented Neptune with his Trident advanced with this Inscription Neptuno Reduci On the South side opposite to Neptune was Mars represented with his Spear Inverted having his Sheild charged with a Gorgon and by his knees this Motto Marti Pacifero Over the Arch the Marriage of Thame and Isis The painting in the North side over Neptune represented the Exchange with this Motto Generalis Lapsi Sarcire Ruinas The uppermost great Table in the fore ground represented Charles the first with the Prince his Son who was the then Restored King in his hand viewing the Soveraign of the Sea the Prince Leaning â—n a Canon with this Inscription O Nimium dilecte Deo cui militat aequor Et conjurati veniunt ad Classica ventt For Thee O Jove's delight the Seas engage And muster'd Winds drawn up in battel Rage The third which represented an Artificial building of two Stories the one after the Corinthian way of Architecture the other after the Composit with a Latin Inscription upon a Shield was Erected near Wood-street end not far from the place where the Cross formerly stood In the spanderills of which Arch two Figures in Female habit and a leaning posture represented Peace whose Shield was charged with a Helmet and Bees â—ssuing forth and going into it with this Motto Pax bello Potior And Truth cloathed in a thin habit on her Shield Times bringing Truth out of a Cave with this Motto Tandem Emersit Over the great Painting upon the Arch of the Cupula was Represented a large Geryon with three heads Crowned In his three right hands a Lance a Sword and a Scepter in his â—hree left the Escutcheons of England Scotland and Ireland having before him the Kings Arms with three Imperial Crowns and beneath him in great Letters Concordia Insuperabilis The fourth Triumphant Arch which represented the Garden of Plenty and was of two Stories one after the Dorick Order the other of the Jonick was Erected in Fleet-street near the turning into White-Friers and had upon the great Sheild over the Arch in Large Capitals this Inscription Ubertati AUG extincto belli Civilis incendio clusoq Jani Templo arum celsis construxit S. P. Q. L. Over the Postern on the South side of the entrance was represented Bacchus drawn in a Chariot by Leopards his Mantle a Panthers skin a Crown of Grapes on his head a Thyrsis with Ivy in his left hand and underneath Liber Pater The Painting over this represented a Vineyard with Silenus on his Ass with Satyrs dancing round about him in drunken and antick Postures And on the North side opposite to Bacchus was represented Ceres drawn in a Chariot by winged Dragons and Crowned with Eares of Corne having in her left hand Poppyes and in her right a blazing Torch the Painting over her being the description of Harvest Ceres AUG And the King having created six Earles as many Barons and Sixty Eight Knights of the Bath to assist at that Ceremony and appointed the 23d of April which was St. Georges day for the Consummating thereof the Glory and Splendor of it commenced the day before when he past through the City to White-Hall in a most Magnificent and Tryumphant manner For the Streets being all gravelled and filled with a vast multitude of wondring Spectators as well out of the Country as the City and some Forraigners who acknowledg themselves never to have seen amongst all the great Magnificencies of the World any that came near or equal'd that and even the Vaunting French were forced to confess that their Pomp of the late Marriage with the Infanta of Spain upon their Majesties entrance into Paris was far inferior in its State Gallantry and Riches unto that most Illustrious and dazelling Cavalcade which proceeded after this manner First went the Horse Guard of His Illustrious Brother the Duke of York the Messengers of the Kings Bed-Chamber the Esquires and Knights of the Bath being One Hundred and thirty Six in number The Knight Harbinger the Serjeant Porters the Sewers of the Chamber the Quarter Waiters the Six Clerks of the Chancery the Clerks of the Signet the Clerks of the Privy Seal the Clerks of the Council the Clerks of the Parliament the Clerks of the Crown the Chaplains in Ordinary bearing Dignities ten in number the Kings Advocate and the Remembrancer the Kings Councel at Law the Master of Chancery the King Puisne Serjeants the Kings Attorney and Sollicitors the Kings Eldest Serjeants the Secretaries of the French and Latin Tongues the Gentlemen Ushers dayly Waiters the Sewers Carvers and Cup-bearers in Ordinary the Masters of standing Officers being no Councellors viz. Of the Tents Revels Ceremonies Armory Wardrobe Ordinance the Master of Requests Chamberlain of the Exchecquer Barons of the
Exchecquer and Judges of the Law according to their several Dignities Trumpets Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber Knights of the Bath the Knights Marshal the Treasurer of the Chamber the Master of the Jewel House the Knights of the Privy Councel the Comptrollor and the Treasurer of the Kings-Household two Trumpets and Serjeants Trumpets two Pursivants at Arms Barons Eldest Sons Earls Youngest Sons Viscounts Eldest Sons Marquesses Youngest Sons Earls Eldest Sons two Pursivants at Armes Viscounts and Dukes Eldest Sons Marquesses Eldest Sons two Heralds Earls Earl Marshal and Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Dukes Eldest Sons Serjeants at Armes on both sides the Nobility Clarencieux and Norroy Lord Treasurer Lord Chancellor Lord High-Steward the Duke of Ormond and two persons representing the Dukeâ— of Normandy and Aquitain Gentleman Usher Garter Lord Mayor His Royal Highness the Duke of York alone the Lord High Constable of England which was the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Great Chamberlain of England which was then the Earl Lindsey and the Sword carryed by the Duke of Richmond Equeries and Footmen followed next and about the King himself Gentlemen and Pensioners without them Master of the Horse which was the Duke of Albemarle leading a Spare Horse the Vice-Chamberlain to the King the Captain of the Pensioners the Captain of the Guard the Guard the Kings Life Guard Commanded by the Lord Gerrard the Generals Life Guard by Sir Phillip Howard a Troop of Voluntiers Troop and a Company of Foot by Sir John Robinson The way from the Tower to Aldgate was guarded by the Hamblets from thence to Temple-Bar by the Train-Bands on the one side and by the Livery on the other with the Banners of each Company the Windows were all along laid with Carpets and the best Tapistry Bands of Musick in several places and the Conduits running with Wine In St. Pauls Church-Yard stood the Blewcoat-Boyes of Christ-Church Hospital one whereof in the Name of the rest declared their joy for his Majesties wonderful Preservation and Restauration Humbly beseeching his Gracious Favour and Indulgence according to the example of His Royal Ancestors and his Father of Blessed Memory With which Speech he was well pleased and testified his being so by his rewarding the Boy that spoke it In the Strand and through Westminster the wayes were likewise gravelled and railed and guarded on both sides with the Trained-Bands of that City and the Kings two Regiments of Foot under the Command of Albemarl and Collonel Russel and the Houses adorned with Carpets and Tapestry like those in London When he came through Temple-Bar the Head Bayliffe and High-Constable in Scarlet met and received him with loud Musick and alighting off their Horses and kneeling down the Head Bayliff on behalf of the Dean and Chapter City and Liberty signified their Joyful Reception of His Royal Person into that Liberty Declaring how much their happiness exceeded any other part of the Nations in that their Soveraign Lord and King was come among them and humbly desiring His Majesty to continue his Grace and Favour to them whereby they might still be enabled to do His Majesty service Infinite and Innumerable were the Shouts and Acclamations from all parts as he past along to the no less Joy than amazement of the Spectators And the Pomp of this Solemnity was so great that it is vain to attempt the describing it it being not only unutterable but almost Inconceivable and many outlandish Persons who beheld it admired how it was possible for the English after such horrible confusions to appear in so rich and stately a manner It is incredible to think what costly Robes were worn that day it being scarcely discernable what their Cloaks were made of for the Gold and Silver Laces and Imbroidery that was laid on them besides the inestimable treasures of Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels and the Rich Liveries of their Pages and Footmen some suits whereof were so very rich that they amounted to near 1500 l. In this order he arrived at White-Hall where having retired himself to supper and so to Rest he came the next day which being St. Georges day was to consummate the Coronation from his privy Staires to the Old Pallace where in a Room behind the House of Lords called the Prince's Lodgings he stayed till the Lords and the rest of his Train had Robed and Ranked themselves in Westminster-Hall and so soon as they were ready descended the Stairs that went down into the Hall and placed himself in a Throne in the upper end thereof Then came the Dean and Prebends of Westminster in their Rich Copes each of them having a part of the Regalia and delivered them to the Lord High Constable who delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and being by him set on a Table the King immediately distributed them St. Edwards Staff to the Earl of Sandwich the Spurrs to Pembrâ—ke the Sword called Curtana to Oxford the pointed Sword carryed on the Right Hand of it to Shrewsbury that carryed on the left to Derby and the Sword of State to Manchester the Scepter with the Dove to Albemarle the Orb with the Cross to Buckingham St. Edwards Crown to Ormond and the Pattina and Challice to the Bishops of London and Exeter And having thus bestowed the Regalia he set forward on foot much after the same order which was observed the day before upon blew Cloath spread on the ground from the Hall to his Chair in the Abby supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham and having his Trayn carried up by the Lords Mandevill Cavendish Ossery and Piercy assisted by the Lord Viscount Mansfield Master of the Robes All the Peers with their Coronets in their hands went up along with him till he was placed in the Chair of State Then the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury told the People he did there present them King Charles the Second the Rightful Inheritor of the Crown of this Realm and demanded of all those that came thither that day to do their Homage Service and Bounden Duty whether they were willing to do the same Whereupon all the Peers in their Parliament Robes and People gave a shout testifying their willingness Then the King rising from his Chair turned himself to the four sides of the Throne and speaking to the People who again with loud Acclamations signified their consent all in one voice After which the Choire sung an Anthem in the interim whereof he went supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham attended by the Dean of Westminster to the steps before the Communion Table where upon Carpets and Cushions he offered a Pall and a piece of Gold and then removing to the right hand kneelled down during a short Collect then the Sermon began being Preacht by the Bishop of Worcester which ended the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ask't Him If He would be pleased to take the Oath that was wont to be taken
Holland-Coast the alarum whereof brought back Bankert who had been about three Weeks at Sea with some of their Ships and caused them to make de Ruyter after his long expected arrival from the West Admiral of their Fleet. But the Bishop of Munster's Drums who then likewise threatned them with a War sounding in their Ears almost as terribly as the English Cannon made them order a flying Army to the Frontiers tho' with little satisfaction to the fearful Inhabitants who daily fled to the fortified Towns for their security In the mean while the English Fleet in three Squadrons sailed towards Norway and the Earl of Sandwich having notice that fifty Hollanders had sheltred themselves in Berghen sent a Squadron of twenty two Men of War under the Command of Tyddeman to attack and fire them in the Harbour which Enterprise had proved very fatal had not the Wind befriended them and the Dane permitted them to plant their Guns on shore against the resolute English however they received very great dammages and had many of their best Ships in that Harbour dissabled And the Earl himself meeting with a Convoy of theirs who had several Merchants and some East-India men in his Company attacked them with so much resolution that notwithstanding the storminess of the Weather did much favour them yet he took Eight of their Men of War two of their best East-India Ships and twenty Sail of their Merchants and some few days after the Fleet encountering with eighteen Sail of the Enemy took the greatest part of them with above one thousand Prisoners However the French King supposing the Ballance of Affairs not yet even enough and affecting a Sovereignty in the Mediterranean-Sea not only continued his friendship to them but in their behalf declared War likewise against England upon pretence of succouring them according to the Conditions of the Treaty in 1662 which Declaration the King who altho he was as great a lover of Peace as any Prince in the World yet being provoked would not be behind hand with his Enemies soon returned with the like denunciation of War against him protesting that he was resolved to prosecute that War against France with his utmost force by Land and Sea And it was admirable to behold the cheerfulness and alacrity wherewith the Maritine Countreys offered him their Service upon their first receiving his Orders to put themselves into a posture of defence but being unwilling to continue them under the trouble and charge of a needless Duty he dismiss'd them for the present and only ordered them to be ready if there was occasion The Pestilence being now pretty well abated he returned again to London where he was joyfully received and welcomed by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen about which time eight persons formerly Officers or Soldiers in the Rebellion were Indicted at the Old-Bayly for conspiring the Death of the King and the Alteration of the Government having in his absence from the City plotted the surprisal of the Tower killing the General Robinson and Brown and then according to their old levelling humour to have declared for an equal division of Lands The better to effect which Design of theirs the City was to have been fired the Portcullices to have been let down to keep out all assistance and the Horse-guards to have been surprised in their Quarters the Tower having been viewed by them and its surprisal ordered by Boats over the Moat and so to scale the Wall One Alexander was the chief Conspirator having distributed several Sums of Money amongst them and he told them for their encouragement of several great ones that sat continually in London and issued out all necessary Orders which Counsel he said received their Directions from another in Holland who sat with the States The third of September being found by a Scheme erected for that purpose a lucky Day a Planet then ruling whose direful effects portended the downfal of Monarchy was pitch'd upon for the Attempt They were found guilty of High Treason and executed at Tyburn Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle being made joynt Generals at Sea for that Summer's Expedition divided the Fleet the Prince commanding the blew Squadron wherewith he sailed toward France upon intimation that the French were hasting to joyn the Dutch Fleet and the Duke the other two who meeting the Hollanders on Friday about 4 or 5 Leagues from the North Foreland couragiously attacked them notwithstanding he had not above half their number bravely maintaining the Fight two days and part of the third when he had been hardly put to it had not the Prince hearing the Guns tacked about and made towards him Upon his approach de Ruyter sent out 30 stout Ships to intercept him and prevent his joyning the Duke but avoiding them he hastened forward and sent Albemarle word that if he liked the design he would keep the wind of them and engage the 30 Ships de Ruyter had sent against him but the Duke not liking his purpose advised him rather to joyn the Fleet which he did and the approaching night soon after put an end to their farther proceedings And the next morning so soon as it grew light they perceived the Dutch to be fled and gotten almost out of sight St. Georges Chanel having proved too dangerous and stormy for them but making all the sail they could they pursued them and the Prince with his fresh Squadron falling in with them with an undaunted courage and bravery pass'd five several times through the whole Body of their Fleet so that not able longer to endure it with all the sail they could make they began to run and sheltred themselves in their shallows But both Fleets having repaired their dammages got out to Sea again and meeting soon after begun a second Engagement no less bloody than the former both sides fighting with all the Courage and Valour that could be expected from the most inveterate and enraged Enemies de Ruyter resolving to revenge his lost disgrace and recover if possible his lost honour and the Prince to maintain his former by obtaining a second Victory They began to fight about Nine in the Morning pouring Broad-sides upon each other with such fury that the roaring Canon seemed to outvy the Thunder and the Smoak clouded the Sun and rendred the Air more dark and dismal than was black Munday There might have been seen the Heads of some the Arms Leggs and Thighs of others shot off some divided in the middle with Chain-shot breathing out their last in anguish and pain or burning in Fired Ships whilst others exposed to the mercy of the Liquid Element implored pity from their very Enemies whom they intreated to save their Lives although with the loss of their Liberties But in the midst of all those deplorable miseries the survivers fought with as much resolution and fury as ever their Courage and Valour being rather heightned than daunted thereby For which Victories a solemn thanks giving was observed throughout the
under the Command of the Earl of Suffolk a smart Skirmish pass'd between them and continued till Ten at Night when it was renewed again by the return of the beaten Companies from the Fort but the English Horse not being able to come up there was not that execution done upon them which otherwise might have been However the Dutch lik'd not that hot Service well enough to abide their coming but as soon as their Boats were afloat embarqued with all haste and returned to their Ships and sailing for the Humber they engaged a Squadron of the English which they found there but being worsted shewed themselves before Portsmouth and made some slight Attempts in Devonshire and Cornwall And after de Ruyter their Admiral had been civily treated in the West by the Earl of Bath and Sir Jonathan Trelawney and received advice that the Peace was concluded they sailed back for Holland This Peace was concluded at Breda upon the twenty first of June in the Year 1667. when the Articles were signed by the several Plenipotentiaries and upon the fourteenth of the following August the Ratifications thereof interchanged the Mediators first bringing the Ratifications and other Instrustruments of the Dutch French and Danes into the English Embassadors Lodgings and received theirs in exchange which done the English Embassadors went into the apartments of the Dutch and their Allies where they made and received the Complements usual in such cases and the Peace was thereupon immediately Proclaimed before the Doors of the several Plenipotentiaries and on the twenty fourth of that Month at the Exchange which was then kept at Gresham Colledge and other places in London But the Foundation of the Royal Exchange in Cornhil being about that time appointed to be laid the King was pleased to shew his readiness to countenance that Work by being present at and assisting in the solemnity thereof with his own Royal hands as his Brother the Duke of York did shortly after who laid the first stone of the second Pillar which Edifice was in a short time finished and is now the most curious Fabrick of that kind in the whole World About this time that wise and useful States-man and Privy-Counsellor Edward Hide Earl of Clarendon and Lord High-Chancellor of England who had always behaved himself with abundance of Loyalty and Faithfulness to his Master as well before as after his Restauration falling into disgrace with the Parliament was forced to abscond and leaving that Office which he had so long managed with advantage to the King and honour to himself retired into France where he lived in a voluntary Exile 'till he died A sort of idle and licentious Persons getting together in the Holy-days at Easter and pretending former custom took the liberty to pull down some Houses of bad repute about the Suburbs of London under the notion of Apprentices yet others being found guilty of it four of them were apprehended Tryed Condemned and Executed and two of their Heads set upon the Bridge for a terror to others Having dispatch'd the Earl of Carlile as his Embassador Extraordinary to the Court of Sweden with which King he always maintained a friendly correspondence he directed a Letter for the Earl when he was at Copenhagen on his way to Sweden to be by him delivered to the King of Denmark in answer to an obliging Letter he had a little before received from him which Letter of the King 's was so acceptable to the Dane that upon the Earl's request he immediately dispatch'd orders to all his Ports and Towns of commerce especially those in Norway for restoring the English to the same Freedom and Priviledges in Trading thither as they had before the War And the Earl upon his arrival in Sweden presented that King with the George worn by the Knights of the Garter and after his having been entertained in that Court with all imaginable respect upon his Masters account and dismiss'd with particular marks of the King of Sweden's favour and testimonies of the acceptableness of his Embassie he was upon his return home solemnly Installed in that Order at Windsor While the King was diverting himself this Summer with the Duke and others of his Nobles in the new Forrest in Hampshire he received the doleful tidings of his Mothers death at Columbe the thirty first of August she being nobly buried in the December following at St. Dennis And to close the publick affairs of this Year the restorer of the Crown to the King and happiness to the Kingdom George Duke of Albemarle and Lord General of all the Kings Land Forces exchanged his temporary Coronet for an Eternal Crown and the King as a mark of Gratitude to the Father sent his Garter to his Son and Successor the present Duke of Albemarle whom he continued in many of his Honours and Preferments promising withall that himself would take care of his Fathers Funeral which he accordingly did and after he had publickly lain in State at Somerset-House for some time caused his Funeral to be solemnized with that Pomp and Splendor that it is verily believed no Subject was ever honoured with the like In the following Spring the King having a great desire to unite Scotland and England into one Kingdom endeavoured to have it accomplish'd by procuring an Act of Parliament in order thereunto and nominating Commissioners for each Kingdom to meet and treat about it But they not being able to agree it was wholly laid aside and came to nothing The King's Wisdom and Conduct being famed throughout all parts of the World like a second Solomon drew to his Court several Foreign Princes to see and admire him And about this time the Prince of Tuscany came upon the same Errand and was by him treated both at London and Windsor with great Respect and Splendour and by several of his Nobles in his Progress through England the chief Cities whereof he was desirous to take a view of after which he departed for Holland and so returned into his own Countrey where not long after besides his splendid Entertainment of the Earl of Northumberland in acknowledgment of the King's Kindness and Affection express'd to him when in England he built and gave to the King two very stout Galleys for a guard of the Coast about Tangier which were of great importance to his Service in those parts But altho' the King was well pleased with this Princes visit yet he shortly after received a more welcome one from his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans who came to Dover to pay him her last Visit and was there entertained by him with as much Affection and Bounty as the time of her stay which was but short would permit Nor was her stay in this World much longer for soon after her return she died suddenly to his unexpressible grief The King being now at peace at home employed his Naval Forces against the Algerines a People that never keep Peace longer than till they can have an opportunity to break
it and they having taken some of our Merchants Ships Sir Thomas Allen was sent to revenge the Injury who coming before the Town they desired a Treaty offering to make restitution of what Money they had taken from an English Ship bound for the East-Indies but not agreeing to some other Demands he resolved to beat them into a complyance and having seized a Barque loaden with Corn and a Brigantine which rowed in the Harbour in view of the Town departed to Tripoly the Bassa of which place sent him an assurance of his readiness and resolution to preserve a Peace and continue a good Correspondence with his Master And the Hampshire Portsmouth Jersey and Centurion Frigots under the Command of Captain Beach not long after meeting with Seven of the Algerines notwithstanding the least of them had Thirty eight Guns and were all full of Men forced them to run their Ships on shore which were all burned two by themselves and the rest by the English in which Action most of their Men were lost and Two hundred and fifty Christian Captives redeemed But Sir Thomas Allen after having made many Attempts upon those Pyrates whose Cowardize still shun the Fight returned home and left Sir Edward Spragg to Command in his room who meeting with Nine of their Men of War and three Merchantmen near Bugia they retired upon his appearance under the shelter of the Castle and put themselves into the best posture of defence but Spragg in the mean time attacked them with so much Valour and Success that he set most of them on fire and those which escaped the flame fell into his hands and were made Prizes of And to compleat the Victory Captain Beach brought him another Ship which he had newly taken of Forty Guns and Three hundred and fifty men So that Spragg believing that this Loss might dispose the Algerines to accept of Terms of Peace made a speedy return to his station before that Port whereupon constrained by necessity they concluded a Peace as honourable and advantagious as any we ever had with those Rovers About this time a strange and odd kind of Action happened which for its unusualness was the matter of much wonder and discourse For one Thomas Bloud commonly called Captain Bloud being discontented upon pretence of an Estate detained from him in Ireland and having a little before with five persons in his company armed and mounted seized the Duke of Ormond as he was going home between St. James's and Clarendon-house forcing him out of his Coach and attempting to have carried him away had he not been rescued by others coming in to his assistance a Fact which rendred him not more bold in the undertaking than the Duke memorable in forgiving But not being able to carry off the Duke he next adventured to attempt the Crown In order whereunto he coming to the Keeper of the Jewel-house and desiring to see the Crown and Jewels which being shewed him he gratified the Keeper more liberally than it was usual for others to do in such cases telling him that he had some Friends who were very desirous to see them and that he would bring them the next Morning Accordingly he came with three others with him and the old Gentleman being prepared by Bloud 's liberality gave them a ready admittance into the Jewel-house but their design being to take and not to see they gagg'd and secured the Keeper and then putting the Crown and Ball into two Baggs which they brought with them for that purpose fairly walked away and had certainly carried them off having pass'd most of the Centinels with them had not the Keeper's Son-in-law accidentally came by and seeing the condition his Father lay in run out hastily and cryed to the Guards to stop them Whereupon fear making them to mend their pace they became the means of their own discovery and being thereupon suspected and commanded to stand they fired a Pistol at the Centinel but others coming in to his assistance two of them were seized and carried to White-Hall and after examination sent Prisoners to the Tower where they had committed that bold Attempt The King now finding himself at leisure resolved to look after the condition of his Western Sea-port Towns and spend the Summer in a kind of Sea-Progress For going first to Portsmouth he went in his Yacht to the Isle of Wight and took a view of most of the considerable Ports in that Island from whence he returned to Hurst-Castle and from thence to Corfe-Castle and having viewed and taken order for the furnishing those places with all necessary Provisions returned again to Portsmouth and from thence attended with five Frigots sailed to Dartmouth Plymouth and other places in those parts knowing that according to the ancient Proverb the Master's eye quickens the Servant's diligence Notwithstanding the many Losses sustained by the Dutch in their former War with England and the difficulty they met withal in attaining a Peace yet they took no care to preserve it but by new Affronts laid a foundation for a second War and therefore the King having long concealed his just Displeasure against them resolved now to let them know his ill Resentments of their unworthy Dealings towards him Pursuant to which he declared in the following Spring That seeing his Neighbours were making great Preparations both by Sea and Land He thought himself obliged to appear in such a posture as might best secure his own Government and his Peoples peace to make such Preparations as should be answerable to the preservation of both which could not be done without fitting out a considerable Fleet against the approaching Spring In order whereunto Money being at that time wanting he was forced to put a stop to the payment of any Money then brought in or to be brought into the Exchequer for the space of one whole Year declaring that nothing could have moved him thereunto but the looking upon his Government as unsafe under the threatening Preparations of the States General and other neighbouring Princes without appearing in the same posture And that therefore seeing the necessity was inevitable some extraordinary course must be taken until Money could be otherwise procured However before he would enter into War with them he endeavoured to bring them to terms of Peace by the threatning of it and therefore ordered Sir George Downing who was his Embassador to the States to be very urgent with them on the Affair of the Flagg which notwithstanding it had ever been accounted a Ceremony due to the Kings of England as an acknowledgment of their Sovereignty in the narrow Seas had been for some time denied by them But having by several Instances and Memorials pressed for an Answer to his Demands and finding nothing but delays and several personal affronts to him he returned without Orders for England and was for so doing after a private Examination by some Lords of the Council and Report thereof made to the King Committed to the Tower for not
Embassador the Lord Lockhart to compose the differences between them and resolving whether he succeeded in that Mediation or not to be no partaker with them in their Quarrels and Commanded by Proclamation that none of his Subjects should enter into the Service of any Foreign Prince And for the better securing of Trade to and from his Ports which was much disturbed by the Insolency of several Dutch Spanish and French Privateers betwixt whom the War still continued he Publish'd a Proclamation wherein he declared That all Ships to what Party soever they belonged should be under his Protection during their stay in any of his Ports or Harbours Commanding the Officers of his Navy to use their utmost endeavours to hinder the Roving of any Private Men so near his Coast as to give apprehension of danger to Merchants And that if a Man of War of either Party and one or more Merchant-Men of another should come into any of his Ports the Merchant-Men should sail out two Tides before the Man of War should be permitted to stirr forbidding his Sea-men to List themselves on Board any Foreign Man of War or other Ship designed for Traffick or the Fishing-Trade without his Licence laying down several other Rules in Relation to the security of Trade and the Maintaining his Sovereignty in those Seas which were punctually observed and thereby many Merchants and Traders preserved from being made prize of by their Enemies And that he might secure the Peace of his Kingdom for the future as well as for the present he procured the Parliament to give him the sum of five hundred eighty four thousand nine hundred and seventy eight Pounds for the speedy building thirty Ships of War which he caused to be built so large and substantial that they cost him one hundred thousand Pounds more than they gave him And now beginning to reflect upon the success of the French King's Arms and fearing lest the growing Greatness of that Monarch might too much obscure his own Glory and threaten the future Peace of his Kingdom resolved with himself by entring into an Alliance with some Princes and States abroad to put a stop to his further Conquests in Flanders And that the French might not think him in jest only he immediately applied himself to the raising of Forces and in a short time had a brave Army on Foot ready to be transported into Flanders and Married his Niece the Lady Mary eldest Daughter to his only Brother the Duke of York to the Prince of Orange The Parliament having at their last sitting desired him to hasten his entering into such Councils and Alliances as might save what remained of Flanders from being devoured by the French he acquainted them at their next Meeting with what he had done telling them that he had made such an agreement with Holland and the rest of the Confederates that if seconded by plentiful supplies from them and due care from the Spaniards for their own Preservation he doubted not but to restore such an Honourable Peace to Christendom as might not be in the Power of one Prince alone to disturb which he had endeavoured by a fair Treaty And was resolved if that succeeded not to enter into an actual War with France laying before them the expences he had been at already and what sums of Money such a War would necessarily require And to remove all sorts of Jealousies he had Married his Niece to the Prince of Orange thereby giving full assurance never to suffer that Prince's Interest to be ruined if assisted by them as he ought to be to preserve it To Alarm the French King the more with a noise of War the Parliament made several Addresses to the King wherein they intreated him to enter into an Actual War with that Crown promising to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes to that end And a Book was Published Intituled Christianissimus Christianandus wherein reasons were given for reducing the most Christian King to a more Christian state in Europe And finding that the French King still went on in his Conquests he sent some Regiments of his new raised Forces over into Flanders to secure the places of greatest consequence there and Commanded a Fast on Wednesday the tenth of April to be kept in London and on that day fortnight throughout the whole Kingdom to implore the blessings of Heaven on his undertakings And the Parliament to assist him with Money which is the sinews of War raised him a liberal sum by a Pole-Bill and that they might weaken the French as well as strengthen him Prohibited French Wines and other things of the Growth and Manufactury of that Country a contrivance that would certainly have reduced him to terms of Moderation and Peace had the rest of the Confederates done the like but for want of that the design of the Prohibition fell and he received little or no dammage thereby However remembring how fatal the Arms of England had formerly been to France and being Thunder-strook with the Fame of the King 's having in forty days raised an Army of thirty thousand Men and fitted out a Navy of ninety Ships he durst not adventure notwithstanding his success in Flanders to run the hazard of a War with that Nation To prevent which he resolved to consent to a Peace with some of the Confederates hoping thereby to break the measures already taken by King Charles and therefore presently offered a separate Treaty with Holland which People according to their usual though unjust and base Custom of serving themselves and leaving their Confederates in the lurch without acquainting the King of England therewith accepted of and afterwards concluded upon condition that he would give up Maestricht and other places which he had taken from them during the War But besides their usual custom of waiting the first opportunity of slipping their own necks out of the Coller they being informed that the League Offensive and Defensive which the King of England had entred into with them was not well understood at home and had met with some unfitting and very undeserv'd Reflections and that the Parliament had taken up a Resolution of giving no Money till satisfaction was first had in some Matters of Religion and those Jealousies removed which they had without all ground taken up of his Proceedings very much influenced their entrance into that Treaty concluding that it was now vain to rely any longer upon England since England was no longer it self by reason of those Divisions and Misunderstandings between the King and his Parliament But the King who was not ignorant of what the Dutch were doing resolving to save Flanders either by a War or Peace perswaded the King of Spain and the rest of the Conferates to accept of the same Treaty with them endeavouring to procure a Cessation of Arms on all sides during the time of the Treaty the better to make way for the desired Peace However considering the influence that Peace would have upon England
was altogether uncertain and knowing that by his late Preparations and Alliances he had provoked a mighty and a warlike King he thought it convenient to provide for his own security if the worst should happen by keeping up his Army and continuing his Fleet at Sea especially since that was the most probable means to make the French King account it his interest to hasten the Peace and procure to himself the more advantagious Terms therein telling his Parliament which met soon after That although they would peradventure account the Peace he was endeavouring to procure as ill a bargain as War because it cost them Money yet if they seriously considered that Flanders might have perhaps been lost by that time he believed they would give much greater Sums than all the Charge he he had been at amounted to rather than the single Town of Ostend should be in the French King's hands and Forty or Fifty of his Ships of War in so good a Haven over against the Rivers mouth adding That he could not but be very well pleased to understand the Reputation he had gained abroad by having in so short a time rais'd so great an Army and fitted out so brave a Fleet and hoped that they were so too since it so much redounded to the Honour of the English Nation desiring them therefore if they had any respect to their own Welfare and the Peace of Europe or were willing he should pass any part of his Life in quiet and all the rest in confidence and quietness with them and other future Parliaments to take care for the maintaining Peace and Union at home and the setling the same Revenue he had the Christmass before some of it being then fallen off upon him for Life and add 300000 l. per Annum thereunto to enable him to maintain the Navy and Ord'nance and keep his Word with the Prince of Orange in the payment of 40000 l. as his Nieces Portion the first Payment whereof was then become due and demanded by that Prince But the French King notwithstanding the Cessation of Arms endeavouring to enlarge his Conquests and possess himself of several considerable Towns he resolved to prevent him and therefore commanded the Duke of Monmouth who was at that time General of all his Land Forces and the Earl of Ossery to joyn the Prince of Orange and attempt the beating of him from the Siege of Mons which was then very much straitned by him and would in all probability have been lost within a few days The French who lay encamp'd between two Woods the right Wing posted at St. Dennis and their left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage that besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them which made them almost inaccessable thought themselves secure but the Cannon playing briskly upon St. Dennis and the valiant English commanded by the Earl of Ossery falâ—ing on with their accustomed Courage and Fury soon forced the Abbey and compell'd the French posted there to fly in great disorder to their main body many of them being slain in the dispute which was very hot And the Duke of Luxenburgh who was Commander there as the French King's General notwithstanding he had upon their first approach on a presumption that he lay encamp'd in a place which was impregnable laught at and derided the vain Attempt as he imagined of forcing his Camp finding he had now to do with the resolute English and not the timerous Spaniards or wary Germans dislodg'd in great confusion leaving his slain and many wounded Men behind and the Tents standing as they were to the Plunder of his victorious Enemies whereby the relieving of Mons a work thought little less then impossible was easily performed and the French King disappointed of his hopes And had that succeess been followed and improv'd the French King would in all probability have been reduced to great extremities and have been glad to have accepted of Peace upon any Conditions he could have gotten but the Peace which he had upon the march of the English hastily concluded a few days before at Nemeguen put a stop to all farther hostilities Things being brought to this happy conclusion abroad new Stirs and Commotions begin to appear at home For one Titus Oates who had receiv'd Education Orders in the Church of England and was afterward seemingly or God knows how reconcil'd to the Church of Rome going first into Flanders and then into Spain ingratiated himself with the Jesuits and Priests in those parts with a design as he afterward pretended to discover what they were plotting against England returning about this time inform'd the King of a Plot carried on by the Jesuits and others of the Roman Catholick Religion against his Person and Life the Protestant Religion and the Government of the Kingdom And that his Information might appear the more plausible and be the more readily believed he named divers Persons of Quality engaged in the Design and what Instruments had been provided for his Assassination affirming that when he was once taken off the remaining part of the Work was to have been carried on by Arms Foreign Assistance and such other Expedients as they should have judged necessary for the success of their Enterprise Whether there was any truth at all in this Relation or how much there was or whether the King at all believed it is none of my business to determine since I design as an Historian only to relate matter of Fact but certain it is that many Troubles and Combustions were occasioned thereby and several great and threatning Mischiefs have since fallen so thick upon these Kingdoms that one hath ever trod upon the heels of another Upon this Information the Privy-Councel sate twice a day to consider and examin that Plot and Sir George Wakeman one of the Queen's Physicians Mr. Coleman the Dutchess of York's Secretary Mr. Langhorn of the Temple and several others were committed close Prisoners and the Lords Bellassis Powis Peters Arundel of Warder Castlemain and Stafford were secured in the Tower And the Parliament sitting soon after the King told them in his Speech That he had been informed of a Design against his Person carried on by the Papists whereof he should forbear to give his opinion lest he should seem to say too much or too little but would leave the matter wholly to the decision of the Law without prejudging the persons accused But the strict inquiry into that Matter having discovered many unwarrantable Practices of theirs he thought he had reason to look to ' em Altho' this Plot in all the parts of it was a complication of Mysteries yet the greatest mystery of all seems to be the business of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey who being a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and a severe enemy to the Papists as was generally supposed took the Depositions of Oates and Tongue and was soon after found dead in a Ditch not far from Hampsted with his Sword run through
Protestant Successor and limit the Authority of the former if any such should be by providing that all Church-preferments should be conferred on Pious and Learned Protestants That the Parliament which should happen to be in being at his own Death or if none the last that sate should thereupon assemble without any new Summons or Election That during the Reign of any Popish Successor no Privy Councellor or Judg of the Common Law or Chancery should be put in or displaced but by consent of Parliament That none should be Justices of Peace but Protestants and that the Lord Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants of Counties and Officers in the Navy should not be put in nor removed but by the Authority of Parliament Telling them he conceived it hard to invent any other Restraint to be put on a Popish Successor Yet if any thing did occur to their Wisdom whereby their Religion and Liberties might be better secured he was ready to consent to it Whereupon the Commons after they had several times adjourned the consideration of this Speech on the 11th of May resolved That they would stand by His Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes And that if he should come by any violent Death which they prayed God to avert they would revenge it to the utmost upon the Papists According to which Vote an Address was drawn up and presented by them to the King with this Variation in the form of words We shall be ready to revenge upon the Papists any violence offered by them to your Sacred Majesty which words were neither exprest nor intimated in their Vote altho absolutely necessary and essential to the Justice of their designed Revenge And without taking the least notice of the Resolution exprest in his Speech Not to suffer any alteration in the Descent to the Throne brought in a Bill to disable his Royal Highness to inherit the Imperial Crown of England which being put to the Vote was carried in the Affirmative by One and Twenty Voices but being prorogued soon after it proceeded no further In the mean while the Two Houses were very earnest in debating the methods whereby they should bring the Lords in the Tower to their Trials And Danby being demanded at the Bar of the Lords House Whether he would rely on and abide by the Plea of his Pardon returned for answer That having been advised by his Council his Pardon was good in Law he would insist upon his Plea and requested his Council might be heard And the Lords acquainting the Commons with his desire instead of granting it they in the Names of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament and all the Commons of England demanded Judgment against him upon the Impeachment affirming his Pardon to be illegal and void However the Lords appointed him a day to argue his Plea and ordered the Five Lords to be tried the Week after and an Address to be made to the King for the appointing a Lord Steward for their Trials But the Commons not satisfied with their proceedings desired a Committee of both Houses might consider of the most proper methods of proceeding upon Impeachments according to the usage of Parliament but the Lords refused it as contrary to the known Rules and Orders of their House which ever was and ought to be tender in matters relating to their Judicature Whereupon the Commons resolved That no Commoner should presume to maintain the Validity of the Pardon pleaded by Danby without the leave of that House And that the persons so doing should be accounted Betrayers of the Liberties of the Commons of England Upon which the Lords to take away all occasion of disgust between the Two Houses receded from their former resolution and appointed a Committee to treat with them but a difference arising in that joynt Committee about the Bishops Right to be present at Trials in capital cases the Lords affirming they might stay till the Court proceeded to the Vote of Guilty or Not Guilty and the Commons denying it the Bishops endeavour'd to find out a Medium which might satisfie both and therefore desired leave of the Lords to withdraw themselves from the Trials with liberty of entring their usual protestations But this not satisfying the Commons they resolved not to proceed to the Trial of the Five Lords before Judgment given on Danby's Pardon and to insist upon the Bishops having no Right of Voting in capital Offences which made the King who saw that these heats took up their whole time and prevented their entring upon such Debates as more nearly concerned them and would have conduced more toward the setling of the Nation thought it best to prorogue them in hopes that in their next meeting their Debates might be more happy and unanimous About this time the Faction ran higher in Scotland and boiled into an open Râ—bellion which took its first beginning from the barbarous Murder of Dr. Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews and Primate of that Kindom on the 3d of May 1679. by a company of inveâ—â—â—ate Covenanters as he was travelling from Edenborough to his own Residence who had born him an immorâ—al hatred because having formerly been one of their Party he had revolted as they termed his honest Reformation But appeared more visible toward the latter end of that Month in the Western parts of Scotland when a party of Rebels well mounted and armed coming to Rugland proclaimed the Covenant burnt the following Acts of Parliament viz. Those which concerned the King's Supremacy the Eâ—â—â—blishment of Episcopacy the appointing the Anniversary of the 29th of May and the Recissory Act by which all the Mock-Laws made in the late Anarchy were repealed And publisht an insolent Declaration full of Treason and stuft with the very Spirit and Quintescence of Rebellion inviting others to joyn with them which the Covenanters commonly there called WHIGS from whence the Name was afterward brought into England and applied to all the Dissenting Party accepted of and flockt so fast to them that their Army increased daily to such a considerable number that they became formidable Whereupon the King hastned away the Duke of Monmouth as his Generalissimo to suppress them which with the Assistance of the Loyal Gentry and Herritors of that Nation he easily performed in one Battel at Bothwell-Bridg For having forced his passage over the Bridg and seized the only piece of Cannon they had they fled toward Hamilton-Park And altho they afterward rallied again and Faced about upon the advantage of a rising ground yet so soon as the Cannon began to play on them they all fled in disorder and confusion Robert Hamilton who was their chief Commander being one of the first There were many of the Rebels kill'd in the place and several hundreds taken Prisoners whereof some few were Executed The King who was willing to try all means to please and satisfie his people fearing the Animosities of that Parliament were too great to admit of a Reconciliation and would prevent their doing any
it on certain factious persons unknown to them which they desire Mr. Withins Steward of that Court to represent in their Names to the King which he accordingly did and received the Honour of Knighthood as a Reward of his Loyalty After which several such like addresses were directed from many of the Counties and that from Norfolk had a farther acknowledgment of their humble thanks to the King for calling home the Duke And the Lord Shandois having been elected by the Turky Company to go Embassador to Constantinople and desiring the Kings approbation the King 〈◊〉 him that having been concerned in promoting petitions which were â—â—rogatory to his Prerogative and tended to sedition he could not think him fit for his Favour whereupon he humbly acknowledged his fault to the King in Council protesting â—â—at he had been misled and drawn into it by being perswaded it was for his Mâ—jesties Service but being now better informed he abhorred and disowned all such Practices and humbly begging his Pardon he as freely obtained it Upon the 18th of May so great a Storm of Hail fell in London and the adjacent parts that the like had not been seen in many Years before the Stones being of an extraordinary bigness and very hard till they had lain a while many of them being as large as Pullets Eggs. One which I saw measured was somewhat more than Nine Inches about several Rooks in the Temple Garden being beaten down and killed with them and the Glass of many Sky-lights battered and broken to pieces And now the Parliament which had been several times this Summer prorogued met on the 21st of October according to â—he King's Declaration to them at their meeting in April to whom he declared in a Speech to both Houses That he had during that long prorogation made Alliances with Holland and Spain and desired money of them for the relieving Tangier the defence whereof had very much exhausted his Treasure and advising them not to meddle with the Succession of the Crown but proceed to the discovery of the Plot and the Trial of the Lords The Commons having chosen Mr. Williams a Barrester of Grays Inn and Recorder of Chester for their Speaker to convince the World that the King had not without Reason deferred their sitting so long and that neither he nor the Nation would have been losers if they had not sate then fell to purging their house expelling Sir Robert Can a Burgess for Bristol for having said there was no other Plot but a Presbyterian one and Sir Francis Withins for having declared himself an Abhorrer of the late tumultuous Petitions for the Parliaments sitting The former was committed by them to the Tower and both ordered to receive their Censure on their knees from the Speaker Several other Members were likewise declared guilty of the same Offence with Sir Francis Withins And not content with punishing their own Members they take notice of others who were without their Walls amongst whom Sir George Jeffries Recorder of London one of the King's Serjeants at Law and Chief Justice of Chester became the Object of their displeasure and was Voted a Betrayer of the Subjects Rights and an Address was made to the King to remove him from all publick Affairs and Impeachments Voted and drawn up against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir William Scrogs Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench Sir Thomas Jones one of the puisny Judges of that Court and Sir Richard Weston one of the Barons of the Exchequer for several pretended misdemeanors that of Sir Francis North being the advising and drawing up of the Proclamation against Petitions But not contenting themselves to deal with Subjects they proceeded next to a matter of a far greater concern For on the 11th of November notwithstanding the King's desire at their opening That they would not meddle with the Succession a Bill past in the House of Commons intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion by disabling James Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging which notwithstanding all the opposition made against it by the unbiassed and Judicious Loyalists who tho their Reasons were strongest yet their number were fewest was carried up to the Peers by the Lord Russel attended by almost all the Commons who gave a Hum at the delivery of it The Lords having ordered it upon their departure to be read put it to the Vote whether it should be read a second time which being carried in the Affirmative by Two Voices only after the second reading it was debated till Eleven a Clock at night the King being present all the while and then thrown out of the House by a Majority of about Thirty Voices in which number were all the Bishops then present to shew how careful the Prelacy is to promote Monarchy Soon after the Parliament proceeded to the Trial of William Lord Viscount Stafford which began in Westminster-Hall on Tuesday the 30th of November and the Impeachment and Evidence upon the same were managed by a Committee of the Commons and the Witnesses against him were Oates Turberville and Dugdale The Lord Chancellor Finch was created Lord High Steward for the solemnity of his Trial which lasted a whole week and being found Guilty by the Majority of Four and Twenty Voices he received Sentence on the 17th of December and on the 29th of that Month was beheaded on Tower-Hill protesting his Innocency with his last breath as all those had done who died for the Plot before him Some were so bold as to question the King's power to dispence with the Rigor of the Sentence and the unhappy Lord Russel was said to be one of them During these publick Transactions a large and prodigious flame of Light appeared in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every night after appeared somewhat higher in the beginning of the night and consequently set later its lustre and magnitude decreasing by degrees Whether this finger of the Almighty so visibly seen in the Heavens portended good or bad Events to the World in general or England in particular is a matter too mysterious for me to unfold and therefore shall I leave it till made more plain by the Effects which will be the best Commentatary thereon The King finding the Commons taken up with other business without taking the least care of providing him Money for the supplying his pressing wants and the relieving Tangier then besieged by the Emperor of Morocco recommended the matter more seriously to them in his Speech on the 15th of December But all the Answer he could obtain from them was an Address complaining of several pretended Grievances and refusing all supplies of Money for the Relief of Tangier or any other use unless he would pass a Bill for the Exclusion of the Duke and to enable all Protestants to associate
considered the Plea and consulted with other Judges about it and were of opinion it was insufficient and was therefore overruled and the Prisoner ordered to plead over Whereupon he pleaded Not guilty and had till the first Thursday in the next Term allowed him for his Tryal In the mean while many Loyal Addresses flowed from all parts of the Nation full of Congratulations and Thanks to the King for his late Declaration And in Trinity-Term Dr. Oliver Plunket was Try'd for High-Treason the Evidence against him being all profest Papists affirmed he was made Primate of Ireland by the Pope at the French Kings Recommendation and that he having thereupon engaged to do that King all the Service he could had actually levied amongst his Popish Clergy great Sums of Money to introduce the French Dominion and extirpate the Protestants out of that Kingdom upon which evidence he was found Guilty and was together with Fitz-harris who received his Tryal the next day executed at Tyburn on the first of the following July protesting his innocency and praying for the King Queen and Duke Presently after the Tryal of Fitz-Harris his Wife and Maid accused the Lord Howard of Escrick of contriving the Treasonable Libel for which he was convicted who was thereupon committed to the Tower And in a Paper delivered at his Execution to Dr. Haukins Minister of the Tower for his Wife he confirmed that accusation denying what he had formerly confest about Danby and the Plot affirming he was drawn into that confession only through hopes of saving his Life thereby But a Bill of Indictment against Howard being delivered on the last day of the Term to the Grand-Jury of Edmunton Hundred sworn to by Fitz-harris's Wife and Maid and by some others that Jury pretending to be unsatisfied with the Evidence would have indorsed it with an Ignoramus had not one of the Clerks of the Crown who attended them withdrawn it from them for which notwithstanding they were told by the Court the Kings Attorney might stop such proceedings as he saw occasion they preferred a Bill of Indictment against the Clerk to the Jury of Oswelston Hundred there attending for that pretended Misdemeanor The Reason why some Persons went so well attended to the Oxford Parliament began now to appear for about this time there was discovery made of a design of seizing the Kings Person whilst he was there and several factious People were thereupon committed to the Tower viz. Rouse Haynes White Colledg and the Earl of Shaftsbury whose Papers were likewise seiz'd At the Sessions which began soon after he and Howard moved to be bailed but the Judges told them it lay not in their power to bail out of the Tower At this Sessions and Indictment of High Treason was preferred to the Grand-Jury of London against one of those lately committed to the Tower whose Name was Colledg But in regard he was a busie factious Fellow and ever loved to meddle most with that he least understood and pass his ignorant censures upon the great Affairs of State He was the more commonly known by the Name of the Protestant Joyner But notwithstanding the Evidence against him was full and clear they returned an Ignoramus upon the Bill whereupon part of the Treasonable Words and Matters for which he was there Indicted being transacted at Oxford whilst the Parliament sate there the Cause was removed to that Assizes where he was before the Lord Chief Justice North tryed upon the same Evidence and condemned and executed In a Parliament held at this time in Scotland the Duke of York presided as the Kings High Commissioner and an Act was past which asserted the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland asserting it to be by inherent right and that the nature of the Monarchy was such that by the fundamental and unalterable Law of the Realm it transmitted and devolved by Lineal Succession according to proximity of Blood and that no difference in Religion no Law nor Act of Parliament could alter or divert the Right of Succession of the Crown to the nearest and lawful Heirs and declaring it High Treason either by Writing Speaking or any other way to endeavour the least Alteration therein The French Protestants being greatly opprest and persecuted by that King flockt into England in great multitudes and were received by the King of England with abundance of Kindness and affection ordering that his Officers and Magistrates should give them the same Countenance and Favour with his own Subjects assuring them he would take them into his Royal Protection and grant 'em his Letters of Dennization and promising to procure in the next Parliament an Act for their Naturalization A special Commission of Oyer and Terminer being granted by him for the Tryal of Shaftsbury and others at the Old Bayly the Bill of High Treason preferred against Shaftsbury notwithstanding the Evidence swore very full to the Treason was returned by the Grand-Jury the Foreman whereof was Sir Samuel Barnardiston Ignoramus as a former Jury had done that of Colledg Whereupon the people whose Idol he was gave a great Shout and assaulted those who were Witnesses against him with that violence that the Sheriffs to prevent mischief were forced to guard them as far as the Savoy homeward Bonfires were that Night made by the Rabble almost in every Street at one whereof Capt. Griffith was knockt down and wounded in the Head for endeavouring to put it out And a rout of people marching down Warwick-lane one whereof had his Sword drawn sometimes cryed No York no Popish Successor and then bawl'd out a Monmouth a Shaftsbury a Buckingham till they were stopt by the Watch at Ludgate But tho the factious Rabble were thus overjoyed at the acquittal of their Idol yet the sober and Loyal part of the Nation had other sentiments about it and declared their Indignation in several Loyal Addresses against the most Execrable and Traiterous designed Association which was discovered in Shaftsburys Closet amongst his other papers which threatned not the King alone but Monarchy it self In February 1682 there hapned a strange and Barbarous Murder which for the boldness of the Attempt and the baseness of the manner wherein it was perpetrated is scarcely to be parellel'd in any History For Thomas Thin of Long-Leat Esq a Gentleman of an Estate of about 10000 l. per annum having privately married Elizabeth Daughter and sole Heir of Jocelin Earl of Northumberland and Relict to Henry Earl of Ogle Son and Heir apparent to the Duke of Newcastle And some of her Friends who were not so well satisfied with the Match as her Grand-mother was by whose means it was said to be made up having perswaded her before ever her New Husband had bedded her to withdraw her self secretly into Holland the Town was thereupon alarumed with the approach of a mighty Suit in Law concerning the Validity of the Match the best Civilians being engaged on the one side or the other And Count
joyn with him therein went on by themselves and poll'd for Four Heads with a Salvo Jure to their former Election The next day the Mayor having caused his Books to be cast up and finding the Majority of Voices to be for Box he declared North and him to be Sheriffs But Box refusing to serve and paying in his Fine according to Custom the Mayor call'd another Common-Hall on the 19th of September and proposed Peter Rich Esq to be chosen in his stead who having the Majority of Voices and being declared Sheriff the Mayor dissolved the Court and returned home But the Two Sheâ—iffs notwithstanding the Mayor's dissolution continued this Assembly as they had done the former and demanding of their own Party the rest being departed with the Mayor whether they would abide by their former Choice for Papillion and Duboise proceeded likewise to a Poll and having cast up their Books declared them to be Sheriffs Elect. Whereupon the Mayor acquainting the King with their Proceedings he commanded them to attend him in Council where they were severely checkt and not dismist without giving sufficient Bail to answer to an Information which should be exhibited against them for their unwarrantable proceedings But notwithstanding this ill success they were not so discouraged as to desist from the like practices for the future For on Michaelmas-day when the Citizens met for the Election of a Mayor they mustered up their utmost strength and appeared with as much Violence against Sir William Pritchard the next in course as they had done against North and Box setting up Gold and Cornish against them altho Cornish had been Sheriff but the very year before However Pritchard carried it by the Majority of Voices In this year died the Illustrious Prince Rupert in the 63d year of his Age The Constableship of Windsor-Castle which had been enjoyed by him for many years being after his Death conferred by the King on the Earl of Arundel And on the 18th of December died Henâ—eage Earl of Nottingham and Lord High Chancellor of England who had enjoyed that place ever since it was taken from Shaftsbury in the year 73. and was succeeded by Sir Francis North Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas This year was very remarkable also for the Arrival of Two Extraordinary and Famous Embassages from Two Princes never known to have sent any into England before one from the Emperor of Fez and Morocco who in his Letter exprest much Kindness and a great Veneration to the King His Name was Hamet Benhamet Benhaddu Otter a man of a Majestick Presence and great Wisdom His business was about setling a Peace in relation to Tangier and his Person and Conversation was so pleasant and taking that he was received and caressed with more Honour and Respect both by the King and his Nobles than any Embassador I ever knew at Court And so he was by both Universities which he visited seeming to have an equal Esteem and Valuation for our Nation Nor was there ever any Embassador before him so much admired by the common people great multitudes always attending before his House which was near Katherine-street in the Strand to gaze upon and wonder at the strange Garb worn by him and his Attendants one whereof was an English Renegado formerly a Barber somewhere about Temple bar but being afterward a Soldier in Tangier he ran away from that Garison to the Moors and was by them highly advanced for his perfidious directing them in their Wars against that Town The other Embassage was from the King of Bantham in the East-Indies whose business was about the East-India Trade who would have been as much admired as the former if he had come another time but all mens Eyes were so generally fixt upon the Morocco that they were less minded than otherwise they would have been They brought the King several rich presents of Diamonds and other things of great value But not long after their return we received ill news when we least expected it For the Dutch having under pretence of assisting the Rebel Prince who was commonly called The Young King of Bantham against his Father the Old King seized upon that Town turn'd out the English whom they found there and seized on their Factory to the great damage of the English Nation On the 24th of April hapned one of the most famous and extraordinary Exploits that was ever known in London For one Broome Clerk of Skinners-Hall and Coroner of Landon having a Latitat out of the Kings-Bench in an Action upon the Case at the Suit of Papillion and Duboise agaiâ—st the Lord Mayor Sheriff North and several Loyal Aldermen Upon acquainting them therewith they all submitted to his Arrest and went with him as Prisoners to Skinners-Hall where they remained till about midnight Eight Companies of the Trained Bands being raised by order of the Lieutenancy upon that altogether new and unusual attempt to prevent Tumults But one Fletcher a Serjeant of the Poultrey-Compter having an Action of Debt upon a Bond of 400. l. agaiust Broome who had the Week before promised to give Bail to it but neglecting it and seeing him act so imperiously against the Chief Magistrate of the City took him into custody and carried him forthwith to the Compter The Mayor and his Fellow-prisoners seeing Broome carried away by a Serjeant demanded if there were any in the house who had Orders to detain them which being answered in the Negative they all peaceably departed to their several homes In the next Month was tried at Guild-Hall before the Lord Chief Justice Saunders Pemberton having been removed to the Common-Pleas upon North's receiving the Seal the great Riot committed the year before at the Election of Sheriffs Fourteen being found Guilty thereof and Fined And the better part of the City both for Number and Quality Resolved at a Common-Council held on the 22d of that Month That notwithstanding the Action in which the Mayor was Arrested at the Suit of Papillion and Duboise was said to be prosecuted at the Instance of the Citizens of London yet they to deliver themselves and the said Citizens from that false imputation did declare they were no way privy or consenting to that Action and therefore did disown and disapprove the same But the City having in the Judgment of Lawyers forfeited their Charter by several illegal proceedings the King thought the best way to prevent such kind of Tumults which might be of ill consequence to the Nation in general for the future would be the taking that Forfeiture that so by having the Charter delivered up into his hands they might by a more absolute dependance upon his Goodness be obliged to a stricter performance of their Allegiance and take the greater care to preserve the publick peace and quiet Whereupon he ordered a Writ of Quo Warranto to go out against their Charter which was grounded chiefly on their illegal exacting of Tolls in their Markets and their having framed and printed a scandalous
executed at Tyburn for this Plot. The Earl of Essex prevented the Hand of Justice by cutting his own Throat Mr. Hambden against whom there was but one Evidence was only indicted and found guilty of a high Trespass and Misdemeanor and condemned in a Fine of 40000 l. to the King to find Sureties for his Good Behaviour during Life and to stand committed till that was paid and done The Lord Brandon Major Wildman Mr. Charlton Mr. Trenchard and some others for want of sufficient Evidence were first admitted to bail and afterward discharged Mr. Wade and Sir Thomas Armstrong being both taken beyond the Seas the first at Mevis and the other in Holland were brought into England and condemned and executed upon an Outlawry The King to shew his Sense of the Divine Goodness for his wonderful and Gracious Preservation from that horrid Plot and Conspiracy publisht a Declaration for a solemn Day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be celebrated throughout the Kingdom on Sunday the 9th of Septemb. commanding that Declaration which contained a short Narration of the Treasonable Conspiracy and the Persons concerned therein some whereof were not mentioned in either of the Proclamations to be read on Sunday the 2d of September as well as on the Day of Thanksgiving which was observed with great Seriousness and Devotion throughout the whole Kingdom every one looking upon himself to have a particular Interest in the Benefit of that Preservation It is observable that there was this remarkable difference between the two Plots all those who died for the first protested their Innocency with their last breath denying that they had any knowledg of a Plot or Conspiracy carried on against the King or the Government and all those who died for the Second did acknowledg something tho they denied the greater part of what they were accused of About this time the Lady Ann Second Daughter to his Royal Highness the Duke of York was married to Prince George Brother to the King of Denmark the Ceremony being performed by the Bishop of London in the Presence of the King Queen Duke and Dutchess with most of the Great Persons about the Court and that Night was observed with great Joy and Splendor and the next 〈◊〉 Bells proclaimed the publick Joy which every one took for her being so happily bestowed upon a Protestant and Religious Prince who was afterward installed Knight of the Garter at Windsor The Day for the Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex which of course used to be the 24th of June was this Year adjourned to the 5th of September when the Livery-Men assembled at Guild-Hall without the least Hesitation confirmed the Mayors choice of Peter Daniel and chose to serve with him Francis Dashwood Electing likewise Mr. Deputy Aleworth into the Office of Chamberlain in the Room of Sir Thomas Player who being one of the Rioters in the last Years Proceedings was then removed and performing all the other Elections of Bridg-master Ale conner c. with the ancient Gravity and Moderation and a Choice of Mayor on Michaelmas-day was likewise adjourned for six Days But in the mean time the King being highly displeased with the Cities delays in signing the particulars formerly accepted of and promised by the Common-Council in Relation to the Charter caused his Attorney to enter up Judgment against it and thereupon gave his commission to Sir William Pritâ—hard to execute the Office of Lord Mayor of that City during pleasure granting the like Commissions also to the two New Sheriffs Daniel and Dashwood who were thereupon sworn with the usual Oaths and Mr. Jenner of the Inner Temple knighted at the same time by the Name of Sir Thomas Jenner the Kings Recorder of London On Sunday the 7th of October the Mayor and Sheriffs appeared at Guild-hall Chappel as formerly in their Gowns and Chains but the Aldermen only in their ordinary habits being by vertue of that new Commission only made Justices of the Peace eight of the Factious ones being left out and their Number supplied by as many Worthy and Loyal Gentlemen viz. Sir Benjamin Newland Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir John Buckworth Sheriff Dashwood Charles Duncomb Jacob Lucy Peter Palavazine and Benjamin Thoroughgood But on the 13th of that Month the King sent them a new Commission wherein he impowered them to act as Aldermen in their several Wards and accordingly divers of them attended the Mayor the next day to Chappel after their usual manner in Gowns and Chains and the next Week assembled a Court of Aldermen as formerly And upon the 29th of October which is the Annual Day for swearing the Lord Mayor of London the King having appointed Sir Henry Tulse to execute that Office by Commission during his pleasure he was after the usual manner attended to Westminster by the Companies performing the accustomed Ceremonies in Westminster-Hall and making the usual Cavalcade through London but without any Pageants The Duke of Monmouth being accused as one of the Conspirators in the late Plot absconded and lay concealed for some time so as he could not be found by all the search that was made for him But having privately made his Application to the King in an humble and submissive Letter wherein he intirely resigned himself to his Majesties Disposal the Duke thereupon went down to Secretary Jenkins his Office to whom he had voluntarily surrendred himself and upon shewing himself very sensible of his Crime in suffering himself to be drawn into a Conspiracy against the King and Government and making a full Declaration of it and a particular Submission to his Royal Highness for his misbehaviour toward him he did upon the request and Mediation of the Duke obtain his Pardon and the Attorny-General was ordered to stop all further Proceedings against him But refusing afterwards to make the promised Discovery or to sign what he had confest he fell again into the Kings High Displeasure and was thereupon banisht the Court and expelled the Royal Presence About the middle of December this Year began a very extraordinary Frost which lasted till the 5th of February during which time the Thames was frozen over with solid and contiguous Ice with thousands of People walking thereon and whole streets of Booths built quite a cross and shops of almost all manner of Trades on each side as in the high streets of London and Coaches running almost as thick as in Fleetstreet The extremity of the Weather was such that great numbers of poor and indigent People who at other times could but just live were now in regard they could not follow their imployment brought into great necessities and many of them must have starved if the charity of others had not relieved 'em whereupon the King who always loved to take all opportunities to express his charity and affection to his Subjects especially those that were poor and indigent among them granted his Letters Mandatory to the Bishop of London to make a Collection in all Parishes in the
City and Suburbs for the Relief of many Thousand miserable Wretches who would otherwise have perished and to encourage others to so needful a charity by his own example ordered several great Sums of Money to be issued out of his Treasury for that Purpose On the 23d of January being the first day of Hillary Term the Lawyers went over the Ice to Westminster and back again as familiarly as on the Land some on Foot and others in Coaches and there was for above a fortnight together a Fair or Mart kept between the Temple and that part of Southwark which is opposite to it This Year Vienna the Imperial City of Germany was closely besieged and greatly distressed by the Turks who brought it to the very last extremity but were then beaten off and forced to raise their siege by the Blessing of God upon the Valour of the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorrain in which Action the Lord Landsdown Eldest Son to the Earl of Bath behaved himself with so much Valour that he was afterward as a Reward of his Courage created a Count of the Sacred Empire And Tangier having cost the King abundance of Treasure to defend it against the Moors and make the Mole there he now resolved in regard the charges were so very great and the Expectation of Advantage very uncertain to relinquish it and therefore ordered the Lord Dartmouth to repair thither wih about 20 sail of Ships and demolish the Town Castle and Mole choak up the Haven to render it useless to any who might otherwise have thought the Town worth rebuilding and bring off the Inhabitants which was done accordingly About the middle of February 1684. was the Earl of Danby after a long and tedious Imprisonment admitted to Bail by the Eminent and Loyal Sir George Jeffrys who succeeded Sir Edward Sanders in the Lord Chief Justiceship of England all the Judges of the Kings-Bench having first given their several opinions about it and delivered their Reasons why he ought to be bailed and the other four Lords one of them viz. Peters being dead sometime before having just before his Death in a Letter to the King denied upon his Salvation his being any way Guilty of what he stood accused of being within the like Reasons were admitted to the like advantage and so was the Earl of Tyrone who had been almost as long a Prisoner in the Gate-house as they had been in the Tower The King having about the Year 81 appointed under him certain Deputies or Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Offices viz. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Radnor Hallifax Hide and Mr. Seymor to whom he delegated his Power to dispose of all such Ecclesiastical Preferments as were within his immediate Patronage was pleased this Year to revoke their Commission and take those preferments again into his own immediate disposal as likewise a commission formerly granted to several Persons to execute the Office of Lord High Admiral of Eugland which was now again fully enjoyed and exercised by his Royal Highness Acts of Hostility being this Spring-fiercely pursued between the French and Spaniards by Sea and Land he commanded by Proclamation that being at Amity with both those Nations the Peace should be kept inviolably by them whilst they were in any Roads Creeks and Ports of his Dominions and that his Commanders and Officers should oppose themselves against those who should presume to assault any of the Ships of his Allies in any of his Roads or Places under his Protection Oates the Salamanca Doctor and Plot-Master-General not content with having falsly charged his Royal Highness the Kings only Brother and Heir with divers base and improbable Stories as tho he had plotted with the Papists against the King his Brother suffered his Spleen to boil to such an exorbitant degree that he saucily and impudently abused him with base and scurrilous Language calling him Traytor declaring That he hoped to see him hang'd with divers horrid devilish and abominable Expressions The Dukes patience not being easily provoked bore long with him but finding that forbearance did but render him more bold and increase his malignity at last he brought his Action of Scandalnm Magnatum against him upon which he was arrested at the Amsterdam Coffee-house on the back-side of the Royal Exchange and carried to Woodstreet Compter and from thence removed by Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench and having let Judgment go in the next Term by default a Writ of Enquiry was issued out and executed before the Lord Chief Justice in the Kings-Bench Court when the Jury upon hearing the Evidence to shew their detestation of such an unheard of impudence gave 100000 Damages The Hambrough Company out of Gratitude for some great Favour received from the King did this Spring erect a most elaborate and curious Statue of him in Gray Marble in the very middle or Center of the Royal Exchange cut by Mr. Grinlin Gibbons the most Famous Statuary that England ever produc'd and equal if not superior to the best at this Time in Europe in the Garb and Habit of a Roman Caesar It was placed upon a curious Pedestal made of the same Marble upon which was the following Inscription Carolo II Caesari Britanico Patriae Patri Regnum optimo Clementissimo Augustissimo Generis Humani Deliciis Vtriusque fortunae Victori Pacis Europae Arbitro Maris Domino Vindici Societas Meâ—catorum Adventur Angliae Quae per CCCC jam prope Annos Regia Benignitate floret Fidei Intemerata Gratitudinis Aeternaâ— Hoc Testimonium Venerabunda posuit Anno sal Humanae MDCLXXXIV The Council sitting on the 28th of May at Hampton Court as it used frequently to do when he was at Windsor as the most convenient place for his coming to it he told them that he thought it fit and did intend his Brother should be present at the Meetings of the Council who accordingly took his Seat that Day and ever after during his Brothers Life And in October following the King made a Review or Muster of his Land-Forces upon Putney Heath where there was a most gallant Military Appearance the Horse consisting of the Three Troops of Guards the Granadeers the Earl of Oxford's Regiment of Horse and the Lord Churchels Regiment of Dragoons and the Foot of two Battalians formed and the Regiment of Guards with their Granadeers one from the Coldstream Regiment of Guards and Granadeers one from the Earl of Dumbartons Regiment and another from the Admiral Regiment with their Granadeers the whole Number of Horse and Foot between 4000 and 5000 being all exactly trained and well cloath'd most of the Horse march'd in the morning in Gallant Order through the Streets of London and so over the Bridg to Putney This Michaelmas Terms several Factious Persons were convicted of speaking scandalous and seditious Words against the Government for which one Best commonly call'd the Protestant Hop-Merchant was fined 1000 l. and ordered to stand in the Pillory