represented his Majesty no otherwise then any loyal person for this age requires that distinction that hath either heard of or known him will confesse him to be but if they will not let them be convinced by that saying of a worthy Gentleman long time an attendant upon his Majesty who having given me a large account of his virtues at length concluded That Tully himself if now alive could not sufficiently expresse his praise Gentlemen it is to you in General that I present this History that you may see and be sensible to whom you have been loyal and then I believe that you will judge that your loyalty hath found it's just reward in being loyal to so just a Prince and if any of you have suffered for him read but his sufferings you cannot value your own Yet I intend not this at all to his pretended Tavern friends which I believe whilest they are so are so onely there and indeed I cannot look upon these as faithfull Subjects for how can that man be loyal to his Prince who hath not the power to be true unto himself Drunken subjects though never so loyal will prove the ruine both of themselves and their Soveraign Gentlemen let those that are truly loyal joyn their prayers with mine for the happinesse of his most SACRED MAIESTY since in his we must necessarily include our own and more then ours our COVNTRIES To the Readers in general Courteous Readers IF in this History I have displeased any person they cannot be so much displeased as I am sorry I have endeavoured to please all nor have I more then Iustice enforced me to favoured any I have laboured as I professed to write impartially where I have not done so I am confident there will not want Carpers If in some particulars affection hath swayed me though I confesse it a fault yet it brings it's excuse What loyal Subject can relate his Soveraigns sufferings without a passion what Free born English man's heart begins not to rise within him when he does but think of those Tyrannies and Oppressions his Native Countrey hath of late groaned under where I have been bitter it has been with reason where sweet with a great deal of Iustice Yet one thing I shall desire the Reader to take notice of that when I speak of the Presbyterians I mean not those moderate people who are as truly loyal as they are godly but some amongst them like wolves in sheeps clothing such as Straughan and Kerry in Scotland who only pretend themselves to be Presbyterians but are in their proof found Sectaries these are the Flea-bitten Clergy the Sowers of strife and sedition and a scandal to those to whom they pretend to be Brethren To conclude that all the Subjects of this Land may with one heart and voice agree together for the Restauration of our afflicted Sovereign but of our more afflicted selves to just Rights and Priviledges is the earnest prayer of A Hearty well-wisher to his Countrey THE HISTORY OF CHARLES the II. Third MONARCH of Great Britain c. THe Histories of Englands late oppreessours have already cloy'd and overladed the exuberant Presse whole Volumes daily coming forth either of the Actions of the late long Parliament or the Life of their aspiring Generall Cromwell which though adorn'd with all those flatteries that could possibly proceed from the most beneficed pens yet cannot in the least justifie their actions to the more sober sort of people for though their memories may here smell sweet to some who have rather tasted of their favour then suffered under their oppression yet do they but render them to the sufferers more infamous and to the Neuter ridiculous like the extolling of Don Quixot's Chivalry And though there have been some who have adventured to set them out to the life and paint them in their own colours yet have many of these as far exceeded the bounds of Truth as the others came short of it rather exasperated by their own or to please their fellow-sufferers into so great extremes have either side been lead out of fear or flattery anger or passion Moderation and Impartiality are the chiefest virtues of an Historian and therefore he who writes an History should chuse such a subject to write on where neither fear nor gain can induce him to flatter anger or passion to too much bitternesse Most of our modern Historians have proposed to themselves either profit advantage or employment by their Works which hath made them run into their so many grosse errours and flatteries whilst had they only endeavoured to represent things persons and actions impartially they had gained to themselves farre greater honour of true Writing I have chosen a subject to write of which I conceive may lead me to a mediocrity the Persons afflictions may induce me to pity him but they will in most mens judgements restrain me from flattery Nor need I out of fear I being now though unwillingly out of his reach mince the truth of his if any bad actions I confesse the Task I undertake is highly adventurous my pen may slip times may change however my heart shall guide me to an impartiality Charles the II. Heir apparent to the Crown of Great Britain and Ireland and crowned King of Scots whose History I intend to treat of was born on the 29. of May 1630. to the great joy of the King Queen and indeed the whole Nation for never yet had England a Prince born of so noble an extract and grand Alliance his father by lineal right and descent King of Great Britain and Ireland his mother daughter to that thrice Illustrious Prince Henry the Fourth King of France and worthily sirnamed the Great and Maria de Medicis By his Grand-mothers side was he near allied to the Kings of Denmark by the marriage of his Aunt the noble Princesse Elizabeth to the Elector Palatine of Rhene and King of Bohemia and afterwards by the marriage of his Royall Sister the Princesse Mary to the Prince of Orange Thus was he allied to most of the most Potent Princes in Christendome And happy might this Nation have been under his Government if we may believe the vogue of that wisest of men Solomon who pronounces that Kingdome blessed whose Prince is the son of Nobles He was some years after his birth according to the ancient Customes of England for the Kings Eldest son invested Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and was in his minority brought up under the care of the Earle of Neweastle till in the year 1646. the Lord Hopton's Army in which he was being near inclosed by Sir Thomas Fairfax Generall of all the Parliaments Forces in the Devizes of Cornwall and the King his Fathers affairs being in a desperate condition all over England he was by the serious advice of his best friends perswaded to taâ—e shipping and depart for the Scillies from whence he was by the Parliament invited to return to London but he thought
under But let him that shall look upon the several passages of his read them over and over consider the several difficulties he passed the many dangers he was in to be betrayed the countrey being up round about the summe of money set upon his head for which many hundreds out of covetousness made it their business to search for him and they wil confess ingenuously that God was never so merciful to any people as to us in delivering his sacred Majesty so wonderfully out of the hands of his Enemies who breathed out no thing but his death and destruction that we may yet have hopes to be a happy Nation But let us now return to give a ful account of this dismal loss at Worcester in which most of his Maiesty's foot were either made a prise or a sacrifice to their enemies swords of the horse there escaped 3000. out of the field but were most afterwards either taken or knockt on the head by the Countrey in their flight three thousand were judged flain in the Field and about seven thousand taken prisoners whereof the chiefe were the Earls Derby Lauderdale Cleaveland Shrewsburgh and the Lord Wentworth and many other noble persons taken in the pursuit And the chief of those taken in the battel were the Earls of Carnwarth and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir Iohn Packington the Maior Generals Montgomery and Piscotty and the Virgil of this Age that thrice worthy Mr. Richard Fanshaw Translatour of the renowned Pastor Fido and Secretary to his Majesty As for the thrice noble Duke Hamilton he was taken but not overcome over-powred but not vanquish't For after having made a most Heroick resistance he was reduced under his enemies power more for want of strength then valour but death entring in at those wounds which he so gallantly received in defence of his Soveraign soon after released him Major General Massey though he escaped the field yet his wounds being desperate he was forced to surrender himself to the Countesse of Stamford and was by her son the Lord Grey of Groby after the recovery of his wounds sent up prisoner to the Parliament and by them committed to the Tower from whence he not long after escaped and went to his Majesty beyond sea This strange and wonderful Victory as the Juncto at Westminster gave it out to be though they had six to one in the field made that sectarian party cock-a-hoop and to make it the greater publick days of Thanks-giving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their villanies murders tyrannies and treasons and now they boast in all their discourses how clearly it might appear that God owned their cause and disowned their adversaries I think a modern Writer hath sufficiently confuted that commonly received tenent of Polititians * That success denotes actions to be either just or unjust I shall therefore leave the sober Reader here to satisfie himself and refer it to him whether such do not justly deserve Ovid's wish Careat succèssibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Let him for ever in success be poor That thinks it justifies his cause the more But this Nation is so highly sensible of the injustice put upon them by those who pretend so much right in their Cause that there 's no Loyal Subject but will think according to reason that it was not the justice of their cause but our own and the Nation's sinnes which caused God to raise up these men as scourges both to Prince and people and to the Prince onely for the Peoples sake Some I have heard which out of a spirit which I cannot well define have endeavoured to brand his Royal Majesty with Cowardize in this battel which from whence it could proceed unlesse from their own coward nature which would insimulate another in that of which themselves are guilty I cannot imagine since Cromwell the greatest of his Enemies because the most desirous of his Kingdoms yet had so much of truth in him as to give a high and noble Character of his Valour But to proceed We have now said enough of this fatal battel the seeming ruine of the Royal Interest in England unless God of his mercy be pleased to restore it for the good peace and quiet of these Nations since without it we cannot hope to enjoy any His sacred Majesty being landed in France near Havre de Grace from thence with a Noble Lord in his Company posted directly for Roan where they stayed to alter their disguises and furnish them with habits answerable to their Qualities his Majesty from thence having dispatch't Letters to the French Court to acquaint his friends there of his safe arrival which doubtlesse caused no little joy in those who were real to him and almost despaired ever again to have seen him The Duke of Orleans sends his own Coach to fetch him several persons of quality go to meet him by whom he was attended to Paris and there received with all possible expressions of joy lodgings and attendants being forthwith provided for him in the Lâ—uure where at his first arrival he was visited by the Queen his Mother the Duke of Orleans who of all persons in the Kingdome exprest himself the most ready to do him service and the next day visits him again accompanied with his Daughter Madamoiselle He is likewise courted by the Dukes of Beaufort Longueville Guize the Marshal Thurine and many other Peers and Nobles of France who all congratulate his safe deliverance And now his Majesty having lost all hopes of any further means of attaining his Dominions by force leads here a retired life yet living in regard of his high alliance extraction in great esteem with all the French Nobility Insomuch that notwithstanding his present low condition there was very great talk of a match to be made up between him and the Madamoiselle de Orleans the richest Princes in Christendom yet by some means or other it came to no effect though the Queen of England his Mother was an earnest promoter of it and also of the Duke of York to Longneville's daughter Whilest these things were transacting hapned that lately reconciled Fracture between the Prince of Conde Cardinal Mazarine most of the Princes of the Blood siding with the first the King of France who was newly declared of age to sway the Scepter himself with the last The cause of the quarrel was that extravagant power which Mazarine a stranger had usurped in the government of the Kingdome both depriving the Princes of the Blood of their Right and oppressing the people whose daily murmurings more encouraged the Princes against him This power he had got into his hands in the Regency of the Queen Mother whose grand favourite he only was The Princes therefore though they could not during her Regency who so much loved him yet hoped they might effect something now the King himself is come to govern to which intent they charge him with several miscarriages
it safer for his Person to depart from thence to his Sister at the Hague till the Royall affairs in England might gain a better posture which he did and there found a reception answerable to his birth Not long after the King his Royall Father being in danger to be inclosed in Oxford by Generall Fairfax who returning out of the West had designed to block it up took care for his safety and attended only by Mr. Ashburnham or as some say attending on him went privily out thence and threw himself upon the Scotch Army then at Newark who shortly after notwithstanding his confidence of them for a summe of money delivered him up most perfidiously and traiterously to his implacable Enemies the English Army These after many pretences of Treaties and seeming willingnesse to come to an accord with him on that black day the 30. of Ianuary 1648. most villanously and trayterously beyond the imagination of the World murder'd him Thus far is a short view of those hardships and afflictions undergone by this noble Prince during his fathers life and raign we will now proceed to those he hath since ran through which we may more properly particularly call his Own Among which the Chief and greatest and from whence all his other miseries flowed as from their spring head was the deprivation of his Kingdome and Royalties For that part of the Parliament of England which had usurped the whole power or more were not onely content to take away his Fathers life but by their Proclamation deprive him of all right in the Government of those three Kingdomes which they take upon themselves contrary both to the Word of God the Fundamental Lawes of the Nation and his own undoubted right by birth he being lineally descended from that Family which had successively governed England for above three hundred yeares He was at the time of his Fathers death at the Court of his Sister the Royall Princesse of Orange in the Hague in expectation to hear rather of the Conclusion of a Treaty then of his Murder to which effect he writ by the Lord Seymour the following Letter to him some short time before his Death For the King SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties present Condition but such as I receive from the prints or which is as uncertain reports I have sent thts bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majesty and to bring mean account of it that I may withall assure your Majesty I doe not onely pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwaies be ready to do all which shall be in my power to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majesties Most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Jan. 23. 1648. And here he staid till he heard the heart-breaking newes of his Fathers Murther when shortly after he took his Iourney to the Queen his mother in France hoping there to get aid but found none which might render him in a Capacitie to revenge his Father's Death or demand his own Right by force and in vain it was to think of any fair means to attain it Yet there wanted not some friends of his in England who willing to demonstrate how ready they were to adventure themselves for him and his right as far as their weak abilities would stretch caused under hand a Proclamation to be printed proclaiming him King of England Scotland France and Ireland and advising all his good Subjects to give all due Allegiance to him but the low condition of the Royallists then in England and the great strength and potency of the Parliaments Army made this Proclamation unvalid and those who at a fit opportunity would willingly have complied with it were forced to direct their Obedience to the contrary Goal But though England prov'd thus defective to his Interest not so much I dare say in Allegiance as power Yet Ireland is at his Devotion for the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchequin having made a peace with the Quondam Rebels he is by joynt consent both of Papists and Protestants proclaimed King in most towns of that Nation Dublin and London Derry only excepted which were kept from their Allegiance the one by the Lieu. General Iones the other by Sir Charles Coot who jointly strove to justifie the Parliament of England's late ctions He being thus proclaimed there is solemnly invited to come over to them to which invitation his Mother earnestly adds her desires but the best of his friends and Counsellours as earnestly disswaded him upon reasons drawn both from prudence and Policy since in probability the design not succeeding it would utterly ruine his hopes with all the Protestant party then stedfast to him both in Scotland England or that if he would needs venture himself with this party they desired him at least to attend whether by any good event of theirs there might be any probability of successe 'T is supposed that this Council swaied with him more out of his real affection to the Protestant Religion then any other Politick reason Yet he immediately after took a journey to the Isle of Iersey which startled some as though he had intended to have proceeded thence for Ireland but that suspition proved unnecessary he was accompanied hither by his Brother the Duke of York who was lately come to him out of Holland and many other Nobles and Gentlemen the Islanders immediately upon his arrival most joyfully proclaimed him King and the Lord Iermyn Earl of Yarmouth was made Governour of that Island who constituted Sir George Carteret his Deputy Governour The King sends from hence his Royal Command to the Governour of Gernsey Island which was then wholly subjected Cornet Castle only excepted to the Parliaments force requiring him to surrender the said Island to him and that his good Subjects there might have liberty to return to their due obedience but his Command proved ineffectual Many affirm but how true I know not that the Reason of the Kings removal to this Island was out of design to surprize Dartmouth and some other places in the West by the Levellers help who having then made a defection from the Parliaments Army in England were say they to have joyned with the Royallists for the intents and purposes aforesaid but whether so or no I cannot affirm though I can certainly tell this that were it so it proved uneffectual for the Levellers were soon overpowered and quell'd Whilest King Charles was here expecting a Messenger from the States of Scotland came new's of the unfortunate overthrow of the Marquess of Ormond his Army by Lieu. General Iones before Dublin which caused a general sorrow among all his followers for there had been great hopes and expectations of that Army it amounting to no lesse then twenty two thousand men and was esteemed able not onely to have taken Dublin but likewise to have resisted Cromwell's then new comming Army in the field yet whether
of State which the Cardinal defends and the King also enclines to his side by the instigation of the Queen his Mother yet nothing but the Cardinal's banishment will satisfie the Princes who join the Duke of Lorain to them then in the service of the Spaniard with an Army of ten thousand men so that they intend with his assistance if they could not obtain their desires by fair means to have forc't it Thus these differences were arrived at such a height that nothing but a Civil War was like to ensue which made his Sacred Majesty of England use his utmost endeavours to compose and stay this breach before it came to an utter overflow to which effect he daylie went to and fro betwixt the King the Princes endeavouring to bring them to a reconciliation urging by his own example the miseries and calamities that must necessarily fall upon every man's head by a Civil War telling the King that the late Example of his Royal Father of happy memory might be an inducement to him to be at peace with his Subjects rather then embroil his Kingdoms in a bloody War by which though he might for the present gain the better yet in the end he would still be sure to have the worse Yet these Arguments and his Majesty's earnest endeavours for peace and reconciliation produced nothing but only contract an unjust odium upon him from both parties for his good will the Princes believing that he counselled the King against them and the Cardinal again him So that he lost the love of both by endeavouring to make them love one another yet notwithstanding the ill successe he had this Noble Prince stil pursues his pacifick intentions til such time as he gains a conference between the King Cardinal and Princes but this proves ineffectual for the Princes heightened with the aid they expected from the Duke of Lorain instead of coming to an accord onely exasperate differences Yet his sacred Majesty ceases not but indeavours to bring them yet to a peaceable compliance and in order thereunto procures another conference where he himself would be Moderatour but this proves as ineffectual as the former For the Prince of Conde was above all others outragious and would come to no agreement except Mazarine were first banished France and the French King as violently persisted in his resolution against it alledging That he had approved himself both a faithfull servant and an able Minister of State So instead of agreement both sides prepare for Warre yet are both sides equally angry and exasperated against his sacred Majesty for his good will towards them and the nation the one and other party imagining that both he and his Mother had given counsels opposite to their designs But that which above all exasperated the Princes against his Majesty of England was the sudden luke-warmness of the Duke of Lorain in the businesse For though he had drawn off his Army as though he had complied with their resolutions to come to a battel yet being sent for by the Princes to advance towards Paris he refused to come which made the Princes believe there had been some underhand-dealing with him and that which most of all increased their jealousies that King Charles had a hand in it was this The Duke of Beaufort coming to the Camp of Lorain to desire him in the name of the Princes to come up and fight found there his Mâ—jesty his Brother the Duke of York in private conference with Lorain who withdrawing when Beaufort appeared Beaufort finding the Duke's aversness to the enterprize confirmed him and he confirmed the Princes of the King of England's endeavours whereby he had withdrawn Lorain from their party This coming to the peoples ears who were absolute favourers of the Princes and invetrate enemies to Mazarine so extremely incensed them against the English Princes that they threaten violence and indignities to their persons and are not afraid to affront the Queen their Mother in her Coach which made his Majesty to avoid the popular fury retire himself from the Lovure to St. Germane Nor is the Cardinal less incensed though under a more politick vail For though both Princes People might imagine and believe that his Majesty had counsel'd things opposite to their intentions yet the Cardinal very wel knew that he had advised the King as the best course to consent to his departure out of the Kingdom and that if he had endeavoured to draw Lorain from their party 't was only out of a desire he had to expedite their agreement he therefore resolves to thwart him in all his designs And so he did to the utmost of his endeavours For his Majesty though suspected by the Princes in his several conferences with Lorain to have endeavoured to divert him from them was onely transfacting with him for the recovery of his Kingdome of Ireland out of the hands of the English Republick to which effect several Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorain and the Lord Taaf two of which were 1. That the Duke of Loraine should transport an Army of 10000. men at his own charges into Ireland there to join with such as should be found Loyal for the Recovery of his Majesties Rights in that Kingdom 2. That the Duke of Lorain should by his Majesty be invested with the Power and Title of Protector Royal of Ireland These Articles though drawn up never came to be signed the cause of which some have imagined to be the disability of the Duke to perform the Enterprize without the Aid of some other Prince but we may in more reason guesse it proceeded from the strenuous endeavours of Mazarine his Majesty 's so lately made-enemy to divert the Duke's Army then from any other cause Many in England upon hearing of these Propositions made to the Duke of Lorain which I must confess some believe to have never proceeded any farther then Discourse of the Dukes feared his Majesties too great inclination to the Romish Religion which fear his after-retirement at St. Germain's convinced there was no need of For here he spent his time wholly in Piety and Devotions according to the best Worship of the Church of England never forgetting to pray for those his Enemies who were not only content to have deprived him of his Kingdomes but continually belched forth both slanders and maledictions against him His Majesty having staid at S. Germaines till such time as the heat of the popular fury was over which decreased still towards him as they found Mazarine more averse to him returned again to the Lovure where during his abode his brother the Duke of Glocester who had a long time been detained by the Iuncte of England in the Isle of Wight and was lately permitted by them to go to his Sister the Princess Royall in Holland came to him accompanied from the Hague by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile he was at his arrivall at Paris honourably received by the
severall other English Lords For upon the rupture of the peace between Oliver Cromwell and the King of Spain Don Iohn de Austria Governour Royall of the Low Countries for his Catholick Majesty commiserating our Kings unfortunate Condition now that his Interest might stand them in some stead had sent the Count De Fuensaldagne his Ambassadour to his Majesty of Great Brittain then resident as I said before at Colon inviting him into the Low Countries and assuring him in the name of his Catholick Majesty all possible service and assistance which invitation his Majesty graciously accepted and soon after took his journey from Colen towards Flanders and being come to Bruges the place appointed for his reception he was received with all honour imaginable and conducted to a Pallace purposely provided for him where he hath for the most part ever since remained Hither the Duke of York came accompanied as aforesaid having first in his way touched at Brussels where he was magnificently entertained and complemented by Don Iohn to whom he freely proffered his service in the Wars which was accepted with a great deal of thanks though he had not at first a command given him correspondent to that which he left in the French Army yet was his prudence courage valour and conduct in no lesse respect as afterwards by the Spaniards esteem of him appeared From thence he went to wait on his Majesty at Bruges where he was received with an affection correspondent to the near alliance with his sacred Majesty Before his Majestie's departure from Colen there happened a discocery of one of those persons who under pretence of waiting upon him Captain Manning by name discovered unto the Protector all his Designes and Counsels who being found out was by his Majesties Command sent to a strong Castle adjacent to Colen there to be kept close prisoner But all the Court being highly incensed against him for his perfidiousnesse one of his Majesties Servants though contrary to order pistol'd him as he was lighting out of the Coach at the Castle gate giving him lesse then the due regard of his so abominable treachery The Duke of York being arrived as I said at Bruges was highly carressed by all the persons of quality there resident and his Majesty who not withstanding Cromwell's earnest endeavours either to dispatch disable or make slaves of his loyal subjects had nevertheless some true friends io England who were still ready to venture lives estates for his so just cause had got together a considerable number of such English and Scotch whose Loyalty had banished them from their habitations and who were ready at all occasions to assist both his Majesty and themselves for the recovery of his and their just rights and estates but the continual advice which Cromwell alwaies had from those treacherous persons which he maintained about his Majesty made all enterprizes tending to the regaining of his Kingdoms and redeeming of his subjects liberty ineffectual This Army which his Majesty had quartered near the sea side to be ready on all occasions for transport was afterwards since there was no apparent hopes that his Majesty might make any succesfull use of them imployed in the service of the King of Spain For his Majesty of Spain had then great need of men in Flanders the English Protector having according to articles agreed upon between him the French King sent over six thousand foot for his assistance in his wars against Flanders in consideration of which help the English were to have Dunkirk which was agreed on to be beleaguer'd by the joynt-forces of France and England Whilst in the mean time the Protector Cromwell is by a parcel of a Parliament of which Sir Thomas Withrington was Speaker invested with his power and installed in Westminster-Hall and now he conferres those dignities which were formerly the Kingly rewards of loyalty upon his co-partners and followers and whether in mockery of that Government which he had so violently endeavoured to abolish or out of a perjured intention to settle it in himself which he swore not to endure in another he established a Pageant House of Lords who though then made to rule domineer over the Nation yet were formerly most of them persons not fit to be servants to some mean Mechanicks this was that Government which he had so solemly sworn against but when men have once forgot their Loyalty to their Soveraign what vices will they not run into But to return again to Flanders The English and French Armies had according to the articles concluded on betwixt them beleaguer d Dunkirk which Don Iohn knowing to be a place of great importance and an inlet into Flanders by sea for English Forces used his utmost endeavours to raise the sieges to which effect he levied what Forces he could either by his own or his Majesties influence having made up a considerable Army himself in person accompanied by the English Dukes of York Glocester together with those forces formerly addicted to his Majesties service advanced towards the joyntforce of the French English then beleaguering the Town who understanding by their scouts of his approach left such Forces in the leagure as might secure them within from a sally and drew up towards Don Iohn who had encamped near Fuernes the French and English were notwithstanding those forces they had left in the trenches much more numerous then the Spaniards both in horse and foot which made them the more resolved in the Encounter for though the others came to raise the siege yet the besieger were the first assaulters The first brush began with a forlorn hope of English infantry consisting of above three hundred who desperately charged upon a party of the Spanish foot which had advantageously dâ—â—â—n themselves upon a rising ground and seconded by Lockart's Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonell Fenmick and some other additional supplies of English Infantry routed not only them but the other bodies of Spanish foot drawn up on the same manner In this charge Lieutenout Colonel Fenwick received his morrall wound and some other English Commanders were slain outright The Spanish Cavalry seeing their foot so easily put to a rout began likewise to flie nor could by any endeavoors be perswaded to stand whereupon the French Horse who had all that while stood still and seen the English do execution on the Enemies foot with a full career pursue their flying Enemies of whom they found little opposition but only what was made by the thrice valiant Duke of York's Râ—giment who for a time made the whole French Army to stand saved the lives of many of their flying friends which else had been sacrificed to the Enemies fury whilst in the mean time they dedicated their own lives or persons to their safeties For after they had made a very noble and gallant resistance over-powred by numbers and having no supplies to refresh their wearied bodies they were forced to yeild to their Enemies numbers
to encourage his souldiers whom he found both encreasing in their numbers and much reioiced at his presence The Parliament of Scotland which had adiourned to give time for his Majesties Coronation being met again there were strong endeavors of the Kings that several Lords of the Royal party should be admitted to their seats in Parliament but the Assemblies of the Kirk at Sterling and Aberdeen as strongly oppose it and shew themselves discontented both at this proposal likewise at the new Levies in regard they were there admitted to commands in the Army as they now desired to have place in Parliament yet notwithstanding these murmurings they were upon their reconciliation to the church and passing the Stool of Repentance re-admitted to their places in Parliament such were Duke Hamilton the Marquesse of Huntley the Earls of Calender Crawford and others But stil not only many of the Ministers notwithstanding there was a select Committee appointed to examine and punish such persons who any way confronted and murmured against any designs or acts of State raile against these proceedings but some of the Nobles too are discontented insomuch that the Earle of Sutherland utterly refused to concur with them and if he could possibly would have opposed them by force And indeed very many or most of the Presbyterians were discontented For the Royal party by the admission of those Lords and others was grown stronger then the Kirk's and now bore all the sway which made the proud Marquess of Argyle and other Covenantier Lords murmur at being afraid lest in time they should wholly be laid aside they having already seen one of their party begun with for the Earl of Louden who customarily had the Lord Chancellorship of the Kingdome was removed from his place the Lord Burleigh constituted Chancellor in his stead Yet on the Covenanters side there wanted not some Ministers such were Mr. Robert Douglass and Mr. David Dicks who endeavoured to beget a right understanding in both parties that these sparks of discontent might not at last burst out into a flame as 't was very much feared they would but rather that in this time of danger they might lay aside all animosities and unite together against the common Eenemy who else would be the ruine of them both And now his Majesty to keepe a correspondency abroad sends the Earl of Dumferling Ambassador to the States of Holland he had likewise at the same time several other Ambassadors or Agents abroad in the Courts of several Princes to require aid but never found more then what fair and sugared promises produced And about this time Sir Henry Hide being sent over to England from Constantinople whither he had bin sent as Ambassador from his Majesty to the Grand Signior by Sir Thomas Bendysh his means who was then Ambassador for the Republick of England but yet deem'd a person of more loyalty to his Prince then to have sent his Ambassador to be murder'd if he could have avoided it after somewhat a formal trial suffered death on a Scaffold before the Royal Exchange in London for having taken Commissions from his Soveraign And not long after him Captain Brown Bushel who though he had formerly been an enemy to his Maiesties father yet now suffer'd death upon the Tower-hill London for having done some signal services by sea for his present Majesty But to return to the Kings affairs in Scotland where the special businesses in hand were the compleating the levies to 15000. foot and 6000. horse which went on apace and the fortifying the towne of Sterling which his Majesty intended for the place of his chief residence to the hastening of the which his Majesty went often in Progress to view the Works and encourage the pioniers And time it was to hasten those Works for the English drew every day nigher nigher towards them having already taken the Fort of Blackness which lay between Sterling and Edenburgh which was nevertheless not accounted so great a loss as the surprizal of the Earle of Eglington and one of his sons by a party of English horse at Dumbarton for this Earl was a person of a great deal of power in that Nation and his taking very much obstructed the going forward of the Levies But Sterling being almost fortified sufficiently his Majesty removed his Court hither where whilest he was his Birth-day being the 29. of May was kept through Scotland with all such tokens of joy as are usual upon such occasions but the town of Dundee exceded all the rest for besides their equal expressions of Joy they presented his Maiesty with a rich Tent six pieces of Field Ordinance and set out a Regiment of horse towards his assistance at their own charge At Sterling likewise were the head-Quarters kept most of the Scotch Army Quartering about it whither Middleton's leavies from the North being come and amounting to about 8000. men it came to be a dispute whether these should be a distinct Army by themselves or be joined with Lesley's Southern Levies but at length it was thought most convenient to joyne them and his Majesty to prevent those animosities which might arise between Middleton and Lesley for the Generalship took upon himself the Command of the whole From hence his Majesty sent a messenger to the Parliament still sitting at S. Johnston's with these demands 1. That the Act about the Classis of malignants should be revoked and disannulled and that an Act pass for its repeal 2. That there might be no more any mention of the name of malignants amongst them 3. That Duke Hamilton the Earls of Seaforth and Callender c. might have as full command in the Army as any others The demands were strongly debated vro con in the Parliament the Marquess of Argile and others of the covenanted strain endeavouring by all means possible to oppose them yet at length though with much difficulty they were carried in the affirmative it being urged by the more moderate sort too that the granting of these would be the only way to take away all animosities between those parties which they intended to unite The Parliament having granted these things to his Maiesty and given large Commissions and Instructions for the compleating of the levies about the beginning of June dissolved leaving all things in relation to civil and intestine distempers in a calm and quiet all parties seeming to be pleased and their actions united towards the opposing of their common Enemy Cromwell Whilest these things were thus transacted in Scotland a great and terrible plot was discovered against the Juncto then ruling in England their government in assistance of his Majesty to his just Rights This design was chiefly laid by those Presbyterians who had been such dire Opponents of his Majesty's blessed father of happy yet unhappy memory viz. the greatest part Presbyterian Ministers who had most of them formerly belcht out such firebrands from their Pulpits as had set both Church and State in a combustion
King of France and Queen Mother and courted according to his birth by the rest of the Grandees and Peers of the Kingdome Likewise during his Majesties abode here arrived his Quondam Preserver Mrs. Iane Lane who after she had taken leave of his Majesty at Bristow returned home and lived for some space in a great deal of security not doubting she could be betrayed Yet at length by what means I know not though indeed I have heard of many relations that I dare not relate any it came to light yet she had some timely notice of it whereupon she who had formerly disguised his Majesty in a Serving-mans habit now disguises her self in that of a Country wench and that trots on foot to save her life which she was like to loose for having formerly saved his sacred Majesties quite crosse the Countrey to Zarmouth where she found shipping which convey'd her safe into France great search after her departure there was made for her but in vain which so incensed the Souldiers that they burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where his Majesty first took shelter after his Escape from Worcester She being arrived in France sends a Letter to the Court whereupon his Majesty almost overjoyed at her Escape who had been the cause of his immediately sends some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris whither being near come himself with the Queen his Mother the Duke of York Glocester went out to meet this Preserver of the life of their Son Sovereign and Brother the Coaches meeting and she being descended from her Coach his Majesty likewise descends and taking her by the hand salutes her with this gratefull expression Welcome my life and so putting her into his own Coach conducts her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause wonder of the whole Court she could indeed deserve no less for I believe neither past or future ages can or will ever parallell so great a pattern of female Loyalty and Generosity Whilst his Majesty was thus passing away his time in France more in contemplation then action Oliver Cromwel made General of all the Iuncto's forces in England Scotland and Ireland finding now a fit opportunity to put his long-laid ambitious designs in execution had dissolved that Iuncto which had usurped the Kingly power or more over England and taken upon himself though not the title yet the Royall power authority over these Nations which the people though unwilling yet were forced to submit to and though he had not at first any basis whereon to ground his new usurped Regality yet in stead of one Iuncto he pluckt down he easily sets up another which I may the more justly call so in regard there was not one of them chosen by the free Votes of the people but by his own Arbitray Election those such persons who knew well enough what they had to doe before they met these after a short time of sitting without doing any thing besides the making of some impertinent laws which were forceably imposed on the people surrender their power as dying men do their souls to God into his hands that gave it who by the help of the Officers of the army Lamberts instrument makes himself immediatly King of England Scotland Irelaand which government he had often swore against though under the title of Protector This I must needs say Noble Tyrant having got the Dominion of three such Kingdomes into his possession made it now as much his study to preserve himself safe in his Estate and Grandezza as he did before to acquire it to which purpose he thought it most suitable to that design to make some remarkable disturbance amongst the neighbouring Princes then to contine that War begun by the Iuncto of Parliament with the Dutch to which purpose several motions of a Treaty passed His sacred Majesty though he had sundry times before solicited the assistance of those United Provinces for the regaining of his Right in his Kingdomes now more earnestly upon secret intelligence of the first motions of this Treaty sends the Lord Gerard his Embassadour to the United States more earnestly intreating them to own his Interest then before proffering that if they would vest out a squadron of good Ships under his Flag he would command them himself in person His Sister the Princess of Orange and other of his friends in the Low Countries addicted to his Interest earnestly prosecutes his desires and use their utmost influence on the States of the United Provinces for the performance of his propositions Nor are there five of these Provinces nor Van Trump himself their Admiral unwiling to comply with him Only the Province of Holland the most potent at sea stands out chiefly out of the disgust they had lately taken to the family of Orange whose Interest and command they were fearfull might be restored should his Majesty who was Uncle to the young Prince be invested in his Territories His Majesty likewise to advance his hopes of their assistance when Monsieur Bortell came from those United States to negotiate a League with the King of France used his utmost Interest to promote the Treaty and in fine brought it to a desired period notwithstanding the United States sent no other answer to his Embassy then a cold Letter of Complements His designs thus failing him here he directed himself to a more hopefull course by interposing himself a Mediator with the Pope other Catholick Princes for an accord and peace between the two mighty Crowns of France and Spain And indeed two such potent Monarchs had been in better capacity with their joynt forces to have assisted him had the peace went forward as there was great hopes then the United States of the Netherlands but Cardinall Mazarine by a piece of secret State-policy endeavoured to obstruct all proceedings which might tend to a Treaty or accord Nor was this Cardinal's Spleen to his Royall Majesty yet allayed for his supposed Council against him in the forementioned difference between the King and Princes but farther to prejudice him his affairs he endeavours the promotion of a peace betwixt the Protector of England the French King his Master which though opposed by all the force Interest that either himself or the Queen his Mother had in the French Court yet was by the Cardinal whose will was a law all other government in that Kingdome being but a meer shadow vigorously carried on and an Ambassadour sent over to treat of an accord where having been sometime in England his Majesty was by secret intelligence informed that the chief Article insisted upon in the Treaty by the Protector of England was the excluding himself relations and followers out of the Kingdome of France and it 's Territories wherefore least the treaty should be suddenly concluded upon those terms and he ceremoniously excluded he thought it more honourable himself to leave that Kingdome of his on accord and having
taken his leave of the King of France the rest of the Nobility accompanied with his Cousin Prince Rupert he departed for Germany where the Lord Wilmot had long been Ambassador for him to solicite aid and assistance Yet notwithstanding his Brothers the Duke of York and Glocester staid still in France The first having under the Command of the Marshal of Turine against the Spaniards performed such Eminent services as had made him deservedly esteemed a most valorous and prudent Prince insomuch that notwithstanding his Youth he was made Lieu. Generall of the French Army and thought so well worthy that Command that when Turine the most esteemed Generall the French have for a long time had lay desperately sick and it was expected that he should breath his last he was by the King of France sent to to desire him that seeing there were so little hopes of this life he would nominate such a General of his Army as he might judge fit to succeed him To which Turine answered that if his Majesty would have his affairs prosper he should make choice of a Noble valorous and fortunate Generall which if he did he could make of choice of no fitter person then the thrice Heroick Duke of York As for his Brother the Duke of Glocester he remained at the Pallace Royall in Paris with the Queen his Mother who shortly after the Departure of his Royall Majesty endeavoured by all the bonds of filial obedience and the most prevailing Arguments could be used to perswade him to become Roman Catholick noâ— did she alone but the Queen Mother of France and the prime Nobility of that Kingdom attempted the same when the Rhetorique of the Court could not prevail the most eminent for learning set upon him with that depth of reason as long acquired study and their own interest could oblige them to use or furnish them withall nor were Arguments and Reaonly used but the highest temptatiâ—ns this world could present to a Prince in Adversity such were a Cardinals Hat and a Revenue suitable to his Dignity when these could not prevail the indignâ—tion of a Royall Mother was poured forth upon him which brought him the deprivation of his Tutor his Servants and all Comforters in these temptations But that Noble Prince was so far indowed during this affliction with the Principles of the Religion of the Church of England besides that naturall piety and constancy flowing from his most religious Father of blessed Memory that by the depth of Truth and Reason he defended himself against these attempts After this he is committed to the care of one Mr. Walter Mountague Abbot of Nantueil living at Pontoise who keeps him in very closely and works and persists still in endeâ—â—ouring to pervert him using the Argument of Duty and obedience to his Mothers commands which she did injoyn him to doe or never more to see her face which from that day to this he hath not seen This Noble soul replyed with a sorrowful heart That as the Queens Majeâ—ty was his Mother he ought her duty but as his Brother was his King and Sovereign he ought him Duty and Allegiance which he could not dispute Whilst he is at Pontoise the most noble and religious Lord 〈◊〉 takes occasion to go wait upon the Dukâ— according to private instructions received from his Majesty who to his great sorrow had advised of these particulars he is admitted with much trouble to the presence of the Duke who imbraced him as his Deliverer with some difficulty urging the commands of his Majesty and his own arguments he is delivered to his care who conducts him with a speciall respect and diligence to his house in Paris where he is entertained divers daies with all honour confirmed with all diligence by that learned Lord in his so well imbued Principles untill the arrivall of the Marquesse of Ormond who by the Kings Command receives and conducts him to his Majesties Court His Majesty in his journy towards Germany came first to Chatillon a Castle belonging to the Prince of Conde whither he was accompanied by his Brother the Duke of Yorkâ— and his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward Palatines here Prince Edward and the Duke of York left them the one going to Bourbon the other returning to the Army where he continued a good while after his Majesty and Prince Rupert continuâ—d for some few daies their journy together 'till the Prince parted from him to go visit his Brother Frederick at Hidelberg his Majesty passing through Cambray and Leige to the Spaw where he took up the first place of his Residence in Germany whither his Sister the Royall Princess of Orange came to visit him and they no doubt during the time of their being there were as merry as two such afflicted Princes could But let us a little leave his Majesty at the Spaw and look into his Kingdomes where Cromwell that he might secure himself in his ill-gotten Estate endeavours by all means possible either to take away the lives or wholly impoverish and disable his Majesties loyal Subjects who are continually charged with something which he by his usurped power takes hold of to destroy them several persons are apprehended and charged with a design to have seized on the Tower and proclaimed his Majesty King of those Kingdoms which by right were his for tryall of which persons a High Court of Justice a thing we now in England know very well was erected for the tryall of those persons and Col. Iohn Gerard Mr. Peter Vowel and Sommerset Fox were condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered for no lesse then High Treason forsooth though there were then no Act in being making it Treason to conspire against the Power then in being in England But somewhat of the sentence was remitted and Col. Gerard was beheaded and Mr. Vowel only hanged Mr. Fox reprieved I have always observed that in all the tryals made by those High courts of Justice for plots as they call them there hath still been some one person who though brought to tryall have either not been condemned though look't upon by the people as eminent in the businesse as any and though Condemned yet have been reprieved what others guesse of it I will not determine I know what I do The truth is that his Majesty had alwaies the ill fortune to have such false servants about him as have for the Lucre of money either betrayed any enterprize of his for the gaining of his right the Protector especially being very prodigal in such expences his intelligence as most affirm standing him in no less then two hundred thousand pounds per annum or else those persons engaged for him being many of them deboist fellows and who often ran upon designes uncommissioned have in a Tavern both layd and betrai'd their own undertakings or else some here in England who have undertaken in such businesses have either for fear or gain betrayed both their Prince friends and Countrey Thus much for