that distinction that hath either heard of or know 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 himselfe if now alive could not sufficiently expresse his praise Gentlemen it is to you in Generall 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 and you cannot value your own Yet I intend not this at all to his pretended Tavern friends which I believe whilst they are so are so onely there and indeed I cannot looke upon these as faithful Subjects for how can that man be loyal to his Prince who hath not the power to be true unto himselfe 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 happiness of his most SACRED MAIESTY since in his we must necessarily conclud 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 sory I have endeavoured to please all nor have I more then Justice enforced me to favoured any I have laboured as J professed to write impartially where J have not done so J am confident there will not want Carpers Jf in some particulers affection hath swayed me though J 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 Oppressions his Native Countrey hath of late groaned under where J have been bitter it has been with reason where sweet with a great deal of Justice Yet one thing J shall desire the Reader to take notice of that when J speak of the presbyterians J mean not those moderate people who are as truly loyal as they are godly but some amongst them like wolves in sheeps cloathing such as Straughan and Kerry in Scotland who onely pretend themselves to be Presbyterians but are in their proof found Sectaries these are the Flea-bitten Cleargy 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 Soveraign 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 MONARCK of Great Britain c. THe Histories of Englands late opressours have already cloyd and overladed the exuberant Press whole Volums 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 opression 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 farr exceeded the bounds of Truth as the others came short of it rather exasperated by their own or to please their fellow sufferrers into so great extreams 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 writs an History should chuse such a subject to write on where neither fear nor gain can induce him to flatter anger or passion or 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 farr 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 judgments 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 Jreland 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 desent King of Great Britain and Jreland 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 Grandmothers 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 King of Bohemia and afterwards by the marriage of his Royal 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 Earle of Chester and was in his minority brought up under the care of the Earle of Newcastle 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 desperat condition all over England he was by the serious advice of his best friends perswaded to take shipping and depart for the Scillies from whence he was by the Parliament invited to return to London but he thought it safer for his Person to depart from thence to his Sister at
THE HISTORY OF His SaCRed Majesty CHARLES the II. KING of England Scotland France Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Begun from the Murder of his Royall Father of Happy Memory continued to this present year 1660. By a Person of Quality Bona agere mala pati Regium est CORK Reprinted by William Smith Anno Dom 1660. To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord Marquess of DORCHESTER Earl of Kingston Viscount Newark Lord Pierrepoint and Manvers c. Right Honourable IT was not upon long Considerations but easie resolutions that I pitched upon your Lordship determined to presume upon your patronage of this small review of the actions of his SACRED MJESTY whose hard fortunes may now demand a Subjects protection since I could no where else find a person who bears so great a name of true Honour and Generosity nor one whose assured loyalty will make him lesse ashamed or afraid to owne his Prince And indeed my Lord when I looked upon these Nations once I may say almost peopled with Nobles and now in a great measure deprived both of her Nobility and Gentry 't was easie for me to find out the Prime of those remaining which a small search told me was your Lordship who though you have been no whit behind the foremost in Loyalty yet God hath been pleased to make others drinke deeper in the Cup of affliction then your selfe But all those miseries which either your Lordship or other loyal persons have suffered cannot come in competition with those undergon by his SACRED MAJESTY who hath drunk up the very dregs of the Cup and suffered more then can be well spoken yet all with so incomparable a patience as worthily deserves our wonder My Lord you are amongst the Prime of the Nobility which God hath yet been pleased to spare this miserable Nation as you are so I could not think any person fitter for the patronage of this small piece since both your loyalty may make you willing and your power able to protect it If I have soar'd too high either in the subject or dedication I shall humbly crave your Lordships pardon and answer to the first That I was willing to vindicate my Sovereign as far as in me lay from those many reproaches and calumnies cast upon him by his back-biting enemies by giving the best account that either my own knowledge or the surest intelligence I could get might enable me to of all his actions that he might appear the contrary of what he is represented dirt be cast in the faces of his Accusers To the second I wholly cast my selfe on your Lordship either to pardon or condemn But if my Love to his Majestie may in the judgements of some have strained my pen too much in his favour I desire it may be imputed not to my intent but passion for the unworthy sufferings of so worthy a Prince would irritate any loyall Subject My Lord whilst yotr Lordship shall be gratiously pleased to patronize this small worke that GOD would be pleased to restore his Majesty to be Patron of his Kingdoms and people and blesse your Lordship with all imaginary blessings shall be the daily prayers of Your Lordships most humble Servant I. D. To the Right Honourable Major General Richard Brown Colonel of the Regiment of horse of the City of London Alderman John Robinson Colonel of the Green Regiment of the Cities Trained Bands Ald. Anthony Bateman Col. of the Red. Ald. Will. Wale Col. of the White William Vincent Col. of the Blew Thomas Bludworth Col. of the Orange and Lawrance Bromfield Col. of the Yellow Right Honourable MAlice and error are the Epidemical diseases of our time and land so that whoever as a friend to his Country shall presume to discover any thing of a spirit of Love or truth is likely to exasperate not a few That I trust both the Author and my selfe the Stationer have endeavoured to do and therefore must expect to meet with the hard censures and Calumnies of many yea even of such of whom we have no worse thoughts then that they suffer themselves to be abused with popular mistakes and unnecessary jealousies concerning that most Christian and Illustrious though now clouded Prince the subject of the following Book Whose eares according to the Ephesians Hieroglyphick of Calumny have been opened too wide to the malevolent aspertions of ignorant and illinterested persons and are therefore prejudiced against every relation that may represent him to the World as lovely and desirable We know Themistocles had the unhappy sate to be rendred odious to the people by Aristides gallant persons both but the latter under a mistake These we pity rather then be angry at them and desire to cure them of their beloved distemper by presenting them with this succinct faithfull History But yet that I may not be altogether unprovided of a shelter if the storm of their zealous frenzie should chance to fall upon me besides a recourse to my own integrity which Ianus-like will make me Tanto frontosior quanto innocentior I humbly crave a room under the shadow of your wings where I question not but to lye safe Your honours have taken a charge upon you which obliges you to maintain the publick and common good interest of this Land and City where Res est publica Caesar Et de communi pars quoque nostra bono est Therefore to patronize the recommendation of his virtues for imitation and of his sufferings for commiseration cannot be unworthy your honours which is the humble desire of Your Humble and Obedient Servant JAMES DAVIES To all loyal Englishmen Gentlemen and fellow-Subjects I Here present you an History which though now you may confident I am you very lately could not in reason expect such was the perversnesse and crookedness of these times that no loyal subject might without danger attempt to write nay hardly to speak the truth of his Soveraign for a sort of men there were who having by violence usurped his Dominions though that they had no surer ground to maintain their unjust possession then by scandalizing his most SACRED MAIESTY and deceiving of his Subjects many of whom had not but by such deceites converted their loyalty into Treason Yet GOD I hope will now be pleased to return them to their Allegiance and give encourragement to those who have constantly continued loyal that they may at length once more enjoy hapinesse and every man sit under his own Vine and under his own fig-tree which the GOD of HEAVEN be praised we have now greater hopes of then ever If I have in this History offended any loyal person I am hartily grieved I have impartially endeavoured the truth and if I be found in the contrary reason will easily convince me and I shall be sory that neither my knowledge or intelligence extended to a more narrow search I think I have represented his Majesty no otherwise then any loyal person for this age requires
the Hague till the Royall affairs in England might gain a better posture which he did and there found a reception answerable to his Birth Not long after the King his Royall Father being in danger to be inclosed in Oxford by General Fairfax who returning out of the West had designed to block it up took care for his safety and attended only by Mr. Ashburnham or as some say attended on him went privily our thence and threw himselfe upon the Scotch Army then at Newark who shortly after notwithstanding his confidence of them for a sum of money delivered him up most perfidiously and traiterously to his implacable Enemies the English Army These after many pretences of Treaties and seeming willingness to come to an accord with him on that black day the 30. of January 1648. most villaniously and trayterously beyond the imagination of the World murder'd him Thus far is a short view of those hardships and afflictions undergone by this noble Prince during his Fathers Life Reign we will now proceed to those he hath since ran through which we may more properly and particularly call his Own Among which the Chief and greatest and from whence all his other miseries flowed as from their spring head was the deprivation of his Kingdome Royalties For that part of the Parliament of England which had usurped the whole power or more were not onely content to take a way his fathers life but by their Proclamation deprive him of all right in the Government of those three Kingdomes which they take upon themselves contrary both to the Word of God the Fundamental Laws of the Nation and his own undoubted right by birth he being lineally desended from that Family which had successively governed England for above three hundred years He was at that time of his Fathers death at the Court of his Sister the Royal Princesse of Orange in the Hague in expectation to hear rather of the Conclusion of a Treaty then of his murder to which effect he writ by the Lord Seymour the following Letter to him some short time before his Death For the King SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties present condition but such as I receive from the Press or which is as uncertain reports I have sent this bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majesty and to bring me an account of it that I may withall assure your Majesty I doe not onely pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwayes be ready to doe all which shall be in my power to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majesties Most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Jan. 23. 1648. And here he staid till he heard the heart breaking news of his Fathers Murther then shortly after he took his Iourney to the Queen his mother in France hoping there to get aid but found none which might render him in a capacity to revenge his Father's Death or demand his own right by force and in vain it was to think of any fair means to attain it Yet there wanted not some friends of his in England who willing to demonstrate how ready they were to adventure themselves for him his right as far as their weak abilities would strech caused under hand a Proclamation to be printed proclaiming him King of England Scotland France and Ireland and advising all his good Subjects to give all due Allegiance to him but the low condition of the Royalists then in England and the great strength and potency of the Parliaments Army made this Proclamation unvalid and those who at a fit opportunity would willingly have complied with it were forced to direct their Obedience to the contrary Goal But though England prov'd thus defective to his interest not so much I dare say in Allegiance as power Yet Jreland is at his Devotion for the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchiquin having made a peace with the Quondam Rebels he is by joynt consent both of Papists and Protestants proclaimed King in most towns of that Nation Dublin and London-Derry only excepted which were kept from their Allegiance the one by the Lieu. General Iones the other by Sir Charles Coote who joyntly strove to justifie the Parliament of Englands late actions He being thus proclaimed there is solemnly invited to come over to them to which invitation his Mother earnestly adds her desires but the best of his friends and Counsellours as earnestly disswaded him upon reasons drawn both from prudence and Policy since in probability the design not succeeding it would utterly ruine his hopes with all the Protestant party then stedfast to him both in Scotland and England or that if he would needs venture himselfe with this party they desired him at least to attend whether by any good event of theirs there might be any probability of successe 'T is supposed that this Council swaied with him more out of his real affection to the Protestant Religion then any other Politick reason Yet he immediately after took a journey to the Isle of Iersey which startled some as though he had intended to have proceeded thence for Ireland but that suspition proved unnecessary he was accompanied hither by his Brother the Duke of York who was lately come to him out of Holland and many other Nobles Gentlemen the Islanders immediately upon his arrival most joyfully proclaimed him King and the Lord Iermyn Earle of Yarmouth was made Governour of that Island who constituted Sir George Cartwright his deputy Governour The King sends from hence his Royal command to the Governour of Gernsey Island which was then wholly subjected Cornet Castle only excepted to the Parliaments sorces requiring him to surrender the said Island to him and that his good Subjects there might have liberty to return to their due obedience but his command proved ineffectual Many affirm but how true I know not that the reason of the Kings removal to this Island was out of design to surprize Dartmouth and some other places in the West by the Levellers help who having then made a defection from the Parliaments Army in England were say they to have joyned with the Royalists for the intents and purposes a foresaid but whether so or no I cannot affirm though I can certainly tell this that were it so it proved uneffectual for the Levellers were soon overpowred and quell'd Whilst King Charles was hear expecting a Messenger from the States of Scotland came news of the unfortunate overthrow of the Marquess of Ormond his Army by Lieu. General Iones before Dublin which caused a generall sorrow among all his followers for there had been great hopes expectations of that Army it amounting to no lesse then twenty two thousand men was esteemed able not onely to have taken Dublin but likewise to have resisted Cromwell's then new comming Army in the field yet whether by the carlessness of the Commanders or security of the
their Allegiance to his Son their lawfull and native Sovereign or out of an ambition by joining with their Scotish Brethren which I am loath to judge to get the Power again into their hands which was snatch'd from them by the Independant English Army and the Juncto of Sectaries in England they had laid a designe to raise both a contribution of money and levy men for his Majesty's assistance here but their Plot was betrayed by the intercepting of Letters in a ship forced by foul weather into Ayre in Scotland but bound with provisions for the Isle of Man whereupon the chief undertakers in London were apprehended viz. Mr. Cook Mr. Gibbons Mr. Christopher Love Mr. Jenkins D. Drake and others of which two viz. Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love was condemned by a high Court of Justice and suffered death on the Tower hill for that cause against which they had once so strongly declar'd But to return again to the cheif Scene in Scotland The English Army had long had a desire to bring the Scots to a field battel which his Majesty upon sundry good reasons serious advice declin'd so Cromwell endeavoured to the utmost of his power to force them to it therefore several times fac'd his Majesty's Army which lay encamped at Torwood within three miles of Sterling but could not yet draw them out of their trenches the chief reason being imagin'd to proceed from their stay for Argyle Huntley and Seaforth who were gon into their several Territories to compleat the King's Levies Cromwell perceiving that he could not draw the Scots to a field-battel upon a sudden draws off his Army and transports fixteen hundred Foot and foure Troopes of Horse over unto Fife on such a sudden that it startled his Majesties whole Army And Cromwell with an unparallel'd expedition faces again the Royal Army with a resolution to fall upon their rear if they should attempt a motion thetherwards but they offered not to stir for already order had been given to Sir Iohn Brown Governour of Sterling to march with four thousand Horse and Foot to drive out that party of Cromwell's which were already landed in Fife of which intelligence being brought Lambart and Okye with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot are with all possible haste wafted over to reinforce the party already there with which additionall supply of men they routed Sir Iohn Brown who expected none but the first landed party taking himself and several other officers of quality prisoners and killing two thousand upon the place and taking near 1200. prisoners and shortly after Cromwell transports most of his Army over the Fife and resolving to stop the passage which the Scots had over by Sterling marches to S. Iohnstons and takes it almost upon summons Hs Majesty seeing the English Army was advanced so far Northward thought it in vain to attempt the forcing them back knowing that the Scots naturally fights better in anothers then in their own Conntry resolves toadvanc with all possible speed into England where he yet hoped not withstāding the discovery of the design to find some Loyal souls to joyn with him for the Recovery of his right and Kingdomes Many were there who opposed this intention of his Majesty and among those Duke Hamilton was one of the chiefest whose dislike may sufficiently appear by his Letter to Mr. Crofts after their Advance to this effect We are now laughing sayes he at the rediculousness of our present State We have quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it and yet we grasp at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to lose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout argument Despair for we must now either stoutely fight or dye all the Rogues have left us I shall not say whether out of fear or disloyalty but all now with his Majesty are such as will not dispute his Commands But notwithstanding his dislike his other oppositiōs yet the Kings resove takes place and on July the 31. 1651. his Majesties Army began to advance from Terwood near Sterling steering their course dirirectly for England which they entred six dayes after by way of Carlisle This march of the Royall Army made Cromwell with the greatest part of his forces immediately recrosse the Frith and forth with send Major General Lambert with a select party of Horse and Dragoons to fall upon the Rear of his Majesties Army whilst they hop'd that Major General Harrison then lying neer the borders with about three thousand Horse and Dragoons would attach them in the Front shortly after himselfe followed with the rest of the Army which could be spar'd amounting to about eight compleat Regiments of Foot and two of Horse But then this greater preparation is made against him in England for the Juncto then fitting at Westminster not onely interdicted all aid or assistance either of men or moneys to be given to his Majesty under the penalty of High Treason but also in all or most of the Countrys had caused a numerous force to be raised the Church-Militia of the City of London being likewise sent out against him and for the present impeading of his march two thousand of the Country Militia of Staffordshire and four thousand out of Lancashire and Cheshire under the command of Col. Birch had joyned with Harrison But be sides all this many of the Royal Army had in their march deserted their colours neer a fourth part of the army was wanting but these were most of them such as were not very well affected to the business nor cause they went about and therefore there was but little miss of them for the rest of the Army marched on chearfully and continued to the utmost push stedfast and loyal were so contentedly obedient to all Military Discipline that 't is believ'd that in al their march through all that part of England they hardly took the value of six pence forcibly But notwithstanding this unwonted evility of the Scottsh Army and his Majesties earnest invitations the Country came very slowly in whether besotted dulled and contented with that slavery they then lay under or over-aw'd by an armed power I cannot tell but such was their backwardness that few or none besides the Lord Howard of Estriche's son with a Troop of Horse came to him during his long tedious march through England Nor did his Majesty with his Army take that course which was expected by most he should for the great fear of his Enemies and greatest hopes of his Friends were that he would march directly for London but he contrary to their expectations being come into Lancashire struck off at Warrington either doubting the enterprize for London too hazardous or out of the hopes had of the Forces it was expected Major General Massey might raise in Glostershire which was the then generally voagu'd reason But before his Majesty could pass over Warrington Bridge he had
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 to 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 stay this breach before it came to an utter overflow to which effect he dayly went to fro be twixt the King the Princes endeavouring to bring them to a reconciliatiō urging by his own example the miseries and calamities that must necessarily fall upon every mans head by a Civil War telling the King that the late example of his Royall Father of happy memory might be an inducement to him to be at peace with his Subjects rather then embroil his Kingdomes in a bloudywar by which though he might for the present gaine the better yet in the end he would stil be sure to have the worse Yet these Arguments and his Majesties earnest endeavours for peace and reconciliatiō produced nothing but only contracted 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 against him So that he lost the love of both by endeavouring to mak them love one another yet notwithstanding the ill successe he had this Noble Prince still pursues his pacifick intentions til such time as he gains a conference between the King Cardinall Princes but this proves ineffectuall For the Princes heightned with the aid they expected from the Duke of Lorain instead of coming to an accord only exasperate differences Yet his Sacred Majesty ceases not but endeavours to bring them yet to a peaceable compliance in order threunto procures another Conference where he himself would be Moderatour but this proves as ineffectuall 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 in stead of agreement both sides prepare for War yet are both sides equally angry exasperated against his sacred Majesty for his good will toward them and the Nation the one and other party imagining that both he and his Mother had given counsels opposite to their designes 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 business 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 encreased 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 Majesty 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 inveterate enemies to Mazarine so extreamly incensed them against the English Princes that they threaten violence and indignities to their persons 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 and People might imagine believe that his Majesty had counsel'd things opposite to their intentions yet the Cardinal very well knew that he had advised the King as the best course to consent to his departure out of the Kingdome 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 Prince in his several conferences with Lorain to have endeavoured to divert him from them was only transacting 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 Taaff two of which were 1. That the Duke of Lorain should transport an Army of 10000. men at his own charge into Ireland there to joyn 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 Royall 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 performe the Enterprise without the Aid of some other Prince but we may in more reason guess it proceeded from the strenuous endeavours of Mazarine his Majesties 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 Duks 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 forgeting to pray for those his Enemies who were not only content to have deprived him of his Kingdoms but continually belched forth both slanders and maledictions against him His Majesty having staid at S. Germains till such time as the heate of the popular fury was over which decreased still towards them as they found Mazarine more averse to him returned again to the Lovure where during his abode his brother the Duke of Gloucester who had a long time been detained by the Juncto of England in the Isle of Wight and was lately permitted by them to go to his Sister the Princess Royal 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 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. Jane Lane who after she had taken leave of
his Majesty at Bristol return'd home and lived for some space in a great deale of security not doubting she could be betray'd Yet at length by what means I know not though indeed I have heard of many relations that I dare not relate any it came to light yet she had some timely notice of it whereupon she who had formerly disguised his Majesty in a Serving-mans habit now disguises her self in that of a Country Wench and trots on foot to save her life which she was like to lose for having formerly saved his sacred Majesties quite crosse the Countrey to Yarmouth where she found shipping which conveyed her safe into France great search after her departure there was made for her but in vain which so incensed the Souldiers that they burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where his Majesty first took shelter after his escape from Worcester She being arrived in France sends a Letter to the Court whereupon his Majesty almost over-joy'd at her Escape who had been the cause of his immediatly sends some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris whither he being near come himself with the Queen his Mother the Duke of York Gloucester went out to meet this Preserver of the life of their Son Soveraign and Brother the Coaches meeting and she being descended from her Coach his Majesty likewise descends taking her by the hand salutes her with this gratefull expression Welcome my life so putting her into his own Coach conducts her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause and wonder of the whole Court and she could indeed deserve no less for I believe neither past or future Ages can or will ever parallell so great a pattern of female Loyalty and Generosity Whilst his Majesty was thus passing away his time in France more in contemtemplation then action Oliver Cromwell made General of all the Juncto's Forces in England Scotland and Jreland finding now a fit opportunity to put his long-laid ambitious designs in execution had dissolved that Juncto which had usurped the Kingly power or more over England and taken upon himself though not the title yet the Royall power and authority over these Nations which the people though unwilling yet were forced to submit to though he had not at first any basis whereon to ground his new usurped Regality yet in stead of one Juncto he pluckt down he easily sets up another which I may the more justly call so in regard there was not one of them chosen by the free Votes of the People but by his own arbitrary Election and those such persons who knew well enough what they had to doe before they met these after a short time sitting without doing any thing besides the making of some impertinent laws which were forceably imposed on the people surrender their power as dying men do their souls to God into his hands that gave it who by the help of the Officers of the Army and Lamberts instrument makes himself immediatly king of England Scotland and Ireland which government he had often sworn against though under the title of Protector This I must needs say Noble Tyrant having got the Dominion of three such Kingdoms into his possession made it now as much his study to preserve himself safe in his Estate and Grandure as he did before to acquire it to which purpose he thought it most suitable to that design to make some remarkable disturbance amongst the neighbouring Princes then to continue that War begun by the Juncto of Parliament with the Dutch to which purpose severall motions of a Treaty passed His sacred Majesty though he had sundry times before solicited the assistance of those United Provinces for the regaining of his Right in his Kingdoms now more earnestly upon secret intelligence of the first motions of this Treaty sends the Lord Gerard his Embassadour to the United States more earnestly intreating them to own his Interest then before proffering that if they would set out a good squadron of ships under his Flag he would command them himself in person His Sister the princess of Orange and other of his friends in the Low Countries addicted to his Interest earnestly prosecutes his desires and use their utmost influence on the States of the United provinces for the performance of his propositions Nor are there five of these Provinces nor Van Trump himself their Admiral unwilling to comply with him Only the Province of Holland the most potent at sea stands out chiefly out of the disgust they had lately taken to the family of Orange whose interest and command they were fearfull might bee restored should his Majesty who was Uncle to the young Prince be invested in his Territories His Majesty likewise to advance his hopes of their assistance when Monsieur Bortell came from those United States to negotiate a League with the King of France used his utmost Interest to promote the Treaty and in fine brought it to a desired period notwithstanding the United States sent no other answer to his Embassey then a cold Letter of Complements His designs thus failing him here he directed himself to a more hopefull course by interposing himself a Mediator with the Pope and other Catholick Princes for an accord and peace between the two mighty Crowns of France and Spain And indeed two such potent Monarchs had been in better capacity with their joynt forces to have assisted him had the peace gon forward as there was great hopes then the United States of the Netherlands but Cardinal Mazarine by a piece of secret state-policy endeavoured to obstruct all proceedings which might tend to a Treaty or accord Nor was this Cardinal's spleen to his Royall Majesty yet allayed for his supposed Council against him in the forementioned difference between the King Princes but farther to prejudice him and his affairs he endeavours the promotion of a peace between the Protector of England and the French King his Master which though opposed by all the force and Interest that either himselfe or the Queen his Mother had in the French Court yet was by the Cardinall whose will was a law all other Government in that Kingdome being but a meer shadow vigorously carried on and an Embassadour sent over to treat of an accord where having been sometime in England his Majesty was by secret intelligence informed that the chief Article insisted upon in the Treaty by the Protector of England was the excluding himself relations and followers out of the Kingdome of France and it's Territories wherefore least the treaty should be suddenly concluded upon those tearms he ceremoniously excluded he thought it more honourable himself to leave that Kingdome of his own accord and having taken his leave of the King of France and the rest of the Nobility accompanied with his Coufin Prince Rupert he departed for Germany where the Lord Wilmot had long been Embassadour for him to solicite aid and assistance Yet notwithstanding his Brothers the
Duke of York and Glocester staid still in France The first having under the Command of the Marshall of Turine against the Spaniards performed such eminent services as had made him deservedly esteemed a most valerous and prudent Prince in so much that notwithstanding his Youth he was made Lieu. Generall of the French Army and thought so well worthy that Command that when Turine the most esteemed Generall the French have for a long time had lay desperatly sick and it was expected that he should breath his last he was by the King of France sent to to desire him that seeing there were so little hopes of his life he would nominate such a Generall of his Army as he might judge fit to succeed him To which Turine answered that if his Majesty would have his affairs prosper he should make choice of a Noble Valorous and fortunate Generall which if he did he could make choice of no fitter person then the thrice Heroick Duke of York As for his Brother the Duke of Glocester he remained at the Palace Royall in Paris with the Queen his Mother who shortly after the departure of his Royall Majesty endeavoured by all the bonds of filiall obedience and the most prevailing Arguments could be used to perswade him to become Roman Catholick nor did she alone but the Queen Mother of France and the prime Nobility of that Kingdome attempt the same when the Retorique of the Court could not prevail the most eminent for learning set upon him with that depth of reason as long acquired study and their own interest could oblige them to use or furnish them withall nor were Arguments and Reasons only used but the highest temptations this world could present to a Prince in adversity such were a Cardinals Hatt and a Revenue suitable to his Dignity when these could not prevail the indignation of a Royal Mother was poured forth upon him which wrought him the deprivation of his Tutor his Servants and all Comforters in these temptations But that Noble Prince was so far indowed dureing this affliction with the Principles of the Religion of the Church of England besides that naturall piety and constancy flowing from his most religious Father of blessed Memory that by the depth of truth and Reason he defended himselfe against these attempts After this he is committed to the care of one Mr Walter Montague Abbot of Nantueil living at Pontoise who keeps him in very closely and works and persists still in endeavouring to pervert him using the Argument of Duty and Obedience to his Mothers Commands which she did enjoyn him to doe or never more to see her face which from that day to this he hath not seen This noble soul replyed with a sorrowfull heart That as the Queens Majesty was his Mother he ought her duty but as his Brother was his King and Soveraign he ought him duty and Allegiance which he could not dispute Whilst he is at Pontoise the most noble and religious Lord Hatton takes occasion to go wait upon the Duke according to private iustructions received from his Majesty who to his great sorrow had advise of these particulers he is admitted with much trouble to the presence of the Duke who embraces him as his Deliverer and with some difficulty urging the Commands of his Majesty his own arguments he is delivered to his care who conducts him with a spetiall respect and diligence to his house in Paris where he is entertained divers dayes with all honour and confirmed wih all diligence by that Learned Lord in his so well imbued Principles untill the arrivall of the Marquess of Ormond who by the Kings Command receivs and conducts him to his Majesties Court. His Majesty in his journy towards Germany came first to Catillon a Castle belonging to the Prince of Conde whither he was accompanied by his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins prince Rupert and Edward Palatines here Prince Edward the Duke of York left them the one going to Bourbon the other returning to the Army where he continued a good while after his Majesty Prince Rupert continued for some few daies their journy together 'till the Prince parted from him to go visit his Brother Frederick at Hidelberg his Majesty passing through Cambray and Leige to the Spaw where he tooke up the first place of his Residence in Germany whither his Sister the Royall Princess of Orange came to visit him and they no doubt during the time of their being there were as merry as two such afflicted Princes could But let us a little leave his Majesty at the Spaw and look into his Kingdomes where Cromwell that he might secure himself in his ill-gotten Estate endeavours by all means possible either to take away the lives or wholly impoverish disable his Majesties loyall Subjects who are continually charged with somthing which he by his usurped power takes hold of to destroy them severall persons are apprehended and charged with a design to have seized on the Tower and Proclaimed his Majesty King of those Kingdoms which by right were his for tryall of which persons a High Court of Justice a thing we now in England know very well was erected for the tryal of those persons Col. John Gerard Mr. Peter Vowell and Sommerset Fox were condemned to be hanged drawn quartered for no less then high Treason for-sooth though there were then no Act in being making it Treason to conspire against the power then in being in England but somwhat of the sentence was remitted Col. Gerard was beheaded Mr Vowell only Hanged Mr. Fox reprived I have alwayes observed that in all the tryals made by those high Courts of Justice for plots as they call them there hath still been some one person who though brought to tryal have either not been condemned though look't upon by the people as eminent in the business as any and though condemned yet have been reprived what others guess of it I will not determine I know what I do The truth is that his Majesty had alwaies the ill fortune to have such false servants about him as have for the Lucre of money either betrayed any enterprize of his for the gaining of his right the Protector especially being very prodigal in such expences his intelligence as most affirm standing him in no less then two hun dred thousād pound per annum or else those persons engag'd for him being many of them deboist fellows and who often ran upon designes uncommissioned have in a Tavern both lay'd and betray'd their own undertakings or else some here in England who have undertaken in such businesses have either for fear or gain betrayed both their Prince friends and Countrey Thus much for England let us now take a viwe of his Majesties affaires in Scotland which Kingdome was not yet wholly conquered for the Lords Seaforth Atholl Glencarne Kenmore and Glengary and severall others who had some of them been formerly followers of the noble Marquess of Montrosse
by Commissions to the Earle of Glencarne had levied sundry small parties in their severall Territories which all joyned would have made up a considerable Army besides the help which they expected Middleton should bring them out of the Low-Countries they therefore made all possible speed to joyn but in their march the Earl of Glencarne is set upon by Col. Morgan his party routed himselfe hardly escaping This defeat of Glancarn's who was the chief though it discouraged the rest yet made them not wholly desist for they had yet hopes of those supplies which they expected Middleton to bring out of the Low-Countries who at length arrives brings with him Monroe to be his Lieu. General he being Commissionated General which highly displeased Glancarne who had been the greatest instrument of his Armies raising which was now joyn'd and made up a considerable body who protested that he would not raise an Army for others to Command so high a dispute there was between Glancarne and Monroe in somuch that many affirm though som say the contrary that it came to a Duell in which Monroe was worsted disarmed by Glancarne however the dissention still continues for Middleton pretended that he had not power to tak away Monro's Commission which was given him by his Majesty and Glancarne scorning to be under him being of Noble bloud accounting himself as good a Souldier deserts the Army with five hundred Horse in his company and goes in to General Monck with whom he makes his Composition Yet notwithstanding his desertion caused by those differences amongst them selves for Superiority the only way to ruine any designe Middleton pursues his businesse and Commission and had made up a pritty Considerable Number when General Monck engaging him at Laugherry after a not dispute totally routed him scattered his party and had almost taken himself Prisoner but he escaping returned again into Holland Thus his Majesties ill fortune still attends his affaires God still permiting his Enemies to taper up in the World advance themselves not that he in the want of us but that we in the want of so Noble a Prince might be yet farther Miserable But let us return again to his Majesty at the Spaw where he having staid a while courted by all the adjacent Grandees at length takes his journey in company of the Princess Royall his Sister towards Colen where being arrived they were recieved with all possible honour and demonstrations of joy affection the great Guns difcharging at their entrance and the Deputies of the City coming out to meet them in solemn maner and conducting them in great pomp to the pallas provided for them by the chief Magistrate of the City Shortly after their Arrivall the Grandees of the Place entertain'd his Majesty and his Royall Sister at a sumptuous Banquet or Collation where they express in many ceremonious complements the high resentment they had of his Majesties condition and the great honour which he did them in being pleased to come and visit their City After a short time of abode here his Majesty was invited by the Duke of Newburgh to his pallace at Donzell-dorf where he his Sister were most sumptuously Royally entertained for some dayes and here the Royall Princes took her leave of her Brother his sacred Majesty and returned for Holland the King accompanying her on her way as far as Redinguen and from thence returned back again to Colen where he was joyfully receiv'd And now more of his Majesties loyal Subjects are put to wrack in England by tyrannizing Cromwell a generall design must needs be laid over all England and perhaps might be so though Cromwell Knew it well enough before it was like to take any effect which apeared by his setling the London Militia in the hands of his own Criado's his apprehending of Sir Henry Littleton Sir John Packington and many other of the Royall party yet he lets it still go on that he might have the better colour for keeping his Scaffold in use whilst he having certain Intelligence of all proceedings from his hired Agents had care to prevent them when they just came to the height that he might then lay the surer hold on the undertakers so now though he was sure to prevent all risings which might be near London yet he lets others in the Countries more remote to go on so farre as they might only raise to a head but not have any secure place of strength to retreat to in case of a defeat where they might again have made a head The surprizal of Shrewsberry and Chirk Castles are to that effect now prevented But a party in Dorset and Wiltshier made a body consisting most of Gentlemen who surprized Salizbury took away all the Horses and Marched towards Cornwall where they expected a greater force to rise with them but being eagerly pursued by Captain Crook with a party of Horse were overtaken at Southmolton in Devon shire and after a hot dispute most of them either slain or taken but Sir Joseph Wagstaffe the chief Commander of this small loyal party escaped The Captains Penruddock Grove and Jones were taken and afterwards being tri'd by a Commission of Oyer Terminer were condemned to death Captaine Jones was reprived but Grove Penruddock were beheaded at Exeter The last of which parted nobly with his life and died with a resolution worthy of the cause for which he suffered Many others likewise were hanged for his enterprize Yet these and their fellows might have come off better had the Countries as they promised risen to their assistance for all the Countries in England had designed as they say to rise but whether besotted dull'd and fearful or else prevented by a force upon them I cannot tell but sure I am they fail'd Yet in Yorkshire there were two parties up in severall places but dissipated by their own feares at Hexam Moor the Gentry in that shire had a Rendezvouz of whom Sir Henry Slingsby was taken and remained prisoner in Hull till such time as he was brought up to London where he suffered death under pretence of another design as shall in due time be declared But now the Protector findes another course to rid himselfe of all such English men as were loyall to their King Countrey Several of those who were active in the late design and had been taken are out of the Prisons hurried aboard ships and though they were free-born English men and many of them Gentlemen sent to be Slaves in the Forraign Plantations nor were they alone served so but many who though they had not actually stir'd yet being by the Protector known as persons not very well affected to his Tyrannicall Government were privately taken out of their houses and shipt away in like manner it not being enough for him when he had impoverished them by taking away their Estates to look upon and insult on their misery at home but to make them as much as in him lay the
Count D' Fuensaldaigne his Embassadour to his Majesty of Great Britain then resident as I said before at Colen 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 gratiously accepted and soon after took his journey from Colen towards Flanders being come to Bruges the place appointed for his reception he was received with all honours 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 John to whom he freely proferd his service in the Wars which was accepted with a great deal of thanks and though he had not at first a command given him corespondent to that which he left in the French Army yet was his prudence courage valour conduct in no less 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 Majesties departure from Colen there hapned a discovery 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 perfidiousness 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 less then the due reward 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 notwithstanding Cromwells earnest endeavours either to dispatch disable or make slaves of his loyal Subjects had nevertheless some true friends in England who were still ready to venture lives and 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 who were ready at all occasions to assist both his Majesty and themselves for the recovery of his their just rights estates but the continuall 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 ineffectuall 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 successfull 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 and the French King sent over sixthousand 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 parcell of a Parliament of which Sir Thomas Withrington was Speaker invested with his power and installed in Westminster-Hall and now he conferrs those dignities which were formerly the Kingly rewards of loyalty upon his copartners and followers and whether in mockery of that Government which he had so violently endeavoured to abollish or out of perjured intention to setle it in himself which he swore not to endure in another he established a Pageant House of Lords who though then made to rule and 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 Solemnly 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 beleagure'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 and having made up a considerable Army himselfe in person accompanied by the English Dukes of York Glocester together with those Forces formerly addicted to his Majesties Service advanced towards the joynt-force of the French and English then beleaguring 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 Evernes 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 besiegers were the first Assaulters The first brush began with a Forlorn hope of English Infantry consisting of above three hundred who desperatly charged upon a party of the Spanish Foot which had advantagiously drawn themselves upon a rising ground and seconded by Lockart's Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonell Fenwick 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 Lieutenant Colonell Fenwick received his mortall wound 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 endeavours 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 Regiment who for a time made the whole French Army to stand and 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 gallant resistance over powred by numbers having no supplies to refresh their wearied bodies they were forced to yeild to their Enemies numbers or trust to the swiftness of their horses heels but very few of them escaped among which were the Dukes of York Glocester though the first was not heard of till three daies after which made some suspect that he was taken by the French Forces but by Turine after at a fit opportunity nobly
to Rebellion Who knows not that in our unfortunate jnterregnum the design of our hardharted task-masters was to blind if not put out the Eyes of the three Kingdoms by endeavouring to pilladge those formerly famous Seminaries of Learning and discourage it for the future as if they had been of that judgement that ignorance was the Mother of devotion All which and much more that might justly be vrged on this subject must needs make us acknowledge as it is in the forementioned psalme and that often as it is there to Praise the Lord for his goodnes in restoring him declare the wonders that he hath done for him and the people of these Kingdones I am sure we may justly say If God had not been on our side we had been destroyed but to him for ever be the praise The snare is broken and we are delivered Yet there are a sort of people in the world and too many in this kingdome the more is the pitty God grant there be none in England the Epistle of Saint Jude espetially the 10. 16. describs them that through ignorance misinformation prejudice or advantage are redy to slander the foot-steps of the LORDS anoynted who live in this dark corner of Ireland and are ignorant of the worth of that happines that is in the King to themselves thereby I thought it therefore a necessary duty having this History by me to get it reprinted here for information being as far from endeavouring to gain applause thereby as I am uncapable of attaining it by any thing from my selfe only that I may manifest the goodnes of God which is the duty of every Christian and my loyalty which is the duty of every Subject good Christian though for these twelve years I have been a sufferer for it and informe those that yet know not so much as this manifests To the Lord the only ruler of Princes whose right hand and mighty arm hath done it for ever be the praise Yea let all the People praise thee O Lord for thy goodnes to us in restoring the light of our Eyes the breath of our Nostrills the Kings most excellent Majesty the restoring of whom unto his Throne must needs be acknowledged the hand of God and if enough to convince an Athist may evince to the World the validity of vnited and devout prayers such as are injoyned with good authority by the Church of England and are the very Marrow of the Scriptures and where are not Scripture are vncontroulably agreeing composed by those that lay'd down their lives to maintaine and bequeathed as the best Legacy to their Wives and Children And in a word are those prayers for which our blessed Saviour will not refuse to be an intercessour and which have so miraculously restored the defendor of our Faith to his Throne which noe rational man alive but may well conclude being as I am confident they were put up to the Throne of Grace with pure upright hearts by the dutifull and obedient Sons of the Church And therefore let all but espetially such never forget to return due praise for his mercyes to us and to our King and as it is there directed yeild praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparent dangers where with we were incompassed and to acknowledge it his goodnes that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them beseeching still his goodnes and mercy to us that all the World may know that he is our Saviour and mighty Redeemer And that all those that do confess his holy Name may agree in the truth of his holy word and live in vnity and Godly love that under our Lawfull King and governour we may be Godly and quietly governed And for our most gratious Soveraign also let us pray That he knowing whose Minister he is may aboue all things seeke his honour glory that so we his Subjects duly considering whose authority he hath may honour and humbly obey him according to Gods blessed word and Ordinance And as it is directed by that Divine Orthodox ancient and best lyturgie of the Church of England To keep and strengthen in the true worship of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy Servant CHARLES our most gratious KING and Governour That it may please thee O Lord to rule his heart in thy faith feare and love that he may ever more have affiance in thee and ever seek thy honour and glory That he may alway incline to thy will and walk in thy way Endue him plentyously with heavenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to live strengthen him that he may Vanquish and over come all his Enemies and finally after this life he may attain everlasting Ioy and felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord. As for those who so barbarously acted in that horrid crime the Murder of his Sacred Majesty of blessed memory they have had at least some of them the reward of Regicides So let his Enemies perish O Lord and all that rise up against him But on his own head let his Crown flourish Let his dayes be many and prosperous and let all but espetially those that are truly loyal finde the Comfort of it The unexpressable joy of all his Subjects felt and declared at his return requires a Volume and at this place cannot be inform'd it being indeed beyond expression God inclining the hearts of all his people as some times all the Subiects of King David the people of Juda to bring home their King 2. Sam. 19.14 Take one for all a Copie of Verses presented with his own hand at his return to his Government By that most Honorable and Heroick person and renowned Champion of the English interest in Jreland which Maugre all opposition will eternize his fame to all posterity The Lord President of Munster all that know him know his excellency that way it s enough to say they are his and they follow as well worthy to conclude the History of his most excellent Majesty whom God preserue H F Cork 22. No 1660. TO THE KING UPON HIS MAJESTIES Happy Return AS the Great World at first in Cbaos lay Then darknes yeilded to triumphāt day And all that wild and undigested Mass Did into Forme and to perfection pass So in our lesser World Confusions were Many and vast as now our Blessings are Our past and present State fully express All we could bear and all we would possess Wonder not that your forces could not bring You to Your Crowns nor us unto our King Fate made therein this high design appear Your Sword shall rule abroad Your Virtues here The lesser Conquest was to you deny'd That by the greater it might be suppy'd Nor think it strang that som so long have strove With that which they did most admire love Since all against their dissolution pray Although to Heav'n there is no other way Like to Bethesdas Pool our Common-wealth Till it was troubled could not give