few Lines insomuch that I have heard Sir Robert Holborn oft say He had a quicker Conception and easier understood a Cause in Law and with more Sharpness drove the Matter to a Head than any of the Privy-Council and when the King was not there Sir Robert cared not to be there He had also among other special Gifts the Gift of Patience so that he would hear out a long Discourse without Interruption or Distaste he had a discerning Eye to judge of Men and honoured the Vertuous he was not at all given to Luxury but extream temperate in his Food and Apparel he would Argue Logically and frame his Arguments Artificially c. For which I may give an Instance in his Discourse with Henderson who hath at large declared his Judgment of the King after his Disputation with him it is at large in the Character of Charles the First in Dr. Hollingworth to this effect I do declare to God and the World That since I had the Honour and Happiness to Converse and Consult with his Majesty especially in Matters of Religion that I found him the most Intelligent Man that ever I spoke with as far beyond my Expression as Expectation I profess that I was oft-times astonished with the Quickness and Solidity of his Reasons and Replys wâ—ndring how among his Sports and Recreations he attained so great Knowledge I confess ingeniously that I was convinc'd in Conscience and know not how to give him any reasonable Satisfaction yet the Sweetness of his Disposition is such that whatever I said was well taken I must say that I never met with any Disputant let be a King and in Matters of so high Concernment of that mild and calm Temper which convinced me more to think that such Wisdom and Moderation could not be without extraordinary measure of Divine Grace I had heard much of his Carriage toward the Priests in Spain and that K. James told the D. of Buckingham That he durst venture his Son Charles against all the Jesuits he knowing him to be so well grounded in the Protestant Religion but could never believe it before I observed particularly his Devotion which I must truly say was more than ordinary and was observed by him before his Troubles twice a Day constantly Morning and Evening for an Hour's space in private twice a Day before Dinner and Supper in publick besides Preachings twice on the Sundays on Tuesdays and other extraordinary Times I dare say that if his Advice had been followed all the Blood that is shed and all the Rapine committed might have been prevented The whole Confession of Mr. Henderson is confirmed in few words by Mr. Vines who heard him disputing a whole Day with fifteen Commissioners and Counsellors and four Divines especially concerning Church-Affairs on the Propositions sent him to their Conviction who coming prejudiced against him as a Man of slender Parts went away admiring how he became so Learned and prevailed with their Masters that his Concessions might be voted a Ground for a Treaty which was voted to be with his Majesty's Honour Safety and Freedom the Success whereof Cromwell feared and foresaw for he charged such of the Commissioners that he could best confide in to be careful what Concessions they made for he feared the King would be too subtle for them But Mr. Vines the most able of the Divines repented of his being deluded to such unworthy Thoughts of the King and gave him great Reverence and persuaded others to do so saying He was sorry the King was no better understood for he thought him the best Divine of any Lay-man in England And the Dispute with Henderson and this of the Isle of Wight do sufficiently manifest his great Abilities and Vertues which were such that when a Dispute arose in favour of Cromwell Whether a King or no King Henry Martyn told the House If we must have a King we had rather have kept him i. e. King Charles than any Gentleman in the Nation And others said If he had not been born to be a King no Man deserved it better So that by the Confession of his Enemies his greatest Fault was that he was born to be a King and that God had anointed him above his Fellows These great and good Qualities of his Majesty made his Enemies so averse from imbracing his often renewed Solicitations for Treaties of Peace especially when he desired a Personal Treaty for they could not but observe how by strength of Reason and Meekness and Piety of Conversation He made Proselites of such as had the Happiness to converse with him whose Prejudices and Prepossessions he quite extinguished and made them more real Friends than they had been Enemies Dr. Gauden his Letter to the Army on the behalf of the King urgeth That the King was renowned by some of themselves for the Greatness of his Understanding and many other Princely Vertues and Incomparable Endowments Here I might enquire 1. How well Dr. Gauden was qualified for this Work And 2. At what time he may be supposed to have begun and finished it for he must be a Man of extraordinary Abilities of great Experience and diligent Inspection into the Polity and Intrigues of the Times and one that wrote Memorials of them while they were fresh in Memory one that was deeply concerned in them and after long and mature Deliberation digested them And who but the King was sufficient for these things Dr. Gauden probably might have heard as many did that the King had begun such Meditations and having such an Opinion of his great Abilities could not with any good Manners take the Work out of his hands But suppose the Doctor had been competently qualified for such a Work what time might be allowed for compleating of such an incomparable Work Dr. Walker says He that would imitate another's Stile ought to be well acquainted with it and bestow first second and third Thoughts And this ought to be done with greater Deliberation where the Work is more difficult to be imitated by reason of its Excellency and Perfection and the Undertaker of a Genius agreeable to the Work And if Dr. Gauden were a Covenanter as Dr. Walker says if his Stile and Genius were such in 48 as it was in 61 if we hear not of any Correspondence between him and the Royalists until the time that the Book was ordered for the Press by the King himself if after that it is supposed to be written by Dr. Gauden it was transcribed by Mr. Gifford and sent to the King by the E. of Hertford in November 48 after which some things were added by the King it will appear that such a Book as this which for one that was a Stranger to the Subject must be more than the Work of one Year especially for a Man not duly qualified for it as the King himself was confessed to be by Friends and Foes for his Pen was incomparably the most Princely and best polished in his time in the
told her That she had a great concern for the eternal State of her Husband because he pretended to be the Author of that Book when to her knowledge he never writ it Both these Testimonies cannot be true if Mrs. Gauden spake them and this makes me think one of them was Dr. Walker's for this is so material a Proof that if Dr. Walker knew the truth of it I wonder why he omitted it in his printed Book it is a shrewd Presumption against a Witness when he so varieth in his Testimony as to add a material Evidence at one time and to omit another at another time when a Person is unconstant and inconsistent with him-himself in a Matter of great importance it is an Argument of Unfaithfulness Again by this Solemnity of Mrs. Gauden's discovering her Husband to be the Author of that Book upon her taking the Sacrament the Intent seems to be that this Secret might be laid open and made notorious and to that end that the Communicants were made acquainted with it and if it were at a publick Sacrament there was likely a full Congregation if it were a private Sacrament desired by Mrs. Gauden for the Ease of her Conscience as Dr. Walker found the concealing it to be a Trouble to his yet we suppose there must be at least three Communicants by whose Testimony Mrs. Gauden's Declaration might be confirmed and the Notoriety of the thing be perpetuated How comes it to pass after all this the thing should remain a Secret still and not known for ought we yet hear of to any one but Dr. Walker As to Mr. Gifford whom Dr. Walker supposeth to have been the Transcriber of the Copy and to have believed it as much as himself I have opposed the Testimony of Dr. Edw. Lake Archdeacon of Exeter wno was well acquainted with Mr. Gifford and his single Testimony far more Credible than Dr. Walker's Dr. Walker says That Dr. Gauden delivered to him what was last sent up giving strict Caution with what Wariness to carry and deliver it See his Account of March 23d 1690. and accordingly he delivered it Saturday December 23d 48 to one Peacock who was instructed by what Hands to transmit it to Mr. Royston This the Doctor says to shew his great Care to discharge his Trust who notwithstanding the strict Caution with what Wariness to carry and deliver it he committed it to one Peacock a Brother to Dr. Gauden's Bailiff with new Instructions by what other Hands he should transmit it to Mr. Roston whereas he acknowledgeth that the bigger part of this Book was delivered by Dr. Gauden to Mr. Simmonds He wanted a good Memory as he says of Dr. Hollingworth The Reader cannot but observe that in all this tedious Narrative he meets with no other Evidence but Dr. Walker's bare Word which will not amount to a single Testimony being invalidated by his own Relation of Matters of Fact very inconsistent with each other and unsatisfactory to himself and wanting a further Confirmation is forced to find out probable Reasons such as they be in SECT III. Of his probable Arguments to Confirm himself and help to Convince others c. The first probable Argument is That Dr. Gauden in the beginning of the Long Parliament which carried on the War against the King preacht before them on Zach. 8.19 which Sermon is printed and the House of Commons presented him with a large Silver Tankard with this Inscription Donum Honorarium Populi Anglicani in Parliamento congregati Johanni Gauden c. which constantly went about his House and he had been inclinable to the Parliament Interest till he found they went beyond their first Pretentions and the Expectations of himself and other good Men When he discover'd that he endeavoured to redeem his Error by bending to the contrary Extream And I am persuaded it was this that put him on the designing and finishing of this Book This Argument is so far from being probable and fit for Conviction that it is more like to move Laughter for it may conclude thus for Dr. Walker as well as for Dr. Gauden Dr. Walker had been of the Parliament Party against the King was a Favourite of the Party and a Chaplain to them but when they went beyond his Expectation he bended to the contrary Extream therefore Dr. Walker wrote the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But though the Argument doth not make this probable yet it shews a great Probability that Dr. Gauden hath bended to contrary Extreams but Dr. Walker is more constant to his first Principles Dr. Walker's second probable Argument is drawn from the fourteenth Chapter i. e. of the Covenant and p. 6. he relates it at large to this effect That being privy to the truth of this Affair out of Curiosity he asked Dr. Barwick Dean of St. Paul 's What he thought of this Book for the thing being doubtfully spoken of he made bold to ask his Judgment of it The Dean pressed him with this Argument If it were written by any but the King it must be a Friend or an Enemy not by an Enemy for no Enemy of the King would have represented him so much to his Advantage not by a Friend for no Friend of his would write as he doth of the Covenant c. Meaning so favourably Ans It is highly improbable that Dr. Barwick who doubtless had considered that Chapter against the Covenant would have chosen such an Argument when there is as much said in that Chapter to condemn the Covenant as could rationally be expected for in the first Paragraph he says That it was a pawning of their Souls to the Presbyterian Scots by a Solemn League and Covenant In the second he calls it An Engine intended chiefly to batter down Episcopacy and compares it to a Charm and Exorcism In the third That it contained many dubious and dangerous Limitations referring to himself and things very disputable which could not be sworn to with Judgment and Certainty to a Man's self or Charity and Candor to others P. 4. That imposing Oaths on People must needs in things doubtful be dangerous and in things unlawful as he had proved this to be by his Proclamation and the irrefragrable Arguments of the University of Oxford had determin'd was damnable P. 5. That it was not only superfluous but irreconcilable to former Oaths and the Protestation so lately taken to maintain the Religion established in the Church of England since they account Discipline so great a part of Religion P. 6. That it was laid as a Snare and Engine by Men of ambitious Minds to catch and hold vulgar Credulity under the Terror of Perjury P. 7. That such After-contracts imposed without and against the King's Consent or any Power or President from the Laws of God or Man could not absolve the Subjects from those Moral Bonds of Duty which lay on their Consciences both to God and the King and calls it a mocking of God Now what Friend of the King 's
Dr. Walker intimates did Transcribe the Book which Testimony I had from the mouth of the Reverend Dr. Edw. Lake Archdeacon of Exeter being then on his Visitation about Easter last who declared in the presence of another judicious Friend That he well knew Mr. Gifford and that discoursing with him occasionally concerning the King's Book Mr. Gifford thought it next to the Holy Scripture to be one of the most Divine Books that had been written And that Mr. Gifford preaching on the 30th of January and urging to Charity he quoted this Passage out of that Book as being the King's Book It is all that is now left me a Power to Forgive those that deprived me of all and I thank God I have a Heart to do it This Testimony being given by Mr. Gifford to an intimate Friend who was much better acquainted with the Transactions concerning the Author and Publishers of that Book and for ought I ever heard of a clearer Reputation than Dr. Walker who owned that he never read the Book in Manuscript but intimates that Mr. Gifford transcribed it who had he been conscious that the Copy which he transcribed had been of Dr. Gauden's compiling yea I may say had he not known as he had the best opportunity to inform himself that it was the King's he would never have quoted it as his on so solemn an Occasion So that I need nor desire any other Evidence to confirm my Testimony but leave it to the indifferent Reader to judge whether the single Report of Dr. Walker or the joynt and agreeing Testimony of Mr. Gifford and Mr. Long and Mrs. Gauden are most credible And if any Reader be yet doubtful I intreat 'em for his full Conviction to suspend his Censure till he hath considered what followeth As for the impertinent and false Reflections made on the Author of the Vox Cleri which he calls a Virulent Book let it speak for itself and he that hath an ear to hear must needs apprehend that he wrote only in behalf of the Church as by Law established to which he had given his hearty Assent and Consent to which the Churches Enemies being of another mind account all that shall be written on its behalf to be Venemous Invectives and to deserve alike Remark as he makes on the Royal Martyr That he who acted so tragically over us should leave the World with such a ridiculous Exit for which wretched Invention the Libeller is beholding to that long since exploded and by a miraculous Providence confuted Motto of Bradshaw and his Fellow-Regicides viz. Exit Tirannus Regum Ultimus I shall not follow Dr. Walker in his Excursions but keep close to his Arguments for the Proof of his Assertion which he delivers in these words P. 3. I know and believe the Book whose Author is enquired after was written by Dr. Gauden except two Chapters writ by Bp. Duppa so far as the subjoyned means may produce such Knowledge and the Reasons may induce such Belief In p. 2. He solemnly appeals to the Searcher of Hearts Avenger of Falshood and Revealer of Secrets that he wrote nothing of the Truth of which he was not throughly perswaded by as full Evidence as he judged such a Matter of Fact needed and at such distance of Time was capable of Yet after this solemn Appeal and Declaration of his Knowledge and Belief in the same Page he begs leave to retain his Opinion Till Means of Knowledge Reasons of Belief Arguments for thinking otherwise be produced and then promiseth to yield So that notwithstanding his Knowledge and Belief and his being throughly perswaded by full Evidence he is still in a Suspence and doubts that such Arguments may be produced as may alter his Opinion And in p. 3. he talks of such probable Arguments as may confirm himself and satisfie others among which Arguments that which he mentioneth p. 8. he judgeth to carry the fairest and highest Probability to confirm what he had before declared viz. The reasonable Belief that he i. e. Dr. Gauden was the Composer of it The Argument is p. 8. n. 5. in these words I am as sure as I can be of any thing that Dr. Gauden made the Extract out of this Book called I think Apophthegmata Carolina the thing is most notorious that there was such a Book came out in a very short time after printed by Mr. Dugard Now why should Dr. Gauden concern himself so much more than any other of the King's Friends and dispatch it with such Expedition had he had no more concern in it than other Men Ans Let the Reader judge how probable the rest of his Arguments are when in his own Judgment this is the fairest and highest Probability to confirm what he hath declared for what force is there in the Argument because Dr. Gauden collected the Apophthegmata Carolina therefore he made the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if the Abbreviating of any Book were an Argument that the Abbreviator were the Author of it Indeed the very Argument is a scandalous Reflection on his Friend's Memory as if it had not been enough to sham the World with a Book in the King's Name but he must Extract his own Apothegms or Wise Sayings out of it and charge his Prince with what he never said nor thought of It had been a pretty way of trumpetting his own Praise and setting his own Military Political and Theological Abilities on a Level with those of the wisest Prince in Christendom I think Antiquity gives us no Instance of any Man publishing his own Apothegms however Dr. W.'s unfortunate in this since the Collector and Publisher of the Apophthegmata Carolina was not Dr. Gauden but Dr. Hooker a Person still living in White-Lion-Court against Virginia-street in Wapping It would have concluded more rationally if Dr. Gauden had defended it against Milton and some others that wrote against it as Dr. Earle did yet none will infer that Dr. Earle was the Author though he took the Pains also to Translate it into Latine And it 's a more Logical Inference to say Dr. Gauden published an Extract of weighty Sentences out of that Book therefore he was not the Author of it Dr. Earle's Testimony given by Mr. Beck p. 28. of Dr. Holling is very convincing That he being sent by his Lord Vicount Hereford to Dr. Earle then at the Hague to ask what he knew of the King 's being Author of that Book the Doctor told him As sure as he knew himself to be the Translator of that Book into Latine so certain he was King Charles was the Author of the Original in English And he adds For my part I am apt to believe no Person was able to frame that Book but a Suffering King and no Suffering King but King Charles the Martyr Dr. Walker in p. 4. declares what he knew of this Book and by what means Dr. Gauden saith he sometime before the whole was finished was pleased to acquaint me with his Design and
therefore doth he beseech him that shall write against him to write nothing for the Truth of which he doth not make the like Appeals to God which he hath done which I think no good Man will do upon such uncertain Hearsays and probable Arguments as Dr. Walker makes his Appeals from doing whereof the Advertisement of the Printer may be a Discouragement viz. That the Author coming to London to publish this Treatise it pleased God before it was finished at the Press to take him to himself However this Point we have gained by Dr. Walker's Concession That if any Man can produce more probable Arguments for the contrary Opinion he must be of that Perswasion as Dr. Walker said he would and must Which I doubt not to perform to the full Satisfaction of the Reader SECT IV. p. 8. Contains an Answer to Dr. Hollingworth 's Postscript This Section which fills up fourteen or fifteen Pages contains an insolent and supercillious Contest with a far better Man than himself P. 8. Dr. Holling says Some Men have with Industry endeavoured to perswade the World that the Book was a Forgery and not of the King 's Compiling and names the Essex Doctor This Dr. Walker the Essex Doctor says is an unlucky Omen to stumble so at the Threshold because he calls it an Objection against the King Reply If the writing of the Book gained great Honour and Reputation to the King then those Objectors that denied the King to be the Author did scandalously reflect upon his Majesty Dr. Walker grants the Antecedent and therefore the Conclusion will follow P. 10. Dr. Hollingworth I could not believe that any Man could write at that Divine rate but he that felt the Miseries which suggest such Thoughts and Heavenly Meditations Dr. Walker instead of an Answer says only That this is borowed from Sir W. Dugdale who agreed in the same Sentiment with Dr. Hollingworth in these words The unlikelihood that any such Expressions could flow from a Heart not oppressed and grieved with such a weight of Sorrow as his was c. I believe that most judicious Persons do herein agree with Dr. H. and Sir W. D. And Dr. W. grants it p. 11. That our Affections are kindied by our present Circumstances and surprising Mercies or Calamities are Springs of such Joy or Sorrow as sharpen or set an edge on our Expressions and instil such an Air Energy and sutable Eloquence which the same Person could not reach at another time Dr. Earle agreed with Sir W. Dugdale That no afflicted prince but K. Charles could pen such Meditations Dr. Walker When a Man designs to personate another he adapts his Words and Expressions with second and third Thoughts takes a great deal of Pains useth a studious Industry to fit every Thought to such a Condition every Affection to such a Thought and every Expression to be a lively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of such a Pasion or Affection Ans Now supposing that Dr. Gauden wrote that Book he used a studious Industry to imitate the King's usual Words and Expressions so that in Dr. Gauden's Opinion the King had a very excellent Train of Thoughts and fit Words to express them not to be imitated without second and third Thoughts and great Pains and Industry And whoever shall diligently compare the King 's undoubted Writings with those of Dr. Gauden's will be fully convinced that neither for the Excellency of Thoughts or Elegancy of expressing them the Doctor hath in any measure imitated the Stile of the King's Book in which as Dr. W. observes p. 12. the Evenness of the Thought and Expression that Equality of the Stile and Affection and the same Thread running quite through from first to last may persuade the Reader that it was not compiled by two such different Men as Bp. Duppa and Dr. Gauden but by that Great King of whom Dr. W. says p. 1. That his Honour is secured by his acknowledged Wisdom celebrated Vertues exemplary Patience and Christian Magnanimity in his Sufferings Now for Dr. W. to infer from the King's Sufferings that he was not the Author of that Book because the Hurry of Miseries which attended him as Dr. W. thinks must distract and alter the Temper of his Mind is an irreparable Injury to the Memory of that Good King who as he was observed to be of an equal Temper of Mind under various Conditions so his Sufferings gave him Opportunity and Vacancy for sedate and deliberate Thoughts And as the King acknowledged occasion'd great Improvement both of his Parts and Pious Devotions which all that knew him could testifie neither his Victories nor his Overthrows could at any time cause him to intermit Of which we have this remarkable Instance That twenty Years before his death the News of the Assassination of his great Favourite the Duke of Buckingham being brought him while he was at Prayer he took no other notice of it than to apply himself more earnestly to his Devotions Nor was he more disturbed at that ugly Sentence for his death And when the Commissioners at the Treaty in Newport insisted on their Unreasonable Demands he told them He could with more comfort cast himself on his Saviour's Goodness to support and defend him from all Afflictions that might befal him rather then for any Politick Considerations which might seem to be a Means of restoring him to deprive himself of the Tranquility of his Mind P. 13. Dr. Walker objects against Dr. Hollingworth that he saith in that Page That the Book was sent by a trusty Messenger to Mr. Simmonds from the King This Dr. W. confessed March 23 1690. But p. 39. That he desired Bp. Juxon to get some trusty Friend to look it over and put it into exact Order And hereupon he insults over Dr. Hollingworth as having a bad Memory and publishing things inconsistent c. Whereas he that shall observe how Dr. Hollingworth distinguisheth the time viz. That in the Year 1647 the King sent the most considerable part of his Book which was in loose Papers to Bp. Juxton to get it put into good Order the Bishop sent it to Sir J. Brttle 's Father who having digested and transcribed it was conveyed back to the King and being perfected by the addition of more Chapters and made ready for the Press in the Year 48 was sent to Mr. Simmonds to publish it These Relations agree so well and Sir J. Brattle's Testimony was so authentick that Dr. W. was well aware it would be too hot for his Fingers It is highly probable that more Copies than one were transcribed from the Original written by the King's hand 1. Because of the great Esteem the King had for it 2. The great Fear lest one or two Copies might fall into the hands of his Enemies as his Cabinet did at Naseby 3. Because the King was adding to or altering of some parts in the Original a little before his close Imprisonment I have shewed Reasons to induce the Reader