Titus Britannicus AN ESSAY OF HISTORY ROYAL IN THE Life Reign OF HIS Late SACRED MAJESTY CHARLES II. Of Ever Blessed and Immortal Memory By AVRELIAN COOK Gent. Ut ameris Amabilis esto Ovid. Majora Veris Monstra vix capiunt Fidem Senec. LONDON Printed for James Partridg Stationer to His Royal Highness George Hereditary Prince of Denmark at the Post-Office by Charing-Cross 1685. To the most NOBLE HONOURABLE REVEREND WILLIAM Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury FRANCIS Lord Guilford C. S. LAWRENCE Earl of Rochester P. GEORGE Marquess of Halifax C. P. S. JAMES Duke of Ormond S. R. D. CHRISTOPHER Duke of Albemarle HENRY Duke of New-Castle HENRY Duke of Beaufort CHARLES Marquess of Winchester ROBERT Earl of Lindsey S. A. C. HENRY Earl of Arlington C. R. D. AUBERY Earl of Oxford THEOPHILUS Earl of Huntington JOHN Earl of Bridgwater HENRY Earl of Peterborough PHILIP Earl of Chesterfield Robert Earl of Sunderland HENRY Earl of Clarendon JOHN Earl of Bath WILLIAM Earl of Craven ROBERT Earl of Ailesbury JOHN Earl of Radnor DANIEL Earl of Nottingham HENRY Earl of Middleton THOMAS Vicount Falconberg HENRY Lord Bishop of London GEORGE Lord Dartmouth SIDNEY Lord Godolphin Sir JOHN ERNLY Sir THOMAS CHICHELEY Sir GEORGE JEFFERIES and Sir LEOLINE JENKINS The Lords of His late Majesties Privy-Council My LORDS IT was a Custom much us'd by the Ancient Writers among the Greeks and Romans to Dedicate their Books to their most particular Friends and sometimes to Intitle and call them by their Friends Names In our Age wherein we either do or shou'd imitate Antiquity in all commendable things This laudable Custom is either wholly laid aside or practis'd by so few that they almost escape Observance If indeed this Method of Dedicating Books was chang'd into a better I should have no reason to complain but rather to applaud the happy Genius of our Times for outshining the brightest days of Antiquity But most assuredly we can find no causes for such Triumphs The Dedications now made in England and France which two Countries in this Age we may Parallel with the foremention'd Greece and Italy upon the Score of Excellence in Wit with respect to the rest of Europe Our Dedications I say are so full of nauseous and fulsom Flatteries and Most of 'em so generally made up of about a dozen long Words variously turn'd and dispers'd that for my part I wonder how any Man can proceed any further in a Book of such small hopes but must needs lay it down and chuse rather to go to Bounding-Stones with Augustus Nay this crying Sin of the Nation is come to that pass that even our Poets who were made and fram'd on purpose in such a Make as only to lash Vice with the severest Satyr are yet most abominably guilty of this crime When an excellent Comedy has appear'd on the Stage for some time and perhaps done the Work of an Hundred Homilies in visiting and reclaiming Mankind from their evil ways it comes forth in Print and all is spoil'd again by a wicked Dedication in the beginning which propagatâ—â— Atheism so that no man can believe the Poet is honest and speaks his mind in the Play while he talks so lewdly and contradictorily in the Dedication It was not so in Ben. Johnson's days What I have said of Epistles Dedicatory in general may partly seem to hook my self into the crowd of these numerous Transgressors while I inscribe this Book to your Great Names But several Things I have to alledg for my self First tho this Piece be not presented to any private Friend of its Author in Emulation of the Ancients yet as far as possibly I have followed their Sacred Rules and Canons in a Work of this publick Nature For it is the Life of one of the Greatest and Wisest Princes that â—ver Sway'd the English or any other Scepter And to whom cou'd I better devote His Life than to His Greatest and Wisest Friends for such He always call'd His best Servants Ye are concern'd MY LORDS in every Page of this Book and can witness what is here related to be true No part of His Life but wherein some of you have had a share In His Education His Exile His Sufferings His Victories His Triumphs And while I write his Life in some measure I write Yours For such is the fate of Celsitude and honour that Great Men in some sense do frequently Dye before Sixty three And to be sure when a Prince falls he does not fall alone but several Others have their Lives interchangeably writ with his Besides MY LORDS being unable to find any Object nearer to him than Your selves except his Majesty whom God long preserve and the Family Royal I lay under an indispensable necessity of imploring your Lordships Patronage For such is my Veneration to the Blood of my Prince that by no means can I be perswaded to think the ensuing Papers fit for his most Sacred and Princely Eye or worthy a Royal Protection and I am resolv'd to be as Innocent as I can and not offend One Prince after having committed Treason against the Fame of another However MY LORDS tho this be not a Piece fit for a Kings Cabinet yet I hope this Image of our late Sovereigns Life will not be refus'd by Your Lordships since we love the Pictures of those Persons we admire let 'em be never so unfinisht let them be drawn by what hand soever The other Thing which I propos'd to my self in this Address was the avoiding Flattery tho it may seem a very unnecessary Caution since he that looks up to such a Thick-set Conglobation and as it were Galaxy of heavenly Virtues must easily infer that they are too high for Flattery and too bright to have any lustre added to them With all the Tragical forces of Eloquence I might here expatiate on the Topicks of Grand Descent of Titles and honours of Policy and Government of Arms and Learning of the Tent and the Closet But it is not my design to manage these common Subjects And I beg leave of your Lordships to say That in the front of a Book consecrated to the fame of CHARLES the II d I think I shou'd do an Injury to him if I endeavour'd professedly to write any other Panegyrick but his tho at the same time I must needs include Your Lordships Praises And herein I have determin'd to take a View of the King himself and not of his Deeds that Province I leave to his history and to set his personal Virtues and not additional Actions before your Eyes for a bad man may do a praise-worthy thing but a good man himself can only be praised Many Kings themselves do either hear or read their own Commendations and take care to see their own Glory setled before they dye But such kind of Annals usually is as mortal as their Subject and as soon turns to Ashes No His late Majesties Praise shall not be Mercenary The World after his Death shall
Montross his deplorable Fate ibid. The Kings Letter to the Scots 75 His shrewd Treaty with their Commissioners 76 The English Juncto sit uneasie alarm'd with the Scots Proceedings ibid. Cromwel call'd out of Ireland and made General 81 The King Lands at the Spey in Scotland 82 1650. Cromwel Marches Northwards ibid. The Scots at difference before among themselves thereupon Unite 83 The King most Solemnly Crown'd at Schone 84 Raises an Army himself Personal Valour 162 The Kings promotes a Peace between France and Spain 165 Goes Incognito to the place of Treaty 166 The Duke of York offer'd the Constableship of Castile 169 1659. The King gives forth new Commissions 171 Sir George Booth Rises 172 Is unfortunately defeated 174 And taken Prisoner 175 The King at St. Malloes 176 An Overture to try Monk 177 Monks Brother sent into Scotland to him 178 Monk undertakes the Kings Restauration 182 Sends his Brother to the Parliament 184 A Prophetick Speech 185 Monk prepares for England 187 Whence Dr. Clergies comes to him 189 Lambert sends Morgan into Scotland 192 A Convention at Edenborough ibid. Monks Commissioners sign an Agreement 193 The Rump sits again 194 Invite Monk to London but distrust him 195 The People address to him 196 He desires the Parliament to remove their Guards 197 Was to have been sent to the Tower 198 But goes to the Parliament ibid. Made one of the Council of State 199 Pulls down the City-Gates 201 Sends a Letter to the Rump 202 Marches into the City 203 The Rump dissemble their Indignation 204 Employ their Adjutators 205 A Conference about the secluded Members 206 Who are readmitted 207 Monk made General ibid. They discharge Booth ibid. Dissolve themselves and call a free Parliment 208 Appoint a Council of State ibid. 1660. Greenvile introduc'd to the General by Morris 210 Delivers him a Letter from the King 211 The General commends his Secrecy 212 Desires him to acquaint the King with his Resolution to Restore him 213 Which was accordingly done at Brussels 214 Monk leaves his Reward to the Kings pleasure 215 The King gives Greenvile a Warrant for an Earldom 216 Signs a Commission for Monks being General 217 Removes privately to Breda ibid. Lambert escapes from the Tower but is retaken by Ingolsby 218 The free Parliament meets 219 Greenvile delivers the Kings Letter to the General 220 And his Letters and Declaration to the two Houses 221 The Reverence exprest by the Commons at reading them with Resolves thereupon 222 The Kings Letter delivered to General Mountague and the Joy it occasioned in the Fleet. 224 The Parliament Invites the King 〈◊〉 225 The Commissioners arrive at Breda ibid. The King Proclaim'd 226 The King prepares for his Return 228 Treated and presented by the Dutch ibid. The Sâ—ates Speech to him â—â—at parting 229 He leaves Holland with a glorious Fleet. 232 And Arrives at Dover 234 The General meets him there ibid. He goes to Canterbury 235 To Chattham 230 Is presented with an Address ibid. Views the Army ibid. Comes to London 237 Rides in Triumph through London ibid. Is received by the Parliament 240 He thanks them for their Loyalty ibid. He goes to the Parliament house 241 Chooses his Privy-Council 242 The Act of Oblivion 243 The General madâ— Duke of Albemarle c. 245 Several others advanc'd ibid Resignation of Purchases 246 Embassadors congratulate his Restauration ibid. The Oblivion-Act comprehensive 247 29th of May Annisary ibid. The Army Disbanded ibid. The Kings Speech at the Adjournment 248 Duke of Glocester dies 349 The Kings care to settle the Church ibid. Regicides brought to Tryalâ— 251 The Queen Mother comes into England 252 Argile sent back to Scotland 253 Princess of Orange dies 254 The healing Parliament dissolv'd ibid. Cromwels Carkass upon the Gallows 255 The Fifth-Monarchy mens Adventure 256 Preparations for the Kings Coronation 260 1661. Four Triumphal Arches erected by the City 261 The Order of his Cavalcade through the City 268 The manner of his Crowning 273 The Thunder that day the Censures thereon 279 He calls a fresh Parliament 280 The Presbyterians stickle in Elections 282 He Rides in State to the Parliament which he acquaints with his design of Marrying the Infanta of Portugal 283 A Convocation of the Clergy 284 The Act of Oblivion confirmed by that Parliament 285 The Act for Regulating Corporations ibid. Pryn censur'd by the Parliament 286 The Bishops restored to their Peerage ibid. The Lord Munson and others censured 287 Parliament adjourn'd by the King ibid. The Duke of York Captain of the Artillery Company 288 Barbone and others secured 289 The Kings Piety to the memory of his Friends 290 The Quarrel between the French and Spanish Embassadors 291 Harry Martyn no humble Servant to Proclamations ibid. The Duke of Ormond made Deputy of Ireland ibid. Episcopacy restored in Scotland 293 1662. A Fleet sent for the Queen and a Garrison to Tangier ibid. The Agreeableness of the King and Queens Fortunes 294 Her arrival at Portsmouth ibid. Queen of Bohemia dies 295 The King married at Portsmouth 296 The African Potentates allarmed 297 Tangier made a free Port. 298 The dreadful St. Bartholomew 299 Several Cities and Towns dismantl'd ibid. Dunkirk return'd to the French 300 Philips and others excuted for Plotting 301 An Embassy out of Russia ibid. 1663. The Kings Progress into the West 303 Oates and others executed 304 1664. The Parliament for War with the Dutch ibid. The King fits out two Fleets 306 His Personal care and industry 307 The Plague begins in London ibid. Prince Rupert at the Spithead 310 The Dutch afraid to put to Sea ibid. An Embargo on Dutch Ships 311 The Act for a Royal Aid 312 War Proclaimed against Holland 313 1665. A General Fast enjoyned 314 His Royal Highness Lord High Admiral ibid The Dutch allarm'd 315 Are Beaten 316 The Sickness increasing in London 317 The King and Parliament at Oxford 318 The Duke of Albemarl left in London 320 A Fast kept on every Wednesday ibid. The English Fleet upon the Coast of Holland 321 The Earl of Sandwich Attacques the Dutch in Berghen ibid. France takes part with Holland 322 A Plot discover'd ibid. 1666. Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle Admirals 324 They fight the Dutch 325 London in Ashes 327 The Kings great compassion in that distress 330 Various Opinions about that Fire ibid. The Kings Prudence and Care in its Rebuilding 331 The first Invention of Ensuring houses from Fire 332 An Act of Parliament for the Rebuilding of London ibid His Pious care for Rebuilding the Churches 335 Sir Jonas More the first Rebuilder 336 A Prodigious Storm 337 A Commotion in Scotland ibid. War with Denmark 338 A Treaty at Breda 339 The Dutch spend a Summer in needless Preparations ibid. They come to Chattham 340 Peace concluded with Holland 341 1667. The Earl of Clarendon in disgrace 342 1669 Earl of Carlisle Embassador to Sweden 343 Queenmother dies 344 The Duke of Albemarle
City and Suburbs for the Relief of many Thousand miserable Wretches who would otherwise have perished and to encourage others to so needful a charity by his own example ordered several great Sums of Money to be issued out of his Treasury for that Purpose On the 23d of January being the first day of Hillary Term the Lawyers went over the Ice to Westminster and back again as familiarly as on the Land some on Foot and others in Coaches and there was for above a fortnight together a Fair or Mart kept between the Temple and that part of Southwark which is opposite to it This Year Vienna the Imperial City of Germany was closely besieged and greatly distressed by the Turks who brought it to the very last extremity but were then beaten off and forced to raise their siege by the Blessing of God upon the Valour of the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorrain in which Action the Lord Landsdown Eldest Son to the Earl of Bath behaved himself with so much Valour that he was afterward as a Reward of his Courage created a Count of the Sacred Empire And Tangier having cost the King abundance of Treasure to defend it against the Moors and make the Mole there he now resolved in regard the charges were so very great and the Expectation of Advantage very uncertain to relinquish it and therefore ordered the Lord Dartmouth to repair thither wih about 20 sail of Ships and demolish the Town Castle and Mole choak up the Haven to render it useless to any who might otherwise have thought the Town worth rebuilding and bring off the Inhabitants which was done accordingly About the middle of February 1684. was the Earl of Danby after a long and tedious Imprisonment admitted to Bail by the Eminent and Loyal Sir George Jeffrys who succeeded Sir Edward Sanders in the Lord Chief Justiceship of England all the Judges of the Kings-Bench having first given their several opinions about it and delivered their Reasons why he ought to be bailed and the other four Lords one of them viz. Peters being dead sometime before having just before his Death in a Letter to the King denied upon his Salvation his being any way Guilty of what he stood accused of being within the like Reasons were admitted to the like advantage and so was the Earl of Tyrone who had been almost as long a Prisoner in the Gate-house as they had been in the Tower The King having about the Year 81 appointed under him certain Deputies or Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Offices viz. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Radnor Hallifax Hide and Mr. Seymor to whom he delegated his Power to dispose of all such Ecclesiastical Preferments as were within his immediate Patronage was pleased this Year to revoke their Commission and take those preferments again into his own immediate disposal as likewise a commission formerly granted to several Persons to execute the Office of Lord High Admiral of Eugland which was now again fully enjoyed and exercised by his Royal Highness Acts of Hostility being this Spring-fiercely pursued between the French and Spaniards by Sea and Land he commanded by Proclamation that being at Amity with both those Nations the Peace should be kept inviolably by them whilst they were in any Roads Creeks and Ports of his Dominions and that his Commanders and Officers should oppose themselves against those who should presume to assault any of the Ships of his Allies in any of his Roads or Places under his Protection Oates the Salamanca Doctor and Plot-Master-General not content with having falsly charged his Royal Highness the Kings only Brother and Heir with divers base and improbable Stories as tho he had plotted with the Papists against the King his Brother suffered his Spleen to boil to such an exorbitant degree that he saucily and impudently abused him with base and scurrilous Language calling him Traytor declaring That he hoped to see him hang'd with divers horrid devilish and abominable Expressions The Dukes patience not being easily provoked bore long with him but finding that forbearance did but render him more bold and increase his malignity at last he brought his Action of Scandalnm Magnatum against him upon which he was arrested at the Amsterdam Coffee-house on the back-side of the Royal Exchange and carried to Woodstreet Compter and from thence removed by Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench and having let Judgment go in the next Term by default a Writ of Enquiry was issued out and executed before the Lord Chief Justice in the Kings-Bench Court when the Jury upon hearing the Evidence to shew their detestation of such an unheard of impudence gave 100000 Damages The Hambrough Company out of Gratitude for some great Favour received from the King did this Spring erect a most elaborate and curious Statue of him in Gray Marble in the very middle or Center of the Royal Exchange cut by Mr. Grinlin Gibbons the most Famous Statuary that England ever produc'd and equal if not superior to the best at this Time in Europe in the Garb and Habit of a Roman Caesar It was placed upon a curious Pedestal made of the same Marble upon which was the following Inscription Carolo II Caesari Britanico Patriae Patri Regnum optimo Clementissimo Augustissimo Generis Humani Deliciis Vtriusque fortunae Victori Pacis Europae Arbitro Maris Domino Vindici Societas Meâ—catorum Adventur Angliae Quae per CCCC jam prope Annos Regia Benignitate floret Fidei Intemerata Gratitudinis Aeternaâ— Hoc Testimonium Venerabunda posuit Anno sal Humanae MDCLXXXIV The Council sitting on the 28th of May at Hampton Court as it used frequently to do when he was at Windsor as the most convenient place for his coming to it he told them that he thought it fit and did intend his Brother should be present at the Meetings of the Council who accordingly took his Seat that Day and ever after during his Brothers Life And in October following the King made a Review or Muster of his Land-Forces upon Putney Heath where there was a most gallant Military Appearance the Horse consisting of the Three Troops of Guards the Granadeers the Earl of Oxford's Regiment of Horse and the Lord Churchels Regiment of Dragoons and the Foot of two Battalians formed and the Regiment of Guards with their Granadeers one from the Coldstream Regiment of Guards and Granadeers one from the Earl of Dumbartons Regiment and another from the Admiral Regiment with their Granadeers the whole Number of Horse and Foot between 4000 and 5000 being all exactly trained and well cloath'd most of the Horse march'd in the morning in Gallant Order through the Streets of London and so over the Bridg to Putney This Michaelmas Terms several Factious Persons were convicted of speaking scandalous and seditious Words against the Government for which one Best commonly call'd the Protestant Hop-Merchant was fined 1000 l. and ordered to stand in the Pillory
ibid. 1670 Designs to unite England and Scotland 345 Prince of Tuscany in England ibid The Dutchess of Orleans at Dover 346 Sir Thomas Allen before Argeir 347 Sir Edward Spragg destroys three Men of War 348 1671 Bloud steals the Crown 349 The King takes a Sea-Progress 351 A stop upon the Exchequer 352 Sir George Downing committed to the Tower 353 A Declaration of Indulgence 354 Sir Robert Holms falls on the Dutch Smyrna Fleet ibid 1672 The King declares War against the Dutch 355 He views the English and French Fleet joyning ibid His Royal Highness's name terrible to the Dutch 356 The States remove to Amsterdam 357 The King Invites their Subjects into England ibid The Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington Embassadors 358 Nimeguen taken ibid 1673 the Dutch beaten 359 The King grants Peace to the Dutch 360 1677 Grows Jealous of the French Kings greatness 362 The Lady Mary marri'd to the Prince of Orange ibid The Kings Speech to the Parliament 363 France threatned with a War 365 The King endeavours a general Peace 366 But provides for the worst 367 His Speech to the Parliament ibid 1678 The Siege of Mons raised 359 A peace concluded at Nimeguen ibid A hugeous strange Plot of Black Bills and Spanish pilgrims discover'd by Titus Oates 371 The Lords Bellasis Powis Peters and Arundel sent to the Tower 3â—2 Godfrey found murthered 373 The King prevents the Parliament 375 His refusal to part with the Militia 376 Some try'd for the Plot ibid Some of the Parliament accuse each other 377 Sir Joseph Williamson released by the King 378 The Long Parliament dissolv'd ibid The Kings Letter to the Duke 379 The Duke goes into Flanders 380 The Kings Speech to the new Parliament ibid 1679 They begin with the Earl of Danby 384 Who surrenders him self ibid The Lords in the Tower Impeacht in Parliament 385 The King dissolves his Privy-Council and constitutes a new one ibid. Shaftsbury President 387 The Lords Answer to their Impeachments ibid. 1680 The Kings proposal to the Parliament 388 Their Address to the King 389 The Bill of Exclusion brought in ibid The two Houses differ about Danby's pardon and the Tryal of the Lords 390 The King Porogues them 392 The Bishop of St. Andrews most barbarous Muther forerunner of a Scotch Rebellion ibid. Whence the name of Whigs 393 The Parliament dissolv'd and a new one call'd 394 Sir G. Wakeman and others acquitted ibid. The King taken Sick at Windsor 395 Monmouth in disgrace 397 A Declaration about him 398 He is banished 402 Dangerfields discovery ibid The Duke of York goes into Scotl. 403 Sawcy Petitions for the Parliaments fitting 404 Forbidden by Proclamation ibid. Kings Speech to the Parliament 405 The Duke returns out of Scotland 406 Sir Lionel Jenkins made Secretary 407 Addresses of Abhorrence ibid. The Lord Shandios Embassador to Constantinople 408 A prodigious storm of Hail ibid The Parliament sits 409 Fall foul upon Sir Robt. Can and others ibid. Revive the Attempt of the Exclusion Bill which is bravely thrown out by the Lords 411 The Tryal of the Lord Stafford 412 The Blazing-star 413 The King presseth the Parliament for supplys ibid. The Address ibid. His Answer 414 Their Proceedings thereupon 415 They are Prorogu'd 416 Their lewdly extravagant Votes ibid. Petitions about the Oxford Parliament 417 The Country treats their Members 418 1681 The King goes to Oxford 419 His Speech to the Parliament there ibid. Wi. Williams Speaker 421 Fitz-Harris his story 422 25 26 27 28. The Oxford-Parliament dissolv'd 423 A Declaration touching it 424 Doct. Pluncket 427 The Lord Howard committed to the Tower 428 The Oxford-Plot 429 The Protestant Joyner ibid. His Royal Highness High Commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland 430 An Act past there about the Succession ibid. The King Favours the French Protestants 431 Shaftsbury sav'd by an Ignoramus 432 Esquire Thinn murther'd 433 1682 The Royal Passenger's miraculous deliverance 435 Sir John More Lord Mayor of London 436 A Riot in the City about Sheriffs 437 Prince Rupert dies 442 The Earl of Nottingham dies ibid Two remarkable and unusual Embassadors ibid. 1683 Bantham lost 444 An unpresidentable action ibid A Quo Warranto brought against the City Charter 447 A Petition in reference to it 447 The Kings gracious Condescention ibid Shaftsbury's Plot discover'd 449 The King to have been kill'd at the Rye 451 Sav'd by an accidental Fire ibid. Keeling the first discoverer 452 The Plotters taken ibid. Lord Gray Escapes 453 The Lord Russel and Coll. Sidney Beheaded and others executed at Tyburn ibid. Holloway and Armstrong executed 454 A Declaration of Thanksgiving ibid. The difference between the two Plots 455 The Lady Ann Married to Prince George ibid. Judgment enter'd against the Charter 456 Prichard Mayor by Commission ibid. The Factious Aldermen displac'd 457 Monmouth submits himself 458 The great Frost 459 The Kings Charity 460 Vienna besieged ibid Lord Landsdown ' Valour at its 〈…〉 46â— Tâ—ngâ—er demolish'â— ibid. Earl of Danby relievâ—d ibid. The rest of the Lords out of the Toweâ— 462 684. Commissioners for Ecclesiastical affairs ibid. A Scandalum Magnatum against Oates 463 His Royal Highnesses Patience 464 A Statue-peice of the King in the Royal Exchange ibâ—d A Muster on Putney Heath 466 Several tryed 467 The Sodom Doctor Indicted 468 Danvers his Libel 469 〈…〉 Scroop How receiv'd to favour 470 The King 〈…〉 Fit 471 The manner of his lingring Death 472 The Solemnity of his â—uneral 475 His Person 481 His Justice 483 His peaceable Inclination 486 His care of the Crown Prerogatives 488 His Prudence and Conduct 491 His great Piety and Devotion â—94 His Travels 499 His Learning â—01 His Recreations 504 His Conjugal Affectionâ— 506 Epigraphe 509 A Prayer for the King 511 An Essay of HISTORY ROYAL In the LIFE and REIGN OF HIS Late Sacred MAJESTY CHARLES the Second The Introduction HIstory in all Ages hath not undeservedly been accounted the great Light and Mistress of Humane Life as it both pleasurably instructs and most efficaciously persuades all Ranks and Degrees of men to their several respective and proper Offices For in laying the Foundation of a Good Mind Examples have a peculiar force to move men to Virtue and a much Greater than any bare Precepts whatsoever since they have this excellence in them that they prove what they recommend possible to be done and a Precept without an Example adjoyn'd to it looks like a good Law never put into Execution When men read of an Excellent Virtue they still carry away some Tincture from it whether they will or no as if they had been in Conversation with it's Possessor And when they read of any deformity and vice they have a natural aversion for it and will take care to avoid in themselves what looks so ugly in others Nor does History tend only to form men's manners in order to an happy Life but it also exalts and enlarges their minds while they
Exchecquer and Judges of the Law according to their several Dignities Trumpets Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber Knights of the Bath the Knights Marshal the Treasurer of the Chamber the Master of the Jewel House the Knights of the Privy Councel the Comptrollor and the Treasurer of the Kings-Household two Trumpets and Serjeants Trumpets two Pursivants at Arms Barons Eldest Sons Earls Youngest Sons Viscounts Eldest Sons Marquesses Youngest Sons Earls Eldest Sons two Pursivants at Armes Viscounts and Dukes Eldest Sons Marquesses Eldest Sons two Heralds Earls Earl Marshal and Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Dukes Eldest Sons Serjeants at Armes on both sides the Nobility Clarencieux and Norroy Lord Treasurer Lord Chancellor Lord High-Steward the Duke of Ormond and two persons representing the Dukeâ— of Normandy and Aquitain Gentleman Usher Garter Lord Mayor His Royal Highness the Duke of York alone the Lord High Constable of England which was the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Great Chamberlain of England which was then the Earl Lindsey and the Sword carryed by the Duke of Richmond Equeries and Footmen followed next and about the King himself Gentlemen and Pensioners without them Master of the Horse which was the Duke of Albemarle leading a Spare Horse the Vice-Chamberlain to the King the Captain of the Pensioners the Captain of the Guard the Guard the Kings Life Guard Commanded by the Lord Gerrard the Generals Life Guard by Sir Phillip Howard a Troop of Voluntiers Troop and a Company of Foot by Sir John Robinson The way from the Tower to Aldgate was guarded by the Hamblets from thence to Temple-Bar by the Train-Bands on the one side and by the Livery on the other with the Banners of each Company the Windows were all along laid with Carpets and the best Tapistry Bands of Musick in several places and the Conduits running with Wine In St. Pauls Church-Yard stood the Blewcoat-Boyes of Christ-Church Hospital one whereof in the Name of the rest declared their joy for his Majesties wonderful Preservation and Restauration Humbly beseeching his Gracious Favour and Indulgence according to the example of His Royal Ancestors and his Father of Blessed Memory With which Speech he was well pleased and testified his being so by his rewarding the Boy that spoke it In the Strand and through Westminster the wayes were likewise gravelled and railed and guarded on both sides with the Trained-Bands of that City and the Kings two Regiments of Foot under the Command of Albemarl and Collonel Russel and the Houses adorned with Carpets and Tapestry like those in London When he came through Temple-Bar the Head Bayliffe and High-Constable in Scarlet met and received him with loud Musick and alighting off their Horses and kneeling down the Head Bayliff on behalf of the Dean and Chapter City and Liberty signified their Joyful Reception of His Royal Person into that Liberty Declaring how much their happiness exceeded any other part of the Nations in that their Soveraign Lord and King was come among them and humbly desiring His Majesty to continue his Grace and Favour to them whereby they might still be enabled to do His Majesty service Infinite and Innumerable were the Shouts and Acclamations from all parts as he past along to the no less Joy than amazement of the Spectators And the Pomp of this Solemnity was so great that it is vain to attempt the describing it it being not only unutterable but almost Inconceivable and many outlandish Persons who beheld it admired how it was possible for the English after such horrible confusions to appear in so rich and stately a manner It is incredible to think what costly Robes were worn that day it being scarcely discernable what their Cloaks were made of for the Gold and Silver Laces and Imbroidery that was laid on them besides the inestimable treasures of Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels and the Rich Liveries of their Pages and Footmen some suits whereof were so very rich that they amounted to near 1500 l. In this order he arrived at White-Hall where having retired himself to supper and so to Rest he came the next day which being St. Georges day was to consummate the Coronation from his privy Staires to the Old Pallace where in a Room behind the House of Lords called the Prince's Lodgings he stayed till the Lords and the rest of his Train had Robed and Ranked themselves in Westminster-Hall and so soon as they were ready descended the Stairs that went down into the Hall and placed himself in a Throne in the upper end thereof Then came the Dean and Prebends of Westminster in their Rich Copes each of them having a part of the Regalia and delivered them to the Lord High Constable who delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and being by him set on a Table the King immediately distributed them St. Edwards Staff to the Earl of Sandwich the Spurrs to Pembrâ—ke the Sword called Curtana to Oxford the pointed Sword carryed on the Right Hand of it to Shrewsbury that carryed on the left to Derby and the Sword of State to Manchester the Scepter with the Dove to Albemarle the Orb with the Cross to Buckingham St. Edwards Crown to Ormond and the Pattina and Challice to the Bishops of London and Exeter And having thus bestowed the Regalia he set forward on foot much after the same order which was observed the day before upon blew Cloath spread on the ground from the Hall to his Chair in the Abby supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham and having his Trayn carried up by the Lords Mandevill Cavendish Ossery and Piercy assisted by the Lord Viscount Mansfield Master of the Robes All the Peers with their Coronets in their hands went up along with him till he was placed in the Chair of State Then the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury told the People he did there present them King Charles the Second the Rightful Inheritor of the Crown of this Realm and demanded of all those that came thither that day to do their Homage Service and Bounden Duty whether they were willing to do the same Whereupon all the Peers in their Parliament Robes and People gave a shout testifying their willingness Then the King rising from his Chair turned himself to the four sides of the Throne and speaking to the People who again with loud Acclamations signified their consent all in one voice After which the Choire sung an Anthem in the interim whereof he went supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham attended by the Dean of Westminster to the steps before the Communion Table where upon Carpets and Cushions he offered a Pall and a piece of Gold and then removing to the right hand kneelled down during a short Collect then the Sermon began being Preacht by the Bishop of Worcester which ended the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ask't Him If He would be pleased to take the Oath that was wont to be taken
he for an Universal grief possest the minds of all men and like a Cloud suddenly spread it self over the whole Nation upon the arrival of that doleful Tidings He died in the Fifty fourth Year of his Age after he had reigned Thirty six Years and some few days leaving his Kingdom which he found almost ruin'd with a bloody and unnatural War in a state of Tranquility and Peace Which as it magnifies the happiness of his Subjects by comparing their present felicity with their past Troubles so it lays the highest obligation imaginable upon them for ever to entertain the sacred Memory of his Name with the greatest Love and Veneration His redâ—cing a People plnnged and almost â—wallowed up in confusion into a quiet not to be expected and scarcely to be hoped for and asswaging by his incomparable Prudence a Faction blown up into atempestuous flame more violent and deaf than either the Winds or the Seas rendred him the most Glorious and Admired Prince and his Subjects the most happy People in Christendom and therefore in what Words or rather with what Deeds can they ever expect to express a Gratitude any way equal to his merits Statues of Marble and tryumphal Arches may indeed be an acknowledgment of our Veneration but these are Trifles too mean to discharge our debt and therefore all true Englishmen shall raise him a more lasting Monument by entombing him in their Hearts and expressing their love to their Dead Sovereign by their unfeigned Loyalty to their Living One our present Gracious King and Governour James the Second who immediately upon his Death succeeded to his Throne For Nature is not more careful to prevent a Dissolution of being than the Constitution of England to prevent an Inter-Regnum of Government so that the same minute which seems to threaten the involving our Isle in Darkness and Confusion by the setting of one really revives our dying-hopes and dispels our sable Clouds by the rising of another Sun for whom I shall pray as the Israelites did for King Solomon That God by whom alone Kings reign and have their Governments Crown'd with Peace and Felicity may pour upon him the Blessings of Heaven in as great a measure as upon his Royal Predecessor and make his Throne greater than the Throne of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles and grant him long to Live and Reign over us in Peace and Tranquility His Funeral was privately Solemniz'd on the 14th of February with as much Decency and Splendor as the greatness of the Sorrow for his Death would permit His Corps being convey'd sometime before to the Painted Chamber in the Palace at Westminster was carried from thence to the Abby-Church under a Velvet Canopy born by Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber the Pall being supported by six Earls The proceedings begun with the Servants of the Nobility Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen the Queen Dowager and His own after whom followd the Barons Bishops and others of the Nobility according to their respective Degrees together with the great Officers and the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark was chief Mourner supported by the Dukes of Somerset and Beaufort in the Collors of the Order as were all the rest of the Knights of the Garter then present and his Train born by the Lord Cornbury The Assistants to the chief Mourner were sixteen Earls The Crown and Cushion was carry'd by one of the Kings of Arms The rest of the Heraulds and their Officers Attending and Directing the Ceremony which was clos'd with His Majesties Band of Gentelmen-Pensioners and the Yeomen of the Guard As soon as they entred the Church the Dean and Prebends of Westminster with the whole Quire met the Body and went before it to Henry the Sevenths Chappel where it was interr'd in a Vault under the East end of the South Isle THUS have I endeavour'd to present the World with a Brief draught of the Life of this most Excellent King from the Time of his Birtâ— to the never-enough lamented and most deplorable Murder of his Royal Father and of his Reign from that Time until the hour of His Death And having now traced him through all the stupendious Labyrinths and wonderful Revolutions of His Life to his exchanging a Crown of Gold for one of Glory I shall close my History with his Character A Character which were I able therein to represent him to the Life and give him his Just and deserved Praise would not be parallel'd in Ancient and remain a Wonder to all succeeding Generations But his Perfections were so sublime and rare that my Representatious of him will no more bear Proportion to his real worth than the twinkling Figure of the Sun shining in the Water wherein he views himself as in a Looking-Glass is adequate to the Greatness of that real body of Fire and Light whereby he claims the Regency of Heaven This Monarch as to his Person was of a tall and goodly Stature and so exactly form'd that the most curious and penetrating Eye after the exactest Scrutiny could not discern the least Error in his Shape his Countenance very Majestical His Person and the Visage of his Face rather Grave than Severe being very much softned whenever he spake His Complection somewhat dark but much enlighten'd by the brightness of his Eyes that were quick and sparkling His Hair which before he wore a Peruke in great plenty was of a shining black not frizled but naturally Curling into large Rings and very Ornamental But as the Jewel is more valuable than the Casket that contains it so the perfections of his Mind did much exceed those of his Body if we can allow the same Man any Preheminence over himself in respect whereof he seemed to be a perfect Miracle of Art and Nature having in the Mysteries of Both a most capacious and profound Knowledg or one of the best sort of Wonders both in respect of his Virtues and his Fortune a Wonder to Wise men who admired his vast Parts a Wonder to His Enemies who admir'd at His Preservation from their Snares a Wonder to his Friends that admired at the Adversity of his Fortune and the Patience wherewith he endur'd it a Wonder to the World which admired the strangeness of His Restoration and were astonish'd to see him notwithstanding there was at that Time an Army on Foot to keep him out which had been flush'd with so many Victories and as it were by Prescription was able to beat the World or at least had Courage and Confidence enough to attempt it return without spilling one drop of Blood or having an Hand held up against him to oppose his Entrance He had been himself a Sufferer and had thereby learnt to Govern his Subjects with Moderation He had been in Misery and that taught him to be Merciful He had been unjustly dealt with and that made him the more careful to see right done to all men His Justice and measure his
have lived long enough Others Now they ought rather to live longer Traitors themselves drink the King's Health heartily They admire him more that he wou'd not than that ever he should be in a possibility to revenge himself and that he shou'd remember Injuries only to forgive them Let him ascend and there was a due Majesty restor'd to the Throne Authority to the Laws Reverence to inferior Magistrates and the sacred Order of Bishops to Religion like a Treasure found from a Ship-wrack after many Years rouling in a tempestuous Sea Thus terminating all publick differences and confusions by Peace he adorn'd Peace it self with good Arts which receiv'd both their Countrey with him and their Protection under him by his opening the Temple of Janus and that of the Muses at the same time For himself had as great a Knowledg in Letters as any Prince in Christendom and he most acurately understood Navigation Astronomy and most parts of the Mathematicks An huge delight he took in conversing freely with the most knowing Men in those pleasant and useful Studies And he endeavour'd to promote them as much as possible in others by publick Endowments and Liberal Rewards Besides this severer sort of Notices he had a great insight into all those softer Arts which become a private Gentleman And in his Reign we may say That Wit did first reign here and appear'd upon the Stage as on a Throne It was scarcely more encourag'd and environ'd with greater Pomp and Splendor at Rome under the peaceable Reign of Augustus after that long Civil War wherein the Sword would permit nothing else to be sharp besides it self Tho he had as much Good-Nature as wou'd perhaps have serv'd an Hundred other Men a Word peculiar to our English Tongue and a Thing peculiar to this Prince as the Great Chancellor remark'd yet he was observed to take an extream delight in that Part of Poesy which is not very famous for Good Nature I mean Satyr Doubtless this sort of Writing is the best and most beneficial of all others which the Poets follow for it not only tells Mankind of but it chastises them for their Faults And I wonder that the Ancients when they bestowed so many several kinds of Poetry to the Favour and Influence of so many Muses they could not find in their hearts to allow one Goddess to Satyr But whatever unkindness it finds in Heaven I am sure in our Age it has found Protection upon earth witness the great good Offices the French King hath done it in the Person of Boileau For that Prince is not like Alexander of a Spanish stamp and Complexion so wholly transported with the Giddiness of Romantick Stories as that he cannot dream of conquering the World without having Homer for his Bed-fellow but what he reads is good sense and honest Nature without any vain and extravagant additions And this he does in imitation of his Late Majesty who was the oldest and by consequence the most exemplary Prince in the Christian World tho under far worse Circumstances For the latter was much better capacitated through his extensive Knowledg in Nature and the Intricacies of Matter and Motion as well as in all Polite Learning and I think I shou'd do no man an Injury if I say he understood Butler the best in England How Good and Gracious a Master he was You MY LORDS can best declare Ye knew him the most searching Judg of Men that held in his hands both rewards and punishments In the last indeed he was very sparing and the offending Courtier was usually excus'd before hand very seldom to be excus'd The Punishment he thought was sufficient in the very Vexation of the Delinquent Warily and by Degrees his Rewards were distributed that there might still be a further Prospect in view by way of Encouragement For nothing conduces more to following Honours than the former well administred And never at one leap was any supreme place conferred unless for some Transcendent and as I may call it supernatural piâ—ce of Loyalty Our Noblesse he both preserved and augmented lest the condition of such should be worse as deserved to have a Noble Posterity than of such as had Noble Ancestors Not a Soldier was there that had received Wounds in his Service but he counted and rewarded them in an ample manner And thorough all succeeding Ages He will be a Benefactor as well as an example to Soldiers at Chelsea where as long as we shall have a Country to Defend or an Enemy to Combate His Name will be evermore remembred for what is bestow'd upon Posterity ought to be Immortal You likewise MY LORDS can give the best Attestation to his Offices of Privacy and his great Virtues of Humility and Condescention which yet had a kind of Majestick Royalty with them Ye remember him when he was in Exile and as a private man how he resembled a King and how whilest a restored Monarch and in his most illustrious days he seem'd to be a private Citizen That in his greatest Prosperity he had not the least Haughtiness nor Elation of Mind but being secure of his own greatness was not afraid of degrading himself into the likeness of a Subject Ye know how much time he bestow'd on the cares of Empire how much on the Duties of Devotion Philosophy and Vertue how short his Sleeps and the unbendings of his mind were A smart walk a mouthful of fresh Air and a little ingenious raillery Such a Prince must needs be no less lov'd than admir'd The Affection and Reverence of his Subjects wou'd stand him instead of terror His own Virtue wou'd serve him for a Guard and his Sword rather for Ornament than Defence But what Charms can withstand the Ingratitude and Malice of accursed and diabolick Rebels Against his Sacred Life we had a Salamanca-Plot wherein the Sufferers seem'd to be more choqu'd at the Injustice of the Evidence than at the severity of the Sentence They seem'd to bear all magnanimously and with the bravery of Innocence And with good reason might they do so since they had for a Co-partner in Dishonour which to her was worse than Death the most Pious and Virtuous Princess that England ever deserv'd to see We had likewise a most hellish Fanatick Conspiracy the Discovery of which discover'd ALL. Then Heaven began to look kindly down upon us and withdraw its Plagues especially that great Egyptian Darkness wherewith we had been blinded And the Froggs and Vermine which were got into the Royal Bed-Chambers found it high time to recede Then the Delatores began to fear as much as they were fear'd before And the Laws were now more dreaded than perjur'd Schismaticks Then Sham-Magistrates put off their consulary Honours and public Spoils And the King of England became first LORD OF LONDON Which City while he restrain'd its Liberties he rendred more free But here MY LORDS we come to a full point and here ye must take your leave of him For when he had
in a matter of that concern without his Fathers privity advice and free consent and therefore before he could satisfie the Honourable House he desired a Pass might be granted to the L Capel to go to the King at Oxford to take his Advice and hearken to his Royal Pleasure and make some overtures to him in order to a Peace He desired likewise the assistance of the Reverend Father in God the Arch-Bishop of Armagh whose deportment toward the Publick was so moderate and inoffensive that even Jealousie it self entertained not the least suspicion of him But through the ill Influence some persons had on Publick Councils there was nothing done in either of those particulars althô when Providence was pleased to deprive him of Civil Comfort and Secular Attendants it had been but charity to have supplied him with some faithful good and able Chaplain by whose Piety Learning and Prayers he might be the better enabled to sustain the want of all other Enjoyments But they not only refused to gratifie him in that reasonable Request but also by an Ordinance barr'd him from all future converse with such Loyal Attendants as would otherwise have willingly waited on him there to deceive the tediousness of that Solitude so that those who would now adventure to repair to him or supply their unhappy absence by the civil correspondence of a Letter were to die without mercy During his abode there he spent a day or two in viewing the Isle of Gernsey the only remainder of our Rights to Normandy to try if peradventure the persons or the place would furnish him with the knowledge of any thing whereof he was a Stranger before and which he might observe for the future benefit of his Kingdom For as he afterward wrote to the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London he neglected not any Maritime observations which might be useful to English Traffick the slands commodiousness for Shipping Trade from the Eastern parts to the West in the middle way between St. Malo's and the River Seine the capaciousness of its Harbour together with the smaller Islands Alderneley Lerke and Sarnia After this he betook himself to France to visit his Mother in that Court where he was received with all imaginable demonstrations of Joy where after having received his Mothers Blessing and the Complements of that Court he retired with her to the Louvre But his active disposition rendring him soon weary of a tedious and easie Retirement he desired leave of his Mother to go with the Duke of Orleans into the Field that Summer in the Head of a French Army which then marcht into Flanders against the Spaniards The Queen wrote to the King to know his pleasure about it but he absolutely refused it accounting it beneath the Princes of Great Britain to serve any as those who understood better how to command than be commanded in a Field having formerly had Kings and Emperours in pay under them in regard that our homebred miseries afforded Employment so agreeable with his active spirit that he thought he ought not to spare himself for any dangerous engagements in Foreign Quarrels and therefore advised him to expect Instructions from him how to dispose of himself more to his Kings his Fathers his own and Countreys Service Whereupon in obedience to his Royal Fathers command he quitted his own wishes and waited for farther directions from the King During which time the varieties of Airs he had passed through distempered his tender body brought upon him an Aguish â—ever which continued some weeks until by the goodness of God the care of his Loyal Attendants and the skill of his Physicians he was recovered to so good a temper as to attend his Fathers Affairs according to those Instructions he received from him in an inclosed Commission which was then sent him to be Generalissimo of all the Loyal Forces which had survived those late unhappy defects that declared to the World that good and ill success are no infallible demonstrations of Innocence or Guilt since there is a just man that perisheth in his Righteousness and the wicked sometime prosper in their wickedness The Kingdom of Scotland tender of his Safety Honour Conscience humbly move his Father not to suffer him who was their present hope and their future happiness to be exposed in his younger years to such Foreign Temptations and Dangers as might have those unhappy Influences upon these Kingdoms that the Child unborn might rue for since Princes are so publick that within the Fate of their own single persons are involved the concerns of whole Nations Rex est publica pars major meliorque mei Whereupon the King wrote to him to wait upon his Mother and obey her dutifully in all things Religion only excepted and that he should not stir any whither without his particular directions But not satisfied therewith they write to him themselves by their Committee of Estates to invite him thither protesting that none of the present Calamities except his Fathers distress and restraint afflicted them so much as his absence and seeing their Forces had at first entred England to do their duty to Religion his Majesty and himself they humbly desired his Highness to honour and countenance their Pious and Loyal Endeavours with his gracious presence and Royal Person for whose Safety Honour and Freedom they engaged the publick Faith of that Kingdom which Invitation was signed by Craford and Lindsey But he had learned by too sad experience what faithless Trustees they were of Princes persons and thought it dangerous for the Son to trust himself with those who had betrayed his Father Liberty being so much the desire of all men that it is not reason Princes should hazard Captivity since all free-born Souls embrace a Freedom though it be but to wander like forlorn Exiles in a strange Land rather than a Restraint upon their Persons their Judgments and their Consciences within the Precincts of their own Palaces wherefore he intended to wait with patience till Providence might find out some way for his return to his own Country with more Safety and Honour and sent the Earl of Lauderdale back with this Answer to the States of Scotland That their Civility which might well become the best Subjects should upon the first opportunity have that return from him which might become the best of Princes And in the mean time in pursuance of those Instructions he had received from his Father he negotiated his Affairs in the French Court where by his Mothers assistance he prevailed for some thousands of pounds to be advanced by that Court toward the furtherance of his Majesties Affairs in Ireland as an Earnest of greater Assistance to be afforded hereafter Some remainders of his Cornish Forces now geting to a head and others upon order Marching to him out of Ireland he met them in the Isle of Jersey with such Forces as he had procured beyond the Seas where he possest himself of some Vessels which lay in
no sooner got out on one side but the Enemy prest in on the other to look for him and had certainly pursued and overtaken him had they not been stop'd by the Royal spoil which was left behind to the same purpose that Hippodame left behind her the Golden Apples to tempt the Pursuer to stay the gathering them up and thereby save herself And the Valour of some that still kept the Royal Fort to reduce whom Cromwell commanded out some Cheshire Forces who most of them perished in the attempt that County having never before lost so many lives in such an unworthy Service but having at last made himself Master of it the Defendants were all put to the Sword whereupon the remainder of the Soldiery craved Quarter and had it reaâ—ily granted them the Rebels being as weary of killing as the Royalists were of being killed From this unfortunate Battel not above 300 Horse and scarce any of the Infantry escaped who were most of them either slain or taken near 100 Prisoners of Quality of which the chief were Duke Hamilton the Earls of Shrewsbury Darby Cleveland Laâ—derdale Rothes Carnwath Killy and many more the number of the Prisoners in the whole being said to be 10000 together with whom was taken the King's Standard Coach and Horses Collar of SS's and Star-Cloth Major General Massey who escaped the Battel not knowing where to shelter himself being grievously wounded was forced to surrender himself a Prisoner likewise to the Countess of Stamford being secured by the Lord Grey of Groby her Son by whom he was after the recovery of his Wounds sent up to London from whence not long after he made his escape The news of this Victory extreamly rejoyced the Juncto but the joy for their Victory was some what allayed by the King's escape Before he was got as far as Barbone's Bridg which was not above half a Mile from Worcester he made several stands facing about and desiring the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Wilmot and other of his Commanders that they might rally with those few Forces that were yet left him and once more try the fortune of War But being come to the Bridg a serious Consultation was held about it when perceiving many of the Troopers throwing off their Arms and shifting for themselves their opinion was that the day was so irrecoverably lost that his only business now was to endeavour the saving of himself from those ravenous Wolves and Regicides whereupon he resolved by the advice of his Council to March back again for Scotland and in order thereunto the Duke of Buckingham demanded of the Lord Talbot who was of that Country if he could not Conduct them in their way Northward who thereupon answered that he had in his Troop one Walker formerly a Scout-Master in those Parts that knew the way very well who being accordingly called to be their Guide he performed that duty well enough for some Miles but coming to Kinven Heath not far from Kiderminster he was at a loss and knew not which way to go Whereupon the King made a stand and consulted with the Lords whither he might with most safety March to take some hours rest being almost quite worn out and spent The Earl of Darby told him that in his flight from Wiggan to Worcester he had met with a perfect honest Man and a great conveniency of concealment at Boscobel House whereupon he resolved to repair thither and Mr. Charles Gifford who very well knew the way was appointed to conduct him thither When they came near Stunbrigde it was debated by them whether they should march through the Town or not and being concluded in the affirmative they resolved that those about the King's Person should speak nothing but French thereby the better to prevent the Discovery of his being there Lesley having with the Scotch Horse in the close of the Evening taken a more direct way Northward by New-Port he was now left attended only by Buckingham Darby Lauderdale Talbot Wilmot and a few other Gentlemen being in all not above sixty Horse At a House about a Mile beyond Stunbridge he refresh'd himself a little with some small Beer and a crust of Bread the House affording no better Provision and as he rode forward he discoursed with Colonel Roscarrock about the conveniency of Boscobel House and the means of security which he and the Earl of Darby had found there Gifford humbly proposing to carry him first to White-Ladies a House about half a Mile beyond Boscobel belonging to one Fitz-Herbert where he might repose himself a while and then take such farther resolution as he and his Council should think fit which was accordingly resolved on And being come thither and knocking at the Door George Penderill the youngest Brother of five who were all severally instrumental in Conducting and Preserving his Majesty hearing some body knock at the Gate so early opened the Window and seeing there Mr. Gifford and Francis Yates who was his Brother-in-law he ask'd his Brother what news he brought from Worcester he replied the King was defeated and the Enemy in pursuit of him and therefore bid him make haste and let them in But before he could get down the King with most of the Lords had entred the House and got into the Hall whither the King's Horse was likewise brought And having that night rode from Worcester thither which was about twenty six Miles he was extream hungry and very much tired with his long and hasty March whereupon Gifford presently sent for Richard Penderill who lived near hand at Hobbal-Grange and William Penderill from Boscobel Richard came first who was immediately sent back to bring a sute of his Cloaths for the King and by that time he came with them William was come likewise and both carried in to the King by the Earl of Darby who told William that was the King pointing to him and that he must have a care of him and preserve him as he had done him Gifford laying the same charge on his Brother which was exactly obeyed by both The King was advised whil'st the two Brothers were sent for to rub his Hands and Face with the Soot of the Chimney the better to disguise him and some persons likewise disorderly cut off his locks of hair and having taken off his blue Ribbond Buff-Coat and other Princely Ornaments and distributed what Gold he had in his Pockets amongst his Servants put on a course Canvas Shirt which was borrowed of one Martyn which done he was to take upon him the Name and Employment of a Woodman and having after the Company was dismiss'd a Bill brought him he and Richard went out into the Wood William went home and Humphry and George went out to scout the better to discover if any of the Parliament Forces approach'd that way And it was not above an hour that the King had been in the Wood before a Troop of the Enemies Horse came to White-ladies inquiring for the King But being
Stomack if he could eat Pikes and swallow Bullets Lambert who waited not for the return of the messenger but advanced presently towards the North met with Monks Commissioners at York and would have spared a farther Journey by assuring them that he had power from the Committee of safety and the general Councel of Officers to treat and conclude with them but they resisting upon the restauration of the Parliament to their former power they were dismist and so past forward to London whereupon Major General Morgan who was secretly a well wisher to Monks designs but openly profest a dislike of them told Lambert if he would send him into Scotland he did not doubt but he should be able to gain the General for him which offer he gladly accepted of in hope that he would either by his friendship with Monk create a better understanding between them or by his power and interest draw off a part of the Scotch Army for himself which he could have easily done had his dislike of the Generals declarations against the Armies proceedings been as real as it was feigned his command there being next to Monks Morgan being arrived in Scotland had the message slighted but his Person joyfully received of the General who much wanted him and soon employed him in the most difficult service that yet remained unattempted which was the reforming of his Horse dismounting dissaffected Troopers and setting divers Foot Soldiers of whose Fidelity they were well assured on Horseback In the performance whereof some prevented their being unhorst by running from their Colours and others by conveying them over to the Enemy So that having now prepared all things in readiness he ordered several of his Troops to march toward the South of Scotland intending to follow them himself with the Body of his Army But before he left Edenburgh he called a Convention of the Nobility and Burghers and laid before them the ground of his quarrel requiring their peaceable deportment during his absence and the payment of what they were in arrear to him for his Army which they readily consented to and appointed some of their number afterwards to wait upon him at Barwick to desire him to furnish them with Arms whereby they might be in a capacity to assist him in opposing Lamberts invasion which seemed equally to threaten both him and them but he wisely declined that request and yet thinking it not safe to send them away discontented granted them some things which might contribute toward a publick peace without prejudice to his designs When he was got as far as Haddington he received information that his Commissioners somewhat exceeding the â—imits of their Commissions had concluded a treaty with the Officers at London upon conditions very unwelcom and displeasing to him The two chief whereof was that the Kings Title should be renounced and a convention of Officers on both sides to meet by compact at New-castle to settle the Army and advise about the modelling of a new Government whereupon 〈◊〉 immediately posted back to Edenâ—urgh to consult with his Counsellors â—nd the Officers of his Army and require their sence about that agreement the result whereof was that they should refuse to ratifie that agreement and demand a new treaty upon pretence that some of those Articles required a farther explanation which being once known in London the Members of the Rump began to take heart again and meet in secret Caballs to continue their own Restitution in regard the General had engaged with mighty protestations to adhere to them so that the Committee of safety perceiving themselves in a very unsafe and desolate condition did with great submission send for Lenthal the Speaker and desire him with the rest of the Members to return to the exercise of their trust which they willingly accepted of The news whereof reaching Lambert at New-castle he privately slipt away from his Soldiers and absconded himself Collonel Wetham Governour of Portsmouth having as well in respect to the General as the Rumpâ— opened the Gates of the Town to Hazelrick Morley and Walton three oâ— the seven Commissioners appointed by them for governing the Army And the Fleet under Lawson and the Forces iâ— Ireland having likewise declared for them and had the recovery of their power congratulated and promises of defending it to the utmost of his power made by Monk who having thus restored them they desired speedily to march for London foreseeing that he was otherwise resolved to come without bidding whereupon he advanced toward them and was in his way thither bravely entertained by the Lord Fairfax and several others and at Morpeth received a Letter from the Lord Mayor and common Councel of London sent by their Sword-Bearer to which he returned a pleasing though doubtful answer But notwithstanding all his solemn protestations of adhering to the Parliaments interest and the many complements he had thereupon received from them yet they were not well satisfied in the reality of his Intentions suspecting still that there was something else at the bottom of his undertaking and therefore sent Scot and Robinson to meet him at Harbrough that under pretence of congratulating with him for the good success God had given to his endeavours they might the better prie into his Actions and discover somewhat if possible of his future intentions putting forth a declaration at the same time for the better setling themselves in the Favour of the People wherein they promised to perfect what they had begun for the setling of the Nation But they being now too long used to their fair pretences would be deluded by them no longer but seeing they fell to their old tyrannies under a pretence of restoring them to their lost liberties began to rouse up themselves and shew their universal hatred and detestation of their wicked and arbitrary proceedings by a general application to Monk whom they looked upon as a person of a more free and English Spirit beseeching him in divers addresses which were presented to him in almost all the Towns he past through to assert their liberties either by procuring a full and free Parliament or else the Restauration of the secluded Members of that which was then sitting and promising to stand by him in the maintenance and defence of their freedom Being come to St. Albans which was his last Stage he sent Collonel Lidcot without consulting Scot and Robinson who had all along upon the Road taken upon them to give answers to the addresses presented to him and for the better observing his actions and prying into his affairs lodged in the same Inn with him to the Speaker to desire that the Regiments who atended as Guards to the Parliament might be distributed into Country Quarters to make way for his coming to London which was not without some difficulty obtained although he had hitherto carried himself with so much evenness that he had given them no reason to distrust him and the whole Army with which he was to enter the Town was
according to those Directions Greenvile had brought from him But the King not thinking that place convenient for the Treaty removed with great speed and privacy to Breda a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange being complemented at his departure from Flanders by the Spanish Governour and honourably conveyed on his way way as far as Antwerp from whence his Publick Dispatches into England were dated Greenvile upon his return besides the Generals Commission to be Captain General of all the Forces then raised or to be raised brought him the King's Seals and Signet by which he was empowered to make a Secretary of State which Honour he conferred upon Morrice who was after the King's return Knighted and confirmed therein in consideration of the Service he had done in introducing Greenvile to the General 's presence And besides those Publick Letters which he was to reserve to be communicated in due time he brought a Private one directed to the General himself written with the King 's own Hand to which he returned an Answer by Mr. Bernard Greenvile in regard his Brother could not then be spared the Parliament being just ready to fit when he was to present to both the Houses the King's Letters and Declaration which Answer was very welcom to the King for that it brought him an assurance under the General 's own Hand of his Resolution to adhere to him against all opposition whatsoever About this time Lambert made his escape from the Tower and endeavoured to make Parties and draw Forces together to oppose his Loyal and Generous Designs which he being informed of acquainted the Council of State therewith and managed the business with so great Prudence that timely â—care was taken to suppress him and that Attempt which in it self threatned the contrary was made by his Wisdom to advance the King's Interest and hasten his happy Restauration For Coll. Ingoldsby being sent against him and his Forces which â—e had got together forsaking him upon the Collonels approach he betook himself to flight but being upon plowed Land his Horse failed him and notwithstanding he had by his valour in many former Battels obtained the name of Stout he presently yielded himself without drawing his Sword or making any other Defence than only crying out twice Pray my Lord let me escape for what good will my Life or perpetual Imprisonment do you The time being now come for the meeting of a new Parliament both Houses repaired to St. Margarets Church where Dr. Reynolds preached before them and after Sermon they repaired to their Houses The Lords making choice of the Earl of Manchester for their Speaker And the Commons of Sir Harbottle Grimstone And having settled their Committees and thereby prepared for their entrance upon business adjourned for some few days in the interim whereof Greenvile conâ—â—lted with the General at what time and in what manner he should deliver his Messages from the King to the several parties to whom they were directed That which was superscribed to the General himself to be communicated by him to the Army and Council of State he thought fit to have delivered to him at the Door of the Council Chamber In order whereunto Greenvile repaired thither when the Council were sitting and told Coll. Birch who was one of the Members that he desired to speak with the General who upon Birch's Intimation came to the Door and in the view of his Guards who attended there received the Letters from Greenvile without shewing any other respect either to his Person or his Business than only demanding of him if he would stay for an Answer and telling him otherwise his Guards should secure him And having commanded them to look to him went in to the Council and communicated to them the Letters whereupon Birch being examined whether he knew any thing of the matter protesting he was altogether ignorant both of the Gentleman and his Business Greenvile was sent for iâ— and examined by the President from whence those Letters came whose they were and how he came by them for they had not yet proceeded to open and read them he answered that â—he King His Master gave them to him with his own Hand at Breda Having â—hereby informed themselves whence â—he Letters came they deferred the openâ—ng of them until the Parliament sate â—gain and would have committed Greenâ—ile had not the General told them that 〈◊〉 knew him very well and would anâ—wer for his appearance before the Parâ—â—ament which were no sooner sate 〈◊〉 he delivered his Letters with incloâ—â—d Declarations to both Houses whereâ—â— the King expressed abundance of â—mpassion and tenderness to the Naâ—â—on which had been so long harassed 〈◊〉 a bloody and unnatural War and proâ—ised a free and general Pardon to all 〈◊〉 should in forty days after the pubâ—â—ation thereof lay hold upon that Grace â—less such whom the Parliament should â—ink fit to be excepted from the benefit â—â—ereof And that he would preserve 〈◊〉 to the uttermost of his power 〈◊〉 from all manner of Injuries in their â—â—es and Estates and grant Liberty for â—â—der Consciences for such as dissented 〈◊〉 the Established Religion provided â—â—ey did not disturb the Peace of the Nation That as to Sales and Purchases 〈◊〉 would refer himself in all matters to thâ— Determinations of Parliament and coâ—sent to any Act or Acts for the satisfyinâ— the Arrears of the Army and Navy which should thenceforward be receiveâ— into his Service upon as good Pay anâ— Conditions as they then enjoyed Thâ— like Letters and Declarations being 〈◊〉 sent by the King and delivered to Genâ—â—ral Monâ—ague to be by him communiâ—â—ted to the Fleet and to the Lord Mayâ— and Common Council of London The King's Letters and Declaratiâ—â— were received by the Parliament 〈◊〉 such an extraordinary Joy and Venâ—â—tion that I want words wherewith 〈◊〉 express it for as if some strange 〈◊〉 had suddenly seized upon their minâ— every man at the Speaker's naming 〈◊〉 King rose up and uncovering himâ—â—â—â— desired they might be immediately 〈◊〉 which was no sooner done but in anâ—â—tasie of joy they suddenly drew the â—â—â—tain and exposed the beautiful and â—â—rious Scene to the open view of â—â—â—longing Spectators wherein every 〈◊〉 might plainly behold the happy Issuâ— all those various Transactions which 〈◊〉 till then been Riddles too mysterious for vulgar understandings to unfold or once imagine to what they tended or where they would terminate By the House of Lords resolving that they did own and declare that according to the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of England the Government was and ought to be by Kings and that a Committee of eight Lords should forthwith joyn with a Committee of the Commons to consider of an Answer to the King's Letter and Declaration And by the House of Commons resolving likewise to appoint a Committee to prepare an Answer to the King's Letter and therein express their great and joyful sense of his gracious offers and to return him their humble
and hearty thanks for the same and to assure him of their Loyalty and Duty And that they would give him a speedy Answer to his gracious Proposals Resolving moreover that the sum of 50000 l. should be presented him from that House and 10000 l. to each of his Royal Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester Which Resolves were no sooner reported in London then the Citizens were extreamly transported with Joy The harmony of Bells and the flaming Piles which enlighted every Street surrounded with incredible Shouts and Acclamations being sufficient demonstrations of the infinite Pleasure and Satisfaction which every one took in that no less strange than happy Revolution And the several Countries taking Allarm from London contended which should outvy the other in expressions of Loyalty and Joy And General Mountague having communicated to the Fleet the Letters he received from the King and the Duke of York together with those directed to the Parliament they unanimously declared their Resolution to adhere to him and to live and die in his defence humbly desiring the Generals to present the same to the King whereupon Mountague himself immediately fired a Gun crying God bless His Majesty and the whole Fleet. Thereupon presently appeared in its pride and glory with Pendants loose Guns roaring Caps flying and Vive le Roys loudly ecchoing from one Ships Company to another which were answered by the great Guns from Dale and Sandwich Castles nor was this Joy confined to England but spread it self into Scotland and Ireland also And now the Parliament longing for the King's presence amongst them as the Israelites did for the return of King David drew up a Letter in answer to that which they had receiv'd from him superscribing it to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty wherein they requested his speedy return to the exercise of his Kingly Office appointing Commissioners to go over to Holland and attend him during his stay there and in his Voyage for England There being six appointed for the House of Lords and twelve for the House of Commons to which upon the Request of the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London was added twenty on the behalf of that City who having receiv'd their Instructions set sail for Holland with several Frigots appointed by the Parliament to attend them the whole Fleet being likewise committed to the King's pleasure the General whereof had Orders from the Parliament to obey such Orders and Directions as he should receive from His Majesty The Commissioners upon their arrival at Breda delivered their respective Messages with all imaginable reverence and veneration according to the Instructions they had received from their Principals beseeching His Majesty in the name of his Parliament and People to return to his Inheritance and re-assume his Crown and Scepter assuring him that he should be infinitely welcome to them without any Tearms which Invitation was gladly accepted and the Commissioners were received by him with a Grace and Port like himself and entertain'd with extraordinary Magnificence and Bounty The Parliament in the mean time proceeded to the Proclaiming of him which was perform'd with all that Joy Splendor and Magnificence that their Loyalty could inspire the Lord General attended by all the Peers the most Eminent of the Commons the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with the Trained Bands of London assisting at the Ceremony The Proclamation being as followeth viz. Although it can no way be doubted but that his Majesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the Death of his Most Royal Father of Glorious Memory without the Ceremony or Solemnity of a Proclamation yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used to the end that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testify their Duty and Respect and since the Armed violence and other Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and Unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim that immediately upon the Decease of our late Soveraign King Charles the First the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England and all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by Inherent Birth-right and Lawful undoubted Succession Descend and come to his Most Excellent Majesty King Charles the Second as being Lineally Justly and Lawfully next Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm And that by the Goodness and Providence of Almighty God he is of England Scotland and Ireland the Most Potent Mighty and Undoubted King and thereunto we Most Humbly and Faithfully do submit and oblige our selves our Heirs and Posterities for ever At the reading whereof the whole City rang with the Sound of God Save and God Bless King Charles the Second the Shouts and Acclamations of the crowding multitudes being so extraordinary that although all the Bells throughout the City and Suburbs were then Ringing their Noise was not to be heard The King having now by his extraordinary Wisdom and Conduct thus happily contriv'd his return to his Crown and Kingdom without the spilling of his Subjects Blood and having brought his Affairs to their desired Issue prepared to leave Holland and after so long and tedious an Exile returned to his Harass'd and almost ruined Realms being upon his departure Splendidly Treated by the Dutch for a Fortnight together with all the Pomp and Magnificence imaginable and presented with the Richest Bed and Furniture together with Tapestry for Hangings Embossed with Gold and Silver and adorned with Pictures that could be procured and Highly Complemented by all the Forreign Ministers then Resident there For these Noble Entertainments which together with the Present of the Dutch about one hundred Thousand Pounds he gave the States General and those of Holland his Hearty Thanks in their Publick Assemblies whither he went on Foot and having taken his leave of them and commended to them the interest of his Sister and his Nephew the Prince of Orange they delivered their sence of the present circumstance of Affairs and declared the greatness of that joy they conceived for his Miraculous Restauration in the following Speech If one may judge of the content which we have to see your Majesty depart from our Province by the satisfaction we had to possess you we shall have no great trouble to make it known to you your Majesty might have observed in the countenance of all our People the Joy they had in their Hearts to see a Prince cherished of God a Prince wholly miraculous and a Prince that is probable to make a part of their quietness and felicity your Majesty shall see presently all the Streets filled all the ways covered and all the Hills loaden with People which will
arriving there early that afternoon went to Chattam to see the Soveraign and other Ships of the Royal Navy and returned again in the evening to his Lodgings where he was welcomed by an Address from Gib his Regiment deliver'd to him by the Collonel himself which was graciously accepted and the next Morning being the 29th of May which was his Birth-day he set forward from Rochester the Militia forces of Kent lining the wayes and the Maidens strowing herbs and Flowers and adorning the houses through all the streets he pass'd And being come to Dartford the Officers of the Regiments of Horse presented him with an humble Address wherein they declared their readiness to Sacrifice their Lives in defence of his person Government the Army being drawn up at Black-Heath he there took a view of them and us'd many gracious expressions towards them which were answered by them with loud and joyful Acclamations and the several Regiments being placed in order he advanced toward London and came about one of the Clock to St. Georges Fields where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen who waited there in a Tent to receive him delivered him their Sword which he re-delivered and Knighted Sir Thomas Allen who was then Mayor After a short repast he proceeded into London through Southwark and so from the Bridge to Temple Barr the Streets being Railed on one side with standings for the Liveries and on the other with the Trained bands through which he passed in a splendid and Triumphant manner to White-hall A Troop of about 300 Gentlemen in Doublets of Cloth of Silver led by Major General Brown marcht first brandishing their Swords in token of Triumph being follow'd by another of the like number in Velvet Coats with their Foot-men and Lacquies in Purple Liveries then marcht the Troop led by Coll. Robinson in Buff-Coats with Cloth of Silver sleeves and green Scarves followed by another in blew Liveryes and Silver Lace their Colours being Red fringed with Silver Then marcht a Troop with six Trumpets and seven Foot-men before them in Sea-green and Silver their Colours being pinck fringed with Silver followed by another Troop whose Liveries were gray and blew under the Earl of Northampton having 30 Foot-men Trumpets four their Colours being Sky with Silver fringed Then marcht a Troop in Gray Liveries of about an hundred and five led by the Lord Goring having six Trumpets and Colours of Sky and Silver followed by another of about Seventy After these marcht a Troop of about three hundred Noble-men and Gentry led by Cleveland followed by another of about one hundred with black Colours and after them marcht a Troop of about three hundred Horse led by the Lord Mordant These being all past two Trumpets with his Majesties Arms advanced with the Sheriffs Men being about Seventy-two in number in red Cloaks and Silver-Lace and carrying half Pikes Then followed the Gentlemen that rode out of the several Companies of London with their respective Streamers in Velvet Coats and Gold Chains every Company haing its Footmen with different Liveries being about six hundred After them came a Kettle Drum and five Trumpets followed by twelve Ministers then his Majesties Life-Guard advanced being led by Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Major Rascarrock who were followed by the City Marshal with eight Foot-men and the City Waits and Officers in order and they by the two Sheriffs and all the Aldermen of London in their Scarlet Gowns and Rich Trappings attended with great numbers of Footmen in Red Coats laced with Silver and Cloth of Gold Then followed the Maces and Heralds in their Rich Coats the Lord Mayor bare carrying the Sword and the General and the Duke of Buckingham bare also after whom as the chiefest Ray of Lustre to all this Splendid Triumph rode the King himself between his two Royal Brothers having observed that order all along from the very first overture of his return After them marcht a Troop bare with white Colours then the Generals Life-Guard and another Troop of Gentry and last of all marcht five Regiments of the Army Horse with Back Breast and Head-Pieces which diversified the shew with delight terror This was the manner of his passing through London for it is impossible for the most florid and Ingenious Pen to express those loud Musical and Ravishing Notes of Acclamations and Vive-le-Roy's which then filled the Mouths and charmed the Ears of all his transported Subjects Being in this manner brought to White-hall and the Lord Mayor and Citizens having taken their leave of him he went to the Banqueting House where both Houses of Parliament waited his Arrival and received him with those demonstrations of joy and expressions of Reverence humility that became them The Speakers of each House in elegant Speeches acquainting him with the felicity and happiness they conceived in that happy revolution and the pleasure they took to behold his return in safety and thereby putting an end to that Tyranny and Slavery which his Kingdoms had so long endured He thankt them for their expressions of love and Loyalty and told them that he was so disorder'd by his Journey and with the noise still sounding in his ears which he nevertheless confest to be pleasing to him in regard it exprest the affections of his People that he was thereby unfit to make them such a Reply as he desired adding that the greatest Satisfaction he took in that change was the finding his heart fully set to endeavour by all means the Restoring the Nation to its freedom and happiness which he hop'd by the advice of his Parliament to effect assuring them that next to the honour of God from whom principally he deriv'd his restoration to his Crown he would study the well-fare of his people and not only approve himself a true Defender of the Faith but also a just Assertor of the Laws and Liberties of his Subjects And having taken leave of them he retir'd to Supper and soon after to his rest where it was time for him to find a sweet and sedate repose free from the confus'd noise and clamours of War wherewith he had been for twenty years together strangely toss'd upon the boistrous Waves of fickle and unconstant Fortune On the Friday following he went by Water in the Brigandine which brought him on board the Charles from Holland to the house of Lords the Yeomen of the guard making a lane for him to pass through and the Heraulds at Arms in their Rich Coats the Maces and the Lord General bare-headed going before him As soon as he was seated he commanded the Commons to attend him and having in a short but elegant speech prest them to hasten the Act of oblivion he sign'd several Bills which they had made ready against that time for the Royal assent the First whereof was an Act for the confirmation of that Parliament a second for a Tax of seventy thousand pound per mensem for 3 Months and a third for the continuance of Process and
Judicial proceedings And then he return'd to White-Hall where he chose the Lords of his Privy Council amongst whom were several of the long Parliament that had given sufficient Testimony of their sincere repentance and their resolution to be Loyal for the future and he appointed Judges for the Benches and Courts of Judicature Several Addresses were likewise made to him from the Nobility and Gentry of all the Countreys in England wherein they congratulated his Restitution to his Crown and Kingdom assuring him of their exceeding Joy and willingness to maintain his Royal Person and Authority Divers persons that had been eminent for their service and affection to him were about that time also dignified with the honour of Knighthood And several men guilty of his Fathers murder having made their escape beyond-Sea a Proclamation was Issued forth wherein all those persons who had â—ate gave Judgment or any way assisted in that horrid and detestable fact were commanded to surrender themselves within fourteen days to the Speaker or Speakers of Parliament to the Lord Mayor of London or the Sheriff of that County wherein they then resided forbidding all persons to conceal or harbour them under misprision of Treason whereupon divers submitted themselves and were secur'd in the Tower The Commons in drawing up the Act of Oblivion order'd that some others besides those who had actually sate in Judgment upon the late King should be excepted out of it viz. Broughton Phelps Cook Dâ—nby and Hugh Peters which so affrighted others who had a hand in that execrable murder that Col. John Hutchinson a Member of that Parliament and Coll. Frâ— Lussels presented their Petition to them wherein they confest their guilt and declar'd the artifices which were us'd to draw them in by which submission they obtain'd pardon upon some small forfeitures only But Peters being shortly after taken in Southwark was clapt up into the Tower And the Parliament not looking upon themselves nor the people of England free from the guilt nor safe from the punishment which in those unhappy times they had contracted unless they laid hold of the Kings offer of Grace in his Declaration from Breda did therefore resolv'd in a full house that they did in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England lay hold on the gracious pardon mention'd in that Declaration with reference to the exclusion of such as should be excepted in an Act of Pardon and they order'd a Declaration that their Resolution should be drawn up which was done accordingly and presented to the King by Denzell afterward Lord Hollis some of the most eminent in Office under the late Usurpers having in the mean while to make sure of that Grace gotten their particular pardons exemplified under the great Seal of England To prevent which trouble the King was more than ordinary pressing for the speedy passing the Act of Oblivion taking care to express his grateful sentiments of the Loyalty and services of several Illustrious personages that were principally instrumental in accomplishing his Restauration by dignifying them with Places and Titles of honour And to shew how highly the Generals Loyalty had advanc'd him in his good Opinion he was dignifi'd by him with the Titles of Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington and Baron of Potheridge Beauchamp Teyes had his Temples deserv'dly incircl'd with a Ducal Coronet by the hand of his Majesty being thereby invested with the right of Peerage in all the three Kingdoms whose equal Felicity and Honour he had preferr'd before his own and therefore now most deservingly shar'd with them therein by his Investure in those Dignities which were compleated on the 13th of the following July by his taking his place in the House of Lords being attended by the Commons and introduc'd by the Duke of Buckingham Montague was made Earl of Sandwich Ormond Earl of Brecknock and Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain Manchester L. Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold Southhampton Lord High Treasurer Greenvile Earl of Bath and Groom of the Stole Sir Frederick Cornwallis Treasurer of the Kings Houshold by an old grant and Sir John Berkley Controller Divers rich Presents were now made to him from the several Cities and Burroughs of the Kingdom in Gold and Plate and the resignation of several Feefarm Rents which had been purchas'd from the Usurpers the City of London among the rest with a Complement of their good Stewardship rendred their grant of new Perk in Surrey and all the Rents accruing at Michaelmas Day were now secured from the late Purchasers of Crown and Church Laws to the utter disappointing of their unjust and covetous expectations from such base and unwarrantable Penny-worths A Peace was now made Proclaim'd between us and Spain and a Splendid Embassy dispatcht from Denmark to congratulate his happy Restauratian The Court of Soissons who had Married Cardinal Mazarines Neece being sent from the French King on the same Errand entring London with all the sumptuous and extraordinary Magnificence imaginable and there was no Prince nor State in Europe but what sent an Embassador thither to congratulate him upon that happy and wonderful occasion And the Parliament having after many debates and disputes alterations and insertions at last finish'd the long desir'd Act of Oblivion which was extraordinary comprehensive and indulgent even to the regret of many injur'd Loyalists who found no better Argument to perswade their acquiescing therein than their unchangeable Loyalty to the King whose special Act that was There were no more excepted out of it but only the Regicides and Murderers of the late King only Lambert Vane and twenty more were thereby reserv'd to such forfeitures as should be afterward declar'd by Parliament the principal whereof was Hazelrick St. John Lenthal the Speaker Philip Nye Burton of Tarmouth and some Sequestrators Officers and Major Generals of the Army among whom was Desbrough Pine Butler Ireton c. They likewise past an Act for the perpetual Anniversary Thanksgiving on the 29 of May which was the day both of his Birth and Restauration and therefore deserv'd a perpetual memorial and to be made by a Parliamentary Canonization the most auspicious in the English Kallender to both which he gave his Royal assent and shortly after at their adjournment to another for disbanding the Army and paying off the Navy which although they once threatned us with a perpetuating our slavery yet were now forc'd by the happy conjunction of his Fortune with his Wisdom and Goodness after many models to submit to its last desolation And the Commons having after the passing of their Bills acquainted him that they had nothing more to ask or offer at that time but that if his Majesties occasions would permit they might adjourn and go into their own Countries where they should endeavour to make his subjects sensible of their extraordinary happiness in having such a King to Rule and Govern them He consented to it telling
by his Predecessors Whereupon rising out of the Chair He was led by His two Supporters to the Communion Table where he made a solemn Oath to observe those things he had before promised and then returning to his Chair again kneeled at the Footstool while the Hymn of the Holy Ghost was Singing Then he arose from his Devotion and disrobed himself of his upper Garment and his under Garment being so contrived that the Places to be Anointed might be opened by undoing certain Loops The Arch Bishop proceeded to that Ceremony after which the Coife was put on his head and the Dalmatica the Super-Tunica of Cloath of Gold and the Tissue Buskins and Sandals of the same And the Spurrs being put on by the Peer that carried them the Arch-Bishop took the Kings Sword and laid it on the Communion Table which after Prayer was restored to him again and girt on him by the Lord Great Chamberlain then the Armil and the Mantle or Open Pall was put on after which the Arch-Bishop taking the Crown into his hands laid it on the Communion Table and having prayed took it up again and set it on the Kings head whereupon all the Peers put on their Coronets and Caps and the Choire Sung an Anthem Then the Arch-Bishop took the Kings Ring and having prayed put it on the fourth finger of the Kings hand after which the King took off his Sword and offered it up which the Lord Great Chamberlain having redeemed drew it out and carried it naked before him Then the Arch-Bishop delivered the Scepter with the Cross into his Right and the Rod with the Dove into his Left hand and the King kneeling blessed him after which the King ascended His Throne Royal attended by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal where after Te Deum Sang all the Peers did their Homage Kissing his leâ—t Cheek and afterward standing all round about him they every one in their order toucht the Crown upon his head promising their readiness to support it to the utmost of their Power and then proceeding to the Communion the King having received and offered returned to his Throne till Communion was ended after which he went into St. Edwards Chappel and taking his Crown from his head delivered it to the Bishop of London who having laid it upon the Communion Table the King withdrew into a Traverse where the Lord Great Chamberlain disrobed him of St. Edwards Robes delivering them to the Dean of Westminster and arrayed him with those prepared for that day and then being conducted to the Communion Table in St. Edwards Chappel the Crown Imperial provided for him to wear was set up â—n his head After which taking the Scepter and the Rod and his Train being set in order before him he went up to the Throne and so through the Choire and Body of the Church out at the West door to the Pallace at Westminster the Peers according to their Rank going before him with their Coronets on and in the great Hall at the upper end whereof was a Table and Chair of State raised upon an ascent for the King and below Tables for the Nobility the Lord Mayor and Citizens the Officers at Arms c. they were entertained with a Noble and Magnificent dinner after which he returned in his Barge to White-Hall It is very observable that althoâ— it had rained for about a month before yet it pleased God that not one drop fell upon this Splendid Triumph which appeared in its full Lustre and Grandeur but was no sooner over and the King and his Traine sat down to Dinner but it fell a Thundering Lightning and Raining with the greatest Force Vehemency and Noise that was ever known at that season of the Year the Thunder and Lightning seeming as it were to imitate the Fire and Noise of the Cannon which then plaid from the Tower it being observed that they exactly kept time with that loud Musick so that they were easily distinguishable from each other the Thunder and lightning still intermitting between each firing of the Canons as if they had waited to receive and answer the Reciprocated and ecchoed Boation and Clashes of the Guns which was taken by the most Judicious and discerning part of Mankind for a very auspicious and promising Omen notwithstanding the mad Remnant of the Rebellion would have had it paralled to Sauls Inauguration without reflecting upon the Season or the Different case between the Ancient Kingly Right and Descent in Christendom and that new Title and Government in Jewry which in regard of the peculiar presence of God amongst them before was a kind of casting him off and declaring they would not have him to Reign over them There was not only in London but through the whole Kingdom great rejoycing for the Kings Coronation which was manifested by Feasting and other Publick shews as Trayning the several Bands of the Countryes with the additional Voluntary Gentry in a new and gallant Cavalry And so there was in Scotland and Ireland in each whereof there was likewise the same kind of Tryumphs in resemblance of this Magnificence And having with as much Brevity as possible glided through this Sphere of Glory in which the Ancient honour of the Government and Kingdom was refixt and given the World the full and compleat View of that wonderful Revolution which will undoubtedly be the amazement of all succeeding Ages each Luminary being thereby placed and shining in their proper Orbs and degrees the Soveraign Nobility Clergy Gentry and Commonalty having by that blessed change recovered their former and distinct Lustre and from being the scorn and derisâ—on were once again become the Envy of the World I shall proceed to shew by what Rules and Methods he managed the Government throughout his whole Raign and therein shall begin First with his Calling a Parliament with whom he desired to meet and consult for the more effectual healing the Breaches uniting the Differences and redintegrating the mutual Affections and Endearments which the unnaturalness and perverse malignity and divisions of the late times had abrupted and hitherto discontinued When he dissolved that Parliament or Convention which was sitting when he came in He promised the calling of a new one and accordingly Issued out His Writs soon after for their sitting down the Eighth of May a little before which several Musters had been made in England of the Militia and a General Train in Hide-Park of all the Forces about London both Horse and Foot Fifteen Regiments whereof he there took a view of The chief Stickling in the Election of Members for this Parliament was between the Episcopal and Presbyterian Parties the Latter whereof notwithstanding their Numbers found themselves greatly mistaken in the suffrages of the Kingdom when under no Awe nor distempered with a Frenzy and a misguided Zeal For altho several Letters were dispatcht by the chief Ministers of that Perswasion to their Correspondents wherein they exhorted them to do their utmost in procuring such persons
to be Elected for Members of that Parliament as were known to favour their Discipline yet that no part of the Government might be left unjustified and unreared the greater part of those chosen for Members of the House of Commons were as well affected to the Restoration and Settlement of the Church as the former had been to the Restoration and Settlement of the Crown The Eighth of May being come when they were to sit according to the Splendid Custome of opening those great Assemblies He rode in State and Tryumph from White-Hall to Westminster being arrayed in his Royal Robes and his Crown on his head and having placed himself on His Throne in the House of Peeres commanded the Commons to attend him there and in a most pleasant and obliging manner declared his great Content in meeting them Telling them that he was very confident that it would prove a happy Parliament and acquainting them with his design of his Marrying the Infanta of Portugal which Match having been proposed to his Privy Council and highly approved of by them he thought none there present would willingly have him live and die a Batchellor In confidence whereof he had newly made and signed a Treaty with that King by his Embassadour Don Francisco de Mello who was then ready to depart with the said Treaty in which the Article of Marriage was inserted The Kings Speech being ended and the Lord Chancellor Hide having given them a further account of the Reasons why they were called and the happy Effects his Master expected from their Sitting The Commons made Choice of Sir Edward Turner the Dukes Attorney General for their Speaker who in his Speech upon his being presented to and acceptâ— of by the King exprest the hopes of that House That as His Majesty had manifested his great Indulgence to their former which was but his Adopted So he had a fuller Blessing for that present which was his Natural Parliament being called by His immediate Writ The Convocation of the English Clergy being all Eminent Learned and Pious Persons met likewise on the Sixteenth of that Month at Westminster and a Parliament began about the same time in Ireland The Parliament at the special instance and desire of the King who was willing to give the highest demonstration of his Care and Resolution for the assuring to his Subjects whatsoever was contained and promised in His Declaration from Breda and the Act of Pardon first began with an Act for the Confirmation of the Act of Oblivion which being done by the Free Parliament not called by the Kings Writ was thought by the Guilty not to be valid and secure enough to them and that they might by a wise provision before hand prevent all Objections and Scruples which might otherwise have been raised upon that account They Ratified and Confirmed all the other Laws made therein and then proceeded to frame such new ones as were necessary for the better setling and maintaining the Publick Peace wherein that for Regulating Corporations as the most necessary had the Precedency wherein Commissioners were Impowered to displace all such as bore Offices and were any way suspected to be ill-willers to the Government and the Kings Authority or should refuse the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy or the Oath of Abjuration which was indeed at that time the only or at least the chief Test of Loyalty in regard they were therein to renounce the Solemn League and Covenant as unlawful in it self and illegally imposed But during the Houses Debate about that Bill Mr. Prin who had alwayes indulged himself the liberty of Quarrelling with every thing that any way ran counter to his inclinations could not refrain against the Priviledge of the House whereof he was a Member from publishing his Reasons against the said Bill affirming it was contrary to Magna Charta but the Commons having Commanded their Serjeant at Arms to Seize the Printer and Prin owning himself to be the Author he was brought to the Barr and severely rebuked by the Speaker but upon his humble submission and the House's favourable reflection upon his great Endeavours for the Restitution of the King he was remitted the Censure and Punishment which he had incurred by that over-sight And that they might shew their respect and veneration to the Prelacy by relieving it from the Oppressions and justifying of it from the Calumnies and Reproaches of the late times they Repealed the Act of the 1 Caroli 7. which forbid the Bishops medling in Civil affaires and debarred them from their Priviledg of Peerage in the House of Lords to all which Honours they were by this Repeal restored as fully as ever they had been before The free Parliament having before their desolution respitted the punishment of several of the Regicides the Parliament next reassumed the Consideration of that matter and having caused the Lord Manson Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr. Robert Wallop to be brought to the Bar declared their Estates to be confiscated and their Persons and Posterity degraded from all Titles and Armes of Gentility and that they should be carried back again to the Tower and from thence be drawn through the City of London to Tyburn on the 30th of the following January and so back again with halters about their necks upon Sledges and after that to suffer perpetual imprisonment And having now done as much as could be expected from them for the present they were adjourned by the King who declared his great satisfaction in what they had done and that his confidence iâ— them had not in the least deceivedâ— him About which time the Duke oâ— York having been chosen Captain to the Artillery Company in London honoured them with his Presence and led them in their Ground And in the August following the Kings Sollicitor Sir Heneage Finch being chosen Reader of the Inner-Temple he was pleased to indulge him a Favour never granted before by any of his Royal Progenitors to any of those famous Societies accepting of an invitation to dine with him in that Hall These endeavours of the Parliament to settle the Nation upon the Foundation of a well-grounded and lasting Peace by excluding from all Offices as well Sacred as Civil and Military those that refused to take the aforesaid Oaths did highly urge the Discontented of the late Anarchy whose anger suggested to them some hopes of undoing all again In order whereunto they laid new designs and Conspiracies and had several meetings to consult about them but their designes proved Abortive by a timely discovery Barbone Moyer Salmon Wildman Haynes Ireton and others were seized and Committed to safe custody The King out of a Noble and generous inclination to shew Respect and Veneration to the Memory of his Friends when it was out of his power to reward their Persons and considering likewise that the Living are usually very much taken with kindnesses exprest to the dead did about this time give order for the Re-interring those two Loyal Commanders Sir
proper to give You under My Hand that I expect this compliance from You and desire it may be assoon as conveniently You can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to You there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness You have ever had for Me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured that no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours and their advantage Telling them moreover that since his Neighbours were making Naval Preparations he thought it necessary still to maintain a Fleet at Sea and that it highly concerned them to provide a constant establishment for the Navy And concluding his Speech with his earnest desires to have that Parliament prove a Healing one assuring them that it was his constant resolution to defend with his Life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and that he expected in so doing to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as danger of those worst of Men who endeavoured to render both Him and his Government odious to his People Advising them likewise by his Chancellor the Earl of Nottingham not to suffer their Zeal to out-run their Discretion lest by being too far transported with the fears of Popery they over-did their business and by neglecting the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it render themselves the unhappy occasion of making their own Counsels abortive The Commons as soon as they were returned to their House made choice of Mr. Seymour for their Speaker whom they lookt upon as the fittest Person for that employment in regard he had officiated therein in the former Parliament but the King refusing to admit him they chose Serjeant Gregory And to convince the World that they were Leavened with the same Principles and resolved to thwart the King's Designs for setling the Nations as much as the former had done begun where they ended ordering a Committee to inquire into the manner how Danby had sued out his Pardon which was granted him by the King to secure the Earl for whom he had a particular affection having always found him faithful to his Interest from all fear of Punishment for any pretended Crimes supposing as well he might that they would not dispute his Power of Pardoning since it was by the Law invested on him as one of the chiefest Jewels of his Crown But finding upon search that the Pardon was not entred after its passing at the Secretaries Office in any other Office 'till it came to the Lord Chancellor and so dispatcht in a private manner They Resolve upon an Address to the King to represent to his Majesty the illegality and the dangerous consequence of granting Pardons to any Persons who lay under an Impeachment of the Commons and desired the Lords that he might be sequestred from their House and put into safe Custody who accordingly ordered the Usher of the Black Rod to take him which he had done had he not absented himself Whereupon a Bill was ordered to be brought in to Command his surrendring himself by a certain day or in default thereof to stand attainted And the Lords having in the mean while pass'd a Bill for Banishing and disabling of him and sent it down to the Commons for their concurrence it was rejected as a Censure too favourable and a Vote pass'd for an Address to the King that he would not permit him to reside in any of his Pallaces of White-Hall Somerset-House or St. James's and another Address to be made for a Proclamation to apprehend him and forbid all the King's Subjects to harbour or conceal him In the mean while the Bill of Attainder was highly canvassed at several conferences between the two Houses 'till at length the Earl saved them the labour of passing a Bill for his Attainder by surrendring himself to the Usher of the Black-Rod The Lords in the Tower were at their first Imprisonment found Guilty upon special â—â—dictments by the Grand Jury of Middlesex before special Commissioners sitting at Westminster But that way of proceeding being for some Reasons waved they were severally impeacht by the Commons and their Impeachment carried up to the Peers by Five Members of the House of Commons to which they gave in their Answers in person all but Bellafis who being ill of the Gout sent his in writing The King to content the Faction if possible on the 2d of April declared his pleasure to dissolve his Privy Council with which they had shewed themselves displeased and constitute a new one which for the time to come should consist of Thirty persons Fifteen whereof were to be certain viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Chancellor one of the Chief Justices the Admiral the Master of the Ordinance the Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Privy Seal the Master of the Horse the Lord Steward the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold the Groom of the Stool and the Two Secretaries And the rest to be Elective at his pleasure Ten out of the Nobility and Five Commoners besides such Princes of the Blood as should be at Court A Lord President and a Secretary of Scotland And according to that new Model as many of them as were in Court met the next morning in the Council-Chamber and were sworn Privy Councellors The King going the same day to the Parliament acquainted the Two Houses with what he had done and assured them he was resolved in all weighty and important Affairs next to his great Council in Parliament to be advised by that Privy Council And it being his custom as it had been his Fathers before him to take off some hot Spirits whose Parts and Abilities he judged might be improved to his own and the Publicks advantage by promoting them to some Place or Office of Trust or otherwise winning them to his Friendship unless they were such whose Natures corrupted by their designs had rendred obstinate and implacable as the Earl of Shaftsbury afterward appeared to be he for the most part chose the other Fifteen which were to compleat his Council out of their number and made Shaftsbury Lord President of it The Parliament resolving to hasten the Trial of the Lords Danby and Bellaasis appeared in person at the Bar of the Lords House where the former put in his Plea and the other his Answer And the next day Stafford Arundel and Powis appeared there likewise and having retracted their former Pleas which appeared insufficient to the Commons they put in their further Answers And the King commanding the Commons to attend him in the House of Lords renewed the Assurances he had formerly given them of his being ready to assent to any Laws they should provide for the security of the Protestant Religion so that the Descent of the Crown in the Right Line were not thereby defeated And that he was willing a provision should be made to distinguish a Popish from a
Protestant Successor and limit the Authority of the former if any such should be by providing that all Church-preferments should be conferred on Pious and Learned Protestants That the Parliament which should happen to be in being at his own Death or if none the last that sate should thereupon assemble without any new Summons or Election That during the Reign of any Popish Successor no Privy Councellor or Judg of the Common Law or Chancery should be put in or displaced but by consent of Parliament That none should be Justices of Peace but Protestants and that the Lord Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants of Counties and Officers in the Navy should not be put in nor removed but by the Authority of Parliament Telling them he conceived it hard to invent any other Restraint to be put on a Popish Successor Yet if any thing did occur to their Wisdom whereby their Religion and Liberties might be better secured he was ready to consent to it Whereupon the Commons after they had several times adjourned the consideration of this Speech on the 11th of May resolved That they would stand by His Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes And that if he should come by any violent Death which they prayed God to avert they would revenge it to the utmost upon the Papists According to which Vote an Address was drawn up and presented by them to the King with this Variation in the form of words We shall be ready to revenge upon the Papists any violence offered by them to your Sacred Majesty which words were neither exprest nor intimated in their Vote altho absolutely necessary and essential to the Justice of their designed Revenge And without taking the least notice of the Resolution exprest in his Speech Not to suffer any alteration in the Descent to the Throne brought in a Bill to disable his Royal Highness to inherit the Imperial Crown of England which being put to the Vote was carried in the Affirmative by One and Twenty Voices but being prorogued soon after it proceeded no further In the mean while the Two Houses were very earnest in debating the methods whereby they should bring the Lords in the Tower to their Trials And Danby being demanded at the Bar of the Lords House Whether he would rely on and abide by the Plea of his Pardon returned for answer That having been advised by his Council his Pardon was good in Law he would insist upon his Plea and requested his Council might be heard And the Lords acquainting the Commons with his desire instead of granting it they in the Names of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament and all the Commons of England demanded Judgment against him upon the Impeachment affirming his Pardon to be illegal and void However the Lords appointed him a day to argue his Plea and ordered the Five Lords to be tried the Week after and an Address to be made to the King for the appointing a Lord Steward for their Trials But the Commons not satisfied with their proceedings desired a Committee of both Houses might consider of the most proper methods of proceeding upon Impeachments according to the usage of Parliament but the Lords refused it as contrary to the known Rules and Orders of their House which ever was and ought to be tender in matters relating to their Judicature Whereupon the Commons resolved That no Commoner should presume to maintain the Validity of the Pardon pleaded by Danby without the leave of that House And that the persons so doing should be accounted Betrayers of the Liberties of the Commons of England Upon which the Lords to take away all occasion of disgust between the Two Houses receded from their former resolution and appointed a Committee to treat with them but a difference arising in that joynt Committee about the Bishops Right to be present at Trials in capital cases the Lords affirming they might stay till the Court proceeded to the Vote of Guilty or Not Guilty and the Commons denying it the Bishops endeavour'd to find out a Medium which might satisfie both and therefore desired leave of the Lords to withdraw themselves from the Trials with liberty of entring their usual protestations But this not satisfying the Commons they resolved not to proceed to the Trial of the Five Lords before Judgment given on Danby's Pardon and to insist upon the Bishops having no Right of Voting in capital Offences which made the King who saw that these heats took up their whole time and prevented their entring upon such Debates as more nearly concerned them and would have conduced more toward the setling of the Nation thought it best to prorogue them in hopes that in their next meeting their Debates might be more happy and unanimous About this time the Faction ran higher in Scotland and boiled into an open Râ—bellion which took its first beginning from the barbarous Murder of Dr. Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews and Primate of that Kindom on the 3d of May 1679. by a company of inveâ—â—â—ate Covenanters as he was travelling from Edenborough to his own Residence who had born him an immorâ—al hatred because having formerly been one of their Party he had revolted as they termed his honest Reformation But appeared more visible toward the latter end of that Month in the Western parts of Scotland when a party of Rebels well mounted and armed coming to Rugland proclaimed the Covenant burnt the following Acts of Parliament viz. Those which concerned the King's Supremacy the Eâ—â—â—blishment of Episcopacy the appointing the Anniversary of the 29th of May and the Recissory Act by which all the Mock-Laws made in the late Anarchy were repealed And publisht an insolent Declaration full of Treason and stuft with the very Spirit and Quintescence of Rebellion inviting others to joyn with them which the Covenanters commonly there called WHIGS from whence the Name was afterward brought into England and applied to all the Dissenting Party accepted of and flockt so fast to them that their Army increased daily to such a considerable number that they became formidable Whereupon the King hastned away the Duke of Monmouth as his Generalissimo to suppress them which with the Assistance of the Loyal Gentry and Herritors of that Nation he easily performed in one Battel at Bothwell-Bridg For having forced his passage over the Bridg and seized the only piece of Cannon they had they fled toward Hamilton-Park And altho they afterward rallied again and Faced about upon the advantage of a rising ground yet so soon as the Cannon began to play on them they all fled in disorder and confusion Robert Hamilton who was their chief Commander being one of the first There were many of the Rebels kill'd in the place and several hundreds taken Prisoners whereof some few were Executed The King who was willing to try all means to please and satisfie his people fearing the Animosities of that Parliament were too great to admit of a Reconciliation and would prevent their doing any
it on certain factious persons unknown to them which they desire Mr. Withins Steward of that Court to represent in their Names to the King which he accordingly did and received the Honour of Knighthood as a Reward of his Loyalty After which several such like addresses were directed from many of the Counties and that from Norfolk had a farther acknowledgment of their humble thanks to the King for calling home the Duke And the Lord Shandois having been elected by the Turky Company to go Embassador to Constantinople and desiring the Kings approbation the King 〈◊〉 him that having been concerned in promoting petitions which were â—â—rogatory to his Prerogative and tended to sedition he could not think him fit for his Favour whereupon he humbly acknowledged his fault to the King in Council protesting â—â—at he had been misled and drawn into it by being perswaded it was for his Mâ—jesties Service but being now better informed he abhorred and disowned all such Practices and humbly begging his Pardon he as freely obtained it Upon the 18th of May so great a Storm of Hail fell in London and the adjacent parts that the like had not been seen in many Years before the Stones being of an extraordinary bigness and very hard till they had lain a while many of them being as large as Pullets Eggs. One which I saw measured was somewhat more than Nine Inches about several Rooks in the Temple Garden being beaten down and killed with them and the Glass of many Sky-lights battered and broken to pieces And now the Parliament which had been several times this Summer prorogued met on the 21st of October according to â—he King's Declaration to them at their meeting in April to whom he declared in a Speech to both Houses That he had during that long prorogation made Alliances with Holland and Spain and desired money of them for the relieving Tangier the defence whereof had very much exhausted his Treasure and advising them not to meddle with the Succession of the Crown but proceed to the discovery of the Plot and the Trial of the Lords The Commons having chosen Mr. Williams a Barrester of Grays Inn and Recorder of Chester for their Speaker to convince the World that the King had not without Reason deferred their sitting so long and that neither he nor the Nation would have been losers if they had not sate then fell to purging their house expelling Sir Robert Can a Burgess for Bristol for having said there was no other Plot but a Presbyterian one and Sir Francis Withins for having declared himself an Abhorrer of the late tumultuous Petitions for the Parliaments sitting The former was committed by them to the Tower and both ordered to receive their Censure on their knees from the Speaker Several other Members were likewise declared guilty of the same Offence with Sir Francis Withins And not content with punishing their own Members they take notice of others who were without their Walls amongst whom Sir George Jeffries Recorder of London one of the King's Serjeants at Law and Chief Justice of Chester became the Object of their displeasure and was Voted a Betrayer of the Subjects Rights and an Address was made to the King to remove him from all publick Affairs and Impeachments Voted and drawn up against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir William Scrogs Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench Sir Thomas Jones one of the puisny Judges of that Court and Sir Richard Weston one of the Barons of the Exchequer for several pretended misdemeanors that of Sir Francis North being the advising and drawing up of the Proclamation against Petitions But not contenting themselves to deal with Subjects they proceeded next to a matter of a far greater concern For on the 11th of November notwithstanding the King's desire at their opening That they would not meddle with the Succession a Bill past in the House of Commons intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion by disabling James Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging which notwithstanding all the opposition made against it by the unbiassed and Judicious Loyalists who tho their Reasons were strongest yet their number were fewest was carried up to the Peers by the Lord Russel attended by almost all the Commons who gave a Hum at the delivery of it The Lords having ordered it upon their departure to be read put it to the Vote whether it should be read a second time which being carried in the Affirmative by Two Voices only after the second reading it was debated till Eleven a Clock at night the King being present all the while and then thrown out of the House by a Majority of about Thirty Voices in which number were all the Bishops then present to shew how careful the Prelacy is to promote Monarchy Soon after the Parliament proceeded to the Trial of William Lord Viscount Stafford which began in Westminster-Hall on Tuesday the 30th of November and the Impeachment and Evidence upon the same were managed by a Committee of the Commons and the Witnesses against him were Oates Turberville and Dugdale The Lord Chancellor Finch was created Lord High Steward for the solemnity of his Trial which lasted a whole week and being found Guilty by the Majority of Four and Twenty Voices he received Sentence on the 17th of December and on the 29th of that Month was beheaded on Tower-Hill protesting his Innocency with his last breath as all those had done who died for the Plot before him Some were so bold as to question the King's power to dispence with the Rigor of the Sentence and the unhappy Lord Russel was said to be one of them During these publick Transactions a large and prodigious flame of Light appeared in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every night after appeared somewhat higher in the beginning of the night and consequently set later its lustre and magnitude decreasing by degrees Whether this finger of the Almighty so visibly seen in the Heavens portended good or bad Events to the World in general or England in particular is a matter too mysterious for me to unfold and therefore shall I leave it till made more plain by the Effects which will be the best Commentatary thereon The King finding the Commons taken up with other business without taking the least care of providing him Money for the supplying his pressing wants and the relieving Tangier then besieged by the Emperor of Morocco recommended the matter more seriously to them in his Speech on the 15th of December But all the Answer he could obtain from them was an Address complaining of several pretended Grievances and refusing all supplies of Money for the Relief of Tangier or any other use unless he would pass a Bill for the Exclusion of the Duke and to enable all Protestants to associate
Coningsâ—ark a German Lord who had formerly endeavoured to obtain her came over again to London in disguise and one â—ratz who had formerly been a Captain under him sent a Challenge to Thinn with a Threat That in case he refused to meet him at the Time and Place appointed he should be pistol'd And finding that notwithstanding that Threat he still slighted his Challenge and refused to hazard his Life against he knew not whom nor upon what ground of quarrel he with two more well mounted and armed rode up to his Coach as he was passing homeward near the Hay-market and having stopt the Horses another of those desperate Villains whose Name was George Borosky a Polander discharged a Blunderbuss or Musketoon at him charged with six Bullets which were all lodged in his Belly and then they setting Spurs to their Horses made their escape but the next Morning they were so closely sought after that they were all three taken and being brought to a Trial Tryal before the Lord-Chief-Justice Pemberton were all three condemned and executed upon a Gibbet erected near the place where they committed the Murder and Borasky to terrifiâ— others from such barbarous Attemptsâ— was hung up in Chains between 〈◊〉 and London The Count was likewisâ— tryed the same time as an accessary to the Murder but for want of sufficient Evidence was acquitted by the Jury A strange Accident hapned not long after this which had like to have proved fatal to these Nations by depriving them of the Inestimable Blessing which they now enjoy for his Royal Highness the Duke of York our Present Sovereign going about the beginning of May into Scotland to fetch home his Dutchess whom he had left there at his last return the Glocester Frigot in which he sailed unfortunately striking on the Lemon-ore in Yarmoth Road was lost with about an hundred men and some Treasure But Heaven designing the Royal Passenger to be the occasion of many future Blessings to these Kingdoms and reserving him for a more honourable Funeral he was miraculously preserved by going off into a Yatch which came up to his relief just before the Ship sunk And returning toward the latter end of that month with his Dutchess and the Lady Ann to Whitehall the King and Queen came from VVindsor to congratulate his safe arrival and express their Joy for his miraculous preservation And the King who went back again that Night to VVindsor was the next Day taken very ill occasioned as it was generally thought by some cold taken the day before but upon bleeding and the use of some other proper means he recovered his former health within a few days to the great joy of his Subjects Sir John Moor an Honest Loyal Gentleman and an Addresser coming this Year to be Lord Mayor of London which City was then somewhat distempered by reason the Chair had for the Two preceding Years been enjoyed by Sir Robert Claton and Sir Patience Ward who inclining to the Fanatick Party had promoted such Sheriffs and other Officers in that City as were no way pleasing to the King as appeared by the Answer he returned to the Message from Sir John to him to invite his Majesty to dine with him and the City on the day of his Inauguration viz. That he liked the Message but not the Messengers who were the two Sheriffs Pilkinton and Shute and therefore having now the Power in his Hand as Chief Magistrate he resolved to restore London to its Loyalty and leave it in a condition more to the Kings content than he found it And in order thereunto it being an ancient Custom for the Lord Mayor at a Feast kept Yearly at the Bridg-house to drink to him whom he designed to be one of the Sheriffâ— for the Year ensuing he drank to Mr. Dudly North Brother to the Lord Keeper and since Knighted And on the 24th of June which being Midsummer-day was customary for the Electing the Sheriâ—f of London he summoned the several Companies to appear at Guild-hall and confirm North and cause another Sheâ—iff but instead of proceeding according to the Ancient câ—stom and method of the City therâ— appeared two parties the Lord Mayor and his Party and the two Sheriffs and their Party who refused to confirm North and would have both Sheriffs elected by Vote After some coâ—test it was agreed to be decided by pol But those who polled for the coâ—firmation of North and thâ— Election of Box a Drugster in Cheapside who was proposed by Moor for the other Sheriff being refused and several mens Names entred for Papillion and Dubois that were put up by the Two Sheriffs and their Party who had no Right to Vote the Lord Mayor adjourned the Court by Proclamation till the 27th and so departed out of the Hall altho not without some abuses by the disaffected party However the Sheriffs would not obey the Adjournment but upon pretence that the business belonged properly to them and not at all to the Mayor went on with their Poll till night The next day being Sunday admitted of no Action but on Monday morning the King who had been informed of all those Tumutuous Proceedings ordered the Lord Mayor the Court of Aldermen and the Two Sheriffs to attend him at the Council-Chamber and after a full Examinâ—tion and Hearing of all that could be said on both sides committed the Sheriffs to the Tower for their Riotous Proceeding whither they were carâ—ied through the City in their own Coacâ—es But having obtained a Habeas Corâ—us to be brought up to the Kings-Beâ—ch-Bar they were admitted Bail having first pleaded Not Guilty to an Information exhibited against them for a Tumultuous and Riotous Assembly in holding the Common-Hall after it had been adjourned and the Assembly discharged The Sheriffs having thus obtained their Liberty met again on the 5th of July and notwithstanding the Mayor who was then sick sent the Recorder to adjourn the Common-Hall to the 7th yet they and the Multitude proceeded in the Election and declared their Choice of Papillion and Duboise But some Disputes arising when the Mayor and his party met on the 7th according to the Adjournment about the Legality of that Adjournment Four Lawyers were sent for to the Court of Aldermen to argue the Validity of the thing but coming to no Resolution the Court was adjourned to the 14th of that Month. When the King designing if possible to set all things to rights issued out an Order of Council wherein he commanded them since all their Proceedings hitherto had been irregular to begin all Proceedings anew and carry them on in the usual manner as they ought to have been upon Midsummerday This Order was read in the Common-Hall but opposed by the adverse Party with Noise and Clamor However Moor declared North duly elected by him and that he would Poll for the other Three viz. Box Papillion and Duboise and thereupon caused Books to be fitted with Three Columns only But Pilkinton and Shute refusing to
Petition wherein the King is charged with obstructing the Justice of the Nation by proroguing the last Parliament Whether these were sufficient grounds of seizing their Liberties were argued Pro Con first by the Solicitor General and the Recorder of the City and then by the Attorney General and Mr. Pollixfen And Judg Jones the Lord Chief Justice being then sick having summ'd up all the proceedings in a very significant and solid Speech gave Judgment upon it and declared it to be the unanimous Opinion of that Court That the Liberties and Franchises of the City of London should be seized into the King's hands But Judgment was not entred up in regard the King had expresly commanded that should not be done till his pleasure was further known The City now finding the King was in earnest and that their Charter was condemned by Law began to think of humbling themselves at his feet and sue for Mercy And therefore at a Common-Council call'd for that purpose a Petition was ordered to be drawn up and presented to him at Windsor where he then was in which they acknowledg their hearty and unfeigned sorrow for the misgovernment of that City which had occasioned the Quo Warranto to be brought against them and Judgment to be past thereupon And thankfully acknowledged his great Favour in not requiring Judgment to be immediately entred thereon in which distressed condition they humbly cast themselves at his Royal Feet imploring his Princely Compassion and Grace begging his pardon for all Offences with most solemn promises and assurances of constant Loyalty and Obedience to him and his Successors and of a Regular Administration of his Government in that City for the future humbly begging his Commands and Directions therein This Petition was carried and presented by the Mayor and several Loyal Aldermen and Citizens Upon the Receipt whereof the Lord Keeper by the King's Command declared That for the sakes of so many of the present Magistrates and other Eminent Citizens who were of undoubted Loyalty and Affection to his Service he would show the City all the Favour they could reasonably desire if they would submit to such Regulations as he thought necessary forthe assuring the Loyalty and preserving the Peace of that City viz. That no person should be admitted to be Mayor Sheriff Recorder Common Serjeant Town-Clerk or Coroner of London or Steward of Southwark before they were approved by him under his Sign Manual And that after he had Twice disapproved the Mayor whom they should present to him he might if he pleased nominate one himself and so also for the Sheriff the Election being nevertheless to be still continued according to the ancient Customs and Usages of the City with some small Restrictions only then specified which gracious Offer was accepted by a Common-Council assembled on the 20th of June where the Question being propounded it was carried in the Affirmative by the Majority of Eighteen Voices And now came to light one of the basest and vilest pieces of Treachery that was ever hatcht in the World which seemed to point out and explain whereto the Bill of Exclusion and the Treacherous Association tended For those Factious and Designing Wretches having failed of accomplishing their Designs by those specious pretences resolved to attempt that by force which they now found they could not effect by Fraud and therefore entred into a Damnable Plot and Conspiracy to Murder the King and His Brother and alter the Government To effect which they had at several Treasonable Consultations resolved to Levy men and make an Insurrection For the management whereof they made choice of a Council of Six that were to direct and order the chief matters relating thereunto viz. the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Essex the Lord Howard the Lord Russel Mr. Hambden and Collonel Sidney Besides which there was another Council of more Inferior persons whose business was to consult chiefly about the Assassination of the King and the Duke The King and the Duke being both at Newmarket they resolved to prevent their ever coming to London again by cutting them both off in their return To which end West by the appointment of the rest had provided several Musquets and other Arms which were to have been sent down to a House call'd the Rye inhabited by one Rumball about three Miles beyond Hodsden which was lookt upon as the most convenient place for that monstrous and hellish design in regard therewas by the house a narrow passage through which the King usually came when he went to and from Newmarket so that it would have been hard for him to have escaped But Heaven having preserved him from the many former Attempts of Men of the like Principles and disdaining that Hell should frustrate its designed blessings to these Nations as well in the remainder of his Reign as in his next Successors by cutting off its Principal Favourite resolved to render former Mercies the more compleat and full by adding a new one to their Number no less apparent and visible than his Preservation in the Oak had been And therefore a Fire which hapned there and consumed the greatest part of the Town forced him to return sooner than they expected and before they were ready for him whereby they were disappointed of their Barbarous Purpose and not a little confounded at the Strangeness of the Thing which altho it appeared at first sight to be purely accidental yet afterward was generally lookt upon to fall out by the special designation of Divine Providence But notwithstanding this remarkable disappointment and the consternation which at first seized them upon the news of it they still went on with their Plot and consulted about some other Time and Place for their Assassination But before they could bring their distracted Counsels to any conclusion Providence spoiled their Plot For one of the Conspirators whose Name was Keeling being convinced of the Wickedness of the design through the care of Heaven to prevent it by the remarkable Fire at Newmarket was so terrified that he could not rest till he had made a discovery of it Whereupon West a Councellor of the Temple was apprehended and a Proclamation issued out for the declaring Rumsey Rumball Nelthrop Wade Goodenough Wallcot Thompson Burton and Hone Traytors offering 100 reward to any that should discover them and another against Monmouth Grey Armstrong and Ferguson Rumsey the Lord Russel Essex Collonel Sidney Mr. Hambden the Lord Howard Walcot Rouse Hone and some others were taken but the rest made their escape beyond the Seas The Lord Grey indeed was taken but being after Examination by the King and Council committed to the Tower he found means to make his escape out of the Coach just as he came almost at the Tower Gate having made Deering the Messenger who had him in Charge so drunk as it was reported that he fell fast asleep and left him wholly unguarded The Lord Russel and Collonel Sidney were beheaded and Walcot Rouse and Hone
executed at Tyburn for this Plot. The Earl of Essex prevented the Hand of Justice by cutting his own Throat Mr. Hambden against whom there was but one Evidence was only indicted and found guilty of a high Trespass and Misdemeanor and condemned in a Fine of 40000 l. to the King to find Sureties for his Good Behaviour during Life and to stand committed till that was paid and done The Lord Brandon Major Wildman Mr. Charlton Mr. Trenchard and some others for want of sufficient Evidence were first admitted to bail and afterward discharged Mr. Wade and Sir Thomas Armstrong being both taken beyond the Seas the first at Mevis and the other in Holland were brought into England and condemned and executed upon an Outlawry The King to shew his Sense of the Divine Goodness for his wonderful and Gracious Preservation from that horrid Plot and Conspiracy publisht a Declaration for a solemn Day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be celebrated throughout the Kingdom on Sunday the 9th of Septemb. commanding that Declaration which contained a short Narration of the Treasonable Conspiracy and the Persons concerned therein some whereof were not mentioned in either of the Proclamations to be read on Sunday the 2d of September as well as on the Day of Thanksgiving which was observed with great Seriousness and Devotion throughout the whole Kingdom every one looking upon himself to have a particular Interest in the Benefit of that Preservation It is observable that there was this remarkable difference between the two Plots all those who died for the first protested their Innocency with their last breath denying that they had any knowledg of a Plot or Conspiracy carried on against the King or the Government and all those who died for the Second did acknowledg something tho they denied the greater part of what they were accused of About this time the Lady Ann Second Daughter to his Royal Highness the Duke of York was married to Prince George Brother to the King of Denmark the Ceremony being performed by the Bishop of London in the Presence of the King Queen Duke and Dutchess with most of the Great Persons about the Court and that Night was observed with great Joy and Splendor and the next 〈◊〉 Bells proclaimed the publick Joy which every one took for her being so happily bestowed upon a Protestant and Religious Prince who was afterward installed Knight of the Garter at Windsor The Day for the Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex which of course used to be the 24th of June was this Year adjourned to the 5th of September when the Livery-Men assembled at Guild-Hall without the least Hesitation confirmed the Mayors choice of Peter Daniel and chose to serve with him Francis Dashwood Electing likewise Mr. Deputy Aleworth into the Office of Chamberlain in the Room of Sir Thomas Player who being one of the Rioters in the last Years Proceedings was then removed and performing all the other Elections of Bridg-master Ale conner c. with the ancient Gravity and Moderation and a Choice of Mayor on Michaelmas-day was likewise adjourned for six Days But in the mean time the King being highly displeased with the Cities delays in signing the particulars formerly accepted of and promised by the Common-Council in Relation to the Charter caused his Attorney to enter up Judgment against it and thereupon gave his commission to Sir William Pritâ—hard to execute the Office of Lord Mayor of that City during pleasure granting the like Commissions also to the two New Sheriffs Daniel and Dashwood who were thereupon sworn with the usual Oaths and Mr. Jenner of the Inner Temple knighted at the same time by the Name of Sir Thomas Jenner the Kings Recorder of London On Sunday the 7th of October the Mayor and Sheriffs appeared at Guild-hall Chappel as formerly in their Gowns and Chains but the Aldermen only in their ordinary habits being by vertue of that new Commission only made Justices of the Peace eight of the Factious ones being left out and their Number supplied by as many Worthy and Loyal Gentlemen viz. Sir Benjamin Newland Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir John Buckworth Sheriff Dashwood Charles Duncomb Jacob Lucy Peter Palavazine and Benjamin Thoroughgood But on the 13th of that Month the King sent them a new Commission wherein he impowered them to act as Aldermen in their several Wards and accordingly divers of them attended the Mayor the next day to Chappel after their usual manner in Gowns and Chains and the next Week assembled a Court of Aldermen as formerly And upon the 29th of October which is the Annual Day for swearing the Lord Mayor of London the King having appointed Sir Henry Tulse to execute that Office by Commission during his pleasure he was after the usual manner attended to Westminster by the Companies performing the accustomed Ceremonies in Westminster-Hall and making the usual Cavalcade through London but without any Pageants The Duke of Monmouth being accused as one of the Conspirators in the late Plot absconded and lay concealed for some time so as he could not be found by all the search that was made for him But having privately made his Application to the King in an humble and submissive Letter wherein he intirely resigned himself to his Majesties Disposal the Duke thereupon went down to Secretary Jenkins his Office to whom he had voluntarily surrendred himself and upon shewing himself very sensible of his Crime in suffering himself to be drawn into a Conspiracy against the King and Government and making a full Declaration of it and a particular Submission to his Royal Highness for his misbehaviour toward him he did upon the request and Mediation of the Duke obtain his Pardon and the Attorny-General was ordered to stop all further Proceedings against him But refusing afterwards to make the promised Discovery or to sign what he had confest he fell again into the Kings High Displeasure and was thereupon banisht the Court and expelled the Royal Presence About the middle of December this Year began a very extraordinary Frost which lasted till the 5th of February during which time the Thames was frozen over with solid and contiguous Ice with thousands of People walking thereon and whole streets of Booths built quite a cross and shops of almost all manner of Trades on each side as in the high streets of London and Coaches running almost as thick as in Fleetstreet The extremity of the Weather was such that great numbers of poor and indigent People who at other times could but just live were now in regard they could not follow their imployment brought into great necessities and many of them must have starved if the charity of others had not relieved 'em whereupon the King who always loved to take all opportunities to express his charity and affection to his Subjects especially those that were poor and indigent among them granted his Letters Mandatory to the Bishop of London to make a Collection in all Parishes in the