have lately called themselves a Common-wealth To meet with and prevent the infernal Endeavours of such Rebels our Agent most humbly offers to your Holiness the following Propositions 1. That your Holiness would make an annual Supply out of your own Treasury unto the said Charles the Second of considerable Sums of Money suitable to the maintaining the War against those Rebels against God the Church and Monarchy 2. That you would cause and compel the whole Beneficed Clergy in the World of whatsoever Dignity Degree State and Conditions soever to contribute the Third or the Fourth part of all their Fruits Rents Revenues or Emoluments to the said War as being Universal and Catholick And that the said Contribution may be paid every three Months or otherwise as shall seem most expedient to your Holyness 3. That by your Apostolick Nuncio's your Holyness would most insâ—antly endeavour with all Princes Common-wealths and Catholick States that the said Princes Common-wealths and States may be admonished in the Bowels of Jesus Christ and induced to enter into and conclude an Universal Peace and that they will unitedly supply the said King And that they will by no means acknowledge the said Regicides and Tyrants for a Common-wealth or State nor enter into or have any Commerce with them 4. That by the said Nuncio's or any other way all and every the Monarchs of all Europe may be timely admonished and made sensible in this Cause wherein beside the detriment of the Faith their own proper Interest is concerned The foresaid Tyrants being Sworn Enemies to all Monarchy as they themselves do openly assert both by Word and Writing and to that end both in Germany Spain France Poland â— c. and in the very Dominions of the great Turk they have raised dangerous Insurrections being raised they foment them and to that purpose they supply the Charge and make large Contributions to it 5. That yoâ—r Holyness would Command under pain of Excommunication Ipso facto all and singular Catholicks that neither they nor anâ— of them directly nor indirectly by Land or by Sea do serve them in Arms or assist them by any Counsel or to help to favour or supply them any way under whatsoever pretext Holy Father the premised Remedies are timely to be applied by which the Catholick Faith now exposed to extream and eminent Hazzard may be conserved and infinite number of Catholicks may be preserved from Destruction Monarchy may be established and the most invincible King of Great Britain restor'd to his Rights All which things will bear your Holyness to Heaven with their Praises whom God long conserve in safety c. The Propositions and Motives abovesaid if occasion be our Agent will more largely set forth Viva voce This Letter as it seems to clear a great portion of Doubts and Suspitions of Charles the Second's Integrity to the Protâ—stant Religion so it is a shrewd Argument that all that glistered in this King and his Father was not Gold But I must beg the Readers Pardon for this long digression The Lords Justices sent Sir H. Spotswood from Dublin to the King then in Scotland with an Account of all that happened He dispatched Sir I. Stuart with Inâ—tructions to the Lords of the Privy Council in Ireland He applied himself to the Parliament of Scotland as being near for their Assistance And an Express was sent to the Parliament of England The King being returned out of Scotland December 2 d. Summoned both Houses together and tells them That he had staid in Scotland longer than he expected yet not fruitlessly for he had given full Satisfaction to the Nation but cannot chuse but take Notice of and wonder at the unexpected Distractions he finds at Home and then Commends to them the State of Ireland After which the Commons ordered a Select Committee to draw up a Petition and Remonstrance to the King The one was against Bishops and Oppressures in Church Government and for Punishing the Authors of it And the other contained all the Miscarriages and Misfortunes since the beginning of the King's Reign Not long after happened the Tumults of the London Apprentices at Whitehall and Westminster December 28. The King sends a Message to the Lords That he would raise Ten Thousand Voluntiers for Ireland provided the Commons would pay them Some time after the King upon Information that the Lord Kimbolton and five of the House of Commons viz. Hollis Sir A. Hasâ—erig Mr. Pym Hambden and Stroud had Correspondence with the Scots and Countenanced the late City Tumults He thereupon ordered their Trunks Studies and Chambers to be Sealed up and their Persons seized the former of which was done but they having timely Notice they went aside Upon which the Commons the same day Voted high against these Actions of the King Hereupon the King Charges Kimbolton and the five Members with several Articles and â—cquaints both Houses That he did intend to Prosecute them for High Treason and required that their Persons might be secured And the next day the King attendâ—d with his Guard of Pensioners and some Hundreds of Gentleman went to the House of Commons and the Guard staying without the King with the Palsgrave entred the House at whose Entrance the Speaker rises out of the Chair aâ—d the King sitting down therein views the Housesâ—round and perceives the Birds he aimed at were flown whereupon He tells them That he came to look for those five Members whom he had Accused of High Treason and was râ—solved to have them where ever He found them and expected to have them sent to Him as soon as they should come to the House but would not have them think that this Act of His was any Violation of Parliament This Act of the King was highly Resented by the House that the next day Ianuary 5. the Commons Voted it a Breach of Priviledge And it it was said in the City that the King intended Violence against the House of Commons and came thither with Force to Murther several Members and used threatning Speeches against the Parliament The next day the Londoners came thronging to Westminster with Petitions envying bitterly against some of the Peers but especially the Bishops as the Authors of all these Disturbances Upon which they were so affrighted that Twelve Bishops absented themselves from the House of Lords drawing up a Protestation against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves Null and of none Effect which had Passed or should Pass during their Absence Presently after which at a Conference between both Houses it was agreed That this Protestation of the Twelve Bishops did extend to the deep intrenching on the Fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliaments And in a short time they were Accused of High Treason Seised and brought on their Knees at the Lord's Bar Ten of whom were Comitted to the Tower and the other Twoâ— in regard of their Age to the Blackâ—Rod And now such Numbers of ordinary People daily gathered about Westminster
quae ut reliqua habet omnia Siveritatem non habet obtinere nomen non Potest THE SECRET HISTORY OF King IAMES I. TIme which puts a period to all things under the Sun began now to sheaâ—â— the Sword of War that had been long disputing the Controversie which Religion and Policy that Princes mix together had for many Years so fiercely maintained The wâ—â—ring out of that old but glorious and most happy Piece of Soveraignty Queen Elizabeth bating the Spaâ—ish Violence and ending with the Irish Rebellion and Submission of the great Earl of Tyrone as if the old Genius of Iron-handed War and a new one Crowned with a Palm of Peace had taken Possession of the English Nation Iames the Sixth King of Scotland was Proclaimed King of England For though Princes that find here a Mortal Felicity love not the noise of a Successor in their Life time yet they are willing for the Peace of their People to have one when they can hear no more of it That which this Blessed Queen could not endure from others She was pleased to express her self and bequeath in her last Will as a Legacy to this then happy Naâ—ion He was Thirty Years of Age when he came to the Crown How dangerous the passage had been from his vâ—ry Infancy to his middle Age is not only written in may Histories but the untamâ—d and untractable Spirits of many of that Nation are a sufficient Witness and Record The wise Queen found many petty Titles but none of that Power any other Hand that should have reacht for the Crown might have caught a Cloud of Confusion and those Supportâ—rs and Props that held up Her Greatness loth to submit to Equals made Scaffolds to his Triumphs In the prosecution of wâ—at I shall remark relating to this Kingâ— I shall avoid all unnecessary Severity and observe moâ—e Duty and Respect than may possibly be thought due by Posterity to the Person of a Prince that after so exact a Pattern as Queen Elizabeth left him did by debauching Parliaments and so often breaking his Word so far irritate no less than impoverish the Subject as his Son was forced to give Concession to one rendâ—red indissolvable but by their own Will A mischief never could have befallen England had King Iames left them in the same blessed Serene temper he found them at the Death of the Queen The News of which was brought him first by Cary after Earl of Monmouth who not able to satisfie such a concourse of Doubâ—s and Questionsâ— as far more resolute Natures than His do oâ—ten muster up on less occasâ—ons the King stood as in a maze being more affected through the fear of Opposition than pleased with the present Report till by a lamer Post He was adverâ—ised of His being joyâ—ully Proclaimed in London by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and of the unquestioned Recepâ—ion His Title in all Places met with no less than that the Hopes of some and Feâ—rs of the major part assisted by the prudent Carriage of the Treasurer and ranting Protestations of the Earl of Northumberland that in all Places vapoured he would bring Him in by the Sword had stopped their Mouths that desired he might be obliged to Articles Amongst these truly Noble Heroick and Publick Spirits was Sir Walter Rawleigh the Lord Cobham Sir Iohn Fortescue c. Who were all afâ—erwards ruined by the King and the Noble Sir Walter most Barbarously câ—t oâ—f This Prince held his Thoughts so intent upon Ease and Pleasure that to aâ—oid any interruption likely to impede any part of the Felicity he had possessed his imagination with from the Union of these Crowns and to fit an Example for his Neighbours imitation whom he desired to bring into the like Resolution he cast himself as it were blindfold into a Peace with Spain far more destructive to England than a War King Iames throughout his whole Reign contenting himself with the humble thought of being a Terror to his own People not valluing that himself or Nation should make any considerable Figure among Forreign Princes At his first coming he was long detained from Westminster by a Plague looked upon as the greatest till exceeded in that which broke out after his Death taken by the ill boding English for a presage of worse Days than they had already seen The good Government of Queen Elizabeth not being in probability likely to bear the Charges without falling into some destructive commotion of Two such Expensive Princes Succession without having one more popular to intervene After the Peace of too much concernment to his Catholick Majesty to afford him leisure to imagine much less to insert so rugged an Article as the performance of any Promise our King had â—ade â—efore his Reception in case the Papists did not oppose which I have found Registred by many and so high as amounted to a Toleration at least if not an Establishing of Popery he then observed in prudence it could not be conceded by this new King having so many of his Subjects Protestants for one of the Romish Profession and being bâ—sides no more Zealous than other Princes that make use of a Religion only for a Fence to immure their Persons and Prerogatives but â—steem it a meer accident where reason of State drives on a Bargain without it These neglects of the Kings of Spain and England the first remaining as careless of his Faith as the other did of the performance of his Word put the Roman Câ—tholicks for the present into so great a Despairâ— that led them into that damned Conspiraâ—y called the Gun powder Treason the account of which in general is so well known that I need not here â—nlarge only give some hints concerning it which is not common to be met with The French Ambassador then resident at Court affirming to some Persons of Quality his Intimates That the first Intimation of the Powder Tâ—eason came from his Master who received it from the Jesuiâ—s of his Faction to the end he might share in our Ruines The Kingdom of England being in the Pope's own Judgment at that time too great an addition to that of Spain where though it was first coined some say during the days of Queen Elizabeth â— yet the Priests that undertook the promoting of it sought to render it the most beneficial they could to their respective Patrons And here I cannot omit that after this happy Discovery his Majesty sent an Agent on purpose to Cougratulate King Iames's great Preservation A Flattery so palpable as the Pope could not refrain laughing in the Face of Cardinal D' Ossat when he first told it him nor he forbear to inform his King of it as may be found in his Printed Letters it being notorious that at King Iames's first assumption to the Throne of England none sought his Destruction more cordiâ—lly than the Spaniard till a continued Tract of Experience had fully acquaiâ—ted him with his Temper Nor was our King himself backward in â—omenting
deteriora sequar for he indeed made the worst choice it could not be thought but such an Imployment was much better to him to have accepted than to be confined to a loaâ—hsome Prison Having him now fast in Prison Herodias by pleasing her Herod must also ask and have his Life for Perscelus ad sceleâ—â— tutiâ—r est via to that end they preferred Emposides to be Servant to Sir Gervase Elway's then Lieutenant of the Tower and a very Wise Religious Gentleman he was so ignorant of the Plâ—t as he never Dreamt of any such matter until one day as it should seem Weston being told Eâ—â—ays did know wherefore he was preferred unto him to wait on Overbury he aâ—ked the Lieutenant whether he should now do iâ— Elways replied What Weston at that being somewhat abashed which Elways quickly apprehended replied No not yet for he did believe there was something known to Weston instantly he hasted away being a little before Dinner and went into his Study and Weston being come he exaâ—iâ—ed him the meaning of that Question at last between fair means and threatning perswaded him to conâ—ess the â—ruth then Elways as he well could laid before Weston the horridness of the Fact the torments of Hell c. At last made him so sensible that he gave the Lieutenant humble thanks for that he had been instrumental in saving his Soul by putting him off from so soul intentions and faithfully promised never to be concerned in so foul at Act and for a long time as faithfully performed The Lieutenant ordered Weston to bring him such things as were sent to give Overbury which he accordingly did the Lieutenant ever gave them to Doggs and Catts some of which died presently others lingred some time During this time the Earl continued sending to visit Overbury wheedling him with an assurance that he did not forget his Release At last the Countess growing impatient sent for Weston reviling him saying he was a Treacherous Villain on which he promised her Fidelity to the future yet the Countess would not trust him alone any more but joined one Franklin to him a greater Villain than himself Some time after these Two Villains had carried Overbury the Tarts they went to his Chamber and found him in great Torment with Contention between strength of Nature and working of the Poyson and they fearing Nature would have gotten the better and that it might come upon the judgment of Physicians that foul Play had been offered him they immediately stifled him between Two Pillows and so ended his miserable Life with the assurance of the Conspirators that he dyed by Poyson none thinking otherwise but the Two Murtherers Now this grand obstacle being removed the Adulterous Marriage must be brought about and for the more easie effecting of it they did without much trouble make the King a Party in this Bawdy business and the Bishops likewise must be principal Actors in bringing this Bawdery to a Marriage of whom Bilson Bishop of Winchester was chief for which the King Knighted his Son The Bishops had many Meetings in which there wanted no Bribes from the Lord and Lady to hâ—ve this Nullity brought to pass wherein the Discourse would have better befitted the Mouths of Bawds and Ruffians than grave Divines Arch-bishop Abbot opposed and protested against all their Proceedings for which the King held him in disgrace to his Dying day To make up the full measure of Bawdry and to justifie the Nullity a search must be made into the Lady to find whether there had been a Penetration and a Jury of grave Matrons were found fit for that purpose who with their Spectacles ground to lessen not to make the Letter larger after their Inspection into the Premises gave Verdict she was Intacta Virgo which was thought very strange for the World took notice that her way was very common before ever Somerset trod in it besides they two having lived so long in Adultery together The Plot was contrived thus The Lady of Essex pretending Modesty makes humble Suit to the Bawdy Bishops who were all concerned in this Stratagem that she might come Vailed into the Court which they all readily granted One Mrs. Turner was dressed in the Countesses Cloaths and at that time too young to be other than Virgo Intacta Now is the Nullity pronounced and the Marriage with Somerset speedily Solemnized but sweet Meat must have sowr Sâ—wce For not long after Thrumbal Agent at Bruxels had by one Reeve an Apothecaries Prentice in London that was come there on some Occasions gotten hold of this Poysoning Business on which he presently wrote to Secretary Wynwood that he had business of great consequence to discover but would not send iâ— therefore desired License to come over which after some time the King granted and now had they good Testimony by the Apothecary who revealed Weston Mrs. Turner and Francklin to be the Principal Agents yet it being the time of the King's Progress nothing was done in it till his Return Secretary Wynwood having been affronted and much abused by Somerset in his Secretaryship does now carry himself in a kind of braving way against him being struck in with the Faction of Viller's who was now the risiâ—g Sun and King Iames's darling Favourites King Iames being returned from his Summers Progress returns to Windsor from thence to Hampton-Court then to White-Hall and shoâ—tly after to Royston to begin his Winter Journey And now begins the Game to be plaid in which the Earl and Countess of Somerset must be Losers the Lord Chief Justice Coke and Secretary Wynwood the managers against them The day the King went from VVhite-Hall to Theobald's and so to Royston he sent for all the Judges his Lords and Servants encircling him where kneeling down in the midst he spoke to them as followeth My Lords the Iudges It is lately come to my hearing that you have now in Examinatiâ—n a Business of Poâ—soning Lord in what a most miserable Conditiâ—n shall this Kingdom be the only famous Nation for Hospitality in the World if our Tables should become such a Sâ—are as none could Eâ—t without daâ—ger of Life and the Italian Custom be introduced among us Therefore my Lords I Charge you as you will answer it at the great and dreadful day of Iudgment that you will examine it strictly without Fâ—vâ—â—â— Affection or Partiality and if you shall spare any that are found Guilty of this Crime God's Curse light on you and your Posterity And if I spare any God's Curse light on Me and my Posterity for ever But how this dreadful Thunder Curse or Imprecation was performed the following account will shew The King goes to Roâ—ston accompanied with the Earl of Sâ—merset the next day the Earl being to go to London went to kiss the King's Hand who hanged about his Neck slabberiâ—g his Cheeks saying When shall I see you again On my Soul I shall neitheâ— Eat nor Sleep until you come again The Earl told him
People freely to Elect their Representatives In the Year 1634. The Design of Ship-Money was first set on Foot and Attorney General Noâ— being consulted about he pretends out of some Musty Records to find an Ancient President of raising a Tax on the Nation by the Authority of the King alone for setting out a Navy in case of danger which was thereupon put in Execution though noâ— without great Discontent both among the Clergy and Laiety Discontents in Scotland likewise began to increase and a Book was Printed and Published charging the King with indirect Proceedings and having a tendency to the Rtmish Belief And now to blow up these Scotch Sparks to a Flame C. Richeliâ— sent over his Chaplain and another Gentleman to heighten their Differences And some time aâ—ter viz. the latter end of the Year 1653. great Differences arose about Church-Matters in England chiefly occasioned by A. B. Laud's strict enjoyning many new Ceremonies not formerly insisted on and now vehemently opposed by those called Puritans to whom adhered many of the Episcopal Party Several Gentlemen of Quality had refused to pay the Ship-Money and among the rest Esquire Hambden of Bucks upon which the King refers the whole Business to the Twelve Judges in Michdelmas Term 1636. Ten of whom gave their Judgments against Hambden but Hutton and Cook refused it The King 1637. Issuing out a Proclamation in Scotland Commanding the Use of the Liturgy Surplice Altar c. There occasioned great Disorders and Tumults among the Common People who sometime after with the Genâ—ry entred into a Solemn League and Covenant to preserve the Religion then profest The Covenant the Scots were resolved to maintain and to that purpose they sent privately for General Lesley and other great Officers from beyond Sea providing themselves likewise with Arms c. After this they Elect Commissioners for the general Assembly whom they cite to move the Arch Bishops and Bishops to appear there as guilty Persons which being refused the People present a Bill of Complaint against them to the Presbitery at Edenburg who accordingly warned them to appear at the next General Assembly At their Meeting the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters thought not fit to Read And soon after they abolished Episcopacy and then prepared for a War On which the King prepares an Army against them with which Anno. 1639. He Marches in Person into the North but by the Mediation of some Persons a Treaâ—ise of Peace was begun but soon broken off The King therefore confiders how to make Provisions for Men and Money and calling a Secret Cabinet Council consisting only of Lauâ— Strafford and Hamilton it was concluded That for the Kingâ—s Supply a Parliament must be Called in England and another in Ireland The Scots fore-seeing the Storm prepared for their own Defence making Treaties in Swedeâ— Denmark Holland and Poland And the Jesuits who are never â—dle endeavoured to Foment In the Year 1640. and the Sixteenth of the Kings Reign a Parliament was Called in which the King prâ—sses theâ—â—or a speedy Supply to Suppress what he calls the Violences of the Scots buâ— this Parliament not complying with the Kings desire were by the advice of the Iuncto Dissolved having only sate Twenty Two Days Laud by his violent Proceedings against those called Puritans and by his strict enjoyning of old un-observed Ceremonies which by many were thought Popish procured to himself much Hatred from the generality of People That upon May 9. 1640. a Paper was fixt on the Royal Exchange inciting the Prentices to go and Sack his House at Lambeth the Monday aâ—ter but the Arch-Bishop had notice of their Design and provided accordingly that at the time when they came endeavouring to enter his House they were repulsed The King calls a select Juncto to consult about the Scots where the Earl of Strafford delivered his Mind in such terms as afterwards proved his ruine War against them was resolved on and Money was to be procured one way or other The City was invited to Lend but absolutely reâ—used Some of the Gentry contributed indifferent freely So that with their assistance the Army was compleated the King himself being Generalissimo marches his Army into the North where was some Action in which the Scots had the better A Treaty is then set on foot and at last concluded the chief Conditions for the calling a Parliament in England who accordingly Met Nov. 3. 1640. And the King in his Speech tells them That the Scotish Troubles were the cause of their Meetingâ— and therefore requires them to consider of the most expedient means for câ—sting them out and desired a Supply from them for maintaining of his Army The Commons began with the Voting down all Monopolies and all such Members as had any benefit by them were voted out of the House They then voted down Ship-Money with the Opinion of the Judges thereupon to be Illegal and a charge of High Treason was ordered to be drawn up against Eight of them and they begun with the Keeper Finch Decemb. 11. Alderman Pennington and some Hundreds of Citizens presented a Petition subscribed by 15000 Hands against Church Discipline and Ceremonies and then the Commons Voted That the Clergy in a Convocation have no power to make Canons or Laws without Parliaments and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of the Realm the King's Prerogative and the Property of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and tend to Faâ—tion and Sedition In pursuance hereof a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-Bishop Laud and others and after voted Guilty of High Treason and sent to the Tower The Scâ—ts likewise preferred a Charge against the Arch-Bishop and the Earl of Strafford requiring Justice against them both as the great Incendiaries and Disturbers both of Church and Stâ—te On Monday March 25. 1640. the Earl of Sâ—rafford's Tryal began in Westminâ—ter Hall the King Queen and Prince being present and the Commons being there likewise as a Committee at the managing their Accusation the chief of whom was Pym. The Earl made a long defence but the Commons were resolved to prosecute him to Death and to proceed against him by Bill of Attainder which they proceeded to dispatch And upon the 25th of Apâ—il they passed the Bill and a few days after the Lords did likewise The Bill being finished and the King willing to save the Earl May 21. makes a Speech to both Houses in the Earl's behalf and so Dismissed them to their great Discontent Which was propagated so far that May 23. weâ—e 1000. Citizens most of them Armed came thronging to Westminster crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford On Sunday following the King consulted the Judges and several Bishops Mâ—nday May 10. The King gives Commission to several Lords to Pass Two Billsâ— One the Bill of Attainder against Strafford the Other for continuing the Parliament during the Pleasure of Both Houses The next
and White-Hall that the King fearing their Intentions thought fit to withdraw to Hampton-Court The next day the Five Members were Triumphantly guarded to Westminster by a great number of Citizens and Sea-men with Hundreds of Boats and Barques About this time the Parliament had notice that the Lord Digby and Coll. Lunsford were raising Troops of Horse at Kingston where the Country Magazine was lodged Whereupon they Order That the Country Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and the Trained Bands shall take care to Secure the Countries and their Magazines Lunsford was Seised and sent to the Tower but Digby escaped beyond Sea The King removed to Royston and Ianuary 20. He sends a Message to the Parliament proposing the Securiâ—y of his own Rights and Prerogative and as to matter of their Grievances He would equal or excâ—ed the most Indulgent Princes in Compliance with them After this the House of Commons importune the King to put the Militia and Command of the Tower inâ—o their Hands as the only available Means for the removal of their Fears and Jealousies But the King not willing to Comply with their desire signified to them that He thought the Militia to be lawfully subject to no Command but his own and therefore would not let it go out of his Hands it being derived to Him from his Ancestors by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom The King bâ—ing now at Hamptonâ—Câ—urt sent for the Earl of Essex aâ—d Holland and other Membâ—rs of both Houses that were his Domesticks but they refused to come In the mean time Mr. Pym at a Conferâ—nce complaining of the general sâ—ocking of Papists into Iâ—elâ—nd affirmed That since the Lieutenant had ordeâ—ed a stop upon the Ports against all Irish Papists many of the chiâ—f Commanders now at the Hâ—â—d of the Râ—bels had been Licensed to pass thither by the King 's immediate Warrant The King was highlyâ— offended at this Speech which he signified to thâ— House wâ—o in their Answâ—r to his Messageâ— justifie Mr. Pym's words to be the sence of the Houseâ— and that they had yet in safe Custody the Lord Delvin Sir G. Hamilton Collonel Butler and Mr. Nettervil To which the King replys That the afore-mentioned Persons had their Passages granted before He knew of the Parliaments Order of Restraint therefore expected their Declaration for his Vindication from that odious Calumny of Conniving or under-hand Favouring that horrid Rebellion But the King's Desire proved fruitless for they next moved to have Sir I. Byron tnrned out from being Lieutenant of the Tower and at their nomination Sir I. Coniers succeeded They then proceed to Name fit Persons sor Trust of the Militia of the several Counties particularly that for the Defence of the City of London the Parliament the Tower to be Commanded by Major General Skipton The King had deferred His Answer to their Petition for settling the Miâ—itia of the Counties according to the Nomination till his Return from Dover where he took leave of his Wife and Daughter and so returned to Greenwich where he being Arrived sends his Answer to the Petition about the Militia That He was willing to divest Himself of the Power of the County Militia for a limited time but not of London and other Cities and Corporations This Answer did not in the least satisfie so that the Breach growing every day wider the King declined these Parts and the Parliament and moved to Theobald's About the beginning of March He receives a Petition from the Parliament wherein they require the Militia more fervently than before affirming That in ease of denial the eminent dangers would câ—nstrain them to dispose of it by the Authority of Parliament desiring also That He wnuld make his Abode near London and the Parliament for the better carrying on of Affairs and preventing the Peoples Jealousies and Fears All which being refused they presently oâ—der That the Nation be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as was agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these Heads 1. The just Causes of the Fears and Jealousies given to the Parliamentâ— at the same time clearing themselves from any Jealousies conceived against Himself 2. To consider of all Matters arising from His Majesties Message and what was fit to be done And now began our Troubles and all the Miseries of a Civil War The Parliament every day entertaining new Jealousies and Suspitions of the King's Actions They now proceed on a sudden to make great Preparations both by Sea and Land And the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded to Rig the Kings Ships and fit them for Sea And likewise all Masters and Owners of Ships were perswaded to do the like The Beacons were prepared Sea-marks set up and extraordinary Postings up and down with Pacquets All sad Prognosticks of the Calamities ensuing August 22. 1642. The King comes to Nottingham and there erects his Standard to which some Numbers resorted but â—ar shot of what was expected And three days after the King sends a Message to the Parliament to propose a Treaty which was accepted but quickly broke off again The War being now begun the New raised Soldiers committed many Outrages upon the Country People which both King and Parliament upon complaint began to Rectifie The King himself was now Generalissimo over his own and the Earl of Essex for the Parliament The King's Forces received the first Repulse at Hull by Sir I. Hotham and Sir I. Meldram and the King takes up his Quarters at Shrewsbury Portsmouth was next Surrendered to the Parliament and presently after Sir I. Biron takes Worcester for the King In September the two Princes Palatines Rupert and Maurice Arrived in England who were presently Entertained and put into Command by the King This uncivil Civil-War was carried on in general with all the Ruines and Desolations immaginable wherein all Bonds of Religion Alliance and Friendship were utterly destroyed Wherein Fathers and Children Kindred and Acquaintances became unnatural Enemies to each other In which miserable Condition this Nation continued for near Four Years viz. From August the 22. 1642. the time the King set up his Standrrd at Nottingham to May the 6. 1646. the time when the King quitting all Hopes put himself into the Protection of the Scotch Army at Newark During this Process of time several Mâ—ssagâ—s past divers Treaties set on Foot and other Overtures of Accommodation but all came to no effect The War in England being now aâ—ter so much Bloodshed and â—uine brought to some end the Parliament were at leisure to dispute with the Scots concerning the keeping of the King who fâ—aring least Fairfax should fall upon them and compel them to deliver him up Retreated further Noâ—thwaâ—dâ— towards New-Castle The Parliament sent an Invitation to the Prince of Wales to come to â—ondon with Promise of Honour and Safety but he did not think fiâ— to venture The King sends from New-Casâ—le to the Army about a Treaty
THE Secret History OF THE Four Last Monarchs OF GREAT-BRITAIN VIZ. Iames I. Charles I. Charles II. Iames II. To which is added An Appendix Containing the Later Reign of Iames the Second from the Time oâ— his Abdication of England to this present Novemb. 1693. Being an Account of his Transactions in Ireland and France With a more particular Respect to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain London Printed in the Year 1693. THE PREFACE THough it hath pleased God to reserve the Art of reading Men's Thoughts to Himself yet as the Fruit tells the Name of the Tree so do the outward Works of Men so far as their Cogitations are acted give us whereof to guess at the rest Nâ— Man can long continue Masquâ—d in a counterfeit Behaviour The things that are forced for pretences having no Grâ—und to Truâ—h cannot long dissemble their own Nature And tho' we ought not rashly to rake into the Ashes of the Dead much less of Deceased Princes and Express either their Personal Miscarriages or their Failures in Managemâ—nt of the Government yet no doubt but the making them Publick may sometimâ—s contribute not a little to the General Good It is one of the Encomiums given to Suetonius That he made Publick to the World the Vices and Miscarriages of the Twelve Caesars with the same freedom with which they were by them Committed And there is no question but one of his chiefest Reasons for so doing was this Because he would not deceive Posterity and all agree that he was Contempâ—rary with the Three last So that the Enormities of Domitian could not but be fresh in his Memory when he wrote his Life and thâ—re might be several Persons living as might have the same particular Affection for Domician as there are now Adorers of our late Monarchs For which reason there is a wary Caution among some People That Truth is not always to be spoken Which perhaps may be somâ—timâ—â— true but as the Case stands with thâ—se Sheets not at all to be taken notice of The paâ—ns of this short History being as well to Vindicate as to Inform and Written in Oppâ—sition to one of the French King 's most Scandalous Libeâ—s and biâ—ter Invectives against our present Soveraign Entituled The True Portraicture of William Henry of Nassaw c. Now to have made a particular Answâ—r to all the Extravagancies and Impertinent Flams of a Malicious Libeller would have been a Fending and Proving altogether Fruitless It was therefore thought the more concise way to bring our Late Monarchs Reign upon the Stage and then let all the World judge of the Furberies and Tyranny of those Times and the Integrity Sincerity and Sweetness of Their present Majesties Reign since by comparing them the most wilfully Blind may be convinced how infinitely happy we are under Their present Majesties â—overnment beyond what we were in the late Râ—ign which were but a very considerable matter if any thing below the French Tyranny and considering the unparallel'd Virtue that are so Resplendent in our Gracious Soveraigns we mayâ— with all the reason in the VVorld assure our selves oâ— a lasting Peace and as much Happiness under Them Now as we had Troubles and Confusions under the Former For Their Religion Integrity and Moderation which must always be in conjunction with Princes that are truly Patries Patriae are as Nâ—torious to the VVorld so that Their greatest Enemies cannot deny them as were the Atheism and furious Bigottism of the former Reigns Vices much of the same pernicious Consequences to a Kingdom if the latter be not the more dangerous since the greatest Villanies that ever were perpetrated in the World have been Masqued with seeming Zeal for Religion But since there are not a few whâ— tho' they seem to decry the Tyrannies of the Tâ—wo late Kings yet approve of much the same Actions of Two that Preceded them One of whom some Men have Vainly if not Blasphemously compared to the King of King not considering that they laid the Foundations of that Tyranny which the others brought to so great a Perfection As to the former of them viz. K. James the Iâ— it will easily appear from this following History what great steps he made towards Tyranny It is certain that the reason He gave for setting up Episcapacy in Scotland was That He might have so many Friends to rely upon in Parliament i. e. That by thâ—m as the Dead Weight He might the better carry on His Designs there And herein his Politicks did not deceive Him for by their means He and his Succâ—ssors found it no hard mâ—tter to reduce that Kingdom to as great Slavery as any in Europe hâ—th groaned under of late Years How great a Prâ—ficient he was in the Art of Dissimulation or King-Craft I shall only insert one Instance of it here which I omitted in the History especially because I think it may not be ungrateful to the Reader viz. That after his Return from Denmark to Scotland seeming mightily satisfied with the Care the Kirk-Party had taken to preserve the Kingdom in Peace during his Absence He was pleas'd to express himself thus in a general Assembly That He blest God that He was Born at sike a Time of the Gospel and to be King of sike â— Kirk the purest Kirk in the World The Kirk of Geneva says He keeps Yuel and Pasche What have they from the word of God for That And for our Neighbour Kirk of England What is their Service but an ill-said Maiâ— in English And concluded with the Solemnest Promises to Maintain and Preserve the Kirk when in the mean while He was taking all underhand Methods to supplant it as He did a few Years after And as to His Successor tho' a Kalender'd S. Yet after all the lying Insinuations of self-designing and ridden Persons of that Prince's singular Religion that very Act of Instituting Plays and Sports on the Lord's Day is no extraordinary Proof of it The Learned Sir Walter Rawleigh in the Close of the Preface to his most admirable History adviseth the Reader to take heed how he follows Truth too close at the heels lest it strike out his Tâ—eth I hâ—pe these Relations begins with a distance of Time not so far â—ff that the Foot-Steps of Truth are worn out nor yet so near as the Foot-Steps of it need to be feared And so irresistable is the Fâ—rce of Truth and the Divine Providence so great that however all possible Diligence may have been used to carry things in Secret and to Act by colourable Pretences Men often acting like Tumblers that are Squint Eyed looking one way and Aiming another yet in these our days God hath brought great things to Light discovering many secret and close Contrivances many Private Consultations and hidden Designs which otherwise probably neither We nor our Posterity should have ever known I conclude this my Preface without the Râ—marks of a Learned Spaniard on History in general Satis est Historiae si sit vera
where the Keeper for the time being two Bishops two Judges and as many wise Lords and great Officers Sate as thought fit to come the most of whom though unable to render a reason for their Censure did every Wednesday and Friday in Term-time concur like so many Canibals to tear such as refused to Worship the Minion or to yield to the pretended Royal Prerogative Nor did they scape who were any way Satyrical a thing not to be avoided by the Lovers of Truth Corruption being as common as Execution with which it seldom went other than hand in hand The palpable Partiality that descended from the King to the Scots did estate the whole love of the English upon his Son Henry whom they engaged by so much expectation as it may be doubted whether it ever lay in the Power of any Prince meerly humâ—ne to bring so much Felicity unto a Nation as they dâ—d all his Life propose to themselves at the Death of King Iames. The Government of this Young Princes House was with much Discretion Modesty Sobriety and which was looked upon as too great an upbraiding the contrary proceedings of his Father in an high reverence to Piety not Swearing himself nor keeping any that did through which he came to be advanced beyond an ordinary measure in the Affections of the City to whom he was not only plausible in his Carriage but very just in Payments so far as his Credit out-reached the King 's both in the Exchange and the Church in which the Son could not take so much Felicity as the Father did Discontent to find all the worth he imagined in himself wholly lost in the hopes the People had of this young Gentleman from whence Kings may be concluded far more unhappy than ordinary Men for tho' whilst Children are young they may afford them safety yet when arrive at that Age which used to bring comfort to other Parents they produce only Jealousie and Fear For if Deformed Foolish or Vitious they offend the natural Disposition of a Father who cannot but desire his Issue perfect if they prove otherwise and be excellent that of a Prince because his Reign must needs be thought dim and tedious who hath such a Spark to succeed him as this Henry which in all Mens Judgments appeared more illustrious than his old Father Thus are Kings found as remote from Felicity with Children as from safety without And as the last of these Considerations have tempted some to Acknowledge the Issue of Strangers If the positive Assertions of some as well as common Fame does not out-strip Truth King Iames was by Fear led into great and strange Extreams finding his Son Henry not only averse to any Popish Match but saluted by the Puritans as one prefigured in the Apocalyps for Rome's Destruction insinuating as if the Prince was not kindly dealt by â— should quite have omitted this conjecture and left it wholly to the Decision of the great Tribunal was it not certain that his Father did dread him and that the King though he would not deny him any thing he plainly desired yet it appeared rather the result of Fear and outward Complyance than Love and natural Affection This King 's extravagant Anti-Suppers was a Vanity not heard of in Fore-Fathers time or ever practised since and for ought I have read unpractised by the most Luxurious Tyrants The manner of which was to have the Board covered at the first entrance of the Guest with Dishes seven Foot high filled with the choicest Viands Sea or Land could afford and all this once seen and having seasted the Eyes of the invited was in a manner thrown away and fresh set on to the same height An Attendance on the King Eat at one of these Suppers a whole Pye valued at Ten Pounds Sterling being composed of Ambersgreece Musk c. As no other reason seemed to appear in this Kings choice but handsomness so the love the King shewed waâ— as amorously conveyed as if he had mistaken their Sex and thought them Ladies which Somersâ—t and Buckingham did labour to resemble in the Esâ—eminateness of their Dressings though in wanton Lookâ— and wanton Gestures they exceeded any part of Woman-kind Nor was his Love or what else the World will please to call it carried on with a Discression sufficient to cover a less scandalous Behaviour for the King kissing them after so lascivious a Mode in Publick and upon the Theatre as it were of the World prompted many to imagine things done in the Tiring-House that exceed my Expression no less than they do my Experience Now as to the Poysoning Business of Sir Thomas Overbury on which account King Iames made so many dreadful Imprecations upon himself and Posterity not to spare any that were found Guilty but how he fâ—iled the Relation will inform The Earl of Montgâ—mery declining in his Favour with King Iames Mr. R. Carr a very handsome Gentleman and well bred appear'd upon the Stage who chose for his chief Companion Sir Thomas Overbury a Gentleman of excellent Parts but very Proud and Haughty Now was Carr Knighted and Overbury's Pride rose with the others Honours then was the strife between the Two great Statesmen Salisbury and Suffolk who should most indear themselves with this great Favourites Creature Overbury but he with a kind of scorn neglected both their Friendships Northampton finding himself neglected by so mean a Spark as he thought follow'd Balaam's Counsel by sending a Moabitish Woman unto him in which he made use of one Coppinger a Gentleman who had spent a fair Estate and to supply his necessities was turned a kind of Procurer or what the present Town calls a Cock Bawd This Meabitish Woman was a Daughter of the Earl of Suffolk and Wife to the young Earl of Essex This Train took and the first private Meeting was at Coppinger's House This privacy in their stollen Pleasure made Coppinger a Friend to Northampton and Suffolk though but a Servant to Viscount Rochester for so was Carr now made Overbury was that Iohn Baptist that reproved the Lord for that Sin of using the Lady and abusing the young Earl he would often call her Strumpet and her Mother and Brothers Bawds c. Then to satisfie Overbury and blot out the name of Sin his â—ove led him into a more desperate way by a Resolution to Marry another Man's Wife against this then did Overbury exclaim much louder On which a Council was held to concert about the best means to be rid of him The Plot then was he must be sent a Leidger Ambassador into France which by obeying they should be rid of so great an Eye-sore by disobeying he incurred the Displeasure of his Prince â— Câ—ntempt that he could not expect less than Imprisonment for and by that means be sequâ—stred from his Friends And thus far I do believe the Earl of Somerseâ— for so was he now made was consenting this Stratagem took and Overbury might truly say Video meliora
2000 l. and the Guineas flew about the Country far and near to the Corporations to Hire Places and get fit Men the Heads of the Counties and Corporations were sent for and told what Men would be serviceable and acceptable to the Kingâ— and particularly the Gentlemen of Eâ—sex were sent to by the Chief Justice Scroggs and Cauâ—ions that they should not chuse Mildmay whatever they did And new Charters were obtained for some Corporations with new Priviledges and sent them down to be hung out at the Windows to animate the People to chuse such Men as they were directed What more could have been done by a Protestant Prince to destroy his Protestant Subjects and advance the Roman Catholick Cause When this Parliament Sate the King pursued his old Method of Speaking with his Lips what was farthest from his Heart and being in the House of Lords he there tells Both Houses a plausible Story how he had consented to the Exclusion of the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament to the Execution of several Criminals both upon the Score of the Ploâ— and the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey but above all how he had Commanded his Brother to absent himself from him because he would not leave the most Malicious Men room to say he had not removed all Causes which could be pretended to Influence him to Popish Counsels In all which there was not one word of Truth as to the Motives that engaged him to do what he did For as to the Exclusion of the Popish Lords he knew it was what he could not avoid unless he would have absolutely thrown off his Protestant Mask which he was sensible it was not seasonable for him so to do As for the Jesuits that were Hanged for the Plot he pleased himself as well as the People by Sacrificing a few Inconsiderable Miscreants to his own Revenge for ungrateâ—ully Plotting against his Life who had all along been so faithful to their Cause and indeed it was but â—ust they should dye like Knaves and Traytors who â—ad been such Fools to mistrust so true a Protestant Prince As to the Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey what could he have done less except he would have exposâ—d himself to the Clamour of the whole Nation That would have been the greatest Folly in the World for a Prince that loved to Sleep in a whole Skin as he did for the Preservation of Three or Four Rascals Convicted of a Bloody Murther to have Sacrificed His Honour and His Safety to Publickâ—Scandal and Resentment And then as for the Removal of his dear Brother it was done after a long and deep Consultation upon these Considerations First That the Duke being out of the way might stop the â—arther Examination of the Plot in Relation to himself and thereby one of the chiâ—f Conspirators be preserved safe And Secondly For a shew that the King was such an Enemy to Popery and Popish Counsels that he would not suffer so much as the Breath of a Brother near him for fear oâ— Infection For in these Gracious Protestant Acts lay all his hopes of making the Parliament give Credit to his Words and getting Money from them at a time when the French King most Treacherously failed him Notwithstanding these things the Parliament not being to be deluded by all those seeming Acts of Protestant Grace took little notice of those Gâ—â—dy Trappings of the Kings Discourse but fell briskly to work upon the Plot and the Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey â— to which purpose they made choice of a Secret Committee to pursue that Business and laid all other Considerations aside but those of securing the Nation against Popery and Arbitrary Government in order whereunto they began to think of bringing the Lords and others in the Tower to their Tryals And upon a Report of their Committee of the Duke of York's Letters wherein it appeared what great Joy had been conceived at Rome for the Dukes Conversion even to draw Tears from his Holynesses Eyes with several other Papers discovering much of the Court Intreague with Rome They Voted the Hopes of his coming to the Crown to be one of the chief Causes of the Popish Plot and ordered a Bill to disinable him to Inherit the Imperial Crown of the Realm These Proceedings were of so high a Nature and so directly tending to the overthrow of that Structure which the King and the Duke had been so long erecting that it was thought requisite to Treat them wiâ—h all the Art and Subtilty imaginable which produced Two of the greatest Master pieces that ever were acted by the Conspirators ever since their first designing Popery and French Tyranny The first was To blind and couzen the House of Commons by seeming to shew an utter dislike of all former Councils that had brought the Nation to the Condition it was in In pursuance of which the old Council was Dissolved and the greatast Sticklers against the Plot and for the Protestant Religion chosen in their room to the end that if any Miscarriages happened they might be all laid to their Charge or thâ—t Miscarriages might receive a more Candid Interpretation as being done by such good Men against whose Fidelity the Nation had no exception The next Device was To turn the whole Plot and the Odium of it upon the Protestants under the Notion of Presbyterian and Phanaticks which is so well known needs no repeating But in the midst of thâ—se Court Intrigues to run down the Plot the House of Commons went on vigorously boâ—â— against the Plot and Popish Delinquents which grated so hard upon the Popish Party and was such an Obstruction to their Designs That the King compassionating their Grievances more than those of his Protestant Subje As give way to the Dissolution of the Parliament yet with promise of another to meet towards the latter end of the Year under pretence of frequent Parliaments but in reality to try if he could get another fitter for his turn Ane now the King having laid aside the Parliament and freed his Instruments â—rom the Terror of it was so far from not permitting himself to be influenced by Popish Counsellors that he began to play the Old Game and first of all the popular Protestant Lords of the Council were by degrees decently laid aside and the Duke was sent for home The Lord Shaftsbury for opposing it was severely Reprimanded in Council with a Wonder How any Person that sate at that Board durst so bolply affront his Royol Highness For the Face of Affairs was changed and the King was now swimming in his own Element again Only it was strange that he was no more concerned to see the strain of the whole Kingdom run against him For notwithstanding all his Industry to have brought in his Band of Pensioners again it was found the new Chosen Parliament which was by this timâ— ready to Sir was likely to prove woâ—se for his turn than any of the former which made him have recourse
against his own Flesh and Blood He would not endure to be Excluded from the Succession but that he would Exclude his own Daughters from the Succession and yet tells us â—tis his Principle To do as he would be done by as if he thought the way to make us credit a Story of his Son were to tell an untruth of himself The World that grows Wiser every day than another will never be made believe that a Person debilitated by the unfortunate Effects of the exasperated Revenge of an injured Bed and meeting with a Consort no less infirm by whom he never had before any Child but what dropt into the Grave as soon as Born not having any substantial Rafters for Life to build upon should so seasonably nick it to be both the Parents of a sound Off-spring for the Preservation of Popery She who ought to have taken all advantages to have had publick and undeniable Testimonies of her Glory to be the Mother of a Prince so providentially sent from Heaven to Support and Establish the Roman Catholick Faith in a Revolted Kingdom would never have been so reserv`d and shy of exposing the Symptoms of her Pregnance but only to a few that were privy to the Imposture But omitting the manifâ—ld Circumstances sufficiently already câ—nvâ—ssâ—d to detect the Pious Fraud and the Chyrum of Affidavits to cover the Cheaâ— all brought upon the publick Stage by dire constraint on the one side and immodest Bigotry on the other the unhappy occasion of revealing the Aâ—cana of Generation to every Turn-spiâ— and serving only to enflame the Desires of wanton Youth Omitting I say the Circumstances there are others no less remarkable of another Nature as the sending Castlemain to Rome among other things â—o Impart this Affair to his Holiness and to know whether the Apostolick Sea would stand by the pretended Prince in case the Peopâ— should dispuâ—e his Title And this seems to be coâ—fiâ—mâ—d by the coming over of Count Dada in the Quality of the Pope's Nuâ—cio just as the Force was contriving and the Pope's being afterwards God-Father to the Child In the next place about the time that the Conception was pretended Father Peters was taken into the Privy-Council to give the Report all the Favour imaginable at the Board to prevent the being of it Contestee or if it were to satisfie all manner of Doubts and so incite the Lords to make such Orders as the Case required which had not been so proper for the King or the rest of the Popish Lords who knew not so well what to insist upon Another thing was that the Child was no sooner Born but it was translated to Richmond lest the pretended Mother should have been put to the Trouble of a forced Fondness which had the Child continued with her would have prov'd a part so irksom and so ill for her to act that notice would have been taken of it Nor was it less observable that at the same time the Bishops were lock'd up safe that they might â—e out of the way of being call'd for Witnesses whose Impartiality otherwise would have been desiring more satisfaction to their Consciences than the depth of the Mystery required To which may be added That at the first the King himself who had most Reason to know did not seem to give Credit to the thing or at least was very doubtful of it and therefore when the News was first brought him as one that rather wished it true than thought it to bè real he made answer to the Messenger If 't were so it was very odd till finding that the Lady of Loretto would take Bribes and had espoused the blessed Design he was bound to believe that his Mother-in Law`s Prayers and the Diamond Bodkin had prevailed and that his Royal Consort had been impregnated by an Apparition like the Mother of Damaratus King of Sparta However it was looked upon all over Euâ—â—pe as a very low and mean Condescention of a Soverâ—ign Prince Hedge-Sparrow like to hatch the Cucko`s-Egg and own the suppositious Issue of another Man which they who preâ—end to make the best Excuse for seem willing to believe proceeded more from Fear than Conscience in reâ—â—rd that being Privy to the many Conspiracies of the Priests and Jesuits against his Brother`s Life it possessed him with such a dread of their Popish Mercy that he yielded to whatever they desired for his own Preservation On the other side the Priests and Jesuits were so terribly afraid of a Revolution after his Death that by the Power of his imperious Queen and their own Importunities they hurried him on to all those Impolitick Exorbitances that hastned both their own and his Ruin For now the Nation no longer able to brook such a deluge of illegal Oppressions and the whole Body of the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom observing such a general Desolation impending upon their Religion Lives and Fortâ—nes apply themselves to their Highnesses the Princess and Prince of ORANGE as the only Cherubims on Earth under whose Wings they could retire for Safety and Protection Who no sooner with a Generosity becoming a true Defender of the Protestant Faith appeared in their Defence but Consternation seized King Iames and all his raving Counsellors Upon the first News of the Heroick Prince's Preparations he takes off the Bishop of London's Suspension restores the Cityâ—Charter with all those other Franchises which had been so tempestuously ravished from other Corporations and returns the Ejected Gentleman of both Universities to the Freeholds which he had wrested out of their hands But yet to shew how firm he was in his Resolutions to resume the same Despotick Power again had his Success once answered his Expectations after he had ordered the Bishop of Winchester to put in the Fellows of Maudlin Colledge he no sooneâ— heard of the Prince's being put back by storm with some small Loss which was heightned out of Policy in Holland but he recalled his Orders to the Bishop sent for him to London and stopt the Re-admission of the Fellows till he heard the Prince was again Embarked and prosperously bending his Course for England So soon as he heard the Prince was Landed he summons his Affidavit Lords and Ladies about him in hopes to have sworn his pretended Son into the Succession in case of any Miscarriage of his own Person which he never intended to indanger After that he flew to Salisbury believing the Terror of his Name would have gain`d him present Victoryâ— But not meeting the good Fortune he expected all that he did there was to discourage his Soldiers with his Pusillaâ—imoâ—s Fears and Frights upon every little Alarm of a Post-Boy So that although he had good Counsel given him to Horse all his Foot displace all the Collonels and advance the other Officers gradually and fall upon the Enemy while they were â—et labouring under the Inconveniencies of the Sea and before their Numbers increased he rejected it unless he might keep his Teagues
day the King writes a Letâ—er to the House to excuse his not Signing Strafford's Execution But the Commons would not be satisfied until the Bill was signed The Fall of this great Mâ—n startled many other Officers of State and occasioned the resigning their Places August 6. Both the English and Scotâ—h Armiâ—s were Disbanded and Four Days after the King went towards Scotland and was entertained with great Demonstrations of Affection by that Nation and conferred several Places of Honour and Power upon divers of them He confirm'd likewise the Treaty between the Two Nations by Act of Parliament Octob. 23. 1641. The Horrid and Notorious Massacre and Reâ—â—llion broke out in Ireland At which time the Irish to dishearten the English from any Resistance asserted That the Queen was with their A mâ— That the King would come amongst them also anâ— assist them That they did but maintain his Câ—use agaiâ—st the Puritans That they had the King's Commâ—ssiâ—n for what they did Whether these Assertions wâ—re true or falseâ— we shall not pretend to determine but leave it to the Readers own Senâ—imentsâ— only we beg leâ—ve to incert here by way of Parenthesis a Letter sent to the Popâ— by order of Charles the II. when he had taken the Câ—venâ—nt and was professing the Presbyterian Religion in Scotland it was carried thither and pressed forward by one Dallie an Irish Priest and Confessor to the then Queen â—f Portugal under the Title of Propositions and Motives for and on the behalf of the most iâ—vincible King of Great Britain France and Ireland to Pope Innocent the X. in the Year of Jubilee 1650. which Dallie taking France in his way spake with the Queen Mother and received her Directions for the better management of the Affair Most Blessed Father OUR Agent at present Residing at Rome with all Humility shews your Holiness That the principal Cause and Occasion of that Regicide Tyranically perpetrated upon the Person of Charles the First Father of the aforesaid Charles the Second by his Rebels and cruel Subjects the like whereof was never heard of â—rom the beginning of the World not only among Civil Nations but even among the most Barbarous themselves have been the Graces Favours and Concessions so often and so many ways extended to the Catholick Religion and the Asserters and Professors thereof in the Kingdom both of England and Ireland The Truth of which appears in that the aforesaid Charles the First gave Authority to the Marquiss of Ormond by several Commissions for the Establishing and Perfecting all Conditions with the Confederate Catholicks of the Kingdom of Ireland of sufficient Security for the Catholick Faith Furthermore the said Charles the First fearing lest the said Ormond being an Heretick should not satisfie the said Confederates in all things He sent thither the Marquiss of Worcester a Man truly and wholly Catholick with a more ample Commission in which Commission the said Marquiss of VVorcester had fâ—ll Authority of concluding a Peace with the said Confederate Catholicks and of giving them Conditions altogether satisfactory as well concerning Liberty of Religion as also as to other Injuries that had been done unto them which the said Marquiss of VVorcester making with them an abâ—olute Peace did abuâ—dantly fulfil Further This appeareth in that the said Charles the First even in England it self did by Commissions set the Catholicks namely the said Marquiss of VVorcester Sir Arthur Ashton and many others over his Armies and made them Governours of Cities Castles and Strong Holds notwithstanding the Clamour of the People against it and which was not a slight motive of the Regicide committed upon him wheâ—eby it appears that although the said King Charles the First dyed not a Catholick yet he died for them Again most Blessed Father the same Agent most humbly â—epresents That the present King Charles II. the true and undoubted Heir of the foresâ—id Charles I. and of all his Kingdoms to whom the said Kingdoms belong of Right according to that of Christ Give to Caesar the thing that are Caesars while his Father yet lived was known to have good and true Inclinations to the Cathâ—lick Faith following which and going on in his Fathers steps he did not only râ—commend it to the Marquiss of Ormond but gave it him in Express Command to satisfie in all things the Confederate Caâ—holicks in Ireland namely That he shouâ—d grant them the â—ree Exercise of their Religion That he should abrogate the Penal Laws made against them and that he should restore to the said â—atholicks whether Laicks or Ecclesiâ—sticks their Lands Estates Possessions or what other Rights did at any time belong unto them and by the said Laws had been unjustly taken away In Obedience to which Commands the said Marquiss in the Name and by the Authority of the said two Kings namely Charles the First and Second made and concluded a firm Peace with the said Confederate Catholicks By the Conclusion of which Peace the said present Kingâ— and all his Dominions hath involved himself with the Catholicks in an irreconcileable War against the Parliamentarâ—an Regicides of England whose Blood therefore the said Cruel Tyranâ—s insatiably thirst after as they did after his Fathers The said Agent further offers to your Holiness That the inhumane Regicides do wickedly Usurp to themselves in the Dominions aforementioned all the Authority of the King do most cruelly Persecute all the Catholicks both in England and Ireland pâ—rtly by condemning them to Banishment partly by putting them into Prisons and otherwise corporally punishing them and lastly by putting them to Death a Witness of the Truth hereof is that great Slaughter made by Cromwel in the taking of the two Cities of Droghedah and VVexâ—oâ—d and other Places where all the Catholicks without Distinction of either Sex or Age were Slaughtered Witness hereof also the raging Persecution and Death of Catholicks in England by all which and by their Parliamentarian Decrees themselves and their Covenant with God as they call it it is evident even beyond the clearness of the light of the shining Sun That these Tyrannical Regicides do ultimately intend and put forth all their Power for the utter Destruction of all Catholicks and to â—xtirpate by the Root and wholly to extinguish the Catholick Faith throughout the World openly asserting and boasting with great Glory that these things being once finished in those Dominions they will then invade France and after that run through Germany Italy and all Europe throwing down Kings and Monarchs whose very Titles are most odious and abhorrent unto them Briefly they have no other thing in their Aim than these Two Namely The extirpation of the Catholick Religion and the destruction of Monarchy To which wicked Machination of theirs forasmuch as it could never have any the least Hopes that either the King or his Father should at any time in the least Assent they have put the one to Death and the other to Exile And these Rebels now with a neâ—arious boldness