Majesty delay'd giving Answer and the Cause why His demanding of Money when he did answer Their giving 200000 l. and Adjournment with the Cause of it p. 227. LXI Vpon the Duke of Crequis ' s arriving from France with a great Train and meeting his Majesty at New-market The Affairs treated of there The meeting of the Parliament again Their insisting upon a League with Holland and his Majesty's Answer p. 231. LXII Vpon the Prince of Orange ' s Arrival at Whitehall and Marriage with the Lady Mary eldest Daughter to the Duke of York The Address of the Commons thereupon and their insisting upon the Alliance with the Dutch and War against France p. 238. LXIII On the raising an Army on pretence of a War with France The modelling of them The sending of Duke Lauderdale to Scotland to bring down an Highland-Army upon those Parts of the Low-lands which were most Presbyterian The private Treaty with France The Discovery of it by the Commons Their Address to his Majesty to dismiss the French Ambassador Their Vote in May 1678. That the King be desired to enter into Alliance with the Emperor King of Spain and Princes of Germany His Majesty's Answer Their second Address against Duke Lauderdale and other Ministers and Vote to give no Money till they were secured from Popery and Arbitrary Government The Treaty of Nimeguen and the Behaviour of his Majesty's Plenipotentiaries there p. 241. LXIV On his Majesty's acquainting the Parliament that there was a Peace in agitation His Desire to keep up his Army and Navy till it were concluded The Resolve of the Commons for supporting the King in the War against France or provide for disbanding the Army His Majesty's Answer thereupon and the Commons continuing their Resolution to disband the Army though the King desired the contrary p. 249. LXV On the relieving of Mons by the Prince of Orange with the Assistance of the Duke of Monmouth and the English Forces The Defeat given to the French at that time and their King's Complaint that it was contrary to his Majesty's private Articles The concluding of the Peace Recalling our Forces Quartering them in the Country His Majesty's being in a Consult with the Duke of York Lord Clifford c. which was over-heard and the Person who listened kick'd down Stairs by the said Lord. p. 252. LXVI On the Discovery of the Popish Plot in August 1678. by Dr. Oates and others The Design of the Jesuits against his Majesty's Life Sir Edmundbury Godfrey ' s taking Dr. Oates his Depositions The seizing of Coleman Secretary to the Dutchess of York and his Papers and the murdering of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey thereupon p. 258. LXVII On his Majesty's Apology to the Parliament October 21 1678. for keeping up his Army His demanding of Money and acquainting them with the Plot and Danger from Popery The Vote of the Commons upon the Plot and Orders to apprehend the Earl of Powis and four other Popish Lords Their passing of the Bill for raising the Militia and his Majesty's refusing it The Execution of Coleman and some other Plotters of less note p. 263. LXVIII On the Bill for excluding Papists from both Houses of Parliament with a Clause excepting the Duke of York The Dissolution of the Parliament as prosecuting the Popish Plot. The calling of another and ordering the Duke of York to withdraw out of the Kingdom before they met His Majesty's Speech to them and Declaration confessing his Error in governing by Cabals His dissolving of his Privy-Council and chusing another whence the popular Members did quickly desire to be discharged p. 268. LXX On the French King 's seizing several Places in Flanders c. as depending on those which were confirm'd to him by the Peace of Nimeguen His and the Spaniards Vnkindness to the Duke of York at that time in the Netherlands The Address of the Commons to stand by his Majesty and the Protestant Religion Their disbanding of the Army The Discovery of Endeavours to make the Witnesses of the Popish Plot retract their Evidence And the proroguing of the Parliament upon their growing warm about the Trial of the Popish Lords in the Tower p. 273. LXXI On the Insurrection at Bothwel-bridg in Scotland The sending the Duke of Monmouth thither to suppress it which he effected The Execution of several Presbyterian Ministers upon it and the Execution of several Jesuits for the Popish Plot and Endeavours to stifle the same by the Meal-tub-Plot which prov'd abortive p. 277. LXXII On the dissolving of the Parliament July 12. 1679. and calling another against October 7. The Return of the Duke of York in the mean time and his being sent to Scotland The proroguing of the Parliament after their being chosen The acquitting of Sir George Wakeman and others of the Plotters by the then Lord Chief Justice The burning of the Pope c. in effigie The presenting of a Petition by the Citizens for the sitting of the Parliament and Abhorrence of Petitions presented by others p. 281. LXXIII On the Court 's being disappointed of receiving Money from Rome and France The meeting of the Parliament October 22 1680. The Proceedings of the Commons against such Justices as obstructed Petitions for the sitting of the Parliament The passing of the Bill of Exclusion against the Duke of York in the House of Commons nemine contradicente The rejecting of it by the Lords The Trial and Execution of the Lord Stafford The impeaching of the Judges Their Denial of a Supply to the King His Majesty's Message to them and dissolving them because of their Obstinacy p. 285. LXXIV On the calling of another Parliament to meet at Oxford Febr. 1680. The seizing of Fitz-Harris with seditious Libels designed to have been lodged with Protestant Peers and Commons The seditious manner of the London Members going to Oxford His Majesty's Speech to the Parliament when they met there Their Impeachment of Fitz-Harris and Dissolution p. 289. LXXV On his Majesty's Declaration that the Duke of Monmouth was not lawfully begotten p. 295. LXXVI On the Protestant Plot. The Trial and Execution of Stephen Colledge The Commitment of the Lord Howard of Escrick and the Earl of Shaftsbury with his Trial and Acquitment The Quo Warranto against the Charter of London and other Corporations The imposing of Sheriffs upon the City of London The Commitment of Sir Thomas Pilkington and Mr. Shute then Sheriffs for opposing it The calling of a Parliament in Scotland where the Duke of York represented his Majesty as Commissioner The Test enacted there and the Act for settling the Succession upon the Duke The Trial and Condemnation of the Earl of Argyle for explaining the Test and his Escape p. 298. LXXVII On the finding of my Lord Grey Alderman Cornish and other Citizens guilty of a Riot for countenancing the Election of the City-Magistrates The Discovery of the Conspiracy to assassinate his Majesty and the Duke of York at Ry-house and the Council of six to
Loyalty yet in truth I cannot commend their Policy that they should not have taken more care to avoid such plain Contradictions in their Test as furnish Objections against it not only to the Phanaticks but also to many of their own Party It 's true they are the more excusable that herein they were out-witted by some of the opposite Faction who though they had a hand in the framing it refuse it themselves but I took care to have had the Earl of Argile beheaded for his Behaviour in that Affair whereby I should not only have punish'd him for his own and his Father 's former Rebellions but have also deprived the opposite Faction of a Head but the cross Fates have decreed his Escape Yet I am so much a Gainer by the Affair that his forfeited Estate will reward some of my zealous Friends and his Sentence will terrify the rest of my Enemies as it hath pleased my Church-of England Zealots because of his Inclination to the Scotish Kirk This Behaviour of the Parliament and Church of Scotland will mightily strengthen my Friends of the Church of England in their espousing mine and my Brother's Cause which will not a little contribute to the running down of the Dissenters our irreconcileable Enemies in both Nations CHAP. LXXVII On the finding of my Lord Grey Alderman Cornish and other Citizens guilty of a Riot for countenancing the Election of the City-Magistrates The Discovery of the Conspiracy to assassinate his Majesty and the Duke of York at Ry-house and the Council of six to manage the Plot Whereupon my Lord Russel Algernon Sidney c. were cut off The Earl of Essex's being murdered in the Tower The Trial and Sentence of Mr. Speke and Mr. Braddon for endeavouring a Discovery thereof The Continuance of the Surrender of Charters c. THE Citizens I perceive continue still tumultuous and are mighty tenacious in asserting the Right of chusing their Magistrates though there is a Quo Warranto against their Charter It is therefore my Interest to punish those who incourage them that for time to come they may be deterr'd from such Practices and therefore I shall order it so that my Lord Grey Alderman Cornish and such other noted Citizens as countenance their Proceedings shall be indited as Rioters and I doubt not of having them found guilty accordingly which will both reflect upon their Credit and affect their Estates But all this while I play at nothing but small game and this way of proving Plots by Consequence and Inferences is not so satisfactory to the Publick for the Faction evades them by alledging that all those things with which they are charg'd amount to no more than a zealous Appearance for their Liberties to which they have a Right by Law so that I must find out a Method to charge their Ringleaders with something of a more heinous Nature that may appear odious in the Eyes of the World and not only render the Persons but the Cause also hateful By which means I shall be justified in cutting off the Chief of the Faction as the Lord Russel Algernon Sidney c. and afford a plausible Pretext for committing the Earl of Essex and others But seeing it will be look'd upon as improbable that such Persons as the Duke of Monmouth Earl of Essex Lord Russel Colonel Sidney Mr. Hambden c. should be concern'd in any mean or base Design against my Life or my Brother's by way of Assassination I have taken order that the Plot shall consist of two Parts viz. one of levying War against me to overturn the Government in Church and State whereof those great Men above-named shall be given out as the Managers which as it will justify the Reasonableness of my having declared the Duke of Monmouth illegitimate so it will be the more readily believ'd that he is engag'd in such a Design to revenge that Affront The other part of the Plot which shall be given out as a Design to have assassinated my self and the Duke of York I have by the Advice of some of my Confidents laid it so as to have it charg'd upon meaner Persons as Walcott Rumbold c. And being provided with the Lord Howard of Escrick and other Evidences fit for my purpose the Matter shall be sworn boldly home And thus shall I revenge my self on those Men who have appear'd with so much Zeal against me and my Brother and rid our selves of such dangerous Enemies And at the same time to make the Belief of the Plot obtain amongst the People I will order a Day of Thanksgiving for the Discovery which will give the Clergy an occasion to run down the Phanaticks and assert the Truth of their Design to overturn the Church and State under the specious Pretext of consulting how to preserve and maintain their Religion and Liberties By this means I may go on to cut off their Ring-leaders securely and the Lord Russel and Algernon Sidney particularly the former for having dar'd to carry up the Bill of Exclusion to the House of Lords and because he is popular and the apparent Heir to a great Estate of Church-lands which will make him vigorous in his Opposition to Popery and the latter because of his being an old Rebel against my Father a Person of Antimonarchical Principles and one whom the Faction admires for his Counsel and Conduct I know what will be urg'd in their Defence as that their innocent Discourses and Meetings are aggravated that the Evidence against them is infamous and defective and that my Attorney and others are mov'd with Bribes and the Prospect of Preferments from the Court to harangue them out of their Lives but those Cobweb-Objections I can easily break now that the Tide runs with as much Violence against them as they carried it formerly against the Catholicks for which I am obliged to my Bishops and Clergy who have espous'd the Business with so much Zeal because I have turn'd the Chase upon the Phanaticks And to engage them yet further I have ordered some of the Scots Presbyterian Gentry c. who lurk'd about Town to be sent to Scotland that so the Plot given out to be carried on in both Nations by the Phanaticks and Republicans may acquire the more universal Credit The Death of my Lord Russel I perceive is a great Mortification to the Party who are now as much dejected as they were formerly elevated in the time of the Popish Plot and seditious Parliaments But that which pleases me most is the bringing of the Protestant Interest in my Kingdoms so low and splitting them to pieces by a Wedg of their own tho I have been deserted in a great measure both by my Friends of France and Rome But my Brother I perceive carries the thing too far and I find it generally suspected that all was not fair in relation to the Earl of Essex yet the News of his having cut his own Throat was of singular Use to advance the Credit of the
Their Address against Papists His Majesty's Proclamation on that Head The Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters Declaration of War against Denmark The Insurrection in Scotland in 1666. The burning of his Majesty's Ships at Chattam by the Dutch c. p. 119. XLII On the murmuring of the People at the Consumption of the Treasure His Majesty's granting leave to the Parliament's Commissioners to take the Publick Accounts His raising an Army of 30000 Men and disbanding them On the Parliament's being displeased with it The Sessions of Parliament in July October and February 1667. His Majesty's Speeches to them Proclamation against Papists Displacing of Chancellor Hide and League with the Dutch c. p. 124. XLIII On the Proclamation against Dissenters in 1669. Inviting the Dutch and Swedes into a League with us proposing a nearer Alliance with the Dutch and forcing the Treaty of Aix La Chappelle upon the Spaniards and the French p. 128. XLIV On the Interview betwixt his Majesty and his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans at Dover and her Advice to him to break the Triple League and concur with the French King to destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religion and render himself absolute in England Her leaving one of her Maids of Honour created afterwards Dutchess of Portsmouth behind her and her own Death speedily after her Return into France p. 131. XLV On Colonel Blood ' s Attempt to steal the Crown A Proclamation against Papists to please the Parliament The second War with the Dutch The shutting up of the Exchequer The falling upon the Dutch Smyrna Fleet before War was declared and the Declaration of War thereupon p. 141. XLVI On the Dutch's surprizing our Fleet in Southwold-bay the Duke of York being Admiral His Majesty's Declaration to the Dutch The Progress of the French in the Vnited Provinces His Majesty's and the French King's Proposals to the Dutch and their rejecting them and making the Prince of Orange Stadtholder p. 148. XLVII On his Majesty's suffering the Parliament to meet Novemb. 1673. His Speech to them concerning the Indulgence and the Dispensing Power and the Necessity of raising more Forces for carrying on the Dutch War Several unsuccessful Fights with the Hollanders The Letter from the Dutch to influence the Parliament who addressed against the Match betwixt the Duke of York and Dutchess of Modena The Prorogation which ensued thereupon A Proclamation against Papists and the Consummation of the Marriage p. 154. XLVIII On his Majesty's Speech to the House of Lords upon the Address of the Commons against his Declaration of Indulgence The Answer of the Lords thereunto The Vote of the Commons for Ease to Protestant Dissenters and that part of their Address which desired that all in Places of Power and Trust should take the Sacrament according to the Church of England p. 163. XLIX Vpon the Complaints of the Commons that Ireland was like to be over-run with Popery because of his Majesty's Proclamation allowing Papists to live in Corporations and giving them equal Liberties to the English Their Address concerning the Danger of the Protestant Interest there and that Mr. Richard Talbot should be remov'd from all Publick Imployment and denied Access to Court And their Address concerning English Grievances with Reflections on the Miscarriages of his Majesty's former Designs of being impower'd to raise Money without Parliament on extraordinary Occasions and having an Vniversal Excise settled on the Crown p. 166. L. On his Majesty's making Application to the Parliament of Scotland upon his failing of Money from the Parliament of England the Scots insisting first upon the Redress of their Grievances and sending Duke Hamilton and others to London for that end p. 172. LI. On the Spanish Ambassador's Proposals for an Vnion betwixt England and Holland and declaring that they must break with England if the same were not accepted The Manifesto of the Dutch to the Parliament of England wherein they appeal to them for the Righteousness of their Cause The Parliament's Endeavours thereupon for a Peace and his Majesty's agreeing to it without including the French King p. 178. LII On his Majesty's proroguing the Parliament because of their impeaching his Ministers forming Bills against Popery and for the marrying of those of the Royal Family with Protestants and educating their Children in that Religion Clamours rais'd in the Nation that we were running back to 41. The Court's mediating a Peace betwixt France and Holland and sending 10000 of their own Subjects into the French King's Service p. 185. LIII On the meeting of the Parliament again April 1675. Their falling upon Bills for the Benefit of the Nation and being diverted by the sudden bringing in of a Test into the House of Lords to be imposed upon all in Places of Power or Trust Civil Military or Ecclesiastical obliging them to declare their Abhorrence of taking up Arms against the King or any commissionated by him and to swear that they would not at any time endeavour the Alteration of the Government either in Church or State p. 190. LIV. On the Debate betwixt the Lords and Commons about the Lords hearing of Appeals from any Court of Equity with the Behaviour of the Bishops in that Affair and the Opposition which they met with from the Earl of Shaftsbury c. p. 199. LV. On the meeting of the Parliament after the Prorogation His Majesty's Demand of Money to build Ships The Commons insisting upon the Bill for a Habeas Corpus Against sending Men Prisoners beyond Sea Raising Money without Consent of Parliament Against Papists sitting in either House For the speedier convicting of Papists and recalling his Majesty's Subjects from the French Service and the Duke of Buckingham ' s Speech for Indulgence to Dissenters p. 202. LVI On the Motion for an Address by the House of Lords for dissolving the Parliament The Address's being cast out by the Majority and the Protestation of the Country Lords thereupon p. 205. LVII On the filling of the Benches with durante beneplacito Judges The publishing of some Books in favour of the Papists and Prerogative The French King 's letting loose his Privateers amongst the English Merchants And the sending of Ammunition from his Majesty's Stores to the French King p. 211. LVIII On the meeting of the Parliament after the long Prorogation Febr. 1676. His Majesty's Demand of Money recommending a good Correspondence to the two Houses The Question whether the Parliament was not dissolv'd by that unprecedented Prorogation Sending some Lords to the Tower for insisting on it The granting of Money by the Commons p. 218. LIX On the Commons throwing out the Bill intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion and another for the more effectual Convicting and Prosecution of Popish Recusants p. 224. LX. On the Address of the Commons concerning the Danger from the Power of France and their Progress in the Netherlands His Majesty's Answer It s not being thought satisfactory by the Commons who presented a second to which his
manage the Plot Whereupon my Lord Russel Algernon Sidney c. were out off The Earl of Essex ' s being murdered in the Tower The Trial and Sentence of Mr. Speke and Mr. Braddon for endeavouring a Discovery thereof The Continuance of the Surrender of Charters c. p. 303. Copies of two Papers written by the late King Charles II. Published in 1686. by King James ' s Authority who attested that he found them in his Brother 's Strong Box written in his own Hand p. 309. A brief Account of Particulars occurring at the happy Death of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles II. in regard to Religion faithfully related by his then Assistant Mr. Jo. Hudleston p. 316. ΕΙΚΩ'ΠΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ ' ΔΕΥ'ΤΕΡΑ CHAP. I. On his Majesty's being converted into the Catholick Church THIS I know will be offensive to my Subjects if it should take air and therefore in Policy am obliged to conceal it but that I am secure enough as to God and my own Conscience I have no reason to doubt 'T is the Catholick Church whereof I am now a Member and it 's that Church which in the Bibles of the Hereticks themselves is called the Pillar and Ground of Truth then why should I scruple to submit my self to her Direction Did not my Grandfather K. James though he maul'd Bellarmine give the Pope the Title of Most Holy Father and declare his Readiness to meet the Church of Rome half way Did not my Father whom the very Hereticks acknowledg a Martyr in like manner give the Pope those Titles which they call Names of Blasphemy If he had thought the Catholick Religion damnable or believed that the Church of Rome teaches the Doctrine of Devils would he ever have taken a Catholick Princess into his Bosom or granted such Concessions in favour of her Religion and suffered it to spread so much in his Dominions Would he have imployed the Irish in his Armies after they had cut the Protestants Throats or would he ever have made Arch-Bishop Laud his Favourite who brought such Innovations into the Church of England and declared his good liking to a Cardinal's Cap if the Church of Rome were but a little reformed So that I am safe enough as to what concerns my Soul having not only the Sentiments of the Bishop of Rome positively for me but also those of the alterius orbis Episcopus not at all against me Then surely I may venture my Salvation on the same bottom with my Mother and embarque in a Church which uncontrovertibly appears not to have been altogether disrelishing to my Father Let it go which way it will I am of the surest side the Catholicks say that out of the Church of Rome there is no Salvation and Protestants acknowledg that in the Church of Rome there is Salvation and though it should be true what I have learn'd from my Tutor Hobbs and am indeed inclin'd to believe that all Religion is but a Trick of State to keep the People in obedience yet a Profession of Religion is necessary for a Prince as well as others according to Machiavel's Maxim Plebem dum vis fallere finge Deum and certainly that Religion of which it is a Fundamental Principle that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion is most agreeable to a Prince who would maintain or advance his Prerogative for where it is allowed as amongst all Protestants to examine the Dictates of their Ghostly Fathers in relation to the Church it must unavoidably follow that the People will also claim the like Privilege to canvass the Orders of their Civil Fathers in relation to the State Then let the Hereticks talk as they please of the Kings of the Earth giving their Power to the Beast I see that it is undoubtedly the best Expedient for any Monarch who designs to be absolute to be an obedient Son to the Church of Rome who can insure him not only his Subjects Persons but also their Consciences and Purses seeing they must do and believe as the Church will have them True it is my Misfortune that a Protestant Bishop and several Protestant Lords who have follow'd me hither are privy to my Conversion which might indeed prove fatal to my Affairs if it were not their Interest as well as mine to conceal it but seeing their Restitution depends on mine I have no reason to fear that they will divulge it And for the Satisfaction of the Church of Rome though I have no Cause to profess to be of the Religion of Protestants who murdered my Father and give the Ignominious Character of an Idolatress to my Mother yet seeing the Principles of the Catholick Church allow Mental Reservation and that Christ himself did not reject Nicodemus thô a Night-Disciple the Roman Catholicks cannot be angry that I still profess my self a Protestant especially seeing thereby I shall be the more capable of doing them Service and thus I find my self obliged to give an early Assent to my Grandfather K. James's Maxim which he had from Lewis XI of France who never learn'd any other Latin Words viz. Nescit regnare qui nescit dissimulare Nor do I know why it should be any greater Stain to my Honour to feign my self a Protestant for the Crown of Great Britain than it was to my Grandfather Henry the IV. to feign himself a Catholick for the Crown of France and may my Endeavours have the same Success but a happier Exit And seeing the World will have it that there is a God I can lose no more but a little Breath to make some Addresses if there be none but seeing it 's safer to venture with the bulk of Mankind than to rely on the Efforts of some Men of Wit I am resolved to lift up the following Prayer O thou Almighty Being who createdst the Heavens and the Earth by whom Kings reign and Princes decree Justice to thee I refer my Cause for a final Decision Thou art King of Kings who puttest down one and settest up another and therefore the fittest for me to make Application unto I have been taught by those who call themselves thy Ambassadors and would have me to believe it to be thy Law that Kings are accountable to none but thy self as being thy Vicegerents and Gods on Earth Vindicate therefore the Justice of my Cause against those Men who have not only usurp'd my Throne but thine for I am accountable to none but thee Give Success to my Arms and Endeavours against them And seeing thou hast said that Vengeance is thine and thou wilt repay it let not the hoary Heads of those who shed my Father's and thy Vice-gerent's Blood go down in Peace to the Grave And give me Strength O thou most High to execute Vengeance upon a bloody Nation Thou who didst grant Samson ' s Desire to be reveng'd on the Philistines for his two Eyes listen to my Petition I request thee that I may be aveng'd for my Father's Blood and the unjust Vsurpation of my own Throne CHAP.
aright and calling himself a poor Farmer 's Son How vain a thing is worldly Grandeur and how little to be relied on It was a wise Saying of him who gave his Adversary this Caution Let not him that putteth on his Armour boast as he that putteth it off When a few Weeks ago I was at the Head of a gallant Army I did not at all doubt of the Victory and now instead of so many thousands to wait upon me and put my Commands in execution I am forc'd to obey an ordinary Kitchin-wench submit to her Reproof and deny my Quality as St. Peter did his Master for fear of what may be the Consequent of her Anger as David counterfeited Madness to escape the Fury of a Philistine Prince I must be forced to tell a Lie to excuse my self for not knowing how to wind up a Jack How miserable is this Change that I whose Word and Will ought to pass for an uncontrolable Law to my Subjects am afraid of a mean and ordinary Servant Lord how great a Change is this that I who am the Head and Fountain of Power should now be obnoxious to the meanest of my Subjects who might easily procure my Ruine if they knew me On his Majesty's counterfeiting an Ague at Leigh near Bristol and his being known by John Pope Mr. Norton's Butler there Well may he dissemble an Ague on his Body who hath not only a trembling but an aking Heart To preserve my Health I must feign my self sick and to retain my Soveraignty I must call my self a Servant and yet I am not safe in so mean a Disguise Now I hold my Life from the Courtesy of a Butler as I have several times lately from that of a Peasant but with how much Anxiety of Soul God knows for what Reason have I to trust any of my Subjects when the far greater Part are avowedly false and instead of disowning do glory in their Treason But as Pope bears the Name of my greatest Friend I have also found him to be none of my Enemy But how dangerous is my Condition when the meanest of Habits and Conversation is not a sufficient Disguise But blessed be God and the Saints my Protectors that hitherto I have escap'd ✚ Ave Maria Gratia plena Lampas Soli splendor Poli Quae fulgore praeis Soli Nos commenda tuae Proli Moestos fac laetificet O Maria pro tuorum Dignitate meritorum Supra Choros Angelorum Sublimaris unice Sede fulgens jam superna Sorte gaudes sempiterna Pietate sed materna Nos in imo respice Nobis sis per mundi fluctus Via lux dux conductus Salvus ad Coelestia Tene Clavum rege Navem Tempestatem seda gravem Nos in Portum induc suavem Tua pro Clementia Amen CHAP. XIII On his Majesty's Journey to Trent and parting with Mrs. Lane there in order to his embarquing at Charmouth a small Village near Lime and his Disappointment by the Skipper's Wife who lock'd her Husband up that he should not carry him HOW changeable are the Capricio's of that Teasty Goddess called Fortune I who entred the Kingdom not long ago with a formidable Army am now in a strait how to get out of it with one or two in my Company But though the Goddess of Wisdom be none of my Friend yet the Goddess of Love continues propitious It 's true I am obliged to part with one Female Protectress to whom I hitherto owe my Life but kind Heaven hath sent me another so that I find the fair Sex to be more inclinable to my Government than the Males How great is the Difference betwixt Prosperity and Adversity My Predecessors could have Fleets to attend them at Command and I cannot have a single Bark to transport me for hire My Commands which ought to be obeyed by thousands of Men are now controlled by a single Woman nor dare I so much as dispute her Authority Here 's a small Emblem of my own Condition for she who ought to obey does now command and has her Husband not only upon but under the Lock The whole Nation is infected with the Rebellion for a Man is not now the Master of his Family but must be forc'd to submit to the Command of his Wife so dangerous is the Example of a People's usurping it over their Soveraign and thus is the Nation plagu'd for its Rebellion CHAP. XIV On his Majesty's Return to Trent and lodging at an Inn in Broad-Windsor in his way amongst Rebel-Souldiers where one of their Women were brought to bed and his Concealment in a Place at Trent where Recusants used to retire THAT I might the better avoid the Fury of my Subjects I design'd to have committed my self to the Mercy of the Waves as thinking it safer to be in a Storm at Sea than in the middle of a raging Rebellion by Land but the Fates think it fit to suspend my Designs I am environ'd by those who seek after my Life and forc'd to lodg with them under the same Roof but Heaven hath pav'd the Way for my Escape and by their Impurity provided for my Safety so that instead of their having time to enquire after me the Parish is come to enquire after them that they may not be at the Charge of their spurious Brats When such things happen'd in my Army they accus'd my Discipline but cannot perceive the Faults of their own But Thanks to the Saints I am again escaped and free at present from the fear of my Foes and have another Asylum and Place of Refuge where the Holy Fathers did use to retire from the Fury of Protestant Persecution so that my first and last Retreat must be to the Catholicks Blessed be thou O Being of Beings that when the Tribulations of my Heart were inlarged didst hear my Prayer and deliver me from my Distresses continue thy Mercies that I may have Opportunity to advance thy Cause and seek the Welfare of the Catholick Church O ye Angels who protected me in the midst of my Enemies watch over me in the remaining part of my Life Blessed Virgin Mother of God intercede with thy Son for me and deliver me from those who seek after my Soul Ave Maria. CHAP. XV. On his Majesty's imploying my Lord Wilmot to procure Money for his Transportation his hiring a Ship being known by one Smith an Inn-keeper and his Arrival near Havre de Grace in France HOW great is the Change from a King who ought to command to become a Supplicant that must beg My Father demanded Loan-money by Authority and I am glad to desire it with the greatest Humility He that he might govern them with an Army and I that I may be enabled to fly the Country My Predecessors had Navies to invade France at pleasure and I have not so much as a Fisher-boat to carry me thither from Danger but must both pay and be obliged to those that will be hired They that are eminent in Dignity ought to be
Arms and Ammunition for my self to equip my French Auxiliaries and assert my Right or at least have furnish'd the French Catholicks with Weapons against my Heretical Subjects at their own Expence And if the Church-of England-men should murmur against this Procedure it 's but a small Degree above what was done by my Father whom they have canoniz'd for a Saint and a Martyr it being well enough known that he assisted the French King with his Men of War against his Hugonot-Subjects of Rochel which considering the Claim that the Kings of England have to the Crown of France is much the same with what I have now done So that they cannot condemn me without condemning him nor condemn him without condemning themselves CHAP. LVIII On the Meeting of the Parliament after the long Prorogation Febr. 1676. His Majesty's Demand of Money recommending a good Correspondence to the two Houses The Question whether the Parliament was not dissolv'd by that unprecedented Prorogation Sending some Lords to the Tower for insisting on it The granting of Money by the Commons THE Greatness of my Expence requiring proportionable Supplies and my Returns from France not being sufficient I must once more adventure on a Session of Parliament not doubting but my Pensioners will for their own Interest gratify my Desires I know that this long Prorogation is beyond all Precedent but I think that I have the best Authority to make one of any Body and I am furnish'd already with a very plausible Pretence that such a long Recess was absolutely needful to allay so great a Heat as happened betwixt the Houses last Sessions But however that the Honour of the Nation lying at stake I found it necessary to call them together for a Supply to enable me to rig out my Navy on which so much of our Strength and Reputation depends The March of my Brother the French King with his Army into Flanders I know will alarm and make them apprehensive of their own Danger which will probably induce them to part with Money for their own Defence But I perceive that my Difficulties are not quite over for now both Houses begin to question my last Prorogation and think that it was really a Dissolution yet the Commons I find the most tractable of the two because there my Pensioners are most numerous so that they have pass'd it over and fall to their Business but the factious Lords I find still more obstinate and daring insomuch that they offer to maintain that the last Prorogation was illegal and contrary to all the Laws of Parliament even before the Judges and are so confident that they demand to have their Opinion in it but though I can rely upon their Determination yet I don't think fit to gratify the opposite Faction so far especially seeing I am sure of the Majority in any Question by the Influence of the Court-Lords and Bishops and therefore their Impertinence in falling foul upon my Prorogation as a thing without Precedent shall be punish'd by an Imprisonment in the Tower of the same Nature which I shall order so that it shall appear to be the Act of their Fellow-Peers and not mine And thus the Ring-leaders of the Faction the Duke of Buckingham Earls of Salisbury Shaftsbury and Lord Wharton shall have time to consider of the Question in their Confinement and by this Means others will be deterred from the like Boldness and the Freedom of Debate which hath been hitherto claim'd and allow'd in Parliament be visibly infring'd of which there is an absolute and very great Necessity and now more than ever when some of the Members have had the Impudence to upbraid the House to their Face that a great part of them are Out-laws abundance Papists and no small number Pensioners And though I cannot but commend the Prudence of my Friends in the House in not sending the Authors of such scandalous Reflections to the Tower because they know them to be true yet such things must be prevented if possible otherwise I and my Government shall fall into Contempt However my Pensioners were rather willing to bear this Affront than to do any thing that might make their Dissolution or Prorogation necessary and that they may show themselves worthy of my Allowance have granted me Money and that very frankly without an Appropriating Clause So that I am at liberty to spend it how I please And as they have been generous in their Grant they have been no less as to the Terms having quitted all their other Pretensions for an Habeas Corpus Act. And thus I find the Advantage of having those who depend upon me chosen for Parliament-men though I be at the Expence of their Election my self For what Privy-Counsellor is there that will not justify the most Arbitrary Proceedings of the Council-Table in the House rather than lose his Place in Council and represent all the Proceedings of State to the Advantage of the Crown rather than lose his Prince's Favour What Lawyer is there that will not put a favourable Construction upon the Sentence of the Judges rather than be subjected to the Frowns of the Bench or excluded all Hopes of mounting it himself What Captain of the Fleet or Navy but will be for the maintenance of a Standing Force as knowing that he cannot otherwise have a standing Pay Or will he not rather defend the Procedure of his superiour Officers than hazard the losing of his Commission And will he not be ready to declare his Abhorrence of that traiterous Position of taking up Arms against the King or any commissionated by him What Commissioner of the Customs or Excise is there that will not rather give the Court a Vote than lose his Commission Or which of my Domesticks will be so bold as to vote against me in Parliament And therefore I am resolved never to part with my Privilege of having those who depend upon me chosen for Parliament-men that being the most effectual and least obnoxious Method that can be taken to render my self Absolute for they are at the same time the Representatives of the Country and my Pensioners and Servants and so long as they have vendible Souls and have most from me I need not doubt of their being on my side and when others who are hungry perceive their Fellows to be not only treated with Money but also at good Tables on the Charge of the Court it will make them willing to take the same Measures that they may enjoy the same Advantages And in the next place I shall take care to have the Sheriffs modell'd to my purpose and then they will determine the double Elections as I would have them And if the injured Fanatick or Republican complain of the Sheriff yet the Majority of the Judges can easily vacate his Fine By this Means those of my Party will always know their own Strength in the House so that the Intrenchments made upon the People will be judg'd the Affection of the Parliament-men to the
to be a Soveraign by halves However it not being safe to controvert the Matter too far I am resolv'd to pass the disbanding Act but will observe it no further than sutes my Measures I am pretty well accustomed to Violation of Oaths which have a degree of Solemnity beyond mere Acts of Parliament The Money which they give to disband them will serve for some time to maintain them and then I may be otherwise provided or make them at least provide for themselves and earn their Bread before they eat it It 's strange that I may not adventure upon that which Oliver the Usurper did before me He was so far from being check'd by his Parliaments that he gave Laws to them by his Army and why may not I attempt the like And though I be sworn to the contrary yet may defend it as he did by Reasons of State until such time as I arrive at that height of Power as to make my Will pass for a Law But this is more easily hop'd for than effected However if I can handsomly weather out this Storm it 's not impossible to be brought to pass CHAP. LXV On the relieving of Mons by the Prince of Orange with the Assistance of the Duke of Monmouth and the English Forces The Defeat given to the French at that time and their King's Complaint that it was contrary to his Majesty's private Articles The concluding of the Peace Recalling our Forces Quartering them in the Country His Majesty's being in a Consult with the Duke of York Lord Clifford c. which was over-heard and the Person who listened kick'd down Stairs by the said Lord. IT 's some Comfort to have Fellows though it be but in Affliction The French King who hath for a long time been on the top of the Wheel is also liable to be turn'd downward having lately receiv'd a considerable Check by the Defeat at Mons. This is a sensible Diminution of his Glory But though at another time it would have been a joyful Hearing to the Kings of England it is not so to me now because it 's a considerable Balk to our common Design There is also this mortifying Circumstance in it that the Laurels which are pulled off from his Head are planted on that of the Prince of Orange who though my Nephew both by Birth and Marriage yet I cannot cordially love him because he pursues Measures so contrary to mine And though I cannot but in some measure be satisfied to hear of what may tend to the Honour of my own Child whom I cannot but love by the Instinct of Nature yet I could have wish'd he had been otherwise imployed and that his Valour had been signaliz'd at this time as well as at others on the contrary side Two such promising Princes embarquing in the Protestant Cause may prove fatal to the Interest of Popery and Absolute Monarchy if they be bless'd with a few more such Victories as this and that I must in compliance with my own Inclinations endeavour to hinder lest my stubborn Subjects should make choice of the Son to chastise the Father as it happened to my Predecessor King James III. of Scotland whose rebellious States made his Son Generalissimo against him I am also pressed with another Difficulty which is how to excuse this to the French King who upbraids me with it as a Breach of the private Treaty that my Son and Subjects should fight against him I can truly say that neither the Duke nor they did engage in that Action with my Consent and that the thing is wholly owing to the Prince of Orange whose Conduct and Courage I have reason to dread will mar all the Designs which Lewis XIV and I have so long concerted This Disaster makes it necessary to conclude a Peace and then we may contrive at leisure how to retrieve it The Peace being concluded I must recal my Forces which now I perceive become grievous to the Spaniards and I hope to imploy them to better purpose at home than ever they were abroad Let the Phanaticks murmur and belch out their seditious Reflections upon my violating the Act for disbanding the Forces I am Proof against such Tongue-shot as theirs I can find out a Pretence for keeping them still on foot as being necessary to over-awe the French who being now at Peace with every body else may reasonably be thought to have Designs against me as having first obliged them to the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle and now by my Forces have contributed to bring them to a Peace These Regiments being brought over from Flanders will restrain the Tumnlts which I have reason to fear from the mutinous Humour in which my Subjects are at present and in a little time I can augment my Army if I had but Money It 's true that in the late Consult divers Expedients were proposed for obtaining it either from the French King the City of London or the Parliament But to have it from the former can never be relied on and if he supply me once I am not sure that he will do it a second time his own ambitious Designs having carv'd him out Ways enough for his Money Neither is it safe for me to be so much obliged to him lest he should at some time or other improve it against me as he did lately threaten to discover our secret Intrigues to the Parliament when we charg'd him with being worse than his Word and failing in the Money which he had promised for the common Design I know the Ambition of his Heart inclines him to aspire to the Universal Monarchy and therefore I must be on my Guard against him The Proposal of borrowing Money from the City of London I know impracticable they have already denied me Credit and it 's nothing but to render my self too mean to desire Money of them again The Project of bringing them to it by Force were no more than what they merit but the Consequences may prove fatal to my Designs The City of London being the Head of the Nation has a natural Influence on the whole Body Politick and if the City be once enraged I must not expect to have the Kingdom long in quiet And I have the more reason to be cautious on this Head because the Loss of the City was the Loss of my Father's Life It 's true that my Lord Clifford's Advice of declaring my self bare-fac'd and out-braving all Difficulties were a thing very beseeming a Monarch but my Experience is greater than his Dulce Bellum inexpertum War is sweet till it be tried Had he three Crowns to lose as I have his Courage would not be so great for he that never enjoyed the Sweets of Life does not know how to value them but I have had Experience both what it is to want and possess them I know that this Nation though very well prepar'd by that which Phanaticks and Men of their Kidney call Profanity is not yet ripe enough to imbrace
and Republicans here So that if ever he attempt to ascend the Throne he will find it the more difficult or at least be made less capable of obstructing the Design of introducing Popery for his Zeal against which the Faction applaud him I shall also make this Improvement of that Phanatical Insurrection that it will serve to alarm the Church of England and convince them of the restless Endeavours of the Dissenters to overturn their Discipline and Government and by consequence make them the more apt to believe the Plots which shall henceforth be charg'd upon Phanaticks here to destroy the Government both in Church and State which will be the best Expedient that we can think on to turn the Plot which hath been prosecuted with so much Vigour against the Papists upon their own Heretical Brethren the Dissenters from whom it's much easier to possess them with Apprehensions of Danger than from the Catholicks because their Interest is greater in the Nation and that they have smarted by them more lately than by the other And if I can do my Catholick Friends this piece of Service as I have not the least reason to doubt but I shall they may very well dispense with my having sacrific'd some of their Priests and Jesuits that I might with the less Suspicion advance their Cause I thought that my Design of burying the Popish Plot in Oblivion by fathering another upon the Presbyterians could scarcely have missed taking effect especially when so dextrously managed by one of Dangerfield's Parts but the Fates are not yet propitious to my Endeavours nor is the measure of my Crosses entirely filled up This Plot was sufficiently well laid and had those Papers which were scattered in the Phanaticks Lodgings been but happily seiz'd without suspicion of any Tricks the Presbyterian Plot would have passed for current for I should have been certain of having it trumpeted by the Clergy from their Pulpits But seeing it hath prov'd abortive I must take more care for time to come and have no reason to despair of succeeding in some Attempt of the like nature for I am sure of having the Clergy on my side CHAP. LXXII On the dissolving of the Parliament July 12. 1679. and calling another against October 7. The Return of the Duke of York in the mean time and his being sent to Scotland The proroguing of the Parliament after their being chosen The acquitting of Sir George Wakeman and others of the Plotters by the then Lord Chief Justice The burning of the Pope c. in effigie The presenting of a Petition by the Citizens for the sitting of the Parliament and Abhorrence of Petitions presented by others THIS Parliament proving refractory as well as the other I find my self under a necessity of dissolving them for I am sensible that they will never be fit for my purpose Perhaps the dissolving of two such Parliaments successively may prevent the choosing of another of the same stamp and therefore I am resolved to try the Experiment In the mean time I can with the more Safety recal my Brother for if the Parliament be dissolv'd there 's none else that dare to ask the Reason why And if any of the Council shall dare to mutter against it according to the Earl of Shaftsbury's Example they shall be certainly discharged as well as he The new Parliament is of the same Complexion with the old Whence I perceive that the Contagion hath spread so broad and wide in the Nation that all Ranks and Degrees of Persons are infected But seeing my Subjects are resolved to be cross and choose such Men to represent them in Parliament as thwart my Designs I am resolved to be as cross to them and prorogue the Parliament from time to time so that if they are not like to answer my Design they shall not have an opportunity of answering theirs till I have taken such previous Measures as I think fit for my purpose and see whether I can have Money by any other Method For which end I will try both France and Rome and if neither of them answer my Ends I shall have opportunity to attempt the buying off of some of the leading Members And if that should also miscarry I will send my Brother to Scotland that he may be out of their way for I am sure of his being well entertain'd there by my Episcopal Council who will order it so as to make him seem acceptable to the whole Nation and that will strengthen his Party here and at the same time such of his Friends as find themselves pressed by the Stubbornness of the English House of Commons may find Sanctuary there under his Protection I doubt nothing of the Zeal of the Scots Episcopal Party for his Interest because the Constitution of their Church makes them depend wholly on the Crown and in that my Politicks prov'd very successful to have a Law for leaving the Government of their Church wholly at my Disposal Nor do I doubt but the particular Inclination which that Kingdom hath always evidenc'd to a Monarchical Government and the singular Respect which they have hitherto shewed to Fergus's Race will have a considerable Influence on them to preserve the Succession in the right Line And during these Prorogations I shall also have the Opportunity of making the English Clergy to my purpose and order it so that my durante beneplacito Judges shall acquit such of the Plotters as come to trial here which will give a mighty stop to the Credit of the Conspiracy and be an Argument for the Nullity of the Plot from the Pulpits when it 's evident before-hand that it 's disbelieved by the Bench for the Colour of Justice adds very much Strength to any Cause The extraordinary Heat of the Rabble against Popery and such Protestants as concur with the Measures of the Court makes it absolutely needful for me to keep off the Parliament as long as I can for seeing the Mob are so insolent at present as not only to burn the Pope in effigie but such also of their Fellow-Hereticks as are addicted to my Interest it 's more than probable that if they were countenanc'd by the Authority of such Parliaments as those which I have had of late that their Insolence would not stop there of which the Petition of the Citizens for the sitting of the Parliament is no obscure Indication but that the Odium of hindring the Parliament to meet should not lie wholly upon me and the Court I have ordered it so that a part of the Subjects have declared their Abhorrence of such Petitions which affords me a plausible Argument for what I have done seeing the Sense of the Nation as I shall take care to have that of my own Party esteem'd to be is against it as well as mine And by these Abhorrences I have ground to conceive Hopes that my Design for engaging the Church-men on my side has actually taken CHAP. LXXIII On the Court 's being disappointed of
receiving Money from Rome and France The Meeting of the Parliament October 22 1680. The Proceedings of the Commons against such Justices as obstructed Petitions for the sitting of the Parliament The passing of the Bill of Exclusion against the Duke of York in the House of Commons nemine contradicente The rejecting of it by the Lords The Trial and Execution of the Lord Stafford The impeaching of the Judges Their Denial of a Supply to the King His Majesty's Message to them and dissolving them because of their Obstinacy NO wonder that those who are avowed Enemies to my Designs should refuse me Money when those who are zealous for the same and promised Assistance both by Men and Money do now fail me that the Court of Rome who compass Sea and Land to make Proselytes should deny Money when it is only required to propagate their Faith may justly seem strange but as for the French King 's doing so it 's easy to conceive that he hath been thereunto influenc'd by Reasons of State It was his Interest to create Jealousies and Discontents betwixt me and my Subjects not only to prevent our uniting against him but that both of us might fall as an easier Conquest though it 's horribly inglorious for him to take such Methods But why should I say thus seeing all the great Princes that ever aspir'd to the Universal Monarchy did make use of Fraud as well as Force However during my Life I shall prevent his Design to cheat me of my Crown and if I can carry on my Work without him as it is the more hazardous it will be also more glorious and by the Divisions which have from time to time been carefully nourished amongst my Protestant Subjects I doubt not but in time I may obtain my Desires without his Assistance The Parliament being met they are as bad to the full as I suspected and tread in the same Steps with their Predecessors and discharge their Fury upon such of my Justices as obstructed Petitions for their sitting and accuse them as Betrayers of the Rights and Liberties of the People because they witnessed their Zeal for the Prerogatives of my Crown Nor does their seditious Procedure stop here but they have unanimously voted a Bill for excluding my Brother from the Crown cut off the Earl of Stafford for his Accession to the Plot and impeach my Judges The Fall of that Lord I must needs lament but it is as venial for me to let him fall a Sacrifice to popular Vengeance as it was for my Father to give up the Earl of Strafford to his rebellious Parliament though he was much more necessary to him than ever this Lord was to me But as for the excluding of my Brother and impeaching of my Judges I must never give way to it for that would infallibly issue in the Destruction of my self My stubborn Subjects have depriv'd me of my Army so that I cannot establish my Authority by the Sword and if I suffer my self to be likewise bereft of my Judges then I shall be utterly disabled from carrying on my Design either by Military Power or the Shadow of Law As to the Exclusion of my Brother from succeeding to the Crown it can in no manner be admitted And here I have a very good Plea against them The Clergy have preach'd up the Divine Right of a Lineal Succession and if that be so I can maintain my Argument by the Laws of God and I doubt not but my Judges will give it out as the Laws of the Land If I should give way to his Exclusion it would weaken my self for then my Enemies might reasonably act with the greater Boldness against me when they should be in no fear from my Successor to punish such a Practice The Lords having thrown out the Bill by the Influence of the Bishops Bench is enough to justify me in the Eyes of the World for why should I consent to the disabling of my own Brother from succeeding to me upon the account of his being a Roman Catholick when the Protestant Bishops who are the ghostly Fathers of their Church make no Scruple to own his Right of Succession and testify their Hatred against the Bill In this they have done me remarkable Service and I doubt not but their Example will have Influence on the Clergy But to prevent all Suspicion as much as is possible that I have any Design to re-establish Popery I will send them a Message that I am ready to agree to any other Expedients for securing them against it And thus when I have made such Proffers and have the Bishops and their Clergy on my side it will look very presumptuous in any Party whatever so much as to whisper a suspicious Word of my Intentions And if the Commons adhere tenaciously to their Bill and refuse to drop it there 's none who will dare to blame me if I dissolve them CHAP. LXXIV On the calling of another Parliament to meet at Oxford Febr. 1680. The seizing of Fitz-Harris with seditious Libels designed to have been lodged with Protestant Peers and Commons The seditious manner of the London-Members going to Oxford His Majesty's Speech to the Parliament when they met there Their Impeachment of Fitz-Harris and Dissolution THE City of London being a perfect Nest of Rebellion it 's reasonable to give them a Mortification by summoning the Parliament to meet elsewhere and as Oxford hath been always signal for Loyalty both to my Father and my self I will gratify that Place with the meeting of this Parliament which will engage the Clergy more firmly on my side especially the young Nursery which is now a breeding up there And as by this Method I shall oblige my real Friends it 's probable that it may cool the Courage of my Enemies especially when they find themselves at a distance from their factious Accomplices at London and surrounded with my Souldiers and Guards at Oxford It is not without some appearance of Reason that my stubborn Subjects do boast of the Divine Care and Providence which seems to watch over their Persons Religion and Liberties for not only the Plots of Catholicks against them have been discovered and baffled but all my Designs of fastning Plots against them upon the Government have miscarried The Disappointment of this which was managed by Fitz-Harris may be of very ill Consequence if there be not care taken to prevent or at least baffle his Discovery which he has been such a Fool as to make now that he is taken How unhappy have I and my Courtiers been in the Tools that we chose to carry on our Designs for every one of them have not only discovered whatever they were imploy'd in but also who set them at work which incenses the Nation against the Court But without attempting we can never be sure of any thing and it is some Satisfaction when we do miscarry to be able to say with Phaeton Magnus tamen excidit ausis This Design was