Titus Britannicus AN ESSAY OF HISTORY ROYAL IN THE Life Reign OF HIS Late SACRED MAJESTY CHARLES II. Of Ever Blessed and Immortal Memory By AVRELIAN COOK Gent. Ut ameris Amabilis esto Ovid. Majora Veris Monstra vix capiunt Fidem Senec. LONDON Printed for James Partridg Stationer to His Royal Highness George Hereditary Prince of Denmark at the Post-Office by Charing-Cross 1685. To the most NOBLE HONOURABLE REVEREND WILLIAM Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury FRANCIS Lord Guilford C. S. LAWRENCE Earl of Rochester P. GEORGE Marquess of Halifax C. P. S. JAMES Duke of Ormond S. R. D. CHRISTOPHER Duke of Albemarle HENRY Duke of New-Castle HENRY Duke of Beaufort CHARLES Marquess of Winchester ROBERT Earl of Lindsey S. A. C. HENRY Earl of Arlington C. R. D. AUBERY Earl of Oxford THEOPHILUS Earl of Huntington JOHN Earl of Bridgwater HENRY Earl of Peterborough PHILIP Earl of Chesterfield Robert Earl of Sunderland HENRY Earl of Clarendon JOHN Earl of Bath WILLIAM Earl of Craven ROBERT Earl of Ailesbury JOHN Earl of Radnor DANIEL Earl of Nottingham HENRY Earl of Middleton THOMAS Vicount Falconberg HENRY Lord Bishop of London GEORGE Lord Dartmouth SIDNEY Lord Godolphin Sir JOHN ERNLY Sir THOMAS CHICHELEY Sir GEORGE JEFFERIES and Sir LEOLINE JENKINS The Lords of His late Majesties Privy-Council My LORDS IT was a Custom much us'd by the Ancient Writers among the Greeks and Romans to Dedicate their Books to their most particular Friends and sometimes to Intitle and call them by their Friends Names In our Age wherein we either do or shou'd imitate Antiquity in all commendable things This laudable Custom is either wholly laid aside or practis'd by so few that they almost escape Observance If indeed this Method of Dedicating Books was chang'd into a better I should have no reason to complain but rather to applaud the happy Genius of our Times for outshining the brightest days of Antiquity But most assuredly we can find no causes for such Triumphs The Dedications now made in England and France which two Countries in this Age we may Parallel with the foremention'd Greece and Italy upon the Score of Excellence in Wit with respect to the rest of Europe Our Dedications I say are so full of nauseous and fulsom Flatteries and Most of 'em so generally made up of about a dozen long Words variously turn'd and dispers'd that for my part I wonder how any Man can proceed any further in a Book of such small hopes but must needs lay it down and chuse rather to go to Bounding-Stones with Augustus Nay this crying Sin of the Nation is come to that pass that even our Poets who were made and fram'd on purpose in such a Make as only to lash Vice with the severest Satyr are yet most abominably guilty of this crime When an excellent Comedy has appear'd on the Stage for some time and perhaps done the Work of an Hundred Homilies in visiting and reclaiming Mankind from their evil ways it comes forth in Print and all is spoil'd again by a wicked Dedication in the beginning which propagatâ—â— Atheism so that no man can believe the Poet is honest and speaks his mind in the Play while he talks so lewdly and contradictorily in the Dedication It was not so in Ben. Johnson's days What I have said of Epistles Dedicatory in general may partly seem to hook my self into the crowd of these numerous Transgressors while I inscribe this Book to your Great Names But several Things I have to alledg for my self First tho this Piece be not presented to any private Friend of its Author in Emulation of the Ancients yet as far as possibly I have followed their Sacred Rules and Canons in a Work of this publick Nature For it is the Life of one of the Greatest and Wisest Princes that â—ver Sway'd the English or any other Scepter And to whom cou'd I better devote His Life than to His Greatest and Wisest Friends for such He always call'd His best Servants Ye are concern'd MY LORDS in every Page of this Book and can witness what is here related to be true No part of His Life but wherein some of you have had a share In His Education His Exile His Sufferings His Victories His Triumphs And while I write his Life in some measure I write Yours For such is the fate of Celsitude and honour that Great Men in some sense do frequently Dye before Sixty three And to be sure when a Prince falls he does not fall alone but several Others have their Lives interchangeably writ with his Besides MY LORDS being unable to find any Object nearer to him than Your selves except his Majesty whom God long preserve and the Family Royal I lay under an indispensable necessity of imploring your Lordships Patronage For such is my Veneration to the Blood of my Prince that by no means can I be perswaded to think the ensuing Papers fit for his most Sacred and Princely Eye or worthy a Royal Protection and I am resolv'd to be as Innocent as I can and not offend One Prince after having committed Treason against the Fame of another However MY LORDS tho this be not a Piece fit for a Kings Cabinet yet I hope this Image of our late Sovereigns Life will not be refus'd by Your Lordships since we love the Pictures of those Persons we admire let 'em be never so unfinisht let them be drawn by what hand soever The other Thing which I propos'd to my self in this Address was the avoiding Flattery tho it may seem a very unnecessary Caution since he that looks up to such a Thick-set Conglobation and as it were Galaxy of heavenly Virtues must easily infer that they are too high for Flattery and too bright to have any lustre added to them With all the Tragical forces of Eloquence I might here expatiate on the Topicks of Grand Descent of Titles and honours of Policy and Government of Arms and Learning of the Tent and the Closet But it is not my design to manage these common Subjects And I beg leave of your Lordships to say That in the front of a Book consecrated to the fame of CHARLES the II d I think I shou'd do an Injury to him if I endeavour'd professedly to write any other Panegyrick but his tho at the same time I must needs include Your Lordships Praises And herein I have determin'd to take a View of the King himself and not of his Deeds that Province I leave to his history and to set his personal Virtues and not additional Actions before your Eyes for a bad man may do a praise-worthy thing but a good man himself can only be praised Many Kings themselves do either hear or read their own Commendations and take care to see their own Glory setled before they dye But such kind of Annals usually is as mortal as their Subject and as soon turns to Ashes No His late Majesties Praise shall not be Mercenary The World after his Death shall
rebuke the unsavoury Speeches that tortured his chaster Ears and condemn those Oaths and Curses which were too common among the vainer Scholars during which time he was visited with the Measels the danger whereof only serv'd to teach us how to prize him the more for that hazard But the War between his Father and the Parliament still growing more fierce he once more left the University and took the Field laying aside his Books that he might handle his Arms and endeavoured to signalize his Valour by appearing in the Head of some Forces in the North which were conducted by the Earls of Cumberland and New-castle wherein he was so successful at first that Victory seemed to wait on his Banner Shortly after he marcht Westward where by order from the Court he was attended by such a Noble Retinue as was most suitable to the Grandeur of a Prince of Wales about which time he cast off his Ich Dien and assum'd his State setting up his Royal Court and making choice of such Officers as were most pleasing to him about which although his Father took some exception yet he protested that he greatly admired the discretion of his choice in general having so brave and well ordered a Family that it was second to none but his Uncle Henrys and King-ship was first exercised within the narrow compass of an Houshold saith Selden which increasing to Cities Kings were content to Reign therein until those Cities swelling into Nations they enlarged the bounds of their Soveraign Rule The King of Portugal about this time hoping to make an advantage of the Kings necessity offered several fair Proposals suitable to his present exigencies and troubles which were ushered in by the offer of a Match between his Daughter and the Prince but for some reasons of State his Father thought not fit to accept the offer but yet returned such an answer as held him in suspence being not willing either to gratifie or displease him The Prince in the mean while was busily employing himself in endeavouring to make up a much happier Match between his Father and the Parliament by some overtures of Peace which he made to Sir Thom. Fairfax the Chief Commander of the Parliament-Forces but was disappointed therein for Fairfax gave him to unstand that those Proposals were fitter to be made to the Parliament than to him who was only their Servant Wherefore he seeing that Fairfax would do nothing himself towards a Peace being resolved to try all possible means for the setling this distracted Kingdom desired leave for the Lord Hopton and Culpeper to attend the King and mediaate with him for a treaty with the Parliament to which Fairfax answered that he would desire the Prince to disband his Army and promised that he would thereupon conduct him with Honour to the Parliament to which request he commanded the Lord Capel to make the following Answer viz. Sir His Highness did not believe that his overture in engaging himself in the Mediation of a Blessed Peace for this miserable Kingdom would have brought him an Inhibition to quit his duty to his Father by dividing his Interest from that of his Majesties or hereby he should render himself unworthy and uncapable of the fruit of that Peace which he laboured to obtain and that of his former propositions might be consented to he hoped God would so bless his sincere intentions and designs as to make him a Blessed Instrument to preserve this Kingdom from desolation but if that were rejected he should give the World no cause to believe that he would forfeit that Honour which only could preserve him in a capacity of doing that service and should with patience attend Gods pleasure until his endeavours might be applyed with the preservation of his Innocency During his abode in the Camp he shew'd himself to be of such an Heroick Temperature that he enjoyed an equal Calm and Peace in the midst of all the Confusions of War and enjoyed his Learned Thoughts as quietly in the Tumults of a Camp as in the Retirements of a School In the exercising of his Arms he did not wholly leave his Books nor forget his Studies especially of the Mathematicks which besides their general usefulness as Refiners of the Mind were more than ordinarily necessary to him to assist him in carrying on the several Stratagems of War in Fortification Sieges Battels c. wherein he was but little below his incomparable Father in these things the exactest Prince in Christendom But not being able to accomplish that Reconciliation between his Father and the Parliament which he designed he returned again to Oxford where he was more successful in another undertaking of the like nature viz. the reconciling his two Cousins Rupert Maurice to his Father accounting it too hard to entertain inward Broils when outward Calamities were so heavy and pressing and that those who had Adversaries enough already ought not to become each others Enemies nor did he only use his Interest with his Father to be reconciled to the two Princes but even to his open and profest Enemies also notwithstanding the failure of his late undertakings as appears by his Letters to the Speaker of the House of Commons of Decemb. 15 26 29. and that of Jan. 25 17 24. and several others But while he was speaking for Peace some whose malice and interest had made implacable guilt rendred desperate were preparing for the Battel whilst this Prince of Peace was negotiating for Peace and in order thereunto prepared to raise the Train'd Bands of his Dukedom of Cornwal by incouragement of his Royal presence Fairfax and Cromwel fall with incredible fury upon his Army commanded by the Lord Hopton at Torrington and vanquisht it Which news being brought to him at Launceston he removed from thence to Pendennis where continually receiving some unhappy news and unwelcome Messages pursuing each oâ—her so fast as the Waves do in a Storm and coming as thick as the Messengers of Jobs calamity was advised to consult his own safety and since he could not by all his suasions procure a pacification either by Art or Arguments dint of Sword or strength of Reason preserve himself the Kingdoms growing hope for happier days wherein he might with more fortunate success apply his soveraign Balm to heal the bleeding Breaches of the three dying Nations Whereupon he went from thence attended by the Lords Goring and Culpepper and Sir Edw. Hide to the Isle of Scilly which still remained in the King's hands where he was no sooner arrived but he received a solemn Invitation from the Parliament in a seeming tender dutiful way to come to them and remain in such places as they should think convenient and entertain such Attendants Counsellors only as should be appointed by them Upon receiving of which Invitation he advised with those about him what was best to be done in that case and they returned the following Answer viz. That it became not him to do any thing
they gained another Pass which was disputed between them and the Parliamentarians they retired to Maidstone which they stoutly maintained against the first and second but yielded upon a third Assault though with a great slaughter of their Enemies who obtained that with great loss which they parted with not without extream regret whereupon Rochester is quitted and left to the mercy of the Enemy In the mean time their General the Prince lay in the Downs with his Fleet in a very good condition waiting for that supply of Land Forces which his Brother the Prince of Orange was industriously raising for his Service in Holland and seizing several Merchant Ships not to be released under 200000 l. Intending his Subjects future gain by that present loss by employing of it in the defence of their Laws and Liberties But understanding that the Castle of Deale was in danger of being taken he Landed some Forces for its Relief who were Vanquisht almost as soon as Landed a Rebellion seeming to have chained the Goddess Fortune as the Trojans did of old to its side For it was so deplorably successful that whenever it met with Loyalty it presently vanquisht it But notwithstanding this loss he would have hazarded himself for the relief of Colchester wherein Sir Charles Lucas and the Lord Capel with their Essex-Forces were besieged had he not been disswaded by those about him and informed that Coll. Scroop had undertaken the relief of that City with a greater number of Men than was there under his Command whereupon he desisted from his intention and reserved his hitherto unblemished Reputation to expect a fairer opportunity And still continued at Anchor in the Downs But Fairfax whose actions were performed as soon as thought and whose designs did almost prevent his performances carried on the Siege of Colchester with so much strictness and resolution that he very much striatned those Valiant Worthies who had somewhat weakly imprisoned themselves within a place where they would be sooner tired than overcome when it might have been more discretion to have taken the Field and there have improved their opportunity of performing something to the Honour of their Master and the good of their Country by the gleaning of those Loyal Subjects who would have been continually resorting to them and the taking all advantages against their Enemy or at least they might have died Nobly and revenged However they resolved gallantly to defend the place to the last extremity their Valour being able to suffer whatsoever the Enemy without was able to reduce them to but Famine within became a more prevailing Adversary than Fairfax's Army and when Courage and Resolution would not yield to the one Nature was forc'd to stoop to the other For their want of Provisions were so great that Dogs and Cats were accounted great Rarities so that the Souldier thought it a Relief to be employed where he was most probable to meet with death as weary of the lingring doom of departing by piece-meals and dying daily Yet they yielded not the City till they were informed of the Scots defeat at Preston and that the Navy was revolted from the Prince again it being as unconstant as the Wind and as unstable as the Water that it sailed upon And indeed what could be expected but that those who were Traitors to their first should be unfaithful to their second Master And then those Desperado's resolved to make a general Sally upon the Enemy for since there now remained no Calamity unsuffered which they could possibly fear they thought it was better to go forth and meet their sudden doom than wait for it within the Town but the Souldiers and Towns-men shrinking they were forced to yield themselves to the General as Prisoners of War His brave and War-like Attempts for his Fathers Restauration having thus proved unsuccessful he was forced to content himself with being unhappy since he had approved himself to be Loyal and so he retired to the Hague in Holland where he resided with his Sister the Princess of Orange to avoid the Treachery of Cardinal Mazarine who was dealt withal to trapan him and had for that purpose as himself said as much from those in England as would maintain the Queen and Princess and defray all the incident Charges which they put that Kingdom to As also to avoid Suspicion which the Parliament might have of him during the time of the approaching Treaty About which having heard some uncertain Rumours he wrote to his Father by the Lord Seymour for better satisfaction that so he might manage his Designs and Counsels suitable to his Fathers Exigencies as he exprest in his Letter which was to this purpose SIR Having no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties Affairs but such as I receive from the Prints or which is altogether as uncertain Reports I have sent this Bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majesty and to bring me an account of it and that I may also assure your Majesty that I do not only pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall always be ready to do all which shall be in my power to deserve that Blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty c. And being now big with expectation of the joyful News of such a setled Peace as might be safe and honourable to his Majesty and advantagious to the Subject he receives Information that the Treaty was begun and so far concluded on such Reasonable Demands of the two Houses and Royal Concessions of his Majesty as upon three days mature deliberation it was resolved that the King's Answer to the Propositions of both Houses was a ground for them to proceed upon for the settlement of the Nation with his Majesties consent Who was in order thereunto to have been restored to the Freedom Safety and Honour that became his place he thereupon assured himself that his Majesty having now in order to an accommodation granted as much as modesty could ask there would undoubtedly follow a Peace and settlement of the Kingdom with an universal satisfaction and that the happiness and not the error of the Government were some Mens grievances which proved but too true For to such a height waâ— the Malice and Impudence of Cromweâ— and some other Officers of the Army now grown that they resolved to employ their Power against those that gave it them and to oppose themselves against the wisht for Peace and Settlement of the Kingdom therefore finding that all the pretence of Authority now failed them by the Parliaments Resolution to set the King at Liberty they now make use of plain Force and boldly adventure to contradict the Resolves of the Parliament it self from whom they had first received their pretended Commissions and presume without Law first to imprison them in their own House and then to sequester as many of them as they please from coming thither Whereby having patcht a Juncto of their own which they still ridiculously called by the name
be made which was delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz Keeble Whitlock and Lisly and considered of new Oaths to be adminstred to the Judges who thereupon met and upon debate six of them were contented to continue in their Employments provided the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom were not altered For whose satisfaction the Juncto by their Declaration of the Ninth of February did assure them that they were fully resolved to maintain and would uphold preserve and keep the Fundamental Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the Laws Properties and Liberties of the People with all things incident thereunto They proceeded likewise to appoint such Persons as they thought would be most firm to their Interest to exercise the Offices of Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation and constituted a Council of State consisting of about forty in number whereof five might be Lords And finally to secure all whereas they had before onely repealed they now abolish and make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy But notwithstanding all their endeavours to render themselves secure and firm in their Government yet the People began now to be generally discontented And those who had formerly affected them growing sensible of the Inconveniencies that were like to ensue upon the cutting off of their Prince beginning to abhor their practices there was a general Plot carried on against them in all the Counties of England Which obliged them to send Forces into most parts to awe them and thereby the better to keep them in order Notwithstanding which Contrivances of theirs to bar up the way to that Imperial Throne which they had impudently invaded and parted into shares amongst themselves there were some who had Courage and Loyalty enough left them to assert the King's Right and their own Duty in a Printed Proclamation thrown about the Streets And to convince the Juncto at Westminster that all men would not be wheedled to run a gadding after their Calves at Bethel but that there were some still left who would tread in the old Path and beaten Tract of Government in the succession of Charles the Second to the Crown of England which Proclamation was as follows We the Noblemen Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Ministers Free-holders Merchants Citizens c. and other Freemen of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and proclaim the Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next Heir of the Blood Royal to his Father King Charles whose late wicked and traiterous Murder we do from our Souls abominate and all Parties and Consenters thereunto to be by hereditary Birthright and lawful Succession Rightful and undoubted King of Great Brittain France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging And that we will faithfully constantly and sincerely in our several places and callings defend and maintain His Royal Person Crown and Dignity with our Estates Lives and last drop of our Blood against all Opposers thereof whom we do hereby declare to be Traitors and Enemies to His Majesty and His Kingdoms In testimony whereof we have ordered and caused to be published and proclaimed throughout all Countrys and Corporations of this Realm the first day of February and the first year of His Majesties Reign God save King Charles the Second Which Proclamation although without any Solemnity or indeed open Appearance met with the same chearful Reception and inward Loyal Resolutions as if Vent had been given to a publick manifestation of Duty and Joy by His Majesties present ascending the Throne For it revived the hearts of his mourning and disconsolate Subjects to see the sure and certain Succession thereof asserted and continued in the same most beloved and darling Name the Eldest Branch and descended of their martyr'd Soveraign in whose Ruins the Regicides thought to have rak'd up and buried all Claims and Just Titles to the Imperial Diadem of these Kingdoms The said Out-cries and lamentable Groans sent forth by all Loyal Subjects at the Loss of their Head together with the Martyrs Instructions and his George which were according to his Fathers desire sent him by the Dutch Embassador found him at the Hague in Holland where he then kept his Court and was first saluted King and the horrour thereof so seized his great Soul with wonder and astonishment that it had certainly sunk under the weight of it had not the Religious Consideration that he ought not to sorrow as one without hope buoyed up his Spirit and Reason forbid him to cast away himself with grief who was then become the only hope of three Kingdoms Generous Rage prompting Princes to Revenge rather than Despair which was not to be accomplisht by weeping Eyes but by wise Counsels and valiant Performances Wherefore he bravely cheered up and reassumed his wonted Courage Comfort State and Majesty And for the better managing of his Affairs went soon after to Paris to solicit that Court to embrace his Interest and afford him some Assistance for the recovery of his Right and the redressing his Subjects miseries by discountenancing the English Rebels and furnishing him with that competency of Money Men Arms and Ammunition which might enable him not to Invade his Country but to encourage his own Subjects to rescue themselves from a forced Slavery But the French King being under Age and Cardinal Mazarine who then governed the great Affairs of that Kingdom being no Friend to this banisht and distressed King but holding a correspondence with his rebellious Subjects he was able to procure no Assistance from thence Whereupon he next applied himself to Spain whither he sent the Lord Cottington as his Embassador who upon his arrival there was confronted by a Competitor viz. Ascham who called himself an Embassador from the then New Majesties of England until he was dispatcht by some Switz After which Cottington was dismist with this Answer That were it any thing in the King of Spain's own Dominion which his Master of Great Brittain had desired it should have been no sooner requested than granted But being a Forreign Quarrel he could not interest himself therein in regard it was not reasonable he should busie himself in other mens matters who had so many Irons in the fire himself But in the mean time the Emperor the Princes of Germany the Kings of Denmark and Sweden being acquainted with the present circumstance of his Affairs by his several Embassadors sent to each of them they highly resented his deplorable condition and resolved his speedy assistance and supply And Holland upon his Account and the Interest of his Sister the Princess of Orange did upon terms agreed on between the late King and their Embassador two days before his death resolve not to vail to this younger Sisters State as they had been wont to do to the Kings of England but by the Forlorn of some private acts of Hostility begin that difference which soon after brake out into an open War Nor
was he altogether void of Assistance from England being underhand supplied with some Moneys by his Loyal Friends from thence But Scotland was more entirely at his Devotion who having shewed their sad Resentment of his Fathers Death by observing a Publick Fast on that occasion on the 19th of February and chearfully promoted his Succession by the Estates of Parliament there assembled a Proclamation was issued out for the solemn proclaiming and declaring him to be their lawful King and Governour which was as follows His late Majesty being contrary to the consent and protestation of this Kingdom removed by violent Death we the Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland do unanimously in Recognition of his Just Rights proclaim his Eldest Son Prince Charles by the Providence of God and undoubted Succession King of Great Britain France and Ireland whom we are bound by the National and Solemn League and Covenant to obey maintain and defend with our Lives and Goods against all his Enemies But before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royal Power he shall give satisfaction to these Kingdoms touching the Security of Religion the Vnity oâ— the two Kingdoms and the Good and Peace of this Kingdom according to the National and Solemn League and Covenant God save the King Which Proclamation was for the better assuring the truth of their designed Allegiance to the Crown made in a most solemn manner at Edinburgh Cross which was hung with Tapestry all the parliament-Parliament-Lords attending there in their Robes and the Chancellor himself reading the said Proclamation and reciting the Murder of his late Majesty to the King at Arms the night being concluded with all usual demonstrations of Joy and Gladness Which being over they sent an Expostulatory Letter to those at Westminster to give them an Account of their proceedings and require their concurrence therewith In answer whereunto they received Letters stuft with flattery and protestations of Amity and Friendship if they would desist from acting any farther therein and acquiesce and concur with their proceedings in England But they knowing that their Countrys Honour had been lost by the same Traiterous proffers refused to hearken to their overtures protesting in their messages directed to Lenthal the Speaker that they would not enter into any Treaty with them nor own them unless they were a free Parliament consisting of both houses without any force upon or seclusion of their members Wherefore having hereby made the English Parliament implacably their Enemies they endeavor to assure his Majesty to be their Friend ordring Joseph Douglas to repair forthwith to him at the Hague and acquaint him with what they had done and were preparing to do And presently after sent several Commissioners to treat with him about his repairing to them and entring upon the exercise of his Kingly Office Whereupon their Commissioners at London having sent a peremptory Paper to the Juncto withdrew themselves privately from London intending to pass by Sea for Scotland but were intercepted at Graves-end and by a Guard conveyed thither by Land an Envoy going likewise with them to the Scottish Parliament to know if they would justifie the aforesaid Paper who beginning now to be more than ever enraged against the Rump dismist him without any Answer but prepared themselves for defence intending to levy 17000 Foot and 6000 Horse against the return of their Commissioners who landing about the middle of the Summer though they did not bring with them a confirmation of the Agreement yet gave certain hopes of it by a Treaty presently to be commenced the King offering to perform whatsoever his Father had promised for the settlement of Presbytery Upon which Encouragement the Lord Liberton was presently dispatcht to wait upon the King who was then preparing for his return from the Hague through Flanders into France which he did on June 15 in company with his Sister and her Husband the Prince of Orange in their Coach and came early to Rotterdam where he was received by the Bâ—rghers in their Arms and saluted in his passing the Gates with the Artillery Ringing of Bells and all other signs of Joy and Honour and Noblely treated by them From whence he went to Dort where he was received in the same manner and then to Breda and then to Antwerp where by order of the Arch-Duke of Austria he was met and entertained with all possible state and splendor being presented likewise with a rich Chariot with eight Horses suitable thereunto and particularly welcomed by his former Tutor the Marquess of Newcastle who had then fixt his Residence there out of respect to the great Civility which he received from that People who had made him Excise-free and given him several other Immunities and Priviledges And from thence conducted to Brussels where he was as royally entertained with as much grandeur as if he had been the King of Spain himself And the King did afterward acknowledge that Entertainment for the most sumptuous and magnificent and to have in it the most pleasing variety of any that he ever met withal during the whole time of his Exile Which Amplitudes were observed throughout his whole passage For at his departure thence the Duke of Lorrayn gave him the like Entertainment and conducted him on his way toward France where in Compaign the French King accompanied with the most and choicest of his Nobility did receive and welcom him with all the Testimonies of Affection and Honour that became such a Prince and afterward conveyed him in State to St. Germains where the Queen his Mother then resided So that although he was banisht from his Throne yet he wanted not a Kingdom all men whereever he came being so taken with his Virtues that they seemed willing to become his Subjects Nor was his Court much inferiour in numbers and splendor to those of other Princes who were in the actual possession of their Crowns Toward the maintenance whereof his Aunt the Dutchess of Savoy assigned him fifty thousand Crowns per Annum several others contributing likewise thereunto according to their abilities He was very much solicited about this time by the Scottish Commissioners to repair to that Kingdom but finding that the Conditions upon which they were willing to admit him were such as he could not in honour accept of especially the parting with Montross he resolved to steer another course and therefore grants a Commission to Montross to Levy what Forces he could beyond the Sea and with them go and joyn the Lord Seworth Major Straughan and others who had got to Head for the King without the Kirk in the North of Scotland But they being routed before he came by Lisley and himself not long after his Arrival defeated by a Party of the Kirks Forces and taken Prisoner most ignominiously hanged at Edinburgh he was as it were forced by the necessity of his Affairs to comply with their demands which was so much the easier done in regard that about that time
Rights which none but such Monsters as themselves would unjustly detain from so great and so good a Prince Wherefore being deeply sensible of their danger they prepare for War but whether it should be Offensive or Defensive was yet a question among them But at last considering that if there must be a War it had ever been a Maxim among the greatest Politicians that it was most prudent to make the Enemies Country the Seat of it They resolved upon an Offensive War hoping that Scotland would quickly be weary of maintaining two Armies since it had so much ado to keep one And that since they were informed their Levies went on flowly they thought that their Forces which were already on Foot might easily go and surprize them before they lookt for them or were half ready to entertain them In order whereunto Cromwel being called out of Ireland was in great state made Captain General of all their Forces raised or to be raised in England Scotland and Ireland The Lord Fairfax who had in him some sparks of Loyalty waving at once that Employment and his own Commission not as some imagine to avoid the hazard of that Expedition for he was one that never turned his back upon danger but because he was unwilling any longer to be subservient to those base and vile Designs which he now began to abhor Whilst these preparations were making in England the King removed from the Hague to Diep in Normandy and from thence to Scheveling from whence after a dangerous Storm and narrow escape of some English Vessels which lay in wait for him he arrived safe at the Spey in the North of Scotland which the Parliament being informed of they sent some Lords to receive and attend him from thence to Edinburgh where he is received by the Parliament and Committee of Estates and Kirk with infinite expressions of Fidelity and Affection the common people like so many Echoes to their Superiors and the whole City sounding nothing but Vive le Roy. But Cromwel being advanced with his Army into Scotland and having been successful in some smaller Encounters and given them a total overthrow at Dunbar they found themselves in a sad and perplexed condition having not only the Enemy raging in the bowels of that Kingdom but being extreamly divided also amongst themselves wherefore they now thought it high time to unite among themselves In order whereunto a general meeting was appointed at St. Johnstons which should consist of King Lords and Commons and the Assembly of the Ministers in which Assembly several Lords formerly in favour with the Kirk were admitted to Commands in the Army and a Liberty to sit in Parliament as Hamilton Lauderdale and others And Major General Massey formerly Governour of Glocester for the Parliament but afterward reconciled to the King was admitted to a Command in the Army And as the perfection of all the Kings Coronation was there resolved upon so that now their wounds began to heal and their breaches to be made up again and it was generally hoped that these Clouds of Division being blown over a serene Sky would immediately follow and the Sun of Prosperity shine on their future proceedings The Parliament of Scotland in pursuance of those resolutions at St. Johnstons having dissolved themselves in order to the Kings Coronation it was performed on the first of January at Schone in as Solemn and Splendid manner as the exigency of the time could bear his Majesty with a great Train of his Nobles and others went first to the Kirk where a Sermon was Preacht by a Scotch Minister whose name was Duglass upon those words then they brought out the Kings Son and put upon him the Crown and gave him the Testimony and made him King and Jehojadah and his Son Anointed him saying God save the King 2 Chron. 23 11. Joined to these words and Jehojadah made a Covenant between all the People and between the King that they should be the Lords People v. 16. Which Sermon being ended he was conducted from his Chair of State which was placed in the Kirk to that erected for his Coronation by the Lord High Constable and the Earl Marshal where being placed he was Proclaimed King by Herald King at Arms and then clad with a Robe of State by the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward After which sitting he consented to the National Covenant the Solemn League Covenant Directory and the Catechisms and promised upon his Royal word to perform them so far as he understood them to be agreeable to the Word of God in his own Family in his Kingdom of Scotland and in all his other Dominions as soon as it should please God to restore him thereunto Which being done the Coronation Oath was next read which was Enacted in the first Parliament of King James and is as follows That His Majesty shall maintain that Religion Discipline and Worship that is most agreeable to the Word of God to the best Patrons of Reformation and is against all Heresy Schism Idolatry Superstition and Prophaneness that he should govern the Kingdom by Law and Equity and that he should maintain the just Rights of the Crown and Priviledges of the People After the reading of which Oath he declared with an audible Voice that he did promise in the name of the great God who Lives for ever that he would to the uttermost of his Power endeavour to do the things contained in that Oath Which done Herald King at Arms went to the four corners of the Stage and demanded of the People four times whether they were willing that Charles the Second Son and Heir of Charles the First should be King over them to which the People answered Long live King Charles God Save the King Then the Marquess of Argile Presented him with the Royal Scepter the Earl of Eglington put on the Spurs the Lord High Constable set the Crown upon his Head and the Earl Marshal having unsheathed the Sword put it into his hand to defend the Faith withal which having held a while he delivered it to the Earl of Glencarn to be carried before him Then the Nobility Gentry and Commons of the Kingdom did as in the presence of the Great God that Lives for ever swear Allegiance Fealty and Obedience to him as to their Liege and Soveraign Lord and the whole Ceremony was concluded by an Exhortation of the Minister to his Majesty to the Nobility to the Clergy and to the Commons the sum and substance whereof was in reference to the Covenant which they then lookt upon as the Center from which every Line both of Soveraignty and the Subjects Duty was to be drawn in their respective Circumstances And for a power to perform what he then exhorted them to the assistance of God is invoked by prayer who being Alpha and Omega they made him the first with whom they began and the last with whom they finished So soon as the Crown was set upon his Head he made a
should be at which time looking out at the Closet Window he saw two Soldiers passing by on the Road telling Huddleston that he knew one of them to be a Highlander and of his own Regiment who little imagined his King and Colonel to be so near and thereupon entred into some discourse with him about the particulars of the Battel at Worcester who told him that his Counsels had been sooner discovered to the Rebels than executed by his Loyal Subjects On Wednesday about one in the morning Lane himself brought the Horses to conduct him to Wilmot who went the day before to Lanes House at Bently At his departure from Whitgrave's he acknowledged his gratuity by returning them many thanks giving them directions to repair to a Merchant in London who should have order to furnish them with Mony and means to convey them beyond the Sea if their entertaining of him should happen to be discovered promising moreover that if ever God should restore him to his Crown he would not be unmindful of their civilities And so being furnish'd with a Cloak and Boots he went to a corner of the Orchard where Lane attended him and went with him to Bently where according to his intention he took the opportunity of her Pass and rode before her to Bristol the Lord Lord Wilmot attending him at a distance The King being somewhat indisposed in body complained to Mistris Lane that his Cloak wearied him whereupon she desired her Father who likewise rode with them to carry it for him but she had not rode far before she met her Brother-in-law who demanded if her Father must carry her man's Cloak she replied to wipe off all suspicion that it was so big that it often endangered the throwing her down or otherwise she would not have been so uncivil And no sooner was they rid of this danger but they met with one far greater for being to pass through a Town where a Troop of Horse was drawn up as if on purpose to oppose their passage he began to fear the worst but the Captain was very civil and taking them for honest Travellers as indeed they were commanded his Troop to open to the Right and Left and give them free and quiet passage To intermix so many Tragical stories with a little mirth I cannot pass by an accident which happened to him at Leigh which although surrounded with so many misfortunes made him laugh at the conceit of it For being left there in the Kitchin under the notion of a Serving-man the Maid entred into discourse with him inquiring where he was born what trade he was how long he had lived with Mistris Lane and several such Question suitable to a Kitchin Maids curiosity to which he replied he was born at Brumingham and was a Nâ—ylors Son But the Jack being down she desired him to wind it up which task he willingly undertook but being unskilful therein went the wrong way about it and was like to have spoiled the Jack whereupon the Maid highly incensed it being usual with Cooks to be of cholerick dispositions vented her passion in Billingsgate terms asking him Where he was bred and telling him he was the most ignorant fellow she ever saw in her life that could not tell how to wind up a Jack with other such kind of Language as came uppermost which being uttered with much vehemence made him notwithstanding his present condition walk out of the Room smiling This Gentleman having great resort to his House he feared it might occasion a discovery of his Person he seigned himself sick of an Ague and under that pretence kept his Chamber all day and came down only at nights and that his Disease might appear real he desired of the Butler a Glass of Wine who courteously invited him into the Cellar and there forced him to drink two or three Healths one to his Majesty and another to his Mother But at length by something he observed in him notwithstanding his Disguise he suspected him to be the King and thereupon falling on his knees begged his Pardon and assured him he would be faithful to him in whatsoever he should command him of which he took little or no notice but having drunk off his Wine went away Whereupon the Butler's suspicion increasing he went up and inquired of M. Lassel who though angry at the Butler's inquisitiveness yet he demanded the reason of it and the Butler whispering him in the ear told him he believed it was the King upon which unexpected accident he sent for him up and acquainted him with the Butlers suspicion who though he was displeased with his not having acquainted him first with it yet putting confidence in him denied it not and afterward found him very instrumental in his conveyance through the Country Being desirous to free himself from all dangers of discovery he was desirous to hasten his putting out to Sea but though there lay a little Bark there deemed very fit for that purpose yet the Master would for no reward be prevailed upon to transport a single Person whereupon unwilling to tempt Providence too far he resolved to go farther West to a Noble Gentlemans House whom he knew to be a trusty friend being accompanied thither by Mr. Lassell and Mrs. Lane where he was concealed for about a week and at last preparation was made for his passage But coming to the place where it was provided he chanced to dine with a Colonel of the Parliament Army whereupon fearing that his embarking singly might raise some suspicion in him he rather chose to lose the benefit of his passage than after so many Storms and Tempests to split upon a Rock within sight of Harbour and therefore returned to the place from whence he came from whence after about three weeks longer concealment he was conveyed through by-ways to a Gentlemans House in Sussex where having continued some few days and the heat of the search after him being now pretty well over he was at last furnish'd with a small Vessel which took him in at Sharrem a little Creek in that County and Landed him near Havre-de-grace in Normandy When the Skipper saw him he was a little daunted for he presently knew him having seen him divers times before but having somewhat collected himself he said since he had undertaken so good a work he was resolved to venture hanging rather than not perform it to which the King replied he need not put himself upon that hazard for if he pleased he should go along with him where he should not want as long as he was able to provide for him Hamilton Darby Lauderdale Gifford and the rest having thus disposed of the King in a way of security march'd from White-Ladies Northward by the way of Newport in hope to overtake or meet General Lesley with the main Body of the Scotch Horse but assoon as they were got into the Road the Lord Leviston who commanded his Majesties Life-Guard overtook them being pursued by a Party of
Lorrain Forces from their Service and imployed them to reduce Ireland knowing that the winning that was the most probable way for the obtaining of England and promising in recompence to make that Duke Duke of Ireland but they thought he only aimed at their disappointment upon the account of which misinterpretations of his peaceable design in his endeavours to reconcile them he was forced to retire for some time to St. Germans his Mother being scarce able to stay at the Louvre for the unreasonable and causless clamours of the mistaken multitude but when their heat and fury was over he returned thither again where he staid for some time longer in great esteem with that Court until the subtle Cardinal began under-hand to make a Peace with Cromwel and when he could not by all the means he used prevent its taking effect he retired toward Germany knowing that the issue of it would be a fair complementing of him out of their Dominions and banishing of him out of his very exile Upon his arrival in Germany he is entertained by the Elector of Cologn and during his stay in that Court he had an interview with the Queen of Sweden whom as the Report went he was to have married had he not disliked her light and Frenchified Deportment In the interview he thank'd her for all those civilities which she had for his sake shewed to any of his Friends and particularly to Montross to which she replied their own and his worth deserved no less There was present at this interview the King 's two Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester the latter whereof was sent for by him from Paris upon information that his Mother had a design to put him into the Jesuits Colledge and breed him up in the Popish Religion to which he was always an irreconcileable Enemy and therefore would not permit his Brother to be brought up in it And so pregnant an instance of his intire love to and resolution to defend the Protestant Religion profess'd in the Church of England was his proceedings in this Affair even in those days when there was so little hopes to see it ever restored again that I think it worthy of a perpetual remembrance and therefore shall here insert the chief circumstances relating to it Having designed to take the Duke of Glocester with him into Germany he was prevail'd upon by the Queen to leave him with her at Paris promising that she would not permit any force to be put upon him for the prevailing with him to change his Religion but that he should be attended by those Protestant Servants which himself had placed about him and have free liberty to resort to the Publick Service of the Church of England at the King's Chappel which was then at Sir Richard Brown's house whom he left as his Resident in Paris But not long after his departure the Duke under pretence of weaning him from the company of some young French Gallants who being in the same Academy were grown into a more familiar conversation with him than was thought convenient was removed to Abbot Mountague's house at his Abby near Pontoise and after he had been there a few days Mr. Lovel who was his Tutor going to Paris for one day only upon business designedly contrived as was suspected by the Abbot during his absence he was vehemently press'd by the Abbot with all the strongest Motives Spiritual or Temporal that he thought might prevail upon him to turn Roman Catholick and having no Protestant near him at that time to advise withal but Mr. Griffin of his Bed-Chamber a Gentleman about his own age both of them not being able to make much more than Thirty he doubted not but to prevail But notwithstanding the greenness of his years such was his zeal for his Religion that after having made ingenious Replies to all the Abbots Arguments he told him that he very much admired how he durst make that attempt upon him knowing that the Queen had engaged her word to the King that no change of his Religion should be endeavoured And telling him that for his own part he was resolved not to incurr the King's displeasure by neglecting to observe his Royal Command whereby he expresly forbid him to listen to any Arguments which should be used with him for the change of his Religion And that as to the specious Pretences of making him a Cardinal or procuring of him to be advanced to the English Throne he did with indignation and contempt deride and reject them complaining withal of his being disingeniously dealt with by his being thus assaulted in the absence of his Tutor whom the King had placed over him and who he believed could easily refute the strongest of his Arguments Which upon his return he did so fully that it was thought convenient to remove the Duke back again to Paris where he was permitted to resort to the King's Chappel and enjoy the free exercise of his Religion for the present though it was not long that he did so for after some little time the Queen own'd the attempt done on him to be with her own approbation declaring that she could not but endeavour notwithstanding her Promise to the King that he should not be forced to have her Son shewed the right way to Heaven and to have that way proposed to him which she thought most requisite for the guiding him thereunto And that she might notwithstanding that repulse prevail upon him by degrees his Protestant Tutor was put from him and himself hurried out of Paris in great hast thereby to deprive him of the assistance of any Protestant and conveyed to Mr. Croft's house but under the care of Abbot Mountague none of his Servants but Griffin being permitted to attend him The News whereof did deeply affect all the Loyal Protestant Exiles then in Paris but especially the Lord Hatton who understanding how violently that young Prince was persecuted for his Religion he consulted with that famous Confessor for the Church of England Dr. Cousins then Dean of Peterborough and Chaplain to his Majesty and since the King's Restauration Bishop of Durham who thereupon drew up what Arguments and Instructions he thought convenient to fortifie the Duke in that violent assault And knowing how strictly he was guarded from the access of any Protestant he being by his Lady related to the Abbot went to give him a visit but his design was soon guessed at and tho' he obtain'd for that time access to the Duke yet he was so carefully watch'd that it was not without much difficulty that he unperceived conveyed to him the Instructions that he had prepared for him and was forced for the future to vary his stratagems to procure farther Advices to be from time to time delivered to him And so narrowly was the Duke eyed by the Popish Spies set over him and the Priests who were uncessantly torturing of him with their pressures to change his Religion that he had no opportunity to peruse any of
and hearty thanks for the same and to assure him of their Loyalty and Duty And that they would give him a speedy Answer to his gracious Proposals Resolving moreover that the sum of 50000 l. should be presented him from that House and 10000 l. to each of his Royal Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester Which Resolves were no sooner reported in London then the Citizens were extreamly transported with Joy The harmony of Bells and the flaming Piles which enlighted every Street surrounded with incredible Shouts and Acclamations being sufficient demonstrations of the infinite Pleasure and Satisfaction which every one took in that no less strange than happy Revolution And the several Countries taking Allarm from London contended which should outvy the other in expressions of Loyalty and Joy And General Mountague having communicated to the Fleet the Letters he received from the King and the Duke of York together with those directed to the Parliament they unanimously declared their Resolution to adhere to him and to live and die in his defence humbly desiring the Generals to present the same to the King whereupon Mountague himself immediately fired a Gun crying God bless His Majesty and the whole Fleet. Thereupon presently appeared in its pride and glory with Pendants loose Guns roaring Caps flying and Vive le Roys loudly ecchoing from one Ships Company to another which were answered by the great Guns from Dale and Sandwich Castles nor was this Joy confined to England but spread it self into Scotland and Ireland also And now the Parliament longing for the King's presence amongst them as the Israelites did for the return of King David drew up a Letter in answer to that which they had receiv'd from him superscribing it to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty wherein they requested his speedy return to the exercise of his Kingly Office appointing Commissioners to go over to Holland and attend him during his stay there and in his Voyage for England There being six appointed for the House of Lords and twelve for the House of Commons to which upon the Request of the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London was added twenty on the behalf of that City who having receiv'd their Instructions set sail for Holland with several Frigots appointed by the Parliament to attend them the whole Fleet being likewise committed to the King's pleasure the General whereof had Orders from the Parliament to obey such Orders and Directions as he should receive from His Majesty The Commissioners upon their arrival at Breda delivered their respective Messages with all imaginable reverence and veneration according to the Instructions they had received from their Principals beseeching His Majesty in the name of his Parliament and People to return to his Inheritance and re-assume his Crown and Scepter assuring him that he should be infinitely welcome to them without any Tearms which Invitation was gladly accepted and the Commissioners were received by him with a Grace and Port like himself and entertain'd with extraordinary Magnificence and Bounty The Parliament in the mean time proceeded to the Proclaiming of him which was perform'd with all that Joy Splendor and Magnificence that their Loyalty could inspire the Lord General attended by all the Peers the most Eminent of the Commons the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with the Trained Bands of London assisting at the Ceremony The Proclamation being as followeth viz. Although it can no way be doubted but that his Majesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the Death of his Most Royal Father of Glorious Memory without the Ceremony or Solemnity of a Proclamation yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used to the end that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testify their Duty and Respect and since the Armed violence and other Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and Unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim that immediately upon the Decease of our late Soveraign King Charles the First the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England and all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by Inherent Birth-right and Lawful undoubted Succession Descend and come to his Most Excellent Majesty King Charles the Second as being Lineally Justly and Lawfully next Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm And that by the Goodness and Providence of Almighty God he is of England Scotland and Ireland the Most Potent Mighty and Undoubted King and thereunto we Most Humbly and Faithfully do submit and oblige our selves our Heirs and Posterities for ever At the reading whereof the whole City rang with the Sound of God Save and God Bless King Charles the Second the Shouts and Acclamations of the crowding multitudes being so extraordinary that although all the Bells throughout the City and Suburbs were then Ringing their Noise was not to be heard The King having now by his extraordinary Wisdom and Conduct thus happily contriv'd his return to his Crown and Kingdom without the spilling of his Subjects Blood and having brought his Affairs to their desired Issue prepared to leave Holland and after so long and tedious an Exile returned to his Harass'd and almost ruined Realms being upon his departure Splendidly Treated by the Dutch for a Fortnight together with all the Pomp and Magnificence imaginable and presented with the Richest Bed and Furniture together with Tapestry for Hangings Embossed with Gold and Silver and adorned with Pictures that could be procured and Highly Complemented by all the Forreign Ministers then Resident there For these Noble Entertainments which together with the Present of the Dutch about one hundred Thousand Pounds he gave the States General and those of Holland his Hearty Thanks in their Publick Assemblies whither he went on Foot and having taken his leave of them and commended to them the interest of his Sister and his Nephew the Prince of Orange they delivered their sence of the present circumstance of Affairs and declared the greatness of that joy they conceived for his Miraculous Restauration in the following Speech If one may judge of the content which we have to see your Majesty depart from our Province by the satisfaction we had to possess you we shall have no great trouble to make it known to you your Majesty might have observed in the countenance of all our People the Joy they had in their Hearts to see a Prince cherished of God a Prince wholly miraculous and a Prince that is probable to make a part of their quietness and felicity your Majesty shall see presently all the Streets filled all the ways covered and all the Hills loaden with People which will
arriving there early that afternoon went to Chattam to see the Soveraign and other Ships of the Royal Navy and returned again in the evening to his Lodgings where he was welcomed by an Address from Gib his Regiment deliver'd to him by the Collonel himself which was graciously accepted and the next Morning being the 29th of May which was his Birth-day he set forward from Rochester the Militia forces of Kent lining the wayes and the Maidens strowing herbs and Flowers and adorning the houses through all the streets he pass'd And being come to Dartford the Officers of the Regiments of Horse presented him with an humble Address wherein they declared their readiness to Sacrifice their Lives in defence of his person Government the Army being drawn up at Black-Heath he there took a view of them and us'd many gracious expressions towards them which were answered by them with loud and joyful Acclamations and the several Regiments being placed in order he advanced toward London and came about one of the Clock to St. Georges Fields where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen who waited there in a Tent to receive him delivered him their Sword which he re-delivered and Knighted Sir Thomas Allen who was then Mayor After a short repast he proceeded into London through Southwark and so from the Bridge to Temple Barr the Streets being Railed on one side with standings for the Liveries and on the other with the Trained bands through which he passed in a splendid and Triumphant manner to White-hall A Troop of about 300 Gentlemen in Doublets of Cloth of Silver led by Major General Brown marcht first brandishing their Swords in token of Triumph being follow'd by another of the like number in Velvet Coats with their Foot-men and Lacquies in Purple Liveries then marcht the Troop led by Coll. Robinson in Buff-Coats with Cloth of Silver sleeves and green Scarves followed by another in blew Liveryes and Silver Lace their Colours being Red fringed with Silver Then marcht a Troop with six Trumpets and seven Foot-men before them in Sea-green and Silver their Colours being pinck fringed with Silver followed by another Troop whose Liveries were gray and blew under the Earl of Northampton having 30 Foot-men Trumpets four their Colours being Sky with Silver fringed Then marcht a Troop in Gray Liveries of about an hundred and five led by the Lord Goring having six Trumpets and Colours of Sky and Silver followed by another of about Seventy After these marcht a Troop of about three hundred Noble-men and Gentry led by Cleveland followed by another of about one hundred with black Colours and after them marcht a Troop of about three hundred Horse led by the Lord Mordant These being all past two Trumpets with his Majesties Arms advanced with the Sheriffs Men being about Seventy-two in number in red Cloaks and Silver-Lace and carrying half Pikes Then followed the Gentlemen that rode out of the several Companies of London with their respective Streamers in Velvet Coats and Gold Chains every Company haing its Footmen with different Liveries being about six hundred After them came a Kettle Drum and five Trumpets followed by twelve Ministers then his Majesties Life-Guard advanced being led by Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Major Rascarrock who were followed by the City Marshal with eight Foot-men and the City Waits and Officers in order and they by the two Sheriffs and all the Aldermen of London in their Scarlet Gowns and Rich Trappings attended with great numbers of Footmen in Red Coats laced with Silver and Cloth of Gold Then followed the Maces and Heralds in their Rich Coats the Lord Mayor bare carrying the Sword and the General and the Duke of Buckingham bare also after whom as the chiefest Ray of Lustre to all this Splendid Triumph rode the King himself between his two Royal Brothers having observed that order all along from the very first overture of his return After them marcht a Troop bare with white Colours then the Generals Life-Guard and another Troop of Gentry and last of all marcht five Regiments of the Army Horse with Back Breast and Head-Pieces which diversified the shew with delight terror This was the manner of his passing through London for it is impossible for the most florid and Ingenious Pen to express those loud Musical and Ravishing Notes of Acclamations and Vive-le-Roy's which then filled the Mouths and charmed the Ears of all his transported Subjects Being in this manner brought to White-hall and the Lord Mayor and Citizens having taken their leave of him he went to the Banqueting House where both Houses of Parliament waited his Arrival and received him with those demonstrations of joy and expressions of Reverence humility that became them The Speakers of each House in elegant Speeches acquainting him with the felicity and happiness they conceived in that happy revolution and the pleasure they took to behold his return in safety and thereby putting an end to that Tyranny and Slavery which his Kingdoms had so long endured He thankt them for their expressions of love and Loyalty and told them that he was so disorder'd by his Journey and with the noise still sounding in his ears which he nevertheless confest to be pleasing to him in regard it exprest the affections of his People that he was thereby unfit to make them such a Reply as he desired adding that the greatest Satisfaction he took in that change was the finding his heart fully set to endeavour by all means the Restoring the Nation to its freedom and happiness which he hop'd by the advice of his Parliament to effect assuring them that next to the honour of God from whom principally he deriv'd his restoration to his Crown he would study the well-fare of his people and not only approve himself a true Defender of the Faith but also a just Assertor of the Laws and Liberties of his Subjects And having taken leave of them he retir'd to Supper and soon after to his rest where it was time for him to find a sweet and sedate repose free from the confus'd noise and clamours of War wherewith he had been for twenty years together strangely toss'd upon the boistrous Waves of fickle and unconstant Fortune On the Friday following he went by Water in the Brigandine which brought him on board the Charles from Holland to the house of Lords the Yeomen of the guard making a lane for him to pass through and the Heraulds at Arms in their Rich Coats the Maces and the Lord General bare-headed going before him As soon as he was seated he commanded the Commons to attend him and having in a short but elegant speech prest them to hasten the Act of oblivion he sign'd several Bills which they had made ready against that time for the Royal assent the First whereof was an Act for the confirmation of that Parliament a second for a Tax of seventy thousand pound per mensem for 3 Months and a third for the continuance of Process and
Exchecquer and Judges of the Law according to their several Dignities Trumpets Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber Knights of the Bath the Knights Marshal the Treasurer of the Chamber the Master of the Jewel House the Knights of the Privy Councel the Comptrollor and the Treasurer of the Kings-Household two Trumpets and Serjeants Trumpets two Pursivants at Arms Barons Eldest Sons Earls Youngest Sons Viscounts Eldest Sons Marquesses Youngest Sons Earls Eldest Sons two Pursivants at Armes Viscounts and Dukes Eldest Sons Marquesses Eldest Sons two Heralds Earls Earl Marshal and Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Dukes Eldest Sons Serjeants at Armes on both sides the Nobility Clarencieux and Norroy Lord Treasurer Lord Chancellor Lord High-Steward the Duke of Ormond and two persons representing the Dukeâ— of Normandy and Aquitain Gentleman Usher Garter Lord Mayor His Royal Highness the Duke of York alone the Lord High Constable of England which was the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Great Chamberlain of England which was then the Earl Lindsey and the Sword carryed by the Duke of Richmond Equeries and Footmen followed next and about the King himself Gentlemen and Pensioners without them Master of the Horse which was the Duke of Albemarle leading a Spare Horse the Vice-Chamberlain to the King the Captain of the Pensioners the Captain of the Guard the Guard the Kings Life Guard Commanded by the Lord Gerrard the Generals Life Guard by Sir Phillip Howard a Troop of Voluntiers Troop and a Company of Foot by Sir John Robinson The way from the Tower to Aldgate was guarded by the Hamblets from thence to Temple-Bar by the Train-Bands on the one side and by the Livery on the other with the Banners of each Company the Windows were all along laid with Carpets and the best Tapistry Bands of Musick in several places and the Conduits running with Wine In St. Pauls Church-Yard stood the Blewcoat-Boyes of Christ-Church Hospital one whereof in the Name of the rest declared their joy for his Majesties wonderful Preservation and Restauration Humbly beseeching his Gracious Favour and Indulgence according to the example of His Royal Ancestors and his Father of Blessed Memory With which Speech he was well pleased and testified his being so by his rewarding the Boy that spoke it In the Strand and through Westminster the wayes were likewise gravelled and railed and guarded on both sides with the Trained-Bands of that City and the Kings two Regiments of Foot under the Command of Albemarl and Collonel Russel and the Houses adorned with Carpets and Tapestry like those in London When he came through Temple-Bar the Head Bayliffe and High-Constable in Scarlet met and received him with loud Musick and alighting off their Horses and kneeling down the Head Bayliff on behalf of the Dean and Chapter City and Liberty signified their Joyful Reception of His Royal Person into that Liberty Declaring how much their happiness exceeded any other part of the Nations in that their Soveraign Lord and King was come among them and humbly desiring His Majesty to continue his Grace and Favour to them whereby they might still be enabled to do His Majesty service Infinite and Innumerable were the Shouts and Acclamations from all parts as he past along to the no less Joy than amazement of the Spectators And the Pomp of this Solemnity was so great that it is vain to attempt the describing it it being not only unutterable but almost Inconceivable and many outlandish Persons who beheld it admired how it was possible for the English after such horrible confusions to appear in so rich and stately a manner It is incredible to think what costly Robes were worn that day it being scarcely discernable what their Cloaks were made of for the Gold and Silver Laces and Imbroidery that was laid on them besides the inestimable treasures of Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels and the Rich Liveries of their Pages and Footmen some suits whereof were so very rich that they amounted to near 1500 l. In this order he arrived at White-Hall where having retired himself to supper and so to Rest he came the next day which being St. Georges day was to consummate the Coronation from his privy Staires to the Old Pallace where in a Room behind the House of Lords called the Prince's Lodgings he stayed till the Lords and the rest of his Train had Robed and Ranked themselves in Westminster-Hall and so soon as they were ready descended the Stairs that went down into the Hall and placed himself in a Throne in the upper end thereof Then came the Dean and Prebends of Westminster in their Rich Copes each of them having a part of the Regalia and delivered them to the Lord High Constable who delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and being by him set on a Table the King immediately distributed them St. Edwards Staff to the Earl of Sandwich the Spurrs to Pembrâ—ke the Sword called Curtana to Oxford the pointed Sword carryed on the Right Hand of it to Shrewsbury that carryed on the left to Derby and the Sword of State to Manchester the Scepter with the Dove to Albemarle the Orb with the Cross to Buckingham St. Edwards Crown to Ormond and the Pattina and Challice to the Bishops of London and Exeter And having thus bestowed the Regalia he set forward on foot much after the same order which was observed the day before upon blew Cloath spread on the ground from the Hall to his Chair in the Abby supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham and having his Trayn carried up by the Lords Mandevill Cavendish Ossery and Piercy assisted by the Lord Viscount Mansfield Master of the Robes All the Peers with their Coronets in their hands went up along with him till he was placed in the Chair of State Then the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury told the People he did there present them King Charles the Second the Rightful Inheritor of the Crown of this Realm and demanded of all those that came thither that day to do their Homage Service and Bounden Duty whether they were willing to do the same Whereupon all the Peers in their Parliament Robes and People gave a shout testifying their willingness Then the King rising from his Chair turned himself to the four sides of the Throne and speaking to the People who again with loud Acclamations signified their consent all in one voice After which the Choire sung an Anthem in the interim whereof he went supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham attended by the Dean of Westminster to the steps before the Communion Table where upon Carpets and Cushions he offered a Pall and a piece of Gold and then removing to the right hand kneelled down during a short Collect then the Sermon began being Preacht by the Bishop of Worcester which ended the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ask't Him If He would be pleased to take the Oath that was wont to be taken
proper to give You under My Hand that I expect this compliance from You and desire it may be assoon as conveniently You can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to You there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness You have ever had for Me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured that no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours and their advantage Telling them moreover that since his Neighbours were making Naval Preparations he thought it necessary still to maintain a Fleet at Sea and that it highly concerned them to provide a constant establishment for the Navy And concluding his Speech with his earnest desires to have that Parliament prove a Healing one assuring them that it was his constant resolution to defend with his Life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and that he expected in so doing to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as danger of those worst of Men who endeavoured to render both Him and his Government odious to his People Advising them likewise by his Chancellor the Earl of Nottingham not to suffer their Zeal to out-run their Discretion lest by being too far transported with the fears of Popery they over-did their business and by neglecting the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it render themselves the unhappy occasion of making their own Counsels abortive The Commons as soon as they were returned to their House made choice of Mr. Seymour for their Speaker whom they lookt upon as the fittest Person for that employment in regard he had officiated therein in the former Parliament but the King refusing to admit him they chose Serjeant Gregory And to convince the World that they were Leavened with the same Principles and resolved to thwart the King's Designs for setling the Nations as much as the former had done begun where they ended ordering a Committee to inquire into the manner how Danby had sued out his Pardon which was granted him by the King to secure the Earl for whom he had a particular affection having always found him faithful to his Interest from all fear of Punishment for any pretended Crimes supposing as well he might that they would not dispute his Power of Pardoning since it was by the Law invested on him as one of the chiefest Jewels of his Crown But finding upon search that the Pardon was not entred after its passing at the Secretaries Office in any other Office 'till it came to the Lord Chancellor and so dispatcht in a private manner They Resolve upon an Address to the King to represent to his Majesty the illegality and the dangerous consequence of granting Pardons to any Persons who lay under an Impeachment of the Commons and desired the Lords that he might be sequestred from their House and put into safe Custody who accordingly ordered the Usher of the Black Rod to take him which he had done had he not absented himself Whereupon a Bill was ordered to be brought in to Command his surrendring himself by a certain day or in default thereof to stand attainted And the Lords having in the mean while pass'd a Bill for Banishing and disabling of him and sent it down to the Commons for their concurrence it was rejected as a Censure too favourable and a Vote pass'd for an Address to the King that he would not permit him to reside in any of his Pallaces of White-Hall Somerset-House or St. James's and another Address to be made for a Proclamation to apprehend him and forbid all the King's Subjects to harbour or conceal him In the mean while the Bill of Attainder was highly canvassed at several conferences between the two Houses 'till at length the Earl saved them the labour of passing a Bill for his Attainder by surrendring himself to the Usher of the Black-Rod The Lords in the Tower were at their first Imprisonment found Guilty upon special â—â—dictments by the Grand Jury of Middlesex before special Commissioners sitting at Westminster But that way of proceeding being for some Reasons waved they were severally impeacht by the Commons and their Impeachment carried up to the Peers by Five Members of the House of Commons to which they gave in their Answers in person all but Bellafis who being ill of the Gout sent his in writing The King to content the Faction if possible on the 2d of April declared his pleasure to dissolve his Privy Council with which they had shewed themselves displeased and constitute a new one which for the time to come should consist of Thirty persons Fifteen whereof were to be certain viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Chancellor one of the Chief Justices the Admiral the Master of the Ordinance the Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Privy Seal the Master of the Horse the Lord Steward the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold the Groom of the Stool and the Two Secretaries And the rest to be Elective at his pleasure Ten out of the Nobility and Five Commoners besides such Princes of the Blood as should be at Court A Lord President and a Secretary of Scotland And according to that new Model as many of them as were in Court met the next morning in the Council-Chamber and were sworn Privy Councellors The King going the same day to the Parliament acquainted the Two Houses with what he had done and assured them he was resolved in all weighty and important Affairs next to his great Council in Parliament to be advised by that Privy Council And it being his custom as it had been his Fathers before him to take off some hot Spirits whose Parts and Abilities he judged might be improved to his own and the Publicks advantage by promoting them to some Place or Office of Trust or otherwise winning them to his Friendship unless they were such whose Natures corrupted by their designs had rendred obstinate and implacable as the Earl of Shaftsbury afterward appeared to be he for the most part chose the other Fifteen which were to compleat his Council out of their number and made Shaftsbury Lord President of it The Parliament resolving to hasten the Trial of the Lords Danby and Bellaasis appeared in person at the Bar of the Lords House where the former put in his Plea and the other his Answer And the next day Stafford Arundel and Powis appeared there likewise and having retracted their former Pleas which appeared insufficient to the Commons they put in their further Answers And the King commanding the Commons to attend him in the House of Lords renewed the Assurances he had formerly given them of his being ready to assent to any Laws they should provide for the security of the Protestant Religion so that the Descent of the Crown in the Right Line were not thereby defeated And that he was willing a provision should be made to distinguish a Popish from a
thing which would tend to his or the Kingdoms benefit on the 10th of July dissolved it by Proclamation and declared his Resolution to call a new one which should sit on the 17th of the following October In the mean while Sir George Wakeman with Marshall Rumley and Corker three Benedictine Monks were tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs for High Treason relating to the Plot But the Evidence of Oates and Bedlow beginning now to be less credited than formerly and the ferment of peoples fury being somewhat abated the Jury brought them in Not Guilty and Wakeman was thereupon discharged from his Imprisonment as the other Three had likewise been had they not in their Defence upon their Trials acknowledged themselves to be Priests Wakeman's being thus acquitted startled the Mobille who expected all that were accused of that Plot should have been condemned of course without respect to the Truth or Falshood of the Accusation And the Faction endeavoured to improve their dissatisfaction into Rage and Sedition by several scurrilous Libels wherein they accuse Scroggs of perverting Justice and taking a Bribe of several thousand Guinneas from the Spanish Embassador to save Wakeman's Life from which Aspersions he sufficiently cleared himself in a Speech which he made in the Kings-Bench-Court on the first day of the ensuing Michaelmas-Term During this interval of Parliament the King was violently taken ill of an Ague at Windsor insomuch that his Life was thought to be in some danger Whereupon the Duke as well to demonstrate his Affection to his Brother as to prevent the danger which as things then stood might peradventure have happen'd to him in case the King should have died in his absence came Post from Flanders to Windsor But Heaven designing to lengthen out his Life till he had reduced the great Affairs of the Nation to a better Settlement and could leave his Succession more safe and secure it pleased God that he recovered his Health soon after to the great Joy of all the whole Nation And the City to express the pleasure they took therein sent the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen with a Train of thirty Coaches and about a hundred Horse to Congratulate him upon his Recovery and when he returned soon after to White-Hall many Bonefires were made throughout the whole City attended with great Acclamations of Joy and Expressions of Loyalty Whilst he lay Sick at Windsor the Duke of Monmouth who had been by the Kings favour raised to as high a Station as a Subject was well capable of being then Lord General of all His Majesties Land Forces Master of the Horse and Captain of the Kings Life-Guards not content with the Honours already heaped upon him but aspiring as was thought altho without all Reason in regard of his Illegitimacy to the Crown it self endeavoured to prevail with some great Men at Court to take part with his Interest which being made known to the King by the Earl of Oxford who having for his eminent Loyalty a considerable party of Horse under his Command commonly called the Lord of Oxfords Troop was importuned by Sir Thomas Armstrong as was reported either in direct terms or so as his meaning might easily be understood to declare himself for Monmouth in case the King should dye He conceived a just Indignation against him for that bold and audacious Attempt and discovered his incensed Majesty by taking away his Commission of Lord General and soon after of his remaining places of Captain of the Life-Guard Master of the Horse Governor of Hull c. And to prevent Peoples being deluded by his Chimeâ—ical Fictions publisht a Declaration wherein having first taken notice of the great Industry and Malice wherewith men of seditious and restless Spirits spread abroad a most false and scandalous Report of a Marriage or Contract of Marriage at least between Mrs. Walters who was that Dukes Mother and him designing thereby to fill the minds of his loving Subjects with doubts and fears and divide them if possible into Parties by bringing into question the clear and undoubted Right of his true and lawful Heirs and Successors to the Crown he did to obviate the fatal consequences so dangerous and malicious a report might have in future times upon the Peace of his Kingdoms assure them That having found a former Rumor that there was a writing yet extant and lately produced before several Persons whereby that Marriage or Contracâ— at least would appear was not only revived again but improved also witâ— new Additions by insinuating thaâ— several Lords and others were yet living who were pretended to bâ—â— present at the Marriage hâ— had notwithstanding he knew fuâ—â— well it was impossible there should bâ— any truth in this Report since noâ—â— thing in the World could be morâ— false and groundless than the pretencâ— of such a Marriage or Contract bâ—â—tween him and the said Mrs. Walterâ— alias Barlow called before him anâ— caused to be Interogated in Council such Lords and other Persons as the common rumour surmised to have been present at the pretended Marriage or to know something of it or of the said writing And that tho it then appeared to all his Council upon their hearing the said Persons severally Interrogated and their denial to have been ever present at any such Marriage or to know any thing of it or of any such writing that the raising and spreading that Report which was so inconsistent with it self was the effect of deep malice in some few and of loose and idle discourse in others yet he thought it requisite for the satisfying all in general to publish a Declaration he had made in the January was Twelvemonth written with his own Hand in the following words There being a false and malicious Report industriously spread abroad by some who are neither Friends to me or the Duke of Monmouth as if I should have been either Contracted or Married to his Mother and tho I am confident that this idle Story cannot have any effect in this Age yet I thought it my Duty in relation to the true Succession of this Crown and that future Ages may not have any pretence to give disturbance upon that Score or any other of this nature to declare as I do here Declare in the Presence of Almighty God That I never was Married nor gave any Contract to any Woman whatsoever but to my Wife Queen Katharine to whom I am now Married In Witness whereof he had set his Hand at White-Hall the 6th of January 1678-79 In the Presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the two Secretaries Coventry and Williamson And assured them that to strengthen that Declaration he had in the March following made a more publick and solemn Declaration to the same purpose in his Privy Council written likewise with his own Hand and had caused a true Transcript thereof to be entred into the Council Book which for the better Confirmation he Signed with his own hand and caused the Lords
he for an Universal grief possest the minds of all men and like a Cloud suddenly spread it self over the whole Nation upon the arrival of that doleful Tidings He died in the Fifty fourth Year of his Age after he had reigned Thirty six Years and some few days leaving his Kingdom which he found almost ruin'd with a bloody and unnatural War in a state of Tranquility and Peace Which as it magnifies the happiness of his Subjects by comparing their present felicity with their past Troubles so it lays the highest obligation imaginable upon them for ever to entertain the sacred Memory of his Name with the greatest Love and Veneration His redâ—cing a People plnnged and almost â—wallowed up in confusion into a quiet not to be expected and scarcely to be hoped for and asswaging by his incomparable Prudence a Faction blown up into atempestuous flame more violent and deaf than either the Winds or the Seas rendred him the most Glorious and Admired Prince and his Subjects the most happy People in Christendom and therefore in what Words or rather with what Deeds can they ever expect to express a Gratitude any way equal to his merits Statues of Marble and tryumphal Arches may indeed be an acknowledgment of our Veneration but these are Trifles too mean to discharge our debt and therefore all true Englishmen shall raise him a more lasting Monument by entombing him in their Hearts and expressing their love to their Dead Sovereign by their unfeigned Loyalty to their Living One our present Gracious King and Governour James the Second who immediately upon his Death succeeded to his Throne For Nature is not more careful to prevent a Dissolution of being than the Constitution of England to prevent an Inter-Regnum of Government so that the same minute which seems to threaten the involving our Isle in Darkness and Confusion by the setting of one really revives our dying-hopes and dispels our sable Clouds by the rising of another Sun for whom I shall pray as the Israelites did for King Solomon That God by whom alone Kings reign and have their Governments Crown'd with Peace and Felicity may pour upon him the Blessings of Heaven in as great a measure as upon his Royal Predecessor and make his Throne greater than the Throne of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles and grant him long to Live and Reign over us in Peace and Tranquility His Funeral was privately Solemniz'd on the 14th of February with as much Decency and Splendor as the greatness of the Sorrow for his Death would permit His Corps being convey'd sometime before to the Painted Chamber in the Palace at Westminster was carried from thence to the Abby-Church under a Velvet Canopy born by Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber the Pall being supported by six Earls The proceedings begun with the Servants of the Nobility Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen the Queen Dowager and His own after whom followd the Barons Bishops and others of the Nobility according to their respective Degrees together with the great Officers and the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark was chief Mourner supported by the Dukes of Somerset and Beaufort in the Collors of the Order as were all the rest of the Knights of the Garter then present and his Train born by the Lord Cornbury The Assistants to the chief Mourner were sixteen Earls The Crown and Cushion was carry'd by one of the Kings of Arms The rest of the Heraulds and their Officers Attending and Directing the Ceremony which was clos'd with His Majesties Band of Gentelmen-Pensioners and the Yeomen of the Guard As soon as they entred the Church the Dean and Prebends of Westminster with the whole Quire met the Body and went before it to Henry the Sevenths Chappel where it was interr'd in a Vault under the East end of the South Isle THUS have I endeavour'd to present the World with a Brief draught of the Life of this most Excellent King from the Time of his Birtâ— to the never-enough lamented and most deplorable Murder of his Royal Father and of his Reign from that Time until the hour of His Death And having now traced him through all the stupendious Labyrinths and wonderful Revolutions of His Life to his exchanging a Crown of Gold for one of Glory I shall close my History with his Character A Character which were I able therein to represent him to the Life and give him his Just and deserved Praise would not be parallel'd in Ancient and remain a Wonder to all succeeding Generations But his Perfections were so sublime and rare that my Representatious of him will no more bear Proportion to his real worth than the twinkling Figure of the Sun shining in the Water wherein he views himself as in a Looking-Glass is adequate to the Greatness of that real body of Fire and Light whereby he claims the Regency of Heaven This Monarch as to his Person was of a tall and goodly Stature and so exactly form'd that the most curious and penetrating Eye after the exactest Scrutiny could not discern the least Error in his Shape his Countenance very Majestical His Person and the Visage of his Face rather Grave than Severe being very much softned whenever he spake His Complection somewhat dark but much enlighten'd by the brightness of his Eyes that were quick and sparkling His Hair which before he wore a Peruke in great plenty was of a shining black not frizled but naturally Curling into large Rings and very Ornamental But as the Jewel is more valuable than the Casket that contains it so the perfections of his Mind did much exceed those of his Body if we can allow the same Man any Preheminence over himself in respect whereof he seemed to be a perfect Miracle of Art and Nature having in the Mysteries of Both a most capacious and profound Knowledg or one of the best sort of Wonders both in respect of his Virtues and his Fortune a Wonder to Wise men who admired his vast Parts a Wonder to His Enemies who admir'd at His Preservation from their Snares a Wonder to his Friends that admired at the Adversity of his Fortune and the Patience wherewith he endur'd it a Wonder to the World which admired the strangeness of His Restoration and were astonish'd to see him notwithstanding there was at that Time an Army on Foot to keep him out which had been flush'd with so many Victories and as it were by Prescription was able to beat the World or at least had Courage and Confidence enough to attempt it return without spilling one drop of Blood or having an Hand held up against him to oppose his Entrance He had been himself a Sufferer and had thereby learnt to Govern his Subjects with Moderation He had been in Misery and that taught him to be Merciful He had been unjustly dealt with and that made him the more careful to see right done to all men His Justice and measure his