Duke of York and Glocester staid still in France The first having under the Command of the Marshall of Turine against the Spaniards performed such eminent services as had made him deservedly esteemed a most valerous and prudent Prince in so much that notwithstanding his Youth he was made Lieu. Generall of the French Army and thought so well worthy that Command that when Turine the most esteemed Generall the French have for a long time had lay desperatly sick and it was expected that he should breath his last he was by the King of France sent to to desire him that seeing there were so little hopes of his life he would nominate such a Generall of his Army as he might judge fit to succeed him To which Turine answered that if his Majesty would have his affairs prosper he should make choice of a Noble Valorous and fortunate Generall which if he did he could make choice of no fitter person then the thrice Heroick Duke of York As for his Brother the Duke of Glocester he remained at the Palace Royall in Paris with the Queen his Mother who shortly after the departure of his Royall Majesty endeavoured by all the bonds of filiall obedience and the most prevailing Arguments could be used to perswade him to become Roman Catholick nor did she alone but the Queen Mother of France and the prime Nobility of that Kingdome attempt the same when the Retorique of the Court could not prevail the most eminent for learning set upon him with that depth of reason as long acquired study and their own interest could oblige them to use or furnish them withall nor were Arguments and Reasons only used but the highest temptations this world could present to a Prince in adversity such were a Cardinals Hatt and a Revenue suitable to his Dignity when these could not prevail the indignation of a Royal Mother was poured forth upon him which wrought him the deprivation of his Tutor his Servants and all Comforters in these temptations But that Noble Prince was so far indowed dureing this affliction with the Principles of the Religion of the Church of England besides that naturall piety and constancy flowing from his most religious Father of blessed Memory that by the depth of truth and Reason he defended himselfe against these attempts After this he is committed to the care of one Mr Walter Montague Abbot of Nantueil living at Pontoise who keeps him in very closely and works and persists still in endeavouring to pervert him using the Argument of Duty and Obedience to his Mothers Commands which she did enjoyn him to doe or never more to see her face which from that day to this he hath not seen This noble soul replyed with a sorrowfull heart That as the Queens Majesty was his Mother he ought her duty but as his Brother was his King and Soveraign he ought him duty and Allegiance which he could not dispute Whilst he is at Pontoise the most noble and religious Lord Hatton takes occasion to go wait upon the Duke according to private iustructions received from his Majesty who to his great sorrow had advise of these particulers he is admitted with much trouble to the presence of the Duke who embraces him as his Deliverer and with some difficulty urging the Commands of his Majesty his own arguments he is delivered to his care who conducts him with a spetiall respect and diligence to his house in Paris where he is entertained divers dayes with all honour and confirmed wih all diligence by that Learned Lord in his so well imbued Principles untill the arrivall of the Marquess of Ormond who by the Kings Command receivs and conducts him to his Majesties Court. His Majesty in his journy towards Germany came first to Catillon a Castle belonging to the Prince of Conde whither he was accompanied by his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins prince Rupert and Edward Palatines here Prince Edward the Duke of York left them the one going to Bourbon the other returning to the Army where he continued a good while after his Majesty Prince Rupert continued for some few daies their journy together 'till the Prince parted from him to go visit his Brother Frederick at Hidelberg his Majesty passing through Cambray and Leige to the Spaw where he tooke up the first place of his Residence in Germany whither his Sister the Royall Princess of Orange came to visit him and they no doubt during the time of their being there were as merry as two such afflicted Princes could But let us a little leave his Majesty at the Spaw and look into his Kingdomes where Cromwell that he might secure himself in his ill-gotten Estate endeavours by all means possible either to take away the lives or wholly impoverish disable his Majesties loyall Subjects who are continually charged with somthing which he by his usurped power takes hold of to destroy them severall persons are apprehended and charged with a design to have seized on the Tower and Proclaimed his Majesty King of those Kingdoms which by right were his for tryall of which persons a High Court of Justice a thing we now in England know very well was erected for the tryal of those persons Col. John Gerard Mr. Peter Vowell and Sommerset Fox were condemned to be hanged drawn quartered for no less then high Treason for-sooth though there were then no Act in being making it Treason to conspire against the power then in being in England but somwhat of the sentence was remitted Col. Gerard was beheaded Mr Vowell only Hanged Mr. Fox reprived I have alwayes observed that in all the tryals made by those high Courts of Justice for plots as they call them there hath still been some one person who though brought to tryal have either not been condemned though look't upon by the people as eminent in the business as any and though condemned yet have been reprived what others guess of it I will not determine I know what I do The truth is that his Majesty had alwaies the ill fortune to have such false servants about him as have for the Lucre of money either betrayed any enterprize of his for the gaining of his right the Protector especially being very prodigal in such expences his intelligence as most affirm standing him in no less then two hun dred thousād pound per annum or else those persons engag'd for him being many of them deboist fellows and who often ran upon designes uncommissioned have in a Tavern both lay'd and betray'd their own undertakings or else some here in England who have undertaken in such businesses have either for fear or gain betrayed both their Prince friends and Countrey Thus much for England let us now take a viwe of his Majesties affaires in Scotland which Kingdome was not yet wholly conquered for the Lords Seaforth Atholl Glencarne Kenmore and Glengary and severall others who had some of them been formerly followers of the noble Marquess of Montrosse
of the Spaniard with an Army of ten thousand men so that they intend with his assistance if they could not obtain their desires by fair means to have forc't it Thus these differences were arrived to such a height that nothing but a Civil war was like to ensue which made his Sacred Majesty of England use his utmost endeavours to compose stay this breach before it came to an utter overflow to which effect he dayly went to fro be twixt the King the Princes endeavouring to bring them to a reconciliatiō urging by his own example the miseries and calamities that must necessarily fall upon every mans head by a Civil War telling the King that the late example of his Royall Father of happy memory might be an inducement to him to be at peace with his Subjects rather then embroil his Kingdomes in a bloudywar by which though he might for the present gaine the better yet in the end he would stil be sure to have the worse Yet these Arguments and his Majesties earnest endeavours for peace and reconciliatiō produced nothing but only contracted an unjust odium upon him from both parties for his good will the Princes believing that he counselled the King against them and the Cardinal against him So that he lost the love of both by endeavouring to mak them love one another yet notwithstanding the ill successe he had this Noble Prince still pursues his pacifick intentions til such time as he gains a conference between the King Cardinall Princes but this proves ineffectuall For the Princes heightned with the aid they expected from the Duke of Lorain instead of coming to an accord only exasperate differences Yet his Sacred Majesty ceases not but endeavours to bring them yet to a peaceable compliance in order threunto procures another Conference where he himself would be Moderatour but this proves as ineffectuall as the former For the Prince of Conde was above all others outragious and would come to no agreement except Mazarine were first banished France and the French King as violently persisted in his resolution against it alledging That he had approved himself both a faithfull servant and an able Minister of State So in stead of agreement both sides prepare for War yet are both sides equally angry exasperated against his sacred Majesty for his good will toward them and the Nation the one and other party imagining that both he and his Mother had given counsels opposite to their designes But that which above all exasperated the Princes against his Majesty of England was the sudden luke-warmness of the Duke of Lorain in the business For though he had drawn off his Army as though he had complied with their resolutions to come to a battel yet being sent for by the Princes to advance towards Paris he refused to come which made the Princes believe there had been some underhand dealing with him and that which most of all encreased their jealousies that King Charles had a hand in it was this The Duke of Beaufort coming to the Camp of Lorain to desire him in the name of the Princes to come up and fight found there his Majesty his brother the Duke of York in private conference with Lorain who withdrawing when Beaufort appeared Beaufort finding the Duke's aversness to the enterprize confirmed him and he confirmed the Princes of the King of England's endeavours whereby he had withdrawn Lorain from their party This coming to the peoples ears who were absolute favourers of the Princes and inveterate enemies to Mazarine so extreamly incensed them against the English Princes that they threaten violence and indignities to their persons are not afraid to affront the Queen their Mother in her Coach which made his Majesty to avoid the popular fury retire himself from the Lovure to St. Germane Nor is the Cardinal less incensed though under a more politick vail For though both Princes and People might imagine believe that his Majesty had counsel'd things opposite to their intentions yet the Cardinal very well knew that he had advised the King as the best course to consent to his departure out of the Kingdome and that if he had endeavoured to draw Lorain from their party 't was only out of a desire he had to expedite their agreement he therefore resolves to thwart him in all his designs And so he did to the utmost of his endeavours For his Majesty though suspected by the Prince in his several conferences with Lorain to have endeavoured to divert him from them was only transacting with him for the recovery of his Kingdome of Ireland out of the hands of the English Republick to which effect several Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorain and the Lord Taaff two of which were 1. That the Duke of Lorain should transport an Army of 10000. men at his own charge into Ireland there to joyn with such as should be found Loyal for the Recovery of his Majesties Rights in that Kingdom 2. That the Duke of Lorain should by his Majesty be invested with the power and Title of Protector Royall of Ireland These Articles though drawn up never came to be signed the cause of which some have imagined to be the disability of the Duke to performe the Enterprise without the Aid of some other Prince but we may in more reason guess it proceeded from the strenuous endeavours of Mazarine his Majesties so lately made-enemy to divert the Duke's Army then from any other cause Many in England upon hearing of these Propositions made to the Duke of Lorain which I must confess some believe to have never proceeded any farther then discourse of the Duks feared his Majesties too great inclination to the Romish Religion which fear his after retirement at St. Germain's convinced there was no need of For here he spent his time wholly in Piety and Devotions according to the best worship of the Church of England never forgeting to pray for those his Enemies who were not only content to have deprived him of his Kingdoms but continually belched forth both slanders and maledictions against him His Majesty having staid at S. Germains till such time as the heate of the popular fury was over which decreased still towards them as they found Mazarine more averse to him returned again to the Lovure where during his abode his brother the Duke of Gloucester who had a long time been detained by the Juncto of England in the Isle of Wight and was lately permitted by them to go to his Sister the Princess Royal in Holland came to him accompanied from the Hague by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile he was at his arrivall at Paris honourably received by the King of France and Queen Mother and courted according to his birth by the rest of the Grandees and Peers of the Kingdome Likewise during his Majesties abode here arrived his Quondam Preserver Mrs. Jane Lane who after she had taken leave of
mony set upon his head for which many hundreds out of covetousnes made it their business to search for him they will confess ingeniously that God was never so merciful to any people as to us in delivering his sacred Majesty so wonderfully out of the hands of his Enemies who breathed out nothing but his death and destruction that we may yet have hopes to be a happy Nation But let us now returne to give a full account of this dismal loss at Worcester in which most of his Majesties foot were either made a prize or a sacrifice to their enemies swords of the horse there escaped 300. out of the field but were most afterwards either taken or kil'd by the country people in their flight three thousand were judged slain in the Field and about seaven thousand taken prisoners whereof the chief were the Earles Derby Lauderdale Cleveland Shrewsburge the Lord Wentworth and many other noble persons taken in the pursuit And the chief of those taken in the battel were the Earles of Carnworth and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir John Packington the Major Generals montgomery and Piscotty and the Virgil of this Age that thrice worthy Mr. Richard Fanshaw Translator of the renowned Paster Fido and Secretary to his Majesty As for the thrice noble Duke Hamilton he was taken but not overcome overpowred but not vanquisht For after having made a most Heroick resistance he was reduced under his enemies power more for want of strength then valour but death entring in at those wounds which he so gallantly received in defence of his Soveraign soon after released him Major General Massey though he escaped the field yet his wounds being desperate he was forced to surrender himself to the Countess of Stamford was by her Son the Lord Grey of Grooby after the recovery of his wounds sent up prisoner to the Parliament and by them committed to the Tower from whence he not long after escaped and went to his Majesty beyond sea This strange and wonderfull Victory as the Juncto at Westminster gave it out to be though they had six to one in the field made that Sectarian party cock-a-hoop to make it the greater publick days of Thanksgiving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their villanies murders tyrannyes and treasons and now they boast in all their discourses how clearly it might appear that God owned their cause and disowned their adversaries I think a modern writer hath sufficiently confuted that commonly received tenent of Politicians * See Modern Policy That successe denotes actions to be either just or unjust I shall therefore leave the sober Reader here to satisfie himself refer it to him whether such do not justly deserve Ovid's wish Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Let him for ever in successe be poor That thinks it justifies his cause the more But this Nation is so highly sensible of the injustice put upon them by those who pretend so much right in their Cause that there 's no loyal Subject but will thinke according to reason that it was not the justice of their cause but our own and the Nations sinnes which caused God to raise up these men as scourges both to Prince People to the prince only for the peoples sake Some I have heard which out of a spirit which I cannot well define have endeavoured to brand his Royal Majesty with Cowardize in this battel which from whence it could proceed unless from their own coward nature which would insimulate another in that of which themselves are guilty I cannot imagine since Cromwell the greatest of his Enemies because the most desirous of his Kingdomes yet had so much of truth in him as to give a high and noble Character of his valour But to proceed we have now said enough of this fatall battel the seeming ruine of the Royal Interest in England unless God of his mercy be pleased to restore it for the good peace and quiet of these Nations since without it we cannot hope to enjoy any His sacred Majesty being landed in France near Havre de Grace from thence with a Noble Lord in his Company posted directly for Roan where they stayed to alter their disguises and furnish them with habits answerable to their qualities his Majesty from thence having dispach't Letters to the French Court to acquaint his friends there of his safe Arrival which doubtless caused no little joy in those who were real to him and almost despaired ever again to have seen him The Duke of Orleans sends his own Coach to fetch him and several persons of quality go to meet him by whom he was attended to Paris and there received with all possible expressions of joy lodgings and attendants being forthwith provided for him in the Louure where at his first arrival he was visited by the Queen his Mother the Duke of Orleans who of all persons in the Kingdome exprest himselfe the most ready to do him service and the next day visits him again accompanied with his Daughter Madamoiselle he is likewise courted by the Dukes of Beaufort Langueville Guize the Marshall Thurine and many other Peers Nobles of France who all congratulate his safe deliverance And now his Majesty having lost all hopes of any furthermeans of attaining his Dominions by force leads here a retired life yet living in regard of his high alliance and extraction in great esteem with all the French Nobility Insomuch that notwithstanding his present low condition there was very great talk of a match to be made up between him the Madamoiselle de Orlians the richest princess in Christendome yet by some means or other it came to no effect though the Queen of England his Mother was an earnest promoter of it and also the Duke of York to Longuevelle's Daughter Whilst these things were transacting hapned that lately reconciled Fracture between the Prince of Conde and Cardinal Mazarine most of the Prince of the Bloud siding with the first the King of France who was newly declared of age to sway the Scpter himselfe with the last The cause of the quarrel was that extravagant power which Mazarine a stranger had usurped in the government of the Kingdome both depriving the Princes of the bloud of their Right and oppressing the people whose daily murmurings more encouraged the Princes against him this power he had got into his hands in the Regency of the Queen Mother whose grand Favourite he only was The Princes therefore though they could not dureing her Regency who so much loved him yet hoped they might effect somthing now the King himselfe is come to govern to which intent they charge him with several miscarriages of State which the Cardinal defends the King also enclines to his side by the instigation of the Queen his Mother yet nothing but the Cardinals banishment will satisfie the Princes who join the Duke of Lorain to them then in the service
by Commissions to the Earle of Glencarne had levied sundry small parties in their severall Territories which all joyned would have made up a considerable Army besides the help which they expected Middleton should bring them out of the Low-Countries they therefore made all possible speed to joyn but in their march the Earl of Glencarne is set upon by Col. Morgan his party routed himselfe hardly escaping This defeat of Glancarn's who was the chief though it discouraged the rest yet made them not wholly desist for they had yet hopes of those supplies which they expected Middleton to bring out of the Low-Countries who at length arrives brings with him Monroe to be his Lieu. General he being Commissionated General which highly displeased Glancarne who had been the greatest instrument of his Armies raising which was now joyn'd and made up a considerable body who protested that he would not raise an Army for others to Command so high a dispute there was between Glancarne and Monroe in somuch that many affirm though som say the contrary that it came to a Duell in which Monroe was worsted disarmed by Glancarne however the dissention still continues for Middleton pretended that he had not power to tak away Monro's Commission which was given him by his Majesty and Glancarne scorning to be under him being of Noble bloud accounting himself as good a Souldier deserts the Army with five hundred Horse in his company and goes in to General Monck with whom he makes his Composition Yet notwithstanding his desertion caused by those differences amongst them selves for Superiority the only way to ruine any designe Middleton pursues his businesse and Commission and had made up a pritty Considerable Number when General Monck engaging him at Laugherry after a not dispute totally routed him scattered his party and had almost taken himself Prisoner but he escaping returned again into Holland Thus his Majesties ill fortune still attends his affaires God still permiting his Enemies to taper up in the World advance themselves not that he in the want of us but that we in the want of so Noble a Prince might be yet farther Miserable But let us return again to his Majesty at the Spaw where he having staid a while courted by all the adjacent Grandees at length takes his journey in company of the Princess Royall his Sister towards Colen where being arrived they were recieved with all possible honour and demonstrations of joy affection the great Guns difcharging at their entrance and the Deputies of the City coming out to meet them in solemn maner and conducting them in great pomp to the pallas provided for them by the chief Magistrate of the City Shortly after their Arrivall the Grandees of the Place entertain'd his Majesty and his Royall Sister at a sumptuous Banquet or Collation where they express in many ceremonious complements the high resentment they had of his Majesties condition and the great honour which he did them in being pleased to come and visit their City After a short time of abode here his Majesty was invited by the Duke of Newburgh to his pallace at Donzell-dorf where he his Sister were most sumptuously Royally entertained for some dayes and here the Royall Princes took her leave of her Brother his sacred Majesty and returned for Holland the King accompanying her on her way as far as Redinguen and from thence returned back again to Colen where he was joyfully receiv'd And now more of his Majesties loyal Subjects are put to wrack in England by tyrannizing Cromwell a generall design must needs be laid over all England and perhaps might be so though Cromwell Knew it well enough before it was like to take any effect which apeared by his setling the London Militia in the hands of his own Criado's his apprehending of Sir Henry Littleton Sir John Packington and many other of the Royall party yet he lets it still go on that he might have the better colour for keeping his Scaffold in use whilst he having certain Intelligence of all proceedings from his hired Agents had care to prevent them when they just came to the height that he might then lay the surer hold on the undertakers so now though he was sure to prevent all risings which might be near London yet he lets others in the Countries more remote to go on so farre as they might only raise to a head but not have any secure place of strength to retreat to in case of a defeat where they might again have made a head The surprizal of Shrewsberry and Chirk Castles are to that effect now prevented But a party in Dorset and Wiltshier made a body consisting most of Gentlemen who surprized Salizbury took away all the Horses and Marched towards Cornwall where they expected a greater force to rise with them but being eagerly pursued by Captain Crook with a party of Horse were overtaken at Southmolton in Devon shire and after a hot dispute most of them either slain or taken but Sir Joseph Wagstaffe the chief Commander of this small loyal party escaped The Captains Penruddock Grove and Jones were taken and afterwards being tri'd by a Commission of Oyer Terminer were condemned to death Captaine Jones was reprived but Grove Penruddock were beheaded at Exeter The last of which parted nobly with his life and died with a resolution worthy of the cause for which he suffered Many others likewise were hanged for his enterprize Yet these and their fellows might have come off better had the Countries as they promised risen to their assistance for all the Countries in England had designed as they say to rise but whether besotted dull'd and fearful or else prevented by a force upon them I cannot tell but sure I am they fail'd Yet in Yorkshire there were two parties up in severall places but dissipated by their own feares at Hexam Moor the Gentry in that shire had a Rendezvouz of whom Sir Henry Slingsby was taken and remained prisoner in Hull till such time as he was brought up to London where he suffered death under pretence of another design as shall in due time be declared But now the Protector findes another course to rid himselfe of all such English men as were loyall to their King Countrey Several of those who were active in the late design and had been taken are out of the Prisons hurried aboard ships and though they were free-born English men and many of them Gentlemen sent to be Slaves in the Forraign Plantations nor were they alone served so but many who though they had not actually stir'd yet being by the Protector known as persons not very well affected to his Tyrannicall Government were privately taken out of their houses and shipt away in like manner it not being enough for him when he had impoverished them by taking away their Estates to look upon and insult on their misery at home but to make them as much as in him lay the
scorne and derision of the world by selling them to those Plantations a punishment inflicted usually on none but thieves and vagabonds Yet I hope those Noble soules who were thus dealt withall account those miseries and hardships they have endured but little in respect of the cause for which they suffered them But to return to our Princes abroad The Duke of Glocester in his journy from Paris with the Marquess of Ormond touched at the Hague where he found his Sister newly returned from her journey with his Majesty and having staid with her some time there she accompanied him to visit their Brother the King again at Colen with whom she staid till after the fair at Frankford whither his Majesty accompanied with his Royal Sister the Duke of Glocester the Marquess of Ormond the Earle of Norwich the Lord Newburg and several Ladies and persons of Quality went in progress part of the way they went by Land and the other part by water being complemented in all Princes countries through which they passed by their chief Ministers of State and saluted with the great Guns from their Towns Castles but particularly being come into the Territories of the Elector of Mentz they were saluted by his grand Marshall who in the name of his Master the Elector invited his Majesty the Princess Royall the Duke of Glocester to his Court but in regard that the intent of their progress was to see that renowned Fair at Franckford which now drew nigh his Majesty sent the Lord Newburgh back with the grand Marshal returning thanks to the Elector for his civilities but desiring to be excused till their return when his Majesty with his Royal Sister Brother would not Faile to come and give him thanks in person and so his Majesty with his Noble company continued their journy Being arrived at Frankford advice was brought to his Majesty that the Queen of Swethland who had some time before Voluntarily surrendered her Kingdom into the hands of Carolus Gustavus her Kinsman was passing that way in her intended Journey for Italy whereupon his Majesty sent a Noble Lord to acquaint her Royall Highness the Queen Christina that he was ready to wait upon her at what place soever she should be pleased to appoint for an interview her Majesty received the message with a great deal of affection telling the Messenger That she was highly obliged to his Majesty of England for so great an honour and that if he pleased she would not fail to meet him at Conningstein a village not far from Frankford where his Majesty for the time resided And accordingly there these two Potentates both equally deprived of their Kingdomes only with this distinction the one Voluntary the other by force and Tyranny met the Queen of Sweden being there first attended his Majesty he being come was immediately admitted in a room there purposely provided and having had neer halfe an hours private discourse with her the Duke of Glocester was admitted and presently after the Lords that attended his Majesty there passing between their two Majesties many ceremonious complements so after a little longer discourse they took their leaves The Princesse Royal being a little indisposed went not to this interview His Majesty having tarried at Franckford as long as seem'd convenient to that Royall Company in his departure thence according to the promise he had before made by the Lord Newburgh passed through the Elector of Mentz his Country resolving to give him a visit but that Noble Prince had so much of honour in him that he met his Majesty a great part of the way and conducted him with his Royall Company to a Pallace of his where he sumptuously entertained them for three or four dayes and then himself in person accompanied them a good part of their way to Colen from whence shortly after his Majesties arrival there the Princess Royal departed for Holland In the mean time the Protector of England having made a peace with the Hollander fearing that the Nation should grow rebellious to him if they lay free from wars which would fill their purses resolves to keep them low at a diet to which effect he begins a war with Spain at first in his Western Territories but soon after that business not succeeding in his Europaean Quarters which made Mazarine with all hast possible endeavour the concluding the Leageu Offensive and Defensive with the Protector which being by him considered to be as beneficiall for his own interest as for the French was easily and willingly assented to but the chief Articles of this Peace was that his Majesty the Duke of York and Glocester with all their relations and friends should be expelled out of and no more admitted into the Kingdom of France Certainly had the French King had but the least touch or sense of honour he would have counted this the hardest condition in the world or indeed he would never at all have treated with the protector but that he should yeild to such a condition as to banish out of his Kingdome those who came to him for succour and relief in the utmost extreamity that ever Princes were put too and these too his nearest relations being Brothers Sisters children And this to make a league offensive with him who had murdered their Father expelled them out of their Dominions What was this but the owning of that murder and aggravating their oppressions instead of relieving them But neither honour nor relation can stand in competition with self-Interest His Maiesty had before fore-saw what the event of this treaty would be and had therefore wisely wihdrawn himselfe from France to prevent a complemental expulsion But the Duke of York who in regard of the great command which he had in the Army had staid there til the conclusion of the League was now warned to depart with al his retinnue consisting of a gallant number of young English gentlemen bred up under his valour conduct notwithstanding those many great services which he had performed for that Kingdom in requitall of which he had only a complemental Apology made him for the necessity of his departure and a small time respited for his stay during which he was visited by the Duke of Modena then in France and other French Grandees but more espetially by the Marshal of Turine who extreamly loved him and above all others expressed a sorrow for his dismisment but at length the day perfixed being come his grace having solemnly taken his leave of the King of France the Queen his Mother the rest of his Friends at the French Court he takes his journey towards Flanders accompanied by the Earl of Yarmouth severall other English Lords For upon the rupture of the Peace between Oliver Cromwell and the King of Spain Don John de Austria Governour Royall of the Low Countries for his Catholick Majesty commiserating our Kings unfortunate Condition now that his Interest might stand them in some stead had sent the
Vice The strictest rewarder of Virtue The constantest preserver of Religion And the truest lover of his Subjects This is a short Character of his illustrious Majesty which I feare those that know him will rather think to come short of then reach his due praise so sweetly vertuous is he in all his Carriages so affable in his discourse so void of passion anger that he was never yet heard or seen in Choller the utmost extent of any passion that ever was discerned in him being towards one of his Meniall Servants who justifying himselfe in what he had done amisse his Majesty with some motion told him that he was an insolent fellow Yet this is that Prince whose vertues we have given leave to Forraign Nations to admire whilst we our selves have rested as well ignorant of his deserts as destitute of our own Liberty whilst either infatuated or blinded by those who have Tyrannically usurp'd Governments over us we have been contented to sit still see him Expulsed and exil'd from his due Rights Royalties and our selves from our Freedom Priviledges Nor hath God alone been merciful to us in endowing his sacred Majesty with such Heroick Vertues but he hath given us a stock of Noble Princes who seem to Emulate Virtues in one another and growe up like Royal Oaks to maintain the Honour and Glory of this Nation but are yet and have a long time been the disgrace of it all the Nations in Europe laughing at the English folly who slight that happinesse which they might enjoy As for the illustrious Duke of York his Fame is spread so far over the World that my selfe have heard the very Turks commend and applaud his Vallour which was so esteemed among the French that before he arrived at twenty one years of Age he was by that King thought worthy the Command of Liu. General of his Armies which he managed with such care prudence that seldom any affairs he took in hand produced not its desired successe since his being in requital of his services complemented out of that Kingdome of France though he hath not had such eminent commands confer'd on him by the Spaniard yet have they alwaies thought him worthy the highest imployment and respect As for the Duke of Glocester he is esteemed by most to be fitter for a Councellour then a Souldier His Carriage is grave somwhat severe of a Sagace Genious and understanding and very much prying into State Affairs which have made most judge him the fitter for a Councill board These three Princes are like three Diamonds or Pearls which we have ignorantly cast away not come to know the worth of them till we come to want them Their vertues having made them resplendent throughout all the World and rendred them if we justly consider it the only means whereby we can attain to happiness for what Nation can be more blessed then that which hath for her Prince a just King to Govern a Valiant Duke to Defend and a Wise Counsellour to Advise May the God of Heaven then open our Eyes and let us at length see our Errour and heartily repent of it by calling our Native Soveraign to the possession of his due Rights which the Divine Majesty I hope will be Gratiously pleased to Grant Thus far the History March 1660. POST-SCRIPT WHen this admirable miraculous foregoing History came first out which contayns so great wonders that noe former age can parralel or future believe it may well without derogation from the author be owned by a person of Quality for so questionlesse he was and a person of Honour and loyall confidence that at that time before the dawning of our day of Liberty or the arising of our long set Sun which by its appearing inlightens comforts and refreshes these our Kingdoms of England Scotland Ireland CHARLES the second defender of the faith c. I say much may well be attributed to his confident bouldnes at that time to publish it when to speak truth reason or loyaltie was accounted Error Treason dangerous And although it be not so full as it might be either for manner or Matter in setting forth the worthy deserved Praise of our most gratious Soveraign whose perfections whosoever shall undertake to describe must needs fall short and of his Miraculous escape but that it may well be said of it as the Queen of Sheba said of the Wisdom of Solomon c. behold the halfe was not tould of what she found though reported by fame which seldome looses in the Progresse nor of the wonderfull signall mercy to his Kingdoms and Subjects thereby as is well exprest in the 107. psalme and the 43. Who so is wise may may understand these things and such shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. And truly I think never people had more cause chearfully thankfully to acknowledge the goodnes of God herein and expresse it by their duty and obedience The wisemans advice its wisdome to take Pro. 24. 21.22 My Sonfear God and the King medle not with them that be seditious and desirous of change c. Have we not been ever since the sad Sacrifice of his sacred Majesty who God has made a Saint and they a Martyr of most pretious and blessed memory who was Murthered by the pretended sword of Justce to say noe more of it was as horrid a crime as ever the Sun beheld oppresed by high Courts of Injustice and other arbitrary impositions more then ever was done by coular of authority in the raigns of all the KINGS since the CONQVEST Did not the want of our King bring on us Vsurpation Tirrany Enmity Animositie Poverty and all Misery All which will be remov'd and to our comfort if our sinnes and disobedience hinders not we shall assuredly enjoy a Settlement of Religion Law Liberty Property Peace Penty Honour and Safety Has not his singular wisdom discovered and directed a way not only for discharging those large arrears which before daily increased on us to the Army and otherwise which is in a short time done but also for their disbanding in England to free us thereby for the future from those insupportable burthens Read but his gratious General pardon before which who could justly say he was free and see his unparaleld clemency who to us Ariseth like the Sun of Righteousnes with healing under his wings Mal. 4.2 And if ingratitude be the worst of crimes as I think was never yet questioned how inexcusable then in the Eyes of all the world shall such be that after so great favour shall either in thought word or deed think speak or act any thing against him Read but his Declaration concerning Ecclesiasticall affaires with what Religious care caution has he fram'd it to the Satisfaction of all interests that pretend to Religion Reason or Civility Provided they quietly conforme to the Establisht Laws and make not Religion as some formerly did a Match to give fire
his Majesty at Bristol return'd home and lived for some space in a great deale of security not doubting she could be betray'd Yet at length by what means I know not though indeed I have heard of many relations that I dare not relate any it came to light yet she had some timely notice of it whereupon she who had formerly disguised his Majesty in a Serving-mans habit now disguises her self in that of a Country Wench and trots on foot to save her life which she was like to lose for having formerly saved his sacred Majesties quite crosse the Countrey to Yarmouth where she found shipping which conveyed her safe into France great search after her departure there was made for her but in vain which so incensed the Souldiers that they burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where his Majesty first took shelter after his escape from Worcester She being arrived in France sends a Letter to the Court whereupon his Majesty almost over-joy'd at her Escape who had been the cause of his immediatly sends some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris whither he being near come himself with the Queen his Mother the Duke of York Gloucester went out to meet this Preserver of the life of their Son Soveraign and Brother the Coaches meeting and she being descended from her Coach his Majesty likewise descends taking her by the hand salutes her with this gratefull expression Welcome my life so putting her into his own Coach conducts her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause and wonder of the whole Court and she could indeed deserve no less for I believe neither past or future Ages can or will ever parallell so great a pattern of female Loyalty and Generosity Whilst his Majesty was thus passing away his time in France more in contemtemplation then action Oliver Cromwell made General of all the Juncto's Forces in England Scotland and Jreland finding now a fit opportunity to put his long-laid ambitious designs in execution had dissolved that Juncto which had usurped the Kingly power or more over England and taken upon himself though not the title yet the Royall power and authority over these Nations which the people though unwilling yet were forced to submit to though he had not at first any basis whereon to ground his new usurped Regality yet in stead of one Juncto he pluckt down he easily sets up another which I may the more justly call so in regard there was not one of them chosen by the free Votes of the People but by his own arbitrary Election and those such persons who knew well enough what they had to doe before they met these after a short time sitting without doing any thing besides the making of some impertinent laws which were forceably imposed on the people surrender their power as dying men do their souls to God into his hands that gave it who by the help of the Officers of the Army and Lamberts instrument makes himself immediatly king of England Scotland and Ireland which government he had often sworn against though under the title of Protector This I must needs say Noble Tyrant having got the Dominion of three such Kingdoms into his possession made it now as much his study to preserve himself safe in his Estate and Grandure as he did before to acquire it to which purpose he thought it most suitable to that design to make some remarkable disturbance amongst the neighbouring Princes then to continue that War begun by the Juncto of Parliament with the Dutch to which purpose severall motions of a Treaty passed His sacred Majesty though he had sundry times before solicited the assistance of those United Provinces for the regaining of his Right in his Kingdoms now more earnestly upon secret intelligence of the first motions of this Treaty sends the Lord Gerard his Embassadour to the United States more earnestly intreating them to own his Interest then before proffering that if they would set out a good squadron of ships under his Flag he would command them himself in person His Sister the princess of Orange and other of his friends in the Low Countries addicted to his Interest earnestly prosecutes his desires and use their utmost influence on the States of the United provinces for the performance of his propositions Nor are there five of these Provinces nor Van Trump himself their Admiral unwilling to comply with him Only the Province of Holland the most potent at sea stands out chiefly out of the disgust they had lately taken to the family of Orange whose interest and command they were fearfull might bee restored should his Majesty who was Uncle to the young Prince be invested in his Territories His Majesty likewise to advance his hopes of their assistance when Monsieur Bortell came from those United States to negotiate a League with the King of France used his utmost Interest to promote the Treaty and in fine brought it to a desired period notwithstanding the United States sent no other answer to his Embassey then a cold Letter of Complements His designs thus failing him here he directed himself to a more hopefull course by interposing himself a Mediator with the Pope and other Catholick Princes for an accord and peace between the two mighty Crowns of France and Spain And indeed two such potent Monarchs had been in better capacity with their joynt forces to have assisted him had the peace gon forward as there was great hopes then the United States of the Netherlands but Cardinal Mazarine by a piece of secret state-policy endeavoured to obstruct all proceedings which might tend to a Treaty or accord Nor was this Cardinal's spleen to his Royall Majesty yet allayed for his supposed Council against him in the forementioned difference between the King Princes but farther to prejudice him and his affairs he endeavours the promotion of a peace between the Protector of England and the French King his Master which though opposed by all the force and Interest that either himselfe or the Queen his Mother had in the French Court yet was by the Cardinall whose will was a law all other Government in that Kingdome being but a meer shadow vigorously carried on and an Embassadour sent over to treat of an accord where having been sometime in England his Majesty was by secret intelligence informed that the chief Article insisted upon in the Treaty by the Protector of England was the excluding himself relations and followers out of the Kingdome of France and it's Territories wherefore least the treaty should be suddenly concluded upon those tearms he ceremoniously excluded he thought it more honourable himself to leave that Kingdome of his own accord and having taken his leave of the King of France and the rest of the Nobility accompanied with his Coufin Prince Rupert he departed for Germany where the Lord Wilmot had long been Embassadour for him to solicite aid and assistance Yet notwithstanding his Brothers the