take a prospect of all Generations that have been upon Earth before them They seem to give Eternity to themselves à Parte ante and to live as many years as they have read in Chronicles And by this knowledge of the time past they judge of the present and proceed to the fore-sight of the future For the best Astrology in the World is to be deriv'd from History and from the Consideration of those Luminaries that have mov'd in a Sphere above us either in point of Time or of Place Which since we see to be the Proper ends and uses of History without doubt that History is highly to be esteem'd which does not consist so much of Magnificent and Pompous things as the Description of Wars of Great Buildings and such matters as only bring an empty pleasure to the Reader but which does exhibit things useful and worthy his Imitation and that will fill up his mind Vpon this account the Lives of Eminent Men writ with fidelity and truth have certainly the greatest use since from thence we learn how to live well to moderate our passions and govern our selves in the various Circumstances of Life But whereas we cannot live well unlesâ— we live in Society and all Societies must have Rulers and Governors over them or else we must all disband and turn Barabbas's there is 〈◊〉 one Higher Degree of History whith we may looâ— upon as the most compleat for Estimation Proâ—â— and Vse And that is a Narration of the Liveâ— of Princes representing withal every action bearing a Relation and Analogy thereunto And his kind cannot stand without the fore-mention'd Additionals as I may Stile them and not Essentials of History as Arms and Fortifications and the like matters Which though they do concern no man in himself as to point of Happiness yet together with the great Delight they bring along with them they are mainly conducive to the well-fare of mankind in general and the Knowledge of 'em is requisite to many particular men as immediately ingag'd in them and is likewise universally Ornamental Which things being well weigh'd I think I have got under my Pen one of the most profitable as well as diverting Histories the Sun ever yet saw acted It being the Life of a Prince which may be an Example not only to publick but private men For it affords us the knowledge of Heaven and reads us a Lecture of Piety Justice Patience Fortitude and Clemency Which being virtues in a Prince have a singular Grace with ' em It is not an account of the Robberies of an Alexander but a Register of Providential Bounties and Appointments beautified with the various Scenes and Landskips of Humane Life to instruct our Judgments and amuse our Imagination It teaches us the Arts of Vnity and Concord and draws out the true lines of the English Government It cures those diseases of the mind Insolence self-conceit and Ambition and shews that it is the Subjects Interest as well as Duty to obey These are all things but of Yesterdays standing and very well known and remembred So that before hand I need not make any Professions here of my truth and sincerity in the following Relation it being not so easy to deceive as to be refell'd in things not in the least remote from our knowledge This indeed is all I have the vanity to fear that if this Book should happen to descend to Posterity they will rather think it the Panegyrick than History of our late admirable Prince because when I report nothing of him but what was landable they may ghess that I have pretermitted what was worthy reprehension The most renowned and mighty Monarch CHARLES the Second late King of England was in greatness of his Royal Descent Superiour to all the Princes in Europe being descended from our Royal Martyr Charles the good and great and Henrietta de Bourbon Daughter to Henry the Great the Fourth of that name of France By descending from which two Royal Persons he was related to all the Princes in Europe had some of all the Bloud-Royal of the Christian World concenter'd in his Princely Veins By his Father he deriv'd in a lineal descent from all the Brittish Saxon Danish Norman and Scottish Kings of Great Britain and by his Mother from the Bourbons of France the Austrians of Spain the Mediâ—es of Florence c. Being also allied to all or most of them by his own the Marriages of his Royal Brother our present most Glorious Monarch his Aunt his Sisters and his two Nieces their Royal Highness Mary Princess of Orange and the Princess Ann of Denmark He was born at St. James's May the 29th 1630 it being the Birth-day of St. Augustine who was sent by Gregory the great to our Ancestors the Saxons and was the first founder of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury At which time a new Star appeared over the Palaâ—â— where he was born which seemed from Heaven to congratulate his Birth by darting its promising Influence upon the place of it and displaying is officious Beams in the midst of that Air wherein he first drew breath notwithstanding the strenuous opposition of the shining Sun which thing was generally lookt upon as an Emblem of his future greatness and glory The Sun likewise soon after suffered an Eclipse which was a sad presage as some even then divined that his Glory should be for some time eclipsed His Royal Father having in him obtained that blessing which he desired above all things in the World went to St. Pauls and there in a publique and solemn manner gave thanks to Almighty God from whose bounty he received him He was baptized in the 27th of the following June by Dr. Laud Bishop of London Abbot who was then Archbishop of Canterbury being under an Irregularity according to the decent and laudible Custom of the Church of England whereof he was then made a Son that so â—he might hereafter be her Supream Head and Mediator His Godfathers were his two Uncles Lewis 13. King of France and Frederick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine represented by the Dukes of Hamilton and Richmond who were then the two first Peers of the Realm and his Godmother was the Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond He was committed in his Infancy to the indulgent Care and pious Tuition of the Countess of Dorset and when his growing parts rendred him too masculine for a Feminine Conduct he was delivered to the Earl of Newcastle under whose Direction and Government he imbib'd those Principles of Virtue and desire of Learning which serv'd as an Introduction to fit and prepare him for his farther and more liberal Education under the Learned Dr. Duppa Dean of Christ-Church and Bishop of Chichester by whose extraordinary Pains and Industry his Great Soul was first seasoned with those Rudiments of Knowledge and Learning which afterward by his own observation and experience received so vast an increase and rendred him that sagacious and politick
in the other being attended on by Confusion represented in a deformed shape having on a Garment of severall ill-matcht Colours put on the wrong way on her Head Ruines of Castles and torn Crowns and in her Hand broken and shattered Scepters On the South Pedestal was a Representation of Britains Monarchy supported by Loyalty with Women Monarchy arayed in a large Purple Robe adorned with Diadems and Scepters and over that a loose Mantle edged with blew and silver Fringe resembling Water the Mapp of Great Britain being drawn on it Upon her head was the City of London in her right hand Edenburgh in her left Dublin Loyalty was all in white with three Scepters in her right hand and three Crowns in her left The first Painting on the South side was a prospect of His Landing at Dover Ships at Sea great Guns going off one kneeling and kissing the Kings hand attended by many Souldiers both Horse and Foot and great numbers of People gazing above and beneath this Motto In Solido Rursus Fortuna Locavit alludeing to that of Virgil thus Rendred Fortune Reviving tho she tumbled down Sporting Restores again unto the Crown Above the Arch on the North and South-Sides stood the Statues of James and Charles the first and between them somewhat higher and just over the Arch that of the Restored King with this Inscription D. N. Carolo D. G. Britanniarum Imp. Opt. Max. ubique venerando Semper AUG Bretissimo ac piissimo Bono Reip. Nato De avita Britannia Et Omnium Hominum Genere Meritissimo P. P. Extinctori Tyrannidis Restitutori Libertatis Fundatori Quietis ob Felicem Reditum Ex Voto L. M. P. S. P. Q. L. The Second which was a Naval Representation was erected in Cornhill near the Royal-Exchange on the East side whereof two Stages were erected on each side of the Street one in that on the South side a person representing the River of Thames and on that on the North side which was made like the upper deck of a Ship were three Seamen whereof one was habited like a Boat-Swayn and upon the Shield or Table on the front of the Arch a Latine Inscription the first painting on the North side over the City Arms represented Neptune with his Trident advanced with this Inscription Neptuno Reduci On the South side opposite to Neptune was Mars represented with his Spear Inverted having his Sheild charged with a Gorgon and by his knees this Motto Marti Pacifero Over the Arch the Marriage of Thame and Isis The painting in the North side over Neptune represented the Exchange with this Motto Generalis Lapsi Sarcire Ruinas The uppermost great Table in the fore ground represented Charles the first with the Prince his Son who was the then Restored King in his hand viewing the Soveraign of the Sea the Prince Leaning â—n a Canon with this Inscription O Nimium dilecte Deo cui militat aequor Et conjurati veniunt ad Classica ventt For Thee O Jove's delight the Seas engage And muster'd Winds drawn up in battel Rage The third which represented an Artificial building of two Stories the one after the Corinthian way of Architecture the other after the Composit with a Latin Inscription upon a Shield was Erected near Wood-street end not far from the place where the Cross formerly stood In the spanderills of which Arch two Figures in Female habit and a leaning posture represented Peace whose Shield was charged with a Helmet and Bees â—ssuing forth and going into it with this Motto Pax bello Potior And Truth cloathed in a thin habit on her Shield Times bringing Truth out of a Cave with this Motto Tandem Emersit Over the great Painting upon the Arch of the Cupula was Represented a large Geryon with three heads Crowned In his three right hands a Lance a Sword and a Scepter in his â—hree left the Escutcheons of England Scotland and Ireland having before him the Kings Arms with three Imperial Crowns and beneath him in great Letters Concordia Insuperabilis The fourth Triumphant Arch which represented the Garden of Plenty and was of two Stories one after the Dorick Order the other of the Jonick was Erected in Fleet-street near the turning into White-Friers and had upon the great Sheild over the Arch in Large Capitals this Inscription Ubertati AUG extincto belli Civilis incendio clusoq Jani Templo arum celsis construxit S. P. Q. L. Over the Postern on the South side of the entrance was represented Bacchus drawn in a Chariot by Leopards his Mantle a Panthers skin a Crown of Grapes on his head a Thyrsis with Ivy in his left hand and underneath Liber Pater The Painting over this represented a Vineyard with Silenus on his Ass with Satyrs dancing round about him in drunken and antick Postures And on the North side opposite to Bacchus was represented Ceres drawn in a Chariot by winged Dragons and Crowned with Eares of Corne having in her left hand Poppyes and in her right a blazing Torch the Painting over her being the description of Harvest Ceres AUG And the King having created six Earles as many Barons and Sixty Eight Knights of the Bath to assist at that Ceremony and appointed the 23d of April which was St. Georges day for the Consummating thereof the Glory and Splendor of it commenced the day before when he past through the City to White-Hall in a most Magnificent and Tryumphant manner For the Streets being all gravelled and filled with a vast multitude of wondring Spectators as well out of the Country as the City and some Forraigners who acknowledg themselves never to have seen amongst all the great Magnificencies of the World any that came near or equal'd that and even the Vaunting French were forced to confess that their Pomp of the late Marriage with the Infanta of Spain upon their Majesties entrance into Paris was far inferior in its State Gallantry and Riches unto that most Illustrious and dazelling Cavalcade which proceeded after this manner First went the Horse Guard of His Illustrious Brother the Duke of York the Messengers of the Kings Bed-Chamber the Esquires and Knights of the Bath being One Hundred and thirty Six in number The Knight Harbinger the Serjeant Porters the Sewers of the Chamber the Quarter Waiters the Six Clerks of the Chancery the Clerks of the Signet the Clerks of the Privy Seal the Clerks of the Council the Clerks of the Parliament the Clerks of the Crown the Chaplains in Ordinary bearing Dignities ten in number the Kings Advocate and the Remembrancer the Kings Councel at Law the Master of Chancery the King Puisne Serjeants the Kings Attorney and Sollicitors the Kings Eldest Serjeants the Secretaries of the French and Latin Tongues the Gentlemen Ushers dayly Waiters the Sewers Carvers and Cup-bearers in Ordinary the Masters of standing Officers being no Councellors viz. Of the Tents Revels Ceremonies Armory Wardrobe Ordinance the Master of Requests Chamberlain of the Exchecquer Barons of the
was altogether uncertain and knowing that by his late Preparations and Alliances he had provoked a mighty and a warlike King he thought it convenient to provide for his own security if the worst should happen by keeping up his Army and continuing his Fleet at Sea especially since that was the most probable means to make the French King account it his interest to hasten the Peace and procure to himself the more advantagious Terms therein telling his Parliament which met soon after That although they would peradventure account the Peace he was endeavouring to procure as ill a bargain as War because it cost them Money yet if they seriously considered that Flanders might have perhaps been lost by that time he believed they would give much greater Sums than all the Charge he he had been at amounted to rather than the single Town of Ostend should be in the French King's hands and Forty or Fifty of his Ships of War in so good a Haven over against the Rivers mouth adding That he could not but be very well pleased to understand the Reputation he had gained abroad by having in so short a time rais'd so great an Army and fitted out so brave a Fleet and hoped that they were so too since it so much redounded to the Honour of the English Nation desiring them therefore if they had any respect to their own Welfare and the Peace of Europe or were willing he should pass any part of his Life in quiet and all the rest in confidence and quietness with them and other future Parliaments to take care for the maintaining Peace and Union at home and the setling the same Revenue he had the Christmass before some of it being then fallen off upon him for Life and add 300000 l. per Annum thereunto to enable him to maintain the Navy and Ord'nance and keep his Word with the Prince of Orange in the payment of 40000 l. as his Nieces Portion the first Payment whereof was then become due and demanded by that Prince But the French King notwithstanding the Cessation of Arms endeavouring to enlarge his Conquests and possess himself of several considerable Towns he resolved to prevent him and therefore commanded the Duke of Monmouth who was at that time General of all his Land Forces and the Earl of Ossery to joyn the Prince of Orange and attempt the beating of him from the Siege of Mons which was then very much straitned by him and would in all probability have been lost within a few days The French who lay encamp'd between two Woods the right Wing posted at St. Dennis and their left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage that besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them which made them almost inaccessable thought themselves secure but the Cannon playing briskly upon St. Dennis and the valiant English commanded by the Earl of Ossery falâ—ing on with their accustomed Courage and Fury soon forced the Abbey and compell'd the French posted there to fly in great disorder to their main body many of them being slain in the dispute which was very hot And the Duke of Luxenburgh who was Commander there as the French King's General notwithstanding he had upon their first approach on a presumption that he lay encamp'd in a place which was impregnable laught at and derided the vain Attempt as he imagined of forcing his Camp finding he had now to do with the resolute English and not the timerous Spaniards or wary Germans dislodg'd in great confusion leaving his slain and many wounded Men behind and the Tents standing as they were to the Plunder of his victorious Enemies whereby the relieving of Mons a work thought little less then impossible was easily performed and the French King disappointed of his hopes And had that succeess been followed and improv'd the French King would in all probability have been reduced to great extremities and have been glad to have accepted of Peace upon any Conditions he could have gotten but the Peace which he had upon the march of the English hastily concluded a few days before at Nemeguen put a stop to all farther hostilities Things being brought to this happy conclusion abroad new Stirs and Commotions begin to appear at home For one Titus Oates who had receiv'd Education Orders in the Church of England and was afterward seemingly or God knows how reconcil'd to the Church of Rome going first into Flanders and then into Spain ingratiated himself with the Jesuits and Priests in those parts with a design as he afterward pretended to discover what they were plotting against England returning about this time inform'd the King of a Plot carried on by the Jesuits and others of the Roman Catholick Religion against his Person and Life the Protestant Religion and the Government of the Kingdom And that his Information might appear the more plausible and be the more readily believed he named divers Persons of Quality engaged in the Design and what Instruments had been provided for his Assassination affirming that when he was once taken off the remaining part of the Work was to have been carried on by Arms Foreign Assistance and such other Expedients as they should have judged necessary for the success of their Enterprise Whether there was any truth at all in this Relation or how much there was or whether the King at all believed it is none of my business to determine since I design as an Historian only to relate matter of Fact but certain it is that many Troubles and Combustions were occasioned thereby and several great and threatning Mischiefs have since fallen so thick upon these Kingdoms that one hath ever trod upon the heels of another Upon this Information the Privy-Councel sate twice a day to consider and examin that Plot and Sir George Wakeman one of the Queen's Physicians Mr. Coleman the Dutchess of York's Secretary Mr. Langhorn of the Temple and several others were committed close Prisoners and the Lords Bellassis Powis Peters Arundel of Warder Castlemain and Stafford were secured in the Tower And the Parliament sitting soon after the King told them in his Speech That he had been informed of a Design against his Person carried on by the Papists whereof he should forbear to give his opinion lest he should seem to say too much or too little but would leave the matter wholly to the decision of the Law without prejudging the persons accused But the strict inquiry into that Matter having discovered many unwarrantable Practices of theirs he thought he had reason to look to ' em Altho' this Plot in all the parts of it was a complication of Mysteries yet the greatest mystery of all seems to be the business of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey who being a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and a severe enemy to the Papists as was generally supposed took the Depositions of Oates and Tongue and was soon after found dead in a Ditch not far from Hampsted with his Sword run through