CHAP. I. On his Majesty's being converted into the Catholick Church.

THIS I know will be offensive to my Subjects if it should take air, and therefore in Policy am obliged to conceal it; but that I am secure enough as to God and my own Conscience, I have no reason to doubt: 'Tis the Catholick Church whereof I am now a Member, and it's that Church which in the Bibles of the Hereticks themselves is called the Pillar and Ground of Truth; then why should I scruple to submit my self to her Direction?

Did not my Grandfather K. James, though he maul'd Bellarmine, give the Pope the Title of Most Holy Father, and declare his Readi­ness to meet the Church of Rome half way? Did not my Father, whom the very Here­ticks acknowledg a Martyr, in like manner, [Page 2] give the Pope those Titles which they call Names of Blasphemy? If he had thought the Catholick Religion damnable, or believed that the Church of Rome teaches the Doctrine of Devils, would he ever have taken a Ca­tholick Princess into his Bosom? or granted such Concessions in favour of her Religion, and suffered it to spread so much in his Domi­nions? Would he have imployed the Irish in his Armies after they had cut the Protestants Throats? or would he ever have made Arch-Bishop Laud his Favourite, who brought such Innovations into the Church of England, and declared his good liking to a Cardinal's Cap, if the Church of Rome were but a little re­formed? So that I am safe enough as to what concerns my Soul, having not only the Senti­ments of the Bishop of Rome positively for me, but also those of the alterius orbis Epis­copus, not at all against me. Then surely I may venture my Salvation on the same bot­tom with my Mother, and embarque in a Church which uncontrovertibly appears not to have been altogether disrelishing to my Fa­ther.

Let it go which way it will, I am of the surest side: the Catholicks say, that out of the Church of Rome there is no Salvation; and Protestants acknowledg, that in the Church of Rome there is Salvation: and though it should [Page 3] be true what I have learn'd from my Tutor Hobbs, (and am indeed inclin'd to believe) that all Religion is but a Trick of State to keep the People in obedience; yet a Profession of Religion is necessary for a Prince as well as others, according to Machiavel's Maxim, Ple­bem dum vis fallere, finge Deum: and certainly that Religion of which it is a Fundamental Principle, that Ignorance is the Mother of De­votion, is most agreeable to a Prince who would maintain or advance his Prerogative: for where it is allowed, as amongst all Pro­testants, to examine the Dictates of their Ghostly Fathers, in relation to the Church, it must unavoidably follow, that the People will also claim the like Privilege to canvass the Orders of their Civil Fathers, in relation to the State. Then let the Hereticks talk as they please of the Kings of the Earth giving their Power to the Beast: I see that it is un­doubtedly the best Expedient for any Mo­narch who designs to be absolute, to be an obedient Son to the Church of Rome, who can insure him not only his Subjects Persons, but also their Consciences and Purses, seeing they must do and believe as the Church will have them.

True! it is my Misfortune that a Prote­stant Bishop, and several Protestant Lords, who have follow'd me hither, are privy to [Page 4] my Conversion, which might indeed prove fatal to my Affairs, if it were not their In­terest as well as mine to conceal it: but see­ing their Restitution depends on mine, I have no reason to fear that they will divulge it. And for the Satisfaction of the Church of Rome, though I have no Cause to profess to be of the Religion of Protestants who mur­dered my Father, and give the Ignominious Character of an Idolatress to my Mother; yet seeing the Principles of the Catholick Church allow Mental Reservation, and that Christ himself did not reject Nicodemus, thô a Night-Disciple, the Roman Catholicks cannot be angry that I still profess my self a Protestant, especially seeing thereby I shall be the more capable of doing them Service: and thus I find my self obliged to give an early Assent to my Grandfather K. James's Maxim, which he had from Lewis XI. of France, who never learn'd any other Latin Words, viz. Nescit regnare qui nescit dissimu­lare. Nor do I know why it should be any greater Stain to my Honour, to feign my self a Protestant for the Crown of Great Britain, than it was to my Grandfather Henry the IV. to feign himself a Catholick for the Crown of France; and may my Endeavours have the same Success, but a happier Exit. And see­ing the World will have it that there is a God, [Page 5] I can lose no more but a little Breath to make some Addresses if there be none; but seeing it's safer to venture with the bulk of Man­kind, than to rely on the Efforts of some Men of Wit, I am resolved to lift up the follow­ing Prayer.

O thou Almighty Being! who createdst the Heavens and the Earth, by whom Kings reign and Princes decree Justice, to thee I refer my Cause. for a final Decision. Thou art King of Kings, who puttest down one and settest up ano­ther, and therefore the fittest for me to make Ap­plication unto. I have been taught by those who call themselves thy Ambassadors, and would have me to believe it to be thy Law, that Kings are account­able to none but thy self, as being thy Vice­gerents, and Gods on Earth. Vindicate there­fore the Justice of my Cause against those Men who have not only usurp'd my Throne, but thine, for I am accountable to none but thee: Give Suc­cess to my Arms and Endeavours against them: And seeing thou hast said, that Vengeance is thine, and thou wilt repay it, let not the hoary Heads of those who shed my Father's and thy Vice-gerent's Blood go down in Peace to the Grave. And give me Strength, O thou most High, to execute Vengeance upon a bloody Na­tion. Thou who didst grant Samson's Desire to be reveng'd on the Philistines for his two Eyes, listen [Page 6] to my Petition. I request thee that I may be aveng'd for my Father's Blood, and the unjust Ʋsurpation of my own Throne.

CHAP. II. On his Majesty's accepting of the Scots Proposals, and taking the Solemn League and Covenant in Scotland.

THE Order of Nature is strangely in­verted when the Head is become the Tail: I, who ought to give Laws to my Sub­jects, must now receive Laws from them; and it adds to the Misery of my Fate, that I must obey. My Father by his Stiffness did lose both his Crown and his Life; and to pre­serve the one, and obtain the other, I must comply. My Mother, who had no small In­fluence on his Refusal, does now press me to accept the Terms: so that at once I must ab­jure my Religion and Prerogative, that I may the better advance them both. It's true that this will reflect upon my Honour, but of two Evils I must chuse the least: If I do not comply, my Prerogative is lost, for I shall never be admitted to possess my Crown; if I don't abjure the Church of Rome, I can ne­ver promote her Interest, nor be rendred ca­pable [Page 7] of doing her Enemies Hurt. My Mo­ther, who is known to be a Princess of Sense, lays an Obligation of Duty upon me, to sub­mit. Her Zeal for the Catholick Religion is known, and as a Daughter of France she is better instructed in the Pretensions of the Crown, than to advise to any thing that may really lessen the Prerogative in the Conclusi­on; and therefore I am resolved to take the Advice which she gave me in her Letter, not doubting but that according to her Suggestion there, I shall after my Restitution find an Op­portunity to free my self from my Bonds. Nor can it reflect upon my Parts to be govern'd by my Mother, whose Counsels were Ora­cles to so great a Monarch as my Father.

For the Roman Catholick Princes they know my Mind; I sent the Marquess of Montross to the King of Spain, and other Mi­nisters to the Courts of Austria and Poland, to sollicite their Assistance for my Restituti­on, on which the Advancement of the Church of Rome does so much depend. I have like­wise the Advice of the Council of France, to comply with the Scots, so that I am safe enough as to any Reflections from those of the Roman Communion, though I profess my self to be of another. I have also tried what may be expected from the Assistance of the Irish, before I would accept of the Pro­posals [Page 8] of the Scots; but seeing they cannot defend themselves, I am sure they are unable to restore me, and therefore I must depend upon the latter, though much against my Mind: But Heaven, it seems, thinks fit to humble me so far, that I must rely on the Fi­delity and Assistance of those whose Stub­bornness and Rebellion laid the Foundations of my Father's Ruine. But why should I de­spond? is it not possible that the Fates may have put this Opportunity in my hand, to revenge his Blood upon them and the Neigh­bouring Kingdom, according to the solemn Vow which my Brother James and I have made, to sacrifice thousands to the Memory of our Father, and ten thousands to the Resent­ments of our dear Mother? And as the Scots by their Rebellion were first in the Trans­gression, may they atone for it by being first in the Punishment.

True, they are a cunning People, and if they smell the Design, it ruines my Affairs, but I must manage them with Prudence: The Presbyterians are now on the Top of the Wheel, and testify'd an Aversion to my Fa­ther's Blood, which affords me a specious Pretext of caressing them; but if they find me too easy, it will render me cheap, and therefore I must stand aloof for a time. Some of their Commissioners I have already bought [Page 9] off, and those will certainly espouse my Cause; I must allarm them with their Danger from the English Sectaries, and the Designs of that new-rais'd Commonwealth. This will be a Pretence for bringing in the Cavaliers to de­fend their Country against the Common Ene­my, which will divide the Presbyterians amongst themselves; and if I once get but part of them on my side, it will cover my Designs against the whole: I must pretend to be zealous for their Covenant, and bewail the Sins of my Father's House: I must admit some of their Ring-leaders for my Chaplains, and that will attract the Applause of the Mob. I must indulge the Nobility of my Court in their Practices, and that will defend me against the Rigour of their Church: I must profess a great Passion for the Liberties of the Subject, and that will procure me the Concurrence of their States. And by these Methods I hope to accomplish my Designs; for when they are engaged against one another, in the first Place, and Cromwell and his Republicans in the next, let the Loss fall on which side it will, it is my Gain, I shall be rid of so many dangerous Enemies, and their Fall will be the Rise of my Throne: for if the Presbyterians prevail, they are for Monarchy, though limited; and when their old Friends, but present E­nemies, the Independants, are subdued, it [Page 10] will be easy for me to scrue it a Pin higher, and render it absolute. If the Sectaries carry the Prize, (and who knows but it may be so, for Fortune favours mad Men) their Anar­chy will quickly make the Nations weary, and pave the Way for my Restoration: for the Presbyterians, who are for a National Church, will never be quiet under a Congre­gational Frame; and being also, as I have said, for a King in their Principles, which are two main Heads of Agreement betwixt them and the Church-of-England-men, they will quickly prove too strong for the divided Sectaries, who disagree in their Models both for Church and State.

My Design, it's true, may seem Inglori­ous, but there are Precedents which I am not asham'd to follow: My Grandfather, King James, was sworn to maintain the Church and State of Scotland as he found them, but yet made considerable Alterations in both. My Father was obliged by his Coronation-Oath, to govern according to the Laws, and yet did advance his Prerogative above them. My Grandfather, Henry the IVth of France, dissembled both with his Protestant and Ca­tholick Subjects, and yet his Reign is fa­mous to Posterity. But what need any far­ther Argument; Did not the Council of Con­stance determine that Faith is not to be kept [Page 11] with Hereticks? Then why should I stand up­on such a Cobweb-Objection, as the Violati­on of an Oath to Protestants, especially see­ing I have now such an Opportunity as, if lost, can never be regain'd? The English are already fallen off to a Commonwealth, and the Scots, if I do not accept of their Terms, will quickly send me such a Message as they sent my Father, That if he did not think it worth his while to come to Scotland and re­ceive their Crown, they might perhaps be inclin'd to make choice of another Soveraign. The Roman Catholicks, and Church of Eng­land-men, I am sure of; and the Presbyteri­ans I may be sure of, if I comply with their Measures; so that it is best striking the Iron while it is hot, and taking them by the Hand while I may, lest my Friends be dispirited by their long-waiting, and my Enemies be strengthned by their uninterrupted Career.

But alas! how am I disappointed; the Scots are not so easily to be cheated, they de­mand my Solemn and Publick Declaration, that I accept of the Crown on the Terms which they propose without Equivocation or Mental Reserve; so that I must be obliged to renounce my best Friends, the Catholicks and Church-of-England-men; and not only so, but also to root out what they think in­cumbent both upon themselves and me to [Page 12] maintain. Ah miserable Strait! but yet I have found a way to escape. The Roman Catholick Princes are acquainted with my Heart; and for others, I am not obliged to perform what I swear to them. The Opini­on of a Council I have for me already, and it will be no great Difficulty to obtain a Dis­pensation from the Pope: And if I should af­terwards break to the Presbyterians, I am certain of Absolution from the Bishops, some of them having already signified to me, that an Oath forc'd upon me, is not to be kept, especially when it obliges me to extirpate their Order, which is Jure Divino esta­blished in the Church. And if the Presbyte­rians should know that I were under a Vow to maintain the Church of Rome, or the Church of England, they would tell me I were absolv'd by the Unlawfulness of the Matter: So that seeing every one of them will allow me to break to their Adversaries, I may allow my self to break with them all. And whereas each Party would secure their own Interest with me, why should not all their Interests truckle to mine. The Kings of the Jews commanded their Priests, and why should a Christian Prince be their Subject? Let me once be but firmly establish'd on the Throne, and then Kingcraft and Priestcraft shall have a Trial of Skill; and if they can­not [Page 13] agree about the Methods of saving their Souls, they may leave it to me how to go­vern their Bodies. Let the Doctors dispute their probable Opinions, and I will follow my Sense and Interest. There's no more of Re­ligion that is needful to a Prince, than what serves to give Credit to his Affairs. The Catholicks entitle me, Defender of the Faith; and the Bishops do swear that I am Head of their Church: If the former offend me, they lose my Protection; and if I be Head of the latter, the Tail must follow; and then I shall punish the Round-heads with its Sting.

'Tis true, I am obliged to declare my un­feigned and voluntary Assent to the Cove­nant, but that is also the Effect of Force, and who is't that would not do so much for a Crown? If ever there were a Case wherein it was lawful to prevaricate, it's that of an Injured Prince to recover his Right. If Da­vid did lie to save his Life, why may not I do it to recover my Throne? And if Peter, who abjur'd his Saviour, was pardoned, there can be no Cause for me to despair? But what need is there of all this Debate? if my Works cannot merit, yet my Reve­nues may purchase Heaven, if Soul-Masses and Pious Legacies have any effect.

✚ Do thou, O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, favour my Designs, which do all center in the re­obtaining of my own Right, and establishing that Church which commands its Members to worship thee: Grant Success to those Piae Fraudes which have no other Tendency than the advancing of my own Throne, and the restoring so great a Tract of Land to the Roman Church; then shall I perform the Vows which I have made, and sing,

Ave Maria. ✚

CHAP. III. On his Majesty's Coronation in Scotland; upon taking the Covenant, and other Oaths, to govern according to the Laws of that King­dom.

I Have now weathered the Point so far as to obtain the Crown in spite of the declared War of one Part, and the Jealousies of ano­ther Part of my Subjects; and, like a good Pilot, have kept a steady Course betwixt the Gulphs of Scylla and Charibdis; but, Hea­vens bless me! with what a great deal of Danger! Having now compassed my End, it remains that I contrive how I may hand­somly break those Fetters which the Scots have laid upon me. I have Topicks enow from whence to argue: I am now in Possessi­on of my Native Right, which in Justice they could not have kept me from. It's but reasonable therefore I make them sensible, by Degrees, that I can lawfully shake off their Usurpation. They have no Right to impose Terms upon the Crown, which is mine by Birth. Nor am I more obliged to keep Con­tract with them than with Robbers that should assault me on the High-way, and force [Page 16] me to such and such Oaths to save my Life. I do not hold my Crown by the Tenour of their Covenant, but as being descended from Fergus's Loins. And if they reproach me with having used unjust Methods to obtain it, it's no more than what they did to keep me from it; but now when I have it, I am free from all Attainders, and responsible on­ly to God alone. This was the Doctrine of my Father's Chaplains, and this will be justi­fied by the Old Cavaliers, whom I must now bring into Play as I can: It's true I have some Pangs of Conscience for having appeal'd so solemnly to God Almighty, that I was sin­cere in my Intentions, and meant as I spoke, and so much the more, that on being invested with the several Parts of the Regalia, I was obliged to renew my Oath in the Sight and Hearing of the People. Nor was it without some Horror that I heard my Chaplain Mr. Douglas insist upon the Guilt of my Family, the Duty of a King, and my Obligation by the present Oath; when I consider'd my pre­vious Engagements to the Church of Rome, the old Cavaliers, and exil'd Bishops, to take Care of their Interest at my Restoration. But those Qualms I conceive to be the Result of Opinion, which is fix'd in our Minds by the common Representations of the Wicked­ness of such a Procedure, which I am the [Page 17] rather confirm'd in, because the Frequency of the Act takes off that Apprehension of the Guilt which at first Commission does stare one in the Face.

Thou who didst bless the Hebrew Midwives for telling a Lie to the Egyptian Inquisitors that sought after the Life of the young Hebrew In­fants, if thou wilt not bless, yet at least pardon me for the Lies which I have sworn this Day, that I may advance thy Catholick Church. O! all ye Saints, hide me under your Protection from the Plots and Contrivances of my Ene­mies, who are also yours, and do profane the Days which the Church hath consecrated to your Memory. And blessed be thou, O Holy Virgin! who hast hitherto favoured my Designs with such Success.

Ave Maria.

CHAP. IV. On the Divisions amongst the Scots Presbyteri­ans, upon his Majesty's bringing his Father's old Friends into Places of Power and Trust about him.

AS I conceiv'd, so hath it happened; the Scots Presbyterians are all in pieces; those that are rigid did at first suspect me, and now they have begun to declare a­gainst me, and insinuate already my Breach of Covenant. They are very sharp-sighted, but I must outwit them. Their Clergy are not all of a piece; those who are strictest I must declare against, and fall in with that Party which is most complaisant: If I can but once prevail with them to yield in a lit­tle, they'l comply with me more and more by Degrees. The Usurper Oliver being now in their Country, I must improve the Oppor­tunity. The Nobility are easy to be per­swaded that a Commonwealth will totally ruine their Honour: The Clergy are mortal Haters of Independency; and the People have an old Grudge against the English; so that it will be easier to unite them, in opposi­tion to the Enemy, than to bring them to a [Page 19] good Opinion of my Government. But as when a Ship is in Hazard, all Hands are im­ployed to save her, I have found it easy to perswade the moderate Presbyterians to admit my Friends to Places of Power and Trust, to assist against the Common Enemy: And then if there be no Probability for me to conquer, I shall be in a better Capacity to destroy. And when the Presbyterians are totally subdued, I shall be the better able to deal with the Inde­pendents: And those of the Scots Clergy, who comply with my Designs in reference to the State, will also at length come to be of my Sentiments, as touching the Church; for I can already perceive that the Favours of the Court, and Hopes of Preferment, do dazle their Eyes. And as for the Puritanical Sect call'd Remonstrators, I will blacken their Fame by the Imputation of Rebellion, and make them odious to the Country, as Complyers with the English; for which end I will suborn some of my Friends who shall put the Notion in their Heads, to begin a Correspondence, and then accuse them.

O! all ye Holy Apostles, and thou St. Peter, who art their Prince, pray for a Blessing on my Endeavours: Your Successors teach me, that there is no Means unlawful which can be made use of for the Benefit of the Roman Catholick [Page 20] and Apostolick Church: And therefore I make my Application to you, that I may be enabled to triumph over the now prevailing Party of my Subjects, who are Despisers of your Holy Order, and pretend to a Parity among Ministers, ex­presly contrary to the Divine Charter of the Ro­man See: Tues Petrus; ✚ Sancta Maria, ex­audi nos. ✚

CHAP. V. On his Majesty's Defeat at Dumbar.

I Have lost the Day, but they are my Ene­mies who fell, which doth not a little allay my Grief. The Presbyterians say they are punish'd for my Breach of Covenant, and I look upon it as the Merits of their old Dis­loyalty; such an easy Matter is it to turn those Occurrences as the Protestants do their Scrip­tures, like a Nose of Wax. Nor does this Disaster so much affect my Throne, as it does disgrace their own solemn League. Nor does it so much dishearten my Friends, as it will certainly divide theirs: and while Pres­bytery and Independency strive for the Maste­ry, the Crown and the Mitre may play their Game. If the Defeat be ascribed to the ill Conduct of the Presbyterians, as I shall be [Page 21] industrious to have it believ'd, it will open a wider Door for the Advancement of my Friends, as fitter for Conduct and Com­mand. And if once an Army be modelled to my Mind, I doubt not of succeeding in my Designs: And by the Opposition which I know I shall meet with from the Roundheads, I shall be further justified in my Breach of Contract with them, as a Party who are Ene­mies to all Government.

✚ St. Peter, favour my Designs which are for the Advancement of thy Holy Chair, and bring my three Kingdoms again into the Bosom of the Church, from which, like wandring Sheep, they have gone astray; they have left thee, the on­ly Rock on which the Church can be firmly found­ed: And seeing thou and thy Successors were in­trusted with a Power to absolve Subjects from their Allegiance to Heretical Soveraigns, you can also absolve a Catholick Soveraign from all Ties laid upon him by Heretical Subjects. ✚ Kyrie Eleyson, ✚ Christe Eleyson, ✚ Ave Maria Gratia plena.

CHAP. VI. On the Defeat of his Majesty's Forces at Inner­keithing, &c. and his raising another Army to march into England.

THE Scots have shew'd their Affection to me, but Heaven thinks fit to blast their Endeavours. Nor is it possible for a Kingdom divided against it self to stand. The hot-headed Zealots ascribe it to my own Per­jury, with my Father's Tyranny, and my Mother's Idolatry: But I rather think that the Curse due to Rebels hath seiz'd on them, and that the Blood of my Father is required at their Hands, who were the first that durst oppose him. How remarkable is that Justice which brings those very Men against them, whom formerly they themselves did assist against him? and that the Covenant on which they founded their Security should now be made the chief Ground of the Quar­rel? and that those very Men to whom they sold their Soveraign, should now sell their People, by hundreds, for Slaves? But those Reflections I must keep to my self; and so long as I have need of them, must flatter the Scots, who are now resolved to invade Eng­land, [Page 23] and to model me an Army more agree­able to my Mind: and then shall I see if my Church-of-England-Friends will own me in Adversity, as they did my Father in his Pro­sperity, and so long as he was able to ad­vance and protect them: And if they do not, as I suspect that they will not, because most of them comply with the Currant of the Time, it will also justify my Breach to them, if ever the Fates restore me to my Throne.

I have now again a considerable Army, and pretty well purg'd from Puritanical Hu­mours; but still I must pretend a Zeal for the Covenant, to please the Temper of the Sco­tish Nation, and blunt the Darts which are thrown at me by the Presbyterian Remen­strators; but when we are in England, I know what to do, and how to distinguish my Friends from my Foes: The Catholicks and Church­men shall have the fairest Quarter, though I must still pretend Friendship to the Presby­terians there, if it were for no other end but to make Oliver jealous of them, and because some of them are very popular Men, and testify'd their Dissatisfaction at my Father's Murder.

Prosper my Designs, O thou Almighty! for the Advancement of the Catholick Church, the Restitution of the pious Order of Episcopacy, [Page 24] and the Holy Liturgy. Thy true Worshippers, those of the Roman Communion, having found Healing under the Wings of the former, and no small Security in times of Difficulty, by being able to comply with the latter, my Predecessor Edward VI. having own'd that it was the Mass-Book translated into English: And my Father, of blessed Memory, having gain'd it the Appro­bation of the Spanish Clergy when he ordered it to be translated into Spanish. Blessed Virgin, who sittest as Queen in Heaven, favour my De­sign; command thy Son to assist me in it: And, O all ye Saints be propitious to my Endeavours! interceed for me at the Throne of Heaven, that I may recover those Thrones from which I am un­justly with-held; and I make a Vow when I am restored, that I shall re-establish Bishops and the Liturgy, in order to the Introduction of the Ca­tholick Religion.

CHAP. VII. On his Majesty's Defeat at Worcester.

HOW changeable are all humane Affairs, and how little is Grandeur and Strength to be relied on? I, who not long ago was crown'd with extraordinary Pomp, am now in a worse Condition than the meanest Pea­sant: [Page 25] The other Day I was at the Head of a gallant Army, and now there's not a Man dare be seen to follow me: I was lately guarded by a Forest of Spears, and now I am glad to sculk in a Forest of Trees. O! how does this Disaster wound my Soul? that I who was lately a King over Men, am now exposed to wander among Beasts, and in so much a worse Condition than they, that I cannot so well provide for my self? How do my Enemies now triumph? and what a dreadful Slaughter have they made of my Friends? I was proud of having an Army modelled to my mind, and to be at the Head of so many Cavaliers. How will the Scots Remonstrators, to whose ill Conduct I a­scrib'd my former Defeats, reproach me now with the Conduct of my own, so many of whom are killed in the and others will be butcher'd like Beasts in the Shambles? Alas! this Defeat is more fatal to me than those at Dumbar and Innerkeithing: The Presbyterians, whose Loss I did not regard, will now say, that Justice has found me out, by cutting off those who were the Pillars of my Hope. How often shall I be upbraided with it, that I am disappointed by those whom I preferred to them? Alas! what can I answer? That I had scarce so many hun­dreds of my Subjects of England, as I had [Page 26] thousands of those from Scotland: That they should have march'd so far into this King­dom, and be joined by such an inconsiderable Handful: That so many thousands of Cove­nanters should follow me into this Nation, where the Churchmen are strongest, and yet so few of the Churchmen did join me; so that I came to my own, and they received me not. In truth, this Presbyterian Reflection has something in it, that the Churchmen do fol­low their Kings for the Loaves, and always worship the Rising Sun. Poor Souls! how many of the Covenanters have their Gar­ments roll'd in Blood, for espousing my Cause, though their whole Party suspects me? And how few of my English Episcopal Friends have either assisted me with Men or Money? How do the Sectaries revile the Presbyteri­ans, as Friends to me, because Haters of their Anarchy? And yet how little do I hear of the Zeal of the Churchmen, who former­ly pretended to adore the Monarchy? How true have I found it, that their Loyalty to the Crown was measur'd by its Ability to protect the Mitre? No wonder that they followed and stood by my Father, who un­dertook the War in Defence of them; but now that I must not declare for their Hierar­chy, I perceive a Declension in their Zeal for the Monarchy; but if ever I happen to [Page 27] recover my Crown, then I shall be sure to have their Friendship. And of the ten thou­sand Ecclesiasticks that are said to be in Eng­land, the far greater part will still keep their Churches, as well as the Majority do now comply.

Deliver me, O thou Almighty! from my im­minent Dangers. Thou who art King of Kings, defend me from those Blood-thirsty Men who have murdered one King, and hunt after the Life of another. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, then why should they call me to an ac­count? Deliver me from their Hands, and vin­dicate thy own Prerogative from those who have usurped thine as well as mine. When my pretend­ed Friends forsake me, yet do thou espouse my Cause. And as thou hast covered my Head in the Day of Battel, deliver me from those who thirst for my Blood. ✚ Kyrie Eleyson, Christe Eleyson. Ave Maria Gratia plena.

CHAP. VIII. On his Majesty's Escape to Whiteladies; from thence to Spring Coppice; and then to Bos­cobel-house, where he was conceal'd some time by the Penderels, after he left the Royal Oak.

HEavens be bless'd, that I have hitherto escap'd from the Cruelty of those who seek after my Life, that my first Sanctuary should have been a quondam Nunnery, fore­told what Party were to be the Instruments of my Preservation: But alas! at Whiteladies I parted with the choicest of my Friends, and God knows whether ever we shall meet a­gain: The Noble Earl of Derby I hear is taken, and will quickly be sacrific'd to the Fury of the Rebels; but there is no Remedy against such Disasters, he dies for his Loyal­ty, which is his unquestionable Duty: And though I be not now able to protect him, yet Heaven is able to reward him.

How changeable is the Scene of humane Affairs, since Crowns are also liable to the Cross? The Court which did formerly set forth my Glory, I was lately obliged to aban­don with Terror, lest they, who at ano­ther time would have guarded my Person, [Page 29] should now have been the Cause of a fatal Discovery.

I who was lately in Royal Apparel, am glad to exchange it with the Garb of a Pea­sant: my Countenance, which did lately en­lighten the Court, is now eclipsed with a Vail of Soot; and my Hands, the Dispensers of Royal Bounty, are instead of Jewels, em­bellish'd with the Smoak of the Chimney. In room of a Palace I am glad of a Coppice, and my Lodging is common with the Beasts of the Field; so that like Nebuchadnezzar, I am driven from amongst Men, and for ought I can see, shall be forc'd to eat Grass like him, till such time as I am made to know, that the most High ruleth over the Kingdoms of the Earth, and giveth them to whomsoever he will. God will be known by the Judg­ments which he executes, let my Tutor Hobbs pretend what he pleases. Did not I, the other day, say to my self, Is not this the Ar­my which I have rais'd for the Defence of my Crown, and the Glory of my Power? And lo, how they are all consum'd like Wax, without either gaining Victory or Honour? and this Day the Kingdoms are taken from me, and now I am worse than the meanest of my Subjects.

CHAP. IX. On his Majesty's being in the Royal Oak.

IN lieu of a Palace I am glad of an Oak, whose Leaves must serve instead of my Tapestry; and the Sky is now my Canopy of State: The Stars must content me for Im­broidery: [Page 32] the Dew of Heaven must be my Perfume; and one single Rustick my Court and Guard.

CHAP. X. On his Majesty's being conceal'd at Boscobel ­house; Entertainment there by the Pende­rels; and Journey thence to Mr. Huddle­ston's.

I Have now exchang'd my Forest for a House, and one that belongs to a Loyal Catholick, as if Heaven would still inculcate that I must be obliged to them for my Preser­vation; and that I must now be punish'd for the Persecution of my Predecessors, and hide in those very retiring Places where the Priests were forc'd to abscond from the Severity of the Laws; but if ever I be restored to my Throne in Peace, I'l take care to secure them from such Annoyances.

CHAP. XI. On the Proclamation against entertaining his Majesty, and offering 1000 l. to any that would discover him.

HOW is the World turn'd up-side down, when they who are guilty of the vilest Treason dare proclaim their Soveraign a Traitor, and they who have no Right to their [Page 39] Estates but through his Clemency, deny him any Residence in his own Dominions? Where the Word of a King is, there is also Power; but now both my Name and Authority are despised, and by an unparallel'd Audacity they have taken upon them to abolish the Re­gal Dignity; and though they be great Pre­tenders to Religion, yet they do not consider the Divine Prohibition, not to touch his A­nointed, nor to do his Prophets any harm, but rather wrest and misapply the Scriptures, and look upon themselves to be the People who must bind the Princes of the Earth with Fetters, and load their Nobles with Chains: But do thou deliver me, O Lord, from the violent and blood-thirsty Man, who hunts after my Life, that the King may joy in thy Strength, and greatly joy in thy Salvation.

But what do I say, or why should I be dis­courag'd? for all these things will justify my Procedure, when I shall be re-advanced to the Throne of my Fathers, for shall not my Soul be avenged on such a Nation as this?

CHAP. XII. On his Majesty's leaving Mr. Huddleston's, and riding before Mrs. Jane Lane to Bristol, &c. in order to his embarquing for France.

NOW I must leave my Catholick Land­lord, but it's in order to go to a Catho­lick Country, where, instead of being con­ceal'd by a poor Priest, I shall have the Pro­tection of a mighty King: I have hitherto acted the Part of a Master, but now I must learn to act that of a Servant; and instead of being conducted by Men, must submit to the Conduct of a Woman: and though all Passes ought to be given by my Authority, yet now I must make use of another's, and that also procur'd from the Rebel-Usurpers: So that what I ought to decline in point of Honour, I am forc'd to comply with in regard of my Safety.

How mutable are all sublunary Comforts, when he who hath sat as a Monarch on his Throne is now obliged to change both Habit and Name, and he who was born Soveraign over some Millions of Men, must now act the Servant to an ordinary Gentlewoman? he to whom Princes themselves did uncover, [Page 41] must now attend his Mistress with Hat in hand? But Heaven seems to favour my Incli­nations, and not to be angry at my hidden Designs; for the Catholicks, whose Religion I have imbraced, are hitherto the Instruments of my Preservation; and now I must be ob­liged to the fair Sex, to whom I have a more than an ordinary Propensity.

CHAP. XIII. On his Majesty's Journey to Trent, and parting with Mrs. Lane there, in order to his embar­quing at Charmouth, a small Village near Lime, and his Disappointment by the Skip­per's Wife, who lock'd her Husband up, that he should not carry him.

HOW changeable are the Capricio's of that Teasty Goddess called Fortune? I who entred the Kingdom not long ago with [Page 46] a formidable Army, am now in a strait how to get out of it with one or two in my Com­pany: But though the Goddess of Wisdom be none of my Friend, yet the Goddess of Love continues propitious. It's true, I am obliged to part with one Female Protectress, to whom I hitherto owe my Life, but kind Heaven hath sent me another; so that I find the fair Sex to be more inclinable to my Go­vernment than the Males.

How great is the Difference betwixt Pro­sperity and Adversity? My Predecessors could have Fleets to attend them at Command, and I cannot have a single Bark to transport me for hire. My Commands which ought to be obeyed by thousands of Men, are now con­trolled by a single Woman; nor dare I so much as dispute her Authority. Here's a small Emblem of my own Condition, for she who ought to obey does now command, and has her Husband not only upon but under the Lock. The whole Nation is infected with the Rebellion, for a Man is not now the Master of his Family, but must be forc'd to submit to the Command of his Wife, so dan­gerous is the Example of a People's usurping it over their Soveraign; and thus is the Na­tion plagu'd for its Rebellion.

CHAP. XIV. On his Majesty's Return to Trent, and lodging at an Inn in Broad-Windsor, in his way a­mongst Rebel-Souldiers, where one of their Wo­men were brought to bed; and his Concealment in a Place at Trent, where Recusants used to retire.

THAT I might the better avoid the Fu­ry of my Subjects, I design'd to have committed my self to the Mercy of the Waves, as thinking it safer to be in a Storm at Sea, than in the middle of a raging Rebel­lion by Land; but the Fates think it fit to suspend my Designs. I am environ'd by those who seek after my Life, and forc'd to lodg with them under the same Roof, but Hea­ven hath pav'd the Way for my Escape, and by their Impurity provided for my Safety; so that instead of their having time to en­quire after me, the Parish is come to enquire after them, that they may not be at the Charge of their spurious Brats. When such things happen'd in my Army, they accus'd my Discipline, but cannot perceive the Faults of their own.

But, Thanks to the Saints, I am again e­scaped, and free at present from the fear of my Foes, and have another Asylum and Place of Refuge, where the Holy Fathers did use to retire from the Fury of Protestant Perse­cution; so that my first and last Retreat must be to the Catholicks.

Blessed be thou, O Being of Beings, that when the Tribulations of my Heart were inlarged, didst hear my Prayer, and deliver me from my Di­stresses; continue thy Mercies, that I may have Opportunity to advance thy Cause, and seek the Welfare of the Catholick Church! O ye Angels, who protected me in the midst of my Enemies, watch over me in the remaining part of my Life. Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, intercede with thy Son for me, and deliver me from those who seek after my Soul. Ave Maria.

CHAP. XV. On his Majesty's imploying my Lord Wilmot to procure Money for his Transportation; his hiring a Ship, being known by one Smith an Inn-keeper, and his Arrival near Havre de Grace in France.

HOW great is the Change from a King who ought to command, to become a Supplicant that must beg. My Father de­manded Loan-money by Authority, and I am glad to desire it with the greatest Hu­mility; He, that he might govern them with an Army; and I, that I may be enabled to fly the Country. My Predecessors had Navies to invade France at pleasure, and I have not so much as a Fisher-boat to carry me thither from Danger, but must both pay, and be obliged to those that will be hired.

They that are eminent in Dignity, ought to be so in Merit, else they can hardly escape being undiscovered in their Adversity. It's almost as hard for a Prince to be concealed in a Disguise, as for the Sun to be hid with a transparent Cloud: I was not long ago at the Mercy of a Butler, and must now be obliged to the Fidelity of an Inn-keeper; and how [Page 50] dangerous is it to trust to those who must live by Gain, when then they might have 1000 l. to discover my Person.

The tumbling of the Waves resembles the Instability of the Mob, who cry Hosanna to day, and crucify to morrow. When the Sky is serene, the Surface is smooth; but when Storms arise, they threaten both Heaven and Hell. What Mountains of Water seem rea­dy to invade the Skies? and how do the bottomless Gulphs seem ready to disgorge up­on Hell? yet had I rather be here than a­mongst my rebellious Subjects, who are swoln by the Winds of Error and Sedition. But Thanks to my Guardian Angel I am within sight of Land, and almost out of the Limits of my cursed Dominions.

Now am I arrived in a most Christian Country, and under the Protection of the most Christian King. This Place, though it had not been called so before, doth now de­serve the Name of Havre du Grace, as having indeed afforded a safe Haven to a Monarch who has been tossed by a Tempest of Re­bellion.

CHAP. XVI. On his Majesty's being conducted to Paris, met by his Brother the Duke of York, and enter­tained at the French Court.

IT's true I am now safe from the Fury of my rebellious Subjects; but alas I am a King without a People, and like a new mar­ried Husband deprived of his beloved Bride. I had scarcely tasted the Sweets of the Throne when I was deprived of my Soveraignty per Force; and instead of giving Laws to my own Subjects, am now constrain'd to wan­der amongst Strangers. I had not near ob­tain'd a plenary Possession when the Sword of an Usurper did serve me with an Ejection; and instead of going to Paris in Triumph, as did some of my Predecessors, I am glad to go thither as a Supplicant and Fugitive: And whereas my Ancestors did wear the Crown of France, I must now be obliged to that Mo­narch to preserve me for the Crown of Eng­land, and court his Endeavours for my Re­stitution. [Page 52] Where my Fore-fathers us'd to com­mand I must obey, and am glad to be enter­tain'd as a Subject where I ought to be a So­veraign. The Kings of France have been Prisoners in England, and now the Monarch of Great Britain is a Fugitive in France: So great is the Difference betwixt a King of Eng­land belov'd of his Subjects, and one who is at Variance and War with his People; for they who would have enabled me to come hi­ther as a Conqueror, have now constrain'd me to become a Petitioner.

But more than enough of this melancholy Theme: I must strive to make the best of my present Condition, in order to establish my future Repose. Here I am safe from the Rage of Rebellion, and injoy the Society of my Royal Relations. Here I have a Palace instead of a Wood, and the Society of Princes in lieu of Clowns: I hold not my Life from the Courtesy of Peasants, nor am I in hazard of Discovery by tatling Females. Here I can despise the Proclamation of the Rebels, and am neither in hazard by their Flattery nor Force. It behoves me now to re-assume my Spirits, and represent my Case to other crown'd Heads, and solicite them vigorously to espouse my Cause, lest the bad Example should reach themselves. I must declaim warmly against all Commonwealths, as mor­tal [Page 53] Enemies to the Name of Kings. I must also alarm the Church of Rome, and make the Pope understand the Danger of his Tiara; and that my Republican Subjects have not on­ly sworn the Destruction of all Crowns, but will involve the Mitres in the same Fate.

CHAP. XVII. On his Majesty's offering his Mediation betwixt the Prince of Conde's Faction, and that of Cardinal Mazarin, supported by the French King, and the Odium which he thereby brought upon himself from both Parties.

MY Friends, if divided, can't give me that Assistance which I am sure they might do if they were united, and therefore it's my Interest to have that effected. Cir­cumstances do specify Actions, of which this is a remarkable Instance: If I were upon my Throne, and in full Prosperity, it would be my Advantage to pour Oil into the Flames, that by their mutual Divisions I might tri­umph over both, and make good my Title to the Crown of France; but now that their Help is my only Refuge, I must endeavour an Accommodation. But of this I am re­solved to take special Care, that as much as I [Page 54] can I will side with the Crown, which is the common Interest of all Monarchs.

CHAP. XVIII. On Mrs. Lane's Arrival in France: His Ma­jesty's being disappointed of Mademoiselle d' Orleans; and treating with the Duke of Lor­rain for the recovering of Ireland.

HOW inveterate is the Malice of my na­tural Subjects, that not only pursue my self, but those who entertain'd me, and vent their Rage against a poor Gentlewoman who befriended me. I am not in a Capacity of giving her a Royal Reward, but shall enter­tain her with Royal Honour; and as she pro­vided for my Safety, I will take care of hers, and repay her with Publick Respect for her Private Service.

My Predecessors of England have match'd with the Imperial Family, and must the King of Great Britain and Ireland be thought too low for a Dutchess. My Father thought it a Condescension to take a Daughter of France, but I am not thought worthy of a remoter Princess. What vain things are Ti­tles and Honour, without the Substance of Riches and Power! But if I be unsuccessful in Royal Amours, I have not been so in those which are meaner, and can satisfy Nature, though not my Grandeur.

My Loyal Subjects being unable to defend me; and the French King, though my Kins­man, unwilling to sustain me, I must now have recourse to inferiour Princes, whom, if I had my Right, I should be able to com­mand, but now must be obliged to court their Assistance, and quit part of my own Title for a Reward. How hard is my Condition? that I should be reduced to call other Princes the Protector of my Subjects, and with the Addition of Royal, which would denote their Independance. But why may not they pro­tect them as well as me, and injoy the Name as well as perform the Thing? It's true, my rebellious Subjects will say, that my making Application to Catholick Princes, and not to Protestants, is a shrewd Cause to suspect my Religion; but I must consult my own In­terest, [Page 57] and not their Humours. Those of them who are the firmest Protestants are al­ready either jealous of me, or have avowedly declar'd against me; and for the Pillars of those who call themselves by the Name of the Church of England, they are already pri­vy to my Reconciliation to the Church of Rome, which they don't much disapprove, because I feed them with Hopes of bringing the Church of Rome to an Accommodation with them; and she will certainly do it, that she may the better animate them against the Puritans, who being the most obstinate of all the Hereticks, if they were once out of the way, the rest will the more easily be brought to comply: for I perceive my Episcopal Friends do still believe the Church of Rome to be a true Church, and the other Party to be none; and therefore a Reconciliation will be more easy with the former than the latter, especially considering how near they approach in Discipline and Ceremonies to the Church of Rome. The Advances which Bishop Laud's Party made towards their Mother-Church also in Doctrine, will be a great step towards the desired Union; but that which will chiefly contribute thereunto is the im­placable Hatred which my Grandfather and Father did always take care to nourish in those of the Church of England against the [Page 58] Puritans, which is now increas'd by the late overturning of their Hierarchy: so that if ever I be restor'd, the one will infallibly assist me to destroy the other; and when the Destruction of the Round-heads is effected, and my Father's Blood at the same time suffi­ciently reveng'd, I shall next take the other Party to task; and seeing it is not Principle but Interest which keeps them from comply­ing with the Church of Rome, I'l use my En­deavours to have it accomplished, or by—the Church, or at least the hottest of them, shall smart for it: and thus I shall revenge my self on them too, for playing the Poltroon, and sotting in Taverns, while my Father was led to Execution, and declining to join my self when I entred England.

But as to my Treaty with the Duke of Lorrain, I shall reap these Advantages from it: If he once be possessed of Ireland, he will be assisted by the Spaniards, to whom the Irish have a natural Inclination; and with his Help from thence I shall keep my rebelli­ous Subjects in the other two Nations in per­petual Vexation, both with Incursions on that side, and from Flanders: Or if this don't take effect, the very Apprehensions of it will alarm the French, and move them rather to assist me themselves, than venture to give the Spaniards such an Advantage; for they may [Page 59] not only join the Duke of Lorrain's own Sub­jects from the Netherlands, but when the Duke has footing in Ireland, he may easily join the Spaniards in their own Dominions, and invade France.

CHAP. XIX. On his Majesty's falling in love with one of his own Subjects in France; his marrying her, and having a young Prince by her, who was after­wards created Duke of Monmouth.

HOW hard is my Fate, that I am still de­sign'd to be a Conquest, and that also to my own Subjects, first by the Arms of their Men, and then by the Amours of their Wo­men. One might have reasonably thought that I had received so many Affronts from my own People, that I should never have been enamour'd on any of them; but, to my sad Experience, I find it otherwise, and that Cupid tyrannizes over Kings as well as others, and commands us as imperiously as we com­mand them, with a sic volo sic jubeo. Alas! that Love is Proof against all Cures, and that I cannot oblige it to withdraw at my Com­mands, which I find it entertains with as much Disdain as the Waves of the Sea did [Page 60] those of my Predecessor, who smote them with his Scepter, and forbad them to ap­proach his Chair. Thus I who might be courted by the greatest of Foreigners, must languish in love for one of my Subjects, as if the Fates had decreed both Sexes of them an absolute Conquest over me.

If I marry her, I am sure to lose my Inte­rest; and if I do it not, I must sacrifice my Content, for her Vertue I find altogether insuperable: I must therefore comply with my Brother James's Advice, and marry her privately before him and a Priest; and thus I may consult my present Repose, and take my measures in time to come by future Contin­gents.

Nor am I like to be less unfortunate in the Quality of my own Match, than also in my Allies, by that of my Brother, who is catch'd in the like Snare; but who can resist the Charms of Love? We must needs deplore the Hardness of our Destiny, to have Mars and Venus triumph over us at once, and each of them force us to an unequal Surrender. Our Father was reputed a Man of Chastity, but it's strange that Incontinence should be our Inheritance: I wish that it may not be here­ditary from our Mother, of whose Honour I ought not to be suspicious; but the Current of Fame, and our own Constitution, may [Page 61] justify at least this passing Reflection, which, if it should be true, makes me but Neigh­bour-like; for my Cousin, the French King, lies under a more publick Scandal, and that not without ground, that he's the Spawn of a Priest: For whatever is the Cause, this I find by Experience, that Cardinal Mazarin has more Influence upon him than all the Peers and Grandees of his Kingdom: and though the Laws of Nations, which forbid the Violation of Hospitality, especially to a neighbouring and injur'd Prince, might af­ford me a safe Retreat in this Kingdom; yet I find that I cannot be safe from Insults, be­cause I advis'd that the Cardinal should be remov'd.

CHAP. XX. On the French King's concluding a Treaty with Oliver, by which his Majesty and the Royal Family were to be excluded France, and his going thereupon into the Low-Countries.

SInce the Kingdoms to which I have a na­tural and hereditary Right, would not entertain me, it's no wonder that this, to which I have only a Title, should refuse it; so that my unlucky Fate hath now stripp'd me of all my Possessions, both Real and Titu­lar: I have no reason to complain of France's dealing thus with Princes of the Blood, when Britain and Ireland have done so by their na­tural Soveraign.

Bless me! how strange a thing is it that the Arms of a traiterous Subject should be able not only to expel me from my own Do­minions, but disturb my Repose in those of others? and how dishonourable and unnatu­ral is it for one Monarch to countenance Re­bellion against another? But why should I say thus? it is just with Princes as it is with the Pope, he would impose his Infallibility upon others, when he does not believe one word of it himself: So we would have our own Subjects to obey us without Reserve, as being obliged by God so to do; and yet we countenance the Rebellions of one another's Subjects. Thus did my Father make a shew at least of countenancing the French Hugo­nots against their natural Soveraign. My Grandfather, King James, though a great Ad­mirer of Kingcraft, did, in some sort, espouse the Elector Palatine's Quarrel against his So­veraign the Emperor: And my Predecessor Queen Elizabeth supported the Netherlands in their Rebellion against the King of Spain: So that in short, my Church-of-England-Sub­jects may boast of their Loyalty what they please, but I think they have very small Rea­son; for they that make no Scruple to coun­tenance the Rebellion of others, will make no Conscience of rebelling themselves, if ever they have occasion. And thus, if there [Page 64] be any thing like Divine Justice, I am pu­nished for the Sin of my Forefathers; and as they countenanc'd the Rebellions of other Princes Subjects against them, now others countenance the Rebellion of mine against me; so that amongst us we shall expose the Dignity of Monarchy, and make all our Pre­tensions be look'd upon as a Cheat.

But it's in vain to dispute, the Fates have decreed it, and I must obey; so that rather than be sent from this Kingdom with Dis­grace, or any publick Remark, I'l abandon it willingly of my own Accord, and save my Honour as much as I can.

CHAP. XXI. On his Majesty's travelling into Germany and the Low Countries: The Duke of Gloce­ster's being importun'd and threatned by his Mother to turn Roman Catholick: and the Duke of York's being charg'd to depart France.

INstead of being a Monarch of three po­tent Kingdoms, I am now become a Citi­zen of the World, and must be content to re­side where I can find Reception. It's hard that Lewis XIV. should have dealt thus with [Page 65] me; and that the Advice of a Priest should take place to the Disadvantage of a Prince of the Blood Royal of France; that he who co­vets the Title of the most Christian King, should not be more hospitable to a Prince who suffers for the most Christian Cause; that France should make a League with the Murderers of my Father, and yet erect a Mo­nument to render the Jesuits eternally infa­mous for stabbing of Henry IV, my Grandfa­ther; that the French King, who pretends to be Absolute himself, should so far approve of my Subjects Rebellion against me, appears with a very bad Aspect: He's not so much afraid of the Influence of the bad Example, as willing to keep the King of Great Britain humble, for fear I should pursue my Title to France; and knowing that Republicks are unfit for Conquest, he is rather inclinable to favour the New Commonwealth, and prefer his In­terest to his Reputation.

Nor is it the French King alone who op­poses my Designs, but my Mother, I per­ceive, has a hand in the pie, though I sup­pose she is misled by an Overcharge of Zeal. It's not my Interest that any of my Brethren should openly profess the Romish Religion, for that were a way to obstruct our Return; and yet she not only sollicites but threatens my youngest Brother if he do not openly pro­fess [Page 66] himself of that Church; an Evidence that she had but little regard to my Father while alive, when she tramples so avowedly upon his Commands now that he's dead; if the Εικον Βασιλικε was truly his, wherein he not only advises me against any Change of my Religion, but all the rest of his Children: and though it's true that I have changed mine in Obedience to a higher Command, viz. that of Christ's Successor upon Earth, and for the advancing of my own Interest; yet it is not publickly known, and by Consequence is not scandalous; but for my Mother thus openly to scandalize the World by influencing my Brother to an avowed Breach of my Fa­ther's Commands, is no sutable Return for that last Message which he sent her, that his Thoughts had never strayed from her: So that either she must not believe that Book to be his, or is very impolitick to take such Mea­sures. However I will make the best Im­provement of it I can, and send for him away from under her Conduct, which will be a good Argument for my Friends in England to prove that I am firm in my Religion; and I will endeavour to perswade her that I do it out of Policy, because I would not come to a Rupture with her.

My Brother James's being commanded out of France does justify the Policy of my for­mer [Page 67] Conduct, in not staying till I was sent away; which, though disgraceful enough to him, would have been much more so to me: Having had such slender Entertainment a­mongst Papists, it will make our Friends in England believe that we are still good Prote­stants, especially now that I make Applicati­on for Assistance from Protestant States; so that I must turn every thing to my Advan­tage as near as I can, though I am not like to do much with the Republican States of Hol­land, who being jealous already of the Fami­ly of Orange, will be afraid lest I support their Interest: Yet it will strengthen my Cause, if I get but a favourable Answer, be­cause it will be an Argument in the Mouths of my Friends, to prove that the Proceed­ings against me are dislik'd by Foreign Pro­testants.

CHAP. XXII. On his Majesty's being invited into the Spanish Netherlands by Don John of Austria, in name of his Catholick Majesty, upon the Rup­ture betwixt Spain and France.

INstead of being able to serve my self, eve­ry one would serve their turn of me: the Spaniards, who refused my Father a Wife, do now proffer me their Assistance to regain my Crown, that they may the better pre­serve their own Dominions: My Presence they judg may be serviceable in Flanders, to withdraw my Subjects who have join'd the French: and now that I may be useful, they condescend to court me, and my Circum­stances oblige me to try my Fate; perhaps my being present in Person may draw over some of my Subjects from the Enemy; and my being so near England may animate my Friends there to some brave Attempt; and seeing Fortune favours the Bold, I'm re­solved to adventure, perhaps she may be sated with my past Miseries, and instead of her usual Frowns vouchsafe me some Smiles. The malign Influences of my Stars are, it may be, exhausted, and the Aspect of the [Page 69] Heavens become more propitious. The Ty­rant's Oppression does fret my Subjects at home; and if Victory should crown my Head with Laurels abroad, I may soon re­turn with Triumph to my Throne. The Usurper having disobliged the Nobility by the height of Contempt, abolishing the House of Lords, and squeezing the Com­mons, may perhaps incline them to witness their Resentments, when they hear that I'm at the Head of a numerous Army. If the Church-of-England-men act their Part as the Presbyterians have done theirs, though I confess they are infinitely less obliged, they might quickly give the Usurper such a Diver­sion as would oblige him to recal his Troops for his own Defence. But, alas! the Mis­carriage of all my Designs in England, and the renewed Attempts of my Friends in Scot­land, give me reason to fear that the same ill Fate attends me abroad; and therefore I think it best not to be with the Army in Per­son, but send my two Brothers, and what Men I have, lest my former ill Fortune should give the Spaniards occasion to say, that it had also an Influence on their Affairs, in case their Army should be defeated.

CHAP. XXIII. On the Defeat of the Spanish Army, and the Sur­render of Dunkirk to the English.

HOW are all my Hopes vanish'd in a Moment, and my towering Designs brought down to the Dust: My ill Fate not only pursues my self, but involves my Allies in the same Destiny. Those who flatter this fortunate Usurper will doubtless say now, O nimium dilecte Deo, for nothing can stand be­fore him. The Loss of this Battel does mightily affect me; so many of my best Friends having done their utmost to retrieve our lost Cause in it, but in vain; and my two Brethren commanding in Person, have also been made sensible of the Frowns of Fortune; so that the whole Family will be henceforth esteem'd unsuccessful: and what dangerous Consequences attend such an Opinion of Ge­nerals, Experience hath taught in all Ages. There happened nothing favourable in this Rencounter, but that my Brother James be­ing taken, had the good Fortune to escape: Whence I have some ground to hope that we are preserved for better Times: and though Fortune at present favours Oliver, so that [Page 71] neither Scots, Dutch nor Spaniards can stand before him, the Case will not always conti­nue thus, but the Wheel may turn upon him or his. My Subjects begin already to be weary of the Anarchy in the State; and the Presbyterians themselves of the Confusion in the Church: The Nobility and Gentry are angry to be trod under-foot by his Officers, who are Fellows of inferiour Quality: And by their desiring him to take upon him the Title of King, it shows that they have no Dislike to the Office; and being sensible of his Breach of his Oath, by taking the Go­vernment upon himself, though a single Per­son, modelling their Parliaments as he pleases, though he was sworn to maintain their Pri­vileges, and governing them by an Army, though he would not allow my Father the Militia; they'l quickly come to draw such Inferences, that seeing we must be tyranniz'd over, it were as good to be so by those who have a long time been in possession of the Throne, and will take care to leave some­thing worth the Enjoyment of their Posteri­ty, seeing they believe the Divine Right of a Lineal Succession: whereas they who have no such Principle nor Pretence, do only take care for themselves, and make Hay while the Sun shines.

The giving up of Dunkirk to the English, is a very strange and impolitick Act of France, if they have not some more than ordinary As­surance of Oliver. Had my Predecessor Queen Mary been possess'd of such a Post on the Continent, the Loss of Calais would ne­ver have broke her Heart: And if ever it hap­pen that a warlike King injoy the British Diadem and Dunkirk at the same time, the Kingdom of France may have Cause to re­pent of this Folly; but, as I said before, they are not so afraid of a Republick.

CHAP. XXIV. On Oliver's Death; Richard's being declar'd Protector, outed by Lambert and the Ar­my, &c.

DEath hath effected what my Arms could not, and rid me of my greatest Enemy. If there be any such thing as a Su­preme Being, the Saints and He have certain­ly heard my Prayers; and on that very Day of the Month when Oliver triumph'd over me at Dumbar and Worcester, Fate hath tri­umph'd over him; so that now I may begin to pluck up my Spirits, and hope that For­tune will favour me at length. This Man [Page 73] being dead, whom my Enemies did idolize, they have not such another to fill up his room: and by his nominating his Son Richard to succeed him, he hath at once discovered his Folly and Hypocrisy; his Folly in naming such an one who is unfit for the Charge, and his Hypocrisy in claiming a Lineal Succession, which he did all along so strenuously impugn.

Richard is deposed by the same Power that set up his Father, which is a very remarkable piece of Justice; the Divine Nemesis hath made them destroy their own Creature, and they will at last destroy themselves. Oliver raised himself by concurring with Enthusi­asts, and advancing the Power of the Army over the Parliament, and by the same Me­thod the Frame of his own Government is pulled in pieces.

CHAP. XXV. On his Majesty's being invited to a Treaty on the Frontiers of Spain, betwixt the French and Spanish Ministers, about a Peace betwixt those Crowns: Sir George Booth's Defeat: The Confusions which the Nations were cast into by Lambert, and General Monk's car­rying on the Designs of restoring his Ma­jesty.

FOrtune begins now to look upon me with a more favourable Aspect, when the Great Potentates of Europe court me to be present at a Treaty of Peace; which, if con­cluded, may tend to my Restoration, with­out being obliged to my own Subjects; and then I may introduce the Catholick Religion in an open manner, as the Condition of the Assistance which is granted to me by Catho­lick Princes.

But, alas! the malign Influences of my Stars are not yet exhausted, for the Treaty is turn'd only to a Cessation of Arms; the French are very cold in their Caresses, and the Spaniards have only granted me some Complimental Honours.

Nor have I been more successful in my Sub­jects [Page 75] Indeavours, Sir George Booth and his Par­ty are defeated; so that I find the Presbyte­rians were more successful against my Father than ever they have been since for him or me. And the Church-of-England-men, though they will expect to reap the greatest Benefit from my Restoration, are very slack in their Endeavours towards it.

The only thing which looks with a favou­rable Aspect, as to my Affairs, is, that the Nations are madded with so many Changes of Government, and always subjected to the Tyranny of the Army: Their Parliaments, the Conservation of whose Privileges had a great share in beginning the War, are also trampled under foot, which I know must ex­ceedingly disgust the People.

The main Anchor of my Hopes is General Monk, whom I must caress with great Pro­mises to carry on my Designs, under a pre­tence of being zealous against me, till such time as he may safely declare himself for me.

The Scots, I know, are weary of the En­glish Usurpation, and many of the Presbyte­rians there do still think that I am their Friend; so that it will be easy for him to se­cure my Interest in that Nation; and while he summons their Gentry to abjure me by the Tender, he may form the Plot for my Resto­ration.

CHAP. XXVI. On General Monk's having brought the Design of his Majesty's Restoration to Perfection: His Majesty's Declaration from Breda, and Entertainment of the Presbyterian Ministers there, who were sent over to him.

NOW Fortune is surely sated with my Miseries, and instead of her Frowns vouchsafes me her Smiles: My Designs at length have prov'd successful, and now I am mounting to the Top of the Wheel; but that Lady is so fickle and unconstant, that I must be careful of the Measures which I take, and give my Subjects kind Words now, if I would have them to be my Servants for ever. The English Loyalty is purer than that of the Scots, who demanded much harder Terms from me; and seeing I swore the greater, I may very well promise the lesser, being re­solved to keep them both alike. And seeing the Puritans complain'd of being persecuted in my Father's Reign, I must promise an In­dulgence to tender Consciences: and, in short, take all possible Methods to sweeten my Subjects, till such time as I be settled up­on the Throne, and then I shall punish the [Page 77] stubborn Schismaticks with a Vengeance for their old Rebellion. But I must be very cau­tious, and counterfeit a deal of Piety before the Puritanical Parsons who are sent over to me: I must prepare some Prayers in their own canting Dialect, and order them to be brought where they may hear me at them in my Closet; and for once I'll imitate Oliver, who used always to pray with an audible Voice, by which he drew his Followers into a great Opinion of his Piety. He's a cursed Pattern indeed, but according to the Proverb, Fas est & ab hoste doceri: And if I can but impose upon those Leading Priests, the Cant will take universally amongst the Party, and I shall carry on my Designs with the more Facility. It's true, that according to the common Notion of the World this may seem Atheistical; but seeing the Catholick Church will avouch that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks, it cannot be unlawful for me to dissemble with them; and if there be a God, he is not certainly such as we have him re­presented, else he had never pav'd my Way to the Throne, seeing he must know that I never design'd to keep one Word of my Pro­mises: so that I have no reason to suffer any Disquiet in my Thoughts upon that account; for when those who call themselves Divines, and make it their Trade, cannot agree whe­ther [Page 78] there be only one God and no Persons, or one God and three Persons; nor yet as to the Rule which he hath left to direct us, nor the Meaning of that which some of them pre­tend to be the Rule; let meaner Persons trouble themselves about these Speculations, I'll concern my self how to live like a King. And seeing in their own Dialect they call me a God upon Earth, they shall obey my Will as the Vice-gerent of Heaven. And since it is uncertain whether there be either a God or a Heaven, I'll ease my self of the Trouble of my Prayers for time to come, as I have alrea­dy done for some time past; and yet I per­ceive that my Affairs go on and prosper, while theirs, who do not only pray, but also howl and whine, are on the Declension; and certainly their God must be a very unkind Soveraign, to suffer the best of his Subjects, for so they must be if the Bible be his Word, to lie under the greatest Affliction. Surely I would not do so to the best of my Subjects if I could help it; but if they be such Fools as to think that Afflictions make them the fitter for Heaven, qui decipi vult decipiatur, for my part, if I can, I'll take my pleasure here, and venture upon what is to come hereafter.

There is still one dangerous Rock more on which I must beware of splitting, and that is, lest the People be jealous of my Designs on [Page 79] their Civil Liberties; for let them clamour and talk of Religion as much as they will, I find that to be pinch'd in the other is their principal Grievance; so that Stiffness in Re­ligion is a thing peculiar to the Scots Presby­terians and their bigotted Followers: How­ever I must be high in my Protestations, that there is nothing which I do so much lay to heart, as the Advancement of the Protestant Religion, and the Conservation of the Privi­leges of Parliament; that all the Unkind­nesses which I and mine have met with from Protestants, have not been able to alter my Opinion, as to the former; nor have all the Invasions which they have made upon my Prerogative, been able to put me out of Con­ceit with the latter; but that I shall always look upon their Counsel as the best, and be ready to comply with such Measures as they propose for the Advancement of Religion and Liberty.

CHAP. XXVII. On his Majesty's being proclaim'd by the Parlia­ment: His magnificent Entrance into Lon­don, and injoying the Countess of Castle­main the first Night.

MY Designs have taken, and my Sub­jects are thereupon returned to their Duty; so that now I am recall'd by the Con­sent of the Nation, who were wearied by the Oppressions of the late Anarchy. I may now with Safety put off my Vizard in some measure, and say with Pope Sixtus V. that it's needless to stoop any longer now that I have found the Keys. The People, I per­ceive, are come to a high Flight of Loyalty; so that my small Escapes will not be taken notice of: And seeing all this Solemnity is for me, why should not I chiefly reap the Sweets of it? If the Subjects indulge them­selves as to Wine and Women, upon this oc­casion, why should the same be denied to their Soveraign? The best way to carry on my Designs is to begin my Reign with Jolli­ty, which will be grateful to those who have been so long restrain'd from Liberty. By this means I shall be sure to have the strongest [Page 81] Party; for all Mens natural Inclinations, which the Precisians call Lusts and Corrupti­ons, will be certainly for me; and if once they get a Vent, will break out like an Inun­dation now that they have so long been under a Restraint. The youthful Nobility and Gentry will certainly adore my Reign on this account, as August and Splendid; and the Churchmen will be glad to be from under the Checks and Grimaces of the Puritans: so that the Whole being immers'd in Jollity and Pleasure, they'l quickly leave off the Cant of Religion and Property; and they who do otherwise, will be made the Subject of pub­lick Ignominy.

Why may not I have the Countess of Ca­stlemain, as well as David had Bathsheba? The Solemnity of this Day is a much more excusable Tentation than his viewing of a beautiful Woman from the top of his House. If I be privately reproach'd, as having in­vaded another Man's Property, I can tell them publickly, that Princes are not to be limited as private Men, they have a Right to the Persons and Goods of their Subjects; and who ought to say to a King, What dost thou? If I keep them from incroaching upon one another, they may very well allow me my Liberty: I am accountable to none but God, and him I will venture to take in my [Page 82] own Hand; the Advancement of the Catho­lick Church will atone for all other Miscar­riages; so that as to this I have no reason to be sollicitous; a good End will hallow the worst of Means: and seeing those who are called the debauchedst of Men have some­times Pangs and Gripes of Conscience, a Li­centiousness of Practice is the best Method of the World to reduce such to the Church of Rome, because Pardons may be had for the highest of Crimes; so that a Man may enjoy the Pleasures of Sin, and not only be freed from the Punishment due to it, but also as­sur'd of Heaven at last. And herein the Pope does as much as Mahomet, though under a Vail of greater Modesty, and secures to his Followers the Pleasures both of this World and that which is to come: so that I shall take care by this Method to pave the way for the Return of Popery, and make it appear that Debauchery is look'd upon by me as the best Test of Loyalty, as indeed it will be; for sure I am that Debauchees, as foolish Men call those who indulge the innocent Ap­petites of Nature, will never be Enemies to a Reign which allows them in it; but on the contrary, will be my surest Defence against all the Attempts of the Puritanical Preci­sians.

CHAP. XXVIII. On the Parliament's condemning the Regicides, and appointing an Anniversary Humiliation on the Day of King Charles I's Murder.

NOW when the Kingdom is in a Fer­ment of Loyalty, I must take care to revenge my Father's Death, wherein I shall be sure of the Concurrence of the Parliament, because that same Hand which cut off his Head cut off their Privileges; but I must push it further than I'm afraid they will be willing, and by my Friends and Pensioners procure an Act for an Anniversary Comme­moration of my Father's Murder, by which I shall blazon his Vertues to all Posterity, and load his Enemies with the Height of Re­proach, which will mightily tend to the E­stablishment of my Prerogative; for by cry­ing out against his Murder, all manner of Opposition against Soveraigns will be con­demn'd. I am sure of having the Church of England's Assistance, because those that de­stroyed him did also destroy them; so that they will certainly defend his Cause as their own; and the more that they extol my Fa­ther, the more they depress their own Ene­mies: [Page 84] so that I need not doubt but the Church-men will express themselves with all the Hyperboles imaginable, to display the Horridness of the Murder, and the Piety and singular Vertues of their Martyr; which will be of special Use to support my Pretensions to an absolute Monarchy: for when the Gene­rality of the Pulpits ring with Declamations for Passive Obedience, it will create an Uni­versal Abhorrence of all such as are for any manner of Resistance; which the Church­men will find themselves oblig'd to promote, that they may throw Dirt upon the Presby­terians, who are Enemies to their Hierar­chy. And thus by keeping the Protestants at Enmity amongst themselves, and the stiffest and most obstinate amongst them un­der the Hatches, I shall be the better enabled to destroy the whole, and bring in Popery by Degrees, if not by Head and Shoulders.

But as to the Regicides, to have them con­demned has been no hard matter, because the Parliament did never approve of their Pro­ceedings; and from their Condemnation I shall reap this Advantage, that the Means must fall under the same Censure with the Instruments; and all things which contributed to my Father's Death as a pretended Zeal for Religion, and the Privileges of the People, will be look'd upon as certain Marks of Disloyalty.

CHAP. XXIX. On his Majesty's dissolving the Parliament which called him in, and summoning another.

THis Parliament hath done all that I am to expect from them, and therefore it's expedient that I should dissolve them, it not being safe to trust too much to a Parlia­ment that has such an Alloy: I must sum­mon another, which will be fitter for my pur­pose, and bring in as many of my Compani­ons in Exile as I can: Their Spirits are im­bitter'd by their former Sufferings, and their Purses are still sensible of their Sequestrati­ons, which will make them the more eager for a Revenge; and to help it on, I will still keep them low, and feed them with Promises to carry on my Designs. I must now begin to think of my Engagements to the Catho­licks; and towards the better accomplishing of them, must restore the Bishops, which I can easily do now that the House is fill'd with my Friends, who will be glad of such a Re­venge upon the Presbyterians. I have wea­ther'd the Point in other things of as great Consequence, so that I need not despair of succeeding in this. Let the Scots Phanaticks [Page 86] upbraid me with the Breach of Covenant, and the English Roundheads with my Decla­ration from Breda, I am not concern'd to re­gard such Trifles. The former was tyranni­cally impos'd both upon me and my Subjects; and the latter was only an Essay of Policy. When I was under Restraint I might abate of my Prerogative; but now that I am at Li­berty I may as lawfully regain it, for I can never be divested of my native Right. They both say that I am God's Vice-gerent, and therefore if I part with my own Prerogative I part with his; but if I must follow my own Inclination, I had rather say with the noble Pharaoh, Who is the Lord that I should obey him? And if the Puritans call themselves Israelites, I'm resolv'd to keep them in Bon­dage; and though I don't allow them Straw, will exact the Tale of the Brick: I shall ex­pect as much Loyalty and Obedience from them, as from those who have my Favour; and if I find them come short, they shall be sure to smart for it: They are a Company of idle Enthusiasts, and therefore say, Let us go serve the Lord; but they shall serve him in my way, or not at all. I have already over­turned their Babel in Scotland, or have rather indeed kept it under, as I found it, for Oli­ver had pretty well humbled them to my hand; and instead of an Indulgence there [Page 87] shall be a strict Uniformity in England, which will set the Episcopal Party and the Presby­terians together by the Ears; and then the Catholicks may take their Advantages to promote their Religion; and I shall improve the Opportunity to advance my Prerogative. When the Pulpits are once emptied of the Presbyterian Parsons, who preach up such rigid Morals, I'll take care that the Bishops shall not imploy Precisians, but Men of a more courtly and complaisant Temper, who will allow a greater Latitude both in Doctrine and Example, that the Church may have no reason to upbraid the Loosness of the Court. Nor shall I value the moross Reflections of Fanaticks upon my Principles and Practice, but contemn them as unworthy of a Mo­narch's Regard.

I am happy in the Model of this present Parliament, for they have given me as much as I can at present desire: they have made me an Offering of the Peoples Purses, Privi­leges and Lives; have enacted such Laws as will make one Protestant devour another, and do every thing according to my own Mind. How great is the Change betwixt mine and my Father's Days, when the Parliament thought they could never restrain him enough, and my Parliament think every thing too little for me. Thus the Triennial Act, which [Page 88] secur'd the Peoples Properties, and was with so much Struggling obtain'd from my Father, is now made a Sacrifice to my Prerogative, so that their chiefest Fortress is surrendred at once. They have not only provided for my living in Slpendor, but also taken care of my Reputation: And lest some sharp-sighted Fellows should perceive my Design of intro­ducing Popery, they have forbid it to be spoken of on pain of Praemunire, though at the same time I be in actual Correspondence with the Pope; so that I find my Pensions are well laid out; and though at present they be expensive, yet they are but like the putting of a small Quantity of Water into a Pump, to draw out an hundred times more.

CHAP. XXX. On the Presbyterian Plots set on foot Novemb. 1661. Sir J. P's forging treasonable Letters to that effect. His Majesty's appointing a Conference at the Savoy betwixt the Con­formists and Nonconformists; and influencing the House of Commons to offer Reasons a­gainst any Toleration.

DIvide and Command was Machiavel's Maxim, and I find it very necessary for me to put in practice, that my Subjects may not unite against me as formerly against my Father. That I may the better revenge my Father's Death, and my own Injury upon the Puritans, I must find a way to make them be thought guilty of Plots against the Go­vernment, which will be readily believ'd, because they join'd with the Parliament a­gainst my Father, and look upon themselves as oppress'd and betray'd by me; and I need not doubt of its being believ'd by those of the Church of England, who are their irrecon­cileable Enemies; for when the one is up, the other must go down: and then I shall reap this Advantage from it, that the Pulpits will thunder Invectives against them, and bring [Page 90] the general Odium of the Nation upon them, by which some of them will be obliged to comply, which will create Divisions amongst their own Party. And some of the moderate Churchmen will be displeased at the Severi­ties used against the Presbyterians; and by this Means I shall break all the Protestants to pieces amongst themselves. To give my Ac­cusation the Face, at least, of Probability, I must take care to have treasonable Letters lodged with their chief Patrons, for which Sir J. P. is a very fit Instrument. It will also be a very proper Method to suborn Fel­lows to talk of treasonable Designs amongst such of them as are unwary; and if they cannot be indicted for High Treason, they may very well be pursued for Misprision of Treason; and if they themselves be brought to confess that they heard of such Designs, others will believe that they had actually a hand in contriving them; and when once some of them are convicted by Publick Justice, and executed accordingly, it will confirm the Belief of a Plot, and strike a Terror into the rest.

But that the State may not bear all the blame, I must bring in the Church for a share; and though I appoint them by Com­mission to confer with the Nonconformists about Methods for a Comprehension, yet [Page 91] they shall have private Instructions, not to comply: And that they may not at first per­ceive my Design, I shall take care to insinu­ate that their conceding in one thing will occasion all the rest to be call'd in question; and then by the Influence of the Bishops in the House of Lords, and of the Members of the Clergy's Choice in the House of Com­mons, I shall bring it to pass that the Phana­ticks shall fall into a general Disgrace, and be reputed not only such in Name, but in Deed, and not at all worthy of a Toleration; which I reckon the best Politicks that I can put in practice, to ruine the most zealous Professors of the Protestant Religion first, and then the rest will quickly be brought to comply with my Designs, and abandon that Religion of which they have little or nothing but the Name, or at least render it odious and of small Esteem, by walking unanswerably to its Principles. And if any cunning Fellow shall smell out my Design, I have provided against his daring to speak of it by the Act against those who shall declare me a Papist, or that I have a Design to introduce Popery: And though those who are sharp-sighted may laugh at such a Provision, as rather giving than taking away Cause of Suspicion, yet when it dare not be openly talk'd of amongst the Vulgar, it will not obtain a common Be­lief: [Page 92] And the Church of England, whom I support against the Phanaticks, will certain­ly support me against their Censures. And thus when I have made one Party of Prote­stants to bait the other sufficiently, if the Church of England prove refractory after­wards to my Designs, then I shall endeavour, by remitting the Rigour of the Law, to in­gage the Dissenters on my side, to favour an universal Toleration, by which my Friends the Papists may have ease, if the Episcopal Party begin to grudg at my Favours towards them, or to fear that at last they may dis­possess themselves.

CHAP. XXXI. On his Majesty's selling of Dunkirk to the French King for 500000 l.

THis I know will be censured as an impo­litick Action, and the shutting my self out of the Continent, whereunto this Town opened a Door, by which I might have invaded France and the Netherlands when I pleased. It's true that it was a Monument of England's Glory, but such an one as being erected under the Conduct of an Usurper, is not for the Credit of me nor my Family; [Page 93] and therefore lest it should be an Allurement to re-intice my People to a Commonwealth, I will make it a Sacrifice to my Cousin the French King: Not that I owe so much to his Kindness, but that he may supply my present Necessities with his Money. And to testify my farther Resentments of that impious Re­bellion, the Citadels which Oliver built shall be raz'd throughout my Dominions, and the Towns which held out against my Father dismantled; and if it were not that the Con­sequence would be fatal to my self, every one of them should be sowed with Salt, their In­habitants made to pass under Saws of Iron, and have their Flesh torn with the Briars and Thorns of the Wilderness: But I must pre­tend other Causes to the People, lest they should be enraged, as that I won't keep up Garisons amongst them, when there is no need to disturb their Commerce, nor leave it in the Power of other Kings to do it, when the Places which are capable of being gari­son'd are dismantled: though in reality it is to prevent the Rebels from nestling there, or having recourse to them to favour their Re­bellion, the best way to be rid of the Harpies being to destroy their Nests: And that I may free my self at once, as much as is possible from that viperous Brood, as I have already disbanded the Army, under pretence that I [Page 94] would not keep up one in time of Peace, but in reality because I would not have such a Body of well-disciplin'd Troops of their Principles together, lest at any time they should make head against me as against their former Masters, the Parliament, Richard, &c. So now I'll forbid their old Officers to stay within 20 Miles of London, and the Re­mainders of the Troops I'll send to fight against the Spaniards in my Wife's Quarrel; and if they never return, as I hope few of them will, I can very well bear the Loss.

CHAP. XXXII. On the Parliament's beginning to grow sensible of the Incouragement given to the Catholick Religion by his Majesty's Declaration, De­cemb. 1662. Their Petition on that head: and his Majesty's publishing a Proclamation a­gainst Papists thereupon.

IT's a mischievous thing for a Soveraign to be limited, and to be obliged to act the King only by halves. How happy is my Brother of France who is not troubled with such Fetters, but his Will does pass for an uncontroulable Law. I abhor those Parlia­ments, for they are nothing else but Spies up­on [Page 95] Kings, and dive into their most reserved and hidden Intrigues: I find they begin to suspect my Religion, and grudg at the Fa­vours which I show to the Papists, and there­fore I must proceed slowly and surely. Their Zeal to my Prerogative is regulated by their own Interest, which makes them oppose my Dispensing Power: So that I find I am only absolute against Phanaticks and Republicans; but when I come to meddle with the Church of England, my Power is limited, and the Parliament must then be Sharers of the Sove­raignty. Their Petitions against my Admi­nistration may issue in Remonstrances against my Government, as it happened in my Fa­ther's time, and therefore it is my Interest to flatter them a little; and by a Proclamation against the Papists to create an Opinion of my Firmness to the Protestant Religion in the Publick, draw Money from the Purses of the Commons; and so to recoil, to give the stronger and heavier Blow.

CHAP. XXXIII. On the News of some more Plots by the Phana­ticks against his Majesty both in England, Scotland and Ireland. The Execution of the Earl of Argyle, Lord Wariston, &c. in Scotland; and some of those concerned in the Plots in England and Ireland.

I Find that I shall bring my Designs about by Degrees, and under the Notion of Plotters execute Vengeance upon mine Ene­mies, without incurring the Censure of being bloody or cruel. It's true that it may seem hard that I should take the Earl of Argyle's Head, who was the Person that set the Crown upon my own: But during this Ex­tacy of Loyalty, in which the Nations are at present, the Method of such Proceedings will be the less taken notice of; and it's absolute­ly necessary for my purpose that the Earl of Argyle should be taken out of the way; the Greatness of his Power, and his Zeal for his Religion, may otherwise prove great Impe­diments to my Designs: I have Pretences enough against him, because of his Activity in the Parliament's Rebellion; and his Death will be acceptable to the Church of England, [Page 97] because he was Head of the Presbyterians; and the Friends of the late Marquiss of Mon­trosse, and all the Cavaliers, will concur with my Design against him; and though there is no doubt but that he will profess his Innocence on the Scaffold, yet the Authority of a publick Sentence will be of greater Weight, or at least restrain the People from open Murmurings. By his Death I shall have also this farther Advantage, that the Power of his Clan will be thereby reduced, and neither be formidable to my self nor Suc­cessors, it being the Interest of all Crowns to guard against too potent Subjects. As to Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, though he be not so great in Power, yet he is nothing infe­riour to the other in Policy, but indeed far above him: and as the Trojans ow'd their Destruction more to Ʋlysses's Counsels than Achilles's Arms, it's my Interest to rid my self of a Politician, who is my Enemy, as soon as of one who is greater in Power and Quality. And though it be reckon'd no great Policy for a Monarch, newly re-esta­blish'd, to cement his Throne with Blood, yet it is not only good Policy, but absolutely needful, in my case, to sacrifice the Ring­leaders of the Presbyterians while they are at present under a Consternation, before they have time to recollect their Spirits, and make [Page 98] head against me; and therefore I am re­solv'd on a Victim of each sort, viz. of their Nobility, Gentry and Clergy; and so Mr. James Guthry, who hath appeared so stout for the Privileges of their Church, as being supreme Judg themselves in Ecclesiasti­cal Affairs, shall smart for his Opinion. And thus I will pave my way to the Enjoyment of my Prerogative, both in Affairs of Church and State, over the Bellies of my Enemies. Nor must it be in Scotland alone where the Effects of my Resentments shall be felt, but in both my other Kingdoms, for I must take care to have the Apprehensions of a discon­tented Party continued in all the three Nati­ons; of which I shall make these Advan­tages, that they will serve for a Ballance a­gainst the Church of England if she grow stubborn, and always serve for a Pretence of a Necessity of keeping up Forces; and the sa­crificing of them to the Fury of the Episco­pal Party, will be at all times an effectual Means of draining their Pockets, and making them concur to the raising of Money in Par­liament: and when at any time I am minded to amuse the People with the Noise of a Plot, it will be the more easily believed, seeing there is a Party, who being exasperated with Oppression, it may be reasonably thought that they will endeavour to procure their own Li­berty.

CHAP. XXXIV. On his Majesty's making War upon the Dutch, Anno 1664.

LEST the Nation should grow luxuri­ant with too long Peace, it's sit that I should engage them in War abroad, to pre­vent their having leisure to tumultuate at home. Had my Father done so, he might have prevented his Disaster. I have Pretences enough of quarrelling with the Dutch, but if they be not thought weighty, I must endea­vour to make them appear so. My Pensio­ners, which I have in the House of Com­mons, will easily be influenc'd to find justify­ing Causes: And seeing the Nation are jea­lous of their Trade, as their principal Sup­port, to give out that the Dutch have in­croach'd upon that, will be most plausible and taking; and the natural Hatred which the Episcopal Party have against the Dutch Presbytery, and Form of Government, will render them easy to believe the Crimes charged upon them, and make them concur with Zeal enough in their Destruction. And for the other Party, who will certainly mur­mur and guess at that which is the real Cause [Page 100] of the War, it will afford me an Opportunity to treat them the more severely, and justify the Rigour which shall be used towards them. And in the mean time I shall carry on the common Design of restoring the Church of Rome under such Colours as will not be easily discerned, it being indeed fit to raze out the Memory of that People from un­der Heaven, and not to leave such a Monu­ment of successful Rebellion against Monar­chy and the Catholick Church in Being. It's true that my Design may be tax'd with In­gratitude, considering the kind Entertain­ment that I found amongst them during my Exile: but as I have been happy in palliating my Treatment of the Spaniards, and the Scots Presbyterians, both of whom were very kind to me; I doubt not also to find Excuses for this, which will in some measure satisfy the Publick.

CHAP. XXXV. On the Parliament's voting to stand by his Ma­jesty till he had a Redress for the Injuries done to his Subjects by the Dutch. The King's great Care to have his Fleet ready before theirs, putting them off by fair Promises, seizing their Bourdeaux Fleet without de­claring War, &c.

MY Parliament I do find are made to my purpose, partly by Pension, and part­ly by Principle; and having them on my side, I am safe enough. If any of the Phana­ticks shall be so bold as to mutter, that Pope­ry is at the bottom of this War; or if the Dutch should give it out so to possess the Minds of Foreign Protestant Princes with prejudice against me, the Parliament's being on my side will knock all their Suggestions on the head; for who will believe that the Protestant Representatives of a Protestant Nation will concur in a Design to destroy their own Religion? But at the same time I'll take care to have it truly represented to the Pope and the House of Austria; and they, together with the French King, who is in the Design with me, will be too strong for all [Page 100] [...] [Page 101] [...] [Page 102] Opposers; and what by their Strength and my own Policy, we shall be able to carry the Design on to perfection. But considering the ill Fate which attended the Spaniards in their Designs against that cautelous People, I must proceed very warily, and hide my Intentions as much as I can, till I find sufficient Advan­tage against them; and accordingly my En­voy shall have Instructions to assure them of my good Intentions, until such time as I can entrap their Bourdeaux and Smyrna Fleets, which will enable me to manage the War against them at their own Charge: And tho such Practices might be esteem'd disho­nest amongst private Men, yet it will pass for justifiable Policy with Princes; and in the mean time I will order it so as to have my Fleet ready before theirs, and begin Hostili­ties without declaring War. My Brother the Duke of York shall be my Admiral, of whose Zeal against that Heretical Republick I have no reason to doubt; and this will be­sides render him popular to the Nation, if he happen to be successful, and pave his way to the Crown if he outlive me, and that I have no Issue, and by consequence secure the Interest of the Church of Rome in these Na­tions.

I must magnify the Zeal of my Parliament, and thank them for espousing my Quarrel so [Page 103] kindly, which will keep them still in a good Humour, and make them justify my whole Conduct in the Affair, and whet their Zeal to enact severe Laws against the Non­conformists, who are Men of the same Prin­ciples with the Dutch. So that during this Ferment against the Puritans I shall provide for the Security of my Friends the Papists, which will be the more easily overlook'd. I have also receiv'd Assurance of the French King's Concurrence, who will demand Re­paration from the Dutch for his two East-India-Ships which they have taken, and to­gether we shall destroy that Bulwark of He­resy.

CHAP. XXXVI. On the French King's making Peace with the States. Several Skirmishes, with various Success. The Victory at Sea by the Duke of York; and the Plague which broke out in London in 1665.

MY Brother of France hath fail'd of his Promise; so that I find that I h [...] the same Measure dealt to me which I de [...] to others; and he indeavours to take the Ad­vantage of the Dutch and me both: How­ever [Page 104] I'll let him know that I can go on with­out him: And though I have hitherto gain'd nothing by this Rupture with Holland, but that Fortune hath favoured them as well as me in small Rencounters, yet I am resolv'd to push it on as far as I can, and let that proud Monarch know that he is not the sole Inheri­tor of Henry the IV's Glory and Grandeur.

CHAP. XXXVII. On the meeting of the Parliament at Oxford, because of the Plague at London. The King's Speech to them about the Dutch War, and Supplies. The Chancellor's Enlargement on it. The Act for banishing Nonconfor­mists five Miles from Corporations.

AS this City afforded a safe Retreat to my Father from his rebellious Subjects at London, it furnishes me with the like du­ring the Pestilence which hath seiz'd upon that City for their Rebellion: And as the Londoners had Influence upon the then Par­liament to increase their Obstinacy, I doubt not but the University will have Influence upon this to heighten their Loyalty. My Bu­siness is now to applaud the Parliament for their advising me to a War with Holland, which hath hitherto been so successful: And as it will convince them that I am willing to make them Sharers of my Glory, it will ren­der them the more willing to make me a Sharer of their Purses: But lest those amongst them who are firm Protestants should per­ceive my Design, and blame my Conduct for leaguing with Popish Princes to procure the [Page 108] Destruction of the Dutch, I must hide my Designs under a pretence of repaying them in their own Coin; and that my stirring up the Bishop of Munster against them, is on­ly because they have given an ill Character of me to Foreign Protestant Princes: And consi­dering that it was necessary for the Nation's Glory that those stubborn Republicans, who had broke the Power of Spain, should be humbled by England, the Parliament have no reason to be angry at my supplying the Bishop of Munster with Money. And at the same time I will pretend that I am willing to come to a Peace upon reasonable Propositi­ons; and give my Lord Chancellor Order to insist and enlarge upon those Heads, and to declare the Affronts which the Dutch put up­on the Royal Family before my Restoration; which as it will incense the Cavaliers in the House, it will silence those who are fanati­cally inclin'd. And the better to colour my Demands of Money, I must take care to have the ill Condition that my Magazines for Arms and Naval Stores were in, represented to the full, and the Pains and Charges which I have been at magnified to the life.

The Parliament I find have answered my Expectations, and not only ordered me suffi­cient store of Money to carry on the War, but have given a Gratuity to my Brother the [Page 109] Duke, notwithstanding of its having been represented by some, that his Cowardice, under pretence of want of Repose, gave the Dutch an Opportunity to escape better than they would have done otherwise. And that nothing may be left unattempted which may tend to the Ruine of the Protestant Interest, he and I have not only delivered up Monsieur Rohan, who came to acquaint me with the French King's Designs to ruine his Protestant Subjects, and to propose Measures which might have prevented it, and advanc'd my own Glory, as he imagin'd, but by my Solli­citation I have also got the strictest of my own Protestant Subjects declar'd uncapable of Trust, except they comply with that which is contrary to their Consciences, and their Preachers to be banish'd five Miles from Corporations, which is a thing of mighty Consequence to the carrying on of my De­sign; for by this Means I shall not now be pestered with Returns of Precisians and Re­publicans for Members of Parliament, nor can they have any share in the managing of the Government: And as for the other Par­ty, they are so much taken up with the Disci­pline and Rituals of their Church, that they are not very sollicitous what Innovations be made in her Doctrine: And I have always found that their Harmony with the Church [Page 110] of Rome, in the outward part, hath engen­dred in them a better Opinion of the Papists than Presbyterians. And thus at once I strike at the Protestant Interest at home and abroad. It's true that the delivering up of that French Gentleman, and our placing the French Ambassador behind the Curtain, to hear his Complaints and Proposals for Re­dress, may seem inglorious, and a thing be­low a Crowned Head: But as it will con­firm my Friends the Papists, in their good Opinion of me, it must needs be an Engage­ment upon the French King, though I am but little obliged to his Care of my Reputa­tion, that suffered the Criminal to be exa­min'd as to his Converse with me, while they were breaking him upon the Wheel; but I perceive he thinks it his Interest to keep me low in the good Opinion of my Subjects, lest I should put a stop to the Career of his Am­bition, which is his Predominant, as Sensua­lity is mine: but he is mistaken in his Mea­sures, I am as zealous for promoting of the Catholick Religion as he can be, nor do I care how or by what Methods it is effected, so it be but accomplished. But I shall not trouble my self neither to enlarge my own, nor stop the Course of his Conquests; for I am as much concern'd to gratify my predominant Passion, which requires Ease, as he is to gra­tify [Page 111] his, which is constantly attended with Hurry and Trouble.

CHAP. XXXVIII. On the Dutch's recalling their Ambassador from England. The King's Letter by him to the States: and the French King and his Ma­jesty's Declarations of War against each other.

THE Dutch having recall'd their Am­bassador, imports that they have no Hopes of obtaining a Peace; however, to dazle the Eyes of the World a little further, I'll send a Letter by him, with an Offer of Proposals to the States, wherein I will charge them as the Beginners of the War, and testify my own Inclination to bring it to an end; which, though it is plain will never obtain Belief, yet will serve for a Pretence, that the Continuance of the War is not my choice, and consequently free me a little from the Odium of the Havock which the Bishop of Munster, with his Popish Forces, makes in a Protestant Country, and furnish Arguments to my Friends of the Church of England, against those who suggest that my Design at bottom is to promote a Popish Interest.

The mutual Declarations of War by my self and the French King against each other, will very much contribute to a Concealment of our Designs, and give us an opportunity of destroying the Dutch more advantagiously; for I am very well assured that the French Troops, which march to the Assistance of the Hollanders, will annoy them as much as those of their Enemies, and make them quickly repent the calling in of such Auxilia­ries: but however there is this which will be gain'd by it, that it cannot well be thought that my Design is against the Protestant Reli­gion, when a Monarch, who is a professed Papist, and the eldest Son of the Church of Rome, does seemingly oppose me, though by the Message which he lately sent to my Mo­ther, he hath sufficiently inform'd me as to his secret Intensions; so that betwixt us I doubt not but we shall ruine that Knot of Hereticks: And as I have brought their Friends here in England under the Lash of the Law, I will take care to undo their Bre­thren in Scotland, where by the Concurrence of their new Bishops, and the Zeal of my Privy Council, I can do what I please, seeing all the Presbyterians are excluded the Go­vernment: And thus while I set one Party of Protestants against another at home, and dash the Protestants of England against those of [Page 113] Holland abroad, I shall advance the Church of Rome, and my own Prerogative, apace.

CHAP. XXXIX. Ʋpon the Sea-fights with the Dutch, May and July, 1666. both sides pretending to the Vi­ctory: And the French's lying by, though they came as if they design'd to assist the Dutch.

I Cannot always chain Success to the Wheels of my Chariot, nor promise my self Happiness in every Undertaking. I ob­tain'd one Victory over the Dutch, and there­fore may the better bear with my present Loss; though, at the same time, I must con­ceal it, to prevent the Grumblings of the Peo­ple, and order all the publick Tokens of Joy for a Victory. How true were the French to their Promise of deceiving the Dutch, and making them rely on their Assistance, yet af­forded them none; so that though I have not obtain'd a Victory by this Procedure of theirs, yet it hath considerably diminish'd my Loss; for if the Dutch had not been deceiv'd by re­lying on the French, they would have been better provided of themselves, and in a Ca­pacity to pursue the Blow further home: And [Page 114] in truth I must needs applaud the French King's Conduct, in letting the English and Dutch Hereticks fight it out, and save his Catholick Subjects for a better Time and Ser­vice. From their lying by I shall also reap this Advantage, that though the Dutch pro­claim their Victory, it will be the less credi­ble; and my Pretensions to the same will be the better believed: but the Mischief on't is, that their appearing so speedily at Sea, after the Noise of my pretended Victories, gives the People occasion to suspect my Veracity.

CHAP. XL. On the Firing of London.

THE Sword, Pestilence and Fire, are three of the heaviest Plagues that can befal a People; and of late I and mine have had our Shares of them. This dreadful Con­flagration would be as pleasant to me as that of Rome was to Nero, when he took his Harp in hand and triumph'd over its Flames, if it were not that I am liable to the Suspici­on of favouring it, because my Brother and my Guards are so foolish and imprudent as to rescue those who are taken in the Fact; and that some Catholicks, who are not fit to [Page 115] be intrusted with Secrets, have talk'd too openly of the Design a great while before it was put in Execution. However, this is a good Expedient to clear both the City and the Air about it, from all manner of conta­gious Infection: for that I could not set any Bounds unto, but this I can limit; That was the Hand of God, This the Hand of Man; That did promiscuously cut off my Friends and Foes, but This I can order so as to make it fall upon the latter: and after all, if I cannot, as Nero did with the Christians, fasten the Plot of firing the City upon the Dissenters, which the Jesuits have strenuously endeavoured, by tricking some silly Fifth-Monarchy-men into a Plot; yet if I give it only a little finer turn, and alledg, that it's the Vengeance of Hea­ven upon this City, for their being so instru­mental in the late Ruine both of Church and State, and not preventing my Father's Mur­der, the Pretext will be plausible and ta­king with the Church; for their great Pa­trons, such as Heylin and others, have often­times declared their Dislike of the Bulk and Populousness of the City, and hate it because inclinable to the Puritanical Side: so that these things being prudently insisted upon, and the Clergy's Dislike of the City encou­raged, its Desolation and Ruines will be the less regarded, and the Odium wear off from [Page 116] the Papists by degrees, though at the same time they have wisely destroyed that which was look'd upon as the great Bulwark of the Protestant Religion. And I have also reason to be very well satisfied that hereby they have ex­hausted the great Treasure of Rebellion. But the main Danger is, lest the Committee of Par­liament, appointed to dive into the Causes of the Fire, should trace it as far as St. James's and Whitehall, and then it will lie upon me and my Brother: but if this should be the case, I know of a Remedy, viz. to call it a For­gery of the Dissenters, to bring a Calumny upon the Royal Family, and the Church of England, who are their Adherents; then to be sure, though the Matter be as clear as Sunshine, the Bishops and their Clergy, who know they must stand and fall with me, will maintain my Credit for their own Interest, lest they should be utterly overthrown, as in my Father's time. And the better to cover my Design, I must renew all my former Pro­testations of Zeal for the Protestant Religion, and advise the Citizens, in the first place, to rebuild their Churches, where they may worship God, and mourn for their Sins, which have brought on such desolating Judg­ments; and this, together with contributing something towards the Re-edification of the City, and bewailing their Losses on all pub­lick [Page 117] Occasions, will conciliate their Respect, and beget a good Opinion of me, which will be sufficient to obviate all the Misrepresenta­tions which the greatest of my Enemies can make of me: and thus shall the Protestant Interest languish, as by a Consumption in the Vitals, while I smite it secretly under the fifth Rib. I know that the censorious Phanaticks will say that this Fire was carried on by the same Hand that manages the War against the Dutch; and that the City is justly punish'd thereby for not opposing, but rather concur­ring with me; and that I have repaid them as I have done all my other Friends, the Dutch, the Spaniards, and the English and Scots Presbyterians: so that for their assisting me with their Treasure to carry on the War against the Dutch, I and my Party have consumed their Substance. But having taken care to have that Faction look'd upon as my Enemies, whatever they say against me will be reckoned Spite; and therefore though it be true, it won't be much credited. And for any Improvement which the Dutch may make of it, as that I am punish'd by Fire in my own Capital City, for endeavouring to bring Fire and Sword upon them; I can easily hear them, and laugh at their Folly, for ascribing that to Providence which is my own Action, and looking upon that as my Punishment [Page 118] which I esteem my Advantage; and so far from being their Gain, that it is their irrepa­rable Loss, for the Puritanical Citizens were their true Friends. It's indeed no small Cause of Triumph to the Roman Catholicks, that instead of the Fall of Babylon, as the He­reticks call Rome, which they expected in 1666. the greatest City of the Reformation should lie in Ashes, with 89 of their Churches which were polluted with Heresy; 13200 of their Houses; 150000 l's Worth of their Books; and in the whole to the Value of be­twixt nine and ten Millions of their Goods: so that for once the Catholicks have put the Writ, de Haeretico comburendo, very effectual­ly in execution upon their Houses, the Fire or Plague of God having not long before con­sum'd above a Million of their Persons. And if there be any such thing as a Deity, the Catholicks might very well say now, as in their Letter to my Lord Mounteagle, which discovered the Powder-plot in my Grandfa­ther's time, that God and Man had agreed to punish this Heretical Generation.

CHAP. XLI. On the Parliament's meeting at Westminster after the Fire. His Majesty's Demand of more Money. Their Address against Papists. His Majesty's Proclamation on that Head. The Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters. Declaration of War against Denmark. The Insurrection in Scotland in 1666. The burn­ing of his Majesty's Ships at Chattam by the Dutch, &c.

THough the Catholicks have not been able to blow up the Houses of Parlia­ment, with all the Lords and Commons, yet they have consum'd the City, which was both the Fountain of the Hereticks Treasure and Strength. And to disable the Party fur­ther, I have conveen'd the Parliament, who, I doubt not, will dive to the bottom of their Purses, and supply me with Money to ruine their Brethren the Heretical Dutch.

Though the Parliament hath been liberal enough in parting with their Money, yet I find they are alarm'd at the Increase and Growth of Popery; and accordingly have importun'd me with an Address. It is not time for me yet to pull off my Vizard, and [Page 120] therefore I must grant a Proclamation to please them; but the Priests and Jesuits shall still have Protection, as Attendants belonging to my Consort the Queen.

Their Brethren the Dissenters shall pay for this Animosity of theirs against the Papists; and I will take care that the Laws shall be put in execution against them. Let them remind me of my Declaration from Breda, promising Ease to tender Consciences, as much as they please, I am at liberty to change my Measures according to my Interest. The Presbyterians of Scotland have been condignly punish'd by Fines, Free-quarter, and Milita­ry Execution, which hath happily procur'd an Insurrection according to my Desire. So that now the greatest of my Rigour will be justified; and when they pretend to be Suf­feres for Religion, I can accuse them of Re­bellion. This furnishes me with a justifiable Pretence to cut off some of their Ringleaders at present, and endeavour the Extirpation of the rest by degrees. And this I am sure to have approved by the Church of England, because the Presbyterians obliged themselves to the Extirpation of Prelacy by their Cove­nant. This will also serve to heighten the Resentments of the Episcopal Party against the Dutch, when I represent how the Phana­ticks act in concert with them, and do ma­nifestly [Page 121] favour their Designs, by beginning an intestine War when I am engaged with them abroad. Whence they will easily be perswaded of the necessity of complying with my Measures against both, especially when I insinuate the Danger that there is to the Church and the Crown, if the Dissenters should not be rendred uncapable of disturb­ing either. When I once inspire them with these Sentiments, they will the better concur with my Declaration against Denmark, for siding with the Rebellious and Heretical Dutch; and by this Means my Brother of France and I shall reach a fatal Blow indeed to the Northern Heresy, by the Concurrence of the Hereticks themselves: for as my Church-of-England-Subjects will certainly as­sist me on the Considerations above-mention­ed, so the French Hugonots concur with their Monarch to destroy those of their own Religion, they being also scrued up to a high pitch of Loyalty, by the Cunning of the Court, and the Management of their Cler­gy. And thus when we have deprived our Heretical Subjects of all Support from abroad, it will be the easier for us to destroy them at home.

How unhappily are all my fine Projects blasted, and my Designs against the Dutch not only miscarried, but they have put theirs [Page 122] in execution against me, burnt my Roy­al Navy in my own Haroours, and ride without Controul upon my Coasts. This is indeed an intolerable Disgrace, but I must study how to repair it. The Want of Mo­ney were a plausible Excuse, but considering the Tax which I lately had, it will not be practicable, and therefore I must indeavour to excuse it, by charging it on the Treachery of the Dutch during the time of a Treaty; which, though it is not likely to obtain Be­lief amongst knowing Men, yet it will do much to put a stop to the Murmurs of the Vulgar: and in the mean time I must study how to work a Revenge, and not suffer them long to triumph in their Success. I per­ceive the French King takes advantage of my Circumstances, and hath deluded me on purpose to carry on his own Designs, by gi­ving out that the Dutch would have no Fleet at Sea this Summer. Let him hug and bless himself for his good Success, I may find an Opportunity to make him repent it: May he flatter himself as a great Politician, and fram'd by Nature for the Empire of the World, I can sooner accomplish my Designs than he can do his, and satisfy my Desires with those things which I look upon as my Summum Bo­num: Whereas he can never satisfy his Am­bition; and as he makes me to subserve his [Page 123] Designs, his Money shall also subserve mine; and while he pleases himself with the Thoughts of conquering Europe, I will in­dulge my self in such Conquests as are more agreeable to my Nature, though at the same time I am resolved to give a check to his grow­ing Greatness, by clapping up a Peace with the Dutch and Danes: and thus I shall re­venge my self on him for dealing so dishonou­rably with me, as to suffer it to be printed at Paris, that my Design against Holland was for advancing Popery

CHAP. XLII. On the murmuring of the People at the Con­sumption of the Treasure. His Majesty's granting leave to the Parliament's Commissio­ners to take the Publick Accounts. His raising an Army of 30000 Men, and disbanding them. On the Parliament's being displeased with it. The Sessions of Parliament in July, October, and February, 1667. His Ma­jesty's Speeches to them: Proclamation against Papists: Displacing of Chancellor Hide, and League with the Dutch, &c.

IT's not without reason that the King of England is by Foreigners call'd, Rex Dia­bolorum; for my Subjects are truly head­strong, and ill to govern. What mutinous Murmurs do sound in my Ears daily, and grievous Complaints of exhausting their Treasure, when in the mean time the Nation is neither well govern'd at home, nor secure against the disgraceful Insults of our Enemies abroad? The Seeds of the old Rebellion be­gin to spring again, so hard a Matter it is to cure this Nation of the Distemper: How­ever in Policy I am obliged to humour them a little; and to please them will offer to give [Page 125] the Parliament an Account which way the Money that they gave me hath been spent. I know that their Commissioners will scarce­ly be Proof against Gold; so that I can easily take them off if they become too inquisitive. This yielding a little will give me an Oppor­tunity to renew my Blow with the greater Force. And from their Complaints of the Nation's not being secur'd against Foreign Insults, I shall take the Opportunity to raise an Army in the Interval of Parliament, but model them so as to render them fit for my Design, if possible, both of raising Money without Parliaments, and advancing the In­terest of the Church of Rome. If I cannot have all the Officers avowed Papists, I shall at least order it so that they be not Haters of the Church of Rome; for none shall be pro­moted without Father Patrick's Approbati­on. To encamp them near the City will be most commodious, that so they may overawe both it and the Parliament.

But, alas! I find that my Design is per­ceiv'd; and the Commons being met, are re­solv'd to defeat it. My Aim was glorious indeed, but my Success unanswerable; so that Nature seems to have design'd me for the Conquest of Women, but not of Men. A Prince who has not the Command of his Subjects Purses, can never say that he has the [Page 126] Command of their Persons; for I must com­ply with the Parliament, because I want Mo­ney, or otherwise I am sure they'l give me none. The Army that I rais'd must again be disbanded; else they'l never be satisfied, nor have their Jealousies removed; so that I find I must take another Method. If the Catho­licks grumble at the Slowness of my Pro­gress, they may remember that the Work in hand is Church-work. I am resolv'd never to sacrifice my own Quiet to any Party or Pro­fession of Religion; but now that I have re­obtain'd my Throne, will labour to keep it, having already experienc'd the Misery of be­ing reduc'd to Travel. They may be also convinc'd from my Failure in this Attempt, that I want not Will but Power to serve them; and that to hurry on the Design by Force is the way to ruine both them and me. It's true, that's a very great Mortification to a Soveraign, to receive a Check from those who ought to obey him; but whatever it hath had upon others, it shall have no great Influ­ence upon me, who am resolv'd to pursue Ease and Pleasure as my chief Good.

But the Parliament having taken the A­larm, I must sweeten them by soft Speeches; which with the Assistance of my Friends in the House, will take off their Edg. I will tell them that they shall follow their own [Page 127] Methods in bringing those who have received the Publick Money to an account; and that their Grievances shall be redressed. I know that the disbanding of the Forces on their Desire, the displacing of my Lord Chancellor Hide, and dismissing of Papists from my Guards, will be acceptable to them. And to please them yet further, I will publish a Proclama­tion against Papists; and that none shall fre­quent the Popish Chappels of Somerset-house, St. James's, or Foreign Ambassadors, but those who belong to my Mother, the Queen Consort, and the Ambassador's own Families, though at the same time I shall take care that they suffer no Damage for contraveening it. And to pluck up their Jealousies by the very Roots, that I may give them the more sur­prizing Blow, I will make a defensive Alli­ance with the Dutch and Swedes, which will remove all their Fears, as to the head of Re­ligion: And another for an effectual Media­tion of Peace betwixt France and Spain, which will look with a favourable Aspect towards their Civil Rights: but in the mean time I shall connive at the Progress of the French Arms in the Spanish Netherlands, the better to make way for our Designs upon Holland.

The Parliament being thus sweetned, I will move for Money to rig out another Fleet, which as soon as I obtain, they shall be ad­journed [Page 128] and prorogued, so as they may not trouble me with their Importunities to assist the Netherlands; for I know they will be un­willing of the French King's Neighbourhood, though the same will be convenient for me to accomplish my Designs: for in that case they will be prevail'd upon by their Fear to allow me a standing Army, that I may always be provided against such a potent Enemy; and then in a little time I shall rule by the Sword, and command their Money to spend upon my Pleasures.

CHAP. XLIII. On the Proclamation against Dissenters in 1669. Inviting the Dutch and Swedes into a League with us; proposing a nearer Alliance with the Dutch, and forcing the Treaty of Aix La Chappelle upon the Spaniards and the French.

IF I cannot ruine the Interest of the Here­ticks in General, yet I can keep those un­der who are obnoxious to the Laws which were happily procured during the Height of the Church of England's Zeal and Loyalty. And seeing all my other Measures fail me, I am resolv'd to drive the Nail that will go. [Page 129] That Phanatical Crew are my greatest Ene­mies, and therefore I have reason to deal with them as such: Their Rigidity of Principles, and Austerity of Practice, render them odi­ous to all Men who love their Pleasures; and they are no less hateful to me, because of their Politicks, as having an inveterate Prejudice against the Prerogative, and being great Pa­trons of the Privileges of Parliament; so that from those of their Kidney I meet with the greatest Obstructions, for which I have sworn and will take a Revenge: It being more­over my Interest to nourish mutual Animosi­ties amongst my Protestant Subjects, and make the two Factions irreconcileable, that so I may keep them from uniting against me in defence of their Common Religion and Liberties. By this Method I have humbled the Kingdom of Scotland, and I doubt not but it will have the same effect in England.

It's necessary however for the concealing of my Design, to invite the Dutch and Swedes to a League, who both of them being Pro­testant States, it will possess the common People, that I have still a Zeal for that Reli­gion; but in reality I shall hereby ensnare the Dutch, and render them more liable to the Fury of France. My being divided from them by the Sea will furnish me with Excuses for delaying to give them Assistance; or if I [Page 130] send them any Forces, I can prevent their being serviceable; make use of them, as I find Opportunity, to seize some of their Towns, or find occasion of Quarrel, and join the French. However, this Triple League will please my Parliament: and to impose further upon them, I will propound a nearer Alliance with the Dutch, and bring the French and the Spaniards to a Treaty of Peace, which my Subjects will look upon as the securing of themselves; but at the same time I will take care to maintain the French Interest, and secure them some considerable Posts upon the Frontiers, that so the Door may be open for a new Invasion, whenever he sees his time. However, I must not be wanting to have my Conduct in this Point applauded to the height; as also my Care for the Honour, Safety and Commerce of my Subjects in this Affair magnified, the better to obtain a Subsidy from the Parliament. The Spaniards I know are dissatisfied at this Trea­ty, because it obliges them to a Surrender of a great part of their Country; and the French are not well pleased to be stopp'd in their Ca­reer; but I must prefer my own Interest to both: It's for my Reputation to be successful in so weighty an Affair; and it will make me the more valued at home, when they see that I have so much Influence abroad.

CHAP. XLIV. On the Interview betwixt his Majesty and his Sister, the Dutchess of Orleans, at Dover; and her Advice to him to break the Triple League, and concur with the French King to destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religi­on, and render himself absolute in England. Her leaving one of her Maids of Honour, created afterwards Dutchess of Portsmouth, behind her; and her own Death speedily after her Return into France.

THE Messenger is enough to procure Acceptance to the Message; for who can deny the Request of such a beautiful Princess, though she were not my Sister? The Message of it self is very acceptable, though infinitely full of hazardous Intrigue. It will reflect upon my Honour to break that League of which I was in a manner the Au­thor, and invited all the Princes of Europe to join in it. It's true, I am pretty well ac­customed to breaking of Compacts; so that this will not be my first Essay: and though others may not only hate but contemn me for it, yet this Satisfaction I shall certainly reap from it, that thereby I outwit so many Sove­reign [Page 132] Princes, whereas hitherto I have only deceived my own Subjects. Though this League be made with more honourable Per­sons, yet it was far from being so solemn as the Scots League and Covenant: so that as to what concerns Conscience, I may as well do the less as the greater; and in this I have an Advantage which I wanted in that, as ha­ving Lewis the XIVth for a Partner in the Crime, if it be one: and it's pretty manifest to all that know us, that we never intended to be Slaves to our Word.

To destroy the Dutch and the Protestant Religion, and render my self absolute in Eng­land, are all Glorious Designs, but not so easy to be practis'd as propos'd. For my Concur­rence in the first I can form plausible Pretexts enough; and if that were once accomplish'd, the other will be the more easily effected. Great Designs ought to be deeply weighed, and therefore I must give a cautious Answer, but not engage in a positive Promise; yet something I must say to please the Messenger, in order to obtain my Desires of her, which I must confess Nature seems to abhor; but my heightned Passion will neither admit any Limits nor Denial. How happy are they in those Parts of the World where they know no such Restraints as we who are called Chri­stians do labour under? there their Loves are [Page 133] promiscuous, without Offence, and they have no Restraint on the Appetites of Nature, but satisfy all its Desires to the full: Then why should I be scrupulous, or filled with Horror, upon such a Motion of the Flesh as this? It's only the Custom and Tenets which we imbibe, that make such Impressions as these upon us. If the Nations where promiscu­ous Amours are allowed without restraint, thought it contrary to the Laws of Nature, or had any Qualms of Conscience for the Practice, they would never have allowed it; and therefore my Scruples must altogether be owing to my Education. The Mahumetans have no Checks of Conscience for their Poly­gamy, because their Customs and Principles allow it. And it was the like with those who were call'd the Saints of the Old Testa­ment. Nay, Lot enjoy'd his own Daugh­ters; and Abraham had his Father's Daugh­ter to Wife. The first, it's true, was not the Effect of Choice, but I am certain the latter was; and if all be true that I have heard, as in truth from my own Temper I have no reason to doubt of it, there's Cause enough to question whether she be not only the Daughter of my Mother, and not of my Father, and in that case I am but even with Abraham: And as for my violating both my own and the Duke of Orleance's Contracts [Page 134] of Marriage, I may be allowed to come so far short of the Father of the Faithful. Let Puritans and Precisians do what they please, for my own part I will worship no Deity, except Priapus be one; nor do I desire any other Heaven than Mahomet's Paradise. If this should take air, my Phanatical Subjects would improve it against me, and say, that such unhallowed Causes must needs have cursed Effects; and that Popery and Slavery can never be usher'd in by any other Means than such as violate both the Laws of Nature and Religion, and open the Sluce to the Height of Impiety. They would quickly tell me that a Custom of Sinning hardens the Conscience; and that such promiscous A­mours had no little Influence on the destroy­ing Judgments which have from time to time laid so many of the Heathen Nations desolate, and particularly brought the Sword of the cruel Spaniard upon the Americans: That the Failings of the Old-Testament-Saints are not to be Patterns for those who live under the New: That Abraham's Wife was not his Fa­ther's Daughter, but Grand-Daughter by Law: And that the New Testament hath excluded all Whoremongers and Adulterers from the Kingdom of Heaven; with abun­dance more of such Cant, which influences me to deny that Faction any peaceable Residence [Page 135] in my Kingdom upon Earth, as being mo­rose, the Leaven of all humane Conversati­on, and an ungrateful Check upon Jollity and Mirth, attributing that to the Effects of Religion and Divine Zeal, which is merely occasioned by Phlegm and Melancholy.

The bad Influence which so near a Neigh­bour as the flourishing Republick of Holland may have to animate my Subjects to re-at­tempt such a Form of Government, will justi­fy my Policy in seeking its Destruction. And the Roman Maxim of Carthago est delenda, and destroying of those who study to rival us in our Trade and Naval Strength, will be taking with the English Nation: and my Concern in destroying their Religion will be covered, by having the French King for my Ally, who is a Roman Catholick by Professi­on; so that that Affair will be wholly ascrib'd to him. As to the Proposal of ruining the Protestant Religion in England, and ren­dring my self absolute, the Reasons of the Attempt are much easier than the Means; some of which are also not ill concerted, as flattering the Church of England, and en­gaging them in a severe Persecution of the Dissenters, who are indeed the firmest Pro­testants. Then as for the rendring of my self absolute, the Doctrine of Passive Obedi­ence hath already pav'd my way toward it, [Page 136] amongst those of the Church of England: And on the other hand I can trick the Dissen­ters into a Concurrence with it, by dispen­sing with the Penal Laws, under which they smart so severely; so that they will contri­bute to heighten this part of my Prerogative for their own ease: and if once I can secure my self in the quiet possession of this Practice of dispensing with Laws, the rest of my Work will be the more easy, especially if once the Dutch were ruined, and their Countries and best Towns shared betwixt the French and me; for in that case my Heretical Subjects can neither have Assistance from thence, nor Recourse thither. And as for Scotland, the Episcopal Party there having no other Inte­rest but mine; and being wholly destitute of the Peoples Favour, I am in no danger of any Disturbance from that Kingdom, now that I have brought the Presbyterians in that Coun­try so low: And that which will be no little serviceable to my Affairs, is, that the Parlia­ment of Scotland have made an Act to raise me 22000 Horse and Foot to serve in any part of my Dominions, such cordial Friends are their Episcopal Party to the Interest of the Crown.

My Sister has not only granted me her last Favours, but left me a very agreeable Present to nourish my Flames. My Brother of France [Page 137] has hit the Mark, and if he continues both to fill my Purse, and satisfy my Love, as my Occasions require, he shall find me a very useful Friend.

But, alas! my Pleasures are always mix'd with an Alloy of Mortification: My Sister's Kindness to me hath been her Death. It might have been thought that the Height of our Rank should have set us above the reach of Spies; and that the Nearness of our Rela­tion should have taken away all Cause of Sus­picion, that the Danger of divulging the Se­cret should have lock'd it up in eternal Si­lence; or if it had been otherwise, that it should not so readily have obtain'd Belief: but I am now convinc'd of the contrary by the dismal Effects; and yet I must be content, and lay aside all Thoughts of Revenge, lest the thing should be laid open to the View of the World. I must henceforth take care to observe the Maxim of living cautè, seeing I cannot live castè: and though my open Pra­ctice has declared that I am not to be bound­ed by the Customs and Laws of the Coun­try, as to my Love-Intrigues; yet I must be cautious how I intrench on the Laws of Nature, because of the general Abhorrence thereof which is impress'd upon all Men. I must also take care that I be not thought to debase my self by the Meanness of my Court­ships, [Page 138] and therefore will at least dignify my new French Paramour with the Title of a Dutchess.

It's a great while since I absolv'd my self from the Trouble of making any Prayer to that Bugbear which Princes and Clergymen would impose upon the World, under the Notion of a Deity, merely to render the Peo­ple Slaves to themselves: And the principal Reason for easing my self of this Trouble was, because I perceived that all things hap­pened alike to those who are called Good, and those who are called Bad. But if there are any Beings superiour to Men, I think that the Notion of the ancient Heathens, who were for a Plurality of Gods, has very much Reason in it; and the Roman Catholick Church seems to own the same thing, though under a different Name, when they have so many Saints and Angels to whom they ad­dress themselves, according to the Diversity of their Occasions, which does necessarily im­ply, that they believe a Plurality of Omnipo­tent and Omniscient Beings. Then seeing the Case is thus, it cannot be amiss for me, that, in imitation of their Example, I be­take my self to Patrons sutable to my present Necessities: And it being Priapus and Venus whose Assistance I do most stand in need of, it's reasonable that I should make Application [Page 139] to them both conjunctly, but chiefly to the first. Nor can I see why it should be culpa­ble in me to make Requests to them in my Prosperity, seeing my Father is said to have made use of a Prayer taken from an amorous Romance, in the Height of his Adversity, though it had been consecrated before-hand to an Heathen Deity. And whereas he whom Christians look upon as the Omnipotent, hath commanded us in his Word to increase and multiply, without any manner of Re­striction, it ought not to be offensive to them if I obey him in this Particular.

But thou, O Priapus! seeing the Female De­ity Venus hath cast a favourable Aspect towards me, as Monarch of the Britains, who are the lineal Descendants of her beloved Trojans, inso­much that the fair Sex have hitherto received my Addresses very kindly, as becomes those who would be obsequious to that beautiful Goddess; be not thou less propitious to me than she, but assist me to the utmost of thy Power, that I may be capable of a grateful Retribution to the fair Nymphs who bless me with their Favours. I have a stubborn and rebellious People, who are more addicted to War than Love; but do thou inspire them with amorous Inclinations, and wound them with the Darts of Cupid, that they may grow out of Conceit with those of Mars. [Page 140] They are fond of Parliaments, because created by themselves; but if thou wilt be pleased to vouchsafe me thy Favour, I may govern them in time by a Parliament begotten by my self. My Sons shall quickly over-ballance the Lords, and their Interests and mine will have no little In­fluence upon the Commons, amongst whom I can also bestow some of my Daughters. Then shall I erect Altars to the God of Love, and make his Conquests as large as my Dominions. Let those who call themselves Christians admire their own Chastity, and boast of their Temperance as loud as they can, I don't find but their Patron was very favourable to the Adultress; and Nicho­las, one of the first of their Sect, maintain'd a Community of Wives. Do thou assist me, and I doubt not but to make thy Religion triumph over theirs; for I am sure that the Number of those who are led by the Flesh, is greater than the Number of them that are led by the Spirit. Nor is it from me alone that thou art to expect Re­turns of Thanks, but from Venus her self, and her beautiful Train, and particularly those La­dies who have now devoted themselves to my Service.

To Hymen I have twice perform'd solemn Adoration, but to thee I vow perpetual Worship, and will extend my Amours as far as my Prero­gative. Do not thou, O Goddess of Beauty! withdraw thy Kindness; but as thou hast fa­voured [Page 141] my Conquests hitherto, be pleased to en­large them, that I may become Father of my Country in Deed as well as in Name. I have sometimes been apt to blame the Phanaticks for their long Prayers, but if they be as intent on the obtaining of their Desires, as I am for the ob­taining of mine, I find there's no great Reason for it. I am sure that this is the longest Prayer that ever I made in my Life; and accordingly as I find your Answers I shall proportion my Praises, and repay my Thank-offerings on the Altars of Bacchus; you being the only Trinity whom I a­dore, and the Eleusina Sacra, my beloved Wor­ship.

CHAP. XLV. On Colonel Blood's Attempt to steal the Crown. A Proclamation against Papists to please the Parliament. The second War with the Dutch. The shutting up of the Exchequer. The falling upon the Dutch Smyrna Fleet before War was declared; and the Declaration of War there­upon.

THis is a very bold and daring Attempt, and such as may excite Wonder sooner than Belief. If there be many such daring Spirits among the Phanaticks, it is not Policy [Page 142] to provoke them too much, lest some attempt my Life, as others have done the Crown. However, seeing the Design hath miscarried, it's fit that I should improve it, which may be done several ways: It will serve as an Ar­gument to heighten my Resentments against the Dissenters, and justify my dealing severe­ly with them. It will also serve for a Subject of Clamour against them to those of the Church of England, and animate them to prosecute the Puritans to the utmost; and at the same time countenance my Pretences of a necessity to dispense with the Laws against them, while I am engaged with a foreign Enemy, lest they should be provok'd to at­tempt something more dangerous, though nothing can be more disgraceful than this would have been, had it succeeded.

The better to cover the Treaty at Dover, and to prevent the Suspicion of my Sister's having engag'd me to do any thing in favour of the Catholicks, I must emit a Proclamati­on against them as usual; and though I never intend to put it in execution, the Neglect will be easily fastned upon the inferiour Ma­gistrates. I cannot but wonder at this re­peated Zeal of the Parliament against the Growth of Popery, when at the same time they are so zealous for a Popish Form of Church-Government and Ceremonies, and [Page 143] concur to make such severe Laws against their Brethren the Dissenters. This must proceed from some Political but not Religious Conside­rations. They are without doubt unwilling to part with their Church-Lands, to have the old Tax of Peter-Pence renewed, and be obliged to submit their Necks to the Pope's Usurpation. These, I don't question, are the Grievances of the Laity; and the Loss of their Benefices and Wives have no less Influ­ence upon the Clergy. Nor indeed is this particular Aversion to Popery to be very much wondred at in the Church of England, seeing Popery in all its Pretensions is not admitted by the Church of France, which has no good liking to the Pope's Supremacy, nor did ever admit the Council of Trent.

As to the War with the Dutch, I must urge all the Arguments to have it effectuated; which my own Invention, and those of the Cabal, are able to furnish. Their Encroach­ments on Trade being that which will be most plausible with the Populace, the several Companies must be influenc'd to make Com­plaints on that Head against them; or if they won't, yet I can assert it boldly in my Declaration. It's true that the Phanatical Part of my Subjects perceive my Design, and mutter it where they dare do it with Safety; but a Royal Declaration will be sufficient to [Page 144] weigh down the Clamours of such: And though they complain of the Injuries done to my Subjects in the Foreign Plantations by the French, yet all these must be buried in Oblivion; so that I shall order such Com­plaints to be received, but the Grievances shall never be redressed. I must also represent the Dishonour done to the Nation, by the Dutch's refusing to strike to the English Flag; and the Affronts put upon my self by scandalous Medals and Pictures, which my Pensioners and Friends in the House of Commons will take care to aggravate to the Height. It will be a meritorious piece of Service at this time to find occasion of Quarrel with the Dutch, now when they are out in pursuance of the Triple League, to prevent the Progress of the French in the Netherlands. It is not to be supposed that they will be guilty of such a manifest Breach, as to refuse to strike to my Fleet, or any of my Men of War in my own Seas, and therefore I will order a small Yatch to sail through their Navy on their own Coast; and upon their not striking, as in such a case they will scarcely think themselves oblig'd to do, I shall have Ground enough to found a Quarrel.

My next Care must be to prevent the Dutch's coming to a Treaty, or offering Sa­tisfaction, and to declare War when they [Page 145] come near a Conclusion, that so the French may have Opportunity of over-running their Country; and they and I shall divide the Spoil. But this being a Design of great Im­portance, I must take care to keep it secret; and therefore it's fit that I should put out of the Council all those that are disaffected to the Intrigue, on the pretence of its being contrary to the Interest of England and the Protestant Religion.

A War with the Dutch being resolved on, my next Care must be to provide Money, which are its Sinews: The pursuit of my Pleasures, which are the chiefest Good that my Soul desires, have drain'd my Treasury, so that I must think of some Method to fill it again. My Subjects are averse to this War against their Fellow-Protestants, and will not easily be brought to contribute for carrying it on; but having decoyed abundance of the wealthiest of them to bring their Money in­to the Exchequer, upon hopes of great Gain, I am resolv'd to shut it up, and apply the Money found there to the Use of the War. This will be an effectual Means to drain the Purses of my Heretical Subjects; and if they murmur, I shall make use of their own Mo­ney to chastise them: but I am in no hazard of a Rebellion upon this account, for although the Loss will affect the whole Nation, yet [Page 146] immediately it reaches only to few: None put in Money into the Exchequer but those who have enough left behind; and for such, they'l be loth to hazard the Loss of the rest by any Tumult or Sedition, especially when Passive Obedience is preach'd to them daily from the Pulpits, that their Lives and Fortunes ought all to be at the Service of their Prince, who has Power to make use of them as he thinks fit, according to the several Exigencies of State. This being one certain Method of procuring Money to carry on the War at the Charge of my Heretical Subjects, I have a­nother in view, to make the Dutch contribute toward it themselves, and that is by seizing their Smyrna Fleet before War be declared. This, it's true, will look ill, but the Catho­lick Maxim, that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks, absolves me from all Guilt: and if I be successful in the War, as I have very great Reason to hope, then I can justify the Action by the Event, as I did formerly when I fell upon their Fleet before Cadiz; and yet I have weather'd out all the Storms of Re­proach which were impending over me upon that Account.

To blind my Subjects still further, I must pretend that nothing but unavoidable Necessi­ty could have prevail'd with me to have shut up the Exchequer; but that the Welfare and [Page 147] Advantage of particular Persons must always give way to that of the Publick; that it's better to seize the Money of a few, to make use of it in Defence of the whole, than suffer Foreigners to invade us, and hazard our All; that seeing all my Neighbours are preparing for War, it's not fit that I should lay my self open to Surprize; and my Treasure being spent, and my Revenues anticipated, it's but reasonable that I should take the first Money that comes to hand, for defence of the Publick. Then as to my attacking the Dutch, I must justify it by charging them with Ingratitude to this Nation, notwith­standing of the many Favours conferred up­on them by my self and Predecessors: and I am sure of having the Clergy on my side, because of the Hatred which they have a­gainst the Dutch, both upon the account of their Government in Church and State; and they, together with the Court-Party, will raise a Clamour sufficient to drown the Mur­murs of the Phanaticks, whom I have also endeavoured to take off by dispensing with the Laws which are in being against them.

CHAP. XLVI. On the Dutch's surprizing our Fleet in South­wold-bay, the Duke of York being Admiral. His Majesty's Declaration to the Dutch. The Progress of the French in the Ʋnited Pro­vinces. His Majesty's and the French King's Proposals to the Dutch, and their rejecting them, and making the Prince of Orange Stadtholder.

THE Dutch by their Diligence have ballanced my Dissimulation, and sur­prized me instead of my surprizing of them. This is a remarkable Disgrace to my Brother and me, and will strengthen the former Re­flections that have been made on our Con­duct, confirm the World in the belief of the Unsuccessfulness of our Arms, and make my Subjects curse our Amours, as the fatal Causes of all their Ruine. It's true that his Carri­age in this Affair is highly to be blamed, that he should be so intent on the satisfying of his Passion for a Woman, when his chief Passion ought to have been the acquiring of immor­tal Honour for me and himself, by executing Vengeance on the Heretical Dutch: But why should I upbraid him with it, seeing this [Page 149] Temper is hereditary to him and me both? I must excuse it to the People as the Fortune of War; and in the mean time comfort my self with the Success of my Allies the French, who have well nigh over-run them by Land, though they have had the better of me by Sea; and that Element does now triumph over their Country, upon which they so late­ly triumph'd over me, they being under a necessity of drowning their Territories, as having no other way to save them from their Enemies.

That I may the better accomplish my De­signs upon them, I must take care, if possible, to divide them, and for that end will publish a Declaration, inviting such of them as are either well affected to me, or weary of the Oppression which they groan under at home, to come hither, with their Effects and Ships, to England, where they shall enjoy the Privi­leges of my natural Subjects: And as this will create a Jealousy amongst themselves, and occasion a general and mutual Distrust, so it will in some measure take off the bad Opinion which my Subjects may have con­ceiv'd of me for engaging in this War against their Protestant Neighbours. And to pre­vent the Fanatical Murmurs which have a tendency that way, I will issue a Proclama­tion, forbidding all publick Discourse amongst [Page 150] the People on that Subject. And to consum­mate their Ruine, I'll send over new Pleni­potentiaries to the States, under a pretence of concerting Measures to stop the Progress of the French Conquests, but really to assure them in what they have got, and to prevent their depriving me of my due share, lest Lewis XIV treat me as Aesop's Lion treated his Fellow-Hunters, who would be satisfied with no less Dividend than the whole. By this Means I shall still bring some of the weaker sort to have a good Opinion of me; and in the mean time shall have the Opportu­nity to attempt the bringing off of the Prince of Orange from the States, by putting him in hopes of enjoying the Soveraignty, while my Plenipotentiaries shall have Instructions to take care that my Interest be assured with the French King; and then when both of us in­sist upon high Terms, the Dutch must either submit or be undone.

Though Plots be well laid, they don't al­ways hold, for the Dutch continue refracto­ry, let us do what we can. I thought that my Interest and Authority might have pre­vail'd with my young Nephew the Prince of Orange, especially when tempted with the Proffer of Soveraignty; but I find he is Proof against all such Allurements: the Blood of the Family of Nassau has got the Ascendant [Page 151] in him; so that I am afraid there's not a suffi­cient Alloy of mine: I doubt that the Con­sequence will prove, that my Mother's Pre­sent of her eldest Daughter, instead of being serviceable to her Design, will utterly ruine it; for that Family seems to be destin'd for the Bane of unlimited Prerogative, and they have for a long time been the invincible Champions of the Northern Heresy. I do also foresee an impending Storm from the House of Austria, upon me and France, as if the Fates had resolv'd to turn the World up­side down, and make that Family which did propagate the Catholick Religion with so much Zeal a Bulwark now for the Defence of Heresy. It's strange that the Emperor, af­ter he had intimation that the Design of this War was to root out Heresy from the Western World, should yet oppose me and my Bro­ther of France: but let the greatest of the Bi­gots pretend what they will, I find that their Interest is their chief Religion, and that con­firms me in the Opinion that the whole of Religion is a Cheat.

However, I resolve to go on with my Pro­posals, and back my Brother the French King in his Demands of a full Liberty to the Ro­man Catholicks, not only to profess their Religion openly, but also to enjoy the Pub­lick Churches. And that this may be the [Page 152] better effected, I must stand by him till he have the best of the Towns which he hath taken from the Dutch ascertained to him, and a yearly Gratuity, the Payment of which may reduce them to Poverty. For my own part, I resolve to insist upon having the Flag, and that they shall strike to me on their own Coasts, that so I may assure my self of the Dominion of the Seas; and some of their best Towns I will demand for Security, that they shall faithfully perform their Contracts with me, to pay me a Million for by-past Damages, and 10000 l. per annum for their fishing on my Coasts. By this Means I doubt not but a fatal Blow may be given to those Heretical Republicans, and the Family of Orange quite destroy'd, to the great Satis­faction of all good Catholicks, to whom they have been irreconcileable Enemies: and I can easily wipe off the Odium, by charging the Prince with Ingratitude for the Royal Favours bestowed on him by my Family.

But I find that the stubborn Dutch are nei­ther to be frightned nor flattered, now that they have declared the Prince of Orange their Stadtholder. Nor could they give a greater Instance of their bidding Defiance to France, than by massacring the De Witts, who were thought to be its Pensioners. There's no doubt but that they will look upon them­selves [Page 153] as betrayed by me, when I sent over Plenipotentiaries on pretence to favour them; and that yet I should enter into a new Alli­ance with France against them: and they will exclaim against my Unkindness to my Kinsman the Prince of Orange; but they may remember that the French Massacre was car­ried on under pretence of an Alliance with the head of the Protestants; and that it can be no Crime for so near Descendants of the Royal Family of France, as I and my Mo­ther, to follow so great an Example of our Predecessors. The matching of my Sister with the Family of Orange, was design'd as a Kindness to our selves, and not to them: So that if they do not answer our Design on their part, it's but reasonable that there should be a Breach on ours: And seeing the Dutch by their Example and Incouragement bid defiance to my Arms in so contemptuous a manner, it's but reasonable that I should cha­stise them for their Insolence, and not sit down patiently under such a Diminution of my Glory; and I doubt not but my Brother of France and I shall find Means to stir up the Bishops of Cologne and Munster, who are Neighbours to the Dutch, and consequently the greatest Haters of them, both because of their Form of Government and Heresy, to take part with us against the House of Au­stria. [Page 154] And to prevent the Protestants Belief that the chief Design is against their Religi­on, we shall influence the Duke of Hanover, by our Gold, to join with us; and he being a Protestant, it will make our Design the less perceptible.

CHAP. XLVII. On his Majesty's suffering the Parliament to meet Novemb. 1673. His Speech to them concerning the Indulgence and the Dispensing Power, and the Necessity of raising more Forces for carrying on the Dutch War. Se­veral unsuccessful Fights with the Hollanders. The Letter from the Dutch to influence the Parliament, who addressed against the Match betwixt the Duke of York and Dutchess of Modena. The Prorogation which ensued thereupon. A Proclamation against Papists, and the Consummation of the Marriage.

HOW uncomfortable is it for a Monarch to be limited, and not to have the Purles of his Subjects at command? for him to be obliged to use Intreaties to his People, who ought to receive his Dictates without Controul? But Necessity has no Law, the Constitution of this Government being such, [Page 155] that English Kings are but a sort of Royal Beggars. I must try if my Parliament will let me have Money now that I am disap­pointed as to my Hopes of seizing the Dutch Smyrna and Spanish Plate Fleets; and that my Supplies from France come but slowly in. I know that they are jealous of their Privi­leges, have an envious Eye at my Preroga­tive, and are particularly startled at the Di­spensing Power, therefore I must sweeten them by my Speech, and indeavour to pos­sess them with an Opinion that my Design therein was only to secure my self from Tu­mults and Insurrections at home, while I was engaged in a War abroad, which cannot be thought an unreasonable Fear by any think­ing Man, considering the Troubles which the Puritanical Party gave to my Father. And as to their Objection, that more Favour has been shewn to Papists than Dissenters, I can easily answer it, that the latter are abundant­ly more Loyal than the former, and have been fast Friends both to my Father and my self; and yet they were only allowed their Wor­ship in private, whereas the other Party had theirs in publick: but as for dispensing with the Executive Part of the Law, I am re­solv'd to hold it as long as I can. Their Fears that I shall make use of the Forces which I raise to subvert their Liberty and [Page 156] Property, I must endeavour to dispel by fair Promises, and the Interest of my Clergy and Pensioners; and at the same time possess them with a Necessity of my raising more Forces for the Honour and Defence of the Nation, that we may not be insulted over by the un­grateful Dutch, whom my Predecessor Queen Elizabeth did raise from the Dust. I have cull'd out the Earl of Shaftsbury for Lord Chancellor, who may do me very great Ser­vice, because a Popular Man; so that I shall make use of his Influence and Eloquence both to palliate my having shut up the Ex­chequer, and to demonstrate the Necessity of a War with the Dutch, and at the same time of granting an Indulgence to the Papists.

I perceive that the bad Influences of my Stars are not yet exhausted; for though I lay my Designs with all imaginable Policy, they do often miscarry. Who would have thought that so many fair Promises, back'd with the Earl of Shaftsbury's Eloquence, and the Interest and Influence of my Pensioners, should have miscarried in Parliament? and yet, to my great Regret, I do find that it has; so that nothing will serve but a renoun­cing of my Dispensing Power, and fresh Assu­rances, that never any thing of that Nature shall be attempted again; which, rather than want Money, I am resolv'd to comply with: [Page 157] for if I could but once get a Standing Army on foot, I should soon be able to retrieve it. And in the mean time I shall take care to have all this Clamour against the Dispensing Power and Standing Army imputed to the Jealou­sies and envious Surmises of the Phanaticks and Republicans. And from this Obligation laid upon me to recal my Act of Indulgence, I shall at least reap this Advantage, that it will heighten the Animosities betwixt the Dissenters and Church-men; for I can easily bring it about to have the Refusal of it wholly imputed to the latter: And though I have no reason to be well satisfy'd at the Check which is hereby put upon my Prerogative, yet it hath thus much of a Cordial in it, that I perceive the Episcopal Party wholly irre­concileable to the Presbyterians, which at some time or other will very much forward my grand Design: and at present it has had so much Influence as to procure me a conside­rable Sum; though, to avoid the Reproaches of the Phanatical Party, the Parliament won't own that it is for carrying on the War against the Dutch, but to supply my extraor­dinary Occasions.

If it were not that I question the Being of a Deity, I should be apt to conclude that God fights for the Hollanders, who have obtain'd some fresh Advantages against me at Sea: [Page 158] and though they labour under the greatest of Pressures that can be, they do also make good their Cause against the Power of France by Land. And those pernicious Hereticks being sensible of the Apprehensions which my Par­liament have, that the Consequences of this War may be fatal to the Protestant Interest, they have taken the most effectual Method that can be to possess that Heretical Divan, that the French King and my self aim at no­thing less than the Subversion of their Religi­on, and the Liberties of their State, with that of the Spanish Netherlands. Nor have I any other way to save my self from the In­fluences of this Accusation, than by insisting on the necessity of destroying those States to preserve our own Trade, and to prevent the Incouragement which they give to those who are Enemies to the establish'd Discipline of our Church.

There is but too much Truth in the com­mon Proverb, That after one Mischief comes another, for so I find it by sad Experience. Though the Dutch and the Phanatical Party be both of them hated by the Church of England, yet they have Influence enough to foment Jealousies in the Parliament, that their Religion and Liberty are both in danger: And hence comes the Address of the Com­mons against my Brother's Match with the [Page 159] Dutchess of Modena, because a Catholick Princess, and proposed by the French King. 'Tis true that this may indeed seem inconsi­stent with my reiterated Protestations of ta­king all imaginable Care to secure the Pro­testant Religion and the Peoples Liberties: but amongst so many Concessions I may cer­tainly venture on one Dram of Prerogative, and tell them, that the Marriage is con­cluded by my Authority, that in Honour I cannot be worse than my Word; and if this will not satisfy them, I'll cool them by a Pro­rogation.

What ill Fate is this that attends all my Measures! I did reasonably hope that this Prorogation would have diverted the Com­mons from insisting on their Address against my Brother's Match; but it seems that the Jealousy which they have conceiv'd has taken deeper Root than to be pull'd up so soon, and therefore I find my self under a necessity to prorogue them again, seeing they press me so hard to dissolve the Match, because hitherto only concluded by Proxy. They are become very sagacious, and discern that this Marri­age will engage me in new Alliances, which may be dangerous to the Protestant Religion: and that the Princess having so many Relati­ons in the Court of Rome, the Secrets of my Court must needs be open to them, and [Page 160] therefore they are about to render Catholicks uncapable of sitting in either House of Parli­ament: but this is too much for me to con­cede; and if granted, would ruine my De­sign intirely; and therefore I must find out some Method to divert the Current, which I cannot attempt with hopes of so much Suc­cess any other way, as that of laying the whole Burden upon the Fanaticks, and the Suggestions of the Dutch, it being both their Interests to create Differences betwixt the Parliament and me; and that therefore I thought fit to prorogue them, that they may have time for second and more moderate Thoughts, because the Enemy would reap more Advantage from our Divisions than they could flatter themselves with the hopes of from their own Arms; and that therefore it's more their Interest to secure me and them­selves from our only Competitors and Rivals at Sea abroad, and the Fanaticks, who are the Brands of intestine Discord at home, the present Evils under which we labour, than to trouble themselves about such remote Con­sequences as the Fears of the Growth of Po­pery, because of my Brother's marrying with a Catholick Princess: And in the mean time, that my Friends amongst the Clergy and others, who will certainly espouse the Defence of my Practice, may have Ground­work [Page 161] for plausible Arguments, I will publish a Proclamation for putting the Laws in exe­cution against Papists, forbid them my own Court, and that of my Brother; which, though it may seem very hard and severe up­on our good Friends the Roman Catholicks, yet none of them, who are Men of Thoughts, will be much offended at it, when they consi­der that he and I both have chosen Wives of that Religion; and especially that I take care to have my Brother's Marriage solemniz'd the very next day after the Proclamation. And to cut off all Pretence of Excuse from the Church of England, whom I design to en­gage in the Cause with my self, the Marri­age shall be consummated by one of their own Bishops at Dover, that Place being already famous for the Alliance which broke the Tri­ple League, on the Influence of my Sister the Dutchess of Orleans. And thus I shall re­trieve my late Losses, and strengthen my Al­liances with France, by matching my Brother with an adopted Daughter of that Crown, there being no more reason for the Parlia­ment's opposing of the Match with this Po­pish Princess, than that which was talk'd of with the Arch-dutchess of Inspruck: Whence I perceive, that though the Clamour to en­rage the Populace be the Danger of Religion, yet there's nothing but Policy and Interest at [Page 162] bottom: and that they thought an Alliance with the House of Austria not so dangerous to their own Liberties, as one with the House of Bourbon: and their Argument from Con­science hath receiv'd a mortal Wound, when the Bill that English Princes should marry none but Protestants was thrown out of the House of Lords by the unanimous Vote of the Bishops Bench, though their Lordships, at the same time, did as unanimously vote for a Test to make their own Form of Church-Government unalterable: And certainly if they who call themselves the Fathers of the Protestant Church have so little Zeal for the Main of their Religion, I may be allowed a greater Latitude on that Head, and even to oppose it when those ghostly Fathers have given Instructions to their Clergy, to repre­sent the Dissenter as a more dangerous Ene­my than the Papist.

CHAP. XLVIII. On his Majesty's Speech to the House of Lords, upon the Address of the Commons against his Declaration of Indulgence. The Answer of the Lords thereunto. The Vote of the Com­mons for Ease to Protestant Distenters, and that part of their Address which desired that all in Places of Power and Trust should take the Sacrament according to the Church of England.

THE Commons having shew'd so much Warmth against my Declaration of In­dulgence, I thought that my Speech would have proven a very good Expedient to have set the Lords at Variance with them, especi­ally when I professed so much Zeal for the Upper House: but I find, that though they differ in respect of their own particular Privi­leges, yet they are agreed in the common Heads of Religion and Liberty, and conse­quently in the defence of them against my Designs, as appears by their conjunct Address, wherein they complain of Papists being ad­mitted into Places of Power and Trust, and especially into Military Commands; and instead of standing by me against the Com­mons, [Page 162] [...] [Page 163] [...] [Page 164] they have only resolv'd that my An­swer to them in referring the Points in con­troversy to a Parliamentary Decision is good and gracious.

By the Vote of the Commons for Ease to Protestant Dissenters, I perceive that they are now jealous that those Penal Laws were at first framed for the destruction of the Pro­testant Interest: but seeing they have denied me the Privilege of dispensing with those Laws, I shall take care to have them kept on foot; and this will be sufficient to render all their Efforts against me faint and of no effect, which would be formidable enough if the Strength of the Protestants were united: And whereas they think that they have done mighty things in excluding Papists from Places of Power and Trust by their Sacramen­tal Test, it demonstrates sufficiently how lit­tle they are acquainted with the Principles or Practices of the Catholicks, who can have a Dispensation to do what they please for the advancement of their Interest. And that, moreover, there are abundance of Church-Papists, who make no Scruple of Conformi­ty; whereas the Dissenting Protestants, who are the greatest Enemies to my Measures, cannot comply with the said Test: so that instead of excluding their Enemies, they shut out their Fellow-Protestants; or at least will [Page 165] be sure to manage it so as to make it have that Effect; and I doubt not to reap very good Advantage from this Method, and to make it appear to the common Observer, that this manner of Procedure is wholly (as it is in­deed in a great part) owing to the Rancour of the Episcopal Party, and not to the De­signs of the Court: for I make no question but that the Church-of-England-Clergy will speedily take the Alarm of the Hazard that threatens their Constitution, if once Dissen­ters have Ease, and be admitted into the Church; so that my Enemies are not aware of my Advantage against them, by having the Pulpits of the Nation on my side. By the Influence of the Bishops, who depend so much upon me, I can make the Pulpits speak in the Court-Dialect, and libel the Proceed­ings of the Commons as the Result of Fana­tical and Republican Consults; which being pronounced ex Cathedra, and having the Shadow of Divine Authority, and that of the Civil Magistrate, to back it, will have a more universal Effect than their private Murmurings in Clubs and Conventicles. And though this Test may in some measure incommode the bigotted Catholicks in my Service at home; yet I will order it so as it shall not reach those who are in my Service abroad; and there I can have a Nursery of [Page 166] Sword-men fit for my purpose, and provide for my Catholick Officers, till such time as the Design for introducing of Popery and Absolute Monarchy be ripe.

CHAP. XLIX. Ʋpon the Complaints of the Commons, that Ireland was like to be over-run with Popery, because of his Majesty's Proclamation, allow­ing Papists to live in Corporations, and gi­ving them equal Liberties to the English. Their Address concerning the Danger of the Protestant Interest there; and that Mr. Richard Talbot should be remov'd from all Publick Imployment, and denied Access to Court: And their Address concerning English Grievances; with Reflections on the Miscar­riages of his Majesty's former Designs of be­ing impower'd to raise Money without Parlia­ment, on extraordinary Occasions; and ha­ving an Ʋniversal Excise settled on the Crown.

WHat mighty Clamours do continually sound in my Ears, as to the Dangers which threaten the Protestant Religion? and now that I have given them the most solemn Promises that can be for my Care and Endea­vours [Page 167] to preserve the same in England, they exhibite an Address of their Fears as to Ire­land, where they strike at once both against my Designs in Church and State, and fall foul upon my Proclamation, granting the Irish Papists the same Liberty with the Eng­lish Protestants; so that they are resolved to quarrel with my Prerogative in every Par­ticular, and will allow me to be Absolute in nothing but in quelling Dissenters, so little Sense have they of that Religion which they profess, by the Laws of which they are en­join'd to love their Neighbours as them­selves: but I perceive that they are firmly re­solv'd that none shall have the Privilege to buy nor sell, but such as conform to the Church of England.

The imprudent Zeal of Mr. Richard Tal­bot, who glories in being Agent to the Ro­man Catholicks in Ireland, hath animated them not only to address against him, but against imploying any Catholicks in Ireland, either as Officers or Souldiers. Nor do they stop there, but desire that I should recal my Commission of Inquiry into Irish Affairs, as tending to the Overthrow of the Act of Settlement; and the like as to my Letter, forbidding the Prosecution of the Irish for any Injuries they committed in the late Re­bellion; and urge me to banish their Titular [Page 168] Bishops and Archbishops, and to suppress their Seminaries and publick Schools, and yet at the same time pretend to be the Patrons and Disciples of the Doctrine of Passive Obedi­ence, while they prescribe Laws to their Monarchs. I thought it the best Policy to begin to exert my Prerogative in Ireland, by extending Favour to the Catholicks there, who did so cordially espouse my Father's Quarrel against the Puritanical Rebels both in England and Scotland, concluding, as I thought with Reason, that the Church-of-England-men would have been willing that the Irish Catholicks, who were their Fellow-Sufferers in Affliction, should also be Fellow-Sharers with them in their Prosperity after my Restoration; and that those who had no Scruple of Conscience to join with them in Arms against their common Enemies the Presbyterians, even after they were accounted barbarous for massacring the Protestants, should have had no Disquiet at seeing them Copartners with themselves in my Royal Bounty: but I find that I am mistaken, and that the Doctrine of Passive Obedience is on­ly calculated to the Church of England's In­terest, but has no place when that is not the Monarch's chief Aim; for they not only take upon them to quarrel with my Proclamations and Letters about the Affairs of Ireland, but [Page 169] pretend to order who shall have Access to my Court, and who not, as if the King of Great Britain was to be confin'd to as narrow Limits as the Doge of Venice, so ill founded are those Peoples Complaints against the Scots Presbyterians, for imposing Conditions upon me before my Coronation; that they themselves who admitted me almost without any, are now for intrenching upon my Pre­rogative when I am in plenary Possession: And yet because of this pretended Constraint upon me, the Episcopal Party justify my Breach of Covenant with the Scots; so that according to their own Doctrine I may as well break with themselves when I find an Opportunity, because they now take the Ad­vantage of my Circumstances and want of Money to bring me to their own Terms, which is still more palpable from their other Address concerning their own Grievances, viz. my imposing of 12 d. per Chaldron up­on Coals, for providing of Convoys; the ex­empting of my Souldiers from ordinary Ju­stice; the quartering of them on private Houses; the pressing of Men for Land-Ser­vice, &c. So that notwithstanding of the Di­vine Right of Succession, my not being ac­countable to any but God, and the Height to which their Divines have preach'd up my Prerogative, they would still reduce me to a [Page 170] King of Clouts. These things being so in­consistent with the Church of England's pre­tended Principles, I must take care to possess the Clergy of the Danger they are in if such Incroachments upon the Crown be suffered to pass without Animadversion: for as they va­lue themselves upon the Maxim of No Bishop, no King; as if where Episcopacy is not the Government of the Church, Monarchy can never be that of the State; I am sure that the converted Proposition, No King no Bishop, will hold much truer: And if once there be an Incroachment made upon the Crown, the Privileges of the Mitre will never be lasting; and therefore it's their In­terest to disown the Maintainers of such Prin­ciples for true Sons of the Church, as I can never own them for good Subjects to the State; and so we shall brand them with a Note of Ignominy: But in the mean time I must put the Commons off with a smooth Answer, both my Father and I having suffi­ciently smarted by provoking Parliaments, though at the same time I shall be sure to pro­rogue them, that so all their Designs of Ease to Dissenters, and to oppose my Brother's Match, may fall to the ground; and this I esteem a much safer way of dealing, than to withdraw from them, and set up my Stan­dard, as my Father did, who seems to have [Page 171] entail'd his Misfortune in War on all his Po­sterity; for I find that the Minds of those who depend intirely upon me are mutable, and therefore I have less Reason to put Confi­dence in the Body of the Nation, who brag of their Privileges as a free People. The Church-men, notwithstanding of their for­mer Flights of Zeal for the Prerogative, do many of them join with those who are for encroaching upon it; and my very Pensio­ners, who liv'd by my Bounty, withstood my Designs of having a Power to levy Money upon extraordinary Occasions, and getting an universal Excise settled upon the Crown, because they found that if these things were but once obtain'd, there would be no need of Pensioners, and consequently an End put to their Salaries and Subsistence. Nor are even the highest of the Clergy, who bind Passive Obedience upon the Consciences of their Hearers, on pain of Damnation, willing to have an Arbitrary Power put in exercise over themselves: and the most obsequious of their Hearers, though they applaud the French King and his Government, are very unwil­ling to have it introduc'd here, and there­fore concur with the Phanatical Members to oppose the keeping up of a Standing Army; and as they have excluded their Brethren the Dissenters, they are also unwilling that the [Page 172] Roman Catholicks should be Sharers with them in Places of Power and Trust: so that my Episcopal Subjects are indeed very Loyal, but it's on this Condition, that they alone may enjoy the Bag; and if either I, or any of my Successors shall put out our hands and touch them in their Property, I make no doubt of it but they will curse us to our Face; and therefore I must take care to drive on cunningly but not furiously, so that when I have a mind to be reveng'd on any of my Enemies, I must represent them as Fanaticks and Commonwealths-Men; then shall I be sure to have them baited from the Pulpits, nor shall they find any more favourable Treat­ment when they come before the Benches.

CHAP. L. On his Majesty's making Application to the Parliament of Scotland, upon his failing of Money from the Parliament of England, the Scots insisting first upon the Redress of their Grievances, and sending Duke Hamilton and others to London for that End.

MY Case is very desperate when I must have recourse to the Poorest of my Subjects for Money, and that the Richest [Page 173] refuse it. My Father and Grandfather took such Measures as tended to the keeping of Scotland low; so that it's no wonder that that Nation should have fail'd them in their Di­stress. They were obliged by their Corona­tion-Oaths to live some part of their time there, lest the Substance of the Kingdom should be spent in England by the Nobilities being obliged to frequent the Court: but Reasons of State induc'd them to do other­wise; for the Scots being a People tenacious of their Privileges, and zealous for their Re­ligion, did oppose their Measures for advan­cing the Prerogative; whence it became ne­cessary to humble them, lest their Example should have had bad Influence on the two other Kingdoms. My Father, it's true, would have proceeded further, and design'd to have chastis'd their Contumacy with the Sword; but how unsuccessful it proved in the Event, is too late and recent to be for­gotten: their Kindness to me was truly re­markable in declaring me their King imme­diately upon his Murder; but I am afraid that my treatment of them since hath effac'd those good Impressions which they had of me then, seeing I have not only overturn'd the Presby­terians, who were at that time my greatest Friends, but cut off the Chief of their Pa­trons, and brought the whole Party under the [Page 174] lash. Cursed be the Necessity which occa­sions my application to them, and may those Disciples of Passive Obedience, the Church­of-England-Men, be dealt with in the same manner as they have dealt with me. They pretended to receive me without any previ­ous Terms, and to own the Divine Right of my Succession to the Throne; but now when I have settled the Discipline of their Church, and brought the Dissenters under their feet, they are also for disputing my Commands, and confining my Prerogative within nar­rower Limits. I must now try whether their Brethren, the Episcopal Party in Scot­land, will be any thing more ingenuous, and if they can really perform what they have so solemnly promised, they have undertaken to assist me with 22000 Horse and Foot where­ever I shall have occasion; then surely they may let me have the Money and save their Men, which would do my business in an effectual Manner: and that no means may be left unattempted, I will send the Earl of Lauderdale, their great Patron, to perswade them to it.

But my cursed Fate continues inauspicious, and I find that the Party in Scotland are very insignificant, being not so much as able to grant me one Subsidy; but instead of that, I am presented with an Address of their [Page 175] Grievances, and a smart Remonstrance against Lauderdale's Ministry, back'd by the greatest of the Peers of Scotland, whose Noise and Complaints have reach'd me in England; and until those be redressed, they won't so much as hear of any Overtures for Money. I was made to believe that an unbounded Loyalty had been so universally diffused through that Kingdom, that the Episcopal Party ador'd, and the Presbyterians fear'd me; but Experience teaches the contrary, else what means this bleating of the Sheep and lowing of the Oxen? the Episcopal Party though they alone are capable of being ad­mitted to Parliament, either cannot or will not give me Money, and their Libel of Grie­vances are but an old Presbyterian Remon­strance newly vamp'd, being an Impeach­ment of my Administration both in Church and State, and including Desires in favour of the Dissenters. They complain of the Mo­nopoly of Salt, which hath increased the price of it so much, that what was formerly had for 4, cannot now be bought for 20s. though the Inconvenience of this Monopoly was represented to me. They do also mur­mur against the Impositions on Brandy and Tobacco; and that the Lords of the Articles who were originally no more than a Com­mittee of the Parliament's appointment, are [Page 176] now advanc'd above Parliaments themselves: That the Mint and Coinage are corrupted: Persons ignorant and insufficient created Judges: That the Bishop of Edinburgh and others of the Clergy are countenanc'd in preaching reflectingly upon the Parliament: That Magistrates are illegally imposed upon the City of Edinburgh: That eminent Offices are accumulated upon single Persons; and conclude this Point with the Male-admini­stration of my Revenue, and the Earl of Lauderdale's excessive Greatness. In the next place they complain of the Severity of the Laws against the Presbyterians, and that my own Power is too great in Church-Affairs: so that the Nations seem resolved to join Complaints against my Government; and how fatal the Issue of that may be, I can ea­sily conjecture from by-past times; therefore I must dismiss Duke Hamilton with a favoura­ble Answer, and promise a Redress of Grie­vances in Parliament, that so I may allay their present Heat. 'Tis happy for me that I have two other Kingdoms by which I can overawe them, or else their Address had been back'd by the Sword, and they would probably have brought me on my Knees before their Parlia­ment, as they have done several of my Pre­decessors, or have cut off my Head; but I shall henceforth endeavour to put them out [Page 177] of a Capacity to deal so by me or any of my Successors. And whereas the Presbyterians do tenaciously adhere to the pretended Li­berties of their Fore-fathers, instead of Rods, by which they were chastis'd by my Father, I shall henceforth order it so that they shall be punish'd with Scorpions, that they may be rendred altogether unable to raise any Rebel­lion at home, or assist the Parliament of Eng­land, and the Protestants of Ireland abroad. I will take such effectual Course to render them contemptible, that they shall not hence­forth have the Vanity, as in my Father's time, to think that the Representation of their Pressures can find any Acceptance with their ancient Allies of France, to whom they recommended themselves formerly by their Military Services; so that at once I shall re­venge upon them the Blood of all my Prede­cessors whom they have murdered, and turn the best of their Country into a Hunting Field. And herein I doubt not of the Con­currence, or at least Connivance of the Eng­lish Nation, because of the ancient Enmity betwixt the two Kingdoms; and if once the Scots be subjected, I shall with the more Ease bring England under the Yoke.

CHAP. LI. On the Spanish Ambassador's Proposals for an Ʋnion betwixt England and Holland, and declaring that they must break with England if the same were not accepted. The Mani­festo of the Dutch to the Parliament of Eng­land, wherein they appeal to them for the Righteousness of their Cause. The Parlia­ment's Endeavours thereupon for a Peace; and his Majesty's agreeing to it without in­cluding the French King.

MY Stars seem to threaten me with a Se­ries of bad Influences; I can neither have Money from my Subjects of Scotland nor England, nor yet the wonted Supplies from France: and now the Spaniards are not only become Mediators, but threaten me if I continue the War with the Dutch. What a mighty Change is this, that they who did formerly seek their Destruction, should now interpose for their Preservation, and treat their formerly Rebel-Subjects with that Re­spect which is due to the best of their Allies: And that his Catholick Majesty, whose Pre­decessors were the greatest Champions for Popery and Absolute Monarchy, should now [Page 179] become the Patron of Hereticks and Repub­licans. I may hence observe, that Princes pursue different Measures, according to their different Interests, and support those at one time, whom at another they seek to destroy. The Spaniard, though esteem'd the most bi­gotted Papist, yet prefers his Interest to his Religion, and thinks it better to save the He­retical Dutch, than to perish with them; and to preserve their Commonwealth, rather than to lose a Limb of his own Monarchy. And seeing all the Neighbouring Monarchs pursue what they think their different Interests, and summum bonum, by such Methods as they themselves think best, I may certainly be al­lowed to pursue my Pleasures, which I reckon my chief Happiness, by such Methods as I my self think convenient.

The Dutch take advantage from the Dis­contents of my Subjects, and labour to fo­ment Jealousies betwixt them and me; and according to their Republican Humour, would make the Parliament judg of my Actions, whereby they would insinuate themselves in­to my Peoples Favour, and blacken my De­signs as much as they can.

Accordingly I do find that they have their Aim, and the Commons have declared their Sentiments for a Peace; so unhappy a thing it is when the Head and the Members don't [Page 180] agree, and that Soveraign and Subjects drive different Designs. I must try what Influence a Speech will have upon the Commons, when larded with Promises of securing their Reli­gion and Property; and tell them, that our Enemies place their greatest Hopes in our Di­visions; and seeing they prepare for a War, it will be very dishonourable for the English Nation to be threatned into a Peace, especi­ally seeing the best way to procure an honou­rable Peace is to treat with the Sword in hand, and to have a good Fleet ready to oppose them, which cannot be effected without a large Supply. I have also taken care to in­form the House as to my Treaties with France, of which they have had hitherto very fright­ful Representations, but cannot prevail with them to believe what I say, so far have their Jealousies got the Ascendant over them, that Popery and Arbitrary Government are ready to break in upon them; wherein the Earl of Shaftsbury proves a very ill Instrument, and foments their Jealousies by discovering my Intrigues, so mischievous a thing is it when great Courtiers fall off from their Duty; so that now the Commons will listen to nothing without a firm Security for their Religion and Property: and the better to insinuate to the People the greatness of their Danger, they have made application to me to appoint a [Page 181] Fast, desire that the Trainbands of London may be raised to suppress the tumultuous Meetings of the Papists, and accuse my chief Ministers of Designs against the Nation, for which they would have them banish'd my Presence for ever. These are woful Circum­stances to which I am reduc'd, and afford me but a melancholy Subject of Meditation, when I consider what Pains and Expence I have been at to deliver the Nations from the Bigotry of Religion, by testifying how little I value it in my own Practice, and how care­ful I have been to discourage it in others; that now when my Parliament hath concurr'd with me for so many Years, to ruine their dissenting Brethren at home, and Protestant Neighbours abroad, they should at last be­come refractory and obstinate, and from an over-heated Zeal for Religion pursue the same Measures themselves which they have con­demned in others. I reckon'd that the indul­ging of a Licentiousness in Practice, would at last have extinguish'd all Sense of that which they call Religion; but the Event shews that I am mistaken. The Phanaticks, whom I have prosecuted, will say, that the Judg­ment of God hath pursu'd me, and created a Difference betwixt me and my Parliament, who did so unanimously concur to promote their Ruine; and this Cant they will buz [Page 182] and spread about the Nation, and value them­selves upon their Foresight, as having so long ago foretold what is now come to pass; and by this Means work upon the present Fears and Ferment of the Nation: but I shall fall upon a Method to be even with them after­wards, and infallibly turn the Tables upon them. In the mean time I must make the best Improvement of my present Circum­stances that I can; and seeing there is no avoiding of a Peace with the Dutch, I must seek for a Pretence to come off with Honour, for which the Marquiss de Fresno's Propo­sals, in name of his Catholick Majesty, come very opportunely: for seeing they are new Proposals, I can easily give out that they are more advantagious than the former; and by seeming to advise with the Commons, whe­ther it be meet for me to accept of them or not, I shall both please them, and salve my own Reputation, for my Allies the French will by this Means see that my concluding of Peace is the Effect of Constraint, and not of Choice, seeing I can neither have Money nor the Parliament's Consent to carry on the War: and if the French King should com­plain that I act dishonourably in concluding a Peace without him, it will be a plausible An­swer, that I am not Absolute as he is: So that having neither Men nor Money at Com­mand, [Page 183] without my Parliament's Concurrence, I am under a Necessity of discontinuing a War, which they are against: And seeing he hath fail'd me in his promised Supplies, he cannot be angry that I seek for them else­where, it being every whit as reasonable that I should satisfy my own Pleasures, as it is for him to gratify his Ambition. And seeing my Parliament have very bad Impressions of the Treaties betwixt him and me, as con­taining mysterious and dangerous Articles, it's but reasonable that I should draw a Vail over their Eyes, by seeming now to come to an absolute Rupture, that we may afterwards carry on our Designs with less Suspicion: but if none of those Reasons will satisfy him, I am not solicitous, for I know that he can as little be without me as I can be without him; and that a mutual Friendship is indis­pensably necessary for the carrying on of ei­ther our Designs; and if he will be disgusted at this Treatment, he may remember how he forbad me his Dominions at the Instance of a Rebel and Usurper, and how little Care he hath had of my Reputation ever since, but hath continually expos'd me both as to the Affair of betraying Monsieur Rohan, the suf­fering of it to be printed at Paris, that he and I engag'd in this War against the Dutch, on purpose to destroy the Protestant Religi­on, [Page 184] ordering his Squadron to abandon my Fleet in the Day of Battel, and grasping all the Country to himself when he over-run the Hollanders by Land, without the least Design of making me a Sharer, according to our Agreement. But let him be well or ill pleas'd, I cannot help it: My Parliament have not only testify'd their Dislike of his Alliance, and this present War, but have be­gun to attaque me in the Persons of my Mi­nisters, who have hitherto been so necessary both for the promoting of my Prerogative and Pleasures; and therefore in prudence I am oblig'd to clap up a Peace, not being able to deal both with the Parliament at home, and the Dutch abroad; though I must confess that it is not without a sensible Regret that I must perceive both him and my self robb'd of our Prey when it was just betwixt our Teeth.

CHAP. LII. On his Majesty's proroguing the Parliament, because of their impeaching his Ministers, forming Bills against Popery, and for the mar­rying of those of the Royal Family with Pro­testants, and educating their Children in that Religion. Clamours rais'd in the Na­tion, that we were running back to 41. The Court's mediating a Peace betwixt France and Holland, and sending 10000 of their own Subjects into the French King's Service.

IT may be thought strange that a Parlia­ment of such stanch Church-men should be so uneasy with their Soveraign, and con­trary to their professed Principles wound me so furiously through the sides of my Ministers; they condemn the Puritans for insisting so much against Strafford and Laud, whereas they themselves are as violent against the Duke of Buckingam, Earl of Lauderdale, and Earl of Arlington. Whence I find, that let them pretend what they will, their Loyalty is measured by their supposed Interest.

My being obliged to concede to them in one thing hath emboldned them to press upon me to yield in another: So that having ob­liged [Page 186] me to put an End to the War, they are resolved to deprive me of the Sweets of Peace, and to rob me of those Ministers in whom I delight, because of their Agreement with me in Practice and Design. If I suffer them to be brought to trial, it will not only discou­rage others from serving me afterward, but endanger both my Reputation and Safety, and bring me to Repentance when it is too late, as my Father did after he abandoned Strafford. I must not therefore run such a risk, for if I leave them to the Vengeance of the Commons, they will secure themselves by accusing me, and consequently break all my Measures, therefore it is necessary for me to prorogue the Parliament; and if I can be otherwise supplied with Money, shall never call them more, but rid my self of that per­nicious Divan, who are an ungrateful Check upon all Monarchs. My Father found, by sad Experience, the mischievous Inconveni­ence of making use of them; and what King is there who will not be easily convinc'd of the danger of having such an Assembly to controul them in their Designs, dive into their Secrets, and chain up their Hands, that I must neither favour what Religion I think fit, marry what Wife I please, nor make such Alliances as I think advantagious, and for my Interest, without their Consent, [Page 187] and Limits, or rather Fetters of their impo­sing? And thus my ill-natured Subjects do continually stun my Ears with their Cla­mours against Popery; not that they have any true Regard to the contrary Religion which they profess, as may be seen by their Practice, but because of their temporal In­terest. Then they break in upon the Peace of my own Family; so that I must neither gratify a Wife, to suffer her to educate a Child in her own Religion, though perhaps the same may be also most agreeable to my own Opinion: Nor must any of my Chil­dren, or near Relations, be suffered to marry with Roman Catholicks, for fear of the dangerous Consequence to their beloved He­resy. And thus though they pretend to be­lieve that Monarchy is the only Government of Divine Right, and that I hold my Crown from God alone by lineal Succession, they load me with such Fetters that they convert my Diadem to a Crown of Thorns; and how de­sirable soever a Throne may seem to be, yet by those Restraints they would make it sweeter to the Fancy than the Enjoyment.

This dangerous Temper must be obstruct­ed in time, and a Method found out to divert their Zeal, and give it some other Current. The Phanaticks were the last who had them under their Feet, and have still a great Inte­rest [Page 188] in the Nation; whereas the Catholicks have now been dispossed for an Age, and have no other Prospect but the Favour of the Court to recover their Footing. Then the Course which does naturally offer it self to my View, is to alarm the Nation with the Dan­ger of relapsing into the Disorders of 1641. which issued in the Destruction of the Church and Monarchy. The Puritans usher'd in their Rebellion by Clamours against the In­vasions of their Civil Rights by an unlimited Prerogative, and of their Religion by Inno­vations in Doctrine and Discipline; and that therefore it is a Shame for them who pretend to so much Loyalty, and to despise others up­on the account of contrary Principles, to be found tracing their Footsteps. The Clergy, I am sure, will be sensible of the Danger, and will, no doubt, be ready to take the A­larm; and when the Pulpits are on my side, I can diffuse what Opinions and Notions I please through the Nation: and if once the Clergy be possessed with an apprehension of the Danger they are in of losing their Bene­fices by the Fanaticks; and that the Gentry, who did formerly smart by Sequestrations, be effectually put in mind of their former Suf­ferings, and the Probability of running head­long into the same Inconveniencies, by pur­suing the Methods which they are now upon; [Page 189] I doubt not but the Current will turn as strongly upon the Phanaticks and Republi­cans, as it does now against the Catholicks and Courtiers, especially when back'd by my Authority, and made the Path-way to Pre­ferment in Church and State; for I shall henceforth take care that none be advanc'd in either, but such as are willing to concur with my Designs. For the carrying on of which it is necessary that some acute Pens be set at work to defend my Proceedings, and draw such Vails over them as cannot be seen through by ordinary Observers.

It is also necessary for that end, that I im­ploy some fit Persons to negotiate a Peace be­twixt France and Holland, which as it will be a plausible Argument of my Aversion to have that Protestant State destroyed, it will give the French King an Opportunity to concert his Measures at leisure, render his Protestants less useful to him at home, and the easier to be destroyed, and enable him to assist me in advancing my Prerogative: for which end he shall have 10000 of my Subjects in his Ser­vice, who after they have acquired Experi­ence and Reputation in his Wars, will be useful to me for training up others, and be ready at hand to quell my rebellious Subjects, in case of intestine Troubles.

The old Cavaliers may be now very useful to me; and whereas they have hitherto com­plain'd of being neglected, I will incite them by hopes of having their old Services re­warded, to publish their former Sufferings afresh, and declare that the Parliament is ta­king the same Methods which did formerly ruine the Church and the State, by which Means I shall bring their Procedure to be hated, and animate the Royalists and zealous Church-men against them.

CHAP. LIII. On the Meeting of the Parliament again, April, 1675. Their falling upon Bills for the Bene­fit of the Nation, and being diverted by the sudden bringing in of a Têst into the House of Lords, to be imposed upon all in Places of Power or Trust, Civil, Military or Ecclesia­stical; obliging them to declare their Abhor­rence of taking up Arms against the King, or any commissionated by him; and to swear that they would not at any time endeavour the Al­teration of the Government either in Church or State.

THE Want of Money obliges me to let the Parliament sit after so long a Pro­rogation; but, to my great Grief, I perceive [Page 191] that the Vitals and noble Parts of the Nation are in danger by this Contagion of rebellious Principles, which hath rag'd so long amongst them. Insomuch that whereas it might have been justly expected that this long Prorogati­on should have cool'd them, they fall upon the old Theme of Bills for the Advantage of the Nation; but I am resolv'd to give them a Diversion by the Cavalier and High Church­man, whom I have inspir'd with a Desire of Revenge for old Injuries, and put them in hopes of better Success than formerly, if they should have occasion of fighting the old Quar­rel over again, seeing now they are possessed of the Arms, Forts and Ammunition of the Nation, and are sure of one to head them, who will never be guilty of such a precipi­tant Action as to leave their Enemies in pos­session of London, divest himself of the Pow­er of the Militia, or lodg his Power in the Hands of the Parliament. So that the Church and I shall mutually gratify one another, and maintain both Monarchy and Episcopacy to be of Divine Right, and not to be bounded by humane Laws. We have made conside­rable Steps towards this already; the Act for regulating Corporations hath excluded all Men of different Principles from the Magi­stracy; the Act of Uniformity hath shut them out from the Ministry; and the Act of [Page 192] the Militia hath left them no Place in the Army: So that it only remains for laying on the Top-stone of the whole Fabrick, that we get this Test to be universally imposed, and then we take away all Opportunity from the Parliament to alter any thing in Church or State, and confine them to their proper Work of raising Money. The Bishops, who have their Dependance upon me, must be taught to instruct their inferiour Clergy to make use of their Learning to justify and not to exa­mine what their Superiours command: And seeing this Oath secures their beloved Go­vernment and Discipline to Perpetuity, they can neither in Gratitude nor Interest decline their Concurrence to promote the same in favour of the Crown; which, with so much Zeal, they desire for the Mitre. If this can be obtain'd, the Act of Oblivion will be made void, and then we can take a sweet Revenge on the Phanaticks and Republicans. The better to make it pass, we must endea­vour to possess the Parliament, that it's a ne­cessary and moderate Security for the Church and Crown, and will be the most effectual Preservative that can be thought on against such Rebellions as that of 41. The Necessi­ty of it may easily be instructed from the Swarms of Phanaticks, and Men of dange­rous Principles, which abound in the Nati­on: [Page 193] And all who refuse to give this moderate Security, shall be look'd on as tainted with this rebellious Leaven.

But I find that I must still lay my Account to meet with Opposition; for those Lords who value themselves, as being Patriots to their Country, but in reality a factious Ca­bal, oppose this Bill with Vigour, as in­croaching on the Birth-right of the Peers, striking at the Root of the Government, ta­king away Freedom of Debate from the Houses of Parliament, which have part of the Legislative Power, obliging them to abjure all Endeavours to alter the Government of the Church, whatever the Necessities of the State, or Christian Compassion to Dissenters may require; and therefore they have pro­tested against it; but however I have this Sa­tisfaction, that it is carried against them, and committed. And my Lords the Bishops have behav'd themselves bravely in it, by endea­vouring not only to have those Protesting Lords personally punished, but the Liberty of exhibiting Reasons with their Protestati­ons abolished, because of their pretending a Christian Compassion to Dissenters: Nor did they shew themselves less my Friends in rejecting the Proviso's offer'd by the Protesting Lords, to secure the Freedom of Debate to Members of Parliament, and prevent Dan­gers [Page 194] from Popish Recusants. And though they could not answer, yet they could out­vote the Arguments brought against Asserto­ry Oaths in point of Doctrine, and Promisso­ry Oaths, though held unlawful by Grotius; and generally ineffectual, to keep ill Men out of the Government, though they may ex­clude some conscientious Persons: And as the Bishops cannot justify this their Procedure, without an assurance of Infallibility, which they do not pretend to, it shews that they do not believe the Religion which they pro­fess and teach. And seeing I perceive this to be common among Priests of all Religions, it cannot but justify me, though I should o­penly profess my self to be of none. I per­ceive the Country Lords have found out my Design to swear them not to oppose an Arbi­trary Government, by binding them up not to resist my self or any having my Commissi­on, though I should command them to do things contrary to the standing Laws; as le­vying of Money without Consent of Parlia­ment, &c. Or though I should either deliver my self up to the French King, or by For­tune of War fall into his Hands, and either willingly or by constraint command my Subjects to do such things as are contrary to my Royal Dignity: Or in case that a Popish Successor should by Force of Arms endeavour [Page 195] to establish the Catholick Religion: So that I find the Doctrine of Passive Obedience, though inculcated from the Pulpit, as a ne­cessary Article of Faith, on pain of Hell and Damnation, hath not obtain'd universal Be­lief amongst the Church-of-England-Laity, whatever it hath done amongst their Clergy, and consequently that the latter are not fit for me to rely upon, as not being able enough to defend me against that Party who prov'd too strong for them and my Father both; for I am now fully satisfied that such of the Church of England as agree with the Dissen­ters in Politicks, would also quickly unite with them in Ecclesiasticks, if they would but allow them a sufficient Latitude of Pra­ctice: So that hence I have ground enough to perswade the Clergy to declare against all such as Presbyterians in Masquerade, and se­cret Enemies to their Church-Government, which they do not believe to be jure divino, else they would never boggle at swearing not to alter it.

I have also this to comfort me, that I am not suspected alone by those Peers, but the Bishops do now come in for a share, it being plainly perceiv'd by the contrary Party, that though they took care for their Discipline, they took none for their Doctrine, that they might be as good as their Promise to the Po­pish [Page 196] Lords, that the Oath should be so form'd as not to bear hard on them, which is still an Encouragement to me to think better of the Catholick Religion than the Reformed; for the Catholick Clergy I find much truer to their Interest than those of the Church of England: If the English Bishops did believe the Truth of their own Religion, they would certainly be more concerned for its Doctrine than Discipline, and not more sollicitous to secure the latter against Dissenters, than the former against Catholicks; or if they were Men who made conscience of Oaths them­selves, they would never be for imposing such Oaths upon others as are contrary to their own Practice: for if they thought it unlawful to endeavour any Alteration in their Church, they would never make choice of such Men for Preferments as Preach and Write against her Doctrine of Predestination. Those Prelates do exactly resemble the Pha­risees, who bound heavy Burdens upon the Shoulders of their Disciples, while they would not touch them themselves with one of their Fingers; and so, though there have been se­veral Alterations made in the Prayers and Rites of the Church since the Reformation by them and their Predecessors, yet they would oblige others by Oath never to endeavour the like, but to maintain their Church as now [Page 197] established by Law; which swears them to maintain the old Popish Canons revived by the First of Elizabeth, which is indeed of a piece with the last Act of Uniformity, that makes Popish Priests capable of Benefices without Re-ordination if they turn Prote­stants; and yet unchurches all their Reform'd Brethren abroad, and declares their Ordina­tion invalid. It's true that all this is for my Interest, and contributes exceedingly to the advancement of my Designs; but at the same time, though I love the Treason I hate the Traitor, and can put no Confidence in those Men, who being false to that which they call their own Interest, can never be true to mine: and hence I perceive, that though they profess otherwise, their Religion is the same with my own; for as I pursue my Pleasures, they pursue their Profits as their summum bo­num; and if they may but acquire it, they care not by what Methods. Who then can blame me for disbelieving that Religion which they who are the Fathers of the Church do manifestly disbelieve themselves? or how can I be blamed for favouring Popery as best suit­ed to my Designs, when Protestant Bishops approve of their Ordination, Canons, Cere­monies and Government, and by the choice which they make of Ecclesiasticks for Pre­ferments, and the Tenderness which they [Page 198] have shew'd to the Catholicks in the manage­ment of this Test, it's evident enough that they have no dislike to their Doctrines. However, I am in a great measure obliged to them for standing by me in this Point, though I perceive their principal Motive was to have their own Government rendred as Absolute as my own; and that it should be equally, if not more dangerous for any Man to mutter against the Church, as it is to speak Treason against the State. However if this Oath could be pass'd, I should be happy in my Government, and rendred abundantly more Absolute, than now I can pretend to be; the present Oath of Allegiance and the Laws not being comprehensive enough, but load­ed with ungrateful Restrictions. And as for the Bishops, I know how to deal with them if ever they should happen to grow uneasy; the Wounds of my Sword will be sooner felt than those of their Pastoral Staff; and having rendred themselves unacceptable to the Na­tion by concurring so much with the Court, and being so violent against Dissenters, they cannot well recover their Interest there, and so must be forc'd to comply with me; by which means I can easily protect the Crown against the Efforts of the Mitre.

CHAP. LIV. On the Debate betwixt the Lords and Commons about the Lords hearing of Appeals from any Court of Equity, with the Behaviour of the Bishops in that Affair, and the Opposition which they met with from the Earl of Shafts­bury, &c.

THE Lords having made so much op­position to my Designs, it's my Interest now to gain the Commons, and own their Pretensions against the Privileges of the Peers: for if by this means I could render the Upper House useless, I should be the bet­ter able to deal with the Lower; or if both of them fall by their mutual Heats, I shall be a certain Gainer by their Destruction; or if the Commons once find that I am for them, it may further their passing the Test with more ease. The Bishops I am sure of in the House of Lords, and of my Pensioners & high Churchmen in the House of Commons; who I'm sure will vote according to the Direction of the Court. The Cavalier's Conscience is go­vern'd by the Bishop, and the indigent Cour­tier must live by the Crown; so that both their Votes I may depend upon. The Pha­natick [Page 198] [...] [Page 199] [...] [Page 200] I can take off by hopes of Liberty; so that I shall only have the staunch Country­man to oppose me, and it's hard if I be not able to weather the Point against him.

But my Designs are still very apt to mis­carry; and the Earl of Shaftsbury, with others of the Country Lords, have got so much In­fluence on the Humours of the Nation, that my Project, I fear, will certainly fail: Their Arguments for preserving the Rights of the Lords as an essential Part of the Go­vernment, and a necessary Check on aspi­ring Monarchs, are so popular and taking, that they charm the Vulgar, who are made to believe that the Upper House is their chief Security for the peaceable Enjoyment of their Rights and Properties, which may be other­wise destroyed by partial Judges, who de­pend on the Court for their Honours and Pre­ferments, and are consequently influenc'd by them in their Sentences. However, I am obliged to the good Will of the Bishops, who do herein behave themselves like true and loy­al Subjects, and advise the Lords to quit their Pretensions, though thereby they lay them­selves open to Lashes, as concurring to de­stroy that Government; the Preservation of which for ever, without any endeavour of Alteration, they did so much press to have the People sworn to: but herein they act [Page 201] conformable to their great Principle, that Monarchy and the Lineal Succession is of Di­vine Right, and not being the Creature of Man's Constitution, ought not to be subject to humane Limitation, but to God alone, from whom it has its Being. The Lords, however, are deaf to all Insinuations, either from the Danger of a Rupture with the Commons or me at this Juncture, which puts me under a Necessity of proroguing the Par­liament, and rather to hazard the Loss of the Test, than the Quiet of my Government: for I find that Kings have always been Losers, whenever they came to a War with their Barons and People; and I am not without Reason to think that this Debate betwixt the two Houses is rather fomented to obstruct the Test, than out of any Kindness to my Prero­gative, which is sufficiently evident from the inconsiderable Subsidy which the Com­mons have voted me.

CHAP. LV. On the Meeting of the Parliament after the Prorogation. His Majesty's Demand of Mo­ney to build Ships. The Commons insisting upon the Bill for a Habeas Corpus: Against sending Men Prisoners beyond Sea: Raising Money without Consent of Parliament: A­gainst Papists sitting in either House: For the speedier convicting of Papists, and re­calling his Majesty's Subjects from the French Service; and the Duke of Buckingham's Speech for Indulgence to Dissenters.

HAving, during this Interval of Parlia­ment, taken sufficient Care to insinu­ate the Danger of open Rebellion, such as that in 1641. if the Parliament persist in their late Methods, and to make all those who re­fuse such Sums as I think best to desire, odious to the Church as Presbyterians, I thought fit to let them meet again, to try whether this Method had had any Influence on them, or if the last Prorogation had any way cool'd them. But though the Money which I de­sired was to strengthen my Fleet for the Ho­nour of the Nation, which I concluded that they would the more easily grant, because in [Page 203] the former Session they complain'd that the French were grown stronger than us at Sea; yet still I meet with a Repulse; and instead of Money am answered with Complaints and Libels against my Administration. By with­holding of Money they make me unable to give Rewards; and now they are about de­priving me of the Power of inflicting Punish­ments: By their Bill of Habeas Corpus they would deliver Criminals from the Irksomness of long Imprisonments at home, and yet will not agree that they should be sent Prisoners abroad. They are, moreover, so stubborn, as to deny me Money for support of the Mo­narchy, and yet will not suffer me to raise any without their Consent. Now their Fears of Popery and Slavery come upon them afresh, which with redoubled Clamours they send abroad into the Country, to inspire the Mob with their own Sentiments, and fill the Nation with endless Jealousies. Hence come their Bills for disabling Papists from sitting in either House, by which they would rob me of the Assistance of my best Friends. Nor are they content to stay there, but they are also for having them speedily convicted and punish'd, according to their sanguinary Laws, which in my time shall never be grant­ed. Nor do their Designs rest here; but as they will not allow me an Army at home, [Page 204] they are now for my calling back such as I have abroad, being afraid that they should learn too much of the French Methods of an undisputed Submission to the Dictates of their Prince. All those disloyal Practices are fo­mented by Dissenters and others, who are of Antimonarchical Principles, for which in time I hope for a Revenge; and at present am resolved to give them a Diversion, by re­viving the Quarrel betwixt them and the Lords; and while they are hot in the Contest about their own Principles, they will remit their Violence against the Papists, and forget the Kindness which they intended to Dissen­ters; for I have always observed this in their Temper, that when they were kind to the one, they were severe to the other; and when any Man is disgusted with that which they call Tyranny in the State, and Concur­rence with it in the Church, they strait have an Inclination to favour the Phanaticks and Republicans. How could it have happened else that the Duke of Buckingham, whose Fa­ther was a Sacrifice to the Resentments of the Faction, should now make Harangues for an Indulgence to Dissenters? So that I plainly perceive that all the Enemies to the Glory of my Crown, do nestle themselves amongst that rebellious Herd. Yet herein at least I shall reap an Advantage, that the Church will [Page 205] more cordially espouse my Quarrel, and op­pose such Causes as are favoured by their Ene­mies, whose Bodies in due time I shall be­queath to the Gallows, whilst the Clergy pre­tend to send their Souls to Hell.

CHAP. LVI. On the Motion for an Address by the House of Lords for dissolving the Parliament. The Address's being cast out by the Majority, and the Protestation of the Country Lords there­upon.

HOW unhappy is it for a Monarch to be tied up to the Humours of his People? and thus it must be so long as Parliaments have any share in the Government, and till the Prince be made Absolute by the Power of the Sword. I thought to have rendred my Parliaments insignificant, and altogether use­less to the Ends for which they are chose; and by continuing this Parliament so long, had well nigh effected my Design, having brib'd most of them to change their Interest, and taken such Methods as to make not a few of them change their Religion; so that in­stead of acting according to their Original Commission from the Country, they were [Page 206] wholly led by the Dictates of the Court: but now an evil Spirit of Contention having seiz'd upon the Lords, they begin to controul me, as Consiliarii nati; and those whose In­terest it is to keep the Government steady, and therefore move to have this Parliament dissolv'd, because they can no more be called the Representatives of the Country, seeing they have their Dependance wholly upon the Court, and don't vote according to the Mind of those that chose them: So that they are in the same Design with my self to swallow up the Peoples Liberties, provided they may have some Court-Preferments. The Lords do also insist upon the frequent Calling of new Parliaments, which they alledg from the Records to have been their ancient Privi­lege, and plead the Prescriptions of many hundreds of Years. What pity! that all those Monuments of Rebellion should not have perish'd in the great Conflagration, that they might never have risen up in Judgment against me; but seeing they are extant, and so violently urg'd, I'll do the best I can to di­vert their Force. I can insinuate to the Com­mons, that these Proceedings of the Lords are not the Effect of any Zeal for the People, but merely a Desire of Revenge upon the Lower House, for their late controverting of their Privileges; and an Aversion that any [Page 207] Commoner, by his Service to the Crown, should merit an Advancement to a Dignity equal with their own: By these and such o­ther Arguments as I can suggest, I doubt not to have the present House of Commons on my side. And suppose it true, that they are not the real Representatives of the Nation, as having forfeited that Title, by going con­trary to the Peoples Interest and Instructions; yet the very Name of their Concurrence adds Credit to my Conduct: and I doubt not but abundance of the Members who have found the Sweets of the Privilege of the House, which protects them from their Creditors, and many times confirms their Titles to E­states by Prescription, because while they are Parliament-men they are secured in the Pos­session; I say I have no reason to doubt but such Men will be against a Dissolution. It was a wise and commendable Practice in my Predecessor Henry the VIIIth, to make Par­liaments long-liv'd, for by that means he had the Opportunity of making them for his pur­pose, and left a happy Precedent for his Suc­cessors. Let the Murmurers grumble as much as they please, and object the Custom of hold­ing Parliaments thrice a Year before the Con­quest, and the Act of Edward III. that Par­liaments should be holden once a Year, or oftner, I am not tied to those antiquated [Page 208] Rules: If those Kings did not know the Ex­tent of their own Prerogative, I am not therefore obliged to allow any Intrenchments on mine. But since Henry the VIIIth could protract the Duration of a Parliament beyond its former Length, and the Customs of his Predecessors, I may certainly be allowed to exceed the Examples of my Predecessors since his time, especially having the Clergy on my side, who have preach'd up the Preroga­tive higher than ever it was in former times, and will defend my Practice by the Authority of their Gods. But I am not to be so easily drawn from what's my Interest by the Alle­gations or Addresses of some factious Lords; for it's my Wisdom to foment the Misunder­standing betwixt them and the Commons as much as I can: and if I could but once bring them to have a mutual Distrust of one another, and possess the Commons with an ill Opinion of the Arrogance of the Lords, and their incroaching too much upon the Pri­vilege of the Members, who knows but it might procure such a Surrender to me as that which was lately made to the King of Den­mark by his People, who could not bear with the Contempt shewed to them by their No­bles, and therefore did all of a sudden devolve the whole Power upon the King, and render him Absolute? Or if no such thing should [Page 209] happen, yet by making the House for my purpose I can with the more Ease attain my Desires; and if once the Commons were brought to comply, the Popish Lords, Court-Lords and Bishops, will easily cast the Vote in the Upper House. But let things go as they will, I am sure of this one infallible Me­thod; I can possess the Clergy, by means of the Bishops, that if this Parliament be dis­solv'd, the Mitre and Crown are both in danger; and then all those who are Enemies to my Designs shall be threatned with Hell and Damnation, as opposing themselves to God's Ordinance, to which they ought to be subject for Conscience-sake. And on the other hand, I am very sure that those Gentle­men of the House of Commons, who have spent some hundreds and thousands of Pounds for the Advantages which they had a Prospect of enjoying by being Parliament-men, will never submit willingly to a Dissolution, nor be content to put themselves to the hazard of a new Choice: And I am sure of my Pensio­ners, for their Usefulness to themselves and me both ceases with their not being Parlia­ment-men; for as in that case they cannot do me any Service, so neither can they tell where to have Subsistence.

I have had the good Fortune to put a Check upon those factious Lords, and to [Page 210] throw out their Address by the Majority of Votes, in which the Bishops were all on my side, so happily are the Interests of the Church and Crown united. Hence I find the Advantage of dissembling a Zeal for Re­ligion, though in my Heart I believe the whole to be a Cheat; for my professing my self to be the grand Patron of the Church of England, sets all the Clergy at work for me; and they having the Conduct of the Peoples Consciences, are useful Tools for any Sove­raign.

The Country Lords have protested against the Votes for rejecting the Address, and in­serted their Reasons in the Journals of the House, but it signifies nothing, seeing they have lost their Cause; however it shall re­main as an Indictment against them: and now that I have their Names as my Enemies on record, I shall take care on occasion to treat them as such, and make them odious to the Country, by charging all the Miscarria­ges and Heats in Parliament, and consequent­ly the Obstruction of whatever might have been advantagious to the Publick, upon them.

CHAP. LVII. On the filling of the Benches with durante bene­placito Judges. The publishing of some Books in favour of the Papists and Preroga­tive. The French King's letting loose his Privateers amongst the English Merchants: And the sending of Ammunition from his Majesty's Stores to the French King.

HAving been hitherto unsuccessful in my Attempts of following French Coun­sels, raising a Standing Army, bribing Parlia­ment-men, and contriving Oaths to swear the People into Arbitrary Government, I must try some new Methods, and endeavour to carry on my Designs by Shadow of Law: for which end it is necessary that I make a Reform amongst my Judges, and instead of granting their Commission ad vitam aut ad culpam, will make them hold them by a new Tenure of durante beneplacito, by which they will be bound to their good Behaviour, and not dare to disoblige me, but give out my Will as the Oracles of the Law, and then I can effect that by a Shadow of Justice which is not so safe to attempt by Force: and when all Causes come to be decided by Favour in [Page 212] Court, I shall despoil my Enemies, and en­rich my Friends, which is the surest way to increase them; for I have sufficient Experi­ence of the Inconvenience of Judges who keep strictly to the Rules of the Law, and therefore shall take care now that Judg Hales is dead, that none of Puritanical Education and Principles shall henceforth fill his Chair: And thus when I can by Forms of Law di­spose of my Subjects Lives and Estates, I may perhaps find my Judges as useful as a Standing Army, and worm my self by de­grees into Arbitrary Government, by Me­thods less odious, and not so perceptible.

I do also find it necessary in order to the taking off of that general Disgust which the People of this Kingdom have imbib'd against Popery, that some Authors be incourag'd to write smoothly on that Subject, and insinu­ate a Difference betwixt the Court and Church of Rome, that the latter is not charge­able with the Miscarriages of the former; and that an Union amongst Christians is highly desireable. And in the same manner I must take care to reconcile the Minds of my Subjects to the Prerogative, and brand those who oppose it as Men of ill Designs and Principles.

But seeing the Non-compliance of my Sub­jects with the Measures which I take, may [Page 213] probably issue in a Rebellion, it will be my Wisdom to secure a Place of Retreat, to take care before-hand, that I may be made wel­come, and order it so as the French King may have Effects of my own wherewith to maintain me if the worst should happen, and be in a Condition to restore me, in case I should be expell'd; for I am resolv'd to take Warning by my Father's Fate, and either to stoop to invincible Necessity, or provide a­gainst the severest Lot which may befal me, and not to quarrel with my Subjects without good assurance of Foreign Alliance, and while they are rich, and have Arms and Am­munition: Therefore I shall order it so that the French King may interrupt their Com­merce by his Privateers, and seize their Ships, Men and Goods, which will humble them: And in the mean time when they address to me for Relief, I can excuse my being unable to defend them, seeing they are so backward in giving me Money to rig out my Fleet: and that I must not upon the Miscarriage of Privateers break the Friendship betwixt the two Nations, considering the great abundance of Male-contents which are at home, and the Improbability of my receiving any Assistance from abroad, now that the Parliament by their frequent Clamours of the Designs of the Court to introduce Popery and Slavery, had [Page 214] rendred me suspicious to Foreign Protestants. However, that they may not suspect my Concurrence with the French in this Affair, they shall now and then have Orders for my Resident at the French Court to demand Sa­tisfaction; but if they have it, it shall cost them so dear, as to make them quickly grow weary of that Method. This indeed may seem unnatural for a Soveraign to concur with a Foreign Prince to rob his own Subjects, but in my Heart I think they deserve no better; their Priests have from the Mouth of their Divine Oracles preach'd up the Prerogative, and Greatness of my Power, that my People were created for me, and not I for them; that their Lives and Fortunes are at my Com­mand, and yet they allow me no Power in either; so that it's but reasonable they should smart for their damn'd Hypocrisy; and it's just, seeing they will not allow me to take it with my own Hand, that I take it from them by the Hand of another. Their Riches and Fulness of Bread gives them occasion to be idle, and leisure to concert their Measures of Rebellion; to prevent which Poverty is the surest Method: And in the mean time the French King allows me to go Sharers with him in the Profit, which my Enemies call by the ignominious Name of a Pension. But seeing my Subjects and their Fortunes are my [Page 215] Property, what reason have I to give an Ac­count to any how I treat them. And seeing I am not to own that I have any legitimate Heirs of my own Body to succeed me, why should I not make my Life as pleasant as I can; which being impossible without Mo­ney, it's but reason that I should use my own Methods to come by it, seeing my Subjects are backward to grant me what I need.

But I have yet a stronger Reason for this kind of Procedure, the Catholicks having taught me that it is lawful to kill, by necessa­ry Consequence it must be much more lawful to impoverish my Heretical Subjects, and put them out of a Condition to withstand the Reintroduction of that Religion which they pretend will merit a Crown in Heaven: And if there be any such Place or Reward, I know no other way how I can deserve it; for rather than take such Methods to obtain it, as Protestants think needful, I had better want it. Let those who have a mind to pull out their right Eyes, and cut off their right Hands, do so if they please, I'll keep mine as long as I can. And seeing, according to the Catholicks, the Opus operatum is suffici­ent to carry me to Heaven, I need not be so scrupulous nor nice about the way; it being reasonable that Kings should be allow'd a broader Path than others: And that seeing [Page 216] we are God's Vice-gerents on Earth, he should afford us a more commodious Passage than or­dinary to Heaven. And that I may the bet­ter deserve it according to their Doctrine, I shall not only take care to furnish Lewis XIV. the great Champion of the Catholick Church, with an Opportunity to enrich himself with the Treasures of my Heretical Subjects, but also supply him with Arms and Ammunition from my own Magazines, as I have already taught him the way of building Men of War, and improving his Naval Strength, that if I be not able to effectuate the great Design my self, he or his Successors may do it when I am dead; for I find that it will never be pra­cticable by any English King without very powerful Assistance from abroad. I know that my Measures are condemned, my De­signs suspected, and Lists of the Ammuniti­on and Arms which I have sent to France, un­der pretence of sending them to Jersey, hand­ed about: But I have this Advantage, that my Enemies are not united; and they who are most zealous to oppose me, rendred suffi­ciently odious to the Church and their Party, who being countenanc'd by my Authority, are much the strongest, or at least able enough to keep the rest under Hatches: And while they contend against each other, I obtain the Victory over both. I have, however, not [Page 217] only secured my self a Place of Retreat and Royal Maintenance, in case of my being o­vercome by my Subjects, should there happen a Rupture, but I have also weakned the Ma­gazines of the Nation, and provided suffici­ent Arms and Ammunition for my self to equip my French Auxiliaries, and assert my Right, or at least have furnish'd the French Catholicks with Weapons against my Here­tical Subjects at their own Expence. And if the Church-of-England-men should murmur against this Procedure, it's but a small De­gree above what was done by my Father, whom they have canoniz'd for a Saint and a Martyr; it being well enough known that he assisted the French King with his Men of War against his Hugonot-Subjects of Rochel; which, considering the Claim that the Kings of England have to the Crown of France, is much the same with what I have now done: So that they cannot condemn me without condemning him; nor condemn him without condemning themselves.

CHAP. LVIII. On the Meeting of the Parliament after the long Prorogation, Febr. 1676. His Majesty's Demand of Money, recommending a good Correspondence to the two Houses. The Que­stion whether the Parliament was not dissolv'd by that unprecedented Prorogation: Sending some Lords to the Tower for insisting on it. The granting of Money by the Commons.

THE Greatness of my Expence requi­ring proportionable Supplies, and my Returns from France not being sufficient, I must once more adventure on a Session of Parliament, not doubting but my Pensioners will for their own Interest gratify my Desires. I know that this long Prorogation is beyond all Precedent; but I think that I have the best Authority to make one of any Body, and I am furnish'd already with a very plausible Pretence, that such a long Recess was abso­lutely needful to allay so great a Heat as hap­pened betwixt the Houses last Sessions. But however, that the Honour of the Nation ly­ing at stake, I found it necessary to call them together for a Supply to enable me to rig out my Navy, on which so much of our Strength [Page 219] and Reputation depends. The March of my Brother the French King, with his Army in­to Flanders, I know will alarm and make them apprehensive of their own Danger, which will probably induce them to part with Money for their own Defence.

But I perceive that my Difficulties are not quite over, for now both Houses begin to question my last Prorogation, and think that it was really a Dissolution; yet the Commons I find the most tractable of the two, because there my Pensioners are most numerous; so that they have pass'd it over, and fall to their Business: but the factious Lords I find still more obstinate and daring; insomuch that they offer to maintain, that the last Proroga­tion was illegal, and contrary to all the Laws of Parliament, even before the Judges; and are so confident, that they demand to have their Opinion in it: but though I can rely upon their Determination, yet I don't think fit to gratify the opposite Faction so far, espe­cially seeing I am sure of the Majority in any Question, by the Influence of the Court-Lords and Bishops; and therefore their Im­pertinence in falling foul upon my Proroga­tion, as a thing without Precedent, shall be punish'd by an Imprisonment in the Tower, of the same Nature, which I shall order so, that it shall appear to be the Act of their Fel­low-Peers, [Page 220] and not mine. And thus the Ring-leaders of the Faction, the Duke of Buckingham, Earls of Salisbury, Shaftsbury, and Lord Wharton, shall have time to consi­der of the Question in their Confinement; and by this Means others will be deterred from the like Boldness; and the Freedom of Debate, which hath been hitherto claim'd and allow'd in Parliament, be visibly in­fring'd, of which there is an absolute and very great Necessity; and now more than ever, when some of the Members have had the Impudence to upbraid the House to their Face, that a great part of them are Out-laws, abundance Papists, and no small number Pen­sioners: And though I cannot but commend the Prudence of my Friends in the House, in not sending the Authors of such scandalous Reflections to the Tower, because they know them to be true; yet such things must be pre­vented if possible, otherwise I and my Go­vernment shall fall into Contempt. How­ever, my Pensioners were rather willing to bear this Affront, than to do any thing that might make their Dissolution or Prorogation necessary; and that they may show them­selves worthy of my Allowance, have grant­ed me Money, and that very frankly, with­out an Appropriating Clause: So that I am at liberty to spend it how I please. And as [Page 221] they have been generous in their Grant, they have been no less as to the Terms, having quitted all their other Pretensions for an Ha­beas Corpus Act. And thus I find the Advan­tage of having those who depend upon me chosen for Parliament-men, though I be at the Expence of their Election my self: For what Privy-Counsellor is there that will not justify the most Arbitrary Proceedings of the Council-Table in the House, rather than lose his Place in Council? and represent all the Proceedings of State to the Advantage of the Crown, rather than lose his Prince's Favour? What Lawyer is there that will not put a fa­vourable Construction upon the Sentence of the Judges, rather than be subjected to the Frowns of the Bench, or excluded all Hopes of mounting it himself? What Captain of the Fleet or Navy but will be for the mainte­nance of a Standing Force, as knowing that he cannot otherwise have a standing Pay? Or will he not rather defend the Procedure of his superiour Officers, than hazard the losing of his Commission? And will he not be rea­dy to declare his Abhorrence of that traite­rous Position of taking up Arms against the King, or any commissionated by him? What Commissioner of the Customs or Excise is there that will not rather give the Court a Vote than lose his Commission? Or which of [Page 222] my Domesticks will be so bold as to vote against me in Parliament? And therefore I am resolved never to part with my Privilege of having those who depend upon me chosen for Parliament-men, that being the most ef­fectual and least obnoxious Method that can be taken to render my self Absolute; for they are at the same time the Representatives of the Country, and my Pensioners and Ser­vants: and so long as they have vendible Souls, and have most from me, I need not doubt of their being on my side: and when others who are hungry perceive their Fellows to be not only treated with Money, but also at good Tables on the Charge of the Court, it will make them willing to take the same Measures, that they may enjoy the same Ad­vantages. And in the next place I shall take care to have the Sheriffs modell'd to my pur­pose, and then they will determine the dou­ble Elections as I would have them: And if the injured Fanatick or Republican complain of the Sheriff, yet the Majority of the Judges can easily vacate his Fine. By this Means those of my Party will always know their own Strength in the House; so that the In­trenchments made upon the People will be judg'd the Affection of the Parliament-men to the Crown, and not be charg'd on my aspiring Humour or Ambition. And I know [Page 223] that a Parliament of such a Constitution will rather do any thing than hazard my Displea­sure; and not dare to impeach any Man, be­cause they know their own Guilt: and so those who are my Tools for promoting the Catholick Religion and Arbitrary Govern­ment, shall pass unpunished. But that the Nation may not perceive my Intrigue, and thereupon grow tumultuous, the Commons shall have leave now and then to talk of Grie­vances, and also to name those who are the Instruments of them; but if they exceed their Bounds, they shall be kick'd from one Adjournment to another, chastised by Proro­gations, and Abatements of their Pensions, and kept in obedience by Threatnings of Dis­solution. I have already some Experience of the good Effects of these Methods, for now they have voted me double that Sum for building of Ships that they thought sufficient last Sessions, and continued the double Excise upon Beer and Ale; and have taken care to make the Nation have a good Opinion of their being still a legal Parliament, when so great a Number of the Gentry of the Nation are appointed Collectors of the Money which they have given.

CHAP. LIX. On the Commons throwing out the Bill, intitu­led, An Act for securing the Protestant Re­ligion: and another for the more effectual Convicting and Prosecution of Popish Re­cusants.

BY committing the factious Lords to the Tower, my Designs run on more smoothly in the Upper House, insomuch that those Bills pass'd them without any Opposi­tion; but they have not had the same Accep­tation amongst the Commons, who have thrown out the first after once reading, and the second in the same manner, with a Note of Disgrace, as being contradictory to its own Title. I perceive that the Commons, though they don't love their Religion for Religion sake, yet they have no mind to part with it because of their Interest; for if Popery were introduced, Arbitrary Government would find its way more easy, and then they could neither be assur'd of their Places nor Pensions, so that I must contrive some new Method. But were I as happy in the Church-of-Eng­land-Laity as I am in their Clergy, there would be no need of such Precaution; which [Page 225] makes me smile at the Apology of the Com­mons, who are so very careful about the Cre­dit of their Bishops, tho they don't look upon their Concurrence with those Bills to be any way hurtful to their Reputation. By this Method they diminish the Authority of their Church, and exalt their own Wisdom above that of their spiritual Fathers, whom they believe to be appointed by Divine Right to oversee and take care of the Affairs of the Church. Nor can the Weakness of their Apology pass without a Remark, that they should think it worth while to excuse them, as not being the Contrivers and Promoters; and yet own that they did not oppose those Bills; nay, they plainly confess that some of the Bishops were of the Cabal that hatch'd them. Certainly it can never be safe to in­trust one's self in that Church which owns that her Guides are blind, or to commit one's Conscience to the Direction of such as don't know how to direct their own. But if the Commons had hit upon the true Reason of the Concurrence of their Bishops, they would find it to have been because the Mitres and Ceremonies, which is all that they mean by their Church, would be sufficiently secur'd; though Popery were established; and they being in present Possession, might merit a Continuance by promoting the Catholick [Page 226] Interest under-hand. Nor can I believe that the Commons don't perceive this, seeing the Bishops advance such Clergy-men daily who incline mightily to the Church of Rome in the Doctrine of Justification, which Luther their great Patron own'd to be Articulus stantis & cadentis Ecclesiae; and yet they won't ad­mit of one Man to enjoy a Benefice, who does not accept of Episcopal Ordination, and conforms to the Ceremonies, whence it's ma­nifest and apparent that by these they under­stand the Church. And the Commons them­selves, though they seem now to differ a lit­tle from the Bishops, yet make use of this Distinction to keep all but those of their own Communion out of any Publick Imploy­ments: And I am apt to think, that could they but secure their own Interest in a Change, as well as the Bishops can do theirs, they would never make so much to do in op­posing Popery, which I am convinc'd by my own Experience is a Religion best suted of any to such as would live in those Enjoy­ments which Precisians call carnal Delights; and that the greatest part of the Members are such, I have reason to know, for I am sure it has and does daily cost me Money. And hence I conclude that it does not proceed from any Religious Principle that the present House of Commons do seem [Page 227] more opposite to have a Popish King than the Bishops.

CHAP. LX. On the Address of the Commons concerning the Danger from the Power of France, and their Progress in the Netherlands: His Majesty's Answer. Its not being thought satisfactory by the Commons, who presented a second, to which his Majesty delay'd giving Answer; and the Cause why. His demanding of Mo­ney when he did answer. Their giving 200000 l. and Adjournment, with the Cause of it.

MY Subjects are now upon another Scent; and from the Affairs of their Religion and Property at home, are come to consider of the State of Affairs abroad. I could be very glad that they should have for­born any such Motion, but shall take proper Methods to render it ineffectual. The Pha­naticks and Commonwealth's-men do still fo­ment Jealousies; and having put Checks up­on my Designs at home, they are now for curbing my Allies beyond Sea, and putting a stop to the French Conquests. The Nether­lands being look'd upon as the natural Barrier [Page 228] of England, I must not positively refuse to assist them, but shall form such plausible Pre­texts as will excuse my Delay. And in the mean time, though I cannot go on with my part of the Design, the French King may go on with his. However, I have promised them to use all Means in my Power for the Safety of my Kingdoms; but that does not satisfy, and therefore they presented me with another Address, wherein they not only peti­tion as becomes Subjects, but boldly direct, as if they were Masters; by which they do manifestly entrench upon my Power of making Peace and War. By proffering to assist me to the uttermost against France, no doubt they think they have acquitted themselves bravely, though it is no more than what in Duty they are bound to do, let me be engaged in what War I please. But seeing they press so much for my making of Alliances with the Dutch, &c. and to make an actual War with France, I must give my Friends Instructions to argue against it in the House, from the Inconveni­ences which may attend it; as the seizing of our Ships and Effects by the French, which will afford them a Million to carry on the War; that they will ruine our Plantations abroad, disturb our Trade by their Capers; that they are better provided both of Ships [Page 229] and Ammunition than we; that if we should engage in a War with the Dutch, they would slip the Coller by a separate Peace; and that it's not possible to make any firm Alliance with those of such different Principles and In­terest as the Emperor and Princes of Germa­ny. But I find that the other Party are not so easy to be put off: They pretend not to press me to make War, but to make Leagues to prevent War; that now is the critical Sea­son to prevent the growing Greatness of France; that the same Inconveniences will happen as to our Trade, if the War be not begun till three or four Years hence; that we may as well defend our Plantations and Sea-Trade as the Dutch can do theirs; that it's the Effect of the Male-administration of this Reign, that the French are stronger by Sea than we; that the Dutch and German Princes will be as firm in their League with us, as they are in that with one another; and that the Dutch would assist us in such things for our Fleet as we were defective in; that the want of a Trade with France would rather be an Advantage than otherwise to the Nati­on, because their imported Goods, which we could live without, do exceed what we ex­port to their Country a Million per annum; and that my selling of Dunkirk, and making War on the Dutch in 1665. hath contributed [Page 230] to their over-grown Greatness; and abun­dance of such seditious Reflections. How­ever, I testify my Contempt of them by a profound Silence, until I find a convenient time; and mean while, by the Interest of my Pensioners and Servants in the House, I have got some Money to further my Designs, according to my Demand.

My Fate is chequered with Variety of Fortune: The Success of the French against the Netherlands, where they have taken some Towns, and defeated the Prince of Orange, will embolden me to carry it with the more Authority against my refractory Subjects, and give a plausible Pretence for demanding more Money, else I cannot be in a condition to defend them against such a powerful Ene­my. And whereas they may alledg that the 200000 l. which they have lately given, is enough to supply my present Occasions until such time as they meet again, I can answer, that that Sum is otherwise applied: so that the Country shall not be able to see into the true Reason of their Adjournment at this Juncture, but will probably be induced to believe that it is because of their having deni­ed me Money; and during their Recess I shall have leisure to entertain the spendid Embassy which is coming hither from my Brother of France, and concert such Measures [Page 231] as may either render all such factious Di­vans, as Parliaments, wholly useless, or at least order it so as I shall not be so much sub­ject to their capricious Humours: but by this seeming Difference betwixt them and me, the Nation will be brought to have a good Opinion of this present House of Commons, who will thereby have the better Opportunity to gratify me, and deserve their Pensions; and therefore I made a Demand of 600000 l. which I knew they could not grant, that they might have an occasion of refusing it, and at the same time afford me one of adjourning them with a plausible Pretext.

CHAP. LXI. Ʋpon the Duke of Crequis's arriving from France with a great Train, and meeting his Majesty at New-market. The Affairs treat­ed of there. The meeting of the Parliament again. Their insisting upon a League with Holland; and his Majesty's Answer.

HAving adjourned the Parliament, I must now make ready to meet the French Embassy; and London being a Place where there are too many Spies upon my Actions, I design to choose New-market as the fitter [Page 232] Place; there we may confer with more Free­dom and Security, and adjust Matters better to our Mind. I know that my mutinous Sub­jects will load this Conference with many aggravating Reflections; but if I can carry my Point, I shall not value that. My Bro­ther of France I know will plead for the Con­tinuance of my Subjects in his Service, be­cause they have not a little contributed to the Glory of his Arms: and he will also insist on the Abolition of all Claims on the account of the Prizes which his Subjects have made of mine, and other things of that Nature, which shall be granted according as I find him liberal in his Supplies of Money. Those Demands, especially the latter, are fit to be made, that the private Agreement betwixt him and my self may be conceal'd: and for the other, it must also be regulated by my own Interest, and that of the Design which we carry on in conjunction; for by a firm U­nion betwixt us, we shall add Strength to our common Endeavours, and may in time bring things to a happy Conclusion: But seeing I have no Reason to despair of effecting my part by a Form of Law, considering what Party I have in both Houses, I will prepare to entertain the next Session of Parliament, and contrive Arguments to make them libe­ral of their Fellow-Subjects Purses, which [Page 233] will be the most effectual Method that I can think of to accelerate my Designs.

The Parliament being now met, I have renew'd my Demands of Money, because they alledg that it was not according to the Methods and Rules of Parliament for them to grant me any more at the Close of the last Sessions, when the House was so thin: but that Objection being vacated by their meeting now in a full Body, it might have been thought that they should have fallen upon the Money of Course; but instead of that they insist again upon an Alliance with Hol­land, as the only mean of withstanding the French: By which I perceive that the Phana­tical Jealousies gain ground; they are not sa­tisfied to have me declare War my self, but they would yoke me with the Dutch, who will be sure to inspect my Conduct severely, and then I must act against France in good earnest. I find that all the Objections that I can make, as that such a League would a­larm the French, if imparted before made; and that such things are of great Conse­quence, and require time to be concerted, are easily seen through; and the Commons having taken Umbrage from the extraordina­ry French Embassy, alledg that my Brother of France and I understand one another's Minds: Wherefore I find it necessary to send [Page 234] for the House, and in a publick Speech assure them, on my Royal Word, that my calling them together was not only a Design to get Money, as some do insinuate; and tell them positively, that I will neither hazard my own Safety nor theirs, by declaring against France, or leaguing with the Dutch, till they supply me with Money to act and speak as I should; and that therefore it will be their Fault and not mine, if their Security be not provided for. By this means I shall amuse the Pub­lick, and prevent the general Disgust of the Nation. And if I can but preserve my Ho­nour with the People, I shall despise the Re­flections of particular Men; for herein I think Saul acted truly like a Monarch, that though Samuel had denounced the Anger of God against him for disobeying his Com­mands, he was not in the least solicitous about that, but pray'd that the Prophet would ho­nour him before the People: he took care of his Concerns for this Life, let it fare with him as it would for what was to come. But to what I say my self, my Friends shall have Instructions to add, the Right of making Peace and War is in me alone; that if they with-hold Money, I will neither declare War, nor make Leagues; that I have already ex­hausted my own Treasury in rigging out 44 Ships of War to preserve their Trade, and [Page 235] convoy the Merchants, and yet the City of London is so ungrateful as to refuse me Cre­dit for 200000 l. and therefore if my People perish, it's their own Fault. Those Suggesti­ons will be readily imbib'd, and diligently improv'd by the Courtiers and Clergy, and then let my Enemies insist as much as they please upon the Necessity of shutting the Door towards France, else our Treasure and Trade will creep out, and their Religion and Tyranny creep in: I am sure to have the Advantage of them when my Dictates shall be delivered from the Pulpits once per Week, as the Oracles of Heaven. And thus I shall make void all their Efforts for lessening the Power of France, which I perceive they dread, as carrying with it the Bane of their Heresy and Republican Principles; and there­fore it's as necessary for my Design, that the Power of the French King be kept up, as it is necessary for theirs that it should be brought low.

I am unhappy, that notwithstanding of all my Pensions an Address for an Alliance with the States, &c. should be carried in the House, and have but two Negatives against it, especially considering that they alledg it to be unprecedented to grant any Money till the Wars and Alliances for which they are de­manded be signified in Parliament; which [Page 236] plainly implies their Distrust of me, that though I should have the Money, yet I would not answer their Address; which is so mischievously composed, and so strongly back'd with popular Reasons, that it seems to be calculated for possessing the Subjects that I would never suffer the French King to increase his Strength so much, to the mani­fest Hazard of my Kingdoms, if I were not engaged in the same Design with him. I do also perceive that the Allegations of my Friends in the House, of their intrenching upon my Prerogative, by directing me with whom to make Alliances, is nothing regard­ed, but their Practice defended by former Precedents of Parliaments, who have not only advised to Alliances, but also confirm'd them, as in the Reigns of Edward III. Richard II. and Henry V. &c. And though my Pensio­ners were more serviceable in voting against the Manner and Words of the Address, than formerly that there should be one, yet they are worsted by a considerable Majority; so unhappy is it for a King to depend upon the Humour of his Subjects, which is as uncon­stant as the Waves of the Sea, and liable to the Tossings of every Wind; for however complaisant they have formerly been, yet now they are all on a fire again about Popery and France: So that I find my self under a [Page 237] Necessity of cooling them by an Adjourn­ment, and checking them by a severe Speech for intrenching on my Prerogative of making Peace and War, in such an unprecedented manner, while King and Parliament were not at mutual Enmity. By which they would seem to claim a Privilege not only of direct­ing me what Alliances to make, but also to insinuate, that it were not in my Power to make any without their leave; so that I shall be look'd on by Foreigners as a King merely in Title. I shall also take care that their Proceedings shall not dare to appear in print. Whereas my Speech shall publickly proclaim their Disloyalty; and the Speaker being made to my purpose, I shall hinder the Commons from debating the Adjournment, or diving into the Intrigues of the Court; for if ever they begin to meddle in it, he shall have Or­ders to quit the Chair; by which the House must break up of Course: and then the French shall have liberty to pursue their Con­quests without Interruption by the Clamours of my Heretical Parliament; who, as also those that they represent, shall be duly cha­stis'd in time convenient.

CHAP. LXII. Ʋpon the Prince of Orange's Arrival at White­hall, and Marriage with the Lady Mary, eldest Daughter to the Duke of York. The Address of the Commons thereupon; and their insisting upon the Alliance with the Dutch, and War against France.

THe safest and most secure way of rid­ding ones self of an Enemy, is to smite them under the fifth Rib, while they imbrace them on pretence of Kindness. And as Charles the IXth of France, and Queen Ka­therine, contriv'd the Destruction of the Pro­testants under the Covert of a Marriage with their Chief the King of Navar, I may carry on the like Design by matching my Niece with the Prince of Orange. Saul gave his Daughter Michal to David to be a Snare to him: Nor is it out of any Kindness to my Nephew the Prince of Orange, that I do now marry him upon my Niece. He hath not hi­therto behaved himself so like a dutiful Ne­phew, as to deserve such a Favour, having not only been the chief Support of the War against the French, but incouraged the Dutch boldly in their Wars against my self. But it [Page 239] may be this Match may take him off, or at least will afford me an Opportunity of at­tempting it with more Vigour and Frequen­cy than hitherto. However, let the Success as to that be what it will, this Advantage I am sure of reaping from it, that my Prote­stant Subjects will be thereby pleased; and their Jealousies, as to my Design of introdu­cing Popery and Arbitrary Government, aba­ted: so that being the less suspected, I shall go on with the more Success, and forward my Purpose. My Parliament, I perceive, are pleas'd with this Alliance, and have there­fore ordered me an Address of Thanks; yet their Fears and Jealousies are not so much quieted, as to leave me at freedom from their Solicitations, but still they insist on my not admitting any Treaty of Peace, by which the French may be left in possession of any thing that they have taken since the Pyrenaean Treaty; and confine their Promises of Sup­port to my making a War with France. How happy are unlimited Monarchs, whose Will is their Law, and whom their Subjects dare not controul? but my Stars have not yet blessed me with any such Influences. I can­not imagine how this phanatical discontented Humour hath got so much the Ascendant of this, which was once a Loyal Parliament; or that my Pensioners and Friends should [Page 240] come so far short of their wonted Devoirs: Perhaps the late Checks which they have met with by my Speech and Adjournments, have given them some Umbrage to suspect that they are not long-liv'd; and therefore they would now endeavour to recover their Credit with the Country: They discovered before, by the Motions which some of my Friends made of impowering me to raise what Mo­ney I pleas'd upon extraordinary Occasions, that I was grown weary of Parliaments them­selves, and that my Bounty to them would cease with their Usefulness to me, and there­fore are taking care to make their Fortunes another way; and so run out violently for a War with France. I must humour them a little to further my own Ends, and pretend to be for such a War, that I may once get their Money, and then I can lay it out which way I please. I shall also make an Advan­tage of it another way, by obliging the French King to open his Coffers, on pretence that I must otherwise comply with my Par­liament. And by this Means I shall be sure to have Money one way or other. If the Commons must be gratified with a War on France, it's but reasonable that it should be carried on at their Expence, and therefore I will demand no less than a Million. I know that my PRetences of Alliances with the [Page 241] Dutch, and Agreement to the Prohibition of a Trade with France, will be irresistible Ar­guments to carry my Demand; and those I am resolv'd to improve to the utmost.

CHAP. LXIII. On the raising of an Army, on pretence of a War with France: The modelling of them. The sending of Duke Lauderdale to Scot­land, to bring down an Highland-Army up­on those Parts of the Low-lands which were most Presbyterian. The private Treaty with France. The Discovery of it by the Com­mons. Their Address to his Majesty to dis­miss the French Ambassador. Their Vote in May, 1678. That the King be desired to en­ter into Alliance with the Emperor, King of Spain, and Princes of Germany. His Ma­jesty's Answer. Their second Address against Duke Lauderdale and other Ministers; and Vote to give no Money till they were secured from Popery and Arbitrary Government. The Treaty of Nimeguen, and the Behaviour of his Majesty's Plenipotentiaries there.

THE Parliament having given Money; it remains for me to improve it: and that they may be induc'd to believe that it [Page 242] shall be applied to the Ends for which it was given, an Army shall be rais'd, but such as I hope will put me in a Condition, that I shall stand in no more need of Parliamentary Sup­plies. The principal Posts in Church and State are already so well fill'd with Persons suted to my Designs, that I can scarcely have better. And now I must take care to model the Army; to have most of the Souldiers, if possible, composed of such Men as are either Catholicks, or but Protestants in Name; and the Officers, in like manner, either alto­gether Catholicks, or such who by taking the Test to qualify them for their Office, may nevertheless advance the Catholick Cause: for which Reason I am happy in the Constitution of the Church of England, it being so framed, that moderate Catholicks may easily comply with it. The Army be­ing form'd, my next Care must be how to get them paid, for the Money granted by the Parliament will quickly be consum'd up­on them and my necessary Pleasures: and therefore seeing the French King and Catho­licks press me to the furtherance of their re­spective Designs, it's highly reasonable that the same should be carried on with their own Money. I having done my part in being at the Expence of raising an Army, they are obliged to maintain them: and if to the [Page 243] 300000 l. per annum, which the French King is obliged to pay towards it, the Conclave of Rome, and the Catholicks in England, will contribute their Shares, the Work will be done, and I shall no more stand in need of such tumultuous Divans as Parliaments, who instead of granting me Money, which is their only Province, do dive into my Coun­sels, and obstruct my Measures. It will ren­der me obnoxious to Discovery and Censure, to keep a Correspondence with France and Rome in my own Person, and therefore I think it adviseable to do it by my Brother, who can better keep the Pope and Cardinal Howard to their Promise than I can do: and if the Business should happen to be perceiv'd, he being a Subject can easily make his Escape, and retire a while till I weather out the Storm.

That I may prevent as much as in me lies all Impediments of what Nature soever, I have also taken care to put Scotland out of a Condition to oppose me, as remembring ve­ry well that the Presbyterians of that Nation were the first who made head against my Father; and therefore I have consum'd the Substance of the richest and most phanatical part of the Kingdom, by bringing down an Army of Popish Highlanders to take Free Quarter upon them; for which the frequent [Page 244] and numerous Meetings of the Presbyterians hath furnish'd me with a Pretence, I having taken such Methods, that either they should have no Meetings at all for hearing Sermons by their own Ministers, or be obliged to meet in the Fields, and not in Safety there neither, except they put themselves in a Po­sture of Defence; and if they do that, I car­ry my Point, and have a fair Opportunity of charging them with Rebellion, and taking my Measures against them accordingly. I am also secure as to the meeting with any Obstruction from Ireland, having indulged the Papists in that Kingdom so far as they have got the Ascendant, and put such Men in all Places of Power and Trust as are sincere and cordial for my Designs: so that I had no Reason to despair of bringing things to a good Issue, if the Influences of my Stars, which are always malignant, had not disco­vered my private Treaty with France, and rais'd a new Ferment of Jealousy amongst the Commons, who upbraid the Court for want of Sincerity; that at the very time when they talk of an actual War, they should en­ter into secret Treaties with their Enemies. And hence I am importun'd by another sedi­tious Address, that I should immediately proclaim and declare War against the French King, recal my Ambassador from his Court, [Page 245] and dismiss his from mine. So that notwith­standing of the severe Check which I gave them by my Speech the last time that they presum'd to give me such Directions, they persist still in the same Method. And to ex­pose me to my Subjects, in revenge of my having expos'd them formerly in the Gazette for their Disobedience, they have publickly declar'd that they have a Bill ready to assist me with Money if once I declare War, which they solicite me to undertake, that the French King may be so reduced as to be no longer ter­rible to my Subjects. And lest the People should not take notice of this Address, they have voted another, wherein they press, that I may be desired to enter into an Alliance with the Emperor, King of Spain, and Princes of Germany, and the Dutch. Heu quantum mutatus ab illo! What Difference is there be­twixt a King newly inthron'd or restor'd, and one who has reign'd till his People are weary of him? Who would have thought that a Parliament which hath enabled me to trample upon their Brethren the Protestant Dissenters, and punish them for their rebel­lious Practices and Principles, should fall into the same Crimes themselves for which they condemn others? What Difference is there betwixt the Scots Presbyterian Remon­strances, and the Addresses of this Church-of-England-House-of-Commons? [Page 246] Could any Fanatick libel my Administration with great­er Severity than they have done? and yet up­on the account of their opposing the same things in my Father which they themselves do now oppose in me. How have they en­deavoured to load them with Reproaches, and render them odious to all Posterity, as Enemies to Monarchy? But seeing the Case is thus, I will pursue my own Measures; and instead of declaring open War against France, assist them with Provision and Am­munition under-hand, on pretence of supply­ing the Isle of Wight, &c. And by my Inte­rest with the Pope's Nuncio, and the Catho­lick Princes concerned in the Treaty of Ni­meguen, will labour to have them accept of the French King's Proposals of Peace, and that will put an end to the Importunity of my Parliament for declaring a War against France. But for an Answer to their Address, they shall know that I don't value neither them nor it so much as to answer any thing of that Nature, without the concurrent Ad­vice of the other House, which may perhaps throw a Bone of Contention betwixt them.

The Storm increases instead of abating; and now they address a second time to alarm the Nation, as if they lay under imminent Dangers from the Clandestine Practices of ill [Page 247] Men; and urge to have the Duke of Lau­derdale removed from my Presence; which they back with a Vote that they will give no Money till they be secur'd from Popery and Arbitrary Government: a terrible Alarm from the Representatives of a Nation, who are look'd upon as the Preservers of their Ci­vil Liberties. I know no other way to re­medy this Disaster, than by proroguing the Parliament to allay their Heat; and in the mean time take care to have my Proceedings justified from the Pulpits. Nor am I any happier in the French King's Friendship, he is far from being punctual or true to his Word, and by consequence hath fail'd of gi­ving me the 300000 l. per annum, which he promised. And I have another Evidence of the Mischief that attends a King's being ob­liged to his Subjects for Money; that the French King does in an inglorious manner threaten to discover our private Treaties to the Parliament, and to create a Rupture be­twixt me and my People, if I press him too hard. Had I the Purses and Persons of my Subjects at command, as he has his, I should as little value his Kindness as he does mine: Or could I but have subdued those irregular Passions which have enslav'd my Soul with the Baits of sensual Pleasure, I needed not have been oblig'd to him for Money. How­ever, [Page 248] seeing Fate hath brought me into those Circumstances, I must do my best to get out of them as well as I can; and order my Am­bassadors at Nimeguen to retard the Peace, that by the prospect of a War I may draw Money from the Parliament. And the bet­ter to stop the Peace, my Plenipotentiary at Nimeguen shall have Orders to demand the free Exercise of the Catholick Religion throughout the Dominions of the States, which I know they will not grant; but by this Means I shall recommend my self to the Pope's Nuncio: and the zealous Catholicks, who seeing my own Forwardness, will soli­cite the Pope and Conclave of Rome to give me Assistance; and then perhaps I shall be able to carry on the Design my self, without the French King's Concurrence, and reap all the Glory alone.

CHAP. LXIV. On his Majesty's acquainting the Parliament that there was a Peace in agitation. His Desire to keep up his Army and Navy till it were concluded. The Resolve of the Com­mons for supporting the King in the War against France, or provide for disbanding the Army. His Majesty's Answer thereupon; and the Commons continuing their Resolution to disband the Army, though the King desired the contrary.

THE Treaty of Peace being no longer to be conceal'd, I must now acquaint my Parliament with it; and because I know they will be for disbanding my Army upon it, I will urge for Reasons to the contrary, the common Maxim, that it's best treating with Sword in hand, and therefore inconvenient for me to disband my Army, or lay up my Fleet till the Peace be fully concluded. And seeing this cannot be done without Supplies, I must press for renewing of the additional Excise, and making up the Defect of the Poll-Bill; for the more I have of their Money, the less they will be able to rebel: and to render them as little suspicious as may be of [Page 250] my Designs, I will offer it to their choice, ei­ther to provide for their Subsistence till a Peace be concluded, or to furnish Money to disband them, with an assurance that what­ever ill Men may suggest, my Designs were always levelled at the Publick Good. But let me take what Measures I can, the Jealou­sies of my Parliament will never be quieted; and, to my Grief, I perceive that they smell my Designs, which are only to possess my self of their Money, and keep up an Army to render my self absolute: They dread that the Souldiers will rather make themselves Work than be idle; and therefore have re­solved that the Army is burdensom to the Nation; that they will support me in main­taining a War against France, or otherwise provide for disbanding them. Seeing they are so very hot, it's my Interest to cool them, which cannot be better effected than by a mild Answer; and to offer them as a Reason, that seeing hitherto the French King hath only granted a Cessation, and not a Peace, it's fit that I should continue my Fleet and Army till the latter be agreed on, and in the mean time to press for Money for their Sub­sistence.

What a mischievous thing is this horrid Suspicion, which causes Men to pry into one another's Secrets, and obliges Princes to be on [Page 251] their Guard against their own Subjects! And yet though I carry it with all imaginable Se­cresy, it's impossible for me to avoid being sus­pected, and in a great measure traced: they whisper about, that I never rais'd this Army with a Design to disband them; and being afraid that I should have Money from France to maintain them, are resolv'd to furnish me wherewith to discharge them, though I have earnestly pressed for their Continuance. And thus it is to be a Soveraign by halves. How­ever, it not being safe to controvert the Mat­ter too far, I am resolv'd to pass the disband­ing Act, but will observe it no further than sutes my Measures. I am pretty well ac­customed to Violation of Oaths, which have a degree of Solemnity beyond mere Acts of Parliament. The Money which they give to disband them, will serve for some time to maintain them; and then I may be other­wise provided, or make them at least provide for themselves, and earn their Bread before they eat it. It's strange that I may not ad­venture upon that which Oliver the Usurper did before me: He was so far from being check'd by his Parliaments, that he gave Laws to them by his Army; and why may not I attempt the like? And though I be sworn to the contrary, yet may defend it as he did, by Reasons of State, until such time [Page 252] as I arrive at that height of Power, as to make my Will pass for a Law: But this is more easily hop'd for than effected. How­ever, if I can handsomly weather out this Storm, it's not impossible to be brought to pass.

CHAP. LXV. On the relieving of Mons by the Prince of O­range, with the Assistance of the Duke of Monmouth and the English Forces. The Defeat given to the French at that time; and their King's Complaint, that it was con­trary to his Majesty's private Articles. The concluding of the Peace: Recalling our Forces: Quartering them in the Country. His Ma­jesty's being in a Consult with the Duke of York, Lord Clifford, &c. which was over­heard; and the Person who listened kick'd down Stairs by the said Lord.

IT's some Comfort to have Fellows, though it be but in Affliction. The French King, who hath for a long time been on the top of the Wheel, is also liable to be turn'd down­ward, having lately receiv'd a considerable Check by the Defeat at Mons. This is a sen­sible Diminution of his Glory: But though [Page 253] at another time it would have been a joyful Hearing to the Kings of England, it is not so to me now, because it's a considerable Balk to our common Design. There is also this mortifying Circumstance in it, that the Lau­rels which are pulled off from his Head, are planted on that of the Prince of Orange; who, though my Nephew both by Birth and Marriage, yet I cannot cordially love him, because he pursues Measures so contrary to mine. And though I cannot but in some measure be satisfied to hear of what may tend to the Honour of my own Child, whom I cannot but love by the Instinct of Nature; yet I could have wish'd he had been other­wise imployed, and that his Valour had been signaliz'd at this time, as well as at others, on the contrary side. Two such promising Princes embarquing in the Protestant Cause, may prove fatal to the Interest of Popery and Absolute Monarchy, if they be bless'd with a few more such Victories as this: and that I must, in compliance with my own Inclinati­ons, endeavour to hinder, lest my stubborn Subjects should make choice of the Son to chastise the Father, as it happened to my Predecessor King James III. of Scotland, whose rebellious States made his Son Genera­lissimo against him. I am also pressed with another Difficulty, which is how to excuse [Page 254] this to the French King, who upbraids me with it as a Breach of the private Treaty, that my Son and Subjects should fight against him: I can truly say, that neither the Duke nor they did engage in that Action with my Consent; and that the thing is wholly ow­ing to the Prince of Orange, whose Conduct and Courage, I have reason to dread, will mar all the Designs which Lewis XIV. and I have so long concerted. This Disaster makes it necessary to conclude a Peace, and then we may contrive at leisure how to retrieve it.

The Peace being concluded, I must recal my Forces, which now I perceive become grievous to the Spaniards; and I hope to im­ploy them to better purpose at home than ever they were abroad. Let the Phanaticks mur­mur and belch out their seditious Reflections upon my violating the Act for disbanding the Forces, I am Proof against such Tongue-shot as theirs: I can find out a Pretence for keep­ing them still on foot, as being necessary to over-awe the French, who being now at Peace with every body else, may reasonably be thought to have Designs against me, as having first obliged them to the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, and now by my Forces have contributed to bring them to a Peace. These Regiments being brought over from Flanders, will restrain the Tumnlts which I have rea­son [Page 255] to fear from the mutinous Humour in which my Subjects are at present; and in a little time I can augment my Army, if I had but Money. It's true, that in the late Con­sult divers Expedients were proposed for ob­taining it, either from the French King, the City of London, or the Parliament: But to have it from the former can never be relied on; and if he supply me once, I am not sure that he will do it a second time, his own am­bitious Designs having carv'd him out Ways enough for his Money: Neither is it safe for me to be so much obliged to him, lest he should at some time or other improve it a­gainst me, as he did lately threaten to disco­ver our secret Intrigues to the Parliament, when we charg'd him with being worse than his Word, and failing in the Money which he had promised for the common Design. I know the Ambition of his Heart inclines him to aspire to the Universal Monarchy; and therefore I must be on my Guard against him. The Proposal of borrowing Money from the City of London I know impractica­ble, they have already denied me Credit; and it's nothing but to render my self too mean to desire Money of them again. The Project of bringing them to it by Force were no more than what they merit, but the Con­sequences may prove fatal to my Designs. The [Page 256] City of London being the Head of the Nati­on, has a natural Influence on the whole Bo­dy Politick; and if the City be once enraged, I must not expect to have the Kingdom long in quiet: And I have the more reason to be cautious on this Head, because the Loss of the City was the Loss of my Father's Life. It's true that my Lord Clifford's Advice of declaring my self bare-fac'd, and out-braving all Difficulties, were a thing very beseeming a Monarch: but my Experience is greater than his; Dulce Bellum inexpertum, War is sweet till it be tried. Had he three Crowns to lose, as I have, his Courage would not be so great: for he that never enjoyed the Sweets of Life, does not know how to value them; but I have had Experience both what it is to want and possess them. I know that this Nation, though very well prepar'd by that which Phanaticks and Men of their Kidney call Profanity, is not yet ripe enough to im­brace down-right Popery. The Miscarriage of the Father may very well serve as a Warn­ing to the Son: He fell in an Attempt less obnoxious; and I have no great reason to hope for better Success in one which is more displeasing. The People are very well satisfi­ed with as much of Popery as Queen Eliza­beth left; and whoever designs to introduce more, must do it insensibly, by promoting [Page 257] such Clergy-men as are Well-wishers to it; bringing in Favourers of the Roman Catho­licks into the University by side-Winds, and filling all Places of Power and Trust with those who are for the Design: But it is not safe for me to trust my self to the Conduct of such furious Men as Clifford, who has not Prudence enough to govern himself. It can not be defended by any sort of Politicks to treat a Person who is capable of divulging an important Secret in that manner, as he did the Gentleman who overheard us at the door, that being the very Method to have it made publick: and therefore though for the Con­veniency which I should thereby reap in the Administration of my Government, I could wish as well as he or any other, that Popery were establish'd; yet seeing I believe that all Religion is the Contrivance of Politicians, I shall never hazard my own Quiet for any one sort of it. As for the last Proposal of getting Money from the Parliament, I am resolv'd to try it, and must be preparing my Arguments before-hand to move them to grant it.

CHAP. LXVI. On the Discovery of the Popish Plot in August, 1678. by Dr. Oates and others. The De­sign of the Jesuits against his Majesty's Life. Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's taking Dr. Oates his Depositions. The seizing of Cole­man, Secretary to the Dutchess of York, and his Papers; and the murdering of Sir Ed­mundbury Godfrey thereupon.

NEver was there any Prince so much ex­pos'd to the Capricio's of Fortune as my self: So that of all Men alive I am the least obliged to offer Incense at her Altars. In my Youth I was expell'd my Dominions by Phanaticks and Enthusiasts; since my Re­storation I have been continually perplex'd by the perverse and stubborn Humours of the Church-of-England-men, though I restored their Discipline: and now my Life is sought after by the Roman Catholicks, whom I have so much oblig'd in the whole Course of my Reign, even to the hazard of my Crown and Government. I perceive that my seeming Neutrality enrages the Bigots of all Parties against me: And hence the Jesuits do now [Page 259] seek to dispatch me, because I am not willing to follow my Lord Clifford's Advice, and go their pace. They promise themselves un­doubted Success in their Designs, considering the French King's Power, my Brother's Zeal for their Church, and the Constitution of my present Army: and because I am not willing to push on further than I conceive is for my Interest, they are therefore willing to rid themselves of me. O ungrateful and mischievous Generation! I am now convinc'd that it's not without Reason that the Society of the Jesuits is hateful even to some Catholick Countries; and that their Motto, Cavete vo­bis Principes, is proper enough for them: yet such are my Circumstances, that I dare not testify my Hatred to their Order, because of their revengeful and vindictive temper. They who did not spare two Henries of France, though professed Catholicks, will never spare me who am esteem'd a Protestant: and there­fore though I do not love them, I dare not avow that I hate them; for they are not on­ly to be dreaded for their Courage but for their Conduct, which is very observable in this Particular. They know that I have all along kept down the Phanaticks; and there­fore if they had succeeded in their Murder, would have fathered it upon them; and for this end have, by their Interest amongst my [Page 260] Courtiers, got Mr. Cleypool, Son-in-law to the late Usurper, committed to the Tower, as having had a Design against my Person. This they did reasonably conclude would have obtain'd Belief amongst the Vulgar, be­cause of the Disgrace I put on his Father-in­law's Corps, and my Severity against the whole Herd of Dissenters; and by this means the Church of England should have been so inflam'd against the Phanaticks, that they would have done the Jesuits Work to their hand, by ruining their Brethren, and so weakning themselves. Yet thanks to my Stars I have escaped the Snare; and now be­ing warned, can provide for my own Safety, though it will be a very hard Matter to escape their Fury: Nor do I know any better Me­thod than by my Brother's Interest to assure them of being favourably dealt with, and make as if I did not believe the Accusation. By this means I shall prevent those Efforts of their Revenge which their own Preservation may put them upon, if they think that I do really believe them guilty; for I doubt not but my Brother and they both will be ready to capitulate with me on these Terms, that they may enjoy my Protection against the Resentments of the Nation, who are terri­bly incens'd by Dr. Oates's Discovery, and the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, for [Page 261] taking his Depositions. Nor am I indeed any further pleas'd with this Detection of the Conspiracy than as to what concerns my own personal Danger; for my Measures were well laid to have effected what they do so violently desire, but their Precipitance and too much Haste hath spoiled all.

By Dr. Oates's Treachery to the Catholicks, with whom he was engaged, it's easy to ob­serve that Conspiracies are dangerous, and that all Men are not to be intrusted with Se­crets of State; for let Ecclesiasticks of all Perswasions inculcate the binding Force of Oaths as much as ever they please, yet when it comes to their own turn, they break or ob­serve them according as their Interest directs. The Danger of Conspiracies may be further observed from Coleman's Conduct; Princes had need to be well assured of the Fidelity of those whom they intrust with their Secrets. Could any Man have imagin'd that one in his Station should have been so blab-tongu'd, or that he would not have been more careful to have conceal'd his Papers? It's for my Bro­ther's Interest and mine both, that he should suffer Death, though it's our Policy to feed him with Hopes of a Reprieve at the Gal­lows, left out of Revenge for our dropping him he should discover what he knows. And tho the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey be bar­barous, [Page 262] yet it's justifiable enough by Reasons of State, it's better that he should fall, than that the Crown should be made to totter, as it must certainly have done, if what Coleman had told him should have been publickly known: for I could neither in Honour nor Safety have abandon'd my Brother, which would both have endangered my Throne and Reputation, it being impossible for him to have been brought to a publick Trial, with­out a Discovery how far I am concern'd in the Plot. However, to prevent popular Tu­mults, which would certainly happen if none of those who are accus'd be brought to Pu­nishment, I must seem to countenance the Prosecution of the Plot to prevent the Peoples having any Pretence for executing Justice themselves; which, by the great Multitude of Swordmen that attended Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Corps to the Grave, I may reasona­bly conjecture they have Inclination enough to do. And seeing these hot-headed Fellows who were intrusted with the Commission to kill him, had so little Prudence as to commit the Fact within the Verge of my Consort's Palace, it behoves me to give way to Justice against them, lest the world should think it had been contriv'd at Whitehall. And the time of the Parliament's Meeting drawing near, I must be very cautious how I take my [Page 263] Measures, and contrive in what manner it's fit to accost them.

CHAP. LXVII. On his Majesty's Apology to the Parliament, October 21, 1678. for keeping up his Army. His demanding of Money; and acquainting them with the Plot, and Danger from Popery. The Vote of the Commons upon the Plot, and Orders to apprehend the Earl of Powis, and four other Popish Lords. Their passing of the Bill for raising the Militia; and his Majesty's refusing it. The Execution of Coleman, and some other Plotters of less note.

THE Parliament being to meet, I must bethink my self of an Apology for not disbanding my Army according to the Act. And seeing they insisted so much upon the Preservation of Flanders, as the Barrier of this Nation, I must urge the Necessity there was of keeping them on foot for that end, and so turn their own Arguments against them; which will, by the Assistance of my Friends, draw a Vail before the Peoples Eyes; and at the same time this affords me a speci­ous Reason for demanding Money, as having [Page 264] spent what they gave me last to maintain the Army. And if this should raise Heats a­mongst them, as I have Reason to think it may, I shall thence have a justifiable Pretence for proroguing them again, as designing a ma­nifest Invasion of the Rights of the Crown. And by this means I shall acquit my self of my Promises to the Catholicks, in prevent­ing a thorow Scrutiny into their late Plot; and give those hot-headed Bigots, who in­tended my Death, a convincing Evidence, how necessary it is for them in their present Cir­cumstances to preserve my Life: for if I should happen to miscarry at this Juncture, when the Kingdom is in a Ferment, on ac­count of their Conspiracy, it will certainly issue in the Ruine of their Affairs, and the perpetual Exclusion of my Brother from the Throne, his Enjoyment of which is the thing that they expect with so much Impatience.

But that I may the better screen my self from the Jealousies of the Parliament, it's ne­cessary that I should inform them of the Po­pish Plot, and the Danger of my Person, and the Protestant Religion, if they don't fall up­on effectual means to prevent it. This can­not in Justice give any reasonable Ground of Offence to my Friends the Catholicks, seeing I only dissemble to do them the more Service. Nor have they any greater reason to be angry [Page 265] at my suffering some of the inferiour sort to be cut off, and some of the chief ones com­mitted, it being always good Policy rather to lose a Part than hazard the whole. This I shall take care to impart to the great ones: and so long as I secure my Interest with them, I need not value the other.

The Commons, I perceive, are not to be diverted by a false Scent, as I did hope they would by my Apology for continuing the Ar­my, and new Demand of Money, but are now very eager in pursuit of the Plot, and have voted it a damnable Design to root out their Religion and Government, have procured Warrants to apprehend the Earl of Powis, with the Lords Stafford, Arundel, Peters and Bellasis; so that I must of necessity comply with committing them to the Tower, where I shall take care to keep them in salva, though not in arcta custodia, and by that means save them from popular Fury. By my compliance in this I shall the better stave off the Odium of refusing the Bill for raising the Militia, though the Commons have voted it as neces­sary for their Safety. And I can easily palli­ate my so doing under the Notion of a Ten­derness for my Prerogative, which being an old Plea, can never be suspected of being fram'd on purpose to favour the Plot, though at the same time I have no more Cause to re­pose [Page 266] my self on the Fidelity of the Country, than they have to entrust me with a Standing Army. I have met with no such Encourage­ment of late from their Civil Representatives in Parliament, as to make me confide in their Military Representatives in an Army: The Militia of the Nation were never Friends to my Father; nor do I know what reason they have for a greater Respect to the Son. If I should gratify the Commons in this, I have reason to dread the Issue; for having been so bold as to libel my Administration when they had no Forces to back them, I have no reason to doubt but that they would advance a Step higher, if they should have an Army which they could depend upon. Let them exclaim against my Conduct, for denying to raise the Militia, though at the same time they are en­compassed with an illegal Army, as loud as they can, I am to prefer my own Interest to their Humour, and will always value my own Prerogative and Pleasure above the Will of my Subjects, who were born for me, and not I for them, according to the Doctrine of their own beloved Church, which can never stand if Popery fall: and I doubt not but their Clergy will quickly have their Eyes open to see it; for whenever the Tide runs strong against Popery, their Bishops decline, and Dissenters are favoured: and whenever the [Page 267] Stream is turn'd against the Phanaticks, the Mitres triumph, and Papists are encouraged: of which my Father's Reign and mine have afforded many incontrovertible Instances; and I doubt not but the Event will verify my having been a true Prophet.

Foul Water quenches Fire as well as that which is clean: and so the Death of some of the meanest Plotters will satisfy the present Resentments of the People. And thus the greatest of Cities will condemn their own Suburbs to Destruction in case of a Siege, so they can but save the Body of the Place. The Heathen Romans thought it their Honour to devote themselves to the Infernal Gods to re­gain a Battel in hazard to be lost; and why should not the Christian Romans follow their Example? Those ordinary Fellows who have suffered on account of the Plot, will have more than a sufficient Compensation by a Place in the Roman Kalendar of Saints; so that they have no reason to upbraid me for suffering the Law to take place against them; since, according to their own Doctrine, their Martyrdom does not only merit a Release from Purgatory, but the Enjoyment of Hea­ven it self: And by the sacrificing of Coleman I shall gain this Point, that the Vulgar will think I prosecute the Plot in good earnest; whereas at the same time I punish him for his [Page 268] too great Freedom of Speech, and prevent his using the like for time to come. Nor can the Papists themselves blame me for it, when they consider how much I am expos'd in his Letters, which discover my Intrigues with France and Rome; and that he was so much a Fool as to have Copies of them by him.

CHAP. LXVIII. On the Bill for excluding Papists from both Houses of Parliament; with a Clause, ex­cepting the Duke of York. The Dissolution of the Parliament, as prosecuting the Popish Plot. The calling of another, and ordering the Duke of York to withdraw out of the Kingdom before they met. His Majesty's Speech to them, and Declaration, confessing his Error in governing by Cabals. His dissol­ving of his Privy-Council, and chusing ano­ther; whence the popular Members did quick­ly desire to be discharged.

MY Pensions and Favours have been ill bestowed, since they are useless to me now in my greatest Strait. The Current of the House runs so strong upon the Plot, that I must find out some Method to stem the Tide. They are now so bold as to strike at [Page 269] my Brother, which is as much as if they should bid me to look to my self. I have gain'd one Point by the Assistance of the Bi­shops and Court-Lords, that though the Bill to prevent Catholicks from sitting in Par­liament, was principally levelled against him, yet I have got a Clause added to except him: and though it's true that this is a de­claring him a Papist to the World, yet the Reasons for my doing so out-weigh the In­conveniences: for now the Catholicks will be the less pressing upon me to declare my self of their Party; when, besides the Stratagem which I formerly used to make my Brother declare himself, by threatning that I would sue for a Divorce, and marry another Wise, by whom I might have Children, I have now got his Religion declar'd in Parliament. But because this will rather alarm than ap­pease the Nation, I don't find it convenient to continue this Parliament any longer, lest they should at last become head-strong and ungovernable: And rather than be control'd by them, to whom I have given so much Money to so little purpose, I had rather have my Designs check'd by another, for I have but small Hopes of having a better. But this Advantage I shall reap from the Dissolu­tion, that it will stop the farther Enquiry in­to the Popish Plot for a time, and give my [Page 270] Friends the Catholicks a Breathing, by which they may recover from their Consternation, and take such Measures as are best for their Interest. At the same time I shall have some liberty to enjoy my Pleasures, for that's the way whither the Biass of my Soul inclines; and without dissolving this factious Divan, I could neither have so well provided for my Brother's Safety, nor the Desires of those charming Beauties, in whose Caresses I place my chief Happiness; for I had rather repose my Head in Venus's Lap, than be strutting in the Field with Mars's Helmet.

The Dissolution of the Parliament at such a Juncture, I know will render me liable to abundance of Censures; and, amongst others, that I have done it to stifle the Discovery of the Plot: I must therefore take such Mea­sures as will serve me for a Shield against this Accusation; which, together with the calling of a new Parliament, may be an Argument for me in the Mouth of my Friends. Nor can I think of a better Expedient than by or­dering my Brother to leave the Kingdom for a time, but with all Assurances imaginable of my inviolable Friendship: And this, with the suffering of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Mur­derers to be brought to Trial, will at least blind the Eyes of the unthinking sort, and make my Pretences of having dissolved the [Page 271] Parliament on the account of their frequent Entrenchments upon my Prerogative, the more credible.

The new Parliament being met, I laid be­fore them my Designs to unite the Minds of my Subjects; that in order thereunto I had excluded the Popish Lords from the Parlia­ment, executed several of the Plotters, and Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murderers; that I had moreover disbanded as much of the Ar­my as I had Money to do it with, and will disband the rest when they enable me; that, to take away all Subject of Cavil, I had dis­charged my Brother from my Dominions; and that I was ready to join with them in any good Laws against Popery: and, to drive the nail home, did plainly confess my having been formerly misled by Cabals, and declare my Resolution of governing henceforth by the Advice of my Parliaments and Privy-Council: and, to please them further, did choose such Persons for Members of the lat­ter, as were known to be Zealots both for their Liberties and Religion. By this Me­thod I quieted the Ferment in which the Ge­nerality of People were, and sav'd my self from a sudden and tumultuary Revolution; and at the same time my Friends the Catho­licks had leisure to provide for themselves, and my Brother withdrew from the impend­ing [Page 272] Storm with Safety. But this I perceive was not durable, for the popular Privy-Coun­sellors finding that I only made use of them for the Credit of my Affairs, did quickly grow weary, and desire to be dismissed: and now my new House of Commons insist­ing on the same Courses which the former had taken, go on to impeach the Popish Lords in the Tower, and have voted a Bill to disable my Brother from inheriting the Imperial Crown of this Realm; and to make this go down the more smoothly with the People, they assign, as the Cause of their Vote, that the Hopes of his Succession hath been the chief Cause of this Conspiracy for the De­struction of my self, and altering the Go­vernment. By this Means they would pos­sess the Kingdom with Fears of unavoidable Ruine to their Liberties and Religion, if the Duke be not excluded from succeeding to the Crown; and endeavour also to insinuate their Loyalty in taking care for my Preserva­tion: but I have no great mind to trust to their Friendship; their Predecessors in 1641. were as ample in their Protestations of Loy­alty as they, and yet took up Arms by my Father's Authority against his Person, and never made any stay till they cut off his Head. I know my self to be much more criminal in their Sense than ever he was; and that my [Page 273] Concurrence in the Popish Plot can be demon­strated with much more Ease than ever could his Commission to the Irish Rebels: And I have no reason to doubt but they will think that a Concurrence with the Papists, to cut off the English Protestants, is a Crime of as heinous a Nature as that of destroying the Irish Protestants, and will certainly decree it as severe a Punishment; and therefore I can­not be blamed if, for my own Preservation, I study how to give them a Diversion.

CHAP. LXX. On the French King's seizing several Places in Flanders, &c. as depending on those which were confirm'd to him by the Peace of Nime­guen. His and the Spaniards Ʋnkindness to the Duke of York, at that time, in the Netherlands. The Address of the Commons to stand by his Majesty and the Protestant Re­ligion. Their disbanding of the Army. The Discovery of Endeavours to make the Wit­nesses of the Popish Plot retract their Evi­dence: And the proroguing of the Parliament upon their growing warm about the Trial of the Popish Lords in the Tower.

THough I be unsuccessful and incumbred at home, yet my Allie the French [Page 274] King is fortunate abroad; and, like a true Politician, does order his Affairs so as to make himself a Gainer both by Peace and War: Whether he gives Obedience to Mazarine's Dictates, as an obedient Son or tractable Scholar, I shall not determine; but sure I am he puts his Commands in practice, and values Treaties no more than as they conduce to his Interest. However, it's more politick for him to seize those Towns, as granted to him by Agreement under the Notion of De­pendancies, than under any other Pretence whatsoever. And this I rejoice in, not only as it contributes to promote the common De­sign, but also because I have the Practice of so great a Monarch, as an Argument for my own Conduct; and the Authority of so great an Ecclesiastick as Cardinal Mazarine, to ju­stify me in point of Principle. But however well pleased I am with this Matter, I can­not be satisfied with his Treatment of my Brother, who is a kind of Exile for follow­ing his Dictates, and therefore deserved kind­er Entertainment at his hand: but I smell his Design, he is unwilling that his civil Re­ception abroad should extinguish his Desire of returning home, because he knows that his Presence is necessary here to confirm the drooping Catholicks, and keep Life in his Party; for I know that he is jealous lest I [Page 275] should concur with my Parliament, rather than admit of an Interruption of my Plea­sures. As for the Unkindness of the Spani­ard, it is no Surprize; for whatever Good­will they have to the Advancement of the Catholick Interest, yet they are angry at us for promoting that of France in opposition to theirs. And seeing the Case is so, I am re­solved that my Brother shall return home.

But I must first rid my self of this Session of Parliament; the Commons being so much overacted with Zeal, that they have present­ed me with an Address, wherein they pro­mise to defend my Person and the Protestant Religion, and to revenge any Violence that may be offered to me. They exclaim'd for­merly against the Scots Covenant for mea­suring their Endeavours, to defend my Fa­ther, according as he stood up in defence of their Religion, and now they themselves run into the same Error, though the great Do­ctors of their Church pretended to teach and believe that Loyalty was an essential Point of their Religion: for now they join the Defence of my Person and that of the Protestant Reli­gion together; which is as much as to say, that if I don't concur with them in the de­fence of the one, they will take no Care for the defence of the other. Then as for the revenging of any Violence that may be offer­ed [Page 276] to my Person, I know what they aim at, but can provide for the defence of my self better than they, or at least in a way more agreeable to my Design. The Catholicks are not such Fools as to cut me off now, for that were the way to ruine their Affairs, seeing my Brother's Interest is not yet establish'd; so that I have no Fears on that Head yet. Neither have I any reason to trust their fair Promises now that they have deprived me of the Defence of an Army which was modelled to my Mind: Besides, it's below a Monarch to own that he needs the Defence of any one part of his Subjects against another, when he himself is born to defend the whole. How­ever, I must submit to the Humour of the Multitude; and seeing I can neither have Money from France nor them to maintain my Army, I can the more easily dispense with having them disbanded: And by con­ceding this Point I shall put some stop to the Jealousies of the Nation; and my proroguing the Parliament to save the Popish Lords, whose Trial the Commons do so earnestly de­mand, will be of so much the easier Digesti­on. And by this Favour to the Catholicks I shall engage them more firmly on my side; for the Interest of those Lords, whose Preser­vation depends on mine, will prevent Assassi­nations from the Bigots of their Party; and [Page 277] during the Recess of Parliament we shall have leisure to recover our lost Ground, and find out Expedients for taking off the Evidence of the Popish Plot that may not be so obnoxious to a Discovery as those which have been made use of hitherto, which have rather confirm'd than discredited the Belief of the Plot.

CHAP. LXXI. On the Insurrection at Bothwell-bridg in Scot­land. The sending the Duke of Monmouth thither to suppress it, which he effected. The Execution of several Presbyterian Ministers upon it: and the Execution of several Jesuits for the Popish Plot; and Endeavours to stifle the same by the Meal-tub-Plot, which prov'd abortive.

HAD my Subjects of the Episcopal Com­munion in England been as true to my Interest as their Brethren in Scotland, my Af­fairs would have appeared e're now in a bet­ter Posture. The former are nothing so stea­dy to the Interest of Monarchy and Episco­pacy as the latter, which may easily be e­vinc'd from the Endeavours which the Eng­lish Parliaments have used both to establish Liberty to Dissenters by a Law, and to limit [Page 278] the Succession and Administration of their Kings. My Episcopal Subjects in Scotland do on the contrary, make no scruple to put my Commands in execution, though against the Letter of the Law; and by a just Severity upon their Brethren the Presbyterians, be­yond what the Laws in their strictest Inter­pretation will allow, they have procured this Insurrection, which happen'd very oppor­tunely for my Affairs. By this means I have not only humbled the Presbyterians there, and suppressed their rebellious Field-Conven­ticles, but have a plausible Pretence for ma­king the Laws still more severe against them; forfeiting their Estates to gratify my hungry Courtiers; cutting off such of their Preach­ers as I have in my hands; and ridding the Country of so many rebellious Fellows as I have taken Prisoners; so that I shall be suffi­ciently reveng'd on the pestilent Hereticks for the Lives of so many of my Friends the Catholicks as they have cut off on account of the Plot, which I was obliged to give way to to prevent being suspected thereof my self.

I shall also gain this by the Scots Insurrecti­on, that the Duke of Monmouth, whom I imployed as General to suppress it, will be thereby rendred the less popular amongst the Presbyterians in that Nation, and their Friends the Dissenters and Republicans here: So that [Page 279] if ever he attempt to ascend the Throne, he will find it the more difficult, or at least be made less capable of obstructing the Design of introducing Popery, for his Zeal against which the Faction applaud him.

I shall also make this Improvement of that Phanatical Insurrection, that it will serve to alarm the Church of England, and convince them of the restless Endeavours of the Dissen­ters to overturn their Discipline and Govern­ment, and by consequence make them the more apt to believe the Plots which shall henceforth be charg'd upon Phanaticks here to destroy the Government both in Church and State; which will be the best Expedient that we can think on to turn the Plot, which hath been prosecuted with so much Vigour against the Papists, upon their own Heretical Brethren the Dissenters, from whom it's much easier to possess them with Apprehensions of Danger, than from the Catholicks, because their Interest is greater in the Nation; and that they have smarted by them more lately than by the other: And if I can do my Ca­tholick Friends this piece of Service, as I have not the least reason to doubt but I shall, they may very well dispense with my having sa­crific'd some of their Priests and Jesuits, that I might with the less Suspicion advance their Cause.

I thought that my Design of burying the Popish Plot in Oblivion, by fathering another upon the Presbyterians, could scarcely have missed taking effect, especially when so dex­trously managed by one of Dangerfield's Parts; but the Fates are not yet propitious to my Endeavours, nor is the measure of my Crosses entirely filled up. This Plot was sufficiently well laid; and had those Papers which were scattered in the Phanaticks Lodgings been but happily seiz'd, without suspicion of any Tricks, the Presbyterian Plot would have passed for current, for I should have been certain of having it trumpeted by the Clergy from their Pulpits: But seeing it hath prov'd abortive, I must take more care for time to come; and have no reason to despair of succeeding in some Attempt of the like na­ture, for I am sure of having the Clergy on my side.

CHAP. LXXII. On the dissolving of the Parliament, July 12. 1679. and calling another against October 7. The Return of the Duke of York in the mean time; and his being sent to Scotland. The proroguing of the Parliament after their be­ing chosen. The acquitting of Sir George Wakeman, and others of the Plotters, by the then Lord Chief Justice. The burning of the Pope, &c. in effigie. The presenting of a Petition by the Citizens for the sitting of the Parliament: and Abhorrence of Petitions presented by others.

THIS Parliament proving refractory as well as the other, I find my self under a necessity of dissolving them, for I am sensi­ble that they will never be fit for my pur­pose. Perhaps the dissolving of two such Parliaments successively may prevent the choosing of another of the same stamp, and therefore I am resolved to try the Experi­ment. In the mean time I can, with the more Safety, recal my Brother; for if the Parliament be dissolv'd, there's none else that dare to ask the Reason why. And if any of the Council shall dare to mutter against it, [Page 282] according to the Earl of Shaftsbury's Exam­ple, they shall be certainly discharged as well as he.

The new Parliament is of the same Com­plexion with the old. Whence I perceive that the Contagion hath spread so broad and wide in the Nation, that all Ranks and De­grees of Persons are infected: But seeing my Subjects are resolved to be cross, and choose such Men to represent them in Parliament as thwart my Designs, I am resolved to be as cross to them, and prorogue the Parliament from time to time: so that if they are not like to answer my Design, they shall not have an opportunity of answering theirs, till I have taken such previous Measures as I think fit for my purpose, and see whether I can have Money by any other Method. For which end I will try both France and Rome; and if neither of them answer my Ends, I shall have opportunity to attempt the buying off of some of the leading Members: And if that should also miscarry, I will send my Brother to Scotland, that he may be out of their way, for I am sure of his being well en­tertain'd there by my Episcopal Council, who will order it so as to make him seem accepta­ble to the whole Nation: and that will strengthen his Party here; and at the same time such of his Friends as find themselves [Page 283] pressed by the Stubbornness of the English House of Commons, may find Sanctuary there under his Protection. I doubt nothing of the Zeal of the Scots Episcopal Party for his Interest, because the Constitution of their Church makes them depend wholly on the Crown; and in that my Politicks prov'd very successful, to have a Law for leaving the Go­vernment of their Church wholly at my Dis­posal. Nor do I doubt but the particular In­clination which that Kingdom hath always evidenc'd to a Monarchical Government, and the singular Respect which they have hitherto shewed to Fergus's Race, will have a conside­rable Influence on them, to preserve the Suc­cession in the right Line. And during these Prorogations I shall also have the Opportuni­ty of making the English Clergy to my pur­pose; and order it so, that my durante bene­placito Judges shall acquit such of the Plotters as come to trial here; which will give a mighty stop to the Credit of the Conspiracy, and be an Argument for the Nullity of the Plot from the Pulpits, when it's evident be­fore-hand that it's disbelieved by the Bench, for the Colour of Justice adds very much Strength to any Cause.

The extraordinary Heat of the Rabble against Popery, and such Protestants as con­cur with the Measures of the Court, makes [Page 282] [...] [Page 283] [...] [Page 284] it absolutely needful for me to keep off the Parliament as long as I can: for seeing the Mob are so insolent at present, as not only to burn the Pope in effigie, but such also of their Fel­low-Hereticks as are addicted to my Interest, it's more than probable, that if they were countenanc'd by the Authority of such Par­liaments as those which I have had of late, that their Insolence would not stop there; of which the Petition of the Citizens for the sitting of the Parliament is no obscure Indica­tion: but that the Odium of hindring the Parliament to meet should not lie wholly up­on me and the Court, I have ordered it so, that a part of the Subjects have declared their Abhorrence of such Petitions; which affords me a plausible Argument for what I have done, seeing the Sense of the Nation, as I shall take care to have that of my own Party esteem'd to be, is against it as well as mine: And by these Abhorrences I have ground to conceive Hopes that my Design for engaging the Church-men on my side has actually taken.

CHAP. LXXIII. On the Court's being disappointed of receiving Money from Rome and France. The Meet­ing of the Parliament October 22, 1680. The Proceedings of the Commons against such Justices as obstructed Petitions for the sitting of the Parliament. The passing of the Bill of Exclusion against the Duke of York, in the House of Commons, nemine contradicente. The rejecting of it by the Lords. The Trial and Execution of the Lord Stafford. The impeaching of the Judges. Their Denial of a Supply to the King. His Majesty's Message to them, and dissolving them, because of their Obstinacy.

NO wonder that those who are avowed Enemies to my Designs should refuse me Money, when those who are zealous for the same, and promised Assistance both by Men and Money, do now fail me: that the Court of Rome, who compass Sea and Land to make Proselytes, should deny Money when it is only required to propagate their Faith, may justly seem strange; but as for the French King's doing so, it's easy to conceive that he hath been thereunto influenc'd by Reasons of [Page 284] [...] [Page 285] [...] [Page 286] State. It was his Interest to create Jealousies and Discontents betwixt me and my Subjects, not only to prevent our uniting against him, but that both of us might fall as an easier Conquest, though it's horribly inglorious for him to take such Methods. But why should I say thus, seeing all the great Princes that ever aspir'd to the Universal Monarchy did make use of Fraud as well as Force? How­ever, during my Life I shall prevent his De­sign to cheat me of my Crown; and if I can carry on my Work without him, as it is the more hazardous, it will be also more glori­ous: and by the Divisions which have from time to time been carefully nourished a­mongst my Protestant Subjects, I doubt not but in time I may obtain my Desires without his Assistance.

The Parliament being met, they are as bad to the full as I suspected, and tread in the same Steps with their Predecessors, and dis­charge their Fury upon such of my Justices as obstructed Petitions for their sitting, and accuse them as Betrayers of the Rights and Liberties of the People, because they wit­nessed their Zeal for the Prerogatives of my Crown. Nor does their seditious Procedure stop here, but they have unanimously voted a Bill for excluding my Brother from the Crown, cut off the Earl of Stafford for his [Page 287] Accession to the Plot, and impeach my Judges. The Fall of that Lord I must needs lament; but it is as venial for me to let him fall a Sa­crifice to popular Vengeance, as it was for my Father to give up the Earl of Strafford to his rebellious Parliament, though he was much more necessary to him than ever this Lord was to me. But as for the excluding of my Brother, and impeaching of my Judges, I must never give way to it, for that would infallibly issue in the Destruction of my self. My stubborn Subjects have depriv'd me of my Army, so that I cannot establish my Au­thority by the Sword; and if I suffer my self to be likewise bereft of my Judges, then I shall be utterly disabled from carrying on my Design, either by Military Power, or the Shadow of Law. As to the Exclusion of my Brother from succeeding to the Crown, it can in no manner be admitted. And here I have a very good Plea against them: The Clergy have preach'd up the Divine Right of a Lineal Succession; and if that be so, I can maintain my Argument by the Laws of God; and I doubt not but my Judges will give it out as the Laws of the Land. If I should give way to his Exclusion, it would weaken my self, for then my Enemies might reasonably act with the greater Bold­ness against me, when they should be in no [Page 288] fear from my Successor to punish such a Practice.

The Lords having thrown out the Bill by the Influence of the Bishops Bench, is enough to justify me in the Eyes of the World; for why should I consent to the disabling of my own Brother from succeeding to me upon the account of his being a Roman Catholick, when the Protestant Bishops, who are the ghostly Fathers of their Church, make no Scruple to own his Right of Succession, and testify their Hatred against the Bill? In this they have done me remarkable Service, and I doubt not but their Example will have In­fluence on the Clergy. But to prevent all Suspicion, as much as is possible, that I have any Design to re-establish Popery, I will send them a Message, that I am ready to agree to any other Expedients for securing them a­gainst it. And thus when I have made such Proffers, and have the Bishops and their Cler­gy on my side, it will look very presumptu­ous in any Party whatever, so much as to whisper a suspicious Word of my Intentions. And if the Commons adhere tenaciously to their Bill, and refuse to drop it, there's none who will dare to blame me if I dissolve them.

CHAP. LXXIV. On the calling of another Parliament to meet at Oxford, Febr. 1680. The seizing of Fitz-Harris with seditious Libels, designed to have been lodged with Protestant Peers and Com­mons. The seditious manner of the Lon­don-Members going to Oxford. His Ma­jesty's Speech to the Parliament when they met there. Their Impeachment of Fitz-Harris, and Dissolution.

THE City of London being a perfect Nest of Rebellion, it's reasonable to give them a Mortification, by summoning the Parliament to meet elsewhere: and as Oxford hath been always signal for Loyalty, both to my Father and my self, I will gratify that Place with the meeting of this Parlia­ment, which will engage the Clergy more firmly on my side, especially the young Nur­sery which is now a breeding up there. And as by this Method I shall oblige my real Friends, it's probable that it may cool the Courage of my Enemies, especially when they find themselves at a distance from their facti­ous Accomplices at London, and surrounded with my Souldiers and Guards at Oxford.

It is not without some appearance of Rea­son that my stubborn Subjects do boast of the Divine Care and Providence which seems to watch over their Persons, Religion and Li­berties; for not only the Plots of Catholicks against them have been discovered and baffled, but all my Designs of fastning Plots against them upon the Government have miscarried. The Disappointment of this, which was ma­naged by Fitz-Harris, may be of very ill Consequence, if there be not care taken to prevent, or at least baffle his Discovery, which he has been such a Fool as to make now that he is taken. How unhappy have I and my Courtiers been in the Tools that we chose to carry on our Designs: for every one of them have not only discovered whatever they were imploy'd in, but also who set them at work; which incenses the Nation against the Court. But without attempting we can ne­ver be sure of any thing; and it is some Sa­tisfaction when we do miscarry, to be able to say with Phaeton, Magnus tamen excidit ausis. This Design was considerable, though not successful; for had the Plot but taken, and those seditious Libels been found upon the Persons to whom they were intended by the Penny-post, it would have afforded a plausible Pretext for charging them with a Plot; and then I could have rid my self of so [Page 291] many dangerous Enemies by colour of Law. The Commons are sensible enough of the Im­portance of the Design, and therefore have impeach'd Fitz-Harris, in order to have a full Discovery who set him at work, which to be sure they would take care to publish through the Kingdom: but by my Interest in the House of Lords I have got that Im­peachment rejected; and the Heat of the Commons in this, together with the Posture which the London-Members came in to the Parliament at Oxford, will furnish Pretence enough for dissolving them, it being altoge­ther intolerable that Subjects should put such mutinous Affronts upon their Prince, as to distinguish themselves by Badges in their Hats, with printed Motto's upon them, to insinuate as if I had a Design to introduce Po­pery and Slavery. So that I doubt not but to make a good Improvement of this extraordi­nary Heat discovered by the Citizens, and can easily make it a sufficient Ground-work to build a Plot on, that shall not be so apt to tumble down about the Ears of the Work­men, as those which have hitherto been at­tempted; for here's Overt-act plain enough. It's not to be supposed that the Citizens and their Members did come in this posture, without previous Consultation: nor can it be thought that those Lords and Commons [Page 292] who have so frequently complain'd of my Administration publickly, and are so much incens'd now at my opposing their Design of excluding my Brother, should never have talk'd about those Affairs in private Cabals, and propose Expedients to deliver themselves from that which they call Popery and Slavery, the two things of which they are so much afraid. And if I can but prove any such Consults or Conferences, as I need not de­spair of effecting it by some false Brethren of their own, let them extenuate the matter as much as they please, by alledging that it was no more than what was talk'd in Parliament, and agreeable to the Association propos'd by the Commons, according to the Pattern of that signed in Queen Elizabeth's time, upon the account of Jealousies of the same Nature. I say, let them make those and a hundred more such Apologies, if I can fasten it upon them, I shall prove it a Plot, and punish them accordingly for it. And if I succeed in this, as I have no great reason to doubt but I shall, seeing the Judges are made to my purpose, it will not only justify all the Measures which I have taken hitherto, but also such Severi­ties as I may have occasion to put in practice in time to come; for if once I get a Prote­stant Plot to be believed and fix'd upon those Lords and Commons who have always been [Page 293] most averse to my Designs, and made the greatest Clamour against the Court, then all that they have from time to time alledged of my Purposes to introduce Popery and Slave­ry, will be look'd upon as the effect of Envy, and a mere Contrivance for the better carry­ing on of their Designs to overturn the Go­vernment in Church and State. And if once I get but some of them convicted by colour of Justice, then I may charge the Design upon the whole Party with Confidence; and I am sure to be seconded by the Pulpit and the Bench, whose Arguments against the Phana­tical Plotters will have so much the more Weight, that the Parliament by their Influ­ence would proceed to thwart me in the mat­ter of the Succession, which is unalterable by Divine Right, notwithstanding of the fair Proffers which I made to them in my Speech, of concurring with the Trial of the Lords in the Tower, and hearkning to any Expedients by which the Protestant Religion might be preserved, and the Monarchy not destroyed. And seeing the Fathers of their own Church do own their Loyalty to be an essential Part of their Religion, and Monarchy to be of Divine Right; and that rather than break the Chain of Succession, they are content to have a Popish King, which the other Party think so dangerous to their Religion, I may [Page 294] very well be excus'd to value the Monarchy and Succession at least as much as they; and I am sure that I can't well value it higher, seeing it's apparent that they prefer it to their Religion, as probably thinking that to be the more disputable Point of the two. And if it be so, as I have very great Reason to believe it is, I am the more confirm'd in my Scepticism as to all Religion; for that Monarchy is not thought to be the only Form of Government by Divine Institution, is ap­parent enough, because there are so many Re­publicks, both Protestant and Popish, which are all of them defended as lawful Govern­ments, by the greatest Doctors of both Churches. But seeing the Popish Clergy value their Religion above all sorts of Go­vernment or Governours, as appears by their exauctorating Kings, and defending their Murder or Dethronement when they fall off to Heresy, I have reason to conclude that they are the more serious of the two; and with the other Arguments which they urge as the Antiquity, Universality, and Infallibility of their Church, this is to me a strong Pre­sumption that their Religion is the truest of the two, seeing it has evidently more Influ­ence upon its Followers, of which it has also the greatest Number, and amongst those a great many Men of undeniable Learning and Parts.

CHAP. LXXV. On his Majesty's Declaration that the Duke of Monmouth was not lawfully begotten.

HEre I find a mighty Struggle of Nature against declaring my Son illegitimate; but seeing I have got over those things which foolish Bigots reckon Divine, why should I stand upon that which is merely humane? It's known to the World that I have violated those Oaths which I made to God, then why should I scruple to deny that I was ever un­der a Matrimonial Vow to any Woman but Queen Catharine? I had rather be esteem'd wicked than weak, and have it said, that I was unchaste than foolish, as every one will conclude me to have been in doing as much as in me lay to sacrifice the Interest of my Crown to an impotent Passion, for a hand­som Woman; and that for the Satisfaction of my present Desires I should have hazarded a Deprivation of all my future Dignities, by contracting such a mean Alliance as would not have excited the Compassion, but ex­pos'd me to the Contempt of other Sovereign Princes. It's true, my Brother James may, for one reason, justly condemn me in his [Page 296] Heart, because I would not let him disown his Match upon the Foresight of my Resto­ration, though in strictness he has no Reason, seeing our Circumstances do so much differ. His Father-in-law would have resented such an Injury to the utter Disappointment of my Return, if I should have contenanc'd him in that Design; but there is no such hazard in my Case now. And if he should have any hard Thoughts of me upon that account, he's very ungrateful, seeing it is chiefly for his sake that I do it, though at the same time I have also a Prospect to the Merit, which ac­cording to the Roman Doctrine attends such Actions as are done for the Advancement of the Catholick Church, that in case there be any such thing as a future Reward for such good Deeds, I may by this Means insure it; and at the same time I revenge my self on this undutiful Son, for associating himself with those who are my Enemies, and have all along oppos'd my Designs. Private Men do many times disinherit their Children upon Disgusts, and why should not a Monarch have the same Liberty? My great Grand­mother, Mary Queen of Scots, declared her Son, my Grandfather, a Bastard, to pre­vent his succeeding her, because he was educated in the Protestant Religion; and she being enregistred as a Saint in the Ro­man [Page 297] Kalendar, it can be no Crime to follow her Example.

This Procedure may be also justified from Reasons of State; seeing he is become so po­pular amongst those who are Enemies to my Government, they may perhaps take upon them to make him Head of a Rebellion against me, and think to justify themselves by his Right of Succession, and the Interest which he has to preserve the Nation upon its true Basis: So that the most effectual way to give a Check to any such Designs, which I have Reason from his Circular Journies into the Country to suspect may be in embrio, is to declare him illegitimate, which will lessen his Reputation, seeing it will easily obtain Belief, that I would not declare him illigiti­mate, if it were not so, merely for the Cre­dit of my younger Days, when I professed so much Piety, that I may not be thought to have acted the Hypocrite from my Cradle.

CHAP. LXXVI. On the Protestant Plot. The Trial and Exe­cution of Stephen Colledge. The Commit­ment of the Lord Howard of Escrick, and the Earl of Shaftsbury, with his Trial and Acquitment. The Quo Warranto against the Charter of London, and other Corporati­ons. The imposing of Sheriffs upon the City of London. The Commitment of Sir Tho­mas Pilkington and Mr. Shute, then She­riffs, for opposing it. The calling of a Par­liament in Scotland, where the Duke of York represented his Majesty, as Commissioner. The Test enacted there; and the Act for set­tling the Succession upon the Duke. The Trial and Condemnation of the Earl of Argile, for explaining the Test; and his Escape.

THE Parliament being now dissolved, and I by Consequence at liberty from such an impertinent Check, it's convenient for me to carry on my Designs with all imaginable Vigour; and having found an opportunity against one of the Faction, who was a talkative meddling Fellow, I am re­solved to have him tried for High-treason at Oxford, seeing the London-Jury have acquit­ted [Page 299] him. Let the Faction complain of its being contrary to Law, and what else they please, it's for my Interest that he should be cut off, to be a Terror to others, and gain Belief to the Plot: Oxford being a Place of noted Loyalty, I doubt not of having him found guilty there, seeing I have Evidences enough ready, who will swear treasonable Words against him; and he being once con­victed, it will not only reflect upon all the rest who attended the London-Members to Oxford, but upon the Members themselves, and the whole Party of Lords and Commons that countenanc'd the Bill of Exclusion. And I am certain of this Advantage against all of them, that the Church of England will be their Enemies, because of the Favour and In­clination which they have evidenced to Dis­senters. And when Colledge shall be con­demned by due Forms of Law, it will reflect upon the Sheriffs of London for having pick'd such a Jury as acquitted him.

Having begun with Stephen Colledge, and been successful in my Endeavours, I am now resolv'd on higher Game, and therefore have caus'd the Earl of Shaftsbury, and the Lord Howard, to be seiz'd as Ring-leaders of the Faction. It's true that I could not promise my self such Success in London as I had in Oxford; but however in attempting it I have [Page 300] gain'd thus much, that of the Crimes where­with the Earl of Shaftsbury was charged, some will be believed; and his being ac­quitted in London will furnish me with far­ther ground of Quarrel against the City, and countenance my Quo Warranto against their Charter, as to which I am sure of the Sen­tence of the Judges: And if I could once but humble that Source of Rebellion, it would render the rest of my Work easy throughout the Nation: And if the Charters of Corpo­rations were once in my possession, I shall be able to choose what Men I please to represent them in Parliaments, which will be no small Advantage to my Designs. It is indeed a ve­ry bold and daring Attempt; but finding that hitherto my Proceedings have met with no Opposition by way of Arms, I have the more Encouragement to go on, especially see­ing I have got the Church on my side, who are happily alarm'd with the Insinuations of their own Danger from the opposite Party: so that I doubt not of bringing this Affair to a happy Conclusion, by letting the hungry Church-of-England-Justices loose upon the Dissenters Estates, and giving those of Do­ctors-Commons a full Power over their Con­sciences and Purses; by which means the Party will easily be prevail'd on to believe that my seizing of the Charters is only de­sign'd [Page 301] to exclude Dissenters from bearing any share in the Magistracy of the Nation, or assisting in the choice of Parliament-men: so that if once I get a House of Commons mo­delled to my mind, I can easily make my party good in the House of Lords; and then I or my Successors may effectuate, by the Peoples seeming Consent, what hitherto we have not been able to accomplish. The Ci­ty of London having behaved it self so rebel­liously, I am resolv'd to be further reveng'd upon them, and to deprive them of their li­berty of choosing Sheriffs, for opposing me, in which some of the most Factious are alrea­dy committed: And because the Herd of Pha­naticks did unanimously concur with them, I shall take care to have them duly prosecuted and punished according as their Merits re­quire.

My Episcopal Subjects in Scotland have acted their part, and evidenc'd a Loyalty without any Reserve, having dispens'd with my Brother's not taking of the Oath which was incumbent on him, as Commissioner, and settled the Succession without any Scru­ple: They have, however, enacted a Test for the Security of their Religion, which I can easily assent to, for pleasing of the Rab­ble, and furnishing the Episcopal Party an Answer to the Reproaches of their Brethren [Page 302] the Phanaticks, who alledg that they have no Zeal for the Religion which they profess. But though I am very well satisfied with my Friends Loyalty, yet in truth I cannot com­mend their Policy, that they should not have taken more care to avoid such plain Contra­dictions in their Test, as furnish Objections against it, not only to the Phanaticks, but also to many of their own Party. It's true, they are the more excusable, that herein they were out-witted by some of the opposite Faction; who, though they had a hand in the framing it, refuse it themselves: but I took care to have had the Earl of Argile be­headed for his Behaviour in that Affair; whereby I should not only have punish'd him for his own and his Father's former Rebelli­ons, but have also deprived the opposite Facti­on of a Head, but the cross Fates have de­creed his Escape: Yet I am so much a Gain­er by the Affair, that his forfeited Estate will reward some of my zealous Friends, and his Sentence will terrify the rest of my Ene­mies, as it hath pleased my Church-of-Eng­land Zealots, because of his Inclination to the Scotish Kirk. This Behaviour of the Parliament and Church of Scotland will mightily strengthen my Friends of the Church of England in their espousing mine and my Brother's Cause, which will not a [Page 303] little contribute to the running down of the Dissenters, our irreconcileable Enemies in both Nations.

CHAP. LXXVII. On the finding of my Lord Grey, Alderman Cornish, and other Citizens, guilty of a Riot, for countenancing the Election of the City-Magistrates. The Discovery of the Con­spiracy to assassinate his Majesty and the Duke of York at Ry-house; and the Council of six to manage the Plot: Whereupon my Lord Russel, Algernon Sidney, &c. were cut off. The Earl of Essex's being murdered in the Tower. The Trial and Sentence of Mr. Speke and Mr. Braddon, for endeavouring a Disco­very thereof. The Continuance of the Sur­render of Charters, &c.

THE Citizens, I perceive, continue still tumultuous, and are mighty tenacious in asserting the Right of chusing their Ma­gistrates, though there is a Quo Warranto a­gainst their Charter. It is therefore my In­terest to punish those who incourage them, that for time to come they may be deterr'd from such Practices; and therefore I shall or­der it so that my Lord Grey, Alderman Cor­nish, [Page 304] and such other noted Citizens as coun­tenance their Proceedings, shall be indited as Rioters; and I doubt not of having them found guilty accordingly: which will both reflect upon their Credit, and affect their Estates.

But all this while I play at nothing but small game; and this way of proving Plots by Consequence and Inferences is not so satis­factory to the Publick: for the Faction evades them, by alledging that all those things with which they are charg'd amount to no more than a zealous Appearance for their Liberties, to which they have a Right by Law; so that I must find out a Method to charge their Ringleaders with something of a more hei­nous Nature, that may appear odious in the Eyes of the World; and not only render the Persons, but the Cause also hateful: By which means I shall be justified in cutting off the Chief of the Faction, as the Lord Russel, Algernon Sidney, &c. and afford a plausible Pretext for committing the Earl of Essex and others. But seeing it will be look'd upon as improbable that such Persons as the Duke of Monmouth, Earl of Essex, Lord Russel, Co­lonel Sidney, Mr. Hambden, &c. should be concern'd in any mean or base Design against my Life, or my Brother's, by way of Assassi­nation, I have taken order that the Plot shall [Page 305] consist of two Parts, viz. one of levying War against me to overturn the Government in Church and State, whereof those great Men above-named shall be given out as the Managers; which as it will justify the Rea­sonableness of my having declared the Duke of Monmouth illegitimate, so it will be the more readily believ'd that he is engag'd in such a Design to revenge that Affront. The other part of the Plot, which shall be given out as a Design to have assassinated my self and the Duke of York, I have, by the Advice of some of my Confidents, laid it so as to have it charg'd upon meaner Persons, as Wal­cott, Rumbold, &c. And being provided with the Lord Howard of Escrick, and other Evi­dences fit for my purpose, the Matter shall be sworn boldly home. And thus shall I re­venge my self on those Men who have ap­pear'd with so much Zeal against me and my Brother, and rid our selves of such dangerous Enemies. And at the same time, to make the Belief of the Plot obtain amongst the People, I will order a Day of Thanksgiving for the Discovery, which will give the Cler­gy an occasion to run down the Phanaticks, and assert the Truth of their Design to over­turn the Church and State, under the speci­ous Pretext of consulting how to preserve and maintain their Religion and Liberties. By [Page 306] this means I may go on to cut off their Ring­leaders securely, and the Lord Russel and Al­gernon Sidney particularly; the former for having dar'd to carry up the Bill of Exclusion to the House of Lords, and because he is po­pular, and the apparent Heir to a great Estate of Church-lands, which will make him vigorous in his Opposition to Popery; and the latter, because of his being an old Rebel against my Father, a Person of Anti­monarchical Principles, and one whom the Faction admires for his Counsel and Con­duct. I know what will be urg'd in their Defence, as that their innocent Discourses and Meetings are aggravated; that the Evi­dence against them is infamous and defective; and that my Attorney and others are mov'd with Bribes, and the Prospect of Preferments from the Court, to harangue them out of their Lives: but those Cobweb-Objections I can easily break, now that the Tide runs with as much Violence against them as they carri­ed it formerly against the Catholicks; for which I am obliged to my Bishops and Cler­gy, who have espous'd the Business with so much Zeal, because I have turn'd the Chase upon the Phanaticks. And to engage them yet further, I have ordered some of the Scots Presbyterian Gentry, &c. who lurk'd about Town, to be sent to Scotland, that so the [Page 307] Plot given out to be carried on in both Nati­ons by the Phanaticks and Republicans, may acquire the more universal Credit.

The Death of my Lord Russel I perceive is a great Mortification to the Party, who are now as much dejected as they were formerly elevated in the time of the Popish Plot and seditious Parliaments. But that which pleases me most is, the bringing of the Protestant In­terest in my Kingdoms so low, and splitting them to pieces by a Wedg of their own, tho I have been deserted, in a great measure, both by my Friends of France and Rome. But my Brother, I perceive, carries the thing too far; and I find it generally suspected, that all was not fair in relation to the Earl of Essex: yet the News of his having cut his own Throat was of singular Use to advance the Credit of the Plot, and contributed much to my Lord Russel's Condemnation. And though I have no reason to bewail his Loss, because he might have prov'd a dangerous Enemy, yet the Merit of the Father makes me regret the Fate of the Son, which I could wish had been more favourable.

I perceive that it's dangerous to go on in this Method too fast; and I must not give my Brother too much way, lest I should in­deed dig a Grave for my self: and therefore having gratify'd the Catholicks enough at [Page 308] once, I may very well be allowed to pause a while, and consider whether I may not be ship-wrack'd in the Tempest that I have raised, before it be too late; and therefore I think it necessary to recal the Duke of Mon­mouth, whose natural Affection will make him tender of my Preservation. And by this means I shall have a Check upon my Brother, though at the same time I must not allow the Plot to be decried, but find it convenient still to sacrifice Colonel Sidney, and suffer Speke and Braddon to be prosecuted, for offer­ing to call in question the Earl of Essex's ha­ving been felo de se. And in the mean time I will take surer, though slower Measures to bring about my Designs: For the Heads of the Faction being now cut off, and the whole Party brought under Hatches, I judg it bet­ter Policy to divest the Corporations of their Charters gradually, while the Church-men are in the surrendring Humour, than to pur­sue these severer Methods with heat, lest the People should come at last to be enraged, and rise in an universal Rebellion; for if my Bro­ther be suffered to follow his own Conduct, he will quickly run himself and me both off the Stage.