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"him to manage, who was better informed of "all circumstances than fhe could be; but the

་ might be entirely cafy as to whatever concef"fions he should make them, for that he should "know in due time how to deal with the rogues, "who instead of a filken garter should be fitted "with a hempen cord. So the letter ended: " which answer, as they waited for, fo they in"tercepted accordingly, and it determined his "fate. This letter Lord Oxford faid he had of"fered 5col. for."

Charles, according to Sir Philip Warwick never appeared to fo much advantage as in the Conference in the Isle of Wight. "He fhewed," says Sir Philip, "that he was converfant in di

vinity, law, and good reason; infomuch as one "day, whilst I turned the King's chair when he "was about to rife, the Earl of Salisbury came

fuddenly upon me, and called me by my name, " and faid, The King is wonderfully improved; "to which I as fuddenly replied, No, my Lord, " he was always fo, but your Lordship too late "difcerned it."

When Charles was preffed by the Parliament Minifters to give way to a fmall Catechifm for Children which they had composed; " I will "not," said he, "take upon me to determine "that all those texts which you quote are rightly "applied, and have their true fenfe given them; "and

VOL. I.

U

" and I affure you, Gentlemen, I would license "a Catechism, at a venture, fooner for men than "I would for children, because they can judge for "themselves, and I make a great confcience to "permit that children fhould be corrupted in their "first principles."

Speaking one day of fome propofitions made to him by the two Houses refpecting the government of England, he prophetically said, « Well,

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they will ask so much, and use it so ill, that "the People of England will be glad to replace "the power they have taken from the Crown " where it is due; and I have offended against "them more in the things which I have granted "them, than in any thing which I ever defigned "against them."

The Parliament affected to be outrageous that Charles employed Catholics in his army: the following paffage from Salmoneto will fhew that the Parliament were not more fcrupulous in this respect :

"That which did ye most surprise every body, "was, that they found amongft the dead, of "thofe which were flain on the Parliament fide "feveral Popish priests. For, although in their "Declarations they called the King's army a Popish army, thereby to render it odious to "the People, yet they had in their army two companies of Walloons and other Roman "Catholicks.

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"Catholicks. Befides, they omitted no endea"vours to engage to their party Sir A' Afton, K'. an eminent Roman Catholic Commander. "True it is, that the King had permitted to " ferve him in his army fome Roman Catholick Officers, perfons of great abilities, and not "factiously inclined, as his Majesty expreffeth "in that manifefto which he published after the "battail."

3

· From "A bort View of the Late Troubles in England," Oxford, 1681, page 564, 565.

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The following Letters of this accomplished Prince are copied from the Originals in the British Museum.

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"NEWCASTLE,

"This is to tell you, that this rebellion is growen to that heigth, that I must not look "what opinion men ar at this tyme who ar will

ing and able to ferve me. Therfor, I do not "only permitt but command to make ufe of all "my loving subjects fervices, without examining "their contienfes (more than their loyalty to "me), as you fhall fynde moft to conduce to "the uphoulding of my juft Regal Power. So I ‹‹ rest

"Your moft affured faitfull frend,

"Shrewbery, 23 Sep.

"CHARLES R.

1642."

U 2

"STEENIE,

"STEENIE,

"I fend you herewith letters to my fifter " and brother, (I place them fo becaus I think "the gray meare is the better horfe). As for news "I can fay but little yet, Ireland being the onlie "egg we have yet fitten upon, and having a thicke fhell, wee have not yet hatched it.

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"This is all I have to say to thee at this time, " but that I fhall ever fay, and thinke that I am, " and ever will be,

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"I have no time, nor doe you expect that "I fhould make unneceffary repititions to you. "Wherefor (referring you to Digby for business) "this is only to give you affurance of my conftant

friendship to you, which, confidering the gene"rall defection of common honefty, is in a fort "requifite. Howbeit, I know you cannot but "be confident of my making good all inftructions "and promifes to you and Nuntio*.

"Your most affured conftant frend,

"CHARLES R."

In

• The words printed in Italic are in cypher in the Original,

and have not been long decyphered.

In the MS. Memoirs of Lady Fanshawe, that excellent woman gives the following affecting account of fome interviews fhe had with this unfortunate Monarch whilft he was prifoner at Hampton Court.

During the King's ftay at Hampton Court, "I went three times to pay my duty to him, "both as I was the daughter of his fervant, and "the wife of his fervant. The last time I ever "faw him, I could not refrain from weeping. "When I took my leave of the King, he faluted

me, and I prayed God to preserve his Majesty

"with long life and happy years. The King "stroked me on the cheek, and faid, Child, if "God pleaseth, it fhall be fo; but both you and "I must submit to God's will, and you know "what hands I am in. Then turning to my

husband, he said, Be fure, Dick, to tell my "fon all that I have said, and deliver these let"ters to my wife. Pray God blefs her, and I

"

hope I fhall do well. "in his arms, he faid,

Then taking my husband
Thou haft ever been an

" honeft man; I hope God well bless thee, and "make thee a happy fervant to my fon, whom "I have charged in my letter to continue his "love and truft to you: adding, And I do pro"mise you, if I am ever restored to my dignity, "I will bountifully reward you both for your "services and sufferings. Thus did we part

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