A short view of the life and reign of King Charles (the second monarch of Great Britain) from his birth to his burial.

1626.

But the King easily perceived that his Royal Father and himself were as much concerned in it as the Duke, their fa∣vours being made his crimes, and their authority in bestowing Offices and Ho∣nours on whom they pleased, not ob∣scurely questioned.

But the storm went higher then the Duke, some part of it falling down∣right on the King himself; it being o∣penly affirmed in the House of Com∣mons by one Mr. Coke (a true chip of the old block) that it was as good to die by a forraign Enemy as to be destroyed at home. Of this reproach, tending so much to the dishonour of his Government, he com∣plained in a Speech before both Houses, but without any remedy. And being fur∣ther incensed by the noise of a Declarati∣on which they had then upon the Anvil, he dissolved the Parliament on the eigh∣teenth day of June then following.

No sooner was he freed from this,

but the necessity of his Affairs involved him in another Embroylment. The French Priests and Domesticks of that Nation which came into England with the Queen, were grown so insolent, and had put so many affronts upon him, that he was forced to send them home; in which he did no more then what the French King had done before him, in sen∣ding back all the Spanish Courtiers which his Queen brought with her. But the French King not looking on his own ex∣ample, and knowing on what ill termes the King stood both at home and a∣broad, first seized on all the Merchants ships which lay on the River of Burde∣aux, and then brake out into open war. So that the King was fain to make use of those Forces against the French, which were designed to have been used against the Spaniard, and to comply with the desires of the Rochelers, who humbly sued for his protection and Defence. But the Fleet not going out till after Michaelmas, found greater opposition at

the Sea then they feared from the Land; being encountred with strong Tempests, and thereby necessitated to return with∣out doing any thing, but onely shewing the Kings good-will and readinesse to∣ward their assistance.