Memoires of the lives, actions, sufferings & deaths of those noble, reverend and excellent personages that suffered by death, sequestration, decimation, or otherwise, for the Protestant religion and the great principle thereof, allegiance to their soveraigne, in our late intestine wars, from the year 1637 to the year 1660, and from thence continued to 1666 with the life and martyrdom of King Charles I / by Da. Lloyd ...

Upon the various Events of the VVar, Victories and Defeats.

THe various successes of this unhappy War have at least afforded the varie∣ty of good meditations: Sometimes God was pleased to try me with Victo∣ry, by worsting my Enemies, that I might know how with moderation and thanks to own him and his power, who is the only true Lord of hosts; able when he pleases to repress the confidence of those who fought against me with so great advantages for power and number.

From small beginnings on my part, he let me see, that I was not wholly for∣saken by my Peoples love, or his protection. Other times God was pleased to exercise my Patience, and teach me not to trust in the arme of flesh, but the living God.

My sins sometimes prevailed against the Iustice of my cause; and those that were with me wanted not matter and occasion for his just chastisement both of them and me: Nor were my Enemies less punished by that prosperity, which hardned them to continue that injustice by open hostility, which was begun by riotous and un-Parliamentary Tumults.

There is no doubt but personal and private sins may oft-times over-ballance the justice of publick engagements; Nor doth God account every gallant Man (in the Worlds esteem) a fit instrument to assert in the way of War, a righteous cause; The more men are prone to arrogate to their own skill, valour, and

strength, the lesse doth God ordinarily work by them for his own glory.

I am sure the event or success can never state the justice of any cause, nor place of mens Consciences, nor the eternal fate of their Souls.

Those with me had (I think) clearly and undoubtedly, for their justification the Word of God, and the Laws of the Land, together with their own Oaths, all requiring obedience to my just commands; but to none other under Heaven without me, or against me, in the point of raising Arms.

Those on the other side are forced to fly to the shifts of their pretended fear, and wild Fundamentalls of State (as they call them) which actually overthrow the present Fabrick both of Church and State; being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence, as are most impertinent for those men to allege; who being my Subjects, were manifestly the first assaulter of me and the Laws, first by un∣suppressed Tumults, after by listed Forces.

The same Allegations they use, will fit any Faction, that hath but power and confidence enough, to second with the sword, all their demands against the present Laws and Governours; which can never be such, as some side or other will not find fault with, so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them, to a Rebellion against them: some parasitick Preachers have dared to call those Martyrs, who dyed fighting against me, the Laws, their Oaths, and the Reli∣gion established.

But sober Christians know, That glorious Title can with truth be applyed on∣ly to those, who sincerely preferred Gods truth, and their duty, in all these particulars, before their lives, and all that was dear to them in this World; who, having no advantagious designes, by any innovation, were religiously sen∣sible of those tyes to God, the Church, and my self, which lay upon their souls, both for obedience, and just assistance.

God could, and I doubt not but he did, through his mercy, crown many of them with eternal life, whose were lost in so just a cause; the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their souls.

Their wounds, and temporal ruine, serving as a gracious opportunity for their eternal health and happiness; while the evident approach of death, through Gods grace, effectually disposing their hearts to such humility, faith, and repentance, which, together with the rectitude of their present engage∣ments, would fully prepare them for a better life, than that which their ene∣mies brutish and disloyal fierceness could deprive them of, or without repentance hope to enjoy.

They have often indeed had the better against my side in the field, but never, I believe, at the barr of Gods tribunal, or their own Consciences, where they are more afraid to encounter those many pregnant Reasons, both from Law, Allegiance, and all true Christian grounds, which conflict with, and accuse them in their own thoughts; than they oft were, in a desperate bravery, to fight against those forces, which sometimes God gave me.

Whose condition, conquered and dying, I make no question, but is infinite∣ly more to be chosen, by a sober man (that duly values his duty, his soul, and eternity, beyond the enjoyments of this present life) than the most triumphant glory, wherein their and mine enemies supervive; who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented, by that horrid guilt, wherewith their suspicious, or now convicted Consciences, do pursue them; especially since they, and all the World have seen, how false and un-intended those pretensions were, which they first set forth, as the only plausible (though not justifiable) grounds of raising a

War, and continuing it thus long, against me, and the Laws established; in whose safety and preservation, all honest men think the welfare of their Coun∣try doth consist.

For and with all which, it is farr more honourable and comfortable to suffer, than to prosper in their ruine and subversion.

I have often prayed, that all on my side, might joyn true piety with the sence of their loyalty: and be as faithful to God, and their own souls, as they were to me; that the defects of one might blast the endeavours of the other.

Yet cannot think, that any shews or truth of piety, on the other side, were sufficient to dispence with, or expiate the defects of their Duty and Loyalty to me, which have so pregnant convictions on mens Consciences, that even pro∣phaner men are moved, by the sense of them, to venture their lives for me.

I never had any Victory, which was without my sorrow, because it was on mine own subjects who, like Absalom, dyed, many of them, in their sins; And yet I never suffered any Defeat, which made the despair of Gods mercy and defence.

I never desired such Victories, as might serve to conquer, but only restore the Laws and Liberties of my People, which I saw were extremely oppressed; together with my Rights, by those men, who were impatient of any just re∣straint.

When Providence gave me, or denyed me Victory, my desire was, neither to boast of my power, nor to charge God foolishly, who I believed at last would make all things to work together for my good.

I wished no greater advantages by the War, than to bring my Enemies to moderation, and my friends to peace.

I was afraid of the temptation of an absolute Conquest, and prayed for vi∣ctory over others, then over my self; when the first was denyed, the second was granted me, which God saw best for me.

The different events were but the method of Divine Iustice, by contrary Winds to winow us, that, by punishing our sins he might purge them from us, and by deserting peace, he might prepare us more to prize, and better to use so great a blessing.

My often Messages for peace shewed, That I delighted not in War, as my former concessions sufficiently testified, how willing I would have prevented is, and my total unpreparedness for it, how little I intended it.

The Conscience of my Innocency forbad me to fear a War; but the Love of my Kingdoms commanded me (if possible) to avoid it.

I am guilty of this War of nothing but this, That I gave such advantages to some men by confirming their power, which knew not to use with that modesty, and gratitude, which became their Loyalty, and my confidence.

Had I yielded less, I had been opposed less; had I denyed more, I had been more obeyed.

'Tis now too late to review the occasions of War; I wish only a happy conclu∣sion of so unhappy beginnings: the inevitable fate of our sins was (no doubt) such, as would no longer suffer the Divine Iustice to be quiet, we having conquered his patience, are condemned by mutual conquerings to destroy one another: for the most prosperous successes on either side impair the welfare of the whole.

Those Victories are still miserable, that leave our sins unsubdued, flushing our pride, and animating to continue injuries.

Peace it self is not desirable, till Repentance have prepared us for it.

When we fight more against our selves, and less against God, we shall cease fighting against one another: I pray God these may all meet in our hearts, and so dispose us to a happy conclusion of these civil Wars, that I may know better to obey God and Govern my People; and they may learn better to obey both God and me: nor do I desire any man should be further subject to me, than all of us may be sub∣ject to God.

VII 1.1 A Prince so merciful, so loving to his people, and so humble and patient; that though severe sometimes to Offenders against the publick (and to punish the bad is a mercy to the good) yet to amazement ten∣der towards Offenders against himself: No Man dyed in his Reign that he could save, being sparing of that very blood that others were pro∣digal of against him: Always more ready to end the War by a harm∣less and rational treaty, than by a bloody battle; grieving when his pity or peaceableness could not save Offenders, of whom he was, as appeared by Warrants after several battles, as careful as of his own friends, alway remembring with tenderness, that they were his Sub∣jects, even when he was forced to fight against them as Rebels, of whom (if he took them) he took no other revenge, than to engage them to be no more deluded, and not to endeavour his murther (as yet they did afterwards) who saved their lives; and if they must dye, taking care by instructing them, that they should goe thither, where they should sin no more. He reckoned himself never more in his Throne, than when in the hearts of his people; and when he heard the Parliament gave him Subsidies, none dissenting, he Wept for Ioy, not for the Treasure he had, but for the Mine he found, his Peoples love: He valued not three Kingdoms, nor his own life, when to be bought with Propositions that ruined his Kingdoms, such as the Army brought him the day before he dyed; At the reading of the first of which, he threw them away, and smelling their design to ruine his honour, as well as his person, said, I will suffer a thousand deaths, e're I will so pro∣stitute my Honour, or betray the Liberties of my People: and no wonder if he would not redeem himself at the rate of a publick ruine, when he would not do it with the injury of any single person: for when the Noble La∣dy Newburgh proposed to him a way to escape, when at her House, he refused it, saying, If I should get away, they would cut you in pieces: a goodness extending to his very enemies, of whom he said, that the fa∣ction he thought could not forgive him, and (they are his own words) not to make my self a better Christian than I am, I think I should not so easily forgive them were they Kings: but I tell thee, Governour, I can forgive them with as good an appetite, as ever I eat my dinner after a hunting; and that I'll assure you was not a small one.

So humble he was (Majesty being at the highest hath no other way to increase but to condescend) that (inviting persons to discourse with himself, not with Majesty) he would always begin a discourse with a By your favour Sir; and when in the Isle of wight recommended a poor old man to Sir Philip Warwick (who had much of his trust and affection) and told him, he was a very honest fellow, and had been his best companion for two months together: Not to mention his condescention to Dr. Hammond when he had lost his voice to teach him himself, and his care of young

Gentlemen that were to travel, whom he would instruct, among many other lessons, with this, Keep good company, and be always doing, being as much pleased with the accomplishments of his subjects, as somew 1.2 poor spirited Tyrants are with the defects of theirs.

Besides these virtues, that patience, not usual to Kings (whose power bears hardly the restraints of Equity, much less those of Inju∣ries) that his Book and Meditations breath throughout, which made him say, when his Guard would have out a way to poor peoples de∣triment for him to avoid a showr, that as God had given him affliction to exercise his patience, so he had given him patience to bear his afflictions: Patience that managed the cross humours of his friends, and overcame the malice of his enemies, breathing out with his Soul in Prayers for them, and to make his mercy immortal, in a charge to his Son to for∣give them. Virtues for which he was always admired even by Foreign∣ers, and at last applauded even by his enemies,x 1.3 Mr. Vines saying, that he was sorry he understood not the King sooner, it being our unexpressible hap∣piness that we have such a Prince, and loss if we should part with him. Fo∣reigners apprehensions of him take in these words.

Notes

• VII 1.1

  His Mer∣cy and Love to his People, Hu∣mi••ity and Pa∣tience.
• w 1.2

  Oliver, they say, could not endure to hear a man speak sence. Plato was like to eye, because he ••••med wiser than the Sicili∣an Tyrant.
• x 1.3

  Being delu∣ded, as he said, to unwor∣thy thoughts of him; but n••w convineed to a great reverence of him.