Eikon basilike deutera, The pourtraicture of His Sacred Majesty King Charles II with his reasons for turning Roman Catholick / published by K. James.

On his Majesty's going from Boscobel to Mr. John Huddleston's, on a Mill-Horse, attend∣ed by the Penderels, and his Entertainment by the said Mr. John Huddleston.

The old Proverb is, He that goes softly goes surely, but I am certain it does not reach my present Case, for Expedition is necessa∣ry to my Safety, though at present I cannot be expedite if I would. Good Lord! what a Change? From a Coach with six Horses, and many thousands more at my Command, I am now reduced to a single Mill-horse; a Meal-sack is the best of my Royal Trappings, some Country Louts my Guard du Corps, and Wood-bills the chief of my Arms and Artillery. Thus thou castest down one, and settest up another: He who was but lately a Subject of mean Quality, is now attended with Royal State; and I, who am a King by Birth and Inheritance, am thus reduc'd to the greatest of Straits. Thus the Omnipo∣tent leadeth away Princes spoil'd, and over∣throweth the Mighty; and thus he poureth Contempt upon Princes, and weakneth their Strength; so that this Day may the Vanity of the World be discovered, when Servants are seen upon Horses, and Princes walking on the Earth as Servants.

Now I am arrived at a Place of Security, where several of my Friends have found a safe Retreat.

Surely the Saints have interceded for me, and preserv'd me from all the Dangers of my Way. This ghostly Father is very kind, for he knows that I am still the hope of their Party, and Heaven seems to declare that I must espouse them as my own. They do in∣deed requite my Father and Mother's Kind∣ness, and are as tender of me as they were of them. Thus may Princes learn to extend their Compassion towards the meanest of their Subjects, when it's in their Power to crush them; for a Mouse may requite a Li∣on's Kindness.

I have now the Satisfaction of some suta∣ble Company, whereas before I was immured amongst Clowns: Now here's a Clergy∣man, a Gentleman, and a Peer, a small Re∣presentative of all the three States with whom I may safely advise how to retire; so that in the midst of my Affliction God hath asswaged my Grief. Here I find a more convenient Subsistance, and can take some Repose for my wearied Limbs, till my galled Feet, which are not used to travel, may grow whole again, and fit for another Journey.

But alas! how variable is the Wheel of Fortune? and how quickly is all my Joy

over-clouded; I thought I had found a secure Place to hide in, but the Malice of my Ene∣mies pursues me throughout. Yet blessed be God, I have escap'd the Snare which they laid for me; he hath broken the Net, and I am escaped in as miraculous a manner as Da∣vid did from Saul when they were both toge∣ther in the same Cave; so that as Saul sought David every Day, but God delivered him not into his Hands, he hath been graciously pleased to protect me from the Fury of the Rebels, who have hitherto sought me, but in vain; for God is my Hiding-place, and hath sent his Angels, who smote the Sodo∣mites with Blindness, to do the same to those who sought after me, but have not hitherto been able to find me, though they came into the very place where I was.