orders, were young Men, who had never feen the King, and had been born and bred in those corrupt Times when there was no King in Ifrael. He was equally delighted with the Luxury and Voluptuoufnefs of the Prefbyterians, who in Contempt of the Thrift, Sordidnefs and affected ill Breeding of the Independants, thought it became them to live more generously, and were not strict in reftraining or mortifying the unruly and inordinate Appetite of Flesh and Blood, but indulged it with too much and too open Scandal, from which He reaped no small Advantage; and wished all those who were not his Friends should not only be infected, but given over to the Practice of the most odious Vices and Wickedness.

IN a Word, the Nation was corrupted from that Integrity, good Nature and Generofity that had been peculiar to it, and for which it had been fignal and celebrated throughout the World; in the Room whereof the vileft Craft and Diffembling had fucceeded. The Tenderness of the Bowels which is the Quinteffence of Juftice and Compaffion, the very Mention of good Nature, was laughed at and looked upon as the Mark and Character of a Fool; and a Roughness of Manners, or Hardheartedness and Cru, elty was affected. In the Place of Generofity, a vile and fordid Love of Money was entertained as the truest Wisdom, and any Thing lawful that would contribute towards being rich. There was a total Decay, or rather a final Expiration, of all Friendfhip; and to diffuade a Man from any Thing He affected, or to reprove him for any Thing He had (23) done amifs, or to advise him to do any Thing He had no Mind to do, was thought an Impertinence unworthy a wife Man, and received with Reproach and Contempt. These Dilapidations and Ruins of the ancient Candour and Discipline were not taken enough to Heart, and repaired with that early Care and Severity that they might have been; for they were not then incorrigible; but by the Remifinefs of applying Re

of Justice reflored.

medies to fome, and the Unwariness in giving a Kind of Countenance to others, too much of that Poifon infinuated itself into Minds not well fortified against fuch Infection: So that much of the Malignity was transplanted inftead of being extinguifhed, to the Corruption of many wholfome Bodies, which, being corrupted, fpread the Diseases more powerfully and more mischievously.

THAT the King might be the more vacant to those Thoughts and Divertisements which pleased him best, He appointed the Chancellor and fome other, to have frequent Confultations with fuch Members of the Parliament, who were most able and willing to serve him; and to concert all the Ways and Means, by which the Transactions in the Houses might be carried with the more Expedition, and attended with the best Success, The daily Conferences proved very beneficial to his Majefty's Service; the Members of both Houfes being very willing to receive Advice and Direction, and to pursue what They were directed; and all Things were done there in good Order, and fucceeded well, The old Courfe All the Courts of Juftice in Westminster-Hall were prefently filled with grave and learned Judges, who had either deferted their Practice and Profeffion during all the rebellious Times, or had given full Evidence of their Affection to the King and the established Laws in many weighty Inftances: And They were then quickly fent in their several Circuits, to adminifter Juftice to the People according to the old Forms of Law, which was univerfally received and fubmitted to with all poffible Joy and Satisfaction. All Commiffions of the Peace were renewed, and the Names of those Perfons inferted therein, who had been moft eminent Sufferers for the King, and were known to have entire Affections for his Majefty and the Laws ; though it was not poffible, but fome would get and continue in, who were of more doubtful Inclinations, by their not being known to him whose Province it was to depute them. Denied it cannot be, that there appeared,

appeared, fooner than was thought poffible, a general Settlement in the civil Juftice of the Kingdom; that no Man complained without Remedy, and every Man dwelt again under the Shadow of his own Vine, without any Complaint of Injuftice and Oppreffion.

THE King exposed himself with more Condefcenfion than was neceflary to Perfons of all Conditions, heard all that They had a Mind to fay to him, and gave them fuch Anfwers as for the present seemed full of Grace. He was too well pleased to hear both the Men and the Women of all Factions and Fancies in Religion difcourfe in their own Method, and enlarged himself in Debate with them; which made every one believe that They were more favoured by him than They had Caufe: Which Kind of Liberty, though at first it was accompanied with Acclamations and Acknowledgment of his being a Prince of rare Parts and Affability, yet it was attended afterwards with ill Confequences, and gave many Men Opportunity to declare and publish, that the King had faid many Things to them which He had never faid, and made many Conceffions and Promises to them which He had never uttered or thought upon,

actions.

THE Chancellor was generally thought to have The Cancel most Credit with his Mafter, and moft Power in the principally engaged in the (24) Counfels, because the King referred all Matters of publick Trangwhat Kind foever to him. And whofoever repaired to him for his Direction in any Bufinefs was fent to the Chancellor, not only becaufe He had a great Confidence in his Integrity, having been with him fo many Years, and of whofe indefatigable Industry He'and all Men had great Experience; but becaufe He faw those Men, whom He was as willing to truft, and who had at least an equal Share in his Affections, more inclined to Eafe and Pleasure, and willing that the Weight of the Work fhould lie on the Chancellor's Shoulders, with whom They had an entire Friendship, and knew well that They fhould with more Eafe be confulted by him in all Matters of Importance.

Nor

Nor was it poffible for him, at the firft Coming, to avoid the being engaged in all the Counfels, of how distinct a Nature foever, because He had been beft acquainted with all Transactions whilst the King was abroad; and therefore Communication with him in all Things was thought neceffary by thofe, who were to have any Part in them: Befides that He continued ftill Chancellor of the Exchequer by Virtue of the Grant formerly made to him by the laft King, during whofe Time He executed that Office, but refolved to furrender it into the King's Hand as foon as his Majesty should refolve on whom to confer it; He propofing Nothing to himself, but to be left at Liberty to intend only the Discharge of his own Office, which He thought himself unequal to, and hoped only to improve his Talent that Way by a most diligent Application, well knowing the great Abilities of those who had formerly fate in that Office, and that They found it required their full Time and all their Facul ties. And therefore He did moft heartily defire to meddle with Nothing but that Province, which, though in itself and the conftant Perquifites of it not fufficient to support the Dignity of it, yet was then upon the King's Return; and, after it had been fo many Years without a lawful Officer, would unquestionably bring in Money enough to be a Foundation to a future Fortune competent to his Ambition, and enough to provoke the Envy of many, who believed They deserved better than He. And that this was the Temper and Refolution He brought with him into England, and how unwillingly He departed from it, will evidently appear by two or three Inftances which fhall be given in their proper Place. However, He could not expect that Freedom, till the Council fhould be fettled (into which the King admitted all who had been Counfellors to his Father and had not eminently forfeited that Promotion by their Revolt, and many of those who had been and still were recommended by the General, amongst whom there were fome, who would

not

not have been received upon any other Title) and until those Officers could be fettled, who might take particular Care of their several Provinces.

THE King had upon great Deliberation whilft He was beyond the Seas, after his Return appeared in View, firmly refolved to reform thofe Exceffes which were known to be in the great Offices, especially in thofe of his Houfhold, whilft the Places were vacant, and to reform all extravagant Expenses there; and first himself to gratify thofe who had followed and served him, in fettling them in fuch inferiour Offices and Places, as Custom had put in the Difpofal of the great Officers when they fhould become vacant after their Admiffion. And of this Kind He had made many Promises, and given many Warrants under his Sign Manual to Perfons who to his own Knowledge had merited thofe Obligations. But moft of thofe Predeterminations, and many other Refolutions of that Kind, vanished and expired in the Jollity of the Return, and new Inclinations and Affections feemed to be more feasonable. The General, who was the fole The General (25) Pillar of the King's Confidence, had by the Parlia-confirmed in ment been invefted (before the King's Return) in all affigned him the Offices and Commands which Cromwell had en- by the Parlia joyed. He was Lieutenant of Ireland, and General of all the Armies and Forces raised, or to be raised, in the three Kingdoms; and it was not fit that He should be degraded from either upon his Majesty's Arrival: Therefore all Diligence was used in dispatching Grants of all thofe Commands to him under the Great Seal of England. And that He might be obliged Al forn to be always near his Majefty's Perfon, He was pre- the Bedchamfently fworn Gentleman of the Bedchamber; and ber, and Mafmight choose what Office He liked beft in the Court, ter of the whilft Titles of Honour were preparing by the Attorney, and Particulars of Lands enquired after by the Auditors and Receivers, which in all Refpects might raise him to that Height which would most please him. He made Choice to be Master of the

Horse,

the Offices

ment.

Gentleman of