This amiable Monarch seems born to have suffered misfortunes equal to
those of his lovely Grandmother; misfortunes which he could not deserve
since he was her descendant. Never certainly were there before so many
detestable Characters at one time in England as in this Period of its
History; never were amiable men so scarce. The number of them
throughout the whole Kingdom amounting only to _five_, besides the
inhabitants of Oxford who were always loyal to their King and faithful
to his interests. The names of this noble five who never forgot the
duty of the subject, or swerved from their attachment to his Majesty,
were as follows—The King himself, ever stedfast in his own
support—Archbishop Laud, Earl of Strafford, Viscount Faulkland and Duke
of Ormond, who were scarcely less strenuous or zealous in the cause.
While the _villains_ of the time would make too long a list to be
written or read; I shall therefore content myself with mentioning the
leaders of the Gang. Cromwell, Fairfax, Hampden, and Pym may be
considered as the original Causers of all the disturbances, Distresses,
and Civil Wars in which England for many years was embroiled. In this
reign as well as in that of Elizabeth, I am obliged in spite of my
attachment to the Scotch, to consider them as equally guilty with the
generality of the English, since they dared to think differently from
their Sovereign, to forget the Adoration which as _Stuarts_ it was
their Duty to pay them, to rebel against, dethrone and imprison the
unfortunate Mary; to oppose, to deceive, and to sell the no less
unfortunate Charles. The Events of this Monarch’s reign are too
numerous for my pen, and indeed the recital of any Events (except what
I make myself) is uninteresting to me; my principal reason for
undertaking the History of England being to Prove the innocence of the
Queen of Scotland, which I flatter myself with having effectually done,
and to abuse Elizabeth, tho’ I am rather fearful of having fallen short
in the latter part of my scheme.—As therefore it is not my intention to
give any particular account of the distresses into which this King was
involved through the misconduct and Cruelty of his Parliament, I shall
satisfy myself with vindicating him from the Reproach of Arbitrary and
tyrannical Government with which he has often been charged. This, I
feel, is not difficult to be done, for with one argument I am certain
of satisfying every sensible and well disposed person whose opinions
have been properly guided by a good Education—and this Argument is that
he was a STUART.