+Source.+--Clarendon's _History of the Great Rebellion_. Folio Edition,
1759. Vol. iv., pp. 1-8.
The easy and glorious Reception of the King, in the Manner that hath
been mentioned, without any other Conditions than what had been frankly
offered by himself in his Declaration and letters from _Breda_; the
Parliament's casting themselves in a Body at his Feet, in the Minute of
his Arrival at _Whitehall_, with all the Professions of Duty and
Submission imaginable; and no other Man having Authority there, but They
who had either eminently served the late King, or who were since grown
up out of their Nonage from such Fathers, and had throughly manifested
their past Fidelity to his present Majesty; the rest who had been enough
criminal, shewing more Animosity towards the severe Punishment of those,
who having more Power in the late Times had exceeded them in Mischief,
than care for their own Indemnity: This Temper sufficiently evident, and
the universal Joy of the People, which was equally visible, for the
total Suppression of all those who had so many Years exercised Tyranny
over them, made most Men believe both abroad and at home, that God had
not only restored the King miraculously to his Throne, but that He had,
as He did in the Time of _Hezekiah, prepared the People, for the Thing
was done suddenly_, (2 Chron. xxix. 36) in such a Manner that his
Authority and Greatness would have been more illustrious, than it had
been in any of his Ancestors. And it is most true, and must never be
denied, that the People were admirably disposed and prepared to pay all
the Subjection, Duty and Obedience, that a just and prudent King could
expect from them, and had a very sharp Aversion and Detestation of all
those who had formerly misled and corrupted them; so that, except the
General, who seemed to be possessed entirely of the Affection of the
Army, and whose Fidelity was now above any Misapprehension, there
appeared no Man whose Power and Interest could in any Degree shake or
endanger the Peace and Security the King was in; the Congratulations for
his Return being so universal, from all the Counties of _England_, as
well as from the Parliament and City; from all those who had most
signally disserved and disclaimed him, as well as from those of his own
Party and those who were descended from them: Insomuch as the King was
wont merrily to say, as hath been mentioned before, "that it could be no
Bodies Fault but his own that He had stayed so long abroad, when all
Mankind wished him so heartily at home." It cannot therefore but be
concluded by the Standers by, and the Spectators of this wonderful
Change and Exclamation of all Degrees of Men, that there must be some
wonderful Miscarriages in the State, or some unheard of Defect of
Understanding in those who were trusted by the King in the
Administration of his Affairs; that there could in so short a Time be a
new Revolution in the general Affections of the People, that they grew
even weary of that Happiness They were possessed of and had so much
valued, and fell into the same Discontents and Murmuring which had
naturally accompanied them in the worst Times.
* * * * *
The King brought with him from beyond the Seas that Council which had
always attended him, and whose Advice He had always received in his
Transactions of greatest Importance; and his small Family, that
consisted of Gentlemen who had for the most Part been put about him by
his Father, and constantly waited upon his Person in all his Distress,
with as much Submission and Patience undergoing their Part in it, as
could reasonably be expected from such a People; and therefore had the
keener Appetites, and the stronger Presumption to push on their Fortunes
(as They called it) in the Infancy of their Master's Restoration, that
other Men might not be preferred before them, who had not _borne the
Heat of the Day_, as They had done.
Of the Council were the Chancellor, the Marquis of _Ormond_, the Lord
_Colepepper_, and Secretary _Nicholas_, who lived in great Unity and
Concurrence in the Communication of the most secret Counsels. There had
been more of his Council abroad with him, who, according to the Motions
He made and the Places He had resided in, were some Times with him, but
other remained in _France_, or in some Parts of _Holland_ and
_Flanders_, for their Convenience, ready to repair to his Majesty when
They should be called. The four nominated above were They who constantly
attended, were privy to all Counsels, and waited upon him in his Return.
The Chancellor was the highest in Place, and thought to be so in Trust,
because He was most in private with the King, had managed most of the
secret Correspondence in England and all Dispatches of Importance had
passed through his Hands; which had hitherto been with the less Envy,
because the indefatigable Pains he took were very visible, and it was as
visible that He gained Nothing by it. His Wants and Necessities were as
great as any Man's, nor was the Allowance assigned to him by the King in
the least Degree more, or better paid, than every one of the Council
received. Besides the Friendship was so entire between the Marquis of
_Ormonde_ and him, that no Arts that were used could dissolve it; and it
was enough known, that as He had an entire and full Confidence from the
King and a greater Esteem than any Man, so that the Chancellor so
entirely communicated all Particulars with him, and there was not the
least Resolution taken without his Privity and Approbation. The
Chancellor had been employed by the last King in all the Affairs of the
greatest Trust and Secrecy; had been made Privy Counsellor and
Chancellor of the Exchequer in the very Beginning of the Troubles; and
had been sent by that King into the _West_ with his Son, when He thought
their Interest would be best preserved and provided for by separating
their Persons. A greater Testimony and Recommendation a Servant could
not receive from his Master, than the King gave of him to the Prince,
who from that Time treated him with as much Affection and Confidence as
any Man, and which (notwithstanding very powerful Opposition) He
continued and improved to this Time of his Restoration; and even then
rejected some Intimations rather than Propositions which were secretly
made to him at the _Hague_, that the Chancellor was a Man very much in
the Prejudice of the Presbyterian Party, as in Truth He was, and
therefore that his Majesty would do best to leave him behind, till He
should be himself settled in _England_: Which the King received with
that Indignation and Disdain, and answered the Person, who privately
presumed to give the Advice, in such a manner, that He was troubled no
more with the Importunity, nor did any Man ever own the Advice.
* * * * *
The first Mortification the King met with was as soon as He arrived at
_Canterbury_, which was within three Hours after He landed at _Dover_;
and where He found many of those who were justly looked upon, from their
own Sufferings or those of their Fathers, and their constant adhering to
the same Principles, as of the King's Party, who with Joy waited to kiss
His Hand, and were received by him with those open Arms and flowing
Expressions of Grace, calling all those by their Names who were known to
him, that They easily assured themselves of the Accomplishment of all
their Desires from such a Generous Prince. And some of them, that They
might not lose the first Opportunity, forced him to give them present
Audience, in which They reckoned up the insupportable Losses undergone
by themselves or their Fathers, and some services of their own; and
thereupon demanded the present Grant or Promise of such or such an
Office. Some, for the real small Value of one though of the first
_Classis_ pressed for two or three with such Confidence and Importunity,
and with such tedious Discourses, that the King was extremely nauseated
with their Suits, though his Modesty knew not how to break from them;
that He no sooner got into his Chamber, which for some Hours He was not
able to do, than He lamented the Condition to which He found He must be
subject: And did in Truth from that Minute contract such a prejudice
against the Persons of some of those, though of the greatest Quality,
for the Indecency and Incongruity of their Pretences, that He never
afterwards received their Addresses with his usual Grace or Patience,
and rarely granted any Thing They desired, though the Matter was more
reasonable, and the Manner of asking much more modest.
But there was another Mortification which immediately succeeded this,
that gave him much more Trouble, and in which He knew not how to comport
himself. The General, after He had given all necessary Orders to his
Troops, and sent a short Dispatch to the Parliament of the King's being
come to _Canterbury_, and of his Purpose to stay there two Days till the
next _Sunday_ was past, He came to the King in his Chamber, and in a
short, secret Audience, and without any Preamble or Apology, as He was
not a Man of a graceful Elocution, He told him "that He could not do him
better Service, than by recommending to him such Persons, who were most
grateful to the People, and in Respect of their Parts and Interests were
best able to serve him." And thereupon gave him a large Paper full of
Names, which the King in Disorder enough received, and without reading
put it into his Pocket that He might not enter into any particular
Debate upon the Persons, and told him "that He would be always ready to
receive his Advice, and willing to gratify him in any Thing he should
desire, and which would not be prejudicial to his Service." The King, as
soon as He could, took an Opportunity, when there remained no more in
his Chamber, to inform the Chancellor of the first Assaults He had
encountered as soon as He alighted out of his Coach, and afterwards of
what the General had said to him; and thereupon took the Paper out of
his Pocket and read it. It contained the Names of at least threescore
and ten Persons, who were thought fittest to be made Privy Counsellors;
in the whole Number whereof, there were only two, who had ever served
the King or been looked upon as zealously affected to his Service, the
Marquis of _Hertford_, and the Earl of _Southampton_, who were both of
so universal Reputation and Interest, and so well known to have the very
particular Esteem of the King, that They needed no such Recommendation.
All the rest were either those Counsellors who had served the King, and
deserted him by adhering to the Parliament, or of those who had most
eminently disserved him in the Beginning of the Rebellion, and in the
carrying it on with all Fierceness and Animosity until the new Model,
and dismissing the Earl of _Essex_: Then indeed _Cromwell_ had grown
terrible to them, and disposed them to wish the King were again
possessed of his regal Power, and which They did but wish. There were
then the Names of the principal Persons of the Presbyterian Party, to
which the General was thought to be most inclined, at least to satisfy
the foolish and unruly Inclinations of his Wife. There were likewise the
Names of some who were most notorious in all the other Factions; and of
some who in Respect of their mean Qualities and meaner Qualifications,
no body could imagine how They could come to be named, except that, by
the very odd Mixture, any sober and wise Resolutions and Concurrence
might be prevented.
The King was in more than ordinary Confusion with the reading this
Paper, and knew not well what to think of the General, in whose absolute
Power He now was. However He resolved in the Entrance upon his
Government not to consent to such Impositions, which might prove
perpetual Fetters and Chains upon him ever after. He gave the Paper
therefore to the Chancellor, and bade him "take the first Opportunity to
discourse the Matter with the General" (whom He had not yet saluted) "or
rather with Mr _Morrice_ his most intimate Friend," whom He had newly
presented to the King, and "with Both whom He presumed He would shortly
be acquainted," though for the present both were equally unknown to him.
Shortly after, when mutual visits had passed between them, and such
Professions as naturally are made between Persons who were like to have
much to do with each other; and Mr _Morrice_ being in private with him,
the Chancellor told him "how much the King was surprised with the Paper
He had received from the General, which at least recommended (and which
would have always great Authority with him) some such Persons to his
Trust, in whom He could not yet, till They were better known to him,
repose any Confidence." And thereupon He read many of their Names, and
said, "that if such Men were made Privy Counsellors, it would either be
imputed to the King's own Election, which would cause a very ill Measure
to be taken of his Majesty's Nature and Judgement; or (which more
probably would be the Case) to the Inclination and Power of the General,
which would be attended with as ill Effects." Mr _Morrice_ seemed much
troubled at the Apprehension, and said, "the Paper was of his
Handwriting, by the General's Order, who He was assured had no such
Intention; but that He would presently speak with him and return," which
He did within less than an Hour, and expressed "the Trouble the General
was in upon the King's very just Exception; and that the Truth was, _He
had been obliged to have much Communication with Men of all Humours and
Inclinations, and so had promised to do them good Offices to the King,
and could not therefore avoid_ _inserting their Names in that Paper,
without any Imaginations that the King would accept them: That he had
done his Part, and all that could be expected from him, and left the
King to do what He had thought best for his own Service, which He would
always desire him to do, whatever Proposition he should at any Time
presume to make to his Majesty, which He would not promise should be
always reasonable. However, He did still heartily wish that his Majesty
would make use of some of those Persons_," whom He named, and said, "_He
knew most of them were not his Friends, and that his Service would be
more advanced by admitting them, than by leaving them out._"
The King was abundantly pleased with this good Temper of the General,
and less disliked those, who He discerned would be grateful to him, than
any of the rest: And so the next Day, He made the General Knight of the
_Garter_, and admitted him of the Council; and likewise at the same Time
gave the Signet to Mr _Morrice_, who was sworn of the Council and
Secretary of State; and Sir _Antony Ashley Cooper_ who had been
presented by the General under a special Recommendation, was then too
sworn of the Council, and the rather, because having lately married the
Niece of the Earl of _Southampton_ (who was then likewise present, and
received the _Garter_ to which He had been elected some Years before) it
was believed that his slippery Humour would be easily restrained and
fixed by the Uncle. All this was transacted during his Majesty's Stay at
_Canterbury_.
Upon the 29th of _May_, which was his Majesty's Birth-Day, and now the
Day of his Restoration and Triumph, He entered _London_ the Highway from
_Rochester_ to _Blackheath_, being on both Sides so full of Acclamations
of Joy, and crowded with such a Multitude of People that it seemed one
continued Street wonderfully inhabited. Upon _Blackheath_ the Army was
drawn up, consisting of above fifty thousand Men, Horse and Foot, in
excellent Order and Equipage, where the General presented the chief
Officers to kiss the King's Hands, which Grace They seemed to receive
with all Humility and Chearfulness. Shortly after, the Lord Mayor of
_London_, the Sheriffs, and Body of the Aldermen, with the whole Militia
of the City, appeared with great Lustre; whom the King received with a
most graceful and obliging Countenance, and knighted the Mayor and all
the Aldermen, and Sheriffs, and the principal Officers of the Militia:
an Honour the City had been without near eighteen years, and therefore
abundantly welcome to the Husbands and their Wives. With this Equipage
the King was attended through the City of _London_, where the Streets
were railed in on Both Sides that the Livery of the Companies of the
City might appear with the more Order and Decency, till he came to
_Whitehall_; the Windows all the way being full of Ladies and Persons of
Quality, who were impatient to fill their Eyes with a beloved Spectacle
of which They had been so long deprived. The King was no sooner at
_Whitehall_, but (as hath been said) the Speakers, and Both Houses of
Parliament, presented themselves with all possible Professions of Duty
and Obedience at his Royal Feet, and were even ravished with the
cheerful Reception They had from him. The Joy was universal; and
whosoever was not pleased at Heart, took the more Care to appear as if
He was; and no Voice was heard but of the highest Congratulation, of
extolling the Person of the King, admiring his Condescentions and
Affability, raising his Praises to Heaven, and cursing and detesting the
Memory of those villains who had so long excluded so meritorious a
Prince, and thereby withheld that Happiness from them, which they should
enjoy in the largest Measure they could desire or wish.