BOOK
XVI.

1660.

" enjoying your full share in that happiness, and of "the improving it by our particular affection to "you. It is very natural for all men to do all the "good they can for their native country, and to ad"vance the honour of it; and as we have that full " affection for the kingdom in general, so we would " not be thought to be without some extraordinary "kindness for our native city in that particular; " which we shall manifest on all occasions, not only " by renewing their charter, and confirming all " those privileges which they have received from " our predecessors, but by adding and granting any "new favours, which may advance the trade, wealth, " and honour of that our native city; for which we " will be so solicitous, that we doubt not but that it " will, in due time, receive some benefit and advan"tage in all those respects, even from our own ob"servation and experience abroad. And we are " most confident, we shall never be disappointed in " our expectation of all possible service from your "affections: and so we bid you farewell."

Given at our court at Breda, theth day of April, 1660, in the twelfth year of our reign.

t

The two gentlemen lately mentioned to have arrives in been with the king returned to London before the England, defeat of Lambert, and a full week before the parmunicates liament was to begin. The general, upon the perto the ge- usal of the copies of the several despatches, liked all very well. And it ought to be remembered for his honour, that from this time he behaved himself

XVL.

1660.

haviour

with great affection towards the king; and though BOOK he was offered all the authority that Cromwell had enjoyed, and the title of king, he used all his endea-The genevours to promote and advance the interest of his ral's bemajesty: yet he as carefully retained the secret, and after that did not communicate to any person living, (Mr. Morrice only excepted,) that he had received any letter from the king, till the very minute that he pre

sented it to the house of commons.

time.

There happened at the same time a concurrence Declarawhich much facilitated the great work in hand. For the king's since a great obstruction, that hindered the univer-party at sal consent to call in the king, was the conscience which had of the personal injuries, incivilities, reproachful and fect. barbarous usage", which all the royal party had sustained, and the apprehension that their animosities were so great, that, notwithstanding all acts of pardon and indemnity granted by the king, all opportunities would be embraced for secret revenge, and that they, who had been kept under and oppressed for near twenty years, would for the future use the power they could not be without upon the king's restoration, with extreme licence and insolence; to obviate this too reasonable imagination, some discreet persons of the king's party caused * a declaration to be prepared; in which (after their

XVI.

1660.

BOOK acknowledgments and thanks to the general, "for "having, next under the divine Providence, so far " conducted these nations towards a happy recovery " of their laws and ancient government,") they sincerely professed, "that they reflected on their past " sufferings as from the hand of God; and therefore "did not cherish any violent thoughts or inclina"tions against any persons whatsoever, who had "been any way instrumental in them; and that, if "the indiscretion of any particular persons should "transport them to expressions contrary to this " their general sense, they utterly disclaimed them." They farther promised, " by their quiet and peace"able behaviour, to testify their submission to the "council of state, in expectation of the future par"liament; on whose wisdom, they trusted, God " would give such a blessing, as might produce a " perfect settlement both in church and state." And lastly they declared, "that, as the general had not " chosen the sandy foundations of self-government, " but the firm rock of national interest, whereon to " frame a settlement, so it was their hope and

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prayer, that, when the building should come to " be raised, it might not, like Rome, have the be"ginning in the blood of brethren; nor, like Babel, " be interrupted by confusion of tongues; but that "all might speak one language, and be of one name ; " that all mention of parties and factions, and all "rancour and animosities may be thrown in, and BOOK " buried, like rubbish under the foundation."

XVI.

These professions, or to the same purpose, under 1660. the title of a declaration of the nobility, and gentry, and clergy, that had served the late king, or his present majesty, or adhered to the royal party in such a city or county, which was named, were signed by all the considerable persons therein; as this that we have here mentioned was subscribed by great numbers in and about the cities of London and Westminster; and so were several others from other places; and then all printed with their names, and published to the view of the world; which were received with great joy, and did much allay those jealousies, which obstructed the confidence that was necessary to establish a good understanding between them.

Nothing hath been of late said of Ireland; which The affairs waited upon the dictates of the governing party in for some England with the same giddiness. The Irish, who years past would now have been glad to have redeemed their time. past miscarriages and madness by doing service for the king, were under as severe a captivity, and complete misery, as the worst of their actions had deserved, and indeed as they were capable of undergoing. After near one hundred thousand of them transported into foreign parts, for the service of the two kings of France and Spain, few of whom were alive after seven years, and after double that number consumed by the plague and famine, and severities a exercised upon them in their own country;

BOOK the remainder of them had been by Cromwell (who XVI. could not find a better way of extirpation) trans1660. planted into the most inland, barren, desolate, and

mountainous part of the province of Connaught; and it was lawful for any man to kill any of the Irish, who were found in any place out of those precincts which were assigned to them within that circuit. Such a proportion of land was allotted to every man as the protector thought competent for them; upon which they were to give formal releases of all their pretences and titles to any lands in any other provinces, of which they had been deprived; and if they refused to give such releases, they were still deprived of what they would not release, without any reasonable hope of ever being restored to it; and left to starve within the limits prescribed to them; out of which they durst not withdraw; and they who did adventure were without all remorse prosecuted by the English, as soon as they were discovered: so that very few refused to sign those releases, or other acts which were demanded; upon which the lords and gentlemen had such assignments of land made to them, as in some degree were proportionable to their qualities; which fell out less mischievously to those who were of that province, who came to enjoy some part of what had been their own; but to those who were driven thither out of other provinces, it was little less destructive than if they had nothing; it was so long before they could settle themselves, and by husbandry raise any thing out of their lands to support their lives : yet necessity obliged them to acquiescence, and to