kingdom under his subjection. Here therefore, by inclination, he chose to repair".

who upon the generals [Fairfax] subscribing of it, as one of the council of state, in his own sense, the house voted, that his taking of it in that manner, was taking of it within the late act for subscribing of the engagement."

"By inclination he chose to repair to Ireland.] Milton has justly observed, "that Charles I. was ever friendly to the Irish papists"." This he fully makes appear by the cessation, Glamorgan's transactions, and Ormonde's peace. And the young king had the same disposition towards them. This will be evident from the following extracts. Mr. secretary Nicholas, in a letter to the marquis of Ormonde, written partly before and partly after the execution of Charles, says, “By letters from Holland, I perceive, though some (as the lord Colepepper, lord Percy, and Mr. Long, by directions, it is conceived, from Paris) labour with prince Charles to go for Scotland: yet his highness's own inclinations and most others of the council about him are of opinion, that he go rather for Ireland, if your excellency shall settle a happy peace in that kingdom. -By a letter from the Hague of the 9th present, I am assured by a very credible hand, that P. Charles had then contracted with some Dutchmen of Rotterdam to send immediately two ships of 200 tuns apiece into Ireland, laden with corn and cloaths for soldiers, as well for the provision of the fleet as for the public benefit of that kingdom.-P. Charles is in Holland still, and I hear will take no resolution for his removing

Memorials, p. 442.

Iconoclastes, 2d edit. p. 50. 4to. Lond. 1756.

Ireland however could afford him no refuge. For notwithstanding the endeavours of Or

from thence, till he shall receive letters from Ireland in what condition you are there."-Lord Byron, in a letter to Ormonde, dated, Hague, March 30, 1649, N. S. writes, "The king himself is resolutely bent for Ireland, and is only stayed here for want of money, which his brother the prince of Orange (I doubt) cannot, and the States say they will not, furnish him with unless he go into Scotland and take the covenant: that is the plain English of it, tho' they speak it not openly. The princess dowager of Orange is drawn into this cabal on another score; for she is made believe the king shall marry her daughter, if he comply with the Scots in their desires; and my lord Percy is the chief agent in this business, both upon the promises he hath of establishing his own fortune in case he can effect it, and upon a prudent consideration that Ireland will hardly brook so serpentine a nature as his is. Much prejudice the king receives by some honest but indiscreet persons of his own party, who, by their ranting and railing against the Scots, breed great jealousies and suspicions in them. These humours (God be thanked) since my coming to town are well qualified; for I have been with them all generally, and have calmly urged the necessity of the kings coming into Ireland, with such reasons as they seem to be convinced with, yet, I doubt, in their underhand practices to stop that resolution, they are as active as ever. So much doth private interest sway them above any reason that can be given "." Indeed the king's inclination to Ire

b

⚫ Ormonde's State Papers, by Carte, vol. I. p. 213, 215. 8vo. Lond, 1739. b Id. p. 238,

monde and his confederates, it was in a good measure subdued by Cromwell, and

land, and indisposition to Scotland, was so great, that he made no scruple of publicly professing it in a memorial delivered by the lords of his majesty's council, to the lords deputies for the States General, March 29, 1649, N. S. In this memorial, after acknowledging the many favours the king had received from the States General since his residence in their dominions, and how acceptable their expressions of detestation for the murder of his father were to him-it proceeds to inform their lordships, "how his majesty in this conjuncture of his affairs intends to dispose of his royal person, and the reasons and grounds of such his intention; and thereupon to desire their lordships advice and assistance, by which (with God's blessing) he shall promise himself good success in his undertakings. We need not inform your lordships," continues the memorial, "of the deplorable condition of his majesty's kingdom of England, where the hearts and affections of all loyal subjects are so depressed and kept under by the power and cruelty of those who murdered our late sovereign, and who every day give fresh and bloody instances of their tyranny, and frighten men from their allegiance, that (for the present) no man can believe that miserable kingdom to be fit for his majesty to trust his person in. In Scotland, it is true, his majesty is proclaimed king, but with such limitations and restrictions against his exercise of his royal power, that (in truth) they have only given him the name and denied him the authority; above five parts in six of the nobility and chief gentry of that kingdom being likewise excluded from their just rights and any part in the administration of public

at length entirely brought under the subjection of the commonwealth of England.

affairs; so that as yet that kingdom cannot be thought sufficiently prepared for his majesty's reception. But his majesty hopes, and doubts not, that there will be in a short time a right understanding and perfect union between all his majesty's subjects of that his kingdom, and a due submission and obedience from them to his majesty for his majesty is resolved (and had never the least intention or purpose to the contrary) to preserve and maintain the government of church and state there as it is establish'd by the laws in that kingdom, without any alteration or violation on his part; so that there can be no difference between his majesty and his subjects of that his kingdom, except they shall endeavour and press his majesty to alter the laws and government of his other kingdoms, which as it would be very unreasonable for his majesty to desire without their own consents, so without such their consents it is not in his just power to do, if he should join and consent with his subjects of Scotland to that purpose; and therefore (he is confident) when they have thoroughly weighed and consider'd what is good for his majesty and themselves, they will acquiesce with the enjoying the laws and priviledges of that kingdom, without desiring to infringe or impose upon those of their brethren and neighbours. And if any persons have endeavoured to make impressions on your lordships, that the king hath or had any other intention or desires with reference to his subjects of Scotland, than what we have now expressed to your lordships, his majesty desires you to give no credit to them, and assures you you shall always find him constant to these reso

Charles was in Jersey when his hopes of

lutions, and especially that all ways and means which may tend to the advancement and propagation of the protestant religion shall be so heartily embraced by his majesty, that the world shall have cause to believe him worthy of his title of Defender of the Faith, which he values as his greatest attribute.

"This being the true condition of his majesty's two kingdoms of England and Scotland, and it being neces→ sary for his majesty to give life to the afflicted state of his affairs by his own activity and vigour, your lordships clearly discern that his other kingdom of Ireland is for the present fittest to receive his majesty's person; and thither he intends with all convenient speed to transport himself, being thereunto earnestly advised, and with great importunity invited, by the kingdom of Ireland, and by the marquis of Ormonde his majesty's lieutenant there; by whose great wisdom a peace is there concluded, and thereby the king at this time possess'd entirely of three parts of four of that his large and faithful kingdom, and of the command of good. armies and a good fleet to be joined to his navy: and hehath reason to believe that Dublin and the few other places (who have submitted to the rebellious power in England) either are upon the knowledge of that odious paracide returned to their allegiance, or will be suddenly reduced; so that the affairs of that kingdom being settled (which we hope will be in a short time) the king will be ready to go from thence into Scotland, when his presence there shall be requisite. His majesty holds it most agreeable to the good affection he hath and shall always bear to this state, and to the sense he hath of the obligations he hath received from it, before his going from hence, to propose or desire