THE

LIF

F E

O F

CHARLES the SECOND.

C

HARLES Stuart, the second of that name, King of Great Britain, fon of Charles the First, and Henrietta Maria of France, was born on the twenty-ninth of May, one thoufand fix hundred and thirty. Some particulars attending his birth, and baptifm, will be found below (A).

We

(A) Some particulars relating to his birth, and baptifm.] The Queen had a fon, named Charles, the

preceding

We know little more of his education,

than

' preceding year, who died very foon after his birth. This year, fays Perincheif, Heaven was liberal to his Majefty, in giving him a fon to inherit his do'minions; which was fo great a matter of rejoicing to the people of uncorrupted minds, that Heaven feemed alfo concerned in the exultation, kindling ano⚫ther fire more than ordinary, making a star to be seen the fame day at noon (from which most men prefaged, that that Prince fhould be of high undertakings, and ' of no common glory among Kings: which hath been fince confirmed by the miraculous prefervation ⚫ of him; and Heaven feemed to conduct him to the throne). For this great bleffing the King gave public ⚫ thanks to the author of it, Almighty God, at St. Paul's. church; and God was pleased, in return to those thanks, with a numerous iffue afterwards to increase (a) Life of this happiness (a).' It is poffible, however, his nuK. Charles, merous iffue might not be a matter of very high conprefixed to his works, p. folation to his Majefty in his folitude and fufferings ! 8. fol. Lond. The appearance of the ftar above-mentioned was 1687. expressed beaming from the center of a small birth-piece ftruck on this occafion, and ftill to be feen in the cabinets of the curious. This ftar is taken notice of by Waller, and made matter of compliment to the Prince whose birth it attended :

His thoughts rife higher, when he does reflect
On what the world may from that Star expect,
Which at his birth appeared; to let us fee,
Day, for his fake, could with the night agree:
A Prince on whom fuch different lights did fmile,
Born the divided world to reconcile !

*If

than that, according to the then and prefent

If we may credit Lord Baltimore, the birth of young Charles was received with all expreffions of joy in Spain. In a letter to Lord Wentworth, dated, Caf tle-yard, Aug. 12, 1630, he thus expreffes himself: My Lord Ambaffador will tell you perhaps with what joy the news of our Prince's birth was received * in the court of Spain; the King, Queen, and all the 'court in bravery; not fo much as the young Infant of 'fo many months old but had his feather on his cap, • all the town full of masks and music: and not only ⚫ the temporal ftate but the fpiritual exprefs their glad< nefs. The heads of the clergy, and all the reli'gious houfes in the city, came to the Ambassador, in ⚫ the name of their bodies, to congratulate with him the • birth of the Prince; and folemn maffes and prayers ⚫ were faid for his health and profperity every where (b).' This must have been a fine farce! Let us now proceed to relate fome circumstances attending the baptifm of Prince Charles: they are related by Mr. Samuel Meddus, in a letter to Mr. Jofeph Mede, dated July 2, 1630.- Prince Charles was baptifed last Lord's day, about four in the afternoon, at St. James's, in the King's little chapple there (not in the Queen's), by my Lord of London [Laud], Deane of the chaple, affifted by the Bishop of Norwich, Al'moner. The Goffips were, the French King, the Palfgrave, and the Queen Mother of France. The 'Deputies, the Duke of Lenox, Marquis Hamilton, and the Ducheffe of Richmond; which laft was exceeding bountifull. The ordinance and chambers of the Tower [were difcharged], the bells did ring, and

(b) Strafford's State Papers. vol.

Lond. 1739. i. p. 53. fol.

3

fent custom (B), he had an ecclefiaftic for

at night were in the streets plenty of flaming bonfires. The Ducheffe was fent for by two Lords, dyvers Knights and Gentlemen, fix footmen, and coach with fix horfes plumed (all the Queens), and alighted not 'without the gate but within the court. Her retinue were fix women, and gentlemen I know not how many. But all, of both fexes, were clad in white fattine garnished with crimson, and crimson filke stock'ings. I hear not of any presents from the Goffips; but the Ducheffe, for her own particular, presented to the Queen for the Prince a jewel estimated at 7 or 8000l. to the melch nurse a chain of rubies, eftimated at 200l. to the midwife and dry nurse, store of maffy plate; to the fix rockers, each, a fair cup, a falt, and a dozen of spoons. All the Lords also gave plate to the nurse, Befides, the Ducheffe gave to every Knight and Gentleman of the Queens who came for her, and brought her back to her house in the Strand, 50 pieces; to the coachman, 20; and to every of the 6 foot men, 10 pieces, There were neither Lords or Knights made that I hear of, as there (c) Peck's was faid would be (c).'--These are trifling things, it Defiderata must be confeffed ;-but as they mark ftrongly the chaCuriofa, vol. II. b. xii. p. racter of the age, and the court, they will not be, I am 36. fol. Lon. perfuaded, unacceptable to fome of the most intelligent 1735. readers.

(B) He had an ecclefiaftic for his tutor.] The education of Princes is of fo great importance to the state, that too great care cannot be taken of it. As the fuperintendency of the public, and the execution of its laws, is fubmitted to Sovereigns; it behovcs thofe to

whofe

for his tutor, Brian Duppa; who, though of a sweet temper, was, if we may believe Burnet, no way fit for his poft (d).

(d) Burnet's Hift.

Being of his own

whose tuition they are intrusted, to inculcate deeply on
their minds their high duty of taking the utmost pains for
the welfare of the communities over which they prefide;
the glory and happiness of acting an honest and a worthy
part; and the perpetual infamy which will attend them,
if, following their paffions, or, which is fometimes
much worse, their parasites, they act a mean, a base,
a little one. To reverence themselves, and the public;
to have high notions of honour and justice, generofity
and magnificence; to confider themfelves as the fer-
vants of the community over which they prefide; and
bound by its laws, and their own intereft as infeparable
from that of the people; ought to be the daily leffon of
young Princes.
The King,' it fhould be told them,
is fuperior to the people; but the laws are fuperior to
him. The laws commit the care of the people to him

as the most valuable of all trufts, with this condition, that he fhl be the father of his fubjects. The intention of these laws is precifely this, that one man, by 'his wisdom and moderation, fhall be the inftrument of felicity to whole nations; and not that whole nations fhall, by their mifery and abject flavery, serve to pamper the pride and luxury of one man. The 'King's revenue ought not to be more than is necessa

ry, either for his fupport in his painful office, or to
infufe into the people that refpect which is due to him,
who is to inforce the execution of the laws. Befides

this, the King ought to be more fober, more an ene-
B 3
'my

Times, vol. i. p. 177.