brook Castle in the year 1648. They have I. Great monarch of the world, from whose power springs The potency and power of kings, Record the royal woe my suffering sings; II. And teach my tongue, that ever did confine To track the treasons of thy foes and mine. III. Nature and law, by thy divine decree, IV. With it, the sacred sceptre, purple robe, V. The fiercest furies, that do daily tread VI. They raise a war, and christen it "the cause," VII. Tyranny bears the title of taxation, Revenge and robbery are reformation, Oppression gains the name of sequestration. VIII. My loyal subjects who in this bad season Attend me (by the law of God and reason) IX. Next at the clergy do their furies frown, Pious episcopacy must go down, They will destroy the crosier and the crown. X. Churchmen are chain'd, and schismaticks are free'd, Mechanicks preach, and holy fathers bleed, The crown is crucified with the creed. been omitted in the collection of his works; though no doubt has been made of their ge nuineness. XI. The church of England doth all faction foster, XII. The presbyter and independant seed Springs with broad blades; to make religion bleed, XIII. The corner stones misplac'd by every pavior; With such a bloody method and behaviour, Their ancestors did crucifie our Saviour. XIV. My royal consort, from whose fruitful womb So many princes legally have come, Is forc'd in pilgrimage to seek a tomb. XV. Great Britain's heir is forced into France, Whilst on his father's head his foes advance: Poor child! he weeps out his inheritance. XVI. With my own power my majesty they wound, XVII. With propositions daily they enchant My people's ears, such as do reason daunt, XVIII. They promise to erect my royal stem, XIX. But for refusal they devour my thrones, ! But it is time to pass from the private to the public character of Charles. Abroad he made little figure; his wars being ill XX. My life they prize at such a slender rate, XXI. Felons obtain more privilege than I, XXII. But sacred Saviour, with thy words I woo Thee to forgive, and not be bitter to Such, as thou know'st do not know what they do. XXIII. For since they from their Lord are so disjointed, XXIV. Augment my patience, nullifie my hate, Preserve my issue, and inspire my mate, Yet though we perish, bless this church and state. Of this poem, Dr. Burnet (who says he had it from a very worthy gentleman, who waited on his majesty at that time, and copied it out from the original) observes," that the mighty sense and great piety of it, will be found to be beyond all the finest sublimities of poetry which yet are not wanting here." And Mr. Hume, speaking of this copy of verses, remarks, "that the truth of the sentiment, rather than the elegance of expression, renders them very pathetic." The reader, who attentively considers them, will be able to judge of the propriety of these observations, and of the poetical talents of his majesty. a Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton, p. 379. Britain, p. 451. History of Great conducted, and unsuccessful: witness the war with Spain", which he found himself I have now finished the account of Charles's writings and as a memento to princes, and their ministers, (if such should ever cast an eye on this performance) I will close the note with the wholesome advice of lord Shaftesbury. "I will not," says he, "take upon me to recommend this author-character to our future princes. Whatever crowns or lawrels their renowned predecessors [Henry VIII. James I. and Charles I.] may have gathered in this field of honor; I should think that, for the future, the speculative province might more properly be committed to private heads. It would be a sufficient encouragement to the learned world, and a sure earnest of the increase and flourishing of letters in our nation, if its sovereigns would be contented to be the patrons of wit, and vouchsafe to look graciously on the ingenious pupils of art. Or were it the custom of their prime ministers to have any such regard, it would of itself be sufficient to change the face of affairs. A small degree of favour would insure the fortunes of a distressed and ruinous tribe, whose forlorn condition has helped to draw disgrace upon arts and sciences, and kept them far off from that politeness and beauty, in which they would soon appear." 29 Witness the war with Spain, &c.] Charles, by attesting the narrative of the duke of Buckingham, concerning the Spaniards' behaviour in the match with the Infanta, and the restitution of the Palatinate, was the occasion of the parliament's desire that the treaties should be broken off, and arms made use of to recover the patrimony of the king of Bohemia. King James, a Characteristics, vol. I. p. 193. engaged in on his accession to the throne, March 26, 1625: a war which began with against his inclinations, seemed to comply with the yoice of his people, declared by their representatives; and preparations were made for war. In the meanwhile James died; and Charles, intent on carrying on what by Buckingham's instigation he had began, quickly assembled a parliament; in which, at the opening of it, he was pleased to say, " My lords and gentlemen, I hope you remember you were pleased to employ me to advise my father to break off those two treaties that were on foot; so that I cannot say I came hither a free unengaged man. It's true, I came into this business willingly and freely, like a young man, and consequently rashly; but it was by your interest, your engagement; so that though it were done like a young man, yet I cannot repent me of it, and I think none can blame me for it, knowing the love and fidelity you have borne to your king, having myself likewise some little experience of your affections. I pray you remember that this being my first action, and begun by your advice and intreaty, what a great dishonour it were to you, and me, if this action, so begun, should fail for that assistance you are able to give me. Yet knowing the constancy of your love, both to me and this business, I needed not to have said this, but only to shew what care and sense I have of your honours and my own. Wherefore I hope you will take such grave counsel, as you will expedite what you have in hand to do which will do me and yourselves an infinite deal of honour; you, in shewing your love to me; and me, that I may perfect that work which my father hath so happily begun". After this the lord " 2 Frankland's Annals, p. 109. |