Boscobel Part 1

Boscobel.

by Thomas Blount.

ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT FROM _THE EDITOR_.

The book which is here republished contains an account of the sufferings of CHARLES the Second, after the battle of Worcester, until his escape to the continent;--written by a co-temporary, and dedicated to that monarch whose misfortunes he records; we may therefore naturally infer, that the book is a true relation of the same.[1]

[1] This is not the only account that is published, for we find it related by Bates, in his Elenchues, and by the Earl of Clarendon, whose account he received from the king himself.

As this work has become so scarce that a copy can with difficulty be procured, the editor thought he should do a service to the curious by having it reprinted _verbatim_[2] from the edition of 1660.

[2] The original style, &c. being preserved, will account for the very erroneous _punctuation_, to which it was deemed necessary to adhere.

The subject of this tract is interesting: it teaches us the instability of human greatness. We are presented with a picture of the sufferings of one, by lineal descent born to be the governor of a kingdom, reduced to the alternative of either suffering on a scaffold, or quitting the kingdom in habits of disguise.

When princes forget their subjects, or they their king, then both lose their former allegiance and respect, they become mutual enemies, and their inveteracy does not diminish until one or both are on the precipice of destruction.

When Charles the First ascended the throne, his subjects were tenacious of that religious freedom which they had procured under the reign of a sovereign, whose name will ever be revered by innovators in theoretical principles of religion. They had shaken off their subjugation to the Roman Pontiff, and when he shewed signs of partiality to that persuasion, they dreaded the consequences. They had not yet forgot the atrocities committed in the reign of Mary; and were fearful, that if their liberties were abridged, the same enormities would ensue. They struggled for liberty, and he for power: both felt the lash of civil commotions.

When men are enthusiastically partial to an opinion, they are so zealous in its cause they will die in its support. How many people have suffered on this account, in all cla.s.ses of religious opinions, in different nations? Such was the case at that period. A rage for polemical divinity took place, and brother against brother fought in support of each other's tenets; each fully a.s.sured he was in the right.

The same spirit of innovation is too prevalent in the present day: the principles they profess are at variance with the prosperity and happiness of the country. They have made their way into our possessions in the East Indies; and by their influence have brought on disaffection among the native troops. From the organization of their native laws, they are particularly tenacious of their theological principles; according to which a man had better die than be a sceptic; for on embracing any other faith, he must first lose his cast;[3] and in that case he is deserted by all his relatives and countrymen, and driven from the society of all he holds most dear on earth, so that his life becomes insupportable.

[3] Excommunicated by an ecclesiastical court similar to ours, only more rigid in its effects.

In the present state of civil commotions in the European countries, caused by the ambitious views of Napoleon, it is exceedingly impolitic.

It is well known that he wishes to add India to his possessions, and in the present disaffected state, nothing is more favourable to his designs; as they would immediately flock to a leader, who would hold out universal tolerance of religion; which has always been his maxim where he has extended his arms. Thus, through the enthusiastic zeal of a few, we may ultimately lose one of our finest possessions.

These people have universally promulgated such doctrines, that they affect the organization of the brain; and have been the ruin of many a happy family, by turning those who unfortunately had weak intellects mad. And, such progress have their tenets made, that we may infer, the period is not far distant when we shall see the orthodox church completely deserted by the middling and lower orders of people.

"For modes of faith, let graceless zealots fight; "His can't be wrong, whose life is in the right."

POPE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _View of Boscobel House, taken in 1792._]

TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

SIR,

Among the many addresses, which every day offers your sacred Majesty, this humbly hopes your particular gracious acceptance; since it has no other ambition, then faithfully to represent to your Majesty, and, by your royal permission, to all the world, the history of those miraculous providences that preserv'd you in the battle of Worcester, conceal'd you in the wilderness at Boscobel, and led you on your way towards a land, where you might safely expect the returning favours of Heaven; which now, after so long a tryal, have graciously heard our prayers, and abundantly crown'd your patience.

And, as in the conduct of a great part of this greatest affair, it pleased G.o.d (the more to endear his mercies) to make choice of many very little, though fit instruments: So has my weakness, by this happy president, been encourag'd, to hope it not unsuitable for me to relate, what the wisest King thought proper for them to act; wherein yet I humbly beg your Majesties pardon, being conscious to my self of my utter incapacity to expresse, either your unparallel'd valour in the day of contending, or (which is a vertue far less usual for Kings) your strong and even mind in the time of your sufferings.

From which sublime endowments of your most Heroick Majesty I derive these comforts to my self, That whoever undertakes to reach at your perfections, must fall short as well as I, though not so much: And while I depend on your royal clemency more then others, I am more obliged to be

Your Majesties

Most loyal Subject,

And most humble Servant,

THO. BLOUNT.

TO THE READER.

_Behold, I present you with an_ History of Wonders; _wonders so rare and great, that, as no former age can parallel, succeeding times will scarce believe them._

_Expect here to read the highest tyranny and rebellion that was ever acted by subjects, and the greatest hards.h.i.+ps and persecutions that ever were suffer'd by a_ King; _yet did his patience exceed his sorrows, and his vertue at last became victorious._

_Some particulars, I confess, are so superlatively extraordinary, that I easily should fear, they would scarce gain belief, even from my modern reader, had I not this strong argument to secure me, That no ingenuous person will think me so frontless, as knowingly to write an untruth in an history, where_ His Sacred Majesty _(my dread Soveraign and the best of Kings) bears the princ.i.p.al part, and all the other persons concern'd in the same action_ (_except the_ Earl of Darby _and_ Lord Wilmot) _still alive, ready to poure out shame and confusion on so impudent a forgery._

_But I am so far from that foul crime of publis.h.i.+ng what's false, that I can safely say, I know not one line unauthentick; such has been my care to be sure of the truth, that I have diligently collected the particulars from most of their mouths, who were the very actors themselves in this scene of miracles._

_To every individual person (as far as my industry could arrive to know) I have given the due of his merit, be it for valour, fidelity, or whatever other quality, that any way had the honour to relate to his Majesties service._

_And though the whole complex may want elegance and politeness of style (which the nature of such relations does not properly challenge) yet it cannot want truth, the chief ingredient for such undertakings. In which a.s.surance I am not afraid to venture myself in your hands._

Read on and wonder.

THE HISTORY OF HIS SACRED MAJESTIES MOST MIRACULOUS Preservation AFTER _THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER, &c._

It was in _June_ in the year 1650. That CHARLES the Second, undoubted heir of CHARLES the First, of glorious memory, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, (after his Royal father had been barbarously murdered, and himself banished his own dominions, by his own rebellious subjects) took s.h.i.+pping at _Scheevling_ in _Holland_, and, having escap'd great dangers at sea, arrived soon after at _Spey_ in the North of _Scotland_.

On the first of January following, his Majesty was crown'd at _Sc.o.o.n_, and an army raised in that kingdome, to invade this; in hope to recover his regalities here, then most unjustly detain'd from him, by some members of the _Long Parliament_, and _Oliver Cromwell_ their general; who soon after most traiterously a.s.sum'd the t.i.tle of _Protector_ of the new minted Common-wealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The first of August 1651. his Majesty with his army began his march into England, and on the fifth of the same month, at his Royal Camp, at _Woodhouse_ near the Border, publish'd his gracious declaration of general pardon and oblivion, to all his loving subjects of the kingdom of England and dominion of Wales, that would desist from a.s.sisting the _usurped_ authority of the pretended Common-wealth of England, and return to their obedience. Except only Oliver Cromwell, Henry Ireton, John Bradshaw, John Cook, and all others, who did actually sit and vote in the murder of his royal father.

His Majesty, after the publication of this gracious offer, march'd his army into Lancas.h.i.+re, where he received some considerable supplies from the _Earl of Darby_ (that loyal subject,) and at Warrington Bridge met with the first opposition made by the rebels in England, but his Majesties presence soon put them to flight.

In this interim his Majesty had sent a copy of his declaration, enclosed in a gracious letter to the Lord _Mayor_ and _Aldermen_ of the city of London, which, by order of the usurpers then sitting at Westminster, was (on the 26. of August) publickly burnt at the Old Exchange by the Hangman; and their declaration proclaimed there and at Westminster, by beat of drum and sound of trumpet; by which his sacred Majesty, (to whom they could afford no better t.i.tle than _Charles Stuart_,) his abettors, agents and complices, were declared traytors, rebels and publique enemies.--Impudence and treason beyond example!

After a tedious march, his Majesty with his army arriv'd at Worcester on the 22. of August, (being near three hundred miles from S.

_Johnstons_ in Scotland,) having left the Earl of Darby in Lancas.h.i.+re, as well to settle that and the adjacent counties in a posture of defence, against Cromwell and his confederates; as to raise some auxiliary forces to recruit his Majesties army, in case the successe of a battle should not prove so happy as all good men desired.