compared with (q) his bigotry, which was moft exceffive. We are not therefore to wonder the fuperftition of this monarch; a fuperftition which was attended with a bigotry remarkable, as we shall foon fee. () His bigotry was most exceffive.] Charles had religious prejudices deeply implanted in him, which were heightned greatly by the fuperftition of his temper, the influence of ecclefiaftics, and political confiderations. He viewed those who differed from him, in the important points of ceremonies and church-government, as weak and mean, as dangerous and odious, and worthy his utmoft zeal to reclaim or punifh; for fuperftition is generally attended with bigotry, and bigotry is the bane of charity and benevolence. For the bigot is infpired with fervent zeal; he views himself as employed in God's work, and intitled to his favour and protection, and confequently that the more he labours in it, the greater will his reward be. Whence it comes to pafs, that no confiderations will ftop the hands of such a one; but he will facrifice every fentiment of humanity, regard to his country, and even his own ease and peace, in order to make men renounce their own fentiments, profess a belief of like found, and practise rites of the fame fort: nor will he be eafy himself, or let others have any quiet, if he cannot accomplish it.-Whether Charles was of this character, will be beft of all judged from the following authorities. The king was always the moft punc⚫tual obferver of all decency in his devotion, and the 'ftricteft promoter of the ceremonies of the church, as believing, in his foul, the church of England to be in• ftituted the nearest to the practice of the apostles, and the best for the propagation and advancement of the chriftian religion, of any church in the world. And, on the other fide, he had the higheft diflike and prejudice to that part of his own subjects, who were against the government established; and did always look upon them as a very dangerous and feditious people, who would, under pretence of confcience, which kept them • from wonder at his attention to little things, his bufy 'from fubmitting to the spiritual jurisdiction, take the • first opportunity they could find, or make, to withdraw themselves from their temporal fubjection: and therefore he had, with the utmoft vigilance, caused that temper and difpofition to be watched and provided ' against in England; and, if it were then in truth there, (e) Claren-it lurked with wonderful fecrecy (e).' don, vol. i, P. 81. (ƒ) War wick's memoirs, p. 327. (g) Idem, P: 297, and Wood's Athenæ When he was preffed by the parliament minifters to give way for a small catechifm for children, I will not, 6 fays he, take upon me to determine all these texts you quote are rightly applied, and have their true fenfe given them; and I affure you, gentlemen, I would license a catechism, at a venture, fooner for men than I would for children, because they can judge for them⚫ felves: and I make a great conscience to permit, that • children should be corrupted in their first principles.I remember, fays the fame author, one evening his majefty told me, that he fhould be like a captain that had defended a place well, and his fuperiors not being ❝ able to relieve him, he had leave to furrender it: but (he replied) tho' they cannot relieve me in the time I demanded it, let them relieve me when they can; elfe 'I will hold it out, till I make some stone in this build⚫ing my tombstone; and fo will I do, fays he, by the church of England (ƒ).'—And as for the divines or chaplains, who attended on the commiffioners from the parliament to the king, when at Holmby-houfe, we are told, that the king used them civilly, and conversed with them friendly as private men; but would not let them fo much as fay grace to him, fince they refused to officiate to him by the Liturgy (g).' The fame spirit he retained to the laft, according to the author I have fo frequently cited in this note. After Oxonienfis, his condemnation, some minifters, who had adhered to vol. ii. c. the parliament, came to offer their fervice to pray with him. His majefty being informed of it by Dr. Juxon, replied, Thank them from me for the tender of them⚫ felves; but tell them plainly, that they that have fo 688. • often bufying himself about them, and employing him often and caufelefly prayed against me, fhall never 6 pray with me in this agony. They may, if they please, (and I'll thank them for it) pray for me.' This answer is related by Mr. Herbert in a fofter as well as a different manner. At this time, (Jan. 30) fays he, came to St. James's Ed. Calamy, Rich. Vines, Fof. Caryl, Will. Dell, and fome other Landon minifters, ' who presented their duty to the king, with their humble • defires to pray with him, and perform other offices of ⚫ fervice, if his majefty would please to accept of them. • The king returned them thanks for their love to his foul, hoping they and all other good fubjects would, in their addreffes to God, be mindful of him; but in regard he had made choice of Dr. Juxon, whom for many years he had known to be a pious and learned divine, and able to administer ghoftly comfort to his Oxonienfes, ⚫ foul, fuitable to his present condition, he would have none other (b).' I will conclude my authorities with (¿) Wood's a few paffages from Dr. Perinchief. He [Charles] was Athena ⚫ careful of uniformity, both because he knew the power vol. ii. c. ⚫ of just and lawful princes confifted in the union of their 699, fol. fubjects, who never are cemented stronger than by an Lond. 1721. unity of religion. Befides, he faw that there was no greater impediment to a fincere piety, because that ⚫ time and those parts that might improve godliness to a growth, were all wafted and corrupted in malice and ⚫ flanders, betwixt the diffenters, about forms. He was more tender in preferving the truths of christianity, than the rights of his throne.-Thus, adds this writer, though he could not infufe fpiritual graces into the • minds of his fubjects, yet he would manage their reafon by pious arts; and what the example of a king 'could not do, that his law should, and he would re• ftrain thofe vices which he could not extirpate (i).'-(i) Life Here we see zeal for uniformity in rites and modes, a ftiff of king adherence to particular forms, a fettled refolution to maintain and impose them, arifing from a belief of their being moft acceptable to the Deity, and conducive to men's Charles, p. 62. (R) himself in works, which, though not blameable in themselves, were unworthy of the elevated rank in which he was placed. Lord men's falvation; and alfo the highest diflike and prejudice against such as were of different fentiments, and endeavours to fupprefs them: I fay, all this we here fee, and confequently the bigotry of Charles, which led him to allow of and encourage fuch feverities, on the account of religious opinions, as raised in the minds of his fubjects diflike and averfion, and contributed to his ruin, as in the courfe of this work will appear. (R) Employing himself in works unworthy of his elevated rank, &c.] A king fhould act like himself. He fhould attend to thofe matters which relate to the welfare and happiness of his people; he should study their genius and manners, and employ his thoughts in devifing ways for promoting their grandeur and felicity. Modeft merit he fhould inquire after, arts and fciences. he should encourage, useful inventions he should reward, attend to the complaints of his fubjects, and readily redrefs their grievances. In a word, his care fhould be to diftribute equal and impartial justice to those under his rule, and defend them from the infults and oppreffions of the nations around them. This, I fay, is the duty of a king; and he who would discharge it well, had need give it his time and pains. As for leffer matters, though they may be useful or ornamental in private life, 'tis not expected a prince should excel in them; much lefs contend with fuch as profeffedly addict themselves to them, and reap emolument from them. What in these is praiseworthy, in a king is mean; below his character, and what must render him but little refpectable to those around him. But Charles either understood not this, or acted diametrically contrary to it. 'He minded little things too much, and was more concerned in the (*) Burnet, drawing of a paper, than in fighting a battle (k).'vol. i. p. 71. Whenfoever his fecretaries had drawn up, by the direction of the council, declarations or any other pa pers, Lord Clarendon (1) affures us, that he was (!) Vol. v not in his nature very bountiful, though he gave P. 257. pers, and offered them to his perufal, though both they • and the council had done their parts, yet he would < always with his own hand correct them, both as to • matter and form; he commonly using these words ❝ when he took the pen in his hand, Come, I am a good • cobler: and the corrections were acknowledged by them all to be both for the greater luftre and advantage • of the writings (m).' Agreeably hereunto fir Philip (m) PerinWarwick writes. Though he was of as flow a pen as chief, p. 71. of speech, yet both were very fignificant: and he had that modeft efteem of his own parts, that he would ⚫ ufually fay, He would willingly make his own difpatches, but that he found it better to be a cobler than < a fhoemaker. I have been in company with very learned men, when I have brought them their own papers back from him with his alterations, who ever confeffed his amendments to have been very material. And I once, by his commandment, brought him a paper of my own to read, to fee whether it was fuitable to his directions, and he difallowed it flightingly : • I defired him I might call Dr. Sander fon to aid me, and that the doctor might underftand his own meaning ⚫ from himself; and with his majefty's leave I brought him, whilft he was walking and taking the air; whereC upon we two went back; but pleafed him as little, ' when we returned it: for fmilingly he faid, a man might have as good ware out of a chandler's fhop: but • afterwards he fet it down with his own pen very plainly, ⚫ and fuitably to his own intentions (n).' But it will be (2) Memoirs, dale's fhort 1 |