Of the first twelve years of the reign of king 1673. I DIVIDE king Charles's reign into two books, 1660. not so much because, consisting of twenty-four years, it fell, if divided at all, naturally to put twelve years in a book: but I have a much better reason for it, since as to the first twelve years, though I knew the affairs of Scotland very authentically, yet I had only such a general knowledge of the affairs of England as I could pick up at a distance: whereas I lived so near the scene, and had 92 indeed such a share in several parts of it, during the last twelve years, that I can write of these with much more certainty, as well as more fully, than of the first twelve. I will therefore enlarge more particularly, within the compass that I have fixed for 1660. this book, on the affairs of Scotland; both out of the inbred love that all men have for their native country, and more particularly, that I may leave some useful instructions to those of my own order and profession, by representing to them the conduct of the bishops of Scotland: for having observed, with more than ordinary niceness, all the errors that were committed, both at the first setting up of episcopacy, and in the whole progress of its continuance in Scotland, till it was again overturned there, I am enabled to set all that matter in a full view and in a clear light. Many went over to the Hague. As soon as it was fixed that the king was to be restored, a great many went over to make their court: among these Sharp, who was employed by the resolutioners of Scotland, was one. He carried with him a letter from the earl of Glencairn to Hide, made soon after earl of Clarendon, recommending him as the only person capable to manage the design of setting up episcopacy in Scotland: upon which he was received into great confidence. Yet, as he had observed very carefully the success of Monk's solemn protestations against the king and for a commonwealth, it seems he was so pleased with the original, that he resolved to copy after it, without letting himself be diverted from it by [anxious] scruples, [or any tenderness of conscience:] for he stuck neither at solemn protestations, both by word of mouth and by letters, (of which I have seen many proofs,) nor at appeals to God of his sincerity in acting for the presbytery both in prayers and on other occasions, joining with these many a Could not he keep his inbred love to himself? S. dreadful imprecations on himself, if he did prevari- 1660. cate". He was all the while maintained by the presbyterians as their agent, and continued to give them a constant account of the progress of his negotiation in their service, while he was indeed undermining it. This piece of craft was so visible, he having repeated his protestations to as many persons as then grew jealous of him, that when he threw off the mask, about a year after this, it laid a foundation of such a character of him, that nothing. could ever bring people to any tolerable thoughts of a man, whose dissimulation and treachery was so well known, and of which so many proofs were to be seen under his own hand. was over drunken 93 With the restoration of the king, a spirit of ex-The nation travagant joy spread over the nation, that brought run with on with it the throwing off the very professions of vice and virtue and piety: all ended in entertainments and ness. drunkenness, which overrun the three kingdoms to such a degree, that it very much corrupted all their morals. Under the colour of drinking the king's health, there were great disorders and much riot every where and the pretences of religion, both in those of the hypocritical sort, and of the more honest but no less pernicious enthusiasts, gave great advantages, as well as they furnished much matter, to the profane mockers of true piety. Those who had been concerned in the former transactions thought, they could not redeem themselves from the censures and jealousies that those brought on them by any method that was more sure and more easy, than by going into the stream, and laughing b Sure there was some secret personal cause of all this malice against Sharp. S. 1660. at all religion, telling or making stories to expose both themselves and their party as impious and ridiculous. The king's character. The king was then thirty years of age, and, as might have been supposed, past the levities of youth, and the extravagance of pleasure. He had a very good understanding. He knew well the state of affairs both at home and abroad. He had a softness of temper, that charmed all who came near him, till they found how little they could depend on good looks, kind words, and fair promises; in which he was liberal to excess, because he intended nothing by them, but to get rid of importunities, and to silence all farther pressing upon him. He seemed to have no sense of religion: both at prayers and sacrament he, as it were, took care to satisfy people, that he was in no sort concerned in that about which he was employed. So that he was very far from being an hypocrite, unless his assisting at those performances was a sort of hypocrisy, (as no doubt it was ;) but he was sure not to increase that by any the least appearance of religion. He said once to my self, he was no atheist, but he could not think God would make a man miserable only for taking a little pleasure out of the way. He disguised his popery to the last. But when he talked freely, he could not help letting himself out against the liberty that under the reformation all men took of inquiring into matters of religion: for from their inquiring into matters of religion, they carried the humour farther, to inquire into matters of state. He said often, he thought government was a much safer and easier thing where the authority was believed infallible, and the faith and submission of the people |