MEMOIRS OF THE ENGLISH AFFAIRS, Chiefly NAVA L, From the YEAR 1660, to 1673. WRITTEN BY His ROYAL HIGHNESS JAMES Duke of YORK, Under his ADMINISTRATION Published from his Original Letters, and other Nothing is fo capable of giving a true Account of Story, as LONDON: Printed in the Year M.DCC.XX.IX. (Price 5s.) HISTORY OF THE RESTAURATION; Referring to these Original Papers. S UCCESSIONS are oftentimes as furprizing as REVOLUTIONS, verbum fat,&c. An honeft (and therefore a fuppreffed) Writer 2, thus gives us a concife Account of the Pofture of the English Affairs in the very Period preceeding the Reftauration. ON his Death-Bed, Oliver Cromwell, by a Nuncupative-Will, declared his Son Richard his Succeffor, (though Thanks to the Stars of old BRITANNIA, he had not the Title of Second) who enjoyed the Protectorship fome time, being complimented by the whole Nation, on his Acceffion to the Government, in Congratulatory Addreffes from every Burrough, and Body Politic in England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the moft Solemn Affurances of Lives and Fortunes; nevertheless, the fame People, in a few a Mr. HIGGONS, in his Short View of English History. Sva. 1723. 2.354, & Seq. A 2 Weeks, Weeks, faw him fink without drawing one Sword in his Quarrel. This was the first Inftance of thefe ADDRESSES, by which Princes may fee how little they ought to rely on this Sort of Compliment. The Common-Wealth-Faction, and that Party in the Army who had combined against the Father, fancied it much easier to compass their Defigns on the Weakness and Incapacity of the Son, who wanted his Father's Vigilance to forefee, and Refolution to obviate Dangers, for want of which laft Quality, he was pulled down by the mutinous Army, and divefted of his Authority. THUS, after a Reign of nine Months, ended RICHARD'S Mock-Government; on which the Army,divided in their Councils according to their feveral Views, not knowing well what to do, were forced to recal the RUMP to the Exercife of their Authority. THE frequent Changes in our Government, after the execrable Murther of King CHARLES I, not only made the English Government ridiculous Abroad, but puzzled Foreign Ministers refiding here, how to behave themselves, what Farties to Court, to whom Address, or indeed how to direct their Memorials, for the Names and Titles varied with every Form of Government: Sometimes a Parliament, then a PROTECTOR, then a Parliament again, Junctoes, Committees of Safety, &c. all which Confufions are the neceffary Confequences of Folly and Faction, Faction, when Men leave the beaten Paths prescribed by the Laws, and Ancient Conftitution, to follow the Systems of their own wild Imaginations, by Attempts above their Genius. But these wicked Scenes were foon closed through the Extravagances which the Movers of them attempted to display: curbed by the immediate Interpofition of that Power, by which the World is governed, the fignal Footsteps of whofe Providence were never more adorably Confpicuous, than in the happy Conduct of the RESTAURATION Of King CHARLES the Second. HE made his Entry into London on the 29th of May, 1660; a Day doubly Aufpicious, for his Birth, and Return; never was Cavalcade more Illuftrious, than this Triumphal March through his Capital City. Whether we confider the Greatnefs and Sincerity of the Joy, the Solemnity of the Sight, the Auguft Majefty of the Perfons, who were three Brothers, the finest Princes of Europe, all in the Flower of their Age, riding through the Acclamations of the People, agitated with the different Paffions of Joy and Shame; Joy to fee them returned at laft, and Shame to have injured them fo long. A Sweetness of Temper, Affability, and Good Nature, were lefs remarkable in thefe Princes, by being effential to the Name of STUART; and the firft Inftance of these b King CHARLES II, JAMES Duke of York, HENRY Duke of Gloucefter. A 3 good |