Volume 1

Memoirs illustrative of the life and writings of John Evelyn ... comprising his diary, from the year 1641 to 1705-6, and a selection of his familiar letters. To which is subjoined, the private correspondence between King Charles I and his Secretary of State ... [et al.] Sir Edward Nicholas ... 1641, and at other times during the Civil War; also between Sir Edward Hyde ... and Sir Richard Browne Ambassador to the Court of France ... The whole now first published from the original MSS. ... / Edited by William Bray.

  • John Evelyn
Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoirs illustrative of the life and writings of John Evelyn ... comprising his diary, from the year 1641 to 1705-6, and a selection of his familiar letters. To which is subjoined, the private correspondence between King Charles I and his Secretary of State ... [et al.] Sir Edward Nicholas ... 1641, and at other times during the Civil War; also between Sir Edward Hyde ... and Sir Richard Browne Ambassador to the Court of France ... The whole now first published from the original MSS. ... / Edited by William Bray. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    establisliM, its principles being so firme for monarchy, and the mem- bers of it shewing themselves so good and loyal subjects* ; and that as he would never depart from the just rights and prerogatives of y Crown, so would he never invade any man’s property ; but as he had often adventur’d his life in defence of the Nation, so he would still proceedc, and preserve it in all its lawful rights and liberties. T1 lis beino; the substance of what he said, the Lords desir’d it mio'ht be publish’d, as containing matter of greate satisfaction to a jealous people upon this change, which his Ma‘y consented to. Then were the Counsel sworn, and a Proclamation order’d to be publish’d, that all Officers should continue in their stations, that there might be no failure of public justice, till his further pleasure should be known. Then the * This is the substance ami very nearly in the words given by King James II. in his MS. printed in his Life j but in that MS. are some words which Mr. Evelyn has omitted, viz. after speaking of the Members of the Church of England as good and'loyal subjects, the King adds, and therefore I shall always take care to defend and support it. The King then goes on to say, tliat being de- sired by some present to allow copies to be taken, he said he had not committed it to w riting ; on which Mr. Finch [then Solicitor General, afterwards Earl of Aylesford] replied, that what his Majesty had said had made so deep an impression on him, that he believed he could repeat the very words, and if his Majesty would permit him, he would write them down; which the King agreeing to, lie went to a table and wrote them down, and this being shewn to the King, he ap- proved of it, and it was immediately published. I'he King then goes on to say ; No one can wonder that Mr. Finch should word the speech as strong as he could in favour of the Established Religion, nor that the King in such a hurry should pass it over without retlcetion; for though his Majesty intended to promise both security to their religion and protection to their persons, he was afterwards convinced it had been better expressed by assuring them he never would endeavour to alter the established Religion, rather than that he would endeavour to preserve it, and that he would rather support and defend the professors of it, rather than the Religion itself j they could not expect he should make a con- science of supporting what in his conscience he thought erroneous; his engaging not to molest the professors of it, nor to deprive them or their successors of any spiritual dignity, revenue, or employment, but to suft'er the ecclesiastical affairs to go on in the track they were in, was all they could wish or desire from a Prince of a different persuasion ; but having once approved that way of expressing it which Mr. Finch had made choice of, he thought it necessary not to vary from it in the declarations or speeches he made afteiavards, not doubting but the world would understand it in the meaning he intended. 'Tis true afterwards it was pretended he kept not up to this engagement, but had they deviated no further from the duty and allegiance which both nature and repeated oaths obliged them to, than he did from his word*, they had still remained as haj>py a people as they really were during his short reign in England. Vol, II. 435. * The words in italics were afterwards interlined by the son of King James the Second. Eotr.