THE LIFE OF JAMES THE SECOND, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, COLLECTED OUT OF MEMOIRES WRITT IN HIS OWN HAND. TOM. III. 1685. A SSOON as the breath was out of the King's body, the Duke (whom hence forward we must call by the name of KING JAMES THE SECOND) to avoid the importunity of complements which were then crowding in upon him, retired immediately into his closet; haveing more inclination to satisfy his grief and anguish at the late sorrowfull object, than please himself with the thoughts of a Crown so unexpectedly fallen TOM. III. 1685. TOM. III. 1685. upon his head, which with all its glettering charms was not able to asswage that sencible affliction he suffer'd, in parteing with a Brother he loved and honour'd so much; haveing therefore for some time giuen full scope to his tears, necessity and order (thō much against his inclination) obliged him to appear, and receiue at last the complements and congratulations of those, who waited with impatience to make them. It was on this occasion that the world stood astonished to see the Metamorphoses in a manner of a whole Kingdom; this Prince, who so little a while before had been persecuted, banished, and by the wishes of the people as well as the violent endeavours of the Parliament on the point of being disinherited; that had suffer'd all the affronts which the malice of his bitterest enemies, or the rigours of the penal Laws was capable of puting upon him, whom the meanest wretches of the Nation could treat with impunity with the title of rogue and traitor, to see (I say) this same Prince wellcom'd to the Throne with such uniuersal acclamations of joy, such unexpressible testimonys of duty and affection from all ranks of people, was what history has no example of, and may be a lesson to posterity, that no temporiseing or straigned complyance in a Prince, will ever gain so much upon the World, as a steddy aherence to the rules of vertue, and a rigorous observance of those maxims of honour and justice, which scarce ever fails, sooner or later, to force both obedience and loue from the generality of mankind. The Celerity with which all things necessary were prepar'd for proclaming him King according to custom, and the testimonys of loue and duty with which it was performed in all the three Kingdoms, was soon repayd by the hast his Majesty made, to quiet peoples minds and aprehentions both in reference to Religion, Liberty, and their imployments; for the next morning at his first apearance in Council, he confirmed all the " III. 1685. LOOS SHEETS pag. 1. members of it (that were there present) in their stations, and TOM. order'd a proclamation to be published for continuing all other persons in their respectiue imployments thorough the Nation, til his pleasure were further known, and then made them a short Speech which gaue unspeakable satisfication to all" KING JAM. persons, but especially to those who by the malicious insinuations of his enemies were in some doubt what might become of their liberties and religion: Since it has pleased Almighty God (says he) to place me in this Station, and that now I am to succed so good and gracious a King, as well as so kind a Brother, I think fit to declare, that I will endeavour to follow his example, and more especially in that of his great clemency and tenderness to his people. I have been reported to be a man for arbitrary power, though that is not the only story which has been made of me; I shall make it my endeavour to preserue the government in Church and State as it is by Law established, I know the principles of the Church of England are for Monarchy, and that the Members of it, haue shewn themselves good and Loyall Subjects, and therefore I shall always take care to defend and support it. I know likewise that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as great a Monarch as I can wish, and therefore as I will never depart from the just rights and prerogatiues of the Crown, so I never will invade any man's property. I haue often ventured my life in defence of the Nation, and will go as far as any man in preserving it in its just rights and priuiledges. Never was greater joy express'd within the walls of the Council Chamber, than on this occasion, they were astonished to find themselves deliver'd of their apprehensions so unexpectedly; several therefore begg'd leaue they might take copies of this benigne and gracious declaration, to the end others might partake of their satisfaction, but to this his Majesty answer'd, That truly what he had said, was from the abundance of his |