An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659); and A Panegyric to Charles the Second (1661) by John Evelyn
page 22 of 61 (36%)
page 22 of 61 (36%)
|
forgive even greater offenders then you are? Yes, I dare pronounce it with
confidence, and avouch it whith all assurance, that there is not an individuall amongst you, whose crimes are the most crimson, whom he will not be most ready to pardon, and graciously receive upon their repentance; nor any thing that can be desired of him, to which he would not cheerfully accommode, for the stopping of that torrent of blood, and extream confusion, which has hitherto run, and is yet imminent over us. Do but reason a little with your self, and confider sadly, whether a young Prince, mortified by so many afflictions, disciplin'd by much experience, and instructed by the miscarriages of others, be not the most excellently qualified to govern and reduce a people, who have so succeslesly tried so many governments, of old, impious and crafty Foxes, that have exercised upon us the most intollerable Tyrannies that were ever heard of? But you object further, that he has lived amongst Papists, is vitiously inclin'd, and has wicked men about him: What can be said more unjustly, what more malitious? And can _you_ have the foreheads to tell us he has lived amongst Papists to his prejudice, who have proscrib'd him from Protestants, persecuted him from place to place, _as a Patridg on the Mountains_? You may remember who once went to _Achich the King of Gath and changed his behaviour before them, and fain'd himself mad in their hands_; had many great infirmities, and _was yet a man after Gods own heart_; Whilst the Catholick King was your Allie, you had nothing to do with Papists, it was then no crime: _God is not mocked, away with this respect of persons_: But where is it you would have him to be? The _Hollander_ dares not afford him harbour, lest you refuse them yours: The _French_ may not give him bread for fear of offending you; and unless he should go to the _Indies_, or the _Turk_ (where yet your malice would undoubtedly reach him) where can he be safe from your revenge? But suppose him in a Papist Countrey, constrained thereto by your incharity to his Soul as well as |
|