An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659); and A Panegyric to Charles the Second (1661)Evelyn, John
History
An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659); and A Panegyric to Charles the Second (1661)
Evelyn, John
Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685 -- Early works to 1800; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660 -- Pamphlets
Miraculous Reverse! O marvel greater then Mans Counsel! who will believe
that which his eyes do see? what before a twenty years confusion had
destroy'd; behold a few moneths have restor'd: But the wonder does yet so
much more astonish, that the grief was not so universal for having
suffer'd under such a Tyranny, as for having been so long depriv'd of so
excellent a Prince: No more then do we henceforth accuse our past
miseries; All things are by your presence repair'd, and so reflourish; as
if they even rejoyc'd they had once been destroy'd, _Auctior tuis facta
beneficiis._ So as not only a Diadem binds your sacred Temples this day;
but you have even crown'd all your Subjects too; so has your auspicious
presence gilded all things; our Churches, Tribunals, Theaters, Palaces,
lift up their heads again; the very fields do laugh and exalt. O happy,
and blessed spring! not so glorious yet with the pride and enamel of his
flowers, the golden corn, and the gemms of the pregnant Vine, as with
those Lillies and Roses which bloom and flourish in your Chaplet this day,
to which not only these, but even all the productions of nature seem to
bend, and pay their homage.
And let it be a new year, a new _AEra_, to all the future Generations, as
it is the beginning of this, and of that immense, _Platonic_ Revolution;
for what could arrive more justly, more stupendious, were even the eight
sphear it self now hurled about? For no sooner came our _CHARLES_ on
shore, but every Man was in the Haven where he would be; the storm
Universally ceas'd, and every one ran forth to see our _Palladium, tanquam
coelo delapsum_: Virgins, Children, Women, trembling old Men, venerating
the very ship that wafted our _Jason_ and his _Heroes_, ravish'd with the
sight, yet hardly believing for astonishment; the greatness of the
miracle, oppressing our sences, and endangering our very faith.
_Credetne hoc olim ventura posteritas?_
I would prayse you Great Prince, but having begun; where shall I make an
end? since there remains not a Topic through all that kind, but one might
write Decads of it, without offending the truth, were it as secure of your
modesty; since I am as well to consider what your ears can suffer, as what
is owing to your Virtues: On what heads shall I extend then my discourse?
your Birth, Country, Form, Education, Manners, Studies, Friends, Honours
and Fortune run through all partitions of the Demonstrative: An Orator
could have nothing more to wish for, nor your Majesty to render you more
accomplish'd.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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