An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659); and A Panegyric to Charles the Second (1661)Evelyn, John
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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
You have taken away the affluence to the Committees, Sequestrators,
Conventicles, and unjust Slaughter-houses, and converted their zeal to the
Temples, the Courts, and the just Tribunals: Magnanimity is return'd
again to the Nobility, Modesty to the People, Obedience to Subjects,
Charity to Neighbours, Pietie to Children, Fidelity to Servants, and
Reverence to Religion; In summe, You are the Restorer of Your Countrie.
The lawes that were lately quiescent, and even trampled under foot, your
Majesty has revived; and been yet so prudent in reforming, that even those
which your Enemies made upon good deliberation, you permit to stand,
shewing your self rather to have been displeased with the Authours, then
the Things.
As to Discipline (after the sacrifice due for that innocent blood of your
glorious Father) you are not only careful to reject vice your self; but
are severe to discountenance it in others; and that yet so sweetly, as you
seem rather to perswade then compell; and to cure without a corrosive.
The Army is disbanded, and the Navy paid off without Tumult; because you
are trusted without suspicion, and are more secure in the publick love and
affection of your people then in men of Iron, the locks and Bars of
Tyrants Palaces: And truely Sir, there is no protection to innocency,
which is a fort inexpugnable: In vain therefore do Princes confide in any
other; for Armes invite Armes, Terrour, suspition. To this only do you
trust, and the few which you maintain about your person, is rather for
state, then fear. _Quid enim istis opus est, quum firmissimo sis muro
Civici amoris obtectus?_ Here is then the firm Keeper of our Liberties
indeed, whom the Armies love for His own sake, and whom no servile
flattery adores; but a simple, and sincere devotion; and verily such a
Prince as Your Majesty, deserves to have friends, Prompt, steady and
faithful; such as You have, and which Virtue rather then Fortune procures.
Of this I obtest the fidelity of Your own inviolable Party, distinguished
formerly by the invidious name of _Cavalier_, though significant and
glorious; but I provoke the World to produce me an example of parallel
Loyaltie: What Prince under heaven, after so many losses, and all
imaginable calamities, can boast of such a party? The _Grecians_ forsook
their Leaders upon every sleight disaster; the very _Romans_ were not
steady of old, but followed the fortune of the Common Victor. The _German_
and the _French_ will happily stick to their Prince in distresse, as far
as the Plate, the Tapistry, or some such superfluous moveable may abide
the pawn; But where shall we find a Subject that hath persisted like Your
Majesties, to the losse of Libertie, Estate, and life it self, when yet
all seem'd to be determin'd against them; so as even their enemies were at
last vanquish'd with their constancy, and their very Tormentors wearied
with their insuperable Patience; nor can they in all that tract of Time,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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