An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659); and A Panegyric to Charles the Second (1661) — John Shaqi
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
What shall I superadd to all these? That You rise early, that You are
alwaies employ'd, that You love Hunting, Riding, swimming, manly Robust
and Princely Exercises, not so much for delight, as health and relaxation.
_Et vitae pars nulla perit._
O best Idea of Princes, sit to me yet one moment, that I may add this last
touch to Your fair Table; nor wonder that I should attempt so bold an
enterprise; since he that would take the height of _Olympus_, must stand
below in the plain: Subjects can best describe their Princes Virtues;
Princes best know their Subjects, and therefore most fit to rule them. And
long may You live to rule us great Sir. We wish that all you do, or may
do, be propitious to you, to us, to the public; or in a word, to your
_M_ajesty alone, in which both we and the public are mutually concern'd.
Time was (and too long alas it was!) that what was fortunate to the
Tyrant, was unhappy to your Subjects: now they are common to both and
reciprocal; nor can we more be happy without you, then you without us; and
truly all Princes have known, that they are seldom beloved of God, who are
hated of their People; nor can they be long secure. _Vox Populi, vox Dei
est._ But you have seen the Effects of our Prayers against an Usurper;
hear now, O Heaven our Vowes for a just Prince. Not for peace, not for
Riches, not Honours, or new conquests do we supplicate; but for all these
in one, The Safety of _CHARLES_. You alone snatch'd him out of those cruel
hands, now preserve him from them: Render him fortunate to us, to our
Children, succeeding Generations give him a late Successor, and when You
do it, let it be such a one as himself.
Let your Majestie now proceed in his Triumph, and hear the Acclamations of
his people; what can they more expresse who are ready to pave the very
streets with their bodies, in testimonie of their zeal? behold all about
You, the Gratulating old Fathers, the exulting Youths, the glad mothers;
And why should it not be so? Here's no goods publicated, none restrain'd
or mulcted of their Libertie, none diminish'd of dignitie, none molested,
or exil'd; all are again return'd into{9} their houses, Relations and
Properties, and which is yet more then all, to their antient
innocencie{10} and mutual charitie.
If the _Philosopher_ in the _Ethicks_ enquiring whether the felicity of
the sun, do any whit concern the happinesse of the defunct progenitor,
after much reasoning have determin'd that the honour only which his son
acquires by worthie and great actions, does certainly refresh his Ghost:
What a day of Jubilee, is this then to Your blessed Father! Not the odor
of those flowers did so recreate the dead _Archemorus_ which the _Nymphs_
were yearly wont to strow upon his watry Sepulcher, as this daies
Inauguration of Yours, does even seem to revive the Ashes of that sacred
_Martyr_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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