T HESE Sheets were writ fome Years ago, by the Encouragement of One whofe Memory will be ever Sacred to Pofterity. It's needlefs to mention the occafion: And they had not been publish'd now, if a Surreptitious Copy of a part of the Mamifeript, had not crept abroad. I can hardly expect they should pleafe in an Age like this, that is fond only of what is writ for, or against a Party: For I have trac'd Truth as near as I could, without efponfing any one Intereft or Faction. I hope I may venture to say, That I have tread as foftly as was paffible over the Graves of the Dead, and have not aggravated the Errors of the Living. As to the latter, it is enough that we are delivered from their Power, without infulting over their Misfortunes; and it is unworthy of a Generous Mind, to trample upon those that are already down. Moft of the Accounts I have feen of the Tranf actions of thofe Times, are partial to fome one Side; which being one of the greatest Blemishes * Mary. A 4. 0 of Hiftory, I have endeavoured to avoid: But whether I have fallen into the fame Error my felf, it is the Reader must be now Fudge. I leave Satire and Panegyrick to others. I envy no Man the Art of making Court to the Great by Flattery, and have not Ill-nature enough for Detraction. The Defign of these Memoirs being only to give a fhort Idea of the Thread of Affairs in England, for the Space of an Hundred Years, it is not to be expected that I should have obferv'd the Rules of a regular Hiftory, much less any Nicenefs of Method, or Exactnefs in the Narration. As to the Stile, I have taken very little pains about it; and all I have aim'd at, is to be understood. In the Account I have given of the Laft Reign, I would not be thought to reflect upon the Roman Catholicks in general, for what a Party among them is chargeable with. They were chiefly the Bigots of fome Religions Orders, and the New Converts, that advis'd and carried on thofe Violences which in the end overturn'd their Master's Throne: And it is hoped the Roman Catholicks have reafon to be fatisfied with their Condition under the prefent Reign, fince they enjoy an unenvied Liberty of their Religion, without incurring the Hatred of their Fellow-Subjects for being in a Defign to overturn the Eftablish'd Church; which was their Cafe under the late King James. And as I am far from wishing them lefs Liberty than they have, so I cannot but regret the hard Ufage which the Proteftants meet with in other Coun tries, and wish they were but as well treated there, as the Roman Catholicks are here. Before I have done, I beg leave to take notice of a Pamphlet that came out laft Summer, call'd, Curfory Remarks upon the Proceedings of the Laft Seffion of Parliament. The Gentleman that wrote it, had not only the Honefty to publish an Anfwer to his own Book, but in that Anfwer to infinuate that I was the Author of it. All the Ufe I shall make of this unusual Liberty of the Prefs, is to declare, That I have not publish'd any one Paper, Pamphlet, or Book, thefe fix Years; And though I have but little Leifure, and yet lefs Inclination to appear again in Print; yet if ever I alter my Refolution, and publifh any thing hereafter, I will certainly put my Name to it; as I have done to thefe Memoirs. THE CONTENTS. HE Excellencies of the English Conftitution, and THE The Character of her Minifters; particularly of Wal- The Rife of King Charles's Troubles; and the first and The meeting of the Parliament, November 1640. 42 The Fall and Character of Wentworth, E. of Strafford. 44 The Fall and Character of Archbishop Laud. The famous Petition and Remonftrance of the State of the Nation; and the King's Anfwer. The Treaty of Uxbridge, how unsuccessful; and the King Charles's defign before his Death, to refign the The Ufurpation and Character of Oliver Cromwell. The Refloration of K. Charles II, and the manner of it; with Monk's part in it, and the risk Monk ran in The Difcovery of the Popifh Plot; and its Confequences.110 |