A White-Hall-Scaffold, and a Royal Martyrdom, with all the dread­ful Effects of that hideous and unnatural Regicide, hung so louring over the English Heads, that all the Horrours and Calamities of a Twelve Years Anarchy and Confusion, [Page 2] were but too justly our succeeding Portion. Here the whole Royalty of England groaned under a total Eclipse, whilst so many upstart Changes of Go­vernment, all like the Births of Nile, every Year new Monsters, so polluted and defiled the Throne, that under their Barbarous Usurpation all Honour, Honesty and Conscience seemed to have whol­ly abandoned and forsaken us, excep­ting this one single surviving Justice, viz. That Vipers bred Vipers, Stings for their own Hearts; and Traytors betrayed Traytors, the natural, and indeed only honest Gratitude of Vil­lany.

After this long melancholy Face of Affairs, whether the Divine Justice had satisfied it self with that short Twelve Years Scourge, or rather its more gracious Mercy with-held the pou­ring any farther Vials upon us; so it pleased the Almighty Providence, that by a Revolution wholly made up of Wonders, and by a Hand entirely his own, the Royal Exiles were re-called; whilst the whole ecchoing Nation strewed the Palms and Olaves, and tu­ned [Page 3] the Hosannah's for their Reception, whilst such a Glut of popular Tran­sport and Extacy attended their glori­ous Restauration, that Triumphal Ar­ches were but faint Monuments of those Joys that rose higher than Pin­nacles and Pyramids.

The Royal Brothers, the Illustrious Remains of the Great Martyr, the now happy, though late Darlings of Pro­vidence, had all the Homage that Hearts or Knees could yield them, whilst our whole industrious and even studied Loy­alty, by a kind of common Rivalship and Emulation, who should kneel lon­gest, or bend lowest, could not pay fast enough our new and chearful Tenders of Zeal and Veneration, to­wards making (if possible) some part of a Reparation for our old shameful Arrears. In fine, All Things shined and dazled round us; so heartily did the Fair and Smiling SIXTY endeavour the Atonement of the Black and Rueful FORTY EIGHT. 'Tis true, the Uni­versal Joy was seon after clouded by the Death of Henry Duke of Gloucester, who, a short Sharer of his Brother's [Page 4] Triumphs, and the People's Love, made his much lamented Transit to Immor­tality on the 13th of September, 1660.

After the most splendid and daz­ling Entry, and no less magnificent Coronation of King Charles the Second; the publick Satisfaction, not wholly founded in the present Felicities and Blessings they enjoyed, had yet farther Vows to offer up to Heaven; viz. For a fair Race of Heirs from this Illustri­ous Royal Stock, that glorious Suc­cession that might fill the Throne for ever, and bless even latest Posterity, as the entire Consummation of the whole English Happiness.

But in all our Desires of this last Sa­tisfaction, the unfortunate Barrenness of His Majesty's Royal Consort, our now Gracious Queen Dowager, in a short Time shut out our Expectation, and render'd our Prayers succeness on that side: Insomuch that the whole Nation's Hopes were now entirely cen­ter'd in the more fruitful, and so more happy Second Royal Line, the Li­neage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York.

[Page 5]Accordingly, on the 30th of April, in the Year 1662. Providence was plea­sed to bless this longing Nation with the Auspicious Birth of a young Prin­cess, MARY, our present sacred Theme, His Royal Highness's First-born; the Father's Joy, and the ample Reward of a Mother's grateful Pain. This Il­lustrious Cradle, and Sacred Nursery, in very few Years after, (the not long Life of her Royal Mother,) was enriched by the fair Increase of three Royal Bro­thers, Dukes of Cambridge and Kendal, and two more Sisters, Anne and Hen­rietta. But of all this Royal Progeny, the Great Dispenser thought fit, by a too hasty Call of the others too early Setting Infancy, to leave us the only Pledges of smiling Heaven in the two Princely Sisters, Mary and Anne.

She was Born at the Royal Pallace of St. Iames's, at Westminster: At her Baptism she had for God-Father, Prince Rupert, and her God-mothers were the Dutchess of Buckingham and Dutchess of Ormond.

[Page 6]And now to commence the History of her Life, from her first Seal of Christianity: Her Godfathers and God­mothers stood very easie Guarrantees for their fair Charge, whilst their Vows and Promises made for her at the Font were so early answered and performed on her Part, that even her first Dawn of Reason and Discretion were enlightned with all the most forward Beams of Heaven. The Divine Instructions, even in her budding Infancy, were received with so sensible an Affection and De­light, that the Principles of Religion were never planted in a more fruitful, or more hopeful Soil.

As her Years and her Vertues grew up together, and every Heavenly Grace, her ever improving Ornaments, shined daily brighter and brighter; the Al­mighty Justice, to have her whole universal▪ Perfections equally matched, took Care that the Casket should be no ways unworthy of the rich and ample Treasure it held. For, without the least Shadow of Flattery, such love­ly Sweetness, an Air so entirely charm­ing, [Page 7] and a Form made up of every Thing that both to the Poet and Pain­ter might sit for an Original, were so wholly her own, that never more personal Advantages appeared, than in this young and truly beautiful Prin­cess.

To all these, she had a Wit so live­ly, and so penetrating, and conse­quently a Conversation entirely grate­ful to those who had the Honour to enjoy it: For, withall, she had that na­tural Goodness, Condescention and Af­fability, (Graces that Wit is not always accompanied with) which opened that Freedom to an ingenious Conversati­on; as if she resolved to bless where she favoured, not satisfied to be the Mi­stress so many Excellencies, only for a distant Admiration.

But as if all these admirable Qua­lifications were not enough to com­pleat a Master-piece; for one yet fini­shing-stroke more, she had all the Ad­dition of Education to embellish her natural Accomplishments. She carried the Glory as well at the Ball and the [Page 8] Masque, as in the Presence and the Draw­ing-Room; and she was that absolute Mistriss of the French Tongue, that her French Tutor, the famous Peter de Laine gives her this Character, That she had all those excellent Endowments, which not only himself, but all that had been honoured with any instrumental share in her Princely Education, had so for­tunately found in her, to the preven­ting both of their Endeavours and Expe­ctations. That Aptitude of Nature, quickness of Apprehension, Faithfulness of Memory, and obliging Readiness to comply with whatever good instru­ctions were set before her, that these, and a thousand more were certainly Born and Bred up with her, and now arrived to that height of Perfection she had attained. And all this fair Character so far from false Incense and Flattery; that in the most sacred Truth, her Highness was the most Accom­plisht, not only of Princesses, but of her Sex; and among all those Epithetes of Great, of Beautiful, or Witty; above that August Air, that Majestick Pre­sence, which inspired us at the first sight with the highest Sense of Respect and [Page 9] Veneration: She possest, and that in a most eminent Degree, a Virtue, which she valued so much the more, as that it out-shined and transcended all the rest.

Having arrived at the Age of about Fifteen, with all this fair Train of At­tendants waiting her thither, with all Eyes upon her, and indeed all Knees before her; her Attractions had still a larger Influence, and more spacious Field than three narrow Kingdoms only could afford her, whilst the Fame alone of such transcendent Merits, were sufficient to inspire a warmer Devo­tion in Foreign Princely Homagers, than that of her humbler Vassals at home.

Of these, the Illustrious WILLIAM, Prince of Orange, our now Gracious Soveraign, resolved to be her boldest Addressor; for having Communicated his Intentions to Sir William Temple, his Majesty of Great Britain's then Ambas­sador at the Hague, whom the Prince so far honoured, as to make him a Counsellor and Confident in this Affair, [Page 10] the Prince was so frank as to express his whole Sentiments of Marriage in this kind, viz. ‘That the greatest Thing he considered, were the Person and Dis­position of the young Lady: For though it would not pass in the World, for a Prince to seem concerned in those Parti­culars; yet for himself, without Affe­ctation, he declared, that he was so; and in such a degeee, that no Circum­stances of Fortune or Interest could En­gage him, without those of the Person, especially those of Humour and Disposi­tions. That he might perhaps be not ve­ry easy for a Wife to live with; he was sure he should not be so to such Wives, as were generally in the Courts of this Age. That if he should meet with one to give him Trouble at Home, 'twas what he should not be able to bear, who was like to have enough Abroad in the Course of his Life: And that after the man [...]r [...]e was resolved to live with a Wife, which should be the best he could, he would have one that he thought likely to live well with him, which he thought chiefly depended upon their Disposition and Edu­cation.’

[Page 11]Here we see the rich Cabinet of a fair Soul unlockt; and whilst the Prince publishes so worthy, so generous, and glorious a Declaration, of what a faith­ful and good Husband he intended to make himself, and consequently what equal and suitable Returns he expected from a Wife; 'twas from his entire Satisfaction that all those great, and in­deed only honourable, Ends of Mar­riage would be fully answered in the Person of the Princess; that of the whole Choice of Europe, (for several Offers in Germany had already been made him) he had sixt his Thoughts only on the Daughter of England, the fair Mark of his Ambition, where he was confident the highest Expectation of all the fore-mentioned Qualifica­tions of a Wife would be amply gra­tified.

In his prosecution of so honoura­ble a Design, as the Prince proposed to himself some higher Felicities than in the generality of Marriages of Princes, so he resolved likewise not to follow the general Practises of Courting by [Page 12] Envoys and Proxies, too common on such Occasions; but, if I may so say, to be his own Ambassador on this Subject, and make his own personal Addresses to the Princess. And accordingly, ha­ving smooth'd his Way by some Letters to beg Leave to visit England, upon their favourable Answer recei­ved, he prepared to set forth accor­dingly.

Upon the Prince's intended Voyage for England, eighteen Deputies, with the Pensionary Fagel at the head of them, in the Name of the Nobles, and the respective Towns of Holland, Com­plemented his Highness with their Wi­shes of his good Voyage, as all the Members of the States of Holland did the like; and the next Morning, when his Highness took Leave of the States General, he received the Complements of the several Colleges by formal De­putations, and of all the foreign Mini­sters there, and then Embarkt on the Yatches and Men of War that atten­ded him in the Maese, accompanied by many Persons of Quality, and Gen­tlemen of Note, to the number of above Forty.

[Page 13]On the Morrow being Tuesday, the 9th. of October, 1677. His Highness, with all this honourable Attendance, the King and Duke at that time being at New-Market, whither his Highness and his Retinue, in his Majesty's Coaches arrived about Seven in the Evening, was received by his Majesty with all the Marks of Tenderness and Affection. On the Thursday following, the Prince, and all the Persons of Quality that came over with him, were honoured with his Majesty's and his Royal High­ness's Company to my Lord Chamber­lan's House at Euston, where they were nobly Entertained, and lay that Night, and the next Morning returned to New-Market; and on Saturday, with the King, and the whole Court, his High­ness came to Whitehall.

But not to dwell upon Ceremony and State, the Caresses and Reception he met here, let it suffice, that his High­ness having not only proved a success­ful Lover in his own personal Addres­ses to the Princess, but likewise a prevailing Oratour with his Majesty, [Page 14] the Royal Assent was obtained, and accor­dingly his Majesty was pleased, on the 24th. of October, to declare to the Lords of his Privy Council, (whom he had caused to meet extraordinary for that purpose) that his Majesty had concluded a Marriage between her Highness the Lady Mary, and his High­ness the Prince of Orange; upon which their Lordships, about Three in the Af­ternoon, went in a Body, to make their Complements to her Highness, and af­terwards to the Prince. The News of which being spread in the Town, was followed at night with Bone-fires, Ring­ing of Bells, and all the other Demon­strations of Joy. And the same Day the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of London, went to preform their hum­ble Congratulations, by the Mouth of their Recorder, to his Majesty, and his Royal Highness, and afterwards to the Princess and Prince on so happy an Occasion.

On the 29th. of October following, their Majesties, accompanied with his Royal Highness, their Highnesses the Lady Mary, and the Lady Anne, and his [Page 15] Highness the Prince of Orange, attended by a great many of the principal No­bility, and other Persons of Quality, having been pleased, upon the humble Invitation of the City, to honour them with their Presence, first at the Show in Cheapside, (it being that Day, the Entrance of Sir Francis Chaplin to the Mayoralty) where placed in a Balco­ny under a Canopy of State, at the House of Sir Edward Waldo (upon whom his Majesty was then pleased to conferr the Honour of Knighthood) and afterwards at the Guild-hall at Din­ner, where the Entertainment was very Noble and Magnificent, his Majesty be­ing highly pleased with those great Demonstrations of Duty and Affection, with which the City received the Ho­nour of this Royal Presence at this Day's Solemnity.

This Declaration of the Princess's Marriage was so gratefully, and indeed so Universally received, that particu­larly in Scotland, his Grace the Duke of Lauderdale, Lord President of his Ma­jesty's most Honourable Privy Council of that Kingdom, appointed a Meeting [Page 16] of such of the Lords of the Council as were in and near the City of Edinburgh, (having in the mean time given Notice thereof to the Magistrates) to acquaint them with it, to the end such Resolu­tions as the shortness of the time would permit might be taken, for expressing their extraordinary Joy on this happy Occasion; and having at their Meeting ordered a Congratulatory Letter to be prepared to be sent to his Majesty, on the 30th. of October at Four in the Af­ternoon, his Grace accompanied by the Lords of the Council, and the rest of the Nobility then in Town, came from the Pallace in their Coaches to the chief Gate of the City, where they were met by the Lord Provost and Bay­liffs in their Scarlet Robes, and the Town Council in their Gowns, with the Sword and Mace carried before them, followed by a Guard of Parti­sans, through which (with Trumpets sounding and Drums beating) they walked all on Foot to the Cross hung with Tapestry (whereupon was placed an Arbour hung with many hundreds of Oranges) which his Grace and the Lord Provost ascending, with as many [Page 17] of the Nobility as it could hold, (the rest of the Magistrates, with the other per­sons of Quality, placing themselves up­on a Stage erected before the Cross for that purpose) they drank the Good Healths of their Highnesses the Prince and Princess, next of their Royal High­nesses the Duke and Dutchess, then the Queen's, and last of all his Majesty's Health, during which the Cannon plaid from the Castle, all the Conduits up­on the Cross ran Wine in great abun­dance, and many Voiders of Sweet­meats were thrown among the people, who were filled with a general Joy since they first heard they happy News, which then was exprest by their loud and frequent Acclamations. After which, the Bonefires being kindled, and the Bells ringing, his Grace and the Nobility retired to their Lodgings, leaving the Magistrates, who at Eight of the Clock at Night went down to the great Bonefire that was in the out­ward Court of the Pallace, where his Grace, and many of the Nobility that were to sup with him, met them, and drank the Healths again. And were the next Day invited to Dine with his [Page 18] Grace in an Apartment of the Pallace, where with the Nobility and Ladies, the Clergy, the Judges, and all the Gen­tlemen of Quality, they were splendid­ly entertained by His Grace.

To compleat the mutual Felicities of this happy Royal Pair, on Sunday the 4th of November their Marriage was privately solemnized at St. Iames's, by the Bishop of London, in the pre­fence of His Majesty, Their Royal Highnesses, and some of the chiefest of the Nobility. It was remarkable, that when the Bishop came to these Words of Form, Who gives this Woman? That His Majesty answered, I do. Upon which, Their Majesties, Their Royal Highnesses, and Their Highnesses recei­ved the Complements and Congratula­tions of the Ambassadors of the States General of the United Provinces, and of the other Foreign Ministers residing in the Court. And the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen the next Morn­ing made likewise their dutiful Congra­tulations.

[Page 9]'Twas the 5th of November before the News of His Majesty's Intentions of the Marriage arrived at Dublin: And the First of December before the Consummation was published there; which filled the Place with that extra­ordinary Joy, that on Monday the Third of December, His Grace the Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of that King­dom, and all the Nobility and Gentry in Town, met in great Splendour at the Play, where there pass'd a general Invitation of all the Company to spend that Evening at the Castle. And whilst the Streets were every where fil­led with Bone-fires, the Bells ringing, and all the Great Guns of the City fi­ring round; at the Castle was a very splendid Ball, and in the Long Gallery a magnificent Banquet prepared for the whole Company; who parted not till Two a Clock in the Morning.

The Prince and Princess were now preparing for their Departure for Hol­land; during their whole Stay in Eng­land having been highly caressed by the whole Court and Kingdom. The [Page 20] Prince had the particular Honour to stand Partner with His Majesty, as God­fathers, together with the Lady Isabella, represented by her Governess the Lady Villers, to a young Brother; Her Royal Highness, on the 7th of November, be­ing brought to Bed of a young Prince▪ Christned by the Bishop of Durham, by the Name of Charles.

On the 19th of November, about Nine in the Morning, Their Highnesses par­ted from White-Hall, in order to their Embarking on the Yatchts appointed to transport them for Holland; His Maje­sty and His Royal Highness being plea­sed to accompany them as far as Erith, where Their Highnesses went on Board; but being several Days detained by con­trary Winds, they arrived not in Hol­land till the 29th.

I shall here beg my Reader's Pardon for this short Digression from our Histo­ry, by reciting an ingenious Poem, by Nat. Lee, on this memorable Occasion.

It was with great Satisfaction, that having with so much impatience expe­cted the Arrival of their Highnesses, that the News was received at the Hague, that their Highnesses who sailed before in his Majesty's Yatchts from Margate, attended by several English, as well as Dutch Men of War, were safely landed at a Village called Terihyde, the Ice hindring their Entrance into the Maese, and from thence went directly to Hon­slaerdyke, whither the States General im­mediately sent their Hoff Meester the Sieur Dinter, to Complement their Highnesses, and to know of them when it would be seasonable to repeat the same in a formal Manner, by a solemn Deputation out of their Body, as well from the Council of State, as the other supreme Colleges.

[Page 27]On Monday the 14th. of December, their Highnesses made their Publick En­try into the Hague, with more than or­dinary Magnificence. For besides that the Twelve Companies of Burghers were in Arms, drawn up under their distinct Ensigns, the Bridge of the Hague was adorned with green Gar­lands, under which were written these Words,

Thus rendred in English.

Having past the Bridge, they were met by four and twenty Virgins, that [Page 28] walked two by two on each side their Highnesses Coach, singing and strew­ing green Herbs all the way. When their Highnesses came before the Town-House, they past through a Triumphal Arch adorned with Foliage and Grotesco Work, with the Arms of both their High­nesses, and over them two Hands clap'd together with this Motto,

Thus rendred in English.

From whence crossing over the Mar­ket-place into the Hoogstraet, another Triumphal Arch stood ready to receive them, with these Words,

[Page 29]Thus rendred in English.

In the Evening they were entertain­ed with a preparation of Fire-Works, in which were represented several Figures, as that of a Drake, a Lion, a St. George on Horse back, Fountains, Pyramids, Flower-Pots, Castles, Triumphal Cha­riots, and Iupiter and Mars as descen­ding out of the Air, &c. And in all the Streets were a great number of pitch Barrels, provided for the several lofty piles of Bonefires prepared for the Solemnity of the Day, which ended in Rejoicing and Feasting, and all other Testimonies of the Universal Joy. The next day the Heer Van Ghent, the Heer Werchendam, the Heer Steesn, the Heer Odyke, the Heer Kenswoude, the Heer Bootsma, and others, Complemented their Highnesses in the Name of the States General, which Complement was soon after performed by the States in Body.

[Page 30]This Marriage thus concluded to universal Satisfaction of the Kingdom, 'tis worth our Consideration to exa­mine the chief Movements in an Affair of this Importance. Of all the Court Sollicitors in the Prince's behalf, the then Lord Treasurer, his Grace the now Duke of Leeds, was one of the chief and most prevailing Orators. That wor­thy Patriot, possibly one of the fairest Phosphers to our present Rising Sun; was ever an indefatigable Zealot for the English true Interest and Honour, and the Protestant Religion; and con­sequently amongst his many memora­ble Services, must not a little glory in being instrumental in so auspicious an Alliance. To this the King's particular Esteem and Respects for the Person of the Prince, not a little contributed; when, as Sir William Temple tells us in his Memoirs, his Majesty was pleased to express his Opinion of the Prince in these Words. ‘I never yet was deceived in judging of a Man's Honesty by his Looks, (of which he gave some Examples) and if I am not deceived in the Prince's face, he is the honestest Man in the World, [Page 31] and therefore I will trust him: He shall have her, &c.’ But in truth, above all other Arguments, the then grow­ing Jealousies of the Parliament car­ried the Cause: For at that time 'twas highly adviseable for hushing the Quiet of the Nation, that the Eldest-Daugh­ter of the Crown should sleep in Pro­testant Arms. Whilst in reality the Con­cession was rather more for the Peo­ple's, than the Prince's Gratification: A Concession, in which the King poss [...]bly acted with a Resolution more than or­dinary, as being contrary to the Gene­ral Conduct and Measures of that Reign, as where neither the Duke nor the French Ambassador were called to the Consult; the first being much surpri­zed when he received the King's Com­mand for his Concurrence and Con­sent in the Matter, and the latter not a little disgusted, as not knowing how he should Answer it to his Master, That an Affair of that Importance should pass without his Communication, much less Advice, in a Court where nothing before had done so, for many Years.

[Page 32]But for a more particular Inquiry into her Father's Inclination in the Bu­siness of this Match, I shall only quote Mr. Secretary Coleman's long Letter to Father La Chaise, the French King's Con­fessor, where he tells him, ‘That to propose the Lady Mary, Eldest Daughter to his Royal Highness, in a Match for the Prince of Orange, was not only without the Consent, but against the good Liking of his Royal Highness, insomuch that they must Excuse him with this Di­stinction: That the said Lady was not to be l [...]ked upon as the Duke's Daughter, but as the Kings, and a Child of the State, and so the Duke's Consent not to be much considered in the Disposal of her, but the Interest only of State.’

Nay, this Marriage of the Duke's Daughter, and the Protestant Prince of Orange, was a Matter of that Weight and Moment, as wanted no less than an Excusatory Epistle sent as far as Rome. ‘His Royal Highness (as the Secretary tells us in another of his papers) having sent a Letter to the Pope on that Subject, which he tells us was deliver­ed, [Page 33] and that the Pope remained satisfied, that the Duke was in no Fault.’ But whatever Apology was wanting on this Occasion, how uneasy a Guest soever his Royal Highness had been, at this un­relisht Marriage Feast, nevertheless I may justly say, how strong soever his own private Aversion might be, yet still even himself was so far highly In­strumental towards the making this Al­liance, that his own Conduct contra­cted the Necessity of it, and that Neces­sity in reality was the strongest Hinge it moved on.

Upon this Match of the presumptive Heiress of England with the Prince of Orange, ever, even from his Infancy, so jealous and vigorous a Zealot for the Common Interest of Christendom, in op­position to the then formidable Growth and too aspiring Ambition of France, the Expectations of Europe had now, in all Reason and probability, the very fair Hopes of some speedy Alteration of Councils, and change of Measures, to­wards the Dissolving, or at least slack­ning, the too strong, and I may say too fatal, I am certain, too inglorious Links [Page 34] and Ties of England and France; of having I say, at least some leading Influence towards awakning the Lethargy of the Crown of England, which with so long, and no less shameful Easiness (to give it no harder a Name)

had hitherto in every point, so highly contributed to the whole Grandeur of that incroaching Monarch, as to lend a Helping-hand even to the very Foun­dation of it. All this might reasonably have been expected from this Marriage, had Providence thought us worthy of such Blessings, at least at that Season, whatever later Blessings it had in store for us.

On the contrary, notwithstanding the forementioned Magnificent Reception of the Prince and Princess by the whole States of Holland, so Welcomed and Caressed, even to a Torrent of Joys amongst them; nevertheless there wan­ted not those Engines of France, who in a very few Months after so turned the Tide, as to poison the whole Uni­versal Faith of Holland with those Jea­loasies of the Prince's Match, viz. That [Page 35] the Prince instead of bringing the Eng­lish Court over to His and Their Inte­rest by his Alliance, had on the contra­ry, himself been lured and drawn in­to the English Interest and Party by it; nay, and not only so, but through his own private Ambition and the English Encouragement, had upon the Foun­dation of this Match, formed some aspi­ring Designs, even upon Holland it self. Insomuch, that instead of their former Hopes of having strengthned the Prince's Arm in their Cause by this Alliance, it was the general popular Fear, that they had rather lost a Cham­pion by it, than gained one.

Whilst the injured Prince's Glory was shaded by all those false and villa­nous Imputations, it was at this time, and partly through these Jeaulousies, that the Peace at Nim [...]gu [...]n was shuffled together, so dishonourable to England, and so pernicious to the Confederacy. Insomuch, that this Match of the Prin­cess, that was thought to have given so great a Blow to France, was by Dint of Conduct and Management turned wholly to the French Advantage. Thus [Page 36] far indeed this Match was for the French Advantage; the Destined Hour was not yet come for the Prince of Orange to stand up the Champion of Christendom; the over-ruling Providence had not yet signed him that Commis­sion, being reserved perhaps for a later Execution; at a Season, when the grea­ter danger and difficulty of the perform­ance shall heighten the Glory.

But now to open the new Scene of her Life, her Entry into the Marriage State: Here we have so Dazling a pro­spect before us, so vast a Subject both for Praises and Admiration, that her very Enemies (if such Goodness could have any) must join in her Panegyricks upon that Theme: For as 'tis in this Feild only, that the Fair Sex have their Lau­rels to gather, so never were richer Bridal Chapplets worn than on that [...]row; whilst between those only Pillars of Nuptial Happiness, Resignation and Endearment, the three great Matrimonial Vows to Love, Honour and Obey, were engraved in that Tables she wore next her heart; not (as too often) the Right Ceremony of a Bridal Morning, [Page 37] but the constant Exercise of a Life, her whole Life but one long (to our sor­row too short) Nuptial Day: Those three Divine Graces that shined through her whole Deportment and Conduct, I might say, with equal Lustre; unless that (like the three Theological Vir­tues, Faith, Hope and Charity,) the last were the Greatest. For to pay her Me­mory this sacred Right, she was that Tenderness, that Gentleness, that Sweet­ness, that intire Submission and Obedi­ence; that though she had all the Roy­alty of such high Veins, the Majesty of such a lovely Personage, and the Birth-right to three fair Diadems; yet instead of the least Wedlock Insult or E­levation, from Beauty, Honours or Dig­nities, or any thing the World calls Great and Fair; on the contrary, they were only so many brighter Plumes to enrich and furnish out the Houshold Dove.

But this we must the less wonder at: For to give exalted Virtue its due, Love is the fairest Off-spring, where 'tis the Child of Piety: For if there be E­loquence or Harmony in all the Cares­ses [Page 38] of Faith and Affection, 'tis undoub­tedly there where they flow from that Heart and that Tongue that is toucht with an Altar Cole. For true Religion and Virtue, not only pull down so ma­ny Blessings from Heaven, as their own fair Reward, upon the honourable Bed of Marriage, but likewise bring that ample Dowr of Blessings of their own along with them, by enlightening the Soul to the performance of the whole Duties of Marriage, which crown the whole Felicities of it: Love may join Hands and Hearts, but it is Heaven alone that truly ties them.

Nor was the Princess enricht only with all the Gifts of Heavenly Grace, to make her the best of Wives; but likewise all the Gifts of Nature too, to make her such; whilst the freer Gayety of her Temper, and Fluence of Con­versation, in conjunction with the more Reservedness of the Prince, so en­livened their Society, and cheered their Embraces, as to make them the Lo­vingest, and thereby the happiest Pair in the World. In fine, to summ her whole Character upon this spacious [Page 39] Subject: The famous Examples of An­tiquity, such as a Portia, or a Camilla, those old Roman Presidents of the high­est Nuptial Fidelity, came so far short of the more dazling perfections here; by so much, as that above that rigid Feminine Honour, their only shining Guides, here was that infinite Addi­tion of all the brighter Luminaries of Christianity, a more beauteous and more sacred Constellation, for her leading Lights.

'Tis thus we find her in her narrow­er Pallace at the Hague, with her little English Court about her, either melt­ing in Complacence and Tenderness to her ever loved Lord, when at home with her; or else wafting her no less melting Sighs, Tears and Prayers after him, when exposed to remoter Toils and Hazards abroad: For in truth, the Prince was never facing of Dangers, or pushing for Glory, but the Princess was as ardently wrestling of Heaven for his preservation.

When after the toil of a Campaign, and the fatigues of the Feild, the pre­valence [Page 40] of her own prayers, and the Justice of his own Cause, as the good Genii that still hover'd round him, had brought him back to her Arms again, she flew with all the wings of Love to receive him; ever the forwardest of the whole Congratulating Train to meet him; and so inexpressible her Joys and Indearments that welcomed him, that still she had new work for a bended Knee, those yet new Vows to offer up, that her Thanks to Heaven for his Pro­tection were as important a part of her tendrest Devotion, as the Prayers to implore it.

Though her chief Residence and prin­cipal Court in Holland was at the Hague, yet she had several other Pallaces, the Hereditary Princely Seats of the House of Orange, as at Honsla [...]rdyke, Loo, Dieren, Hoosdyke, &c. much in the nature of our Kensington, Windsor, Hampton-Court, or any other of the Royal Pal­laces here in England; all which she made use of, dividing the Favour of her Royal Presence amongst them, at particular Seasons, for her Country Re­tirement and Recreation.

[Page 41]But in all these places, her whole En­tertainment was, in a manner, only un­der her own Roof. For notwithstand­ing her natural Goodness, she had all the Condescension and Courteous Dis­position imaginable, yet still she owed so much to her own High Birth, that as she lived in a Re-publick, there wan­ted that high Quality amongst them, worthy a Princess particular Intimacy and Familiarity: insomuch that out of an indispensible point of State, she could neither make Visits abroad nor Confidants; so that, as I said before, her whole Conversation was altogether at home.

But whilst the narrowness of her Court, almost to a Recluseness and So­litude took from her so great a part of that Grandeur, State and Homage, the usual Attendance of Royal Veins, and which so many transcendent Ex­cellencies of the Princess so highly me­rited; nevertheless it afforded her those particular Advantages, that repaid that unregretted Loss. For, to her Glory, the Closet and Altar had so much the [Page 42] more of her Company, as the Throne had the less. The less of the Hurry▪ and Pomps of Life, it gave her so much the fairer Occasion (an Occa­sion always embraced) of more close­ly following the great Original of her own Name, viz. In choosing the better part.

However, as much Restrained or Re­served as her own princely Character obliged her to live there, yet still her ex­traordinary Civility and Caress to the Burgher-Master's Ladies, or any of the more eminent Grandees of State, up­on any occasions of Complement, Vi­sit or Address made to her, gained her that Veneration and Esteem amongst them, that it is almost incredible to imagine, how entirely she carried the Hearts of the whole United Provinces. The visible Charms in her Person, and no less in her Carriage, with her exalted Piety, equally visible to the whole Eyes of the World, were those Attractions that all joined to­gether to dazle and astonish, such as obliged them to pay her the most [Page 43] Cordial LOVE, HONOUR and RESPECTS.

Besides for one Contentment still, which extracted a particular sweet­ness from this Recluser sort of Life, she was too passionate a Lover of her Dear LORD, even for that single Consideration alone, to affect a more noisy or more popular Court. Her Worldly Delights were wholly circled in his Embraces: A Prince so wor­thy of the most tender conjugal Affe­ction, as being adorned with so ma­ny surpassing Virtues to attract and se­cure that Affection: Of whom a great Minister of State, and one who had been long acquainted with his excel­lent Endowments gives this noble Cha­racter.

‘A PRINCE, who joined to the great Qualities of his Royal Blood, possesses all the popular Virtues of his Country: Silent and Thought­full: Given to Hear and Enquire: Of a Sound and Steddy Under­standing: [Page 44] Much Firmness in what he once Resolves, or once Denies: Great. Industry and Application to his Business: Little to his Plea­sure: Piery in the Religion of his Country, but with Charity to o­thers: Temperance unusual to his Youth, and to the Climate: Fru­gal in the common Management of his Fortune, and yet Magnificent upon Occasion: Of a great Spirit and Heart, aspiring to the Glory of Military Actions; with strong Ambition to grow Great, but rather by the Service than the Servitude of his Country. In short, a Prince of many Virtues, without any appear­ing Mixture of Vice.’

[Page 45]But though the Princess in her Hol­land Court, had not those high quali­fied Guests at Home to Welcome: However she had sometimes the hap­piness of more Illustrious Royal Visi­tants, that came a little farther Abroad to honour her Court: For on Tues­day, the First of October, 1678. Her Roy­al Highness the Dutchess of York, and the Princess Anne began a Journey from White-hall to the Hague, to visit the Princess of Orange: A Visit so ex­traordinary grateful to her, that she re­ceived them with all the highest Marks of Respect and Affection, and with all the Entertainment suitable. Particu­larly the Transports of Caresses and En­dearments between the two Princely Sisters was inexpressible: But the Felicity the Princess enjoyed was no lasting Blessing, for they made but a short stay there, whilst the parting of the two Princesses, was little less than a [...]i­vorce between them; so fond and ten­der a Love and Friendship had linked their Hearts.

[Page 46]Not long after, Providence was plea­sed to send her another Royal, though then unexpected, Visitant more. For in February, 1678/9. at that time, when the prophetick Fears of England, from the Duke's suspected Inclinations and Adherence to the Romish Faith and In­terest (for hitherto they were only suspicions) had made that Ferment in the English Blood, that the Nation's pulse beat high; his protecting Royal Brother his constant Sheild against the Assault of Fortune, had sent him over, with his Dutchess and Family, to the Hague; in hopes, that Distance and Ab­sence, the common Cure of Jealousie might at least have wrought that Me­dicinal Operation, as, in some measure, to allay the Ferment, and cool the then too threatning Heats against him. But whatever this Expedient might work towards the End desired, the Duke found an extraordinary and af­fectionate Reception from the true fi­lial Duty of the Princess, and a very hospitable Roof from the generous Prince, whilst the Princess melted into all the tendrest Condolance and Pity [Page 74] on the mournful Occasion of his Visit there. 'Tis true, the Belgian Populace gave him but a colder Welcome; and, to say truth, afforded him very little more Civility, than the Herd does the wounded Deer: An ungrateful Remem­brance of the too long and too warm Zeal of the Crown of England, for the Interest of theirs, and the common. E­nemy, the French; together with an unhappy Surmize and Reflection that a great part of the Malignancy of that raigning English Disease was influen­ced, by his Royal Highness's Sway and Steerage at the English Helm: Those unlucky Suggestions shrunk them in­to those languid and faint Embraces to this Royal Guest amongst them, though so nearly related to their darling Prin­cess, that the Duke not insensible of his poor Welcome in so unsociable a Climate, removed his Court a little fur­ther, to Brussels.

Now for one further Observation upon this happy Marriage, if it were not a sort of Superstition, from the concurrence of any eminent Actions, [Page 48] or Accidents, done or befaln on such ticular Days, to ground any Omens, or Presages of Fortune from any such fou [...]l [...]tion; otherwise I should pro­po [...]t to the Curious, as a thing stra [...]y remarkable, That the Prince of Orange's Wedding-Day, being the Fourth of November, was likewise his Birth-Day too; and not only so, but also the Birth-Day of his own Mo­ther, the Princess Royal, Mary, the Daughte [...] to King Charles the First, Nay, if be [...]ot too nice a Critiscime to add any further Remarks of this kind, 'twas on the Fourth of Novem­ber too that afterwards, in his Expedi­tion for England, he approacht the Eng­lish Coast, as the Assertor of our Com­mon Liberties. 'Tis true, he set not foot on English Ground till the Day following: However that may give us a Matter of Observation, as Curious as the other, viz. That on the Fifth of November, a Day so famous in the English Annals, and possibly as infa­mous in some other remoter Chro­nicles, that England Dates her Delive­rance from Popery, Twice from the same DAY.

[Page 49]As this Course of her Life in her Court abroad (being indeed all little else but one unvaried Scene) affords us but little Matter of particular Memoirs worthy a peculiar Relation; there hap­pened nothing of Importance or Weight, at least such as might make any Change in the Face of her Court, till the Death of her Royal Uncle, King Charles the Second. Here amongst all the Sighs and Tears pay'd to that expiring Prince, none certainly could be a truer or heartier Mourner than the Princess of Orange. 'Tis true, his lamented Death advanced the Princess so much the nearer to a Crown. But so far were her Thoughts from pluming her self with that gay Trifle added to her Scutcheon, that on the contrary, not only her natural and passionate Tenderness for so near, so great, and so honoured a Relation, but likewise those for the Religion and Li­berties of her Country, infinitely out­weighed all private Considerations, if it were possible for her diminutive Ambition to have any such: For Empire and So­veraignty weighed but light in her Bal­lance.

[Page 50]But as we have endeavoured to play the Divine Historian, in recounting the inimitable Vertues and Piety of this most excellent Lady; so we find her not only so zealous a Professor, but rank'd also in that higher Class, the Champions of Religion too; witness her several Let­ters from Holland to her ever-darling Sister the Princess Ann of Denmark; in which, to copy from her Grand-father's Original, I may truly say she drew her own Eicon Basilice, whilst out of some little Fears of that too dangerous Influence,

together with the prevailing Paternal Authority of a then Crowned Head, she acted that truly Christian GAMA­LIEL, in those strennous and labour'd Arguments in Defence of the Church of England against the Errors of Rome, for her Royal Highness's Confirmation, as were wholly beyond the common Capa­city of her Sex. 'Tis true, 'twas all a Work of Supererrogation, as being ad­drest to the Princess Anne, the Mistress of that settled Resolution, and those steady [Page 51] Grounds of Faith, as wholly unshaken as her own. Nevertheless, 'twas an inno­cent Tenderness of Affection, and Warmth of Zeal on the right side; and her inge­nious Prosecution of so noble a Theme must stand no little Monument of her Glory.

But as mine is too unhallowed a [...]n for so Divine a Theme as such trans­cendent Piety, and true Zeal for the Church of England, I shall borrow her fairer Character from a more deserving Historian, the Reverend Dr. Lake, her Royal Highness's sometimes Chaplain; whilst in his Preface to his Officium Eu­charisticum, a Present truly worthy so sacred a Hand as the Princess's, he just­ly tells the World, ‘That She is become her own Theatre; every Scene of her Life is so generally known, (whilst the World is a Specta­tor to applaud and admire her) that it were even an unpardonable Arro­gance, either to think of adding any thing to her Highness's Luster, or to [Page 52] believe he need open his Reader's Eyes. The Gravity and Sweetness of her Miene, the Affability of all her Comportments; the Vertue, Innocence and Goodness of her Life; her re­solved Constancy in adhering to the Re­ligion of our Church; her frequent and devout Retirements into her Closet; her unwearied Attendance at her Chap­pel and Altar, are sufficiently obvious; that the bare Knowledg of her High­ness has been enough to render her be­loved, with the most profound Respect. And that he's encouraged to tell her, that these Endowments will ever more import and stead her than any external or worldly ones, wherewith too she is abundantly provided. The Celsitude of her Descent only enrolls her Name in the Catalogue of the Great, is secu­lar and transitory, calculated for this World; but it is her Grace and Ver­tue that writes it in the Book of Life. Beauty is fading, Grandure is fugi­tive, the Wreathes of Civil Honour [Page 53] are withering; but her Godliness is a Crown that shall not fade away, glo­riously set off with a diffusive Charity, a great Humility, and an exemplary Devotion.’

But to return to our History: As we left that sleeping Prince (the much la­mented Charles the Second) in his Tomb, and find his Brother in the Throne: When after the first fair Dawn of this new Reign (a Morning that smiled so kind and promising, even to the dispel­ling almost all our past Frights) the growing Day soon clouded, and our whole Hemisphere began to lowr: When Re­ligion and Zeal (not to be too long on so unpleasing a Subject) had superseded all other Obligations of Trust, Faith, Vows, Honour, and every thing that ought to be binding or sacred; and all the fatal Consequences were but too vi­sible; insomuch that our Religion and Liberties bore but a Melancholy Face un­der the black Storms above them: 'Twas then when the reviving and increasing Terrors of the Nation from their im­pending Calamities, call'd and invited [Page 54] over the Prince of Orange for his relie­ving Hand, &c.

To describe the Prince's glorious En­try into England, so late and so fresh in all Memories, were a needless Repetition. Let it suffice that He wore the two Ta­blets of the Law engraven upon his Sword, RELIGION and RIGHTS, a Sword that, with so poten [...] a Com­mission, and such a Cause, even un­sheathed, carried all before it, whilst the Gates of Castles, Towns, Garisons, &c. without either Siege or Blockcade, un­lock'd to the very Name of ORANGE.

The poor unhappy King seeing his whole Power thus dropt from him, (all the too dismal Effects of his own mis­guided Counsels) and thereby his long flatter'd Hopes for ever defeated; whe­ther through Blushes or Fears, or both, (I will not determine) abandon'd his deserted Crown and Kingdom; by which Vacancy of the Throne, so large a Jewel as the English Diadem, being returned into their own Hands, the Gra­titude of the Nation was pleased to be­stow it on the Prince and Princess of [Page 55] Orange, made Co-Partners in the Sove­raignty, the Administration lodged in the Prince; and all with those universal Transports of Joy, as want not so poor a Trumpet as mine to sound them.

I remember a short but very emphati­cal Line on His Majesty's Accession to the Crown, not unworthy my Repeti­tion on this glorious Occasion.

Which shall thus speak English:

And now to compleat the whole Nati­on's impatient Desires, there wanted only the Presence of her Royal Highness, who accordingly upon a solemn Invitation of the Estates embarked for England, attended by a Squadron of English and Dutch Men of War, and arrived safely at White-hall on the 12 th of February 1688. [Page 56] to the inexpressible Joy of the People, having been also saluted all the way her Yatch passed, by the Forts and Ships in the Road, as also by the Tower-Guns. The same Day she received the Complements of the whole Nobility; and the next Day Their Titles were proclaimed, only with all the Customary Formality of Proclamations of that kind, viz. That the Gates at Temple-Bar were shut, where the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder and Sheriffs attended, till the Heraulds at Arms came to the Gates, and there informed the occasion of their coming, before they were opened for their Ad­mission into the City.

On the 11 th of April following was celebrated their happy Coronation; which added that fairer Glory to the Triumphs of the Day, as the Nation had conceived those fairer and more than common Hopes from the Illustrious Royal Pair that then received the Crown. And to conclude the Ceremony by the universal Satisfaction that finish'd it, I can only say, if Excess be a Fault, there wanted even a General Pardon for the Joys of that Day.

[Page 57]And here in Relation to her Majesty's share of Glory, I must now remark, as an everlasting Trophy to her never-dy­ing Honour, a Record that shall keep her Memory fragrant to the end of the World: That not only our Altars, the whole Church of England owes its Sup­porters and Bulwarks to Her; his now Majesty's double Alliance (through her Marriage) to the Crown of Great Bri­tain, being the greatest Invitation and Encouragement to the People of Eng­land to call him over for their Deliverer: But likewise 'twas this Royal Conjuncti­on in our Ascendant that has taken up the Ballance of Christendom, which the Un-British Effeminacy, Coldness and Negligence of the foregoing Reigns had so weakly, so poorly, and so unkindly let fall. The before so long Titular, and only Titular Blazon in the Royal Scutcheon of Arbiter of Europe, is now become (and that a Work I may say so far of her own fair Creation) a true and massy Jewel in the English Crown, whilst her propitious Marriage alone has lent this happy Kingdom that Hand and that Heart, that dare put in Execution [Page 58] what his Predecessors made only a Feint and Shadow; has crown'd us that So­vereign Prince, who in the Head of an Army dares speak true English again, true Royal English. A Prince, whose publick Benefits and Obligations to Man­kind have reconciled those almost incom­patible Names, the Protestant Deliverer, and yet at the same time the Romish Dar­ling; whilst his indefatigable and active Services in Relief of the common Di­stresses of Christendom, have made even the most rigid Royal Sons of the Vatican Mother both love, embrace and honour him.

The next Year after their Majesties Coronation, his Majesty's Personal Ap­pearance being required in Ireland for the Reduction of that Kingdom to his Obedience, (a Work that appeared too difficult for any other Conduct but his own) the Parliament by a Statute made for that purpose, settled the Royal Administration in the Queen, to hold for such time during his Majesty's Absence. By virtue of this Act, whenever his Ma­jesty's leading Sword in the common Cause of Christendom has been called [Page 59] abroad, and thereby the Regency de­volved into the Queen's Hand; as all those times of his Majesty's Absence were ever at that active Season of the Year, as required the most vigorous and most vigilant Councils of England; so the Royal Helm, tho steered by a Fe­male Hand, was never better guided▪ or more firmly, by the most Manly Royal Pilot. I may truly say, that as she was a second Elizabeth in the Church, so she was no less in the Council-Chamber.

But as highly qualified as she was for Exercise of Sovereign Power; how she affected it, I shall refer my Reader to the Reverend Dean of St. Paul's his more eminent Authority, where in the Enume­ration of her several other Vertues, he is pleased to leave us this Record of her.

As the heighth of her Birth, and the depth of her Conduct and Capacity, so every ways suted to her Place and Cha­racter (her little Ambition of Power only excepted) had so signally enrich'd her for a Sovereign Head: And to all this the bountiful Riches of Nature in so many Personal Accomplishments, had mark'd her out as well for the leading Court-Star too; yet either of these Claims and Prerogatives were so little [Page 62] her Concern, that the only Study of her Life was that Exemplary Piety, as should render her the leading Vertue that shin'd there. For so free was she from the least Pride and Vanity, those too com­mon Taints both of Greatness and Beau­ty; that if it were possible for her to glory in any of her illustrious Perfecti­ons or Acquisitions, it was not in the Beauties of her fair Eyes, or the Glories of her exalted Station, but those of her more exalted Mind: so far was she from being transported or delighted with what her Crown or her Glass reflected her, that on the contrary, she only looked upward for the Lustre to adorn her, and inward for the Mirror to please her.

And altho three Diadems were a very alluring Birth-right, a fair Portion of Worldly Felicity, yet she had still a higher Ambition: The Crown she aspi­red to was enrich'd with far brighter Lustre than that of Pearls and Dia­monds; and so little was she elevated with her first, that she waited only for her later and dearer Coronation.

[Page 63]But not only to survey her in this higher Sphere of Piety and Religion, but descend from her Communication with Heaven, to her Converse with Man, and describe her Morals as well as Divinity: She was the kindest and most constant Patroness to her Friends. And to keep up no less to the great Christian Maxim of returning Good for Evil; so she was a Protectress even to her Ene­mies, whilst many a just Blow from too many deserving Heads has been shielded off by her interposing Mercy.

Then for another of her shining Ver­tues, she was Charitable (if that Do­ctrine might hold in our Church) even to Merit. And as so many hundred poor Widows are now provided for mourning Attendants at her Funeral; so in her Life-time she has made many more hun­dreds of them smile at her Gate, than those are now order'd to mourn at her Hearse; when so many Mouths have been fed, and Backs clothed by her Majesty's Royal Bounty. And whilst so many living Monuments of her Ho­nour shall ever sing her Praises; so the [Page 64] cheerful and thankful Prayers of the Poor are of all, the loudest Trumps of Fame; for their Sound reaches Heaven, and makes the sweetest and most grate­ful Musick there.

Take her in all Capacities, she was a Wife so tender, that all her Sex might take Pattern from: A Princess so gra­cious, that all Mankind could do no less than reverence: A Mistress so obliging, that even the poorest of her Menials could not but doat upon her: And a Companion so cheerful, (where ever she vouchsafed her Friendship and Conver­sation) that made all Harmony where­ever she spoke; every thing smiled round her, Heaven only excepted, when it so early snatch'd her away. Yet pardon that Expression, Heaven smiled not less on her, in advancing her to that brighter Crown of Glory she so long aspired to, and was so well prepared for; but on us, when we were thought unworthy the longer Blessings of such a Princess.

To all her more Princely Perfections, those superiour Ornaments, (for we have still new Subject of her Praises, in a yet [Page 65] lower Class of Vertues) she thought it no Disgrace to wear the humbler Femi­nine Badg even of common Domestick Housewifery, whilst that Hand that graced a Royal Scepter, condescended to the poor Needle; as if she resolved to make her Life a Pattern to Woman­kind, as well to the Cottage as the Court; and by this particular Humility, to shame the Idleness of the highest and proudest, as well as lead and encourage it from so Royal an Example, even the lowest and the meanest.

And now to descend to the humblest, and at least the most neglected part of her Life, her Diversions, the Hours she rarely stole from Books or Devotion. The Theatres have sometimes (but very rarely) prevailed, and that by Dint of Address and Supplication, for the Ho­nour of her Royal Presence. The Muses (for whom both her Person and her Life were the fairest Scene) have now and then obtain'd the Grace of her Royal Encouragement.

And besides the several Balls and Masks at Court upon the Anniversaries [Page 66] of her Coronation, or those of her own or his Majesty's Birth-days, her Majesty was twice publickly entertain'd by the City of London; the first was on the 29 th of October, in 1689, being the Fe­stival Day of Sir Thomas Pilkington's Instalment into his Mayoralty; and the second on the same Day in the Year 1692, the like Festival Triumph at Sir Iohn Fleet's Accession to the Chair.

At the first of these Invitations from the City, their Majesties, with both the High Courts of Parliament (then sit­ting) with all the Chief Ministers of State, Foreign Ministers, their Majesties Privy-Council, the Judges, Ladies of the Court, &c. besides the Pageantry of the Day, were treated at a splendid and magnificent Dinner at Guild-hall. At the second Entertainment there was much the like Splendor and Magnificence re­peated, excepting that the Parliament not then sitting, that part of their Honoura­ble Guests were wanting. Both which were attended with the universal Shouts and Acclamations of the People, in Gra­titude for the Honour the City, and the [Page 67] Satisfaction they themselves received from their Majesties Royal Presence there; both through their Entry into the City, and also their Return to White-hall. I shall only recite some part of the Solemnity.

Upon the Hastings at the upper End of the Hall (where, under a Royal Ca­nopy of State, the Table for their Ma­jesties was seated) being erected a state­ly Structure, supported with noble Co­lumns and Pillasters of Egyptian Marble, the Base and Capitals of Gold, bearing a large Etableture of Silver, with Banners, Trophies, Escutcheons, Statues, all su­table to the Grandure of the Royal Guests, and the Solemnity of their Re­ception; upon a large Shield was ex­cellently painted the Poetical Story of Perseus and Andromeda, with this In­scription;

[Page 68]Thus English'd,

Under their Majesties Effigies was written this Motto,

Thus Paraphrased,

Round the two middle Columns were enwreathed these words,

In a long Scroll under their Majesties Arms was inscribed,

On a large Target, on which was painted the memorable Naval Victory [Page 70] gain'd over the French Fleet at La Hogue, was under written,

On another piece of Triumph was this Inscription;

[Page 71]But now to come to the most mourn­ful part of our History.

On Thursday the 20 th of December, her Majesty felt an Indisposition, which at first she did not think of moment enough for Application to her Physi­cians.

The Day following her Illness increa­sing, the worthy Dr. Millington, and Dr. Ratcliff were called; and upon the growing Danger, Dr. Brown, Dr. Cox, Dr. Gibbons, Dr. Robinson, and Dr. Cole, and some other learned Gentlemen were added to the Consult of Physicians.

On Saturday the Symptoms of the Small Pox appeared.

At the same time for her Ghostly Phy­sicians, the most Reverend the Bishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend the Bishops of Worcester, Ely, Sarum, and Bath and Wells, paid her their Religious Attendance.

[Page 72]These worthy Prelats, the ever most delightful Society of her Life, are now the mournful Assistants to conduct her out of it. And tho 'tis easily to be ima­gined what a more melancholy, tho Christian, Office they undertook in this last duteous Service to their most gracious Royal Mistress, their best of Friends and Patronesses: Yet as afflicted as they were at the too visible Face of that King of Terrors, DEATH, that so imminently threatned that Sacred Life; however, on the other side, they could not but be as extraordinary pleased to find her so well and so richly prepared to receive him.

His Grace of Canterbury, who was the most constant Attendant even to her last Breath, was one day ask'd by her Ma­jesty, What her Physicians Opinion of her was? To which his Grace ingeniously replying to this Effect, that they de­spaired of her Recovery: Her Majesty, wholly unstartled, with her natural Sweet­ness, was pleased to answer in these words,

[Page 73]That constant Tranquillity and Com­posure of Mind attended her through her whole Sickness, (her Preparation for Eternity being not the Work of her Death-bed) that all along she express'd a perfect Resignation to the Pleasure of Heaven; and seem'd to have nothing in this World, that she should be concern'd to part from but her dear Lord, to whom, amongst many other affectionate and tender Expressions, she was pleased to utter this kind and most passionate Wish, viz.

His Majesty during her whole Sickness, was that pious and constant Mourner over her, and such his extraordinary Tenderness and Fondness, that no Per­swasions could draw him a moment from her, whilst he lay upon a Camp-Bed all the while by her in the same Room.

The Day before her Death she join'd in Communion with the Reverend Bi­shops, [Page 74] and took her Viaticum for Eter­nity, the Blessed Sacrament.

In fine; her Religious Deportment through her whole Sickness was such, that her Reverend and pious Heavenly Guides found occasion to learn more than instruct; insomuch that the Bishop of Canterbury was heard to say, ‘That when it pleased God to call him, he pray'd that he might be found so well prepared to die.’

During her whole Sickness no Endea­vours were wanting, if possible, to save so pretious a Life; but as Human Art and Care cannot fence against the Will and Pleasure of Heaven, both the Physi­cians Industry, and the Nation's Prayers were wholly successless: for on Friday the 28 th of December, about One in the Morning, her attending Divines resigned their Charge to her ministring Angels, at which time she breathed out her Soul into the Arms of Heaven.

It was observable, that not the least Pang of Death was seen in her Face, [Page 75] whilst she breathed her last, as if she had rather seem'd to have lain down to sleep, than die.

If our Christian Creed will allow us that Latitude of Faith, as to give Credit and Reputation to Omens and Prophe­ticks, as the Presages or Fore-runners to the Deaths of Royal Heads, we have some very signal Occurrences that either happened before, or about the time of the Queen's Departure, worthy some particular Observation.

For instance:

First; His Majesty upon his going in his Royal Robes to the House of Lords for signing the two last Acts, viz. for the continuance of Tunnage and Poundage, and the frequent Session of Parliaments, his George was so missing as not possible to be found, insomuch that he was forced to borrow that of the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Dorset's, to wear on that occasion.

Upon the Queen's first Indisposition, the great and eldest Lion in the Tower, [Page 76] who had been about twenty Years there, commonly call'd King Charles the Second's Lion, sickned with her, and died the Wednesday Night after Christmas-Day, about Midnight, 48 Hours before her Majesty; which affords us so much the more matter of Curiosity, as that the like happened at the Death of King Charles the Second, when another of those Royal Beasts much in the like manner made the same Exit with that Prince.

From Bristol we have a certain Account that a Keeper of Sir Iohn Smith's Park shot an Eagle flying some very few days before the Queen's Death, being a Bird of that extraordinary Size, that her extended Wings reach'd three Yards wanting two Inches; and what adds to the Surprize and Wonder of this Rela­tion, is, That the very same Keeper likewise shot another Eagle of very large Dimension in the Duke of Bolton's Park three days before King Charles the Se­cond his Death.

I dare not attempt the describing the Royal Sorrows, those of the afflicted King [Page 77] at this staggering Shock. But as the Painter of old drew the Mourning Aga­memnon vailed, the Royal Face of Grief being above his Pencil's Reach: So not daring to venture on so bold a Theme, I shall only presume to say, Tho the Queen was so well prepared for her Death, his Majesty was not prepared for it. And altho she left the World without the least expiring Pangs, by dying even in Smiles; his Majesty, a mournful Specta­tor, stood by in little less than Convul­sions to behold her.

The publick Addresses of Condolance which the two Houses of Parliament have since presented to his Majesty on so deplorable a Subject, in which they were truly the Nation's Representa­tives, (for they spoke but the universal Voice of Sorrow) have amply testified the sensible Loss of so excellent a Prin­cess. Nor has the City been wanting in the like melancholy Duty, having likewise resolved the immediate erecting their Majesties Statues in their Royal Exchange.

[Page 78]I shall only remark upon this National Calamity. The Learned affirm, that as in the loss of an Eye the kind concentring optick Nerves unite and convey their double force to the other remaining Light: so may we live to see the same verified in the Royal surviving Luminary of these Kingdoms. And let it be no less the Nation's particular Care and Duty to be tender of that great surviving Light, because 'tis our ALL.

The Solemnities of her intended Fune­ral (in which both Houses of Parlia­ment resolve to make a part of the Mourning Cavalcade) are such as,

The Body to lie in State in her Ma­jesty's Bed-Chamber at White-hall, all hung with Purple Velvet, &c. the se­veral Ladies of the best Quality the at­tending Mourners there, &c. the Bed of State, and the Ornaments of Plumes, Ban­ners, &c. the several other State-Rooms in White-hall likewise hung in Mourning, and their Majesties Houshold Servants planted there as Mourners, &c.

[Page 79]From thence the whole intended Fu­neral March, where His Majesties Hous­hold Servants, all the Judges, Serjeants at Law, Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City, but above all, both Houses of Parliament are to attend the Corps drawn by eight Horses in an open Chariot with a black Velvet Canopy, &c. from White-hall to Henry the Seventh's Chap­pel. The stately Pyramid of prodigious height designed to be erected in the middle of Westminster-Abbey to repose the Body in during the Funeral Ser­mon, &c. with infinite more Splendor than I can pretend to recount or de­scribe, will be all perform'd with that Grandure and Magnificence, sutable to the passionate and highest Affection the Nation pay'd to so truly matchless a Princess.

Nor will the publick Mournings for so lamented a Sovereign Head, be confined only to three Kingdoms. The States of Holland, no less sensible of this common Loss, have resolved to express their uni­versal Afflictions for their dear Princely Mistress in an extraordinary manner; [Page 80] when besides their going into a gene­ral Mourning, Orders are given, that through all the Provinces, the Bells of every Church shall toll three times every Day for the space of an Hour, and this to be continued six Weeks.

But in all the wet Eyes and sad Hearts on this deplorable Occasion, I shall only add one farther Set of no less passionate, tho a lower degree of Mourners: And those are the infinite Number of her poor Pensioners, and other Objects of her Royal Charity, amongst whom, to her never-dying Honour, she distributed near 30000 l. per Annum, all out of her own Revenue. These, tho the poorest Mourners, will yet be the richest Tears, whilst the occasion that sheds them must more than embalm her Memory.

To conclude, I shall endeavour to sum up our Loss by the Pen of the Reverend Dr. Wake.

[Page 82]I shall only add, Though the Great WILLIAM, through the Blessing of Heaven, lives to preserve us the LION, Supporter of the English Scutcheon; yet in the Person of our Deceased Queen, I may truly affirm, we have lost the Royal ROSE of England.