"mount his horfe, and make all poffible dispatch "out of the territories of the States; that he "himself should return home, and under pre"tence of sickness lie longer a-bed than usual; " and that, when he thought his Majefty was fo "far off as to be out of danger to be overtaken, " he should go to the States, and acquaint them, "that he understood his Majefty was in town, "and require his being feized on the terms of "the late treaty; that he knew they would comply readily, and fend to the place directed; but " on finding that his Majefty was gone off fo far "as to be fafe, he would propofe to make no fur"ther noife, left it fhould discover the treaty, "and prevent his Majefty's falling afterwards "into their hands.

"The King immediately followed his advice, and, he returning home, every thing was acted "and happened as it was propofed and foretold. "The King, having thus efcaped this immi"nent danger, moft feriously performed what he promised, never mentioning any part of this story till after the Restoration, and then not de

་་

firing to know how Downing's intelligence "came, which he never difcovered, though he

(the King) often faid it was a mystery; for no "perfon knew of his defign till he was on horseback, and he could not think that Fleming went "and difcovered him to Downing: befides, he

"fo

fo foon returned from his fifter, he could not "have time, Downing having come much about "the time at which Fleming returned."

"I have heard," adds Lockhart,

"this story

"told by feveral who frequented the Court of "Charles the Second, after the Restoration, par

ticularly by the Earl of Cromartie, who said, "that in the next year after the Restoration, he, "with the Duke of Rothes, and feveral other "Scotch quality, being one night with the King "over a bottle, they all complained of an imper"tinent fpeech which Downing had made in Par«liament, reflecting on the Scottish Nation, which

they thought his Majefty would refent, fo as to "order him from Court, and withdraw his favour "from him: the King replied, that he did not

approve of what Downing had faid, and that "he would reprove him for it; but that to go "further he could not do, because of this story, "which he repeated in the terms here related; "which made fuch an impreffion on all prefent, "that they freely forgave what had paffed; and "the Duke of Rothes afked liberty to drink Downing's health in a bumper."

The Duke of Ormond seems very early to have predicted the unfitness of Charles for the exalted and responsible fituation he was one day to fill; for in a letter of his addreffed to Sir Edward Hyde (afterwards Lord Clarendon), January 27,

1658,

1658, he fays, "But I fear his immoderate de light in empty, effeminate, and vulgar converfations, is become an irresistible part of his "nature, and will never fuffer him to animate his "own designs and others' actions with that spirit which is requifite for his quality, and much "more to his fortune.

"

"This, to any but to you, or him, from any (unless a very few) but from me, or from me at "any other time, were too bold a lamentation, "for fo God knows it is. God blefs him, and "fit him for his work."

LORD CLARENDON'S "Letters."

The Original of the following curious Letter from Charles the Second to Mrs. Lane*, is in the poffeffion of JOHN LEIGH PAILIPS, Efq. of Manchester.

MRS. LANE,

"I HAVE hitherto deferred writing to you in

hope to be able to fend you fomewhat else be"fides a Letter; and I believe it troubles me "more that I cannot yett doe it, than it does "you, though I doe not take you to be in a good "condition longe to expect it. The truth is my "neceffityes are greater than can be imagined, "but I am promised they shall be shortly fup

⚫ Mrs. Lane, with great dexterity, managed the escape of Charles, after the battle of Worcester, through the Midland Counties to the fea.

plyed; if they are, you shall be sure to receave "a fhare, for it is impoffible I can ever forget "the great debte I owe you, weh I hope I fhall

"live to pay, in a degree that is worthy of me: in the meane time I am fure all who love me

will be very kind to you, elfe 1 fhall never

Charles had pardoned a perfon of quality who had killed his antagonist unfairly in a duel. Some time afterwards, the perfon upon whom He had fo improperly exercised one of the nobleft prerogatives of royalty having murdered another man, Lord Rochester told the King, "Sire, it was not "Lord but your Majefty that killed this "man."

Count Zindendorf, in his "Lecteur Royal," fays, "that when Charles the Second quitted Bruffels, he defired the Spanish agent there to "fend him occafionally the news. Of what kind, "Sire, would you have your news? As the King appeared furprized at the question, the Spaniard replied, Why, Sir, my mafter, Don Juan, the "Governor of the Low Countries, gives me po"fitive orders always to fend him good news, "whether true or falfe."

12

LORD CLARENDON.

The two following Letters, written in the year preceding the Restoration of Charles the Second, feem to have been dictated in the true fpirit of prophecy, and evince with what difficulty the antient government of a kingdom can be reftored, unless the powerful and leading perfons in the kingdom are well inclined to its restoration.

LORD CULPEPER TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR HYDE.

"I TAKE it for granted this change in England "will require your conftant attendance at Hock«ftraten, which makes me addrefs this letter "thither, and I fhall follow it as foon as my "young Mafter fhall have fealed fome writings "betwixt him and his relations, which (they be

વ

ing ready engroffed here, and he fent for) I

hope will be done on Monday. I cannot fay "I am much furprised with the news of Crom"well's death, the letters of the last week (those "of this are not come yet) leaving him defperate

ly fick of a palfy and quartan ague; yet the "thing is of fo great confequence, that I can

hardly forbear rubbing my eyes to find whether "I fleep or wake. The firft news of it came not "hither untill very late (at the fhutting the gates)

"laft