depiction of King Charles I and his son   

THE Kingly Mirror, OR King Charles His last Legacy to the Prince His Son.  
Written a little before His Death.  
Containing Many excellent instructions and Directions, how to carry Himself in all Estates and Conditions.  
AND May serve as a good Monitor for all the Princes in Christendom.  
April 11th London Printed for C. V 1649.   

The Kingly Mirror:  
SOn,  
If these Papers, with some others, wherein I have set down the private reflections of my conscience, and my most impartial thoughts touching the chief passages, which have been most remarkable, or disputed in my late troubles, come to your hands, to whom they are chiefly designed; they may be so far useful to you, as to state your judgement aright in what hath passed; whereof a pious is the best use can be made; & they may also give you some directions, how to remedy the present distempers, and prevent (if God will) the like for time to come.  
It is some kind of deceiving & lessening the injury of my long restraint, when I find my leisure & solitude have produced something worthy of myself; & useful to you, That neither You nor any other may hereafter measure My Cause by the success, nor my judgement of things by my misfortunes, which I count the greater by far, because they have so far lighted upon you, and some others whom I have cause to love as well as myself, and of whose unmerited sufferings I have a greater sense than of mine own.  
But this advantage of wisdom You have above most Princes, that You have begun, and now spent some years of discretion, in the experience of troubles, and exercise of patience, wherein Piety, and all Virtues, both Moral and Political, are commonly better planted to a thriving (as trees set in winter) then in the warmth, and serenity of times, or amidst those delights, which usually attend Princes Courts in times of peace and plenty which are prone, either to root up all plants of true virtue and honour, or to be contented only with some leaves, and withering formalities of them, without any real fruits, such as tend to the public good, for which Princes should always remember they are born, and by providence designed.  
The evidence of which different education the holy Writ affords us in the contemplation of David & Rehoboham: The one prepared, by many aflictions for a flourishing kingdom the other softened by the unparaleld prosperity of Solomon's Court, and so corrupted to the great diminution, both for peace, honour, and Kingdom, by those flatteries, which are as unseparable from prosperous Princes, as Flies, are from fruit in summer, whom adversity, like cold weather, drives away.  
I had rather you should be Charles le Bon, then le Grand, good then great, I hope God hath designed you to be both, having so early put you into that exercise of his graces &, gifts bestowed upon you, which may best weed out all vicious inclinations, and dispose you to those Princely endowments, and employments, which will most gain the love, and intent the welfare of those, over whom God shall place you.  
With God I would have you begin and end, who is King of Kings; the Sovereign disposer of the Kingdoms of the world, who pulleth down one, and setteth up another.  
The best Government, and highest Sovereignty you can attain to, is, to be subject to him, that the Sceptre of his Word and Spirit may rule in your heart.  
The true glory of Princes consists in advancing God's glory in the maintenance of true Religion, and the Churches good; Also in the dispensation of civil Power, with Justice and Honour to the public peace.  
Piety will make you prosperous, at least it will keep you from being miserable; nor is he much a loser, that loseth all, yet saveth his own soul at last.  
To which Centre of true happiness, God, I trust, hath and will graciously direct all these black lines of affliction, which he hath been pleased to draw on me, & by which he hath [I hope] drawn me nearer to himself. You have already tasted of that Cup whereof I have liberally drank, which I look upon as God's Physic, having that in healthfullnesse which it wants in pleasure.  
Above all, I would have you, as I hope you are already; wel-grounded & settled in your Religion: the best profession of which, I have ever esteemed that of the church of England, in which you have been educated yet I would have your own Judgement and Reason now seal to that sacred bond which education hath written, that it may be judiciously your own Religion, and not other men's custom or tradition, which you profess.  
In this I charge you to preserve, as coming nearest to God's Word for Doctrine, & to the primitive examples for Government, with some little amendment, which I have otherwhere expressed & often offered, though in vain. Your fixation in matters of Religion will not be more necessary for your soul then your Kingdom's peace, when God shall bring you to them.  
For I have observed that the Devil of Rebellion, doth commonly turn himself into an Angel of Reformation; and the old Serpent can pretend new Lights; when some men's consciences accuse them for sedition & faction, they stop its mouth with the name and noise of Religion; when Piety pleads for peace and patience, they cry out Zeal.  
So that, unless in this point, You be well settled, you shall never want temptations to destroy you and yours, under pretensions of reforming matters of Religion, for that seems even to worst men, as the best & most auspicious beginning of their worst designs.  
Where, besides the Novilty which is taking enough with the Vulgar, every one hath an affection, by seeming forward to an outward Reformation of Religion, to be thought zealous, hoping to cover those irreligious deformities, whereto they are conscious by a severity of censuring other men's opinions or actions.  
Take heed of abetting any Factions, or applying to any public Discriminations in matters of Religion, contrary to what is in your judgement, and the Church well settled your partial adhering as head, to any oneside gains you not so great advantages in some men's hearts (who are prone to be of their King's Religion) as it loseth you in others, who think themselves, & their profession first despised, then persecuted 〈◊〉 you: take such a course as may either with calmness & charity quite remove the seeming differences & offences, by impartiality, or so order affairs in point of power that you shall not need to fear or flatter any faction; for if ever you stand in need of them, or must stand to their courtesy you are undone: the Serpent will devour the Dove: you may never expect less of loyalty, justice, or humanity, then from those who engage into religious rebellion: Their interest is always made Gods, under the colours of Piety, ambitions policies march, not only with greatest security, but applause, as to the populacy; you may hear from them jacobs' voice but you shall feel they have Esau's hands.  
Nothing seemed less considerable than the Presbyterian faction in England, for many years; so compliant they were to public order: nor indeed was their party great, either in Church, or State, as to men's judgements: But as soon, as discontents drove men into Sidings (as ill humours fall to the disaffected part, which cause inflammations) so did all, at first who affected any novelties adhere to that fide, as the most remarkable & specious note of difference (then) in point of Religion.  
All the lesser Factions at first were officious servants to Presbytery their great Master: till time & military success discovering to each their particular advantages, invited them to part staks, & leaving the joint stock of uniform Religion, pretended each to drive for their party, the trade of profits or preferments, to the breaking & undoing not only of the Church & State, but even of Presbytery itself, which seemed & hoped at first to have engrossed all.  
Let nothing seem little or despicable to you, in matters which concern Religion, and the Church's peace, so as to neglect a speedy reforming and effectual suppressing errors, and schisms, which seem at first but as a hand-bredth, by seditious Spirits, as by strong winds are soon made to cover and darken the whole Heaven.  
When you have done justice to God, your own soul, and his Church, in the profession, & preservation both of truth & unity of Religion. The next main hang on which your prosperity will depend, and move, is, that of civil justice, wherein the settled Laws of these kingdoms, to which you are rightly heir, are the most excellent rules you can govern by; which by an admirable temperament give very much to Subject's industry, liberty, and happiness & yet reserve enough to the Majesty & Prerogative of any King who own his people as Subjects not as slaves; whose subjection as it preserves their propriety, peace, and safety; so it will never diminish your. Rights, nor their ingenuous liberties; which consists in the injoiment of the fruits of their industry, and the benefit of those Laws to which themselves have consented.  
Never charge your Head with such a Crown, as shall by its heaviness oppress the whole body, the weakness of whose parts cannot return any thing of strength, honour, or safety, to the Head, but a necessary debilitation and ruin.  
Your Prerogative is best showed, and exercised in remitting, rather an exacting the rigour of the Laws, there being nothing worse, then legal tyranny.  
In these two points, the preservation of established Religion and Laws, I may (without vanity) turn the reproach of my sufferings, as to the world's censure, into the honour of a kind of Martyrdom, as to the testimony of my own Conscience. The troubles of my Kingdoms have nothing else to object against me but this, That I prefer Religion and Laws established, before those alterations they propounded.  
And so indeed I do, and ever shall, till I am convinced by better Arguments, than what hitherto have been chiefly used towards me, Tumults, Armies, and Prisons.  
I cannot yet learn that lesson, nor I hope ever will you, That it is safe for a King to gratify any Faction with the perturbation of the Laws, in which is wrapped up the public Interest, and the good of the community.  
How God will deal with me, as to the removeall of these presures, and indignities, which his justice by the very unjust hands of some of my Subjects, hath been pleased to lay upon Me, I cannot tell: nor am I much solicitous what wrong I suffer from men, while I retain in my soul, what I believe is right before God.  
I have offered all for Reformation and Safety, that in Reason, Honour and Conscience I can; reserving only what I cannot consent unto, without an irreparable injury to my own soul, the Church, and my people, and to you also; as the next and undoubted Heir of my Kingdoms.  
To which if the divine Providence to whom no difficulties are insuperable, shall in his due time after my disease bring you, as I hope he will: My Counsel and Charge to you, is, That you seriously consider the former real or objected miscarriages, which might occasion my troubles, that you may avoid them.  
Never repose so much upon any man's single council, fidelity, and discretion, in managing affairs of the first magnitude, (that is, matters of Religion and Justice) as to crease in yourself, or others, a diffidence of your own judgement, which is likely to be always more constant and impartial to the interest of your Crown and Kingdom than any man's.  
Next beware of exasperating any Factions by the crossness, and asperity of some men's passions, humours, or private opinions, employed by you, grounded only upon the differences in lesser matters, which are but the skirts and suburbs of Religion.  
Wherein a charitable connivance and Christian toleration often dissipates their strength, whom rougher opposition fortifies: and puts the despised and oppressed party, into such Combinations, as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their Persecutors, who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commiseration, which attends all, that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion.  
Provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of Laws, and Government, or Religion established, as to the essentials of them, such motions and minings are intolerable.  
Always keep up solid piety, and those fundamental Truths (which mend both hearts and lives of men) with impartial favour and Justice.  
Take heed that outward circumstances and formalities of Religion devour not all, or the best encouragements of learning, industry, and piety, but with an equal eye and impartial hand, destribute favours, and reward to all men, as you find them for their real goodness both in abilities and fidelities worthy and capable of them.  
This will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and the most too: who though they be not good themselves, yet are glad to see the severer ways of virtue at any time sweetened by temporal rewards.  
I have, You see, conflicted with different and opposite Factions (for so I must needs call and count all those, that act not in any conformity to the Laws, established in Church and State) to sooner have they by force subdued what they counted their common Enemy, (that is, all those that adhered to the Laws, and to Me) and are secured from that fear, but they are divided to so high a rivalty, as sets them more at defiance against each other, then against their first Antagonists.  
Time will dissipate all Factions, when once the rough horns of private men's covetous and ambitious designs, shall discover themselves; which were at first wrapped up and hidden under the soft and smooth pretensions of Religion, Reformation and Liberty: As the Wolf is not less cruel, so he will he more justly hated, when he shall appear no better than a Wolf under Sheep's clothing.  
But as for the seduced Train of the Vulgar, who in their simplicity follow those disguises; My Charge and Council to you, is, That as ye need no palliations for any designs, (as other men) so that you study really to exceed [in true and constant demonstrations of goodness, piety, and virtue, towards the People) even all those men, that make the greatest noise and ostentations of Religion, so you shall neither fear any detection, (as they say, who have but the face and mask of goodness) nor shall you frustrate the just expectations of your people, who cannot in Reason promise themselves so much good from any Subject's novelties, as from the virtuous constancy of their King.  
When these mountains of congealed factions shall by the Sunshine of God's mercy, and the splendour of your virtues be thawed and dissipated; and the abused Vulgar shall have learned, that none are greater Oppressors of their Estates, Liberties, and Consciences, than those men that entitle themselves, the Patrons and Vindicators of them, only to usurp power over them: Let then no passion betray you, to any study of revenge upon those, whose own sin and folly will sufficiently punish them in due time.  
But as soon as the forked arrow of factious emulations is drawn out, use all princely arts and clemency to heal the wounds that the smart of the cure may not equal the anguish of the hurt.  
I have offered Acts of indemnity, and Oblivion, to so great a latitude, as may include all, that can but suspect themselves to be any way obnoxious to the Laws; and which might serve to exclude all future jealousies and insecurities.  
I would have you always propense to the same way, when ever it shall be desired and accepted, let it be granted, not only as an Act of State policy and necessity, but of christian charity and choice.  
It is all I have now left me, a power to forgive those that have deprived me of all; and I thank God, I have a heart to do it, and joy as much in this grace, which God hath given me, as in all my former enjoyments; for this is a greater argument of God's love to me, than any prosperity can be.  
Be confident (as I am) that the most of all sides who have done amiss, have done so, not out of malice but misinformation or misapprehension of things.  
None will be more loyal and faithful to me & you, than those Subjects who are sensible of their Errors, and our Injuries, will feel in their own Souls most vehement motives to repentance, and earnest desires to make some reparation for their former defects.  
As your quality sets you beyond any Duel with any Subject, so the nobleness of your mind must raise you above the meditating any revenge, or executing your anger upon the many.  
The more conscious you shall be to your own merits, upon your people, the more prone you will be to expect all love and loyalty from them, and to inflict no punishment upon them for former miscarriages: You will have more inward complacency in pardoing one than in punishing a thousand.  
This I writ to you, not despairing of God's mercy, and my Subjects affections towards you, both which, I hope you will study to deserve, yet we cannot merit of God, but by his own mercy.  
If God shall see fit to restore me, and you after me, to those enjoyments, which the Laws have assigned to us, and no Subjects without an high degree of guilt and sin can divest us of, then may I have better opportunity, when I shall be so happy to see you in peace, to let you more fully understand the things that belong to God's glory, your own honour and the Kingdom's peace.  
But if you never see my face again, and God will have me buried in such a barbarous imprisonment and obscurity, (which the perfecting some men's designs require) wherein few hearts that love me are Permitted to exchange a word or a look with me, I do require and entreat you as your Father, and your King, that you never suffer your heart to receive the least check against, or disaffection from the true Religion established in the Church of England.  
I tell you I have tried it, and after much search, and many disputes, have concluded it to be the best in the world, not only in the Community as Christian, but also in the special notion as reform, keeping the middle way between the pomp of superstitions Tyranny, and the meanness of fantastic Anarchy.  
Not but that the draught being excellent as to the main, both for Doctrine and Government in the Church of England) some lines, as in very good figures, may happily need some sweetening or polishing, which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand: if some men's precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude alterations, as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and proportions of the whole.  
The scandal of the late Troubles, which some may object, and urge to you against the Protestant Religion established in England, is easily answered to them, or your own thoughts in this, That scarce any one who hath been a Beginner, or an active prosecutor of this late War against the Church, the Laws, and me, either was, or is a true Lover, Embracer, or Practiser of the Protestant Religion, established in England, which neither gives such rule, nor ever before set such examples.  
'tis true, some heretofore had the boldness to present threatening Petitions to their Princes and Parliaments, which others of the same Faction (but of worse Spirits) have now put in execution: but let not counterfeit and disorderly zeal abate your value and esteem of true piety, both of them are to be known by their fruits, the sweetness of the Wine & figtree is not to be despised, though the Brambles and thorns should pretend to bear figs and grapes, thereby to rule over the Trees.  
Nor would I have you to entertain any aversation, or dislike of Parliaments, which in their right constitution with freedom and honour will never injure or diminish your greatness, but will rather be as interchangeing of love and lovaltie and confidence between a Prince and his People.  
Nor would the events of this black Parliament have been other than such (however much byassed by Factions in the Elections) if it had been preserved from the insolences of popular dictates, and tumultuary impressions: The sad effects of which will no doubt make all Parliaments after this more cautions to preserve that Freedom, and Honour, which belongs to such assemblies when once they have fully shaken off this yoke of Vulgar encroachment, since the public interest consists in the mutual and common good both of Prince and people.  
Nothing can be more happy for all, than in fair, grave, and Honourable ways to contribute their Counsels in common, enacting all things by public consent; without Tyranny or Tumults. We must not starve ourselves, because some men have surfeited of wholesome food.  
And if neither I, nor you, be ever restored to our rights, but God in his severest justice, will punish my Subjects with continuance in their sin, and suffer them to be deluded with the prosperity of their wickedness; I hope God will give me and you that grace, which will teach and enable us, to want, as well as to wear a Crown, which is not worth taking up, or enjoying upon sordid, dishonourable, and irreligious terms.  
Keep you to true principles of piety, virtue and honour, you shall never want a kingdom.  
A principle point of your honour will consist in your deferring all respect, love, and protection to your mother, my Wife; who hath many ways deserved well of me, and chief in this, that having been a means to bless me with so many hopeful children 〈◊〉 (all which, with their mother; I recommend to your love and care) she hath been content with incomparable magnanimity and patience to suffer both for, and with me, and you.  
My prayer to God almighty is, (what even becomes of me, who am, I thank God, wrapped up and fortified in my own innocency and his Grace) that he would be pleased to make you an Anchor or Harbour rather, to these tossed and weatherbeaten Kingdoms a Repairer by your wisdom, justice, piety, and love, of what the folly and wickedness of some men have so far ruined, as to leave nothing entire in Church or state, to the crown the Nobility, the Clergy, or the Commons; either as to Laws, liberties, estates, order, honour, conscience or lives.  
When they have destroyed me (for I know not how far God may permit the malice and cruelty of my enemies to proceed, and such apprehensions some men's words and actions have already given me) as I doubt not but my blood will cry aloud for vengeance to Heaven; so I beseech God not to pour out his wrathupon the generality of the people, who have either deserted me, or engaged against me, through the artifice and hypocrisy of their Leaders, whose inward horror will be their first Tormenter, nor will they escape exemplary judgements.  
For those that loved me, I pray God, they may have no miss of Me, when I am gone; so much I wish and hope, that all good Subjects may be satisfied with the blessings of your presence and virtues.  
For those that repent of any defects in their duty toward me, as I freely forgive them in the word of a Christian King, so I believe you will find them truly Zealous, to repay with interest that loyalty and love to you, which was due to me.  
In sum, what good I intended, do you perform; when God shall give you power: much good I have offered, more I purposed to Church and State, if times had been capable of it.  
The disception will soon vanish, and the Vizard will fall off a pace, This mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion (for so it now plainly appears, since my Restraint and cruel usage, that they sought not for me, as was pretended) will not long serve to hid some men's deformities.  
Happy times I hope, attend you, wherein your Subject's [by their miseries] will have learned, That Religion to their God, and Loyalty to their King, cannot be parted without both their sin and their infelicity.  
I pray God bless you and establish you● Kingdoms in righteousness, your Soul in true Religion, and your honour in the love o● God and your people.  
And if God will have disloyalty perfected by my destruction; let my memory ever, with my name, live in you; as of your Father, that loves you, and once a King of three flourishing Kingdoms; whom God thought fit to honour, not only with the Sceptre & government of them, but also with the suffering many indignities, & an untimely death for them; while I studied to preserve the rights of the Church, the power of the Laws, the honour of my Crown, the privileges of Parliaments, the liberties of my people, and my own Conscience, which I thank God is dearer to me then a thousand Kingdoms.  
I know God can, I hope he yet will restore me to my Rights. I cannot despair either of his mercy, or of my people's love and pity.  
At worst, I trust I shall but go before you to a better Kingdom, which God hath prepared for me, and me for it, through my Saviour Jesus Christ, to whose mercies I commend you and all mine.  
Farewell, till We meet if not on Earth, yet in Heaven.   
FINIS.