THE Royal Chronicle: Wherein is contained, An Historical Narration of His Majesty's Royal Progress; The Princely Cabinet laid open, with an Emblem to Great Britain; The People's Diadem, proceeding from the Ornament and Crown of their gracious Lord and Sovereign; The incomparable Studies of His Majesty in the Government of Kings, to the admiration of all foreign Princes; and His Majesty's Liege People within these His Realms and Dominions; His great Endowments and Experience, in Religion, Law, and Governments; His Mercy rejoicing over Justice, and his Justice cutting out work for his Mercy; His gracious Pardon to Offenders, and His Christian Speech to the London Ministers.   blazon or coat of arms of the British royal family 
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
C. R.  
HONI SOIT QVI MAY Y PENSE  
LONDON, Printed for G. Horton, living near the three Crowns in Barbican. 1660.   

THE Royal Chronicle:  
IF Violence and Time had conspired to wear out all the Memorials of former Ages, give me leave to present you with a brief (but pleasant) Chronicle to all Posterity, of his Royal Majesty's Birth, Education, and Progress; And should modern worth be blotted out of all Records, a restored Charles sufficeth, in whom the forlorn Virtue of our worst of Times took sanctuary: 'Tis his Sovereign Graces, that delights the Souls of his loyal Subjects: And we need not wonder, that Nature was 5 years meditating on the great piece that was to result from such a Royal Conflux, both of Father and Mother; in whose Bed all the Royal Families of Europe met: in his Father there was by his great Grandmother the wife of James the Fourth British Majesty; by his Grandfather he shared of the Saxon Royalty, by his Mother of the Danish, by his Father of the Norman, by his Sister he was allied to the Elector Palatine; as he was related to Denmark, so he was to Sweden and Po●and, and to most of the Germane or Italian Princes; in our Sovereign's Mother there lodgeth all that's Sovereign in the Bourbons of France, the Austrians of Spain, the Medici's of Fl●rence, (so true is it that God made all Nations of one blood.) It was after five years mutual enjoyment of each other Charles the first King of England, etc. and Mary Daughter to a great and Sister to a just King of France received this Son, the sacred pledge to them of Heavens, and each others Love. For He was born the 29 Day of May, 1630. St. Augustine's birthday, where we may hope this Nursing Father of our Church will with his sword which He bears not in vain, prove as great a Defender of the faith once delivered to the Saints, as the other Holy Father did with his pen, and we made as happy in this Crown and Sceptre, as the Ancient Church was in that Mitre and Crosier. May never knew a more hopeful Flower than this that happily sprung up from the Roses of York and Lancaster joined to the Lilies of France; a flower to whose composure it seems Nature summoned its divided glories, as Zouxis did his several Beauties to make up one Venus; well this May was then thought most happy until now, we have lived to see another May, as much more happy, as it is to be brought to a Kingdom then to be brought to the world, to be received as a Prince into the discreet embraces of Nations, then as a Child into the fond Embraces of a Nurse; to be crowned then to be cradled: Great was the remark of this Royal Infant through each tender Line, relating to so worthy a Prince, as is fit to be consecrated to Solemnities worthy a Chronicle. The Heavens seemed to congratulate his royal birth, a Star appearing at midday over St. James, displaying its modest beams in spite of Sunshine in the middle of the Air, (an emblem of his future glory,) Thus did the Heavens express themselves in miracles and wonders; and it is our duty to admire them, as the works of the Lord, and therefore wonderful in our eyes: Yet the great Selden attempted to interpret that Star thus: 
When to Paul's Cross the grateful King drew near?  
A shining Star did in the Heavens appear,  
Thou that consult'st with Divine Mysteries,  
Tell me what this bright Comet signifies?  
Now is there born a valiant Prince it'h West,  
That shall eclipse the Kingdoms of the East.   
The King our Sovereign's Father being sensible that Children to any man especially to a Prince are an inheritance from the Lord, went solemnly to St. Paul's, (once a Cathedral, since a stable; once a Church to entertain Christ in, since a Manger for Rebels to revel in) and there acknowledged with the Emperor Antoninus in St. Paul's phrase, that by God, and through God, and therefore to Him, and the glory of his praise are all things.  
This Bud of Majesty was committed to the care of the honourable Countess of Dorset, to be by her tender hands, and softer care cherished to grow up a Sovereign, where He sucked graces in with milk, and virtues as early as nourishment; as appears by the most incomparable gifts and graces wherewith God hath been pleased to endow his Majesty. To pass by his outward Man, comelier, and with Saul higher than all the people, so that there is none like him among all the people; so exactly form, that with Absalon from the Crown of his head to the soul of his foot the most curious eye could not discern an error or a spot; the pleasing severity and soft rigorousness of that face which is both Majestic and beautiful, solemn and comely; though of late he is grown leaner with cares and age; the dark and night complexion of his face, and the twin-stars of his quick and sharp eyes sparkling in that night; He is most beautiful when he speaks, his black shining Locks naturally curled into great Rings hath hitherto been his Ornament and Crown; his motions easy and graceful, and plainly Majestic! etc. I say to pass by these lower worths of neat shaped dust and well framed earth, come we to his Mind which is indeed himself; which you may guests noble by that body wherein it dwells, such Cabinets were made only for the most precious Jewel: the pleasing parts and motions of that body are emblems of his mind; beauty, comeliness, proportion, etc. the gross Ornaments of the body, are so many refined virtues in his soul: 1. His vast Understanding, as spreading, and as wide as the things to be understood; three Nations put limits to his power, it's the world only that confines his thoughts. His Majesty understands Spanish and Italian, writes French correctly; the French, Italian, Spaniards, (like those Parthians, Medes, and Elamites in the Acts) are amazed to hear Him, replying to each of them in their own Tongue wherein they were born. In these several Languages he peruseth such parts of knowledge as may complete a Sovereign: Logic seems to be his Nature as well as Reason, He cannot speak inconsequently. He hath read divers of the choicest pieces of policy, & gathered the scattered wisdom and reason that run through Politicians writings and actions in his own breast, and there digested them into axioms of an entire and well framed policy; to policy He hath added ancient and modern History; whereupon he seethe those things performed, that He saw in policy contri●ed. When we have admired the gracious contents of any of His Majesty's Writings, we cannot but admire also his excellent Rhetoric.  
1. His Majesty being naturally averse from that lawless power he saw exercised in the Countries where he sojourned; and resolved to Govern by Laws; he proceeds to study the Law of Nations, and that of his own Country too; wherein his Father so excelled, that few Gentlemen in England came near him; his skill in Geography, what with his study, what with his Travels is admirable: Indeed the useful parts of the Mathematics, the Globe, Fortification, etc. take him up very much, in Navigation, what by his own Genius, what by converse with Marinners, and his own Observations in the Downs, and elsewhere, he is so good a Proficient, that expert Seamen have admired him, and dare promise that his skill that way will be no small advantage to the Nation, whose Interest lies in foreign Voyages and Trades; But Divinity is his Mistress, with whose wholesome principles he hath well stocked the great spirit of his mind, upon which his Soul may rest; he searches that word of God which is able to make a man wise to salvation, and perfect to every good work, in a word, he hath all the advantages of knowledge. 1 A clear apprehension to receive a right and distinct notion of the things represented to him. 2 Solidity of Judgement to weigh the particulars he apprehends. 3. Fidelity of Retention; for as Nature hath given to the bodies of men for the furtherance of Corporal strength, a Retentive power to clasp and hold fast that which preserveth it, until a thorough concoction be wrought, so he hath a Retentive faculty of Memory given to Reason as a means to consolidate and enrich it.  
2. His great wisdom, as of an Angel of God, as large a heart to know good and evil, as great education, the difference of Nation and Factions he had to deal with, his Enemy's opposition, his Friend's treachery, his personal converse with men of all sorts, the variety of his experience from the distinct knowledge of the Natures of the People of several Countries of their chief Ministers of State Ecclesiastic and Civil, and all this as a noble Pen observes in adversity, which opens the understanding, and confirms the judgement, could make; he with his Grandfather of France carrieth a Council with him upon one Horse.  
3. But this wisdom were dangerous, were it not accompanied with justice, his wisdom is not a crafty or sordid subtlety, nor devilish policy; but pure, good, and just Judgement: He hath a Justice that becomes the Throne, a constant will to give every Man his due, as he hath well or ill deserved: A person of Honour who hath spent 18 years in his Majesty's Court and service, doth upon distinct knowledge let the World know he can as confidently believe that his Majesty is just as that he is a Man; he observes a Justice in his word, and in his action, the one is an Oracle, and the other Law.  
4. But he hath a mercy that rejoiceth over his Justice, a mercy calculated for our time and Nation, wherein Subjects were never so obnoxious to Justice, nor a Prince so inclined to mercy; a People was hardly ever so guilty as we, and hardly a Prince ever so gracious as himself, we are not more ready to offend than he to pardon; with what tender Majesty doth he pass by the guilty prostrate? his Justice doth but cut out work for his Mercy! what stubborn Offenders that brings upon their knees, this stoops to bring them up again; they that fall by his severity, rise up again by his favour; he is more compassionate to Men then they are to themselves: It is but the least part of his mercy that he can be merciful to others while they are most cruel to him, he is exercising the highest charity towards them, while they are exercising the greatest injuries towards him; this Nature taught him, than God, and afterwards his Father, in that incomparable advice to him.  
5. A general goodness, (whereof that mercy is but a branch) familiar converse, easiness of access, a readiness to communicate himself, his fair carriage towards all, how unwilling he is to force men to do him right, how (when he who fears not to do others justice) afraid is he to do it to himself? I know not whether he be more good than great, more Charlebone then Charlemagne; I am sure his virtues are esteemed by him more than his Kingdom, and he doth not exercise these virtues (as malice, as Hell once suggested) that he might dissemble himself to his just Right; but he would obtain his Right that he might be the more able to exercise his virtues; his Right will therefore please him, because than he is able to forgive them that did him wrong.  
6. His magnanimity, fortitude, and courage; he is as magnanimous in suffering wrong, as he is valiant in attempting to recover his Right; his Innocence being guilty of nothing, is afraid of nothing, the Righteous is as bold as a Lion, fearing no Enemy, because he hath justly provoked none; his Religion is not the least support of his valour; He with David encourageth Garrisons, and wraps up himself in his God, where Reason leaves doubting, their Faith gins in hope even against hope. In a word, God hath endued His Majesty with those incomparable Graces that are seldom poured forth any any where below the Throne; for whatsoever things are true, just, pure, and lovely, they are in Him; This is the Person whom God and all Men think worthy of a Kingdom, but those over whom He is a King; (meaning the Phanatique) these are the Virtues in whose enjoyment other Nations hug themselves: These are the Princely Rays that shine with Majestic Lustre in most parts of Europe: And this is the great and Christian Conqueror, who attributes not any thing to Himself, but with Holy King David, giveth the glory of all to the King of Kings, saying, I will not trust in my Bow, neither shall my Sword save me: But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us; Or, as His Majesty graciously expressed Himself in His short Speech to the Ministers, in his passage through the City: The deliverance which God hath wrought for me, I own as the work of his own right hand, beyond humane contrivance, and desire that all the glory of them may be ascribed to Him.  
FINIS.