The HIS T' 0 R Y of the PuRITANS~ VoL. II. K. Charles!. ceremony of the church of Rome, that though a protefia nt in judgment ~~he wa~ ~or meeting the papifis ha~f ",'''a~, an~ for efiabli~1ing. one mot– .ley rel1g10n throughout Great Bntam, m wh1ch both parties JTIJght Hnite, .He told Dr. Sanderjon, that if God ever refl:ored him to his crown, he would go bare foot from the Tower if Londo12, or Whitehall, to St. Paul's, by way of penance, for confenting to the earl of Strajjord's death, and to the aboliibing of epifco.pacy in Scotland, and cleiire the people to inter- 'Life of cede with God for his pardon. Such was his majefl:y's fuperfl:ition ! Upon Sandcrfon. the whole, though king Charles I. had virtues that might have rendered him amiable as a private gentleman, his foibles were fo many as entitle him to the charaCl:er of a very weak and impoli'tic prince; far from ap– pearing truly great in any one fcene of his whole life except the Iaft. Mr. Detect. p. Coke fays, he was wilful, and impatient of contradiCl:ion; his actions fud336. den and inconfiderate, and his councils without fecrecy. He would ne– .ver confefs any of his irregularities in government, but jufiified them all to his death. If any gave him advice contrary to his inc!ir.ation, be would never be fi·iends with him again. He was unaffable, and difficult of addrefs, requiring fuch flrained fubmiffions as were not ufual to his predeceffors. The iincerity of his promifes and declarations were fuf– Fetled by his friends as well as enemies, fo that be fell a facrifice to his arbitrary principles, the befl: friends of the conjtitution being afraid to trufi His life, P· him. Bifhop Bzmzet adds, " that he affecred in his behaviour the folemn 47· " gravity of the court of Spain, which was fullen even to morofenefs; · " this led him to a grave referved deportment, in which he forgot the civi– " lities and aff&bilities which the nation naturally loved; nor did he, •• in his outward deportmer.t, take any .pains to oblige any per– " fans whatfoever. He had fuch fuch an ungracious way of ibewing " a favour, that themanner of befl:owing it was almofl as mortifying " as the favour was obliging. He loved high and rough meafurcs, " but had neither :fkill to condua them, nor height of genius to manage " them. He hated all that offered prudent and moderate counfel>, " and even when it was nece!f.1ry to follow fuch advices he hated '' thofe that gave them. His whole reign, both in peace and war, was " a continued feries of errors, fo that it does not appear that he had a '' true judgment of things. He was out of meafure fet upon following " his' humour, but unreafonably feeble to thofe whom be trul1ed, chiefly " to the queen, and (it may be added alfo) to the clergy. ~e had _a " high notion of the regal power, and thought that every oppofiuon to 1t " was rebellion. He minded little things too much, and was more con– " cerned in drawing up a paper than in fighting a battle. He had a firm " averfion to popery, but was much inclined to a middle way between "proteflants and papifl:s, by which he lofl: one without gainin~ the other. •• At his death he {hewed a calm and compofed firmnefs wh1ch amazed - " all
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