Boscobel Part 4

Here let us all with glad and thankful hearts humbly contemplate the admirable Providence of Almighty G.o.d, who contriv'd such wonderful wayes, and made use of such mean instruments for preservation of so great a person: Let us delight to reflect minutely on every particular, and especially on such as most approach to miracle; let us sum up the number of those, who were privy to this first part of his Majesties disguise and concealment; _Mr. Giffard_, the five _Penderels_, their mother and three of their wives, Col. _Carlis_, _Francis Yates_ and his wife, some of the inhabitants of _Whiteladies_, _Mr. Woolf_, his wife, daughter and maid, _Mr. Whitgreave_ and his mother, _Mr. Huddleston_, _Col. Lane_ and his sister; and then consider whether it were not indeed a _miracle_, that so many men, and (which is far more) so many women should faithfully conceal so important and unusual a secret; and this notwithstanding the temptations and promises of reward on the one hand, the danger and menaces of punishment on the other.

To which I shall adde but this one circ.u.mstance, that it was concealed by persons, for the most part, of that religion, which has long suffer'd under an imputation (laid on them by some mistaken zelots) of disloyalty to their soveraign.

[Sidenote: Dan. 3. 10.]

And now, on my bended knees, let me joyfully congratulate his restored Majesty, and humbly offer him this short and hearty wish, O KING, LIVE FOR EVER. And not content with my own inconsiderable prayers, with all my soul I beg the universal a.s.sistance of others, earnestly inviting all the nation, even all the three nations, to sing

_Te Deum Laudamus_.

2 SAM. xix. 14.

_And he bow'd the hearts of all the people, as the heart of one man; So that they sent this word unto the King_, Return thou and all thy servants.

FINISH.