n Ireland
was at that time not unpromising, he intended rather to try his fortune
in that kingdom, from which he expected more dutiful submission and
obedience.

Meanwhile he found it expedient to depart from Holland. The people in
the United Provinces were much attached to his interests. Besides his
connection with the family of Orange, which was extremely beloved by the
populace, all men regarded with compassion his helpless condition, and
expressed the greatest abhorrence against the murder of his father;
a deed to which nothing, they thought, but the rage of fanaticism and
faction could have impelled the parliament. But though the public in
general bore great favor to the king, the states were uneasy at his
presence. They dreaded the parliament, so formidable by their power,
and so prosperous in all their enterprises. They apprehended the
most precipitate resolutions from men of such violent and haughty
dispositions. And after the murder of Dorislaus, they found it still
more necessary to satisfy the English commonwealth, by removing the king
to a distance from them.

{1650.} Dorislaus, though a native of Holland, had lived long in
England; and being employed as assistant to the high court of justice
which condemned the late king, he had risen to great credit and favor
with the ruling party. They sent him envoy to Holland; but no sooner had
he arrived at the Hague, than he was set upon by some royalists, chiefly
retainers to Montrose. They rushed into the room where he was sitting
with some company; dragged him from the table; put him to death as the
first victim to their murdered sovereign f very leisurely and peaceably
separated themselves; and though orders were issued by the magistrates
to arrest them, these were executed with such slowness and reluctance,
that the criminals had all of them the opportunity of making their
escape.

Charles, having passed some time at Paris, where no assistance was
given him, and even few civilities were paid him, made his retreat into
Jersey, where his authority was still acknowledged. Here Winram, laird
of Liberton, came to him as deputy from the committee of estates
in Scotland, and informed him of the conditions to which he must
necessarily submit before he could be admitted to the exercise of his
authority. Conditions more severe were never imposed by subjects upon
their sovereign; but as the affairs of Ireland began to decline, and the
king found it no longer safe to ven