TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF CHARLES I. (Guizot's History of the English Revolution.) 1649. urt met in secret sitting on | tings of the 13th, 15th, and 19th , 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 8th, and 19th of January, Bradshaw, a cousin of MilI an eminent barrister, pre—a man grave and gentle in ners, yet of a narrow ausnd, a sincere and yet amfanatic, even inclined to though ready to lay down for his opinions. Such e state of public feeling, nsurmountable dissension ut even among the court; mons, no effort succeeded cting at these preparatory more than fifty-eight s: Fairfax attended the ie, but not again. Among ho did attend several only › declare their opposition: 3 the course pursued, among by Algernon Sidney, still but already influential in ublican party. Retired for me to Penshurst Castle, the f his father, Lord Leicester, e heard of his nomination high court, he set out at r London, and in the sit R of January, though the question appeared decided, strongly opposed the trial. He above all things dreaded the aversion which the people might conceive for a republic, perhaps a sudden insurrection, which would save the king and lose the Commonwealth beyond recall: "No one will stir," cried Cromwell, annoyed at such fears; "I tell you, we will cut his head off with the crown upon it." "Do what you please," answered Sidney; "I cannot hinder you; but I certainly will have nothing to do with this affair ;" and he went out, never to return. At length reduced to members who readily accepted their mission, the court gave itself up to arranging the form of the trial. John Cook, a lawyer of some reputation, and the intimate friend of Milton, was appointed attorney-general, and as such, was charged to take the lead in drawing up the act of accusation, and in supporting it at the trial. Elsing, who had been clerk of the Commons up to this time, had just retired under pre- | he said, "peace will be re-estab text of illness; Henry Scobell was elected to take his place. They carefully discussed what regiments and how many should be on duty during the course of the trial; where sentinels should be stationed and some were placed even on the leads, and at every window which looked upon the hall; what barriers should be erected to keep the people apart, not only from the court, but also from the soldiers. The 20th of January was fixed for the king to appear before the court at Westminster Hall; and so early as the 17th, as if his condemnation had already been pronounced, the Commons had charged a committee to visit the palaces, castles, and mansions of the king, that they might draw up an exact inventory of his furniture, now the property of parliament. When Colonel Whychcott, the Governor of Windsor, told the king that in a few days he would be transferred to London, Charles answered, "God is everywhere, everywhere alike in wisdom, power, and goodness." The news inspired him, however, with great and unexpected uneasiness; for the last three weeks he had lived in the most strange feeling of security, rarely and incorrectly informed of the resolutions of the House, comforting himself with some reports from Ireland which promised him speedy succour, and more confident, even more gay, than his servants had seen him for a long time. "In six months," lished in England; if not, I shall receive from Ireland, Denmark, and other kingdoms, the means of righting me;" and another day: "I have three more cards to play, the worst of which may give me back everything." Yet one circumstance had lately disturbed him; until towards the end of his stay at Windsor he had been treated and served with all the etiquette of court; he dined in public, in the hall of state, under the dais, the chamberlain, esquirecarver, maitre-d'hotel, and cupbearer, performed their accustomed offices in the accustomed manner; the cup was presented to him kneeling, the dishes were brought in covered, were tasted, and he enjoyed with dignity these wonted manifestations of respect. All at once, on the reception of a letter from head-quarters, there was a change; the dishes were brought in uncovered by soldiers, were no longer tasted, none knelt to him, the habitual etiquette of the dais completely ceased. Charles was bitterly grieved at this: "The respect denied me," said he, "no sovereign ever wanted, nor even subjects of high degree, according to ancient practice; is there anything more contemptible than a despised prince ?" And to avoid this insult he desired to take his repasts in his own room, almost alone, himself selecting two or three dishes from the list which was presented to him. On Friday, the 19th of January, a troop of horse appeared at Wind charged to remove the king; a coach and six waited in the yard of the castle; Charles entered it, and a few hours after once more re-entered London and St. James's palace, surrounded on all sides by guards, with two sentinels at the very door of his chamber, and Herbert alone to serve him, sleeping by his bedside. sor, with Harrison at its head, | president took his seat in a chair of crimson velvet; below him was the clerk of the house, at a table with a rich Turkey cover, on which were placed the mace and sword; to the right and left, on seats of scarlet cloth, sat the members of the court; at the two extremities were armed men, who stood somewhat in advance of the tribunal. The court having taken their seats, the doors were opened and the crowd rushed in; silence being restored, and the act of the Commons read, which authorised the court, the names were called over ; there were sixty-nine members present. "Mr. Sergeant," said Bradshaw, "bring in the prisoner." Next day, the 20th, towards noon, the high court, assembled in secret sitting in the Painted Chamber, were arranging the final details of their task; they had scarcely finished prayers, when it was announced that the king was at hand, carried in a sedan-chair between two ranks of soldiers; Cromwell ran to the window, and turning abruptly round, pale, yet very animated, cried: "My masters, he is come- -he is come! And now we are doing that great work that the whole nation will be full of; therefore, I desire you to let us resolve here what answer we shall give the king, when he comes before us; for the first question he will ask us will be, by what authority and commision we do try him." No one answered for a time; at last Henry Martyn said: "In the name of the Commons and Parliament assembled, and of all the good people of England." No objection was made, and the court went in solemn procession to Westminster Hall, the lord-president, Bradshaw, at their head, with the sword and mace before him, preceded by sixteen officers armed with partisans. The The king appeared, guarded by Colonel Hacker and thirty-two officers; a chair of crimson velvet was prepared for him at the bar: he advanced, cast a long and severe look on the tribunal, sat down in the chair without removing his hat, suddenly rose again, looked behind him at the guard placed at the left, and the crowd of spectators at the right of the hall, turned his eyes again towards the judges, then sat down amidst universal silence. Bradshaw rose immediately: "Charles Stuart, king of England,” said he, "the Commons of England, assembled in parliament, taking notice of the effusion of blood in the land, which is fixed on you as the author of it, and whereof you are guilty, have resolved to bring you to a trial and judgment, and for this cause the tribunal is erected. The charges will now be read by the solicitorgeneral. The attorney-general, Cook, then rose to speak: "Silence!' said the king, touching him with his cane on the shoulder. Cook turned round, surprised and irritated; the head of the king's cane fell off; a brief but violent emotion appeared in his features ; none of his servants were near enough to pick up the head of the cane for him; he stooped, took it up himself, sat down, and Cook read the act of accusation, which, imputing to the king all the evils arising, first from his tyranny, then from the war, demanded that he should be bound to answer the charges brought against him, and that justice should be done upon him as a tyrant, traitor, and murderer. During the reading of this, the king, still seated, looked calmly, sometimes on the judges, sometimes on the public; once he rose for a moment, turned his back to the tribunal to look behind him, and sat down again with an air at once of curiosity and indifference. He smiled at the words, "Charles Stuart, tyrant, traitor, and murderer," but still without speaking. The reading being finished: "Sir," said Bradshaw to the king, "you have heard your charge; the court expects your answer." The king: "I do wonder for what cause you call me here. But lately I was in the Isle of Wight, and there I was treated with by divers honourable persons, lords and commons, as to a treaty of peace, and the treaty was near conclusion. I would know by what authority I was brought thence hither; I mean lawful authority, for there are many unlawful powers, such as that of highwaymen. I desire to know this, I say, before I answer your charge." Bradshaw: "If you had pleased to have observed what was said to you by the court on your first coming hither, you would know what that authority is, which requires you, in the name of the people of England, of whom you were elected king, to answer." The king: "No, sir; that I deny." Bradshaw : "If you acknowledge not the jurisdiction of the court, I must let you know the court overrules your demurrer. You must plead, or the court will take the charge pro confesso." The king: "I tell you, England never was an elective kingdom; that it has been an hereditary kingdom for more than a thousand years. Let me, then, know really by what authority I am called here. There is Lieutenant-Colonel Cobbett; ask him whether it was not by force he brought me from the Isle of Wight. I stand, as much as any here, for the just privileges of the House of Commons. But I see no lords here: where are the lords that should go to constitute a parliament? The king, too, should be there. Is this what you call bringing the king to his parliament ?" Bradshaw : "Sir, the court awaits from you a definitive answer. If what we tell you of our authority is not sufficient for you, it is sufficient for us; we know it cessors ever were, and to whom you are, accountable." The king: "By your favour, show me one precedent." Bradshaw rose and said angrily : is founded on the authority of God"Sir, we sit not here to answer and of the kingdom." your questions. Plead to the charge; guilty, or not guilty?" The king: "You have not heard my reasons." The king: "It is neither my opinion nor yours that is to decide." Bradshaw: "The court have heard you; you will be disposed of according to their orders. Take away the prisoner. The court adjourns to Monday next." Bradshaw: "Sir, your reasons are not to be heard against the highest jurisdiction.” The king: "Then show me this jurisdiction, in which reason is not to be heard." Bradshaw: "Sir, we show it to you here; it is the Commons of England. Sergeant, take away the prisoner!" The court retired; the king departed with the same escort that brought him. As he got up, he looked at the sword placed upon the table: "I do not fear that," said he, pointing to it with his cane. As he went down stairs, a few voices were heard crying-member that the King of England "Justice! justice!" but a much greater number shouted-"God save the king! God save your Majesty !" On the Monday, at the opening of the court, sixty-two members being present, the court commanded that entire silence should be observed, under pain of imprisonment; but none the less the king on his arrival was hailed with loud acclamations. The same discussion was renewed, both sides showing equal pertinacity. "Sir," Bradshaw at length said, "neither you nor any one else will be allowed to dispute the jurisdiction of this court; they sit here by the supreme authority of the nation, the Commons assembled in parliament, to whom your prede The king turned suddenly round towards the people, and said: "Re is not suffered to give his reasons for the liberty of the people!” and an almost general cry arose : "God save the king!" The next sitting, on the 23d of January, brought the same scenes ; the sympathy of the people for the king became daily more keen; in vain did the irritated officers and soldiers raise in their turn the menacing cry of "Justice! Execution!" The intimidated crowd were silent for a moment; but, soon, on some fresh incident, forgot their alarm, and "God save the king!" echoed on all sides. It was even heard among the troops: on the 23d, as the king was passing by at the rising of the court, a soldier of the guard cried loudly, "Sire, God bless you!" |