them to a drum-head court-martial, shot one man, condemned others, and held several as hostages for the good behaviour of their fellows. He showed the soldiers that so long as he lived they must submit to authority, and the spirit of the army became totally subdued.

Thus having time on hand to attend to the king's affairs, Cromwell received, but coldly, certain propositions of his majesty as to a speedy settlement of affairs. His majesty was heartily tired of the war, and was ready to concede any terms so that he might be restored to regal honour. But Cromwell and the Commons doubted his majesty's sincerity: once restored to authority, his language might be more imperious, his conduct more absolute than it had ever yet been. Only one plan seemed open, namely, the bringing of the king to a public investigation, that the nation might know precisely what had been done by the king, and what had been done by the Commons, that they might implead each other, and God defend the right!

But the people the people who knew not much of politics, and who cared more for brisk trade, good cheer, and the making of money, or the enjoyment of what money could purchase, began to be loud in their outcries-for trade was hard, money hard to get, hard times and no signs of a change-they yearned after peace and quiet and good order; they demanded the restoration of the king; they "lusted," said the Roundheads, "after the flesh-pots of Egypt," and railed against the Moses who had led them into the wilderness. At Carisbrook the king was placed under close arrest, but he managed to carry on a secret correspondence with the Scotch royalists and with the queen. He sent out and took in letters through a crevice in the door of his room, trusting to one Henry Firebrace, a man soundly loyal, but in the pay of the Parliament, and, as one of the warders of Carisbrook, often employed as king's gaoler. This Firebrace made arrangements for the king's escape. His majesty was to let himself down by a silken cord from his window, and Firebrace showed him how to do it; but the king, in essaying to follow the example, stuck fast in the iron stanchions, and found it impossible to get through.

In the mean time the London 'prentices had declared for the king, and there had been some hard fighting and not a little bloodshed in London streets, ending in the upset of City chivalry. The Scotch royalists had made incursions into England, but they fared no better than the Londoners. The ships at Deal were carried over to Holland and declared for the king's service, and Prince Charles took the command; but after some

show of action, the sailors deserted the royal cause and came over again to the Parliament. The struggle on both sides was becoming each day more terrible, more determined; it was plain to all England and to all Europe at the end was at hand.

One morning there rode up to Carisbrook Lieutenant Colonel Cobbett, in the Parliamentary service, having with him, it was said, a warrant— having with him, it was known, certain grim visaged and well appointed troopers and he demanded that the king should be given up to him. There was no alternative. The king's chaplain and servants crowded round him in the utmost alarm, but they could render no help. Lieutenant Colonel Cobbett permitted them to take leave, and then carried off his majesty to Hurst Castle in Hampshire, a place that stands in the sea, for every tide the waters surrounded it-a dreary place enough and suggestive of dark deeds.

The king suspected treachery. Had not the second Edward been barbarously killed by the cruel ingenuity of his gaolors? had not the second Richard been disposed of by violence? Was it not suspected that other royal heads had been brought low in the dust by murder? Whether or no the king ever foresaw the real intentions of the Commons can never be known, but it is probable that he did not suspect that he would himself be brought to public trial, and die an ignominious death. The execution of a king was beyond his limited horizon.

While Charles lay immured at Hurst Castle the catastrophe of the drama was hastened. The army resolved on ridding the Parliament of all who tolerated the idea of royal restoration. Colonel Pride's regiment of foot surrounded the house, and all those members who presented themselves and were known to be favourable to the king were arrested. The house was thoroughly weeded-ninety-six members excluded, forty-seven imprisoned. No members left but those who were tolerably certain to vote one way. After all this there was a solemn fast," after this a sermon at St. Margaret's, Westminster, where the preacher enlarged on the text "Bind your king with chains and your nobles with fetters of iron."

The unhappy monarch was transferred to Windsor Castle, and on the very day that he reached that ancient seat of royalty the House of Commons, or the RUMP fragment of it as it was now called, appointed a committee of thirty-eight "to consider of drawing up a charge against the king and all other delinquents, that they may be brought to condign punishment." The report was presented on the 1st of January, and set

forth that "Charles Stuart had traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present Parliament and the people therein represented." It was a charge of high treason against the nation.

The report being confirmed by the Commons, was sent up to the Lordsabout a dozen peers still continuing to assemble-by them it was rejected. Whereupon the Commons declared themselves the only true representatives of the people, and the origin of all just power, requiring no assistance from or concurrence with the Lords, and on the 6th of January, 1649, they passed the ordinance for the trial of the king. A high court of justice was created for trying him; the great seal was broken up, and a

new seal introduced, and public proclamation was made both at Westminster and in the City as to the approaching work of the tribunal-"in the first year of freedom by God's blessing restored."

John Bradshaw was made lord-president of the court; Mr. Steele, attorney-general; Mr. Coke, solicitor-general; Messrs. Dorislaus and Aske, as counsel for the Commonwealth: the place of trial was Westminster Hall.

The king was brought from Windsor to St. James's, there placed under strict guard, soldiers being on duty in his private chamber, and never leaving him night or day.

On the 20th of January the trial came on. Thousands of people flocked to Westminster, all who could obtain admission thronging every part of the hall appropriated to spectators; the streets about the hall were

densely crowded, and every avenue was strongly guarded by soldiers. The commissioners, to the number of sixty-six, went in procession to the hall, in full state. The king was brought in a sedan chair from St. James's to Whitehall, and from thence to the place of trial.

The arrangements within the hall were as follows: there was a long table behind which sat the president in a chair of crimson velvet, behind him and in a line with him were the commissioners on seats covered with scarlet. At the table sat two clerks. On the table were the mace and

sword.

At the bottom of the table directly facing the president was a chair for the king. Below, the hall was densely crowded, as were also the galleries on both sides. The commissioners all sat with their hats on. The king also wore his hat. When he appeared at the bar he glared round at the people and sternly eyed the commissioners, after which he sat down and awaited the opening of the proceedings.

Bradshaw addressed the king-" Charles Stuart, King of England, the people being deeply sensible of the calamities which have been brought on the nation, which are fixed upon you as the principal author of them, have resolved to make inquisition for blood, and according to that debt and

due they owe to justice, to God, the kingdom, and themselves, they are resolved to bring you to trial and judgment, and for this purpose have constituted this high court of justice before which you are brought."

Then the solicitor-general rose to make the charge, and notwithstanding that the king interrupted him by tapping him lightly on the shoulder with his cane-in doing which its gold head dropped off-went on with his speech and ordered the clerk to read the formal indictment. Charles again endeavoured to interrupt the proceedings, but finding his efforts in vain, sat calmly-only smiling when he heard himself accused of treason. It was a strange language for a king's ears.

The charge being finished, Bradshaw the president demanded the answer of the prisoner at the bar. The only answer Charles condescended to make was that he acknowledged no authority superior to his own; that he would not yield his right nor submit to a self-elected court. He was indignant at the insult put on him, and demanded in his turn what answer they (the Commissioners) had to make for this outrage on his royal authority. By what authority am I here? I mean lawful authority, for there are many unlawful authorities in the world-thieves and robbers by the highways. Remember, I am your lawful king: let me know by what lawful authority I am seated here; resolve me that, and you shall hear from me."

There was but one answer, and this answer was not plainly given in word. The king was there because the Commons had revolutionized the country-because they had asserted the majesty of the people as superior to the majesty of the king-because whether the king was satisfied as to their lawful authority or no, they were quite satisfied with it themselves. This, in point of fact, was the final answer of Bradshaw to the king's repeated demand, "Shew me your authority." Still the king refused to acknowledge the legality of the court, declining to plead, yet insisting on being heard, maintaining to the last a bold front, and glancing round at the crowded court with an air as kingly as when he was crowned.

The trial lasted three days: on the third day the commissioners having received evidence as to the late civil war having been provoked by the king, retired to consider their verdict, and unanimously declared him guilty. The names of the commissioners were read over. It was remarked, that in calling over the court, when the crier pronounced the name of Lord Fairfax, which had been inserted in the number, a voice from the gallery exclaimed, "He has more prudence than to be here." When the impeachment was read, "In the name of the good people of