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while he seemed to be honestly discussing their proposals he was secretly preparing to renew the war. The Scotch, alarmed at the growing power of the Independents, agreed to provide him with an army upon his agreeing to set up Presbyterianism in England for three years, and to put down all other sects.

When the promised troops crossed the border the king's friends rose in all parts of the country, but the risings were crushed one by one, and the Scotch army, after a three days' fight in the neighbourhood of Preston, was utterly destroyed. Parliament still wanted to make an arrangement with Charles, and he was quite willing to talk about it, but was as little disposed as ever to act uprightly. The army, mindful of his past insincerity, determined to bring him to trial. None of the ordinary courts would try him, and Parliament, as it was, would not create an extraordinary court. Colonel Pride was therefore sent to "purge the Parliament, that is, to turn out those members who were displeasing to the soldiers. Ninety-six in all were excluded; the remainder-some fifty or sixty in number-appointed the desired court, though the House of Lords would have nothing to do with the business.

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The "High Court of Justice for the trying and judg ing of Charles Stuart, king of England," met for the first time on Saturday, January 20th, 1649. Among those who composed it were Bradshaw (the president), Cromwell, Ireton, Hutchinson, and about sixty more of the men who had come to the front in those troublous times.

The Court sat in Westminster Hall, which was filled with a vast crowd as soon as the doors were opened. When all things were ready, the king was brought in

and led to a chair prepared for him. He sat down without taking off his hat; the judges also kept theirs on, and, 2 Clarendon says, "fixed their eyes upon him without the least show of respect."

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After Bradshaw had made a short speech, one of the clerks of the Court read the indictment. The prisoner was accused of trying "to rule according to his will, and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the people"; of making war against the Parliament, and of causing many thousands to be slain, for which crimes "the said Charles Stuart was impeached a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and a public and implacable enemy to the people of England." When these last words were reached, the king "laughed, as he sat, in the face of the Court." Bradshaw rebuked him for the disrespect, and required him to plead "Guilty" or "Not Guilty."

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Charles, in reply, asked who gave them power to judge of his actions, for which he was accountable to God alone. They were his subjects, he said, owing him duty and obedience; no Parliament had a right to try him, and even were it otherwise, they were not the Parliament, and their pretended authority was not derived from Parliament. Bradshaw answered that he could not allow their authority to be disputed, and advised the king to make up his mind, before he came there again, to plead.

Charles did not follow the advice, On Monday, when he again appeared before the Court, he said that if it were a matter which concerned him alone, he would rest content with the protest he had made on Saturday against the authority of his judges; but it was a thing which concerned the liberties of the people of England. He then wanted to explain why he would

not plead, but Bradshaw said he could be no further heard on that subject, and adjourned the Court.

On Tuesday, the king was again brought before his judges with the same result. Wednesday and Thursday were spent in hearing evidence. On Friday, the Court sat in private to decide upon their verdict and sentence. On Saturday, as Charles was being brought in, there were cries of "Justice" and "Execution."

When silence was obtained, he asked that before sentence was passed, he might be heard before the Lords and Commons, as he had something to say which greatly concerned the peace and liberty of the kingdom.

The judges retired to consider the king's request. After an absence of half an hour, they came back, and Bradshaw announced that there could be no delay. Sentence was then pronounced. The prisoner was condemned "as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and public enemy to the good people of this nation," to be " put to death by the severing of his head from his body."

1 Toleration, permission to do anything which those in authority dislike. 2 Clarendon, the Earl of, one of the chief advisers of Charles I. and Charles II. 8 indictment, charge, accusation. 4 implacable, that cannot be made friendly.

THE KING'S EXECUTION AND

BURIAL.

THE trial ended on Saturday, January 27th, 1649; on Sunday Charles was taken to St. James's Palace, whence on Tuesday he was led forth to die. On the last morning of his life he rose early, dressed carefully, and then spent an hour in prayer with Juxon, Bishop

BOOK III.

L

of London. A little after ten o'clock the 1 melancholy procession, of which the king was the central figure, started for Whitehall. The palace there had been his

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home in happier days; he left it on the failure of his attempt to seize the five members, little thinking that he would return only as a condemned prisoner. On

BURIAL OF CHARLES I.

arriving, he was conducted into his old bedroom, there to await the final preparations for his execution.

A little past noon all was ready, and then, through an opening which had been made in the wall of 2 the Banqueting Hall, the king stepped out on to the

THE "GEORGE" OF CHARLES I.

scaffold. Below, the troops were massed, and beyond them a vast crowd stretched as far as the eye could reach. The king was anxious to speak to the people, lest it might be thought that he acknowledged the justice of his sentence; but finding they stood at too

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