Prisoner in mind of former Proceedings and that although by the Rules of Justice if Advantage were taken of his past Contempts nothing would remain but to pronounce Judgment against him they had nevertheless determined to give him leave to Answer his Charge which as was told him in plain terms for Justice knew no respect of Persons to plead Guilty or Not Guilty thereto To which he made Answer as formerly That he would not acknowledge the Jurisdiction of the Court and that it was against the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom that there was no Law to make a King a Prisoner that he had done nothing against his Trust and issued out into such like Discourses Upon which the Courts Resolution was again remembred to him and he told That he had now the third time publickly disowned and affronted the Court That how good a Preserver he had been of the Fundamental Laws and Freedoms of the People his Actions had spoken that mens Intentions were used to be shewed by their Actions and that he had written his Meaning in bloody Characters throughout the Kingdom and that he should find at last though at present he would not understand it that he was before a Court of Justice Hereupon in the manner appointed the Clerk in the Name of the Court demanding the Prisoners Answer to his Charge and the same refused the Default was Recorded the Prisoner remanded and the Court Adjourned to the Painted Chamber Painted Chamber The Court according to their former Adjournment from Westminster-Hall came together from thence into the Painted Chamber where they sate privately and Ordered as followeth Ordered That no Commissioner ought or shall depart from the Court without the special leave of the said Court This Court took into consideration the managing of the Business of the Court this day in the Hall and the King's Refusal to Answer notwithstanding he had been three several times demanded and required thereunto and have thereupon fully approved of what on the Courts part had then passed and Resolved That Notwithstanding the said Contumacy of the King and refusal to plead which in Law amounts to a standing mute and tacit Confession of the Charge and notwithstanding the Notoriety of the Fact charged the Court would nevertheless however examine Witnesses for the further and clearer satisfaction of their own Judgments and Consciences the manner of whose Examination was referred to further Consideration the next Sitting and Warrants were accordingly issued forth for summoning of Witnesses Mr. Peters moveth the Court as a Messenger from the King viz. That the King desires he might speak with his Chaplains that came unto him privately but the House of Commons having taken that into their Consideration the Court conceived it not proper for them to intermeddle therein The Court Adjourned it self till Nine of the Clock to morrow morning to this Place What passed in the Hall more at large than is related by Phelpes in this Days Transactions see in the following Discourse The King being brought in by the Guard looks with a Majestick Countenance upon his Pretended Judges and sits down After the second O Yes and Silence commanded Cooke began more insolently Cooke May it please your Lordship My Lord President This is now the third time that by the great Grace and Favour of this High Court the Prisoner hath been brought to the Bar before any Issue joyned in the Cause My Lord I did at the first Court exhibit a Charge against him containing the Highest Treason that ever was wrought upon the Theatre of England That a King of England trusted to keep the Law that had taken an Oath so to do that had Tribute paid him for that end should be guilty of a wicked Design to subvert and destroy our Laws and introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government in the defiance of the Parliament and their Authority set up his Standard for War against the Parliament and People and I did humbly pray in the behalf of the People of England that he might speedily be required to make an Answer to the Charge But My Lord instead of making any Answer he did then dispute the Authority of this High Court Your Lordship was pleased to give him a further day to consider and to put in his Answer which day being Yesterday I did humbly move that he might be required to give a direct and positive Answer either by Denying or Confession of it But my Lord he was then pleased for to Demur to the Jurisdiction of the Court which the Court did then over-rule and command him to give a direct and positive Answer My Lord Besides this great Delay of Justice I shall now humbly move your Lordship for speedy Judgment against him My Lord I might press your Lordship upon the whole That according to the known Rules of the Law of the Land That if a Prisoner shall stand as contumacious in contempt and shall not put in an issuable Plea Guilty or Not Guilty of the Charge given against him whereby he may come to a fair Tryal that as by an implicite Confession it may be taken pro confesso as it hath been done to those who have deserved more favour than the Prisoner at the Bar has done But besides My Lord I shall humbly press your Lordship upon the whole Fact The House of Commons the Supreme Authority and Jurisdiction of the Kingdom they have declared That it is notorious that the Matter of the Charge is true as it is in truth My Lord as clear as Crystal and as the Sun that shines at Noon-day which if your Lordship and the Court be not satisfied in I have notwithstanding on the People of England's behalf several Witnesses to produce And therefore I do humbly pray and yet I must confess it is not so much I as the innocent Blood that hath been shed the Cry whereof is very great for Justice and Judgment and therefore I do humbly pray that speedy Judgment be pronounced against the Prisoner at the Bar. Bradshaw went on in the same strain Sir You have heard what is moved by the Councel on the behalf of the Kingdom against you Sir You may well remember and if you do not the Court cannot forget what dilatory Dealings the Court hath found at your hands You were pleased to propound some Questions You have had Your Resolution upon them You were told over and over again That The Court did affirm their own Jurisdiction that it was not for You nor any other man to dispute the Jurisdiction of the Supreme and Highest Authority of England from which there is no Appeal and touching which there must be no Dispute yet You did persist in such Carriage as You gave no manner of Obedience nor did You acknowledge any Authority in them nor the High Court that constituted this Court of Justice Sir I must let you know from the Court that they are very sensible of these Delays of yours and that they ought not being thus
Murdered him but also by not hindring and preventing the doing of it For it is a most certain Truth Qui non prohibet cum potest jubet For instance Two Thieves bind an honest Man and rob him one is for dispatching him out of the way that he may not ever be in a capacity to prosecute them the other pretends he does not so well approve of that last Extremity while they are in the contest the honest Mans Servant comes up and finding his Master in that condition puts himself in a posture to attempt his Rescue now he who was pretendedly against the Murder though he could well enough dispence with the Robbery if he had meant sincerely ought rather to have assisted the Loyal Servant in his Generous and Dutiful Design and it had then been easie to have delivered the despoiled Prisoner at least from the danger of Death but instead of this he joyns with his former Companion and assists him first to dispatch the Servant who indeavoured his Masters Deliverance and then sits him down while his Companion sends his Fetter'd Master to keep him Company Now do I appeal to God and Men whether both these men were not involved in equal guilt as well he who help'd to bind disarm and rob the Master and opposed the honest indeavour of his Servant to deliver him as he who actually imbrued his Hands in their innocent Blood The Case is exactly the same but under this more hainous aggravation that Royal Blood is much more valuable and Sacred than that which runs in Common veins The Zealous Presbyterian Saints began the late Rebellion and the Independents and other Schismaticks being associated with them in that Traiterous Combination or the Solemn League and Covenant they joyntly and unanimously prosecuted the War and by murdering of such of his Loyal Subjects as out of Duty and Conscience came to his assistance having subdued his Forces they got his Person into their Power The Independents having in the mean time gotten the Ascendant of Power over the Presbyterians were absolutely for assuring their Usurpation by the King's death on the other side the Presbyterians more out of detestation of the Independents who now began to deride their Discipline and have their Blew-Cap-Reformation as they termed it in the utmost contempt and hatred than out of true Loyalty and Duty to the King were for shackling of His Majesty with Parliament Fetters and so to let him live hoping under the protection of his Authority and Name to re-establish their own Power and subdue the Independents And for this purpose was all the noise of a Personal Treaty with the King during his Confinement at Cairsbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight in which if they had meant honourably and sincerely they might have had such Conditions as would have brought sufficient advantage and reputation both to their Cause and Interest But so stiff were they in their Demands and so cautious to put strong and lasting Fetters upon His Majesty that the whole Treaty came to nothing In the mean time the Royalists seeing the gasping condition of the King and Monarchy and that nothing but the most abject Vassallage was to be expected from those Men who were resolved to make their King a Royal Slave they summoned their scattered Force to make one Vigorous Attempt for his deliverance Now had the Presbyterians joyned in that generous Design in all humane probability the King had been rescued from his Captivity among the Independents by which means they might have obtained honourable Conditions of Oblivion Security and Accommodation for the Present and Reputation for the Future But so far were they from this that mortally hating the Loyal Party they contributed all that lay in their power to assist the Independent Army under Fairfax or indeed Cromwel for the other was but a Cypher utterly to ruine and subdue the slender Remains of Loyalty which had taken Arms in Kent and Essex which when it was accomplished by the surrender of Colchester and the Execution of the Noble Capel Lisle and Lucas the Independents fell presently upon their Bloody Project of cutting off the King and subverting the Monarchy which they also effected the Presbyterians all this while sitting still and looking on Whereas had they ever heartily opposed such a detestable Wickedness their Party was then so considerable that with the Addition of the Loyal Interest which was not so dead but that upon the least hope it would have revived and joyned them they might have given such a shock to the Independent Faction that they would difficultly if ever have been able to accomplish or execute their Execrable Design against the Life of the King but so far were they from this that there was not the least Attempt to oppose the Traytors or prevent the Treason Nay had the Rabble of the City and Suburbs which were much at the Devotion of the Presbyterian Interest had but half so much Zeal to hurry down to Westminster to oppose the Murder of the King as they had before times to oppose him and cry up Priviledge of Parliament in the beginning of the Tumults it is very disputable whether Cromwel with all his black Myrmidons would have had the Courage to strike the Fatal Stroke But the Presbyterians are only Couragious in Rebellion but perfect Cowards in the Cause of Loyalty But to these little palliating shifts to which the Presbyterians and Independents have been reduced to varnish and guild over their Infamous Actions they have now very lately found out another and that is to vindicate themselves by charging the whole Contrivance and Execution of this hellish Murder of the late King upon the Papists And though nothing in the World is more ridiculous or remote from the truth in most demonstrable Matter of Fact yet it is incredible how much the belief of this senseless Fiction and Romance has gained upon this new Generation of the Vulgar Proselytes of the Dissenters And I speak it of my own knowledge that in Discourse with divers of them when I have made use of this Argument of the Wickedness and Infamy of the most Eminent Patrons of their Religion who as Mr. Baxter confesses of himself when he tells us I have been in the heat of my Zeal so forward to Changes and Ways of Blood that I fear God will not let me have a hand in the Building of his Church Hypocrisie unveil'd R. Baxter 's Letters to Dr. Hill pag. 11. must needs be ill men and worse Guides to Heaven and have from their guilt of the Kings Blood indeavoured to reclaim them from following the Witchcraft of such dangerous Principles and to bring them home to the Communion of the Loyal and Primitively obedient Church of England I have been amazed to hear with what confidence they have vindicated their Leaders and Party from the least share or imputation of the guilt of that Horrid Murder and averred with as much confidence that the late King was murdered by the
Hutchinson Reporteth from the Committee appointed to consider of the Habits of the Officers and it is thereupon Ordered That Three Gowns be Provided for three Vshers and Three Cloaks for Three Messengers of this Court Mr. Millington reporteth from the Committee for Advice with the Councel concerning the Charge against the King that the Councel have perfected the Charge and are ready to present it He likewise reporteth the Draught of an Order whereby the Charge may by the Command of this Court be exhibited together with a Form of Words the Effect whereof the Committee think fit to be pronounced by him that this Court shall appoint so to exhibit the said Charge Which said Order and Form of Words the Court have with some Alterations agreed unto as followeth It is Ordered That Mr. Attorney and in his absence Mr. Sollicitor do in the behalf of the People of England exhibit and bring into this Court a Charge of High Treason and other High Crimes against CHARLES STVART King of England and charge him thereupon in the behalf aforesaid The Form of Words are as followeth My Lord ACcording to an Order of this High Court to me directed for that purpose I do in the Name and on the behalf of the People of England exhibit and bring into this Court a Charge of High Treason and other High Crimes whereof I do accuse CHARLES STVART King of England here present And I do in the Name and on the behalf aforesaid desire the said Charge may be received accordingly and due Proceedings had thereupon The Councel likewise according to Mr. Millington 's Report present a Draught of the Charge against the King which was read the first and second and third time and referred back to the said Councel to make some small Amendments as to the Form thereof Ordered That Commissary Gen. Ireton Col. Whalley Col. Harrison Sir Hardress Waller or any two of them do appoint the Thirty Persons that are by Order of the 17th Instant to attend the King and the Twenty that are to attend the Lord President Ordered That the Serjeant at Arms do secure Mr. Squibb's Gallery by such ways and means as he shall conceive meet The Court Adjourned it self till Nine of the Clock to morrow morning Sabbathi 20 Jan. 1648. Three Proclamations and Attendance commanded Ordered That Sir Henry Mildmay be desired to deliver unto John Humphreys Esq the Sword of State in his Custody which said Sword the said Mr. Humphreys is to bear before the Lord President of this Court The Court being sate as aforesaid before they engaged in further Business the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons came thither and acquainted the Court that the House wanted their Members that were of that Court the Court thereupon Adjourned till twelve of the Clock the same day The Court accordingly met at twelve of the Clock Three Proclamations made Commissioners present Painted Chamber 20 Jan. 1648. John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law Lord President of this Court Tho. L. Grey of Groby Henry Martin Oliver Crowwell Henry Ireton Augustine Garland Thomas Challoner Nicholas Love William Cawley John Venn William Purefoy John Barkstead James Challoner Peter Temple Tho. Harrison Robert Tichbourne John Hutchinson Sir Gregory Norton Sir Tho. Maleverer Bar. Daniel Blagrave Owen Roe Thomas Wogan William Say Francis Lassels John Jones Sir John Bourchier John Carew John Dewnes John Fry Sir Michael Livesey Sir John Danvers Mr. Millington Sir Hardress Waller John Blakistone John Huson Humphrey Edwards Isaac Pennington Ald. of Lond. John Brown Edw. Whalley John Okey Thomas Pride Adrian Scroope Valentine Wauton Tho. Hamond James Temple Peregrine Pelham Thomas Lister Edmond Ludlow Simon Meyne Thomas Scot. Edmond Harvy William Lord Mounson Henry Smith Sir William Constable Isaac Ewers Sir Henry Mildmay Anthony Stapeley Here the Court sate private Ordered That the Form and Method of the Courts Proceeding unto and in the reading of the Commission by which they Sit sending for and bringing in the Prisoner to the Bar acquainting him in brief with the cause of his bringing thither receiving and reading the Charge and demanding what the Prisoner says thereto be referred to the discretion of the Lord President as also That in case the Prisoner shall in Language or Carriage towards the Court be insolent outragious or contemptuous that it be left to the Lord President to reprehend him therefore and admonish him of his Duty or to command the taking away of the Prisoner and if he see cause to withdraw or adjourn the Court But as to the Prisoners putting off his Hat the Court will not insist upon it for this day and that if the King desire time to Answer the Lord President is to give him time Ordered Vpon the Lord President 's Desire and Motion That Mr. Lisle and Mr. Say Commissioners of this Court be Assistants to the Lord President and for that purpose it is Ordered that they sit near the Lord President in Court Mr. Sollicitor presented the Charge against the King ingrossed in Parchment which was read and being by Mr. Sollicitor Signed was returned to him to be exhibited against the King in his presence in open Court And thereupon the Court Adjourned it self forthwith to the Great Hall in Westminster The Manner of the Tryal of Charles Stuart King of England ON Saturday being the 20 th Day of January 1648. the Lord President of the High Court of Justice his two Assistants and the rest of the Commissioners of the said Court according to the Adjournment of the said Court from the Painted Chamber came to the Bench or Place prepared for their Sitting at the West End of the Great Hall at Westminster divers Officers of the said Court one and twenty Gentlemen with Partizans and a Sword and Mace marching before them up into the Court where the Lord President in a crimson Velvet Chair fixed in the midst of the Court placed himself having a Desk with a crimson Velvet Cushion before him the rest of the Members placing themselves on each side of him upon several Seats or Benches prepared and hung with Scarlet for that purpose The Lord President 's two Assistants sitting next of each side of him and the two Clerks of the Court placed at a Table somewhat lower and covered with a Turky Carpet upon which Table was also laid the Sword and Mace the said Guard of Partizans dividing themselves on each side of the Court before them Three Proclamations are made for all persons that were Adjourned over thither to draw near The Court being thus sate and Silence enjoyned the Great Gate of the Hall was set open to the intent that all persons without exception desirous to see or hear might come unto it upon which the Hall was presently filled and Silence again ordered and proclaimed After Silence proclaimed as aforesaid the Act of the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament for Erecting of a High Court of Justice for Trying and Judging of CHARLES STVART King of
and Collonel Sidney professeth boldly that he dies a Martyr that Old Cause in which he had from his Youth been trained up The Dissenters esteem him no less Now do I appeal to themselves if they do not think the Cause for which he Glories that he died a Martyr a Righteous Cause Nay and Gods Righteous Cause too If they do not think so why do they so zealously embrace and so far as they may without danger of the Laws encourage support and defend it by continuing so pertinaciously in their Separation the very Badge and distinguishing Character of those who have devoted themselves to it Most assuredly if they did not think so of it they would for ever abandon it And if they do think and believe that it is Gods Righteous Cause they will judge themselves under the most powerful Obligations in the World upon occasion offered to be assistant with their Persons or Purses to maintain it and even to fight the Lords Battels against the Mighty And were it possible to keep the Two Devils of Fear and Dissimulation from jogging their Elbows and pulling them by the Sleeves to make them conceal the depth of their Hearts I do strongly assure my self that they would boldly tell the World and proclaim it by the sound of Trumpet and beat of Drum That they esteem nothing they possess not their very Lives too precious if they may be instrumental in carrying on the Glorious Reformation of the Old Cause And here are the Dimensions of this late Conspiracy the depth and breadth of the Plot which Walcot mentions which is not one hairs breadth narrower or one inch shallower than the united Strength Power and Interest of the whole Faction of the Dissenters who would once again have adventured not only Bodkins and Thimbles Plate Money Horses and Arms but their Lives also to set up this Golden Calf of their Old Cause had not God been more Gracious and Merciful to them and the whole Nation than to suffer them by Success in this Wicked Enterprize to run headlong to our Ruine and their own Damnation Let it suffice That all Wise Men know that the strength of this detestable Conspiracy was built upon no other Foundation than the Hopes and Confidence which the Traytors had from some of the Principal of them of the Assistance the Vigorous Unanimous Assistance of the Dissenters and that all Good Honest and Loyal men believe it nay that they who seem most to dispute or doubt it are conscious to themselves of their own good wishes not only to the Principal Traytors but even to the Treason and since it is well known they have long ago abandoned all shame for such Imputations nothing but the disappointment of their hopes and expectations could be the Cause of that Universal damp consternation amazement and dejection which were so visibly painted in their Faces that one might know them by those Marks from other men as they walk't the Streets And though they are somthing recovered out of the trance of their Sorrows and have reassumed some part of their wonted courage and confidence yet even that courage betrays their guilt whilest they wholly imploy it to discredit all belief of the truth of this Conspiracy And it is almost impossible to give a more infallible Demonstration for the certainty of any thing in this World than for this and that they must of necessity be in some sort or other Guilty themselves who Ridicule Extenuate Palliate Applaud Justifie and use all the Arts imaginable not only to make their Party appear Innocent but to make the whole Plot an Artifice and a Contrivance and to arraign the Supreme Power and the Justice of the Nation as Guilty by the Condemnation and Execution of the Principal Traytors and Accomplices in the Treason And certainly they have no thoughts of abhorrence and detestation of such black and execrable Villanies nor any intentions to abandon them who do so warmly hugg and cherish the only Cause of this and so many other Treasons Plots and Conspiracies both against the late King and his present Majestie their wicked Principle of Separation which is the Mother of all those Seditions Insurrections and Rebellions which to their cost these Nations have so often felt For when Men have once separated themselves from the Ecclesiastical they do at the same instant cut the Cords and Ligaments of Obedience to the Civil Government they by usurping Soveraign Power to dispense with the Obligation of any one Law bid open defiance to the very Essence of all Laws and without the consent of King Lords and Commons undertake to Abrogate Repeal and make not only void but unlawful and unjust and intolerable such Acts of Parliament as were by the Common Consent of the King and the Three Estates of the Realm Enacted to retain the Subjects in their due Obedience and cannot without shocking the very Foundations of the Government be cancelled by any other Authority than that which at first gave them being So that they are in actual Rebellion even at the first step though not in actual Arms and open Hostility against the King the Laws and the very Constitution and Life of the Government which consists in the Power and Authority of making Laws and exacting Obedience to them Now this disobedience to the Laws and thereby disowning the Authority which made them naturally leads the transgressors to fear the Penalties of those Laws which they have violated and to dread the threatning edge of the Sword of Justice the Guardian of those Laws with which the Supreme Magistrate is by God intrusted to punish the Disobedient and preserve the Peace and Tranquillity of Human Society Now Fear is only so much the Elder Brother of Hatred as Esau was to Jacob that smooth Supplanter ever lays hold of the Heel of its hairy Brother and when men are once advanced to hate what they fear they do immediately proceed to wish desire and indeavour to put themselves out of the reach of danger from what they both fear and hate When these two Passions thus adopted into the Family of Religion have once taken full possession of Mens Minds it is not long before they Precipitate them into the Search of all Ways and Contrivances how to secure themselves which because they cannot immediately obtain they presently fall to accusing the Laws of Injustice and the Magistrates of Tyranny and Persecution that so their disobedience may find a Refuge under the shelter of their pretended Innocence for which they can have no other Foundation but the Charging the Laws themselves with want of Equity and Justice Nor is the Government only to be thus accused as unrighteous and despised as unjust and obedience to its Laws renounced as unlawful but their fear and hatred put them upon all the Out-side Acts of Hypocritical Piety and dissembled Sanctity that by them they may win both Pity and gain a Party and so intrench themselves in the Fortifications of Numbers hoping for
Impunity at least from the Multitude of Offenders which when they have gained they are not sparing of their secret Menaces how unsafe it may be to Exasperate and how Impolitique for the Government by compelling them to Obedience to force them to extremities No sooner have they gained this Point and that they apprehend that the Scale is turned and that the Government of which they before stood in so much Fear begins now justly to be in fear of them but they presently become Insolent in their Actions Seditious in their words Frequent in open Menaces and Bold Petitioners to their Prince for such Favours and Indulgences as they are well assured if he grants he must be ruined and if he denyes they are resolved to endeavour by Force to extort them from him and the Sum of all their Desires at the last centring in their being intrusted with the Power of the Sword the difference at last comes to fall under the Fatal Decision and Arbitrement of the Sword And how matters must be managed when they come to that dismal Period and are referred to the determination of that Vmpire I think little need to be said and it is yet too fresh in memory to be again repeated most certainly War and especially a Civil War can never go unattended by the calamitous Legions of Misery Ruine Oppression Murder Desolations and all the Licentious Mischiefs which the Rude and Mercenary Spirits of which the Inferior Military Men are always composed can be guilty of This is the Rare texture of the Spiders Web of Separation in the Centre whereof the Devil of Rebellion sits Enthroned and though the out-lines of the Circumference seem all composed of Innocence Purity and Reformation yet when once men come but to touch and buz about the smallest Cords of this Fatal Net like foolish Flies they are intangled and caught and the farther they proceed and the more they strive the more are they wrapped and inclosed in the Snares of the Devil Thus does Separation begin with mistaken Zeal for Religion which by easie steps insensibly transports men to defend one Errour by a thousand and to commit the most horrid impieties and most dreadful sins to support and maintain that which they call their Religion Thus have we seen the Tears of the Widows and heard the Cries of the Orphans robbed of their Husbands Parents and Estates for the Glory of God We have heard the groaning of the Prisoners and those appointed to die we have seen so many Loyal Free-Subjects without and against Law Reason and Humanity brought to Axes Gibbets and Halters and all pretended to be done for God's Righteous Cause and Glory Robbing of Churches and defacing of Temples Crimes which Heathen Idolaters would have blush'd at were all for the Glory of God too and the Honour of his Cause Nay there is scarce that horrible kind of Impiety Blasphemy or any sort of Wickedness to be named which was not committed during the late Rebellion under this Pretence and the most barbarous and inhumane Outrages which the afflicted Royalists suffered from these pretended Saints are so great and many as it is impossible to recount them all which were so far from being punished by the Vsurping Powers that they were encouraged applauded justified and rewarded as acceptable Services to God and the Parliament Even Cruelty was become so great a Virtue that it was one of the choicest subjects of Discourse and with which the Boanergeses of the Faction were wont from the suffering Pulpit to entertain the People and Prophane the Temples of the God of Peace with Exhortations to War and Blood Well might the God of Peace and Purity send that dismal Fire of London to purge those Temples whose Beams and Stones had been so tainted by the Leprous breath of Rebellious Preachers that no whiting or scraping according to the Mosaick Method of cleansing Leprous Houses was sufficient to cleanse them so as to be fit for the offering up of the Sacrifices of Prayers and Praises to the everlasting Prince of Peace or to have the Holy Dove condescend to dwell among men and assist their Devotions in those Holy Places And that I may not seem falsly to accuse them I will give two or three Instances of this Bloody Divinity though I could produce a thousand and they who delight to paddle among such Bloody Tenents may be sufficiently furnished out of the Printed Sermons of the late Times a considerable Collection of which may with little pains be seen in my very Excellent Friend the Malleus Schismaticorum Mr. L'Estranges first and second Books of Dissenters Sayings under the Heads of Reformation by Blood and The War Justified c. Cut down the Malignants so was the Royal Party named with the Sword of Justice Root them out and consume them with Fire that no root may spring again Walker's Sermon Jan. 29. 1644. If the Devil himself had fill'd the Pulpit that Old Walker who like a Roaring Lion goes to and fro seeking whom he may devour could not certainly in fewer words have expressed more Comprehensive Cruelty or a more Barbarous Thirst after Humane Blood But you shall hear another There is no dallying with God now saith Case much delay hath been used already too much God is angry and he seems to ask this once more Will you strike Will you execute Judgment or will you not Tell me for if you will not I will I will have the Enemies Blood and yours too if you will not execute Vengeance upon Delinquents for the Day of Vengeance is in my heart and the year of my Redeemed is come Isa 63. Case before the Commons 1644. Never could the Lips sure of any who pretended to fear the Divinity which they ador'd except a Presbyterian's dare to affront him by such a positive audacious and blasphemous Prosopopeia herein shewing himself a false Prophet by putting on his Horns of Iron and pushing on every side of him for Blood and Slaughter never did any wretched and uninspired Mortal so presumptuously and peremptorily undertake to speak the Soveraign will and pleasure of the Merciful Creator as this bold Schismatick does in this most sanguinary Decree as if he had been admitted into the Cabinet Council with the Almighty and had not only out-gon St. Paul who travelled to the Third Heavens but had received a more ample Commission than that Apostle to relate what the other tells us 2 Cor. Cap. 12. Ver. 4. was unspeakable and not lawful for a Man to utter But God be praised who hath assured us by the Mouths of his Inspired Servants the Prophets that he hath no Pleasure in the Death of his Enemies as this false Prophet would have us believe and hereby we may easily discover that it was he who was a Murderer from the beginning who inspired them with these Bloody Doctrines and this Method of abusing Scripture at which we know he has a most notable Talent But if any Person desire to see a Summary
no way more probable than to follow the Example of their Dear Brethren of Scotland they cast their thoughts upon a Treaty with the King then in Exile but that this was out of pure kindness to themselves and not in the least to the King or his Interest it is most evident both because they utterly refused therein to joyn with the Loyal Party and that even Mr. Love himself with his latest Breath upon the Scaffold assures us That it was true he did oppose in his Place and Calling the Forces and Tyranny of the late King and were he alive again saith he and should I live longer the Cause being as then it was I should oppose him longer The Crafty Independents whose jealousie of the Presbyterian Interest and Power made fearful of them and those fears vigilant having their Spies Emissaries Informers and Intelligencers in every Corner even in the Kings Court during his Exile quickly got the scent of this Presbyterian Intrigue and Love as a Principal Man of the Presbyterian Faction being most zealous and forward and by reason of his precipitate boiling temper of Spirit less circumspect and cautious was immediately Discovered Apprehended Tryed Convicted and Condemned for this High Treason against the State But he being the Minion of the Presbyterians and they considering what a wound of Infamy it would give to their even expiring Reputation thorow the whole Nation if he should die for this Crime of supposed Loyalty therefore extraordinary Intercessions and Applications were made to the Commons then Styled The Supreme Authority of the Nation for his Deliverance all his faithful Zeal and memorable Services in former Times were recounted and the danger of disobliging and losing the Presbyterian Interest and Kindness and how hazardous it might be to the Common-wealth not yet well setled if by such severities the Presbyterians should be provoked to joyn with the Malignant Party were among other Sollicitations represented and insinuated to the Grandees of the Independent Party But this Supreme Authority of the Nation having now struck their Top-sail to Cromwel who wore the Flag of Soveraignty even over this goodly Supreme Authority till such time as they had sent a dispatch to their Great Dictator Oliver to consult his Soveraign Will and to know from his Lips upon which all Mens Destinies now depended their Supremeships at Westminster durst not condescend to give Love a Pardon for his Life only Execution was respited for some little time Cromwel being then absent in Scotland upon the Receipt of this Account from the Slaves whom he was pleased to call his Masters having taken the matter into his grave Deliberation returns his Answer in a private Letter to one of his Confidents but I cannot positively charge my Memory whether Scot or Martin and therein according to his Politicks considering that at present his hands were full and fearing lest the English Presbyterians should rise at his back and joyn with the Scottish Kirk-Party with whom he was now ingaged he graciously Condescends that Love should be for a considerable time Reprieved and upon good Security from Him and his Party of their future behaviour Pardoned Now by what Impulse or Direction God only knows two or three Gentlemen who had formerly been of the Kings Army happening to travel the Northern Road and meeting the Post who among others was charged with this Letter and inquiring of him Whether he had any Scotch Letters to which he innocently replyed He had a Curiosity seized their Imagination to peep into the Secrets of the Vsurping Powers and therefore taking the Post aside out of the High Road into a convenient place and opening his Male they took out and opened the Scottish Pacquet and among others this of Cromwels which carried a Warrant for a Reprieve for Love upon the reading of which one of them immediately cried out Oh! that is the Rogue that ruin'd us by breaking off the Treaty at Vxbridge and thereupon putting that Letter in his pocket they restored the rest to the Post telling him there were his Letters again and immediately mounting and putting Spurs to their Horses they pursued their intended Journey The Pacquet arriving at London and several Letters from Cromwel to diverse Persons without one single Syllable concerning Love the Party took it for granted that this Silence was intended as an absolute Denial And therefore not daring to draw upon themselves the high displeasure of Cromwel either by a second Importunity to save him or by a Delay of Execution in a few days after the Warrant for his dispatch into the other World was signed and he who had been instrumental in bringing so many Noble Heads and even the Kings to that Infamous and Untimely Death had himself the Honour of the Axe and to have the blood of so many Innocents as was shed by his Party avenged upon himself according to his Sanguinary and Prophetick Divinity But while my Pen runs in this full Carreer against these Cruel and Sanguinary Principles it is more than probable that the usual Courtesie of the Faction will bestow the Title of a bloudy-minded Persecutor upon me and that the intent of this Exposure of their Positions is designed purposely to Expose their Persons to the Hatred and severest Punishments of the Laws and Government Now though while I keep my self to the strictest Rules of Truth I should little value the worst of their Imputations yet considering that they are wont to extend their Calumnies from single Persons to the whole Order of our Church I have too much Duty and Tenderness for the Reputation of that Glorious and truly Apostolical Church whereof I esteem it my greatest Honour to be one of her meanest Servants to suffer the least Spot through my willing default to sully her Beauteous Face I must therefore make my most Solemn Protestation that as I have not the least Animosity to any Mans Person so I have not the least Inclination that prompts me to any kind of Cruelty nay it is my perfect abhorrence of Blood and Cruelty that compels me for the Satisfaction of the Importunities of my own Conscience to use my utmost Industry to prevent the effusion of Humane Blood It is to prevent the growth of these Fatal Principles which if not in time suppressed and subdued threaten again to break out among us and open the Veins of these Miserable Nations It is because I would with my utmost Power hinder these deluded people who become distracted with the Raving Poison of such Divinity either from Executing their Bloody Treasons and Malice upon others or running themselves to Execution upon the Sword of Justice It is against the Immortal mischief of the Principles and not the Mortal Lives of the deluded Professors of them that I level all my blows and that our Grand-Children may learn Wisdom from our harms and dangers and know how to distinguish by their Fruits the Cedar Government of Monarchy from the Bramble Government of Faction and Vsurpation that
prosecute the Charge against the King according to the Act of the Commons Assembled in Parliament in that behalf and in particular the Court did appoint Mr. Steel Attorney and Mr. Cooke Solicitor to take care thereof And the Act for Constituting the said Court was ordered to be transcribed and delivered to the said Councel which was done accordingly Mr. Love Mr. Lisle Mr. Millington Mr. Garland Mr. Marten Mr. Tho. Challoner Sir John Danvers and Sir Henry Mildmay or any two of them are appointed a Committee to consider of all circumstances in matter of order and method for the carrying on and managing the Kings Tryal and for that purpose to advise with the Councel assigned to prove the Charge against the King and to make Report therein the next Sitting and the care of the business is particularly recommended to Mr. Love Edward Dendy Serjeant at Arms made return of the Precept of the Eighth instant for Proclaiming the Sitting of the Court which was received the said Serjeant Dendy having Proclaimed the same by the sound of Trumpet in Westminster Hall as also at the Old Exchange and in Cheapside Edward Dendy Serjeant at Arms is appointed Serjeant at Arms to attend the said Court Mr. John King is appointed Cryer of the said Court The Court having thus made preparations for the said Tryal during all which time they sate private the doors are now opened for all parties that had any thing to do there to give their attendance Three Proclamations being made by the Cryer the Act for constituting the said Court was openly read and the Court called the Commissioners present were as before-named The Commissioners that were absent were ordered to be summoned to attend the said Service and Summons were issued forth accordingly The Court Adjourned it self till Fryday Jan. 12 th at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon to the same place Januarii 12 1648. At which time the Commissioners Present were as after-named Die Veneris 12 Januarii 1648. Painted Chamber Commissioners Present Oliver Cromwell Esq Sir John Danvers Thomas Hammond Esq Peregr Pelham Esq Herbert Morley Esq James Temple Esq William Say Esq John Huson Esq Sir John Bourchier Kt. John Bradshaw Serj. at Law Gilbert Millington Esq John Moore Esq John Brown Esq John Fry Esq Sir Hardress Waller Kt. Adrian Scroope Esq Thomas Challoner Esq Thomas Pride Esq John Lisle Esq Owen Roe Esq Thomas Scot Esq John Jones Esq John Carew Esq John Fagg Esq Henry Marten Esq John Blackistone Esq John Dove Esq Henry Smith Esq John Ven Esq John Downs Esq Nicholas Love Esq Thomas Harrison Esq John Berkstead Esq With divers more Serjeant Bradshaw upon special Summons attended this Court being one of the Commissioners thereof and being according to former Order called to take his place of President of the said Court made an earnest Apology for himself to be excused but therein not prevailing in obedience to the Commands and Desires of this Court he submitted to their Order and took place accordingly and thereupon the said Court Ordered concerning him as followeth viz. That John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law who is appointed President of this Court should be called by the Name and have the Title of Lord President and that as well without as within the said Court during the Commission and Sitting of the said Court Against which Title he pressed much to be heard to offer his Exceptions but was therein over-ruled by the Court. Mr. Andrew Broughton attended according to former Order and it was thereupon again Ordered That Andrew Broughton and John Phelpes Gent. be and they are hereby constituted Clerks of the said Court and enjoyned to give their Attendance from time to time accordingly Ordered That the Councel assigned or such as They or any of Them shall appoint shall have power to search for all Records and Writings concerning the King's Tryal and to take into their custody or order the producing of all such Records and Papers or Copies thereof by any Clerk or other Person whatsoever at or before the said Tryal as they shall judge requisite the Said Councel giving a Note under their Hands of their Receipt of all such Original Books and Papers which they shall so take into their custody And that the said Councel shall have power to send for such person or persons at or before the said Tryal and to appoint by Writing under their Hands their Attendance for the Service of the State in this Business as they shall think requisite requiring all Persons concerned to yield Obedience thereunto at their perils Sir Hardress Waller Knight and Col. Harrison are Ordered to desire the Lord General from time to time to appoint sufficient Guards to attend and guard the said Court during their Sitting Ordered That Col. Tichbourne Col. Roe Mr. Blackistone and Mr. Fry Members of this Court shall and do make Preparations for the Tryal of the King That it may be performed in a Solemn Manner and that they take care for other necessary Provisions and Accommodations in and about that Tryal and are to appoint and command such Workmen in and to their Assistance as they shall think fit Mr. Love Reporteth from the Committee appointed Jan. 10 th instant to consider of the Circumstances in Matters of Order for Tryal of the King And it is thereupon Ordered That in managing the Proceedings in Open Court at the time of the King's Tryal none of the Court do speak but the President and Councel and in case of any Difficulty arising to any one that he speak not to the Matter openly but desire the President that the Court may please to Advise By which Order it is not intended that any of the Commissioners be debarred at the Examination of any Witness to move the Lord President to propound such Question to the Witness as shall be thought meet for the better disquisition and finding out of the Truth Ordered That there shall be a Marshal to attend this Court if there be cause Ordered That the Lord President and Councel do manage the Tryal against the King according to Instructions to be given them by the Court and that the Committee for considering of all circumstances for the managing of the King's Trial do consider of Rules and Instructions in that behalf and are to consult with the Councel and address themselves to the Lord President for Advice in the Premises Ordered That the Councel do bring in the Charge against the King on Monday next The Committee for considering of the Circumstances of Order for the King's Trial together with Sir Hardress Waller Col. Whaley Mr. Scot Col. Tichbourne Col. Harrison Lieut. Gen. Cromwell and Col. Deane are appointed to consider of the place for Trying the King and make Report to morrow in the Afternoon and are to meet to morrow Morning in the Inner Court of Wards at Nine of the Clock and who else of the Court please may be there The Court Adjourned it self till the Morrow in the Afternoon at
saw a Flagg flying upon the Tower of Nottingham Castle and that the next day afterwards he did see the King at Nottingham when the said Flagg was still flying which Flagg this Deponent then heard was the King's Standard He saith also That he did afterwards see the King at Cropredy-Bridge in the Head of his Army in a Fallow Field there and did see the King in pursuit of Sir William Waller's Army being then Routed which was about the Month of July 1644. And at that time this Deponent did see many People slain upon the Ground And further this Deponent saith That in or about the Month of Novemb. 1644. he did see the King at the last Fight at Newbury riding up and down the Field from Regiment to Regiment whilst his Army was there fighting with the Parliaments Forces and this Deponent did see many Men slain at that Battel on both sides Michael Potts of Sharpereton in the County of Northumberland Vintner Sworn and Examined deposeth That he this Deponent saw the King in the Head of the Army in the Fields about a Mile and a half from Newbury Town upon the Heath the day before the Fight was it being about Harvest-tide in the Year 1643. And he further saith That he saw the King on the day after when the Fight was standing near a great Piece of Ordnance in the Fields And he further saith That he saw the King in the second Newbury Fight in the Head of his Army being after or about Michaelmas 1644. And he further saith That he saw a great many Men slain at both the said Battels And he further saith That he saw the King in the Head of his Army near Cropredy-Bridge in the Year 1644. And he further saith That he saw the King in the Head of his Army in Cornwal near Lestithiel while the E. of Essex lay there with his Forces about the middle of Harvest 1644. George Cornwal of Aston in the County of Hereford Ferryman Aged fifty Years or thereabouts sworn and examined saith That he this Deponent did see the King near Cropredy-Bridge about the time of Mowing of Corn 1644. in the Van of the Army there and that he drew up his Army upon a Hill and faced the Parliaments Army and that there was thereupon a Skirmish between the King 's and the Parliaments Army where he this Deponent saw divers persons slain on both sides The Examination of Henry Gooche of Grayes-Inn in the County of Middlesex Gent. Sworn and Examined This Deponent saith That upon or about the Thirtieth day of September last he this Deponent was in the Isle of Wight and had Access unto and Discourse with the King by the means of the L. Marquess of Hartford and Commissary Morgan where this Deponent told the King that his Majesty had many Friends and that since his Majesty was pleased to justifie the Parliaments first taking up Arms the most of the Presbyterian Party both Soldiers and others would stick close to him To which the King answered thus That he would have all his old Friends know that though for the present he was contented to give the Parliament leave to call their own War what they pleased yet that he neither did at that time nor ever should decline the Justice of his own Cause And this Deponent told the King that his Business was much retarded and that neither Col. Thomas nor any other could proceed to Action through want of Commission The King answered That he being upon a Treaty would not dishonour himself but that if he this Deponent would take the pains to go over to the Prince his Son who had full Authority from him he the said Deponent or any for him should receive whatsoever Commissions should be desired and to that purpose he would appoint the Marquess of Hartford to write to his Son in his Name and was pleased to express much of Joy and Affection that his good Subjects would ingage themselves for his Restauration Robert Williams of the Parish of St. Martins in the County of Cornwal Husbandman Aged twenty three Years or thereabouts sworn and examined saith That he this Deponent did see the King marching in the Head of his Army about September 1644. a Mile from Lestithiel in Cornwal in Armor with a short Coat over it unbuttoned And this Deponent further saith That he saw him after that in St. Austell Downes drawing up his Army And this Deponent saith he did after that see the King in the Head of his Army near Foy and that the E. of Essex and his Army did then lie within one Mile and a half of the King's Army The Witnesses being Examined as aforesaid the Court Adjourned for an hour 25 Jan. 1648. post Merid. Commissioners Present John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law Lord President of this Court Daniel Blagrave John Okey Henry Marten John Carew Thomas Horton Sir Michael Livesey Bar. Owen Roe Sir John Bourchier Kt. Thomas Scot. John Moore Oliver Crowwell William Goffe Richard Deane Cornelius Holland Thomas Harrison Robert Lilbourne John Downs Edmond Ludlow Peregr Pelham Sir Henry Mildmay John Jones Valentine Wauton Sir Gregory Norton Bar. Sir Thomas Maleverer Bar. Adrian Scroope Henry Smith Anthony Stapeley John Huson Sir William Constable Bar. John Barkstead Sir John Danvers Edward Whalley Thomas Waite William Purefoy Thomas Pride John Fry John Blackistone Sir Hardress Waller Knight John Venn Robert Tichbourne Humphrey Edwards Peter Temple Vincent Potter William Cawley Isaac Ewers Richard Price of London Scrivener was produced a Witness to the Charge against the King who being Sworn and Examined saith That upon occasion of some tampering by the King's Agents with the Independants in and about London to draw them from the Parliaments Cause to the King's Party and this being discovered by some of those so tampered with unto sundry Members of the Committee of Safety who directed a carrying on of a seeming Compliance with the King he this Deponent did travel to Oxford in January 1643. having a safe Conduct under the Kings Hand and Seal which he this Deponent knoweth to be so for that the King did own it when he was told that this Deponent was the man that came to Oxon with that safe Conduct And this Deponent also saith That after sundry Meetings between him and the E. of Bristol about the drawing of the Independents unto the King's Cause against the Parliament the Substance of the Discourse at which Meetings the said Earl told this Deponent was communicated to the King he this Deponent was by the said Earl brought to the King to confer further about that Business where the King declared That he was very sensible that the Independents had been the most active men in the Kingdom for the Parliament against him and thereupon perswaded this Deponent to use all means to expedite their turning to Him and his Cause And for their better encouragement the King promised in the Word of a King That if they the Independents would turn to him and
Cause of withdrawing that then the Lord President do command the Sentence to be read but that the Lord President should hear the King say what he would before the Sentence and not after And thereupon it being further moved Whether the Lord President should use any Discourse or Speeches to the King as in the case of other Prisoners to be condemned was usual before the Publishing of the Sentence received general Directions to do therein as he should see cause and to press what he should conceive most seasonable and sutable to the Occasion And it was further directed That after the Reading of the Sentence the Lord President should declare that the same was the Sentence Judgment and Resolution of the whole Court and that the Commissioners should thereupon signifie their Consent by standing up The Court forthwith Adjourned it self to Westminster-Hall 27 Jan. 1648. post Merid. Westminster-Hall The Lord President and the rest of the Commissioners come together from the Painted Chamber to Westminster-Hall according to their Adjournment and take their Seats there as formerly and three Proclamations being made for Attendance and Silence The Court is called The Commissioners Present John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law Lord President of this Court John Lisle William Say Oliver Crowwell Henry Ireton Sir Hardress Waller Knight Sir John Bourchier Kt. William Heveningham Isaac Pennington Ald. of Lond. Henry Marten William Purefoy John Barkstead Matthew Tomlinson John Blackistone Gilbert Millington Sir William Constable Bar. Edmond Ludlow John Hutchinson Sir Michael Livesey Bar. Robert Tichbourne Owen Roe Robert Lilbourne Adrian Scroope Richard Deane John Okey John Huson William Goffe Cornelius Holland John Carew John Jones Miles Corbet Francis Allen. Peregr Pelham Daniel Blagrave Valentine Wauton Thomas Harrison Edward Whalley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewers Tho. L. Grey of Groby Sir John Danvers Sir Thomas Maleveâ—eâ— Bar. John Moore John Alured Henry Smith Humphrey Edwards Gregory Clement Thomas Wogan Sir Gregory Norton Bar. Edmond Harvey John Venn Thomas Scot. Tho. Andrews Ald. of Lond. William Cawleâ— Anthony Stapeley John Downs Thomas Horton Thomas Hamond Nicholas Love Vincent Potter Augustine Garland John Dixwell George Fleetwood Simon Meyne James Temple Peter Temple Thomas Waite The Prisoner is brought to the Bar and Proclamation is again as formerly made for Silence and the Captain of the Guard ordered to take into his Custody all such as should disturb the Court. The President stood up with an intention of address to the People and not to the Prisoner who had so often declined the Jurisdiction of the Court which the Prisoner observing moved he might be heard before Judgment given whereof he received assurance from the Court and that he should be heard after he had heard them first Whereupon the Court proceeded and remembred the great Assembly then present of what had formerly passed betwixt the Court and the Prisoner the Charge against him in the Name of the People of England exhibited to them being a Court constituted by the Supream Authority of England his refusal three several days and times to own them as a Court or to answer to the Matter of his Charge his thrice recorded Contumacy and other his Contempts and Defaults in the precedent Courts upon which the Court then declared that they might not be wanting to themselves or to the Trust reposed in them and that no mans Wilfulness ought to serve him to prevent Justice and that they had therefore thought fit to take the substance of what had passed into their serious consideration to wit the Charge and the Prisoners Contumacy and the Confession which in Law doth arise upon that Contumacy the Notoriety of the Fact charged and other the Circumstances material in the Cause and upon the whole Matter had resolved and agreed upon a Sentence then ready to be pronounced against the Prisoner But that in regard of his desire to be further heard they were ready to hear him as to any thing material which he would offer to their consideration before the Sentence given relating to the Defence of himself concerning the Matter charged and did then signifie so much to the Prisoner who made use of that leave given only to protest his respects to the Peace of the Kingdom and Liberty of the Subject and to say That the same made him at last to desire That having somewhat to say that concerned both he might before the Sentence given be heard in the Painted Chamber before the Lords and Commons saying it was fit to be heard if it were Reason which he should offer whereof they were Judges And pressing that Point much he was forthwith answered by the Court and told That that which he had moved was a declining of the Jurisdiction of the Court whereof he had Caution frequently before given him That it sounded to further delay of which he had been too much guilty That the Court being founded as often had been said upon the Authority of the Commons of England in whom rested the Supream Jurisdiction the motion tended to set up another or a co-ordinate Jurisdiction in derogation of the Power whereby the Court sate and to the manifest delay of theif Justice in which regard he was told they might forthwith proceed to Sentence yet for his further satisfaction of the entire Pleasure and Judgment of the Court upon what he had then said he was told and accordingly it was declared that the Court would withdraw half an hour The Prisoner by command being withdrawn the Court make their recess into the Room called The Court of Wards considered of the Prisoners Motion and gave the President Direction to declare their Dissent thereto and to proceed to the Sentence The Court being again set and the Prisoner returned was according to their Direction informed That he had in effect received his Answer before the Court withdrew and that their Judgment was as to his Motion the same to him before declared That the Court acted and were Judges appointed by the Highest Authority and that Judges were not to delay no more than to deny Justice That they were good words in the great old Charter of England Nulli negabimus nulli vendemus nulli differemus Justitiam vel Rectum That their Duty called upon them to avoid further Delays and to proceed to Judgment which was their unanimous Resolution Unto which the Prisoner replied and insisted upon his former Desires confessing a delay but that it was important for the Peace of the Kingdom and therefore pressed again with much earnestness to be heard before the Lords and Commons In Answer whereto he was told by the Court That they had fully before considered of his Proposal and must give him the same Answer to his renewed desires and that they were ready to proceed to Sentence if he had nothing more to say Whereunto he subjoyned He had no more to say but desired that might be Entred which he had said Hereupon after some Discourse used by the President for vindicating
will clear me of it I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it on the Two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this Guilt For I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me have been the chief Cause of all this Bloodshed So that by way of speaking as I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too Yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that God's Judgments are just upon me many times he does pay Justice by an unjust Sentence that is ordinary I will only say this That an unjust Sentence that I suffered to take effect is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me That is So far I have said to shew you that I am an Innocent Man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good Man that will bear me witness that I have forgiven all the World and even those in particular that have been the chief causers of my Death Who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great Sin in that Particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge Nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the Peace of the Kingdom For my Charity commands me not only to forgive particular men but my Charity commands me to endeavour to the last gasp the Peace of the Kingdom So Sirs I do wish with all my Soul and I do hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom Now Sirs I must shew you both how you are out of the way and will put you in a way First You are out of the way For certainly all the way you ever have had yet as I could find by any thing is in the way of Conquest Certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sir in my opinion is never just except there be a good just Cause either for matter of wrong or just Title and then if you go beyond it the first Quarrel that you have to it that makes it unjust at the end that was just at the first But if it be only matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pyrate said to Alexander the Great That he was the great Robber he was but a petty Robber And so Sir I do think the way that you are in is much out of the way Now Sir for to put you in the way believe it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his Due the King his Due that is My Successors and the People their Due I am as much for Them as any of you You must give God his Due by Regulating rightly his Church according to his Scripture which is now out of Order For to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but only this a National Synod freely Called freely Debating among themselves must settle this when that every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not Then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Axe he said Hurt not the Axe that may hurt me For the King The Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that therefore because it concerns my own Particular I only give you a Touch of it For the People And truly I desire their Liberty and Freedom as much as any body whomsoever but I must tell you that their Liberty and Freedom consists in having of Government those Laws by which their Life and their Goods may be most their own It is not for having share in Government Sir that is nothing pertaining to them a Subject and a Sovereign are clear different things And therefore until they do that I mean that you do put the People in that Liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sirs it was for this that now I am come here If I would have given way to an Arbitrary way for to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to your Charge that I am the MARTYR of the People In troth Sirs I shall not hold you much longer for I will only say this to you That in truth I could have desired some little time longer because that I would have put this that I have said in little more order and a little better digested than I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my Conscience I pray God that you do take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and your own Salvation Then the Bishop said Though it be very well known what your Majesties Affections are to the Protestant Religion yet it may be expected that You should say somewhat for the Worlds satisfaction in that Particular Whereupon the King replied I thank you very heartily My Lord for that I had almost forgotten it In troth Sirs My Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the World and therefore I declare before you all That I die a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers He said Sirs Excuse me for this same I have a good Cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then to Col. Hacker he said Take care that they do not put me to pain And Sir this and it please you But a Gentleman coming near the Axe the King said Take heed of the Axe pray take heed of the Axe And to the Executioner he said I shall say but very short Prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then he called to the Bishop for his Cap and having put it on asked the Executioner Does my Hair trouble you Who desired him to put it all under his Cap which as he was doing by the help of the Bishop and the Executioner he turned to the Bishop and said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side The Bishop said There is but one Stage more which though turbulent and troublesome yet it is a very short one you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way it will carry you from Earth to Heaven and there you shall find to your great Joy the Prize you hasten to a Crown of Glory The King adjoyns I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be no disturbance in the world Bishop You are exchanged from a Temporal to an Eternal Crown A good