Wigan, and cut their rear-guard to pieces; on the 19th he gave them a bloody defeat at Warrington. Three thousand of the Scotch infantry now surrendered; Hamilton, with the cavalry, reached Uttoxeter, and there surrendered to Lambert. Cromwell pursued a part of the routed army beyond the borders, and was honorably entertained in Edinburgh castle by Argyle. 5. Treaty of Newport. Sept. 18-Nov. 27, 1648. During the absence of the army, and with it, of several of the most energetic of the Independent leaders, the opposite party took courage and annulled the vote against making further addresses to the king. The Lords even received a memorial from a late major of Cromwell's regiment, accusing the general of perfidy, ambition, and contempt of parliament. Although the Commons refused to entertain it, the peace party in the House, after severe animadversions on the anarchy and arrogance of the soldiery, carried a resolution (July 29) to open fresh negotiations with the king. The fifteen commissioners being met at Newport, propositions not much severer than those of Uxbridge were entered upon. After tedious discussions and modifications, most of them were assented to, but Charles decidedly objected-to abolish the functions of the bishops; to alienate in perpetuity the bishop's lands; to except any of his followers from compounding for delinquency; and to take the Covenant, or force it upon others, till his conscience was satisfied of its lawfulness. While these negotiations were going on, frequent petitions were presented to parliament and to Fairfax, praying that whoever had offended against the Commonwealth, no persons excepted, might come to judgment". Others from the army followed, characterised by increased hatred against those who had caused the land to be defiled with blood: colonel Ingoldsby's regiment in plainer terms demanded that the king and his adherents be brought to justice. On the 20th of November, a celebrated remonstrance from the army was presented to the Commons, imputing to them a want of energy and neglect of public interest; and called upon them to bring the king solemnly to trial; to proclaim the sovereignty of the people, and an elective monarchy; to put an end to the present session, and make provision before separating for a more equal distribution of the suffrage, and the regular meeting of future parliaments; and finally threatened that the army would proceed to save the country, if it remained any longer compromised by the negligence of men, who were only the servants of their fellow citizens. The House resolved that no immediate answer should be given to this remonstance, hoping to be able to establish a treaty with the king, which the commissioners were instructed to bring to a speedy conclusion. Charles, duly informed of what had taken place, consented at the last minute to leave his followers to the mercy of parliament; to consent to the trial of the seven excepted persons and to suspend the functions of the bishops, till the matter of religion should be settled by the king and the parliament. The charge against Charles of insincerity in these negotiations is difficult to disprove, as may be seen from his letters. Writing to Ormond (Oct. 10) he says, 'Obey my wife's orders, not mine, until I shall let you know that I am free from all restraint; nor trouble yourself about my concessions as to Ireland; they will lead to nothing". And to his son, Charles writes, "though you will hear that this treaty is near, or at least most likely to be concluded, yet believe it not, but pursue the way you are in with all possible vigor". 66 6. The House of Commons is" purged" by colonel Pride. Dec. 6, 1648. Immediately after the departure of the parliamentary commissioners from Newport, the army gave proof of its having determined on proceeding to extremities. Troops were landed in the Isle of Wight, and colonel Cobbett carried off the king to Hurst castle (Nov. 30), where he was put in close keeping. In the House there were violent debates on the report of the commissioners, rendered still more so, by the news which reached them, that the army had seized the person of the king. Fairfax, to overawe the parliament, had marched several regiments into London, and quartered them in the vicinity of Westminster. Nevertheless, after the debate had continued by adjournment three days and one whole night, it was carried (Dec. 5) by a majority of thirty-six, that the offers of the king furnished a sufficient ground for the future settlement of the kingdom. At the rising of the House, a meeting was held of the Independent members, and was attended by some of the army officers. Of those present, six were appointed to take measures for ensuring the success of their plans. This committee of management spent the day in examining together, a list of the members of the Commons, and deciding upon their principles and conduct. On the morning of the 6th, Ireton put the troops in motion. With consent of Skippon, the militia that guarded the parliament was displaced by two regiments of regular troops. Every avenue to the House was occupied, and colonel Pride stationed himself in the lobby with a list of proscribed members in his hand. Lord Grey and an usher pointed them out as they arrived, and Pride said to each 'You must not go in". Fifty-two of the leading Presbyterians were for a time put into confinement. Pride continued his purge on the day following. Many members withdrew into the country. When the 8th of December came, it was found that the House consisted only of about fifty Independents, which obtained for it subsequently the appellation of the "Rump Parliament". Cromwell, who had been engaged in reducing Berwick and Carlisle, returned to London on the 7th, and taking his place in the House, received its thanks for his great services to the kingdom. It is uncertain, how far he was concerned in the late movements; he himself declared repeatedly, "God is my witness, that I know nothing of what has been doing in this House, but the work is at hand, I am glad of it, and now we must carry it through". 7. The Rump votes that the king be brought to trial, Dec. 23, 1648. Everything goes on now with great rapidity, the army and Rump act in unison. On the 11th, the former send to parliament a plan for a republican government, under the title of "A New Agreement of the People", and on the two following days, the Commons repeal all the acts lately adopted in favor of peace. Charles, under escort, set out from Hurst on the 18th, and on the 22nd took up his abode at Windsor. The day after, not without some difficulty, the Commons voted the impeachment of the king, and appointed a committee of thirty-eight members to receive information, and devise the manner of proceeding. 8. Gradual growth of a desire to overturn the monarchy. The following passage from Hallam is important, as showing that the measures now being taken, were not of such sudden impulse, as they are sometimes represented : "There can be no more erroneous opinion than that of such as believe that the desire of overturning the monarchy produced_the civil war, rather than that the civil war brought on the former. In a peaceful and ancient kingdom like England, the thought of change could not spontaneously arise. A very few speculative men, by the study of antiquity, or by observation of the prosperity of Venice and Holland, might be led to an absolute preference of republican politics; some fanatics might aspire to a Jewish theocracy; but at the meeting of the long parliament, we have not the slightest cause to suppose that any party, or any number of persons among its members, had formed what must have appeared so extravagant a conception. The insuperable distrust of the king's designs, the irritation excited by the sufferings of the war, the impracticability, which every attempt at negotiation displayed, of obtaining his acquiescence to terms deemed indispensable, gradually created a powerful faction, whose chief band of union was a determination to set him aside. What further schemes they had planned is uncertain: none probably in which any number were agreed: some looked to the prince of Wales, others perhaps, at one time, to the elector palatine; but necessity itself must have suggested to many the idea of a republican settlement. In the newmoddeled army of 1645, composed of Independents and enthusiasts of every denomination, a fervid eagerness for changes in the civil polity, as well as in religion, was soon found to predominate. Not checked like the two Houses, by attachment to forms, and by the influence of lawyers, they launched forth with varied subjects of reform, sometimes judicious, or at least plausible, sometimes wildly fanatical. They reckoned the king a tyrant, whom, as they must fight against, they might also put to death, and whom it were folly to provoke, if he were again to become their master. Elated with their victories, they began already in imagination to carve out the kingdom for themselves; and remembered that saying so congenial to a revolutionary army, that the first of monarchs was a successful leader, the first of nobles were his followers." SECTION XXV.—THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF CHARLES, 1649. 1 Proceedings of the parliament, Jan. 1649. On the 1st of January, the committee appointed to consider of drawing up a charge against the king, made their report, the preamble of which ran thus :-"That the said Charles Stuart, being admitted king of England, and therein trusted with a limited power to govern by and according to the laws of the land, and not otherwise; and by his trust, oath, and office, being obliged to use the power committed to him, for the good and benefit of the people, and for the preservation of their rights and liberties; yet, nevertheless, out of a wicked design to erect and uphold in himself an unlimited and tyrannical power, to rule according to his will, and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the people; yea, to take away and make void the foundations thereof, and of redress and remedy of misgovernment, which by the fundamental constitutions of this kingdom, were reserved on the people's behalf, in the right and power of frequent and successive parliaments, or national meetings in council; he, the said Charles Stuart, for accomplishing of his designs, and for the protecting of himself and his adherents in his and their wicked practices, to the same ends hath traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present parliament and the people therein represented." : The ordinance that Charles was guilty of treason in making war against the parliament, being sent up (Jan. 2) to the Lords, was rejected there were however but twelve peers present. This led the Commons to vote on the 4th, "That the Commons of England in parliament assembled, do declare that the people are, under God, the origin of all just power. And do also declare that the Commons of England, in parliament assembled, being chosen by and representing the people, have the supreme power in the nation. And do also declare, that whatsoever is enacted or declared for law by the Commons in parliament assembled, hath the force of a law; and all the people of this nation are concluded thereby, although the consent and concurrence of king or House of Peers be not had thereto." On the 6th, an ordinance was passed for the trial of the king, and for erecting a High Court of Justice for conducting the trial, to consist of one hundred and thirty-five commissioners. But many of these never attended even the preliminary meetings. Fairfax attended but once, the celebrated Algernon Sydney three times, and then warmly opposed the trial. Bradshaw, a cousin of Milton, and a lawyer, was elected president —“a man grave and gentle in his manners, but of a narrow and austere mind". Steel was chosen to be attorney-general, and Coke solicitor-general; Dr. Dorislaus and Mr. Aske were to act as counsel with them, in drawing up and managing the charges. 2. Trial of the king, Jan 20-27, 1649. Charles at Windsor, though he heard nothing officially of the proceedings, learnt all from Whychcott the governor, or from his servant Herbert. Yet, very nearly to the last the king had hopes of regaining his position. "In six months," he said, " peace will be re-established in England; if not, I shall receive from Ireland, Denmark, and other kingdoms, the means of righting me." And at another time, "I have three more cards to play, the worst of which may give me back everything". But the unfortunate monarch was soon to be undeceived. Orders were given to serve the king no longer with state, his meal was now taken to table uncovered, by the soldiers; neither did he receive the cup with bended knee. Charles felt this denial of respect most keenly, and to avoid the insult took his meals in private. On the 19th, he was removed to St. James's, where the strictest watch was kept over him. Shortly after noon on the 20th, the court proceeded to Westminster Hall, and the names being called, it was found that sixtynine members were present. Bradshaw then ordered that the prisoner be brought in. The king entered, guarded by colonel Hacker and thirty-two officers. When he was seated, Bradshaw addressed him :-"Charles Stuart, king of England, 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, have resolved to bring you to a trial and judgment, and for this cause this tribunal is erected. The charges will now be read by the solicitor-general." Coke rose to speak, "Hold," said the king, and touching the solicitor on the shoulder with his cane, the gold head dropped off, an accident which Charles told Juxon, shocked him very much. Coke then went on, "My lord, I am come to charge Charles Stuart, king of England, in the name of all the Commons of England, with treason and high misdemeanors". The clerk then read through the charge which taxed the king with the civil war, the death of thousands of the people, with division in the land and invasions from without, the waste of the treasury, M |