mitted, who were between fifty and sixty in number, immediately elected themselves governors of the kingdom, and declared the treaty then pending with the king null and illegal. The king, two days before this attack upon the house of commons by colonel Pride, had been once more seized by Cromwell's orders, and was removed from the Isle of Wight to a dreary fortress called Hurst Castle, which was situated on the coast of Hampshire and was nearly surrounded by the sea at high tide. In this melancholy place he king remained during great part of the month of December, every day of which he passed in the expectation of its being his last, being prepossessed with the idea that he was conveyed thither for the purpose of being secretly murdered. One night in the month of December, the king was waked out of his sleep by hearing the draw-bridge of the castle let down; and soon after he heard the clatter of horsemen in the court. At first he was much agitated; and when Mr. Herbert, whom he sent to inquire the cause of this noise, told him that major Harrison had arrived, he was the more alarmed, because he had some time before been warned that this Harrison was one of those who harbored the design to assassinate him. At length, however, after spending some time in prayer, he recovered his composure: and, having risen and dressed, he tranquilly awaited the event. He was soon informed that the purport of the major's coming was to convey him to Windsor; and he was glad to leave Hurst Castle even under such an escort. Charles was four days on the road to Windsor, and during the journey received from all ranks of people many proofs of sympathy and respect, which greatly cheered him, but which were very displeasing to the governing faction. At Windsor, the king, though kept under great restraint, and though but few people were permitted to have access to him, was treated with civility. Why was Charles removed to Hurst Castle? What circumstance alarmed the king, one night at Hurst Castle? Who conveyed Charles to Windsor? How was Charles treated on his passage to Windsor, and after his arrival there? A. D. 1649. All things being now prepared for the fatal catastrophe, the king, on the 6th of January, was impeached of high treason for having presumed to appear in arms against the parliament. When he was informed that he must prepare for his trial, he said little, but was heard uttering to himself-"God is every where alike in wisdom, power, and goodness." He then retired to his apartment, and spent some time alone and in prayer. On the 18th of January, Charles was removed from Windsor to St. James's palace; and his guards and atten dants were ordered to treat him as no longer possessed of royal dignity, and to call him merely Charles Stuart. His own attendants were forbidden to wait on him at table, and the common soldiers were appointed to bring him his meals. Charles was much shocked at this mark of disrespect; but soon recovering his composure, he merely said, "Nothing is so contemptible as a despised king." One favor was, however, granted to Charles, which he esteemed a compensation for all his privations. This was the company of his attached and faithful servant, Dr. Juxon, the strength and piety of whose mind was the greatest possible support to him in this last and trying period of his life. The preparations for the trial were soon made. Cromwell declared in a speech in parliament, that had any man voluntarily proposed to bring the king to punishment, he should have regarded that man as the greatest traitor; but, added he, "Providence and necessity hath cast it upon us." On the 20th of January the king's judges, who were the persons called governors of the kingdom, assembled in Westminster Hall. Charles was brought three several days before the court which his accusers had created to try him, and each time refused to aknowledge its jurisdiction. On the last of these days, January 27th, he was pronounced Upon what charge was Charles impeached Jan. 6th, 1649? Was this treatment honorable and humane? (Ans. pupil's own judgment.) Who was permitted to attend Charles in his last days? When and where was sentence of death pronounced upon Charles? guilty of having appeared in arms against the parliament, and was condemned to be beheaded on the third day after. When he had returned to his apartment at St. James's, he retired into his room with Dr. Juxon, and told Mr. Herbert to refuse admittance to all persons coming to take leave of him; adding, "My time is short and precious, and I am desirous to improve it the best I may in preparation. I hope those who love me will not take it ill that they have The best office they can now do me is not access to me. to pray for me." A scaffold was erected in front of the palace at Whitehall, and on January 30, he A. D. 1649. was brought there, attended by Juxon and Herbert; but the latter was so much overwhelmed with grief, that the whole melancholy office of assisting the king in his last moments devolved on the aged bishop. On the scaffold, the king spoke a few words: he declared himself innocent towards his people, doubtless he thought himself so-but acknowledged himself guilty in the sight of God; and that the consent which he had once given to the execution of an unjust sentence was now deservedly punished by an unjust sentence inflicted on himself. So heavily did the death of Strafford still press upon his heart. Juxon then assisted him to unrobe. An executioner, whose face was concealed by a mask, then struck off his head, and holding it up, said, "This is the head of a traitor!" This bloody spectacle seemed to cause a sudden revulsion in the minds of all the spectators, who felt as much surprised and shocked as if the catastrophe they witnessed had been unexpected. Charles was in the forty-ninth year of his age, and the twenty-fifth of his reign. He married Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV., king of France. Their children were three sons and three daughters. How did Charles sustain himself in his last hours? Though Charles was not a politic prince, does it appear that he was a good man in other relations? Did the spectacle of Charles's execution distress those who witness ed it? What was Charles's family? CHAP. XXXI. THE COMMONWEALTH. 66 [Years after Christ, 1649-1660.] The first act of that small body of men who chose to call themselves a parliament, was to abolish the house of peers as being useless and dangerous. A new great seal of England was made, the legend or inscription, round which was, The first year of freedom by God's blessing restored 1648." All loyalists were treated with great severity, and it was made high treason to call the prince of Wales by any name but that of Charles Stuart. forms of all public business were altered, and the new legislators gave to their government the name of The Commonwealth of England. The Cromwell went as lord lieutenant to Ire A. D. 1649. land, where he found every thing in a very distracted state: but in a few months he restored order in the island. He then left his son-in-law, general Ireton, as his deputy, the affairs of Scotland calling for his presence in that country. The Scottish Presbyterians had refused to acknowledge the English republic; and, resolving to adhere to the monarchy, had proclaimed prince Charles their king; and sent to invite him to come and take possession of the throne; but on such hard conditions, that those who were his best friends counselled him not to make such sacrifices for the empty title of king. Charles, who entertained, probably, the dishonest intention of breaking through these conditions whenever he should be able, agreed to them, and returned with the commissioners. He was not suffered to set his foot on Scottish ground till he had signed the covenant: and the moment ho was on shore, he was beset by the Covenanters, who strove to convert him to their own opinions. What were the first measures of the Commonwealth? How did Cromwell administer affairs in Ireland? Did the Scots proclaim pr nce Charles king? Who received Charles in Scotland? He now found himself in a very comfortless situation The Presbyterians kept the entire administration both of church and state in their own hands, and though they allowed him the name of king, they did not treat him even with the respect due to a superior. They paid so little regard to his feelings, that they obliged him to pass under the gates of Aberdeen, over which was hung one of the limbs of his faithful friend and servant, the marquis of Montrose, who had a little before been put to death for appearing in arms in his cause. Under these circumstances, Charles secretly rejoiced on finding that Cromwell was on his march to Scotland with a powerful army for the purpose of driving him from his uneasy throne. The Scottish army, commanded by general Leslie, attacked Cromwell near Dunbar, and was completely beaten, with great loss; and Cromwell would soon have been entire master of the kingdom, had he not been attacked with a fit of illness, and been obliged to return to England. Cromwell again entered Scotland, and A. D. 1651. marched so far into the country as to get behind the army of the Covenanters. Charles, who was with the army, which consisted of 14,000 men, seeing the road to the English border thus open to him, formed the bold resolution of marching forwards into England, falsely presuming, that all who were discontented with the Commonwealth would flock to his standard. Charles marched forwards, in hopes at last to gather strength; but he arrived at Worcester with only his 14,000 Scots. Here he halted, and had a few days' rest after his long and fatiguing march. In the meantime, Cromwell, when he found that the king had slipped by him, left the command of the Scottish war to general Monk, and followed Charles with all possible expedition. Cromwell raising the militia of the several counties as he passed, so that by the time he reached Worcester he How was Charles treated in Scotland? Did Cromwell lead an army against Charles? What army adhered to Charles, and what expectations were formed by Charles? Where did Charles halt in his march into England? |