advice, saying, he would not break the promise he had given. The treaty consisted of several articles, to all of which, though tending to the abridgment of his prerogatives, the King agreed, two only excepted, one of which was for the abolition of episcopacy, and the other that all who had taken up arms ir. his cause should be declared traitors. After further debate, the king agreed to some modification in regard to episcopacy; but nothing could induce him to consent to the last article. While the treaty between the king and the parliament seemed thus drawing towards a favorable conclusion, Cromwell, by one daring act, annihilated the whole power of the parliament, and destroyed all Charles's hopes of peace and security. He sent colonel Pride, with a body of troops to surround the parliament-house, a little before he time when the members were to assemble, with orders o permit those only to enter who belonged to the independent and republican party, and to exclude all the rest: and this he called "purging the parliament." The members admitted, 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. 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 To what articles of treaty did the king refuse consent? Who annihilated parliament for the time, and who usurped its pow ers ? Why was Charles removed to Hurst Castle? What circumstance alarmed the king, one night at Hurst Castle? arrived, he was the more alarmed, because ne had some me 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. All things being now prepared for the A. D. 1649. 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 attendants 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, "Nothir g is so contemptible as a despised king." The preparations for the trial were soon made. Crom Who conveved Charles to Windsor ? How was Charles treated on his passage to Windsor, and after his ar ival there? Upon what charge was Charles impeached Jan. 6th, 1649? What indignities were put upon Charles at St James's? Was this treatment honorable and humane? (Ans. pupil's own judg ment.) well 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 lays before the court which his accusers had created to try him, and each time refused to acknowledge its jurisdiction. On the last of these days, January 27th, he was pro nounced 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 not access to me. The best office they can now do me is to for me pray A scoffold was erected in front of the paA. D. 1649. lace at Whitehall, and on January 30, he 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. When and where was sentence of death pronounced upon Charles? How did Charles sustain himself in his last hours? Under what circumstances was Charles beneaded? Though Charles was not a politic prince, does it appear that he was a good man in other relations? 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 CHAPTER XXXI THE COMMONWEALTH. [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. The forms of all public business were altered, and the new legislators gave to their government the name of The Commonwealth of England. Cromwell went as lord lieutenant to re A. D. 1649. land, where he found every thing in a very distracted state: but in a few months he restored or der 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. Dthe spectacle of Charles s execution distress those who witnre ed it ? What was Charles's family? What were the first measures of the Commonwealth ? How did Crom well administer affairs in Ireland? well 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 lays before the court which his accusers had created to try him, and each time refused to acknowledge its jurisdiction. On the last of these days, January 27th, he was pro nounced 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. Herpert 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 not access to me. The best office they can now do me is to pray for me pa A scoffold was erected in front of the A. D. 1649. lace at Whitehall, and on January 30, he 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. When and where was sentence of death pronounced upon Charles? How did Charles sustain himself in his last hours? Under what circumstances was Charles beneaded? Though Charles was not a politic prince, does it appear that he was a good man in other relations? |