the proceeds, and thus making the plunder of the Church directly contributory to the ruin of the State,a lesson which should not be forgotten.

To the firm and orderly, though illegal government of these men, the king could only oppose divided, and in some cases certainly dishonest counsels. His courtiers, his generals, even his sons and nephews, made parties for themselves, and thwarted the most prudent measures by their mutual jealousies; and the various classes of his supporters were actuated by very different motives. Though many of the House of Peers and some of the House of Commons repaired to him, he was unable to keep long on foot the semblance of a parliament; his own solemn declarations prevented his attempting to levy taxes without, and he was obliged to depend on the voluntary gifts of his adherents; they, however, answered to his call, and fought at their own cost, while the Universities contributed their plate", and the crown jewels were sold.

The first battle in the civil war (at Edgehill, Oct. 23,

Sir Arthur Hasilrigge thus received so much of the Church property in the north, that he was familiarly known as the Bishop of Durham.

Some (as Sir Edward Varney, his standard-bearer, killed at Edgehill) supported him from a feeling of loyal duty, though not approving of his measures. Others (as many Romanists) joined him for protection from the violence of the parliament. A third party adhered to him but feebly, fearing that a decided overthrow or their adversaries would bring back all the oppressions of former

years.

His parliament at Oxford held two sessions, and imposed taxes which in general could only be gathered as military contributions. u The plate of the colleges at Oxford (amounting to at least £6,000), was granted by vote of convocation, Jan. 31, 1643, and £2,000 worth more was contributed by individual members of the university. Much of the plate of Cambridge was intercepted by the parliamentarians.

1642) was indecisive, but the king soon after gained signal advantages, and it seemed likely that he would surmount his difficulties, as he repeatedly promised a legal course of government for the future, and many of those who fought against him had no intention of carrying matters to extremity. But they had raised a storm that they could not direct. The extreme party (“the root and branch men") called in the Scots, Cromwell, and other men of blood, thrust themselves to the head of affairs, remodelled the army, totally defeated the royal forces, broke the power of the parliament, and got the king into their own hands.

Various attempts had before been made at treaties between the king and the parliament; the latter now renewed them, and, to gain the king's support against their revolted instruments, they were ready to accept terms which they had before declined; the Scots, and the chiefs of the army, professed to negotiate with him, and he was led to believe that he could act as umpire; it may, however, reasonably be doubted whether either party was sincere, and it is certain that the king became the victim. After a time the negotiations were broken off, and the king fled to the Isle of Wight. Here they were resumed, and promised peace, when the military, confident in their strength, and unhappily not repugnant to any act of violence or cruelty, reduced the parliament to a mere assembly of their own creatures, terrified the peers from interfering, and then brought their king before a new-created tribunal, called a High Court of Justice, condemned, and executed him; he being be

* As at Oxford, in 1643, and at Uxbridge, in 1645.

headed in front of his own palace at Whitehall, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 1649. His body was carried to Windsor, and there buried in St. George's chapel, Feb. 82.

Very shortly after his accession, Charles married the princess Henrietta Maria of France, a woman of beauty and spirit, but unfortunately the cause of many of the troubles of his reign. The marriage treaty had stipulated for such lenity towards the English Romanists as greatly offended the Puritans; the queen's gay disposition also was distasteful to them; some of her husband's most unwise steps were supposed to be taken in deference to her; and she became so unpopular that an impeachment was prepared against her by the Commons, and she judged it prudent to leave the country. She greatly exerted herself to raise supplies abroad for her husband, and revisited England whilst the war raged, but in 1644 withdrew to France, where she remained in neglect and poverty until the restoration of Charles II. This event she survived several years, dying at Colombe, near Paris, Aug. 10, 1669.

On the restoration an act was passed [12 Car. II. c. 30.] for the solemn observance of this, as the day of his "martyrdom ;" a service was accordingly drawn up, and is still in use, in which it is to be lamented there are many expressions that have given just offence to religious persons, who yet heartily abhor the deed of blood.

The duke of Richmond, the marquis of Hertford, and the earls of Southampton and Lindsay, obtained leave from "those who governed" to attend the funeral of their master. They brought with them Bishop Juxon, who had attended the king on the scaffold, but he was not permitted to read the burial service, as he had intended. The king's body was laid in the grave, says Clarendon, "without any words or other ceremonies than the tears and sighs of the few beholders." Upon the coffin was a plate of silver fixed, with these words only, "KING CHARLES, 1648." When the coffin was placed in the grave, the black velvet pall that had covered it was thrown over it, and the earth thrown in, which the governor stayed to see perfectly done, and then took the keys of the church, which had long ceased to be used for divine service.

Their issue were

CHARLES and JAMES, who became kings.

Henry, born July 8, 1640. With his sister Elizabeth he fell into the hands of the parliament, but was allowed to leave England in 1652, when he repaired to his brother Charles, by whom he was created duke of Gloucester; he returned at the Restoration, but died soon after, Sept. 13, 1660.

Mary, born Nov. 4, 1631, was, when but ten years old, married to Prince William of Nassau; their only child was William, prince of Orange (afterwards William III.); the princess visited England at the Restoration, and, like her brother Henry, died in the same year (Dec. 24, 1660).

Elizabeth, born Dec. 28, 1635, died in confinement at Carisbrooke Castle, Sept. 8, 1650; she was buried at Newport, in the new church of which a tablet has recently been erected to her memory by her present Majesty.

Henrietta Maria, born June 16, 1644, at Exeter, was very shortly after carried abroad by her mother, and was educated as a Romanist. She married Philip, duke of Anjou (brother of Louis XIV.), managed political intrigues between the courts of England and France, and died very suddenly, not without suspicion of poison, shortly after her return from a journey on such business, June 30, 1670.

Anne, born in 1637, died young.

Charles I. had the same arms and supporters as his

• Except in the instance of the Exchequer seal already mentioned. See p. 328.

father, but he revived the ancient motto, DIEU ET MON

DROIT.

The character of King Charles has been drawn by his zealous adherent, Lord Clarendon, as little short of perfection as a man, though with some blemishes as a king; blemishes, however, betokening tenderness rather than severity, and therefore not likely to give occasion to the calamities that befell him. According to him, the king's greatest fault was distrust of his own judgment, and hence he often changed his own opinion for a worse, and followed the advice of those who did not judge so well as himself. This facility had doubtless much to do with his misfortunes, and he was also unhappy in the choice of his councillors; but these causes are not sufficient to account for the strange and deplorable events that have made his reign so memorable; and it is clear that his own insincerity had a very great share in producing his fall. The concessions which circumstances at various times extorted from him he evidently considered derogatory to his royal dignity; and his conduct with regard to the Petition of Right shewed that he was resolved not to adhere to the most solemn engagement when he had the power to break it. His parliaments learned from this that they could not trust him, and thus his misjudging friends were directly accessory to his death, by laying him open to the violence of the

Some were hateful to the people as Romanists, or favourers of Rome, as Weston, earl of Portland, the treasurer, Lord Cottington, chancellor of the exchequer, and Sir Francis Windebank, the secretary; and some must have been extravagantly dishonest, if Clarendon's statement is to be believed, that of £200,000, raised in a year by the illegal methods practised, scarce £1,500 came to the king's use or account.