mal accusation or impeachment of the King. Charles was now removed from the Isle of Wight to Windsor, and every thing announced to him that the period of his life was now fast approaching: but, notwithstanding all the preparations which were making, and the intelligence which he received, he could not, even yet, believe that his enemies really meant to conclude their violences, by a public trial and execution. A private assassination he every moment looked for; and, though Harrison assured him that his apprehensions were entirely groundless, it was by that catastrophe, so frequent with dethroned princes, that he expected to terminate his life. In appearance, as well as in reality, the King was now dethroned. All the exterior symbols of sovereignty were withdrawn, and his attendants had orders to serve him without ceremony. At first, he was shocked with instances of rudeness and familiarity, to which he had been so little accustomed. Nothing so contemptible as a despised Prince! was the reflection which they suggested to him. But he soon reconciled his mind to this, as he had done to his other calamities.

All the circumstances of the trial were now adjusted, and the high court of justice fully constituted. It consisted of 133 persons, as named by the Commons; but there scarcely ever sat above 70: so difficult was it, notwithstanding the blindness of prejudice, and the allurements of interest, to engage men of any character or name in that criminal measure. Cromwell, Ireton, Harrison, and the chief officers of the army, most of them of mean birth, were members, together with some of the Lower House and some citizens of London. The twelve judges were at first appointed of the number; but, as they had affirmed, that it was contrary to all ideas of English law to try the King for treason, by whose authority all accusations. for treason must necessarily be conducted, their names, as well as those of some peers, were afterwards struck out. Bradshaw, a lawyer, was chosen president. Coke was ap

pointed solicitor for the people of England. Dorislaus, Steele, and Aske, were named assistants. The court sat in Westminster-hall.

"The pomp, the dignity, the ceremony of this transaction," says Hume," corresponded to the greatest conception that is suggested in the annals of human kind. The delegates of a great people, sitting in judgment upon their supreme magistrate, and trying him for his misgovernment and breach of trust." The solicitor, in the name of the Commons, represented, that Charles Stuart, being admitted King of England, and entrusted with a limited power; yet, nevertheless, from a wicked design, to erect an unlimited and tyrannical government, had traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present Parliament, and the people whom they represented, and was therefore impeached as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and a public and implacable enemy to the commonwealth. After the charge was finished, the president directed his discourse to the King, and told him, that the court expected his answer.

The King, though long detained a prisoner, and now produced as a criminal, sustained, by his magnanimous courage, the majesty of a monarch. With great temper and dignity he declined the authority of the court, and refused to submit himself to their jurisdiction. Three times was Charles produced before the court, and as often declined their jurisdiction. On the fourth, the judges having examined some witnesses, by whom it was proved that the King had appeared in arms against the forces commissioned by the Parliament, they pronounced sentence against him. The King seemed very anxious at this time to be admitted to a conference with the two houses; and, it was supposed, that he intended to resign the crown to his son; but the court refused, and considered the request as nothing but a delay of justice.

It is confessed, even by his enemies, that the King's behaviour, during this last scene of life, does honour to his me

mory; and that, in all appearance, before his judges he never forgot his part, either as a prince or as a man.

Firm and intrepid, he maintained, in each reply, the utmost perspicuity and justness both of thought and expression. Mild and equable, he rose into no passion at that unusual authority which was assumed over him. His soul, without effort or affectation, seemed only to remain in the situation familiar to it, and to look down with contempt on all the efforts of human malignity and iniquity. The soldiers, instigated by their superiors, though with difficulty, cried aloud for justice: Poor souls, said the King to one of his attendants, for a little money they would do as much against one of their commanders. Some of them were permitted to go to the utmost length of brutal violence, and to spit in his face as he was conducted along the passage to the court. To excite a sentiment of pity was the only effect which this inhuman insult was able to produce upon him.

The people, though under the rod of lawless unlimited power, could not forbear, with the most ardent prayers, pouring forth their wishes for his preservation; and, in his present distress, they avowed him, by their generous tears, for their monarch, whom, in their misguided fury, they had before so violently rejected. The King was softened at this moving scene, and expressed his gratitude for their dutiful affection. One soldier too, seized by contagious sympathy, demanded from heaven a blessing on oppressed and fallen majesty. His officer overheard the prayer, and beat him to the ground in the King's presence. The punishment, methinks, exceeds the offence. This was the reflection which Charles formed on that occasion.

Three days were allowed the King between his sentence and his execution. This interval be passed in great tranquillity, chiefly in reading and devotion. All his family that remained in England were allowed access to him. It consisted only of

the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester; for the Duke of York had made his escape. Gloucester was little more than an infant: the princess, notwithstanding her tender years, shewed an advanced judgment; and the calamities of her family had made a deep impression on her. After many pious consolations and advices, the King gave her in charge to tell the Queen, that, during the whole course of his life, he had never once, even in thought, failed in his fidelity towards her; and that his conjugal tenderness and life should have an equal duration.

To the young Duke, too, he could not forbear giving some advice, in order to season his mind with early principles of loyalty and obedience towards his brother, who was soon to be his sovereign. Holding him on his knee, he said, "Now they will cut off thy father's head." At these words the child looked very steadfastly upon him. "Mark, child! what I say. They will cut off my head, and perhaps make thee a king: But mark what I say, thou must not be a king as long as thy brothers, Charles and James, are alive. They will cut off thy brothers' heads if they can catch them! they will cut off at last! made a King by them."

And thy head too therefore, I charge thee, do not be The Duke, sighing, replied, “ I will be torn in pieces first." So determined an answer, from one of such tender years, filled the King's eyes with tears of joy and admiration.

On the morning of the fatal day, the King rose early, and calling Herbert, one of his attendants, he bade him employ more than usual care in dressing him, and preparing him for so great and joyful a solemnity. Bishop Juxon, a man endowed with the same mild and steady virtues, by which the King himself was so much distinguished, assisted him in his devotions, and paid the last melancholy duties to his friend and sovereign.

The street before Whitehall was the place destined for the execution for it was intended, by choosing the very place in

sight of his own palace, to display more evidently the triumph of popular justice over royal majesty. When the King came upon the scaffold, he found it so surrounded by soldiers that he could not expect to be heard by any of the people. He addressed, therefore, his discourse to the few persons who were about him; particularly Colonel Tomlinson, to whose care he had lately been committed, and upon whom, as upon many others, his amiable deportment had wrought an entire conversion. He justified his own innocence in the late fatal wars, and observed, that he had not taken arms till after the Parliament had enlisted forces; nor had he any other object in his warlike operations than to preserve that authority entire which his predecessors had transmitted to him. He threw not, however, the blame upon the Parliament: but was more inclined to think, that ill instruments had interposed, and raised in them fears and jealousies with regard to his intentions. Though innocent towards his people, he acknowledged the equity of his execution in the eyes of his Maker; and observed, that an unjust sentence, which he had suffered to take effect, was now punished by an unjust sentence upon himself. He forgave all his enemies, even the chief instruments of his death; but exhorted them, and the whole nation, to return to the ways of peace, by paying obedience to their lawful sovereign, his son and successor. When he was preparing himself for the block, Bishop Juxon called to him, "There is, Sir, but one stage more, which, though turbulent and troublesome, is yet a short one. Consider, it will soon carry you a great way; it will carry you from earth to heaven, and there you shall find, to your great joy, the prize to which you hasten, a crown of glory."—" I go,” replied the King, "from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown; where no disturbance can have place." At one blow his head was severed from his body. A man in a vizor performed the office of executioner; and another, in a like disguise, held up to the spectators the head