hear you they have patiently waâ—ted your pleasure for three Courts together to hear what you would say to the Peoples Charge against you to which you have not vouchsafed to give any Answer at all Sir This tends to a further delay Truly Sir such delaies as these neither may the Kingdom nor Justice well bear You have had three several daies to have offered in this kind what you would have pleased This Court is founded upon that Authority of the Commons of England in whom rests the Supreme Jurisdiction That which you now tender is to have another Jurisdiction and a Co-ordinate Jurisdiction I know very well you express your self Sir That notwithstanding that you would offer to the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber yet nevertheless you would proceed on here I did hear you say so but Sir That you would offer there what ever it is it must needs be in delay of the Justice here so as if this Court be resolved and prepared for the Sentence this that you offer they are not bound in Justice to grant but Sir according to that you seem to desire and because you shall know the further pleasure of the Court upon that which you have moved the Court will withdraw for a time King Shall I withdraw Lord President Sir Yow shall know the pleasure of the Court presently the Court withdraws for half an hour into the Court of Wards Sergeant at Arms the Court gives command that the Prisoner be withdrawn and they give order for his return again The Court withdraws for half an hour and returns Lord President Sergeant at Arms send for your prisoner Sir you were pleased to make a motion here to the Court to offer a desire of yours touching the propounding of somewhat to the Lords in the Painted Chamber for the Peace of the Kingdom Sir you did in effect receive an Answer before the Court adjourned Truly Sir their withdrawing and adjournment was pro forma tantum for it did not seem to them that there was any difficulty in the thing they have considered of what you have moved and have considered of their own Authority which is founded as hath been often said upon the Supream Authority of the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament The Court acts accordingly to their Commission Sir the return I have to you from the Court is this That they have been too much delayed by you already and this that you now offer hath occasioned some little further delay and they are JUDGES appointed by the highest JUDGES and Judges are no more to delay then they are to deny Justice they are good words in the old Charter of England Nulli negabimus nulli vendemus nulli deferremus Justitiam There must be no delay but the truth is Sir and so every man here observes it That you have much delayed them in your contempt and default for which they might long since have proceeded to judgment against you and notwithstanding what you have offered they are resolved to proceed to punishment and to Judgment and that is their unanimous resolution King Sir I know it is in vain for me to dispute I am no Sceptick for to deny the Power that you have I know that you have Power enough Sir I confess I think it would have been for the Kingdoms Peace if you would have taken the pains for to have shewn the Lawfulness of your Power for this delay that I have desired I confess it is a delay but it is a delay very important for the Peace of the Kingdom for it is not my Person that I look on alone it is the Kingdoms well-fare and the Kingdoms Peace it is an old Sentence That we should think on long before we have resolved of great matters suddenly Therefore Sir I do say again That I do put at your doors all the inconveniency of an hasty Sentence I confess I have been here now I think this week this day eight days was the day I came here first but a little delay of a day or two further may give Peace whereas an hasty Judgement may bring on that trouble and perpetual inconveniency to the Kingdom That the child that is unborn may repent it and therefore again out of the Duty I ow to God and to my Country I do desire that I may be heard by the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber or any other Chamber that you will appoint me Lord Pres Sir you have bin already answer'd to what you even now moved being the same you moved before since the Resolution and the Judgement of the Court in it and the Court now requires to know whether you have any more to say for your self then you have said before they proceed to Sentence King I say this Sir That if you will hear me if you will give me but this delay I doubt not but I shall give some satisfaction to you all here and to my People after that and therefore I do require you as you will answer it at the dreadfull day of Judgment that you will consider it once again Lord President Sir I have received direction from the Court. King Well Sir Lord President If this must be re-enforc'd or any thing of this nature your answer must be the same and they will proceed to Sentence if you have nothing more to say King Sir I have nothing more to say but I shall desire that this may be entered what I have said Lord President The Court then Sir hath something else to say unto you which although I know it will be very unacceptable yet notwithstanding they are willing and are resolv'd to discharge their Duty Sir you spake very well of a precious thing that you call Peace and it had been much to be wished that God had put it into your heart that you had as effectually and really endeavoured and studied the Peace of the Kingdom as now in words you seem to pretend but as you were told the other day Actions must expound Intentions yet Actions have been clean contrary and truly Sir it doth appear plainly enough to them That you have gone upon very erronious principles the Kingdom hath felt it to their smart and it will be no ease to you to think of it for Sir you have held your self and let fall such Language as if you had been no ways Subject to the Law or that the Law had not been your Superiour Sir The Court is very well sensible of it and I hope so are all the understanding People of England That the Law is your Superiour That you ought to have ruled according to the Law you ought to have done so Sir I know very well your pretence hath been that you have done so but Sir the difference hath been who shall be the Expositors of this Law Sir whether you and your Party out of Courts of Justice shall take upon them to expound Law or the Courts of Justice who are the Expounders nay the Soveraign
President in a Scarlet robe with sixty eight other Members of the Court. As the King comes in a cry made in the Hall for Execution Iustice Execution King I shall desire a word to be heard a little and I hope I shall give no occasion of interruption Lord President You may answer in your time hear the Court first King If it please you Sir I desire to be heard and I shall not give any occasion of interruption and it is only in a word a sudden Judgment Lord President Sir you shall be heard in due time but you are to hear the Court first King Sir I desire it will be in order to what I believe the Court will say and therefore Sir an hasty Judgment is not so soon recall'd Lord President Sir You shall be heard before the Judgment be given and in the mean time you may forbear King Well Sir shall I be heard before the Judgment be given Lord President Gentlemen it is well known to all or most of you here present That the Prisoner at the Bar hath been severall times convented and brought before the Court to make Answer to a Charge of Treason and other high crimes exhibited against him in the name of the People of England to which Charge being required to Answer he hath been so far from obeying the commands of the Court by submitting to their Justice as he began to take upon him to offer reasoning and debate unto the Authority of the Court and of the highest Court that constituted them to Try and judge him but being over-ruled in that and required to make his Answer he was still pleased to continue contumacious and to refuse to submit or Answer Hereupon the Court that they may not be wanting to themselves to the trust reposed in them nor that any mans wilfulness prevent Justice they have thought fit to take the matter into their consideration They have considered of the contumacy and of that confession which in Law doth arise upon that contumacy They have likewise considered of the notoriety of the Fact charg'd upon this Prisoner and upon the whole matter they are resolved and have agreed upon a Sentence to be now pronounced against this Prisoner but in respect he doth desire to be heard before the Sentence be read and pronounc'd the Court hath resolved that they will hear him yet Sir thus much I must tell you before-hand which you have been minded of at other Courts That if that you have to say be to offer any debate concerning Jurisdiction you are not to be heard in it you have offered it formerly and you have indeed struck at the root that is the power and Supreme Authority of the Commons of England which this Court will not admit a debate of and which indeed is an irrational thing in them to do being a Court that acts upon Authority derived from them that they should presume to judge upon their Superior from whom there 's no Appeal But Sir if you have any thing to say in defence of your self concerning the matter charged the Court hath given me in command to let you know they will hear you The King Since that I see that you will â—ot hear any thing of debate concerning that which I confess I thought most material for the peace of the Kingdom and for the Liberty of the Subject I shall wave it I shall speak nothing to it but only I must tell you That this many a day all things have been taken away from me but that that I call more dearer to me then my life which is My Conscience and my Honor and if I had respect to my Life more then the Peace of the Kingdom the Liberty of the Subject certainly I should have made a particular defence for my self for by that at leastwise I might have delayed an ugly Sentence which I believe will pass upon me Therefore certainly Sir as a man that hath some understanding some knowledge of the world if that my true zeal to my Country had not over-born the care that I have of my own preservation I should have gone another way to work then that I have done Now Sir I conceive That an hasty Sentence once past may sooner be repented then recalled and truly the self-same desire that I have for the Peace of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject more then my own particular does make me now at last desire That having something for to say that concerns both I desire before Sentence be given that I may be heard in the Painted-Chamber before the Lords and Commons this delay cannot be prejudicial to you whatsoever I say if that I say no reason those that hear me must be Judges I cannot be Judge of that that I have if it be reason and really for the welfare of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject I am sure on 't very well t is worth the hearing Therefore I do conjure you as you love that that you pretend I hope it 's real the Liberty of the Subject the Peace of the Kingdom that you will grant me the hearing before any Sentence be past I only desire this that you will take this into your consideration it may be you have not heard of it before hand if you will I 'le retire and you may think of it but if I cannot get this Liberty I do here protest that so fair shews of Liberty and Peace are pure shews and not otherwise then that you will not hear your KING Lord President Sir you have now spoken King Yes Sir Lord President And this that you have said is a further declining of the Iurisdiction of this Court which was the thing wherein you were limited before King Pray excuse me Sir for my interruption because you mistake me It is not a declining of it you do judge me before you hear me speak I say it will not I do not decline it though I cannot acknowledge the Jurisdiction of the Court Yet Sir in this give me leave to say I would do it though I did not acknowledge it in this I do protest it is not the declining of it since I say if that I do say any thing but that that is for the Peace of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject then the shame is mine Now I desire that you will take this into your consideration if you will I 'le withdraw Lord President Sir This is not altogether new that you have moved unto us not altogether new to us though the first time in Person you have offered it to the Court Sir you say you do not Decline the Jurisdiction of the Court. King Not in this that I have said Lord President I understand you well Sir but nevertheless that which you have offered seems to be contrary to that saying of yours for the Court are ready to give a Sentence it is not as you say That they will not hear your King for they have been ready to
against the said Charls Stuart and also of replying to the Answers which the said Charls Stuart shall make to the Premises or any of them or any other Charge that shall be so Exhibited doth for the said Treasons and Crimes on the behalf of the said People of England Impeach the said CHARLS STUART as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publike and Implacable Enemy to the Common-wealth of England And pray That the said CHARLS STUART King of England may be put to answer All and Every the Premises That such Proceedings Examinations Tryals Sentence and Judgment may be thereupon had or shall be agreeable to Justice IT is observed that the time the Charge was reading the King sate down in his Chair looking sometimes on the Court sometimes up to the Galleries and having risen again and turned about to behold the Guards and Spectators sate down looking very sternly with a countenance not at all moved till these words viz. Charls Stuart to be a Tyrant and Traytor c. were read at which he laughed as he sate in the face of the Court. The Charge being read the Lord President replyed Lord President Sir you have now heard your Charge read containing such matter as appears in it you finde That in the close of it it is prayed to the Court in the behalf of the Commons of England that you answer to your Charge The Court expects your Answer The King I would know by what power I am called hither I was not long ago in the Isle of Wight how I came there is a longer story then I think is fit at this time for me to speak of but there I entred into a Treaty with both Houses of Parliament with as much publique faith as it 's possible to be had of any people in the world I treated there with a number of Honorable Lords and Gentlemen and treated honestly and uprightly I cannot say but they did very nobly with me we were upon a conclusion of the Treaty Now I would know by what Authority I mean lawful there are many unlawful Authorities in the world Theeves and Robbers by the high-ways but I would know by what Authority I was brought from thence and carryed from place to place and I know not what and when I know what lawful Authority I shall answer Remember I am your King your lawful King and what sins you bring upon your heads and the Judgment of God upon this Land think well upon it I say think well upon it before you go further from one sin to a greater therefore let me know by what lawful Authority I am seated here and I shall not be unwilling to answer in the mean time I shall not betray my Trust I have a Trust committed to me by God by old and lawful descent I will not betray it to answer to a new unlawful Authority therefore resolve me that and you shall hear more of me Lord President If you had been pleased to have observed what was hinted to you by the Court at your first coming hither you would have known by what Authority which Authority requires you in the name of the People of England of which you are Elected King to answer them The King No Sir I deny that Lord President If you acknowledg not the Authority of the Court they must proceed The King I do tell them so England was never an Elective Kingdom but an Hereditary Kingdom for neer these thousand years therefore let me know by what Authority I am called hither I do stand more for the Liberty of my People then any here that come to be my pretended Judges and therefore let me know by what lawful Authority I am seated here and I will answer it otherwise I will not answer it Lord President Sir how really you have managed your Trust is known your way of answer is to interrogate the Court which beseems not you in this condition You have been told of it twice or thrice The King Here is a Gentleman Lievt Col. Cobbet ask him if he did not bring me from the Isle of Wight by force I do not come here as submitting to the Court I wil stand as much for the priviledg of the house of Cōmons rightly understood as any man here whatsoever I see no House of Lords here that may constitute a Parliament and the King too should have been Is this the bringing of the King to his Parliament Is this the bringing an end to the Treaty in the publike Faith of the world Let me see a legal Authority warranted by the Word of God the Scriptures or warranted by the Constitutions of the Kingdom and I will answer Lord President Sir You have propounded a Question and have been answered seeing you will not answer the Court will consider how to proceed in the mean time those that brought you hither are to take charge of you back again The Court desires to know whether this be all the Answer you will give or no. The King Sir I desire that you would give me and all the world satisfaction in this let me tell you it is not a slight thing you are about I am sworn to keep the Peace by that duty I ow to God and my Country and I will do it to the last breath of my body and therefore you shall do well to satisfie first God and then the Country by what Authority you do it if you do it by a usurped Authority that will not last long There is a God in Heaven that will call you and all that give you Power to account Satisfie me in that and I will answer otherwise I betray my Trust and the Liberties of the People and therefore think of that and then I shall be willing For I do avow That it is as great a sin to withstand lawful Authority as it is to submit to a Tyrannical or any other ways unlawful Authority and therefore satisfie God and me and all the world in that and you shall receive my Answer I am not afraid of the Bill Lord President The Court expects you should give them a final Answer their purpose is to adjourn till Monday next if you do not satisfie your self though we do tell you our Authority we are satisfied with our Authority and it is upon Gods Authority and the Kingdoms and that Peace you speak of will be kept in the doing of Justice and that 's our present Work The King Let me tell you if you will shew me what lawful Authority you have I shall be satisfied But that you have said satisfies no reasonable man Lord Presid That 's in your apprehension we think it reasonable that are your Judges The King 'T is not my apprehension nor yours neither that ought to decide it Lord Presid The Court hath heard you and you are to be disposed of as they have commanded Two things were remarkable in this days Proceedings 1. It is to be observed That as the Charge was reading against the
King the silver head of his staff fell off the which he wondred at and seeing none to take it up he stoops for it himself 2. That as the King was going away he looked with a very austere countenance upon the Court with stirring of his Hat replyed Well Sir when the Lord President commanded the Guard to take him away and at his going down he said I do not fear that pointing with his Staff at the Sword The people in the Hall as he went down the stairs cryed out some God save the King and some for Justice O Yes being called the Court adjourned till Monday next January 22. at 9. in the morning to the painted Chamber and from thence to the same place again in Westminster Hall At the high Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall Munday January 22. 1648. O Yes made Silence commanded The Court called and answered to their names Silence commanded upon pain of imprisonment and the Captain of the Guard to apprehend all such as make disturbance Upon the Kings coming in a shout was made Command given by the Court to the Captain of the Guard to fetch and take into his custody those who make any disturbance Mr Solicitor May it please your Lordship my Lord President I did at the last Court in the behalf of the Commons of England exhibit and give into this Court a Charge of high Treason and other high Crimes against the Prisoner at the Bar whereof I do accuse him in the name of the People of England and the Charge was read unto him and his Answer required My Lord He was not then pleased to give an Answer but instead of answering did there dispute the Authority of this high Court My humble Motion to this high Court in behalf of the Kingdom of England is That the Prisoner may be directed to make a positive Answer either by way of Confession or Negation which if he shall refuse to do That the matter of Charge may be taken pro confesso and the Court may proceed according to justice Lord President Sir You may remember at the last Court you were told the occasion of your being brought hither and you heard a Charge against you containing a Charge of high Treason and other high Crimes against this Realm of England you heard likewise that it was prayed in the behalf of the People that you should give an Answer to that Charge that thereupon such proceedings might be had as should be agreeable to justice you were then pleased to make some scruples concerning the Authority of this Court and knew not by what Authority you were brought hither you did divers times propound your Questions and were as often answered That it was by authority of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament that did think fit to call you to account for those high and capital Misdemeanours wherewith you were then charged Since that the Court hath taken into Consideration what you then said they are fully satisfied with their own authority and they hold it fit you should stand satisfied with it too and they do require it that you do give a positive and particular Answer to this Charge that is exhibited against you they do expect you should either confess or deny it if you deny it is offered in the behalf of the Kingdom to be made good against you their authority they do avow to the whole world that the whole Kingdom are to rest satisfied in and you are to rest satisfied with it and therefore you are to lose no more time but to give a positive Answer thereunto The KING When I was here last 't is very true I made that Question and truly if it were only my own particular case I would have satisfied my self with the Protestation I made the last time I was here against the legality of this Court and that a King cannot be tryed by any Superiour Jurisdiction on Earth but it is not my case alone it is the Freedom and the Liberty of the People of England and do you pretend what you will I stand more for their Liberties For if Power without Law may make Laws may alter the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom I do not know what Subject he is in England that can be sure of his life or any thing that he calls his own therefore when that I came here I did expect particular Reasons to know by what Law what Authority you did proceed against me here and therefore I am a little to seek what to say to you in this particular because the Affirmative is to be proved the Negative often is very hard to do but since I cannot perswade you to do it I shall tell you my Reasons as short as I can My Reasons why in Conscience and the duty I owe to God first and my People next for the preservation of their Lives Liberties and Estates I conceive I cannot answer this till I be satisfied of the legality of it All proceedings against any man whatsoever Lord President Sir I must interrupt you which I would not do but that what you do is not agreeable to the proceedings of any Court of Justice you are about to enter into Argument and dispute concerning the Authority of this Court before whom you appear as a Prisoner and are charged as an high Delinquent if you take upon you to dispute the Authority of the Court we may not do it nor will any Court give way unto it you are to submit unto it you are to give in a punctual and direct Answer whether you will answer your Charge or no and what your Answer is The KING Sir by your favour I do not know the forms of Law I do know Law and Reason though I am no Lawyer profess'd but I know as much Law as any Gentleman in England and therefore under favour I do plead for the Liberties of the People of England more then you do and therefore if I should impose a belief upon any man without Reasons given for it it were unreasonable but I must tell you That that Reason that I have as thus informed I cannot yield unto it Lord President Sir I must interrupt you you may not be permitted you speak of Law and Reason it is fit there should be Law and Reason and there is both against you Sir the Vote of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament it is the Reason of the Kingdom and they are these that have given to that Law according to which you should have ruled and raigned Sir you are not to dispute our Authority you are told it again by the Court. Sir it will be taken notice of that you stand in contempt of the Court and your contempt will be recorded accordingly The KING I do not know how a King can be a Delinquent but by any Law that ever I heard of all men Delinquents or what you will let me tell you they may put in Demurrers against any proceeding as legal and
I do demand that and demand to be heard with my Reasons if you deny that you deny Reason Lord President Sir you have offered something to the Court I shall speak something unto you the sence of the Court. Sir neither you nor any man are permitted to dispute that point you are concluded you may not demur the Jurisdiction of the Court if you do I must let you know that they over-rule your Demurrer they sit here by the Authority of the Commons of England and all your Predecessors and you are responsible to them King I deny that shew me one president Lord President Sir you ought not to interrupt while the Court is speaking to you this point is not to be debated by you neither will the Court permit you to do it if you offer it by way of Demurrer to the Jurisdiction of the Court they have considered of their Jurisdiction they do affirm their own Jurisdiction The King I say Sir by your favour that the Commons of England was never a Court of Judicature I would know how they came to be so Lord President Sir You are not to be permitted to go on in that speech and these discourses Then the Clerk of the Court read as followeth CHARLS STUART King of England You have been accused on the behalf of the People of England of high Treason and other high Crimes the Court have determined that you ought to answer the same The King I will answer the same so soon as I know by what Authority you do this Lord President If this be all that you will say then Gentlemen you that brought the Prisoner hither take charge of him back again The King I do require that I may give in my Reasons why I do not answer and give me time for that Lord President Sir 'T is not for Prisoners to require The King Prisoners Sir I am not an ordinary Prisoner Lord President The Court hath considered of their Jurisdiction and they have already affirmed their Jurisdiction if you will not answer we shall give order to record your default The King You never heard my Reasons yet Lord President Sir Your Reasons are not to be heard against the highest Jurisdiction The King Shew me that Jurisdiction where Reason is not to be heard Lord President Sir We shew it you here the Commons of England and the next time you are brought you will know more of the pleasure of the Court and it may be their final determination The King Shew me where ever the House of Commons was a Court of Judicature of that kind Lord President Serjeant Take away the Prisoner The King Well Sir Remember that the King is not suffered to give in his Reasons for the Liberty and Feeedom of all his Subjects Lord President Sir You are not to have liberty to use this language how great a friend you have been to the Laws and Liberties of the People let all England and the world judg The King Sir under favour it was the Liberty Freedom and Laws of the Subject that ever I took defended my self with Arms I never took up Arms against the People but for the Laws Lord President The Command of the Court must be obeyed no answer will be given to the Charge The King Well Sir Then the Lord President ordered the default to be recorded and the contempt of the Court and that no answer would be given to the Charge And so was guarded forth to Sir Robert Cottons house Then the Court adjourned to the Painted Chamber on Tuesday at twelve a clock and from thence they intend to adjourn to Westminster Hall at which time all persons concerned are to give their attendance At the high Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall Tuesday Ianuary 23. 1648. O Yes made Silence commanded The Court called Seventy three persons present The King comes in with his Guard looks with an austere countenance upon the Court and sits down The second O Yes made and silence commanded Mr Cook Solicitor General May it please your Lordship my Lord President This is now the third time that by the great grace and favour of this high Court the prisoner hath been brought to the Bar before any issue joyned in the cause My Lord I did at the first Court exhibite a Charge against him containing the highest Treason this ever was wrought upon the Theatre of England That a King of England trusted to keep the Law That had taken an Oath so to do That had Tribute paid him for that end should be guilty of a wicked design subvert and destroy our Laws and introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government in the defence of the Parliament and their Authority set up his Standard for War against his Parliament and People and I did humbly pray in the behalf of the People of England that he might speedily be required to make an Answer to the Charge But my Lord instead of making any answer he did then dispute the Authority of this High Court Your Lordship was pleased to give him a further day to consider and to put in his Answer which day being yesterday I did humbly move that he might be required to give a direct and positive Answer either by denying or confession of it but my Lord he was then pleased for to demur to the Jurisdiction of the Court which the Court did then over-rule and command him to give a direct and positive Answer My Lord Besides this great delay of Justice I shall now humbly move your Lordship for speedy Judgment against him My Lord I might press your Lordship upon the whole That according to the known Rules of the Law of the Land That if a Prisoner shall stand as contumacious in contempt and shall not put in an issuable Plea guilty or not guilty of the Charge given against him whereby he may come to a fair Tryal That as by an implicite Confession it may be taken pro confesso as it hath been done to those who have deserved more favor then the Prisoner at the Bar has done But besides my Lord I shall humbly press your Lordship upon the whole Fact The House of Commons the supream Authority and Jurisdiction of the Kingdom they have Declared That it is notorious That the matter of the Charge is true as it is in truth my Lord as clear as chrystal and as the Sun that shines at noon day which if your Lordship and the Court be not satisfied in it have notwithstanding on the People of Englands behalf several witnesses to produce And therefore I do humbly pray and yet I must confess it is not so much I as the innocent blood that hath been shed the Cry whereof is very great for Justice and Judgment and therefore I do humbly pray That speedy JUDGMENT be pronounced against the Prisoner at the Bar. Lord President Sir You have heard what is moved by the Councel on the behalf of the Kingdom against you Sir you may well remember and if you
do not the Court cannot forget what delatory dealings the Court hath found at your hands you were pleased to propound some Questions you have had your Resolution upon them You were told over and over again That the Court did affirm their own Jurisdiction That it was not for you nor any other man to dispute the Jurisdiction of the Supream and highest Authority of England from which there is no Appeal and touching which there must be no dispute yet you did persist in such carriage as you gave no manner of obedience nor did you acknowledge any Authority in them nor the high Court that constituted this Court of Justice Sir I must let you know from the Court That they are very sensible of these delays of yours and that they ought not being thus Authorized by the supream Court of England to be thus trifled withal and that they might in Justice if they pleased and according to the Rules of Justice take advantage of these delays and proceed to pronounce judgment against you yet nevertheless they are pleased to give direction and on their behalfs I do require you That you make a positive Answer unto this Charge that is against you Sir in plain terms for Justice knows no respect of persons you are to give your positive and finall Answer in plain English whether you be guilty or not guilty of these Treasons laid to your Charge The KING after a little pause said When I was here yesterday I did desire to speak for the Liberties of the People of England I was interrupted I desire to know yet whether I may speak freely or not Lord President Sir You have had the Resolution of the Court upon the like Question the last day and you were told That having such a Charge of so high a Nature against you and your Work was that you ought to acknowledge the JURISDICTION of the COURT and to Answer to your CHARGE Sir if you Answer to your Charge which the Court gives you leave now to do though they might have taken the advantage of your contempt yet if you be able to Answer to your Charge when you have once Answered you shall be heard at large make the best Defence you can But Sir I must let you know from the Court as their commands that you are not to be permitted to issue out into any other discourses till such time as you have given a positive Answer concerning the Matter that is CHARG'D upon you The King For the Charge I value it not a Rush it is the Liberty of the People of England that I stand for for me to acknowledge a new Court that I never heard of before I that am your King that should be an example to all the people of England for to uphold Justice to maintain the old Laws indeed I do not know how to do it you spoke very well the first day that I came here on Saturday of the Obligations that I had laid upon me by God to the maintenance of the Liberties of my People The same Obligation you spake of I do acknowledge to God that I owe to him and to my People to defend as much as in me lies the ancient Laws of the Kingdom therefore untill that I may know that this is not against the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom by your favour I can put in no particular Charge If you will give me time I will shew you my reasons why I cannot do it and this Here being interrupted he said By your favour you ought not to interrupt me how I came here I know not there 's no Law for it to make your King your Prisoner I was in a Treaty upon the publique Faith of the Kingdom that was the known two Houses of Parliament that was the Representative of the Kingdom and when that I had almost made an end of the Treaty then I was hurried away and brought hither and therefore Here the Lord President said Sir you must know the pleasure of the Court. The King By your favour Sir Lord President Nay Sir by your favour you may not be permitted to fall into those discourses you appear as a Delinquent you have not acknowledged the authority of the Court the Court craves it not of you but once more they command you to give your positive Answer Clark Do your Duty The King Duty Sir The Clark reads CHARLES STVART KING of England You are accused in the behalf of the Commons of England of divers high crimes and Treasons which Charge hath been read unto You the Court now requires you to give Your positive and final Answer by way of confession or denial of the Charge The King Sir I say again to you so that I might give satisfaction to the People of England of the clearness of my proceeding not by way of Answer not in this way but to satisfie them that I have done nothing against that Trust that hath been committed to me I would do it but to acknowledge a new Court against their Priviledges to alter the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom Sir you must excuse me Lord President Sir this is the the third time that you have publiquely disown'd this Court and put an affront upon it how far you have preserv'd Priviledges of the People your actions have spoke it but truly Sir mens intentions ought to be known by their actions you have written your meaning in bloudy Characters throughout the whole Kingdom but Sir you understand the pleasure of the Court Clerk Record the default and Gentlemen you that took charge of the Prisoner take him back again The King I will only say this one word more to you if it were only my own particular I would not say any more nor interrupt you Lord President Sir you have heard the pleasure of the Court and you are notwithstanding you will not understand it to find that you are before a COURT of JUSTICE Then the King went forth with his Guard and Proclamation was made That all persons which had then appear'd and had further to do at the Court might depart into the Painted-Chamber to which place the Court did forthwith adjourn and intended to meet in Westminster Hall by ten of the clock the next morning Cryer God bless the Kingdom of England Wednesday January 4. 1648. THis day it was expected the High Court of Justice would have met in Westminster Hall about ten of the clock but at the time appointed one of the Ushers by direction of the Court then sitting in the Painted Chamber gave notice to the people there assembled That in regard the Court was then upon the examination of Witnesses in relation to present affairs in the Painted-Chamber they could not sit there but all persons appointed to be there were to appear upon further Summons The Proceedings of the High Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall on Saturday the 27. of January 1648. O Yes made Silence commanded The Court called Serjeant Bradshaw Lord
holy and blessed Trinity I doe render up my soul into thy hands and commit it with the mediation of my Redeemer praising thee for all thy dispensation that it has pleased thee to confer upon me and even for this praise and honor and thanks of this time forth for evermore Dr. Sibbald My Lord I trust you now behold with the Eye of Faith the Son of Righteousness shining upon your soul and will chearfully submit unto him who hath redeemed us through his bloud even the bloud of Jesus Christ that you may appear at the Tribunal of God clothed with the white robe of his unspoted Righteousness The Lord grant that with the eye of Faith you may now see the heavens opened and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to receive you into his arms of mercy Cambridg Then the Earl turning to the Executioner said shall I put on another Cap must this hair be turned up from my neck there are three of my servants to give satisfaction Dr. Sibbald My Lord I hope you are able to give all that are about you satisfaction you are assured that God is reconciled unto you through the bloud of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of the Lord witnesseth to you that Christ is become now a Jesus unto you My Lord fasten the eyes of your Faith upon Jesus the Author and finisher of your salvation who himself was brought to a violent death for the redemption of mankinde he chearfully submitted to his Fathers good pleasure in it and for us blessed and holy is he that has part my Lord in the first resurrection That is in the first riser Jesus Christ who is both the Resurrection and the Life over him the second death shall have no power 't is the unspeakable joy of a believer That at the hour of death his soul hath an immediate passage from this earthly Tabernacle to that Region of endless Glory yea to the presence of God himself in whose presence there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore Then the Earl of Cambridg turning to the Executioner said which way is it that you would have me lie Sir Executioner The Executioner pointing to the front of the Scaffold The Earl replyed What my head this way Then the Under-sheriffs son said My Lord the Order is that you should lay your head towards the High-Court of Justice The Earl of Cambridg after a little discourse in private with some of his servants kneeled down on the side of the Scaffold and prayed a while to himself When he had finished his prayers D. Sibbald spake to him thus My Lord I humbly beseech God That you may now with a holy and Christian courage give up your soul to the hand of your Faithful Creator and gracious Redeemer and not be dismaied with any sad apprehension of the Terrors of this death And what a blessed and glorious exchange you shall make within a very few minutes Then with a Chearful and smiling Countenance The Earl embracing the Dr. in his Arms said Cambridg Truly Sir I do take you in mine arms and truly I bless God for it I do not fear I have an assurance that is grounded here laying his hand upon his heart Now that gives me more true joy then ever I had I pass out of a miserable world to go into an Eternal and glorious Kingdom and Sir though I have been a most sinful creature yet Gods mercy I know is infinite and I bless my God for it I go with so clear a Conscience That I know not the man that I have personally injured Dr. Sibbald My Lord it is a marvellous great satisfaction that at this last hour you can say so I beseech the Lord for his eternal mercy strengthen your faith that in the very moment of your dissolution you may see the arms of the Lord Jesus stretched out ready to receive your soul Then the Earl of Cambridg embracing those his servants which were there present said to each of them You have been very faithful to me and the Lord bless you Cambridg Then turning to the Executioner said I shall say a very short prayer to my God while I lie down there and when I stretch out my hand my right hand then Sir do your duty and I do freely forgive you and so I do all the world Dr. Sibbald The Lord in great mercy go along with you and bring you to the possession of everlasting life strengthening your Faith in Jesus Christ This is a passage my Lord a short passage unto eternal glory I hope through the free grace of your gracious God you are now able to say O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory and to make this comfortable answer Blessed be God blessed be God who hath given me an assurance of victory through Christ Jesus Then the Earl of Cambridg said to the Executioner Must I lie all along Execut. Yes and 't please your Lordship Camb. When I stretch out my hands but I will fit my Head first tell me if I be right and how you would have me lie Execut. Your shirt must be pin'd back for it lies too high upon your shoulders which was done accordingly Dr Sibbald My Lord now now lift up your eyes unto Jesus Christ and cast your self now into the everlasting arms of your most gracious Redeemer Then the Earl having layd his Head over the Block said Is this right Dr Sibbald Jesus the Son of David have mercy upon you Execut. Lie a little lower Sir Camb. Well stay then till I give you the signe And so having layn a short space devoutly praying to himself he stretched out his right hand whereupon the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body which was received by two of his Servants then kneeling by him into a Crimsion Taffety Scarf and that with the Body immediately put into a Coffin brought upon the Scaffold for that purpose and from thence conveyed to the house that was Sir JOHN HAMILTONS at the Meâ—â—es where it now remains This execution being done the Sheriffs Guard went immediately to meet the Earl of Holland which they did in the mid way between the Scaffold and Westminster-Hall and the Under-Sheriffs son having received him into his charge conducted him to the Scaffold he taking Mr. Bolton all the way in his hand passed all along to the Scaffold discoursing together upon which being come observing his voyce would not reach to the people in regard the Guard compassed the Scaffold he said Holland It is to no purpose I think to speak any thing here Which way must I speak And then being directed to the front of the Scaffold he leaning over the rails said I think it is fit to say something since God hath called me to this place The first thing which I must profess is what concerns my Religion and my breading which hath been in a good Family that hath ever been
faithful to the true Protestant Religion in the which I have been bred in the which I have lived and in the which by Gods grace and mercy I shall dye I have not lived according to that education I had in that Family where I was born and bred I hope God will forgive me my sins since I conceive that it is very much his pleasure to bring me to this place for the sins that I have committed The cause that hath brought me hither I beleeve by many hath been much mistaken They have conceived that I have had ill designs to the State and to the Kingdom Truly I look upon it as a Judgment and a just Judgment of God not but I have offended so much the State and the Kingdom and the Parliament as that I have had an extream vanity in serving them very extra-ordinarily For those actions that I have done I think it is known they have been ever very faithful to the Publique and very particularly to Parliaments My affections have been ever exprest truly and clearly to them The dispositions of affairs now have put things in another pasture then they were when I was engaged with the Parliament I have never gone off from those principles that ever I have professed I have lived in them and by Gods grace will dye in them There may be alterations and changes that may carry them further then I thought reasonable and truly there I left them but there hath been nothing that I have said or done or professed either by Covenant or Declaration which hath not been very constant and very clear upon the principles that I ever have gone upon which was to serve the King the Parliament Religion I should have said in the first place the Common-wealth and to seek the Peace of the Kingdom That made me think it no improper time being prest-out by accidents and circumstances to seek the Peace of the Kingdom which I thought was proper since there was something then in agitation but nothing agreed on for sending Propositions to the King that was the furthest aym that I had and truly beyond that I had no intention none at all And God be praised although my blood comes to be shed here there was I think scarcely a drop of blood shed in that action that I was engaged in For the present affairs as they are I cannot tell how to judg of them and truly they are in such a condition as I conceive no body can make a judgment of them and therefore I must make use of my Prayers rather then of my opinion which are that God would bless this Kingdom this Nation this State that he would settle it in a way agreeable to what this Kingdom hath been happily governed under by a King by the Lords by the Commons a Government that I conceive it hath flourished much under and I pray God the change of it bring not rather a prejudice a disorder and a confusion then the contrary I look upon the Posterity of the King and truly my Conscience directs me to it to desire that if God be pleased that these people may look upon them with that affection that they ow that they may be called in again they may be not through blood nor through disorder admited again into that power and to that glory that God in their birth intended to them I shall pray with all my Soul for the happiness of this State of this Nation that the blood which is here spilt may be even the last which may fall among us and truly I should lay down my life with as much cheerfulness as ever person did if I conceived that there would no more blood follow us for a State or Affairs that are built upon blood is a foundation for the most part that doth not prosper After the blessing that I give to the Nation to the Kingdom and truly to the Parliament I do wish with all my heart happiness and a blessing to all those that have been authors in this business and truly that have been authors in this very work that bringeth us hither I do not onely forgive them but I pray heartily and really for them as God will forgive my sins so I desire God may forgive them I have a particular relation as I am Chancellor of Cambridg and truly I must here since it is the last of my prayers pray to God that that Vniversity may go on in that happy way which it is in that God may make it a Nursery to plant those persons that may be distributed to the Kingdom that the Souls of the people may receive a great benefit and a great advantage by them and I hope God will reward them for their kindness and their affections that I have found from them I have said what Religion I have been bred in what Religion I have been born in what Religion I have practised I began with it and I must end with it I told you that my actions and my life have not been agreeable to my breeding I have told you likewise that the Family where I was bred hath been an exemplary Family I may say so I hope without vanity of much affection to Religion and of much faithfulness to this Kingdom and to this State I have endeavored to do those actions that have become an honest man and which became a good Englishman and which became a good Christian I have been willing to oblige those that have been in trouble those that have been in persecution and truly I finde a great reward of it for I have found their prayers and their kindness now in this distress and in this condition I am in and I think it a great reward and I pray God reward them for it I am a great sinner and I hope God will be pleased to hear my prayers to give me faith to trust in him that as he hath called me to death at this place he will make it but a passage to an eternal life through Jesus Christ which I trust to which I rely upon and which I expect by the mercy of God And so I pray God bless you all and send that you may see this to be the last execution and the last blood that is likely to be spilt among you And then turning to the side-rail he prayed for a good space of time after which Mr Bolton said My Lord now look upon him whom you have trusted My Lord I hope that here is your last prayer there will no more prayers remain but praises And I hope that after this day is over there will a day begin that shall never have end And I look upon this my Lord the morning of it the morning of that day My Lord you know where your fulness lies where your riches lie where is your onely rock to anchor on You know there is fulness in Christ If the Lord comes not in with fulness of comfort to you yet resolve to wait upon him
while you live and to trust in him when you dye and then say I will dye here I will perish at thy feet I will be found dead at the feet of Jesus Christ Certainly he that came to seek and save lost sinners will not reject lost sinners when they come to seek him He that intreateth us to come will not slight us when we come to intreat him My Lord there is enough there and fix your heart there and fix your eyes there that eye of Faith and that eye of hope exercise these graces now there wil be no exercise herafter As your Lordship said here take an end of Faith and take an end of Hope and take a farewel of Repentance and all these and welcom God and welcom Christ and welcom Glory welcom Happiness to all Eternity and so it will be a happy passage then if it be a passage here from misery to happiness And though it be but a sad way yet if it will bring you into the presence of joy although it be a vally of tears although it be a shadow of death yet if God wil please to bring you and make it a passage to that happiness welcom Lord. And I doubt not but God will give you a heart to taste some sweetness and love in this bitter potion and to see something of mercy and goodness to you and shew you some sign and token of good so that your soul may see that which we have had already experience of blessed be God for it many experiences many expressions not only in words but tears God hath not left us without much comfort nor evidence and I hope my Lord you that have given so many evidences to us I hope you want none your self but that the Lord will be pleased to uphold and support you and bear up your spirit and if there want evidence there is reliance my security lies not in my knowing that I shall come to heaven and come to glory but in my resting and relying upon him When the Anchor of Faith is thrown out there may be shakings and tossings but there is safety nothing shall interrupt safety although something may interrupt security my safety is sure although I apprehend it not And what if I go to God in the dark What if I come to him as Nicodemus did staggering in the night It is a night of trouble a night of darkness though I come trembling and staggering in this night yet I shall be sure to find comfort and fixedness in him And the Lord of heaven be the strength stay and the support of your soul and the Lord furnish you with all those graces which may carry you into the bosom of the Lord Jesus that when you expire this life you may be able to expire it into him in whom you may begin to live to all eternity and that is my humble prayer Holland Mr Bolton God hath given me long time in this world he hath carried me through many great accidents of Fortune he hath at last brought me down into a condition where I find my self brought to an end for a disaffection to this State to this Parliament that as I said before I did believe no body in the world more unlikely to have expected to suffer for that Cause I look upon it as a great Judgment of God for my sins And truly Sir since that the death is violent I am the less troubled with it because of those violent deaths that I have seen before principally my Saviour that hath shewed us the way how and in what manner he hath done it and for what cause I am the more comforted I am the more rejoyced It is not long since the King my Master passed in the same manner and truly I hope that his purposes and intentions were such as a man may not be ashamed not only to follow him in the way that was taken with him but likewise not ashamed of his purposes if God had given him life I have often disputed with him concerning many things of this kind and I conceive his sufferings and his better knowledg and better understanding if God had spared him life might have made him a Prince very happy towards himself and very happy towards this Kingdom I have seen and known that those blessed Souls in Heaven have passed thither by the gate of sorrow and many by the gate of violence and since it is Gods pleasure to dispose me this way I submit my soul to him with all comfort and with all hope that he hath made this my end and this my conclusion that though I be low in death yet nevertheless this lowness shall raise me to the highest glory for ever Truly I have not said much in publique to the People concerning the particular actions that I conceive I have done by my counsels in this Kingdom I conceive they are well known it were something of vanity methinks to take notice of them here I 'le rather dye with them with the comfort of them in my own bosom and that I never intended in this action or any action that ever I did in my life either malice or bloodshed or prejudice to any creature that lives For that which concerns my Religion I made my profession before of it how I was bred and in what manner I was bred in a Family that was looked upon to be no little notorious in opposition to some liberties that they conceived then to be taken and truly there was some mark upon me as if I had some taint of it even throughout my whole ways that I have taken every body knows what my affections have been to many that have suffered to many that have been in troubles in this Kingdom I endeavored to relieve them I endeavored to oblige them I thought I was tied so by my Conscience I thought it by my Charity and truly very much by my Breeding God hath now brought me to the last instant of my time all that I can say and all that I can adhere unto is this That as I am a great sinner so I have a great Saviour that as he hath given me here a fortune to come publiquely in a shew of shame in the way of this suffering truly I understand it not to be so I understand it to be a glory a glory when I consider who hath gone before me and a glory when I consider I had no end in it but what I conceive to be the service of God the King and the Kingdom and therefore my Heart is not charged much with any thing in that particular since I conceive God will accept of the intention whatsoever the action seem to be I am going to dye and the Lord receive my Soul I have no reliance but upon Christ for my self I do acknowledg that I am the unworthiest of sinners my life hath been a vanity and a continued sin and God may justly bring me to this end for the sins I have
The â—caffold was hung round with black and the floor covered with black and the Ax and Block layd in the middle of the Scaffold There were divers Companies of Foot and Troops of Horse placed on the one side of the Scaffold towards Kings-street and on the other side towards Charing-Cross and the multitudes of people that came to be Spectators very great The King being come upon the Scaffold look'd very earnestly on the Block and asked Col. Hacker if there were no higher and then spake thus directing his Speech chiefly to Col. Thomlinson King I Shall be very little heard of any body here I shall therefore speak a word unto you here Indeed I could hold my peace very well if I did not think that holding my peace would make some men think that I did submit to the guilt as well as to the punishment but I think it is my duty to God first and to my Country for to clear my self both as an honest man a good King and a good Christian I shall begin first with my Innocency Introth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the world knows that I never did begin a War with the two 〈◊〉 of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an account That I never did intend for to incroach upon their Priviledges they began upon me it is the Militia they began upon they confest that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit for to have it from me and to be short if any body will look to the dates of Commissions of their Commissions and mine and likewise to the Declarations will see clearly that they began these unhappy Troubles not I so that as the guilt of these enormous Crimes that are layd against me I hope in God that God will clear me of it I will not I am in charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this guilt for I do beleeve that ill Instruments between them and me has been the chief cause of all this blood-shed so that by way of speaking as I finde my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that Gods judgments are just upon me Many times he does pay Justice by an unjust Sentence that is ordinary I will onely say this That an unjust Sentence that I suffered for to take effect is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me that is so far I have said to shew you that I am an innocent man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good man that will bear me witness That I have forgiven all the world and even those in particular that have been the chief causers of my death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go farther I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with St. Stephen That this be not layd to their charge nay not onely so but that they may take the right way to the Peace of the Kingdom for my Charity commands me not onely to forgive particular men but my Charity commands me to endeavor to the last gasp the Peace of the Kingdom So Sirs I do wish with all my Soul and I do hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavor the Peace of the KINGDOM Now Sirs I must shew you both how you are out of the way and will put you in 〈◊〉 way First you are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever have had yet as I could finde by any thing is in the way of Conquest certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sir in my opinion is never just except there be a good just Cause either for matter of Wrong or just Title and then if you go beyond it the first quarrel that you have to it that makes it unjust at the end that was just at first But if it be onely matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirat said to Alexander that He was the great Robber he was but a petty Robber and so Sir I do think the way that you are in is much out of the way Now Sir for to put you in the way beleeve it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his due the King his due that is my Successors and the People their due I am as much for them as any of you You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to his Scripture which is now out of order For to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but only this A National Synod freely called freely debating among themselve must settle this when that every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Ax said Hurt not the Ax that may hurt me For the King the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that therefore because it concerns my own particular I onely give you a touch of it For the people And truly I desire their Liberty and Freedom as much as any body whomsoever but I must tell you That their Liberty and their Freedom consists iâ—â—ving of Government those Laws by which their Life and their Goods may be most their own It is not for having share in Government Sir that is nothing pertaining to them A Subject and a Soveraign are clean different things and therefore until they do that I mean That you do put the People in that Liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sirs It was for this that now I am come here If I would have given way to an Arbitrary way for to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not layd to your charge That I am the Martyr of the People Introth Sirs I shall not hold you much longer for I will onely say this to you That intruth I could have desired some little time longer because that I would have put this that I have said in a little more order and a little better digested then I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my Conscience I pray God that you do take those courses that are best for the good of the kingdom your own salvations Dr. Juxon Will your Majesty though it may be very well known your Majesties affections to Religion yet it may be expected that you should say somewhat for the Worlds satisfaction King I
thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it Introth Sirs My Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the world and therefore I declare before you all That I dye a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers said Sirs excuse me for this same I have a good cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Colonel Hacker he said Take care they do not put me to pain and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming neer the Ax The King said Take heed of the Ax pray take heed of the Ax Then the King speaking to the Executioner said I shall say but very short Prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then the King called to Doctor Juxon for his Night-cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner Does my hair trouble you who desired him to put it alâ— under his Cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop Then the King turning to Doctor Juxon said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side Doctor Juxon There is but one Stage more This Stage is turbulent and troublesom it is a short one But you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way it will carry you from earth to heaven and there you shall find a great deal of cordial joy and comfort King I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be no disturbance in the world Doctor Juxon You are exchanged from a Temporal to an Eternal Crown a good exchange The King then said to the Executioner is my hair well Then the King took off His Cloak and his George giving his George to Doctor Iuxon saying Remember Then the King put off his Dublet and being in his Wastcoat put his Cloak on again then looking upon the Block said to the Executioner You must set it fast Executioner It is fast Sir King It might have been a little higher Executioner It can be no higher Sir King When I put out my hands this way then After that having said two or three words as he stood to himself with hands and Eyes lift up Immediately stooping down laid his neck upon the Block And then the Executioner again putting his hair under his Cap the King said Thinking he had been going to strike stay for the sign Executioner Yes I will and it please your Majesty And after a very little pawse the King stretching forth his hands The Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body That when the Kings head was cut off the Executioner held it up and shewed it to the Spectators And his Body was put in a Coffin covered with black Velvet for that purpose and conveyed into his Lodgings there And from thence it was carried to his house at S. Iames's where his body was put in a Coffin of lead laid there to be seen by the people and about a fortnight after it was carried to Windsor accompanied with the Duke of Lenox the Marquess of Hartford and the Earl of Southampton and Doctor Iuxon late Bishop of London and others and Interred in the Cappel-Royal in the Valt with King Henry the eight having only this Inscription upon his Coffin Charls King of England c. 1648. Sic transit Gloria Mundi FINIS THE SEVERAL SPEECHES OF Duke Hamilton Earl of CAMBRIDG HENRY Earl of HOLLAND AND ARTHUR Lord CAPEL UPON THE SCAFFOLD Immediately before their EXECUTION on Friday March 9. 1649. Also the several Exhortations and Conferences with them upon the SCAFFOLD BY D. Sibbald M. Bolton M. Hodges London Printed for Peter Cole Francis Tyton and John Playford 1650. The several speeches of the Earl of Cambridg the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel upon the Scaffold c. UPon Friday the ninth of this instant being the day appointed for the Execution of the Sentence of Death upon the Earl of Cambridg the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel about ten of the Clock that morning L. Col. Beecher came with his Order to the several Prisoners at S. Iames's requiring them to come away According to which Order they were carried in Sedans with a Guard to Sir Thomas Cottons house at Westminster where they continued about the space of two hours passing away most of that time in Religious and seasonable Conferences with the Ministers there present with them After which being called away to the Scaffold it was desired that before they went they might have the opportunity of commending their souls to God by Prayer which being readily granted and the room voyded Mr. Bolton was desired by the Lord of Holland to take the pains with them which was accordingly done with great appearance of solemn Affection among them Prayer being concluded and hearty thanks returned by them all to the Minister who performed as also to the rest who were their assistants in this sad time of trouble the Earl of Cambridg prepared first to go towards the place of Execution and after mutual embraces and some short ejaculatory expressions to and for his Fellow-sufferers he took his leave of them all and went along with the Officers attended upon by Dr. Sibbald whom he had chosen for his Comforter in this his sad condition The Scaffold being erected in the new Pallace-yard at Westminster over against the great Hal-Gate in the sight of the place where the High Court of Iustice formerly sate the Hal-doors being open there was his Excellencies Regiment of Horse commanded by Cap. Disher and several Companies of Col. Hewsons and Colonel Prides Regiments of Foot drawn up in the place When the Earl came from Westminster-Hall nere the Scaffold he was met by the Under-sheriff of Middlesex and a Guard of his men who took the charge of him from Lievt Col. Beecher and the Partizans that were his Guard The Sheriff of London being also according to command from the High Court of Iustice present to see the Execution performed The Earl of Cambridg being come upon the Scaffold and two of his own servants waiting upon him he first spake to the Doctor as followeth Earl of Cambridg Whether shall I Pray first Dr. Sibbâ—ld As Your Lordship pleases Earl of Cambridg My Lord of Denbigh has sent to speak with me I know not the fashion I may ask you Sir Do these Gentlemen expect I should say any thing to them or no They cannot hear Dr. Sibbald There will be a greater silence by and by It will not be amiss if your Lordship defer your speaking till you hear from his Lordship Cambridg There is something in it He was with the House Dr. Sibbald I suppose he would give no interruption to your Lordship at this time were there not something of concernment in it