King Charls HIS TRYAL AT THE High Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall Begun on Saturday, Jan 20. Ended Jan. 27. 1648.
Also, His Majesties SPEECH On the SCAFFOLD, Immediately before his Execution, On Tuesday, Ian. 30.
Together with the Several SPEECHES OF Duke HAMILTON, the Earl of HOLLAND, and the Lord CAPEL, Immediately before their EXECUTION, On Friday, March 9. 1649.
The Second Edition, much enlarged, and faithfully Corrected.
LONDON, Printed by J. M. for Pet [...] Cole, Francis Tyton, and John Playford. 1650.
King Charls HIS TRYAL AT THE High Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall, Begun on Saturday, January 20. and ended Saturday, Jan. 27. 1648.
- THomas Lord Fairfax, General.
- Oliver Cromwel, Lievt. General.
- Henry Ireton, Commissary General.
- Philip Skippon, Major General.
- [Page 4] Sir Hardress Waller, Colonel.
- Colonel Valentine Walton.
- Colonel Thomas Harrison.
- Col. Edward Whalley.
- Col. Thomas Pride.
- Col. Isaac Ewers.
- Col. Richard Ingolsby.
- Col. Richard Dean.
- Col. John Okey.
- Col. Robert Overton.
- Col. John Harrison.
- Col. John Desborough.
- Col. William Goff.
- Col. Robert Duckenfield.
- Col. Rowland Wilson.
- Col. Henry Marten.
- Col. William Purefoy.
- Col. Godfrey Bosvil.
- Col. Harbottle Morley.
- Col. John Berkstead.
- Col. Matthew Tomlinson.
- Col. John Lambert.
- Col. Edward Ludlow.
- Col. John Hutchingson.
- Col. Robert Titchburn.
- Col. Owen Roe.
- Col. Robert Manwaring.
- Col. Robert Lilburn.
- Col. Adrian Scroop.
- [Page 5] Col. Alg: Sidney.
- Col. John Moore.
- Col. Francis Lassels.
- Col. Alexander Rigby.
- Col. Edm: Harvey.
- Col. John Venn.
- Col. Anthony Stapley.
- Col. Thomas Horton.
- Col. Thomas Hammond.
- Col. George Fenwick.
- Col. George Fleetwood.
- Col. James Temple.
- Col. Thomas Wayt.
- Sir Henry Mildway.
- Sir Thomas Honywood.
- Thomas Lord Grey.
- Philip Lord Lisle.
- William Lord Munson.
- Sir John Danvers.
- Sir Thomas Maleverer
- Sir John Bowcher.
- Sir James Harrington.
- Sir William Br [...]reton.
- Robert Wallop, Esquire.
- William Henningham, Esquire.
- Isaac Pennington, Alderman.
- Thomas Atkins, Alderman.
- Sir Peter Wentworth.
- Thomas Trencher [...], Esquire.
- [Page 6]John Blackstone, Esquire.
- Gilbert Millington, Esq
- Sir William Constable.
- Sir Arthur Haslerig.
- Sir Michael Livessey.
- Richard Saloway, Esq
- Humphrey Saloway, Esq
- Cornelius Holland, Esq
- John Carne, Esq
- Sir William Armine.
- John Jones, Esq
- Miles Corbet, Esq
- Francis Allen, Esq
- Thomas Lister, Esq
- Ben: Weston, Esq
- Peregrin Pelham, Esq
- John Gourdon, Esq
- Francis Thorp, Esq Serjeant at Law.
- John Nutt, Esq
- Thomas Challoner, Esq
- John Anlaby, Esq
- Richard Darley, Esq
- William Say, Esq
- Iohn Aldred, Esq
- Iohn Fagge, Esq
- Iames Nelthorp, Esq
- Sir William Roberts.
- Henry Smith, Esq
- Edmond Wilde, Esq
- [Page 7]Iames Challener, Esquire.
- Iosias Barns, Esq
- Dennis Bond, Esq
- Humph: Edwards, Esq
- Gregory Clement, Esq
- Iohn Fray, Esq
- Thomas Wogan, Esq
- Sir Gregory Norton.
- Iohn Bradshaw, Esq Serjeant at Law.
- Iohn Dove, Esq
- Iohn Foulks, Alderman.
- Thomas Scot, Alderman.
- Thomas Andrews, Alderman.
- William Cawley, Esq
- Abraham Burrel, Esq
- Roger Gratwick, Esq
- Iohn Downes, Esq
- Robert Nichols, Esq Serjeant at Law.
- Vincent Potter, Esq
- Sir Gilbert Pickering.
- Iohn Weaver, Esquire.
- Iohn Lenthal, Esquire.
- Robert Reynolds, Esquire.
- Iohn Lisle, Esquire.
- Nicholas Love, Esquire.
- Sir Edward Baynton.
- John Corbet, Esquire.
- Thomas Blunt, Eq;
- Thomas Boone, Esq
- [Page 8]Augustine Garland, Esquire.
- Augustine Skinner, Esq
- John Dickswel, Esq
- Simon Mayne, Esq
- John Brown, Esq
- John Lowrey, Esq
- John Bradshaw, Esq Serjeant at Law, Lord President of the Court.
- Doctor Dorislow.
- Mr Ask.
- Mr Steel, Attorney General.
- Mr Cook, Solicitor General.
-
Clerks to the Court.
- Mr Broughton,
- Mr Phelps,
- Serjeant Danby, Serjeant at Arms, and Mace-Bearer.
- Col. John Humphrey, Sword-Bearer.
- Mr King, Cryer of the Court.
-
The Messengers and Door-Keepers with Tip-Staves.
- Mr Walford,
- Mr Radley,
- Mr Payn,
- Mr Powel,
- Mr Hull,
The manner of the Tryal of CHARLES STUART King of England, in the great Hall in Westminster.
ON Saturday, being the 20. day of January 1648. The Lord President of the High Court of Justice with neer fourscore of the Members of the said Court, having sixteen Gentlemen with Partizans, and a Sword and a Mace, with their, and other Officers of the said Court marching before them, came to the place ordered to be prepared for their sitting, at the West end of the great Hall at Westminster; where the Lord President in a Crimsion Velvet Chair, fixed in the midst of the Court, placed himself, having a Desk with a Crimsion Velvet Cushion before him; The rest of the Members placing themselves on each side of him upon the several Seats, or Benches, prepared and hung with Scarlet for that purpose, and the Partizans dividing themselves on each side of the Court before them.
The Court being thus sate, and silence made, [Page 10] the great Gate of the said Hall was set open, to the end, That all persons without exception, desirous to see, or hear, might come into it, upon which the Hall was presently filled, and silence again ordered.
This done, Colonel Thomlinson, who had the charge of the Prisoner, was commanded to bring him to the Court, who within a quarter of an hours space brought him attended with about twenty Officers, with Partizans marching before him, there being other Gentlemen, to whose care and custody he was likewise committed, marching in his Rear.
Being thus brought up within the face of the Court, The Sergeant at Arms, with his Mace, receives and conducts him streight to the Bar, having a Crimsion Velvet Chair set before him. After a stern looking upon the Court, and the people in the Galleries on each side of him, he places himself, not at all moving his Hat, or otherwise shewing the least respect to the Court; but presently rises up again, and turns about, looking downwards upon the Guards placed on the left side, and on the multitude of Spectators on the right side of the said great Hall. After Silence made among the people, the Act of Parliament, for the Trying of CHARLS STƲART KING of England, was read over by the [Page 11] Clerk of the Court; who sate on one side of a Table covered with a rich Turky Carpet, and placed at the feet of the said Lord President, upon which table was also laid the Sword and Mace.
After reading the said Act, the several names of the Commissioners were called over, every one who was present, being 80. as aforesaid, rising up and answering to his Call.
Having again placed himself in his Chair, with his face towards the Court, Silence being again ordered, the Lord President stood up and said;
CHARLES STƲART, King of England; The Commons of England Assembled in Parliament, being deeply sensible of the Calamities that have been brought upon this Nation (which is fixed upon you as the principal Author of it) have resolved to make inquisition for Blood, and according to that Debt and Duty they owe to Justice, to God, the Kingdom, and themselves, and according to the Fundamental Power that rests in themselves, They have resolved to bring you to Tryal and Judgement; and for that purpose have constituted this High Court of Justice, before which you are brought.
This said, M. Cook Attorney for the Common-wealth (standing within a Bar on the [Page 12] right hand of the Prisoner) offered to speak, but the King having a staff in his Hand, held it up, and laid it upon the said M. Cooks shoulder two or three times, bidding him hold; Nevertheless, the Lord President ordering him to go on, he said:
My Lord, I am commanded to charge CHARLES STƲART, King of England, in the name of the Commons of England, with Treason and high Misdemeanors; I desire the said Charge may be read.
The said Charge being delivered to the Clerk of the Court, the Lord President ordered it should be read, but the King bid him hold; Nevertheless, being commanded by the Lord President to read it, the Clerk begun.
THE Charge of the Commons of ENGLAND, against Charles Stuart, KING of England, Of High Treason, and other High Crimes, exhibited to the High Court of Justice.
THat the said CHARLES STƲART being admitted King of England, and therein trusted with a limited Power, to govern by, and according to the Laws of the Land, and not otherwise; And by his Trust, Oath, and Office, being obliged to use the Power committed to him, For the good and benefit of the People, and for the preservation of their Rights and Liberties; Yet nevertheless out of a wicked Design, to erect, and uphold in himself and unlimited and Tyrannical Power [Page 14] to rule according to his Will, and to overthrow the Rights and Liberties of the People; Yea, to take away, and make void the Foundations thereof, and of all redress and remedy of misgovernement, which by the fundamental Constitutions of this Kingdom, were reserved on the Peoples behalf, in the Right and Power of frequent and successive Parliaments, or National meetings in Councel; He, the said CHARLES STƲART, for accomplishment of such his Designs, and for the protecting of himself and his adherents, in His, and Their wicked Practises to the same Ends, hath Trayterously and maliciously levyed War against the present Parliament, and the People therein Represented.
Particularly, upon or about the thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fourty and two, At Beverly, in the County of York; And upon, or about the thirtieth day of July, in the year aforesaid, in the County of the City of York; And upon, or about the twenty fourth day of August, in the same year, at the County of the Town of Nottingham (when, and where He set up His Standard of War;) And also on, or about the twenty third day of October, in the same year, at Edg-Hill, & Keinton-field, in the County of Warwick; And upon, or about the thirtieth [Page 15] day of November, in the same year, at Brainchford, in the County of Middlesex: And upon, or about the thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fourty and three, at Cavesham-bridge, neer Roding, in the County of Berks; And upon, or about the thirtieth day of October, in the year last mentioned, at, or neer the City of Glocester; And upon, or about the thirtieth day of November, in the year last mentioned, at Newbery, in the County of Berks; And upon, or about the one and thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fourty and four, at Cropredy-Bridge, in the County of Oxon; And upon, or about the thirtieth day of September, in the year last mentioned, at Bodmin, and other places neer adjacent, in the County of Cornwal; And upon, or about the thirtieth day of November, in the year last mentioned, at Newbery aforesaid; And upon, or about the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fourty and five, at the Town of Leicester; And also, upon the fourteenth day of the same month, on the same year, at Naseby-field, in the County of Northampton. At which several times and places, or most of them, and at many other places in this Land, at several other times, within the years aforementioned: [Page 16] And in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fourty and six; He the said CHARLES STƲART, hath caused and procured many thousands of the Free-People of the Nation to be slain; and by Divisions, Parties, and Insurrections, within this Land, by Invasions from Forraign parts, endevored and procured by Him, and by many other evil ways and means. He the said CHARLS STƲART, hath not only maintained and carried on the said War, both by Land and Sea, during the years before mentioned; but also hath renewed, or caused to be renewed, the said War against the Parliament, and good People of this Nation, in this present year, One thousand six hundred fourty and eight, in the Counties of Kent, Essex, Surry, Sussex, Middlesex, and many other Counties and places in England and Wales, and also by Sea; And particularly, He the said CHARLES STƲART, hath for that purpose, given Commission to his Son, the Prince, and others; whereby, besides multitudes of other Persons, many such, as were by the Parliament intrusted and imployed, for the safety of the Nation; being by Him or His Agents, Corrupted, to the betraying of Their Trust, and revolting from the Parliament, have had entertainment and Commission, for the continuing and renewing [Page 17] of War and Hostility, against the said Parliament and People as aforesaid. By which cruel and unnatural Wars by Him, the said CHARLES STƲART, levyed, continued, and renewed, as aforesaid, much Innocent Blood of the Free-people of this Nation hath been spilt; many Families have been undone, the Publike Treasury wasted and exhausted, Trade obstructed, and miserably decayed; vast expence and damage to the Nation incurred, and many parts of the Land spoyled, some of them even to Desolation.
And for further prosecution of His said evil Designs, He, the said CHARLES STƲART, doth still continue his Commissions to the said Prince, and other Rebels, and Revolters, both English and Forraigners, and to the Earl of Ormond, and to the Irish Rebels and Revolters, associated with him; from whom further Invasions upon this Land are threatened, upon the procurement, and on the behalf of the said Charls Stuart.
All which wicked Designs, Wars, and evil Practises of Him, the said CHARLES STƲARRT, have been, and are carryed on, for the advancing and upholding of the Personal Interest of Will and Power, and pretended [Page 18] Prerogative to Himself and his Family, against the publique Interest, Common Right, Liberty, Justice, and Peace Of the People of this Nation, by, and for whom he was entrusted, as aforesaid.
By all which it appeareth, that He, the said CHARLS STUART, hath been, and is the Occasioner, Author, and Contriver of the said Ʋnnatural, Cruel, and bloody Wars, and therein guilty of all the Treasons, Murthers, Rapines, Burnings, Spoils, Desolations, Damage and Mischief to this Nation, acted or committed in the said Wars, or occasioned thereby.
And the said John Cook, by Protestation (saving on the behalf of the People of England, the liberty of Exhibiting at any time hereafter, any other Charge 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, [Page 19] 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:
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.
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 [Page 20] 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.
If you had been pleased to have observed what was hinted to you, by [Page 21] 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.
No Sir, I deny that.
If you acknowledg not the Authority of the Court, they must proceed.
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.
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.
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 [Page 22] 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.
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.
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 [Page 23] 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.
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.
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.
That's in your apprehension: we think it reasonable that are your Judges.
'Tis not my apprehension, nor yours neither, that ought to decide it.
The Court hath heard you, and you are to be disposed of as they have commanded.
- [Page 24]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.
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 [Page 26] 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.
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 [Page 27] 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.
When I was here last, 'tis 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, [Page 28] 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—
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.
Sir, by your favour, I do not know the forms of Law, I do know Law and [Page 29] 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.
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.
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.
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.
I deny that, shew me one 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.
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.
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, [Page 31] 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.
I will answer the same so soon as I know by what Authority you do this.
If this be all that you will say, then, Gentlemen, you that brought the Prisoner hither, take charge of him back again.
I do require that I may give in my Reasons why I do not answer, and give me time for that.
Sir, 'Tis not for Prisoners to require.
Prisoners? Sir, I am not an ordinary Prisoner.
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.
You never heard my Reasons yet.
Sir, Your Reasons are not to be heard against the highest Jurisdiction.
Shew me that Jurisdiction where Reason is not to be heard.
Sir, We shew it you here, [Page 32] 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.
Shew me where ever the House of Commons was a Court of Judicature of that kind.
Serjeant, Take away the Prisoner.
Well Sir, Remember that the King is not suffered to give in his Reasons for the Liberty and Feeedom of all his Subjects.
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.
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.
The Command of the Court must be obeyed; no answer will be given to the Charge.
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.
[Page 33]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.
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 [Page 34] 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 [Page 35] 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.
Sir, You have heard what is moved by the Councel on the [Page 36] 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 [Page 37] 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.
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 [Page 38] the Matter that is CHARG'D upon you.
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 This is as the King express'd, but I supposed he meant Ans. 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 [Page 39] 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.
By your favour Sir:
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.
Duty Sir!
The Clark reads.
CHARLES STƲART, 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.
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 [Page 40] 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.
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.
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.
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.
[Page 41]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.
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 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.
I shall desire a word to be heard a little, and I hope I shall give no occasion of interruption.
You may answer in your time, hear the Court first.
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.—
Sir you shall be heard in due time, but you are to hear the Court first.
Sir, I desire it will be in order to what I believe the Court will say; and therefore [Page 43] Sir, an hasty Judgment is not so soon recall'd.
Sir, You shall be heard before the Judgment be given, and in the mean time you may forbear.
Well Sir, shall I be heard before the Judgment be given?
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 Here a Malignant Lady interrupted the Court, (saying not halfe the people) but she was soon silenced. 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 [Page 44] 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 [Page 45] given me in command to let you know they will hear you.
Since that I see that you will [...]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 [Page 46] 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 tis 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.
Sir, you have now spoken.
Yes Sir.
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
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.
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.
Not in this that I have said.
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 hear you; they have patiently wa [...]ted your pleasure for three Courts together, to hear what [Page 48] 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 Coordinate 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.
Shall I withdraw?
Sir, Yow shall know the pleasure of the Court presently, the Court withdraws for half an hour into the Court of Wards
[Page 49]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.
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 [Page 50] 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.
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, [Page 51] 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.
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.
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.
Sir, I have received direction from the Court.
Well Sir.
If this must be re-enforc'd, or [Page 52] any thing of this nature, your answer must be the same, and they will proceed to Sentence if you have nothing more to say.
Sir, I have nothing more to say, but I shall desire that this may be entered what I have said.
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, [Page 53] 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 and the High Court of Justice, the PARLIAMENT of England, that are not only the highest Expounders, but the sole makers of the Law. Sir, for you to set your self with your single judgment, and those that adhere unto you, to set your self against the highest Court of Justice, that is not Law. Sir, as the Law is your Superior, so truly Sir, there is something that is Superior to the Law, and that is indeed the Parent or Author of the Law, and that is the People of England, For Sir, as they are those that at the first▪ (as other Countries have done) did choose to themselves this Form of Gouernment, even for Justice sake, that Justice might be administred, that Peace might be preserved; so Sir, they gave Laws to their Governors, according to which they should Govern; and if those Laws should have proved inconvenient, or prejudiciall to the Publique, they had a power in them, [Page 54] and reserved to themselves to alter as they shall see cause. Sir, it is very true, what some of your side have said, Rex non habet parem in Regno; This Court will say the same, while KING, That you have not your Peer in some sense, for you are major singulis, but they will aver again, that you are minor universis; and the same Author tels you, that in exhibitione Juris, there you have no power, but in [...] quasi minimus. This we know to be Law, Rex habet superiorem, Deum & Legem, etiam & curiam, and so says the same Author; and truly, Sir, he makes bold to go a little further, Debent ei ponere frenum, they ought to bridle him; and Sir, we know very well the stories of old, Those Wars that were called the Barons Wars, when the Nobility of the Land did stand out for the Liberty and Property of the Subject, and would not suffer the Kings that did invade to play the Tyrants free [...], but called them to account for it, we know that truth, That they did Frenum ponere, But Sir, if they do forbear to do their Duty now, and are not so mindfull of their own Honor and the Kingdoms good, as the Barons of England of old were, certainly the Commons of England will not be unmindfull of what is for their preservation, and for their safety, Justitiae fruendi causâ Reges [Page 55] constituti sunt. This we learn, the end of having Kings, or any other Governors, it's for the enjoying of Justice, that's the end. Now Sir, if so be the King will go contrary to that End, or any other Governor will go contrary to the end of his Government; Sir, he must understand that he is but an Officer in trust, and he ought to discharge that Trust, and they are to take order for the animadversion▪ and punishment of such an offending Governor.
This is not Law of yesterday Sir, (since the time of the division betwixt you and your People,) but it is Law of old; And we know very well the Authors and the Authorities that do tell us what the Law was in that point upon the Election of Kings, upon the Oath that they took unto their People; and if they did not observe it, there were those things called Parliaments; The Parliaments were they that were to adjudge (the very words of the Author) the plaints and wrongs done of the King and the Queen, or their Children, such wrongs especially when the People could have no where else any remedy. Sir, that hath been the People of Englands case, they could not have their remedy elsewhere but in Parliament.
Sir, Parliaments were ordained for that purpose to redress the grievances of the People, that was their main end; and truly Sir, if so [Page 56] be that the Kings of England had been rightly mindfull of themselves, they were never more in Majesty and State then in the Parliament: but how forgetful some have been, Stories have told us; We have a miserable, a lamentable, a sad experience of it. Sir by the old Laws of England, I speak these things the rather to you, because you were pleased to let fall the other day, you thought you had as much knowledg in the Law, as most Gentlemen in England, it is very well Sir. And truly Sir, it is very fit for the Gentlemen of England to understand that Law under which they must live, and by which they must be governed. And then Sir, the Scripture says, They that know their Masters will and do it not, what follows? The Law is your Master, the Acts of Parliament.
The Parliaments were to be kept anciently we find in our old Author twice in the year, That the subject upon any occasion might have a ready remedy and redress for his Grievance. Afterwards by several Acts of Parliament in the days of your Predecessor Edward the third, they must have been once a year. Sir what the intermission of PARLIAMENTS hath been in your time it is very well known, and the sad Consequences of it, and what in the interim instead of these PARLIAMENTS, hath been by you by an high [Page 57] and Arbitrary hand introduced upon the People, that likewise hath been too well known and felt. But when God by his Providence had so far brought it about, that you could no longer decline the calling of a Parliament, Sir, yet it will appear what your ends were against the Ancient and your Native Kingdom of SCOTLAND: The Parliament of England not serving your ends against them, you were pleased to dissolve it. Another great necessity occasioned the calling of this Parliament, and what your Designs and Plots and endeavours all along have been for the crushing and confounding of this Parliament, hath been very notorious to the whole Kingdom; And truly Sir, in that you did strike at all; That had been a sure way to have brought about that that this Charge laies upon you, Your Intention to Subvert the FƲNDAMENTAL LAWES of the Land. For the great Bulwark of the Liberties of the People, is the PARLIAMENT of England ▪ and to Subvert and Root up that, which your aim hath been to do, certainly at one blow you had confounded the liberties and the property of England.
Truly Sir, it makes me call to minde, I cannot forbear to express it, for Sir, we must deal plainly with you, according to the [Page 58] merits of your cause, so is our Commission, it makes me call to mind (these proceedings of yours) That we read of a great Roman Emperor, by the way let us call him a great Roman Tyrant, Caligula, That wisht that the People of Rome had had but one neck, that at one blow he might cut it off: and your proceedings hath been somewhat like to this; for the body of the People of England hath been (and where else) represented but in the Parliament, and could you have but confounded that, you had at one blow cut off the neck of England: But God hath reserved better things for us, and hath pleased for to Confound your designs, and to break your Forces, and to bring your Person into Custody that you might be responsible to Justice.
Sir, we know very well, That it is a question on your side very much prest, by what President we shall proceed? Truly Sir, for Presidents, I shall not upon these occasions institute any long discourse, but it is no new thing to cite Presidents almost of all Nations, where the People (when power hath been in their hands) have been made bold to call their Kings to account, and where the change of Governement hath been upon occasion of the Tyranny and Mis-Government of those that have been placed over them; I will not spend time to [Page 59] mention France, or Spain, or the Empire, or other Countries, volumes may be written of it; But truly Sir, that of the Kingdom of Aragon, I shall think some of us have thought upon it, when they have the Justice of Aragon, that is a man tanquam in medio positus, betwixt the King of Spain, and the people of the Country, that if wrong be done by the King he that is the King of Aragon, the Justice hath power to reform the wrong, and he is acknowledged to be the Kings Superiour, and is the grand preserver of their priviledges, and hath prosecuted Kings upon their miscarriages.
Sir; What the Tribunes of Rome were heretofore, and what the Ephori were to the Lacedemonian State we know, that is the Parliament of England to the English State; and though Rome seemed to lose it's Liberty when once the Emperors were; yet you shall find some famous Acts of Justice even done by the Senate of Rome, that great Tyrant of his time Nero, condemned and judged by the Senate. But truly Sir, to you I should not mention these Forreign examples and stories. If you look but over Tweed, we find enough in your native Kingdom of Scotland, If we look to your first King Fergusius that your stories make [Page 60] mention of, he was an elective King, he dyed, and left two Sons both in their minority, the Kingdom made choyce of their Unkle his Brother to govern in the minority; afterwards the elder brother giving small hopes to the people that he would rule or govern well, seeking to supplant that good Unkle of his that governed then justly, they set the elder aside, and took to the younger. Sir, if I should come to what your stories make mention of▪ you know very well you are the 109. King of Scotland, for to mention so many Kings as that Kingdom, according to their power and priviledg, have made bold to deal withal, some to banish, and some to imprison, and some to put to death, it would be too long; and as one of your own Authors says, it would be too long to recite the manifold examples that your own stories make mention of; Reges (say they) we do create, we created Kings at first; Leges, &c. We imposed Laws upon them; and as they are chosen by the suffrages of the people at the first, so, upon just occasion, by the same suffrages they may be taken down again: and we will be bold to say, that no Kingdom hath yeelded more plentiful experience then that your Native Kingdom of Scotland, hath done concerning the deposition and the punishment of their offending and transgressing Kings, &c.
[Page 61]It is not far to go for an example neer you, our Grandmother set aside, and your Father [...]n Infant crowned; and the State did it here [...]n England, here hath not been a want of [...]ome examples, they have made bold (the Par [...]iament, and the People of England) to call [...]heir Kings to account, there are frequent [...]xamples of it in the Saxons time, the time before the Conquest; since the Conquest here want not some presidents neither, King Edward the second, King Richard the second, were dealt with so by the Parliament, as they were deposed and deprived; and truly Sir, who ever shall look into their stories, they [...]hall not finde the Articles that are charged upon them to come neer to that height and capitalness of Crimes that are layd to your charge, nothing neer.
Sir, You were pleased to say the other day wherein they discent, and I did not contradict it, but take altogether, Sir, if you were as the Charge speaks, and no o [...]herwise admitted King of ENGLAND, but for that you were pleased then to alledg, now that almost for a thousand years these things have been, stories will tell you, if you go no higher then the time of the Conquest, if you do come down since the Conquest, you are the Twenty fourth King from [Page 62] William called the Conqueror, you shall find one half of them to come meerly from the State, and not meerly upon the point of Discent; it were easie to be instanced to you, the time must not be lost that way. And truly Sir, what a grave and learned Judge in his time and well known to you, and is since printed for posterity, That although there was such a thing as a discent many times, yet the Kings of Enland ever held the greatest assurance of their Titles when it was declared by Parliament: And Sir, your Oath, the manner of your Coronation doth shew plainly, That the Kings of England, although it's true by the Law the next Person in bloud is designed; yet if there were just cause to refuse him, the people of England might do it. For there is a Contract, and Bargain made between the King and his People, and your Oath is taken, and certainly Sir, the Bond is reciprocal, for as you are the liege Lord, so they liege subjects, and we know very well that hath been so much spoken of, Ligantia est duplex, This we know now, the one tye, the one Bond, is the bond of perfection that is due from the Soveraign, the other is the Bond of Subjection that is due from the Subject, Sir if this Bond be once broken, farewell Soveraignty, Subjectio trahit, &c.
These things may not be denyed Sir, I speak [Page 63] it the rather, and I pray God it may work upon your heart, that you may be sensible of your miscarriages. For whether you have been as by your Office you ought to be, a Protector of England, or the destroyer of England, let all England judge, or all the world that hath look'd upon it. Sir, though you have it by Inheritance in the way that is spoken of, yet it must not be denyed that your Office was an Office of Trust, and indeed, an Office of the highest Trust lodged in any single person; For as you were the grand Administrator of Justice, and others were as your Deligates to see it done throughout your Realms, If your great Office were to do Justice and preserve your People from wrong, and instead of doing that you will be the great wrong doer your self; If instead of being a Conservator of the Peace, you will be the Grand disturbe of the Peace, surely this is contrary to your Office, contrary to your Trust. Now Sir, if it be an Office of Inheritance, as you speak of your Title by Discent, let all men know that great Offices are Seizable and Forfeitable, as if you had it but for a year and for your Life; Therefore Sir, it will concern you to take into your serious consideration your great miscarriages in this kind.
Truly Sir, I shall not particularize the many [Page 64] miscarriages of your Reign whatsoever, they are famously known; it had been happy for the Kingdom, and happy for you too, if it had not been so much known, and so much felt, as the story of your miscarriages must needs be, and hath been already.
Sir, That that we are now upon by the command of the highest Court hath been and is to try and judg you for these great offences of yours. Sir, the Charge hath called you Tyrant, a Traytor, a Murtherer, and a publique Enemy to the Commonwealth of England. Sir, It had been well, if that any of all these terms might rightly and justly have been spared, if any one of them at all.
Ha?
Truly Sir, We have been told, Rex est dum bene regit, Tyrannus qui populum opp [...]vit, and if so be that be the definition of a Tyrant, then see how you come short of it in your actions, whether the highest Tyrant by that way of Arbitrary Government, and that you have sought for to introduce, and that you have sought to put, you were putting upon the people, whether that was not as high an act of Tyranny as any of your predecessors were guilty of, nay, many degrees beyond it.
Sir, the term Traytor cannot be spared, we [Page 65] shall easily agree it must denote and suppose a breach of Trust, and it must suppose it to be done by a Superior, and therefore Sir, as the People of England might have incurred that respecting you, if they had been truly guilty of it, as to the definition of Law, so on the other side, when you did break your Trust to the Kingdom, you did break your Trust to your Superior: For the Kingdom is that for which you were trusted. And therefore Sir, for this breach of Trust when you are called to account, you are called to account by your Superiors▪ Minimus ad majorem in judicium vo [...]it. And Sir, the People of England cannot be so far wanting to themselves, which God having dealt so miraculously and gloriously for, they having power in their hands, and their great Enemy, they must proceed to do Justice to themselves, and to you▪ For, Sir, the Court could heartily desire, That you would lay your hand upon your heart and consider what you have done amiss, That you would endeavor to make your Peace with God. Truly Sir, These are your high Crimes, Tyranny and Treason.
There is a third thing too if those had not been, and that is Murther, which is layd to your charge. All the bloody Murthers that have been committed since this time that the [Page 66] division was betwixt you and your People must be layd to your charge, that have been acted or committed in these late Wars. Sir, it is an heinous and crying sin; and truly Sir, if any man will ask us what punishment is due to a Murtherer, Let Gods Law, let mans Law speak. Sir, I will presume that you are so well read in Scripture as to know what God himself hath said concerning the shedding of mans blood; Gen. 9. Numb. 35. will tell you what the punishment is, and which this Court in behalf of the Kingdom are sensible of, of that innocent blood that has been shed, wherby indeed the Land stands stil defiled with that blood, & as the text hath it, It can no way be cleansed but with the shedding of the blood of him that shed this blood. Sir, we know no Dispensation from this blood in that Commandment, Thou shalt do no Murther; we do not know but that it extends to Kings, as well as to the meanest Peasants, the meanest of the People, the Command is universal▪ Sir, Gods Law forbids it, Mans Law forbids, nor do we know that there is any manner of exception, not even in mans Laws, for the punishment of Murther in you. 'Tis true, That in the case of Kings, every private hand was not to put forth it self to this work for their Reformation and punishment. But Sir, the People [Page 67] represented having power in their hands, had there been but one wilful act of Murther by you committed, had power to have convented you, and to have punished you for it.
But then Sir, the weight that lies upon you in all those respects that have been spoken, by reason of your Tyranny, Treason, breach of Trust, and the Murthers that have been committed, surely Sir, it must drive you into a sad consideration concerning your eternal condition: as I said at first, I know it cannot be pleasing to you to hear any such things as these are mentioned unto you from this Court, for so we do call our selves, and justifie our selves to be a Court, and a High Court of Justice, authorized by the highest and solemnest Court of the Kingdom, as we have often said; and although you do yet endeavor what you may to dis-court us, yet we do take knowledg of our selves to be such a Court as can administer Justice to you, and we are bound Sir, in duty to do it. Sir, all I shall say before the reading of your Sentence, it is but this; The Court does heartily desire, that you will seriously think of those evils that you stand guilty of Sir, you said well to us the other day, you wisht us to have God before our eyes, Truly Sir, I hope all of us have so, that God that [Page 68] we know is a King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, that God with whom there is no respect of persons, that God that is the avenger of innocent blood, we have that God before us, that God that does bestow a curse upon them that with-hold their hands from sheding of blood, which is in the case of guilty Malefactors, and that do deserve death; That God we have before our eyes, and were it not that the conscience of our duty hath called us unto this place, and this imployment, Sir, you should have had no appearance of a Court here: but Sir, we must prefer the discharge of our duty unto God, and unto the Kingdom, before any other respect whatsoever: and although at this time many of us, if not all of us, are severely threatened by some of your party what they intend to do, Sir, we do here declare, That we shall not decline or forbear the doing of our duty in the administration of Justice even to you, according to the merit of your offence, although God should permit those men to effect all that bloody design in hand against us. Sir, we will say, and we will declare it, as those Children in the fiery furnace, that would not worship the golden Image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up▪ That their God was able to deliver them from that danger that they were neer [Page 69] unto; but yet if he would not do it, yet, notwithstanding that, they would not fall down and worship the Image: we shall thus apply it, That though we should not be delivered from those bloody hands and hearts that conspire the overthrow of the Kingdom in general, of us in particular, for acting in this great work of Justice, though we should perish in the work, yet by Gods grace, and by Gods strength, we will go on with it: And this is all our Resolutions. Sir, I say for your self, we do heartily wish, and desire, that God would be pleased to give you a sense of your sins, that you would see wherein you have done amiss, that you may cry unto him, that God would deliver you from blood-guiltiness. A good King was once guilty of that particular thing, and was clear otherwise, saving in the matter of Ʋriah. Truly Sir, the story tels us, that he was a repentant King, and it signifies enough that he had dyed for it, but that God was pleased to accept of him, & to give him his pardon, thou shalt not die, but the child shal die, thou hast given cause to the enemies of God to blaspheme.
I would desire onely one word before you give sentence, and that is, That you would hear me concerning those great imputations that you have layd to my charge.
Sir, You must give me now [Page 70] leave to go on, for I am not far from your Sentence, and your time is now past.
But I shall desire you will hear me a few words to you, for truly what ever Sentence you will put upon me, in respect of those heavy imputations that I see by your speech you have put upon me, Sir, It is very true that—
Sir, I must put you in minde. Truly Sir I would not willingly, at this time especially, interrupt you in any thing you have to say that is proper for us to admit of, but Sir, you have not owned us as a Court, and you look upon us as a sort of people met together, and we know what language we receive from your party.
I know nothing of that.
You dis-avow us as a Court, and therefore for you to address your self to us, not to acknowledg us as a Court to judg of what you say, it is not to be permitted; and the truth is, all along from the first time, you were pleased to dis-avow and dis-own us, the Court needed not to have heard you one word; For unless they be acknowledged a Court, and engaged, it is not proper for you to speak: Sir, we have given you too much liberty already, and admitted of too much delay, and we may not admit of any farther; [Page 71] were it proper for us to do, we should hear you freely, and we should not have declined to have heard you at large, what you could have said or proved on your behalf, whether for totally excusing, or for in part excusing those great and hainous charges that in whole or in part are layd upon you. But Sir, I shall trouble you no longer, your sins are of so large a dimension, that if you do but seriously think of them, they will drive you to a sad consideration of it, and they may improve in you a sad and serious repentance. And that the Court doth heartily wish that you may be so penitent for what you have done amiss, that God may have mercy at least-wise upon your better part. Truly Sir, for the other, it is our parts and duties to do that that the Law prescribes, we are not here Jus dare, but Jus dicere; we cannot be unmindful of what the Scripture tells us, For to acquit the guilty is of equal abomination as to condemn the innocent, we may not acquit the guilty; what sentence the Law affirms to a Traytor, Tyrant, a Murtherer, and a publike Enemy to the Country, that sentence you are now to hear read unto you, and that is the sentence of the Court.
The Lord President commands the sentence to be read. Make an O yes, and command [Page 72] silence while the sentence is read.
O yes made. Silence commanded.
The Clerk read the sentence, which was drawn up in parchment.
Where as the Commons of England in Parliament had appointed them an High Court of Justice for the trying of Charls Stuart King of England, before whom he had been three times convented, and at the first time a Charge of High Treason, and other Crimes and Misdemeanors, was read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England, &c.
Here the Clerk read the Charge.
Which Charge being read unto him as aforesaid, he the said Charls Stuart was required to give his Answer, but he refused so to do, and so exprest the several passages at his Tryal in refusing to answer.
For all which Treasons and Crimes, this Court doth adjudg, That the said Charls Stuart, as a Tyrant, Traytor, Murtherer, and a publique Enemy, shall be put to Death, by the severing his Head from his Body.
After the sentence read, the Lord President said;
[Page 73]This sentence now read and published, it is the act, sentence, judgment, and resolution of the whole Court.
Here the Court stood up, as assenting to what the President said.
Will you hear me a word Sir?
Sir, you are not to be heard after the sentence.
No Sir?
No Sir, by your favor Sir. Guard, withdraw your Prisoner.
I may speak after the sentence—
By your favor Sir, I may speak after the sentence ever.
By your favor (hold) the sentence Sir—
I say Sir I do—
I am not suffered for to speak, expect what Justice other people will have.
O Yes. All maner of persons that have any thing else to do, are to depart at this time, and to give their attendance in the painted Chamber, to which place this Court doth forthwith adjourn it self.
Then the Court rose, and the King went with his Guard to Sir Robert Cottons, and from thence to Whitehall.
King Charls HIS SPEECH Made upon the SCAFFOLD at Whitehall-Gate immediately before his Execution. Tuesday, January 30.
ABout ten in the Morning the King was brought from St. James's, walking on foot through the Park, with a Regiment of Foot, part before and part behinde him, with Colours flying, Drums beating, his private guard of Partizans, with some of his Gentlemen before, and some behinde bare-headed, [Page 75] Dr Juxon next behinde him, and Colonel Thomlinson (who had the charge of him) talking with the King bare-headed from the Park, up the stairs into the Gallery, and so into the Cabinet-Chamber, where he used to lie, where he continued at his Devotion, refusing to dine (having before taken the Sacrament) onely about an hour before he came forth, he drank a glass of Claret wine, and eat a piece of bread about twelve at noon.
From thence he was accompanyed by Dr. Juxon, Colonel Thomlinson, and other Officers, formerly appointed to attend him, and the private guard of Partizans, with Musketiers on each side, through the Banqueting-house adjoyning, to which the Scaffold was erected, between Whitehall-Gate, and the G [...]ding into the Gallery from S. James's: The [...]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 [Page 76] Col. Hacker if there were no higher: and then spake thus (directing his Speech chiefly to Col. Thomlinson.)
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 [Page 77] 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 Strafford. 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 Pointing to Dr. Juxon. 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 [Page 78] 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 Turning to some Gentlemen that wrote. 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, [Page 79] 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 Meaning if he did blunt the edg.. 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 i [...]ving of Government; those Laws, by which their [Page 80] 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.
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.
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 Pointing to D. Juxon. 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 al [...] 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.
There is but one Stage more. [Page 82] 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.
I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown; where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.
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 It is thought for to give it to the Prince. — 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.
It is fast Sir.
It might have been a little higher.
It can be no higher Sir.
When I put out my hands this way, Stretching them out. 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 [Page 83] the Executioner again putting his hair under his Cap, the King said (Thinking he had been going to strike) stay for the sign.
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.
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, [Page 88] 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 [Page 89] 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:
Whether shall I Pray first?
As Your Lordship pleases.
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?
There will be a greater silence by and by. It will not be amiss, if your Lordship defer your [Page 90] speaking till you hear from his Lordship.
There is something in it. He was with the House.
I suppose he would give no interruption to your Lordship, at this time, were there not something of concernment in it.
He is my Brother, and has been a very faithfull servant to this State, and he was in great esteem and reputation with them.
He is in the Hall, and sent to speak with a Servant of mine, to send something to me.
It will not lengthen the time much if you stay while you have a return from him. My Lord, you should do well to bestow your time now in meditating upon and imploring of the Free-mercy of God in Christ for your Eternall Salvation, and look upon that ever-streaming Fountain of his precious Bloud, that purgeth us from all our sins, even the sins of the deepest dye▪ The Bloud of Jesus Christ washes away all our sins, and that Bloud of Christ is poured forth upon all such as by a lively Faith lay hold upon him. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end, that whosoever believed in him should not perish, [Page 91] but have everlasting Life; That is now, my Lord, the Rock on which you must chiefly rest, and labor to fix your self in the Free-mercy of God through Christ Jesus, whose mercies are from everlasting to everlasting, unto all such as with the Eye of Faith behold him: Behold Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Salvation, who hath satisfied the Justice of God by that Al-sufficiency of his Sacrifice, which once for all he offered upon the Cross for the sins of the whole World, so that the sting of Death is taken away from all believers, and he hath sanctified it as a passage to everlasting blessedness: It is true, the Waters of Iordan run somewhat rough and surly, betwixt the Wilderness and our passage into Canaan; but let us rest upon the Ark (my Lord) the Ark Christ Iesus, that will carry us through and above all those waves to that Rock of Ages, which no flood nor waves can reach unto, and to him who is yesterday, to day, and the same for ever, against whom the Powers and Principalities, the Gates of Hell, shall never be able to prevail; Lift up and fasten your eyes now upon Christ Crucified, and labor to behold Iesus standing at the right hand of his Father, (as the Protomartyr Stephen) ready to receive your Soul, when it shall be separated from this Frail and Mortal body: Alas, [Page 92] no man would desire Life, if he knew beforehand what it were to live, it is nothing but sorrow, vexation and trouble, grief and discontent that waits upon every condition, whether publique or private; in every station and calling there are several miseries and troubles that are inseparable from them; Therefore what a blessed thing it is to have a speedy and comfortable passage out of this raging sea, into the Port of everlasting Happiness: We must pass through a Sea, but it is the Sea of Christ Blood in which never Soul suffered shipwrack, in which we must be blown with winds and Tempests, but they are the Gales of Gods Spirit upon us, which blow away all contrary winds of diffidence in his Mercy.
Here one acquainting the Earl, his servant was coming, he answered, So Sir; And turning to the under-Sheriffs son, said,
Sir, have you your Warrant here?
Yes, my Lord, we have a Command.
A Command.
I take this time, Sir, of staying, in regard of the Earl of Denbighs sending to speak with me; I know not for what he desires me to stay.
I presume Mr. Sheriff will not grudg your Lordship a few minutes time, when so great a work as this is in hand.
His Lordships servant being returned, and having delivered his Message to the Earl of Cambridg privately, he said, So, it is done now; and then turning to the Front of the Scaffold, before which (as in all the rest of the Pallace) there was a great concourse of people, He said;
I think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much, there are many Gentlemen and Souldiers there that sees me, but my voyce is so weak, so low, that they cannot hear me, neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking, or with any thing I had to express, that I took delight in it; yet this being the last time that I am to do so, by a Divine Providence of Almighty God, who hath brought me to this end justly for my sins. I shall to you Sir, Mr. Sheriff, declare thus much, as to the matter that I am now to suffer for, which is, as being a Traytor to the Kingdom of England: Truly Sir, it was a [Page 94] Country that I equally loved with my own, I made no difference, I never intended either the generality of it's prejudice, or any particular mans in it; What I did was by the Command of the Parliament of the Country where I was born, whose Commands I could not disobey, without running into the same hazard there, of that condition that I am now in: The ends, Sir, of that Engagement is publique, they are in Print, and so I shall not need to specifie them.
The Sun perhaps will be too much in your Lordships face; as you speak.
No Sir, it will not burn it. I hope I shall see a brighter Sun then this Sir, very speedily.
The Sun of Righteousness. my Lord.
(But to that which I was saying Sir.) It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command, as it was ruined; and I, as their General, clothed with a Commission, stand here, now ready to dye; I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea, what I said in my own Defence at the Court of JUSTICE, my self being satisfied with the Commands [Page 95] that are laid upon me, and they satisfied with the justness of their procedure, according to the Laws of this Land. God is just, and howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the matter of the Sentence, but that I do willingly submit to his Divine Providence, and acknowledg that very many ways I deserve even a wordly punishment, as well as hereafter, for we are all sinful, Sir, and I a great one; yet for my comfort I know there is a God heaven that is exceeding merciful; I know my Redeemer sits at his right hand, and am confident (clapping his hand to his brest) is mediating for me at this instant, I am hopeful through his Free-Grace and al-sufficient merits, to be, pardoned of my sins, and to be received into his mercy, upon that I rely, trusting to nothing but▪ the Free-Grace of God through Jesus Christ, I have not been tainted with my Religion I thank God for it, since my Infancy it hath been such as hath been profest in the Land, and established, and now 'tis not this Religion, or that Religion, nor this or that fancy of men that is to be built upon, tis but one that's right, one that's sure, and that comes from God. Sir, and in the Free-Grace of our Saviour. Sir, there is truly something that Observing the Writers. (had I thought my Speech would have been thus taken) I would have digested [Page 96] it into some better method then now I can, and shall desire these Gentlemen that does write it, that they will not wrong me in it, and that it may not in this manner be published to my disadvantage, for truly I did not intend to have spoken thus when I came here.
There is, Sirs, terrible Aspersions has been laid upon my self; truly such as, I thank God, I am very free from; as if my actions and intentions had not been such as they were pretended for; but that notwithstanding what I pretended it was for the King, there was nothing less intended then to serve him in it. I was bred with him for many years, I was his Domestique servant, and there was nothing declar'd by the Parliament, that was not really intended by me; and truly in it I ventured my Life one way, and now I loose it another way: and that was one of the ends, as to the King; I speak only of that, because the rest has many particulars, and to clear my self from so horrid an Aspersion as is laid upon me: neither was there any other design known to me by the incoming of that Army, then what is really in the Declaration published. His Person, I do profess, I had reason to love, as he was my King, and as he had been my Master: it has pleased God now to dispose of him, so as it cannot be thought flattery to have said [Page 97] this, or any end in me for the saying of it, but to free my self from that Calumny which lay upon me: I cannot gain by it; yet truth is that which we shall gain by for ever.
There hath been much spoken, Sir, of an invitation into this Kingdom: it's mentioned in that Declaration, and truly to that I did, and do remit my self: and I have been very much laboured for discoveries of these Inviters. 'Tis no time to dissemble. How willing I was to have served this Nation in any thing that was in my power, is known to very many honest Pious and Religious men; and how ready I would have been to have done what I could to have served them, if it had pleased them to have preserved my Life, in whose hands there was a power: They have not thought it fit, and so I am become unuseful in that which willingly I would have done. As I said at first, Sir, so I say now concerning that point; I wish the Kingdoms happiness, I wish its peace; and truly Sir, I wish that this bloud of mine may be the last that is drawn: and howsoever I may perhaps have some reluctancie with my my self as to the matter of my suffering, for my Fact, yet I freely forgive all; Sir, I carry no rancor along with me to my grave: His will be done that has created both heaven and earth, and me a poor miserable sinful creature [Page 98] now speaking before him. For me to speak, Sir, to you of State-business, and the Government of the Kingdom, or my opinion in that, or for any thing in that nature, Truly it is to no end, it contributes nothing: My own inclination hath been to Peace, from the begining; and it is known to many, that I never was an ill instrument betwixt the King and his People; I never acted to the prejudice of the Parliament; I bore no Arms, I medled not with it; I was not wanting by my Prayers to God Almighty for the happiness of the King; and truly I shall pray still, that God may so direct him as that may be done which shall tend to his Glory, and the peace and happiness of the Kingdome.
I have not much more to say, that I remember of; I think I have spoken of my Religion.
Your Lordship has not so fully said it.
Truly I do believe I did say something.
I know you did, 'tis pleasing to hear it from your Lordship again.
Truly Sir, for the Profession of my Religion, That which I said was the established Religion, and that which I have practised in my own Kingdom where I was born [Page 99] and bred; my Tenents they need not to be exprest, they are known to all, and I am not of a rigid opinion; many Godly men there is, that may have scruples which do not concern me at all at no time; they may differ in opinion, and more now then at any time; differing in Opinion does not move me (not any mans) my own is clear: Sir, The Lord forgive me my sins, and I forgive freely all those, that even I might as a Wordly man, have the greatest animosity against; We are bidden to forgive; Sir, 'Tis a Command laid upon us (and there mentioned) Forgive us our Trespasses, as We forgive them that trespass against us.
'Tis our Saviours Rule, Love your Enemies, blesse them that curse you, Pray for them that Persecute you, do good to them which despightfully use you.
Sir, it is high time for me to make an end of this, and truly I remember no more that I have to say, but to pray to God Almighty a few words, and then I have done.
Then kneeling down with Doctor Sibbald, He prayed thus.
MOST Blessed Lord, I thy poor and most unworthy Servant come to th [...], presuming [Page 100] in thy infinite mercy and the merits of Jesus Christ, who sits upon the Throne, I come flying from that of Justice, to that of mercy, and tenderness for his sake which shed his bloud for sinners, that he would take compassion upon me, that he will look upon me as one that graciously hears me, that he would look upon me as one that hath redeemed me, that he would look upon me as one that hath shed his bloud for me, that he would look upon me as one who now cals and hopes to be saved by his Al-sufficient merits; for his sake, Glorious God, have compassion upon me in the freeness of thy infinite mercy, that when this sinful Soul of mine shall depart out of this frail carcass of clay, I may be carried into thy everlasting Glory; O Lord, by thy Free-Grace, and out of thy infinite mercy hear me, and look down, and have compassion upon me; and thou Lord Iesus, thou my Lord, and thou my God, and thou my Redeemer, hear me, take pitty upon me, take pitty upon me gracious God, and so deal with my soul, that by thy precious merits I may attain to thy Ioy and Bliss; O Lord, remember me so miserable and sinful a creature; Now thou O Lord, thou O Lord that dyed for me, receive me, and receive me into thy own bound of mercy; O Lord I trust in thee, suffer me not now to be confounded, Satan [Page 101] has had too long possession of this soule, O let him not now prevail against it, but let me, O Lord, from henceforth dwell with thee for evermore. Now Lord it is thy time to hear me, hear me gracious Iesus, even for thy own goodness, mercy, and truth; O Glorious God, O blessed Father, O holy Redeemer, O gracious Comforter, O 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.
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.
Then the Earl turning to the Executioner, said, shall I put on another [Page 102] Cap, must this hair be turned up from my neck? there are three of my servants to give satisfaction.
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, 'tis 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?
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,
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 [Page 104] 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.
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.
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.
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 [Page 105] 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?
Yes, and't please your Lordship.
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.
Your shirt must be pin'd back, for it lies too high upon your shoulders, (which was done accordingly.)
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?
Jesus the Son of David, have mercy upon you.
Lie a little lower Sir.
Well, stay then till I give you the signe.
And so having layn a short space devoutly praying to himself, he stretched out [Page 106] 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 Me [...]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:
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 [Page 107] 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 [Page 108] 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 [Page 109] 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 [Page 110] 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 Ʋniversity 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. Looking towards M. Bolton. 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 [Page 111] 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. [Page 112] 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 [Page 113] 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 [Page 114] 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.—
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 [Page 115] 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 [Page 116] 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 [Page 117] 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 committed against him, and were there nothing else but the iniquities that I have committed in the way of my life, I look upon this as a great Justice of God to bring me to this suffering, and to bring me to this punishment, and those hands that have been most active in it, if any such there hath been, I pray God forgive them, I pray God that there may not be many such Trophees of their Victories, but that this may be, as I said before, the last shew that this People shall see of the blood of persons of Condition, of persons of Honour: I might say something of the way of our Tryal, which certainly hath been as extraordinary as any thing I think hath ever been seen in this Kingdom; but because that I would not seem as if I made some complaint, I will not so much as mention it, because no body shall believe I repine at their actions, that I repine at my fortune: It is the Will of God, it is the Hand of God under whom I fall, I take it intirely from him, I submit my self to him, I shall desire to roul my self into the Arms of my blessed Saviour, and when I come to this place, (pointing to the Block) when I bow down my self there, I hope God will raise me [Page 118] up; and when I bid farewel, as I must now to Hope and to Faith, that Love will abide, I know nothing to accompany the Soul out of this World but Love, and I hope that Love will bring me to the Fountain of Glory in Heaven, through the Arms, Mediation, and the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom I believe, O LORD help my unbelief.
The Lord make over unto you the Righteousness of his own Son, it is that Treasury that he hath bestowed upon you, and the Lord shew you the light of his countenance, and fill you full with his joy and kindness, O my dear Lord, the Lord of Heaven and Earth be with you, and the Lord of Heaven and Earth bring you to that safety.
I shall make as much haste as I can to come to that Glory, and the Lord of Heaven and Earth take my Soul; I look upon my self intirely in Him, and hope to find mercy through Him, I expect it, and through that Fountain that is opened for sin, and for uncleanness, my Soul must receive it, for did I rest in any thing else, I have nothing but sin and corruption in me; I have nothing but that, which instead of being carryed up into the Arms of God and Glory, I have nothing but may throw me down into Hell.
But, my Lord, when you are clothed with the Righteousness of another, you will appear glorious, though now sinful in your self; The Apostle saith, I desire not to be found in my own Righteousness, and when you are clothed with another, the Lord will own you, and I shall say but thus much, Doubt not that ever God will deny Salvation to sinners, that come to him, when the end of all his death and sufferings was the Salvation of sinners, when as, I say, the whole end, and the whole design, and the great Work that God had to do in the World, by the death of Christ, wherein he laid out all his Counsels, and infinite Wisdom, and Mercy, and Goodness, beyond which there was a Non ultra in Gods thoughts, when this was the great design, & great end, the Salvation of siners, that poor Souls should come over to him and live; certainly when sinners come, he will not reject, he will not refuse. And my Lord, do but think of this, the greatest work that ever was done in the World, was the Blood of Christ that was shed, never any thing like it; and this Blood of Christ that was shed, was shed for them that come, if not for them, for none, it was in vain else: You see the Devils they are out of capacity of good by it, the Angels they have no need of it, wicked men will not come, & there are but a few that [Page 120] come over, and should he deny them, there were no end nor fruit of the blood and sufferings of the Lord Jesus; and had your Lordship been with Christ in that bloody Agony, when he was in that bloody sweat, sweating drops of blood, if you had asked him, Lord what art thou now a doing? Art thou not now reconciling an angry God and me together? Art thou not pacifying the wrath of God? Art thou not interposing thy self between the Justice of God and my Soul? Would he not have said, Yea? and surely then he will not deny it now. My Lord, his passions are over, his compassions still remain, and the larger and greater, because he is gone up into a higher place, that he may throw down more abundance of his mercy and grace upon you; and my Lord, think of that infinite love, that abundance of riches in Christ: I am lost, I am empty, I have nothing, I am poor, I am sinful: be it so, as bad as God will make me, and as vile as I possibly can conceive my self, I am willing to be; but when I have said all, the more I advance that riches, and honour that grace of God. And why should I doubt, when by this he puts me into a capacity, into a disposition for him to shew me mercy, that by this I may the better advance the riches of his grace, and say, grace, grace to the Lord to all eternity, [Page 121] that God should own such a creature, that deserves nothing; and the less I deserve, the more conspicuous is his grace: and this is certain, the riches of his grace he throweth amongst men, that the glory of his grace might be given to himself; if we can give him but the glory of his grace, we shall never doubt to partake of the riches of it, and that fulness, my Lord, that fulness be your comfort, that fulness of Mercy, that fulness of Love, that fulness of Righteousness and Power be now your riches, and your only stay, and the Lord interpose himself between God and you; as your faith hath endeavored to interpose him between God and your soul, so I doubt not but there he stands, my Lord, to plead for you, and when you are not able to do any thing your self, yet lie down at the feet of him that is a merciful Saviour, and knows what you would desire, and wait upon him while you live, trust in him when you dye, there is riches enough, and mercy enough, if he open not, yet dye at his door, say, there I'l dye, there is mercy enough.
And here is the place where I lie down before him, from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternal glory through my Saviour, upon whom I rely, from whom only I can expect mercy; into his Arms I commend my spirit, into his bleeding Arms, that when I [Page 122] leave this bleeding body that must lie upon this place, he will receive that soul that ariseth out of it, and receive it into his eternal mercy, through the merits, through the worthiness, through the mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his own most precious blood.
My Lord, Though you conclude here, I hope you begin above; and though you put an end here, I hope there will never be an end of the mercy and goodness of God: and if this be the morning of Eternity, if this be the rise of Glory, if God pleaseth to throw you down here, to raise you up for ever, say, Welcom Lord, welcome that death that shall make way for life, and welcom any condition that shall throw me down here, to bring me into the possession of Jesus Christ.
My Lord, if you have made a Deed of Gift of your self to Jesus Christ, to be found only in him, I am confident you shall stand at the day of Christ, my dear Lord, we shall meet in happiness.
Christ Jesus receive my soul, my soul hungers and thirsts after him, clouds are gathering, and I trust in God through all my heaviness, and I hope, through all impediments, he will settle my Interest in him, and throw off all the claim that Satan can make unto it, and that he will carry my soul, in despite of all the [Page 123] calumnies, and all that the Devil and Satan can invent, will carry it into eternal mercy, there to receive the blessedness of his presence to all Eternity.
My Lord, it was his own by Creation, it is his own now by Redemption and purchase, it is likewise his own by Resignation▪ O my Lord, look therefore up to the Lamb of God, that sits at the right hand of God, to take away the sins of the World; O that Lamb of God!
That Lamb of God, into his hands I commit my soul; and that Lamb of God that sits upon the Throne to judg those twenty four that fall down before him, I hope he will be pleased to look downward, and judg me with mercy that fall down before him, and that worship him, and that adore him, that only trusts upon his mercy, for his compassion; and that as he hath purchased me, he would lay his claim unto me now, and receive me.
My Lord, think of this, There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ: Who is it that can condemn? it is Christ that justifies; and therefore look now upon this, my Lord, upon this Christ, upon this Christ that justifies: Hell, Death, Sin, Satan, nothing shall be able to condemn, it is Christ that justifies you.
Indeed if Christ justifie, no body can condemn, and I trust in God, in his Justification; though there is confusion here without us, and though there are wonders and staring that now disquiet, yet I trust that I shall be carried into that mercy, that God will receive my soul.
I doubt not, my Lord, but as you are a Spectacle and of pity here, so you are an object of Gods mercy above.
Then the Earl of Holland looking over among the people, pointing to a Souldier, sayd, This honest man took me prisoner, you little thought I should have been brought to this, when I delivered my self to you upon conditions: And espying Captain Watson on horseback, putting off his Hat, sayd to him, God be with you Sir, God reward you Sir.
My Lord, throw your self into the arms of mercy, and say, There I will Anchor, and there I will dye, he is a Saviour for us in all conditions, whither should we go? he hath the words of eternal life, and upon him do you rest, wait while you live, and even trust in death.
Here must now be my Anchor, a great storm makes me find my Anchor, and but in storms no body trust to their Anchor, and therefore I must trust upon my Anchor, [Page 125] ( Ʋpon that God, said Mr Bolton, upon whom your Anchor trusts,) yea, God, I hope, will anchor my soul fast upon Christ Jesus; and if I dye not with that clearness and that heartiness that you speak of, truly, I will trust in God, though he kill me, I will rely upon him, and in the mercy of my Saviour.
There is mercy enough, my Lord, and to spare, you shall not need to doubt, they shall never go begging to another door, my Lord, that come to him. Then the Earl of Holland speaking to Mr Hodges, said, I pray God reward you for all your kindness, and pray, as you have done, instruct my Family, that they may serve God with faithfulness, with holiness, with more diligence, then truly I have been careful to press them unto: You have the charge of the same place, you may do much for them, and I recommend them to your kindness, and the goodness of your Conscience.
Dr Sibbald standing by upon the Scaffold, in his passage to Col: Beecher, expressed himself thus to his Lordship:
The Lord lift up thought of his countenance upon you, and you shall be safe.
Then the Earl of Holland embraced Lieut: Col: Beecher, and took his leave of him: After which he came to M. Bolton, and [Page 126] having embraced him, and returned him many thanks for his great pains and affections to his soul, desiring God to reward him, and return his love into his bosom. Mr Bolton said to him, The Lord God support you, and be seen in this great extremity; the Lord reveal and discover himself to you, and make your death the passage unto eternal life—
Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner, said, Here, my friend, let my Clothes and my Body alone, there is Ten pounds for thee, that is better then my Clothes I am sure of it.
Will your Lordship please to give me a sign when I shall strike? And then his Lordship said, You have room enough here, have you not? and the Executioner said, Yes.
The Lord be your strength, there is riches in him; The Lord of Heaven impart himself to you, he is able to save to the uttermost: We cannot fall so low, as to fall below the everlasting Arms of God; and therefore the Lord be a support and stay to you in your low con [...]n, that he will be pleased to make this an advantage to that life and glory that will make amends for all.
Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner, said, Friend, do you hear [Page 127] me, if you take up my Head, do not take off my Cap. Then turning to his Servants, he said to one, Fare you well, thou art an honest fellow: and to another, God be with thee, thou art an honest man; and then said, Stay, I will kneel down, and ask God forgiveness; and then prayed for a pretty space, with seeming earnestness.
The Lord grant you may find life in death.
Which is the way of lying? (which they shewed him.) And then going to the front of the Scaffold, he said to the People, God bless you all, and God deliver you from any such accident as may bring you to any such death as is violent, either by War, or by these accidents; but that there may be peace among you, and you may find, That these accidents that have hapned to us, may be the last that may happen in this Kingdom; it is that I desire, it is that I beg of God, next the saving of my soul: I pray God give all happiness to this Kingdom, to this People, and this Nation. And then turning to the Executioner, said, How must I lie? I know not.
Lie down flat upon your belly: and then having laid himself down, he said▪ Must I lie closer?
Yes, and backwarder.
I will tell you when you shall strike; and then as he lay, seemed to pray with much affection for a short space, and then lifting up his head, said, Where is the man? and seeing the Executioner by him, he said, Stay while I give the Sign; and presently after stretching out his hand, and the Executioner being not fully ready, he said, Now, now, and just as the words were coming out of his mouth, the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body.
The Execution of the Lord of Holland being thus performed, the Lord Capel was brought to the Scaffold as the former, and in the way to the Scaffold, he put off his Hat to the people on both sides, looking very austerely about him: And being come upon the Scaffold, Lieut: Col: Beecher said to him, Is your Chaplain here?
No, I have taken my leave of him; and perceiving some of his Servants to weep, he said, Gentlemen, refrain your selves, refrain your selves; and turning to Lieut: Col: Beecher, he said, What, did the Lords speak with their Hats off or on?
With their Hats off: And then coming to the front of the Scaffold, he said, I shall hardly be understood here, I think; and then began his Speech, as followeth.
THe conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither, and are the cause of this violent death of mine, shall be the beginning of what I shall say to you: When I made an Address to them (which was the last) I told them with much sinceri [...]y, That I would pray to the God of all mercies [...]hat they might be partakers of his inestimable and boundless mercies in Jesus Christ, and truly, I still pray that Prayer; and I beseech the God of Heaven forgive any injury they have done to me, from my soul I wish it. And truly, this I tell you, as a Christian, to let you see I am a Christian; but it is necessary I should tell you somewhat more, That I am a Protestant: And truly, I am a Protestant, and very much in love with the profession of it, after the manner as it was established in England by the Thirty nine Articles, a blessed way of profession, and such a one, as truly, I never knew none so good: I am so far from being a Papist, which some body have (truly) very unworthily at some time charged me withall, that truly, I profess to you, that though I love good works, and commend good works, yet I hold, They have nothing at all to do in the matter of Salvation; my Anchor-hold in this, That Christ loved me, and gave himself for me, that is that that I rest upon. And truly, something [Page 130] I shall say to you as a Citizen of the whole world, and in that consideration I am here condemned to dye: Truly, contrary to the Law that governs all the world, that is, The Law of the Sword; I had the protection of that for my life, and the honor of it; but truly, I will not trouble you much with that, because in another place I have spoken very largely and liberally about it, I believe you will hear by other means what Arguments I used in that case: But truly, that that is stranger, you that are English men, behold here an English man now before you, and acknowledged a Peer, not condemned to dye by any Law of England, not by any Law of England; Nay, shall I tell you more (which is strangest of all) contrary to all the Laws of England that I know of. And truly, I will tell you, in the matter of the Civil part of my death, and the cause that I have maintained, I dye (I take it) for maintaining the fifth Cōmandment, injoyned by God himself, w ch injoyns reverence & obedience to Parents: All Divines on all hands, though they contradict one another in many several Opinions, yet all Divines on all hands, do acknowledg, that herin is intended Magistracy & Order; and certainly I have obeyed that Magistracy and that Order under which I have lived, which I was bound to obey; and truly, I do say very confidently, [Page 131] that I do dye here for keeping, for obeying that fifth Commandment, given by God himself, and written with his own finger. And now, Gentlemen, I will take this opportunity to tell you, That I cannot imitate a better nor a greater ingenuity then his that said of himself, For suffering an unjust Judgment upon another, himself was brought to suffer by an unjust Judgment. Truly Gentlemen, that God may be glorified, that all men that are concerned in it, may take the occasion of it, of humble repentance to God Almighty for it, I do here pre [...]ess to you, that truly I did give my Vote to that Bill of the E. of Strafford, I doubt not but God Almighty hath washed that away with a more precious blood, and that is, with the blood of his own Son, and my dear Saviour Jesus Christ, and I hope he will wash it away from all those that are guilty of it; truly, this I may say, I had not the least part, nor the least degree of malice in the doing of it; but I must confess again to Gods Glory, and the accusation of mine own frailty, and the frailty of my Nature, that truly it was an unworthy Cowardice, not to resist so great a torrent as carried that business at that time. And truly, this I think I am most guilty of, of not courage enough in it, but malice I had none; but whatsoever it was, God, I am sure, hath pardoned [Page 132] it, hath given me the assurance of it, That Christ Jesus his blood hath washed it away; and truly, I do from my soul wish, That all men that have any stain by it, may seriously repent, and receive a remission and pardon from God for it. And now, Gentlemen, we have had an occasion, by this intimation, to remember his Majesty, our King that last was; and I cannot speak of him, nor think of it, but truly, I must needs say, That in my Opinion, that have had time to consider all the Images of all the greatest and vertuousest Princes in the world; and truly, in my Opinion, there was not a more vertuous, and more sufficient Prince known in the world, then our gracious King Charls that dyed last: God Almighty preserve our King that now is, his Son; God send him more fortunate and longer days, God Almighty so assist him, that he may exceed both the vertues and sufficiencies of his Father: For certainly, I that have been a Councellor to him, and have lived long with him, and in a time when discovery is easily enough made, for he was young (he was about thirteen, fourteen, fifteen or sixteen years of age) those years I was with him, truly I never saw greater hopes of vertue in any young person then in him, great Judgment, great Ʋnderstanding, great Apprehension, much Honor in his Nature, and truly, a very [Page 133] perfect English man in his inclination; and I pray God restore him to this Kingdom, and unite the Kingdoms one unto another, and send a great happiness both to you and to him, that he may long live and Raign among you, and that that Family may Raign till thy Kingdom come, that is, while all Temporal Power is consummated: I beseech God of his mercy, give much happiness to this your King, and to you that in it shall be his Subjects, by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Truly, I like my beginning so well, that I will make my conclusion with it, that is, That God Almighty would confer of his infinite and inestimable grace and mercy to those that are the Causers of my coming hither, I pray God give them as much mercy as their own hearts can wish; and truly, for my part, I will not accuse any one of them of malice, truly I will not, nay, I will not think there was any malice in them; what other ends there is, I know not, nor I will not examine, but let it be what it will, from my very soul I forgive them every one: And so the Lord of Heaven bless you all, God Almighty be infinite in goodness and mercy to you, and direct you in those ways of obedience to his commands to his Majesty, that this Kingdom may be a happy and glorious Nation again, and that your King may be a happy King [Page 134] in so good and so obedient People; God Almighty keep you all, God Almighty preserve this Kingdom, God Almighty preserve you all.
Then turning about, and looking for the Executioner (who was gone off the Scaffold) said, Which is the Gentleman? which is the man? Answer was made, He is a coming: He then said, Stay, I must pull of my Dublet first, and my Wastcoat: Then the Executioner being come upon the Scaffold, the Lord Capel said, O friend, prethee come hither: Then the Executioner kneeling down, the L, Capel said, I forgive thee from my Soul, and not only forgive thee, but I shall pray to God to give thee all grace for a better life: There is Five pounds for thee; and truly for my clothes and those things, if there be any thing due to you for it, you shall be very fully recompenced; but I desire my body may not be stripped here, and no body to take notice of my body but my own servants: Look you friend, this I shall desire of you, that when I lie down, that you would give me time for a particular short prayer.
Make your own sign, my Lord.
Stay a litle, which side do you stand upon? (speaking to the Executioner) Stay, I think I should lay my hands forward that way [Page 135] (pointing fore-right,) and answer being made, Yes; he stood still a little while, and then said, God Almighty bless all this People, God Almighty stench this blood, God Almighty stench, stench, stench this issue of blood; this will not do the business, God Almighty find out another way to do it. And then turning to one of his Servants, said, Baldwin, I cannot see any thing that belongs to my wife, but I must desire thee to beseech her to rest wholly upon Jesus Christ, and be contented and fully satisfied: And then speaking to his Servant, he said, God keep you; and Gentlemen, let me now do a business quickly, privately, and pray let me have your prayers at the moment of death, that God would receive my soul.
I wish it.
Pray at the moment of striking joyn your prayers, but make no noise (turning to his servants) that's inconvenient at this time.
My Lord, put on your Cap.
Should I, what wil that do me good? Stay a little, is it well as it is As he was putting up his hair.now? And then turning to the Executioner, he said, Honest man, I have forgiven thee, therefore strike boldly, from my soul I do it. Then a Gentleman speaking to him, he said, Nay, prethee be contented, be quiet good Mr — be quiet. Then turning [Page 136] to the Executioner, he said, Well, you are ready when I am ready, are you not? And stretching out his hands, he said, Then pray stand off Gentlemen. Then going to the front of the Scaffold, he said to the People, Gentlemen, though I doubt not of it, yet I think it convenient to ask it of you, That you would all joyn in Prayers with me, That God would mercifully receive my soul, and that for his alone mercies in Christ Jesus. God Almighty keep you all.
My Lord, shall I put up your hair?
I, I, prethee do: and then as he stood lifting up his hands and eyes, he said, O God, I do with a perfect and a willing heart submit to thy Will: O God, I do most willingly humble my self: And then kneeling down, said, I will try first how I can lie; and laying his head over the Block, said, Am I wel now?
Yes.
And then as he lay with both his hands stretched out, he said to the Executioner, Here lies both my hands out, when I lift up my hand thus, (lifting up his right hand) then you may strike. And then after he had said a short prayer, he lifted up his right hand, and the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body, which was taken up by his Servants, and put (with his body) into a Coffin, as the former.