THe House were no sooner informed that his Maje­sty was brought to Windsore by a Brigade of the Armies Horse, by the nominated a Committee, to consider how to proceed in a way of Justice against the King, and other capitall offendors; they gave them power to send for Papers and witnesses to examine, as to the bu­nesse of Ireland, the poysoning of King James and other particulars, in relation to the King and Kingdome, the Committee accordingly have met, and after much scrutiny, have dr [...]wne up a Charge against him which is this.

That Charles Steward hath acted contrary to his trust, in departing from the Parliament, setting up his Standard, making warre against them, and thereby been the occasion of much bloodshed and misery to the people, whom he was set over to protect, and defend, that he gave Commission to Rebells in Ireland to commit all manner of murthers, and outrages, and since that hath been the occasion of a se­cond warre, for the ruine and destruction of his people, besides what he hath done contrary to the liberty of the Subject, and the destruction of the fundamentall Lawes, and Liberties of this Kingdome.

The Councell of War have also drawne up an attainder [Page 2]of high Treason against him which runs thus.

That Charles Steward hath falsified his trust, trampled on the Lawes, and been the occasion of the murthering an hundred thousand English-men, with all the miseries of warre this seaven yeares, by departing from his Parliament, setting up his Standard, and making a bloudy warre in the defence of an illegall arbitrary Power, to the inslaving and vassalizing the free-borne people of England, whom he was set over for good; that he gave Commissions and was the occasion of the Rebellion in Ireland: also of the late second warre, besides what he hath done contrary to the Liberty of the Subject, and tending to the destruction of the fundamentall Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome: all which amounts to a forfeiture of his said trust.

In regard whereof the Councell of Warre (who hath now the sole mannaging of the matter in reference to the King) have given Commandement, that he being no longer served after the manner of Princes upon the knee, and that all other Majestick formes be forgotten towards him; Sic transit gloria mundi, qui sibi videtur stare, videat ne cadat: the Commons house of Parliament have voted Commissioners who shall be furnished with plenary power for the triall of the King as a Traytor, and in case the King shall refuse to answer unto the Charge drawne up a­gainst him, they will take care that sure and speciall provi­sion be made that this shall prove no obstruction or impe­diment to the speedy bringing him to judgement and con­digne punishment: The Generall Councell have almost pitcht upon a Representative, and finished it for the speedy settlement of the Kingdome, without the King and against him.

That a period to this Parliament be speedily put, that so [Page 3]there may be a sound settlement of the peace, and future Government of the Kingdome; upon grounds of common right, freedome and safety; and therefore,

That there may be a certain succession of future Parlia­ments, annuall, or bienniall; with secure provision.

That care be taken for the certainty of their meeting, fit­ting and rising.

That there may be an equall distribution of Elections, to render the House of Commons as near as may be an e­quall Representative of the whole people electing.

That according to such distributions the people may not faile of certainty to elect, and their full freedome provi­ded for and asserted.

That none who have ingaged or shall ingage in warre a­gainst the right of Parliament, and interest of the King­dome therein, or have adhered to the enemies thereof, may be capable of electing, or being elected (at least during a competent number of yeares) nor any others, who shall oppose or not joyne in Agreement to this settlement.

That it be declared (that as to the whole interest of the people of England) such Representatives have & shall have the supreme Power & trust, as to the making of Laws Con­stitutions and Officers for the ordering, preservation, and Government of the whole; and as to the altering, repea­ling, and abolishing the same, the making of warre and peace and as to the highest and finall judgement in all ci­vill things, without further appeale to any created stan­ding power.

That no King be hereafter admitted, but upon the Ele­ction of, and upon trust from the people by such their Representatives, nor without first disclaiming and disa­vowing all pretence to a Negative voice against the de­terminations [Page 4]of the said Representatives or Commons in Parliament, and that to be done in some certaine forme, more cleare then heretofore in the Coronation Oath.

His Majesty is strongly secured in the Castle of Wind▪ for by Major-Generall Whitlocke Governour thereof; when the King came into the Castle first hee appeared merry and pleasant, for being waited on to his Chamber by the Governour, and Colonell Harrison he spake smi­lingly thus, I promised you a short way, (meaning from the place they came last) but not a faire way; for indeed it rained almost all that afternoon: The King after he had discoursed a while went himselfe to make choice of roomes to lodge and eat in, and those which he nomi­nated were fitted according to his desire, prayes and ex­pounds the Scriptures to those that are about him him­selfe, since the time he was deposed: A command is come from the Generall and the Councell of Warre, that none shall be admitted to have private conference with him without speciall Warrant either from the Parliament or Generall; he is now under locks and bolts, and assures the Governour, that he will not (by any under-hand way) attempt to make an escape, except he can escape by some cleanly neat way.

His Majesty is earnestly desirous, that Doctor Hammond or some other of his Chaplaines may be admitted to come to him, but is not permitted, as yet, he is also very ur­gently pressive to have leave to send to the Queen and Prince, but that also is denyed.

The King since his coming to Windsor hath had some discourse with those that attend him about the Remon­strance of the Army, as to the bringing of him to a triall, asking how that could be, what way they could do it, [Page 5]or which way they could bring in any Charge against him; it was not said, that there is any such thing to be done by the Army, but a question was put to the King, that what if a Charge should be brought against him according to the manner of triall of the Subjects by the Lawes of the Kingdome, what would he doe? the King replyed, that if they did, he would not give any answer, and that if they did put him to death, he would die patiently like a Martyr.

The House passed an Ordinance for the Election of new Common-Councell men in the roome of those that subscribed their names to the Petition for to have a Treaty with the King, and because the Oaths of Allegi­ance, and Supremacy, and others are inforced upon all be­fore they can be made free of the City of London, the House Ordered, That the said illegall Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, with all other of the like nature should be referred to a Committeee, to the end they may be for the future taken away.

The House tooke notice, that Mr. Watson who preach­ed the last Fast-day was very darkly invective against them, not acknowledging them to bee a Parliament, they therefore ordered, that Mr. Brookes, who preached to them the same day, and was very ingenious in his acknowledgements, should have the thankes of the House, and liberty to print his Sermon, but not Wat­son.

Colonell Iohn Lilburne hath put up a Paper to the Generall Councell of the Army, in a petitionary manner subscribed by divers of knowne worth, wherein he finds much fault with some particulars, of the intended modell which the Generall Councell have now almost finished, called the Agreement of the people.

Out of Hanfordshire unto the Generall Councell of the Army, is come a woman of g [...]eat wisedome and grevity, who told them she had a message to them from God, and desired they should heare her, which they accordingly did with much acceptation; She saith they shall surely be prosperous, and attain their desires for a speedy settlement of the Kingdome, and that all powers shall be subdewed under their feet.