Part 9 (1/2)
THE KING: ”I desire to be heard, and 'tis only a word. A hasty judgment is not so soon recalled.”
PRESIDENT: ”You shall be heard before judgment is given.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Trial of the King._]
The President then declared that the Court, having considered the crimes laid to the charge of the prisoner, and found them to be proved, were agreed upon a sentence to be p.r.o.nounced against him. But in respect that he doth desire to be heard before sentence be read and p.r.o.nounced, the Court had resolved that they will hear him. Then, turning to the King, he said, ”If that which you say be to question the Court's jurisdiction, you shall not be heard in it. But if you have anything to say in defence of the thing charged, the Court has given me a command to let you know they will hear you.”
THE KING: ”This many a day all things have been taken away from me, but that which is dearer to me than my life, which is my conscience and my honour. If I had respect to my life more than the peace of the kingdom, and the liberty of the subject, certainly I should have made a particular defence for myself.”
After this he went on to ask that he might be permitted to say something to the Lords and Commons a.s.sembled in the Painted Chamber, to whom, he said, he had somewhat of no small import to say.
The Court withdrew to consider this, but returning in half-an-hour's time, the President said, ”'Tis an excellent maxim in law 'Nulli negabimus, nulli vendemus, nulli deferemus just.i.tiam.' There must be no more delay with you, Sir. We are now to proceed to sentence and judgment.”
After more disputing of the same sort the President commanded silence.
Which done, the Clerk read the sentence, which was: ”Whereas the Commons of England have appointed a Court for the trial of Charles Stuart, King of England, and whereas a charge of high treason and other crimes was read, the Court doth adjudge that the said Charles Stuart, as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and a public enemy, shall be put to death by the severing of his head from his body.”
All the Court stood up to signify their a.s.sent.
THE KING: ”Will you hear me a word, Sir?”
PRESIDENT: ”Sir, you are not to be heard after sentence.”
KING: ”No, Sir?”
PRESIDENT: ”No, Sir; by your favour, Sir. Guard, withdraw your prisoner.”
KING: ”By your favour, Sir, hold the sentence.”
But when nothing availed he said: ”I am not suffered to speak. Expect what justice other people will have.”
While His Majesty was being taken away by the guards, as he pa.s.sed down the stairs, the soldiers scoffed at him, casting the smoke of their tobacco, which was very distasteful unto him, and blowing their pipes in his way; and as he pa.s.sed there were some who cried, ”Justice, justice!” to whom he said, ”Poor soldiers, for a piece of money they would do so for their commanders.” But all the soldiers, though they had the Parliament's pay, were not so minded; for one of them cried--but whether this day or another I know not--”G.o.d bless the King,” and when his officer struck him with a cane, the King said, ”Methinks the punishment is greater than the offence.”
CHAPTER XIX.
OF THE KING'S DEATH.
The sentence of death on the King I had looked for, but that it would indeed be executed I could not believe. But when I said so much to John Ellgood I found that he thought otherwise.
”Philip,” said he, ”I have seen more of these men than you. Of those who stood in arms against the King many desire nothing more than to protect the liberties of this realm against him, or, if you would rather have it so, against his ill-counsellors. These at the first prevailed; but 'tis otherwise now. In civil troubles the more violent ever gain the upper hand. What befell the more moderate sort we saw with our own eyes when Colonel Pride and his men laid violent hands upon some fifty members of the House of Commons. They that now bear rule, of whom the Lieutenant-General Cromwell is the chief, are resolved to have no truce with kings.h.i.+p. Whether they seek the good of their country or their own aggrandis.e.m.e.nt I know not, but so it is.
And they know full well that after the King's death, of truce or peace there can be no more talk. On this, therefore, they are steadfastly resolved.”
”But the kings,” I said, ”the kings of France and Spain, will they suffer it?”
”I doubt,” answered he, ”whether they would so much as stir a finger to hinder it. But whether they would or no, there will be no time or s.p.a.ce of action. Be sure that execution will follow sentence right speedily.”
And so indeed it was. Before three days had pa.s.sed since the p.r.o.nouncing of the sentence, 'twas all finished. Of the kings, too, John Ellgood spake but too truly. Their amba.s.sadors said not a word to hinder the King's death. Indeed, the only word of remonstrance came, not from a king, but from a republic, the States of the Dutch being, by their envoy, very earnest with the Parliament that they should not take the King's life.