A Looking-Glass FOR THE TIMES IN THE trial and Martyrdom OF King CHARLES the I.  
Of Glorious Memory.  
With His Excellent SPEECH on the Scaffold which was Erected before His Royal Palace at Whitehall.  
With the CHARGE of the Commons of England.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year MDCLXXXIX.   

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, Saturday, January 20th. 1648.  
The Court being sate, and the Prisoner at the Bar, Mr. Cook Solicitor General, spake thus; My Lord, in behalf of the Commons of England, and of all the People thereof, I do Accuse Charles Stuart, here present, of High Treason, and High misdemeanours: And I do in the Name of the Commons of England, desire the Charge may be red unto Him: Which the Clerk then red, as followeth.  
THat the said Charles Stuart, 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 an Unlimited and Tyrannical Power, to Rule according to His Will, and to overthrow the Rights and Liberties of the People: Yea, to take away, and make voided the Foundations thereof, and of all Redress and Remedy of Mis-government, 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 council: He, the said Charles Stuart, for accomplishment of such his Designs, and for the Protecting of Himself and his Adherents, in His and Their wicked Practices to the same Ends, hath traitorously and Maliciously levied 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 forty 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, and Keinton-field, in the County of Warwick: And upon, or about the thirtieth 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 forty and three, at Cavesham-Bridge, near reading, in the County of Berks: And upon, or about the thirtieth day of October, in the year last mentioned, at, or near the City of gloucester: And upon, or about thirtieth day of November, in the year last mentioned, at newberry 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 forty 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 near adjacent, in the County of cornwall: And upon, or about the thirtieth day of November, in the year last mentioned, at newberry aforesaid: And upon, or about the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred forty and five, at the Town of Leicester: And also, upon the fourteenth day of the same Month, in 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: And in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred forty and six, He the said Charles Stuart, 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 foreign parts, endeavoured and procured by Him, and by many other evil ways and means. He the said Charles Stuart, 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 forty and eight, in the Counties of Kent, Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, and many other Counties and Places in England and Wales, and also by Sea; And particularly, He the said Charles Stuart, hath for that purpose, Given Commissions to his Son, the Prince, and others; whereby, Besides multitudes of other Persons, many such, as were by the Parliament entrusted and employed, 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 of War and Hostility, against the said Parliament and People, as aforesaid. By which Cruel and Unnatual Wars by Him, the said Charles Stuart, levied, Continued, and Renewed, as foresaid, much Innocent Blood of the Free-People of this Nation hath been spilled; many Families have been undone, the public Treasury Wasted and Exhausted, Trade obstructed, and miserable decayed; vast expense and Damage to the Nation incurred, and many parts of the Land spoiled, some of them even to Desolation.  
And for further prosecution of His said Evil Designs, He, the said Charles Stuart, doth still continue His Commissions to the said Prince, and other Rebels and Revolters, both English and foreigners; 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 Charles Stuart.  
All which wicked Designs, Wars, and evil Practices of Him, the said Charles Stuart, have been and are carried on, for the advancing and upholding of the Personal Interest of Will and Power, and pretended Prerogative to Himself and his Family, against the public 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 Charles Stuart hath been, and is the Occasioner, Author, and Contriver of the said Unnatural, Cruel, and Bloody Wars, and therein guilty of all the Treasons, murders, 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 Charles Stuart; and also of replying to the Answers which the said Charles 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 Charles Stuart, as a Tyrant, traitor, murderer, and a public, and Implacable Enemy to the Common wealth of England: And pray, That the said Charles Stuart, King of England, may be put to answer All and Every the Premises, That such Proceedings, Examinations, trials, Sentence, and Judgement may be thereupon had, or shall be agreeable to Justice.   


A Perfect NARRATIVE Of the whole PROCEEDINGS OF THE High Court of Justice in the trial of the KING in Westminminster-Hall, Saturday Jan. 20. 1648.  
AT the High Court of Justice sitting in the Great Hall at Westminster, sergeant Bradshaw Lord President, and about Seventy Members present,[ O Yes] made, Silence Commanded.  
The act of the Commons in Parliament( for the trial of the King) was red, after the Court was called, and each Member rising up as he was called.  
The King came into the Court( with His Hat on) the sergeant ushered him in with the Mace: Coll. Hacker, and about thirty Officers and Gentlemen more, came as his Guard.  Lord President, 
CHARLES STUART King of England, the Commons of England, assembled in Parliament, being sensible of the great Calamities that have been brought upon this Nation, and of the Innocent Blood that hath been  shed in this Nation, which are referred to you as the Author of it; and according to that duty which they owe to God, to the Nation, and to themselves; and according to that Power and Fundamental Trust that is reposed in them by the People, have constituted this High Court of Justice, before which you are now brought, and you are to hear your Charge, upon which the Court will proceed.  Mr. Cook Solicitor General. 
My Lord, in behalf of the Commons of England, and of all the People thereof, I do accuse Charles Stuart, here present, of High Treason, and high misdemeanours; and I do, in the Name of the Commons of England, desire the Charge may be red unto him.  King. 
Hold a little.  Lord President. 
Sir, the Court commands the Charge to be red, if you have any thing to say afterwards, you may be heard.  
The Charge red.  
The King smiled often during the time, especially at these words, Tyrant, traitor, Murderer, and public Enemy of the Commonwealth.  Lord President. 
Sir, you have now heard your Charge red, containing such matter as appears in it; you find, 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.  King. 
I would know by what Power I am called hither? I was not long ago in the Isle of Wight, how I came there, is a longer story than I think is fit at this time for me to speak of; but there I entered into a Treaty with both Houses of Parliament, with as much public Faith as its possible to be had of any people in the world. I Treated there with a number of Honourable 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, Thieves and Robbers by the high ways; but I would know by what Authority I was brought from thence, and carried 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 judgement of God upon this Land, think well upon it, I say, think well upon it, before you go further from one sin to a greater, therefore let me know by what lawful Authority I am seated here, and I shall not be unwilling to answer? in the mean time I shall not betray my Trust; I have a Trust committed to me by God, by old and lawful Descent, I will not betray it to answer to a new unlawful Authority; therefore resolve me that, and you shall hear more of me.  Lord President. 
If you had been pleased to have observed what was hinted to you▪ by the Court, at your first coming hither, you would have known by what Authority; which Authority requires you in the name of the People of England, of which you are Elected King, to answer them.  King. 
No Sir, I deny that.  Lord President. 
If you aclowledge not the Authority of the Court, they must proceed.  King. 
I do tell them so, England was never an Elective Kingdom, but an Hereditary Kingdom for near these thousand years, therefore let me know by what Authority I am called hither? I do stand more for the liberty of my People than any here that come to be my pretended Judges; and therefore let me know by what lawful Authority I am seated here, and I will answer it, otherwise I will not answer it.  Lord President. 
Sir, how really you have managed your Trust, is known; your way of answer is to interrogate the Court, which beseems not you in this condition. You have been  told of it twice or thrice.  King. 
Here is a Gentleman, Leiut. 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 will stand as much for the privilege of the House of Commons, rightly understood, as any Man here whatsoever. I see no House of Lords here that may constitute a Parliament, and( the King too) should have been. Is this the bringing of the King to his Parliament? Is this the bringing an end to the Treaty in the public Faith of the world? Let me see a legal Authority warranted by the word of God, the Scriptures; or warranted by the Constitutions of the Kingdom, and I will answer.  Lord President, 
Sir, You have propounded a Question, and have been answered; seeing You will not answer, the Court will consider how to proceed, in the meam 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.  King. 
Sir, I desire that you would give me, and all the World, satisfaction in this; let me tell you, it is not a slight thing you are about. I am sworn to keep the Peace by that duty I owe to God and my country, and I will do it to the last breath of my Body, and therefore you shall do well to satisfy first God, and then the Country, by what Authority you do it, if you do it by a Usurped Authority, you cannot answer it. There is a God in Heaven that will call you, and all that give you Power, to account; satisfy me in that, and I will answer, otherwise I betray my Trust, and the Liberties of the People, and therefore think of that, and then I shall be willing. For I do avow, That it is a great sin to withstand Lawful Authority, as it is to submit to a tyrannical, or any otherwise unlawful Authority, and therefore satisfy me that, and you shall receive my answer.  Lord President. 
The Court expcts you should give them a final answer, their purpose is to adjourn till Monday next, if you do not satisfy yourself, tho' 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.  King. 
For answer let me tell you, you have shown no lawful Authority to to satisfy any reasonable Man.  Lord Presid. 
That is in your apprehension, we are satisfied that are your Judges.  King. 
'tis not my apprehension, nor yours neither,( that ought to decide it.)  Lord Presid. 
The Court hath heard you, and you are to be disposed of as they have commanded.  
The Court adjourns to the Painted Chamber on Monday at 10 of the Clock in the Forenoon, and thence hither.  
It is to be observed, That as the Charge was reading against the King, the head of His Staff fell off, which He wondered at, and seeing none to take it up, He stoops for it Himself.  
As the King went away,( facing the Court,) said, I do not fear that, ( meaning the Sword.) The people in the Hall as he went down the Stairs, cried out, some, God Save the King, and most for Justice..   

At the High Court of Justice sitting in Westminster-Hall, Monday January the 22d. 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 apprehended all such as make disturbance.  
Upon the Kings coming in, a shout was made.  
Command given by the Court to the Captain of the Guard, to fetch and take into his Custody, those who make any disturbance.  Mr. Solicitor. 
May it please your Lordship, my Lord President.  
I did at the last Court in the behalf of the Commons of England, exhibit and give into this Court a Charge of High Treason, and other high Crimes against the Prisoner at the Bar, whereof I do accuse him in the Name of the People of England, and the Charge was red unto him, and his answer required. My Lord, he was not then pleased to give an answer, but instead of answering did there dispute the Authority of this high Court. My humble motion to this high Court in behalf of the Kingdom of England is, That the Prisoner may be directed  
a direct and positive answer. My Lord, besides this great delay of Justice, I shall now humbly move your Lordship for speedy judgement against him. My Lord, I might press your Lordship upon the whole, that according to the known Rules of the Laws 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 trial; That as by an implicit Confession, it may be taken pro confesso, as it hath been done to those who have deserved more favour than 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 supreme Authority and Jurisdiction of the Kingdom, they have declared, That it is notorious, That the matter of the Charge is true, as it is truth( my Lord) as clear as crystal, and as the Sun that shines at noon-day, which if your Lordship and the Court be not satisfied in, I have notwithstanding, on the People of England's 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 judgement, and therefore I do humbly pray, That speedy judgement be pronounced against the Prisoner at the Bar.  Lord President. 
Sir, you have heard what is moved by the council on the behalf of the Kingdom, against you. Sir, you may well remember, and if you do not, the Court cannot forget what delatory dealings the Court hath found at your hands, you were pleased to propound some Questions, you have had your Resolution upon them. You were  told over and over again, That the Court did affirm their own Jurisdiction, That it was not for you, nor any other Man, to dispute the Jurisdiction of the supreme 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 aclowledge 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 be thus authorised by the supreme 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 pronoun●… judgement against you, yet nevertheless they are pleased to give●…rection; and on their behalves, I do require you, That you make●…sitive answer unto this Charge that is against you Sir, in plai●… for Justice knows no respect of Persons; you are to give yo●… and final answer in plain English, whether you be Guilty o●… of these Treasons laid to your Charge.  
The King after a little pause, said,  
When I was here yesterday, I did desire to speak for the Liberties of the People of England; I was interrupted: I desire to know yet, whether I may speak freely or not?  Lord President. 
Sir, you have had the Resolution of the Court upon the like Question the last day, and you were  told, That having such a Charge of so high a Nature against you, and your Work was, that you ought to aclowledge the Jurisdiction of the Court, and to answer to your Charge. Sir, if you answer to your Charge, which the Court gives you leave now to do, though they might have taken the advantage of your contempt; yet if you be able to answer to your Charge, when you have once answered, you shall be heard at large, make the best Defence you can. But Sir I must let you know from the Court, as their commands, that you are not to be permitted to issue out into any other discourses, till such time as you have given a positive answer concerning the matter that is charged upon you.  King. 
For the Charge, I value it not a rush, it is the Liberty of the People of England that I stand for; for me to aclowledge 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 spoken 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 aclowledge 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, until 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 K. expressed, but I supposed he meant Answer.  Charge: If you will give me time, I will show 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 public Faith of the Kingdom, that was the known 〈◇〉 two Houses of Parliament that was the Representative of the Kingdom, and when that I had almost made an end of the Treaty, then I was hurried away and brought hither, and therefore 〈◇〉  
Here the Lord President said, Sir, you must know the pleasure of the Court.  King. 
By your favour Sir:  Lord President. 
Nay Sir, by your favour, you may not be permitted to fall into those Discourses; you appear as a Delinquent, you have not acknowledged the Authority of the Court, the Court craves it not of you, but once more, they command you to give your positive answer.  Clerk. 
Do your Duty.  King. 
Duty Sir!  
The Clerk reads.  

CHARLES STUART King of England, You ar● accused in the behalf of the Commons of England, of divers high Crimes and Treasons, which Charge hath been red unto You, the Court now requires You to give Your positive and final Answer, by way of Confession or Denial of the Charge.   King. 
Sir, I say again to you, so that I might give satisfaction to the People of England, of the clearness of my proceeding, not by way of Answer, not in this way, but to satisfy them, that I have done nothing against that Trust that hath been committed to me, I would do it; but to aclowledge a new Court against their Privileges, to alter the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, Sir, you must excuse me,  Lord President. 
Sir, this is the third time that you have publicly disowned this Court, and put an affront upon it. How far you have preserved privileges of the People, your actions have spoken it; but truly Sir, Mens intentions ought to be known by their actions, you have Written your meaning in Bloody 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.  King. 
I will only say this one word more to you, if it were only my own particular, I would not say any more, nor interrupt you.  Lord President. 
Sir, you have heard the pleasure of the Court, and you are,( notwithstanding you will not understand it) to find that you are before a Court of Justice.  
Then the King went forth with his Guard, and Proclamation was made, that all Persons which had then appeared, 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.  crier. 
God bless the Kingdom of England.   

Wednesday January 24th. 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 same time appointed one of the Ushers by the 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 Iustice Sitting at Westminster-Hall, Saturday Jan. 27. 1648.  
O Yes made. Silence commanded. The Court called.  
First, The Lord President,( who was in a Scarlet Vesture, befiting the business of the day.) After him 67. Members more answered to their Names.  
The King came in, in his wonted Posture( with his Hat on.)  
A Cry made in the Hall( as he passed to the Court) for Justice and Execution.  
O Yes made: And Silence commanded. The Captain of the Guard Commanded to take into Custody such as made any Disturbance.  
Upon the Kings coming, he desired to be heard.  
To which the Lord President answered, That it might be in time, but that he must hear the Court first.  
The King prest it, For that he believed it would be in Order to what the Court would say, and that an hasty judgement was not so soon recalled.  
Then the Lord President spoken as followeth.  
Gentlemen, It is well known to all, or most of you here present, that the Prisoner at the Bar hath been several times convented, and brought before this 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 half 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 Reasoning and Debate unto the Authority of the Court, and to the Highest Court that appointed them, and to Try and to Judge Him; but being over-ruled in that, and required to make His Answer, he was still pleased to continue Contumelious, and to refuse to submit to Answer; hereupon the Court, that they may not be wanting to themselves, nor 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 Charge, 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 Charged upon this Prisoner, and upon the whole matter; they are resolved, and have agreed upon a Sentence to be pronounced against this Prisoner, but in respect he doth desire to be heard before the Sentence be red and pronounced; 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 which you have to say be to offer any Debate concerning the Jurisdiction, you are not to be heard in it, you have offered it formerly, and you have struck at the Root, that is, the Power and the supreme Authority of the Commons of England, which this Court will not admit a Debate of, and which indeed it is an irrational thing in them to do, being a Court that acts upon Authority derived from them. But Sir, If you have any thing to say in Defence of yourself, concerning the matter Charged, the Court hath given me in command to let you know they will hear you.  
Then the King Answered.  
Since that I see you will not 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 dearer to Me then my Life, which is my Conscience and my Honour; and if I had a 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 myself, for by that, at leastwise, I might have delayed any 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 for 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 of 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 ends, makes me now at last desire, That I having something 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 unto 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 it is very well worth the hearing; therefore I do conjure you, as you love that that you pretend,( I hope its real,) the Liberty of the Subject, the Peace of the Kingdom, that you will grant me this 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 beforehand, if you will I will retire, and you may think of it; but if I cannot get this Liberty, I do protest, That these fair shows of Liberty and Peace are pure shows, and that you will not hear your King.  
The Lord President said.  
That what the King had said, was a declining of the Jurisdiction of the Court, which was the thing wherein he was limited before.  
The King urged.  
That what he had to say, was not a declining of the Court, but for the Peace of the Kingdom, and Liberty of the Subject.  
Lord President.  
Sir, This is not altogether new that you have moved unto us, though it is the first time, that in Person, you have offered it to the Court: And afterwards, That though what he had urged might seem to tend to delays, yet according to that which the King seemed to desire, the Court would withdraw for a time, and he should hear their pleasure.  
Then the Court withdrawing into the Court of Wards, The Sergeant at Arms had command to withdraw the Prisoner, and to give Order for his Return again.  
The Court after about half an hours debate, return'd from the Court of afterwards Chamber: And the King being sent for, the Lord President spoken to this effect.  
Sir, You were pleased to make a motion here to the Court, touching the propounding of somewhat to the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber, for the Peace of the Kingdom; you did in effect receive an Answer, before their adjourning, being 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 of their own Authority: The Return from the Court is this, That they have been too much delayed by you already, and they are Judges appointed by the highest Authority, and Judges are no more to delay, then they are to deny Justice; they are good words in the great old Charter of England, Nulli Negabimus, nulli condemus,& nulli deferremus Justitiam: But every man observes you have delayed them in your Contempt and Default, for which they might long since have proceeded to judgement against you; and notwithstanding what you have offered, they are resolved to proceed to Sentence and to Judgement, and that's their unanimous Resolution.   

King Charles I. HIS SPEECH Made upon the Scaffold at White-Hall-Gate, immediately before His Execution. Tuesday January the 30th. 1648.  
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 behind Him, with Colours flying, Drums beating, His private Guard of partisans, with some of His Gentlemen before, and some behind bare headed, Dr. Juxon next behind Him, and Coll. Thomlinson( who had the Charge of Him) talking with the King bare headed, from the Park, up the Stairs into the Gallary, and so into the 
It is observed, The K. desired to have the use of the Cabinet,& the little Room next it, where there was a Trapdoor.  Cabinet-Chamber, where He used to lye, where He continued at His Devotion, refusing to Dine,( having before taken the Sacrament) only 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 accompanied by Dr. Juxon, Coll. Thomlinson, and other Officers, formerly appointed to attend Him, and the private Guard of partisans, with musketeers on each side, through the Banqueting-House adjoining, to which the 
It was near( if not in) the very place where the first blood in the beginning of the late Troubles was  shed, when the Kings Cavaliers fell upon the Citizens, killed one, and wounded about 50 others.  Scaffold was erected, between White-Hall-Gate and the Gate leading into the Gallary from St. James's: The Scaffold was hung round with Black, and the Floor covered with Black, and the Ax and the Block laid in the middle of the Scaffold. There were divers Companies of Foot, and Troops of Horse placed on the one side the Scaffold towards King-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, looked very earnestly on the Block, and asked Coll. Hacker if there were no higher; and He spake thus,( directing His Speech chiefly to colonel Thomlinson.  KING. 
I Shall be very little heard of any body here, I shall therefore speak a word unto you here; indeed I could hold my peace very well, if I did not think that holding my peace, would make some Men think that I did submit to the Guilt, as well as to the Punishment; but I think it is my Duty to God first, and to my country, for to clear myself both as an honest Man, and a good King, and a good Christian. I shall begin first with my Innocency, in troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this, for all the World knows that I did never begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament, and I call God to witness, to whom I must shortly make an account, that I never did intend for to encroach upon their privileges. They began upon me, it is the Militia, they began upon, they confess that the Militia was mine, but they thought it fit for to have it from me; and to be short, if any body will look to the Dates of Commissions, of Their Commissions and Mine, and likewise to the Declarations, will see clearly that they began these unhappy Troubles, not I; so that the as guilt of these Enormous Crimes that are laid 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 believe 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 find myself 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 God's Judgments are just upon me. Many times he does pay Justice by an unjust Sentence, that is ordinary; I will only 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 show you that I am an Innocent Man.  
Now for to show you that I am a good Christian: I hope there is 
Pointing to D●ctor 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 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 laid to their Charge; nay, not only so, but that they may take the right way to the Peace of the Kingdom, for my Charity commands me not only to forgive particular Men, but my Charity commands Me to endeavour 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 endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom. Now( Sirs) I must show you both how you are out of th●●ay, and will put you in a way; First, you are out of the way, for certainly all the way you ever have had yet, as I could find 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 only matter of Conquest, then it is a great Robbery; as a Pirate said to Alexander, That he was the Great Robber, he was but a Petty Robber; and so, Sir. I do think the way that you are in, is much out of the way. Nor Sir, for to put you in the way, believe 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 themselves, 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 edge.  For the King:) The Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that; therefore, because it concerns my own particular, I only 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 in having of Government; those Laws, by which their Life and their Goods, may be most their own. It is not for having share in the Government( Sir) that is nothing pertaining to them. A Subject and a Sovereign, 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 laid to your Charge) That I am the Martyr of the People.  
In troth Sirs, I shall not hold you much longer; for I will only say this to you, That in truth, I could have desired some little time longer, because I would have put this that I have said, in a little more order, and a little better digested, than 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 and your own Salvations.  Doctor Juxon. 
Will Your Majesty( though it may be very well known Your Majesty's Affections to Religion, yet it may be expected, That You should) say somewhat for the Worlds satisfaction.  KING. 
I thank you very hearty( my Lord) for that, I had almost forgotten it. In troth Sirs, My Conscience in Religion, I think, is very well known to all the World; and therefore, I declare before you all, That I die 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 Doctor 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. Turning to colonel Hacker, He said, Take care that they do not put Me to pain, and Sir this, and it please you: But then a Gentleman coming near 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 he 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 all under His Cap, which the King did accordingly, by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop: then the King turning to Doctor Juxon, said, I have a good Cause, and a gracious God on My side.  Doctor Juxon. 
There is but one Stage more. This Stage is turbulent and troublesone; it is a short one: But You may consider it will soon carry You a very great way from Earth to Heaven; and there You shall find a great deal of Cordial Joy, and Comfort.  KING. 
I go from a Corruptible, to an Incorruptible Crown; where no Disturbance can be, no Disturbance in the World.  Doctor Juxon. 
You are Exchanged from a Temporal to an Eternal Crown, a good Exchange.  
The King then said to the Executioner, Is my Hair well: Then the King took off his Cloak and his George, giving his George to Doctor Juxon, saying, Remember 
It is thought for to give it to the Prince.  〈◇〉 Then the King put off his doublet, and being in his waistcoat, put his Cloak on again, then looking upon the Block, said to the Executioner, You must set it fast.  Executioner, 
It is fast Sir.  King, 
It might have been a little higher.  Executioner, 
It can be no higher Sir.  King, 
When I put out my Hands this way 
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 the Executioner again putting his Hair under his Cap, the King said, 
Thinking he had been going to strike.  Stay for the sign.  Executioner, 
Yes, I will, and it please Your Majesty.  
And after a little pause, the King stretching forth His Hands, The Executioner at one Blow, severed his Head from Body.  
That when the King's Head was cut off, the Executioner held it up, and shew'd it to the Spectators.  
And His Body was put in a Coffin, covered with black Velvet, for that purpose.  Sic transit gloria mundi. 
FINIS.