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CHAPTER XV.

CHARLES I.

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Charles's Observation on Parting with the Commissioners - The King's Refusal to Break His Parole - His Departure from Newport-Hurst Castle and Its Grim Captain - The King's Confinement There - Midnight Visit of Major Harrison - Removal of the King - Loyalty of the People of WinchesterLord Newburgh's Scheme for the King's Escape - Treatment of Charles at Windsor-Announcement to Him of a Public Trial His Departure from Windsor - Military Cavalcade Conducting the King to London — His Arrival at St. James's - His Treatment There - Discontinuance of all State Ceremony - The King's Sufferings at This Period - Ashburnham's Futile Project for the King's Escape - Proclamation for His Approaching Trial - He Is Conveyed to Cotton House, and Summoned to Attend His Trial - Appearance of Westminster Hall on That Occasion - Bradshaw, the President, in Danger of Assassination · Demeanour of Charles when Conducted to the Bar - Daring Conduct of Lady Fairfax — Charles's Denial of the Authority of the Court - Bradshaw's Brutal Behaviour - Indignities Heaped on Charles - An Evil Omen Bradshaw and His Wife on the Morning of the Last Day of the King's Trial-Sentence of Death Pronounced Its Effect on Charles Bradshaw Prohibits the King from Speaking Insulting Conduct of the Soldiers - Public Sympathy Removal of Charles to St. James's.

It was nearly at the close of the Treaty of Newport, when all hope of accommodation was. evidently at an end, that Charles was standing at a

window, employed in dictating to Sir Philip Warwick, when a thought seemed suddenly to strike him. It was apparently the fate of Strafford which was uppermost in his mind. He wished, he said, that he had never consulted any one but himself; and he added, in a plaintive voice, "With Job I would willinglier have chosen misery than sin." While he spoke these words, the tears gathered in his eyes, and rolled down his cheeks.

They were the biggest drops," adds Sir Philip, "that ever I saw fall from an eye; but, recollecting himself, he turned presently his head away, for he was loth it should be discerned." His parting with the commissioners was affecting. "My lords," he said, "I believe we shall scarce see each other again; but God's will be done. I have made my peace with him, and shall undergo, without fear, whatever he may suffer men to do to me."

The time had now arrived when Charles was to bid farewell to the Isle of Wight; and accordingly, Colonel Cobbit, with a party of horse, was despatched thither to effect his removal. It was at this period that the king was strongly pressed by his friends to make another effort to escape; but he was at this time on his parole, and, notwithstanding the affectionate entreaties of the Earl of Lindsey and Colonel Cook, he positively refused to exchange honour for freedom. After combating their arguments for some

time, "Good night," said the king, "I shall go and take my rest." "Which I fear," rejoined Cook, taking up the words, "will not be long." Charles, perceiving Cook to be much discomposed, "Ned," he said, "what troubleth you?" Cook replied that "it was his Majesty's danger, and the disinclination which he showed to adopt any measures which might avert it." "Were your trouble greater," replied Charles, "I would not forfeit my word to alleviate it."

On the morning after this conversation, Colonel Cobbit presented himself to the king, and formally communicated to him the nature of his instructions. He refused, however, to acquaint the king either with his destination, or whether the instructions had emanated from the Parlia

ment or from the army. After a brief colloquy, Cobbit pressed his Majesty to enter his coach, which he had given orders should be in readiness. Charles, for a few minutes only, lingered to bid farewell to those faithful servants whom he probably never expected to meet again; like those about him, he seemed to be fully satisfied that it was to be his last journey, and that he was proceeding to a violent death. "Never," says Herbert, who was present, "was beheld more grief in men's faces, or greater fears in their hearts, the king being at such a time, and in such a manner, hurried away, they knew not whither; but no remedy appearing, the noblemen, the venerable

persons, and other his Majesty's servants, approached to kiss the king's hand, and to pour forth their supplications to Almighty God to safeguard and comfort his Majesty in that his disconsolate condition." Charles, who on similar melancholy occasions had been the most cheerful of the party, could not conceal the mental suffering which he endured. As he was entering his coach, Cobbit, without any invitation, exhibited an intention of entering it also, but the king, by pointedly opposing his foot, made him sensible that the intrusion was as unpalatable as it was insolent. The Duke of Richmond was allowed to attend him, but only for the distance of two miles. His only other companions were Herbert, Harrington, and Mildmay, his carver. When the Duke of Richmond kissed the king's hand, on taking his melancholy farewell, Charles desired that he would carry back his kind remembrance to the Earl of Lindsey and Colonel Cook. "Tell Colonel Cook from me," he said, "never to forget the passages of this night.”

A more wretched spot can scarcely be conceived than that in which Charles once more found himself incarcerated. On a narrow and gloomy promontory, extending about a mile and a half into the sea, stands Hurst Castle, remarkable, in the days of Charles, for its noxious vapours, and so unwholesome that a frequent change of the garrison was rendered absolutely necessary,

"a dismal receptacle," observes Herbert, "for

so great a monarch, the greatest part of whose life had been so full of earthly glory." "The captain of this wretched place," adds Herbert, "was not ill suited to the scene around. At the king's going ashore, he stood ready to receive him with small observance; his look was stern, his hair and large beard were black and bushy; he held a partisan in his hand, and a great basket-hilt sword by his side; hardly could one see a man of more grim aspect, and no less robust and rude was his behaviour; some of his Majesty's servants were not a little fearful of him." This formidable personage, however, appears to have been a mere bully; for his rudeness having been complained of to his superior officer, he instantly sank into the insignificant underling.

During the three weeks that Charles remained at Hurst, there was but little indeed to divert the melancholy of his thoughts. His walks were confined to a shingly shore, the nature of which rendered his favourite exercise extremely unpleasant; his accommodations were slender in the last degree, and his apartment was so dark that he required candles at noonday. Indeed, from the time he had first been a prisoner in the Isle of Wight, his personal luxuries had never been very carefully attended to. He told Sir Philip Warwick that "though he had never complained, yet he had frequently been in want even of clean linen."

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