Collections of Notes Taken at the KINGS Tryall, at Weſtminſter Hall, On Tueſday laſt, Janua. 23. 1648.Alſo a paper of Inſtructions intercepted, comming from Scotland, to the Scots Commiſſioners, concerning the KING.
THe Court being met on Tueſday the 23 of January 1648. Proclamation was made,
Hoyes, &c.
All manner of perſons, that were by the laſt Court adjoyned to attend this Court, draw neer, and give your attendance: All manner of perſons are ſtrictly charged to keepe ſilence upon paine of impriſonment.
Then the Commiſſioners were called over 72. this day ſate, and anſwered to their names.
2There was (inſtead of the Kings Armes) ſet over this high Court of Juſtice, The kingdomes Armes; which is a red Croſſe in a white field.
Then the Court ſent Serjeant Dendy to bid thoſe that had charge of the King, to bring him to the Barre, and returning, the Sergeant tooke the Mace, and met him at the Staires going to the Court, and the King being come to the Barre, he looked about him, and viewed the Galleries, which were full of people.
The King was this day and the day before in black; And this day his countenance was very ſad; proclamation was made,
Hoyes, &c.
This Court doth ſtrictly charge and command all manner of perſons to keep ſilence, whileſt the great affaires of the Common-wealth are in hearing, upon paine of impriſonment. And the Captaine of the Guard is to take into his cuſtody all ſuch perſons as ſhall make any diſturbance to the proceedings of this Court.
Then Mr. Cook (one of the counſell againſt the King, who is) Solicitor Generall, moved the Court to this effect. That this was the3 third time that the priſoner was brought before them, that they had ſhewed him great favour, Declaring, that hee did on Saturday laſt, in behalf of the Commons of England, exhibit and give into this court, a charge of High Treaſon, and other high crimes, and miſdemeanors againſt him, whereof he did accuſe him in the name of the Parliament & people of England, and the charge was read unto him, and his anſwer required; that he would then give no anſwer, but inſtead of anſwering, did there diſpute the authority of this high Court. That he did humbly move on Munday, that the priſoner might be deſired to make a poſitive anſwer, either by way of confeſſion, or negation, which if he ſhall refuſe to doe, that the matter of charge might be taken pro confeſſo, & the Court would proceed according to Juſtice. But he did ſtill diſpute your power, contemning the authority of this high Court, erected by the Commons of England in Parliament aſſembled, though he be a priſoner at the Barre, accuſed of Treaſon, the higheſt treaſon that ever was, That a King of England, who was intruſted with the4 Government of the kingdome, to violate the Laws of the•and, and yet to diſpute againſt your power, in defiance of the Parliament, it is very high and a great contempt.
He did alſo declare that the day before the King was pleaſed to put in a demurrer, which was over ruled by the Court; And the Juriſdiction of the Court not to be diſipated,
I doe now deſire the Court to proceed to juſtice againſt him. And that if a Priſoner will not put in his Anſwer, it is to be taken pro confeſſo, it hath beene done by Decrees: But this Court hath hitherto ſhewed him favour, in delaying to proceede to ſentence. As for the proofe of the Charge againſt him, there is enough upon Record by the Parliament: And yet if that will not ſatisfie, they have many witneſſes to make it good: And therefore the Solicitor generall did humbly move, (and not only himſelfe, but much innocent blood that hath been ſpilt) that juſtice may be ſpeedily done upon him.
Then the Lord Preſedent told the King, that he had heard what was ſayd and moved, declaring his condition, and what hath been done; and required of the King that yet he would give obedience to the Court, and acknowledge the Houſe in them, or from the Supreame Court from which they have their Authority; that if he would yet anſwer he might be heard: But that the Court (if he did proceede in his obſtinacy) would proceed to juſtice againſt him. And the•thay did then expect a poſſitive Anſwer. That in plaine Engliſh, the Court expected that he ſhould anſwer to the charge againſt him, either guilty or not guilty.
5The King then made a narrative of the Treaty, which he ſaith was ſo neere concluded, from which he was taken away, and brought priſoner hither: That he is charged with the breach of his Treaty, for proceeding contrary to Law. And yet that he is preſſed to put in his Anſwer to this Court, whoſe Authority he approves not.
That he cannot ſubmit to it, ſaying, that it was a new way contrary to the Lawes of the kingdome. And the King ſayd, that that was the thing he ſtood upon; but as for the charge, to anſwer it, he did not weigh it of a ruſh: And he deſpiſed the Authority of the Court againe.
The Lord Preſident told the king that he was anſwered to other things of that nature the laſt day, But he went on and would not acknowledge the juriſdicton of the Court then. But that the Court did now expect his poſſitive anſwer to the charge, declaring to the king, that he was not to iſſue out to any other diſpute, untill he had firſt given in his poſſitive anſwer to the charge. And he did further declare to the king that theſe were the final commands of the Court, who did require his poſitive anſwer now.
The king then ſpake again, pleading his relation to the people of England, whom he was ſet to rule over. And that it was hard for him that is their king to bee made exemplary, or in ſuch a caſe to acknowledge the power of that Court to try him, which he knew no preſident for, to make him examplary. And that he did not know how to doe it, and urged further the liberties of the People, and the ancient Lawes of the Kingdom. And that if they would give him time,6 which he pleaded for, he would ſhew them reaſons why he did it.
And then argued his being a priſoner, and the ingagement of the publicke faith of the Kingdom, in which he went very high.
But the Lord Preſident told the King that he muſt interrupt him, and that that language was ill taken.
The King deſired to be heard on in what he was ſaying.
The Lord preſident told him, that he muſt heare the Court who require his poſſitive Anſwer, And that they doe not crave it of him, but require it. Then the Clerk read a paper to the King as followeth.
Charles Stuart King of England, you are here accuſed in the behalfe of the people of England of high treaſon, and other high crimes. The Court doe require you to give in your poſsitive anſwer to the ſame.
To this the King argued that hee had done nothing againſt the priviledges of the Kingdome, And that he was not ſatisfied of their authority to require this of him. And that his intentions was always good to the Kingdome.
The Lord Preſident anſwered the King, That he had been three times before them, And ſtill in oppoſition to the Court. And as for his intentions, hee hath ſhewed them (the Lord Preſident told him) by his actions, that he had written them in bloody characters.
Then the King would have gon on pleading againſt the authority of the Court, and would not give any ſatisfaction by giving an anſwer to his Charge as was deſired.
7Therefore the Lord Preſident told the King that he was not to be heard further therein. And declared to the King how he had ſtood in contempt againſt the power of the Court, And that the Court will not bee ſo affronted: That they will proceed according to Juſtice and not regard the perſon of any.
And ſo the Lord Preſident did further declare alſo, that hee ſhould finde that hee is before a Court of Juſtice.
Then the King was commanded to be taken away.
After which Proclamation was made.
Ho yes, &c. All manner of perſons, that now have appeared, and have further to do in this Court, are to depart hence to the Painted Chamber, to which place this Court doth adjourne, and intends to adjourn it ſelfe to this place to morrow morning.
After which the Cryer by order concluded ſaying.
Inſtructions intercepted from Scotland, to their Commiſsioners now in England.
1. TO uſe in your Applications the ſalve mentioned in your Letter, that it ſeeme not to import the approbation of any violence uſed againſt the Parliament, or any Member thereof.
2 That you have your Addreſſes to ſuch Lords and Commons as are our friends, and well affected, and the honeſt Party.
3. That your Applications be ſo conciſe that they give no occaſion of offence.
4. That nothing proceed from you juſtifying the Kings proceedings.
5. Nothing in approbation of the late Engagement.
86. Nothing which may import a breach, or give, or be a ground of new War.
7. That they would delay to meddle with the Kings Perſon according to their ſeveral promiſes and Declarations at Newcaſtle and Holdenby.
8. If they proceed and pronounce ſentence againſt the King, that you enter your diſſent and proteſt, that this Kingdome may be free of the miſeries which inevitably will follow thereon (without offering in your Reaſons) that Princes are exempt from Tryall and Juſtice.
9. That none in this Parliament had or hath had any hand in the proceedings of the Army againſt the King and Members of Parliament.
10 If they proceed, then to ſhew the calamities that will follow, and how grievous it will be to the Kingdome, conſidering his delivering at Newcaſtle.
12. If the Paper called the Peoples Agreement ſhall be paſſed and ſhall import any thing anent the proceſing of the Prince to the changing of the fundamental government of the Kingdome that you enter your diſſent.
12. That you ſhall alter theſe Inſtructions, or manner your truſt therein, by the advice of our friends there,
13 To proſecute your laſt Inſtructions anent the Covenant and againſt Toleration.
14 To ſhew that the Kings laſt Conceſſions are inſatisfactory to us in point of Religion.