Lord Presipent CHARLES STUART King of England, the Commons
of England, assembled in Parliament, being sesible of the great
Calamities that have beon 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 Fundamentall 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 Soliciter Generall. My Lord, in behalf of the Commons
of England, and of all the people thereof, I doe accuse Charle
Stuart, here present of high Treason, and high Misdemeanors; and
I doe in the name of the Commons of England, desire the Charge
may be read unto him.
The King. Hold a little.
Lord President, Sir, the Court Commands the Charge to be
read, if you have any thing to say afterwards, you may be heard.
The Charge read.
The King smiled often during the time, especialy at these words,
Tyrant, Traytor, Murtherer, and Publique enemy of the Common
wealth.
Lord president. Sir you have now heard your Charge read
containing such matter as appears in it: you fiude, That in the Close
of it. it is prayed to the Court, in the behalfe of the Commons
of England that you answer to your Charge. The Court expects
your Answer.
The King. I would know by what power I am called hither;
I was, not long agoe in the Isle of Wight, how I came there, is a longer
story then I think is fit at this time for me to speake of; but there
I entered into a Treary with both houses of Parliament with as much
Publique faith as is possible to be bad of any people in the world. I
Treated there with a number of Honorable Lords and Gentlemen,
and treaded 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 meane, lawfull; there are many