L President. Sir, the Court commands the Charge to be read; if You have any thing to
say aster, You may be heard.
The charge was read.
The King smiled often, during the time, especially at those words therein viz. That
Charls Stewart was a Tyrant, Traytor, Murtherer, and publike Enemy of the Commonwealth.
L. President. Sir, You have now heard Your Charge read, containing such Matter as appears
in it: You finde that in the close of it, it is prayed to the Court in the behalf of all
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 hither, is a larger story then I think is fit at this time for me to
Speak of: But there I entered into a T[nl]reaty with the two Houses of Parliament, with as
much publike Faith as is possibly to be had of any people in the World. I treated there with
a number of Honorable Lords and Gentlemen, and treated honesty and uprightly. I
cannot say, but they did deal very nobly with Me: We were upon a Conclusion of a
Treaty. Now I would know by what Authority, I mean lawful; there are many unlawful
Authorities in the world, Theeves 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 when I
know by what lawful Authority, I shall Answer
Remember, I am your King, your lawful King: and what sin you bring upon your
heads, and the judgments of God upon this Land. think well upon it; I say think well
upon it before you go further, from one sin, to agreater : There fore let me know by whos
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 discent. I will not betray it, to Answer to a new and unlawful Authority; therefore
resolve Me that, and you shall hear more of Me.
L. President. If you had been pleased to have observed, what was hinted to You by the
Court, at our 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.
L. President. If You acknowledg not the Authority of the Court, they must proceed.
King. I do tell you so, England was never an Elective Kingdom, but an Hereditary Kingdom,
for neer a 1000 yeers; therefore let Me know by what Authority I am called hither.
I do stand more for the Liberty of My people, then 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.
L. President told Him, he did interogate the Court, which be seemed not One in His
Condition; and it was known how He had managed His Trust.
King. Here is a Gentleman, Lieutenant Colonel Cobber, 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 Priviledg 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 being to) should have been. Is this the bringing of the King to His Parliament?
Is this a bringing an end to the Treaty, in the Publike Faith of the World? Let Me see a
legal Authority warranted, either by the Word of God, the scripture, or warranted by the
Constitution of the Kingdom, and I will Answer.
L. President. Sir, You have provided a Question, and have been Answered: Since You
will not Answer, the Court will Proceed; and those that brought You hither, take charge