The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-22
ed than If King James were his uncle, and the
prince one of his customary playfellows

appearance and demeanor. oliver, make
your obeisance to the kings Majesty
The boy made a pretty respectful obesance
to the king; for, in those days, children were
taught to pay reverence to their elders. King
James who prided himself greatly on his
scholarship asked Noll few questions in the
Latin grammar, and then introduced him to
his son. The little prince in a very grave and
dignifed manner extended his hand, not for
Noll to shake, but that he might kneel down
and kiss it,
Nephew said Sir Oliver, pay your duty
to the prince"
al owe him no duty" cried Noll, thrusting
aside the princes hand with a rude laugh.
"Why should kiss that boys hand!"
All the courtiers were amazed and confound-
ed, and Sir Oliver the most of all But the
king laughed heartily, saying that little Noll
had a stubborn English spirit, and that it was
well for his son to learn betimes what sort of a
people he was to rule over.
So King James and his train entered the
house and the prince, with Noll and some
other children, was sent to play in a sep
arate room while his Majesty was at dinner.
The young people soon became acquainted; for
boys, whether the sons of monarchs or of peas
ants all like play, and are pleased with one
duoehOI o cooiciy' w hat Sulllcs tLcy uiNeTtcu
themselves with, | cannot tell. Perhaps they
played at ball-perhaps at blindman's buff
perhaps at leap-frog-perhaps at prison-bars.
Such games have been IN use tor hundreds OF
years; and princes as well as poor children
have spent some of their happiest hours in play
ing at them.
Meanwhile, King James and his mobiles were
| feasting with Sir Oliver, in the great hall.
The king sat in gilded chair under canopy,
at the head of long table. Whenever any of
the company addressed him, it was with the
deepest reverence If the attendants offered
him wine, or the various dclicacies of the festi-
val, it was upon their Bonded knees. You
would have thought, by these tokens of worship,
that the monarch was supernatural being;
only he seemed to have quite as much need OF
those vulgar matters, food and drink, as any
other person at the table. But fate had Or
dained that good King James should not finish
his dinner in peace.
All of n sudden, there arose terrible uproar
in tho room where the children were at play
Angry shouts and shrll cries of alarm were
mixed up together; while the voices of elder
persons were likewise heard, trying TO restore
order among the children The king, and
everybody else at the table, looked aghast for
perhaps the tunult made them think that
general rebellion had broken out
"Mercy on us y muttered Sir Oliver; that
graceless nephew of mine is in some mischief
or other. The naughty little whelp!n
Getting up from table, he ran to see what
was the matter, followed by many of the guests,
and the king among them. They all crowded
to the door of the play room.
On looking in, they beheld the little prince
Charles, with his rich dress all torn, and COW
cred with the dust of the floor. His royal blood
was streaming from bis nose in great album
dance. He gazed at Noll with a mixture of
rage and alright and at the same time puz-
zled expression, as if he could not understand
how any mortal boy should dare to give him a
beating As for Noll, there stood his sturdy
little figure, bold as lion, looking as if he
were ready to fight not only the prince, but the
king and kingdom too.
"You little villain y cried his uncle. HWhat
have you been about? Down on your knees
and ask the princes pardon. How dare you
lay your hands on the kings malestys royal
son y
ale struck me first" grumbled the valiant
little NOll; "and Eve only given him his due"
Sir Oliver and the guests lifted up their
hands in establishment and horror No punish
ment seemed severe enough for this wicked lit
tie varlet, who had dared to resent blow from
the kings own son. Some of. the courtiers
were of opinion that Noll should be sent prison
er to the Tower of London, and brought to
trial for high. treason. Others, in their great
zeal for the kings service, were about to lay
hands on the boy, and chastise him in the roy
al presence.
But King James, who sometimes showed
good deal of sagacity ordered them TO desist.
"Thou art a bold boy" said he, looking fix
eddy at little Noll "and if thou live to be
man, my son Charlie would do wisely to be
friends with thee
"Ineyer will !" cried the little prince, stamp
ing his foot
Peace, Charlie peace ~ said the king
then addressing Sir Oliver and the attendants.
Harm not the urchin; for he has taught my
son a good lesson, if Heaven do bat give him
grace to profit by it. Hereafter, should he be
tempted to tyrannize over the stubborn race of
Englishmen let him remember little Noll
Cromwell and his own bloody nosen
So the king finished his dinner and departed;
and, for many a long year, the childish quarrel
between Prince Charles and Noll Cromwell
was forgotten. The prince, indeed might have
lived happier life, and have met more peace
full DEATH had he remembered that quarrel
and the moral which his father drew from it,
But, when old King James was dead, and
Charles sat upon his throne he seemed to for
get that he was but man, and that his mean
est subjects were men as well as he. He wish
ed to have the property and lives of the people
of England entirely at his own disposal But
the Puritans, and all who loved liberty, rose
against him, and beat him in many battles
and pulled him down from his throne
Throughout this war between the king and
az nd tho Of nj
on the other there was famous leader who
did more towards the ruin of royal authority
than all the rest The contest seemed like n
wrestling match between King Charles and
| this strong man, And the king was oyerthrown
When the dscrowned monarch was brought
to trial, that warhke leader sat in the judg-
menthall Many judges were present, besides
himself; but he alone had the power to save
King Charles or to doom him to the scaffold
After sentence was pronounced. this victorious
general was entreated by his own children, on
| their knees, to rescue his majesty from death
"No," said he sternly. Better that one
man should perish, than that the whole coun-
| try should be ruined for his sake Ii is rcsoly-
ed that he shall die
When Charles, no longer king. was led to
the scaifold, his great enemy stood at window
of the royal palace of Whitehall He beheld !
the poor victim Of pride, and an evil education,
and misused power as he laid his head upon
the block. He looked on, with steadfast gaze,
while a black-veiled executioner lifted the
fatal axe, and smotc off that anointed head at
n single blow
at is righteous deed perhaps he said to
himself "Now Englishmen may enjoy their
rights"
At night, when the body of Charles was laid
in the coffin, in gloomy chamber, the general
entered, lighting himself with torch. Its
CLEAN showed that he was now growing old;
his visage was SCARED with the many battles