Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-15
Gloucester, who was but eight years

to console his daughter by pointing out
some pious reading for her. He en-
joined her to tell her brothers that he
had pardOned bis enemies, and to soy
to her mother that the last moment he
would love her as on tho first day.
Then, turning to the little Duke, "sweet-
heart" be said to him, "now they will
cut off thy fathers head"
The child looked at him with serious
air. Mark, child, what l say; they
will cut off my head, and, perhaps,
make thee King, and thy head, too,
they will cut off at last
Il will be torn in pieces first" replied
the child, greatly disturbed.
The King embraced him with delight,
put him down, and kissed his daughter,
and blessed them both then, suddenly
rising.
"Haye them taken away be said to
JuxoD.
The children went away in tears.
Charles took them back into bis arms,
and blessed them once more then,
tearing himself from their caresse she
fell upon his knees and resumed his
prayers with the Bishop and Herbert,
the only witnesses of their sad fare
wells. While the King was thus tast.
ing the bitterness of death, bis Judges
met to sign the warrant for bis execu-
tion. Great difficulty was experienced
in assembling the Commissioners.
Nearly all were agtated and effected.
Their signatures were scarcely legible.
Cromwell alone seemed gay and clamor-
Gus, and besmeared with ink the face Of
MartyD, who sat beside him, and seized
the hand Of Col. 1ngoldsby, to compel
him to sign.
On the morning of the 3Oth the King
had arisen early. 81 have great WORK
to do,,' he said to Herbert, and he began
his toilet. The hands of the faithful
servant trembled in arranging his chair.
Take, pray you, the same pains as
usual said tho King, although my
head is not to rem ain on my shoulders
long. would be as trim to-day as a
bridegroom. The Bishop arrived and
opened the gospel, read tho twenty
seventh chapter of st. Mathew. The
King thought itparticnlarly applicable
to his case however, it was the proper
lesson for the day. The King was at
prayers; It was 10 o'clock. A low rap
was hear d at the door it was Col.
Hacker. He was escorted, with the
Bishop, traversing the park between
two lines Of soldiers drawn up along the
passage, to Whitehall His aspect was
serene, his eyes bright, his step firm,
walking even faster than the guard, and
marveling at their sIowness. He
received the communion from the
hands ofthe Bishop, saying, I 70 from a
cOrruptible crown. | am ready for all
that is about to befall me, and from
the bottom ofmy heart Ihave forgiven
them all.' He traversed the banquet
ing bail behind the line of soldiers
He ate q piece of bread aud drank
glass ofwine, 1t was o'clock. Hacker
knocked at he door. Jnxon and Her
bert fell upon their knees. 1t was the
King who raised them. At tho extre-
nifty of the hall an opening made on
the day previous led to the scah'old,
level with it, and hung with black.
Two men stood near the ak, each in q
sailors attire, and masked. The King
arrived with head erect, and was calm
and grave, even to codness, maintain
ing that he had always been in the
right in his conduct as King. Then he
looked at the block. "Be careful that
it is set FAST" he said to the execu-
tioner. While he spoke some one
touched the AK. He turned around and
said {: 'Do not durt the AK that NAV
hurt me-" He said 81 will offer
short prayer, and when put out my
hands this way, stretching them ont,
then." He collected his thoughts, said
few words in low tone Of voice
raised his eyes to heaven and knelt
down, placing bis head upon the block.
In the space OF moment the King
stretched ont his hands, and the head
fell at the first blow. The coffin re.
mained exposed for seven days at
Whitehall, and on the 9Th of February,
few faithful servants accompanied the
remains of Charles l., King of England,
to the tomb il Windsor, St. Georges
Chapel, where the body of Henry VIII.
reposed, The sky was cloudless, but
suddenly, as the coffin crossed the court
yard castle, heavy fall of snow took
place, and the pail Of black velvet was
compLetely covered with white snn&.