The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-02
2 Ute e, =
Great Trials
%
History
THE TRIAL OF CHARLES |.

| tried before the High Court Of Justice
at Westminster, on January 20, 1913,
| for tyranny, treason and murder. The
arrogant manner in which Charles at
| tempted to dominate over Parliament
was the first step In his eventual down
| fall. Civil war broke OUT many en-
gaGements took place with varied
success, but on the Kings defeat at
Naseby, he retired to Oxford and on
the approach of Fairfax. the Pnrlia-
| mcntary general. he threw himself on
the protection of the Scots, who sold
him to tho Parliament.
| Charles was finally arrested by
party of 500 horsemen, under the COM
nand of Cornet Joyce. who rushed into
his presence with pistols and told him
he must go along with them. Resis-
lance, of course, was in vain, and
Charles, stepping into his coach, was
safely conducted TO the army.
| Finally Charles was brought to trial.
The Indictment read in part as follows:
! Whereas, II is notorious that Charles
Stuart, now King of England, hath had
! n wicked design totally to subvert
! the ancient and Fundamental laws and
| liberties of this nation. and In their
stead To introduce an arbitrary and ty-
rannicai government, and he hath pros
ecuted with fire and sword, levied and
! maintained a cruel war In the land
against the Parliament and King
dom, therefore we charge him. the said
Charles Stuart. with the crimes and
treason mentioned, and demand that
ne appear TO answer these charges"
rho trial was begun on January 90
and siXty-nvc members sat in judg-
ment, with John Bradshaw rs Lord
| President. On this day IL was demand
cd that the prisoner be sent for, and
he appeared in about quarter of nm
hour, The charge, which was n long
one, was read to him. During Its road
hn in,
sometimes on the court sometimes up
| to tho galleries, and then, rising up
turned about to behold the guards and
spectators. Then he would sit down
with a majestic and unmoved counter
nnce, and sometimes smiled, especially
at the words tyrant, traitor murderer
and public enemy to the Common
wealth.
! When the King had heard the charge
! he demanded 10 know by what pow
Ell he was called hither. and upon his
| refusal to answer the charges, no was
ordered TO be taken away by the
! guards.
| The court convened again two days
later. and proceeded to consider the
Kings behavior, and decided that whom
| he was again brought before them,
they were resolved that no must an
swer to tho charge. Should he refuse
a second time, II was ordered that tho
president should command the clerk to
| demand of him, in tho name of the
court, tho following:
! Charles Stuart you are accused In
/ the name of the people of England of
divers high crimes and treasons, which
charge has been read unto you. The
court requires you to give n positive
answer, whether you confess or deny
| the charge having determined that
you ought to answer the same"
Tho royal prisoner was again
brought before the tribunal The
charge was put to him, and again he
refused to answer. Thereupon q great
many witnesses were called, who, ono
after the other, testified against the
King.
| On tho 27th, Il was ordered that tho
| King be brought 10 the Painted Cham
| Der TO receive his sentence The charge
was put to him for the last time. and
refusing to answer IL, Broughton. the
! clerk, read the following: For all
which treason and crimes. this court
doth Rdiudge that he, the said Charles
| Stuart, as tyrant, traitor, murderer
and public enemy. shall be put to death
! by sevcrinG his head from his body"
| The King asked to be heard, but
| they informed him not after his SEN
| tence and he was taken by the guards
| to Sir Robert Cotton's house, and as
he passed downstairs the rude soldiers
scoffed at him, blew tho smoke of their
'opaSSo III MS ioSe' anu oHc' moro IN
solcnt than the rest. spit In his face,
which His Majesty patiently wiped Off.
taking no further notice OF ii.
Afterwards the King, hearing that
he was 70 be executed the next day,
before his palace ut Whitehall. sent an
officer with the request that lac Nigh t
see his children before his death. which
was granted him Tie warrant for His
Majesty's execution was signed tho
29th. and the next day he was behead :
cd shortly after noon.