The Manner of the KING's TRYAL at Westminster-hall, by the High Court of Justice,
From January the 24th, to January the 27th, 1648. Also the Manner of His being put to Death at White-hall, near the Banquetting-house, on the 30th Day
of January, 1648; with His SPEECH made upon the Scaffold before He was Beheaded. To the Tune of, Aim not too high, etc.
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KIng Charles was once a Prince of a great state,
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But yet he dy'd a Death unfortunate;
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Oh he is gone, and now hath l[e]ft us here,
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And God doth know what courses we shall steer.
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Now my sad Story to you I'll Relate,
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At Westminster was call'd a Court of State,
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Where Serjant Bradshaw was Lord President;
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The Court being full, then for the King they sent.
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There to the Bar a Guard did him convey,
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In Januarys Month the Twentieth day,
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Whereas Soliciter Cook did Read at large,
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The Order and the manner of his Charge.
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The KINGs Charge.
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Charles Stuart, once admitted Englands King,
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Which did such woes upon the Kingdom bring,
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In setting up the Standard in the Field,
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Which was the cause that so much Blood was Spilt.
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Whereas thou didst Raise Arms within the Land,
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Also against the Parliament did stand:
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The Peoples Rights and Liberties enthral,
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All these and more thou didst Tiranical.
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Therefore you Guilty are of these sad times,
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As Treason, Murther, and of such like Crimes,
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For which at Bar a Prisoner you are,
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And in this Court you shall have Tryal fair.
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Here is your Jury, for it must be so,
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Yov'e heard your Charge, Plead Guilty, Ay, or no.
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What is it thus, then answered the King,
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Was it for this you did me hither bring?
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The Kings Answer to the Charge.
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As for your Charge a Rush I do not care,
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I do desire those things are right and square;
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It was for my Peoples Freed[o]m I did stand,
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The Liberties and Laws of all the Land.
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I do d[e]sire to me you would unfold,
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By whose Commission you this Court do hold,
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To whom the President did straight Reply,
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Sir you shall know by whose Authority.
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This Court-Prerogative whereon we stand,
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Ordained is by the Commons of this Land;
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It is not for Prisoners to dispute the same:
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Answer to that for which you hither came.
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Then their Authority he quite Deny'd,
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And said by them he meant not to be Try'd.
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At which the Court their Verdict then did pass,
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Not answering, that he then Guilty way.
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Then by the Clerk his Sentence there was Read,
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Saying, Charles Stuart, Thou must lose thy Head
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For Murther, Treason, and for Tiranny,
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And to the Land a Publick Enemy.
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Being Condemned one thing he did Crave,
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That Doctor Juxons Presence he might have,
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To Preach, and th[e] Communion Him to give:
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And see His two sweet Babes while He did Live;
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The which was Granted, all Perform'd and done,
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And he did see his Daughter and his Son:
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It would have Griev'd a Stony Heart to see
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The weeping Joy that was between those Three.
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He blest them both, and for them he did Pray,
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Mourning at Parting, then they go thier way;
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Father from Children, 'twas a Grief full sore,
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Each other in this World to see no more.
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Tuesday the Thirtieth of January last,
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He from St Jamess unto White-Hall past;
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Having a Guard of flying Colours spread,
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And Rattling Drums as to a Battel led.
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With cheerful Countenance and Courage Bold,
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He said, March Faster, for the Day is Cold,
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Then to the Scaffold he was straight Convey'd,
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The which with Mourning Cloath was overlaid.
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The King's Speech upon the Scaffold.
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Mounting the same, quoth he, I'll little say,
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For in this World I have not long to stay:
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It is my Duty first with God to clear,
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My Conscience free, next to my Country Dear:
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Unto the Parliament I ne'er thought ill,
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Their Privilidges never thought to spill;
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Ill Instruments on both sides bred the strife,
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Which was the cause so many lost their Life.
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The greatest Enemies that sought my Death,
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I do forgive, before I lose my Breath;
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I wish the Kingdoms Peace and Churches Bliss,
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For now Religion out of Order is.
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Lawful Succession I do hope shall be,
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Granted by Parliament now after me:
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And for my Conscience and Religion,
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I dye a Protestant and a Christian.
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To Doctor Juxon then his George he gave,
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Willing Prince Charles his Son the same might have,
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His walking Staff unto himself did give,
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And for his sake to keep whilst he did live.
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Likewise he gave the Duke of Richmond then
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One Watch, another to a Gentleman:
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With Eyes lift up to Heaven he made a Prayer,
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And then for Death did instantly prepare.
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Saying, My Earthly Crown I here must leave,
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Hoping a Heavenly Crown I shall receive,
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Then on the Block his Neck there he did lay,
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And to the Headsman then these Words did say,
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When as my Hands and Arms I open stretch,
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Strike Home, be sure that thou a right Blow fetch,
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I come, I come Lord Jesus, then he cry'd,
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One Blow his head and Body did Devide.
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Thus like a Lamb his Death he there did take,
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And presently this World he did forsake:
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Whose Soul I trust is with the Lord on high,
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And thus I end my Mournful Tragedy.
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