'lbe HISTORY of the PuRITAN s. Vot~ II. K. Charles I. The}_Cots kirk~ by their com.mi ffioners, ~eclared and protefl:ed ag 1infl: 16 4 8 • the puttmg the kmg to death. as abfolutely mconfifl:ent with their folemn ~ league and covenant. They publiihed a protrjlation, directed to the mi– Scots. .ni~ers of the provin~e off-"ondon meeting at Sion College, .Jan. _2 5· 1648-g. 'With a letter, exhortmg tnem to courage and conftancy 1n their oppofition to the proceeding of the houfe of commons, and to an:univerfal toleration. Proceedings Sundry foreign princes and fl:ates, by their ambaifadors, interceeded of the army for the king ; fame from their refpeCl to his perfon, and others from a and parlta- j regard to the honour that was due to crowned heads. But it was impofment. h · 'ldfi f h h · Rapin, p. fible to fiop t e Impetuous Wl re o t e army, w o havmg brought p. 568. the king from Hurfl- Caflle to Wim!for, obtained a vote in the parliament (if we may fo call it) that all ceremonies due to a crowned head be laid afide; and then came to the following refolutions, Jan. 4· Firfl:, that the people under God are the original ifalljlffl power. Secondly, that the boufe qf commons are the Jupream power of the nation. Thirdly, that ~ohatever is declared for law by the commom in parliament is valid, though The king's the confint ifthe king and hQttje qfpeers be not had thereto. The houfe of tnal and c.<- 1 d I · h d d r. h · · f1 · n d uution. or s, ~ 1IC was re uce tu 11xteen peers., .avi~g unamm~u y rejeLcC the ordmance of the commons for the kwg s tnal, and adjourned for a fortnight, the commons refolved to ad withou t them, and having named a committee of thirty eighty perfons to receive informations, and draw up a charge again!l: the king, they confl:ituted ahigh court ofjufiia for his trial, confifl:ing of one hundred forty five perfons, of whom twenty or more might proceed to bufinefs; but not above one ha(f would act under this authority; Mr. Serjeant Bradjhaw was prefident; Mr. Cook folicitor-general; and Mr. Steel, Mr. Dorijlaus, and Mr• .Ajke, were to fupport the charge. The form of procefs being fettl ed by the commiflioners, the king who had been conducted to St. James's, Jan. I 5· appeared before his judges inWejiminfler-Ha/1, the firfl: time, on Sa– turday Jan. 20. when being feated at the bar in a chair of crimfon velvet, and covered, as were all his judges, Mr. Cook,the folicitor exhibited a cha1·ge of high treafon againfl: him, which being read, the king, infl:ead of plead- ; ing to the charge, excepted to the jurifdicl:ion of the cour t, which was over– ruled, the prijident replying, that they would not fuffcr their authority to be difputed, and therefore required the king to think better of it agaio!l: Monday, but his majefiy perfifl:ing in his refufal to plead both on Monday and Tuefday, the clerk was ordered to record the default; Wednefday the courtifat in the painted cbamber, and examined witne!fes againfl: the king; 'I'hurfday and Friday they confulted how to proceed; and on Saturday his majeily was brought the la(l: time to the bar, when perfifting to difown the jurifdicl:ion of the court, he defired to be heard in the painted cbam~ ber by the lords and commons, but his requefl: was denied, and theprejident
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