Seeing that his voice could not reach the people, Charles addressed himself to the persons on the scaffold, some fourteen or fifteen in number. He must clear himself, he said, as a man, a king, and a Christian. To encroach on the liberties of the people had never been his intent. The Parliament began this unhappy war, not himself. “But for all this,” he continued, thinking of Strafford, “God’s judgments are just. An unjust sentence that I suffered to take effect is now punished by an unjust sentence upon me.”
Then the King forgave the causers of his death, and stated in a few words his conception of the cause for which he died.
“For the people, I desire their liberty and freedom as much as anybody whomsoever; but I must tell you that their liberty and freedom consists in having government, in those laws by which their life and goods may be most their own. It is not their having a share in government; that is nothing pertaining to them.... If I would have given way to have all changed according to the power of the sword, I needed not to have come here; and therefore I tell you (and I pray God it be not laid to your charge) that I am the martyr of the people.”
CHARLES I.
(From an old engraving.)
O horrable Murder
But lo a Charg is drawne, a day is set
The Silent Lamb is brought, the Wolves are met;
And where’s the Slaughterhouse? Whitehall must be,
Lately his Palace, now his Calvarie