And he did not regret his firmness—even at this moment.
Once, when Bradshaw, appealing to history, said, "You are the hundred and ninth King of Scotland," he moved, and his look brightened as if he had been recalled from wandering thoughts to the present moment; and when the Lord President spoke of the violent end of his grandmother, Mary Stewart, he started a little and frowned.
For the rest he was motionless and silent, save only when Bradshaw arraigned him as, "Tyrant, traitor, murderer, and public enemy to the Commonwealth of England"; then he blushed and cried out, "Ha!"
The Lord President, spurred afresh by this cry of defiance, proceeded to prove these charges against the King, reinforcing them with texts of Scripture, and so upbraiding and fiercely condemning the King that at last Charles, amid a general murmur and buzz of the Court, sprang to his feet.
"I would only desire one word before you give sentence," he said, "and that is that you hear me concerning those great imputations that you have laid to my charge!"
"Sir," replied Bradshaw undauntedly, "you must give me leave to go on—for I am not far from your sentence and your time is now past——"
Again Charles interrupted.
"But I desire that you will hear me a few words only—for truly whatever sentence you will put upon me in respect of those heavy imputations that I see by your speech you have put upon me—sir, it is very true that——"
"Sir," said Bradshaw, with great sternness, "I would not willingly, especially at this time, interrupt you in anything you have to say, but, sir, you have not owned us as a Court—you look upon us as a sort of people met together—and we know what language we receive from your party."
"I know nothing of that!" exclaimed Charles contemptuously.