..... It was not long before he perceived that things had changed. His most trusty sérvants received orders to depart; his guards were doubled; his walks restricted; and Cromwell wrote with uneasiness to Colonel Whalley, that "there were rumors abroad of some intended attempt upon his Majesty's person." The King's anxiety grew more painful every day; a trivial circumstance of a very different nature led him to take a decisive step. One night, while agitated by painful dreams, his lamp suddenly went out. ...He resolved to fly, but whither? He gave a woman five hundred pounds, the half of all he possessed, and commissioned her to go to London and consult the famous astrologer, William Lilly. But he did not wait the return of his messenger, and the oracles which the stars might give. Anonymous letters pressed him to escape. On the 11th of November, at nine in the evening, he left his chamber, attended by a single servant, and quitted the palace, the park, the forest, without the least difficulty. It seemed as if there were a hand behind him, urging him forward, and another before him clearing the way. Were not these two mysterious hands the hands of Cromwell? Convinced that everything was finished between the King and England, and wishing to avoid the bloody catastrophe that was approaching, he, as William of Orange did somewhat later with regard to James II., made every effort to favor Charles's flight and his retreat to France. Cromwell, says the republican Ludlow, informed the King of his danger, and assured him of his services. A report was current that the strict watch of the garrison at Hampton Court had been relaxed on the 11th of November, and that sentinels had been withdrawn from the posts they usually guarded. At the same time it was asserted, that a vessel sent by the queen was cruising off the coast, towards which his majesty was to proceed, for the purpose of taking him off. But when he reached the shore, no ship, not even a fishing-boat, was in sight. Being now without resource, he surrendered to Colonel Hammond, governor of the Isle of Wight. He placed in that officer's hands a communication he had received from Oliver shortly before leaving Hampton Court, in which the latter informed him of the risk he would incur by staying any longer in that palace. "It was evident," says Ludlow, "that the King had escaped by Cromwell's advice." If Oliver desired to see Charles leave England, he also wished to repress the disorders of the Levellers. With one hand he removed tyranny; with the other he suppressed the demagogues. The latter entered into associations, and made propositions to their officers and to the Parliament "to introduce an equality into all conditions, and a parity among all men." "The suppression of this license," says Clarendon, "put Cromwell to the expense of all his cunning, dexterity, and courage." He still believed that Parliament was capable of governing, and desired to maintain the authority of that body. Having been informed that the Levellers were holding a meeting with a view to seduce the army, he immediately proceeded to the place of assemblage, attended by a few men only of whom he was sure. Without being disconcerted, he put several questions to those who appeared the most seditious. And upon receiving an insolent reply, chastised some of them with his own hand, and with the assistance of his friends dispersed the others. Non civium ardor prava jubentium, Non vultus instantis tyranni On several occasions Oliver subdued those demagogues. "If this factious spirit," says Clarendon, "had not been encountered at that time with that rough and brisk temper of Cromwell, it would presently have produced all imaginable confusion in the parliament, army, and kingdom.”* Ere long fresh hopes agitated Charles in his retreat in the Isle of Wight. The House of Commons voted that four * Clarendon, iii. 87, 88. propositions should be presented to him; and if he accepted them, he should be allowed to treat in person with the Parliament. Commissioners were accordingly sent to the King, whom they found in appearance favorably disposed, but in reality more determined than ever to resist them. His plan was to put himself at the head of the Irish, and march against England; and he secretly prepared to leave the island, although he swore to the contrary. A fresh chance was now offered the King, and the division among his adversaries gave him hopes of recovering all his power. Lord Lauderdale and two other Scotch Commissioners, shrouding themselves in the deepest secrecy, arrived at Carisbrook Castle nearly at the same time with the deputation from Parliament. They promised the King the intervention of a Scottish army to re-establish him in his rights; but with stipulations to the advantage of Scotland which would have been offensive to the honor of England; and on condition that the King would confirm the Presbyterian establishment in England for three years. Charles accepted everything in two days the treaty was concluded and signed, and then hidden mysteriously in a garden in the island, until it could be made known with safety. When this was settled, he gave his answer to Lord Denbigh and the other Parliamentary Commissioners. He requested to treat in person without being pledged to accept anything beforehand; and the Commissioners returned to make their report to Parliament. His majesty's position was now worse than ever, and he was the artificer of his own ruin. It had been Oliver's wish to save the King, and re-establish him on a constitutional and honorable throne. He, like many others, had been subjugated by his sovereign's amiability. He is said to have declared that the interview between Charles and his children, when they were first allowed to visit him, was "the tenderest sight that his eyes ever beheld ;" and to have wept plentifully when he spoke of it, "which he might well have done without hypocrisy, for in private life he was a man of kind feelings and of a generous nature."* Cromwell desired to save his King, and that, too, at the very moment the latter designed to hang him. Alas! it was the unfortunate Stuart who was caught in the snare he was laying for others. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Such is the language of God's Word; and there faileth not aught of any good thing which the Lord hath spoken. (Joshua xxi. 45.) * Southey, Life of Cromwell, 58. London, 1846. CHAPTER V. DEATH OF THE KING. Parliament resolves to hold no further Communication with the KingPrayer-meeting at Windsor-Second Civil War-Royalist Insurrection -Scotch Invasion-Cromwell's Victories—Parliament again treats with the King-Charles's Treachery-Great Alternative-Army remonstrates with Parliament-Cromwell justified by Facts-The Woodman and the Sower-Cromwell to Hammond-Truth and Error-The King at Hurst Castle-Parliament rejects the Remonstrance-Composition of the Army -The Army at London-Pride's Purge-Cromwell's Hesitation about the King-Cromwell's religious Error-Prayers-The Will of GodDeath Warrant―The Execution censured-Revelation of the King's Treason-Principles of the Roman Church-Of Milton-Charles's Children-Cromwell to his Daughter-in-law-Cromwell and Charles's Corpse-The European Powers. THE Parliamentary Commissioners, on their return from the Isle of Wight to London, presented the report of their journey and its results. On the 3d of January, 1648, Sir Thomas Wroth rose in the House of Commons and said: "Mr. Speaker, Bedlam was appointed for madmen, and Tophet (i. e. the grave or hell) for kings;* but our King of late hath carried himself as if he were fit for no place but Bedlam; I propose we lay the King by, and settle the kingdom without him." Ireton supported the motion. "The King," said he, "by denying the four bills has denied safety and protection to his people." The Parliamentary or Presbyterian party strongly resisted the proposition. Cromwell had not yet spoken. In his view, Charles's bad faith had reached the * Isaiah, xxx. 33. |