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MEDALS, SIEGE-PIECES, AND OTHER MEMORIALS OF CHARLES I.

The Medals and Siege-pieces here shown are the size of the originals.

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1. Coronation Medal of Gold. 2. Silver-gilt Medal: Portrait Charles I. and Houses of Parliament. 3, 4. Bristol Siegepiece (copper). 5. Pontefract Siege-piece (silver). 6, 7. Newark Half-crown (silver). 8-9, 10-11. Fourpenny iege-pieces (silver; where coined not known). 12. One Shilling and fourpence (siege of Beeston Castle). 13. One Shilling Piece (siege of Carlisle). 14. Fourpenny Piece (siege of Scarborough). 15. Sevenpenny Piece (Beeston Castle). 16. Gold Ten-shilling Piece (Colchester) 17, 18. Memorial Ring, with devices enlarged. 19. Memorial Heart, forming a small box.

he deplored having assented to the death of Strafford, saying that he was now punished by an unjust sentence upon himself; he declared that he pardoned his enemies, and died a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England, as he found it left by his father. Turning to Bishop Juxon he said, "I have a good cause and a gracious God on my side." He took

who remained with him an hour in private prayer. | he but the parliament who had begun the war; About ten o'clock, Colonel Hacker, who was commissioned to conduct him to the scaffold, tapped softly at the chamber-door, to say they were ready. They went together from St James's through the park towards Whitehall, in the front of which the scaffold had been erected. Charles walked erect and very fast, having on the right hand Bishop Juxon, and on the left Colonel Tomlinson, and being followed by a guard of hal-off his cloak, gave his George' to Juxon, with the berdiers, and by some of his own gentlemen and single word, "Remember!" then laid his head servants, who walked bareheaded. There was across the block, and stretched out his hands as no shouting, no gesticulating, no turmoil of any a signal. The masked executioner let fall the axe, kind: the troops, men and officers, the spectators which severed the neck at one blow; and another of all ranks, were silent as the grave, save now man wearing a mask took up the head and and then when a prayer or a blessing escaped shouted, "This is the head of a traitor!" The from some of them. At the end of the park bloody deed was accompanied by a "dismal, uniCharles entered Whitehall, and, passing through versal groan."" the long gallery, went into his own old cabinet chamber. There he was delayed, for the scaffold was not quite ready: he passed the time in prayer with the bishop. At last all was in readiness; and he was led out to the scaffold, which was hung round with black. Vast multitudes of people had come to be spectators: they were all silent, respectful, or awe-stricken; and so were the soldiers. Perceiving that the people could not approach near enough to hear him, he addressed a speech to the gentlemen upon the scaffold. He called God to witness that it was not

1 The George, or badge of the order of the Knights of the Garter, worn by Charles I. at his execution, and given by him which his late majesty wore at the time of his martyrdom, to Bishop Juxon, is thus described by Ashmole:-"The George

was curiously set in an onyx, set about with twenty-one large table diamonds in the fashion of a garter; on the back side of the George was the picture of his queen, rarely well limned, set in a case of gold, the lid neatly enamelled with goldsmith's work, and surrounded with another garter, adorned with a like num

ber of equal sized diamonds as was the fore side." In the engraving, a represents the upper side of the George, b the under side,

and c the upper side raised, displaying a portrait of Henrietta Maria.

2 Whitelock; Herbert; Warwick; Nalson.

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CHAPTER XVII.-CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.-A.D. 1649-1660.

THE COMMONWEALTH.-A.D. 1649-1660.

Proceedings of the Independents against the royalists after the king's execution-The "Executive Council of State" appointed-Attacks on the new government-Prince Charles proclaimed king in Scotland and Ireland-Cromwell makes a hostile landing in Ireland-His victories there-He returns to London-Montrose lands in Scotland-He is defeated, captured, and executed-Arrival of Charles II. in Scotland-Cromwell defeats the Scots at Dunbar-Charles II. marches into England-He is defeated by Cromwell at Worcester-He escapes to France-England, Scotland, and Ireland incorporated into a Commonwealth-War with Holland-Naval victories of Blake-The Rump parliament becomes unpopular-Mutual jealousies between it and the armyCromwell suggests the necessity of a royal rule-He purposes to dissolve the parliament-His summary ejec tion of the members-Barbone's parliament-Its proceedings-Its speedy dissolution-Cromwell appointed lord-protector of the Commonwealth-Formation of his new government-Signal naval victory over the Dutch in the Downs-Cromwell's strict and impartial justice-He summons a new parliament-His address to the members-They become obstinate-Cromwell dissolves parliament-Plots of Levellers and royalists-Naval successes-A third parliament called-Proposal to make Cromwell king-Discontent and danger produced by it-Cromwell rejects the proposal-Honours bestowed on him by the parliament-His court, and mode of life-Death of Admiral Blake-Meeting of parliament-Members for its upper house-Impracticability of establishing an upper house-Cromwell dissolves the parliament-Plots against his life-His last illnessHis death-His son Richard proclaimed protector-Richard's difficulties-Hostility of parliament towards him -He abdicates-Monk's plots for the restoration of royalty-His caution and duplicity-His professions of devotedness to the Commonwealth-His march into England-His proceedings and intrigues in London-His preparations for the recall of Charles II.-The new king proclaimed, and the Commonwealth terminated.

N the day of the king's execution, | Rump immediately debated how to bring some the Independents prohibited, under of the chief royalists to a speedy trial, and orpain of high treason, the proclama- dered that the vacillating and unprincipled Earl tion of the Prince of Wales, or any of Holland should be removed to London. Duke other, to be king or chief magis- Hamilton was retaken the day after his flight. On the same mournful day On the 1st of February it was voted that HamDuke Hamilton escaped with the Lord Lough- ilton and Holland, with Goring, Lord Capel, and borough out of Windsor Castle. The house or Colonel Owen, should be "the next persons to

trate.

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THE GREAT SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH.-From a fine cast in the British Museum.

be proceeded against for justice." Capel escaped | Lords should be continued a court of judicature out of the Tower, but was apprehended two days after.

On the 5th of February the commons debated till six o'clock at night whether the House of

or a court consultatory only.

On the 6th the debate was renewed; and it ended that night in

1 This seal is 5 inches in diameter; the obverse gives an in teresting representation of the House of Commons at the period.

the vote, "that the House of Peers in parliament | a vehement pamphlet, entitled England's New is useless and dangerous, and ought to be abo- Change. Mutinies broke out at Salisbury and lished." Other votes were rapidly passed for Banbury; but they were presently crushed by demolishing the statues of kings, and for con- Fairfax and Cromwell: Lilburne was shut up verting England into a republic. in the Tower, and some few leaders of a set of madmen, who were sighing after something very like the republic of the illustrious Trinculo, were committed to meaner prisons. But the Rump took some of the worst pages out of the book of despotism, entirely losing sight, in several cases, of the principles of liberty they professed. They made it treason to deny the supremacy of parliament; words spoken were made capital; and simple sedition was converted into high treason. The press was put into its shackles, and extreme penalties were declared against such as printed

For some time past the real executive had resided in the committee of government at Derby House; and this, with some very immaterial changes, was now converted into the "Executive Council of State." The president of this council was Bradshaw, the king's judge; and its secretary for foreign correspondence was Bradshaw's friend and relative, the immortal Milton, who employed his learning and genius in defending the judgment and execution of Charles. Although they had pronounced the doom of the upper house, the Independents admitted five earls and three lords into this council, which also included Cromwell, Fairfax, Skippon, Sir Harry Vaue, General Ludlow, St. John, Harry Martin, Whitelock, and four other commoners.

The army remained under the command of the men who had created it, and made it the best army then in the world; and Fairfax, though he had abstained from committing himself upon the king's trial, continued to be commander-in-chief. But in the navy an important change was made immediately; the Earl of Warwick was removed, and Blake was

or published anything against the new Commonwealth, the council of state, &c.

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In the meantime the late king's eldest son had been proclaimed, as Charles II., both in Scotland and in Ireland. On the 15th of August, Cromwell, with his son-in-law Ireton, landed near Dublin, to. suppress the formidable insurrection, and, if possible, to give peace to a country which had never been quiet. His. army did not exceed 6000 foot and 3000 horse; but it was an army of Ironsides. When these men landed hardly anything was left to the Protestants. except Dublin and after town was re-captured with the utmost rapidity. Drogheda was stormed on the 11th of September, Cromwell himself fighting in the breach. Wexford was taken in the same manner; Cork, Kinsale, and numerous other places, opened their gates. Before the month of May of the following year the Irish Papists and royalists were completely subdued by Cromwell and his brave and able son-inlaw. Leaving Ireton to organize the country, Cromwell took his departure for London, where

OLIVER CROMWELL.-After Sir P. Lely.

appointed, with Dean and Popham, to command Derry; but now town the fleet.

The trial of Duke Hamilton, the Lord Capel, Goring, and Sir John Owen, was probably has tened by the hostile demonstrations made in Scotland. Goring pleaded not guilty, and was dismissed for the present, "behaving himself with great respect to the court." On the 6th of March, that court pronounced judgment against the rest. Owen was respited and ultimately spared. Duke Hamilton, the Lords Holland and Capel, were beheaded in Palace-yard on the 9th of March. his presence was eagerly looked for. He was The first attack that was made upon the new government proceeded from a part of that army which had raised them to their pre-eminence. 'Free-born John," who thought that the revolution had not gone half far enough, put forth

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received with respect by the people and with enthusiasm by the army. He was conducted to the house called the Cock-pit, near St. James's, which had been appointed and prepared for him. Here he was visited by the lord-mayor of Lon

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