The King stood up, and called for that psalm which begins with these words;

Have mercy, Lord, on me, I pray,

For men would me devour.

The good-natured audience, in pity to fallen majesty, showed for once greater deference to the King than to the minister, and sung the psalm which the former had called for.

After various discussions between the Scottish and English commissioners, it was at length agreed, that the King should be delivered up to the latter, on the payment of 200,000l. which they pretended was due to them for former services.

Hume says, "intelligence concerning the final resolution of the Scottish nation to surrender him, was brought to the King; and he happened, at that very time, to be playing at chess. Such command of temper did he possess, that he continued his game without interruption; and none of the bystanders could perceive, that the letter which he perused had brought him news of any consequence. The English com missioners, who, some days after, came to take him under their custody, were admitted to kiss his hands; and he received them with the same grace and cheerfulness as if they had travelled on no other errand than to pay court to him. The old Earl of Pembroke, in particular, who was one of them, he congratulated on his strength and vigour, that he was still able, during such a season, to perform so long a journey in company with so many young people.

The King being delivered over by the Scots to the English commissioners, was conducted under a guard to Holmby castle, in the county of Nottingham. On his journey the whole country flocked to behold him, moved partly by curiosity, and partly by compassion and affection. If any still retained rancour against him in his present condition, they passed in silence; while his well-wishers, more generous than prudent, accompanied his march with tears, with acclamations, and with prayers for his safety. The ancient superstition,

likewise, of desiring the King's touch in scrofulous distempers, seemed to acquire fresh credit among the people, from the general tenderness which began to prevail for this virtuous and unhappy monarch.

Every thing now tended to hasten the destruction of the royal captive. The Parliament and the army came to an open rupture respecting the arrears of pay due to the latter, and as each party wished to obtain possession of the King's person, Cromwell, by a bold decisive stroke, at once secured the victory in favor of his party.

A detachment of five hundred horse appeared at Holmby, conducted by one Joyce, who had once been a tailor by profession, but was now advanced to the rank of cornet, and was an active agitator in the army. Without being opposed by the guard, whose affections were all on their side, Joyce came into the King's presence, armed with pistols, and told him, that he must immediately go along with him. Whither? said the King. To the army, replied Joyce By what warrant? asked the King. Joyce pointed to the soldiers whom he brought along with him; tall, handsome, and well accoutered. Your Warrant, said Charles, smiling, is writ in fair characters, legible without spelling. The Parliamentary Commissioners came into the room: they asked Joyce, whether he had any orders from the Parliament? He said No. From the general? No. By what authority he came? He made the same reply as to the King. They would write, they said, to the Parliament, to know their pleasure. You may do so, replied Joyce; but in the mean time the King must immediaicly go with me. Resistance was in vain. The King, after protracting the time as long as he could, went into his coach, and was safely conducted to the army, who were hastening to their rendezvous at Triplo Heath, near Cambridge.

When the King came to the army, he was treated at first with the most flattering marks of distinction. His chaplains were permitted to attend him, and celebrate service according

to the forms of the church of England, an indulgence which had before been denied him. He was permitted to converse with his old servants, Sir John Berkeley and Ashburnham, who attended his person; and even thé Marquis of Ormond had free access to his presence: but the most exquisite pleasure he enjoyed, was the company of his own children, with whom he had several interviews, which were so tender, that they seemed to melt the heart of Oliver Cromwell, who declared, he had never seen such a pathetic scene as the meeting of this fond parent with his infant offspring, and extolled the King for the benevolence of his disposition, He was visited by the Scottish commissioners, who expressed the most eager desire to serve him, thinking it was their real interest to unite with their sovereign against the Independents, who were their common enemies. Cromwell and his associates caressed his Majesty, in order to prevent this union, and assured him they would not lay down their arms, until he should be restored to his former dignity. Charles detested the Presbyterians, as the inveterate enemies of the hierarchy, and the authors of all the troubles to which he and the kingdom had been exposed: but he prudently maintained a correspondence with both sides, in hope of being chosen as umpire to decide their difference: or at least of holding the balance between them, so as to make either scale preponderate. He had too great an opinion of his own importance. Cromwell, Ireton, and the other chiefs of the Independent faction, amused him with vain hopes, until they had obtained a complete victory over the Presbyterians and the city.

"Most historians (says Hume) have thought that Cromwell never was sincere in his professions; and that, having by force rendered himself master of the King's person, and by fair pretences acquired the countenance of the Royalists, he had employed these advantages to the enslaving of the Parliament; and afterwards thought of nothing but the estab lishment of his own unlimited authority, with which he es

teemed the restoration, and even life of the King, altogether incompatible. This opinion, so much warranted by the boundless ambition, and profound dissimulation of his character, meets with ready belief, though it is more agreeable to the narrowness of human views, and the darkness of futurity, to suppose that this daring usurper was guided by events, and did not as yet foresee, with any assurance, that unparalleled greatness which he afterwards attained. Many writers of that age have asserted, that he really intended to make a private bargain with the King; a measure which carried the most plausible appearance both for his safety and advancement; but that he found insuperable difficulties in reconciling with the wild humours of the army. The horror and antipathy of these fanatics had, for many years, been artfully fomented against Charles; and though their principles were, on all occasions, easily warped and eluded by private interest, yet was some colouring requisite, and a flat contradiction to all former professions and tenets could not be safely proposed to them. It is certain, at least, that Cromwell made use of his reason, why he admitted rarely of visits from the King's friends, and showed less favor than formerly to the royal cause. The agitators, he said, had rendered him odious to the army, and had represented him as a traitor, who, for the sake of private interest, was ready to betray the cause of God to the great enemy of piety and religion. Desperate projects, too, he asserted to be secretly formed for the murder of the King; and he pretended much to dread lest ali his authority, and that of the commanding officers, would not be able to restrain these enthusiasts from their bloody purposes."

Intelligence being daily brought to the King of menaces thrown out by the agitators, he began to think of retiring from Hampton court, where he now resided, and of putting himself in some place of safety. The guards were doubled upon him; the promiscuous concourse of people restrained; and a more jealous care exerted in attending his person; all

under colour of protecting him from danger, but really with a view of making him uneasy in his present situation. These artifices soon produced the intended effect. Charles, who was naturally apt to be swayed by counsel, and who had not access then to any good counsel, took suddenly a resolution of withdrawing, though without any concerted, or at least any rational scheme, for the future disposal of his person. Early in the evening, the King retired to his chamber, on pretence of being indisposed; and, in an hour after midnight, went down the back stairs, attended by Ashburnham and Legg, both gentlemen of the bed-chamber. Sir John Berkeley waited for him at the garden gate with horses, which they instantly mounted, and directed their route towards Hampshire. Ashburnham said he had bespoke a ship for conveying the King to some part of the continent, or to Jersey, but the vessel could not be found at the place appointed. The royal fugitives, thus disappointed, repaired to Titchfield, a seat belonging to the Earl of Southampton, and discovered himself to that nobleman's mother, who received him with the warmest cordiality. There he deliberated with his friends about his next excursion; and they advised him to cross over to the Isle of Wight, which was under the government of Hammond, a man entirely dependant on Cromwell. Ashburnham and Berkeley were sent before to exact a promise of this officer, that if he could not proteet, he would not detain his Majesty's person. Hammond seemed surprised at their address; expressed his inclination to serve his Majesty, but owned, at the same time, he was under the necessity of obeying his superiors. When he understood where the King was, he accompanied them to Titchfield with a guard of soldiers, and staid in a lower apartment, while Ashburnham went up to the King's chamber. Charles no sooner understood that Hammond was in the house, than he exclaimed, "O Jack, thou hast undone me." The other shed a flood of tears, and offered to go down and dispatch the Colonel, but the King