Herbert I : Not Varying From His Principle
Monday the 22d. of January, Col. Hacker brought his Majesty the Second time before the Court, then sitting, as formerly in Westminster-Hall. Now the more noble the Person is, the more heavy is the Spectacle, and enclines generous Hearts to a Sympathy in his Sufferings ; here it was otherwise; for so soon as his Majesty came into Westminster-Hall, some Soldiers made a hideous Cry for Justice, Justice ; some of the Officers joyning with them. At which uncouth Noise the King seem’d somewhat abash’d, but overcame it with Patience. Sure, to persecute a distressed Soul, and to vex him that is already wounded at the Heart, is the very pitch of Wickedness ; yea, the utmost Extremity Malice can do, or Affliction suffer, saith Dr. Andrews, the Learned Bishop of Winchester, in one of his Sermons upon the Passion, preach’d before Queen Elizabeth upon Good-Friday, and here applicable. As his Majesty returned from the Hall to Cotton-House, a Souldier that was upon the Guard, said aloud, as the King pass’d by, God bless you, Sir. The King thank’d him ; but an uncivil Officer struck him with his Cane upon the Head ; which his Majesty observing, said The Punishment exceeded the Offence. Being come to his Apartment in Cotton-House, he immediately, upon his Knees, went to Prayer. Afterwards he asked Mr. Herbert if he heard that Cry of the Soldiers for Justice ? Who answer’d, he did, and marvell’d thereat. So did not I ( said the King ) for l am well assur’d the Soldiers bear no Malice to me ; The Cry was, no doubt given by their Officers, for whom the Soldiers would do the like, were there occasion.
His Majesty likewise demanded of him, How many there were that sate in the Court, and who they were ? He replied, They were upwards of Threescore, some of them Members of the House of Commons, others were Commanders in the Army, and other some Citizens of London ; some of them he knew, but not all. The King then said, He view’d all of them, but knew not the Faces of above Eight, and those he named.
Tuesday the 23d of January, the King was the Third time summoned, and, as formerly, guarded to the Court; where ( as at other times ) he persisted in his Judgment, That they had no legal Jurisdiction or Authority to proceed after that manner against him. Upon which, the Solicitor began to offer something to the President of the Court, but was interrupted by the King, gently laying his Staff upon the Solicitor’s Arm, the Head of which being Silver, happen’d to fall off, which Mr. Herbert ( who as his Majesty appointed, waited near his Chair ) stoop’d to take up; but falling on the contrary side, to which he could not reach, the King took it up himself. This by some was look’d upon as a bad Omen.
The Court sate but a little while that day ; the King not varying from his Principle. At his going back to Cotton-House, there were many Men and Women, who ( not without some Hazard ) crowded into the Passage behind the Soldiers, that as his Majesty pass’d, said aloud, God Almighty preserve your Majesty. The King return’d them Thanks for their Prayers.
Sir Thomas Herbert : Memoirs of the Two Last Years of the Reign of KING CHARLES I — 1839 4th edition.
