Strafford said, in his letter to the king,
"To set your Majesty's conscience at Liberty, I do most humbly
beseech your Majesty for Prevention of Evils, which may happen by
your Refusal, to pass this Bill. Sir, My Consent shall more
acquit you herein to God, than all the World can do besides; To a
willing Man there is no Injury done; and as by God's Grace, I
forgive all the World, with a calmness and Meekness of infinite
Contentment to my dislodging Soul, so, Sir, to you I can give the
Life of this World with all the cheerfulness imaginable, in the
just Acknowledgment of your exceeding Favors; and only beg that
in your Goodness you would vouchsafe to cast your gracious Regard
upon my poor Son and his three sisters, less or more, and no
otherwise than as their unfortunate Father may hereafter appear
more or less guilty of this Death. God long preserve your
Majesty."
On receiving this letter the king caused the bill to be signed. He would not do it with his own hands, but commissioned two of his council to do it in his name. He then sent a messenger to Strafford to announce the decision, and to inform him that he must prepare to die. The messenger observed that the earl seemed surprised; and after hearing that the king had signed the bill, he quoted, in a tone of despair, the words of Scripture, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men, for in them is no salvation." Historians have thought it strange that Strafford should have expressed this disappointment when he had himself requested the king to resist the popular will no longer; and they infer from it that he was not sincere in the request, but supposed that the king would regard it as an act of nobleness and generosity on his part, that would render him more unwilling than ever to consent to his destruction, and that he was accordingly surprised and disappointed when he found that the king had taken him at his word. It is said, however, by some historians, that this letter was a forgery, and that it was written by some of Strafford's enemies to lead the king to resist no longer. The reader, by perusing the letter again, can perhaps form some judgment whether such a document was more likely to have been fabricated by enemies, or really written by the unhappy prisoner himself.
The king did not entirely give up the hope of saving his friend, even after the bill of attainder was signed. He addressed the following message to the House of Lords.
My Lords,-I did yesterday satisfy the Justice of this Kingdom by
passing the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford: but
Mercy being as inherent and inseparable to a King as Justice, I
desire at this time in some measure to show that likewise, by
suffering that unfortunate Man to fulfill the natural course of
his Life in a close Imprisonment: yet so, if ever he make the
least Offer to escape, or offer directly or indirectly to meddle
in any sort of public Business, especially with Me either by
Message or Letter, it shall cost him his Life without farther
Process. This, if it may be done without the Discontentment of my
People, will be an unspeakable Contentment to me.
"I will not say that your complying with me in this my intended
Mercy, shall make me more willing, but certainly 'twill make me
more cheerful in granting your just Grievances: But if no less
than his Life can satisfie my People, I must say Let justice be
done. Thus again recommending the consideration of my Intention
to you, I rest,
"Your Unalterable and Affectionate Friend,
"CHARLES R."
[Illustration: STRAFFORD AND LAUD]
The Lords were inexorable. Three days from the time of signing the bill, arrangements were made for conducting the prisoner to the scaffold. Laud, who had been his friend and fellow-laborer in the king's service, was confined also in the Tower, awaiting his turn to come to trial. They were not allowed to visit each other, but Strafford sent word to Laud requesting him to be at his window at the time when he was to pass, to bid him farewell, and to give him his blessing. Laud accordingly appeared at the window, and Strafford, as he passed, asked for the prelate's prayers and for his blessing. The old man, for Laud was now nearly seventy years of age, attempted to speak, but he could not command himself sufficiently to express what he wished to say, and he fell back into the arms of his attendants. "God protect you," said Strafford, and walked calmly on.
He went to the place of execution with the composure and courage of a hero. He spoke freely to those around him, asserted his innocence, sent messages to his absent friends, and said he was ready and willing to die. The scaffold, in such executions as this, is a platform slightly raised, with a block and chairs upon it, all covered with black cloth. A part of the dress has to be removed just before the execution, in order that the neck of the sufferer may be fully exposed to the impending blow. Strafford made these preparations himself, and said, as he did so, that he was in no wise afraid of death, but that he should lay his head upon that block as cheerfully as he ever did upon his pillow.
* * * * *
Charles found his position in no respect improved by the execution of Strafford. The Commons, finding their influence and power increasing, grew more and more bold, and were from this time so absorbed in the events connected with the progress of their quarrel with the king, that they left Laud to pine in his prison for about four years. They then found time to act over again the solemn and awful scene of a trial for treason before the House of Peers, the passing of a bill of attainder, and an execution on Tower Hill. Laud was over seventy years of age when the ax fell upon him. He submitted to his fate with a calmness and heroism in keeping with his age and his character. He said, in fact, that none of his enemies could be more desirous to send him out of life than he was to go.
CHAPTER IX. CIVIL WAR.
1641-1646
Increasing demands of the Commons.-The king gradually loses his power.-The king determines to change his policy.-The king sends his officers to the House.-The king goes to the House himself.-The king's speech in the House.-Great excitement in the House.-The speaker's reply.-Results of the king's rashness.-Committee of the Commons.-The king goes to London.-Cries of the people.-Preparations to escort the committee to Westminster.-Report of the committee.-Alarm of the king.-The king yields.-Increasing excitement.-Civil war.-Its nature.-Cruelties and miseries of civil war.-Taking sides between the king and Parliament.-Preparations for war.-Fruitless negotiations.-Messages between the king and Parliament.-Ravages of the war.-Death of Hampden.-Prince Rupert.-His knowledge and ingenuity.-Progress of the war.-Difficulty of making peace.-The women clamor for peace.-Queen Henrietta's arrival in England.-The vice-admiral cannonades the queen.-The queen's danger.-She seeks shelter in a trench.-The queen joins her husband.-Her influence.-The royal cause declines.-The Prince of Wales.-Hopeless condition of the king.-Invasion by the Scots.-The king surrenders to the Scots.-End of the civil war.
The way in which the king came at last to a final rupture with Parliament was this. The victory which the Commons gained in the case of Strafford had greatly increased their confidence and their power, and the king found, for some months afterward, that instead of being satisfied with the concessions he had made, they were continually demanding more. The more he yielded, the more they encroached. They grew, in a word, bolder and bolder, in proportion to their success. They considered themselves doing the state a great and good service by disarming tyranny of its power. The king, on the other hand, considered them as undermining all the foundations of good government, and as depriving him of personal rights, the most sacred and solemn that could vest in any human being.