The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 263: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, oe ~ ya ~w ? - io , let us return to Charles Stuart, ex-king of England. To all who have read any history, however brief, of this country, the last sad moments of Charles I. are familiar, but we must for the sake of our story give a short account of that me- morable day. The last night of all was spent by the king in the palace of St. James, ‘Strange to relate, he slept soundly for four hours,” say most historians, why strange ? With the consciousness that a violent death awaits them in the morning, most condemned men have slept as soundly as he. Once only he awoke, when Herbert, who slept in the same room, seemed restless and distur He chid his attendant, then, and bade him take his rest, as he had a great work to do that ay. About two hours before the cold and dismal daybreak of the 30th January, the king arose, dressed with unusual care, and put on an extra shirt, because of the inclemency of the weather. “Tt is cold,” he said, “and I tremble in the chilly;air; they may think I am afraid.” He spent some time with Bishop Juxon, and then about ten o’clock Colonel Hacker tapped softly at his door to tell him they were y: Herbert was terribly unnerved, and trembled as he walked towards the door. “Why do you tremble? Why do you try to make me lose my presence of mind?” said the king. ‘*Go, open the door boldly.” erbert did so, Colonel Hacker then entered. His voice faltered as he spoke, and he was far paler than the king. “Your majesty,” he said, “I have come to summon you. Is your majesty ready ?” “Tam, I have long since pre myself.” ‘Will your majesty, then, follow me?” said the colonel, bowing roapectfally. The passage from St. James's to Whitehall was made on foot. In the park through which they passed several companies of foot soldiers were drawn up with drums beating and colours flying. Charles walked erect and very fast, having on his right Bishop Juxon, and on the left Colonel Tomlinson, and being followed by a guard of halberdiers and by some of his own gentlemen and servants, who walked bareheaded. There was no shouting, no gesticulating, no turmoil of any kind. The troops, officers and men, and the specta- tors of all ranks, were silent as the grave, save now and then when a whisper as to his appear- ance escaped from seme one of them. As they neared Whitehall, however, Colonel Tomlinson turned to Charles. ‘ Sire,” he said, ‘are you sure now, at this extreme moment, that you were not consenting to your father’s death ?” “Friend,” said the king, “if I had no other sin—I speak it with reverence to God's majesty— I assure thee I would never ask him pardon.” The colonel made no reply. Presently they reached Whitehall. Passing, here, through the long gateway. Charles went into his own old cabinet chamber, Here he was delayed in consequence of some defect in the scaffold, which, as I have before said, the workmen came to remedy, when Bisck- lock and the others imagined that the people's justice was about to be fulfilled. He passed this time in prayer with Bishop Juxon. He refused to dine, as he had before taken the sacrament ; but about twelve o'clock at noon he drank a glass of claret wine, and ate 3 piece of bread. Then, being summoned by Colonel! Hacker, who came to the chamber door, he went therein with Juxen, Colonel Tomlinson, Hacker, and the guards, through the Banqueting House to the scaffold. The latter, as wel] as its floor, was draped in black, and the axe and block were laid in the middle of it. As I have before described, companies of foot and horse were on every side of it, and multi- tudes of people had come to be tors. Fixing his eyes firmly on the block, he asked Colonel Hacker if there were no place higher, and he then addressed a speech to the gentlemen ‘upon the scaffold. Perceiving that the people could not come near enough to hear him, he said he felt it his duty as an honest man, a good king, and a good Christian, to declare his innocence. “Innocent!” he said, as regarded all except Strafford’s death, for which he acknowledged that the judgment of Heaven was just upon him While he spoke,’ Sir Philip Arden touched the axe. The king turned sharply round, “ Hurt not the axe,” he cried; “ that may hurt me.” Then he added, turning to Colonel Hacker— “Take care that they do not put me in pain.” To a gentleman who ap ed the block, he said again, as if fearful that some untoward incident might force him to appear a coward, “Take heed of the axe—pray take heed of the axe.” Two men in disguises and vizors stood by the block. The one was short, and heavily built. He was an assistant. The other was tall, thin, and yet powerfully made, THIS WAS SIMON LAWLESS, His vow had been kept as yet. There only remained the blow and the death to complete all. “ Sir,” said Charles, “I forgive you whoever you may be.” * Forgive me not,” returned Lawless. “Ido my duty to England and the world.” ‘‘ That voice ! murmured the king. “ Let us, then, end quickly this scene. I shall say but very short prayers, and then thrust out my hands for a signal,” Having put on his cap, he turned again to the executioner, “ Does my hair trouble you?” he said. — Then, with Simon’s assistance, he put it all under his cap. Turning to Bishop Juxon when this had been done, he said, ~ % GOVE OOO CO 1