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If he have lived like a tyrant； shall all be forgotten because he hath died
like a martyr？
〃He was a man； as I think； who had so much semblance of virtues as
might make his vices most dangerous。 He was not a tyrant after our
wonted English model。 The second Richard； the second and fourth
Edwards； and the eighth Harry； were men profuse； gay； boisterous； lovers
of women and of wine； of no outward sanctity or gravity。 Charles was a
ruler after the Italian fashion； grave； demure； of a solemn carriage； and a
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sober diet； as constant at prayers as a priest； as heedless of oaths as an
atheist。〃
Mr Cowley answered somewhat sharply： 〃I am sorry； Sir； to hear you
speak thus。 I had hoped that the vehemence of spirit which was caused
by these violent times had now abated。 Yet； sure； Mr Milton； whatever
you may think of the character of King Charles； you will not still justify
his murder？〃
〃Sir；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃I must have been of a hard and strange nature；
if the vehemence which was imputed to me in my younger days had not
been diminished by the afflictions wherewith it hath pleased Almighty
God to chasten my age。 I will not now defend all that I may heretofore
have written。 But this I say； that I perceive not wherefore a king should
be exempted from all punishment。 Is it just that where most is given
least should be required？ Or politic that where there is the greatest
power to injure there should be no danger to restrain？ But； you will say；
there is no such law。 Such a law there is。 There is the law of
selfpreservation written by God himself on our hearts。 There is the
primal compact and bond of society； not graven on stone； or sealed with
wax； nor put down on parchment； nor set forth in any express form of
words by men when of old they came together； but implied in the very act
that they so came together； pre…supposed in all subsequent law； not to be
repealed by any authority； nor invalidated by being omitted in any code；
inasmuch as from thence are all codes and all authority。
〃Neither do I well see wherefore you cavaliers； and； indeed； many of
us whom you merrily call Roundheads； distinguish between those who
fought against King Charles； and specially after the second commission
given to Sir Thomas Fairfax； and those who condemned him to death。
Sure； if his person were inviolable； it was as wicked to lift the sword
against it at Naseby as the axe at Whitehall。 If his life might justly be
taken； why not in course of trial as well as by right of war？
〃Thus much in general as touching the right。 But； for the execution
of King Charles in particular； I will not now undertake to defend it。
Death is inflicted； not that the culprit may die； but that the state may be
thereby advantaged。 And； from all that I know； I think that the death of
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King Charles hath more hindered than advanced the liberties of England。
〃First； he left an heir。 He was in captivity。 The heir was in freedom。
He was odious to the Scots。 The heir was favoured by them。 To kill the
captive therefore； whereby the heir； in the apprehension of all royalists；
became forthwith kingwhat was it； in truth； but to set their captive free；
and to give him besides other great advantages？
〃Next； it was a deed most odious to the people； and not only to your
party； but to many among ourselves； and； as it is perilous for any
government to outrage the public opinion； so most was it perilous for a
government which had from that opinion alone its birth； its nurture； and its
defence。
〃Yet doth not this properly belong to our dispute； nor can these faults
be justly charged upon that most renowned Parliament。 For； as you know；
the high court of justice was not established until the House had been
purged of such members as were adverse to the army； and brought wholly
under the control of the chief officers。〃
〃And who；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃levied that army？ Who commissioned
those officers？ Was not the fate of the Commons as justly deserved as
was that of Diomedes； who was devoured by those horses whom he had
himself taught to feed on the flesh and blood of men？ How could they
hope that others would respect laws which they had themselves insulted；
that swords which had been drawn against the prerogatives of the king
would be put up at an ordinance of the Commons？ It was believed； of
old； that there were some devils easily raised but never to be laid；
insomuch that； if a magician called them up； he should be forced to find
them always some employment； for； though they would do all his bidding；
yet； if he left them but for one moment without some work of evil to
perform； they would turn their claws against himself。 Such a fiend is an
army。 They who evoke it cannot dismiss it。 They are at once its
masters and its slaves。 Let them not fail to find for it task after task of
blood and rapine。 Let them not leave it for a moment in repose； lest it tear
them in pieces。
〃Thus was it with that famous assembly。 They formed a force which
they could neither govern nor resist。 They made it powerful。 They
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made it fanatical。 As if military insolence were not of itself sufficiently
dangerous； they heightened it with spiritual pride；they encouraged their
soldiers to rave from the tops of tubs against the men of Belial； till every
trooper thought himself a prophet。 They taught them to abuse popery； till
every drummer fancied that he was as infallible as a pope。
〃Then it was that religion changed her nature。 She was no longer the
parent of arts and letters； of wholesome knowledge； of innocent pleasures；
of blessed household smiles。 In their place came