Page:History of the Kings & Queens of England and Scotland.pdf/6

 that he intended to govern without a parliament. The national discontent increased, and as if the discontent in England was not enough, Charles and his councillors attempted to introduce Episcopacy into Scotland; when the Scots, rather than submit, had recourse to arms. For the purpose of obtaining supplies, after other methods had failed, he held first one parliament, then another: the last was the celebrated Long Parliament. This parliament commenced measures which ended in the execution of Lord Strafford, abolished certain obnoxious courts, deprived the crown of many of its prerogatives, and broke out into an open rupture with the king, success sometimes attending one side, sometimes another, until the battle of Marston Moor, when the king’s misfortunes commenced. Laud, who had been sent to tho tower at the commencement of the war, was executed, and Episcopacy abolished.

Charles, after the battle of Naseby, gave himself up to the Scottish army, which some time before had joined the Parliamentarians, and was by them delivered into the hands of his enemies. After being confined in different places, and attempting to make his escape from Hampton Court, he was at last brought to London, where he was tried and condemned. He was executed on the thirtieth of January, 1649, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and twenty-fourth of his reign. The person of Charles was of the middle size, robust, and well made; with a pleasing, though melancholy countenance, which might be occasioned by the misfortunes he had suffered. Eminent men in this reign:—Earl of Strafford; Archbishop Laud; John Hampden; Earl of Falkland; Lord Edward Herbert of Cherbury.