come to arrest Colonel Greaves, and to secure the person of the king, that he might not be carried away by their enemies.  With a pistol in his hand he then demanded admission to Charles; but the grooms of the bedchamber interposed; and, after a violent altercation, he was induced to withdraw.  During the day the parliamentary guards were replaced by these strangers; about ten at night Joyce again demanded admission to the royal bedchamber, and informed the king that his comrades were apprehensive of a rescue, and wished to conduct him to a place of greater security.  Charles signified his assent, on the condition that what then passed between them in private should be repeated in public; and at six the next morning, took his station on the steps at the door, while the troopers drew up before him, with Joyce a little in advance of the line.  This dialogue ensued:—­

KING.—­Mr. Joyce, I desire to ask you, what authority you have to take charge of my person and convey me away?

JOYCE.—­I am sent by authority of the army, to prevent the design of their enemies, who seek to involve the kingdom a second time in blood.

KING.—­That is no lawful authority.  I know of none in England but my own, and, after mine, that of the parliament.  Have you any written commission from Sir Thomas Fairfax?

JOYCE.—­I have the authority of the army, and the general is included in the army.

KING.—­That is no answer.  The general is the head of the army.  Have you any written commission?

JOYCE.—­I beseech your majesty to ask me no more questions.  There is my commission, pointing to the troopers behind him.

KING, with a smile—­I never before read such a commission; but it is written in characters fair and legible enough; a company of as handsome proper gentlemen as I have seen a long while.  But to remove me hence, you must use absolute force, unless you give me satisfaction as to these reasonable and just demands which I make:  that I may be used with honour and respect, and that I may not be forced in any thing against my conscience or honour, though I hope that my resolution is so fixed that no force can cause me to do a base thing.  You are masters of my body, my soul is above your reach.

The troopers signified their assent by acclamation; and Joyce rejoined, that their principle was not to force any man’s conscience, much less that of their sovereign.  Charles proceeded to demand the attendance of his own servants, and, when this had been granted, asked whither they meant to conduct him.  Some mentioned Oxford, others Cambridge, but, at his own request, Newmarket was preferred.  As soon as he had retired, the commissioners protested against the removal of the royal person, and called on the troopers present to come over to them, and maintain the authority of parliament.  But they replied with one voice “None, none;” and the king, trusting himself to Joyce and his companions, rode that day as far as Hinchinbrook House, and afterwards proceeded to Childersley, not far from Cambridge.[1]