The day after the king was condemned to die, “Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester, her brother, came to take their sad farewell of the king their father, and to ask his blessing. This was the twenty-ninth of January. The Princess, being the elder, was the most sensible of her royal father’s condition, as appeared by her sorrowful look and excessive weeping; and her little brother seeing his sister weep, he took the like impression, though, by reason of his tender age, he could not have the like apprehensions. The king raised them both from off their knees; he kissed them, gave them his blessing, and setting them on his knees, admonished them concerning their duty and loyal observance to the queen their mother, the prince that was his successor, love to the Duke of York and his other relations. The king then gave them all his jewels, save the George he wore, which was cut out in an onyx with great curiosity, and set about with twenty-one fair diamonds, and the reverse set with the like number; and again kissing his children, had such pretty and pertinent answers from them both, as drew tears of joy and love from his eyes; and then, praying God Almighty to bless them, he turned about, expressing a tender and fatherly affection. Most sorrowful was this parting, the young princess shedding tears and crying lamentably, so as moved others to pity that formerly were hard-hearted; and at opening the chamber-door, the king returned hastily from the window and kissed them and blessed them.” So this poor little prince and princess never saw their father again. [Illustration: Parting of King Charles and his children.] The next morning very early, the king called Mr. Herbert to help him to dress, and said it was like a second marriage-day, and he wished to be well dressed, for before night he hoped to be in heaven. While he was dressing, he said, “Death is not terrible to me! I bless God that I am prepared.” Good Bishop Juxon then came and prayed with Charles, till Colonel Hacker, who had the care of the king, came to call them. [Illustration: King Charles I. on the Scaffold.] Then the king walked to Whitehall, and as he went one soldier prayed “God bless” him. And so he passed to the banqueting house, in front of which a scaffold was built. King Charles was brought out upon it; and, after speaking a short time to his friends, and to good Bishop Juxon, he knelt down and laid his head upon the block, and a man in a mask cut off his head with one stroke. The bishop and Mr. Herbert then took their master’s body and head, and laid them in a coffin, and buried them in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, where several kings had been buried before. CHAPTER L. THE COMMONWEALTH.—1649 to 1660.