January 20, 1649, the king appeared before the High Court of Justice
assembled in Westminster Hall. On January 27, judgment of death was
pronounced against "Charles Stuart, King of England." Two days later,
upon January 29, which

was the day before he dyed, he desired he might see and take
his last farewell to his children, which with some regret
was granted, and the Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of
Gloucester brought to him. The King taking the Duke upon his
knee, said "Sweet heart, now will they cut off thy father's
head, mark child what I say, they will cut off my head, and
perhaps make thee a King, but you must not be a King so long
as your brothers Charles and James be living, for they will
cut off your brothers' heads (when they can catch them) and
cut off thy head too at the last, and therefore I charge you
not to be made a King by them." At which words the child
smiling said, "I will be torn in pieces first," which
falling so unexpectedly from one so young made the King
rejoice exceedingly.... And after that day he never saw his
father's face more.[99]

[Illustration: HENRY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.]

Whatever were King Charles's faults, and they were many, he at least
knew how to die. The next day after this interview, he came on foot from
St. James's to his banqueting room at Whitehall, and laid his head on
the block like a gallant and Christian gentleman.

What a strange and tragic memory that meeting must have been for the
little Duke of Gloucester. At last he saw his unknown father; and found
him a sad, worn man, on the eve of dying a terrible death.

But the child's troubles were not to end here. The next year he and his
sister were taken to Carisbroke Castle in the Isle of Wight, where their
father had been confined for so long. And there Elizabeth fell into a
consumption and died.

"Now is the little Duke left totally alone, to take comfort only in his
solitary meditations,"[100] says his historian, who indulges in rather
violent expressions against the Protectorate. For he goes on to call the
Parliament "those monsters at Westminster." The so-called "monsters"
were somewhat embarrassed by the possession of the young duke; and at
last resolved to send him abroad to complete his education on certain
conditions.

Henry was now eleven years old; and the prospect of comparative freedom
was very welcome to him. "My father told me" (said he to on