The Tryal of the King. Engraver unknown. [n.p. & n.d.]

The Commons decreed that the House of Lords no longer had any power. All power of government resided in the Commons, now called “The Parliament.” This new body decreed that the king should stand trial. Acting on its own behalf, it created “The High Court of Justice” to try the king, and appointed 135 commissioners to this court. Only 54 of these attended the first meeting and 16 of them refused to sign anything discussed. At the second meeting only 46 attended, but elected a President of the High Court of Justice, John Bradshaw. He was in Cheshire at the time and was not a member of Parliament. At the next meeting, at which only 34 were present, Bradshaw begged to be excused from serving. His plea was denied. A very small number of participants were able to dismiss the upper house, restrict membership in the House of Commons, set-up its own court and sentence the head of state to death.

LC28 2.1