That the said Charles Stuart, being
admitted King of England, and therein entrusted with a
limited power to govern by and according to the laws of
the land, and not otherwise; and by his trust, oath and
office, being obliged to use the power committed to him
for the good and benefit of the people, and for the
preservation of their rights and liberties; yet,
nevertheless, out of a wicked design to erect and uphold
in himself an unlimited and tyrannical power to rule
according to his will, and to overthrow the rights and
liberties of the people, yea, to take away and make void
the foundations thereof, and of all redress and remedy
of misgovernment, which by the fundamental constitutions
of this kingdom were reserved on the people’s behalf in
the right and power of frequent and successive
Parliaments, or national meetings in Council; he, the
said Charles Stuart, for accomplishment of such his
designs, and for the protecting of himself and his
adherents in his and their wicked practices, to the same
ends hath traitorously and maliciously levied war
against the present Parliament, and the people therein
represented ... By all which it appeareth that the said
Charles Stuart hath been, and is, the occasioner, author
and continuer of the said unnatural, cruel and bloody
wars; and therein guilty of all the treasons, murders,
rapines, burnings, spoils, desolations, damages and
mischiefs to this nation, acted and committed in the
said wars, or occasioned thereby.
The Charge against the King,
presented before the High Court of Justice at
Westminster, 20 January 1649