About the quote: Spoken on 4 January 1642, when he marched into the House of Commons and ordered five men to be arrested. They had escaped, and were protected by the Parliament.
"Sweet-heart, now they will cut off thy father's head. Mark, child, what I say: they will cut off my head, and perhaps make thee a king. But mark what I say: you must not be a king, so long as your brothers Charles and James do live."[1]
Simple: Dear, now they will cut off your father's head. Note, child, what I say: they will cut off my head, and perhaps make you king. But note what I say: you must not be a king because your [elder] brothers Charles and James are still alive.
"You manifestly wrong even the poorest ploughman, if you demand not his free consent."[1]
Simple: You greatly wrong the poorest ploughman if you do not demand his acceptance.
"As to the King, the laws of the land will clearly instruct you for that...For the people; and truly I desire their liberty and freedom, as much as any body: but I must tell you, that their liberty and freedom consists in having the government of those laws, by which their life and their goods may be most their own; 'tis not for having share in government [sirs] that is nothing pertaining to 'em. A subject and a sovereign are clean different things."[1]
Simple: To the king, the laws of the country will clearly guide you for that...For the people; and really I want their freedom and liberty as much as anybody: but I must tell you, that their freedom and liberty is made up of having the government of those laws, by which their life and their belongings may be most their own; it is not for having a share in government that is about them. A subject and a sovereign are very different things.
"If I would have given way to an arbitrary way, for to have all laws changed according to the power of the sword, I needed not to have come here; and therefore I tell you (and I pray God it be not laid to your charge) that I am the martyr of the people."[1]
Simple: If I gave way to an erratic way, to have all the laws changed in line with the sword, I did not need to come here; and thus I tell you (and I pray God that it is not put in your hands) that I am a martyr of the people.
"I die a Christian, according to the profession of the Church of England, as I found it left me by my father."[1]
Simple: I die a Christian, in line with the profession of the Church of England as it was left to me by my father.
About the quote: At the scaffold at Whitehall Palace before his execution, January 30 1649.
"I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world."[1]
Simple: I go from a bad to a good crown, where nothing can disturb me, no disturbance at all.
About the quote: At the scaffold at Whitehall Palace before his execution, January 30 1649.
References
↑ 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6"Charles I". Published in Sir Charles Petrie (ed.) Letters of King Charles I (1935). Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (September 3, 1636). Retrieved on November 16, 2008
↑Roberts, Stephen K. (2004). "Theme: Five members (act 1641)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved on November 16, 2008