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of the seventeenth century met one another.
     Harrison’s extreme religious opinions were matched in rigidity by Charles’s view of himself as a king appointed by God to
     rule with absolute powers. * At Fareham that evening, the two men dined together. Given his situation, Charles decided a little flattery would not go
     amiss. He told Harrison that he could see by his physiognomy he was a valiant man. Having softened up his companion, he then
     said he had heard that Harrison had plotted to murder him but that now he had met him and seen his noble appearance he knew
     it could not be so. Harrison graciously replied that he hated all such ‘base, obscure undertakings’. 18
    The next day, they headed to Bagshot, where the king was entertained to lunch by Lord and Lady Newburgh. The Newburghs wereroyalist sympathisers and planned to help Charles escape. Their idea was that the king would complain that his horse had gone
     lame, whereupon Newburgh would provide him with an especially fast animal and Charles would race off into the distance. After
     lunch, Harrison spotted that the king’s retinue were being offered some fine horses. He immediately pointed out to Charles
     that his own cavalry horses were of similar fine quality. Realising this was Harrison’s way of saying he knew what was afoot,
     the king put all thought of flight from his mind.
    As the troop approached Windsor, Charles passed within three miles of Runnymede, where King John had been forced into signing
     a document granting liberties to his people four centuries earlier. Charles felt himself made of sterner stuff than John.
     He would sign no agreement giving away his royal prerogatives. Among the clauses of the Magna Carta was one which Charles
     approved of very much. This clause stated that every man had the right to be tried by his peers. As the king had no peers,
     it followed he could not be put on trial. No matter how grave the misdemeanours of a ruling king, no matter how much he made
     them suffer, he could not be held accountable by his subjects.
    This very point had thoughtfully been made by Charles’s father. In an instruction manual on monarchy, James I had described
     the condition of a king: ‘The absolute master of the lives and possessions of his subjects; his acts are not open to inquiry
     or dispute, and no misdeeds can ever justify resistance.’ 19
    Charles had taken this to heart. James had also given some good advice: be a wise king, know one’s subjects, don’t be a tyrant,
     participate in the council of the land, choose a wife of the same religion, and rule in a Christian manner. Unfortunately
     for him, Charles ignored almost all of this. Now he was about to pay the price for swimming against the tide of Reformation
     England.
    On the evening of 23 December, Charles completed his journey, passing under the portcullis of Windsor Castle in heavy rain.
     By now he was resigned to whatever turn events might take; but he wascertain that he could not be put on trial, for he believed the laws of England did not allow it. A monarch was appointed by
     God and no one was above the monarch. This was held to be the case across all European kingdoms and was well understood.
    The Rump Parliament had not moved so far with its revolutionary intentions to be stumped by existing laws. It was determined
     that a way would be found to try the king. On the same day that Charles arrived in Windsor, the Commons appointed a committee
     of thirty-eight MPs and lawyers to draw up a charge against him. Whitelocke and Widdrington were not among its members. However,
     when the committee called for them to attend on Christmas Day and again on Boxing Day, Whitelocke decided on what action to
     take. The affable lawyer was famous for his clear-sightedness. He informed his friend Widdrington that his coach was ready.
     The two friends made off as fast as Sir Bulstrode’s horses could gallop. Their swift departure provided Oliver Cromwell with
     a clear