The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

808 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
the battle of W'orcester;' his flight and imprisonment at Chester, after that
signal defeat; and his trial and execution at Bolton in Lancashire, by the
officers of the Parliament, on the 15th of October of that year.
Immediately afterwards, Colonel Duckenfield, who, commanded at Chester
on behalf of the Parliament, proceeded with an armament of ten ships, and
a considerable military force, for the reduction of the Isle of Man.
William Christian was condemned and executed in 1662-3, for acts connected with its surrender, twelve years before, which are still involved in
obscurity; and it will be most acceptable to the general reader that we
should pass over the intermediate period,* and leave the facts regarding this'
individual, all of them extraordinary, and some of peculiar interest, to be
developed by the record of the trial, and documents derived from other
sources.
A mandate by Charles, 8th Earl of Derby, dated at Latham in September,
1662, after descanting on the heinous sin of rebellion, "aggravated by its
being instrumentalt in the death of the Lord; and stating that he is himself
concerned to revenge his father's blood," orders William Christian to be
proceeded against forthwith, for all his illegal actions at, before, or after,
the year 1651, (a pretty sweeping range.) The indictment charges him
with " being the head of an insurrection against the countess of Derby in
1651, assuming the power unto himself, and depriving her Ladyship, his
Lordship, and heirs thereof."
A series of depositions appear on record from the 3d to the 13th October,
and a reference by the precious depositaries of justice of that day, to the
twenty-four Kevs,. "Whether upon the examination taken and read before,
you find Mr. W. Christian, of Ronaldsway, within compass of the statute
of the year 1422, -that is, to receive a sentence without quest, or to be tried
in the ordinary course of law." This body, designated on the record "so
many of the Keys as were then present," were in number seventeen; but
not being yet sufficiently select to approve of sentence without trial, made
their return, To be tried by course of law.
On the 26th November, it is recorded, that the Governor and AttorneyGeneral having proceeded to the jail "with a guard of soldiers, to require
him (Christian) to the bar to receive his trial, he refused, and denied to
come, and abide the same"-(admirable courtesy to invite, instead of bringing him to the bar!) Whereupon the Governor demanded the law of
Deemster Norris, who then sat in judication. Deemster John Christian
having not appeared, and Mr. Edward Christian,~ his son, and assistant,
having alsoforborne to sit in this Court, he the said Deemster Norris craved
the advice and assistance of the twenty-four Keys, and the said Deemster
and Keys deemed the law therein, to wit, that he is at the mercy of the
Lord for life and goods.
It will be observed, that seven of the Keys were formerly absent, on what
account we shall presently see. All this was very cleverly arranged by the
* Some readers may desire an outline of this period. The lordship of the island was given to Lord Fairfax,
who deputed commissioners to regulate its affairs; one of them (Chfaloner) lublished an account of the
island in 1656. Hle puts down William Christian as Receiver-General in 1653. We find his name, as Governor,
firom 1656 to 1658, (Sacheverill, p. 101,) in which year he was succeeded by Chaloner himnself. Among the
alnv.olalles of those times, it would seem that he had retained the office of Receiver while officielting as Governor; and episcopacy having been abolished, and the receipts of the see added to those of the exchequer,
he had large accounts to settle, for which Chaloner sequestered his estates in his absence, and imprisoned
anld held to bail his brothter John, for aiding what lie calls his escape; his son George returned fromt England,
by permission of Lord Fairfax, to settle his father's accounts. Clhaloner informs us, that tihe revenues of the
suppressed see were not approprited to the private use of Lord Fairfax, who'for the better encouragemnent
and support of the msinisters of the Gospel and for tile promoting of learnling, hath conferred all this revenue
upon the lnlinisters, and also for maintaining free schools, i. e. at Castletown, Peel Douglass, and Ramsay."
Clialoher pays a liberal tlibute to tile talents of the clergy, and tile learning and piety of the late bishops.
t See the rem.ark in Christian's dying speech, that the late Earl had been executed eight days before the
insurrection.
i The court for crimnital trials was composed of the governor and council (including the deemsters) and
tihe keys, wlio also, witlh the Lord, composed the three branches of the legislative body; and it was the practice in cases of doubt to refer points of customary law to the deemsters and keys.
~ The grantdson of EvaL7. It appneals by the proceedings of the King inl co(nlcil, 1663, that "he sdid, swhen the
courtr fif-ts,edl to sladmit of the decrrased William Christisn's plea of the Act'of Indemnity, smake his protestation
ag'aiu.st tleir ill(tnci. proccedtnsi, and did withdraw himiself, and came to England to solicit his SMajesty, and
ilnploro -ls ustice."