1649 Tuesday, January 30th. Execution: Charles Stuart his death warrant states, was beheaded:
Before the execution it was reported that he wore two shirts to prevent the cold weather causing any noticeable shivers that the crowd could have mistaken for fear or weakness.The execution took place at on a scaffold in front of the Banqueting House, Whitehall. Charles Stuart was separated from the people by large ranks of soldiers, and his last speech reached only those with him on the scaffold, he declared that he had desired the liberty and freedom of the people as much as any," but I must tell you that their liberty and freedom consists in having government. It is not their having a share in the government; that is nothing appertaining unto them, subject and sovereign are clean different things".
Charles Stuart put his head on the block after saying a prayer and signaled the executioner when he was ready; he was then beheaded with one clean stroke. His last words were,"I shall go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be". Philip Henry records that moments after the execution, a moan was heard from the assembled crowd, some of whom then dipped their handkerchiefs in his blood, thus starting the cult of the martyr king. However, no other eyewitness source, including Samuel Pepys, records this, Philip Henry's account was written during the Restoration, some twelve years after the event though Philip Henry was nineteen when the King was executed and he and his family were Royalist propaganda writers. The executioner was masked, and there is some debate over his identity, it is known that the Commissioners appro- ached Richard Brandon, the common Hangman of London, but that he refused, and contemporary sources do not generally identify him as the King's headsman. Ellis's historical Inquiries, however, names him as the executioner, contending that he stated so before dying. It is possible he relented and agreed to undertake the commission, but there are others who have been identified; an Irishman named Gunning is widely believed to have beheaded Charles Stuart and a plaque naming him the executioner is on show in the Kings Head pub in Galway, Ireland.
William Hewlett was convicted of regicide after the Restoration. In 1661, two people identified as "Dayborne and Bickerstaffe", were arrested but then discharged. Henry Walker, a revolutionary journalist, or his brother William, were suspected but never charged; various local legends around England, name local worthies. An examination performed in1813 at Windsor suggests that the execution was carried out by an experienced headsman. It was common practice for the head of a traitor to be held up and exhibited to the crowd with the words "Behold the head of a traitor!" Although Charles Stuart's head was exhibited, the words were not used. In an unprecedented gesture, one of the revolutionary leaders, Lieutenant-general Oliver Cromwell, allowed the King's head to be sewn back onto his body so the family could pay its respects.The High Court of Justice established by the Act consisted of hundred thirty five Commissioners but only sixty eight sat in judgement (all firm Parliamentarians); the prosecution was led by Solicitor General John Cooke.
Before the execution it was reported that he wore two shirts to prevent the cold weather causing any noticeable shivers that the crowd could have mistaken for fear or weakness.The execution took place at on a scaffold in front of the Banqueting House, Whitehall. Charles Stuart was separated from the people by large ranks of soldiers, and his last speech reached only those with him on the scaffold, he declared that he had desired the liberty and freedom of the people as much as any," but I must tell you that their liberty and freedom consists in having government. It is not their having a share in the government; that is nothing appertaining unto them, subject and sovereign are clean different things".
Charles Stuart put his head on the block after saying a prayer and signaled the executioner when he was ready; he was then beheaded with one clean stroke. His last words were,"I shall go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be". Philip Henry records that moments after the execution, a moan was heard from the assembled crowd, some of whom then dipped their handkerchiefs in his blood, thus starting the cult of the martyr king. However, no other eyewitness source, including Samuel Pepys, records this, Philip Henry's account was written during the Restoration, some twelve years after the event though Philip Henry was nineteen when the King was executed and he and his family were Royalist propaganda writers. The executioner was masked, and there is some debate over his identity, it is known that the Commissioners appro- ached Richard Brandon, the common Hangman of London, but that he refused, and contemporary sources do not generally identify him as the King's headsman. Ellis's historical Inquiries, however, names him as the executioner, contending that he stated so before dying. It is possible he relented and agreed to undertake the commission, but there are others who have been identified; an Irishman named Gunning is widely believed to have beheaded Charles Stuart and a plaque naming him the executioner is on show in the Kings Head pub in Galway, Ireland.
William Hewlett was convicted of regicide after the Restoration. In 1661, two people identified as "Dayborne and Bickerstaffe", were arrested but then discharged. Henry Walker, a revolutionary journalist, or his brother William, were suspected but never charged; various local legends around England, name local worthies. An examination performed in1813 at Windsor suggests that the execution was carried out by an experienced headsman. It was common practice for the head of a traitor to be held up and exhibited to the crowd with the words "Behold the head of a traitor!" Although Charles Stuart's head was exhibited, the words were not used. In an unprecedented gesture, one of the revolutionary leaders, Lieutenant-general Oliver Cromwell, allowed the King's head to be sewn back onto his body so the family could pay its respects.The High Court of Justice established by the Act consisted of hundred thirty five Commissioners but only sixty eight sat in judgement (all firm Parliamentarians); the prosecution was led by Solicitor General John Cooke.
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