Last Days of Charles I

Journey

• May 1646 Surrenders to Covenanters• August 1647 Handed over to Parliament; Kept

at Hampton Court awaiting a decision• Negotiates with Colonel Robert Hammond,

the Parliamentarian governor of the Isle of Wight

• November 1647 Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle

Charles I Home at Carisbrooke

March 1648 Escape Attempt

More Secure Lodging

May 16482nd Escape attempt foiled

On to London

September 1648 Negotiations in nearby Newport Treaty of NewportNovember/ December Hurst Castle, WindsorOptions

Agree to Long Parliament termsAbdicate in favor of son, HenryArmy solution: “exemplary justice … in capital punishment”

Before the High Court of Justice

• January 6, 1649 Commons authorizes High Court without Lords consent– 135 commissioners

selected– ~70 attend all or part of

trial • January 20 Trial begins

ChargesDevising '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.’

He had 'traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present Parliament and the people therein represented', and renewed the war after his defeat with the sole objective of 'upholding of a personal interest of Will and Power and pretended prerogative to himself and his family against the public interest, common right, liberty, justice and peace of the people of this nation'.

On behalf of the people of England, the King was impeached 'as a Tyrant, Traitor, Murderer, and a public and implacable Enemy to the Commonwealth of England'.

Defense Challenge authority of the

court I will not betray [the trust

given to me by God] to answer a new unlawful authority

I do stand more for the liberty of my people, than any here

I never took up arms against the people, but for the laws

Sentence and Execution

January 27 Sentence signed by 58 with 9 refusalsJanuary 30 Execution at Whitehall

Chapel of St. Nicholas at Carisbrooke, reconstructed 1904

Charles I attributed to Bernini