Once the decision had been taken to put Charles on trial, the outcome was a foregone conclusion. On January 20th 1649, a High Court of Justice convened to try Charles for attempting to subvert England's ancient liberties and replace them with arbitrary, tyrannical government. 135 Parliamentary Commissioners participated in what was effectively a 'show trial'.
A believer in divine right monarchy, Charles refused to acknowledge the court's legitimacy or respond to the charges. Eventually he was removed from Court and the charges read out in his absence. After three days of internal consultation and private interview of witnesses, Charles returned to the Court on 27th January to hear the verdict - guilty. Realising too late what was happening, he protested his innocence but it was all in vain. The Parliamentary Commissioners then convened to sign the Death Warrant and when Richard Ingoldsby proved unwilling to write, Cromwell grabbed his hand and forced him to sign his name.
Bowing to the inevitable, Charles met his end with great fortitude. On 30th January 1649, he climbed the specially - erected scaffold outside Banqueting House to face execution. Re-affirming his allegiance to Anglicanism and his innocence of the charges, executioner Brandon then severed his head with one clean blow. A low moan issued from the watching crowd: the English people had executed their sovereign - what next?
The execution of Charles I is a truly remarkable event in British history. No British monarch has been executed by will of the 'people' before or since. Charles' execution represented more than just the death of an individual, it also symbolised the death of the divine right theory, and the birth of modern constitutional politics.
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Contemporary reports show that the Scaffold platform was built high, Possibly at or just above Eye Level. The rail around the Scaffold was draped in black cloth and the Block was particularly low.
Archbishop Juxon Comforted Charles and said that though there may be pain and confusion now, in a few minutes he would be in Heaven. This was Charles' moment. He knew that Juxon spoke the truth and faced his death like a Hero.
Cromwell said later 'An unfortunate necessity'. Our own Gerry adams picked up the theme when he called every IRA atrocity 'Regrettable'.
WE do not know if thye body was embalbed, but the head was sewn back on. Charles' friends and followers were allowed to take his body to St. Georges Chapel Windsor where it was interred, it was later found out, next to Henry VIII. How different from the men that the Restoration Parliament Executed in Whitehall to appease Charles II who said the he wished the blood letting would stop.