Then the King turning to Dr. Juxon, said, “I have a good cause and a gracious God on my side.”
“There is but one stage more. This stage is turbulent and troublesome, it is a short one. But you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way, it will carry you from earth to heaven, and there you shall find to your great joy the prize. You haste to a crown of glory,” replied Dr. Juxon
“I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be.”
“You are exchanged from a temporal to an eternal Crown, a good exchange.”
Then the King took off his cloak and his George, giving his George to Dr. Juxon saying “remember” (it was for the Prince), and some other small ceremonies were past. After which teh King stooping down, laid his neck upon the block. And after a little pause, stretching forth his hands, the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body.
Taken from the account of the execution of King Charles I by John Rushworth.
Thus ended in 1649 the 25 year reign of Charles Stuart; a reign characterised by civil war, political turmoil and experiments by the King in personal rule without a government. England was proclaimed a Commonwealth and in the chaos that followed Oliver Cromwell, who was the author of Charles’ downfall and execution, was appointed in 1653 Lord Protector, dictator in all but name.
It also set the wheels irreversibly in motion that would lead 360 years later, to me and Sir William Wilmot following a 220 mile footpath in the steps of his son, also Charles Stuart.
There are many historical accounts of the trial and execution of King Charles. However, I can highly recommend “The Trial of Charles I” published by The Folio Society in 1959, which contains contemporary accounts of John Rushworth and Sir Thomas Herbert and an excellent potted history of the circumstances that lead to England executing its Monarch.
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