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20 January 1649
The trial of Charles I begins. Following Pride's Purge (see 6 December 1648), the army leaders set up a special high court, headed by John Bradshaw, to try Charles as 'that man of blood', responsible for the Civil Wars. Charles, refusing to recognise the court or speak in his own defence, is sentenced to death on 27 January 1649 – 59 men, including Bradshaw and Oliver Cromwell, sign the death warrant. — • — Charles refused to plead in front of a court he regarded as illegal: 'I would know by what power I am called hither. I would know by what authority, I mean lawful.' Since his judges were making up the law as they went along, there was no authoritative answer to this ... From A Century of Troubles by Stevie Davies (Channel 4 Books) |
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