Reproduction print of the Warrant to Execute King Charles I
This reproduction print was made from the original document in the House of Lords, London, England. It represents the culmination of a long period of political upheaval in England and the English Civil Wars. Charles I was the King of England when a group of Puritans led by Rev. Henry Whitfield settled Guilford in 1639. They came to New England because the King, as head of the Church of England, was persecuting them for their religious beliefs.
In 1649, fifty-nine Puritan leaders served as judges for the trial of King Charles I, accused of treason during the Civil Wars. When he was found guilty, this warrant was written and signed. As it states, King Charles I was beheaded. The monarchy had been effectively abolished, and Oliver Cromwell became the leader of a new Commonwealth government.
Following this change in their home country, about half of New England's leaders moved back to England, including Henry Whitfield and his family in 1651. Two of the Whitfield daughters, Sarah and Abigail, stayed behind with their husbands and families.
The date at the top of this document -- January 29, 1648 -- can be confusing due to a difference between the Julian calendar and today's Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar's new year began March 25th, not January 1st. England and her colonies did not officially adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. So, by today's Gregorian standard, the date of this document is actually January 29, 1649.
Transcript:
"Warrant to Execute King Charles the First. A.D. 1648
At the high [court] of Justice for the tryinge and judginge of Charles
Steuart kinge of England January xxixth Anno D[o]m[ini] 1648.
Whereas Charles Steuart kinge of England is and standeth convicted attaynted and condemned of High Treason
and other high crymes And sentence uppon Saturday last was pronounced against him by this [court] to be putt to death by the
severinge of his head from his body Of [which] sentence execut[i]on yet remayneth to be done. These are therefore to will and ~ ~
require you to see the said sentence executed In the open Streete before Whitehall uppon the morrowe being the Thirtieth - - day of
this instante moneth of January betweene the hours of Tenn in the morninge and ffive in the afternoone of the
same ~ day w[i]th full effect And for soe doing this shall be yo[u]r sufficient warrant. And these are to require All Officers and Souldiers
and other the good people of this Nation of England to be assistinge unto you in this service Given under o[u]r hands and
Seales.
To Collonell ffrancis Hacker Colonell Huncks
and Lieutenant Colonell Phayre and to every
of them
[column 1] Jo. Bradshawe, Tho: Grey, O Cromwell, Edw. Whalley
[column 2] M Livesey, John Okey, J Danvers, Jo. Bourchier, H Ireton, Tho Mauleverer
[column 3] Har. Waller, John Blakiston, J Hutchinson, Willi Goffe, Tho Pride, Pe Temple, T Harrison, J Hewson
[column 4] Hen Smyth, Per. Pelham, Ri Deane, Robert Tichborne, H Edwardes, Daniel: Blagrave, Owen Rowe, Willim Purefoy, Ad: Scrope, James Temple
[column 5] A Garland, Edm: Ludlowe, Henry Marten, Vinct Potter, Wm: Constable, Rich Ingoldesby, Will: Cawley, Jo Barkstead, Isaa Ewer, John Dixwell, Valentine Wauton
[column 6] Symon Mayne, Tho: Horton, J Jones, John Moore, Gilbt Millington, G ffleetwood, J Alured, Robt Lilburne, Will Say, Anth: Stapley, Gre Norton, Tho. Challoner
[column 7] Tho. Wogan, John Venne, Gregory Clement, Jo: Downes, Tho Wayte, Tho. Scot, Jo: Carew, Miles Corbet
FROM THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
Chatto & Windus, Publishers. 74 & 75 Piccadilly W."
In 1649, fifty-nine Puritan leaders served as judges for the trial of King Charles I, accused of treason during the Civil Wars. When he was found guilty, this warrant was written and signed. As it states, King Charles I was beheaded. The monarchy had been effectively abolished, and Oliver Cromwell became the leader of a new Commonwealth government.
Following this change in their home country, about half of New England's leaders moved back to England, including Henry Whitfield and his family in 1651. Two of the Whitfield daughters, Sarah and Abigail, stayed behind with their husbands and families.
The date at the top of this document -- January 29, 1648 -- can be confusing due to a difference between the Julian calendar and today's Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar's new year began March 25th, not January 1st. England and her colonies did not officially adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. So, by today's Gregorian standard, the date of this document is actually January 29, 1649.
Transcript:
"Warrant to Execute King Charles the First. A.D. 1648
At the high [court] of Justice for the tryinge and judginge of Charles
Steuart kinge of England January xxixth Anno D[o]m[ini] 1648.
Whereas Charles Steuart kinge of England is and standeth convicted attaynted and condemned of High Treason
and other high crymes And sentence uppon Saturday last was pronounced against him by this [court] to be putt to death by the
severinge of his head from his body Of [which] sentence execut[i]on yet remayneth to be done. These are therefore to will and ~ ~
require you to see the said sentence executed In the open Streete before Whitehall uppon the morrowe being the Thirtieth - - day of
this instante moneth of January betweene the hours of Tenn in the morninge and ffive in the afternoone of the
same ~ day w[i]th full effect And for soe doing this shall be yo[u]r sufficient warrant. And these are to require All Officers and Souldiers
and other the good people of this Nation of England to be assistinge unto you in this service Given under o[u]r hands and
Seales.
To Collonell ffrancis Hacker Colonell Huncks
and Lieutenant Colonell Phayre and to every
of them
[column 1] Jo. Bradshawe, Tho: Grey, O Cromwell, Edw. Whalley
[column 2] M Livesey, John Okey, J Danvers, Jo. Bourchier, H Ireton, Tho Mauleverer
[column 3] Har. Waller, John Blakiston, J Hutchinson, Willi Goffe, Tho Pride, Pe Temple, T Harrison, J Hewson
[column 4] Hen Smyth, Per. Pelham, Ri Deane, Robert Tichborne, H Edwardes, Daniel: Blagrave, Owen Rowe, Willim Purefoy, Ad: Scrope, James Temple
[column 5] A Garland, Edm: Ludlowe, Henry Marten, Vinct Potter, Wm: Constable, Rich Ingoldesby, Will: Cawley, Jo Barkstead, Isaa Ewer, John Dixwell, Valentine Wauton
[column 6] Symon Mayne, Tho: Horton, J Jones, John Moore, Gilbt Millington, G ffleetwood, J Alured, Robt Lilburne, Will Say, Anth: Stapley, Gre Norton, Tho. Challoner
[column 7] Tho. Wogan, John Venne, Gregory Clement, Jo: Downes, Tho Wayte, Tho. Scot, Jo: Carew, Miles Corbet
FROM THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
Chatto & Windus, Publishers. 74 & 75 Piccadilly W."
Received from the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America in 1902
HW1902.120