The 376th Anniversary of the King's execution took place on Thursday 30th January from 2 pm for 2:30 pm in the Chantry, St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church, hosted by President Norman Broadfield.
Charles's choice of friends that contributed to his downfall
Arthur Miller presided over this year's commemorative service. Fourteen members were there in support. Arthur outlined the events on this day, 30th January, 1649.
In his address, Norman continued his talk from last year. Charles had become King in 1625 at the age of 25. Norman believed that Charles had already created much damage to his prospects of a successful reign by that stage. He lacked confidence; was aloof, lacking the 'common touch'; spoke with a stammer and a Scots accent; and was about to be married to a Catholic. On the positive side, he was polite and courteous, lacked vices and was a patron of the arts. Unfortunately, his choice of allies left a good deal to be desired. Norman named three and I have further investigated these individuals.
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham had been a particular favourite, and Norman suggested that he might have been a lover of James I, Charles's father. Buckingham had accompanied Charles to Spain, where a marriage to Infanta Maria was negotiated. It seems as though it were due to Buckingham that the negotiations collapsed. Buckingham also visited France to aid negotiations for the marriage to Henrietta Maria, but the choice of a Catholic was widely condemned. During this visit, Buckingham was reputed to be involved in a plot to seduce Anne of Austria, the Queen of France. Furthermore, Buckingham was in charge of various expeditions, including one to encourage a rebellion by the Huguenots at La Rochelle. This started the Anglo-French War of 1627–1629, and is mentioned in the book The Three Musketeers. Eventually, this escapade failed owing to a lack of support and money. Rather lacking in skills as a diplomat, never mind as a military leader, Buckingham was assassinated in 1628.
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was a powerful statesman, who, originally, supported the Parliamentary side, but was won over by Charles. In various important roles, he established a reputation for vigorous and efficient administration. Unfortunately, his autocratic style made him extremely unpopular and most of his achievements in the North and in Ireland proved only temporary. He was recalled to England by Charles, but he could not avert the approaching English Civil War. Having offered to bring an Irish army to support the King, and with further charges being levelled against him, he was executed in 1641.
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, was appointed by Charles. They held similar views on the Anglican Church, and Laud found himself consistently at odds with the Reformers and Puritans. Charles was a very religious man and his attempt to impose a High Church in Scotland prompted a riot in Edinburgh that escalated into general unrest. The Puritans felt as though Charles's and Laud's approach was too close to Roman Catholicism, and Laud was eventually arrested after declaring that the King ruled by divine right and those that opposed him faced damnation. Laud was imprisoned in the Tower of London for four years before being executed. As an aside, Laud had been chaplain and confidant to Buckingham during his years in power. He was also a regular correspondent and supporter of Strafford.
All of the above were impeached by Parliament in 1626, 1640 and 1642, respectively. Not the best choice of allies!
Charles married in the first year of his reign. He believed that the heads of the church should be treated with deference. As this was a Catholic idea, it didn't go down well with the Puritans. He dissolved Parliament three times when faced with opposition, in effect ruling alone on a number of occasions and once for eleven years. He would only re-assemble Parliament to raise funds when he ran out of money, often because of expensive foreign wars as mentioned above. He also lost popularity over public welfare issues, such as the imposition of drainage schemes in The Fens, which affected thousands of people.
It is interesting to note that Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon, was MP for Cambridge, and was about eighteen months older than Charles. After the first English Civil War, Charles was 'imprisoned' in Hampton Court Palace and was often visited by Cromwell, with whom, at that stage, he had a reasonably cordial, business-like relationship. Unfortunately, neither man was able to compromise in a way that both could survive and Charles paid the price. Charles's reign, and what came after it, gave us what we now call 'modern parliamentary democracy'!
Kidderminster and the School benefitted from the Charter that Charles I gave to it and it is this, as much as the memory of what happened in 1649, that we commemorate on this day.
Arthur completed the service with prayers, and the photographs that you will find herewith were taken by our presidentially appointed camera-wielding specialist, Olive Broadfield, and possibly others!
Richard Woolley – disciple of Joe Perrett, former King Charles History Master