Execution of Charles I
The moment before the execution of Charles I, as he stands on the scaffold outside the Banqueting House, addressing the crowd with a final speech, while the executioner and guards prepare for the behe
Setting
Outside the Banqueting House in Whitehall, London, on a hastily erected scaffold draped in black cloth. The surrounding area is packed with a mixed crowd of Parliamentarians and Royalists, held back by armed guards. The cobblestone streets are slick with winter dampness.
Characters
Charles I
primary
A middle-aged man of slight build, standing at about 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a pale complexion and a pointed beard. His dark brown hair is streaked with grey, and his deep-set eyes convey a mixture of dignity and sorrow. His hands are delicate, those of a man accustomed to holding a scepter rather than a sword.
Bishop Juxon
primary
A tall, elderly man with a gaunt face, deep-set eyes, and a prominent nose. His thinning white hair is neatly combed, and his hands are slightly trembling with age and emotion. His posture is upright but shows the weight of the moment.
Executioner
secondary
A tall, broad-shouldered man of indeterminate age, his face concealed by a traditional executioner's black hood with only eye holes cut out. His hands are large and calloused, gripping the axe with practiced ease. His stance suggests a man accustomed to the physical demands of his grim profession.
Guard Captain
secondary
A stern, broad-shouldered man in his late 30s with a weathered face marked by a deep scar running from his left temple to his jawline. His piercing grey eyes constantly scan the crowd, and his thick, dark beard is neatly trimmed. His hands are calloused from years of wielding weapons.
Parliamentarian Officer
background
A stern, middle-aged man with a weathered face, sharp features, and a closely cropped beard. His posture is rigid, reflecting his military background, and his piercing eyes scan the scene with authority. He stands tall with a commanding presence, his hands clasped behind his back.
Weeping Woman
background
A middle-aged woman with a pale, tear-streaked face, her cheeks flushed from the cold and emotion. Her dark hair is partially covered by a simple linen coif, with strands escaping in disarray. Her hands are clasped tightly together, knuckles white from the strain.
Dialog
Charles I
I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.
Bishop Juxon
Thou art exchanging a temporal diadem for an eternal one, sire. May the Lord receive thee with mercy.
Guard Captain
Keep the line! No man moves forward on pain of death!
Charles I
Remember—
Bishop Juxon
I shall record thy last words faithfully, my liege.
Guard Captain
Make ready! The hour is upon us.
Charles I
I die a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England. I have a good cause and a gracious God on my side.