Off with His Head: the 370th Anniversary of the Execution of Charles I

Revision as of 13:52, 20 March 2020 by BethDeBold (talk | contribs)

Off with His Head: the 370th Anniversary of the Execution of Charles I, a pop-up exhibition at the Folger, took place on January 29 and 30, 2019, from 11am to 1pm each day in the Founder's Room. It was curated by Beth DeBold, Assistant Curator of Collections.

Off with His Head was a two-day pop-up focused on the events surrounding the conflicts that took place during the English Civil Wars (primarily the events of 1642-1649, although the civil wars continued through 1651). It was divided into two parts. The pop-up on January 29 focused on the Civil War conflicts themselves, and the pop-up on the 30th examined the actual trial and execution of the king.

The exhibition labels for January 29 and January 30 and the flyer are available for download as PDF files.

Items Included

CharlesIPopUpImage.jpg

January 29: The English Civil Wars

1). England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I).
A declaration of the true causes which moued His Maiestie to assemble, and after inforced him to dissolue the two last meetings in Parliament.
London : Bonham Norton and John Bill, 1626.
Call Number: STC 9246

Charles I dissolved Parliament several times during his reign due to his displeasure with what he viewed as their impositions on his sovereign authority—one of the many factors that lead to the exacerbation of conflict. Between 1629 and 1640, he refused to call a Parliament, effectively ruling alone. This period is known as “The Personal Rule.”

2). England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I)
By the King. A proclamation for the levying and payment of the ship-moneys in arreare.
London: Robert Barker and John Bill, 1640.
Call Number: 265- 621b

One of the main points of contention between Charles and his Parliaments was his constant levying of “ship money” taxes. “Ship money” was originally a medieval taxation on coastal towns and villages, where the inhabitants were required to reimburse the Crown for the full cost of the naval ships protecting them from foreign attack. Ship money was one of the few taxes that could be levied by the Crown without permission of Parliament—Charles I abused this privilege, invoking it often and expanding it further inland, drawing the ire of his government.

3). Anonymous
A dialogue betwixt rattle-head and round-head.
London: printed for T.G. [1641]
Call Number: 147- 077q

Just like today, early modern people had lots of opinions, and engaging in political discourse was challenging and often frustrating. This is an example of a satirical pamphlet produced near the beginning of the first English Civil War—"rattle-heads” was a derogatory term for royalists or cavaliers, called so because their opponents claimed their heads were empty. “Round-heads” were supporters of Parliamentary representatives, called so because many of the Puritans in Parliament favored short, rounded haircuts, as opposed to the longer hairstyles worn by the aristocracy and the king).

4). England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons.
A remonstrance of the state of the kingdom.
London: Joseph Hunscutt, 1641
Call Number: Wing E2221A copy 1

In 1640, due in part to wars in Scotland, Charles was forced to finally call a Parliament. The first he quickly dissolved after only three weeks, but was again forced to call for a Parliament later in the year due to the pressing need to pass financial legislation. Called the “Long Parliament,” the representatives quickly passed legislation stipulating that they could not be dissolved except by agreement of the members. Among other actions, they issued this official rebuke, known popularly as The Great Remonstrance, which outlined all of their grievances with Charles. The Parliament sat from 1640-1648, when it was forced to dissolve by the New Modal Army.

5). England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I)
His Maiesties declaration,to all his loving subiects.
London: s.n., 1641
Call Number: 149- 566q

Charles attempted to reinforce his authority, relying on rhetoric that established him as the center of government and a father figure to his people. This pamphlet prominently features his coat of arms.

6). Parker, Henry, 1604-1652
A petition or declaration, humbly desired to be presented to the view of His most Excellent Majestie..."
London: s.n., 1642
Call Number: Wing P415

By 1642 it was clear that war was inevitable. Calls for peaceful resolution such as this were published, but had no effect. In January, Charles attempted to arrest several parliamentary members for treason, and in March, Parliament seized control of the militia. By September, they were engaging in open warfare.

7a). Lombart, Pierre, 1612-1682
Carolus I, Dei gratia Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rex [graphic]
[France?] : [s.n.], [17th century]
Call Number: ART 228- 824 (size L)
Digital Image of ART 228- 824 (size L)


7b). Lombart, Pierre, 1612-1682
Oliverius Magnae Britanniae, Hiberniae et totius Anglici imperii protector ... [graphic]
[France?] : [s.n.], [17th century]
Call Number: ART 228- 825 (size L)
Digital Image of ART 228- 825 (size L)

These amazing portraits are from the same engraved copper plate—although based on a portrait of Charles I by Anthony van Dyck, the plate was initially engraved as a portrait of Cromwell, and was later altered to show Charles again.

Call Number: Wing H2247 1651

Leviathan, or the matter, forme, & power of a common-wealth ecclesiasticall and civill. : By Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.

One of the most famous political works in English history, Leviathan was written during the English Civil War and defends the idea of the monarchy. The frontispiece, by the engraver Abraham Bosse, depicts a king as being made up of the physical bodies of his people—a powerful piece of royalist rhetoric. It was published in 1651, two to three years after Charles lost his head.