In September AD 1645, the Parliamentarian victory at Rowton Moor near Chester effectively brought an end to the First Civil War (1642-6). Charles I fled to Wales and then to Scotland after the defeat of his forces, and sued for peace. As negotiations dragged on, Parliament attempted to disband the New Model Army. The Army revolted, seized the king and invaded London.

Charles tried to exploit the rift between Parliament and Army, and in the spring of 1648 the Second Civil War broke out with Royalist risings in the south-east and Wales. The Scots invaded in support of Charles but were crushed by Cromwell. However, Parliament remained in favour of peace with the king. Cromwell’s supporters presented Parliament with the Army Remonstrance demanding a trial for the king and the dissolution of Parliament.

The remaining ‘Rump’ of Parliament agreed to Army demands. The king was accused of making war against his people and convicted of treason. On the 30 January 1649, Charles (wearing two shirts lest he appear to tremble with cold) mounted the scaffold. In a firm voice he declared, "I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown; where no disturbance can be; no disturbance in the world," and laid his head on the block.