The Man and the King

The principles involved in the great religious and constitutional conflicts of the seventeenth century are so important to us today, that it seems desirable on the occasion of the present tercentenary to lay before the members of the Historical Association some means of examining and re-examining their views on the personality of Charles I, the causes which led to his trial and execution, and the influence of his tragic and terrible death on the subsequent development of the English constitution. To this end four authors have contributed short papers.

Miss C. V. Wedgwood, in 'Charles I: The Case for the Execution', and Miss Mary Coate, in 'Charles I: the Personality and the Kingship', set out opposing views of the king and of his execution, while Professor Mark Thompson in 'The Execution of Charles I and the Development of the Constitution', deals with the residuum which the execution has left in the back of men's minds. Mr David Piper in 'Portraits of Charles I' sets out the value of portraits as evidence for his appearance and consequently as a key to his character.