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Sydney Papers is in Stewart Books.
Stewart Books, Sydney Papers, Journal of Robert Leicester
Tuesday, 30th January [1649]. This day came forth the act of state about the alteration of writs in England, Irland, and Wales, as that instead of King, the name, style, and test, "Custodes libertatis Angliae autoritate Parliamenti" be used and no other, and the date to be the yeare of Jesus Christ, and none other, and where the words were "Juratores pro Domino Rege" it shall be "Juratores pro Republic," and where it was "Contra pacem vel dignitatem nostram" it shall be "Contra pacem publicam, &c."
The same 30th January [1649]. The Lords and Commons had this day delivered to them in French the desyres of the States Ambassadors, the Commons had debate about the business, and agreed of a Committee to consider of an answer to be brought in for them.
Observable, that the same day that these desyres were delivered, and a Committee appointed to draw an answer, the King was putt to death, concerning whom these desyres were principally pretended to be made.
The King (age 48) lay at Whytehall on Sunday night, on Monday night he lay at St. Jameses, and on Tuesday 30th January [1649] about 10 o'clock in the morning the King was brought from St. Jameses walking on foote through the Parke, with a regiment of foote, part before and part behinde him, with coulers flying, drums beating, his private guard of partisans with some of his gentlemen before and some behinde, bareheaded, — Doctor Juxon (age 67) next behinde him, and Collonell Tomlinson (who had the charge of him) talking with the King bareheaded, from the Parke up the staires into the Gallerye, and so into the chamber where he used to lye, where, he continued at his devotion, refusing to dine, (having before taken the sacrament) about an hour before he came forth only, he dranke a glass of claret wine, and eat a piece of bread, about twelve at noone. From thence he was accompanyed by Bishop Juxon, Coll. Tomlinson, and other officers formerly appointed to attend him, and the private guard of partisans, with musqueteers on each syde, through the Banquetting house [Map], adjoining to which the scaffold was erected, between Whitehall gate and the gallery leading to St. Jameses, &c. The King being come upon the scaffold, looked very earnestly upon the block, and asked Collonell Hacker if there were no higher, and then spake thus (directing his speech chiefly to Collonell Tomlinson, &c.)
"I declare before you all, that I dye a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England, as I found it left me by my father; and this honest man, pointing to Dr. Juxon, I thinke will witness it," &c. Many other things being sayd, the King layd his head down, and the executioner at one blow severed it from his body, which the second executioner held up, and shewed it to the spectators.
The executioners were two, and disguised in saylors clothes, with visards and peruques unknown; yet some have a conceit that he that gave the stroke, was one CoUonell Foxe, and the other Captain Joyce, who took the King from Holmby, but that is not beleeved. This I heard for certain, that Gregory Brandon, the common hangman of London, refused absolutely to do it, and professed that he would be shott or otherways killed rather than do it.
The body was putt in a coffin, covered with black velvet, and layed in his lodging chamber in Whitehall.
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