charles I’s Killers In america

The regicides who escaped King Charles II’S justice

Author Matthew Jenkinson Publisher Oxford University Press Books Price £20 Released Out now

Edward Whalley and his son-in-law William Goffe were two of the most famous signatories on Charles I’s death warrant. In this book, Jenkinson explains what happened to the two men after they fled England for America following King Charles II’S restoration to the throne.

Interestingly, Whalley and Goffe’s involvement in the regicide entangled them in the American political landscape at a time when friction was emerging between the colonies and Charles II, ultimately aiding their survival across the pond. After their deaths, the two men became legendary figures and their story was incorporated in American mythology, with 19th century writers treating them essentially as harbingers of the American Revolution.

It is often stated that Charles II determinedly sought revenge for the murder of his father, with Whalley and Goffe remaining on the run for the rest of their lives. However, Jenkinson challenges this long-held narrative, arguing that the king was actually rather powerless when it came to seeking justice without the cooperation of the colonial authorities.

There is a lot of information to digest with this book – which isn’t a bad thing – but it is not the easiest to read, although there are a number of contemporary illustrations scattered throughout that provide a welcome break for the reader. Thankfully, there is a timeline included as one of the appendices, which helpfully gives both order and context if you feel that you need it.