# Of the Scene Before Whitehall explained — When Charles the First Was King

> Chapter companion for When Charles the First Was King by J. S. Fletcher.

## What happens

Will Dale travels to London to pursue compensation for his losses, witnesses the political turmoil of Pride's Purge, and ultimately witnesses the trial and execution of King Charles I before Whitehall.

## Themes in this chapter

### Loyalty to the Crown

Will and Master Goodfellow are Royalists; Will says 'God save your Majesty!' and dips his kerchief in the King's blood as a memento.

### Fate and Providence

The King's calm acceptance of his fate and the sense of inevitable historical events unfolding.

### Rural Life and Nature

Will contrasts the crowded, narrow streets of London with his preferred homestead and green fields.

## Character check-ins

### Will Dale

Narrator and protagonist; travels to London, lodges with Master Goodfellow, witnesses the King's trial and execution.

### Master Goodfellow

Verger at Westminster Abbey and Will's host; a Royalist who informs Will of Pride's Purge and the political situation.

### Parson Drumbleforth

Recommended Master Goodfellow to Will; mentioned as having told Will and Jack about London.

### Oliver Cromwell

General; gave Will instructions for his claim; present as one of the sixty-seven members of the court at the King's trial.

### Sir Thomas Fairfax

Named at the trial; his wife answered from the gallery that he was not there and never would be.

### Colonel Pride

Army leader who carried out Pride's Purge, preventing certain members from entering the House.

## Key lines

> For yesterday, Master Dale, the Commons declared for a reconciliation with the King his Majesty, which they had a right to do, being the lawful representatives of the people. But this was not to the liking of the army, and this morning one of its leaders, Colonel Pride, went down to the House with a body of men, and prevented all such members as were displeasing to the army from entering to their duties.

Master Goodfellow explains that Parliament had voted to reconcile with the King, but the army opposed this, so Colonel Pride barred certain MPs from entering the House.

_Describes Pride's Purge and the army's dominance over Parliament._

> The King held himself very erect, and looked into the faces of the crowd with a calm and serene gaze, so that to me he seemed the very picture of a highborn gentleman, who knew naught of fear nor asked for favour.

Will observes the King's dignified and fearless demeanor during his trial procession.

_Highlights the King's composure and Will's admiration._

> I raised my kerchief and dipped it in the King’s blood, and have it to this day—a memento of that terrible event.

Will soaks his handkerchief in the King's blood as a keepsake of the execution.

_A personal relic of the execution, showing Will's Royalist sentiment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/xlii-of-the-scene-before-whitehall
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters