Abstract
'' s TwING is beheaded! 0 dreadful Judgement! John Brock's agitated notation in his memoirs captures se se of surprise and shock shared by most New Englanders upon hearing of execution of Charles I by Rump Parliament.' John Hull's journal entry starts in more matter of fact tone-Jan 30 Great Charles First was upon Tuesday, about two o'clock-but concludes with observation that this was a very solemn and strange act; and God alone can work good by so great change.2 Involving as it did questions of legitimacy of regicide, fate of England's Puritan Revolution which colonists had been following closely, and future of New England's relationship to mother country, event not only caught settlers' attention but generated considerable apprehension. Charles I was executed on January 30, i649. News of event travelled slowly to colonies. In Rhode Island Roger Wijliams reported that the King and many great Lords and Parliament men are beheaded on May 26, but not until June did Adam Winthrop write from Boston that heer is now london shipp come in, that bringeth newes that King is beheaded. 3 Not all news from England was to be trusted, as colonists had frequently discovered since founding of Bay. It was probably some time before New Englanders received letters from English friends and copies of London news sheets that enabled them to
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