John Downes (regicide) facts for kids

Colonel John Downes (born 1609 – died around 1666) was an important person who signed the death warrant of Charles I of England. After the king's son, Charles II, became king during the English Restoration, John Downes was found guilty of a serious crime against the king. He was then sent to prison for the rest of his life.

Who Was John Downes?

John Downes was a significant figure during a very turbulent time in English history. He was involved in the events that led to the execution of King Charles I. After the monarchy was brought back, he faced serious consequences for his actions.

His Family's History

John Downes' family originally came from Cheshire in England. They later moved south to Warwickshire. Records suggest their family history in Cheshire goes back a very long time, possibly to the year 864 AD!

There's a famous old story about the Downes family. It's said that when a king was hunting in Macclesfield Forest, a member of the Downes family would help the king get onto his horse by holding the stirrup. Another important person, Lord Stanley, was supposed to hold the stirrup for the Downes family member. However, Lord Stanley reportedly refused because he felt he was of higher rank.

The Downes family held many important estates and lands in Cheshire and Lancashire from as early as the 1100s. They were known as an ancient "Forester" family, meaning they were in charge of looking after royal forests. They owned places like Overton, Taxall, Shrigley, Sutton Downes, and Wardley.

The White Stag Legend

An old legend tells of a Downes family member, known as the "Great Lord of Downes," who was a Royal Forester for King Harold, a Saxon king. The story says that the king was hunting in Macclesfield Forest and got lost. While everyone searched for him, the Royal Forester, Downes, was resting. A beautiful white stag (a male deer) then appeared and led him straight to the lost king. Because of this, the king gave the white stag to Downes, and it became a special symbol on the family's coat of arms.

John Downes' Life and Career

John Downes was born in a place called Manby in Lincolnshire. His grandfather was Rev George Downes, whose family came from Cheshire.

In 1633, John Downes was given a job as an auditor for the Duchy of Cornwall, which managed land for the royal family. In December 1641, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Arundel, a town in Sussex.

He was also a lawyer, studying at the Inner Temple, a famous place for legal training in London. He became a qualified lawyer in 1642. Even though he didn't fight in the English Civil War, he became quite wealthy by dealing in lands that had been taken from people who supported the king. He was a close friend of Oliver Cromwell, a very powerful leader at the time, and received large grants of land in both Ireland and England.

A Difficult Decision

After King Charles II returned to power in 1660, John Downes was arrested on June 18, 1660. He was accused of a very serious crime: being involved in the death of King Charles I. This crime was called "regicide."

John Downes was found guilty in October 1660. He was sentenced to death, but his punishment was changed to life imprisonment. This was because he had tried to help the king and had only signed the death warrant after other important people pressured him.

Life in Prison

John Downes spent the rest of his life as a prisoner in the Tower of London, a famous historic castle and prison.