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Despite the betrayal by Charles most parliamentarians still believed that Charles could be be retained as ruler, whilst ; a minority argued that he could not continue. The Army took matters into their its own hands and prevented from attending parliament most of the members still sympathetic to Charles. They then ordered parliament to try Charles for treason. He was found guilty and executed on 30 January 1649. The monarchy was abolished and the first, and so far only, a republican government was instituted in Englandunder [[Oliver Cromwell]], the Puritan general. Charles II succeeded his father as king of Scotland and immediately attempted to reclaim his the English throne, but was easily defeated by Cromwell's army and narrowly escaped to exile in France. Rumors persisted for many years that Charles had in fact survived the execution, I died well and secretly fled to either France or Germanywas regarded by his followers as a saintly martyr, but no sound evidence of this has ever been produceda status that made it easier for Charles II to restore the throne in 1660.