Banqueting House, Whitehall lived in "splendour and state", or publicly. The less exalted and the general public would be permitted to crowd the gallery in order to watch the King dine. The lower status of those in the gallery was emphasised by the lack of an internal staircase, the gallery only being accessible by an external staircase. The building was, however, later extended to accommodate an internal staircase. James I, for whom the Banqueting House was created, died in 1625 and was succeeded by his son, Charles I. The accession of Charles I heralded a new era in the cultural history of England.
High Court of Justice for the trial of King Charles I 9 March 1649 by the 'High Court of Justice'. In subsequent years the High Court of Justice was reconstituted under the following Acts. On 30 June 1654, Peter Vowell and John Gerard were tried for High Treason by the High Court of Justice sitting in Westminster Hall. They had planned to assassinate Oliver Cromwell and restore Charles II as king. The plotters were found guilty and executed. After the Restoration in 1660, all who had been active in the court that had tried and sentenced Charles I were targets for the new king. Most of those that were still alive