Short answers, pulled from the story.
Charles Stuart entered the world at Dunfermline Palace on the 19th of November 1600 as the second son of King James VI of Scotland. He was a weak and sickly infant whose fragile health kept him in Scotland while his family moved to England in early 1603.
The king resurrected an ancient law called Distraint of Knighthood to fine men who earned forty pounds annually from land. Ship money proved even more lucrative than previous customs duties, generating between one hundred fifty thousand and two hundred thousand pounds each year from 1634 to 1638.
Charles insisted on using a new prayer book in Scotland that was almost identical to the English Book of Common Prayer without consulting Scottish leaders. On the 23rd of July riots erupted in Edinburgh on the first Sunday of the prayer book's usage and unrest spread rapidly through the Kirk.
On the 3rd of January 1642 Charles directed Parliament to surrender five specific members including Pym John Hampden Denzil Holles William Strode and Sir Arthur Haselrig. He planned to arrest them personally for high treason after learning they had colluded with invading Scots.
Two shirts were ordered for Charles on the 30th of January 1649 to prevent cold weather causing shivers that observers might mistake for fear. At about two o'clock in the afternoon Charles put his head on the block after saying a prayer and signaled readiness by stretching out his hands before a clean stroke severed his head from his body in one motion.