THE CONFESSION OF THE HANGMAN CONCERNING His beheading his late Majesty the King of Great Brittain▪ (upon his Death bed) who was buried on Thursday night last, in white Chappell Church-yard, with the manner thereof.
UPon Wednesday last (being the 20. of this instant June, 1649.) Richard Brandon, the late Executioner and Hang-man, who beheaded his late Majesty, King of Great Brittain, departed this life; But during the time of His sicknesse, his Conscience was much troubled, and exceedingly perplexed in mind, yet little shew of repentance, for remission of his sins, and by-past transgressions, which had so much power and influence upon him, that he seemed to live [Page 2] in them▪ and they in him. And upon Sunday last, a young man of his acquaintance going in to visite him, fell into discourse, asked kim how he cid, and whether he was not troubled in conscience for cutting off of the Kings head?
He replyed, yes! by reason that (upon the time of his tryall, and at the denouncing of Sentence against him) he had taken a vow and protestation, Wishing God to perish him body and soul, if ever he appeared on the scaffold to do the act or lift vp his hand against him.
Further acknowledging, That he was no sooner entred vpon the scaffold, but immediatly he fell a trembling, and hath ever since continued in the like agony.
He likewise confessed, that he had 30. pounds for his pains, all paid him in half Crowns, within an hour after the blow was given, and that he had an Orenge stuck full of Cloves, and a handkircher out of the Kings pocket, so soon as he was carryed off from the Scaffold, for which Orenge, he was proffered 20. shillings by a Gentleman in Whitehall, but refused the same, and afterwards sold it for tens▪ in Rose-mary Lane.
About 6 of the clock at night, he returned home to his wife living in Rose-mary lane, and gave her the money, saying, That it was the deerest money that ever he earn'd in his life, for it would cost him his life. Which propheticall words were soon made manifest; for it appeared, that ever since he hath been in a most sad condition, and upon the Almighties first scourging of him with the Rod of meeknesse, and the friendly admonition of divers friends, for the calling of him to repentance, yet he persisted on in his vicious Vices, and would not hearken thereunto, but lay raging and swearing, and still pointing ☞ at one thing or another, which he conceived to appear visible before him.
[Page 3]About three dayes before he dy'd he lay speechlesse, uttering many a sigh and heavy groan, and so in a most desparae manner departed from his bed of sorrow. For the buriall whereof, a great store of Wines were sent in, by the Sheriff of the City of London, and a great multitude of people stood wayting to see his Corps carryed to the Church-yard, some crying out, Hang him Rogue, bury him in the Dung-hill; others pressing upon him, saying, They would quarter him, for executing of the King: Insomuch, that the Church-wardens and Masters of the Parish were fain to come for the suppressing of them, and (with great difficulty) he was at last carryed to White-chappell Church-yard, having (as it is said) a bunch of Rosemary at each end of the coffin, on the top thereof, with a Rope tyed crosse from one end to the other.
And a merry conceited Cook living at the sign of the Crown, having a black Fan (worth the value of 30 shilings) took a resolution to rent the same in pieces, and to every feather tyed a piece of pack-thread dy'd in black Ink, and gave them to divers persoas, who (in derision) for a while, wore them in their hats.
Thus have I given thee an exact account and perfect relation of the life and death of Richard Brandon, to the end, that the World may be convinc'd of those calumnious speches, ann erroneous suggestions, which are dayly spit from the mouth of Envy, against divers persons of great worth and eminency, by casting an Odium upon them, for the executing of the King; it being now made manifest, that the aforesaid Executioner was the only man that gave the farall blow, and his man that wayted upon him, was a Ragman living in Rosemary Lane.
VPon a late dispute and engagement between the two Navyes at Sea, great was the resolution and gallantry on both sides; and for the space of many hours the Victory seemed doubtfull; but in the heat of the Conflict, Divine providence proved a Banner to the Parliaments party, and Fortune so attended their severall motions in their heroick atchievements, that they soon became Victors over their insulting Enemies, and in a short space dispiersed that formidable Fleet, who for many moneths have lain raging upon the Neptune Seas, and forbed the two unfortunate Princes to take sanctuary in Harbours; so that now the Citisens of London may receive comfort from the Ocean, and the Marchants and others proceed unanimously in free Trade and Commerce without fear or molestation; The faciliating whereof, may cause thousands to rejoyce, and sing hallelujah, for the vanquishing of this potent Enemy; it being affirmed, that since our first engagement with them, we have re-taken above 30 ships and prizes, 200 pieces of Ordnance, and at least 400 prisoners. We hear that Prince Charles upon the 15 instant, with the Prince, and Princesse royall about sixe of the clock in the morning went to Dort,, so far the Queen of Bohemia, brought him on his way. The 11th of June the Electoresse of Brandenburg, went toward Cleave, by Vi [...]nen, Rhenea. The 17th of June, Prince Charles went from Breda toward Bruxels; where an Earl hath order to receive his highness. Therr is a Col. left in the Hague, who is to buy arms for ten thousand men. There passing a boat from England to Ostend, with divers English they were set upon by some English, who lie there and rove to get booty. The Passengers were in great fear at which one of them stood up, and said to the Pyrats, I have lately broke out of New-gate, being a prisoner for King Charles, and these are all my friends, therefore do them no [Page 5] harm? at which they cryed, Vive la Roy, and bid them passe there should none of them be touchr.
They tell us that come from Edenburgh, that Scotland is quiet, and that the Parl. hath no enemy in arms, in any part of that Kingdom, which is sufficiently confirmed by the souldiers beginning to be unruly and unseparable concomitant to idlenesse, which hath been complained of by the Parl, and Ministers, which occasioned the Gen. Excellency, the E. of Levin, write to the Liev. Gen. that there might be a meeting of all the chief officers, for redresse of all grievances, and for ordering matters, so that nothing might obstruct the work in hand: the particular which fetcht in this Gen, was that there were English Cavaliers scattered up and downe in the army, some whereof had entertainment, others shelter which actions it were necessary to remove, and retain only those who of them were honest Covenanters. There is displeasure taken, that letters between Newcastle and this place going for Scotland, were intercepted and opened, which is likely to procure the like, and is already threatned; displeasure is apt to catch: Dr. Sibbald the Phisitian, is discharged of his imprisonmen. upon the Fine of 500. Scotch marks, he saith let them take what they wil, he wil not recant his paper, and will rather choose to suffer the most ignominious death at the openest place in Edenburgh.
The Gent. that brought the letter from Parl. of England, of having neither countenance nor answer, nor is like to have if the deportment be evidence of respect to this nation, ther's little if an answer should be returred, as it's unlikely, or not like to be sodain, it wil be sent in all probability by messengers of their own.
The Commis. are at last returned from their declared King and landed at Kirkaldy: the pure Royalists fay that there is no agreement brought (whether with joy or sorrow [Page 6] these expressions are made appears not: the Sages and knowing Divines seem chearfull, and expresse that Scotland hath cause to blesse God for the great condiscention or so much compliance in their King, and this seems to be the more probable: yer some begin to think it may now be in their power to act or speak at least in favor of their friends in England.
Berwick the 18 Iune [...]649.
One thing I had almost forgotten, which may give some satisfaction to the Reader, viz. That a little before the death of the aforesaid Richard Brandon, he being in some discours with a neighbour, touching his executing of the King, said, That euen at the very point of time when he was to give the blow, a great pain & ache took him round the neck, and hath ever since continued, and that he never slept quietly in mind saying, that his Majesties denying to forgive him, when he fell down upon his knees unto him, hath very much troubled his conscience, and that he was afraid to walk along the streets, or to go to his bed and sleep without a candle burning. The other fellow that was upon the Scaffold, that went in the name of his man, was one Ralph Jones a Rag-man, who liveth in Rosemary Lane; and he who now takes his place (as Executioner) is one William Loe, a Dust carryer, and cleaner of the Dunghils.