The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1858-09-11
Cromivell's Head.

The story sometime since current that Crom-
wells head was in the possession of sone person
in gland is again revived by Paris cores
pondent of the New York Express, who says:
Before leaving England had an opportunity
of seeing great curiosity, a relic Of antiquity,
which few Englishmen have seen. You will be
surprised, and perhaps incredulous, when say
have seen the head of Oliver Cromwell--not the
mere skull, but the head entire, and in re-
markabe state of preservation Its history is
authentic, and there is verbal and historical evil
dence to place the thing beyond cavil. Cromwell
died at Hampton Court in 658, giving the stron'
gest evidence of his earnest religious convictions
and of his sincerity rs a Christian After al
imposing funeral pageant, the body having been
embalmed he was buried in Westminster Abbey,
On the restoration Of the Stunrts, he was taken
up and hung in Tyburn Afterwards his head
was cut off, pike driven up through the neck
and skull and exposed on Westminster Hall. Il
remained there a long while until by some vic
lence, the pike was broken and the head thrown
down 1t was picked up by a soldier and con
cealed. and afterwards conveyed to some friend,
who kept ii carefully for years. Through sue
cession of families which can easily be traced
it has come into the possession of the daughter
of Hon. Mr.. Wilkinson, ex-member of Parlia-
ment from Buckingham and Bromley. 1t was al
the residence of this gentleman that | saw the
head, and his daughter d lady of fine manners
and great culture, exhibited it to the Rev Mr..
Verrll, the pastor of the Bromley Dissenting
Chapel, and myself.
Iris head of Cromwell is almost entire. The
flesh is black and sunken, but the features are
nearly perfect, the hair still remaining, and even
the large wart over one of his eyes-such being
distinctive mark on his facets yet perfectly
visible The pike which was thrust through the
neck still remains the upper part, of iron, near
ly rusted off, and the lower wooden portion in
splinters, showing that it was broken by some act
of violence. 1t is known historically that Crom-
well was embalmed, and no person thus cared for
was ever publicly gibbeted except this illustri.
Gus man. Ia addition to the most authentic
records concerning the head possessed by the
family, and which have found sustained by his
torical &rks, and even an old manuscript in the
Brittle Museum Mr. Flanman, the dstin yuished
sculptor once gave it as his opinion that this was
none other THAI the head of Oliver Cromwell
Yet its exist ,nce seems almost unknown in Eng
land, and only n few years ago discussion in
some Of the public journals, which | have seen,
alternately denied and advocated it, Such a ru
NOR was in circulation, and as no one had then
seen the head, it having been kept concealed
none could speak by Authority. Recently the
motive for concealment has passed away, and
permission to see it was cheerfully granted. 1t
is a curious keepsake for a lady, but it is care
fully preserved under lock and key in box, of
great antiquity, wrapped 10 a number of costly
envelopes and when it is raised from its hiding
place, and held in ones hand, what world Of
thought is suggested.