The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-09
WHO WAS THE ExECUrIONER OF
KENG CNARLES THE FIRacH

Cases or historic doubt seem TO be the legti-
mate property of the novelist. The mystery
which has enyeloped the executioner Of King
Charles the First the apparent impossibilty of
dzipg the act OF beheading upon any man for
cert.in, has opened TO the writer's of historical
romance fail field for the exhibition Of their
art. And insey have s.:sileG themselves OF the
opportunity. To mention one or two ianees; ia.
1.-The author of "Whitehall," NJ. Alexandra
Dumas In his "Vingt-ans. Apres, and Mr. Sala
In hi novel Of "Captain Dangerous" have intro
ductd 70 tie public various candidates for the
disiirction of having killed king.
The generally accepted theory, however, is 10
the effectthat the deed was done by the comm IN
hsngman of the period for a reward of thirty
pounds. But the name of the hangman has been
less clearly ascertained. Jack ketch, "a wretch"
Eays Macaulay, "who had butchered many brave
and noble victims, and whose name has, daring
century and half, been vulgdrlv given 10 all
who have succeeded him in his odious Office"
was not appoine until about 1862. "While
Jtffries on The bench, Ketch on the gibbet sits,
says q lamp0on of the time. The bungling
cruelty exhibited on the occasion of the eXecu-
dOn Of unfortunate Duke of Monmouth nearly
led TO the destruction of Ketch by the infuriated
mob-a strong guard was necessary to save the
execution er being torn in pieces.
Keich had succeeded a man named Dun, who
~ addressed as Squire Duu in poem by Butler
1.-THE addition of 'squire, says an authority,
..wilh which Mr.. Dun is dignlfed, is a mark that
he had beheaded some State criminal for high
treason, an operation which, according to custom
for time ont of mind, has always entitled the
operator TO that distinction" The predecessor
OF Dun was Gregory Brandon, after whom the
gallows was some times called the Gregorian tree
as in the prologue to MercNrius BIittdnicus acted
at Paris, l64l -
..ills trembles under the black rod, and he
Doth fear his late from the Gregoriau tree"
An earlier haDgman was named Derrick pos.
sibly, from bis name the tackle employed in
raising heavy weights on board a ship is still
known nautically as a derrick
The exccutioDer of King Charles was probably
either Dun or Brandon; yet various authorities
at different times, have charged with the decd
William Walker Richard Brandon, Hugh Peters
Colonel joyce, William Hewlett, aad lastly, Lord
Stair. Against some OF these the accusation is
OF course, utterly groundless but on the trial Of
the fegicldes after the Restoration, distinct at
tempt was mnde 10 fix the act of beheading or
William Hewlett. The evidence for the prosecu
tion was worthless enough, hut the court haC
quite made up its mind on the subject before
hand, and verdict Of guilty was returned
Hewlett was not executed, however; the insuf
hcsney OF proof was too remarkable, and tht
restored government bad some sense of shame.
"AiaDy have cnriously inquired" says vii.
liam Lilly, In the "History of his Life auC
Times" "who ii was that cut of the king
head; / have no permission 70 speak of saet
things, but he that did il was valiant resOlute
and Of competent fortune" After the Restora.
ton, Lilly was examined before Parliament OF
the subject. cat my first appearance" !" he zoe
on, al was afIronied by the young members
who demanded several scuTrilous questions
and should have been sOrely troubled
but for the assistance of Mr.. Prinn anC
Mr.. West ., who whispered 90 me occa
sionaiiy, holding a paper before their mouths
Liberty being AZ last given me to speak
l delivered what follows: - The mex
sunday but enc after the execution Of KinG
Charles the Fist Robert SPAWN, Secretary L
General Cromwell, and several Others dined
with me, when tho whole of our discourse wa
only who u was that behelded the king; somC
said the common hangman, some Hugh Peters
and several Others were named, but none con
cluded. After dinner was over Robert SpavlI
retiring with me % the south window, took nv
hand and said These are all mistaken, Lieu
tenant-Colonel Joyce was the man. for / was In
the room when he fitted himself for the worl,
and stood by him when he did il /; no one know
this but my master, COmmissary Ireton, and nay
SELF"
1t is certain that Lilly, although originally
rOyalist, was afterwards actively engaged in the
cause OF the Parliament and was one OF the clos,
committee 70 consult upon the proper carrying
out of the kings execution. lie was celebrated
a. an astrologer and impostor and amassed ,
fortune by casting natvties and foretellinl
events, and preyin generally upon the we lknes
and superstition OF all ranks of society. In the
words of DR.. Mash, in his "kOtes 70 Hudibras,
Lilly was ga time-serving rascal " aud II is neccs
sary 10 use caution in placing credit upon ans
narrative proceeding from him.
According TO Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, Goorg,
eesEyni that Unsuitable amateur Of executions
4aa z Different story, however, on this subject
~ ptoiessed 10 have Obtained his information
eio,n sn.s ~ duchess Of Portsmouth, who, he said
r.r..l A.. 49, IN tLt authority OF ChhrlcS tht
egssas my tne King his father was not beheaded
yy enher Colonel Joyce or Colonel Pride as was
then commonly believed, but that The name ol
ene rear e4eeutioner was Gregory Brandon that
snis man hao wsrn black Grape stretched over
his face, and had no sooner taken OF tbe Lio,
head than be was put into q boat at Whitahss II n
Stairs, together With the block, the hacl" sin,h
that covered if, the axe, and every other articIe
that had been stained with the royal blooa
Being conveyed 10 the Tower, all the iinnlen,c,ss
used IN the decapitaIion had been Immediately
reduced 70 ashes. A parse, Consuming one hum
drcd broad pieces Of gold, was then delivered 4
Brandon, and be was dismissed. He survived
fho transaction many years; but dyulged II I
short time before he died. This account