The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-18
oliver CrCmwell,s Head.

A correspondent of the London Times
gives the following curious account of the
varying fortunes of the head of Lord Pro-
tector Cromwell: Several imperfect
statements having lately appeared on the
above subject let me explain what became
of the remains of Cromwell. Partly from
printed records and partly from what |
heard from Mr.. Wilkinson, to
whom some Of the press have
alluded, Oliver Cromwell died at White
hall Palace, on the Sd Of September,
1868, after protracted illness. He had
long been suffering from ague, and his
case is cited in medical books as one of
man who died of ague while our ware
houses were groaning with Peruvian bark.
which we did not know how to use.
During this illness he became so dis
tressed and dcbilitated that he would
allow no barber to come near him and
his beard, instead of being cut toa certain
fashion, grew all over his face. After
his death, the body lay in state
at Somerset House, having
been carefully embalmcd, and was
afterwards buried with more than regal
honors in Henry Wills chapel in West
minister Abbey, where it lay until, after
the Restoration, it was taken out of his
grave, as were also the bodies of lreton
(Cromwells son-in-law) and Bradshaw,
the latter, as President of the II Oh
Court Of Justice, having pronounced sen.
tence of death on Charles /. The three
bodies were taken in carts to the Red
Lion. IN Holborn. and on the 30th of
January, the anniversary of King Charles
ell To
Tyburn, where they were hanged until
unset. and then taken down and behead-
cd, their bodies buried ina deep pit under
the gallowS, and their heads stuck upon
the top of Westminster Hall, where at
that time sentinels walked.
Ireton'S head was in the middle, and
Cromwell's and Bradshaw's on either
side. Cromwell's head being embalm-
ed, remained exposed to the at
mospherc for twenty five years, and
then ono stormy night twas blown down.
and picked up by the sentry. who. hiding
it under his cloak. took it home and Sc
creted it in the chimney corner. and, as
inquiries were constantly being made
about it by the Government. it was only
on his deathbed that he revealed where
he had hidden it. His family sold the
head to one of the Cambridgeshire Rus
sells, and. in the same box in which it
still is it descended ts certain Samuel
Russell. who. beng needy and careless
man. exhibited it in place near Clare
Market. There it was seen by James
Cox, who then owned n famous museum.
He tried in vain to buy the head from
Russell; for. poor as he was. nothing
would at first tempt him to part with the
relic, but after time Cox assisted him
with money. and eventually. to clear him.
self from debt. he made the head
over to Cox. When Cox at last
parted with his museum he sold the
head of Cromwell Cor ESQ to three men.
who bought it about the time Of the
French Revolution t. exhibit in Mead
court. Bond street, at half-a-crovn a
head. Curiously enough. it happened
that each of these gentlemen died sud-
den death, and the head came into the
possession of the three nieces of tie last
man who died. These young ladies. ner-
vous at keeping it in the house. asked
Mr.. Wilkinson. their medical man. to
take care Of it for then.. and they suisse
quently sold it to him. For the next fif-
teen or twenty years MI. Wilkinson was
in the habit of showing it to all the dis
tinguiShed men Of that day. and the head,
much treasured, yet remains in the
family.
The circumstantial evidence is very
curious. 1t IS the only head in history
which is known to have been embalmed
and afterwards beheaded. On the back
Of the neck. above the vertehrR. is ths
mark Of the cut Of an axe where the ex-