England under Charles II. from the Restoration to the Treaty of Nimeguen, 1660-1678: English History from Contemporary Writers
Taylor, W. F.
1889
Account of the death of Argyll. Mercurius Publicus, No. 23, 1661, p. 358. May 27, 1661.
By this time you expect some particulars of the death of that great peer of Scotland James, marquis of Argyll, of whose trial and condemnation we formerly told you. And (to do him right) we must confess his whole carriage all along his execution was as if it were true which some have confidently reported of him, that he has long known he should certainly be executed. For the night he was sentenced he supped as at other times .... On Monday (the day of his execution) he eat a full meal, and soon after (which was about three in the afternoon) the bailiffs of Edinburgh sent their officer to let him know that his hour was more than past: whereupon he drank a glass of wine and came away, cocking his beaver more than usually. . . When he came near the Mercat Cross, where the scaffold was planted, he looked upon the maiden, so in Scotland they call the axe [sic], once or twice . He looked several ways upon the people . . then prayed. . . His speech was short. . . When he had done speaking he took the paper wherein his speech was written and tore it into six pieces and gave it to six of his friends, and then (without more ado) he laid his head on the block, where at one blow his head was severed from his body. | |