CUTTING OFF THE HAND. 137 can it be prefumed, that a king fo eminent for equal justice às our Alfred was, would have inflicted an illegal punishment; a punishment not recognized by any then known fubfifting law of the land; and that too on a judge, whom he punished for a breach of the known law? or is it poffible to fuppofe, as he was fo fevere in his punishment of corrupt Magiftrates, he would not have condemned fuch an offender to a public execution, had the law warranted him in vindicating the injuries of his people in fo exemplary a manner? On 10 June, A. D. 1541, Trin. Term, 33 Hen. VIII. Sir Edmund Knevet was arraigned before the King's Juftices fitting in the great Hall at Greenwich, for striking of one Master Clerk of Norfolk, fervant to the Earl of Surrey, within the King's House in the Tennis-court. Sir Edmund being found guilty, had judgment to lose his right hand, whereupon were called to do the execution, 1. The fergeant chirurgion, with his inftrument appertaining to his office. 2. The fergeant of the woodyard, with the mallet and a blocke, whereupon the hand should lie. 3. The mafter cooke for the king, with the knife. 4. The fergeant of the larder, to fet the knife right on the joint. 5. The fergeant farrier, with his fearing-irons to fear the veines. 6. The fergeant of the poultry, with a cocke, which cocke should have his head fmitten off upon the fame blocke, and with the fame knife. 7. The yeomen of the chandry, with feare clothes. 8. The yeomen of the fcullery, with a pan of fire to heate the yrons; a chafer of water to coole the ends of the yrons, and two fourmes for all officers to fet their stuffe on. 9. The fergeant of the cellar, with wine, ale, and beere. VOL. I. No. 3. T 10. T 10. The yeomen of the eury, in the fergeant's fteed, who was abfent, with bafon, eure, and towels. Thus every man in his, office ready to doe the execution; there was called forth Sir William Pickering, marfhall, to bring in the faid Sir Edmund; and when he was brought to the barre, the chief justice declared to him his offence, and the said Knevet confeffing himself to be guilty, humbly fubmitted himself to the King's mercy; then Sir Edmund deûred that the King of his benigne favour would pardon him of his right hand, and take the left; for (quoth he), if my right hand be spared, I may hereafter doe fuch good service to his Grace as fhall please him to appoint; of this fubmiffion and requeft, the Juftices informing the King, he of his great goodness granted him a free pardon, The manner in which Sir Edmund Knevet obtained a pardon of his offence, muft ftrike every reader of fenfibility; the circumstances do equal honour to Sir Edmund and his Sovereign to the former, for his manly request, to pay the forfeit by his left hand inftead of his right, that he might be better able to serve his King and country: to the latter, for feeling the greatness of mind which such a requeft denoted. The next inftance of note feems that of Wilkins Flower, a monk and priest, in the reign of Queen Mary; who, on Eafter Sunday, 2. Mary I. ftruck and wounded John Cheltam, a prieft, adminiftering the facrament at the altar of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, with a wood knife, whereby the chalice was fprinkled with blood; whereupon he was, on St. Mark's Eve, brought to the place of martyrdom, which was in St. Margaret's Church Yard at Westminster, where the fact was committed: there coming to the stake, where he should be burned, his right hand being held up against it, was ftruck off, his left hand being faftened behind him. At which flriking off his ha: -1, fome that were prefent, and purpofely obferving the fame, cre CUTTING OFF THE HAND. 139 dibly declared, that he in no part of his body did once shrink at the striking thereof. Peter Burchet, prisoner in the Tower, ftroke within that fortrefs, John Longworth, his keeper, with a billet on the head behind, whereby blood was fhed, and death instantly enfued, for which he was attainted; and before his execution, oppofite Somerset-Houfe, Strand, his right hand was ftruken off by virtue of ftat. 33. Hen, 8. chap. 12. In the fame reign of Queen Elizabeth, a felon at the bar was indicted for flinging a ftone at a judge, who was fitting upon the bench; and fentenced, upon his conviction, to have his hand cut off, which was accordingly done. The following feem rather remarkable cafes in point. John Stubbs, a barrister of Lincoln's-Inn, the author of a book written and published against the marriage of the Queen Elizabeth with the Duke of Anjou, in a most fatirical style, intituled, "The Gulph wherein England will be fwallowed by the French Marriage," and William Page, the publisher, were both sentenced that their right kands should be cut off, which was accordingly done by a clever driven through the wrift by means of a mallet, upon a scaffold in the market place at Westminster. Stubbs the lawyer, after his right hand was cut off, put off his hat with the left, and faid with a loud voice, God fave the Queen, The multitude standing about (fays the hiftorian) was profoundly filent, either out of horror at this new and unwonted kind of punishment, or elfe out of pity to the man, who was of an honest and unblameable character, or else out of hatred to the marriage, which most men presaged would be the overthrow of religion, The relentless Charles, of execrable memory, and his devoted minion and prime minifter Laud, that imperious Churchman, were both for having the hand of Felton cut off, with which he murdered George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, T 2 |