after almost one hour's tugging, I desired to be fully heard what I could say as to the person that cut Charles the First's head off. Liberty being given me to speak, I related what follows; viz.

“That the next Sunday but one after Charles the First was beheaded, Robert Spavin, Secretary to Lieutenant-General Cromwell at that time, invited himself to dine with me, and brought Anthony Pearson, and several others, along with him, to dinner. That their principal discourse all dinner-time was, only, who it was that beheaded the King; one said it was the common hangman; another, Hugh Peters; others were also nominated; but none concluded. Robert Spavin so soon as dinner was done, took me by the hand; and carried me to the south window; saith he,

"These are all mistaken; they have not named the man that did the fact; it was Lieutenant-Colonel Joice. I was in the room when he fitted himself for the work: stood behind him when he, did it; when done, went in with him again: there is no man knows this but my master, viz. Cromwell, Commissary Ireton, and myself.'- Doth Mr. Rushworth know it?' saith I.- No, he doth not know it,' saith Spavin. The same thing Spavin since has often related to me when we were alone."

The following extraordinary anecdotes respecting this mysterious circumstance, is taken from. Delassements de l'Homme Sensible, (The Recreations

of the Man of Feeling,) by M. d'Arnaud, an author greatly celebrated in France for the virtuous tendency of his writings; and who, although he has avowedly embellished his narration, by giving it a dramatic turn, solemnly asserts that he received the particulars from a man of letters, of the strictest probity, to whom it was related by an intimate friend of Lord S.'s.

"This lord," says M. d'Arnaud, "was the favourite of King George II. and one of the generals of the English army at the battle of Dettingen. The dispositions of the Marshal de Noailles were so judicious, that nothing but the impetuosity of a subordinate French officer saved the allied army from destruction, and even gave them an unexpected victory. The consequence was, that Lord S.. who was the only person that seemed to be sensible of the unskillful movements of the allies, but whose sentiments were disregarded, lost the favour of his sovereign, and retired from the army in disgust. On his arrival at London, he proposed to reside on his estate in Scotland; but some days before his intended departure, he received a letter in a very extraordinary style, calculated at once to stimulate curiosity in a mind not easily daunted. It desired an interview at a particular time and place, upon the business of the utmost importance, and requiring him to come unattended. His lordship, who did not pay immediate attention to this letter, received a second the next day, in terms

more energetic. This second summons appeared too singular to be disregarded. Lord S. therefore went to the place appointed without any attendants, but not unarmed; nor was he absolutely devoid of fear, when he entered one of the by-places in the metropolis, that most commonly indicate the residence of poverty and wretchedness. He went up a dirty staircase into a garret, where, by the glimmering light, he perceived a man stretched upon a bed, with every appearance of extreme old age. My lord,' said this unexpected object, I was impatient to see you. I have heard of your fame. Be seated: you have nothing to apprehend from a man one hundred and twenty-five years old.' Lord S. sat down, waiting with the utmost impatience for the unravelling of this extraordinary adventure, while the centenary proceeded to inquire whether his lordship had not occasion for certain writings that related to his family and fortune. "Yes,' replied his lordship, with emotion, I want certain papers, the loss of which has deprived me of great part of my inheritance.' • There,' returned the old man, giving him the key of a small casket, there are these writings deposited. To whom,' said his lordship, the moment he discovered this treasure, to whom am I indebted for this inestimable favour?' 'Oh, my son!' replied the old man, come and embrace your great grandfather.' 'My great grandfather!' interrupted his lordship, with inexpressible astonishment, when

this ancestor informed him, that he was the masked executioner of King Charles I.

"An insatiable thirst of vengeance,' continued he, impelled me to this abominable crime. I had been treated, as I imagined, with the highest indignity by my sovereign. I suspected him of having seduced my daughter. I sacrificed every sense of loyalty and virtue to revenge this imaginary injury. I entered into all the designs of Cromwell and his associates, I paved the way to his usurpation: I even refined on vengeance; I solicited Cromwell to let me be the executioner, and, to fill up the measure of my guilt, the unhappy king knew before the fatal blow, the man that was to inflict it. From that day, my soul has been a prey to distraction and remorse. I have been an exile, a voluntary outcast in Europe and Asia, near fourscore years. Heaven, as if to punish me with severe rigour, has prolonged my existence beyond the ordinary term of nature. This casket is the only remains of my fortune. I came here to end my days. I had heard of your disgrace at court, so much the reverse of what your virtues merited; and I was desirous, before I breathed my last, to contribute thus to your welfare. All the return I ask is that you leave me to my wretched fate; and shed a tear to the memory of one, whose long, long repentance I hope may at last expiate his crime.'

"Lord S. earnestly pressed his hoary ancestor to retire with him into Scotland, and there to live

name.

for the remainder of his days, under a fictitious He long withstood all these entreaties, but wearied out, at length, with importunity, he consented, or rather seemed to consent. The next day, however, when his lordship returned, he found his reputed great grandfather had quitted the spot; and notwithstanding all the researches that were made, his fate remains a mystery to this day."

ANECDOTE relating to CHARLES I. (from SEWARD'S BIOGRAPHIANA, vol. ii. p. 442, 1st edit. 1799.)

Was surgeon to Lord Fairfax, and was created Batchelor of Physick by the university of Oxford. After the execution of Charles the First he was appointed to embalm the body and sew on the head. This he did in the presence of many spectators, and exclaimed to them afterwards that he had been sewing on the head* of a goose."-Wood's Athena. Note by Mr. Seward.:

* "So far will party and prejudice go. Charles was assuredly the most learned, the most accomplished, and the finest gentleman of any of the monarchs that have blessed this country; and Harry Martin said in the House of Commons, after his death, that if we were to have a king, he would as soon have the last gentleman in that situation as any sovereign he had ever known."