but
I fearing this hangman had cut off the King's head, I trembled
that he should come into my boat, but dared not examine him on
shore for fear of the soldiers; so I launched out, and having
got a little way in the water, said I, who the devil have I got
in my boat? Says my fellow, says he, why? I directed my speech
to him, saying, Are you the hangman that cut off the King's
head? No, as I am a sinner to God, saith he, not I; he shook
every joint of him; I knew not what to do; I rowed away a little
further, and fell to a new examination of him, when I had got
him a little further, Tell me true, said I, are you the hangman
that cut off the King's head? I cannot carry you, said I; No,
said he, I was fetched by a troop of horse, and I was kept a
close prisoner at Whitehall, and truly I did not do it; I was
kept a close prisoner all the while; but they had my
instruments. I said I would sink the boat if he would not tell
me true; but he denied it with several protestations.

WILLIAM COX--When my lord Capel, duke of Hamilton, and the Earl
of Holland were beheaded in Palace Yard in Westminster,[40] my
lord Capel asked the common hangman, saith he, Did you cut off
my master's head? Yes, saith he. Where is the instrument that
did it? He then brought the ax. This is the same ax. Are you
sure? saith my lord. Yes, my lord, saith the hangman, I am very
sure it is the same. My lord Capel took the ax, and kissed it,
and gave him five pieces of gold. I heard him say, Sirrah, wert
thou not afraid? Saith the hangman, they made me cut it off, and
I had thirty pounds for my pains.

_Richard Abell_ heard one Gregory confess that he cut off the King's
head. The Lord Chief-Baron then asked Hulet whether he wished for any
further time to examine into the truth of the matter; but on his saying
that he needed a fortnight for the purpose the trial was proceeded with
at once.

A STRANGER--My Lord, I was with my master in the company of
Brandon the hangman, and my master asked Brandon whether he cut
off the King's head or no? He confessed in my presence that he
did cut off the King's head.

The Lord Chief-Baron then summed up the case, briefly repeating the
substance of the evidence. He pointed out that the evidence went two
ways, meaning apparently that Hulet either cut off the King's head, or
held it up after it was cut