January 1645: Ordinance for beheading the Archbishop of Canterbury.

January, 1645

[9 January, 1644/5.]

Whereas William Archbishop of Canterbury stands adjudged attainted of High Treason, by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, and is thereby to suffer the Pains of Death, as a Person attainted of High Treason should or ought to do: It is now Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That as touching his Corporal Punishment, the Head only of the said Archbishop shall be cut off, at the Tower Hill, at the accustomed Place there used for such Purpose; and that afterwards his Head and Body shall be delivered unto his Servants, or some of them, to be by their Care buried: And it is hereby further Ordained, That the Lieutenant of the Tower of London shall, on Friday the Tenth of January, 1644, deliver the Body of the said Archbishop to the Sheriffs of London, at Tower Hill, in the accustomed Place; and that the said Sheriffs of London shall the same Day receive and execute the said Archbishop, at the accustomed Place at Tower Hill aforesaid, in such Sort, Manner, and Form only, as by this Ordinance is appointed and declared: And this present Ordinance shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Lieutenant of the Tower and Sheriffs of London, and every of them, in that Behalf; any Thing in the said former Ordinance, or any other Ordinance or Order of both or either House of Parliament, or any other Matter or Thing Whatsoever, to the contrary notwithstanding.