It was about sixty-five years ago. I was there alone with the
crowd. I sat on my father's shoulder, and saw them bring her and
the marine to the field. They fixed her neck by a rope to the
stake, and then set fire to the faggots, and burnt her."
She was probably strangled by this rope.
One Query which I would ask is, Was this execution at Winchester, in 1783
(or thereabouts), the last instance in England? and another is, Are you
aware of any other instance in the latter part of the last century?
E.S.S.W.
* * * * *
CORNELIS DREBBEL.
In a very curious little book, entitled _Kronycke van Alemaer_, and
published in that town anno 1645, I read the following particulars about
Cornelis Drebbel, a native of the same city.
Being justly renowned as a natural philosopher, and having made great
progress in mechanics,{7} our Drebbel was named tutor of the young Prince
of Austria, by the emperor Ferdinandus II.; an office which he fulfilled so
well, that he was afterwards chosen councillor to his Majesty, and honoured
with a rich pension for past services. But, alas! in the year 1620, Prague,
the place he dwelt in, was taken by Frederick, then king of Bohemia,
several members of the imperial council were imprisoned, and some of them
even put to death.
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