Account (An) of the digging up of the quarters of William Stayley, lately executed for high treason, for that his relations abused the Kings mercy. Imprimatur Novemb. 30th. 1678. VVilliam Scroggs, broadside, 345 x 245mm., window-mounted, folds, [Wing A276], printed for Robert Pawlet at the sign of the Bible in Chancery-Lance [sic.], 1678 bound with The tryal of William Stayley, goldsmith; for speaking treasonable words against His most sacred Majesty: and upon full evidence found guilty of high treason, and received sentence accordingly, on Thursday November the 21th 1678, [Wing T2237], printed for Robert Pawlet, at the Bible in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street, 1678, 19th century half calf, rebacked, corners worn, rubbed, folio ⁂ Last decapitated head to be displayed on London Bridge. William Staley (or Stayley), a Catholic goldsmith and banker, was the first victim of the Popish Plot trials. He was overheard in the Black Lion Tavern, King Street, London, venting his thoughts on the plight of Catholics at the time. He was arrested and put on trial in front of Lord Chief Justice William Scroggs on 21st November, 1678. A rather disreputable witness (William Carstares, 'a Scottish adventurer', who had offered to forget what he had heard for the sum of 200 pounds) swore that he heard the goldsmith say 'he [the king] is a great heretic and the greatest rogue in the world; here is the heart and here is the hand that would kill him'. He was found guilty and 'By the king's special grace the quarters of his body were delivered to his friends instead of being set upon the city gates, according to usage" (ODNB).However, as outlined in the present broadside, Staley's friends said masses over his remains, and on 29th November arranged a 'pompous funeral' from his father's house in Covent Garden. This so incensed the King that the coroner was ordered to dig up the body parts and dispose of them in the 'usual manner': the quarters to Newgate and the head to London Bridge. Following the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660 the practice of displaying traitor's heads had been largely abandoned. Staley's head is seemingly the last one recorded.
Account (An) of the digging up of the quarters of William Stayley, lately executed for high treason, for that his relations abused the Kings mercy. Imprimatur Novemb. 30th. 1678. VVilliam Scroggs, broadside, 345 x 245mm., window-mounted, folds, [Wing A276], printed for Robert Pawlet at the sign of the Bible in Chancery-Lance [sic.], 1678 bound with The tryal of William Stayley, goldsmith; for speaking treasonable words against His most sacred Majesty: and upon full evidence found guilty of high treason, and received sentence accordingly, on Thursday November the 21th 1678, [Wing T2237], printed for Robert Pawlet, at the Bible in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street, 1678, 19th century half calf, rebacked, corners worn, rubbed, folio ⁂ Last decapitated head to be displayed on London Bridge. William Staley (or Stayley), a Catholic goldsmith and banker, was the first victim of the Popish Plot trials. He was overheard in the Black Lion Tavern, King Street, London, venting his thoughts on the plight of Catholics at the time. He was arrested and put on trial in front of Lord Chief Justice William Scroggs on 21st November, 1678. A rather disreputable witness (William Carstares, 'a Scottish adventurer', who had offered to forget what he had heard for the sum of 200 pounds) swore that he heard the goldsmith say 'he [the king] is a great heretic and the greatest rogue in the world; here is the heart and here is the hand that would kill him'. He was found guilty and 'By the king's special grace the quarters of his body were delivered to his friends instead of being set upon the city gates, according to usage" (ODNB).However, as outlined in the present broadside, Staley's friends said masses over his remains, and on 29th November arranged a 'pompous funeral' from his father's house in Covent Garden. This so incensed the King that the coroner was ordered to dig up the body parts and dispose of them in the 'usual manner': the quarters to Newgate and the head to London Bridge. Following the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660 the practice of displaying traitor's heads had been largely abandoned. Staley's head is seemingly the last one recorded.
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
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