“The ambassador used all the instances he could for his brother, being willing to leave the rest to the mercy of the law, but could receive no other answer but that justice must be done. And justice was done to the full, for they were all brought to their trial at the sessions at Newgate, and there so many of them condemned to be hanged as were found guilty. And the rest of those who were condemned were executed at Tyburn; and don Pantaleon himself was brought to the scaffold on Tower Hill.”[186]
Strangely enough Gerard, with whom the quarrel began, was executed (for high treason against the Protector) on the same day and on the same scaffold.
1658. On June 8, Slingsby and Hewet were executed on Tower Hill: Colonel Ashton, Mr. Stacy, and Mr. Bestely were drawn, hanged, and quartered in the streets of the City, and on July 6 several of “the new conspirators” were executed in London and at Tyburn.
These were Cromwell’s last executions. He died on September 3, 1658.
1660. A terrible vengeance followed. Between October 13 and 17 eight of the Regicides were executed “at the Round or railed Place neer Charing Crosse.” “And now the stench of their burnt bowels had so putrified the air, as the inhabitants thereabout petitioned His Majesty there might be no more executed in that place: therefore on Friday [October 19], Francis Hacker, without remorse, and Daniell Axtell, who dissolved himself into tears and prayers for the King and his own soul, were executed at Tyburn, where Hacker was only hanged, and his brother Rowland Hacker had his body entire, which he begged, and Axtell was quartered.”[187]
To finish with the story of the regicides:—
Colonel Okey, Colonel Barkstead, and Miles Corbet were basely betrayed by Downing, who had been chaplain in Okey’s regiment; the States General, in violation of their fundamental maxim to receive and protect those who took refuge in their territory, basely surrendered them. They were executed at Tyburn on April 16, 1662.
A miserable vengeance was wreaked on the dead—on the “carcases” of Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw.
1660. December 4. A resolution was passed in the House of Commons; the Lords made an addition, and finally the Resolution stood thus:—