1685 An Account of what Passed at the Execution of the Late Duke of Monmouth

Description

Rebound, Very Scarce

A brief but informative account of Monmouth's execution.

Following the failed Monmouth Rebellion and their defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor, Monmouth was executed in front of a large crowd on July 15th, 1685.

Monmouth was led to the scaffold, where he made a brief speech expressing his loyalty to the Protestant cause and his regret for the rebellion. The executioner delivered three blows before severing Monmouth's head from his body. After the execution, Monmouth's head was placed on a spike on the roof of the Tower of London, where it remained for many years as a warning to others who might attempt to challenge the monarchy.

The execution of Monmouth was widely criticized, both in England and abroad, with many seeing it as an unjust punishment for what they saw as a legitimate attempt to claim the throne.

ESTC reference R6630, WING A433.

The ESTC shows four variants of this work, each set slightly differently, with no priority stated. In this setting, the last word of the first line of text is "at-", the first words below the initial "T" are "the Lieutenant’s", and the last word of the last line on page 1 is "manner."