about it, that every body
might more conveniently see. This was hung with black, and all that
State that such a Death could have, was here in most decent Order.

He did not say much upon the Scaffold: The Sum of what he said to his
Friends was, to be kind, and take Care of the poor Penitent his Wife: To
others, recommending his honest and generous Servants, whose Fidelity
was so well known and commended, that they were soon promised
Preferment. He was some time in Prayer, and a very short time in
speaking to his Confessor; then he turned to the Head's-man, and desired
him to do his Office well, and gave him twenty _Louis d'Ors_; and
undressing himself with the Help of his Valet and Page, he pull'd off
his Coat, and had underneath a white Sattin Waistcoat: He took off his
Periwig, and put on a white Sattin Cap, with a Holland one done with
Point under it, which he pulled over his Eyes; then took a chearful
Leave of all, and kneel'd down, and said, 'When he lifted up his Hands
the third Time, the Head's-man should do his Office.' Which accordingly
was done, and the Head's-man gave him his last Stroke, and the Prince
fell on the Scaffold. The People with one common Voice, as if it had
been but one entire one, pray'd for his Soul; and Murmurs of Sighs were
heard from the whole Multitude, who scrambled for some of the bloody
Saw-dust, to keep for his Memory.

The Head's-man going to take up the Head, as the Manner is, to shew it
to the People, he found he had not struck it off, and that the Body
stirr'd; with that he stepped to an Engine, which they always carry with
'em, to force those who may be refractory; thinking, as he said, to have
twisted the Head from the Shoulders, conceiving it to hang but by a
small Matter of Flesh. Tho' 'twas an odd Shift of the Fellow's, yet
'twas done, and the best Shift he could suddenly propose. The Margrave,
and another Officer, old Men, were on the Scaffold, with some of the
Prince's Friends, and Servants; who seeing the Head's-man put the Engine
about the Neck of the Prince, began to call out, and the People made a
great Noise. The Prince, who found himself yet alive; or rather, who was
past thinking but had some Sense of Feeling left, when the Head's-man
took him up, and set his Back against the Rail, and clapp'd the Engine
about his Neck, got his two Thumbs between the Rope and his Neck,
feeling himself press'd there; and struggling between Life and Death,
and bending himself over the