THE EXECUTION OF CHARLES L
[To THE EDITOR 07 THE " SPECTATOR...3 Si,—In your review of Sir John Skelton's book on
"
Charles I.," in the Spectator of August 20th, you mention Lord Rosebery's picture at Dalmeny as a contemporary authoity for the use of the high block at the execution at Whitehall. May I call the attention of those of your readers who we interested in the subject to a very remarkable piece of cortemporary needlework now in the museum at Glaston- bury! It consists of a small square of fine linen on which a series of groups, representing the receipt of the news of the King's fate by his loyal subjects, arc arranged around a repre- sentation of the execution, as centre. Only a fragment of the desigt has been worked, in silks, as if the lady to whom it belonged had been dissuaded from undertaking what might be a dangerous task at first, and had never taken it up again. Perhaps the absence of needlework over the greater part of the linen is an advantage, as the very well drawn and complete outlines remain in their original clearness. The central group gives the low block, the headless trunk of the King lying before it. The drawing is so evidently contemporary that it may go to swell the evidence, in some slight degree, fforded by similar representations of the implements used.
believe, however, that no special history of the work is known beyond that it had been long in the family of the donor.
I am, Sir, &c., CHAS. W. WHISTLER.
Stockland Vicarage, Bridgwater.
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