Troops of horse were placed on the one side of the scaffold towards Kings Street and on the other side towards Charing Cross where multitudes of people gathered to witness the event. When he was beheaded a large groan went up throughout the crowd '...the execution was met with 'such a groan as I have never heard before, and desire I may never hear again' reflecting the last line of the nursery rhyme - 'Oh dear, my heart was ready to burst'. Charing Cross Charing Cross was the location of public executions and the following excerpt is from Samuel Pepys, diary entry (13th October, 1660) "I went out to Charing Cross, to see Major-General Harrison, hanged, drawn, and quartered... he looked as cheerful as any man could do in that condition. He was presently cut down, and his head and heart shown to the people, at which there were great shouts of joy... Harrison's head has been set up (on a pole) on the other side of Westminster Hall." As I was going by Charing Cross Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history As I was going by Charing Cross, I saw a black man upon a black horse; They told me it was King Charles the First - Oh dear, my heart was ready to burst! As I was going by Charing Cross Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history |