Notes and Queries, Number 46, September 14, 1850 | Page 9

&c._--A correspondent of the Times newspaper has
recently given the following account of an occurrence which took place
about twenty-five years ago, and the concluding ceremony of which he
personally witnessed:--
"A man had been condemned to be hung for murder. On the Sunday
morning previous to the sentence being carried into execution, he
contrived to commit suicide in the prison by cutting his throat with a
razor. On Monday morning, according to the then custom, his body was
brought out from Newgate in a cart; and after Jack Ketch had exhibited
to the people a small model gallows, with a razor hanging therefrom, in
the presence of the sheriffs and city authorities, he was thrown into a
hole dug for that purpose. A stake was driven through his body, and a

quantity of lime thrown in over it."
Will any correspondent of "NOTES AND QUERIES" give a solution
of this extraordinary exhibition? Had the sheriffs and city authorities
any legal sanction for Jack Ketch's disgusting part in the performances?
What are the meaning and origin of driving a stake through the body of
a suicide?
A.G.
Ecclesfield
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REPLIES
COLLAR OF SS.
If you desire proof of the great utility of your publication, methinks
there is a goodly quantum of it in the very interesting and valuable
information on the Collar of SS., which the short simple question of B.
(Vol. ii., p. 89.) has drawn forth; all tending to illustrate a mooted
historical question:--first, in the reply of [Greek: Phi.] (Vol. ii., p. 110.),
giving reference to the _Gentleman's Magazine_, with two
_rider_-Queries; then MR. NICHOLS'S announcement (Vol. ii., p. 140.)
of a forthcoming volume on the subject, and a reply in part to the
Query of [Greek: Phi.]; then (Vol. ii, p. 171.) MR. E. FOSS, as to the
rank of the legal worthies allowed to wear this badge of honour; and
next (Vol. ii., p. 194.) an ARMIGER, who, though he rides rather high
on the subject, over all the Querists and Replyists, deserves many
thanks for his very instructive and scholarlike dissertation.
What the S. signifies has evidently been a puzzle. That a chain is a
badge of honour, there can be no doubt; but may not the _Esses_, after
all, mean nothing at all? originating in the simple S. link, a form often
used in chain-work, and under the name of S. A series of such, linked
together, would produce an elegant design, which in the course of years
would be wrought more like the letter, and be embellished and varied

according to the skill and taste of the workman, and so, that which at
first had no particular meaning, and was merely accidental, would, after
a time, be supposed to be the initial letters of what is now only guessed
at, or be involved in heraldic mystery. As for [Greek: Phi.]'s
rider-Query (Vol ii., p. 110.), repeated by MR. FOSS (Vol. ii., p. 171.),
as to dates,--it may be one step towards a reply if I here mention, that in
Yatton Church, Somerset, there {249} is a beautifully wrought
alabaster monument, without inscription, but traditionally ascribed to
judge Newton, alias Cradock, and his wife Emma de Wyke. There can
be no doubt, from the costume, that the effigy is that of a judge, and
under his robes is visible the Collar of Esses. The monument is in what
is called the Wyke aisle or chapel. That it is Cradock's, is confirmed by
a garb or wheat-sheaf, on which his head is laid. (The arms of Cradock
are, Arg. on a chevron az. 3 garbs or.) Besides, in the very interesting
accounts of the churchwardens of the parish, annis 1450-1, among the
receipts there is this entry:
"It.: Recipim. de Dnà de Wyke p. man. T. Newton filii sui de legato
Dni. Riei. Newton ad ---- p. campana ... xx."
Richard Cradock was the first of his family who took the name of
Newton, and I have been informed that the last fine levied before him
was, Oct. Mart. 27 Hen. VI. (Nov. 1448), proving that the canopied
altar tomb in Bristol Cathedral, assigned to him, and recording that he
died 1444, must be an error. It is stated, that the latter monument was
defaced during the civil wars, and repaired in 1747, which is, probably,
all that is true of it. But this would carry me into another subject, to
which, perhaps, I may be allowed to return some other day. However,
we have got a date for the use of the collar by the chief judges, earlier
than that assigned by MR. FOSS, and it is somewhat confirmatory of
what he tells us, that it was not worn by any of the puisne order.
H.T. ELLACOMBE.
Bitton, Aug. 1850.
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