_Excecution of Duke of Monmouth._--Among the memorials of the
"rash but unfortunate Duke of Monmouth," which have recently
attracted much attention, and for which the public are principally
indebted to certain inquiries originated in the "NOTES AND QUERIES,"
I have not observed any notice taken of an anecdote respecting him,
which is current among our neighbours on the Continent; namely, that
he gave six guineas to the executioner, the JOHN KETCH of that day,
to perform his work well!--
"Le Duc de Monmout donna six guinées au Bourreau de Londres,
pour lui bien couper la tête; mais le misérable ne mérroit
par ces guinées, puisqu'il la lui coupa très mal."
This anecdote is introduced, in the form of a note, into the folio
Dictionary of Pierre Richelet, a most valuable work, and full of
history, ancient and modern. Can any of your correspondents produce
the authority for this anecdote? Richelet himself does not give any,
but merely relates the story, apparently with a view of illustrating
the term "guinea," as applied to the gold coin of Charles the
Second. Vid, voc. "_Guinée_."