17th October 1660, Nine signers of the death warrant of Charles I, who was executed in 1649, are executed. After the restoration of the monarchy in this year, and with Charles II on the throne, those who had been involved in the trial and execution of his father, including those who had already died; were hung, drawn and quartered, their bodies thrown into a pit, and their heads placed on spikes. The remains of Oliver Cromwell who had proclaimed himself Lord Protector under the English Commonwealth (1649 to 1660), and who had been dead for two years in 1660, were also dug up, hung drawn and quartered, and his head placed on a spike where it was displayed at Westminster in London. Cromwell’s head was still on display when the English poet Robert Herrrick passed away fourteen years later, Herrick was buried on the 15th October 1674. It is very possible that Herrrick saw the head, due to the fact that he lived in Westminster at the time, exactly the same area where the head was displayed. Perhaps it was the sight of the head that influenced the carpe diem poem he is best known for. To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time. ``Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying’. Follow @ofgrave.concern for more dark tales from history #englishcivilwar #englishcivilwarsociety #cromwell #olivercromwell #hungdrawnandquartered #17thcentury #17thcenturyhistory #englishhistory #charlesi #britishhistory #westminister #londonhistory #17thcenturystyle #historicalstories #historytales #historicaltales #darkhistory #houseofstuart #carpediem #robertherrick #gatheryerosebudswhileyemay #gatheryerosebuds #charlesii #diedonthisday #restorationperiod #history #headonaspike #macabre #gothictales #macabrehistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CVGLQdoFhho/?utm_medium=tumblr
