334 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
So too in the ‘‘Popish Plot,” Ireland, Pickering, Grove, Langhorn and others 
were sentenced to suffer in this way, while Stayley, Coleman, Fitzharris and Plunket 
were not. Coke sentenced John Owens, alias Collins, to this in 1615; there does 
not seem to be any explanation of why it was ordered in some cases and not in others 
wholly parallel. 
Those interested will find the whole subject discussed at length in Marks’ 
“Tyburn Tree,” its History and Annals,” London, Brown, Langham & Co., n.d. 
(not earlier than September 1908) from which much of the above has been taken. 
The case of Rex. v. Walcott (1696) Shower 127; 1 Eng. Rep. 87, may be noted. 
Thomas Walcott had been convicted of High Treason (he took part in the Rye House 
Plot, 1683), and was executed at Tyburn. His sentence ran: ‘Quod predictus 
Thomas Walcott ducatur ad Goalam dicti domini Regis de Newgate unde venit 
et ibidem super Bigam ponatur et abinde usque ad furcas de Tyburn trahatur et 
ibidim per Collum suspendatur et vivens ad terram prosternatur; et quod secreta 
membra ejus amputa(n)tur et interiora sua extra ventrem suum capiantur et in ignem 
ponantur et ibidem comburentur, et quod caput ejus amputetur, quodque corpus 
ejus in quatuor partes dividatur et illae ponantur ubi Dominus Rex eas assignare 
voluit.”’ 
Twelve years afterwards the attainder consequent upon this judgment was 
reversed on writ of error by the Court of King’s Bench, and in 1696 this reversal 
was affirmed in Dom. Proc.—the sole ground being that the words ‘ipso vivente” 
were omitted after ‘‘comburentur’’ and no words used which would be tantamount, 
such as “‘en son view.” To the argument that it would be impossible to burn a man’s 
bowels when he was alive it was answered‘‘Tradition saith that Harrison one of the 
Regicides did mount himself and give the Executioner a Box on the Ear after his 
Body was opened.” The whole report is replete with learning on this horrible 
subject. 
The Imperial Act of 1814, 54 Geo. III, cap. 146, altered the punishment to 
(1) drawing on a hurdle (2) hanging by the neck till dead (3) the head cut off, and 
(4) the body quartered. 33 and 34 Vic., cap. 23, sec. 31 substituted hanging simply. 
In Canada we already had made that provision (1868) 31 Vic., cap., 69 sec. 4). 
(18) This is a very puzzling case, not that the evidence is weak or conflicting, 
for it is not, but in respect of the conclusion to be drawn as to the real facts, which 
the evidence rather clouds than discloses. 
Much in the address of McLane at his trial and his execution would lead one to 
suspect that he was a religious monomaniac. His prayer during the address to the 
jury reminds one of some scenes at the trial of Guiteau, the assassin of President 
Garfield, and his “TI long to be with my Jesus” is not unlike Guiteau’s “I am going 
to the Lordy.’”’ But the religious enthusiast does not deny his act; he admits it, 
glories in it, justifies it by Divine command laid upon him. 
McLane had none of the cunning of the insane; rather the simplemindedness of 
the semi-imbecile. He went almost openly to those whom he desired to seduce— 
after obtaining a promise not to reveal what he should say (sometimes insisting 
upon an oath, which any man of sense should know might be broken almost as soon 
as made) he divulged to several his purpose to bring about a revolution. Such dis- 
closures are generally made by real conspirators only after long intercourse and 
much opportunity of judging how faithfully their secret would be kept. McLane 
took no such precautions, but disclosed to perfect. strangers the most dangerous 
secrets. And yet this was not wholly without system; those selected were such as 
he might expect would help him. 
