Herald Of The Valley

Libel. In the golden days of good Queen Bess, those halcyon days, to which every Englishman affects to look up with rapture, the punishment for libel was the loss of the right hand to the libeller. A Mr. Page who had presumed to write a pamphlet on the subject of the Queen's marriage with the Duke of Anjou, was prosecuted on, and convicted of libelling her Majesty, and suffered the punishment. When on the scaffold, he made the following manly and spirited speech: "Fellow Countrymen—I am come here to receive the law, according to my judgement, and thank the God of all, and of this I take God to witness (who knoweth the hearts of men) that as I am sorry I have offended her Majesty, so did I never mean harm to her Majesty's person, crown or dignity; but have been as true a subject (as any was in England) to the best of my ability, excepting none." Then holding up his right hand, he said, "This hand did I put to the plough, and got my living at it many years. If it would have pleased her Highness to have taken my left hand, or my life, she had dealt more favorably with me, for now I have no means to live; but God, who is the father of us all, will provide for me. I beseech you, good people, to pray for me. I beseech you, good people, to pray for me, that I may take my punishment patiently." He then laid his hand upon the block, and prayed the executioner to dispatch quickly. At two blows his hand was taken off; when lifting up his bleeding arm, and pointing to the block, he said to the bystanders, "See, I have left there a true Englishman's hand;" and then went from the scaffold stoutly, and with great courage.

What would be said to such a punishment in the present day?