The plate was executed before the execution (save the mark!) of the Martyr King. After his death the head of Cromwell was substituted, no doubt for commercial purposes. Finally, Charles the First’s head was restored (again save the mark!) after the Restoration. Our reproductions are from what would seem to be the second, third, and fourth states of the plate though a first state is not known. It will be observed that, in the earliest—namely, that in which the head has been removed altogether—the scarf is brought across the left shoulder, and tied under the right arm, whilst the page-boy has bands and frills to his breeches. In the next, or third state, in which Cromwell’s head has been inserted, the scarf has been removed from the shoulder, and is tied round the waist, whilst the bands and frills have been removed from the page-boy’s nether garments. In the next, or fourth stage of the plate, in which {242} Charles’s head has been re-inserted, there are, besides the substitution of one head for the other, a few minor alterations, such as the addition of the Cavalier moustache to the face of the page-boy, the restoration of the frills to his breeches, the alteration of the pattern of the rider’s collar, the addition of the order of St. George to the rider’s breast, and the substitution of the royal coat of arms for those of the Protector at the bottom of the engraving. There are also other known states of the plate, reproductions of which may be seen in Mr. Alfred Whitman’s _Print-Collector’s Handbook_. These were unknown to me when I wrote the above description.[46] [46] Since writing this I paid a visit to the Hall of the Middle Temple, when the very intelligent custodian told me that Cromwell ordered the great Vandyck, which hangs over the high table, to be taken down, and his own somewhat repellent countenance painted in in the place of that of Charles I. Fortunately for posterity this outrageous order was not carried out. The whole affair reminds one of the unconsciously grim entry in a certain bookseller’s catalogue which ran, “Memoirs of Charles the First with a head _capitally executed_.” [Illustration: The plate with Cromwell’s head] [Illustration: The plate with Charles I.’s head] So much for historical instances of putting new heads on old shoulders. But, if I am not mistaken, the very modern restoration of the west front of one of our great cathedrals shows a late Dean’s head surmounting the body of a saint or king, {243} which had been mutilated by Cromwell. It would be cruel, perhaps, to be more specific, as vanity is not the most pleasing of the Christian virtues.