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Buchanan's version of the execution taken from Google Books History of Scotland is literally as follows:
On the first, he was placed upon a
cart, on which a kind of crane, in the form of a stork, was
erected, to which he was drawn up by ropes let through
pulleys, and then suddenly, by loosening the ropes, let fall
from the height to near the earth, with the most excruciating
pain from the dislocation of his joints. On the next, he was
elevated upon a pillory, that he might be conspicuous to all.
crowned with a red hot crown of iron, and this inscription —
The king of traitors. The reason of this punishment was that
Walter had been told by some female witch — for whom Athol
has always been infamous — That he would be crowned king
with the greatest celebrity ; and thus the prediction was either
fulfilled or eluded : and truly such predictions have often sim-
ilar accomplishments. He was then placed upon a hurdle,
and drawn at a horse tail through the High-street of Edinburgh.
On the third day, being extended upon a platform
in a conspicuous place, while yet alive, his intestines were
taken out, thrown into a fire, and burned before his face ; and
last of all, his heart was torn away and cast into the same
fire. His head was then cut off, and, fixed upon a long pole,
exhibited in the most conspicuous place of the city, and
his body being divided into four quarters, was distributed
among the principal cities of the kingdom, to be exposed in
the most public situations.
