THE APOLOGY OF John Catch Esq THE EXECUTIONER of LONDON, IN VINDICATION Of himself as to the Execution of the Late Lord RUSSEL, On July 21. 1683.  
IT is an Old saying and a true one, that one story's good till another's heard, but it is one of the most difficult things imaginable to dispossess the World of any censure or prejudice, that is once fixed or hath taken Root in the Hearts of the People. However since it is not fit that so Public a Person as the Executioner of Justice and the Law's; Sentence upon Criminals and Malefactors should lie under the scandal of untrue Reports, and be unjustly Exposed to popular Clamour, I thought it a matter of highest importance to me to clear and Vindicate myself as to the manner of my Lord Russel's Execution, and the hard usage he is said to have had in the Severing of his Head from his Body.  
As to the several reports that have been raised, as it hath been always a common Custom in the World, not only to magnify and misrepresent the truth, but to forgo things that never were, the falsity of them will appear to Judicious Persons as well by the Improbability of them, as by the testimony of those that know the Contrary: As namely that I had been drinking all the foregoing Night and was in Drink when I came upon the Scaffold when 〈◊〉 al● my Neighbours can testify that I went Orderly to Bed that Night and wholly undisguised in Drink. That I had 20. Guennies the Night before, That after the First blow my Lord should say you Dog, did I give you 10. Guennies to use me so Inhumanly? 'Tis true I received 10. Guenies but not till after having disposed of his Coa● Hat, and Periwig; I took the boldness to give him a small remembrance of the Civilities customary on the like occasion, as to the report of my striking my Lord into the Shoulder, how false it is, I appeal to those that were the nearest Spectators of the Execution, and for my being committed Prisoner to Newgate, it is so Easy a matter to disprove the truth thereof, that I need not trouble myself any farther about it.  
But my grand business is to acquit myself and come off as fairly as I can, as to those Grievous Obloquys and Invectives that have been, thrown upon me for not Severing my Lords Head from his Body at one Blow, and indeed had I given my Lord more Blows then one out of design to put him to more than Ordinary Pain, as I have been Taxed I might justly be exclamed on as Guilty of grater Inhumanity than can be imputed even to one of my Profession, or had it been occassioned by a Bungling and Supine Negligence, I had been much to blame. But there are Circumstances enough to clear me in this particular, and to make it plainly appear that my Lord himself was the real obstract that he had not a quicker dispatch out of this World; since if I may Speak it of a Person of his Quality? He died with more Gallantry than Discresion, and did not dispose him for recieving of the fatal Stroke in such a posture as was most suitable, for where as he should have put his hands before his Breast, or else behind him, he spread them out before him, nor would he be persuaded to give any signat or pull his Cap over his Eyes, which might possibly be the Occasion that Discovering the Blow, he somewhat heaved his Body. Moreover after having received the Guinnies, and according to my duty asked his Lordship's Pardon; I received some Interruption just as I was taking Aim and going to give the Blow. Thus have I truly and faithfully exposed to the Public all that can be said in this matter, and hope, what ever prejudice the Undiscerning Multitude may retain to have given sufficient satisfaction to all rational judicious Persons.   

LONDON, Printed for John Brown, 1683.