Today is Sunday, January 10th, 2021.

On this day in 1645, the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laude, was beheaded in London.

Welcome to Today in True Crime, a Spotify original from Parcast.

Due to the graphic nature of today's events, listener discretion is advised.

This episode includes dramatizations and discussions of executions that some people may find offensive.

We advise extreme caution for children under 13.

Today we're covering the execution of William Lod,

the Archbishop of Canterbury. Let's go back to London, England, on January 10th, 1645.

Thank you. 10th, 1645. A cold winter wind blew up the River Thames into the English capital.

Even behind the heavy stone walls of the Tower of London, the prisoners felt the chill in the air.

No one felt it more than 71-year-old William Laude, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The short, balding clergyman had been held in the tower for close to five years, and today he was leaving for good. Except Lod wasn't getting his

freedom back, or at least not the type of freedom that he wanted. After being dragged from his

cell, Lod was ushered out of the prison across a deep moat and into the streets of London.

There, the disgraced Archbishop was met with crowds that had been gathering all morning.

People hurled insults, curses, and an occasional rotten turnip at his head.

He was truly one of the most hated men in England.

Lod was escorted through the throngs of Londoners to Tower Hill, a green knoll across from the prison.

Even larger crowds were waiting there. Some VIPs were packed into makeshift bleachers,

while commoners stood shoulder to shoulder in the open field.

Everyone jockeyed for position to see the center of attention, a large wooden scaffolding.

Atop the structure was not the usual gallows that many people came to see.

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