I was reading this article about the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. I was wondering if someone could explain exactly what was going on with this one part, Google wasn't much help:
"The executioner lifted the queen's dress to remove her garters, his time-honored prerogative, but was startled as a small dog emerged from the folds. Mary's pet, Geddon, had hidden in the dress."
Why would he be fooling around under the dead queen's dress and what was the purpose of removing her garters?
Most likely explanation is that the executioner was entitled to the executionee's clothes, which he could then sell. Curiously, John Bellamy's The Tudor Law of Treason says specifically that the executioner was refused Mary Queen of Scots' clothes. If Bellamy is to believed, and that her outfit was a fine black satin gown with embroidered black velvet, that must have been a sore blow to the hopes of the headsman.
The Newgate Bloody Register of the 18th c. occasionally has instances of criminals tossing their fine hats , coats etc to the crowd before they're hanged, as an affront to the hangman who'd otherwise be able to sell them: so the tradition lasted quite a long time.