Is it true that Anne gave alms to the people when she was headed to the scaffold?
Yes, in "Letters and Papers" in a list of disbursements, it say "The same "for money delivered unto her to give in alms before her death," 20l." which means that the Queen was given £20 to distribute as alms before her execution. £20 was a lot of money, a few thousand pounds in today's money.
Was it a custom for people (prominent, I suppose) to distribute alms before their execution? Thank you!
S