Off with her head!

If the executioner had a sharp axe and a decent aim, beheading was quick and relatively painless. 

But death by beheading did not always go as planned. If the ax was dull, or the axeman careless or inexperienced, it might take several strokes before the head was finally severed. 

What then to do with the head? Parading it around town was always a popular option; as was displaying it at the castle gates, where birds would pluck out the eyes.