Chapter VI: Introduction (4)

Wherefore a certain woman, Alice atte Bowe, the mistress of Crepin, a clerk, the chief causer of the said mischief, and with her sixteen men, were imprisoned, and later, Alice was burnt, and seven were drawn and hanged, to wit, Reginald de Lanfar, Robert Pinnot, Paul de Stybbenheth, Thomas Corouner, John de Tholosane, Thomas Russel, and Robert Scott. Ralph Crepin, Jordan Godchep, Gilbert le Clerk and Geoffrey le Clerk were attainted of the felony and remained prisoners in the Tower. The church was placed under an interdict by the archbishop: the doors and windows stopped up with thorns. But the body of Laurence was taken from the place where it lay, and given burial by the clergy in the churchyard. After a while, the bishop of Rochester, by command of the archbishop, removed the interdict.[122]

=1295.= _October 6._ The Treason of Sir Thomas Turberville.

Sir Thomas Turberville, taken prisoner by the French, was released in order that he might return to England and act as a secret agent for the French government. He was detected in corresponding with the Provost of Paris, tried and condemned. This was the manner of his execution: He came from the Tower, mounted on a poor hack, in a coat of ray, and shod with white shoes, his head being covered with a hood, and his feet tied beneath the horse’s belly, and his hands tied before him: and around him were riding six torturers attired in the form of the devil, one of whom held his rein, and the hangman his halter, for the horse which bore him had them both upon it: and in such manner was he led from the Tower through London to Westminster, and was condemned on the dais in the Great Hall there: and Sir Robert Brabazun pronounced judgment upon him, that he should be drawn and hanged, and that he should hang so long as anything should be left whole of him: and he was drawn on a fresh ox-hide from Westminster to the Conduit of London in Cheapside, and then back to the gallows: and there is he hung by a chain of iron, and will hang as long as anything of him may remain.[123]

Here we have the first mention of drawing on an ox-hide, probably at this time generally used in such cases. But as shown on p. 28, one of the chroniclers expressly says that this method of drawing was adopted in the present case in order that the sufferer should not die too soon.

The place of execution is not mentioned. In a footnote Mr. Riley says that it was “probably the Elms in West Smithfield,” but, as has been shown, the probability is all in favour of the Elms of Tyburn.

=1299.= Rishanger reports a strange occurrence not unconnected with our subject: The King ordered to be brought into the Tower of London all the iron manacles and chains which could be found in every place in England, to an inestimable number, but the reason of this was wholly unknown.[124]

=1305.= _August 23._ William Wallace drawn from Westminster to the Tower and thence to Tyburn, where he was hanged and quartered. In treating of the punishment for high treason, mention has already been made of the manner of carrying out the sentence on Wallace, “the man of Belial,” as he is constantly called in the Chronicles. Wallace was hanged on a very high gallows, specially made for the occasion. Edward was fond of high gallows. At the siege of Stirling Castle, in 1300, he caused to be erected two gallows, sixty feet high, before the gates of the castle, and swore a great oath (jurra graunt serment) that if surrender was not at once made, he would hang every one within the castle, were he earl, baron, or knight, high or low. “On hearing which,” says the chronicler, “those within at once opened the gates and surrendered to the king, who pardoned them.”

The place of execution of Wallace was undoubtedly Tyburn. “The Elms” is mentioned in Chronicles of the reigns of Edward I. and Edward II., ed. Stubbs, i. 141-2. The sentence bore that Wallace’s head should be exposed on London Bridge. This is the first recorded instance of a head being exposed here.[125] In 1283 the head of David III. and of his brother Llewellyn were fixed on the Tower of London.[126]

=1306.= Two other executions of Scotch leaders followed, both probably at Tyburn, though the place is not expressly mentioned. Symon Frisel [Fraser] was brought to London, and then, according to the chronicler, drawn, on September 7, from the Tower, through the streets to the gallows as traitor, hanged as thief, beheaded as murderer; then his body was hung on a gibbet for twenty days, and finally burnt, the head being fixed on a pole upon London Bridge, near the head of Wallace.

The execution of the earl of Athol followed on November 7. Edward, grievously ill, found his pains relieved by learning of the capture of the earl. Athol claimed to be of royal lineage. “If he is of nobler blood than the other parricides,” said Edward, “he shall be hanged higher than they.” He was carried to London, and condemned at Westminster. Then, as being of royal descent, he was not drawn, but rode on horseback to the place of execution, where he was hanged on a gallows fifty feet high. Then let down, half alive, so that his torment might be greater, very cruelly beheaded (the chronicler does not say what was done to make the beheading unusually cruel), then the body was thrown into a fire previously kindled in the sight of the sufferer, and reduced to ashes. Then the head was placed on London Bridge among those of other traitors, but higher than the rest, in regard to his royal descent.[127]

=1307.= In May, John Wallace was brought to London, condemned as a traitor and hanged. His head was set on London Bridge near that of William Wallace.[128]

=1330.= Edward III. was but a boy when crowned in February, 1327. All power was in the hands of Isabella, his mother, queen of the deposed and murdered king, Edward II., and of her lover, Roger Mortimer, baron of Wigmore and earl of March. For the murder of Edward II. the queen-mother and Mortimer are held to be specially responsible. In 1329 a powerful confederation was formed to overthrow Mortimer. This was for the time defeated, but Edward, now eighteen, chafed under his subjection and took counsel with William de Montacute. It was resolved to seize Mortimer in the castle of Nottingham, where, during the session of Parliament held there, Isabella and her lover lodged. Mortimer was well guarded, and it was necessary to bring into the confederation Sir William Eland, the governor of the castle. He told the confederates of a subterranean passage, unknown to Mortimer, and unwatched, through which a sufficient force could be introduced. The rest of the story may be told in the words of Stow:—

Then, vpon a certaine night, the King lying without the castle, both he and his friends were brought by torch light through a secret way vnder ground, beginning far off from the sayde castle, till they came euen to the Queenes chamber, which they by chance found open: they therefore being armed with naked swords in their hands, went forwards, leauing the King also armed without the doore of the Chamber, least that his mother shoulde espie him: they which entred in, slew Hugh Turpinton knight, who resisted them, Master John Neuell of Home by giuing him his deadly wound. From thence, they went towarde the Queene mother, whom they found with the Earle of March readie to haue gone to bedde: and hauing taken the sayde Earle, they ledde him out into the hall, after whom the Queene followed, crying, _Bel filz, bel filz, ayes pitie de gentil Mortimer_, Good sonne, good sonne, take pittie vpon gentle Mortimer: for she suspected that her sonne was there, though shee saw him not. Then are the Keyes of the Castle sent for, and euery place with all the furniture is yeelded vp into the kings handes, but in such secret wise, that none without the Castle, except the kinges friendes, vnderstoode thereof. The next day in the morning verie early, they bring Roger Mortimer, and other his friends taken with him, with an horrible shout and crying (the earle of Lancaster then blind, being one of them that made the showt for ioy) towardes London, where hee was committed to the Tower, and afterward condemned at Westminster, in presence of the whole Parliament on Saynt Andrewes euen next following, and then drawne to the Elmes and there hanged on the common Gallowes. Whereon hee hung two dayes and two nights by the kinges commaundement, and then was buryed in the Gray Fryars Church.[129]

It has been frequently said that Mortimer was the first person executed at Tyburn. The French Chronicle of London says, “Sir Roger Mortimer, and Sir Symon de Bereford, who was of his counsel, were drawn and hanged at London”; and in a note Mr. Riley adds that he “is said to have been the first person executed at Tyburn, but according to Roger of Wendover, William Fitz-Osbert, or Longbeard, was executed there in 1196.” Dr. Lingard says that Mortimer “was executed at Tyburn, the first, as it is said, who honoured with his death that celebrated spot.” The reader now knows that not only Longbeard, but Constantine Fitz-Athulf, had certainly been here executed, and also probably others mentioned in these Annals. It may be taken for granted that the new gallows erected in 1220, and the old gallows replaced by them, had not stood idle. In the century and a half during which the gallows had stood at Tyburn, hundreds, if not thousands of unrecorded executions must have taken place here.[130]

=1345.= The murder of Sir John of Shoreditch.

Sir John of Shoreditch was a doctor of laws, advocate and knight, a man of great eminence in his profession. This may be inferred from the fact that, in 1343, he was sent, with others, as envoy to the Pope to complain of papal exactions.

In the year 1345, writes the chronicler, on the tenth of the month of July, Sir John, of the king’s council, was secretly suffocated by four of his servants at a certain house of his near Ware. These four servants, suspected and apprehended, confessed their crime, and on the eighteenth day of the same month, being the Sunday before the festival of St. Margaret, they were in London drawn, hanged, and beheaded, and their heads were set up on Newgate, on poles.[131]

The punishment thus inflicted was the penalty of petty treason, of which they were guilty in killing their master. Tyburn is not mentioned as the place of execution.

=1347.= The Scotch king, David II., the earl of Fife, and the earl of Menteith were captured. Fife and Menteith were sent to London and tried. From Calais Edward III. sent the judgment to be pronounced on these two “traitors and tyrants.” In accordance with the sentence, Menteith was drawn, hanged, disembowelled. His head was set on London Bridge, and the quarters sent to various parts of England. The sentence was not carried out against Fife, as being allied to the king in blood.[132]

This is the sentence as given by Rymer:—

Si est agarde q’ils soient Ajuggez Traitres, &, come Traitres & Tirantz atteintz, Traynez, Penduz, Decolez, & lour Corps Quartirez, & lour Chiefs mys sur le Pount de Loundres, & les Quarters mys a les Quatre Principals Villes du North (c’est assaver) a Everwyk, Noef Chastel sur Tyne, Kardoil, and Berewyk, de les y pendre haut par Cheines, en ensample & terrour des Traitres & Tirantz celles Parties. Tyburn is not mentioned.

=1377.= Sir John Menstreworth, accused of embezzling from the king large sums allotted to him for the pay of soldiers, fled to France.

About this time (April), writes the chronicler, was captured Sir John Menstreworth, a traitorous knight, who had fled to Pamplona, a city of Navarre. Brought to London, he was first drawn, then hanged: finally his body was divided into four quarters, which were sent to four principal cities of England; and his head was fixed on London Bridge, where it remained for a long time.[133]

=1386.= And that yere the goode man at the sygne at the Cocke in Chepe, at the Lyttyll Condyte, was mortheryd in hys bedde be nyght, and therefore hys wyffe was brente, and iiij of hys men were hangyd at Tyborne.[134]

The Grey Friars Chronicle says that three servants were drawn and hanged. This is the record of a terrible judicial error. The Chronicles tell the story, some under the year 1386, some under 1391. We may suppose that the dates are those respectively of the commission of the crime and the discovery of the real criminal. Stow thus tells the whole story in his “Summary,” ed. 1598:—

The good man of the Cocke in Cheap at the little conduit was murdered in the night time by a thiefe that came in at a gutter window, as it was knowne long after by the same thiefe, when he was at the gallowes to be hanged for felonie, but his wife was burnt therefore, and three of his men drawne to Tiburne, and there hanged wrongfully. One of the old chroniclers, after telling the story, adds, “and that was ruth.” What more can be said in presence of such a calamity?

=1388.= The struggle for power under the rule of the boy-king, Richard II., ended in the utter rout of one of the two factions. “Appealed of treason” by their successful rivals, the archbishop of York, the duke of Ireland, and the duke of Suffolk, sought safety in flight. Let Stow tell the fate of chief justice Tresilian, of Nicholas Brembre, the City chief of the vanquished faction, and of others of less note. The end of Tresilian has a curious resemblance to that, three hundred years later, of another great lawyer, lord chancellor Jeffreys. Each had conducted a bloody judicial campaign. After the suppression of the revolt of the peasants, Tresilian had sentenced to death John Ball, and, as averred by an old chronicler, had condemned every one brought before him, whether guilty or not. Tresilian, like Jeffreys, was captured in a disguise. Here, indeed, the parallel ends. Jeffreys died a prisoner in the Tower, and thus escaped the doom of Tresilian. This is Stow’s narrative:—

The foresaid Lords being fled as is aforesaide, Robert Trisilian a Cornishman, Lord chiefe Justice to the King, had hid himselfe in an Apothecaries house in the Sanctuary neere to the gate of Westminster, where he might see the Lords going to the Parliament, and comming forth thereby to learne what was done, for all his life time he did all things closely, but now his craft being espied was turned to great folly. For on Wednesday the seuenteenth of February he was betraied of his owne seruant, & about eleuen of the clocke beforenoone, being taken by the Duke of Glocester, and in the Parliament presented, so that the same day in the after noone hee was drawne to Tyborne from the Tower of London through the Citie, & there had his throat cut and his bodie was buried in the gray Friers Church at London. This man had disfigured himselfe, as if he had beene a poore weake man, in a frize coat, all old & torne, and had artificially made himselfe a long beard, such as they called a Paris beard, and had defiled his face, to the end hee might not bee knowen but by his speach. On the morrow, was executed sir Nicholas Brembar, who had done many oppressions, & caused seditions in the Citie, of whom it was saide, yᵗ whilest he was in full authoritie of Maioralitie, hee caused a common payre of Stockes in euery ward, and a common Axe to be made to behead all such as should bee against him, and it was further said, that hee had indited 8000. & more of the best and greatest of the Citie, but it was said that the said Nicholas was beheaded with the same Axe hee hadde prepared for other: this man if hee hadde liued, hadde beene created Duke of Troy, or of London by the name of Troy.

On the fourth of March Thomas Vske, Undershriue of London, & Iohn Blake Esquire, one of the kings household, were drawne from the Tower to Tyborne and there hanged and beheaded, the head of Thomas Vske was set vp ouer Newgate, to the opprobry of his parents, which inhabited thereby.

Also on the 12. of May … Sir Iohn Bernes knight of the kings Court a lustie young man, was in the same place [Tower hill] beheaded, sir Iohn Salisburie knight was drawne from the Tower to Tyborne and there hanged.

Some of the accounts state that Brembre was hanged at Tyburn, but Knighton says that he was beheaded on Tower Hill, the king having stipulated with Parliament that he should not be drawn nor hanged. Walsingham says that Little Troy was the new name intended to be given by Brembre to London.[135]

=1399.= In this year took place several executions for the murder of the Duke of Gloucester at Calais. John Hall was charged with having kept the door of the room when the Duke was done to death by being smothered in a feather-bed. On October 17th “the lordes were examyned what peyne the same John Halle hadde desyrved ffor his knowyng off the deeth off the Duk off Gloucestre: and the lordes seyden, that he were worthy the moste grete peyne and penaunce that he myght have. And so the Juggement was that the same John Halle shulde be drawe ffro the Tour off London to Tyborne, and ther his bowelles shulde be brent and affterwarde he shulde be hangid and quarterid and byhedid. And his heede y-brouht to the same place, wher the Duk off Gloucestre was murdred.”[136]

=1400.= After the deposition of Richard II. and the coronation of Henry IV. a conspiracy was formed to surprise Henry at a tournament to be held at Windsor in December, 1399. The plot was made known by the Earl of Rutland, one of the conspirators. Henry collected an army in London, and set out for the rebels’ camp near Windsor. The rebels retreated to Cirencester, where they were overthrown. According to the Chronicle of London (1827), Sir Thomas Blount, Sir Bennet Shelley, Thomas Wyntreshull, and about twenty-seven others, were executed at Oxford. “Afterwards was taken Sr. Bernard Brocas, Sr. Thomas Schelley, Maudelyn parson, Sr. William Fereby prest: and there were drawen, hanged, and beheded at Tyborne.” There is, however, great confusion in the various accounts. The Grey Friars Chronicle, for instance, says that Sir Bernard Brocas was beheaded in Cheapside. In Chroniques de Waurin, and in a manuscript in the Bibliothèque Nationale, is a long account of the execution of Sir Thomas Blount. Reference has sometimes been made to it as illustrating the cruelty of the times. Cruel enough they were: so cruel that there existed no need to overcharge a narrative. But this account of the execution is clearly in great part a work of imagination. Sir Thomas is represented as sitting, disembowelled, near the fire in which his bowels had been burnt, and in this condition he holds a long conversation with Sir Thomas Erpingham. Finally, the executioner asks Sir Thomas whether he would like to drink. Sir Thomas replies, “Nennil, car je ne le scauroye où mettre.”[137]

The partisans of the deposed Richard refused to believe that he was dead:—

=1402.= In the meane time while the kyng was thus occupied in Wales, certain malicious and cruel persons enuiyng and malignyng in their heartes that king Henry contrary to the opinion of many, but against the will of mo had so shortely obteigned and possessed the realme and regalitie, blased abrode & noised daily amongest the vulgare people that kyng Richard (whiche was openly sene dead) was yet liuying and desired aide of the common people to repossesse his realme and roiall dignitie. And to the furtheraunce of this fantasticall inuencion partly moued with indignacion, partely incensed with furious malencolie, set vpon postes and caste aboute the stretes railyng rimes, malicious meters and tauntyng verses against King Henry and his proceedynges. He beyng netteled with these vncurteous ye vnuertuous prickes & thornes, serched out the authours, and amongest other were found culpable of this offence and crime, sir Roger Claryngdon knight, and eight gray Friers whiche according to their merites and desertes were strangeled at Tiborne and there put in execution.[138]

Walter de Baldocke, formerly Prior of Laund in Leicestershire, a ninth minorite friar, and a servant of Sir Roger, were also executed.[139]

=1404.= The olde Countesse of Oxford, mother to Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland did cause such as were familiar with her, to brute throughout all the parts of Essex, that king Richard was aliue, and that he should shortely come & chalenge his olde estate and dignitie. She caused many harts of silver, and some of golde to be made for badges, such as king Richard was wont to bestowe on his knights, Esquiers & friends, that distributing them in the kings name, she might the sooner allure the knights, and other valiant men of the Countrey, to be at her will and desire.

Also the fame and brute which daily was blazed abroad by one William Serle, sometimes of K. Richards chamber, that the same King Richard was in Scotland, and tarryed with a power of French & Scottishmen, caused many to beleeue that he was aliue. This William Serle had forged a priuie Seale in the said Richards name, and had sent diuers comfortable letters vnto such as were familiar with K. Richard, by which meanes, many gaue the greater credit to the Countesse, insomuch, that some religious Abbots of that country did giue credit vnto her tales who afterward were taken at the Kings commaundement and imprisoned, because they did beleeue and giue credit to the Countesse in this behalfe, and the Countesse had all her goods confiscate, and was committed to close prison: and William Serle, was drawn from pomfret, through the chiefest Citties of England, and put to death at London.[140]

=1424.= The Parliament sitting in this year “ordained that what prysoner for grand or petty treason was committed to ward, & after wilfully brake or made an escape from the same, it should bee deemed pettie treason.” Sir John Mortimer lay in the Tower, accused of divers points of treason. “Which John Mortimer, after the statute aforesaid escaped out of the tower, and was taken againe vpon the tower wharfe sore beaten and wounded, and on the morrowe brought to Westminster, and by the authoritie of the said parliament, hee was drawne to Tyburne, hanged & headed.” (Stow, Annals, p. 365.) Stow refers to Hall, who says: “In the tyme of which Parliament also, whether it were, either for deserte or malice, or to auoyde thynges that might chaunce, accordyng to a prouerbe, whiche saith, a dead man doth no harme: Sir Iohn Mortimer … was attainted of treason and put to execution: of whose death no small slaunder arose emongest the common people.”[141]

=1427.= Ande that same yere a theffe that was i-callyd Wille Wawe was hangyd at Tyborne (Gregory’s Chronicle, p. 161).

Insignificant as this record appears, it is really of great interest. As the present annals show, ordinary crimes and their punishment received little or rather no attention from the chroniclers. We have now traversed two and a half centuries since the first recorded execution that we can put to the account of Tyburn. We have found but one case, that of the terrible tragedy of the murdered cook of Chepe, and the judicial error resulting in the execution of four or five innocent persons, in which the actors or sufferers were of humble rank. Gregory’s Chronicle is supposed to have been written by William Gregory, skinner, mayor of London. It is certain that the author was a citizen of London. Being this, the phases of daily life in London would naturally have for him a greater interest than for the monk who looked on the world from the scriptorium of his monastery. To the fact that Gregory was a citizen of London we doubtless owe this notice—too brief—of Wille Wawe. The hanging of thieves was too common to attract attention. We shall admit the probability that Wille was distinguished from the rest of his tribe by superior daring or success: had he, perhaps, robbed the author of the Chronicle?

=1437.= Also the same yere on William Goodgrom, of London, corsour, for scleynge of a man of court in Hosyere Lane be syde Smythfeld, was hangen at Tybourne (Chronicle of London, 1827, p. 123.)

A coursour, or courser, was a dealer in horses. (Riley, “Memorials of London and London Life,” p. 366 and note.)

=1441.= Roger Bolinbrooke, a great Astronomer, with Thomas Southwell, a Chanon of Saynt Stephens Chappell at Westminster, were taken as conspiratours of the Kings death, for it was said, that the same Roger shoulde labour to consume the kings person by way of Negromancie, & the said Thomas should say Masses in the lodge of Harnesey park beside London, upon certaine instruments, with the which the said Roger should vse his craft of Negromancie, against the faith, and was assenting to the said Roger, in all his workes. And the 5. and twentith day of July being Sun-day, Roger Bolinbrooke, with all his instruments of Negromancie, that is to say, a chayre paynted wherein he was wont to sit, vppon the 4. corners of which chayre stoode foure swords, and vppon euery sword an image of copper hanging, with many other instruments: hee stoode on a high Scaffolde in Paules Churchyard, before yᵉ crosse, holding a sword in his right hand, and a scepter in his left, arrayed in a maruellous attire, and after the Sermon was ended by maister Low Byshop of Rochester, he abiured all articles longing to the crafte of Negromancie or missowning to the faith, in presence of the Archb. of Canterbury, the Cardinall of Winchester, the byshop of London, Salisbury and many other.

On the Tuesday next following, dame Elianor Cobham, daughter to Reginald Cobham Lord of Stirbrough: Dutchesse of Glocester fledde by night into the Sanctuary at Westminster, which caused her to be suspected of treason.

In the meane time Roger Bolinbrooke, was examined before the Kings Counsaile, where he confessed that he wrought the saide Negromancie at the stirring and procurement of the said Dame Elianor, to know what should befall of her, and to what estate she should come, whereuppon shee was cited to appeare before Henry Chicheley, Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry Beaufort bishoppe of Winchester Cardinall: Iohn Kempe Archb. of Yorke Cardinall: William Ascothe bishop of Salisburie, & other in Saynt Stephens Chappell at Westminster, there to answere to certaine Articles in number 28. of Negromancie, witch-crafte, sorcerie, heresie, and treason, where when shee appeared, the foresaide Roger was brought forth to witnes against her, and said, that shee was cause and first stirred him to labour in the sayd Art. Then on the 11. of August, shee was committed to the ward of Sir John Steward, Sir William Wolfe Knights, Iohn Stanley Esquier, and other, to be conueyed to the Castle of Leedes, there to remaine till 3. weekes after Michaelmas.

Shortly after a commission was directed to the Earles of Huntington, Stafford, Suffolke and Northumberland, the treasurer sir Ralph Cromwall, Iohn Cornwall, Lord Fanhope, sir Walter Hungerforde, and to certaine Judges of both Benches, to enquire of all manner of treasons, sorceries, & other things that might be hurtfull to the Kings person, before whome the sayde Roger, and Thomas Southwell, as principals, and Dame Elianor as accessary, were indicted of treason in the Guilde Hall of London.

There was taken also Margery Gurdemaine a witch of Eye besides Westminster, whose sorcerie and witchcrafte the said Elianor hadde long time vsed, and by her medicines & drinkes enforced the Duke of Glocester to loue her, and after to wedde her, wherefore, and for cause of relapse, the same Witch was brent in Smithfield, on the twentie-seauen day of October.

The 21. of October, in the Chappell beforesaid, before the Byshops, of London Robart Gilbart, of Lincolne, William Alnewike, of Norwich Thomas Brouns, the sayde Elianor appeared, and Adam Molins Clarke of the Kinges Counsell read certaine articles obiected against her of Sorcerie and Negromancy, whereof some shee denyed, and some shee granted.

The three and twentith of October Dame Elianor appeared againe, and witnesses were brought forth and examined: and she was conuict of the saide Articles: then was it asked if she would say any thing against the witnesses, whereunto shee answered nay, but submitted her selfe. The 27. day of October shee abiured the articles, & was adioyned to appeare againe the ninth of Nouember. In the meane tyme, to wit, on the 26. of October Thomas Southwell dyed in the Tower of London, as himselfe had prophesied that he should neuer die by Justice of the Law.

The 9. of November Dame Elianor appeared before the Archbyshop & other, in the sayde Chappell, and receiued her penance, which shee perfourmed.

On Monday the 13. of November, she came from Westminster by water, and landed at the Temple bridge, from whence with a taper of waxe of 2. pound in her hand, she went through Fleetestreete, hoodlesse (saue a Kerchefe) to Pauls, where shee offered her taper at the high Altar. On the Wednesday next shee landed at the Swan in Thamis streete, and then went through Bridge-streete, Grace church streete, straight to Leaden Hall, & so to Christ church by Aldegate. On Friday she landed at Queene Hiue, and so went through Cheape to Saynt Michaels in Cornehill, in forme aforesaid: at all which times the Maior, Sherifes, & crafts of London, receiued her and accompanied her. This beeing done shee was committed to the ward of sir Thomas Stanley, wherein shee remained during her life in the castle of Chester, hauing yeerely 100. markes assigned for her finding, in the 22. of Henry the sixt, shee was remoued to Kenilworth, there to be safely kept whose pride, false, couetise, and lechery, were cause of her confusion.

The 18. of November Roger Bolingbroke, with Sir Iohn Hum priest, & William Woodham Esquier, were arraigned in the Guildhal of London, where the said Iohn and William hadde their Charters, but Roger Bolingbroke was condemned, and had iudgement of Sir Io. Hody, Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench, and the same day he was drawne from the Tower to Tyborne and there hanged and quartered: and when the said Roger should suffer, he sayd that he was neuer guilty of any treaso̅ against the Kings person, but he had presumed too far in his cunning, whereof he cryed God mercy: and the Justice that gaue on him iudgement liued not long after.[142]

=1446.= Iohn Dauid appeached his master William Catur, an armorer dwelling in S. Dunstons parish in Fleetstreet, of treason, & a day being assigned them to fight in Smithfield, yᵉ master being welbeloued, was so cherished by his friends & plied so wʰ wine, that being therwith ouercome was also vnluckely slaine by his seruant: but that false seruant (for he falsely accused his master) liued not long vnpunished, for he was after hanged at Tyborne for felony (Stow, p. 385).

Shakespeare has taken this incident for a scene in the Second Part of King Henry VI. Act 2, sc. 3, where the armourer is called Horner, and his servant Peter. In the play, Horner, smitten to death, is made to confess his treason.

=1447.= And a-non aftyr the dethe of the Duke of Glouceter there were a reste [arrested] many of the sayde dukys [servants] to the nombyr of xxxviij squyers, be-syde alle othyr servantys that nevyr ymagenyd no falsenys of the [that] they were put a-pon of. And on Fryday the xiiij day of Juylle nexte folowynge by jugement at Westemyster, there by fore v personys were dampnyd to be drawe, hanggyd, and hyr bowellys i-brente be fore hem, and thenne hyr heddys to be smetyn of, ande thenne to be quarteryde, and every parte to be sende unto dyvers placys by assygnement of the jugys. Whyche personys were thes: Arteys the bastarde of the sayde Duke of Glouceter, Syr Rogger Chambyrlayne knyght, Mylton squyer, Thomas Harberde squyer, Nedam yeman, whyche were the sayde xiiij day of Juylle i-drawe fro Syn Gorgys thoroughe owte Sowthewerke and on Londyn Brygge, ande so forthe thorowe the cytte of London to the Tyborne, and there alle they were hanggyde, and the ropys smetyn a-sondyr, they beynge alle lyvynge, and thenne, ar any more of any markys of excecusyon were done, the Duke of Sowthefolke brought them alle yn generalle pardon and grace from our lorde and soverayne Kynge Harry the vjᵗᵉ.[143]

=1455.= Also this yere was a grete affray in London agaynst the Lombardes. The cawse began of a yong man that took a Dagger from a straunger and broke it. Wherefore the yong man was sent for vnto the Mair and Aldermen beyng at Guyldehall, and there by theym he was commytted for his offence to One of the Countours: and then the mair departyng from the hall toward his mancion to dyner, in Chepe met with him a grete company of yong men of the Mercery, as Apprentices and other lowse men: and taried the Mair and the Sheriffes still in Chepe, not suffryng hym to depart till they had their ffelow, beyng in pryson, as is aforsaid, delyuered: and so by force delyuered their felaw oute of pryson. Wherevpon the same evenyng the hand craftymen Ranne vnto the lombardes howsys, and Robbyd and dispoilid Dyuers of theym. Wherfor the Mair and Shyreffes, with thassistence of good and weldisposed people of the Cite, with greate Jubardy and labour Drove theym thens, and commytted some of theym that had Robbid to Newgate. Whervpon the yong man, which was rescoed by his feloship, seying the greate rumour folowyng vpon his occasion Departed and went to Westm’, and ther abode as sayntuary man: Wherby he saved his lyf. ffor anone vpon this came down an Oye determyne, for to do Justice vpon alle theym that soo had Rebellid in the Cyte: vpon which sat that tyme with the Mayr the Duke of Bokyngham with dyuers other grete lordes, for to see Execucion doon. But the Comons of the Cyte did arme theym secretely in their howses, and were in purpos to haue Rungyn the Comon Bell, callid Bowe Bell: But they were lette by sadde and weladuysed men, which when it come to the knowleyge of the Duke of Bokyngham and other lordes their beyng with hym, they Incontynently arose, feryng longer to abyde: for it was shewed to theym that all the Cite wold arise vpon theym. But yet notwithstondyng in Conclusion ij or iij mysdoers of the Cite were adjuged for the Robbery, And were hanged at Tybourne: and this doon the kyng and the quene and other lordes Rood to Coventre, and with drewe theym from London for these cawsis (Chronicles of London (Kingsford) 1905, pp. 166, 167).

=1467.= Alle soo that same yere there were many chyrchys robbyd in the cytte of London only of the boxys with the sacrament. And men had moche wondyr of thys, and sad men demyd that there had ben sum felyschippe of heretykys assocyat to gederys. But hyt was knowe aftyr that it was done of very nede that they robbyd, wenyng unto the thevys that the boxys hadde ben sylvyr ovyr gylt, but was but copyr. And by a copyr smythe hit was a spyde of hyr longe contynuans in hyr robbory. At a tyme, alle the hole feleschippe of thevys sat at sopyr to gedyr, and had be fore hem fulle goode metys. But that copyr smythe sayde, “I wolde have a more deynty mosselle of mete, for I am wery of capon, conynge, and chekyns, and such smalle metes. And I mervyl I have ete ix goddys at my sopyr that were in the boxys.” And that schamyd sum of them in hyr hertys. Ande a smythe of lokyers crafte, that made hyr instrumentes to opyn lockys, was ther that tyme, for hyt was sayed at the sopyr in hys howse. And in the mornynge he went to chyrche to hyre a masse, and prayde God of marcy; but whenn the pryste was at the levacyon of the masse he myght not see that blessyd sacrament of the auter. Thenn he was sory, and a bode tylle a nothyr pryste wente to masse and helpyd the same pryste to masse, and say [saw] howe the oste lay a-pon the auter and alle the tokyns and sygnys that the pryste made; but whenn the pryste hylde uppe that hooly sacrament at the tyme of levacyon he myght se no thynge of that blessyd body of Chryste at noo time of the masse, not somoche at _Agnus Dei_; and thenn he demyd that hit had ben for febyllenys of hys brayne. And he went unto the ale howse and dranke a ob. [a halfpennyworth] of goode alle, and went to chyrche agayne, and he helpyd iij moo prystys to masse, and in no maner a wyse he ne myght se that blessyd sacrament; but then bothe he and hys feleschyppe lackyd grace. And in schorte tyme aftyr iiij of hem were take, and the same lokyer was one of yᵉ iiij, and they were put in Newegate. And by processe they were dampnyd for that trespas and othyr to be hangyd and to be drawe fro Newegate to Tyborne, and soo they were. And the same daye that they shulde dy they were confessyd. And thes iiij docters were hyr confessourys, Mayster Thomas Eberalle, Maystyr Hewe Damylett, Maystyr Wylliam Ive, and Maystyr Wylliam Wryxham. Thenn Mayster Thomas Eberalle wente to masse, and that lokyer aftyr hys confessyon myght see that blessyd sacrament welle i-nowe, and thenne rejoysyd and was gladde, and made an opyn confessyon by fore the iiij sayde docters of devynyte. And I truste that hyr soulys ben savyd.[144]

=1468.= That yere were meny men a pechyd of treson, bothe of the cytte and of othyr townys. Of the cytte Thomas Coke, knyght and aldyrman, and John Plummer, knyght and aldyrman, but the kyng gave hem bothe pardon. And a man of the Lorde Wenlockys, John Haukyns was hys name, was hangyd at Tyburne and be heddyd for treson.[145]

=1495.= The 22. of Februarie were arraigned in Guildhall at London foure persons, to witte, Thomas Bagnall, Iohn Scot, Ihon Hethe, and Iohn Kenington, the which were Sanctuarie men of Saint Martin le grand in London, and lately before taken thence, for forging seditious libels, to the slander of the King, and some of his Councell: for the which three of them were adiudged to die, & the fourth named Bagnall, pleaded to be restored to sanctuary: by reason whereof he was repriued to the Tower till the next terme, and on the 26 of February the other three with a Flemming, and Robert Bikley a yeoman of the Crown were all fiue executed at Tyborne (Stow, ed. Howes, p. 479).

=1483.= _December 4._ Four yeomen of the Crown were drawn from Southwark to Tyburn, and “there were hanged all” (Chronicle of London, Kingsford, 1905, p. 192).

=1495.= In this year Perkin Warbeck, a pretender, “A yoongman, of visage beautifull, of countenance demure, of wit subtil,” made a descent on the English coasts:—But Perken would not set one foote out of his Shippe, till he sawe all thinges sure; yet he permitted some of his Souldiours to goe on lande, which being trained forth a prettie way from their Shippes, and seeing they coulde haue no comfort of the Countrey, they withdrew againe to their Shippes: at which withdrawing, the Maior of Sandwich, with certaine commons of the Countrey, bikered with the residue that were vppon lande, and tooke aliue of them 169. persons, among the which were fiue Captaines Mountfort, Corbet, White Belt, Quintin & Genine. And on the twelfth of Julie, Syr Iohn Pechy, Sheriffe of Kent, bought vnto London bridge those 169. persons, where the Sheriffes of London, Nicholas Alwine and Iohn Warner receiued and conueied them, railed in robes like horses in a cart, vnto the tower of London, and to Newgate, and shortlie after to the number of 150. were hanged about the sea coasts in Kent, Essex, Sussex, and Norffolke; the residue were executed at Tiborne and at Wapping in the Whose besides London; and Perken fled into Flanders (Stow, ed. Howes, p. 479).

=1499.= Perkyn (of whome rehersall was made before) beyng now in holde, coulde not leaue with the destruccion of him selfe, and confusion of other that had associate them selfes with him, but began now to study which way to flye & escape. For he by false persuasions and liberall promises corrupted Strangweyes, Blewet, Astwood and long Rogier hys kepers, beynge seruantes to syr Ihon Dygby, lieutenaunt. In so muche that they (as it was at their araynment openly proued) entended to haue slayn the sayde Master, and to haue set Perkyn and the Erle of Warwyke at large; which Erle was by them made preuy of this enterprice, & thereunto (as all naturall creatures loue libertie) to his destruccion assented. But this craftie deuice and subtil imaginacion, beyng opened and disclosed, sorted to none effect, and so he beyng repulsed and put back from all hope and good lucke with all hys complices and confederates, and Ihon Awater sometyme Mayre of Corffe in Ireland, one of his founders, and his sonne, were the sixten daye of Nouembre arreyned and comdempned at Westmynster. And on the thre and twenty daye of the same moneth, Perkyn and Ihon Awater were drawen to Tyborne, and there Perkyn standyng on a little skaffolde, redde hys confession, which before you haue heard, and toke it on hys death to be true, and so he and Ihon Awater asked the kyng forgeuenes and dyed paciently. (Hall’s Chron., ed. 1809, p. 491).

=1497.= Henry had prepared “a puissaunt and vigorious army to inuade Scotland,” when domestic troubles arose:—“When the lord Dawbeney had his army assembled together and was in his iourney forward into Scotlande, he sodeinly was stayed and reuoked agayne, by reason of a newe sedicion and tumult begonne within the realme of England for the subsedy whiche was graunted at the last parliament for the defence of the Scottes with all diligence and celeritee, whiche of the moost parte was truely satisfied and payde. But the Cornish men inhabityng the least parte of the realme, and thesame sterile and without all fecunditee, compleyned and grudged greatly affirmyng that they were not hable to paye suche a greate somme as was of theim demaunded. And so, what with angre, and what with sorrowe, forgettynge their due obeysaunce, beganne temerariously to speake of the kyng him selfe. And after leuyng the matter, lamentyng, yellyng, & criyng maliciously, sayd, that the kyngs counsayll was the cause of this polling and shauing. And so beyng in aroare, ii. of thesame affinitee, the one Thomas Flamocke, gentleman, learned in the lawes of the realme, and theother Mighell Ioseph a smyth, men of high courages and stoute stomackes, toke vpon theim to be captaynes of this vngracious flocke and sedicious company.… These capiteynes exhorted the common people to put on harneys, & not to be afearde to folowe theim in this quarell, promisyng theim that they shoulde do no damage to any creature, but only to se ponyshement and correccion done to such persons which were the aucthors & causers that the people were molested and vexed with such vnreasonable exaccions and demaunds.” The rebels marching towards London, “the kyng perceauyng the cyuile warre to approche & drawe nerer & nerer, almost to his very gates, determined with all his whole powre to resist and represse thesame.… Wherfore he reuoked agayn the lord Dawbeney which as you have heard, was with a puyssaunt army goyng into Scotland, whose army he encreaced and multiplied with many picked and freshe warryers, that he might the better, and with lesse laboure ouercome these rebelles.”

At Wells the rebels were joined by Lord Audley, who became their leader. They reached Blackheath where, although they captured Lord Dawbeney himself, they were overcome. “There were slain of the rebelles whiche fought & resisted ii. thousand men & moo & taken prisoners an infinite nombre, & emongest theim the black smyth & chiefe capteins.” The king pardoned all the leaders “sauyng the chiefe capiteynes & firste aucthors of that mischiefe, to whome he woulde neither shewe mercy nor lenity. For he caused the Lord Audeleigh to be drawen from Newgate to the Towre hil in a cote of his awne armes peinted vpon paper, reuersed and al to torne, & there to be behedded the xxviii. day of Iuyn. And Thomas Flamock and Myghell Ioseph he commaunded after the fassyon of treytours to be drawen, hanged, and quartered [at Tyburn], & their quarters to be pytched on stakes, & set vp in diuerse places of Cornewhale, that their sore punyshementes and terrible execucions for their treytorous attemptes and foolish hardy enterprices, might be a warning for other herafter to absteyne from committing lyke cryme and offence.”

Michael Joseph, the blacksmith, “was of such stowte stomack & haute courage, that at thesame time that he was drawen on the herdle toward his death, he sayd (as men do reporte) that for this myscheuous and facinorous acte, he should haue a name perpetual and a fame permanent and immortal” (Hall’s Chronicle, ed. 1809, pp. 476-80).

=1502.= Vpon Monday, beyng the second day of May, was kept at the Guyld hall of London an Oyr determyne, where sat the Mayre, the Duke of Bokyngham, Therle of Oxenford, with many other lordes, Juges, and knyghtes, as commyssioners: before whome was presented as prisoners to be enquyred of, sir James Tyrell, and sir John Wyndam, knyghtes, a Gentilman of the said sir James, named Wellesbourn, and one other beyng a shipman.… Vpon ffriday folowyng, beyng the vjᵗᵉ day of May and the morowe after the Ascension of our Lord, Sir James Tyrell and the forsaid Sir John Wyndam, knyghtes, were brought out of the Toure to the scaffold vpon the Toure hill, vpon their ffete, where they were both beheded. And the same day was the forsaid Shipman laied vpon an herdyll, and so drawen from the Toure to Tybourne, and there hanged, hedid, and quartered. And the forenamed Wellysbourn Remayned still in prison at the kynges commaundment and pleasure (Chronicles of London, Kingsford, 1905, p. 256).

=1523.= About eight miles from Bath is a village, Farleigh-Hungerford, known locally as Farleigh Castle from the extensive ruins of what was once a proud castle full of life and movement. As the name denotes, the Castle was the seat—one of the seats—of the Hungerford family, established at Heytesbury so far back as the twelfth century. In 1369 the Hungerford of his day, Sir Thomas Hungerford, purchased the manor of Farleigh. In 1383 he obtained permission to convert the manor-house into a castle. Sir Thomas made a great figure in the world: he is the first person formally mentioned in the rolls of Parliament as holding the office of Speaker.

Wandering among the vast ruins, the visitor, prompted by his guide-book, will not fail to note the spot where was formerly a furnace. If there is in all England a place where ghosts should walk, where the midnight owl should hoot, it is in the ruins of Farleigh Castle. For, now nearly four hundred years ago, Farleigh Castle was the scene of a terrible crime, expiated, perhaps in part only, by the death on the scaffold of one of the principal criminals, and of one or two of the abettors of an over-reaching ambition, or of a lawless passion.

In the Chronicle of the Grey Friars is the following passage:—

=1523.= And this yere in Feuerelle the xxᵗʰ day was the lady Alys Hungrford was lede from the Tower vn-to Holborne, and there put in-to a carte at the church-yerde with one of hare seruanttes, and so carred vn-to Tyborne, and there bothe hongyd, and she burryd at the Grayfreeres in the nether end of the myddes of the churche on the northe syde.

Stow, who in his Annals has a marginal reference to this Chronicle, adds a particular omitted by the earlier Chronicler—that the lady was executed for the murder of her husband. The curiosity of antiquaries was naturally excited by this story, half-revealed, half-concealed. The first discovery made was of the inventory of the lady’s goods. This was printed in _Archæologia_, vol. xxxviii. (1860). The goods fell into the hands of the king by forfeiture: so it came about that an inventory existed. It is a list of plate and jewels, of sumptuous hangings, “an extraordinary collection of valuable property.”

Finally more of the story was disclosed by Mr. William John Hardy, in the _Antiquary_ of December, 1880. It is one of the greatest interest.

The lady’s name is given as Alice, both by the chronicler and by Stow in his Annals. Stow also, in a list of the monuments in the Grey Friars church, mentions one to “Alice Lat Hungerford, hanged at Tiborne for murdering her husband” (Survey, ed. Thoms, p. 120).

But the lady’s name was not Alice, but Agnes. She was the second wife of Sir Edward Hungerford, who was first married to Jane, daughter of John Lord Zouche of Haryngworth. The date of the death of Sir Edward’s first wife is not known. If we knew it there might arise a new suspicion. Nor do we know the date of Sir Edward’s second marriage, but it must have been not earlier than the latter half of 1518.

Sir Edward Hungerford was one of the great ones of the land. In 1517 he was sheriff for Wilts: in 1518 for Somerset and Dorset. In 1520 he was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. In 1521 he was in Commission of the Peace for Somerset.

We have seen that the original seat of the family was at Heytesbury, in Wilts, distant from Farleigh about twelve miles, and here Sir Edward commonly lived. In addition to Farleigh Castle, Sir Edward possessed a great London house, standing with its gardens where now is Charing Cross station. From this house were named Hungerford Street and Hungerford Stairs. On the site of the house and garden was built by a later Hungerford, in the reign of Charles II., Hungerford Market, which continued till the site was taken for the railway station. The foot-bridge over the Thames, starting from this point, was known as Hungerford Bridge, a name still sometimes given to its successor, the existing railway bridge. It was in Hungerford Street that Charles Dickens, a child of ten, began life by sticking labels on blacking bottles.

Sir Edward made his will on December 14, 1521. By it, after leaving legacies to certain churches and friends, “the residue of all my goods, debts, cattalls, juells, plate, harnesse, and all other moveables whatsoever they be, I freely geve and bequeth to Agnes Hungerforde my wife.” She was also appointed sole executrix. Sir Edward died on January 24, 1522, six weeks after making this will.

The husband murdered was not Sir Edward Hungerford, but a first husband, John Cotell. The outlines of the story are given by Mr. Hardy from the Coram Rege Roll for Michaelmas term, 14 Henry VIII.:—

“On the Monday next after the feast of S. Bartholomew, in the 14th year of the now king (25 August, 1522), at Ilchester, before John Fitz James and his fellow-justices of oyer and terminer for the county of Somerset, William Mathewe, late of Heytesbury, in the county of Wilts, yeoman, William Inges, late of Heytesbury, in the county aforesaid, yeoman, [were indicted for that] on the 26th July, in the 10th year of the now Lord the King (1518), with force and arms made an assault upon John Cotell, at Farley, in the county of Somerset, by the procurement and abetting of Agnes Hungerford, late of Heytesbury, in the county of Wilts, widow, at that time the wife of the aforesaid John Cotell. And a certain linen scarf called a kerchier (quandam flameam lineam vocatam ‘a kerchier’) which the aforesaid William and William then and there held in their hands, put round the neck of the aforesaid John Cotell, and with the aforesaid linen scarf him, the said John Cotell, then and there feloniously did throttle, suffocate, and strangle, so that the aforesaid John Cotell immediately died, and so the aforesaid William Maghewe [Mathewe] and William Inges, by the procurement and abetting of the aforesaid Agnes, did then and there feloniously murder, &c., the aforesaid John Cotell, against the peace of the Lord the King, and afterwards the aforesaid William, and William, the body of the aforesaid John Cotell did then and there put into a certain fire in the furnace of the kitchen in the Castle of Farley aforesaid, and the body of the same John in the fire aforesaid in the Castle of Farley aforesaid, in the county of Somerset aforesaid, did burn and consume.”