Tyburn: The Story of London's Gallows by Robert Bard Read Free Book Online Page B

drawe from the Tour off London to Tyborne, and ther his bowelles shulde be brent ( burnt ) and affterwarde he shulde be hangid and quarterid and byhedid. And his heede brouht to the same place, wher the Duk off Gloucestre was murdred.’
    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.’
    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 alive, 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 beleeve that he was alive. This William Serle had forged a privie Seale in the said Richards name, and had sent divers comfortable letters unto such as were familiar with K. Richard, by which meanes, many gave the greater credit to the Countesse, insomuch, that some religious Abbots of that country did give credit unto her tales who afterward were taken at the Kings commaundement and imprisoned, because they did beleeve and give 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.’ Gregory’s Chronicle supplies the place of execution Tyburn.
    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 diver points of treason. ‘Which John Mortimer, after the statute aforesaid escaped out of the tower, and was taken againe upon 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.’ 12
    1446 John David 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 welbeloved, was so cherished by his friends & plied so with wine, that being therwith overcome was also unluckely slaine by his servant: but that false servant (for he falsely accused his master) lived not long unpunished, for he was after hanged at Tyborne for felony. 13
    1447 And anon aftyr the dethe of the Duke of Glouceter there were a reste [arrested] many of the sayde dukys [servants] to the nombyr of 38 squyers, be-syde alle othyr servantys that nevyr ymagenyd no falsenys of [that] they were put apon of. And on Fryday the 14 day of Juylle nexte folowynge by jugement at Westemyster, there by fore 5 personys were deemed to be drawe, hanggyd, and hyr bowellys i-brente b fore them, and thenne thyr heddys to be smetyn of, ande thenne to be