not one of whom has taken the trouble to refer to the original. It is a
misquotation hoary with age. Cardan gives the nativity of Henry VIII. and
then says: “From these two causes, together with others, there fell out
that which the bishop of Lisieux told me at Besançon, namely, that in the
two years before his death it was found that seventy-two thousand men
perished by the hangman after sentence (_judicio et carnifice_).”[168]
Cardan was at Besançon in 1552, not long after the death of Henry.
Possibly Harrison, finding the number incredible, as relating to two
years, spread the number over the whole reign. But in the statement
attributed to the bishop there is nothing to indicate the class of
persons executed. That in one way or another Henry did in the course of
his reign destroy seventy-two thousand persons does not seem improbable.
It is said that “over 5,000 men were hanged within the space of six
years” in a district of North Wales.[169] By the provisions of the Act 27
Henry VIII. (1535-6) c. 25, “rufflers” and vagabonds were to be whipped
till their bodies were bloody; for a second offence they were to be again
whipped and to lose a part of the right ear; if thereafter they were
found idling, they were to be declared felons, and to be punished with
death.
=1537.= The nine and twentith of March were 12. men of Lincolne drawne to
Tyborne, and there hanged and quartered, fiue were priests, and 7. were
lay men, 1. one was an Abbot, a suffragan, doctor Mackerel; another was
the vicar of Louth in Lincolnshire, & two priests (Stow, p. 573).
=1537.= Alsoe, the 17 daye of Maye, were arrayned at Westmynster these
persons followinge: Doctor Cokerell, prieste and chanon, John Pykeringe,
layman, the Abbot of Gervase [Jervaulx] and an Abbott condam [quondam]
of Fountens, of the order of pyed monkes, the Prior of Bridlington,
Chanon, Docter John Pykeringe, fryer of the order of prechers, and
Nicholas Tempeste, esquire, all which persons were that daye condemned of
highe treason, and had judgment for the same.
And, the 25 daye of Maye, beinge the Frydaye in Whytsonweke, Sir John
Bolner, Sir Stephen Hamerton, knightes, were hanged and heddyd, Nicholas
Tempeste, esquier, Docter Cokerell, preiste, Abbott condam of Fountens,
and Docter Pykeringe, fryer, ware drawen from the Towre of London to
Tyburne, and ther hanged, boweld, and quartered, and their heddes sett
one London Bridge and diverse gates in London.
And the same daye Margaret Cheyney, other wife to Bolmer called [“which”
says Hall, “some reported was not his wife but his paramour”] was drawen
after them from the Tower of London into Smythfyld, and there brente,
according to hir judgment, God pardon her sowle, being the Frydaye in
Whytson weeke; she was a very fayre creature and a bewtyfull.…
The second daie of June, being Saterdaie after Trinitie Soundaie,
this yeare Sir Thomas Percey, knight, and brother to the Earle of
Northumberland, was drawen from the Tower of London to Tiburne, and their
hanged and beheaded, and Sir Francis Bigott, knight, Georg Lomeley,
esquire, sonne to the Lord Lomeley, the Abbott of Gervase, and the Prior
of Bridlington, were drawen from the said place to Tiburne, and their
hanged and quartered, according to their judgmente, and their heades sett
on London Bridge and other gates of London.[170]
=1538.= The 25. of February, Sir Iohn Allen priest, and also an Irish
Gentleman of the Garets, were hanged and quartered at Tyborne (Stow, p.
574).
Also this yere the xxv. day of Februarii was drawne from the Towere to
Tyborne, Henry Harford gentleman and Thomas Hever merchand, and there
hongyd and qwarterd for tresoun (Grey Friars Chron., ed. Howlett, p. 201).
=1538.= In Iuly was Edmond Coningsbey attainted of treason, for
counterfeatyng of the kynges Signe Manuell: And in August was Edward
Clifford for thesame cause attainted, and both put to execucion as
traitors at Tiborne. And the Sonday after Bartelmew day, was one Cratwell
hangman of London, and two persones more hanged at the wrestlyng place
on the backesyde of Clerkenwel besyde London, for robbyng of a bouthe in
Bartholomew fayre, at which execution was aboue twentie thousand people
as I my self iudged (Hall’s Chron., p. 826).
=1538-9.= The third daie of Nouembre were Henry Marques of Excester &
earle of Deuonshire and sir Henry Pole knight and lorde Mountagew and
Sir Edward Neuell brother to the Lorde Burgany sent to the tower which
thre wer accused by sir Gefferei Pole brother to the lord Mountagew, of
high treason, and the two lordes were arreigned the last day of Decembre,
at Westminster before the lord Awdeley of Walden, lord Chauncelor, and
then the high stuard of England, and there found giltie, likewise on
the third day after was arreigned Sir Edward Neuel, Sir Gefferey Pole
and two priestes called Croftes and Collins, and one holand a Mariner
and all attainted, and the ninth day of Ianuarie [1539], were the saied
two lordes and Sir Edward Neuell behedded at the tower hill, and the
two priestes and Holande were drawen to Tiborne, and there hanged and
quartered, and sir Gefferey Pole was pardoned (Hall, p. 827).
=1539.= The eight and twentie daie of Aprill, began a Parliament at
Westminster, in the which Margaret countesse of Salsbury Gertrude wife to
the Marques of Excester, Reignold Poole, a Cardinall brother to the lorde
Mountagew, Sir Adrian Foskew [Fortescue] & Thomas Dingley Knight of
saynt Iohnes, & diuerse other wer attainted of high treason, which Foskew
and Dynglei wer the tenth daie of Iuli behedded.
According to the Grey Friars Chronicle and Wriothesley’s Chronicle they
were beheaded at Tower Hill on the 9th July, “and that same day was
drawne to Tyborne ii. of their seruanttes, and ther hongyd and quarterd
for tresoun.”[171]
=1540.= Also this same yere was the xvi. day of Marche was one Somer and
iii. vacabundes with hym drawne, hongyd and qwarterd for cleppynge of
golde at Tyborne (Grey Friars Chron., p. 203).
=1540.= Dr. Johnson blamed the Government of his day for suppressing the
processions to Tyburn—“the public was gratified by a procession.” From
this point of view Henry VIII. was an ideal monarch, though it is open
to doubt whether the burnings at Smithfield and the disembowellings at
Tyburn were not so frequent as to satiate the lovers of these spectacles.
Thus on July 30, 1540, two Doctors of Divinity and a parson were burnt
in Smithfield, and on the same day another Doctor and two priests
were hanged on a gallows at Saint Bartholomew’s Gate, beheaded and
quartered—six victims.
Five days later the spectacle was offered of other seven or perhaps eight
despatched at Tyburn.
The 4. of August, Thomas Empson sometime a monke of Westminster, which
had bin prisoner in Newgate more than three yeeres, was brought before
the Justices of goale deliuerie at Newgate, and for that hee would not
aske the King pardon for denying his supremacie, nor be sworne therto,
his monkes coole was plucked from his backe, and his body repried till
the King were informed of his obstinacie.
Nothing more is told us of Empson, but it has been supposed that he was
executed in this batch:—
The same 4. of August were drawn to Tyborne 6. persons and one lead
betwixt twaine, to wit, Laurence Cooke, prior of Doncaster, William Home
a lay brother of the Charterhouse of London, Giles Horne gentleman,
Clement Philip gentleman of Caleis, & seruant to the L. Lisle, Edmond
Bromholme priest, chaplaine to the said L. Lisley, Darby Gening, Robert
Bird, all hanged and quartered, and had beene attainted by parliament,
for deniall of the Kings supremacie (Stow, p. 581).
=1540.= There is nothing new under the sun. The Aliens Act of 1905 was
anticipated by the Act 32 Henry VIII. c. 16, Concerning Strangers.
The King our most dradde Souveraine Lord calling unto his blissed
remembraunce the infinite nombre of Straungers and aliens of foren
countries and nations whiche daily doo increase and multiplie within
his Graces Realme and Dominions in excessive nombres, to the greate
detriment hinderaunce losse and empoverishment of his Graces naturall
true lieges and subjectis of this his Realme and to the greate decay of
the same—having this on his blessed remembrance his Grace took measures
to drive out aliens not furnished with letters of denization.
This act indirectly furnished Tyburn with two victims:—
=1540.= On the xxii. daie of December, was Raufe Egerton seruant to the
Lorde Audeley lorde Chauncellor, hanged, drawen, and quartered, for
counterfetyng of the kynges greate Seale, in a signet, whiche was neuer
seen, and sealed a great nomber of Licenses for Denizens, and one Thomas
Harman that wrote theim, was executed: for the statute made the last
parliament sore bounde the straungiers, whiche wer not Denizens, whiche
caused theim to offre to Egerton, greate sommes of money, the desire
whereof caused hym to practise that whiche brought hym to the ende, that
before is declared (Hall, p. 841).
=1541.= On the 28th June:—There was executed at saint Thomas Waterings
three gentlemen, John Mantell, John Frowds, and george Roidon: they died
for a murther committed in Sussex (as their indictement imported) in
companie of Thomas Fines lord Dacres of the south. The truth whereof was
thus. The said lord Dacres, through the lewd persuasion of some of them,
as hath beene reported, meaning to hunt in the parke of Nicholas Pelham
esquire at Laughton, in the same countie of Sussex, being accompanied
with the said Mantell, Frowds, and Roidon, John Cheinie and Thomas Isleie
gentlemen, Richard Middleton and John Goldwell yeomen, passed from his
house of Hurstmonseux, the last of Aprill in the night season, toward
the same parke, where they intended so to hunt: and comming vnto a
place called Pikehaie in the parish of Hillingleie, they found one John
Busbrig, James Busbrig, and Richard Sumner standing togither; and as it
fell out through quarelling, there insued a fraie betwixt the said lord
Dacres and his companie on the one partie, and the said John and James
Busbrig and Richard Sumner on the other: insomuch that the said John
Busbrig receiued such hurt, that he died thereof the second of Maie next
insuing.
Wherevpon, as well the said lord Dacres as those that were there with
him, and diuerse other likewise that were appointed to go another waie
to meet them at the said parke, were indicted of murther; and the
seauen and twentith of June the lord Dacres himselfe was arreigned
before the lord Audleie of Walden then lord chancellor, sitting that
daie as high steward of England, with other peeres of the realme about
him, who then and there condemned the said lord Dacres to die for that
transgression. And afterward the nine and twentith of June being saint
Peters daie, at eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone, the shiriffs of
London, accordinglie as they were appointed, were readie at the tower
to haue receiued the said prisoner, and him to haue lead to execution
on the tower hill. But as the prisoner should come forth of the tower,
one Heire a gentleman of the lord chancellors house came, and in the
kings name commanded to staie the execution till two of the clocke in
the afternoone, which caused manie to thinke that the king would haue
granted his pardon. But neuerthelesse, at three of the clocke in the
same afternoone, he was brought forth of the tower, and deliuered to the
shiriffs, who lead him on foot betwixt them vnto Tiburne, where he died.
His bodie was buried in the church of saint Sepulchers. He was not past
foure and twentie yeeres of age, when he came through this great mishap
to his end, for whome manie sore lamented, and likewise for the other
three gentlemen, Mantell, Frowds, and Roidon. But for the said yoong
lord, being a right towardlie gentleman, and such a one, as manie had
conceiued great hope of better proofe, no small mone and lamentation was
made; the more indeed, for that it was thought he was induced to attempt
such follie, which occasioned his death, by some light heads that were
then about him.[172]
=1541.= xxxiii _year of Henry VIII_. In the beginnyng of this yere, v.
priestes in Yorke shire began a newe rebellion, with thassent of one
Leigh a gentleman, and ix. temporall men, which were apprehended, &
shortly after in diuerse places put in execucion, insomuch that on the
xvii. daie of Maie, the said Leigh & one Tatersall, and Thornton were
drawen through London to Tiborne and there were executed (Hall, p. 841).
=1542.= The 20 of March was one Clement Dyer, a vintner, drawen to
Tyburne for treason, and hanged and quartered (Wriothesley’s Chronicle,
i., p. 135).
=1542.= _December 10._ At this tyme the Quene late before maried to the
kyng called Quene Katheryne, was accused to the Kyng of dissolute liuing,
before her mariage, with Fraunces Diram, and that was not secretely, but
many knewe it. And sithe her Mariage, she was vehemently suspected with
Thomas Culpeper, whiche was brought to her Chamber at Lyncolne, in August
laste, in the Progresse tyme, by the Lady of Rocheforde, and were there
together alone, from a leuen of the Clocke at Nighte, till foure of the
Clocke in the Mornyng, and to hym she gaue a Chayne, and a riche Cap.
Vpon this the kyng remoued to London and she was sent to Sion, and there
kept close, but yet serued as Quene. And for the offence confessed by
Culpeper and Diram, thei were put to death at Tiborne (Hall, p. 842).
Culpeper was headed, his body buried at Saint Sepulchers Church by
Newgate: Derham was quartered &c. (Stow, p. 583).
=1543.= The 8. of May one Lech sometime Baylie of Lowth, who had killed
Somerset one of our heraults of armes at Dunbar in Scotlande, was drawne
to Tyborne and there hanged and quartered. And the 12. of June, Edward
Lech his brother and with him a priest for the same fact, were likewise
executed at Tyborne (Stow, p. 584).
=1544.= The 7. of March, Garmaine Gardner, and Larke parson of Chelsey,
were executed at Tyborne, for denying the kings supremacie, with them was
executed, for other offences, one Singleton. And shortly after, Ashbey
was likewise executed for the supremacie (Stow, p. 586).
Henry VIII. was succeeded by the boy-King Edward VI. in 1547. Two years
later the peasants rose against their oppressors. Here are echoes of the
risings in the West and in Norfolk.
=1549.= Item the xxvii. day of the same monythe [August] was iii. persons
drawyn, hongyd, and qwarterd at Tyborne that came owte of the West
contre (Grey Friars Chronicle, p. 223).
=1550.= The 27. of January, Humfrey Arundell esquire, Thomas Holmes,
Winslowe and Bery Captaines of the rebels in Deuonshire, were hanged and
quartered at Tyborne (Stow, p. 603).
=1550.= The 10. of February one Bel a Suffolke man, was hanged and
quartered at Tyborne, for moouing a new rebellion in Suffolke & Essex
(Stow, p. 604).
In Machyn’s Diary 1550 to 1563 (Camden Society, 1848), we get almost for
the first time particulars of the rank and file of the victims of Tyburn.
This is accounted for by the probability that, as the editor says, “his
business was in that department of the trade of a merchant-taylor which
we now call an undertaker or furnisher of funerals.” Machyn’s spelling is
detestable; it requires, as will be seen, frequent emendations.
=1552.= The ij day of May … the sam day was hangyd at Tyborne ix
fello[ns] (p. 18).
The xj day of July [was] hangyd one James Ellys, the grett pykkepurs that
ever was, and cutt-purs, and vij more for theyfft, at Tyburne (pp. 21,
22).
=1552.= The xxj day of Desember rod to Tyborne to be hangyd for a robery
done on Honsley heth, iij talmen and a lake [tall men and a lacquey]
(Machyn, p. 27).
=1553.= The xxj day of the same monyth [January] rod unto [Tyburn] ij
felons, serten was for kyllyng of a gentylman [of] ser Edward North
knyght, in Charturhowsse Cheyr [Ch. yard?]—the vij yere of kyng Edward
the vj (Machyn, p. 30).
“Rod” means rode in a cart.
Edward died on July 6, 1553. The rebellion in favour of Lady Jane Grey
was quickly put down, and Mary made her entry into London on August 3rd.
At the end of January, 1554, broke out Sir Thomas Wyatt’s rebellion. It
was suppressed, but not till after Wyatt had made his way into the heart
of the City. The gallows of Tyburn was supplemented by numerous others:—
The xij of February was mad at evere gate in Lundun a newe payre of
galaus and set up, ij payre in Chepesyde, ij payr in Fletstrett, one
in Smythfyld, one payre in Holborne, on at Ledyn-hall, one at Sant
Magnus London [bridge], on at Peper allay gatt, one at Sant Gorgeus,
on in Barunsay [Bermondsey] strett, on on Towr hylle, one payre at
Charyngcrosse,[173] on payr besyd Hyd parke corner (Machyn, p. 55).
On these gallows 58 persons were executed; at Hyde Park Corner three were
hanged in chains; only seven were quartered, “ther bodys and heds set
a-pon the gattes of London.”
Wyatt was beheaded on Tower Hill on April 11: after and by xj of the
cloke was he quartered on the skaffold, and hys bowelles and ys members
burnt be-syd the skaffold … and so ther was a care [car] and a baskete,
and the iiij quarters and hed was putt in-to a basket to nuwgat to be
parboyled (Machyn, p. 60).
The body was the next day set upon the gallows at Hay Hill, near Hyde
Park. One execution only took place at Tyburn. William Thomas, Clerk to
the Council, imprisoned in the Tower, tried to commit suicide; on May 9th
he was arraigned at Guildhall for conspiring the Queen’s death, found
guilty, and sentenced.
The xviij day of May was drane a-pon a sled a proper man named Wylliam
Thomas from the Toure unto Tyborne; … he was clarke to the consell; and
he was hangyd, and after ys hed stryken of, and then quartered; and the
morow after ys hed was sett on London bryge, and iij quarters set over
Crepullgate (Machyn, p. 63).
=1555.= The tenth of May, William Constable, _alias_ Fetherstone, a
Millers sonne about the age of eighteene yeares, who had published King
Edw. the 6. to be aliue, and sometime named himselfe to bee K. Edw. the
6. was taken at Eltham in Kent, and conueyed to Hampton court, where
being examined by the counsell, hee required pardon, & said he wist not
what hee did, but as he was perswaded by many; from thence he was sent
to the Marshalsea, & the 22. of May he was caried in a cart through
London to Westminster with a paper on his head, wherein was written, that
he had named himselfe to be king Edw. After he had beene carried about
Westminster hall before the Judges, he was whipped a bout the pallace,
and through Westminster into Smithfield, and then banished into the
North, in which countrie hee was borne, and had beene sometime Lackey to
sir Peter Mewtas (Stow, p. 626).
But William’s whipping did not cure him of his folly:—
The 26. of February [1556] Willi. Constable _alias_ Fetherstone was
arraigned in the Guild hall of London, who had caused letters to bee cast
abrode, that king Edward was aliue, and to some he shewed himselfe to be
king Edward, so that many persons both menne and women were troubled by
him, for the which sedition the said William had bin once whipped and
deliuered, as is aforesaid: But now he was condemned, and the 13. of
March he was drawne, hanged and quartered at Tyborne (Stow, p. 628).
=1556.= The vij day of Marche was hangyd at Tyborne x theyffes for robere
and odur thynges (Machyn, p. 101).
=1556.= A conspiracie was made by certaine persons, whose purpose was
to haue robbed yᵉ Q. exchequer, called the receit of the exchequer, in
the which there was of yᵉ Q. treasure about 50000 l. the same time, to
the intent they might be able to maintaine war against the queene.
This matter was vttered by one of the conspiracie named White, wherby
Vdall [or Woodall], Throckmorton, Peckham, Iohn Daniel & Stanton were
apprehended, and diuerse others fled into Fraunce.
The 28. of Aprill, John Throckmorton and Richard Vdall were drawne to
Tyborne, and there hanged and quartered.
The 19. of May, William Stanton was likewise executed.
The 8. of June, William Rossey, Iohn Dedike, and Iohn Bedell were
executed at Tyborne (Stow, p. 628).
[Henry Peckham and John Daniel were, on July 8th, hanged and beheaded on
Tower Hill.]
Machyn says that Rossey’s head was put on London bridge, Bedell’s on
Ludgate, and Dedike’s, or Dethyke’s, on Aldersgate (p. 107).
=1557.= The conspirators who had fled to France on the discovery of their
plot:—there remaining attempted diuers times to stirre rebellion within
this Realme, by sending Bookes, Billes, and Letters, written and printed,
farced full of vntruthes, and at length the sayd Stafforde and other
English rebels, and some strangers, entred this Realme, on the foure
and twentieth of Aprill, & tooke by stealth the castle of Skarborough
in the countie of Yorke, and set out a shamefull proclamation, wherein
he traiterously called and affirmed the queene to be vnrightfull and
most vnworthie queene, and that the king had brought into this realme
the number of twelve thousand Spaniardes, and that into their hands
were deliuered 12. of the strongest holdes in this Realme. In which
proclamation the sayde Stafforde named himselfe Protector and gouernor of
this Realme, but hee with the other his complices, by the good diligence
of the Earle of Westmerland and other noble men, were apprehended on the
last of Aprill.…
The eyght and twentieth day of May, Thomas Stafford was beheaded on the
tower hill, and on the morrowe three of his companie, to wit, Stretchley,
Bradford and Proctor, were drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged &
quartered (Stow, pp. 630, 631).
=1556.= _July 2._ We have already learnt how a hangman was hanged in
1538. Under the above date Machyn records the execution of another:—
The ij day of July rod in a care [rode in a cart] v. unto Tyborne: on was
the hangman with the stump-lege for stheft [theft], wyche he had hangyd
mony a man and quartered mony, and hed [beheaded] many a nobull man and
odur [other] (Machyn, p. 109).
=1557.= The sam day [May 25] was hangyd at Tyburne xvij; on was a nold
voman of lx yere, the trongyest [strongest?] cut-purs a voman that
has been herd off; and a lad a cut-purs, for ys tyme he be-gane welle
(Machyn, p. 137).
Mary died in 1558, and Elizabeth came to the throne.
=1570.= The 27. of May, Thomas Norton and Christopher [Norton], of
Yorkeshire, being both condemned of high treason, for the late rebellion
in the North, were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there
hanged, headed, and quartered (Stow, p. 666).
A tract, the “Confessions” of Thomas Norton and Christopher Norton,
reprinted in “State Trials,” vol. i., 1083-6, contains particulars of
these executions. Thomas, the uncle of Christopher, was first hanged and
quartered, in the presence of his nephew. Then the hangman executed his
office on Christopher, “and being hanged a little while, and then cut
down, the butcher opened him, and as he took out his bowels, he cried and
said, ‘Oh, Lord, Lord, have mercy upon me!’ and so yielded up the ghost.
Then being likewise quartered, as the other was, and their bowels burned,
as the manner is, their quarters were put into a basket provided for
the purpose, and so carried to Newgate, where they were parboiled; and
afterwards their heads set on London Bridge, and their quarters set upon
sundry gates of the city of London.”
=1570.= The 25. of May in the morning, was found hanging at the bishop of
Londons palace gate in Paules church-yard, a Bull, which lately had beene
sent from Rome containing diuerse horrible treasons against the Queenes
maiesty for the which one Iohn Felton was shortly after apprehended, and
committed to the tower of London.…
The fourth of August … was arraigned at Guild hal of London Iohn Felton,
for hanging a bull at the gate of the bishop of Londons palace, and
also two young men, for coyning and clipping of coine, who all were
found guilty of high treason, and had iudgment to be drawne, hanged and
quartered.
The eight of August, Iohn Felton was drawne from Newgate into Paules
Churchyeard, and there hanged on a gallowes new set vp that morning
before the Bishoppes palace gate, and being cut downe aliue, he was
bowelled and quartered. After this time the same morning the sherifs
returned to Newgate, and so to Tiborne with two young men which were
executed for coyning and clipping as is aforesaid (Stow, pp. 666-7).
Here we have the quarrel between the Pope and Elizabeth come to a head,
with dreadful results to English Catholics—results extending in an
aggravated form over centuries.