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

pestilence, so terrible as that which overwhelmed the commons of England after the dissolution of the monasteries, followed by measures of plunder extending through the reign of Edward VI. Marks tells us that a calculation based upon the statements of this same writer on the ‘Decay of England’ gives 675,000 persons thrown upon the country by the decay of husbandry. But to this number we must add those turned out of the monasteries, the poor, formerly maintained by the monasteries and by the yeomanry, the sick and infirm, ejected from the hospitals established for ‘Christ’s poor’ as they are called in the act of foundation of a hospital in the thirteenth century. And this immense number out of a population estimated at 5,000,000! ‘And nowe they have nothynge, but goeth about in England from dore to dore, and axe theyr almose for Goddes sake. And because they will not begge, some of them doeth steale, and then they be hanged.’ Great numbers flocked to London, seeking in vain redress of their grievances. This was the great time of Tyburn. ‘I was desirous to heare of execution done for there was three wekes sessions at newgate, and fourth nyghte Sessions at the Marshialshy, and so forth.’ That is, sessions every three weeks at the one place and every two weeks at the other. Never had the gallows been so crowded. In the sentence quoted on the title-page of this book, Sir Thomas More, writing in Latin in 1516, had said that twenty were ‘sometimes’ hanged together upon one gallows. In the English translation, first published in 1551: ‘So had the gallows thriven!’ A contemporary report states that ‘in one way or another Henry did in the course of his reign destroy seventy-two thousand persons’. It is said that ‘over 5,000 men were hanged within the space of six years’ in a district of North Wales. As if to prove the point we find the following.
    1537 The nine and twentith of March were 12 men of Lincolne drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged and quartered, five were priests, and 7 were lay men, i. one was an Abbot, a suffragan, doctor Mackerel; another was the vicar of Louth in Lincolnshire, & two priests. 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 on 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, ( burnt ) according to hir judgment, God pardon her sowle, being the Frydaye in Whytson weeke; she was a very fayre creature and bewtyfull … The second daie of June, being Saterdaie after Trinitie Sundaie, 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. (Stow, p. 573)
    1538 In July was Edmond Coningsbey attainted of