Free Tyburn: The Story of London's Gallows by Robert Bard Page A

the kynges greate Seale, in a signet, whiche was never 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. 22
    1541, June 28 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 unto 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 received such hurt, that he died thereof the second of Maie next insuing. Whereupon, as well the said lord Dacres as those that were there with him, and diverse other likewise that were appointed to go another waie to meet them at the said parke, were indicted of murther; and the seaven 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 eleven of the clocke in the forenoone, the shiriffs of London, accordinglie as they were appointed, were readie at the tower to have received the said prisoner, and him to have lead to execution on the tower hill. But as the prisoner should come forth of the tower, one Heire a gentleman of the lord chancellor’s 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 have granted his pardon. But neverthelesse, at three or the clocke in the same afternoone, he was brought forth of the tower, and deliveredto the shiriffs, who lead him on foot betwixt them unto 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 conceived 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.
    1542 The 20 of March was one Clement Dyer, a vintner, drawen to Tyburne for treason, and hanged and quartered. 23 Early historian, Hall says that ‘greate moane was made for them al, but moste specially for Mantel, who was as wittie, and as towarde a gentleman, as any was in the realme, and a manne able to have dooen good service.
    1542, December 10 At this tyme the Quene late before maried to the kyng called Quene Katheryne, was accused to the Kyng of dissolute Huring, ( whoring ) before her