Before 10 May 1468 John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 41) sat in judgement on the Earl of Warwick's (age 39) men who had attempted to steal the ship Trinity for the Earl of Warwick (age 39). In addition to the usual punishment of hanging, drawing and quartering Tiptoft also subjected the men's corpses to being impaled, perhaps unique in English punishments, but usual for pirates in Europe. His actions were described as cruel and unmerited by the common people and resulted in Tiptoft being known as 'Butcher'.