Death of Humphrey of Lancaster

Death of Humphrey of Lancaster is in 1436-1453 End of the Hundred Years War.

On 20th February 1447 Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester (age 56) was arrested on a charge of treason by John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont (age 37), Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 44), Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset (age 41), Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 47) and Ralph Boteler 6th and 1st Baron Sudeley (age 58).

On 23rd February 1447 Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester (age 56) died at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk [Map]. He was possibly poisoned although more likely he died from a stroke. Duke Gloucester, Earl Pembroke extinct. His death left England with no heir to the throne in a direct line. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 35) became heir presumptive until the birth of Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales six years later.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 1447. In this. xxvi. yere of the reigne of this kynge, But in the first yere of the rule of the Quene, I fynde no thyng done worthye to be rehersed, within the Realme of Englande, but that the marques of Suffolke by greate fauor of the kynge, and more desire of the Quene, was erected to the title, and name of the duke of Suffolke, whiche dignitie he shorte tyme enioyed & which degre, he but a briefe season possessed. For after the deposicion or rather the destruction of the good duke of Gloucester (age 56), and the exaltacion and aduauncement of this glorious man: Rychard duke of Yorke, beyng greatly alied by his wyfe, to the chief peres and potentates of the Realme, over and besyde his awne progenye and greate consanguinitie, perceiuyng the Kyng to be a ruler not Ruling, & the whole burden of the Realme, to depend in the ordinances of the Quene & the duke of Suffolke, began secretly to allure to his frendes of the nobilitie, and priuatly declared to them, his title and right to the Crowne, and lykewyse dyd he to a certain wyse and saige Governors and rulers of dyuers cities and townes: whiche priuie attept was so politiquely handeled and so secretly kept, that his prouisio was ready, before his purpose was openly published, and hys frendes opened theim selfes or the contrary parte coulde them espye: but in conclusion tyme reueled truth and olde hyd hatred openly sprange out, as you shall hereafter bothe lament and heare.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 20th February 1447. Ande at Schroffe tyde nexte aftyr there was ordaynyd a Parlyment at Synt Edmondys Bury [Map]; ande att the comyng of the goode Duke Umfray, some tyme Duke of Glouceter (age 56), uppon the Satyrday anon as he was a lyght of his hors he was a-restyde of dyvers lordys for treson by commaundement of the kyng (age 25), and men said at that tyme.

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan [-1512]. [20th February 1447] This. xxv. yere, was a parlyament holden at Seynt Edmodes Bury in Suffolke, to y^e which towne, all the commons of that countre were warnyd to come in theyr moost defencyble aray, to gyue attendaunce upon the kynge. And so soone as this parlyament was begon, and the lordes assembled, sir Humfrey duke of Glouceter, and vncle unto the kynge, shortly after was arrestyd by the vicount Beawmonde, thanne hygh constable Englande, whom accompanved the duke of Bukkyngham & other. And after this arest was executed, all his owne seruauntes were put from hym, &. xxxii. [32] of y^e pryncipall of them were also put under arest, & sent unto dyuers prysons, wherof arose a great munnour amonge the people.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 20th February 1447. So for the furtherance of their purpose, a parliament was somoned to be kept at Bery, whether resorted all the peres of the realme, and emongest them, the duke of Gloucester, whiche on the second daie of the session, was by the lorde Beaumond, then high Constable of Englande, accompanied by the duke of Buckyngha, and other, arrested, apprehended, and put in warde, and all his seruauntes sequestered from hym, and. xxxii. [32] of the chief of his retinue, were sent to diverse prisons, to the greate admiracion of the common people.

An English Chronicle. [20th February 1447]. And the iij. day aftir, the lord Beaumount (age 37) with othir, that is to say, the duke of Bukynghame (age 44), the duke of Somerset (age 41), and othir, cam to the said duke of Gloucestre and arestid him: and thanne were certayn of the kyngis hous commaunded to waite on him.

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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Chronicle of John Harding. [20th February 1447] But to auoid danger of tumult that might be raised, if a prince so well beloued of the people should be openlie executed; his enimies determined to worke their feats in his destruction, yer he should haue anie warning. For effecting whereof, a parlement was summoned to be kept at Berrie, whither resorted all the péeres of the realme, and amongst them the duke of Glocester; which on the second daie of the session was by the lord Beaumont, then high constable of England, accompanied with the duke of Buckingham, and others, arrested, apprehended, and put in ward, and all his seruants sequestred from him, and thirtie two of the chéefe of his retinue were sent to diuerse prisons, to the great admiration of the people.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 23rd February 1447. And uppon the Thursseday next folowynge he [Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester (age 56)] dyssesyd ande passyde out of this wrecchide and false trobely worlde. And he is buryde at Syn Albonys [Map].

Chronicle of Robert Fabyan [-1512]. [23rd February 1447] Than thus contynuynge this parliament, within, vi. dayes after y^e duke was arrestid, The dukeof he was foude deed in his bedde, beynge the. xxiiii. daye of February; of whose murdre dyuerse reportes ar made, which I passe ouer. Than his corps, [whiche] was layde opyn y^t all men myght se hym, but no woude was founde on hym. Of that honourable fame of this man, a longe style I myght make, of the good rule y^t he kept this lade in, duringe y^e none age of the kynge, and of his honourable housholde & lybertie, whiche passyd all other before his tyme, and trtwe of his allegeaunce, that no man co\vde with rygbt accuse, but malycious persones, whiche his glorious honour & fame, lafte nat maligne agayne hym, tyil he were put fronie all worldly rule, and specially for it was thought that durynge his lyfe, he wolde withstand*? the delyuery of Angeou and Mayne, before promysed. This for his honourable 8c lybirall demeanure was surnamed y^e good duke of Clouccter. Then after he had lyen opyn a season, that all men myght be assuryd of his dethe, the corps was honourably prouydyd for, and so conveyed unto Seynt Albonys, and there buryed nere unto the shryne of seynt Albone, to whose soule God be mercyfull. Amen.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 23rd February 1447. The duke the night after his emprisonement, was found dedde in his bed, and his body shewed to the lordes and commons, as though he had died of a palsey or empostome: but all indifferent persons well knewe, that he died of no natural death but of some violet force: some Judged hym to be strangled: some affirme, that a hote spittewas put in at his foundement: other write, that he was stiffeled or smoldered betwene twoo fetherbeddes. After whose deathe, none of his seruauntes (although they were arraigned and attainted) wer put to death: for the Marques of Suffolk, when they should haue been executed, shewed openly their pardon, but this doyng appeased not the grudge of the people, whiche saied that the pardone of the seruauntes, was no amendes for murderyng of their master. The dedde corse of the duke, was caried to sainct Albons, and there honorably buried. Thus was this noble prince, sonne, brother, and vncle to kynges, whiche had valeauntly and pollitiquely by the space of xxv. yeres governed this Realme, and for his demerites, called the good duke of Gloucester, by a bone cast by his enemies, choked and brought to his fatall fine, and laste ende. So all men maie openly se that to men in aucthoritie, no place no not the courte the cheif refuge of all, nor the dwellyng house, nor yet a mannes priuate Castle, or his bed orcleined for his quietnes, is out of daungier of deathes dart. It semeth to many men, that the name and title of Gloucester, hath been vnfortunate and vnluokie to diverse, whiche for their honor, haue been erected by creacion of princes, to that stile and dignitie, as Hugh Spencer, Thomas of Woodstocke, sonne to kyng Edward the third, and this duke Humfrey, whiche thre persones, by miserable death finished their dales, and after them kyng Richard the. iii. also, duke of Gloucester, in ciuill warre slain and confounded: so y^t this name of Gloucester, is taken for an vnhappie and vnfortunate stile, as the proverbe speaketh of Seianes horse, whose rider was ever vnhorscd, and whose possessor was ever brought to miserie. When the rumor of the dukes death, was blowen through the realme, many men wer sodainly appalled and amased for teare: many abhorred and'detested y^e faict, but all men reputed it an abhominable crueltie, and a shameful tiranny. But the publique wealth of the realme of Englande, by the vnworthy death of this pollitique prince, susteined greate losse, & ran into ruyne, for surely the whole waight and burden of the realme, rested and depended vpon him, as the experience afterward did declare. For after his death, good & sage men fearing the selfes, fled out of y^e flatteryng court, into whose places entered suche, as desiryng their awne promocion, set open the gates to new faccions, whiche could neuer be extinct till all the seignorics beyod the sea (except Caleice & the marches) were lost, & kyng Henry in conclusion spojled of hys Realme & lyfe. There is an olde sayd saw, that a man entendyng to auoide the smoke, falleth into the fyre: So here the Quene mynding to preserue her husband in honor, & her selfe in aucthoritie, procured & consentid to the death of this noble man, whose onely death brought to passe that thynge, which she woulde most fayne haue eschewed, and toke from her that iewel, w hiche she moste desired: for if this Duke had lyued, the Duke of Yorke durst not haue made title to the crowne: if this Duke had liuyd, the nobles had not conspired against the king, nor yet the cosmos had not rebelled: if this Duke had lyued, the house of Lancastre had not been defaced and destroyed, which thynges hapned all contrary by the destruccion of this good man. This is the worldly iudgement, but God knoweth, what he had predestinate & what he had ordained before, against whose ordenaunce preuayleth no counsaill, and against whose will auayleth no stryuinge.

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Camden Society 1880 Volume 28. This yere was the Parlement at Bury for the Duke of Glowcester (age 56) with grete treison wrought a yenes him comyng thedir, and was loged in the Ospitale, for whom was raysed lx ml men. And as he sate at soper, lordis of dyverse degreis came to him in the kynges name dischargeynge him of the kynges presense, and of all other maner of answeres. And so they a restid him of hie treyson. And þat he mekely obeyed, and all his men were avoyded from him full hevely. And sone after he dissesyd, the sykenes howe God knowith. And xxxij [32] of his men were sentt to dyverse persones, and afterward v [5] of his men were broȝt to London. And ther thei were dampned to be drawe, hanged, and quarterd; and so they were drawe to Tiborn. And thes bethe their names: Arteys the Dukys bastard sonne, and Herberd squyer, Medilton squyer, and Sir Roger Chamburlayne knyght, and Nedame yoman. And ther thei were hanged and lette downe quycke; and ther was the Markes of Southefolke, and shewed a chartour generall for hem all; and so they were pardoned and had lyfe and godes.

An English Chronicle. [23rd February 1447]. And the iij. day aftir, he deide for sorou, as some men saide, because he myghte not come to his ansuer and excuse him of suche thyngis as were falsli put on him; for the said duke of Suffolk and lord Say, and othir of thair assent, so stirid and excitid the kyng ayens the said duke of Gloucestre that he myghte nevir come to his excuse; for thay hadde cast among thaym a prive conclusioun, the whiche as yit is not come to the knowlage of the commune peple, and thay wiste welle that thay sholde nevir brynge it aboute til he were ded; but the certaynte of his deth is not yit openly knowe, but ther is no thyng so prive, as the gospell saith, but atte laste it shal be openne.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. William¹⁴⁸, the fourth son of Duke Richard, was born on the 7th of July at Fotheringhay. On the 23rd of February [1447], a Thursday, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (age 56), uncle of Henry VI, died in parliament at Bury [St. Edmunds]. Henry Beaufort (age 72), Cardinal of England, brother of King Henry IV, died on the 11th of April [1447]. John Holland, Duke of Exeter, died on the 5th of August [1447].

Natus est Willelmus, quartus filius Ricardi ducis, vij. die Julii apud Fodryngay. Obiit xxiij. die Februarii, die Jovis, Hunfridus, dux Gloucestriæ, avunculus Henrici VI. in parliamento apud Bury. Obiit Henricus Beauford, cardinalis Angliæ, frater regis Henrici Quarti, xj. die Aprilis. Obiit dominus Johannes Holonde, dux Exoniæ, y. die Augusti.

Note 148. William of York. Born 7th July 1447. Died young.

Chronicle of John Harding. 24th February 1447. The duke [Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester (deceased)] the night after he was thus committed to prison, being the foure and twentith of Februarie, was found dead in his bed, and his bodie shewed to the lords and commons, as though he had died of a palsie, or of an imposteme.

But all indifferent persons (as saith Hall) might well vnderstand that he died of some violent death. Some iudged him to be strangled, some affirme that an hot spit was put in at his fundament, other write that he was smouldered betweene two featherbeds, and some haue affirmed that he died of verie gréefe, for that he might not come openlie to his answer. His dead corpse was conueied to saint Albons, and there buried. After his death, none of his seruants suffered: although fiue of them, to wit, sir Roger Chamberline knight, Middleton, Herbert, Arteise esquiers, and Richard Nedham gentleman, were areigned, condemned, and drawen to Tiborne, where they were hanged, let downe quicke, and stripped to haue béene bowelled and quartered but the marques of Suffolke comming at that instant brought their pardons, shewed the same openlie, and so their liues were saued.