James Fiennes 1st Baron Saye and Sele 1395-1450

On 4th July 1450 James Fiennes 1st Baron Saye and Sele [aged 55] was beheaded at the Standard in Cheapside [Map]. His son William [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Baron Saye and Sele and inherited his estates including Hever Castle, Kent [Map] and Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex [Map].

His son in law William Cromer [aged 34] was also beheaded.

Polydore Vergil [1470-1555]. April 1450. But when they perceived that the Kentishmen had turned to looting the city, they feared for their lives and thought they could not wait no longer to see how this fury turned out. But while the Kentishmen raged against the city like madmen, nobody dared resist them before they beheaded the Lord High Treasurer John Saye [aged 55] and several noblemen.

Chronicle of Gregory. 4th July 1450. Ande in the morne he come yn a-gayne, that sory and sympylle and rebellyus captayne why the his mayny; that was Satyrday, and it was also a Synt Martyn is day¹, the dedycacyon of Synt Martynys in the Vyntry [Map], the iiij day of Juylle. And thenne dyvers questys were i-sompnyd at the Gylhalle [Map]; and ther Robert Home beynge alderman was a-restyde and brought in to Newegate. And that same day [his son-in-law] Wylliam Crowemere [aged 34], squyer, and Scheryffe of Kentt, was be-heddyde in the fylde whythe out Algate at the mylys ende be-syde Clopton is Place. And a nothyr man that was namyde John Bayle was be-heddyd at the Whytte Chapylle. And the same day aftyr-non was be-heddyd in Cheppe a-fore the Standard [Map], Syr Jamys Fynes [aged 55], beyng that tyme the lord Saye and Grrette Treserer of Ingelonde, the whyche was brought oute of the Toure of London [Map] unto the Gylde Halle [Map], and there of dyvers tresons he was exampnyd, of whyche he knowlachyd of the dethe of that notabylle and famos prynce the Duke of Glouceter. And thenne they brought him unto the Standard in Cheppe [Map], and there he ressayvyd his jewys and his dethe. And so forthe alle the iij [3] heddys that day smetyn of were sette uppon the Brygge of London [Map], and the ij othyr heddys takyn downe that stode a-pon the London Brygge by-fore. And at the comyng of the camptayne yn to Sowtheworke, he lete smyte of the hedde of a strong theff that was namyd Haywardyn.

Note 1. The Translation of St. Martin of Tours.

Chronicle of Gregory. 6th July 1450. And uppon the morowe by tymys came my lord the Cardynalle of Yorke [aged 70], and my Lord of Cauntyrbury, and the Byschoppe of Winchester [aged 52], and they tretyde by twyne the Lord Schalys [aged 53] and that captayne, that the sore conflycte and skarmasche was sessyde, ande gaffe the captayne and his mayne a generalle chartoure for him and for alle his company in his name, callyng him selfe John Mortymere, and thoroughe that mene they were i-voydyde the moste partye. And the vj day aftyr that, the Satyr-daye at evyn 3 the iij heddys were takyn downe of London Brygge, that is to say, the Lord Say [deceased] is hedde, [his former son-in-law] Crowmers [deceased], and the Bayleyes, and the othyr ij [2] heddys sette uppe a-yenne that stode a-pon London Brygge be-fore, and the body whythe hedde were i-burydde at the Gray Fryers at London.