On this Day in History ... 22nd August

Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. Irruption of the Scots, and Battle of the Standard

[22nd August 1138] During these events, David, king of Scotland, made a third irruption from the borders of his kingdom, with large bands both of horse and foot, and began to set on fire farms, towns, and castles, on the confines of Northumbria, and lay waste nearly all the country. But as he threatened at last to pursue his inroad as far as York and the Humber, Thurstan, archbishop of York, had a conference with the Yorkshiremen, and prevailed on them all, with one consent, to take the oath of fealty to king Stephen, and resist the king of Scots. David, however, was still more incensed at this, and rejecting all advice to the contrary, and reaching the river Tees on the octave of the Assumption of St. Mary [22nd August], which happened on a Monday, he determined to surprise our troops, there being a thick fog in the morning of that day. Hoping, in consequence, to come upon us unawares, he left many vills untouched, and would not suffer his men to set fire to any place, as they usually did. Meanwhile, our troops being warned by a squire, though somewhat late so that they were nearly taken by surprise, armed themselves, and drew up in order of battle with the utmost despatch, sending out archers in front, by whom the Scots were severely galled.

Then the king's barons marched with the knights, having all dismounted and stationed themselves in the first rank, and thus fought hand-in-hand with the enemy. The conflict was ended, and victory secured at the very first onset, for the Scots gave way, and either fell or fled in the greatest alarm. Our men, however, being on foot, and having caused all their horses to be led to some distance, were unable to continue the pursuit long, otherwise they would have taken or put to the sword the king himself, with his son, and all his immediate attendants. Of his army, nearly ten thousand men fell in different places, and as many as fifty persons of rank were made prisoners. The vanquished king himself escaped by flight, overwhelmed with terror and shame. His chancellor, William Comyn, was taken by the bishop of Durham; but being set at liberty, he gave thanks to God, heartily hoping he should never again fall into such a scrape. The king's son reached Carlisle on foot, attended by a single knight; and his father escaped with some difficulty through the woods and thickets to Roxburgh.

He had led an innumerable army consisting of French, as well as English, Scots, Galwegians, and the people of all the isles which owed him allegiance, but nineteen only out of two hundred of his mailed knights carried back their armour; for every one left nearly all that he had to become the spoil of the enemy, so that an immense booty, both of horses, arms, and clothing, and many other things, was taken from his army. Eustace Fitz-John, who had joined his expedition, met with a similar fate, having been wounded, and barely escaping with life to his castle. Among the valiant men who, in Christ's name, .fought on behalf of king Stephen, were the earl of Albemarle, Bernard de Baliol, and many others, but the earl was distinguished for his bravery in the battle.

On his return, the king of Scots, in order to encourage his adherents and console himself, laid siege with all his force, and various engines and machines, to the castle of Wark, or Carron, belonging to Walter d' Epec, from which he had been driven by the earl of Mellent; but the garrison making a stout and desperate resistance, he had no success, for they made frequent sallies, and either cut in pieces or burnt his engines, besides killing many of his soldiers; wherefore, at last, he despaired of being able to take it.

Note 1. A more detailed account of this famous "Battle of the Standard" will be found in Henry of Huntingdon's History, pp. 267, &c. [.Antiq. Lib.], and in Roger of Wendover, ibid, p. 489. Cf. also William of Newbury, Trivet, and Rieval "de Bello Standardi," in Twysden

Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover 1138. 22nd August 1138. Of the pitched battle between the Scots and English.

The Scots hearing the shout, like women, raised their usual war-cry of Alban! Alban! which was, however, soon drowned in the dreadful rush of the engaging armies. A body of the men of Lothian, who had obtained from the king [aged 54] the honour of striking the first blow, with numbers of missiles and with their long lances, bore down impetuously upon the mailed English knights, but fell upon them like as upon a wall, for they remained immovable. The English archers, then mingling with the cavalry, poured their arrows like a cloud upon the Scots, pierced all who were not protected by their armour, whilst the whole English line and the glory of the Normans, crowding around the standard, remained firm and unshaken. The commander of the men of Lothian fell slain by an arrow, and his men all took to flight. For the most high God was offended with them: therefore their valour was broken like a spider's web in the battle. The main body of the Scots, which was fighting in another part of the field, seeing their comrades routed, lost courage and retreated also. But the king's troops, who were of different clans, began first to flinch individually, and afterwards to recoil in a body, though the king still stood firm: but his friends compelled him to mount his horse and fly, whilst his brave son [aged 24], heeding not the flight of the rest, but solely bent on acquiring glory, charged the lines of the enemy with headlong valour, though his men could do no execution on knights that were sheathed in mail; but at last they were forced to take flight, not, without much bloodshed, and were ignominiously driven off the field in all directions. It was reported that eleven thousand of the Scots were slain, besides those who were found mortally wounded in the corn-fields and woods: our army happily triumphed with very little loss of life, and all the knights, the brother of Gilbert de Lacy was the only one slain. This battle was fought in the month of August, by the people who lived in the country beyond the Humber. The same year, in the month of October, the count of Anjou compelled the inhabitants of Orismes to surrender, and laid siege to Bayeux and Falaise.

Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon Book 8. 22nd August 1138. While the king was thus engaged in the south, David of Scotland [aged 54] led an immense army into the north of England, against which the northern nobles, at the exhortation and under the command of Thurstan, archbishop of York [aged 68], made a resolute stand. The royal standard was planted at Alverton¹, and as the archbishop was prevented by illness from being present at the battle, he commissioned Balph, bishop of Durham², to fill his place, who, standing on an eminence in the centre of the army, roused their courage with words to this effect:

Brave nobles of England, Normans by birth; for it is well that on the eve of battle you should call to mind who you are, and from whom you are sprung: no one ever withstood you with success. Gallant France fell beneath your arms; fertile England you subdued; rich Apulia flourished again under your auspices; Jerusalem, renowned in story, and the noble Antioch, both submitted to you. Now, however, Scotland which was your own rightly, has tataken you at disadvantage, her rashness more fitting a skirmish than a battle. Her people have neither military skill, nor order in fighting, nor self command. There is, therefore, no reason for fear, whatever there may be for indignation, at finding those whom we have hitherto sought and conquered in their own country, madly reversing the order, making an irruption into ours. But that which I, a bishop, and by divine permission, standing here as the representative of our archbishop, tell you, is this: that those who in this land have violated the temples of the Lord, polluted his altars, slain his priests, and spared neither children nor women with child, shall on this same soil receive condign punishment for their crimes. This most just fulfilment of his will God shall this day accomphsh by our hands. Rouse yourselves, then, gallant soldiers, and bear down on an accrursed enemy with the courage of your race, and in the presence of God. Let not their impetuosity shake you, since the many tokens of our valour do not deter them. They do not cover themselves with armour³ in war; you are in the constant practice of arms in times of peace, that you may be at no loss in the chances of the day of battle. Your head is covered with the helmet, your breast with a coat of mail, your legs with greaves, and your whole body with the shield. Where can file enemy strike you when he finds you sheathed in steel? "What have we to fear in attacking the naked, bodies of men who know not the use of armour? Is it their numbers? It is not so much the multitude of a host, as the valour of a few, which is decisive. Numbers, without discipline, are an hindrance to success in the attack, and to retreat in defeat. Your⁴ ancestors were often victorious when they were but a few against many. What, then, does the renown of your fathers, your practice of arms, your military discipline avail, unless they make you, few though you are in numbers, invincible against the enemy's hosts? But I close my discourse, as I perceive them rushing on, and I am delighted to see that they are advancing in disorder. Now, then, if any of you who this day are called to avenge the atrocities committed in the houses of God, against the priests of the Lord, and his little flock, should fall in the battle, I, in the name of your archbishop, absolve them from all spot of sin, in the name of the Father, whose creatures the foe hath foully and horribly slain, and of the Son, whose altars they have defiled, and of the Holy Ghost, from whose grace they have desperately fallen."

Note 1. Allerton. This famous Battle of the Standard is also fully described by Roger of Wendover. See also William of Newbury and Trivet; but the MS. of the "Gesta Stepfani" after relating the irruption into Northumberland, becomes imperfect just in this place.

Note 2. Both the MSS. which I have consulted concur with Savile's printed text in the reading of "Orcadum;" but as Roger of Wendorer calls Ralph Bishop of Durham, and he was evidently a suffragan of the Archbishop of York, I have adopted that reading. Perhaps the bishop of Durham had jurisdiction in the Orkneys? [Note. Possibly Bishop Radulf Novell, Bishop of Orkney?]

Note 3. "Nesciunt annare se;" and just afterwards the historian calls them "nudos et inermes!" Not that they went to battle unarmed, as the passage has been rendered, but the rank and file of the Scots used no defensive armour, and perhaps, like their posterity, they only wore the kilt.

Note 4. Arundel MS., "our."

The Chronicle of John Prior of Hexham. All of them, advancing near Northallerton, in a certain field of the fee of Saint Cuthbert, set up the standard, that is, a ship's mast, hanging upon it the banner of Saint Peter, and of Saint John of Beverley, and of Saint Wilfrid of Ripon, and placing the body of the Lord upon it, so that He would be their standard-bearer and leader of the battle. Therefore Archbishop Thurstan sent with them Ralph Nowell, his suffragan bishop, and men of discipline, who would receive confessions, and instruct them about the hope of future life through satisfaction. The archbishop himself, having been more wisely restrained by the princes from setting out to the battle, persisted with prayers and entreaties, in great affliction and contrition of heart, with his clerics, until it was announced to him what great grace of deliverance God had granted to his people.

So, on the octave of the Assumption of Saint Mary, on the eleventh day before the Kalends of September [22nd August 1138], on a Monday, the whole army gathered around the Standard, lest anyone presume to flee, with the horses having been removed to a distance; and all, with one accord, resolved either to die or to conquer for their country. The princes who were foremost in honor and dignity were these: William, Earl of Albemarle; Walter de Gant; Robert de Brus; Roger de Mowbray; Walter Espec; William de Percy; Bernard de Balliol; Richard de Courcy; William Fossard; Robert de Stuteville; Ilbert de Lacy. This Ilbert, and his father Robert de Lacy, King Henry had driven from the kingdom of England. After the king's death, William Trussebut, who by the king's gift had held the honor, namely of Pontefract, was killed by a certain knight, Pagan, on account of that honor; and this Ilbert then possessed the honor by right of inheritance. Also present with their forces were William Peverel of Nottinghamshire, Robert de Ferrers of Derbyshire, and Geoffrey Halsalin.

The king of Scotland also advanced, with his legions, arrayed for battle, the Scots being placed in the front line, claiming that place for themselves by native right, as though they were one. They advanced naked and almost unarmed against the ranks of mailed men, and therefore against those who were invulnerable. Around the king stood the cavalry, equipped with military arms. The king judged it worthy of faith to conquer or to die for the oath which he had sworn to the heirs of King Henry, and with him the whole realm of England.

Thus the Scots and the Picts scarcely held out from the first hour of the battle until the third, seeing themselves pierced and riddled with arrows, overwhelmed and crushed. All of them fled from the field, throwing away their baggage. In disgrace of this event that place was called Baggamor. Immediately the resolve of the remaining army was disturbed and weakened. Therefore the elders, hastening, compelled the king to recall the horses and to withdraw with his ordered battle line, lest he too with his men should fall into ruin. The army of York also did not pursue those retreating, but each hastened to return to his own home. Many of the Scots, wandering and ignorant of the places, were slaughtered wherever they were found. Even the very battle-lines of the Scots and Picts, when on their retreat they encountered one another, contending with unhappy hostility, choked each other to death. The king therefore, having returned into his kingdom, summoned the Scots and Picts to him, and fined them a great sum of money, receiving hostages and oaths from them, that in every conflict and danger they would faithfully stand with him and for him. The king of England also, rejoicing in these successes of his, made William of Albemarle earl in Yorkshire, and Robert de Ferrers earl in Derbyshire.

Qui omnes procedentes secus Alvertun, in campo quodam de feudo Sancti Cuthberti standart, id est malum navis, erexerunt, vexillum Sancti Petri et Sancti Johannis de Beverlaco, et Sancti Wulfridi Ripum in eo suspendentes, et corpus Domini superinponentes, ut esset signifer et dux prælii eorum. Misit ergo cum eis archiepiscopus Turstinus Radulphum Nouellum, episcopum suffraganeum suum, et viros disciplinatos, qui ad pœnitentiam susciperent, et de spe futuræ vitæ per satisfactionem instruerent. Ipse archiepiscopus a principibus ab hac profectione ad pugnam consultius revocatus, orationibus et obsecrationibus in afflictione magna et contritione cordis instabat cum suis clericis, donec renuntiatum ei fuit, quantam ereptionis gratiam populo suo præstitit Deus.

Igitur, in octavis Assumptionis Sanctæ Mariæ, undecimo kalendas Septembris, feria secunda, universus exercitus circa standard convenit, ne quis de fuga præsumeret equis procul amotis; omnes autem mori aut vincere pro patria unanimiter decernentes. Fuerunt autem principes hii in honoribus et dignitatibus præminentes, Willelmus de Albamarla comes, Walterus de Gant, Rodbertus de Brus, Rogerus de Mulbrai, Walterus Espec, Willelmus de Perci, Bernardus de Baillel', Ricardus de Curceio, Willelmus Fossard, Robertus de Stuthavilla, Ilbertus de Lesceio. Hunc ipsum et patrem ipsius, Rodbertum de Lesceio, Henricus rex ejicit e regno Angliæ. Mortuo rege, Willelmum Transversum, qui ex datione regis honori scilicet Pontifracto præsedit, miles quidam Paganus, de honore illo, occidit, et iste Ilbertus honorem jure patrimonii possedit. Affuit etiam cum suis copiis de Nothingaham-scira Willelmus Peverel, et Rodbertus de Ferers de Derbi-scira, et Galfridus Halsalin.

Accessit etiam rex Scottiæ, cum suis legionibus, stipatus in prælium, Scottis in prima acie dispositis, id sibi ex nativa dignitate reclamantes quasi unus. Nudi ipsi et pæne inermes progressi adversus cuneos loricatos et iccirco invulnerabiles. Circa regem steterunt equestres ordines militaribus armis instructi. Fide dignum rex arbitratus est vincere vel mori pro sacramento quod juravit hæredibus Henrici regis, et universitas Angliæ cum eo.

Scotti itaque et Picti vix a prima hora initi conflictus usque ad tertiam perstiterunt, videntes se confodi et consui sagittis, et obrui, et opprimi. Qui omnes a campo dilapsi sunt, sarcinas suas a se rejicientes. In ignominiam hujus rei vocatus est locus ille Baggamor. Continuo constantia residui exercitus proturbata et infirmata est. Propterea seniores festinantes compulerunt regem equos reposcere, et cum sua conserta acie discedere, ne et ipse cum suis cederet in ruinam. Exercitus quoque Eboraci non est persecutus recedentes, sed unusquisque ad propria regredi festinavit. Plurimi vero Scottorum, ignari locorum aberrantes, ubicunque reperti sunt jugulati sunt. Ipsæ etiam acies Scottorum et Pictorum, ubi adinvicem in reditu concurrerunt, infelici hostilitate concertantes, sese suffocaverunt. Rex igitur, in regnum suum receptus, convocatos ad se Scottos et Pictos multa massa pecuniarum mulctavit, acceptis obsidibus et sacramentis ab eis, quod in omni conflictu et periculo fideliter cum eo et pro eo persisterent. Rex etiam Angliæ, lætatus super his successibus suis, Willelmum de Albamarla comitem in Eboracisciria fecit, et Rodbertum de Ferers comitem in Derbi scira.¹

Note 1. After this passage there comes in the MS. the account of the comet of 1133, which I have transferred to that year. After that, there follows the poem of Serlo on the battle of the Standard, which is printed by Twysden (coll. 331-2), and the account of the same conflict by Aelred of Rievaux which occurs in the same collection (col. 333, etc.). At the end of Aelred's work is this colophon, - "Explicit descriptio Atheldredi abbatis. Incipit descriptio prædicti Prioris Haugustaldensis ecclesiæ." i.e. "Here ends the description of Abbot Æthelred. Here begins the description of the aforesaid Prior of the church of Hexham."

The chronicle of Prior John is then continued, after having been thus strangely cut in two. The transcriber seems to have been more of an utilitarian than a person of taste. The poem of Serlo and the work of Aelred relate to the year 1138, and, therefore, he ruthlessly disjointed the Prior's chronicle, and, without any regard to appearance, inserted what the other two had written in the intervening space, among the occurrences of 1138.

On 22nd August 1485 King Richard III of England [aged 32] was killed during the Battle of Bosworth. His second cousin once removed Henry Tudor [aged 28] succeeded VII King of England.

Humphrey Cotes [aged 35] died. It isn't clear on which side he was fighting.

Those supporting Henry Tudor included:

John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy [aged 35].

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne [aged 43].

Richard Guildford [aged 35].

Walter Hungerford [aged 21].

Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 50].

John Wingfield.

Edward Woodville Lord Scales [aged 29].

Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 26].

Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth [aged 36].

Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 53].

William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 47].

Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney [aged 34].

William Stanley [aged 50].

Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 52].

Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney [aged 38].

William Brandon [aged 29] was killed.

James Harrington [aged 55] was killed.

John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 60] was killed and attainted. He was buried firstly at Thetford Priory, Norfolk [Map] and therafter at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. Duke Norfolk, Baron Mowbray, Baron Segrave, Baron Howard forfeit.

John Sacheverell [aged 85] was killed.

Philibert Chandee 1st Earl Bath

William Norreys [aged 44], Gilbert Talbot [aged 33], John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 42] and John Savage [aged 41] commanded,.

Robert Poyntz [aged 35] was knighted.

Those who fought for Richard III included:

John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 47].

John Conyers [aged 74].

Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 17].

William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 59].

Richard Fitzhugh 6th Baron Fitzhugh [aged 28].

John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 48].

Thomas Scrope 6th Baron Scrope of Masham [aged 26].

Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor [aged 50].

Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent [aged 68].

Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland [aged 29].

John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st [aged 23].

Humphrey Stafford [aged 59].

George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 17].

Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 42] was wounded, captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] for three years. He was attainted; Earl Surrey forfeit.

Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell [aged 29] fought and escaped.

John Zouche 7th Baron Zouche Harringworth [aged 26] was captured.

John Babington [aged 62], William Alington [aged 65], Robert Mortimer [aged 43], Robert Brackenbury, Richard Ratclyffe [aged 55] and Richard Bagot [aged 73] were killed

Walter Devereux Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 53] was killed.

William Catesby [aged 35] was executed at Leicester, Leicestershire [Map] after the battle.

George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster [aged 25] held as a hostage by Richard III before the Battle of Bosworth.

Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 36] betrayed King Richard III of England by not committing his forces at the Battle of Bosworth.

John Iwardby [aged 35] was killed.

Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. 22nd August 1553. And when he [John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 49]] came apon the scaffolde, first, he put of his gowne of crane-colored damaske, and then he leaned apon the raile towarde the est, and saide to the people, allmost in every poynt as he had saide in the chapell^a, saving that when he came to the confession of his belife tie saide, I trust, my lorde the bushope^b here will beare me witnes hereof." At the last he put of his jerkyn and doblet, and then saide his prayers; after which tyme the hangman reched to him a kerchef, which he dyd knit himself about his ees, and then layd him downe, and so was behedded.

Note a. "This present daye the duke of Northumberlande, sir John Gates, and master Palmere, came to executione, and suffered deathe. The duke's confessyon was in effecte but lytle, as I hard saye; hee confessed himselfe worthie to dye, and that he was a greate helper in of this religion which is false, thearfore God had punished us with the lose of kinge Henry 8, and also with the lose of king Edward 6, then with rebellione, and aftere with the swetinge sicknes, and yet we would not turne. Requiringe them all that weare presente to remember the ould learninge, thankinge God that he would vutsafe to call him nowe to be a Christyane, for this 16 yeares he had byne non. Theare weare a greate nomber turned with his words. He wished every man not to be covetous, for that was a greate parte of his distruction. He was asked further yf he had any thinge moare to saye, and he said nothinge but that he was worthie to dye, and so was moe than he, but he cam to dye, and not to accuse any mane. And thus bouldly he spak, tyll he layd his head on the block." (Letter of William Dalby, as before cited.) Another account of the duke of Northumberland's confession, from the MS. Harl. 284, is printed in Bayley's History of the Tower of London, Appx. p. xlviii.; and by Tytler, vol. ii. p. 230, who refers to others in MS. Cotton, Titus, B II. in MS. Reg. 12 A 26 (in Latin), and an abstract in MS. Harl. 2194.

Note b. Nicholas Heath [aged 52], bishop of Worcester.

England under the reigns of Edward VI and Mary. The Open Confession of John Duke Of Northumberland [aged 49], who suffered at Tower Hill, 22nd of August 1553. Orig. Harleian, 284; fol. 127.

"Good people. Hither I am come this day to diej as ye know. Indeed, I confess to you all that I have been an evil liver, and have done wickedly all the days of my life; and, of all, most against the Queen's Highness, [of] whom I here openly ask forgiveness (and bowed his knees): but not I alone the original doer thereof, I assure you, for there were some other which procured the same; but I will not name them, for I will hurt now no man. And the chiefest occasion hath been through false and seditious preachers, that I have erred from the Catholic faith and true doctrine of Christ. The doctrine, I mean, which hath continued thro' all Christendom since Christ. For, good people, there is, and hath been ever since Christ, one Catholic church; which church hath continued from him to his disciples in one unity and concord, and so hath alway continued from time to time until this day, and yet doth throughout all Christendom, only us excepted; for we are quite gone out of that church. For, whereas all holy fathers, and all other saints throughout alt Christendom, since Christ and his disciples, have ever agreed in one unity, faith, and doctrine; we alone dissent from their opinions, and follow our own private interpretation of Scriptures. Do you think, good people, that we, being one parcel in comparison, be wiser than all the world besides, ever since Christ? No, I assure you, you are far deceived. I do not say so for any great learning that I have, for, God knoweth, I have very little, or none; but for the experience which I have had.

" For I pray you, see, since the death of King Henry the Eighth, into what misery we have been brought; what open rebellion, what sedition, what great division hath been throughout the whole realm; for God hath delivered [us] up to [our] own sensualities, and every day [we] wax worse and worse. Look also in Germany, since they severed from the faith; unto what miserable state they have been brought, and how their realm is decayed. And herewith I have [braved] these preachers for their doctrine, and they were not able to answer any part thereof, no more than a little boy. They opened the books, and could not [reply to] them again. More than that, good people, you have in your Creed, Credo Eccksiam Catkolicam, which church is the same church which hath continued ever from Christ, throughout all the apostles', saints', and doctors' times, and yet doth, as I have said before. Of which church 1 do openly profess myself to be one, and do steadfastly believe therein; I speak unfeignedly from the bottom of my heart. This good man, the Bishop of Worcester, shall be my witness (and the Bishop said, ' Yea'), And I beseech you all bear nie witness that I die therein. And I do think, if I had had this belief sooner, I never had come to this pass: wherefore I exhort you all, good people, take you all example of me, and forsake this new doctrine betimes. Defer it not long, lest God plague you as he hath me, which now suffer this vile death most worthily.

" I have no more to say, good people; but all those which I have offended I ask forgiveness, and they which have offended me I forgive them, as I would God forgive me. And I trust the Queen's Highness hath forgiven me: where as I was with force and arms against her in the field, I might have been rent in pieces without law, her Grace hath give me time and respect to have judgment.

"And after he had desired all the people to pray for him, he humbled himself to God, and covered his own eyes with a cloth, and he suffered execution meekly."

The History and Antiquities of the Tower of London Part II Apendices. 22nd August 1553. The open Confession off Jhon Duke of Northumberlande [aged 49], w^ch sufferid at Tower hyl, 22 off August, 1553.

Good people, hyther I am come thys day to dye, as ye know. Indede, I co'fesse to you al y' I have liv'd an evyl lyfe, and have done wykydly al the days of my lyfe, and off al, most agay'st the queen's hyghness, who' I here openly aske forgeveniss; (and bowyd hys kneys) but not I alone the original doer thereoff, I assure yow: for there were some other w^ch the same, but I wyl not name them; for I wyl hurte now no man; and the first occasion hath byn thorow false and sedicious preachers, that I have erred from the catholyke fayth, and well doewine of Christ. The doewine I meane w^ch hath cotynuyd thorow al chrystyndom syns Chryst; for, good people, there ys and hath byn ever syns Christ one catholyke church; w^ch churche hathe contynued from him to hys discyples yn one unyte and concorde, and so hath alway continued from tyme to tyme untyl thys day, and yet dothe thorow owt al chrystendome, only us exceptyd; for wye are quyte gone owt of that churche; for whereas al holy fathers and al other sayntys, thorow owt al chrystyndome syns Christ and hys discyples, have ever agreyd yn one unyte, faith, and doctrine; wye alone dissent from ther opynyons, and folowe ower owne pryvate interpretacion off scriptures. Do yow thynke, good people, that wye, beyng one sparcle in comparyson, be wyser than al the worlde besydys, and ever syus Chryst? No, I assure you; you are far dyscevyd. I do not say so for any gret lerning that I have, for God knowyth that I have very lyttle or none; but for th❜experyence w^ch I have had; for, I pray you, se syns the death off kynge Henry the eyght, into whatte mysery wye have byn broght, what open rebellion, sedicion, what gret division hath byn thorow owt the whole realme; for God hath delyveryd uup to ower owne sensualytyes, and every day wax worse and worse. Loke also yn Germany, syns they swarvyd from the fayth, unto what miserable state they have byn broght, and how their realm ys decay'd. And herewyth I have spurnyd thes preachers for ther doctryne, and they ware not hable to answer any parte thereoff, no more than a lytle boy. They openyd the bookys, and cold not shut the' agayn. More than that, good people, you have yn yower crede, credo ecclesiam catholicam; whyche churche ys the same churche w^ch hath contynuyd ever from Chryst, thorow owt al th'apostles, saynts, and doctours tymys, and yet doth, as y have sayd before, off w^ch churche I do openly professe myselfe to be one, and do stedfastly belyve ther yn, I speke unfaynydly from the bottom of my harte. Thys good man, the bysshope off Wurcestre, shall be my wytnys. " [And the bysshopp said Je.] And I besyche yow al, bere me wytnes y^t I dye theryn; and I do thynke yff I had had thys belyfe sowner, I never had come to thys passe: wherefore, I exhorte yow al, good people, take yow al exemple off me, and forsake thys new doctryne betyme; dyffer yt not longe, lest God plague yow, as he hath me, w^ch now suffer thys vyle death most worthely. I have no more to say, good people; but al those w^ch I have offendyd I aske forgevenys, and they w^ch have offendyd me I forgeve them, as I wold God forgeve me. And I trust the queenys hyghness hathe forgevyn me, where as I was wyth force and armes agaynst her yn the fylde, I myght have byn rente yn peces wyth owt law; here grace hath gevyn me tyme and respecte to have judgement. And after he had desyryd al the people to pray for hym, and had humblyd hymselfe to God, and coveryd bys own eyes with a clothe, he sufferyd execucion mykely. "

Note 1. Harl. MSS. No. 284.

Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. 22nd August 1553. Next cam sir Thomas Palmer,^c who assoone as he cam to the scaffolde toke every man by the hand, and desired them to praye for him; then putting of his gowne, he leaned upon the est raile and saide theis or moche-like wordes in effecte: "My maisters, God save you; yt is not unknowne unto you wherfore I am come hither, which I have wourthellie well deserved at God's hande, for I knowe yt to be his devine ordenaunce by this mean to call me to his mercy, and to teache me to knowe myself, what I am, and wherto we ar all subjecte. I thancke his mercyfull goodenes, for he hathe caused me to learne more in one littell darke corner in yonder Tower, then ever I learned by eny travaille in so many places as I have bene; for ther I say I have sene God, what he is, and howe unserchable his wonderouse works ar, and howe infynite his mercyes be. I have sene ther myself thorowhlie, and what I am; nothing but a lompe of synne, earthe, dust, and of all vylenes most vilest. I have seen ther and knowne what the hole worlde is, howe vayne, decetefull, transytorie, and short yt is; howe wicked and lothesome the works therof ar in the sight of God's majesty; how he neither regardeth the manaces of the proud men and mighty ones, nether despiseth the simplenes of the pore and lolie, which ar in the same worlde. Fynallie, I have seen ther what deathe is, howe nere hanging over every man's hed, and yet how uncertayn the tyme and howe unknowne to all men, and how littell it is to be feared. And shoulde I feare death, or be sad therfore? have I nott seene ij. die before myne eys, yea and within the hearing of myn eares? No, neither the sprinckling of the bludd or the shedding therof, nor the bludy axe itself, shall not make me afraied. And nowe, taking my leave to the same, I praye you all to praie for me. Come on, goode fellowe," quod he, "art thou he that must do the dede? I forgeve the with all my harte." And then kneled downe, and laed his hed downe, saying, "I will se howe met the blocke is for my neck; I praie the strike me not yet, for I have a fewe prayers to say, and that done, strike in God's name, goode leave have thowe." His prayers enden, and desyring eche man to praie for him, he layed downe his hed agayn, and so the hangman toke yt from him at one stroke. Theyr corpes, with the hedes, wer buryed in the chapell in the Tower; the duke at the highe alter, and the other too at the nether ende of the churche. You must understande that sir Thomas Palhner had moche longer talke on the scaffolde, but that afore rehersed was in maner the some therof.

Note c. "Then came sir Thomas Palmere, who when hee was upon the scaffold pute of his cape to the auditory and sayd: 'God geve you all good morowe,' and divers did byd him god morowe againe, and he replyed and sayd, 'I doe not doubt but that I have a good morowe, and shall have I truste a better good even. Good frends (quothe he) I am come hether to dye, for I have lyved heare under a lawe, and have offended the same, and for my so doinge the same lawe fyndethe me guilty, hathe condemned me to ende heare my lyfe this daye; for the which I give God thankes, in that he whichshewed me the thinge which I have seene, and which also I knowe to be juste and trewe, and that is this, I have since my cominge out of yonder place (pointing to the Towere) seene with myne eyes my Redeemere sittinge at the right hand of God the Father, in glory and majesty equall, whose powere is infinite, and in whome whoso puttethe his truste shall nevere be deceaved, and as he is almighty so can he doe what he lystethe, and to whom he wille, and when he will, and non in the heven above nor in the earthe beneathe can or maye let [i. e. withstand] his determinate will; by whom I lyve, by whom I am, and in whom I truste to lyve eternally. I have, as some of you doe knowe, good people, bine a man not altogether noreshid in England, but some parte of my brede I have eaten in other realmes; but to saye that befoare nowe I did [know] God arighte, the worlde arighte, or myselfe arighte, I did nevere. And nowe what I have sayde ye knowe. I saye God is such a one that without thowe wilt sit downe and behould the heavenes above, the sonne and moone, the starres above the firmament, the course of the sonne and moone, starres and clowds, the earthe with all that in them is, and howe they be all preserved, thow shalt nevere knowe God aright. The world is altogether vanity, for in it is nothinge but ambition, flatery, foolishe or vaine glory, pride, disorder, slander, bostinge, disdayne, hatred and mallis; all which thinges the same God that made the world, or as they saye man, which heare I compare to the world, dothe utterly deteste and abhor; in the which offences I have bine so noseled, that nowe, havinge a juste occasione to looke into myne owne selfe, I have seen nothing but a bodye voyde of all goodnes, filthie, a stinking karkas, worse then donge of beastes, a very miserable creature, and yet the verie worke of the mighti hand of God. But yet, notwithstandinge, in nowe knowinge my Creator arighte, I doe not thinke any sinne to be that I have not byne plunged even into the middeste of it; for the which prayinge God to pardon me, willinge you and prayinge you to praye for me and withe me unto the Lord my God and your God, which God I faithfully beleeve is in heaven, and at the laste daye shall with all triumphe come againe into this worlde, judginge the same by fyere. And nowe I will bide you all farwelle, prayenge you all to forgeve me, and to saye, the Lord receave me to his mercy, when you shall see the axe passe between my head and shoulders.' And so did prepare him to the deathe." Letter written in London by John Rowe, 24 Aug. 1563, in Starkey's transcripts, MS. Harl. 353.

On 22nd August 1485 King Richard III of England [aged 32] was killed during the Battle of Bosworth. His second cousin once removed Henry Tudor [aged 28] succeeded VII King of England.

Humphrey Cotes [aged 35] died. It isn't clear on which side he was fighting.

Those supporting Henry Tudor included:

John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy [aged 35].

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne [aged 43].

Richard Guildford [aged 35].

Walter Hungerford [aged 21].

Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 50].

John Wingfield.

Edward Woodville Lord Scales [aged 29].

Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 26].

Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth [aged 36].

Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 53].

William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 47].

Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney [aged 34].

William Stanley [aged 50].

Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 52].

Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney [aged 38].

William Brandon [aged 29] was killed.

James Harrington [aged 55] was killed.

John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 60] was killed and attainted. He was buried firstly at Thetford Priory, Norfolk [Map] and therafter at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. Duke Norfolk, Baron Mowbray, Baron Segrave, Baron Howard forfeit.

John Sacheverell [aged 85] was killed.

Philibert Chandee 1st Earl Bath

William Norreys [aged 44], Gilbert Talbot [aged 33], John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 42] and John Savage [aged 41] commanded,.

Robert Poyntz [aged 35] was knighted.

Those who fought for Richard III included:

John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 47].

John Conyers [aged 74].

Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 17].

William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 59].

Richard Fitzhugh 6th Baron Fitzhugh [aged 28].

John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 48].

Thomas Scrope 6th Baron Scrope of Masham [aged 26].

Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor [aged 50].

Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent [aged 68].

Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland [aged 29].

John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st [aged 23].

Humphrey Stafford [aged 59].

George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 17].

Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 42] was wounded, captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] for three years. He was attainted; Earl Surrey forfeit.

Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell [aged 29] fought and escaped.

John Zouche 7th Baron Zouche Harringworth [aged 26] was captured.

John Babington [aged 62], William Alington [aged 65], Robert Mortimer [aged 43], Robert Brackenbury, Richard Ratclyffe [aged 55] and Richard Bagot [aged 73] were killed

Walter Devereux Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 53] was killed.

William Catesby [aged 35] was executed at Leicester, Leicestershire [Map] after the battle.

George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster [aged 25] held as a hostage by Richard III before the Battle of Bosworth.

Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 36] betrayed King Richard III of England by not committing his forces at the Battle of Bosworth.

John Iwardby [aged 35] was killed.