Tyburn: The Story of London's Gallows Read Online Free PDF Page A

buried amongst them; in proof, it may be mentioned, on the authority of a letter from Fleetwood to Lord Burghley, that they ‘would not suffer a traytor’s corpes to be layed in the earthe where theire parents, wyeffs, chyldren, kynred, maisters, and old naighboures did rest: and so his carcas was returned to the buryall ground neere to Tyborne’.

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Annals of the Condemned
    The history Tyburn Tree, Its History and Annals, 8 by Alfred Marks, looks at extensive records relating to those that were executed at Tyburn from earliest times. The research is extensive, but in style it is long-winded and often strays into moral discourses on man’s inhumanity to man. I have used much of Marks’ source material, but have edited it to make it readable in both modern and ancient language, where used, and highlight the key points of interest. The quoting of original sources does much to convey the attitudes and feeling of the times relating to the dealing out of what was frequently barbaric punishment. As this chapter relies largely on extant sources, my input will be presented in italics.
    1177 The first recorded execution which can be referred to Tyburn occurred in this year. It is probable that Tyburn was the place of execution, but, leaving this case aside for the time, we come to the execution of William Fitz Osbert, or Longbeard, expressly stated to have been carried out at Tyburn.
    1196 William Fitz Osbert, or Osborn, popularly known as Longbeard, was a citizen of London, described as skilled in the law. He is first made known to us by the story of a vision seen by him and a companion on board a ship, one of the fleet of Richard Coeur de Lion (Richard I), on its way to the Holy Land. In a great storm at sea there appeared to them three times St Thomas of Canterbury, who said to them, ‘Fear not, for I and the Blessed Martyr Edmund, and the Blessed Confessor Nicholas have taken charge of this ship of the King of England. And if the men of this ship will eschew evil and seek pardon for past offences, God will give them a prosperous voyage.’ Having thrice said this, he vanished and the storm ceased. This was in 1190. Richard, on his return, was captured and held to ransom by the emperor. The raising of the ransom proved very grievous to the people. There was trouble in the City of London as to the way of assessing the burden. The poorer sort claimed that the citizens should not be called on to pay so much per head, whether rich or poor, but that the assessment should be according to means. William Longbeard took the part of the poor citizens: it came to be a matter to be fought to the death between the magnates and Longbeard. Moreover, Longbeard had accused of extortion Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury and Justiciar. An armed band was told off to arrest Longbeard. He resisted, slew two chiefs of the band, but was compelled to fly for protection to the church of St Mary-le-Bow. [ The church still stands in Cheapside ]. Then the archbishop did a thing unheard of. He, a churchman, bound by every consideration to guard the privileges of the church, set at nought the right of sanctuary, kindled a fire, and drove Longbeard out of the church. In his attempt to escape Longbeard was wounded by the son of one of those whom he had killed in trying to escape arrest. He was hurried to trial: the great men of the city and the king’s officers joined in urging the justiciar to inflict the severest punishment on the offender. This was the punishment: his upper garments were taken off, then his hands were bound behind his back, and, attached by ropes to a horse, he was dragged from the Tower through the City to Tyburn, and there hanged alive by a chain. What was he, unscrupulous demagogue or martyr in the cause of the poor? Each view was held by his contemporaries. He seems to have behaved very badly to his elder brother, whose care for him during his youth he repaid by bringing against him a charge of treason. On the other hand, it is clear