Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century / to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjects

by Richard Brooke

No. V.

Extract from the Act of Attainder against John, Earl of Lincoln, and his Adherents.—Rotul. Parl. 3rd Henry VII. (A.D. 1487), vol. vi. fo. 397.

“Forasmoch as the XIXth day of the moneth of Marche last past John, late Erle of Lincolne, nothyng consideryng the greate and sovereygn kyndnes that oure sovereygne leige lorde that nowe ys, at dyvers sundry tymes contynuelly shewed to the said late erle, but the contrarye to kynd and naturall remembraunce his faith trouth and allegeaunce conspired and ymagyned the most dolorouse and lamentable murder, deth, and destruction of the roiall psone of oure said sovereygne and leige lorde, and also distruction of all this realme, and to pform his said malicious purpose traiterously departed to the parties beyond the see, and ther accompanyed hymselfe with many other false traitours and enemyes to our said sovereygne leige lorde, by longe tyme contynuyng his malyce, prepared a grete navye for the coostes of Brabon, and arryved in the portes of Irland, where he, with Sr̃ Henry Bodrugan [315b] and John Beaumound, Squier, ymagyned and conspired the destruction and deposition of oure said sovereygne liege lorde; and for the execution of the same ther, the XXIIIIth day of May last passed at the cite of Develyn, contrarie to his homage and faith, trouth, and allegiaunce, trayterously renownced, revoked, and disclaymed his owne said most naturall sovereygene leige lord the kyng, and caused oone Lambert Symnell, a child of X yere of age, sonne to Thomas Symnell, late of Oxforde, joynonre, to be proclamed, erecte, and reputed as kyng of this realme, and to hym did feith and homage, to the grete dishonour and despite of all this realme, and frome thens contynuyng in his malicious and trayterous purpose arived with a greate navie in Furnes, in Lancashire, the IIIIth day of June last past, accompanyed with a greate multytude of straungers with force and armes, that ys to saye, swerdys, speris, marespikes, bowes, gonnes, harneys, brigandynes, hawberkes, and many other wepyns and harneys defensible, and frome thens the same day he, with Sr̃ Thomas Broughton, knyght, Thomas Haryngton, Robert Percy, of Knaresburgh, in the countie of Yorke, Richard Harleston, John a Broughton, brother unto the said Sr̃ Thomas Broughton, knyght, Thomas Batell, James Haryngton, Edward Frank, Richard Middelton, squiers; Robert Hilton, Clement Skelton, Alexander Apilby, Richard Banke, Edmund Juse, Thomas Blandrehasset, gentilmen; John Mallary, of Lichbarowe, in the countie of Northton, Robert Mallary, of Fallesley, in the same countie, Gyles Mallary, of Grevysnorton, in the same countie, William Mallary, of Stowe, in the same countie, Robert Mannyng, late of Dunstaple, Willyam Kay, of Halyfax, gentilman, Roger Hartlyngton, Richard Hoiggessone, John Avyntry, Rowland Robynson, yomen; with many other ill-disposed psones and traytours, defensible and in like warrely maner arrayed to the nomber of VIIIM persones ymagynyng, compassyng, and conspiryng the deth and deposition, and utter destruction of oure said soveraygne leige lorde the kyng, and the subversion of all this realme, for the execucion and pfourmyng of the said myschevous and traiterous purpose contynuelly in hostyle maner passed fro thens from place to place to they come to Stoke, in the countie of Notyngham; where the XVI day of June last past, with baners displayed, levied warre ayenst the psone of his sovereygne and naturall leige lorde, and gave to hym myghty and stronge batell, trayterously and contrarie to all trouth, knyghthode, honour, allegeaunce, feith, and affyaunce, intendyng utterly to have slayne, murdred, and cruelly destroyed oure foresaid leige lorde and most Cristen prynce, to the uttermost and grettest adventure of the noble and roiall persone of oure seid leige lorde, destruction, dishonour, and subversion of all this realme. For the which malicious compassed greate and heynous offence, not alloonly commytted ayen oure said sovereygne lorde, but also ayenst the unyversall and comen wele of this realme, ys requisite sore and grevous punycion; and also for an example hereafter that non other be bold in like wise to offend: Therfore be it enacted by oure sovereygne lorde the Kyng by the advyse of all the lordes sp̃uall and temporall, and the com̃ons in this present parliament assembled, and by the auctorite of the same, that the said John, late Erle of Lincoln, Sr̃ Henry Bodrugan, Thomas Broughton, knyghtes; John Beaumond, Thomas Haryngton, Robert Percy,” &c. &c., “be reputed, jugged, and taken as traytours, and convicte and attaynte of high treason,” &c. &c. And the act proceeds to declare all their castles, lordships, manors, lands, goods, &c. &c. forfeited to the King.