1540. Also this same yere was the xvi. day of Marche was one Somer and iii. vacabundes with hym drawne, hongyd and qwarterd for cleppynge of golde at Tyborne (Grey Friars Chron., p. 203).
1540. Dr. Johnson blamed the Government of his day for suppressing the processions to Tyburn—“the public was gratified by a procession.” From this point of view Henry VIII. was an ideal monarch, though it is open to doubt whether the burnings at Smithfield and the disembowellings at Tyburn were not so frequent as to satiate the lovers of these spectacles.
Thus on July 30, 1540, two Doctors of Divinity and a parson were burnt in Smithfield, and on the same day another Doctor and two priests were hanged on a gallows at Saint Bartholomew’s Gate, beheaded and quartered—six victims.
Five days later the spectacle was offered of other seven or perhaps eight despatched at Tyburn.
The 4. of August, Thomas Empson sometime a monke of Westminster, which had bin prisoner in Newgate more than three yeeres, was brought before the Justices of goale deliuerie at Newgate, and for that hee would not aske the King pardon for denying his supremacie, nor be sworne therto, his monkes coole was plucked from his backe, and his body repried till the King were informed of his obstinacie.
Nothing more is told us of Empson, but it has been supposed that he was executed in this batch:—
The same 4. of August were drawn to Tyborne 6. persons and one lead betwixt twaine, to wit, Laurence Cooke, prior of Doncaster, William Home a lay brother of the Charterhouse of London, Giles Horne gentleman, Clement Philip gentleman of Caleis, & seruant to the L. Lisle, Edmond Bromholme priest, chaplaine to the said L. Lisley, Darby Gening, Robert Bird, all hanged and quartered, and had beene attainted by parliament, for deniall of the Kings supremacie (Stow, p. 581).
1540. There is nothing new under the sun. The Aliens Act of 1905 was anticipated by the Act 32 Henry VIII. c. 16, Concerning Strangers.
The King our most dradde Souveraine Lord calling unto his blissed remembraunce the infinite nombre of Straungers and aliens of foren countries and nations whiche daily doo increase and multiplie within his Graces Realme and Dominions in excessive nombres, to the greate detriment hinderaunce losse and empoverishment of his Graces naturall true lieges and subjectis of this his Realme and to the greate decay of the same—having this on his blessed remembrance his Grace took measures to drive out aliens not furnished with letters of denization.