The three men were hanged, drawn and quartered. After being boiled in pitch, the old Abbot's quarters were displayed at Bath, Bridgwater, Ilchester and Wells. What possessed Henry VIII's commissioners to carry out such a brutal act?
Strung up on a gallows on the Tor like a re-enactment of the Crucifixion, Avallonian Geoffrey Ashe has described these peculiar actions as "The Act of Mystics or Madmen".
Richard Whiting: The Last Abbot of Glastonbury
The curious events leading up to the execution of Richard Whiting, the Last Abbot of Glastonbury, on 15 November 1539:
Introduction: The Tudors: Divorce and Dissolution
Part I: The Last Abbot of Glastonbury
Part II: The Execution of Richard Whiting
Part III: The Bones of Richard Whiting
Appendix: The Secret of Glaston
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I do have a theory about what possessed them to do this, bear with me, it is a bit longwinded and may sound fantastical.
ReplyDeleteMy theory concerns the lost Princes in the Tower. There is not sufficient evidence that they were actually murdered, still less by whom. There are, however, several local myths involving them being taken to an Abbey where the elder, Edward V, eventually became Abbot. One of these local myths is spoken of at Crowland Abbey which is near me geographically. So of course, I went to look at the list of Abbots and no Abbot's period of tenure starts in 1483 (although one does end in 1487, hinting that the Abbot may have supported the Lambert Simnel rising and been ejected in consequence).
Two other Abbeys which talk of this same legend applying to their Abbey are Colchester and Glastonbury. Significantly these are two among only a very small number where the Abbot was executed, as you so movingly describe above. Colchester is also known as the Abbey where a significant group of Yorkist supporters, led by Francis Lovell, (Our Dogge) fled to sanctuary after Bosworth.
My theory is that Cromwell, or other of the King's henchmen, got wind of these theories, hence their ransacking the papers of Glastonbury. They were perhaps searching for evidence of the survival of the Princes, and where they or their descendants might be found. The King was desperate to root out every last vestige of the York dynasty, so insecure was Henry VIII of his title and his own dynasty, having only one frail son after moving heaven and earth to get more.
The theory does have its flaws, one notable one being that local people in the vicinity of Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire also thought that the Princes had been sent there and that Edward had become Abbot, although no execution took place there.
Thanks for your comment.
DeleteThis is an intriguing theory; however, there are many theories linked with Glastonbury yet I've never heard of the two princes being linked with the Abbey there. Can you divulge your source?
Great to see more posts from you again! That's one brutal bit of history. Hope to see more soon from such a well read enthusiast, it's always a good read!
ReplyDelete