On this day

Execution of John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester

John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester, was known as ‘the butcher of England’. Already a wealthy Earl, he was recalled from the Holy Land upon Edward IV‘s accession and appointed initially as chief justice of North Wales, where he was a substantial landholder.

Constable of England

He was made Constable of the Tower of London in December 1461 and then, in February 1462, was appointed as Constable of England. It was this role that gained Worcester a reputation as being a ‘butcher’. His remit was to try cases of treason on inspection of fact. That meant no jury, just himself examining the evidence and determining guilt or innocence, with sentencing also in his hands.

This made him a despised figure among the Lancastrian cause. It was Worcester who tried the Earl of Oxford and his eldest son shortly after being appointed.

Hexham

He fought in the North East in the bid to remove Lancastrian resistance from the area and was thus on hand to administer judicial proceedings should prisoners be taken. This was the case after the Battle of Hexham and upon the taking of Bamburgh Castle.

In 1467 he was sent to Ireland to replace the deputy governor, Thomas Fitzgerald, who was not trusted by Edward IV. Worcester duly removed him from office, tried him for treason and had him executed along with the Earl of Desmond.

Execution of John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester

When Henry VI was restored to the throne, Worcester was found and detained by Lancastrians. His record of condemning so many Lancastrian loyalists sealed his own fate. After a brief imprisonment in the Tower of London, he was executed by beheading at Tower Hill on 18 October 1470.

Featured Image

Monumental effigy to the Earl of Worcester, Ely Cathedral..

Arthur Irwin Dasent (1859-1939) • Public domain

 

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